Prayer is Powerful

Here's the email we got from Nicole today! Enjoy!!

"Hey Everyone! 

      This week was pretty good, and busy. I saw lots of miracles and learned so so much! I am so blessed and grateful for all the learning experiences I'm given! 

      So, we met a lady this week outside working in her yard. We walked up to her and started talking with her. She asked us if we were Mormon and we said yes. She replied, "oh I'm sorry". We just looked at her and questioned why? Haha, she then explained how we've been trained and she highly encouraged us to go read a book by some guy I've never heard of (I think he was a pastor?). I calmly and politely explained, "I turn to God for my answers and guidance, not man". She wasn't too happy about that and told us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. When we agreed, she still wasn't happy. When we left, I just thought about how important it is to know where to turn to for Truth. When you're turning to the internet or to a book (other than scripture) or anything other than God, you are turning to MAN. Who do you follow? Who are you preaching about? If the answer is God and Jesus Christ, then turn to them for answers! More often than not people tell us to go research our religion....I have, and that is exactly why I am here. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is TRUE. I have turned to and asked GOD if it was true and He told me. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have and I'm sad when people don't accept it because of what they hear from other people. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to bash other religions. I completely accept other people and their beliefs and if they're not interested right now, that's okay. I understand and let them choose for themselves. But, when people tell me to study my religion, I just have to laugh. 

       On Saturday, we did a little district blitz. The elders in Chewelah came down and Sister Kulcsar and I, with the Chewelah elders, went to Riverside to do missionary work in their areas. Elder Shirk (Riverside) handed Sister Kulcsar and I a paper with names and addresses for us to go contact. Our gps is a little different then the elders' in the sense that we need the city before we can type in anything else. The elders' gps doesn't need the city, so they didn't put the cities down. We were getting really stressed out because we couldn't find anything. We called the elders and they gave us a cross street for one of the addresses and we hopelessly tried to find it. We were having no luck and we were so frustrated that the Spirit wasn't there. Finally, I pulled over and said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to please help us. I got a picture of a house we just passed and felt prompted to go back and ask for directions. I turned back and there was a man in his yard who gave us the directions necessary to contact the person the elders wanted us to. The rest of the blitz, we were able to find the roads we needed to get where we needed to go. I was so grateful for all those tender mercies! Prayer is POWERFUL!!! I've learned the power of prayer the most these past 2 transfers. NEVER doubt the power of prayer...EVER!! 

         Yesterday, we were blessed to be able to hear from 2 members of the Seventy, Elder Johnson and Elder Blunt. THEY WERE AWESOME!!! Our General Authorities are so inspired. They called all of us to repentance and stressed the importance of every member a missionary. We are all called to preach the gospel, no exceptions. Elder Johnson explained, "no matter what profession you are (doctor, lawyer, businessman,etc), it is all insignificant compared to the work of salvation among the children of God". It was so bold, but so powerful! He explained when we die, those professions aren't going to come with us. But, the gospel will never have an end to it being taught. I would exhort (highly encourage) every member to more fully fulfill their calling as a missionary. Look for those who are in need and reach out. Follow the promptings of the Spirit...He will never lead you astray. It's my testimony that as we share the gospel, we are allowing not only the people we share it with, but also ourselves to see miracles.

         I hope you all have a wonderful week! Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and He is always there for us, whether we want Him there or not. He's looking out for us and knows us personally! I love you all and appreciate the prayers and support (:

Love, 

Sister Wilson"

"The photo is Sister Kulcsar and I with the Riverside elders (whom I love dearly).

Elder Toner and Elder Shirk (with the bird) are super awesome!

The bird is our Ward Mission Leaders...it pooped on Elder Shirk and me....super gross!"

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"

I'm Willing To Do Whatever It Takes

We got another email today! Her P-Day was moved

to today because of Memorial Day being yesterday. Check

out her latest email and pictures below:

"Howdy! 

 

    Hey everyone!!! This week went much better :) 

    Monday, my district and I went fishing!!! Well, the elders went fishing and Sister Kulcsar and I just enjoyed the lake....well looking at it since we can't go in. Haha, but we did do a little fishing at the end.....it was fun :) I really love the elders I get to serve with. They're great examples of what a leader should be like and they're so patient with us. I feel so extremely blessed to serve with these wonderful sons of God :) 

    Tuesday we had Zone Conference...it was quite interesting. We all got black boxes put in our car (they tract your speed and "dangerous driving" and lots of other stuff). It talks to you when you're speeding and doing other things we shouldn't do. We also found out we're getting i-pads when our new mission president gets here in July. Not so sure how I feel about that.....but it will be fun. I know the Lord is providing many ways for us to share the gospel and I look forward to seeing how the i-pads will help move His work forward! 

    Our biggest miracle happened on Sunday. We taught Beth after church and we taught her the Word of Wisdom (a commandment to help our bodies be clean and healthy...it prohibits the consumption of alcohol, tea/coffee, illegal drugs, marijuana, harmful substances, tobacco products). The only problem she had with it was she drank tea. Herbal tea is okay for us to drink, but her tea was questionable. We told her we'd ask our leaders if it was approved. Then we asked her if she'd be willing to give it up to be baptized if it wasn't. Her response filled my heart with so much joy. She said, "Yep. I'm willing to do whatever it takes. I know this is what I need to do and I'll give up whatever I need to". SHE'S SO AWESOME!!!!!!! Oh my gosh, I can't believe I was blessed to meet her!! She's the greatest...I have nothing more to say about her than that :)

      Yesterday, we all went to Canada for the day! All the missionaries went to Canada (it was a Blitz) to help the Canadian sisters find more people to teach. It was so great! We talked to a LOT of people and it made me super excited to talk to that many people in my own area. The church up there is SUPER small. There's not even a church building there. There are like 12 members (meaning Jaxon has a lot of work to do:) Go kill it in Canada Jax!)  On the plus side, they're all strong in the gospel :) 

       I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father. I have seen and felt His hand in my life a lot this week and am so grateful for all He has done for me! I'm grateful to hear about all my friends at home who are leaving for their missions....it shows that His work is moving forward!! How wonderful it is to be part of that!! I love you all and I love my Savior Jesus Christ...I want nothing more in the world than to be like Him!! Hope you all have a great week!!! Oh, and by the way, transfer calls are Sunday so if you are sending any letters, send them to the mission office address: 

820 S Pines Rd. Suite 101 

Spokane Valley, WA 99206 

LOVE YOU!! 

Sister Wilson"

The Spirit is the Best Motivator

Here's Nicole's email from this week! She has definitely

been keeping busy in her new area. Enjoy!!

"Howdy everyone!! 

     This week was a little better. Still challenging, but we saw MANY miracles :) 

      So we taught Beth again on Wednesday (they have us over every week for dinner and a lesson..super awesome). We taught her about The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism by the proper authority, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End) and at the end, we invited her to be baptized again. Her response? "I'D LOVE TO!!!!!!!!!!" (caps and exclamation points added). AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH she's on date to be baptized for June 13. What got her to say yes? She went to church 2 Sundays ago (which reminds me, I hope you all went yesterday) and felt the Spirit super strongly. She said her uncle passed away the day before and that she could feel his presence during Sacrament meeting during the hymns and talks. It was such an amazing experience for her, and it strengthens my testimony on the role of the Spirit. The Spirit is the best motivator. It also strengthened my testimony on Family History Work. Our ancestors are just waiting for their work to be done and are prompting us to do it! They want us to make these promises with God so that we can help them do the same....so grateful!!!! 

      On Saturday, Sister Kulcsar and I got to do some service. We raked pine needles.....a lot of them. It was so much fun! I know the picture shows us in our missionary attire, but we did the service in pants....we just didn't get a picture while actually doing it so we took one afterwards :) I just love serving others....it brings great joy...and I get to wear pants :) 

      The biggest lesson I learned this week was on obedience. When the scriptures say you'll be blessed when you're obedient to the Lord's commandments...they mean it. There were a couple of nights this past week when we got home LATE. It was an AWFUL feeling that I hope to never feel again. Knowing we could have put more effort into preventing it was just awful. I'm so grateful for repentance and for the opportunity I have to do better and to change to become more like my Savior Jesus Christ...I want nothing more in the world than to be like Him. Be obedient...always! It will BLESS you!!! 

        Next week, my pday will be Tuesday due to memorial day...just a heads up! I love ya'll and hope this week is full of joy and happiness. I challenge you to be more obedient this week, and I can promise you that you'll see more blessings and miracles and will be filled with even more joy! The Lord loves each of you and is very mindful of all that you're going through! I'm grateful for Jesus Christ and for all that He has done for me. I'm blessed to have this short time to be His representative 24/7 for 18 months....greatest gift and calling I could have been given. I love this Gospel!! This is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Love you all!

Love, 

Sister Wilson"

If God Had a Refrigerator, Your Picture Would Be On It

This past weekend, we got to Skype with Nicole for Mother's Day. She's doing very well!

She was so happy and bubbly, like always. She was so incredibly excited to tell us that

the first yard she's ever had to mow in her entire life was done in CANADA!

She hated the mowing part, but loved that she experienced it in another country. :)

She even told us about how "weird" Canada is, because they measure temperature

in Celsius and distance in kilometers. When we told her we were the

weird ones, she just couldn't believe it! Then on Monday,

she sent us the following email, complete with pictures:

"Hey everyone!! 

    So...this week was personally super duper tough. I struggled a lot in every way. But, it taught me the importance of enduring to the end (staying faithful ALWAYS even when life gets hard). As I spent a lot of time in sincere prayer and made sure to read from the Book of Mormon every day, I was finally able to come out of my "slump" at the end of the week. I wouldn't have made it through this week if it weren't for the Atonement, or sacrifice, of Jesus Christ! I'M SO GRATEFUL!!! Despite the hardness of the week, I saw so many miracles, blessings, and tender mercies! As we turn to God and do our very best all the time, He will help us and we will be greatly blessed!! I didn't enjoy my trials, but I'm very grateful for the lesson I've been able to learn from them :) 

     This week we did some service for a less active who's moving. We helped her clean her house. On the way there, we passed by a church with a funny sign that said "If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it" hahahahaha. I thought it was so funny! It's true though (: God loves each of us and knows us personally and we would totally be on his fridge :) 

       We're teaching this lady named Beth. She's living with a member who is coming back to church (she's been less active for a while). This less active, Sister Woehmeyer, is GREAT!!! She's the best fellowship ever for Beth! Beth has had questions and doubts about some things we've taught her, especially Joseph Smith. As we've committed her to pray more and read from the Book of Mormon, she's coming around. We got a text from Sister Woehmeyer the other day that said Beth told her "I think I found what I've been looking for with the Mormons"!!! She's mentioned being baptized to her and she stays up late reading the Book of Mormon! She's been to church twice and LOVES it!!!! AHHHHHH!!!! I can't wait for our next lesson with her on Wednesday!! She's so awesome! She's even invited her friend to the lessons...she's already a missionary :') 

      Another exciting thing that happened to me.....I WENT TO CANADA!!!!!!! We had exchanges and I got to go with Sister Larsen to Canada...I was way excited!! The Canadians say "ay" a lot, which is so funny, and their temperature is in celsius. We got to do some service for this lady, and she was talking about how hot it gets. She said "it gets to 40 degrees!" I was like "40? That's winter in Texas!!" Then she started laughing at me as I realized the difference.....oops :) Another fun part, was I got to mow my first lawn..in Canada!! How many people can say they mowed their first lawn in Canada? Not many :) It was a good exchange :) 

      One last thing before I close my letter. This weekend, my stake is doing an "invite a friend to church" Sunday. Now, we should invite people every week, but this week the talks will be special. I know this probably isn't happening everywhere, but I would invite all to attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints this Sunday. It will be a very uplifting experience that will help you feel God's spirit and love for you. It will change your life...it changed mine. 

       I love you all! I know that my Redeemer, Jesus Christ lives. He loves each of us and is waiting to help us...we just have to ask Him. I love you all and hope everyone has a fun, safe week! 

Love, 

Sister Wilson"

I'm a Wicken

Here's Nicole's latest email home! It sounds like

she had a great and productive week:     

     "Hey Everyone! Not much has changed since Wednesday, but it's been a much better past few days! 

     Thursday and Saturday we had the opportunity to do some service for a couple different people in the wards. I love being able to serve people...it's so great! On Friday, we got 2 new investigators, 1 in each ward!! So exciting!! One's name is Andrea. We found her at a park with her kids and we went up and started talking to her. She was so great! She asked for a "statement of Faith" so we gave her 13....we gave her an articles of faith card (which is simply 13 statements about our beliefs). She said she would love to talk to us, but couldn't at the time. Then SHE asked if there was a time we could meet....what the? It was so great!!!!! We set up a time and then we invited her to be baptized when she comes to know our message was true. She's been baptized twice already, but said she'd do it again...NO ONE says that! She is totally prepared and we're excited to start teaching her:) The second is name Wanda. She's lives in the Clayton ward and she's been taught by missionaries before and is open to learning more. Her husband passed away not too long ago and he was a member. She wants to learn more about what he believed! 

      Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting....it was soooooo great!! I love hearing the experiences other members of the church have with the gospel of Jesus Christ! I have to tell you about an awesome experience from yesterday. There's this dumb girl (dumb as in can't speak at all except for a few words) in Clayton ward. Her name is Sharon and I've never met her before yesterday. She and another woman walked up to the stand to bare testimony. The friend explained that Sharon's been wanting to share her testimony for a really long time, but they never knew how to go about it. After fasting and praying, they came up with a good idea! They typed it!!!! The friend read Sharon's testimony while Sharon stood there looking at everyone! It was the most beautiful, touching testimony I have ever heard. In the testimony she said, "I love this gospel and I'm going to testify of it always!" How beautiful that is!! This lady who can't speak but a few words is proudly going to testify of the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ in every way that she knows how. It made me analyze my missionary efforts and realize that I could do a MUCH better job. At the end of the testimony, Sharon was able to close it "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen". I bawled! It was such a testimony builder to me that everyone has a part to play in the spreading of the gospel and we all need to play that part. We have been blessed with many gifts and talents that we need to use to help others feel of God's Spirit....Sharon did just that! 

      After church we went out to see people..we met a lot of people so that was great! We walked up to this couple and they immediately shewed us away. The lady exclaimed "I'm a Wicken!! I'm a Wicken! I don't want to hear religion!" I asked Sister Kulcsar what that was and she said it's like a witch....this is the second witch I've encountered on my mission....I met a lady who said she was a witch in Belle Terre. It's very interesting.... 

       So Deer Park is great(: It pushes me to be a better missionary and a better person. I love my companion. I love the 2 wards I serve in. I love the Gilson, the cute older couple I live with...they are so great! I just love living with older people! Sister Francis (the member I previously lived with) was the funniest lady ever! The Gilsons are just like her! So sweet, funny, and loving! I have been so blessed with my living arrangements! I'm so grateful for all that my Father has given me! I would invite everyone to pay more attention to all the blessings you have. We are so blessed and it would be a sin not to acknowledge Heavenly Father for everything. I love you all and pray you're doing well! To all the mothers out there, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!! You women are amazing and we love and appreciate you dearly! Love you!! 

Love, 

Sister Wilson"

Deer Park

Sorry I'm behind in updating y'all! This is Nicole's

email home from last week. Her P-Day was on Wednesday

instead of Monday, and it usually takes a couple of

days before I'm able to update. Read about her

crazy first week in Deer Park below:

     "Hey everyone!! We went to the Temple today, so that's why my pday is so much later. Anyways, it's been an insanely crazy first week in Deer Park! 

     Before I left Belle Terre, we had a miracle!! The picture with me and those fabulous children of God in front of the Temple was from last Monday. That evening, we took our less active, Sonja ( she's the one on my left in the sweatshirt) on a church tour. We worked with her for FOREVER to get her to come to church and she never would. She was so stubborn. Nonetheless, she was slowly progressing. It was so amazing to watch her grow and you could start to really see the Spirit working through her. The last time we invited her to church, the Spirit placed an idea in her mind that she should go visit the church again first to re-familiarize herself with the building before she goes back (it's been a super long time since she's been). So....we took her on a church tour! Our recent convert Erin, on my right and Ed (the greatest missionary in the whole entire world) were there too for fellowship. As we walked around the church, we helped her remember her baptism (she's a convert who joined a few years ago). When we got into the chapel, she started crying. The Spirit was so strong and she felt at home...it was AMAZING!!! Of course I was bawling too....when you don't have any investigators to work with, you spend a lot of time with less actives (which are just people who are members, but don't attend). It was incredible. The chapel was the last part of our church tour, so as we were leaving, Sonja asked if we could walk around the Temple..you know because it's right across the street(: It was soooo great! We all walked around the House of God and she exclaims "I'm going inside someday. I'm going to do it" Of course I'm bawling the whole time. She has a goal to go to the Temple to make promises with God and to feel the peace that comes from this Holy Place. None of these 3 amazing people have been to the Temple yet, so it was so great to walk and talk with them!!! This picture is one of my favorite moments captured on my mission and I am so very grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to serve with them! 

      Tuesday morning, I said my final goodbyes to Sonja, she wanted to see me one last time....meaning, I had one last time to push her to go to church on Sunday(: I also said goodbye to my awesome companion. I learned so much from her and I love her dearly(: But, my new hungarian companion is so awesome! Her name is Sister Kulcsar (Cole-ch-are). She is so sweet and really funny!! I love serving with her! 

      Serving in Deer Park is wayyyyy different. I actually cover 2 wards...Deer Park and Clayton. We share Clayton with a pair of Elders though, so that makes it fun...and interesting haha. This area is HUGE!!!! I could bike from one end of Belle Terre to the other in 15 minutes. Now it takes 40 minutes to drive to our dinner appointment. Some of our appointments are an hour away...it's so crazy! But, it's fun and really beautiful! Supposedly we get free bowling on p days(: The ward members are very nice, though Sundays are very long. With the 2 wards and the meetings for both wards, I'm at church from 7:30 am to 5 pm every Sunday, so that's a little different haha! Along with the few extra hours of church, I get an extra hour of study in the morning. Normally we have 2 hours (1 for personal study and 1 for companion study), but now we get 3 for Sister Kulcsar to do language study. At first I didn't want an extra hour, but I LOVE it now! I learn so much as we take it slower and really try to understand what the scriptures mean. 

      To sum it up, it's been a very tough week (like all first weeks of new transfers), but a very blessed week. It will take time for me to fully get use to all the changes, but I'm grateful for this new opportunity and I know I'll grow A LOT while working in this area with these people and with my new companion. I hope all is going well with everyone!! I sure do love and pray for you all daily! Have a wonderful rest of the week and I'll write again on Monday!! 

Love, 

Sister Wilson

Ps. my new address is:

32304 N Spotted Rd

Deer Park WA 99006  

We live with the nicest old people...I'll tell more next week!"