I have been waiting for one of these happy emails:) haha. Not that the rest of them aren't, but this one is special. I am so grateful that you have had such an amazing week and that your life is headed in the positive direction. I hope that you are counseling with the Lord with all that you do. And continuing to read your Book of Mormon!
I am so glad that you got a priesthood blessing. That is so amazing. Grandpa is so in tune with the Spirit. I am so grateful for him! I can't wait for the day when I can give you a blessing. We have the opportunity to give blessings quite frequently and I am grateful for that sacred power that I have been entrusted with to help other people and to receive blessings from God. Salvation is not possible without the Priesthood. I am grateful that you thought of me:) Well tell everyone back home how much I love them! I hope and pray that all things start to work for your good!
I sadly don't get any time to practice the piano anymore. Occasionally I play a hymn at church. And I did get all my stuff from Amazon so thank you so much! I got given the jacket that I have by Elder Nelson. He went home last transfer. Do you not like the jacket? And my trainer is going home this transfer which is super weird.
I really can't believe that another transfer has come and gone and the Elder Van Wagoner is going to Newcastle. I love being able to reflect upon all the times that we were able to grow and see the hand of the Lord in our lives. I love this work so much. I love it with all of my heart. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now in my life! I love the Lord. And I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to feel of His love in these past 6 weeks.
I am sad that Elder Van Wagoner is going down to Newcastle. We got along so well and we worked so hard together. He helped me to learn and grow so much. I have not seen very many people that have the amount of charity that Elder Van wagoner has in his heart. He has become a true friend and a brother. It is amazing to see the bonds that can be created as you labor in the feild with warriors of God.
I am excited for a new Transfer with Elder Robinson and all of the amazing things that await us. He doesn't have a license so I will be doing all of the driving haha. And this is his last transfer in the mission. It isa only a 4 week transfer. I hope and pray that we can fulfill the will of the Lord in our area as well as throughout the Zone. We are really going to focus on the Book of Mormon this transfer and use it in our finding as well as our teaching. That book changes lives and has changed mine forever.
I was able to go on exchange with Elder Grant in Whitefield this past week. They are doing alright over there. When I was with him we were able to teach quite a few lessons and found a new investigator, but when they reported their numbers for the week they weren't a lot more then that. I worry that they are getting a little bit complacent as a whole in Whitefield. Elder Grant is a good District Leader and good at inspiring his District.
I also went with Elder Butterfield on exchange. I like Elder Butterfield. I have realized that the 'group' Elder Butterfield is a lot different then when he is alone with you and an investigator. He has a strong testimony. He just relayed to me that he isn't really bothered anymore. I just tried to love him and understand where he is coming from because I think we have quite different mind sets. I love him so much.
We were able to meet with the Stake Presidency on Sunday and had a really good discussion about the goals for the Stake and kind of what we would like to see from a missionary stand point and what they would like to see from a member stand point. It was really good.
We have had a great week. We have been preparing Chris for the Priesthood and he has been inviting a girl over when we teach him, her name is catherine. She believes the Book of mormon is true but has a hard time getting to church because of her work schedule. We told her that Chris would be able to baptise her after he gets the Priesthood and she seemed pretty excited about that haha.
Sam and paul are doing good as well. Paul has quit the Cigarettes and cut it down to the occasional E cig. They are so close! I just don't think they realize it. Sam has told us she wants to be baptised but she wants to get baptised with Paul. They both have said that they want to be sealed in the temple as a family. They have such amazing goals! We went and saw them last night and Elder Van wagoner gave a powerful 'departing' testimony to them. Sam was crying and the Spirit was so powerful. Hopefully it gives them that last bit of motivation!
We ran into a lady this last week named Pam. We got talking to her and found out that she had met missionaries before and that she was even in Salt Lake last Easter and went to the conference center to listen to the Choir! Said it made her bawl. AND her and her husband also stayed the night at the Monticello Inn during their Holiday. Hahaha crazy small world. She invited us in and we talked with her and her husband and even sang them a song. We are going back next week and she texted us later, thanking us. It was an amazing experience.
We have had so many spiritual lessons this week and we have been teaching some people that have really felt the influence of the Holy Ghost. It is the Action that is important. We as missionaries can take them so far but they must Act for themselves. They are eventually backed up to the wall of faith and have to make their leap. I am so grateful for the support of this ward and the amazing people that I get to associate with.
Conference was an amazing experience. Every question that I had written down before the conference, was answered either through a talk or through inspiration from the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful to have a modern day prophet and apostles to lead and guide us. I know that they are inspired men. I know that they love us.
A few things that stuck out to me were. . .
Many things that you can count, do not count. Some things that you cannot count, are the things that really matter.
We do not attend church to hide problems, but to heal them.
There are dance steps. or callings in the church. And then there is hearing the music, or the Holy Ghost. If we never hear the music then our dance steps won't be as enjoyable or we won't see the importance.
A saint is a sinner who keeps trying!
And not one single soul is Pre-destined to fail. We have all been foreordained to make it back to our Father in Heaven in The Celestial kingdom. It is our choice whether we do or not. The Atonement of Jesus Christ will compensate for all things.
I bear my witness that God lives and Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is at the head of this church and his hand is in this work and in our individual lives. I know that President Monson is a prophet of God and I bear this witness in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I love you Mom! Have another amazing week!
Love
Elder Wilcox
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