Hello!!
This week has been awesome!! I can't believe
I've already been here for 15 days! I saw Elder Ashton from my family ward in
Ohio last week before he shipped out and we got a picture together. Also I saw
Elder Fike (Laramie, Wyoming) coming back from my temple walk on Sunday,
but we haven't gotten a picture yet but we will :) And I think Elder
Klingler (Laramie, Wyoming) is here so I'm going to have to find him before he
ships out to California.
Here is a recap of my week since last
Thursday! So after I sent emails, my companions and I went to go get
dinner. And then we had class and class is amazing as usual. And P-day
ended fairly quickly although I know that it was amazing and fun.
Friday was also amazing. We got up and
went for a 15 minute run as usual and then I got to go and play basketball in
the Gym. I really do love shooting the basketball. I play a bunch of basketball
and it's amazing to see how good you can become when you play everyday. I love
playing basketball, and it is such an amazing way to spread the gospel by
applying personal experiences to help others grasp concepts. And that will be
one of the best ways to help them realize the importance of the gospel and
strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.
So then after the gym and getting ready and
breakfast, personal study is always the bomb. It always brings me peace and
comfort and joy when I get to read the scriptures. The scriptures are very true
and I know that for a fact. And if you don't know that the Book of Mormon or
the scriptures are true, simply ask God and it will be opened up unto you. Some
scriptures I wanted to shed some light on are Matthew 21:21, The Parable
of the Sower in Mark 4, and Alma 44:3-4 from Friday. These are amazing
scriptures and I hope you read them and ponder them, take them to heart.
Although these talk about missionary work, these also talk about the
strengthening of faith and just what wonders faith does.
Some of my favorite lines in the scripture
are "Where is your faith" (Luke 8:25) or lines like "O ye of
little faith" (Matthew 6:30). Not because people have little faith,
but this is a call to realign with God and faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. I
don't understand how people cannot have faith in God or even deny God and Jesus
Christ. There are so many concepts in the world that simply do not make sense.
And all of us are able to achieve happiness through Jesus Christ and the
Atonement. The atonement is so wonderful. I hope that if you have ever been
asked the question of where is your faith, or the statement O ye of little
faith, that you put your whole trust in the Savior. He will truly bring
miracles to pass unto you. I love being able to study about faith because faith
is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, and that is really what people
hope for. But rather it is to hope for things which are not seen
which are true. (Alma 32:21) Put all your trust in the Lord and he
will surely bless your family, your life and lead you through times of
troubles.
Then Companion and Language study -- amazing
as usual. I love being able to study all the time and I'm really getting it. I
think my teachers are super amazed at the speed I'm getting the language down.
It was yesterday when Elder Allen, who is serving in Daejong, came up to me in
my district, and said, “you really get this stuff, don't you?!” Yesterday,
one of my teachers Sister Washburn was sick so we had a sub teacher, and he
just spoke everything in Korean, and I gave my entire introduction in Korean,
had a good conversation with him in Korean too. Everyone in
class looked astonished. Also when the teacher uses some words and
they think the class doesn't get it, but I was able to answer correctly 98% of
the time. I can testify in Korean, pray fluently in Korean, hold a normal
conversation, teach 95% of lessons without looking at my book, materials or
anything, and I'm happy that I am getting better with Korean language. :)
I got to lead the music in church and that
was super awesome :) Also my reading speed is going so well :) I
make sure to read every night before going to bed and it is so neat. I know
this might sound weird, but I sleep with my Korean Book of Mormon, because I
feel like it seeps into my head. It is so awesome :) Then Sunday I
sang in the choir again. I love choir, it is so amazing for sure!! I love choir
with all my heart and the joy music brings is so undeniable. Also, I've gotten
back into playing the piano. I can't practice all the time, but
after service I go and play :) I can play “Called to serve”
all the way through now and my sight reading is getting
better. Sunday's devotional was awesome too.
The speaker announced that Oregon got
trashed by Utah so it was a good start. :) I loved it so much, and
his talk was so fantastic. It was Elder Stephen Allen and he showed some Mormon
message spots. One thing that stuck out to me is "It's not who you aren't,
it's who you are. And being yourself is great". I love this message. So
amazing and it really is true. Just be yourself and everyone will come to like
you. Be nice and kind, share a good message, you are doing Gods work and you
are one of a kind. You are pretty great. :)
Thanks for the sports updates too!! If I
could get the rundown on not only the Utes, but also the scores of important
teams that would be great. :) Oh, and big news :)
Monday was awesome too. We got our
companion study cut short so that we could watch the funeral services for Elder
Richard G. Scott. What a powerful experience. It really taught me a lot about
service and one thing that really stood out to me was that when his wife died
or any trial he faced, rather than asking “why did you do this to me, Lord?”,
his question was “what do you want to teach me, Lord?” So
amazing :) Although it was a super sad experience, I'm just so
happy about him getting to be with his wife again :)
Oh, and on Tuesday for devotional,
Elder Claudio Costa came and spoke. He is the president of the Seventy, and
what an amazing man he is. He brought up so many good points, like “how
salvation is offered to all,” his conversion story, and multiple
other stories. There was an insane story about a sister missionary who was
apparently the perfect sister. But out in the mission field after a week there
was something wrong with her and her companion didn't want to tell Elder Costa.
Elder Costa was prompted by the spirit to ask her to take off her shoes so she
did. And her feet were swollen and some words struck me so hard which she said.
"I would rather die than dishonor my promise to the prophet and God".
She finished her mission because she had an immense amount of faith that a
blessing from the President would heal her. It is so sweet!! Also read 1 Nephi
10-14! Amazing Chapters! and Helaman 5:9!!
Anyways I've had a lot of bloody noses this
week because of the dryness here, but it's all good! There is nothing that will
stop me from letting God's work progress. The happiness this gospel brings
cannot be denied and I will go everything in my power to bring others to come
unto Christ. I love this gospel and I love the temple. I know the Book of
Mormon is true and if you pray with a sincere heart and contrite spirit you
will receive answer! I love you all!!
Love,
Elder Wilson
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| With Elder Trask |
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| With Elder Allen |
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| With My companion |
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| With Elder Lunt |
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| Aloha, Peace & Thumbs Up! |
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| With My Companion Elder Fox |
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| With My Boys |
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| With Elder Mahler, Elder Lunt & Elder Fox |
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