Happy 4th of July!

Family,

My heart is full.  I have learned so much.  The difficulties of this transfer remain...I keep thinking it will get easier, but it hasn't gotten easier.  I think I'm finally getting used to the fact that it's not going to get easier, but I've just got to figure out how to make it through.  What has changed is the way I read the scriptures, the way I pray, and the way I work.  I realize I'm making this sound very ideal and like I've totally got this..well that's not true either. haha.  It's a struggle!  But seriously I am reading the scriptures more and in a better way. As I pray, I know I am having a conversation with my Father in Heaven.  It just feels different.  Do you want to know how long I have needed this to happen?  The Lord answered my prayers in an unexpected way.  President Petersen came out with this challenge a while ago for us to memorize two scriptures for each principle in the lessons in PMG and do every personal and companionship study idea in the whole book.  When we complete it, we receive this cool iron rod thing and a liahona.  Well I started to memorize scriptures a couple transfers ago, but then I got Satan bombed.  I know, I know, that's the time that I need to memorize scriptures the most.  But I didn't.  Well I was talking to some elders in my district the other day, and they inspired me to pick it back up again.  Now here's the challenge.  I only have one transfer to do it.  That's 84 scriptures and 209 activities .  But I'm sick of not finishing stuff, so I'm going to do it.

Another way my prayers have been answered:  President called me this last week and invited me to the mission council.  This is a meeting for the zone leaders and sister trainer leaders from all over the mission.  It was unexpected because I've never been to one of these meetings before.  I got really excited though because I knew Sister Tumanuvao would be there.  One of the hardest things about being transferred to Glenwood is that I can't see her anymore.  When I told her that I would be attending she said, "I just got teary eyed. The Lord answered my prayer. I prayed that we would be able to see each other one more time before I go home".  I cannot express the love I have for Sister Tumanuvao.  Something President Petersen has taught me is the nature of eternal things. I have reflected this past week upon the most sacred and deep feelings of love I have experienced on my mission. They are so precious to me. They are feelings that Satan cannot take away from me, no matter how much he tries to deceive. Sister Tumanuvao gave me a sweet letter and a picture we had taken together. As I pondered upon the love I have for her, the Lord taught me something so profound. I have been praying my whole mission to understand the atonement in some way, to know my Savior Jesus Christ. Something clicked for me- I now feel and understand more than ever why I am here. Charity is the pure love of Christ. I never imagined that Heavenly Father could teach me about His son in this way-to bless me with such a love for her. This is what the atonement of Jesus Christ is. All along I had been praying to understand and what I didn't realize is that He answered me by helping my love for others to grow. It is now overflowing. I have been blessed to be able to feel and exhibit that love. I know it is real and I know it comes from him. This is what I have been praying for. I know His love is real because I couldn't have this love on my own. I want to do everything in my power for Sister Tumanuvao, my family, and my dear investigators and converts to be able to give them what they need. Christ has this love for every person. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." I am here to help people gain eternal life-which is to know of this pure and all consuming love. That evening I had one of the most powerful revelatory experiences I've had in my life. 

One mighty miracle I saw this week is the change that has taken place in our investigator Alan. He is a man Sister Gladden and I taught last year when I was in the area. He wasn't very interested at that time. When we came back to visit him this year, we started talking to him about the Book of Mormon. His wife is a returning member, and has been discussing with him about the Book of Mormon. It is especially interesting to him because he is Native American. In our lesson with him this week, his comments were evidence of the change that is working in him-a change wrought by the Spirit of the Lord. He said that since we had been visiting him, he began to pray more, and truly desire to know God. We felt inspired to share with him the story of Aaron teaching the father of King Lamoni. This story came alive as we helped Alan liken the scriptures to himself. At the end of the lesson, he had a stronger desire to pray and read. He wept at the pains of the sins he had committed and the fact that he was living far away from God. He wept for his loved ones that had passed away. I never realized how much love I had for Alan and his wife Linda until I came back to Glenwood. So badly I want for him to know the reality of repentance and that through the gospel, his life can change. So badly I want for him to experience the pure love Christ can give him.

This fourth of July was way better than last year, luckily.  I had a great day.  The best part of the day was when I met this lady named Virginia at a bbq.  We were talking about how we are missionaries and how I'm from Utah and all that stuff, and she said that she remembered a couple from Utah that came to Glenwood a few years ago.  Sister Hawthorn helped her remember that it was the Roundys.  The spirit touched me as I listened to her talk about how wonderful the Roundys were, how Sister Roundy taught her ways to fold napkins, and Brother Roundy fixed roofs for people.  I felt so happy to see the powerful effect they had upon the people here.  Virginia said "well I'm not mormon, but I really loved that couple.  I wanted them to come to my house and to be my friend".  Sister Hawthorn said that many people still remember the Roundys for what they did and who they were.  Her eyes filled with tears as she expressed her love for them and how they helped her and Howard.  What a wonderful experience.  I'm grateful for the example that the Roundy family has been to me throughout my life.  Uncle Kelly's parents have truly blessed generations by their faithful service.  Sister Hawthorn said she was coming to Utah this Christmas because her daughter lives in Payson.  I invited her to come visit my family and to meet Elder and Sister Roundy's son, my uncle Kelly.  :)  I am SO stoked.  She loved the idea.  Can we set two more places at our dinner table around Christmas time? :)

I love you all.  Have a wonderful week.

love sister wilde

Last Week

( Sorry I was out of town, here is Sis. Wilde's letter from last week)

Dear Family,

What a week!  Things have been picking up in Glenwood, but not without our blood, sweat and my tears.  Sister Jager never cries.  Well, she didn't, until I softened her up.  I think I have begun to rub off on her because she cried when she was telling me about the movie "Touched by an Angel".  She said, "Oh no, what is happening to me?"  And I just laughed an evil laugh.

I got to go on exchanges this week with a sweet sister named Sister Jardine.  We did a 48 hour exchange rather than the normal 24 hour ones.  It was so nice to be with her.  She reminded me a lot of Becca in the way she spoke and the feeling I got from her.  It felt just like home.  I got to show her around and introduce her to my precious Glenwood friends.  We went to Sister Farlene's funeral which I got the opportunity to play at, went to lunch with the Bledsoes, passed by a camel farm on the way to contact a referral, got chocolate milk shakes :), taught some great lessons, and felt the spirit.  This is what life is all about! haha.  It was fun.  Felt sorta like a vacation.

This week we began to teach Adam Crow(14yrs) who is the son of a man in the branch.  For some reason he hasn't been baptized yet but wants to be baptized before he goes back to Montana to be with his mom.  He is getting baptized this sunday.  It's been a great experience to teach him, especially with the help of his dad and step mom who have great testimonies.  Yesterday we taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We talked about the marvelous gift of the Holy Ghost- how blessed we are to know of and receive this comforter to truly walk with us and bring things to our remembrance.  One of the many things President Palmer has taught me is this: "The Holy Ghost sounds like remembering".  This sanctifying power is available to us when we are baptized.  We asked Adam why he wanted to be baptized.  Being the thoughtful person he is, he was quiet for a minute.  He didn't say much, but I felt the spirit powerfully.  Tears filled his eyes as he said "I've been wanting to be baptized for..."  He didn't even finish his sentence.  It is for moments like these that we work and strive to be diligent.  I felt the joy that comes into a person's life when they truly and deeply feel the spirit.  There is nothing sweeter!

The people in this branch have changed my life.  They are examples of the kind of person I want to be.  I had some wonderful experiences with them this week.  First let me tell you about LouElla Hawthorn.  Do you remember when I told you that Sister Boston from Bartlett was the Southern version of Aunt Denise?  Well, so is Sister Hawthorn.  If you want to learn the value of hard work, talk to one of these three ladies.  Sister Hawthorn is always going.  All the time!  She has a 200x300 ft garden that she tends to each day-complete with radishes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, green beans, new potatoes, green onions, sweet potatoes, egg plant and more.  Every Thursday she picks us up and takes us to the appointments with non-members she scheduled for us.  She supplies most of our referrals and new investigators :).   Then she takes us out to lunch, gives us things from her garden, and drops us off.  What an amazing person she is.  The reason she does this?  She has a burning testimony of the gospel and the light it brings to her life.  As we expressed our gratitude to her she said, "Do you know how much my spirit soars when I'm with the missionaries?".  Each day I feel that I gain so much more from these people than I could ever give.  

On Saturday we had our branch social in the park.  It was wonderful!  There were more non-members there than our own members!  Sister Burnett and her sister Opal invited a lot of their friends from the singin's they go to at different churches around the county.  The best part was when one of the visitors brought out his guitar and we all sang some gospel songs.  I'm learning them!  I wish I already knew them all.  I had a ball.  I made friends with them easily because that's the kind of people they are.  Brother Bledsoe requested "our song" (the one we performed at his baptism) "In the Garden".  I just loved the whole thing.  The next day at church President Palmer asked if I had a good time with the singing.  I said, "It's one of my favorite things!".  He said it looked like I was having fun. Also our new investigator Jennifer came with her daughter Nora.  Teaching her has been going very well.

After the picnic, it was about 8:50.  Sister Jager asked me if there was any place I felt we should go.  I thought of this white house I felt prompted to go to 4 weeks ago.  So we went.  We knocked and were immediately invited in and welcomed in such a warm way!  We met a wonderful family- Brenda and Rick, their daughter and grand kids.  They go to the cowboy church here in town. :)  I've really been wanting to meet someone who goes to cowboy church!  Rick added us on facebook, the little grand kids sang songs for us, we prayed with them, and they said we could come back to see them.  We were so happy.  On the way home Sister Jager said, "It's that 9:00 magic, I'm tellin ya".  True.  

I know I'm giving you too much information...but I wanted to capture some great moments I had this week. 

All my love,

   sister wilde 

New Address in Glenwood

Sis. Wilde

224 Betty St. #7

Glenwood, AR  71943

Week full of things

Dear Family,

My week was full of lots of things.  Fun things, new things, old things, hard things, special things, and things I'm glad I did.  

Fun things: Walking in the morning with Brother Bledsoe at the park next to our house was one of the highlights.    Describing this man is pretty much impossible-you have to meet him to understand the fullness.  I cherish the time I have to spend with him.  I love hearing about his exciting life, complete with stories of how he was an arson investigator, pilot, firefighter, police man...now he holds the priesthood and 4 callings!  He just got called to attend our weekly missionary coordination meetings to help us coordinate with the elders quorum.  What can I say?  I'm kind of in heaven.  Sister Jager tells me that we both light up whenever we see each other.  

George McWhorter invited us to a fish fry he was cooking at down at the baptist church in Lockesburg.  We had a big time with all the baptists. :)  The fish was good, the people were wonderful, and the best part was the singin they had at the end.  We sang a lot of old time gospel music.  I even went up to the front to sing one.  (A man named Floyd made me..I wasn't too happy about it.  I dragged my companion and Sister Burnett's grandson with me.)  We're having a branch social in Glenwood this Saturday and we invited all the baptists to come.  

New things:  Sister Hawthorn gave us some green onions from her garden.  We started making these delicious sandwiches and putting the onions on the sandwich.  I have never done that before but it's the best thing I've ever tasted!  I have been thinking about it all week.

Old things:  Do you remember my investigator from Hot Springs, Tiffany Martin?  Her mom lives in Glenwood and she was visiting the other day.  I got to see her and Cheyenna again!!  It was wonderful.  We read the scriptures together and enjoyed catching up.  Cheyenna told me that she had 3 birthday wishes.  I think the first two came true, and her third one was that she would get to see me again.  I was touched.  And it came true too!

Hard things:  I'm going to go through this fast.  Basically I had the chance to come home in July so that I could go to Brother Bledsoe's sealing in San Diego in August.  I really wanted to.  There were also other factors concerning my decision.  I prayed and told Heavenly Father that I would do whatever He wanted me to do, but asked if He would tell me what that was.  I was worried that I wouldn't receive a feeling either way.  I decided to fast and ponder about it.  When the time came to make the decision I knew what I must do.  And it is that I must stay.  I'm grateful that I received an answer to my prayer.  Even though it was not the answer I wanted.  But there are things to be done here and happiness to come I believe.

Special things:  I heard Brother Smith give a prayer in church yesterday.  As he closed in the name of Jesus Christ, I felt the spirit and power of those words and the meaning behind them.  It's incredible to think that when we pray or speak in church or impart anything in the name of Jesus Christ, we are representing His love, feelings, and characteristics.  When we have faith and believe that we are truly representing Him, the Holy Ghost can take that unto the hearts of those who will hear.  

Things I'm glad I did:  Farlene Tallant (91), a dear sister in our branch, passed away Friday evening.  We called her Sister Farlene.  I really liked Sister Farlene.  Just before she died, she gave us about 10 referrals of old friends.  She loved the Lord and His work.  We got the chance to visit her on Tuesday, and I'm so glad we did!  She was in a lot of pain but we didn't know how bad it was.  I will never forget the end of that visit, when we sang "Count Your Blessings".  She sang every word.  Off key but so sweetly.

I love you all.  Have a great week.

love sister wilde  

Back in Glenwood

(sorry it is is a week late)

Hey Family-

I am happily writing to you NOT from the senior center.  We got a key to the church and we're using the computer in the mothers' lounge converted into the family history center.  Well things are looking up here in Glenwood.  I think by the time things get going real good will probably be around the time that I will have to leave.  We've got some great things planned for the next few months.  I've gotten more member referrals in the week I've been here than the entire last transfer.  It's fun to see the branch get so excited.  I realize that I have been a very spoiled missionary.  For 9 months of my mission I lived closer to a temple than I did when I lived in Provo Utah.  And after that President let me go back home to Glenwood Branch. :)  The branch feels like home..the town though?  Not so much.  I think I'll get adjusted eventually.  It has been getting better...but I do not care to go back to the beginning of the transfer!  Man it was hard.

I learned a little more about opposition this week..in a hard but valuable way.  I can't really describe to you the hardships of this week except that I felt the adversary threatening to completely overcome me.  When you are going through something like that it is sometimes hard to identify what is actually happening.  Satan is real!  I felt such darkness and sorrow and lack of hope.  I prayed hard, cried hard, and used all the strength I had...it was a hard week. By the time Friday came, I was so overwhelmed that I did not know what to do.  It was that night that I felt the mighty prayers offered by many of you in my behalf.  I went to sleep that night with a profound sense of comfort in my heart.  I share this with you to testify to you that no matter the depth of the darkness we face, there is a light.  Christ is the light that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not.  It may be a long time before we can experience that pure light, but I have faith that it will always come.  It's not to say that this week won't be even harder than last, but I gained something so powerful this week.  I know that the comfort I received came from God. 

Last week I got the great opportunity to go to dinner with some of my favorite people!!  Sister Hawthorn and her stubborn husband Howard (do you remember me talking about him?) and Sister McWhorter and her stubborn husband George.  We had a great time!  We sat around and joked and laughed.  I told them they could run but they couldn't hide because I'm back to finish what I started and get them baptized!  It was all in good fun but I am not kidding.  We got talking about how the McWhorters just built a new house and President Palmer(who is a carpenter-and a good one at that) was in the process of making cabinets for their kitchen.  Well, they weren't quite done yet and George was pretty grumpy about it.  As we talked about it all George said, "well President Palmer is gonna have to lay his hands on those cabinets before he can lay his hands on my head!"  I said, "We can arrange that!"  :)

I got to see a part member family I used to visit last year-Alan and Linda Myhill.  It was fun to see them again.  Alan is the one who is native american.  He showed us things about his ancestors, the jewelry he makes, taught us to play his flute and dance the rabbit dance while we tried to teach him about Jesus Christ.  Well the trade didn't go as well as we had hoped.  He wasn't really into the whole prayer thing.  When we visited him on Saturday I was surprised at what happened.  Not 5 minutes into our visit he told us of his dear friend who is dying.  He was very upset about it.  He asked if we could have a prayer.  We testified to him that God could give him a comfort that he could not find anywhere else if he would pray to Him.  I hope this door stays open and that he will be receptive to our message.

I hope you have a great week and if you get tempted to complain about hot weather just be glad you aren't in Arkansas. :)  haha.  I love you all!

love sister wilde     

Back in Arkansas!

Hey Family,

 

Sorry about the late email.  I have found myself in different circumstances...living in the smallest town ever!  Population:2,228.  Glenwood feels a lot different now that I'm living here, not just coming to visit a few times a week.  There are many wonderful things about it, but it is just weird.  We tried to find computers to do our emailing, but the public library was closed.  The next thing I know, I'm sitting at a computer at the senior center trying for over an hour to connect to the internet.  When I finally did, I had to wait for about 30 seconds for the computer to catch up every time I typed a couple of words.  Then the senior center closed, so we just had to reschedule the rest of our emailing.  Probably more information than you ever wanted to know! 

 

Well...the first week in a new area is rough.  Cameron knows how it feels- but I also know how Cameron feels to be transferred right before your investigator gets baptized.  Although I couldn't be there, I am overjoyed to know that Debbie got baptized!  Finally!  I snuck to her house right before transfers last week to say bye to her.  She hugged me like I was the prodigal son.  We were so happy.  She thanked me for never giving up on her.  It almost didn't feel real to hear her say that.  She knows it's true and she did what she needed to do.  I was very sad to miss her baptism, but I heard it went well.  I still organized her musical number and told her that I would be there in spirit in the form of Elder Keddington.  (we were supposed to sing on her original baptism date).  I hate to say it, but it just wasn't the same. 

 

Now I'm back in Arkansas and it feels completely different.  Going back to the Hot Springs/Glenwood area brought back soo many memories.  In some ways I'm glad to be back.  Everything is all worth it because of what happened last Thursday.  I went to pay Brother and Sister Bledsoe a visit.  My heart was pounding the whole drive there.  We arrived at his house, I jumped out of the car, and then ran to his door.  I wondered if anyone had told him I was here again.  As he opened the door, my feelings overcame me.  Tears streamed down his face and mine as well.  I sat at his feet just like I used to do and witnessed the change that has taken place in this man's life.  There he was talkin like he's been a member of the church his whole life!  He told me promptings he'd received from the Holy Ghost.  He told me about how he has read the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and he's now reading the Book of Mormon for the second time.  He is going to the temple to be endowed and sealed the first week of August.  It was great to just be in his presence again and feel the spirit with him-something that was not present a year ago.  I cannot describe the feeling that came into that room.  I have never felt so happy in my entire life.  I say that with all honesty.  I find new meaning in the scripture that says "If it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father".  I can say with no trace of doubt that I felt pure joy that night. 

And ever since then, we've been inseparable!  Yesterday we went out walking with him for our exercise in the morning.  Now you remember that this man is a walking champ, don't you?  He's competed in all the surrounding states and won medals and trophys and everything under the sun for the senior olympics.  He still teaches walking classes at the YMCA.  Well, we walked.  And walked.  And walked.  And Brother Bledsoe talked.  And talked.  And talked so long!  We had to cut him off early because we had to go do our studies.  I won't lie to you...I got out-walked.  By a 90 year old man!!!  My goodness.  I will cherish that.  He walked us back to our apartment and saw a couple a few apartments down who were struggling with a chair they were setting up in front of their house.  He said, "oh I wonder if they need help!"  He rushed over there and we helped them.  He probably would have done that before, but he really has changed.  I love the scripture in Moses that talks about how the spirit "maketh alive all things".  Well Dick Bledsoe was pretty alive before, but I'm not sure he'll ever stop now that he has the spirit!  We're both brought to tears every time we see each other.  We're kind of a mess. haha.  During our walk, he told us about last year (his final year of the senior olympics).  He said he would have taken first in everything but he didn't.  Then pointing at me, he said, "and it's all your fault!".  I really couldn't remember why...but he went on to say that the 5-k that he usually won was held on Sunday.  He chose not to participate in it because he had just been baptized.  I don't know why I forgot that sweet story..but there it is.  I am glad I could come back to spend this time with him.  He is so dear to me.

 

Well I am training a new sister.  Her name is Sister Jager from Oregon.  She lives close to Salem.  I told her my brother served his mission there.  I wasn't sure the exact area, but I knew it was in the same mission as where she lives.  She is completely different than I am!  It's a good thing.. but we are adjusting.  We have been finding and working with the members who are excited to have us.  I don't think I'm ever very good at telling you about my companions...if you want to know anything in specific, just ask me.  I will try to remember to answer your questions.  Maybe that's the problem.  haha.  sorry. 

 

I hope you are all doing well.  I will leave you with a question my mission president asked us today.

 

Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ and perservere through the trials that come?  The way to do that is to focus all of our thoughts on Him.

 

love sister wilde

"Things are shaking up in the mission"

(sorry it is a few days late)

Dear Family,

 

Things are shaking up in the mission.  I think we have 25 missionaries coming this week..something like that.  I am training and about 12 or 13 other sisters are training too.  It's hard to believe that my transfer in Lakeland is almost over- I hope my experiences here have been in preparation for opening Glenwood next transfer.  We've done a lot of finding and I got to feel what it's like to start from scratch.  It wasn't completely scratch, but compared to what it is now it seems to have been.  We've done a lot of work!  I'm not as nervous going to Glenwood as I was for Lakeland because I feel like I'm ahead in that I already know the members.  I can't even tell you how excited I am to see Brother and Sister Bledsoe.  This is a pretty sweet deal. 

 

Lots of changes are happening.  My MTC companion Sister Edwards had to go home early because she was sick.  I am sad because I really wanted to go hom with her. :(  Sister Martell is actually being transferred out of Bartlett.  She's unhappy about it.  She just told me some great news about Debbie!  So Debbie got up in church yesterday and bore her testimony that she knew the Book of Mormon was true.  Then, unbenounced to Sister Martell, she announced that she was getting baptized on June 8 and invited everyone to her baptism.  It's hard to describe the joy I experienced when I heard this.  I think it is a joy that only a missionary knows.  It seems so many days that what I do doesn't make a difference, doesn't help anyone.  But when I am able to see that Debbie has obtained such a precious knowledge-a knowledge that can only come through the hardest of work. This knowledge requires deep soul searching, pondering, and the most sincere prayer we can offer.  It is only then that we understand how precious the knowledge is because of what it took to get us there. Everything we have to give to someone else will always be worth it because of the feelings and knowledge of the spirit that we gain.  It is meaningful to me to think of what I love most in my life..it is the people.  My family and those I serve with and for.  That is the reason I will give what I have to give. 

 

Now a few thoughts I had this week:

 

You know you've been a missionary too long when you're driving on the freeway, glance over to see a building with a big word printed on the wall that actully reads "Laminates" but you thought it said "Lamanites". 

I commented- "Oh my gosh, did you see that building? It said Lamanites. I can't believe that building says Lamanites!  So weird!"

 

You know you've been a missionary too long when you're sitting at dinner with members, and their 14 yr old son starts talking about the scout trip he's going on where he'll travel by sailboat- with fishing, anchors and everything- and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is "Sweet, Alex you're gonna be like a disciple!  Think of all the spiritual parallels you could draw".

 

Do you want to hear a good joke?

Knock knock.

(who's there?)

Joseph Smith.

(Joseph Smith who?)

Well let me tell you about him!  :)

 

Isn't that the best joke you've ever heard???  Elder Webster made it up. hahahaha.

 

 

I love you all!  Pray for me....I'm going to the furthest reaches of the mission...I don't know if I'll come back alive.

 

love sister wilde