Week 5

This is gonna be short and sweet but I promise to include more details and photos the next week. Promise. ;)

First baptism!!! Took place on Sunday in between the two beautiful conference sessions. If you haven´t watched General Conference yet, here´s the link:https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04?HP_SU_3-4-2016_dPFD_fGC_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=spa

Sweet, old, lovely Genoveva. She looks like the Grandma from Mulan. Not. Kidding. She´s adorable. She talks the same way too. Ah, chance of a lifetime to meet a real life cartoon character. But yes, she is now officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. WAHOO!

And next week is the baptism of my almost-twin, Liliana. So pumped.

This week I tried many things, but my favorites were Pozol, real churros (actually they taste almost identical to the ones in CostCo...), chamoyadas (photo to come next week...that good) and Mole!!! pronounced MOL-e. Maybe that didn´t help...Anyway, that wonderful famous Mexican dish that everyone talks about. I think. Still don´t know whats in it because apparently there are different kinds, but it is Delicious. I've eaten it like 5 times this last week. Never gets old. Well it might.

Anyway, love you all! Remember that God loves us all and is waiting with open arms. And if you're one of the lost sheep, he's busy looking for you. Just let Him lift you up and bring you home.

God bless!

And much love from Hermana Wilson


Week 6

Wow 6 weeks have already gone by! Don´t know where the time went but it has been a very fulfilling week. Another baptism. A very very special baptism. This is one of our first investigators that we taught here in Palenque. She accepted baptism on the second visit, and even though she had her baby by Csection, she was super excited as the date of partial recovery got closer and closer so that she could get baptized. Her baby got blessed too. She dressed him all in white. Can't express how ecstatic I was to see her get baptized. We are hoping little baby Ian Aaron Cruz is a future Elder in the church. How exciting!

The week previous we went to the ruins of Palenque. Freaking huge. Apparently they have only uncovered about 10 percent, and from what I understood, a lot of the more ´recent´ones were built with a similar purpose as the ones the Egyptians built--for kings, princes, who wanted fancy tombstones. Spoiled.

I have also been having a blast learning and laughing with my companion. Hermana Calva is the bomb.com. Even though sometimes I feel like I'm being mothered, sometimes she goes crazy and she also buys me candy. That's nice. And she teaches me and makes sure I eat my vegetables and laughs with me when I screw up, which is... a lot. Life is fun that way. :p

Love you all and please please PLEASE call the missionaries right now and send them to visit one of your friends. Everyone needs the gospel because everyone needs a Savior, and the missionaries can help :) I promise :)

Have a wonderful week! 

Week 7

Sorry the pics are so small but Mexican Internet isn´t too fab so sometimes I need to sacrifice the space so I can write more.

My companion celebrated 16 months on the mission! Almost done. And I celebrate 3 months tomorrow... WOW how time flies. I know the next 15 are gonna go by even quicker. Still not sure how I feel about that.

Miracles of the week: Well there were lots, as usual. The picture with the family is one of them. It's a privilege to teach them every week. Actually the missionaries have been teaching them for almost a year because even though Nestor, the husband, practically jumped into the font, his wife is a little more skeptical. She shows up to church almost every Sunday, reads the Book of Mormon and the D&C but she just. wont. get. in. the. font. But we love her anyway ;)

Also, the members here are fabulous. Lots are super willing to go out and visit with us and even go out on their own to pick up our investigators. Couldn't ask for a better ward to serve in!

And the baptism scheduled for this Sunday is a special one (aren't they all) because Liz is AWESOME. One of the sweetest people I have ever met. When we prayed about the Book of Mormon with her, she had tears in her eyes and took a deep breath when we looked at her. We asked her what she felt and she said, Í can´t explain it. But I know it's true. Without a doubt.´BAM power of prayer. And the Book of Mormon.

Anyway, love you all and I know that this gospel is true! Without a doubt. Too many people sacrificed their life and time and everything else for it not to be true, and I wanna keep that legacy going.

Magnify your callings--moms, dads, brothers and sisters, bishops, friends, presidents of various things--and know that God lives and loves you! And I do too!

Much love

Hermana Wilson

WEEK 4 - PALENQUE

A long hot week in Mexico but full of lots of good lessons and good people!

Lessons learned: Charity is KEY. If you don't have charity in service, the work gives back nothing but exhaustion. I'm falling in love with the people of Mexico. They're the ones that make me excited to wake up in the morning, happy to teach and ready to bring them to the waters of baptism! Smile. Just smile. I've also learned that you can't work well with someone without that bond of trust. My companion has taught me that. So much. When she feels like our chi is off, she jumps right into the hard questions: What is your biggest flaw? Do you really believe that God appeared to Joseph Smith? If you wanna cry, let it out in front of me. What bothers you about me? You won't believe the stuff  I've shared with this girl. (She's more like my mom, but...) But it helps. I firmly believe that the basis of all relationships must be founded on mutual trust or it won't be a fulfilling one.
The fun stuff: If you haven´t seen the Studio C video on youtube of "Two Guys on a Scooter" GO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW. I see it in Mexico all the time and it cracks me up. The husband, the wife, the kids, and the chihuahua. Yup. Real life. Also, I think I've eaten more tortillas this last month than I have in my life. Ah I exaggerate but no, seriously, tortillas at EVERY meal. The nice thing about Mexico is that as we walk and walk and walk, I get to enjoy nature's sauna. I am finally becoming accustomed to the constant film of sweat that envelopes my body. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd... I saw monkeys yesterday. Score! Weird because we were only two blocks from the city center and yet there was mama monkey and her baby hanging out in the trees by the park. The only animals left on my checklist are jaguars and toucans. :) Also, there's a family we've been teaching since day one, and if you're allowed to have favorites, they are mine: Liliana and Karla are sisters. Lili is my age (I beat her by a week) and Karla is a year younger. Lili just had her baby so of course every time we go over now we spend like 15 minutes just ogling at the baby. He's flawless. Well, Lili is getting baptized April 9th sooooooo I'M SUPER EXCITED! Karla's hesitant but I know that someday, maybe long after I'm gone, she´ll get baptized too.
Suggestions for Future Missionaries: DON'T do countdowns. Do count UPs. To prepare: exercise, study, practice. Study the scriptures, Gospel Library, the language, practice contacting, go out with the missionaries. It will all help. Answer your own doubts and questions. Even if you think you have the faith to go without knowing exactly WHY or WHAT something means, find the answer because a lot of your investigators need it. Get. A. Job. Bring as many mini things as you can. I´m talking mini Preach My Gospel, mini hymnal (English AND Mission lang), mini anything else you can think of. The weight adds up on the mission. KNOW THYSELF.
Scripture of the week: 2 Nephi 31:20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

WEEK 2 - PALENQUE

Hey Everyone!

Once again, email time is short. This week was a lot better than the first. A little less homesick, the days went by faster. God´s definitely helping me cope because if it were just me on my own, I´d be in Italy already crying my eyes out. I have a good companion, and the culture, appearance and traditions of Mexico are starting to become "normal" to me. I think that helps the most.
There are eight of us in the district, four sisters and four elders. Two of the elders are American. It is a relief talking to them in English at classes :) But Hermana Calva is my trainer. She´s very, VERY obedient. Like, even more than me. Imagine.... But she's a fantastic trainer! She's really funny, She only has a couple months left before she heads home. P days here consist mostly of laundry and grocery shopping, but tonight is super special because we will be showing the Church´s new video, #Hallelujah. Yay, Easter Season!

I haven´t posted pictures in a while so I figured it´s about time. I´ll send them in the emails following.

So the members feed us lunch every day here. Lucky us. Lots of lentils, caldos,  soups, rice, TORTILLAS. (Tortillas at every single meal, I kid you not.) It is obviously my favorite time of day.

I think I´ve tanned two shades in just these last two weeks. It´s freaking hot here but there´s usually a nice breeze to cool our sweaty bodies every couple of minutes. Very nice people here. They all smell good--except for the hippie tourists that come to visit. And me, maybe, haha.

They have macaws here, and iguanas. Beautiful big macaws that squack like a banshee. It's really ugly actually. But a lot of the other birds sound beautiful. The house-parrots even sing songs. No joke, they know the lyrics and the tune and everything. Very impressive.
One of the most surprising things for me was going up to talk to an old woman on the street, saying "Hey, can we share a message about Jesus Christ with you?" and getting "Sorry I don´t speak Spanish" as a response. Uh what? You´re clearly Mexican, and you don´t speak Spanish? Apparently some of the older generation only speaks Chol, some native dialect. Kind of a problem, but that´s okay, I´m sure they speak Chol in the Spirit World ;)

FIRST WEEK IN THE FIELD

National Park of Palenque

I regret to say that I have no pictures to send right now, but know that I am safe and sound in Palenque, Mexico. I´ve seen iguanas, macaws, lots of stray cats and dogs, and I can´t believe God sent me here. I know I´m gonna learn a lot. I already have and it´s only been a week!

I have an amazing trainer. Couldn´t even begin to list her strengths. She´s going to turn me into an awesome missionary.
Wish I had more time but I have to go fold laundry so I can get out and teach. It´s been a roller coaster of a week. Lots of emotions but most importantly, I know that God is right here with me, protecting me and reminding me about all the things He has and will bless me with. Pretty awesome :) I´m already over on email time but I wanted to mention how strongly I know that God is with us always and that He has all power to protect, to save, to love and to forgive.

Love you all and talk to you next Monday!

Hermana Wilson

MTC-WEEK 6

Our teacher Sister Richards on the bottom left with the pretty light brown hair and maroon skirt; and our other teacher Sister Imbler on the bottom right with the dirty blonde hair, black skirt. Love all these people so much!

This is the closing chapter of my MTC experience!

Since I'll be in Mexico on Monday, this last week involved much planning, learning and mental preparation, so not a whole lot of stories to share. But I must express my gratitude for the amazing experiences I've had here. I know that they've helped prepare me as much as possible for what I need to teach and express and do while I'm serving in Mexico.

One of my favorite things from the last week was District meeting. We had two very special ones: Monday involved talking about our families and Thursday was all about miracles--there were so many! I wish every one of you could relive the last six weeks of my life, especially those who haven't served missions. I've never been so full of love, never tried so hard to be patient, never received so much revelation, never been so engulfed by the Spirit . . . The Spirit testifies of truth. It also testifies of love. And I have felt that so much since I've been here. I hope all of you have a chance to experience it as well. I've felt it most strongly as I've studied the scriptures--all of them! So anyone can do that from anywhere they are, so do it!

My invitation ('cause Hey, I'm a missionary!) is for you to share a miracle or a favorite scripture with a friend this week. There are miracles all around us and I have loved finding ones to record every single day since I've gotten here.

Much love from Sister Wilson!

God bless! 

MTC-WEEK 5 ENGLISH VERSION

This was a week full of miracles! I can't even name them all, let alone describe each one, so I'll try my best to prioritize:

Miracle #1: Temple work. Our Spanish branch gets to go to the temple every Saturday and I cannot believe how many answers I've gotten each time I go. The key is to ASK. And if you can't go to the temple, just pray sincerely--find a quiet spot and talk to God as if he were right in front of you and know that He hears everything. I mean EVERYTHING.

Miracle #2: Girl Talk and naps. Sister Freckleton and I have a propensity for drifting into the subject of marriage and our futures and study abroad trips. There was one day when we were feeling particularly exhausted and totally intended on a nap but ended up talking for the entire hour of nap time instead. Best break ever. As a missionary, you appreciate every break you have and you appreciate it even more when you get answers and free therapy out of that break.

Miracle #3. WARNING: Ummmm this one is a little gross so it is only for the strong-stomached and those who have humor similar to mine. You won't appreciate it if you don't enjoy a good toilet joke every once in a while. So feel free to skip this one. So here's the story: Hermana Freckleton and I promised our investigator that if she quit drinking coffee, we'd quit sugar. Great idea, right? No. And of course I'm so freakin' motivated. That same night, the minute we get home, I say firmly and very audibly, "Let God strike us down should we break our promise!" And I was being dead serious because I really wanted to experience a little of what Ivette  (our TRC investigator) was about to experience while trying to quit coffee. That was last Thursday (10ish days ago). Fast forward to Monday; so I've been off sugar for 4 days. Up to this point I am feeling really . . . well, desperate for sugar. So while my companions aren't looking, I sneak a chocolate (maybe two) into my mouth to satisfy myself. Guess what happened the next morning? I woke up at 6 AM, went into the restroom and didn't leave the toilet for 40 whole minutes. I'll leave out the nasty details because you simply can't appreciate it unless I'm telling the story in person, but just image me being really sick in the stomach. Bad things happened. I felt constantly on the verge of vomiting for the next two hours. And then I was fine. Weirdest thing ever. Later that day after I was feeling all happy and grateful that my good health had returned, I sat for a second and realized God was definitely listening to me. Seriously, God hears everything.

Miracle #4. Praises for the Weather. My district says that I must have a really close (and humorous) connection to God because about 3 seconds after I said, "I just love all sorts of weather! The sky is always beautiful" (at this point, it was a beautiful, cloudy, brisk day!), God immediately sends a hailstorm. No joke. HAIL. I screamed and ran for cover as my companions laughed behind me. But I really do see weather as a miracle. All sorts of beautiful show up in every different kind of weather. Even when it's hailing.

Miracle #5. Elder Rasband came to the MTC. If you don't know who Elder Rasband is, he was just called last October to serve as an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve. That's a big deal. When he showed up to speak at the MTC for a Tuesday devotional, my heart was beating so quickly, I couldn't stop smiling and when he walked about two yards in front of me and then looked me in the eyes and smiled, all I could think was, "I cannot believe this. I'm sitting right in front of an Apostle!" Like, Peter/James/John/Andrew/Philip/Bartholomew/Thomas/James#2/Matthew/Thaddaeus/Simon kind of apostle, except this one is on the earth right now!!!!!! The love of God just radiated from him. I can't even explain it. Watch General Conference in April and listen for an Apostle's "I love you." That's what it feels like. I'm pretty sure there were angels in the room.

There are more but these are all I have time to explain. Hope you all look for the hand of God in your life. I know it's there. No doubt about it!

"And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of they faith." Enos 1:12

Mucho amor,

Sister Wilson 

MTC-WEEK 3 ENGLISH VERSION

Almost done with Week #3!

It has been a crazy fun week at the MTC, mostly because I was in a very giggly mood (let's be honest, am I not that way all the time?) But seriously, so many funny phrases I must list:

• "Brother Norton, can you explain how to make comparisons in Spanish? Like, 'Today was better than yesterday.' Or, 'They say I'm like a raccoon.'" -Elder Chappell
• "Dios tiene un cuerpo de carne y huevos." -Hermana Strode (translation: God has a body of flesh and eggs)
• Please go to Youtube and look for a video about Canadian border patrol that goes something like this, "Hey you people! Stop crossin the border! Get in my truck!" Hermana Strode quotes it and it never gets old...
• "I've hit a wall..." -Hermana Stephens, followed by a series of giggles and stomping around the room as if trying to shake out her slap-happiness.

On the spiritual side, two wonderful devotionals full of inspiration, revelation and great tips; for example, the question was posed, "What price will I be asked to pay for obedience?" I love that! Sometimes obedience is hard, but I want to always be one He can count on, like Abraham or Nephi. Also, this week I have learned how little I understand and how greatly the Spirit can work through me to help me as I teach and talk with investigators. Prayers have become more meaningful and I now wish that I had said them more often out loud than inside my head. There's something special about saying prayers aloud--it's almost like God answers them louder afterward than He does when you give silent prayers. And the example my companions set for me--I cannot express how strongly I KNOW that God put me with these people. THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES. GOD DOES NOT ROLL DICE. He loves each of us and if we are obedient, He blesses us in every way He can. I lost track a long time ago of how many blessings He's given me. I wish I could pay Him back but I can't. I'll try anyway.

I have learned how essential communication is in relationships. Honestly, I think I'm preparing more for marriage now than ever before. I am with my companions every second--not an exaggeration--of the day and we don't always agree. But we love and respect each other, and as I've expressed my feelings honestly and openly, I've seen us grow closer. Pillow talk is definitely my favorite, though. You would not believe some of the stories I've heard :)

Anyway, that's pretty much all I have to say this week. Pictures to follow. Love you all so much. God be with you!!!

Sister Wilson