Looking Up

Here's Nicole's email from February 22nd.

It was another good week. :)

It's crazy to think she'll be home in 2 months!

Read what she had to say below:

"Hello family and friends!! 

     First, I need to freak out for a second.....16 MONTHS!!! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE????? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.....okay, I'm done

      This week we saw lots of miracles. We met some awesome people and set up some return appointments. We even found some new investigators =)  This week we'll have many opportunities to find even more investigators and I'm really excited....things are looking up!! 

     Katrina is still doing well! She's still battling cigarettes, but she's getting there! She's made so much progress so far and I couldn't have been happier for her!! 

     Ashlee is doing well too....still trying to get her to come to church again, but she's more diligently reading the Book of Mormon and loving it!!! She's finding answers and seeing her needs be met through the Book of Mormon and it's such a testimony builder to me!!! I love the Book of Mormon and I know it is the word of God comparable to the Bible! 

    This week we found an awesome potential! Her name is Bella. She's 13 years old and so cute. We'll be seeing her tomorrow after school and I can't wait :) I hope we'll be able to teach her and her big family and help them to come closer to Jesus Christ, our Savior. 

     A beautiful thing happened in the Nine Mile Falls ward. The Beckman family (just returned to activity a year ago and their kids who weren't baptized yet got baptized last March) went to the Temple and got sealed for time and all eternity!!!! What a beautiful event!!! They were all so happy and it's so exciting to see the Spirit that they have (: I'm grateful for Temple work and for the promises of the Lord!! God is so good!

     The greatest thing about this week was yesterday. We had a great lesson with this guy named Bill and his wife Vanessa. We met Bill about a week ago and asked if we could come share a message with him. He said he was getting baptized in a baptist church. We said it's awesome that he's taking that step to follow Christ and asked again if we could come by and share a message with his family. Haha, he was surprised we asked again after knowing about his baptism, and thought there must be something to our message for us to ask again. He told us we could come by another day :) We got our appointment set up and saw them last night! It went so well and the Spirit was definitely there! Our member who came with us was awesome and strengthened my testimony of member missionary work. I'm grateful for the members of this ward and all that they do for us! I'm thankful for Bill and his willingness to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. I'm thankful for my calling and for my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I love Him and know He loves me. I know He loves all of you too!! I hope you all feel His love this week!! 

I love ya'll!! 

Sister Wilson"

Miracles Miracles Miracles

Here's the email we got from Nicole on February 16th.

It sounds like she had a fabulous week!

"Howdy everyone!!! 

     This past week was a week of miracles, big and small! My testimony has been strengthened so much this past week, I feel so truly blessed and very happy!! 

     So Katrina is still strong. It's been a really neat week with the Cole family. We had a lesson with them early on in the week and as we were talking, Seth (Katrina's husband), got emotional. I have never seen him get emotional!!! It was so cool to hear him reflect and think about where the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ has brought him. The Spirit was so strong and he testified!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh....... I just love the change the gospel brings into our lives!!! Katrina is feeling and seeing those changes too and it's great to see and to change alongside them. The day this family gets sealed will be one of the happiest days of my life (:

     We saw Ashlee a few times this week too. She is awesome!! She's been having a hard time reading the scriptures and getting in that habit. She was very inspired one day and asked us to assign specific chapters for her to read instead of just committing her to read. We did and when we came back the next time, she had the Book of Mormon out and all highlighted and marked up and talked about all the extra chapters she read!! Haha, she didn't even want to read at first, but once she started, she didn't want to stop!! I love the power the Book of Mormon brings!! I know that it is true. It is the word of God and it brings us closer to Jesus Christ. It is to be read ALONG SIDE the Bible, not instead. It compliments the Bible and supports it in every way. I invite all to read it!!! 

     Sunday we had a really cool broadcast for Stake Conference. Elder Runlund of the Quorum of the 12 apostles resided and spoke to us. We had members of the 70 speak and it was very uplifting. What a blessing it was!! We learned about the importance of keeping our eye fixed on Jesus Christ and the different ways we can do so. We're promised that as we do, we will be able to withstand the "plan stoppers" that life throws at us. God has a plan for each of us individually. Satan knows that and is doing all that he can from stopping the progression of this plan. We can get rid of the "plan stoppers" as we have Christ be the center of our lives! 

      Yesterday, we did some more tracting and met this awesome family!! It's a man named Andy and his daughter Aronsa (not sure how to actually spell the name or pronounce it). They let us right in and allowed us to share the Restoration with them! They're excited to read the Book of Mormon and we can't wait to go back! They're currently 7th Day Adventist and are super sweet!! I can't wait to see where they go! I know the Book of Mormon has strong spiritual convincing power!! 

       And today.....we went shopping for our groceries and a member from a nearby ward came up and paid for all of us. It was such a blessing. I love all the miracles that God shows me every day. This truly is the best calling anyone could have and I never want it to end! :) I know this church is true. I know that having a knowledge of the Restored Gospel brings lots of hope and peace into our lives. I pray everyone will take the time to see the miracles and blessings received every day, to thank God for all of them, and to try to live life a little bit better to show Him your appreciation. Greater blessings will come!! I love you all!! Have a blessed week :)

Sister Wilson"

Happy Camper!

Here's Nicole's most recent email home! Enjoy!

"Happy Monday!!! 

    So we got our transfer call last night and WE'RE BOTH STAYING IN NINE MILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh...I am such a happy camper!! I love it here so much and feel truly blessed to be here again! 

    So this past week was really good! We had an awesome church tour with Jhamee! She said she will for sure be joining us at church sometime soon and that she'll most likely come multiple times. She's so open, has lots of great questions, and is sincerely searching!! 

    We also picked up a couple new investigators named Bob and Brandon. They were a referral from a member and they are so awesome!! They are searching for truth and want to make God a bigger part of their life. They are taking everything in and are excited to read the Book of Mormon. Unfortunately, Brandon had to go to Indiana the other day for about a month for some work. Good news though, is he was really bummed to have to stop meeting with us...after only ONE lesson!!! That's how awesome they are!! AHHHHHH I LOVE THESE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      The greatest news of the week, though, is Katrina. She told us on Friday that she bought nicotine patches to get herself off of cigarettes. She is officially on day 3 of no smoking. She is anxiously looking at baptism dates and is so happy and excited to finally be able to make that promise with God. Words can't even begin to describe how I feel about that family. The progress they have made is so inspiring and amazing to see. 

     Those are the basic highlights of this past week. The area is picking up and it brings me so much joy to be here. I know this is the Lord's work. I know true happiness comes when we are sharing His restored Gospel and living it ourselves. It changes lives. It makes us better people. It brings us closer to God and His Son, Jesus Christ. It enables us to become more like Him and to be able to one day enter back into their presence. I love Him. I love these people and this calling more than anything. I pray ya'll will take the time to ponder on all the blessings you've received at His hand and give back to Him by sharing them with others. No greater joy comes then when you are serving God's children. I hope everyone has a great week....I sure will :) 

Love, 

Sister Wilson

p.s. sorry for no pictures this week....I'll do better!!"

A Really Good Week

Here's Nicole's email from this past Tuesday! :)

"Hey Everyone!! 

     This week was so good!!! I went to the Temple again today, which is why my pday was moved :) It was awesome...like always! 

     So last Monday we had a Family Home Evening with Katrina. She taught us the message of the Restoration. It was so awesome to hear her testimony!!! I love them so much more than words can describe!!! 

      Tuesday we were in River Ridge and we talked to a lot of people. We love River Ridge so much and hate the thought of losing it....thenWednesday happened. We found out Wednesday night that we're losing River Ridge...effective immediately!!! We were so sad!! Some other elders are taking over now. It was short lived, but it was great! On the bright side of Wednesday, we had a lesson with Jhamee again and she's so awesome!! She has great questions and is really searching! She's going to start reading the Book of Mormon!! We're even going to give her a church tour with Bishop tomorrow and we're so excited!! She's progressing and is loving the message. She believes Joseph Smith to be a prophet and feels good about the things we've been sharing with her!! God is working in her life!! 

      Thursday we gave all of our River Ridge stuff away to the elders :(

      Friday-Saturday we had an exchange! I stayed in Nine Mile with Sister Kruitbosch! I love her!! We had a fun time together and I learned a lot about how I can improve to become a better missionary!! 

      Sunday was weird with only attending one ward. But, it was a good weird! Nine Mile is starting to pick up and we're getting more potentials and finding more investigators! I'm really excited to see where God's going to take this area!! 

     This past week was actually really really good! We talked to a lot of people and are getting better at talking to EVERYONE!!! It makes me so happy to say I'm talking with everyone about Jesus Christ! I feel so accomplished and like I'm really fulfilling my purpose!! I love this calling more than anything in the world!! This Sunday is transfer call/ doomsday. I'm anxious to see what will happen. I love it here. I love all the people I've been blessed to work with and I look forward to seeing what's going to happen for the area's benefit!! I love you all!! Have a great week!! 

Sister Wilson"

 Cole Family

Cole Family 

Sister Kruitbosch 

Temple

God is Good

Here's Nicole's email from January 25th!

"Hey everyone!!! 

    This past week was pretty crazy. With pday on Tuesday, a meeting all day on Wednesday, and Weekly Planning on Thursday, we didn't have a whole lot of time to proselyte. But, nonetheless, I saw God's hand in all that we did and I feel very grateful for my calling. God is good.

     So, on Wednesday, we had a missionary broadcast in the morning where we got to hear from members of the 12 apostles, which was so great! Our church leaders are truly called of God and they point us to Jesus Christ. I know the organization of the Church is to help us become better and to help us become more like our Savior. Then, Wednesday afternoon to the end of the night, we had a Zone Conference where all the missionaries in the stake meet with President Dymock. It was really good and I got things confirmed to me that needed confirmation :) The saddest part, though, was talking to President Dymock afterwards. Our Sacrament meeting in Nine Mile takes place the same time as a meeting in River Ridge that we're suppose to attend does. We approached President Dymock to ask for some more suggestions on how to do it and he said that it's too hard to have these wards combined and to expect a change come next transfer (transfer calls are next Sunday...what?!). My heart broke!!! I love these 2 areas and all the people. I would love to spend more time in River Ridge and I most definitely don't want to leave Nine Mile. Nonetheless, change is good and will help both the areas progress even more. 

     Thursday we got stuck in the snow...big time. It took us about 40 minutes to get out!! Haha, I was kicking and throwing snow everywhere and trying to guide Sister Foo to get us out. It was quite the adventure...pictures to follow :) Thursday night we saw Katrina and went over the baptismal interview questions. She is so ready!!! She's working so hard on smoking and is such an inspiration!! I can't wait to see her get baptized :) 

      Friday-Saturday, we did a 3-way exchange!! 2 of the Sisters can't drive, and the way the exchange would have worked out without us, they would have been companions. Instead, Sister Foo and I got to be involved so that at least one companion in each companionship could drive. I was with Sister Finau....she's so great!!! Definitely one of the funniest people I know :) 

     Sunday was long, but good! We had lots of uplifting messages that I took a lot from. Someone said in one of our services, "start where you are". I love the idea that we simply can start where we are...we don't have to stress out over the fact that we're not where we want to be yet. God doesn't expect us to be perfect right now, but He does expect us to be on the path to perfection, which only comes through Jesus Christ. He simply asks us to let go of the past, and start our journey from where we are now. I am forever grateful for the patience He has with me and the help I receive from Him daily as I walk that path. I love my calling more than I'll ever be able to express. I pray that everyone will take advantage of opportunities to spread God's love. There's nothing in the world that can produce such great joy. Even today as we've been going about our shopping and car washes and getting gas, etc. we've been placed in the path of people who needed us in some way and have given us a chance to testify of Christ. It's made me the happiest I've ever been being on the Lord's errand. I love this Gospel and I love my Savior! I pray we all will feel of Their love always! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Love

Sister Wilson"

Sister Finau and Sister Wilson 

Stuck in the Snow