Hello everybody! It's been another week here in sunny EP/ST/SP. Elder Jones and I are still hard at work. The Antunezs got to go through the temple for the first time this last Wednesday to do baptisms. They loved it! The 5th ward is such an amazing ward. All we have to do is say "Frank and Grace need to go to the temple ASAP" and it gets done!
We had a cool experience on Saturday night. We went to our 8 o'clock appointment and they weren't there. We had visited everyone else earlier in the day, and Elder Jones and I were just kinda wondering... "Well, what do we do now?" Just then a young man, Eddy, walked past and we contacted him. He said "I really have to go, but where's your church, I'll go tomorrow." Yeah...right kid (Even missionaries get cynical sometimes) But we gave him the information just to humor him. Well who comes walking in the doors the next morning at 11:20 but Eddy! Double bonus, he works at Men's Wearhouse so if we baptize him we could probably get some sweet discounts on ties (I know I shouldn't be thinking about these kinds of things but I can't help it).
Last monday we went on exchanges with the assistants and had an amazing day, we found seven new investigators in half a day.
Yesterday at church I got about 10 comments "Elder Wilson, you're still here? Haven't you been here for a really long time?" Which isn't cool because then I always get the related question "How long have you been on your mission?" and then the "Oh wow! That's a long time. What are you planning on doing when you get back? Are you going to college? Do you have a girlfriend?" etc. etc.
Our investigator Carlos, is having a tough time working up the faith to ask for Sundays off from work. What makes it worse is he says he hates being pressured, and completely closes off any time you try to apply even a little pressure. So if anyone has any suggestions, please do tell.
Well that's about it for this week's edition. I love you all very much!
Love,
Elder Ben Wilson
Monday, April 20, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Brick, where did you get a grenade?
Hello everybody! It's been a great week out here in the desert. We had some wonderful services for Easter. We sang "Creo en Cristo" (I believe in Christ) in the Spanish ward along with the other two missionary companionships. I don't have a long history of singing in sacrament meetings so that was a little bit nerve racking for me but it went really well I think!
Also, we had quite a miracle this week. The Varela chronicles continue. We were scheduled to go on exchanges with the Chaparral elders this tuesday. Elder Jones was going to head out to Chaparral and I was going to stay here. Well the spirit kept impressing me "Go to Chaparral." I kept saying "No that doesn't make any sense, Elder Jones just got in the area and he doesn't know how to get around town yet, I can't leave the area." But the impression just kept coming "Go to Chaparral." So we called up the Chappy town elders and told them that there was a change of plans, that I would be going over there with them. Now we need to step back a second. Veronica Varela is an investigator that my companion and I found a year ago who has wanted to get baptized for forever but her significant other of 13 years hasn't been willing to marry her until a few weeks ago. The wedding date is set for April 26 and the baptismal date is May 2.
Well while we were on exchanges we went to teach Veronica. As soon as we got there to the house I could tell that something was wrong. I asked her how things were going and she said " Chewie* (her husband) says that if I keep meeting with the missionaries and going to church, he won't marry me. I'm not going to keep going with it. I'm not even sure if it's true anyways, it's just not worth it to keep going."
Well that was devastating to say the least. But in that moment I was able to do what no other missionary currently serving in the Arizona Tucson Mission could have done. I looked her in the eye and said "You do know it's true, I was there and I know you received an answer from God." and she couldn't deny it. We then went on to talk about trials and sacrifice (We read about Abraham from Genesis, it was pretty intense) and by the end she said "I'm willing to do whatever God asks of me." Veronica has met with the missionaries every day since then and she came to church yesterday. She doesn't know what's going to happen with her husband(or whatever you want to call him) but she does know that she's going to follow through with her comitment to the Lord to be baptized.
Do you remember the feeling of when you were a kid and you would stand on your Dad's feet and he would grab your hands and he would walk you around and move your arms kind of like a puppet? In the best of times, you feel like that in the service of the Lord. You act, but not on your own ideas. You talk, but the words aren't yours. You move, but it's someone else who's moving you. It gives you a new perspective on Jesus' prayer that we may be "One, even as thou, Father are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us"
We also had an amazing experience last night teaching an investigator whose father died a few years ago. She wanted to know where he was, and if there was any hope for him since he hadn't ever accepted what we are sharing with her. We had already planned to teach her the plan of salvation, and it was incredible to see the peace and understanding that filled her as the spirit descended and comforted and testified to her.
To answer your questions... we normally teach about 15-20 lessons a week. For easter we had a good dinner with one of the families from the 5th ward... and then went out and worked. The weather is warm and sunny, but not too hot. We don't have a branch, we have two wards, and they're both normal sized wards. How are my clothes holding up? They're not. However, somehow I'll manage to make it to the end with what I've got. No use in buying more missionary clothes with 4 months left. We eat with members 6 days a week, and one of them usually forgets so really about 5 times a week. I have learned to LOVE Mexican food except for Chicharrones and Menudo. In a p-day we have to wash the car, do email, do laundry, go shopping, clean the apartment, and today our P-day ends at 2 because we're on exchanges with the Assistants.
That's all for this week's edition. I love you all very much.
Love,
Elder Ben Wilson
*Chewie is a nickname in spanish for Jesus... don't ask me how.
Also, we had quite a miracle this week. The Varela chronicles continue. We were scheduled to go on exchanges with the Chaparral elders this tuesday. Elder Jones was going to head out to Chaparral and I was going to stay here. Well the spirit kept impressing me "Go to Chaparral." I kept saying "No that doesn't make any sense, Elder Jones just got in the area and he doesn't know how to get around town yet, I can't leave the area." But the impression just kept coming "Go to Chaparral." So we called up the Chappy town elders and told them that there was a change of plans, that I would be going over there with them. Now we need to step back a second. Veronica Varela is an investigator that my companion and I found a year ago who has wanted to get baptized for forever but her significant other of 13 years hasn't been willing to marry her until a few weeks ago. The wedding date is set for April 26 and the baptismal date is May 2.
Well while we were on exchanges we went to teach Veronica. As soon as we got there to the house I could tell that something was wrong. I asked her how things were going and she said " Chewie* (her husband) says that if I keep meeting with the missionaries and going to church, he won't marry me. I'm not going to keep going with it. I'm not even sure if it's true anyways, it's just not worth it to keep going."
Well that was devastating to say the least. But in that moment I was able to do what no other missionary currently serving in the Arizona Tucson Mission could have done. I looked her in the eye and said "You do know it's true, I was there and I know you received an answer from God." and she couldn't deny it. We then went on to talk about trials and sacrifice (We read about Abraham from Genesis, it was pretty intense) and by the end she said "I'm willing to do whatever God asks of me." Veronica has met with the missionaries every day since then and she came to church yesterday. She doesn't know what's going to happen with her husband(or whatever you want to call him) but she does know that she's going to follow through with her comitment to the Lord to be baptized.
Do you remember the feeling of when you were a kid and you would stand on your Dad's feet and he would grab your hands and he would walk you around and move your arms kind of like a puppet? In the best of times, you feel like that in the service of the Lord. You act, but not on your own ideas. You talk, but the words aren't yours. You move, but it's someone else who's moving you. It gives you a new perspective on Jesus' prayer that we may be "One, even as thou, Father are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us"
We also had an amazing experience last night teaching an investigator whose father died a few years ago. She wanted to know where he was, and if there was any hope for him since he hadn't ever accepted what we are sharing with her. We had already planned to teach her the plan of salvation, and it was incredible to see the peace and understanding that filled her as the spirit descended and comforted and testified to her.
To answer your questions... we normally teach about 15-20 lessons a week. For easter we had a good dinner with one of the families from the 5th ward... and then went out and worked. The weather is warm and sunny, but not too hot. We don't have a branch, we have two wards, and they're both normal sized wards. How are my clothes holding up? They're not. However, somehow I'll manage to make it to the end with what I've got. No use in buying more missionary clothes with 4 months left. We eat with members 6 days a week, and one of them usually forgets so really about 5 times a week. I have learned to LOVE Mexican food except for Chicharrones and Menudo. In a p-day we have to wash the car, do email, do laundry, go shopping, clean the apartment, and today our P-day ends at 2 because we're on exchanges with the Assistants.
That's all for this week's edition. I love you all very much.
Love,
Elder Ben Wilson
*Chewie is a nickname in spanish for Jesus... don't ask me how.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Bonesaw is ready....
Hello everybody! It is indeed transfer week and I am... still here in El Paso/Sunland Park/Santa Teresa! I have a new companion, his name is Elder Jones. He's from Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye territory). Elder Bennion is headed over to Chaparral! That's pretty exciting. Three months ago he was an English Elder enjoying University wards and steak and potatoe dinners, and now he's headed to the ghettoest part of the mission.
This last Saturday we had the baptisms of two brothers, David and Edgar Colmenero. They're thirteen and fourteen years old, we had to reactivate the Mom and we're still working on their older brother (inactive) and their Dad (Non-member). It was a great baptismal service, and they're wonderful young men.
We had a couple of investigators at church. Carol showed up which is awesome. I think I already mentioned her, she's 17 years old, and she called for a book of Mormon from a pass-along card that she found in her door. Her Dad won't let us teach her in the house, so we had the 2nd lesson at starbucks and we have an appointment for tomorrow at Whataburger. (We're debating whether or not we should go back to Starbucks when we teach the word of wisdom). She's got a baptismal date for this month and she's progressing well.
We're all excited for Conference this weekend. We're all taking our guesses on who the next apostle is going to be. I've got:
1) Neil Andersen
2) Cesil(sp?) Samuelson
3) Richard G. Hinckley
I tried to convince Elder Bennion that we should take bets but he wasn't a big fan of that idea. But now he's gone and Elder Jones is her so we'll see what he says. Just kidding... (but seriously)
Frank Antunez received the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday. That was a very special experience. He was so excited. It was so refreshing to hear his perspective on the priesthood. After church he just kept asking us "How can I use this? How can I serve? How can I help my family with this?" I love hearing outsiders' perspectives on things such as this. It makes you realize how much you take for granted. You've got to realize how others look at the word priesthood. Grace was so proud to have a priesthood-holder as a husband.
We had to tell an investigator to stop praying to Joseph Smith. Catholic habits can be hard to kick. We found out he was using the picture of the first vision from the first lesson pamphlet as an imagen. (image? idol?) I know that that's bad and really not that funny but I had a really hard time keeping a straight face when he told us all that.
The Varela family drove out from Chaparral on Saturday. They remembered that it was my birthday and they took me to lunch. That was awesome. Veronica's 11-year boyfriend is finally marrying her on April 25th (The same one that I taught a year ago when I was in chappytown). She asked if I would do the baptism if I was still around, and I will be! Yay!
Well that's about it for this week. Thanks to whoever sent me those white pants and that white tie. I really appreciate it. And thanks to Grammie for the birthday card.
The work is going great out here! I love being a missionary!
Love,
Elder Ben Wilson
This last Saturday we had the baptisms of two brothers, David and Edgar Colmenero. They're thirteen and fourteen years old, we had to reactivate the Mom and we're still working on their older brother (inactive) and their Dad (Non-member). It was a great baptismal service, and they're wonderful young men.
We had a couple of investigators at church. Carol showed up which is awesome. I think I already mentioned her, she's 17 years old, and she called for a book of Mormon from a pass-along card that she found in her door. Her Dad won't let us teach her in the house, so we had the 2nd lesson at starbucks and we have an appointment for tomorrow at Whataburger. (We're debating whether or not we should go back to Starbucks when we teach the word of wisdom). She's got a baptismal date for this month and she's progressing well.
We're all excited for Conference this weekend. We're all taking our guesses on who the next apostle is going to be. I've got:
1) Neil Andersen
2) Cesil(sp?) Samuelson
3) Richard G. Hinckley
I tried to convince Elder Bennion that we should take bets but he wasn't a big fan of that idea. But now he's gone and Elder Jones is her so we'll see what he says. Just kidding... (but seriously)
Frank Antunez received the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday. That was a very special experience. He was so excited. It was so refreshing to hear his perspective on the priesthood. After church he just kept asking us "How can I use this? How can I serve? How can I help my family with this?" I love hearing outsiders' perspectives on things such as this. It makes you realize how much you take for granted. You've got to realize how others look at the word priesthood. Grace was so proud to have a priesthood-holder as a husband.
We had to tell an investigator to stop praying to Joseph Smith. Catholic habits can be hard to kick. We found out he was using the picture of the first vision from the first lesson pamphlet as an imagen. (image? idol?) I know that that's bad and really not that funny but I had a really hard time keeping a straight face when he told us all that.
The Varela family drove out from Chaparral on Saturday. They remembered that it was my birthday and they took me to lunch. That was awesome. Veronica's 11-year boyfriend is finally marrying her on April 25th (The same one that I taught a year ago when I was in chappytown). She asked if I would do the baptism if I was still around, and I will be! Yay!
Well that's about it for this week. Thanks to whoever sent me those white pants and that white tie. I really appreciate it. And thanks to Grammie for the birthday card.
The work is going great out here! I love being a missionary!
Love,
Elder Ben Wilson
Monday, March 23, 2009
There was NO subject line! What's happening!
Hello everybody! It's been a great week out here in the desert. Things are starting to heat up already. Mid to high 80's all week long. That might sound like good news to you, but honestly, it's kind of foreboding when you're wearing a shirt and tie all week long.
Frank and Grace were baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. The baptism was great and we had a lot of support from the ward. Brother Meek (A convert from a couple of months ago) gave a talk at the baptism. He was a little nervous, I think, but he did a GREAT job. It's so fun to see him get up there, he was a baptist for a looong time and was very active, so his talk was kind of like a good 'ol Baptist sermon (I think, I've never really seen one) but with Mormon doctrine. He and his wife have been really active in fellowshipping and helping Frank and Grace.
By the way, I'm getting a little bigger. I lost my baptism pants a while back, so I asked an elder in our zone if I could try using his. They were 32s, which I knew would be a little snug for me but I thought I'd still be able to fit... wrong. I had to end up using a pair of pants that were miraculously just sitting there in the changing room and pretty much fitted me perfectly (seriously!)
We have two baptisms this coming Saturday. Two young men from a part-member family that we've been reactivating.
I got Chris and Kate's package today. Thank you so much! Those ties are AWESOME!
Thanks to Dad for keeping me updated on MV Basketball and being the most faithful writer on the planet.
And thanks to anyone and everyone else who wrote me. Brig, Mary, it was good to get emails from both of you. Grammie and Poppa, thanks for taking the time to think of me. Ryan Curtis... good to hear from you.
The work is amazing out here! Thanks for all the support!
Till next week,
Elder Ben Wilson
Frank and Grace were baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. The baptism was great and we had a lot of support from the ward. Brother Meek (A convert from a couple of months ago) gave a talk at the baptism. He was a little nervous, I think, but he did a GREAT job. It's so fun to see him get up there, he was a baptist for a looong time and was very active, so his talk was kind of like a good 'ol Baptist sermon (I think, I've never really seen one) but with Mormon doctrine. He and his wife have been really active in fellowshipping and helping Frank and Grace.
By the way, I'm getting a little bigger. I lost my baptism pants a while back, so I asked an elder in our zone if I could try using his. They were 32s, which I knew would be a little snug for me but I thought I'd still be able to fit... wrong. I had to end up using a pair of pants that were miraculously just sitting there in the changing room and pretty much fitted me perfectly (seriously!)
We have two baptisms this coming Saturday. Two young men from a part-member family that we've been reactivating.
I got Chris and Kate's package today. Thank you so much! Those ties are AWESOME!
Thanks to Dad for keeping me updated on MV Basketball and being the most faithful writer on the planet.
And thanks to anyone and everyone else who wrote me. Brig, Mary, it was good to get emails from both of you. Grammie and Poppa, thanks for taking the time to think of me. Ryan Curtis... good to hear from you.
The work is amazing out here! Thanks for all the support!
Till next week,
Elder Ben Wilson
Monday, March 16, 2009
Your beard is so...twisted
Hello everybody! It's hard to believe that it's been another week out here in sunny El Paso. Things are going well over here and we're excited for the things that are happening.
We have found A LOT of really good investigators. With one investigator, we left 3 Nephi 11 to read and when we got back, she asked "What do I need to do in order to be ready to get baptized?" We have another appointment with her tonight. We actually had that happen with another investigator as well. Very, very prepared people.
We have two baptisms scheduled for this Saturday. We were supposed to have two more but they went on Spring Break to San Antonio and we have to wait a couple of weeks (kind of a bummer).
We have another investigator named Carol, her Dad kicked us out of her house but says that we can still teach her as long as it isn't in his home. So we try to teach her as much as possible at tables at fast food restaurants and Starbucks' and the likes.
Besides that, not too much is happening. I wish I had more stories to tell but I'm drawing a blank right now. To answer some questions:
I'm not taking as many pictures as I should, so I'll change my ways and transfer day is on April 1st. (wait, President, is this a joke?)
I love you all very much. Congrats to the MV BBall team for getting to Norcal finals.
Much love,
Elder Wilson
We have found A LOT of really good investigators. With one investigator, we left 3 Nephi 11 to read and when we got back, she asked "What do I need to do in order to be ready to get baptized?" We have another appointment with her tonight. We actually had that happen with another investigator as well. Very, very prepared people.
We have two baptisms scheduled for this Saturday. We were supposed to have two more but they went on Spring Break to San Antonio and we have to wait a couple of weeks (kind of a bummer).
We have another investigator named Carol, her Dad kicked us out of her house but says that we can still teach her as long as it isn't in his home. So we try to teach her as much as possible at tables at fast food restaurants and Starbucks' and the likes.
Besides that, not too much is happening. I wish I had more stories to tell but I'm drawing a blank right now. To answer some questions:
I'm not taking as many pictures as I should, so I'll change my ways and transfer day is on April 1st. (wait, President, is this a joke?)
I love you all very much. Congrats to the MV BBall team for getting to Norcal finals.
Much love,
Elder Wilson
Monday, March 9, 2009
Fool of Took
I'm sorry to say that this is going to be one of those disappointing, short emails. I've only got 10 minutes so I didn't read all of the emails that you sent me (sorry!) so sorry if I don't answer all of your questions.
It's been raining yesterday and today. The weather is very VERY nice right now.
Some of the English elders in our zone found a golden investigator from the young ambassadors performance. Some friends invited her and she loved it and she's currently progressing quite well, so way to go YAs!
We have five investigators progressing right now. Enrique is going to get a baptismal interview some time this week which is a complete MIRACLE! He's come a Looooong way.
My companion beat me in a heart breaker this morning:
6-3, 4-6, 7-5
Ouch.
Last week's quote comes from Galaxy Quest.
Our Zone Leader Council Meetings are held in Lordsburg, New Mexico. It's the half-way point of the mission.
For my birthday I wouldn't mind a couple of CDs. That three hour ride to Lordsburg is a great opportunity to listen to some talks. I love talks. And also that new Motab cd "Praise to the man" Looks pretty awesome so you could include that. And socks.
In priesthood, Bishop asked if anyone had any announcements and one of our investigators, Frank, stood up and said "My Baptism is on March 21st and you're all invited." So that was pretty AWESOME!
Well it's about that time. We're having a little zone get together to play some ball in two minutes so I'm gotta leave right now. Much love!
Love,
Elder Tree Wilson
PS from Elder Ben's Mom: His birthday is March 28th. He will be 21!
It's been raining yesterday and today. The weather is very VERY nice right now.
Some of the English elders in our zone found a golden investigator from the young ambassadors performance. Some friends invited her and she loved it and she's currently progressing quite well, so way to go YAs!
We have five investigators progressing right now. Enrique is going to get a baptismal interview some time this week which is a complete MIRACLE! He's come a Looooong way.
My companion beat me in a heart breaker this morning:
6-3, 4-6, 7-5
Ouch.
Last week's quote comes from Galaxy Quest.
Our Zone Leader Council Meetings are held in Lordsburg, New Mexico. It's the half-way point of the mission.
For my birthday I wouldn't mind a couple of CDs. That three hour ride to Lordsburg is a great opportunity to listen to some talks. I love talks. And also that new Motab cd "Praise to the man" Looks pretty awesome so you could include that. And socks.
In priesthood, Bishop asked if anyone had any announcements and one of our investigators, Frank, stood up and said "My Baptism is on March 21st and you're all invited." So that was pretty AWESOME!
Well it's about that time. We're having a little zone get together to play some ball in two minutes so I'm gotta leave right now. Much love!
Love,
Elder Tree Wilson
PS from Elder Ben's Mom: His birthday is March 28th. He will be 21!
Monday, March 2, 2009
By Grapthar's hammer, by the sons of Warband, you shall be avenged!
Hello everybody! It's been quite a week here in El Paso. The work continues to roll forward in this little part of the vineyard.
This week was stake conference and we had a video broadcast from Salt Lake. Is the church starting to do that for all stake conferences? It's been that way for the last two that I've attended. Anyways, President Uchtdorf spoke as well as Elder Cook, Brother Oswald from the Sunday school presidency, and Bishop Edgley from the Presiding Bishopric. It was very cool and spiritually uplifting although a few of our investigators thought it was weird to watch church on TV.
Other big news, the BYU young ambassadors came through town this past week. We were allowed to attend their performance on the condition of having some investigators present (Which we did), and it was INCREDIBLE! I'm still rather baffled at how someone can sing so perfectly while running around and dancing. Our investigators loved it, too.
Tuesday night, we got a call from the institute director here in El Paso telling us that they were going to have a luncheon at the institute for all of the young ambassadors and that we were invited as well. Well we had a district meeting that was going to end at that exact same time so we just moved the district meeting up to the institute building and stayed for a little lunch.
Well when the young ambassadors showed up they started introducing themselves and getting to know us a little and I was talking to one of them who asked where I was from. "San Francisco" I responded, he said "Oh that's cool, we got a guy here who's from a little town called Danville." I look over and it was none other than Josh Bromley! The Auman girls were there too and I think Jordan Bromley might have been there, (He was on the program) but I didn't see him. It was nice to see a familiar face and catch up a little bit on what's going on back home. Josh is a really good guy and I felt guilt pangs while talking to him for having made fun of Show Biz growing up. (But those bright shirts with the star are just so easy!)
Anyways, afterwards they sang to us and a few other people who happened to be at the institute and it was INCREDIBLE! There's no way I can describe the feelings that were invoked by those heavenly voices. They sang some well known semi-hymns (Such as "Come Thou Fount") and then finished off with I am a Child of God.
I had an experience this week where my sports knowledge payed off. We taught a 15 year old young man named Bryan a week ago and when we went to the return appointment we got yelled at by his Dad for knocking on the door too hard. So we were on less than perfect terms with the father when we went back to try to teach Bryan again. The father answered the door and looked like he was about to unload on us but before he could get anything out I commented about his Notre Dame hat. We talked about the Fighting Irish and Charlie Weisz and their current woes for about ten minutes and he really opened up and when we left we were on good terms and he wanted us to come back to teach his son more (About the gospel, that is). What can I say? You knew watching an hour of sportscenter a day had to pay off at some point down the road.
One more experience and then I'm done. Elder Bennion and I were asked to give a training at ZLCM (Zone Leader Council Meeting), which was kinda scary. We give a lot of trainings but it's a little different when you're in front of 16 of the mission's best missionaries, along with the assistants and Mission presidency. We were asked to train on "Getting back to the basics". Well we studied and studied for hours in preparation but nothing really seemed to work out quite right. Finally, the day before I felt inspired to look through my binder of old letters. I found a handout that Dad had sent me a while ago called "Essential Principles for Missionary Work" (or something like that) by Elder M. Russell Ballard. Well it was perfect. It was EXACTLY what we needed and were looking for. My companion presented it "We received this handout from Larry Y. Wilson of the 70" which was pretty funny. (Although technically incorrect) Anyways, the handout is sweeping the mission and the training was met by rave reviews and has become the focus of the mission for this transfer cycle. It just goes to show that seemingly small acts (Like including a handout in a letter to your missionary son) can make rather large differences in the world.
Well anyways, I've written quite a lot and that's about all I have to say for this week. The gospel is true and this is the greatest work to be a part of. Keep writing, I appreciate the letters.
Sincerely,
Elder Ben Wilson
This week was stake conference and we had a video broadcast from Salt Lake. Is the church starting to do that for all stake conferences? It's been that way for the last two that I've attended. Anyways, President Uchtdorf spoke as well as Elder Cook, Brother Oswald from the Sunday school presidency, and Bishop Edgley from the Presiding Bishopric. It was very cool and spiritually uplifting although a few of our investigators thought it was weird to watch church on TV.
Other big news, the BYU young ambassadors came through town this past week. We were allowed to attend their performance on the condition of having some investigators present (Which we did), and it was INCREDIBLE! I'm still rather baffled at how someone can sing so perfectly while running around and dancing. Our investigators loved it, too.
Tuesday night, we got a call from the institute director here in El Paso telling us that they were going to have a luncheon at the institute for all of the young ambassadors and that we were invited as well. Well we had a district meeting that was going to end at that exact same time so we just moved the district meeting up to the institute building and stayed for a little lunch.
Well when the young ambassadors showed up they started introducing themselves and getting to know us a little and I was talking to one of them who asked where I was from. "San Francisco" I responded, he said "Oh that's cool, we got a guy here who's from a little town called Danville." I look over and it was none other than Josh Bromley! The Auman girls were there too and I think Jordan Bromley might have been there, (He was on the program) but I didn't see him. It was nice to see a familiar face and catch up a little bit on what's going on back home. Josh is a really good guy and I felt guilt pangs while talking to him for having made fun of Show Biz growing up. (But those bright shirts with the star are just so easy!)
Anyways, afterwards they sang to us and a few other people who happened to be at the institute and it was INCREDIBLE! There's no way I can describe the feelings that were invoked by those heavenly voices. They sang some well known semi-hymns (Such as "Come Thou Fount") and then finished off with I am a Child of God.
I had an experience this week where my sports knowledge payed off. We taught a 15 year old young man named Bryan a week ago and when we went to the return appointment we got yelled at by his Dad for knocking on the door too hard. So we were on less than perfect terms with the father when we went back to try to teach Bryan again. The father answered the door and looked like he was about to unload on us but before he could get anything out I commented about his Notre Dame hat. We talked about the Fighting Irish and Charlie Weisz and their current woes for about ten minutes and he really opened up and when we left we were on good terms and he wanted us to come back to teach his son more (About the gospel, that is). What can I say? You knew watching an hour of sportscenter a day had to pay off at some point down the road.
One more experience and then I'm done. Elder Bennion and I were asked to give a training at ZLCM (Zone Leader Council Meeting), which was kinda scary. We give a lot of trainings but it's a little different when you're in front of 16 of the mission's best missionaries, along with the assistants and Mission presidency. We were asked to train on "Getting back to the basics". Well we studied and studied for hours in preparation but nothing really seemed to work out quite right. Finally, the day before I felt inspired to look through my binder of old letters. I found a handout that Dad had sent me a while ago called "Essential Principles for Missionary Work" (or something like that) by Elder M. Russell Ballard. Well it was perfect. It was EXACTLY what we needed and were looking for. My companion presented it "We received this handout from Larry Y. Wilson of the 70" which was pretty funny. (Although technically incorrect) Anyways, the handout is sweeping the mission and the training was met by rave reviews and has become the focus of the mission for this transfer cycle. It just goes to show that seemingly small acts (Like including a handout in a letter to your missionary son) can make rather large differences in the world.
Well anyways, I've written quite a lot and that's about all I have to say for this week. The gospel is true and this is the greatest work to be a part of. Keep writing, I appreciate the letters.
Sincerely,
Elder Ben Wilson
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