A Long Week of Miracles

Here's Nicole's email from the 21st!

She had a long and busy, but miracle-filled week.

Check it out below:

"Hey everyone! 

       

     This week was just as the title describes it. It was a long, and quite slow, work week, but it was full of miracles!! 

     We had what's called Specialized Training where 3 Zones (a bunch of missionaries) got together and were trained by President and Sister Dymock and other missionaries! It was so powerful!! I learned so much and had my prayers answered. I love how God uses other people to answer our prayers. What a blessing it is! We watched a very powerful video on the Atonement (I believe it's called Missionary Work and the Atonement) and it truly was life changing. The Atonement is life changing and I'm so grateful for Him!!!!

      We didn't have a lot of lessons this week and didn't talk to as many people (Ritzville is so small we just about talked to everyone in town! haha). Thursday was one of the days we didn't have any lessons and saw almost no one. We went to Lind that day and our appointment didn't work out. Because Lind is 20 minutes away, we decided to do Weekly Planning in the car and then go talk to people on the streets. It was rough and it was so easy to think about how "bad" the day was going and we weren't seeing any miracles, etc. Sister Brown positively said, "this just means we'll have a day of miracles tomorrow!". I thought about that and started reflecting back on our day. I tell people all the time that miracles happen every day and was determined to find the ones that happened Thursday. God amazed me right then. No, we didn't get a new investigator and now we didn't talk to as many people as desired and no we hadn't had any lessons. BUT, we got more of weekly planning done than we ever had before, we got appointments scheduled for this week and the weekend, we talked to more people that day then the day before, etc. We still had many miracles happen, but because they weren't "huge miracles", it was easily overlooked. I know that miracles happen every day and they're not always huge ones. We have so many small miracles in our every day life that we overlook. I invite all of you to reflect back on your day every day and ask God to help you notice the miracles He performed in your life....you'll be amazed! 

       Saturday, we went to Lind again and saw our investigator, Ashlynn. She is so great! She reads the Book of Mormon Stories to her kids every night! She hasn't come to church yet because her boyfriend isn't willing yet to come and she wants it to be a family thing. Sister Brown and I pray that as we continue to meet with her, things will change :) Also on Saturday, we met Tina! We technically met Tina a few weeks ago, but she was busy and told us to come back. Every time we did, she was busy, sick, or not there. Finally, we caught her at home! Her and her daughter Rita (10 yrs) talked to us for a bit. At first, Tina sounded like she wasn't too interested in changing or doing anything....she just wanted to know more of what we do and why. At the end, though, Rita said she wanted to come to church and our member who came with us said she'd take her! Rita is good friends with our member's granddaughter so it's perfect! Tina said she could go and that she herself wouldn't make it this week but promised she would eventually come! She even asked her other daughter, Reba, inside if she wanted to go to church and she said yes!! MIRACLES!!! 

       Sunday, Rita came to church! It was the primary program and because her friend was in it, she got to sit up on the stand with her the whole time :) Reba got sick so she didn't get to come...next time! The primary program (kids ages 3-11 sing songs, say cute things, and testify of Christ) was unbelievable and I smiled and was teary eyed the whole time. I'm so grateful for the pure, innocent, and sweet spirits these kids are. Primary is definitely an inspired program! 

       This week truly was a long week of miracles. I'm grateful for the Atonement. I'm thankful for repentance and for the promises we make with God. I'm very thankful for all He does for me and for all His Son, Jesus Christ does for me. I know they live and that they have a body of flesh and bones like we do and that that's why we truly are created in Their image. I pray each of you will have a week full of miracles too...don't forget to look for them!! Love you all! 

I love my calling! 

Sister Wilson"

Bonita and Arthur at Church :)

Sorry I'm so behind on the updates!

It's been a crazy busy couple of weeks.

Here's Nicole's email from the 14th:

"Good Morning, afternoon, and evening (depending on when you read this!)! 

       Not much has happened since Wednesday, so this should be a shorter email (should being the key word!) 

       Thursday, we had Elder Daniel Johnson of the Seventy come to our mission! He shared a lot of interesting insights with us that really got me pondering. I'm grateful for the opportunity we have to hear from our general authorities and learn more from them! With the world we live in today, I don't know how sane I would be without modern day Prophets, Apostles, and other church leaders! How blessed I feel! 

       Friday-Saturday night we had exchanges with Sister Robles and Sister Ballif! Sister Ballif is the one in the picture! She came to Ritzville with me :) She's so sweet and funny! She's been out less than 3 months and it was so great to get to know her more. We had a grand ole time! 

        Saturday we did a Blitz in Ritzville! All the elders from my district came and helped us contact people and find new investigator! haha, Elder White called it Blitzville! It was a lot of fun and we really appreciated the help and support the elders give us. We feel very blessed to be able to serve with righteous priesthood holders who encourage us in our efforts! 

       Sunday, BONITA AND ARTHUR CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!! We were so excited!!!! They only stayed for the first hour, Sacrament Meeting, and then went home. Bonita's mouth was hurting (she had teeth pulled) and Arthur Sr (husband....the Arthur that came to church was her son, Arthur Jr) has cancer and was home, so she wanted to go and be with him. We went over for a lesson later that day, and they enjoyed church! Bonita said she felt so welcomed and felt like she really fit in! That made me so happy and proud of our little branch. The members here are so genuine and so sweet! We have a 17 year old girl, Rachel, who comes with us to our appointments with Bonita. When she saw Bonita, she ran up and gave her a big hug.....It made my heart smile (: The people here are just so nice, it blows my mind! I'm so grateful for all the positivity and love that comes from this small town! 

        That basically sums up my week since Wednesday!I hope your weeks went well also! Have a wonderful week! I want to share my testimony that I know Jesus is the Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer. We have a loving Heavenly Father who is willing to do all that He can to help us return Home. God bless you all, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen! 

Love,

Sister Wilson"

A Blessed Week

Because of Labor Day on Monday,

Nicole's P-Day was moved to today!

Here's her most recent email (with pictures!):

"Hello Friends and Family!! 

      Since Monday was Labor Day, our pday was moved to Tuesday. Sister Brown and I were planning on going to the Temple today, so that moved our pday to today!! Unfortunately, our Temple trip plans fell through :( BUT we're excited to reschedule and go another time! The House of the Lord is one of the greatest blessings we have here on earth and I am anxiously awaiting my next trip (: 

       This past week was a very blessed week! We got many new investigators (not much to say on them right now, but in future emails!) and we're excited to start teaching them! We got a new one yesterday...his name is Richard and guess what??? HE'S GOT AN ENGLISH ACCENT!!!!!! I absolutely love his accent and can't wait to start teaching him! He does seem really open though. He took a Book of Mormon, set up a time for us to come back this weekend, and he said he'd have a report on what he thinks of it....so excited!! I've never met anyone who committed to read it so willingly the first time talking to them..we're very hopeful for Richard! 

      We FINALLY moved into our apartment on Friday! We were so excited to finally be able to fully unpack and settle in. We were very blessed though to be able to stay with a few different members the past 2 weeks. It was a great way to get to know the wonderful people serving in this Branch! 

       There's not too much to say this week, but I was reminded of how blessed I am to be able to be out here testifying of our Savior Jesus Christ every day. I had a couple of "off" days this week. Sunday was one of them. I didn't feel myself and was lacking a little in my desire. Nonetheless, every time I bore my testimony, I felt a complete change. I felt so happy and passionate and blessed to have the opportunity to share my testimony. Testifying of Jesus Christ brings the greatest amount of joy anyone could ever imagine! I invite everyone, regardless of faith, to write or share (preferably share) your feelings of our Savior Jesus Christ. You will feel a difference and His love and Spirit will overwhelm you! I'm so grateful!! I can't imagine being anywhere else right now. I have been truly blessed! 

       I love you all and pray that everything is going well! I'll have to send pictures in another email because only Sister Brown's computer will allow that and we'll be switching computers to do so. Thank you for all your prayers and love! May you feel God's love for you and others around you this week! I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I love my Heavenly Father. I love my calling! 

Love,

Sister Wilson"