Final letter from the CLAM! Arrives home on Wednesday!!!

This has been such a weird week. Weird in the sense that everything
just feels weird. It really doesn't feel like this is coming to an
end. But everyone in the ward somehow knows I am on my way out. Truly
is such a bittersweet time. Yesterday was my last full day of
missionary work. And I want to share 2 experiences we had.

We met this man named Garedew on the street the other day. He's from
Ethiopia. He's a security guard for a studio in our area named Milk.
Best part: he's a JW. So yesterday we met him at a Starbucks at
Hollywood and Vine. First off as I was trying to use the bathroom I
walked in and there was this strange little black woman using the
toilet in the men's bathroom. She screamed as I Walked in but it was a
scream more at me I felt than as if she was actually surprised.
Garedew was actually one of the nicest JW I've ever met. He didn't do
the typical JW topic shuffle. But I feel that was mostly because of
the language barrier. He speaks really good English though. We talked
about a few different things before it got really good. He was just
trying to bring up things to try and snag us on. Adam, Christ
resurrecting, etc. What was crazy is he was stumped about the
description we have of Christs part in creation. Then we took that
into the BoM and how everything we believe is based on the BoM. He
didn't take to that too well. To which he started asking about the
origin of the BoM. We explained it and thought for a really long time
after we invited him to read it. He then fell back to the point of
"how important" knowing Gods name is. Then the games began. I was
really frank with him and pointed out how if one could disprove the
Book of Mormon then our beliefs would fall. Likewise if you prove that
Christ was Jehovah then their church would fall. To which we politely
replied that we have a list of scriptures supporting why we believe
that Christ is Jehovah. And assured him we could talk all day about
how we believe differently and get nowhere. We then for a third time
invited him to read in the Book of Mormon to see for himself if this
book is something that is going to help him come closer to Christ. He
paused for a long time after that invitation. He thanked us for our
time and asked if we could return with a copy we could read together.

Later that night after a really bad street contact and it turning out
a lot better than we thought it would. To the point the lady accepted
a return appointment, It was a really cool conversation. She mentioned
how she wasn't going to go outside to cut her rose bushes (that's what
she was doing when we stopped to talk to her) but she felt like she
would anyway. Then minutes later we walked by. Afterwards we were
talking about how it really doesn't matter what we are doing to try
and find people to teach or what ends up coming out of our mouths but
if we do it in faith the Lord will bless us. We immediately stopped to
talk to this woman who ended up not being interested but kept us there
on the street corner as we talked to her. While talking to her this
car sees us, pulls us over and asked if we were Mormons and later
asked us where church was. We asked why they stopped and they said
they were literally in the middle of a conversation about how they
were having problems with their church and wanted to visit the Mormons
as they saw us. The Lord really knows his children. He knows what they
are yearning for and in need of. I'm so grateful to have been able to
be a part of His work.

Elder Wilson

So we had a really great week! I think this has been one of those weeks that I will tell my children about. We had the opportunity to talk to this guy who had kind of a hippy mentality about "just be happy man, just because bad things happen doesn't mean that you cant be happy." Which is right up my companions Islander mentality. So jokingly at first we really boosted him up at first. He was so excited to have "Finally found people who see from his eyes; Everyone around him is always so down or angry about how things aren't going how they thought that they would in life." It was pretty humorous to see how excited this guy was getting about this. But it made the experience stick in my mind. 

Ive looked back on that when I find myself getting frustrated with people or situations. It is I who decides how I feel about things happening. You are not subject to your environment, situation, or status. 

And so it goes with the wonderful elders in our ward. We were getting flack about having used so many miles this month, seeing as how we have a mile allotment each month. So we asked for a ride to church. They happily obliged. During church a member in their section of the ward invited us over for lunch. You know we were not about to turn that down (especially because I haven't had Mexican food in months). Turns out they were also invited, actually invited before we were. But the members asked us to come over at 2 seeing as how the other elders were going to come over at 3. The other elders weren't fans of the situation. Shortly after we got a text from president. "Elders, Its reported that you are out of miles and asking other missionaries for rides to meetings, can you find a way to continue working and not do this?" Stupid situation BUT the point of my story is, I probably would get mad about other people being childish. But my companion and I were getting a real laugh out of it. We CHOSE to be happy about the situation and not let someone steal out happiness. I love ability we have to choose and pray we will continue to improve how we are choosing. 

Elder Wilson

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Final Transfer in CA

The unspeakable happened. I am being transferred. 4 weeks left and I'm being sent to a new area. Not terribly happy about that. Im going to 4th ward. Which is the ward that covers Hollywood but in Spanish. But its a blessing to be able to get my spanish out of the closet and operational before I go home. 

Last night was the Departing Missionary Fireside. We were both part of that since my companion has less than 24 hours left of being a missionary and I am leaving before the next fireside. There were 33 Missionaries that bore their testimonies, so the place was packed! 

In my testimony I shared about how the Lord is with us in our trials. I found a note card that I wrote awhile back when I had an "Ah haw" moment. I realized that we arent given trials and tough times in life so that we are miserable. That is not at all the point of them, so why was I only letting the things I was passing through to teach me to be miserable. But rather we are given trials so we remember the Lord, we remember how merciful He is when He lifts us from our despair. I used to feel really sorry for myself because I haven't had the "Ideal" mission experience, but I am so grateful now for what I have experienced. 

I am still convinced serving a mission is the best decision Ive ever made. 

Elder Wilson

Hello from the CLAM!

So we had a really great week! I think this has been one of those weeks that I will tell my children about. We had the opportunity to talk to this guy who had kind of a hippy mentality about "just be happy man, just because bad things happen doesn't mean that you cant be happy." Which is right up my companions Islander mentality. So jokingly at first we really boosted him up at first. He was so excited to have "Finally found people who see from his eyes; Everyone around him is always so down or angry about how things aren't going how they thought that they would in life." It was pretty humorous to see how excited this guy was getting about this. But it made the experience stick in my mind. 

Ive looked back on that when I find myself getting frustrated with people or situations. It is I who decides how I feel about things happening. You are not subject to your environment, situation, or status. 

And so it goes with the wonderful elders in our ward. We were getting flack about having used so many miles this month, seeing as how we have a mile allotment each month. So we asked for a ride to church. They happily obliged. During church a member in their section of the ward invited us over for lunch. You know we were not about to turn that down (especially because I haven't had Mexican food in months). Turns out they were also invited, actually invited before we were. But the members asked us to come over at 2 seeing as how the other elders were going to come over at 3. The other elders weren't fans of the situation. Shortly after we got a text from president. "Elders, Its reported that you are out of miles and asking other missionaries for rides to meetings, can you find a way to continue working and not do this?" Stupid situation BUT the point of my story is, I probably would get mad about other people being childish. But my companion and I were getting a real laugh out of it. We CHOSE to be happy about the situation and not let someone steal out happiness. I love ability we have to choose and pray we will continue to improve how we are choosing. 

Elder Wilson

CA update 7-20-15

Theres a quote from Gordon B Hinkley that says there are only two things that you can waste in life, your time, and your money. and so despite what we try to do those things are going to get spent, so our responsibility is to choose how we spend them. 

This past week we got a text from President Weidman asking me to call him at my convenience. Of course you assume the worst when something like that happens like I am getting in trouble for something, or I'm going to be emergency transferred out of the area or something crazy. But the call was to inform me that Grandma Wilson had passed away. He then explained what Dad had told him about her condition before and how she had passed. This next part is why I love President Weidman, He said "Pretend for a moment that I am someone you bumped into at a Bus stop and I have about 1:45 before my bus comes. Explain to me what the plan of happiness is."   It was kind of strange at first and definitely awkward to do, but what he was doing was forcing me to apply what was going to heal the wound. Of course he knew that I had the ointment that I needed to apply but he was walking me through the steps of applying the ointment. Then later when I would reinspect the wound I would see the healing done and rejoice in the progress rather than freak out at the bloody mess. President Weidman is a brilliant man and it saddens me to think my time to serve around him is almost at an end. 

As for Grandma, I sadly admit that I didnt really know her all that well, by the time I got old enough to realized who she was her health was already declining. But I know that the next time I see her she will be young and beautiful again, and have all the energy to tell me about her life. 

what a blessing it is to know about the plan that our loving heavenly father has prepared for us. 

Not much has changed on the missionary front for awhile . Downey is so strange of a place compared to the rest of the mission. But one thing that has given me some perspective is to think for myself and for other what we can learn from the situations we are in. What started that is the timing of Grandmas passing. I truly believe the Lord knows each and everyone of us because of how perfectly timed every little thing is. Its helped me a lot trying to look through the Lords' eyes to see what it is that he is trying to teach us. Ive found that as I spend my time looking for the good in things, Im often more understanding and compassionate towards the things I would judge harshly if I was looking for fault. 

I love the Lord for how merciful He is to us, and how He knows us so personally as to know how to build us.

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/7.11-12

Elder Wilson

Mission update 6-29-15

Holy Homecoming!! Its so weird to see you all together haha! Wow. Cannot believe that day has already come. I didnt see any pics of Parker. I cant believe he bummed out and didnt go meet Jade! Weve only been talking about him for like the past year and a half. 

Sad to hear about Cardon though. I swore he was out of the thick of the health problems. I feel like I dont know that side of the family well enough. And now im not sure how much time ill have to spend with them. I guess thats why we will have an eternity to do that right? 

This week has been CRAZY. We had transfers on Tuesday, Elder Shepherd, Elder Cockers last companion, who was fine on  Tuesday went in to the ER wednesday and had surgery at 2am. He was sent in for appendicitis but when they opened him up they found out that it wasnt his appendix but his small intestines ruptured. So Elder Cocker has been worried for him all week. Yesterday President Weidman allowed us to go see E. Shepherd in the hospital. Great guy. His mom was there too. Was a great time. 

Also happened yesterday, E. Cocker was asked to baptize someone in his old area. Actually it wasnt even in his only area. It was a kid he met while on exchanges last transfer to the Chinese program in Santa Monica. The kid, JunBo, fell in love with him so we got to go to his baptism. It was in the area I served in in Santa Monica in spanish so that was a flash back going through there.  

My favorite part of the week though was a lesson with had with a family that the missionaries have been visiting for over 7 years. 7 years of missionaries visiting them and they still didnt understand much about what we do or about the Book of Mormon. I dont blame them, they was obviously something preventing them from learning. But last week we had a lesson with them that was a game changer. We were invited over for a little Cul-de-sac BBQ. Debbie (the Mother) was the one who invited us. It was really nice being in a family setting, although it wasnt my family. He neighbor who is a pastor has been giving her 'advice' on what to do about attending a church and meeting with us 'Mormons' etc. So it was a blessing we got to meet him. Debbie has been really conflicted with the 5000 different sources telling her wha tshe should be doing. My companion is a mad genius I'm telling you. In this short visit he changed the game. the Pastor was questioning us about a ton of stuff trying to trip us up on our words. Things such as why we stick to the 'too formal' shirt and tie uniform, how we come from all over and dont speak the language, we obviously dont fit in the culture and he said that makes him like we are belittling him, he says. My companion, seeing the pastor wasnt looking to openly bash and ruin his appearance of a man of God, saw where the questioning was going. So Elder Cocker shared a story I was quickly paraphrase. He said that the pastor was right in the sense that what we do, or how we act doesnt always openly make sense sometimes. But how he knows that is because often we dont understand the ways of God. Elder Cocker is the 4th child of 14 in his family. When he was young one of his older brothers was being taken care of by an aunt after the birth. I believe she was like a midwife or something. But due to an argument the aunt took the baby and took off to America with no word or warning. For over 20 years in daily family prayer and countless personal prayer the family pleaded with the Lord to help them find the son, when the time was right. About a year ago Elder Cocker was able to meet his brother for the first time in his life. thanks for the Tongan community here in LA people helped him get in contact with his brother. There was no coincidence that Elder Cocker was sent here to Los Angeles. Of all the millions of places in the world the Lord knew His purposes and blessed his children. 

This story, as im sure you feel now, touched the hearts of the people at that BBQ. There was no question about if what we are doing is the work of the Lord, or of man. It was so amazing to see the spirit working in that man. It has been by far one of the most eye opening experiences of my mission. I love being able to serve the Lord and take part in this wonderful work. I love you all and pray you try that extra little  bit to be able to know your part in His plan. There is no greater joy in this life. 

Elder Wilson

6-22-15

Well this week has been a grand ole time. It's been the last week of
the transfer. I don't know where the time is going. I swear I was just
getting a new companion.
 
It has been somewhere between 100 degrees and hades ALL WEEK.  We had
AC but the unit broke. Not to mention we are in the farthest part from
the beach in all the mission. In the beginning it was slightly humid
and the world was ending. That made me laugh to think about summers
back in STL.
 
Despite us spending hours in the sun these past 2 months. Next to
nothing is going on in this ward. We're caught in this predicament
where people are either so rich they aren't humble enough to listen to
God or they are so poor they are killing themselves trying to provide
for their families and have no time to even sleep. So the search
continues.
 
For whatever reasons we have been having the pleasure of bumping into
people who are SO convinced they know the bible and everything
thereof. People who have views or opinions and then are obsessed with
the fraction of scriptures in the bible that can be interpreted to
agree with their views. We tried talking to this man who was about to
cross the street, he saw we were missionaries and turned back to talk
to us. This man then took it upon himself to pull out his pocket bible
and share with us like 8 scriptures that all say that Jesus is the
Christ. He would turn to the scripture, have my companion read them
out loud and then ask what that means to us. We then tried to share
with him about how all the things he was talking about are teaching
that we can also find in the Book of Mormon. He then put his bible
away and said that now we are accountable to how Jesus is the Christ
that we should start following him. This is the man who said he has
read then Book of Mormon and he 'prefers to follow Christ' as if that
was a separate option from the Book of Mormon. I don't in any way,
shape, or form, expect people to change their lives the moment we talk
to them on the street but I find it a shame that "God didn't see fit
to spread equally the gift of intelligence." All I want is for
everyone to stop assuming that they know, and to learn. The
opportunity to learn here in this life is such a gift and to assume
that there is nothing more we can learn, change, or improve is
listening to the enticings of the adversary.
 
I want to give a big thanks for my dad and those that are dads or have
been dads to others. even though it's no longer Father's Day.
Yesterday at church was great. Lots of great stories of dads from the
'older' folk in the ward haha. Such an important role he plays, and I
never listened -.- Love ya dad!
 
So transfer calls, I think you might want to hear about that. Elder
Strong will be staying. In a different area. He's going to the city of
Carson YSA ward. He isn't too excited about that. I always hate.
Transfer calls and then it's always better than you imagine. So time
will tell. My new companion is Elder Cocker. He is straight from
Tonga. I know him a little bit. Really funny guy. We will have a great
time. This transfer is his last transfer. So I will be staying here in
Downey for the rest of my mission. Seeing as how I have this transfer
then 4 weeks after that.
 
Not much new past that! Love you all. Be good!
Elder Wilson