November 17, 2008
Hello everyone! Things are going great here in Tucson. Just as a reminder: Transfers are going to be a week from Tuesday. No one knows what's going to happen and that's just the point but as things get down to the wire, if you want to send a letter, it might be best to do so through the mission office. (I don't know the address off hand but I think my parents do).
We just got back from the driving range. Elder Espericueta, one of the Elders in our branch, is going home next Tuesday so we decided to show him a good time on his last P-Day. He had never been golfing before but I think he enjoyed it. My swing was a little rusty (Not that I was ever any good) but it felt good to hit around a little.
Well it's been quite a week here in Tucson. The work is picking up. Slowly but surely. When I am tempted to get discouraged I think of my good brethren in Europe who are working their butts of for a fraction of the success that we see.
We have four progressing investigators right now, with a few waiting in the wings. We had a really awesome experience with a family, the Aguirre family the other night.
We met the Aguirres a few weeks ago when we were looking through the branch list and realized that they live in our area and we have no idea who they are. It turns out that the father and two of the daughters had been baptized a few years ago, but the father has since left the family (for reasons unknown to us). Anyways that left three children and the (extremely bitter) wife unbaptized. We've been working with the girls (Two of them baptized, one of them not) for a few weeks now and we were on the very verge of dropping them. Then enter Jesus.
Ok that sounds weird in English but Jesus is their 24 year old brother. Basically, Jesus has been living in Florida for the past year and a half but just came home because he couldn't really make it on his own. So one day he shows up and we think, hey, what's the worse that could happen? So not withstanding the fact that he's pretty gangster and wearing a giant Virgin Maria jacket (Not as rare a combo as you'd think) we decide to teach him.
Well for a couple of lessons we can tell that he's really interested but of course he's got to keep up the Machismo image so he pretends like he's not interested. Then he walks to church but of course "Only because I wanted to make sure my sisters made it safe and sound."
That was a week ago. Yesterday they were going to come and 10 minutes before church starts Jesus calls us and says he's not going to be able to. Why? He hurt his leg.
Well we went over and the "hurt leg" turns out to be a torn knee with a brace on it that looks like it was taken out of Star Wars. So that was the first bit of good news, and then the family, who never invites us inside (We always teach the girls out on the door step), invited us inside and before we know it, the Mom brings us a couple of plates with carne asada, rice, and beans. (it was really really good). Then Jesus gets this kinda uncomfortable look on his face and finally manages "I'm not gonna lie guys, we all met together, and we're on a quest to become Mormons now." I wanted to laugh, cry, jump up and down, and yell all at the same time. (All I really ended up doing was smiling and saying "That's awesome").
Well anyways, that's the Aguirre family.
By the way, something I think I've just never talked about: Hermano Noriega. Hermano Noriega is our branch mission leader and he's AWESOME! He's blind, and luckily he doesn't mind joking around about it (Three days ago I asked him in a lesson if he would share his testimony about how READING the scriptures has blessed his life.) He's also a spiritual giant and has a REALLY REALLY powerful testimony. Sorry, just one of those random things that I think I haven't mentioned before, that I think the parents like hearing about.
Well boys and girls that's about it for this week. I'm loving it hear in the desert and I hope that everything is going well back home. Write letters, I like that. Thank you for all of the love and support. The gospel is TRUE! It's THE ANSWER.
Love,
Elder Ben Wilson
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Sorry Mr. President, I Don't Dance
November 3, 2008
Hello one and all! It was as pretty good week last week.
I just wanted to start off by thanking the family for that wonderful packag=
e. THAT CHOCOLATE WAS DELICIOUS! And it's always good to get hand writt=
en letters from the two of you (No matter how angry they might be) So th=
ank you very very much, it sure makes things a lot easier when you know y=
ou have some of the most wonderful people in the world standing behind an=
d supporting you.
We had Stake conference on Sunday which was actually a regional conferenc=
e broadcast from Salt Lake City. President Packer spoke, as well as Elde=
r Jay E. Jensen and a couple of other people who's names I have, sadly, f=
orgotten. One of them told a funny story about some early pioneer settle=
rs who came to Arizona under direction from Brigham Young. Upon settling=
down here they wrote back "If you touch it, it stings you. If you pet i=
t, it bites you. And if you eat it, it kills you."
Also general Sherman of Civil war fame once wrote "We went to war with Mexi=
co once in order to take Arizona, and I think we ought to go to war with =
them again to compel them to take it back."=20
Of course it was all in good fun and the conference was awesome. We receiv=
ed some amazing advice. I particularly liked one thing that President Pa=
cker pointed out. Every prophet has their specialty. Missionary work, c=
olonization, temple building, etc... Well clearly, President Monson's sp=
ecialty is welfare. He has always been concerned about taking care of th=
e physical needs of those around him and making sure that they are cared =
for.
Well isn't it interesting that he should become prophet JUST before a major=
economic crisis hits the world and those sorts of needs are about to sta=
rt popping up everywhere. Especially when considering how long President=
Hinckley's life was preserved. President Monson truly is the man to lea=
d and guide the church in these days!
Speaking of Stake conference... a week ago, the zone leaders had a meeting =
with the stake president and they told me that he had some interest in me=
eting me. Well I went up and said hi to him at Stake Conference and it t=
urns out that he went to Business school with Dad! He said "I just want =
you to know that I think the world of your father and mother". I didn't =
realize that my parents had close friends in Tucson!
Oh and speaking of the economic crisis, people are starting to feel it arou=
nd here. We have(had) a few investigators who can't find jobs anymore so=
they're packing up and heading back to Mexico. Nothing too drastic but =
we're starting to see a few effects from it, which is why I ask about it =
from time to time.
So I did another baptismal interview this last week... and I'd just like to=
say something about the difficulties of filling out a Mexican baptism an=
d confirmation record. But isn't it just like filling out a baptism and =
confirmation record for anyone else, you ask? Oh no. Writing "Johnson, =
Mark David" Isn't that hard. But when you start getting involved with "=
Juan Carlos Ramon Pedro Medina Arroyo Sanchez de la Rosa"... things get a=
little trickier. I swear I spend half an hour just trying to figure out=
which names go where.
Oh yeah, a quick little heads up for everybody: Craig C. Christensen of th=
e 70 is going to be coming into town and we're going to be having a zone =
conference on Monday so don't wait up for an email; it won't come until T=
uesday.
On Friday my companion got in a fist fight with the pavement (fell off his =
bike). His arm and finger got chewed up pretty good but he's recovering =
really fast. He was trying to take a corner without using any hands. It=
was really hard not to laugh.
We had to come in early on Halloween. I carved a pumpkin after the fashion=
of my pirate face (picture to come by mail within the next week). It wa=
s of exceedingly fine workmanship, if I don't say so myself.
This week I have been reflecting somewhat on criticism, humility, the gospe=
l, and our ability to change. The natural man hates criticism, because h=
e has a stronger desire to appear good than to be good, and criticism is =
a reflection of his looking bad. The saint loves criticism, because he h=
as a stronger desire to do and be good than to appear good, and criticism=
helps him to see where he can appear.
So if you're wondering why this email is breaking my recent streak of writi=
ng shorter and shorter emails, the answer is because my Mother wrote me a=
letter addressing the length of my emails, and took about the same tone =
that Joseph Smith took near the end of his life when writing to or about =
William Law and his associates. Thankfully I was able to use that critic=
ism in a constructive way, rather than getting angry (Which is a great b=
lessing from God since my initial reaction was to do quite the opposite.)
Well we've found a few more investigators since last week. The work isn't =
exactly going at a neckbreak pace but it's starting to pick up again. Ev=
ery investigator is a blessing and I'm certainly greatful for the opportu=
nity that i have to serve here and meet the people of South Tucson.
Well everybody that's about it for this weeks edition. I love you all so v=
ery much. Thank you for your continued support. I do have the best frie=
nds and family in the world.
Love,
Elder Ben Wilson
Hello one and all! It was as pretty good week last week.
I just wanted to start off by thanking the family for that wonderful packag=
e. THAT CHOCOLATE WAS DELICIOUS! And it's always good to get hand writt=
en letters from the two of you (No matter how angry they might be) So th=
ank you very very much, it sure makes things a lot easier when you know y=
ou have some of the most wonderful people in the world standing behind an=
d supporting you.
We had Stake conference on Sunday which was actually a regional conferenc=
e broadcast from Salt Lake City. President Packer spoke, as well as Elde=
r Jay E. Jensen and a couple of other people who's names I have, sadly, f=
orgotten. One of them told a funny story about some early pioneer settle=
rs who came to Arizona under direction from Brigham Young. Upon settling=
down here they wrote back "If you touch it, it stings you. If you pet i=
t, it bites you. And if you eat it, it kills you."
Also general Sherman of Civil war fame once wrote "We went to war with Mexi=
co once in order to take Arizona, and I think we ought to go to war with =
them again to compel them to take it back."=20
Of course it was all in good fun and the conference was awesome. We receiv=
ed some amazing advice. I particularly liked one thing that President Pa=
cker pointed out. Every prophet has their specialty. Missionary work, c=
olonization, temple building, etc... Well clearly, President Monson's sp=
ecialty is welfare. He has always been concerned about taking care of th=
e physical needs of those around him and making sure that they are cared =
for.
Well isn't it interesting that he should become prophet JUST before a major=
economic crisis hits the world and those sorts of needs are about to sta=
rt popping up everywhere. Especially when considering how long President=
Hinckley's life was preserved. President Monson truly is the man to lea=
d and guide the church in these days!
Speaking of Stake conference... a week ago, the zone leaders had a meeting =
with the stake president and they told me that he had some interest in me=
eting me. Well I went up and said hi to him at Stake Conference and it t=
urns out that he went to Business school with Dad! He said "I just want =
you to know that I think the world of your father and mother". I didn't =
realize that my parents had close friends in Tucson!
Oh and speaking of the economic crisis, people are starting to feel it arou=
nd here. We have(had) a few investigators who can't find jobs anymore so=
they're packing up and heading back to Mexico. Nothing too drastic but =
we're starting to see a few effects from it, which is why I ask about it =
from time to time.
So I did another baptismal interview this last week... and I'd just like to=
say something about the difficulties of filling out a Mexican baptism an=
d confirmation record. But isn't it just like filling out a baptism and =
confirmation record for anyone else, you ask? Oh no. Writing "Johnson, =
Mark David" Isn't that hard. But when you start getting involved with "=
Juan Carlos Ramon Pedro Medina Arroyo Sanchez de la Rosa"... things get a=
little trickier. I swear I spend half an hour just trying to figure out=
which names go where.
Oh yeah, a quick little heads up for everybody: Craig C. Christensen of th=
e 70 is going to be coming into town and we're going to be having a zone =
conference on Monday so don't wait up for an email; it won't come until T=
uesday.
On Friday my companion got in a fist fight with the pavement (fell off his =
bike). His arm and finger got chewed up pretty good but he's recovering =
really fast. He was trying to take a corner without using any hands. It=
was really hard not to laugh.
We had to come in early on Halloween. I carved a pumpkin after the fashion=
of my pirate face (picture to come by mail within the next week). It wa=
s of exceedingly fine workmanship, if I don't say so myself.
This week I have been reflecting somewhat on criticism, humility, the gospe=
l, and our ability to change. The natural man hates criticism, because h=
e has a stronger desire to appear good than to be good, and criticism is =
a reflection of his looking bad. The saint loves criticism, because he h=
as a stronger desire to do and be good than to appear good, and criticism=
helps him to see where he can appear.
So if you're wondering why this email is breaking my recent streak of writi=
ng shorter and shorter emails, the answer is because my Mother wrote me a=
letter addressing the length of my emails, and took about the same tone =
that Joseph Smith took near the end of his life when writing to or about =
William Law and his associates. Thankfully I was able to use that critic=
ism in a constructive way, rather than getting angry (Which is a great b=
lessing from God since my initial reaction was to do quite the opposite.)
Well we've found a few more investigators since last week. The work isn't =
exactly going at a neckbreak pace but it's starting to pick up again. Ev=
ery investigator is a blessing and I'm certainly greatful for the opportu=
nity that i have to serve here and meet the people of South Tucson.
Well everybody that's about it for this weeks edition. I love you all so v=
ery much. Thank you for your continued support. I do have the best frie=
nds and family in the world.
Love,
Elder Ben Wilson
My Name is Diego Montoya, Prepare to Die!
October 20, 2008
Hello everybody! Life goes on here in Tucson. Honestly, not much has happened between Thursday and today but I'll try to make up something so that you have something to read today.
Saturday I got sick again. Really sick. (Thanks for the Emergen-C!) I'm good now, but my companion just came down with the same thing today... So that kind of put a damper on the end of the week.
Mom's Question: Yes I think I could find some pictures to take if you sent me that camera. I plan on sending you some pictures today... apparently cameras go out of date fast. All these new missionaries coming in have cameras with ten times more megapixels or something like that!
Thanks for all the pictures! Although just a warning: I don't have very much space in my mailbox and I got sent that 2mb picture of Mom & Dad with the Highams FOUR TIMES by four different people. So we might need to get some cross-family coordination going on or something like that.
Thanks for the pictures from home. The house looks good... different... it was weird to see my room look different but that's cool.
Well ladies and gents... I would write more but I'm not sure what else to say! I'm alive and well and spreading the restored gospel!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Hello everybody! Life goes on here in Tucson. Honestly, not much has happened between Thursday and today but I'll try to make up something so that you have something to read today.
Saturday I got sick again. Really sick. (Thanks for the Emergen-C!) I'm good now, but my companion just came down with the same thing today... So that kind of put a damper on the end of the week.
Mom's Question: Yes I think I could find some pictures to take if you sent me that camera. I plan on sending you some pictures today... apparently cameras go out of date fast. All these new missionaries coming in have cameras with ten times more megapixels or something like that!
Thanks for all the pictures! Although just a warning: I don't have very much space in my mailbox and I got sent that 2mb picture of Mom & Dad with the Highams FOUR TIMES by four different people. So we might need to get some cross-family coordination going on or something like that.
Thanks for the pictures from home. The house looks good... different... it was weird to see my room look different but that's cool.
Well ladies and gents... I would write more but I'm not sure what else to say! I'm alive and well and spreading the restored gospel!
Love,
Elder Wilson
What are the odds that that trap door led me out here?
October 15, 2008
Hello everybody! They didn't quite manage to kick me out of Los Reales yet, I'm still here with Elder Thomas. We'll be spending another transfer together which oficially makes him the companion who I've spent the most amount of time with.
Questions regarding the medical bill: The cause was that I got a big 'ol splinter shoved under my fingernail. Haven't been hit by a car on my bike, but my companion has!
I've been feeling sick lately. Things went from HOT to decent to pretty cold really fast. It still gets hot during the day but right now it's starting to get really really cold at night. So basically the first night that that happened I was caught unawares and got chilled and caught a pretty bad cold.
Which brings me to a pretty cool story. My companion and I got sick. I was feeling pretty miserable. So I was really REALLY lookoing forward to my sleep that night. Well around 1:00 AM I wake up and my companion is snoring louder than a death medal band + a jet engine on my head. I wait ten minutes to see if he'll stop, he doesn't, and so I pack up my blanket and pillow and head to the other side of the house. The thing that makes this particularly unpleasant is that we don't have any carpet in the entire house, just linolium. Well five minutes into tossing and turning on a rock hard floor I realize that this isn't going to work. So I got up and said a prayer and asked God to help me sleep through the night. I laid back down and immediately the thought entereed into my head "Elder Thomas stopped snoring". OKAY! I head back into the room and Elder Thomas is sleeping like a baby and didn't snore for the whole rest of the night. It was a testimony builder for me that God is concerned about the little things in our lives.
I got the packages that you sent me. THANK YOU! It was nice to get some food from back home. Big morale booster.
Oh and my camera and my charger and everything is present and in working order. The only problem is that I often forget to bring it with me when photo opportunities pop-up but I'll try to send you a few pictures in the future.
Well that's about it for this week's eidition. The work of God continues progressing. I love you all and am so greatful for such wonderful parents, siblings, friends and associates. I'm so greatful to be a missionary! This is an amazing work! THE GOSPEL IS TRUE!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Hello everybody! They didn't quite manage to kick me out of Los Reales yet, I'm still here with Elder Thomas. We'll be spending another transfer together which oficially makes him the companion who I've spent the most amount of time with.
Questions regarding the medical bill: The cause was that I got a big 'ol splinter shoved under my fingernail. Haven't been hit by a car on my bike, but my companion has!
I've been feeling sick lately. Things went from HOT to decent to pretty cold really fast. It still gets hot during the day but right now it's starting to get really really cold at night. So basically the first night that that happened I was caught unawares and got chilled and caught a pretty bad cold.
Which brings me to a pretty cool story. My companion and I got sick. I was feeling pretty miserable. So I was really REALLY lookoing forward to my sleep that night. Well around 1:00 AM I wake up and my companion is snoring louder than a death medal band + a jet engine on my head. I wait ten minutes to see if he'll stop, he doesn't, and so I pack up my blanket and pillow and head to the other side of the house. The thing that makes this particularly unpleasant is that we don't have any carpet in the entire house, just linolium. Well five minutes into tossing and turning on a rock hard floor I realize that this isn't going to work. So I got up and said a prayer and asked God to help me sleep through the night. I laid back down and immediately the thought entereed into my head "Elder Thomas stopped snoring". OKAY! I head back into the room and Elder Thomas is sleeping like a baby and didn't snore for the whole rest of the night. It was a testimony builder for me that God is concerned about the little things in our lives.
I got the packages that you sent me. THANK YOU! It was nice to get some food from back home. Big morale booster.
Oh and my camera and my charger and everything is present and in working order. The only problem is that I often forget to bring it with me when photo opportunities pop-up but I'll try to send you a few pictures in the future.
Well that's about it for this week's eidition. The work of God continues progressing. I love you all and am so greatful for such wonderful parents, siblings, friends and associates. I'm so greatful to be a missionary! This is an amazing work! THE GOSPEL IS TRUE!
Love,
Elder Wilson
You Rush a Miracle Man, You Get Rotten Miracles
October 6, 2008
Hello everybody! Tucson is... NOT SO HOT ANYMORE! Hopefully it's not just a temporary thing but things actually cooled off yesterday. WOAH! I can't believe it! I was ready to do backflips when I walked out of conference on Saturday around 11:30 and it was mildly warm with a slight breeze. Yes, there was much high-fiving, hugging, celebrating, and screaming for joy from the only full-bike companionship in Tucson.
Yes indeed, conference was amazing. I actually liked the earlier sessions better, confirming Mom's theory that when there are less people at a meeting (especially because of some sort of physical difficulty or inconvencience), it is correspondingly more spiritually powerful. You all pretty much guessed the ones I liked: Sis. Allred, Elder Oaks, Pres. Uchtdorf, Pres. Eyring, Elder Daikutaikus (or whatever his name was), ELDER WIRTHLIN, Elder Christofferson, ok actually I'm going to stop because I could just pretty much go through everyone who spoke. WOW! What an amazing and spiritually uplifting conference! I was literally almost shaking with excitement when President Monson went through and announced all of the new temples.
And who saw the special on President Monson? Holy smokes! What a guy! He also happens to have the most photographic memory I've ever even heard of. "When I first saw my wife I was on the corner of 22nd east and 3rd south, it was 3:22 PM, I was wearing black shoes that I had bought on sale a week earlier and there was a slight breeze blowing to the west."
Unfortunately the investigators didn't quite make their way over (I would have loved for some of them to have heard that talk about the BOM by Elder Daikakutaituakaitus). But there's always conference talks on DVD, right?
Hmmm... it seems like conference has wiped my memory clean of anything and everything else that's going on. Oh yeah, transfers are a week from Wednesday (and there's a pretty decent chance I'll get shipped out) so get cautious with letter writing once we get close to that date. I'm excited for these transfers because I'm getting along really well with my companion, so I'll be really happy if I stay, and I'm sick and tired of being on bikes, so I'll be really happy if I get transfered. Kind of a win-win situation.
Oh yeah, this morning I bought some pants for the suit that has been out of comission for a few months because the pants wore through completely. It was actually kind of a miracle but I found pants that were almost EXACTLY the same color. So this is kind of a round-about way of saying: you'll see my paw-marks on the next credit card bill.
Well that's it for this week's edition boys and girls. The gospel is true and I'm so greatful to be a missionary here in Tucson!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Hello everybody! Tucson is... NOT SO HOT ANYMORE! Hopefully it's not just a temporary thing but things actually cooled off yesterday. WOAH! I can't believe it! I was ready to do backflips when I walked out of conference on Saturday around 11:30 and it was mildly warm with a slight breeze. Yes, there was much high-fiving, hugging, celebrating, and screaming for joy from the only full-bike companionship in Tucson.
Yes indeed, conference was amazing. I actually liked the earlier sessions better, confirming Mom's theory that when there are less people at a meeting (especially because of some sort of physical difficulty or inconvencience), it is correspondingly more spiritually powerful. You all pretty much guessed the ones I liked: Sis. Allred, Elder Oaks, Pres. Uchtdorf, Pres. Eyring, Elder Daikutaikus (or whatever his name was), ELDER WIRTHLIN, Elder Christofferson, ok actually I'm going to stop because I could just pretty much go through everyone who spoke. WOW! What an amazing and spiritually uplifting conference! I was literally almost shaking with excitement when President Monson went through and announced all of the new temples.
And who saw the special on President Monson? Holy smokes! What a guy! He also happens to have the most photographic memory I've ever even heard of. "When I first saw my wife I was on the corner of 22nd east and 3rd south, it was 3:22 PM, I was wearing black shoes that I had bought on sale a week earlier and there was a slight breeze blowing to the west."
Unfortunately the investigators didn't quite make their way over (I would have loved for some of them to have heard that talk about the BOM by Elder Daikakutaituakaitus). But there's always conference talks on DVD, right?
Hmmm... it seems like conference has wiped my memory clean of anything and everything else that's going on. Oh yeah, transfers are a week from Wednesday (and there's a pretty decent chance I'll get shipped out) so get cautious with letter writing once we get close to that date. I'm excited for these transfers because I'm getting along really well with my companion, so I'll be really happy if I stay, and I'm sick and tired of being on bikes, so I'll be really happy if I get transfered. Kind of a win-win situation.
Oh yeah, this morning I bought some pants for the suit that has been out of comission for a few months because the pants wore through completely. It was actually kind of a miracle but I found pants that were almost EXACTLY the same color. So this is kind of a round-about way of saying: you'll see my paw-marks on the next credit card bill.
Well that's it for this week's edition boys and girls. The gospel is true and I'm so greatful to be a missionary here in Tucson!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Are There Rocks Ahead? If There Are, We'll All Be Dead
September 29, 2008
Hello everybody! It's been another awesome week here in Tucson. We had another baptism this last Saturday and it was spiritually powerful. We've been seeing a lot of success working with part-member families, and we found another one just yesterday with two un-baptized teenagers. So the work is going well.
Next week is General conference and that's exciting for a couple of reasons:
1) Hear the words of the prophets and apostles
2) I can take a break from correcting apostasy during church (Last week the Young Womens teacher let everyone know that it's okay to drink coffee as long as it's decaf)
Thanks for all the pictures from the Hales and Hare fams. Those pictures at Disneyland were crazy awesome... and baby Eva looks so cute. And I can't believe how big the Hales boys are getting. Tell them to stop growing until I get home!
Someone asked me if I'm more organized. Answer: Yes. But my memory is still somewhere around the level of a goldfish. And I still misplace things all the time. Some things even a mission can't fix.
By the way I never did receive a copy of Mom's first D&C Scripture Study. I just got an old one that I already had from Mosiah. That would be really really nice to get.
In case anyone was wondering, the weather continues about normal. 100 degrees almost every day. It's significantly better than a month or two ago, though.
Here's something that has really helped me in my teaching. I think it's good advice for anyone who teaches the gospel. Teaching Mosiah 3:19 leads to Mosiah 4:1-3. So many missionaries avoid teaching the fall because it can be somewhat tricky but it's so worth it when you do it right. It helps people to realize that their works aren't going to save them.
Which brings me to another point. Before the mission I always that Paul was kind of crazy. Why does he spend so much time on "saved by grace" doctrine? It always kind of bugged me because it leads to all of these "confess with the mouth and ye shall be saved" nuts. But after a year in the mission field I realize that 90% of people out there believe that their works are going to save them and don't really rely on the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Well anyways, I feel that I've rambled enough. (Inevitably I'll get a few emails telling me I didn't, anyways) Thank you for all the love and support. I have such amazing family and friends. Viva Tucson!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Hello everybody! It's been another awesome week here in Tucson. We had another baptism this last Saturday and it was spiritually powerful. We've been seeing a lot of success working with part-member families, and we found another one just yesterday with two un-baptized teenagers. So the work is going well.
Next week is General conference and that's exciting for a couple of reasons:
1) Hear the words of the prophets and apostles
2) I can take a break from correcting apostasy during church (Last week the Young Womens teacher let everyone know that it's okay to drink coffee as long as it's decaf)
Thanks for all the pictures from the Hales and Hare fams. Those pictures at Disneyland were crazy awesome... and baby Eva looks so cute. And I can't believe how big the Hales boys are getting. Tell them to stop growing until I get home!
Someone asked me if I'm more organized. Answer: Yes. But my memory is still somewhere around the level of a goldfish. And I still misplace things all the time. Some things even a mission can't fix.
By the way I never did receive a copy of Mom's first D&C Scripture Study. I just got an old one that I already had from Mosiah. That would be really really nice to get.
In case anyone was wondering, the weather continues about normal. 100 degrees almost every day. It's significantly better than a month or two ago, though.
Here's something that has really helped me in my teaching. I think it's good advice for anyone who teaches the gospel. Teaching Mosiah 3:19 leads to Mosiah 4:1-3. So many missionaries avoid teaching the fall because it can be somewhat tricky but it's so worth it when you do it right. It helps people to realize that their works aren't going to save them.
Which brings me to another point. Before the mission I always that Paul was kind of crazy. Why does he spend so much time on "saved by grace" doctrine? It always kind of bugged me because it leads to all of these "confess with the mouth and ye shall be saved" nuts. But after a year in the mission field I realize that 90% of people out there believe that their works are going to save them and don't really rely on the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Well anyways, I feel that I've rambled enough. (Inevitably I'll get a few emails telling me I didn't, anyways) Thank you for all the love and support. I have such amazing family and friends. Viva Tucson!
Love,
Elder Wilson
We Have No Sense Of Humor That WeAre Aware Of
September 22, 2008
Hello everyone! Unfortunately I don't have much time to write. We're here on the U of A campus and it took us almost half an hour just to find computers.
Anyways everything is going well here in Los Reales. We had a baptism on Saturday. A young man named Daniel Virgen.
I also did my first four baptismal interviews in the last week and those were very humbling, revelatory experiences.
Elder Smith is headed off to Peru on Wednesday morning, so I'll be back to a two-some. Lately we've been working out the three-some thing a lot better but I'm not going to lie: It will be really really nice to be back to training only one person.
The branch had a huge Mexican party on Saturday. It had waaaaay better attendance than any sacrament meeting has ever had. I'm not going to lie, it's a little frustrating when you've been breaking your back to get an investigator to church for a week and half to no avail but when you simply extend an invitation for a party they're there no problem. Mexicans love their parties...
I'm doing really really well. Happy and working hard. Sorry I can't write more but I'm out of time. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Hello everyone! Unfortunately I don't have much time to write. We're here on the U of A campus and it took us almost half an hour just to find computers.
Anyways everything is going well here in Los Reales. We had a baptism on Saturday. A young man named Daniel Virgen.
I also did my first four baptismal interviews in the last week and those were very humbling, revelatory experiences.
Elder Smith is headed off to Peru on Wednesday morning, so I'll be back to a two-some. Lately we've been working out the three-some thing a lot better but I'm not going to lie: It will be really really nice to be back to training only one person.
The branch had a huge Mexican party on Saturday. It had waaaaay better attendance than any sacrament meeting has ever had. I'm not going to lie, it's a little frustrating when you've been breaking your back to get an investigator to church for a week and half to no avail but when you simply extend an invitation for a party they're there no problem. Mexicans love their parties...
I'm doing really really well. Happy and working hard. Sorry I can't write more but I'm out of time. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Baxter, You Know I Don"t Speak Spanish
September 15, 2008
Hello everybody!
Well it's been a good week. I've found out a solution for the 3-some problem: Get a member to go with you and then visit appointments while your companions go out tracting! Instead of a third wheel you get a 2-for-1 deal!
We had a dissapointing Sunday despite an otherwise excellent week. One experience from Saturday that was really awesome. We went to an appointment on Saturday evening but they said they didn't have time so it fell through. Then, as we were leaving, we saw a middle-aged-woman walking down the sidewalk with her two children. I ran up and contacted her and we started talking and started teaching her the first lesson. In the middle of the lesson she started crying and told us that that morning she had been at her father's house and had been looking through some old stuff and found a Bible. She picked it up and started reading it and felt that now was the time for her and her family to get closer to God, but that she didn't know what to do or where to go next. "And now that I met you I know God is trying to send me a sign and that he has a plan for me." Woah, cool. The Lord really does have his hand in this work.
Tucson has been its usual wonderful self. Things cooled off a little for a couple of days but unfortunately that didn't last.
Mom asked me what I love about Tucson. Well Tucson as a whole is actually a beautiful charming city. The University is really cool, and it's really green and has some cool plant-life, what with all the different types of cactus and such. There really is a lot to like about the city. Even the weather is good once you get out of the summer. South Tucson (where I serve), on the other hand, is the armpit of the universe. I love the people here despite where they live. But Tucson as a whole is cool.
Well the Zone Leaders keep telling me that President Walker has an awesome new scheme to double baptisms in the mission, and then put smug looks on their faces and won't tell me what it is. So apparently we should be expecting great things from the ATM!
Well that's about it for this week's edition. I LOVE THIS WORK! We had an assistant who went home finished his mission a few months ago and now two of his friends have baptismal dates. Member-missionary efforts WORK! Please please please don't neglect your responsibilities as member-missionaries. Someone doesn't have to be your best friend in the world in order to invite them to learn more about the restored gospel.
I love you all! Thank you so much for your continuing support, especially those of you who wrote me (Mom, Dad, Chris, Harrison, Emily, Nena)!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Hello everybody!
Well it's been a good week. I've found out a solution for the 3-some problem: Get a member to go with you and then visit appointments while your companions go out tracting! Instead of a third wheel you get a 2-for-1 deal!
We had a dissapointing Sunday despite an otherwise excellent week. One experience from Saturday that was really awesome. We went to an appointment on Saturday evening but they said they didn't have time so it fell through. Then, as we were leaving, we saw a middle-aged-woman walking down the sidewalk with her two children. I ran up and contacted her and we started talking and started teaching her the first lesson. In the middle of the lesson she started crying and told us that that morning she had been at her father's house and had been looking through some old stuff and found a Bible. She picked it up and started reading it and felt that now was the time for her and her family to get closer to God, but that she didn't know what to do or where to go next. "And now that I met you I know God is trying to send me a sign and that he has a plan for me." Woah, cool. The Lord really does have his hand in this work.
Tucson has been its usual wonderful self. Things cooled off a little for a couple of days but unfortunately that didn't last.
Mom asked me what I love about Tucson. Well Tucson as a whole is actually a beautiful charming city. The University is really cool, and it's really green and has some cool plant-life, what with all the different types of cactus and such. There really is a lot to like about the city. Even the weather is good once you get out of the summer. South Tucson (where I serve), on the other hand, is the armpit of the universe. I love the people here despite where they live. But Tucson as a whole is cool.
Well the Zone Leaders keep telling me that President Walker has an awesome new scheme to double baptisms in the mission, and then put smug looks on their faces and won't tell me what it is. So apparently we should be expecting great things from the ATM!
Well that's about it for this week's edition. I LOVE THIS WORK! We had an assistant who went home finished his mission a few months ago and now two of his friends have baptismal dates. Member-missionary efforts WORK! Please please please don't neglect your responsibilities as member-missionaries. Someone doesn't have to be your best friend in the world in order to invite them to learn more about the restored gospel.
I love you all! Thank you so much for your continuing support, especially those of you who wrote me (Mom, Dad, Chris, Harrison, Emily, Nena)!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Are You Sure this Water is Sanitary? It Looks Questionable..
Sep 8, 2008
Hello everyone! I'm going to go ahead and start off by answering Mom's questions.
1) No I don't always use sunscreen.
2) I take heliocare pills often
3) I got and am thoroughly enjoying the granola. (It's disappearing at an alarmingly fast rate... Elder Smith midnight raids are suspected)
4) I don't need any more pills.
5) There aren't many bugs here, just a few cocroaches. (Thank goodness)
So working in a threesome is a little bit of a challenge. Not as many people open doors, I think it's kind of intimidating to have three people in shirts and ties on your doorstep. Elder Smith, who is waiting for his Visa, is an interesting character. He's a good missionary and he's got some great skills but he's got some quirks that took a while to get used to. Oh and we had to teach him to ride a bike and he bailed HARD five times since last Wednesday! But he's a trooper and gets back on every time.
We had Miguel's baptism this week... it was pretty awesome. Almost nobody was there, but the spirit was and that's what counts. Elder Thomas baptized him, his first baptism and he said the prayer in Spanish perfectly, yay! Very dissimilar from the baptism a week ago that took six attempts. Miguel has changed SO MUCH. It's unreal. The gospel is true, and it truly WORKS!
We played basketball this morning, and I dunked ALL OVER some elder. Warn Brig that I haven't lost it all (yet). Actually I'm becoming semi-famous in the mission for having good morning workouts. I've started stretching for the first time in my life... I can touch my toes now!
Well that's about all I have for this week. I have a goal of making next week my best email ever! I love Tucson! I never thought I'd say that but I do! And I love missionary work and the gospel! And I love you all! Send more letters!
Love,
Elder Wilson
Hello everyone! I'm going to go ahead and start off by answering Mom's questions.
1) No I don't always use sunscreen.
2) I take heliocare pills often
3) I got and am thoroughly enjoying the granola. (It's disappearing at an alarmingly fast rate... Elder Smith midnight raids are suspected)
4) I don't need any more pills.
5) There aren't many bugs here, just a few cocroaches. (Thank goodness)
So working in a threesome is a little bit of a challenge. Not as many people open doors, I think it's kind of intimidating to have three people in shirts and ties on your doorstep. Elder Smith, who is waiting for his Visa, is an interesting character. He's a good missionary and he's got some great skills but he's got some quirks that took a while to get used to. Oh and we had to teach him to ride a bike and he bailed HARD five times since last Wednesday! But he's a trooper and gets back on every time.
We had Miguel's baptism this week... it was pretty awesome. Almost nobody was there, but the spirit was and that's what counts. Elder Thomas baptized him, his first baptism and he said the prayer in Spanish perfectly, yay! Very dissimilar from the baptism a week ago that took six attempts. Miguel has changed SO MUCH. It's unreal. The gospel is true, and it truly WORKS!
We played basketball this morning, and I dunked ALL OVER some elder. Warn Brig that I haven't lost it all (yet). Actually I'm becoming semi-famous in the mission for having good morning workouts. I've started stretching for the first time in my life... I can touch my toes now!
Well that's about all I have for this week. I have a goal of making next week my best email ever! I love Tucson! I never thought I'd say that but I do! And I love missionary work and the gospel! And I love you all! Send more letters!
Love,
Elder Wilson
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