Impactful

This week was one of the most impactive weeks of my mission. So, on
Saturday we hade the conference with Elder Oaks of the 12, Elder
Hallstrom of the presidencey of the 70, Elder Viñas of the 70, and
Elder Chapes of the 70. Elder Oaks and Elder Hallstrom have always
been my heros, so I was sooooo happy to be able to pass a couple hours
with them, shake their hands and ask them questions and everything. It
was such a powerful experience.

Elder Hallstrom spoke about the way to benefit the most possible out
of the meetings in the chruch, and how to make a Real Growth in the
church. He is such a pwoerful person, and an example to me. His words
"the lord wants converts, not baptisms. He is displeased when a
missionary baptizes his unconverted children" burned deep into my
heart. This is a great and humbling lesson that I am excited to preach
to the investigadors and the missionarys in my zone.

Elder Oaks spoke mainly about Repentance, and not in the way that we
as missionaries need to repent, but more about the importance of
helping the investigadors repent."I want all your investigadors to
know that being a member of this chruch is not an easy thing". He
talked about the importance preaching change to the investigadors.
This is the way to have a good retención. And he spoke about the
importance of the Sacrament meeting, and having people come to it. He
told us that the hardest thing about being a General Authority is that
they cant take the sacrament every week because they are always going
to Stake Conferences, but that the ordanance was so important that the
prophet commands them to get together once a month in the salt lake
templet to take it together. So, he said the the most holy ordinance
that takes place in the Salt Lake temple is the Sacrament. That taught
me a really great lesson about the way that I need to teach of the
holy importance of the sacrament to my investigadors... well it really
was a conference that changed my life.

Also, this week one of the most miraculous things that we are seeing
is the Rodriguez family. We had been preying and fasting a lot to be
able to find a whole family to convert. parents and children. On
tuesday we felt the impression to go and contact a certian street that
we never go to because it is really dangerous and just knock doors. We
were naturally a little hesitant to do it, because, well its scarey
over there and it didnt seem very smart to just go without a specific
house to get into. But in my mission I have decided to take
impressions of the spirit seriously, so we went, not wanting to be
there long, and picked a door in the middle of the street, knocked it,
and following the 300 pound guard dog, out came a man, who just looked
at us and said, Come in. So.. we did. we went in and sat down and out
came the wife and the 5 children to listen to us, and turns out that
the parents are actually members who have been inactive for 20 years,
and the only thing that they remember of the church is that its true,
but the kids arnt, but now all of them are eather coming back to the
church or going to get baptized. It is one of the most
prepared-by-the-lord finding experiences that I have ever had. They
all came as dressed up as they can to church on sunday and everything.
I am proud to say that I am helping a whole family recieve a
conversion in the gospel. Like i said before, I love working with
inactive members and part-families.

Also, change calls came. I stay with my companion for a third change!!
and the other elders that live with us all stey too. I am really
excited, because their are a ton of things left over to do here in the
area still.

But, I am really happy and everything.

Pray for us to keep finding families like the family Rodriguez to
teach and convert.

Elder Wilson

All of the people that got baptized, and Edison, the one who got baptized a few monthes ago, who did the baptisms. The two families that got baptized are part member families that are now completed.

Baptism of Dangeline y Andrea!! 

First things first, We had two awesome baptisms!!! Danyeline (8) y Andrea (11). So, the other week we were going around with a member named Gustavo (who practically is like having another full tiem missonary in the ward, he is awesome), and he said "oh I remember that there is a inactive lady that hasnt been to the chruch in like 5 years", so we passed by, and the two daughters were really anxious to get baptizedand everything. They are so amazing. For example, one of them got in trouble by her school teacher because in class she would always just read the folletos that we give them, and the other kids would all start reading about the Restoration or Plan of Salvation or Law of Chastity or whatever pamphlet she brought that day. haha. The baptismal service was amazing too. Edison, the recent convert, performed the 4 baptisms that happened. The mom Alejandra, who for 5 years had been inactive gave a super spiritual talk about baptism and told about her own repentance process that she was going through in order to come back to the church. 

We are a little devistated because Teresa, our investigador who is going to get baptized next week did not come to church... but we have so much faith for her that she will be dressed in white this weekend. 

Well, we are doing good... On sunday we will know if there are changes in our companionship and house. I hope that I stay with my companion, and its very possible... but its all what the lord wants, I dont have my heart set on anything special exept for being a missionary (although, I have spent half of my missionary service as a Zone Leader, so if presedent decided to assign me to something else, I wouldnt be super devistated  ;) no, I have nothing to complain about, I have had a perfect mission, and I absolutely love being a Zone Leader).

Also, we have a multi mission conference on saturday with Elder Oaks!!!!!!!!! Thats going to be quite the experience. and it will be good to see some of my friends of the other mission that I know.

Anyways, lots of great stuff coming up! I´m excited and happy. 

Keep me in your prayers and everything. And write me if you feel like it.. haha mail is kinda on the stop. 

I love the church and all of the people that I have gotten to know here, and to be able to see the change in their lives. People like Alejandra who are willing to humble themselves before the lord and come back into his fold. Helping with that is what has really made me learn and grow as a misisonary. 

I love you all, 

Elder Wilson

Gabriela and the bishop, who baptized her. 

me and my well worn shoe. Weve been through a lot together. I estimate that weve made the equivilant of going from Uruguay all the way to Utah or something :)

First things first, We had a baptism! Her name is Gabriella, who 3 weeks ago came on her own to the church because 2 years ago she was recieving the lessons from the missionaries, but stopped because she could not stop smoking. But she was going through a hard moment in her life, and remembered that she had felt really good before when she was with the missionaries, and wanted to come back.So we worked with her and helped her a lot.. she had a lot of wrong ideas in her head about God and the Gospel and everything bacase she has been through a lot of hard things in her life, and had gone to lots of false churches...but she showed a lot of faith by stopping smoking, and learning the truith. 

Finally it was really warm this week. Summer has come in full swing. Its a little bit funny, because we go a whole 6 months praying for warmth, then at the instant that it gets hot we pray for the cold again. I guess that us humans should learn to be more content with what we have. 

This week we have been working a lot with obtaining references from everybody. Its a lot of fun to do actually, to think of all of the new and creative ways to ask for references. I´d say that pretty much all of the people that we talk to in a day dont want anything to do with us... which is fine, its part of being a missionary, but ´Who else do you know that could recieve a message from us?´ Who do you know that was recieving the missionaries before? Who do you not like that we could go and bug? ha there are a million ways to obtain references, and these references are sacred. Its the way to find the people that the Lord is preparing. 

I dont like spending time with well established active members. They are not really good for much... well they are great, but a little bit sleepy sometimes. We spend almost all our ´member time´ with the less active members and recent converts. I love working with these people. Their testimony is so pure and fresh and sincere. Every member of the church is less acive in something... so I guess we are all less active members. I love the scriptire in alma 4:4, that explains the way to help make a Real Growth in the church. Here in this area especially I have learned a ton about the Church of Jesus Christ,  the way that the only true chruch really works and what it needs to keep filling the earth. I have enjoyed it immensly. 

Anyways, we are happy and healthy. I know that this is the work of God, and that we are lead by Jesus Christ himself in his church here in the world. I love Uruguay. They are some of the best people in the world... and their national anthem and flag are better than the USA.

Vamo arriba!!

Elder Wilson

weekly letter

foto - Thanks for the package! it is awesome... I was really tired when I took the picture, so I look half asleep.. The tie I am wearing is the one I wear every P'day. It was given to me by an investigator who died about 3 days before her baptism, so its my special tie. 

I am so excited right now! This has been an excelent week. General Conference is one of the favorite times on the mission for me. It is pure proof that the churhch of Jusus Crist of Latter day Saints is the only true churhc on the face of the earth. If every single person in the world watched it, they would all be members. Who could possibly not feel the spirit when President Holland or Oaks talks... For me at least every time one of the apostols talked the spirit burned into my heart a testimony that they really are Holy Apostles of the lord. The ´do you love me´ talk by president Holland is especially special to me because on my first dayof the mission we saw it. He had given the same talk in the MTC in provo. And then I got it on a dvd and have watched it every single p'day of my mission. Also, the talk by elder Oaks really touched me... well i think everyone. 

Also I was able to fully enjoy conference becaused we had 4 investigators that went and absolutely loved it. They all went to the sunday morning session (which in my opinion was the best one of them all), and all came out wanting to get baptized and stop smoking and get married and everything. That is a pure testimony of the power of the spirit to conversion. 

Also we are all very excited by the announcement of the change in mission age. The work of the Lord NEEDS more reenforcements... In our mission for example less missionaries have been coming each month, and we have had to close a few areas. So everyone is super excited... it will be interesting to see how this changes Mormon Culture. 

Pleased pray for Gabriela who is going to be baptized this week, but needs to stay firm in her not smoking. 

Thank you all for your examples and support. 

Remember that the worth of souls is great in the sight of the lord... even though the soal of my shoe is pretty much flapping around like an Uruguayan roof in a wind storm. 

...oh, also, we had interviews witht he presisdent this week that was really good. I love my president, and know that he has been called of god to serve here. He has got the mission going strong. 

Elder wilson.

This has been a great week! Me and my companion Elder Looney have been
working Super diligently to do every thing we can in order to get the
spirit. We have been thinking a lot about what it really means to
serve the Lord with all our "heart, might, mind, and strength". Its
one of the first scriptures that we learn as a missionary, but its the
scripture that takes the most time to come to understand what it
really means. After almost a year and a half of being a full time
missionary, I have had a lot of experiences and examples... good and
bad... that have helped me learn what it means, and I am still really
far off from mastering it. But I know that the Lord really does
require ALL of our entire being to serve him, if we want to recieve
the full meaure of his spirit in our service.

I am so greatful to be with a comanionship where we mutalmente are
helping eachother to give ourselves up unto god.

Our zone is doing great. We ended the month of september with 20
baptisms in 9 areas, which is the highest number that our zone has had
in a long time. So we are content with that. Its good to see all of
the hard work pay off with the local leaders and everything... Haha
Ive got a little feeling that I am going to be here a long time
because of things that President Armstrong has said, and also the
stake President told President Armstrong to keep us here for as long
as possible.. But hey, Im not complaining. I love the area and ward..,
Its like ammon who desired to be in the area "maybe even untill the
day I die.

I am healthy and happy. Also its possible that we have a baptism this
week! We have an investigador who is ready for baptism in everything
except for stoping smoking. So if she stops, she gets baptized. Prey
for Gabriela please!

I want to send pictures, but this computer will freeze if I do, so
next week I will.

Also, I am super excited for General Conference this weekend! Like Ive
said before, for the missionaries, General Conference is better than
Cristmas!

And dont stop writing me :)

Elder Wilson

a storm, a drawing, and a new email address

*** attention all those who write me! urumontemission@gmail.com is an email of the mission where you can write me and they print it off. So, if you dont want to write the oldschool way, you can email me... but remember that a hand written letter is always the  best.

 

 

My desk. This is where I spend a few hours each day. Its really puney, but its a nice desk. Those post it notes are quots from the scriptures and the prophets that are really good.

 

A picture that I drew this one pday when I didnt have anything else to do.

 

So, this week has been a really good week for us. Even though most of our investigators are having a hard time progressing, we kept on working hard, knowing that if we do our part, the Lord would do his. And, like every time, the Lord pulled through and sent us 2 new investigators to chruch on sunday who just showed up on their own. :)

 

It has been really good to be able to see the progress of Edison, who got baptized a month ago, and is now more active that anyone else in the ward. He really is a one in a misson type of convert. Yesterday we went out to work with him and just pretty much let him bear his testimony and let the Spirit touch the hearts of the people. It helped me remember just how unimportant our words are if we do not say them with our hearts... that remindes me of an awesome Mormon message that is of the talk by Elder Holland about playing within the lines. Everyone should watch it.

 

Oh, also, this week on wednesday there was a super strong storm that blew through here and pretty much tore up the whole country. President told us all to stay in the house for the day to be safe, but then the next day when we went out all of the roofs were gone or broken, and a ton of trees had fallen down and everything. It was a cool experience to see all of that, and to spend a ton of time doing service to help the people rebuild.

 

This week I have been thinking a lot about the counels of Alma to his son Coriantón, when he counsels him to allow his sins to sorrow him enough to repent of them, and not to try to cover them up or excuse them. It is really easy to excuse a sin in the mind, so I will be working harder to feel Godly sorrow for my problems, even if they are not big things, and change them.

 

Anyways, I am happy and healthy. Thanks for everything. 

 

Elder Wilson