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 

Week of Miracles

Sorry I'm late in getting this up this week!

Nicole emailed us on Tuesday this week,

instead of Monday. Check out her email

and pictures below!

Happy Tuesday!!! 

     This week was really good! Lots of miracles happened and I'm loving it!! God is so good!

     Monday, we had a really good lesson with Katrina at the Merrill's (our ward mission leader and his family) house. It was awesome!! We talked about things we are willing to give up for Christ and for God and for the chance to return to Them to live with our families for forever. It was so powerful to hear what everyone is willing to sacrifice for something greater. I decided I'm going to sacrifice my pride....I've noticed how prideful I really am and want to become more humble. What are you willing to give up for Christ? 

     Wednesday we had another lesson with Katrina that went well.....I love her so much!!!!!! 

     Thursday we saw the Beckman family. They're awesome! They're preparing to go to the Temple and get sealed next month!!!!! I'm so excited for them!! What a wonderful gift it is to go to the Temple and be sealed with those we love for time and all eternity!!! AHHHHHH :) 

      Friday-Saturday I went on an exchange with Sister Kulscar!! It was fun to be her companion again. Haha, I went to her area for the exchange and we both got so lost! She's been there for 3 weeks and they have the tiniest GPS I had ever seen and all these maps. We spent 2 hours trying to get home Friday night....2 HOURS!! Haha, it was pretty exciting. It was a ton of fun to reunite with my former companion :) 

     Sunday we had a really good lesson in Relief Society about the peace that comes from Jesus Christ. They used John 14:27 as the basis and it was so powerful! We shared the message with Katrina and Seth last night since they missed church due to illness. It was really neat to hear their experiences with peace from our Savior! 

      Yesterday, we got a new investigator in Nine Mile!! She was a miracle. Her name is Hannah Proctor and she talked with missionaries in the past. Sister Blackwell taught her for a little while. We went by to see if we could share more with her and she was all open to it! We'll see her Thursday morning :) Things are slowly but surely picking up and I'm excited!! I know God's hand is in this work and that He is helping His Children come unto Him by putting them in our path. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me these next few months!! I love being a missionary. I love this calling more than anything!! It's a true blessing to be a part of the work of Salvation :) 

       Have a great week! 

Sister Wilson

John16:33"

Exchange with Sister Kulscar 

Week 2

Here's the email we got from Nicole

this week! It sounds like she had quite

a productive week. Check it out:

"Happy Monday!! 

    Sister Foo and I survived week 2. It's been quite the week. We did find new investigators in River Ridge, so that was a miracle! Monday we had an appointment with a man named Arel who was taught by missionaries in the past. He became a new investigator! We're not sure where he's going to go, but we're hopeful as he reads from the Book of Mormon and prays about it, that he'll feel the Spirit testifying of its truthfulness! 

     Tuesday, we spent the day in River Ridge. We tried many people who were taught in the past with no luck. At the end of the day, we realized we couldn't find our phone anywhere! After looking in our car and calling it and thinking about where it could be, we came to the conclusion that we must have dropped it in the snow. It couldn't have been in anyone's home, because everyone was gone. We called the senior missionary in charge of the phones and he's ordered a new one for us. We're still waiting for it to come in, haha. 

      Wednesday, we saw Katrina again! Ahhhhh I just love her so much! She's gone 3 weeks without drinking coffee and she's so happy! She loves seeing herself progress and she feels so good as she keeps the commandments. She is already for baptism....it's just the smoking we're working on! She's getting there, and she's excited about it :) It makes me so happy to see how happy she is making these changes! We  also saw Ashlee, the less active we're working with. She's been trying to come to church the past month, but something keeps coming up Sundaymornings. We told her how if she comes to church, she'll feel her testimony grow stronger and the areas where she may lack a testimony will produce one. It went really well and she said she'll be at church this week!! I just love these people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Thursday we did weekly planning. 

      Friday we had a training where we were informed that some changes were going to be made in the mission to make us more obedient. I am so excited to apply these trainings and see the miracles they will produce! That night we had a dinner with Katrina and Seth and their 3 kiddos. It was lovely and we had a mini testimony meeting. Oh. My. Gosh. Hearing their testimonies is one of the greatest things in the world! 

      Saturday we met a part member family in River Ridge. The parents are trying to come back to activity and go to the Temple. They want their kids to go with them, but they're not baptized yet. We had the privilege of teaching them the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are sweet kids with great potential and we're excited to work with them! 

       Yesterday was great! ASHLEE CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhh..finally!! She came she came she came! Everyone was so excited to have her there and I pray she'll make it a habit! We'll be having dinner with her this week and a lesson outside of the dinner. I can't wait!!

       Tonight we'll be having another dinner with Katrina at a member's home. We have a really good lesson planned and we're super excited! 

       I love these people more than I'll ever be able to describe. The people I've met the past 14 months have been some of the greatest people I'll ever meet in my life, I'm sure of that. It's a true blessing and joy to be doing the Lord's work. I hope you all feel of His love and will continually work on strengthening your relationship with Him. It will bless your life more than anything else you could ever do. 

      I love you all and hope this week brings lots of joy! 

Sister Wilson"

Week 1

This was Nicole's first week of the new transfer.

Even though it's stressful, she's loving overseeing

two wards. Check out her email and pictures below:

"Hey everyone!! 

    So, I survived week 1 of the new transfer! It has been so stressful trying to balance both areas, but it's going to happen and I'm excited for the day it does :)

 

     Tuesday, I said goodbye to Sister Blackwell and got Sister Foo. She's from American Fork Utah and her parents are from Singapore. She's been out almost 9 months and is such a sweetie! Tuesday night we saw Katrina. Oh my heck she is wonderful. She told us a story that strengthened my testimony! She was coming across some anti-Mormon material online that really bothered her. She got really upset over it and started questioning a lot of things. She even questioned whether or not she wanted to continue coming to church. Well, the next day,Sunday, she came to church. During Relief Society (a meeting where all the Women get together to learn and grow in the teachings of Jesus Christ), she heard a comment one of the sisters in our ward had made. This particular sister said something along the lines of not turning to man's knowledge to gain God's knowledge. She had explained that the internet is full on man's knowledge and that if we want GOD'S knowledge, then we have to turn to GOD!! Katrina felt the Spirit so strong and helped her realize that she was on the right path God wanted her to be on. The miracle? Katrina usually always leaves Relief Society early to nurse Storm (her baby boy.....all her kids' names are Rain, Skye and Storm...so cute :) ). This just so happened to be one of the very few Sundays she didn't have to. Every little piece fell perfectly into place and I'm so grateful to know that God always makes things work out....always. His gospel is true and leads us to happiness. If we want to know His Truth, we have to ask Him. I would invite everyone who has any questions, doubts, or concerns to ask Heavenly Father in prayer. He will lead you the right way and I know He can silence all fears. 

     Wednesday we had a few lessons with some less active members. One particularly, the Rasmussens, are slowly progressing. We're trying to help Sister Rasmussen gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon for herself. Her husband likes everything about the church BUT the Book of Mormon. He won't sit in with us when we read it with his wife. This past Wednesday, though, he didn't read with us, but  sat in and made some good comments a few times. His heart is softening and it's a great sight to see :) 

    Thursday we tried figuring out River Ridge.

    Friday we had a dinner at a members house.This member is active and breeds chihuahuas.This being said, they have like 70 little chihuahuas that run around the house. It was CRAZY!!!!!!! I felt like I was surrounded by the 101 Dalmations, only they were small, barking chihuahuas! Haha, it was quite the experience and Sister Foo and I are glad we got to experience it together :)

     Saturday we spent a lot of the day in River Ridge. We met a less active, part-member family named the Kesslers. They are so aweswome! The parents, who are Less active, are working on coming back and getting sealed in the Temple. They're hoping that their kids will get baptized and we'll get to teach them....so excited!

 

      Sunday we had church which was so awesome :) I love church and having 2 wards is a blast, even if it's stressful at times. I love the peace that comes when we attend church and it was much needed rest from the week :) 

       I hope everyone has a great week and is staying warm! It's cold up in Washington! I love you all! I know my Savior lives. I know He loves all of us and is walking with us every step of the way. I love Him. I love representing Him every day and will continue to do so until I die....and then I'll do it some more in the eternities. His plan is perfect. I pray everyone will feel of His love and will love Him back! Have a wonderful week!! 

Sister Wilson"

Transfers

Here's Nicole's email from Monday! As most of you know, 

we got to Skype with Nicole on Christmas Day. It was SO 

great getting to see and talk to her! She's doing so well.

She was beaming with joy and truly loves being a missionary. 

Her arm is even out of the sling! Here's what she said 

this week, pictures included. Enjoy!!

"Howdy!! 

    So this week was kinda crazy!  On Tuesday, the best thing we did was go caroling!! The elders in our district came up to Nine Mile and we caroled! It was a lot of fun! We got to go to Katrina's house and a couple of members' houses. We also got to go carol tracting :) It was so much fun! We have a really great district and it was such a great bonding time while spreading the Christmas Cheer (: 

     Wednesday was a day full of trying to find new people to teach. 

     Thursday was Christmas Eve. We had the opportunity to teach a lady named Jhamee the Restoration! We found her tracting a couple weeks ago. When we taught her the Restoration, she was so excited and said it made sense!! She still has a few questions, but she said it made a lot of other things click. I LOVE that about the gospel...it just makes sense :)  We also got to go to the Beckmans that evening. The Beckmans are AWESOME!! The parents just started coming back to church and their 2 middle kids, Nicole and Aleric got baptized earlier this year! Their uncle, Tom, just came back to church and received the Priesthood! They're all working on going to the Temple to be sealed for eternity!! The oldest son, Joey, isn't baptized yet, but we're trying to work on him! He's so shy though, but we'll get him! So, Christmas Eve evening we went over there, opened their nice gifts they gave us, ate chili dogs, and sung Christmas songs around the fire. It was so much fun!!! The members here are the greatest and really involve us in their family traditions (: 

    Friday was Christmas! Because it snowed all day, every day, we had a white Christmas!! (: We had a meal at the Cheney's house and got to Skype home (: Then we went to the Knacks and saw them and shared a message. We also saw Katrina again and shared a Christmas message with her :) She's doing so great!! She's really progressing with her quitting smoking and drinking coffee and she gets so excited every time she does a little better :) It makes me so happy to see how happy she is as she's taking the steps towards baptism!

     Saturday I was sick all day -_- 

     Yesterday, we had a  WONDERFUL church service! It all started with the meeting we had before church. There was a spiritual thought given that made me think. The lady in our ward talked about a painting of Christ sitting on a park bench next to a teenager dressed in all black. She posed the question, what would you ask Christ if you were sitting next to Him on a park bench? How great that question is! What would we ask Him? Then the meetings went so well too!! The Spirit that comes from going to church is indescribable!! Then, last night we got our transfer calls. Sister Blackwell is leaving and I'm staying. My new companion will be Sister Foo. We will be taking over Nine Mile AND River Ridge ward. The 2 wards were combined and then when Sister Blackwell got here 6 months ago, it split. Now we're taking the 2 of them over again. It will be different, but I'm excited! It's a little stressful after 3 weeks, but I can't wait to see how I'm going to grow from this experience. As we ponder this transfer, we see how perfect God's plan is and all the things that are falling into place as a result! I love His plan. I know His hand is in ALL things, even though we may not always recognize it! I'm grateful for my calling...it brings so much joy! 

    I hope ya'll had a great Christmas too! May you always remember your Savior and all that's possible because of Him! Have a Happy and SAFE New Year!! Don't do anything stupid (:

Love,

Sister Wilson"

 District Carroling

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

Sorry for the super late post!

This week has been hectic to say

the least, with Christmas and all.

Here's Nicole's email from last week.

Enjoy!

"Hey Everyone!!! 

     This week was crazy and, therefore, this email will be short.

     We had a training all day on Tuesday with President Dymock. He's been very inspired and had told us of the changes the Lord wants us to make as His servants. I am very excited to follow his counsel and guidance and seeing the miracles that will happen as a result!! 

     Thursday we had weekly planning and went out working. 

     Friday-Saturday we had an exchange with the sisters (: It was fun, but interesting. It's been snowing a lot, which is so beautiful!!!!! Due to the snow, though, we couldn't go out all day on Friday. Sister Thompson and I had to be very creative, and it was really hard. Then Saturday, Sister Blackwell had a bad migraine and had to stay inside for a couple of hours. Again, it was tough. I'm learning though, that we can't control everything. We have to let go of what we can't control and worry about what we can control. Life happens sometimes, and we don't always like it. Nonetheless, when all is said and done, the things we can't control won't matter as much as what we do with the things we can control. When we finally did go out on Saturday, it was great!! We knocked on this door that had a "Happy Birthday Jesus" snow cake in their front yard. Turned out to be a minister's house. She talked to us for a good while and then gave us some referrals of people to go see. One of them, Cicyle (si-silly) is super awesome and seems open!! She said we could come back when she gets back in town. We're really hopeful for her!!

      Yesterday, we had a great church meeting! We learned a lot about Christ-like attributes. What a great gift to give to the Savior this year! He has given us literally everything that we have. Surely we can give Him our efforts of making Him a bigger part of our lives. The only thing that that will bring us is greater joy, peace, happiness, hope, and many more blessings into our lives!! I challenge all of you to think of some ways you can bring Christ more into your lives! DO IT!!! 

      Today, we got to go to the Emerson Family's house and make eggnog. It was a lot of fun!! We separated 5 dozen eggs! It was a blast and I'm slowly getting to know more members! Transfers are coming up on Sunday and we have no idea what will happen. Sister Blackwell has been here for 6 months. She thinks she'll stay another transfer, but I have no idea. Whatever happens, though, the Lord knows what He's doing! 

     I hope you all have a wonderful week and a very merry Christmas. May we all remember why we celebrate this season and what makes it so special!! I love you all (: 

2 Nephi 19:6    christmas.mormon.org

Love 

Sister Wilson"

Christmas Tree 

 Emerson Family

  Emerson Family

  Emerson Family

"Happy Birthday Jesus" Snow Birthday Cake