Subject: Prresident Maynes.... I LOST him.
Hi everyone,
So training is just... just funny. I wonder how Elder Dodds didnt ever laugh at me, actually I think he did. Im just trying to teach my companion to RELAX. He gets so nervous when he teaches. But he has made a lot of progress in just one week. Maybe Im trying to teach him too much at once, but he'll be such a better teacher once he gets a hang of teaching simply and sincerely, with good scriptures and good questions. But its a work in progress.
The area is really picking up in our area, its called Estacion for those who are keeping score. We have ten people that are showing a lot of potential. We've just been trying to stay positive and keep being obedient and diligent I just kept saying things will get better, and they did. We had some rough days of just walking up and down the streets trying to find members houses and people to listen to us. But we've found some neighborhoods on outside of the center of town, and people are just nicer there. We found a guy named Victor who told us that the Elders visited his family 15 years ago and that his family was so much happier than, hes super cool and want to get baptized. A new convirt named Felipe just got reunited with his wife(well, girlfriend) and his two kids. He use to be an alcholholic but she heard about how hes turned things around and came back... problem is now they are breaking the Law of Chastity... kinda an important detail. But they are making plans to get married.
So funny story para explain the title. So me and comp are in a hurry so we jump on moto taxis. My comp asks '' where are we going?'' and I just say ''just follow us''. Problem is he gets stuck at a red light, we pull over to wait for him, but they dont see us, and we dont see them pass. So then I realize whats going on, my companion is on a mototaxi, speeding down the road, cuz he thinks that we are way ahead of him, and we are speeding behind him, trying to catch him. And the whole time I’m just imagining the conversation con President Maynes '' I just flat out lost him!'' But we caught him, all is well.
Mason- We've had some great experiences already this week. We have to depend a lot more in the spirit.
EE-sounds like Liam is getting big.
Dad- The missionaries had my ward and the ward where Elder Smith is. But they worked more in Elder Smiths area, so we didnt have much to work with when we got here.
Crystal-what is Matt studying again?
Mom- haha, ya Idk what I’m going to do about work. Idk what the deal is with the package, the first one you sent hasn’t shown up yet.
Grandma- I almost felt bad for Bonderman, than I remember hes a millionare.
Valynn-I honestly think I was easy to train. And being trained by an American made things nice too, no language barrier. My companion is from Peru, a city called Trujillo (''True'' ''he'' ''yo''). I have to be extra obedient and diligent to show him a good example, and if not, I get to have a ''talk'' with Pres Maynes.
VAlynn-I dont even know if i can ride a bike anymore, cuz I was pretty bad before the mission.
kk-IDK what ever excuse you can give them.
mom-um... I dont really want to call on P-day. I might be able to do it on Tuesday.
Ok guys, thanks for your prayers, love ya, gotta go
-Elder Wilson
playlist
Apr 19, 2010
4-12-2010 E-MAIL
Subject: ''These guys think we are perfect''
OK, lots of stuff happened this week. First off, I’m not with Elder Gonzalez anymore. I’m still in Montero, but I’m opening an area across the street from La Pampa... and... I’m training. My new compañion is from Trujillo Peru, his name is Elder Ramirez. When we went to go pick up our new campanions President Maynes pulled me aside and said that I was getting the best one and that he expects big things this transfer. He told all of us who are training (there are 19 new missionaries, and most of the Elders from my group are training) that we WILL have 42 lessons a week and we WILL have 140 conversations in the street. I found something really cool too, Elder Allan from my group is training in Villamontes. Pres Maynes said that there are 8 people with baptism dates there, Pres Maynes looked at me and said '' you contacted all of them''.
My buddies Elder Jacobsen and Eld Smith and also training here with me, its pretty sweet, there are 6 companionships, and 5 of them have someone from my group. Me and Elder Smith stayed together one night as we were waiting for our comps, and Elder Smith said ''man... these guys are going to think we are perfect''. And now, I’m WAAY better than I use to be, but man, now I have to be perfect!!
Eld Ramirez really wants to learn and watches and copies EVERYTHING I do. But its a good time and I like introducing him to things, his first lesson, first contact first planning session(that one was rough). Our area is kinda tough( ''Tough is relative''-Pres Maynes) but we have a few people that the other Elders left. And we were able to find a really great kid named Daniel who showed a TON of interest. But we are going to need a lot of help from members.
I had some great experiences this week. First off, we had lots of prayers answered. First, when we went and got our comps, Elder Jacobsen lost his bag in a taxi, it had his journal, his camera, his money and his passport. Im sure all of were praying for him, and the next day the taxi driver turned it in with everything. I have also been praying that we don’t have to knock doors all day, and that my comp doesn’t have to start his mission with out having lessons. Each day we are increasing our lessons, even though we still dont really know anybody.
But my other experience was in the priesthood session, Elder Rashband spoke about picking mission calls. It really wasnt anything he said, but during the entire talk, I had this overwhelming feeling of surity(is that a word) That i was supposed to be here, with these people, these missionaries, and with Pres Maynes. We actually all felt it together, pretty awesome.
Mom I gave Pres Maynes the ecliastical endorsment hes going to fax it. Thats crazy about flight plans, I’ll talk the next day, just let me know the topic b4. Send me a couple 15 1/2 inch shirst for my comp, he has like 3.
Valynn- sounds like I’ll have lots of activities to watch when i get home. we have been playing B-ball and soccer a lot latey. But Im still terrible
Crystal-thanks for your email. IDK how I made it 2 years haha.
Kim- 8 years... wow
Ok love you guys, talk to you later, pray for me and my comp
Elder Wilson
****Just to let everyone know, Mike arrives June 26th at 1:32PM!!!!!****
OK, lots of stuff happened this week. First off, I’m not with Elder Gonzalez anymore. I’m still in Montero, but I’m opening an area across the street from La Pampa... and... I’m training. My new compañion is from Trujillo Peru, his name is Elder Ramirez. When we went to go pick up our new campanions President Maynes pulled me aside and said that I was getting the best one and that he expects big things this transfer. He told all of us who are training (there are 19 new missionaries, and most of the Elders from my group are training) that we WILL have 42 lessons a week and we WILL have 140 conversations in the street. I found something really cool too, Elder Allan from my group is training in Villamontes. Pres Maynes said that there are 8 people with baptism dates there, Pres Maynes looked at me and said '' you contacted all of them''.
My buddies Elder Jacobsen and Eld Smith and also training here with me, its pretty sweet, there are 6 companionships, and 5 of them have someone from my group. Me and Elder Smith stayed together one night as we were waiting for our comps, and Elder Smith said ''man... these guys are going to think we are perfect''. And now, I’m WAAY better than I use to be, but man, now I have to be perfect!!
Eld Ramirez really wants to learn and watches and copies EVERYTHING I do. But its a good time and I like introducing him to things, his first lesson, first contact first planning session(that one was rough). Our area is kinda tough( ''Tough is relative''-Pres Maynes) but we have a few people that the other Elders left. And we were able to find a really great kid named Daniel who showed a TON of interest. But we are going to need a lot of help from members.
I had some great experiences this week. First off, we had lots of prayers answered. First, when we went and got our comps, Elder Jacobsen lost his bag in a taxi, it had his journal, his camera, his money and his passport. Im sure all of were praying for him, and the next day the taxi driver turned it in with everything. I have also been praying that we don’t have to knock doors all day, and that my comp doesn’t have to start his mission with out having lessons. Each day we are increasing our lessons, even though we still dont really know anybody.
But my other experience was in the priesthood session, Elder Rashband spoke about picking mission calls. It really wasnt anything he said, but during the entire talk, I had this overwhelming feeling of surity(is that a word) That i was supposed to be here, with these people, these missionaries, and with Pres Maynes. We actually all felt it together, pretty awesome.
Mom I gave Pres Maynes the ecliastical endorsment hes going to fax it. Thats crazy about flight plans, I’ll talk the next day, just let me know the topic b4. Send me a couple 15 1/2 inch shirst for my comp, he has like 3.
Valynn- sounds like I’ll have lots of activities to watch when i get home. we have been playing B-ball and soccer a lot latey. But Im still terrible
Crystal-thanks for your email. IDK how I made it 2 years haha.
Kim- 8 years... wow
Ok love you guys, talk to you later, pray for me and my comp
Elder Wilson
****Just to let everyone know, Mike arrives June 26th at 1:32PM!!!!!****
Apr 6, 2010
4-5-2010 E-MAIL
Subject: highs and lows
Hey everybody, Well to be honest, this was a pretty tough week, our investigators have had a lot of problems this week. A few have even told us that they are just not ready to keep progressing. Its sad because they recognize that this is the truth, but still find excuses for why they cant do it. But we will visit them from time to time to see how they are doing.
This whole week has been La Semana Santa ( Holy Week), I dont really know if Catholics do that in the states. But it was pretty hard to find people in their houses, all day they had activities and at night they were in the cathedral. So ya, a pretty slow frustrating week. We are looking really hard for new investigators, cuz our other ones are now baptized, or are not progressing. We had some luck last night with the time we had to work and found one couple and an older man that seem promising. Yesterday we were locked in the house all day for elections. Some times things get a little heated, and being a big gringo doesnt help, so all the Elders just stay in the house. Speaking of politics, Evo Morales had a rally half a block from our house a few days ago. There was a crowd of about 500 people, so we went and saw him for a second. But I felt like everyone was staring at me so we left pretty fast. But ya FAMOUS PERSON.
We werent allowed to have church this week, so they taped conference and we'll
watch it next week. We have changes again next week, I really hope me and Elder Gonzalez stay together, but we'll find out ina little while. Its been a really fun change with him, and we have worked really hard too. Today we are going to start souvenir shopping, that should be fun. Mom sister Maynes is helping me find that Nativity set, we'll see what we can do.
Thanks for the BYU info. I need that eclesiastical endorsment. Mom it would be 100 times easier if some how you could do it for me. But Im going to print off a copy and do it with pres Maynes, its just going to take a really long time to get it to the States.
I dont really know what classes I wanna take. I kinda wanna start off slow. I want to get a chem degree, so science classes would be good, bio, physics and chem. Also math classes, and religion. But talk to the counselor and you can just suprise me.
Valynn- ya time is really starting to fly now, now that its April the reality is setting in a bit more.
Grandma- thnak you for the news, I be waiting to hear what happens.
Kim- they dont to a ton for Easter here, they go fishing cuz they dont believe in eating meat.
Kk- We dont get to watch conference till next week.
ok gotta go, love you guys.
Hey everybody, Well to be honest, this was a pretty tough week, our investigators have had a lot of problems this week. A few have even told us that they are just not ready to keep progressing. Its sad because they recognize that this is the truth, but still find excuses for why they cant do it. But we will visit them from time to time to see how they are doing.
This whole week has been La Semana Santa ( Holy Week), I dont really know if Catholics do that in the states. But it was pretty hard to find people in their houses, all day they had activities and at night they were in the cathedral. So ya, a pretty slow frustrating week. We are looking really hard for new investigators, cuz our other ones are now baptized, or are not progressing. We had some luck last night with the time we had to work and found one couple and an older man that seem promising. Yesterday we were locked in the house all day for elections. Some times things get a little heated, and being a big gringo doesnt help, so all the Elders just stay in the house. Speaking of politics, Evo Morales had a rally half a block from our house a few days ago. There was a crowd of about 500 people, so we went and saw him for a second. But I felt like everyone was staring at me so we left pretty fast. But ya FAMOUS PERSON.
We werent allowed to have church this week, so they taped conference and we'll
watch it next week. We have changes again next week, I really hope me and Elder Gonzalez stay together, but we'll find out ina little while. Its been a really fun change with him, and we have worked really hard too. Today we are going to start souvenir shopping, that should be fun. Mom sister Maynes is helping me find that Nativity set, we'll see what we can do.
Thanks for the BYU info. I need that eclesiastical endorsment. Mom it would be 100 times easier if some how you could do it for me. But Im going to print off a copy and do it with pres Maynes, its just going to take a really long time to get it to the States.
I dont really know what classes I wanna take. I kinda wanna start off slow. I want to get a chem degree, so science classes would be good, bio, physics and chem. Also math classes, and religion. But talk to the counselor and you can just suprise me.
Valynn- ya time is really starting to fly now, now that its April the reality is setting in a bit more.
Grandma- thnak you for the news, I be waiting to hear what happens.
Kim- they dont to a ton for Easter here, they go fishing cuz they dont believe in eating meat.
Kk- We dont get to watch conference till next week.
ok gotta go, love you guys.
3-29-2010 E-MAIL
Subject: Tres
well another week has gone bye, and March is basically gone. I think you all can notice that my English has improved...a lot... I couldnt think of a bigger fancier word. But ya, that happens with an American comp, and never having time to study Spansih.
Well we started off this week with a zone conference. I got to see my buddy Elder Meridith... I just love that guy. The conference was great. President Maynes taught us about virtue and how it relates to the after life, but it turned into a Question and Answer session where we just picked President Mayne's brain. Hes a smart guy. I am really going to miss not seeing him. We also got to have interviews with him. We talked about a lot of interseting things... mostly about my plans after the mission haha. We talked a bit about what I want to do for a living, now Im not as dead set on being a dentist, but I need to weigh out a ton of stuff before I make that decision. We had a really cool little moment together, we were talking about how being a zone leader and being a trainer, Its like how a ward needs a good bishop, but also a great Scout Master. he told me ''if you really want to make a huge impact in the life of a person, be a scout Master''. And after he said that I felf the spirit in a way I normally dont feel, and Pres Maynes then said '' And the spirit is testifying to both of us that its true''.
We also ended the week with Elsa, Victor and Ronald being baptized, that was great. We've been working with the Family Torrez for about 15 or 16 weeks... man, totally worth it. We had some unfortunate things happen to us, and two of our investigators who were also going to be baptized arent looking so great right now... but we'll be helping them out. But we still have a TON of people here that are ready for baptism... there are 7 people who could do it in April... thatd be so great.
Me and Elder Gonzalez had a moment when we both said '' WHERE IS A CAMERA?''. So we get caught in a rainstorm, soaking wet, with an apointment to go to across town. But people here are afraid of rain, so theres almost no taxis. But out of nowhere our misson leader shows up on his motor taxi. So we jump on, elder gonzalez, and me hanging on tight behind him. Problem is there are huge puddles, so I need to lift my legs way up so the water doesnt splash all over me. It looked like on Dumb and Dumber when Harry is frozen to Loyds back... just trust me, it was funny.
We went to Santa Cruz today to have a little Language training thing. All the latin elders are going to study english and earn a certificate from BYU, so thats pretty cool. We also got permision to go eat in the center of the city... I went to ..... SUBWAY, I havent eaten that in 21 months.... it was just... just .. SOOO GOOD.
Chris- Thanks for the news.
Dad- The members do a pretty good job of befreinding people. It still feels hot here, the sun is just super strong. The wart war... eh... its going still, Im going to get liquid nitrogen treatment next month.
Mom- No package yet. Tell Quintin congratulations and to read nothing but the Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon while hes preparing. Im just figuring out how amazing those two books are.
Crystal- Thats actually something Ive been thinking about lately, how different Im going to seem for you guys... even like taste wise. For example... I LOVE spicy food now, I eat tomatoes, onions, even celery... even celery, still not that great. Ha, and beats, I love beats haha.
Grandma-Thats going to be wierd to see Elders after the mission in my house. There are RMs here that just try and burn us all the time and tell us what we are doing wrong, I hope I dont do that.
Kim- Ya, time is really flying by. The reality is starting to set in... Im not going to be doing this that much longer.
KK- Its still so weird to think there are 4 more members of the family I dont even really know.
Ok people, I love you all, happy Easter, not sure when it is really. Hasta la próxima semana
-Elder Wilson
well another week has gone bye, and March is basically gone. I think you all can notice that my English has improved...a lot... I couldnt think of a bigger fancier word. But ya, that happens with an American comp, and never having time to study Spansih.
Well we started off this week with a zone conference. I got to see my buddy Elder Meridith... I just love that guy. The conference was great. President Maynes taught us about virtue and how it relates to the after life, but it turned into a Question and Answer session where we just picked President Mayne's brain. Hes a smart guy. I am really going to miss not seeing him. We also got to have interviews with him. We talked about a lot of interseting things... mostly about my plans after the mission haha. We talked a bit about what I want to do for a living, now Im not as dead set on being a dentist, but I need to weigh out a ton of stuff before I make that decision. We had a really cool little moment together, we were talking about how being a zone leader and being a trainer, Its like how a ward needs a good bishop, but also a great Scout Master. he told me ''if you really want to make a huge impact in the life of a person, be a scout Master''. And after he said that I felf the spirit in a way I normally dont feel, and Pres Maynes then said '' And the spirit is testifying to both of us that its true''.
We also ended the week with Elsa, Victor and Ronald being baptized, that was great. We've been working with the Family Torrez for about 15 or 16 weeks... man, totally worth it. We had some unfortunate things happen to us, and two of our investigators who were also going to be baptized arent looking so great right now... but we'll be helping them out. But we still have a TON of people here that are ready for baptism... there are 7 people who could do it in April... thatd be so great.
Me and Elder Gonzalez had a moment when we both said '' WHERE IS A CAMERA?''. So we get caught in a rainstorm, soaking wet, with an apointment to go to across town. But people here are afraid of rain, so theres almost no taxis. But out of nowhere our misson leader shows up on his motor taxi. So we jump on, elder gonzalez, and me hanging on tight behind him. Problem is there are huge puddles, so I need to lift my legs way up so the water doesnt splash all over me. It looked like on Dumb and Dumber when Harry is frozen to Loyds back... just trust me, it was funny.
We went to Santa Cruz today to have a little Language training thing. All the latin elders are going to study english and earn a certificate from BYU, so thats pretty cool. We also got permision to go eat in the center of the city... I went to ..... SUBWAY, I havent eaten that in 21 months.... it was just... just .. SOOO GOOD.
Chris- Thanks for the news.
Dad- The members do a pretty good job of befreinding people. It still feels hot here, the sun is just super strong. The wart war... eh... its going still, Im going to get liquid nitrogen treatment next month.
Mom- No package yet. Tell Quintin congratulations and to read nothing but the Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon while hes preparing. Im just figuring out how amazing those two books are.
Crystal- Thats actually something Ive been thinking about lately, how different Im going to seem for you guys... even like taste wise. For example... I LOVE spicy food now, I eat tomatoes, onions, even celery... even celery, still not that great. Ha, and beats, I love beats haha.
Grandma-Thats going to be wierd to see Elders after the mission in my house. There are RMs here that just try and burn us all the time and tell us what we are doing wrong, I hope I dont do that.
Kim- Ya, time is really flying by. The reality is starting to set in... Im not going to be doing this that much longer.
KK- Its still so weird to think there are 4 more members of the family I dont even really know.
Ok people, I love you all, happy Easter, not sure when it is really. Hasta la próxima semana
-Elder Wilson
3-22-2010 E-MAIL
Subject: Buckle Up
hey everybody,
So we had another awesome week. I really need to keep this up to end my mission. All of the work we've been doing the past few weeks is going to pay off this Saturday. Five of our investigators are going to be baptized... thats going to be really really cool. The Torrez family and a man named José Luis are getting baptized in one ward, and Nelson and Ronald in the other. We also have the other Torrez family that are putting in their marriage papers... hopefully this very second and are getting married on Saturday also.
We had some really interesting experiences this week, three sad ones and one really nice one. We taught a young couple named Mario and Felicia, they called us into their yard one night to bless their daughter, which was really cool. But this week we actually went into their house. All they have is a hay mattress and some clothes, not much else. We came out both asking ourselves why we have so much and this family so little. Later we visited an inactive man named Claudio, they live in similar circumstances, but he has 5 kids 4 under 8 years old, and his wife abandonded him... what a terrible woman. And then yesterday we were sent to visit a sealed couple who is having marriage issues. The wife is amazing, and the husband works in the city gonvernment and has turned into just a dirty politician. We tried to talk to him about his problems and he tried to twist everything around so nothing was his fault... thing is, he did it really badly and just looked like an idiot. but there are things going on there that we shouldnt be giving cousel on as Elders, its a job for the Stake President.
But we did have a really nice experience in the little town we're in charge of, Yapacaní. we found two youth that have been going to church for 2 years. One is named Daniel, we met him and his mom. The mom started crying as she talked about how proud she was of here 14 year old son who goes to church everyday by himself.
So ya this should be a pretty great week. Tomorrow we have zone conference. Elder Gonzalez and I have a class to teach tomorrow about asking good questions... should probably get on that.
Dad- We dont ever recieve references from the church offices. I think that is put to more use in the States.
Chase- I cant wait to have my own troll some day.
Crystal- Thats good the boys like dinosaurs, cuz Im buying them little crocodile wallets... but it looks like dinosaur skin too... but lets keep that on the down low.
mom- Thanks for the ideas, I'm going to start buying presents this week. We arent going to be able to watch Gen Confer till the tenth cuz of the gonvernment stuff going Easter Weekend. If someone emails my old address it is forwarded to my new one.
Valynn- Tell Jamen to stick with leaders, that’s what I had to do sometimes. Who did Chris get to see play?
Grandma- Thats a bummer for BYU
KK- There are no possums here. Cokes all the rage here. Its basically legal here. EVERYBODY chews coke leaves like tobaco here.
We dont have hay anymore? ... well... I was planning on farming that again... oh well...
Ok everybody. please pray that my investigators can get baptized this week. Talk to you later.
Love Elder Wilson
hey everybody,
So we had another awesome week. I really need to keep this up to end my mission. All of the work we've been doing the past few weeks is going to pay off this Saturday. Five of our investigators are going to be baptized... thats going to be really really cool. The Torrez family and a man named José Luis are getting baptized in one ward, and Nelson and Ronald in the other. We also have the other Torrez family that are putting in their marriage papers... hopefully this very second and are getting married on Saturday also.
We had some really interesting experiences this week, three sad ones and one really nice one. We taught a young couple named Mario and Felicia, they called us into their yard one night to bless their daughter, which was really cool. But this week we actually went into their house. All they have is a hay mattress and some clothes, not much else. We came out both asking ourselves why we have so much and this family so little. Later we visited an inactive man named Claudio, they live in similar circumstances, but he has 5 kids 4 under 8 years old, and his wife abandonded him... what a terrible woman. And then yesterday we were sent to visit a sealed couple who is having marriage issues. The wife is amazing, and the husband works in the city gonvernment and has turned into just a dirty politician. We tried to talk to him about his problems and he tried to twist everything around so nothing was his fault... thing is, he did it really badly and just looked like an idiot. but there are things going on there that we shouldnt be giving cousel on as Elders, its a job for the Stake President.
But we did have a really nice experience in the little town we're in charge of, Yapacaní. we found two youth that have been going to church for 2 years. One is named Daniel, we met him and his mom. The mom started crying as she talked about how proud she was of here 14 year old son who goes to church everyday by himself.
So ya this should be a pretty great week. Tomorrow we have zone conference. Elder Gonzalez and I have a class to teach tomorrow about asking good questions... should probably get on that.
Dad- We dont ever recieve references from the church offices. I think that is put to more use in the States.
Chase- I cant wait to have my own troll some day.
Crystal- Thats good the boys like dinosaurs, cuz Im buying them little crocodile wallets... but it looks like dinosaur skin too... but lets keep that on the down low.
mom- Thanks for the ideas, I'm going to start buying presents this week. We arent going to be able to watch Gen Confer till the tenth cuz of the gonvernment stuff going Easter Weekend. If someone emails my old address it is forwarded to my new one.
Valynn- Tell Jamen to stick with leaders, that’s what I had to do sometimes. Who did Chris get to see play?
Grandma- Thats a bummer for BYU
KK- There are no possums here. Cokes all the rage here. Its basically legal here. EVERYBODY chews coke leaves like tobaco here.
We dont have hay anymore? ... well... I was planning on farming that again... oh well...
Ok everybody. please pray that my investigators can get baptized this week. Talk to you later.
Love Elder Wilson
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Mike receiving his call!
