Hello one and all! It's been another great week here in Sierra Vista. I played the organ for church in the Spanish branch on Sunday. I don't know how to play the organ, so I basically forgot the pedals, and played it like a piano but tried to slur everything as much as possible. No one noticed any difference and it was good!
Our recent convert, Raymundo, hasn't made it back to church yet because he's been in and out of the hospital with his mystery disease. At first the doctors just thought it was his diabetes getting out of control but they are starting to think that there might be something else at work. So please pray for him. The good news is that his wife, an investigator, is still coming to church, even when he can't. Good to know she's not just hanging on his coattails.
This morning we went hiking up into the dragoon mountains. Beautiful. Brother Tanner, the member who drove us and came with us, showed us how to find water in the desert, how to make a fire out of a Yucca plant, and how to clean and eat a prickly pear. Useful stuff you know. You never know when you're going to need to fend for yourself in the Arizona desert.
We've been taking cold showers for most of the last week (Our propane ran out), and I've decided that I like serving state-side and that cultural experiences are over-rated. I like warm showers. We were talking with our branch mission leader about his mission, which he served in Malaga, Spain/Canary Islands. He was talking about how crazy it was to serve on some of those islands with a bunch of danger, witchcraft, people spitting on you, difficult living conditions, etc. We sat their listening and after a few seconds of silence I said "...sometimes our dinner appointments cancel on us." A trial which he, strangely, considered less challenging.
By the way I have a secret confession to make. People always tell me how hot it is in California and then say "But I try to not feel to sorry for myself knowing that you're suffering in the sweltering heat out there in Arizona." The honest truth is, the weather is great out here. It's really hot and unpleasant until about 1PM when the monsoons kick in and they keep it really cool and pleasant the rest of the day. Imagine mid 70s with slight cloud cover. So just letting you know that you're sympathizing in vain, I'm enjoying way better weather than you are.
Anyways things are going great out here in the Vista. The work of the Lord continues to go forward unhindered. I love you all very much! Thanks for the continued love and support (and for the granola! Best batch yet!)
Love,
Elder Benjamin Wilson
Monday, July 27, 2009
Isaiah 41:14
...bet you never knew that "worm" is a compliment
Hello everybody! It's been another great week here in Sierra Vista. Except for our septic tank backing up because of the monsoon season causing out trailer to STINK! But besides that, everything great.
Raymundo, our recent convert, is in the hospital because of his diabetes again. But we went and saw him yesterday and he was in really good spirits and it looks like he'll be out today. His wife came to church anyways, which is a very good sign.
We got a referral from Brother Thompson, a member of a different ward, for a Hispanic couple to teach in his home. We did and it was a great lesson. Brother Thompson's wife is a convert who used to be Catholic, so she could really relate to these people we were teaching. "Wait, you used to be Catholic just like us? and you converted? why? what was it like?" Perfect teaching situation.
On Saturday, we got contacted by two people who wanted to hear the gospel. Not something that happens everyday. We were driving on our way to dinner and some 19 year old kid waved us down and said he used to live with some members of the church and wanted to learn more. Then we got a call from a man who had talked with missionaries a couple of years ago, Elder Miller and Elder Whimmer, and he told us that he wanted us to stop by and teach him a little bit more. It's not every day that people are coming to you instead of you going to them! The Lord is really blessing us out here.
There's been a less-active, recent convert who has been coming back to church lately named Jaime. He comes from a seventh day Adventist background and even though he's a convert, he WILL NOT give up Saturday as the sabbath. He also brought his father to church on Sunday. Well we go into the gospel principles class and the teacher says "Open up to chapter 24" and I open up my book and the chapter is about... THE SABBATH DAY. I'm not going to lie, things got kind of ugly for a while with arguments and disagreements, but it turned out alright.
Things are going great out here, I love you all. Thanks for the letters, love and support.
Love,
Elder Wilson
Hello everybody! It's been another great week here in Sierra Vista. Except for our septic tank backing up because of the monsoon season causing out trailer to STINK! But besides that, everything great.
Raymundo, our recent convert, is in the hospital because of his diabetes again. But we went and saw him yesterday and he was in really good spirits and it looks like he'll be out today. His wife came to church anyways, which is a very good sign.
We got a referral from Brother Thompson, a member of a different ward, for a Hispanic couple to teach in his home. We did and it was a great lesson. Brother Thompson's wife is a convert who used to be Catholic, so she could really relate to these people we were teaching. "Wait, you used to be Catholic just like us? and you converted? why? what was it like?" Perfect teaching situation.
On Saturday, we got contacted by two people who wanted to hear the gospel. Not something that happens everyday. We were driving on our way to dinner and some 19 year old kid waved us down and said he used to live with some members of the church and wanted to learn more. Then we got a call from a man who had talked with missionaries a couple of years ago, Elder Miller and Elder Whimmer, and he told us that he wanted us to stop by and teach him a little bit more. It's not every day that people are coming to you instead of you going to them! The Lord is really blessing us out here.
There's been a less-active, recent convert who has been coming back to church lately named Jaime. He comes from a seventh day Adventist background and even though he's a convert, he WILL NOT give up Saturday as the sabbath. He also brought his father to church on Sunday. Well we go into the gospel principles class and the teacher says "Open up to chapter 24" and I open up my book and the chapter is about... THE SABBATH DAY. I'm not going to lie, things got kind of ugly for a while with arguments and disagreements, but it turned out alright.
Things are going great out here, I love you all. Thanks for the letters, love and support.
Love,
Elder Wilson
Monday, July 6, 2009
....and don't call me Shirley
Hello one and all! It's been another week here in Sierra Vista. We played basketball this morning. It was some really good ball. A member of our ward opens up the chapel and guys come to play every Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 5:30 AM. Some good ballers come. This morning there were even a couple of black guys that play at the local college, Cochise college. Needless to say, when the Wilson Family Olympics 2009 finally arrive, I will be prepared.
Raymundo is all set to be baptized this Saturday. I think we finally figured out his wife's doubt in that she's just scared of the actual ordinance of baptism and wants to see one and what happens before she gets baptized. So I think after she sees her husband get baptized she'll be ready.
Drama still continues with our investigators Ana and Jacqueline, but Ana is moving into a new apartment (and away from her abusive husband) tomorrow so things should get better after that.
This morning at basketball there was a guy visiting some family here in Sierra Vista who actually lives in San Ramon. Small world.
Yesterday at church I was translating for all of the English speakers during sacrament meeting (All the english speakers pick up ear phones coming in and I talk into a headset) and there were a lot of them because a lot of people had family in town for the 4th of July. Anyways, there was a lul in the testimony meeting where nobody was getting up and so I whispered "C'mon English speakers... you're slacking." They all started cracking up and the rest of the congregation was a little confused about why 20 people scattered throughout the chapel started laughing at the same time.
Then I got up and bore my testimony. Mostly to bare my testimony, but partially because I wanted my companion to translate the rest of the meeting (which he did).
I also have a sign off now "This has been a product of Wilson broadcasting, please tune in again next week."
Well this last week we received a referral for Bisbee (we cover Bisbee in Spanish) that was only available on Saturdays. So it was that on the 4th of July we ended up in one of the most bizarre towns in the world. First of all, it's an old, dead mining town (whatever they used to mine is all gone now) and there's a gigantic pit in the middle of the town. I mean huge. Obviously it's fenced off so you don't fall but it's pretty crazy to go and look at.
Also, because people were selling off their property cheap when the mine stopped (The town went from 60,000 to 5,000 I'm told) a bunch of hippies moved in so that they could have cheap property and barely have to work. So the place is filled with hippies, all natural co-op stores, weird murals, and every other strange thing you can imagine. Needless to say, contacting there was a little rough.
To make the situation even MORE bizarre, it was the 4th of July and they have some 4th of July traditions that have been going on there since forever. They had dry rock drilling contests (where they see who can hammer a nail into a rock the furthest in 10 minutes) and rock shoveling contests. It was just weird to see the old miner traditions and influences combined with the uber-hippy tendencies of the city now. It created a legacy that can only be described as bizarre.
4th of July was good. We watched fireworks from our roof. Other than that it was just pretty hard. People were in the mood to party, not hear about the restored gospel.
Well I'm in good health and spirits. I love you all very much. Thanks for all of the support.
Love,
Elder Wilson
PS Dad, I did get your letter, thanks.
Raymundo is all set to be baptized this Saturday. I think we finally figured out his wife's doubt in that she's just scared of the actual ordinance of baptism and wants to see one and what happens before she gets baptized. So I think after she sees her husband get baptized she'll be ready.
Drama still continues with our investigators Ana and Jacqueline, but Ana is moving into a new apartment (and away from her abusive husband) tomorrow so things should get better after that.
This morning at basketball there was a guy visiting some family here in Sierra Vista who actually lives in San Ramon. Small world.
Yesterday at church I was translating for all of the English speakers during sacrament meeting (All the english speakers pick up ear phones coming in and I talk into a headset) and there were a lot of them because a lot of people had family in town for the 4th of July. Anyways, there was a lul in the testimony meeting where nobody was getting up and so I whispered "C'mon English speakers... you're slacking." They all started cracking up and the rest of the congregation was a little confused about why 20 people scattered throughout the chapel started laughing at the same time.
Then I got up and bore my testimony. Mostly to bare my testimony, but partially because I wanted my companion to translate the rest of the meeting (which he did).
I also have a sign off now "This has been a product of Wilson broadcasting, please tune in again next week."
Well this last week we received a referral for Bisbee (we cover Bisbee in Spanish) that was only available on Saturdays. So it was that on the 4th of July we ended up in one of the most bizarre towns in the world. First of all, it's an old, dead mining town (whatever they used to mine is all gone now) and there's a gigantic pit in the middle of the town. I mean huge. Obviously it's fenced off so you don't fall but it's pretty crazy to go and look at.
Also, because people were selling off their property cheap when the mine stopped (The town went from 60,000 to 5,000 I'm told) a bunch of hippies moved in so that they could have cheap property and barely have to work. So the place is filled with hippies, all natural co-op stores, weird murals, and every other strange thing you can imagine. Needless to say, contacting there was a little rough.
To make the situation even MORE bizarre, it was the 4th of July and they have some 4th of July traditions that have been going on there since forever. They had dry rock drilling contests (where they see who can hammer a nail into a rock the furthest in 10 minutes) and rock shoveling contests. It was just weird to see the old miner traditions and influences combined with the uber-hippy tendencies of the city now. It created a legacy that can only be described as bizarre.
4th of July was good. We watched fireworks from our roof. Other than that it was just pretty hard. People were in the mood to party, not hear about the restored gospel.
Well I'm in good health and spirits. I love you all very much. Thanks for all of the support.
Love,
Elder Wilson
PS Dad, I did get your letter, thanks.
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