Long Week

It sounds like Nicole had an eventful week this week!

Check out her email (and pictures) below:

"Hey everyone! 

    This week was long after Wednesday...haha. But it was still pretty good.

    I'll start from the beginning....Tuesday I was in a trio for a little bit while Sister Peeler was in a meeting. When we went to go pick her up, guess who I saw???? SISTER ROGERS!!!! Ahhhh I was so excited to see her (for those of you who don't remember, she was my first companion)!!!! It was such a joyful moment and a tender mercy from the Lord! Oh how happy it was to see her(: 

     Wednesday, I went on an exchange with Sister McDougal...she's Spanish speaking. We stayed in Belle Terre and it was so awesome! We rode our bikes a lot, even as it started raining a little bit. I love riding my bike, even though I feel like I'm flashing people at times...haha. We saw so many miracles and talked to so many awesome people! We got 5 new investigators that day...it was so awesome! These new people, at least the ones who haven't already dropped us, are so awesome!! I already love them so much and they have a special place in my heart. I am so excited to teach them more about this gospel that will bless them and help them through the things they are going through. AHHHH I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!! Wednesday night, though, Sister Peeler started getting sick. 

      Thursday, is our weekly planning day, which means we're planning all day for the upcoming week. Again, Sister Peeler was sick (she remained sick for the rest of the week and is just getting over it). Thursday afternoon/evening we're supposed to get to work again and go see people. We had a dinner appointment with some investigators (those are the best) that was crucial for us to go to. So we did a split for dinner so I could still attend. They're so great! They're an older couple named Bob and Sharon and they are so prepared. They ask great questions and are reading the Book of Mormon and enjoying it and are loving our visits! They're so great and sincere and great!!

       Friday we had a zone training for a big chunk of the day. The rest of the day after that was kind of slow because we had to take lots of long breaks for Sister Peeler. It's hard not being able to work like you're suppose to. It gives me way too much time to think haha. 

      Saturday...ERIN GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so awesome and so many nonmembers were there and she just beamed and glowed and shined and was so happy. It made me so happy! It's been such a blessing to get to work with her. She's been taking lessons for 2 years and it's been cool to see how much the gospel has changed her in just the 2 short months I've known her. How awesome the gospel is! She is so happy and she makes me happy every time I see her. The way she loves our Savior and the way she has really applied the Atonement and the gospel in general in every circumstance is truly an inspiration to me! She's just great(: 

       Yesterday, we taught Sunday School on the Atonement...it actually went pretty well...much better than I thought it would. I'm just so grateful for the Atonement and for our Savior's love for each of us. His love is truly indescribable and is greater than anything you and I could ever imagine. We should all be striving to apply His Atonement, or His sacrifice for us, daily, hourly, secondly. There are so many people who have no idea that we have a Savior, and we DO know that we have a Savior, so why not use Him every day?! How blessed we are! My invitation to everyone is to make the Savior, Jesus Christ, part of your daily lives and I can promise you, you will see miracles and more joy and happiness and blessings will enter into your life as you do so! This is my prayer for you all and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen! 

         Love you all!! 

Love

Sister Wilson

P.s. Have a great week and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!"

The Start of a New Transfer

Although Nicole had a long first week of the new transfer,

Nicole had a lot of positives come out of this week.

Check out her email and pictures below:

"Hey ya'll!! 

     This was the first week of the new transfer and it was LONG! Monday evening, we went to a lot of people for Sister Gosdis to say goodbye. It was funny because I was the one crying the whole time and she didn't shed a tear. Everyone was really confused as to why I was crying. Transfers are just so bittersweet for me. Tuesday, I said goodbye to Sister Gosdis, and that was so hard! She was such a great companion and I feel very blessed to have had her as my second trainer! But, she's having a great time in Colville, and we still call each other every now and then to stay updated and to ask for some help with Belle Terre as I'm still learning the area. 

    My new companion, Sister Peeler, is so awesome though! She's so cute and is such a sweetheart! She's way patient with me as I still try to get the hang of things. She's from Temekula (totally not spelled right) California, an hour north of San Diego. She's a singer and was in an A Capella group that toured and sung all over at Stake Conferences...so cool!! She's really sweet and I think we'll get along really well as we get used to the whole change. She was in Kellogg, Idaho for 7 1/2 months and this is her second area. It's been a great change for us both and we're just working together through it! The good new is, I know the area way better than I thought....tender mercy from the Lord! 

      Oh my goodness, OUR INVESTIGATOR ERIN IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!! She's a 42 year old, but she has a mental disorder, and is mentally a 14 year old. She's the greatest though and I love her so much! She's taken the lessons for a couple years and has had so many doubts and didn't want to get baptized for family reasons, personal reasons, etc. She didn't want to be baptized for a while. Then she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to keep her commitment to come to church every Sunday because she has to watch her grandma. Then she was worried her mother would disown her. But things have really been going uphill for her. Her grandmother passed away, which was hard on her, but her worry about being baptized disappeared. The Lord really has prepared a way for her and she is so ready. She's changed from "I don't want to get baptized" to "I can't wait to be baptized!" Her relationship with her mother is better than its ever been before and she just shines!! Ahhhhhh I'm so excited for her!!!!!!!!!! 

       Yesterday, the coolest thing ever happened! We ran into a Muslim family and they let us in. We just talked a lot about our religion and learned a lot about their religion. There are many differences, but there's also a lot of similarities. They showed us their Koran and they showed us how they pray 5 times a day with their movements and all....so cool!!!! It was way fascinating and I just really enjoyed it. They said we could come back and talk more about religion with them. Haha, we're not exactly sure how to teach them the Restored Gospel, but the Lord will help us!! 

      Despite the long week, I'm so grateful! I'm grateful for my new companion, I'm grateful for our investigators, and I'm thankful for the power of prayer. I had a bad morning full of stress and I just took 5 minutes to get on my knees and pray. The peace and comfort I felt was indescribable! I felt so much better and my testimony of prayer was so strengthened! 

       Well, I love being a missionary and I love all the prayers and support and letters! Thanks for everything ya'll do!! (: Hope everyone has a great week!

Love, 

Sister Wilson"

Transfer Time!

This week, Nicole got the transfer call. While she is staying in Belle Terre, she's

bummed that Sister Gosdis is being transferred. But she's putting her trust in God

and knows that His hand is in this transfer and that He will provide.

Read her email below:

"Hey ya'll! 

    We got transfer calls last night....I'm staying in Belle Terre and Sister Gosdis is moving to Colville. Once again, I'm crushed!! I LOVE Sister Gosdis and I've learned so much from her. There's so much going on in Belle Terre, it's really overwhelming and I don't feel ready to take on Belle Terre without an old-timer. Nonetheless, I know that God has His hand in this transfer. As hard as my last transfers were, they all worked out the way they were suppose to and I know that this transfer is all going to work out the way it's suppose to as well. God's hand is in everything we do and He will provide!!! 

       So, this week was pretty good, but hard. Our investigator Kristen got baptized!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! It was so awesome and so exciting! Our 71 year old investigator came, and we've tried FOREVER to get him out of his apartment to things! It was such a great baptism and it was so awesome to see so many people there! We had to move from the Relief Society room to the chapel because so many people showed up! It really was amazing! 

      Ready for the next miracle?? Richard came to Sacrament meeting on Sunday too!!! It was sooooooooo exciting!!! He felt so good and he liked it and it all just worked out! 

       I had the really cool opportunity to serve this week. One of our investigators, Leslie, is a single mom with 3 kids, a 15 year old boy, and 2 daughters who are 10 and 6. Her son is on probation and her daughters are hard to get along with sometimes. She's really struggling financially and has asked us many times if there was someway we could help her with food. We are trying to get her on with the Bishop's Warehouse, but that's a process. She texted us Wednesday to ask for more help with food. Sister Gosdis and I don't have a very big budget, but we really wanted to do something for her. We decided to go through everything we have and we gathered 3 bags full of food that we haven't and wouldn't touch, extra food that we didn't mind giving away, and some food that was left over from previous missionaries that hadn't gone bad yet. We gathered a lot of Macaroni, some hot chocolate, pop-tarts, popsicles, penne noodles, oatmeal, fruit snacks, 2 small frozen steaks, pez dispenser candies, some fruit, and just loads of stuff!! Again, we FILLED 3 bags of food and dropped it off anonymously. When we saw her again, she and her kids were so grateful for the anonymous gift. Now, I don't tell you this to get praise or to tell everyone how great I am. I'm simply telling this experience to show how grateful and blessed I am to have the chance to serve others in some way everyday. I was filled with exceedingly great joy and gladness to do this for her! I encourage you all to look for ways to serve others this week! Every day, serve someone! I promise that you will feel joy and love! It will bless you and will draw you closer to our Heavenly Father! I'm so thankful for these opportunities Heavenly Father has put in my life to stop thinking of myself and to turn outward. What a blessing it is to serve! As you serve others, your life will improve and you'll find so much happiness! 

       The pictures I'm attaching are ones with my zone, my district, from the baptism, and the beautiful scenery!!(: 

       I love you all and hope you have a very blessed week full of love and service!

Love, 

Sister Wilson"

One More Week of Transfers!

Nicole had such a good yet crazy week, she forgot

to send us pictures! Here's what she had to say:

"Hey everyone!! 

    So....this week has been pretty crazy...so crazy I forgot to take pictures..sorry! This week it snowed again! It snows one day, sunny the next couple, then it snows again. Haha, it's crazy to see so much snow but it is so beautiful! 

    We did another exchange this week...I love exchanges! I love working with other sisters and learning from them! I went on an exchange with Sister McWilliams on Friday! I realized just how inspired exchanges are. We went back and forth on who should go where and we finally decided I would go to Sister McWilliams area and that Sister Gosdis would stay in Belle Terre with Sister Norcross. Everything worked out so perfectly!! Sister McWilliams had a really tough week and she was having a rough day. She said she really needed me that day to just talk, love, and hug her! How grateful I was to see that God knows us so personally and knows who we need in our lives at what time! 

      Ready for another funny, but EMBARRASSING story? Our zone leaders had a baptism this past Saturday that we got to attend because our investigator, Leslie, was coming with her kids. They were baptizing 2 big Samoans, David and Jessie. After the baptismal talk, they proceeded with the baptism and let the girl, Jessie, go first. She got baptized and then David. After the service, we told them congratulations and I gave Jessie a hug and shook David's hand. Later, before we left, we were telling Jessie goodbye and Sister Gosdis was like "Bye Jessie, you're awesome". Then Elder Folu (the one who taught the family) replied, "Yeah HE is". AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.....I SPAZZED out!! Haha, of course I waited until I got in the car to spazz, but I totally did. I HUGGED A BOY! Now, before you go judging me, let me explain. I'm from Texas and there aren't many Samoans (if there are, I just don't see them...sorry...not trying to be offensive in any way, shape, or form!! I love all Samoans!). They were both bigger people with pony tails and Jesse didn't have a deep voice. It was one of those voices that could fit any gender. It was really funny but I freaked out! I can't even imagine what those who saw me hug him would have thought, haha. So, yeah...no more hugging people unless I know FOR SURE their gender! 

     On a more spiritual note, the baptism was really powerful. While they were changing into their dry clothes, we watched Because of Him. If you haven't seen it, go watch it NOW! We watched it at the baptism and we've shared it in many lessons following...I cry every time. We need to remember that all the possibilities and opportunities, and just every good thing comes Because of Him...because of Jesus Christ our Savior! I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and that He loves me, He loves US, so much that He willingly sacrificed Himself so that we could be happy. What great love!! 

      Oooohh...Kristen, the 9 year old, is getting baptized Saturday!!!!!! I'm soooooooooo excited for her! She is so excited and so prepared! I love seeing how happy the gospel makes these people and it makes me so happy (: 

       This morning, I had the wonderful opportunity to receive another, yes ANOTHER, priesthood blessing. Oh my goodness I love the priesthood more than I could ever describe! Through it, I was able to hear what God needed me to know and it was so perfect! I don't know how anyone could ever deny the power thereof. The elders came in, I told them I wanted one for comfort and counsel and then they blessed me. Elder Beckstead said everything that I needed to hear to a T. I know without a shadow of a doubt that it was God working through him to bless me. The priesthood truly is God's power given to men, who's worthy to hold and exercise it, for the blessing of other people. I know that the Priesthood is real, which means Joseph Smith was a true prophet, which means the Book of Mormon is the word of God, which means the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church again restored to earth. I know it, and I know that God knows it (: 

      This week is my last "for sure" week in Belle Terre. Transfers are coming up on Sunday and no one has any idea what will happen. I don't really know what I want to have happen. All I know is that God will take care of me (: I love you all and pray that you have a WONDERFUL week full of love, peace, and happiness!

Love always, 

Sister Wilson

P.S. Okay everyone, I have a challenge for ya'll!!! I literally just read an email from my mission president that we as a mission are going to read the whole Book of Mormon in 1 transfer (6 weeks) starting January 27th. To do so, we all need to read 13 pages every day. I know that sounds like a lot, but it is so possible and it will just bless your life! When we did a Book of Mormon marathon and finished it in a week, my testimony was strengthened so much and it brought new perspective. It brought the Book of Mormon to life! I encourage everyone to do so because I know that it will help you through everything and anything that you will go through in life! 531 pages in 42 days... it is so possible!! I'll keep ya'll updated with my progress and I expect to hear how everyone else is doing! It won't be easy but it will be so worth it! Remember "If you don't have the time to read the scriptures, you're way busier than God ever intended you to be". Love you!"

A Really Good Week

It sounds like Nicole had a really good week this week!

She was also able to send us several pictures from Christmas on.

Enjoy!

"Hey Everyone!!! 

      My camera works now!!! Enjoy the pictures(: 

      Anyways, This week was really good! We met so many awesome people! Our investigators are progressing and they actually like being taught!! It's so awesome and such a joy to teach them! I have seen their countenances change so much and it helps me remember why I'm out here. Happy me!  

     I had a really cool spiritual moment this week. We went to Kristen's house and showed her the Restoration video (if you haven't seen it yet...do it NOW!) I've seen this video a billion times and I love it and was so excited to watch it! The video started playing and as we're watching it, the Spirit was soooooo strong...much stronger than it ever has been as I've seen it before. I just started crying and cried the rest of the lesson. My testimony of Joseph Smith has been so deeply strengthened! I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith restored Christ's church on the earth today and that the Priesthood authority has also been restored! How blessed we are to have the truth on the earth! It was an experience that I can never forget and I'm so grateful God has given it to me! So Kristen's dad finally approved her baptism!!! AHHHHHHHH!!! We are all so excited! He finally came around and their family couldn't be more happy. I knew he would because God provides a way for His children to keep His commandments! I'm so grateful that his heart has softened and will allow her to make this promise with our Father in Heaven to be baptized! AHHHHH(: 

     We have a couple other investigators we're hoping to put on date soon. One of them, Leslie, wants to be baptized and she actually is on date for February, but she has to learn all the lessons first. Her desire is so strong though and her countenance has changed so much!!!! The gospel is awesome in that way(: 

     Funny story..we were bike riding and met these two ladies. They were quite unique and very opinionated and strong in their faith. One of them gave me a card that said "What I need to do to be saved" with a list of things necessary for me to do for my salvation. It was pretty funny...at least for me. Our beliefs weren't even that different. Many people think we try to change others' beliefs, but really, we just add to it! 

     Another funny story....this happened like a couple hours ago. Today is p-day, obviously, and we have to watch the car. Before we get to the car wash, we were talking about how cold it is outside (it's 31 degrees) and I was talking about how my hair was still wet from my shower and made me even colder. We stopped at the chiropractor real quick and headed over to wash the car.  We're not allowed to go through a car wash so we have to wash it on our own. I got out of the car as my companion was spraying it down. Sister Gosdis realized she got soap on her coat and was looking down at it, not paying attention that her hand with the hose was moving. It moved right in my direction and totally sprayed me in the face (my hair just dried too, by the way)! It sprayed me for like 10, 15 seconds and I was soaked. When she noticed, she felt so bad but was laughing really hard! Hahaha, it was soooooooooo cold and my hands were really numb! On the plus side, my make up wasn't smeared...tender mercy! Haha, it was funny though and I was walking like Anna from Frozen after falling in the water(: 

     This week was really good, again, and I'm so grateful to be able to see the change that the gospel brings in peoples' lives. I've thought a lot about my own baptism and I have had many teary-eyed moments as I thought about it. I am so eternally grateful for all my Father in Heaven has given me! The gospel is truly the only source for PURE, EVERLASTING joy and happiness! 

     I hope everyone has a wonderful week and remembers who they are as beloved sons and daughters of God who loves each of you more than words can describe!! (Romans 8:38-39) 

     Love ya'll!! 

Love, 

Sister Wilson"

A Great Start to the New Year

Nicole had a really good week this week! Here's what she had to say:

"Happy New Year!!! 

     This week was pretty good!! On New Year's Eve, Sister Gosdis and I hung out with the other sisters in my district and we went to a member's home and watched FROZEN!!! It was so much fun!!!! Haha, it was a great way to end 2014. As much fun as frozen was, I had a blast just hanging out with people who share my love for the Gospel! 

     So..it snowed....A LOT!!! It snowed all day the past 2 days here....it's so BEAUTIFUL up here with all the snow on the tall trees! It is breath-taking! The snow is so deep, we got about 6 inches, and I have a hard time walking in it sometimes...haha, I fell yesterday and it was really funny! Ooohh....I got to shovel snow from Sister Francis' (the member I live with) driveway! I had so much fun doing it because I've never had to do it before!! It was quite the experience! I'm shoveling with a huge smile on my face, loving it, and Sister Gosdis (from Utah) was like "Ughhh..this sucks!!" Hahaha it was really funny! 

      So, I went on exchanges Saturday with Sister Norcross. She's from Arizona and she came out with me a couple months ago. We taught one of her investigators named Elliot. He's 18 and is scheduled to be baptized January 17. He is so cool!!!!! He said he reads the Book of Mormon daily! I asked him how he felt when he reads and he said "awesome. Just awesome! I thought the Book of Mormon would totally disclaim the Bible and be completely different at first. But, it's not! Everything in it supports and goes hand in hand with the Bible! It's just so awesome!" The joy that filled my heart when he said this is undescribable! Oh my goodness, I was just so happy to see how happy the Gospel makes him. It made me see why I'm out here and it reminded me of the joy and happiness I felt as the missionaries taught me 4 1/2 years ago. How blessed I am to have the gospel in my life!!!! I have a new desire to do missionary work now and to truly give my 100% to my Heavenly Father and let Him use me as a tool in His hands! 

      Ooh....want to hear something way cool?! Our investigator who's 9, Kristen, is about to be baptized on the 17th as well. She bore her testimony in church yesterday!!!!!!!!!! WHAT??? It was so awesome. I'm a missionary and I wasn't planning on sharing mine. This 9 year old non-member just walked up there and talked about how she knew for herself that the church is true and how grateful she is for all that she's been blessed with! What an awesome example she is to me, and everyone! I can't wait until she gets baptized...she's so great!! 

      Sorry again about no photos....the computer isn't working with my camera-_- I'll try getting something at Wal-Mart today to try out next week!

       I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for all He has done for me! What a blessing it is to share His gospel! I feel very humbled and blessed to be used in as a tool in His hands! 

       I love ya'll and hope everyone has a wonderful week!! 

Love, 

Sister Wilson (: "

Happy New Year!

We got to Skype with Nicole on Christmas! She's doing well and had such a

glow about her. She got a new camera for Christmas, but is still figuring it out. 

So hopefully we'll get to post some pictures next week! 

Because of a Temple trip, we heard from her on Tuesday instead of Monday. 

Check out her latest email below:

"Hey Everyone!!!! 

      

      My p-day is a day off today because I got to go to the Temple today!!! We literally just got back from it and walked across the street to the stake center...yes, I did say walk across the street! It was so awesome!!! Ahhhh...I love the Temple!!! You feel God's love for you so strongly and it just makes you so happy!!   

      This past week has been so awesome!! It started off tough, but after getting a Priesthood blessing on Tuesday, it went so much better!!! I'm soooooooooo grateful for the Priesthood!!! 

      My Christmas was so awesome!!!! I got a new camera I can start using, but I haven't figured out how to upload the photos from it because it's way different than my older one. So...no photos this week, but I'll figure it out and send some next week!!! We had a Christmas Eve dinner at a member's house, the Daines, and it was so yummy!! Christmas was just the best though!!! I got to Skype home and talk to my family at the Toth's house! They were so sweet to let us Skype there! Their son just got home from the Dallas, Texas Mission so that was way cool!! We got to Skype home and then they fed us a very yummy Christmas dinner with so much food!! It was such a good day and a great week! How blessed the Lord is to us!! 

     This week we had so many miracles! The 9 year old girl, Kristin, told her father she wanted to get baptized and is almost done with all her prerequisites!! She is so excited and can't wait to get baptized!! It's so fun to see the joy that comes from the gospel and living by it! She has such a huge desire to follow Christ, and she is such a great example for me of what it means to use the Atonement and to do what is right...and SHE'S 9!!!!! 

      Just the other day, we went to contact a potential. He wasn't home, but we met his wife, daughter, mother, and mother-in-law. They let us come in and teach the Restoration...it was the first time I got to recite the First Vision and it was oh so powerful!!!! I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!! We committed them to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and they have a desire to find out if it is true because they sincerely want to do what God wants them to do!!! I can't wait to follow up with them later!!! They are so elect, and so prepared for the restored gospel and I hope they feel the promptings of the Spirit confirming its truthfulness and leading them to the waters of baptism to draw closer to our Savior! 

       Funny story...we were in Wal-Mart (a few days before Christmas) in line to pay for some photos we were getting printed. Sister Gosdis was printing Christmas cards and I was just chilling with her. This guy comes up behind us and Sister Gosdis hands me a pass a long card to give him and start conversation with. I did just that and we start some small talk. Near the end, I gave him a He is the Gift card and told him to watch it and to remember our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the gift He has given us this Christmas season. He was so appreciative and nice...TOO nice. He went in and gave Sister Gosdis a HUGE HUG!!!! Hahaha, she goes "MISSIONARIES DON'T HUG MEN!!!" Hahaha, he replied, "Oh, well, here it goes!" and gave me a hug anyways!! Haha, it was really funny. 

     Another funny story...we were going over to President Mullen's house (the mission president) to teach his family. Well, it snowed this weekend...a lot and the roads are kinda icy in some parts...especially up on the mountain. So, we had a cute young couple drop us off. The catch is, there's a little hill you have to go up to leave President's house...it was so icy, they couldn't get back up the hill!! So Sister Gosdis and I and one of the Mullen's daughters climbed in the back, the couple sitting together in the front passenger's seat, and the girlfriend's brother in the driver's seat (they tried getting up the hill for 30 minutes while we taught the family and eventually called for extra help; we came out to help after the short lesson). Then, President Mullen and his son sat in the trunk!!! The logic of doing this was they thought the extra weight would help keep the car from sliding....we still slid....it was quite a sight!! Just imagine a car full of people with a mission PRESIDENT and his son sitting in the trunk (the trunk is wide open by the way) sliding backwards down an icy hill...it was really funny! 

      Anyways, this week was full of joy and happiness and we had so many lessons and gospel conversations with people! I just want to bear my testimony that this church is true!! Christ runs it and it brings you so much joy and happiness and peace and strength and every other good thing you could think of. It's not always easy, but it's much easier than our own personal ways could ever be! I'm so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and for all that He has done for me! I'm so excited to start a new year...our New Year Resolution is no candy or sugar....we'll see how long that lasts(: I'm so excited to see what the Lord has in store for me! I'm so grateful for all my family and friends and loved ones and all that ya'll have done for me! I feel so blessed to have gotten to know all of you in some way! I hope everyone has a great week and a very Happy New Year!! 

       I love you all!!! 

Love, 

Sister Nicole Wilson"