Another Transfer in Deer Park

Here's Nicole's latest email home! They got their

transfer calls yesterday, and Nicole is really happy

to be staying in Deer Park for another transfer.

Read her email below:

"Howdy! 

    In case the title doesn't give it away, I'm staying in Deer Park with Sister Kulcsar! 

     This past week was kinda crazy. I learned so much...a little more than I wanted to haha. 

     On Wednesday, we had a lesson with our investigator, Tamara. She's soooooo sweet...her husband is a member who doesn't come to church (less active). She really wants him to be active. She has the cutest baby ever and is such a sweetheart! A couple lessons ago we asked her how she felt about baptism. She told us she's hesitant because it's a huge commitment and she doesn't fully understand it. So, on Wednesday, we taught her more about it. At the end of the lesson we asked her if she's ever thought about picking a goal date to be baptized...something she could work towards. Surprisingly enough, she said she'd pray about a date she can work towards!!!! Now, that doesn't sound as exciting unless you know this: the transfer before I got here, the sisters asked her to do just that and she refused. She is progressing!!!!!!! I love watching the progress of all these people..there's no greater joy!

      Thursday was my Atonement day. Sister Kulcsar and I had many opportunities to  use the Atonement on Thursday. I learned a lot about the Atonement, and about the power of prayer. Prayer. Is. Powerful. I love it so much and am so grateful I can communicate personally with my Father in Heaven! What a great gift! Not only did I have personal experiences with the Atonement Thursday, one of our less active members did. There's this less active in Clayton named Megan, Meg, who is super awesome. She's just a miracle story. We met her a little while ago outside. When we started talking to her, she said she knows who we are because she's a member, but her husband isn't. After talking to her, she explained she normally shoos the missionaries away and isn't interested in hearing from us.She did say, though, that her husband and her read the Bible together. We took that as a way in....we asked her if we could do Bible study with her and she agreed!!! We've done it a few times now. On Thursday, we were reading in Matthew 26 about Christ's sufferings in the Garden of Gethsemane. By the time we had to go, she was in tears. She explained how important the Atonement is to her and how grateful she is for it. I. LOVE. The. ATONEMENT!!!!!!!! The Atonement is the greatest act of love ever and we are so blessed through it. I felt truly grateful and humbled to have that opportunity to hear how the Atonement has touched her life. That's why I'm out here...to help people recognize that and know and understand this wonderful gift that Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ have given us! 

        On Friday we had a district lunch, which was so fun! I love my district and I feel truly blessed to have been able to serve with them. In my district, there was Elder Lindsay (district leader), Elder Troseth, Elder Shirk and Elder Greene. Now, every transfer Sunday, we report to our District leader on our week. He then reports to the Zone Leaders and then calls us for transfer calls. I HATE transfers and always get so antsy when they come around. So, Elder Lindsay calls us last night to tell us what happened. He explains he's going to tell us in alphabetical order (in my mind I thought that meant he'd do Sister Kulcsar and then me) and told Sister Kulcsar first that she was staying. Then he said he was going to hang up and call Elder Shirk. THEN HE HUNG UP!! He kept me waiting a good 5 more minutes for my transfer call. Now this might now sound like a huge deal, but it was AWFUL!!! Transfer calls are the calls of doom and I'm not very patient when it comes to them. It was the worst 5 minutes of my life haha. Anyways, it turns out our whole zone is staying the same minus 2 missionaries who are leaving. I'm grateful I get to serve with all these wonderful servants of the Lord for another 6 weeks! 

          This email turned out a lot longer than planned, sorry! But, I want to end with my testimony. I know that God and Jesus Christ live. I know we are given trials that seem too hard to handle sometimes, but that through the Atonement, we can and WILL overcome all things. I know that I am a Daughter of God and that we are all Sons and Daughters of a Father who loves us so much that He gave His Son to die for us. I love my Father and Savior more than I will ever be able to express! I hope you all have a great week! Enjoy the last week of school and always remember who you are. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Sister Wilson"