Wednesday, May 28, 2014
May 26, 2014
So I guess we don’t change our Pdays for holidays
anymore. Oh well! It was a fun pday.
We came and did a little bit of emailing and then we
headed to a ward picnic thing for Memorial Day which was fun. A lot of member
brought their neighbors and we were able to meet them. We met a couple who is
from Iraq who seems pretty interested. They saw our badges and asked their
friends what that meant. We got to talk to them, set up an appointment and then
after we left they asked their friends when they could go to church, when they
said on Sunday she said 'no that is too far away!' so we are excited to get to
meet them and teach them a little bit more, okay a lot a bit more about Jesus
Christ and why our church is different from other churches.
You know, it amazes me to hear people say that all
churches are the same, to me that just tells me that you are not really
interested in learning the differences, because there are many. Yes the
underlining values carry over, Christ as the Son of God and Redeemer of the
world, and the way you treat people tend to be what people characterize as
'Christian' beliefs. And while yes they are believes and actions that most
Christians live by or at least strive for, that is not the entire church and
there are so many other things that can be different about each one.
Churches and religions are very different, it may be the
same God but if they were all the same than we wouldn’t have different
churches. The very fact that we say there are so many different churches should
say something about the beliefs being different.
So that’s my rant for the day I guess. If you think they
are all the same than you just don’t know enough about them to tell them apart.
Churches are different, with a few fundamental beliefs that tend to be
generally accepted, but that is so broad you have to learn more than that!
Anyhow.
I guess I have just been thinking about the things that
people tell us, and where I would be if I had not grown up in the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Where would I be? What would be important
for me in a church? Often times we will ask people 'what do you look for in a
church?' a lot of people will say the pastor/minister is really nice, or I like
the Sunday sermons, its close to me, that’s where my friends go, that’s where I
feel close to God, its where I was raised. And then when we ask why they go to
that church still, it is surprising the fact that so many of them don’t say
because I believe it is true.
I am shocked with some of the answers.
And I am so grateful that I attend a church that I
believe in the Doctrine. Its something that I would defend wholeheartedly
because I truly believe that the doctrine is from God, not from man. Not from a
clergy, not from anyone of this world. But I believe with my whole heart that
it is directly from God and this is the fullness of the Gospel.
I know it, I live it, I love it. Through and Through.
And I’m not even offended when people disagree with me,
in fact I am happy when I see people who are strong in their faith and who
believe with their whole heart what they are doing is of God, because if you didn’t
think that I hope you would not continue doing it.
The Bishop here was invited to come and speak to another
congregation about our beliefs, and at the end was a question and answer
session with the congregation. Someone asked him why we send out so many missionaries;
why not let people believe what they want? And he told them that we make the
claim that we are the one true church of the Earth today, wouldn’t it be
hypocritical of us to not send missionaries out into the world to share the
truth?
And that got me thinking about why I am here. Because I
know with ever fiber of my being that this is the truth, the way, the Gospel of
Jesus Christ as He established it Himself while He was on the Earth. Why would
I not give this to everyone I know?
It made me think about what I want out of a church and I
came to the conclusion that what I want from a church is truth. I don’t want to
attend a service that I dis-agree with and then have to go home and work with
my kids to un-learn what they were taught at church. Not that people think of
it like that, but I truly expect the truth.
And as we talk to people and they tell us that they
believe their church is the one true church I think to myself, GOOD! I hope you
do believe with every fiber of your being that the church you attend is true,
because if you don’t, then why are you going? If you don’t believe it’s true,
go find it.
I am glad that I know and feel that this is the truth. I
am grateful that I did take the time to study it out, to ask questions, to
search for answers and then to kneel down and ask God if this is the one true
church, and even more I am grateful that I was able to get my answer and know
it is. That is what makes the hardest days bearable. Because without the
knowledge I have that this is truth, why on Earth would I still be here? Why on
Earth would I keep knocking on doors till its quarter to nine? Why on Earth
would I be attending meetings and preparing for training on how to be a better
teacher, leader and disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Without
knowing that this is truth, I would have given up and come home a LONG time
ago. Because this is hard. This is trying, this is difficult. But because it is
the truth when you get to teach a lesson to someone like Emilio that you can
just feel is searching for the answers and is ready, listening, pondering,
praying about and truly seeking for the truth.
Thats what makes it worth it.
To be able to bring the truth to someone and have them
say things like 'You are bringing me the truth', 'I feel like I need to do
this' (referring to bringing the truth to others) and to see the immediate
change in someones countenance as they connect the dots and understand what you
are telling them. And then to have them decide for themselves that they want to
be baptized by someone holding the proper Priesthood authority and to truly
want to follow the Savior in every way! That is what keeps you going as a
missionary. Knowing that you are making an eternally significant change in
someones life. Its amazing! There is truly nothing like this. I am so stinking
lucky!
And I really should be going. DANG IT! Sorry. Im not sure
how you guys feel about my emails. I have been contemplating what I can do to
make them better. I don’t feel like I am telling you much about my day to day experiences,
but I think I am portraying the big picture changes I am learning,
understanding and making. So if you want me to talk about something different
or if you would like to hear more about something let me know and I will do
what I can to improve my emails.
I love you, I hope you are enjoying Texas! We got a 89
degree day today so it was nice to get to play a little baseball at the park
with the ward in some blue jeans and a tee shirt today! Some sun was greatly
needed!
I hope the wedding goes well and everyone is able to
travel safely and enjoy each other down there. Love you all dearly! Talk to you
soon.
Love always, Sister
Kindra Wilson
Monday, May 19, 2014
May 19, 2014
Well exciting weeks in a lot of places.
I am glad that Lori was able to come and spend some time with Robb and Grandma
and to make some decisions. It sounds like there are some great options that
hopefully everyone can agree on or at least feel okay with. I am still praying
for everyone daily!
I am glad that Parker is okay! I will
keep them all in my prayers this week as well. How scary! But I am grateful
that Uncle Jeff was in town and was able to go down with Tish to give her a
Priesthood blessing, what a comfort that brings to know that the Priesthood is
so close and so powerful. I’m glad she is alright now!
Sorry this might be short again this
week! We had a busy week with three exchanges, not all the 3 that we originally
planned and needed to be one, so we are doing an exchange tonight. Which means
that our transfer prep won’t be in until tomorrow night which is later than
they want them, but its the best we can do at this point. One of the sets got
sick so we had to push them to today, and another set called us very stressed
and asked if we could meet them for lunch, so we did and then we did a half day
exchange and all ended up staying the night in their area. So it was a busy
week and didnt get everything done that we needed to but it was also a fun good
week.
I got to go on en exchange with a sister
who was brand new out, just one month! And it was really neat to be able to
compare where I was at that time and where I am now. I have made progress!
Which sounds dumb, but it was nice to be able to see the progress you have
made. Its hard to see in yourself because you are with yourself 24/7/365 you
know? But to see the things that I was worried about or trying to figure out in
her and how she is figuring things out, that is grand. It was really neat to be
able to be working with someone who is so much younger (in mission life) than
you are, because it re-affirmed to me that I have changed, I have learned, and
I have made progress. It is really nice to see that right in front of you. And
she was so cute! We had a miracle experience in giving someone a Book of
Mormon.
We walked up to the house, and she had
told me about how she lets her companion talk to people because her companion
is so good at it. So last minute as we are walking up I whispered, this ones
yours! To tell her that I was going to let her initiate it. She was scared and
looked at me like what? But I smiled and nodded and said you can do it! And she
did! She walked right up to the woman and started talking with her, she said:
we have an important message that has brought me peace and happiness about our
Savior and how He has blessed my life and can bless yours. Or something to that
extent, and the woman was not really excited to talk to us and said so, which
threw the golden through a loop and she stood there and there was an awkward
silence and the woman looked at both of us back and forth, so I started
talking, it was small talk, where you from, did you go to church around here,
did you grow up here etc. But it got her talking. And she was intrigued! She
stood there and talked to us for a minute or so, we asked again if we could
share a message with her of peace and comfort, because this woman was very
depressed looking. And she told us she needed to find Christ for herself. So I
pulled out a Book of Mormon and said, I had to find him for myself too. I grew
up in this church but I had to ask myself if it was truly what I believed,
truly what I wanted and where I needed to be for me. And I asked and I got my
answer, and this Book has helped me to come closer to him more than anything
else Ive tried, so I want to give this to you to help you find Christ on your
own.
And she gave some kick back, said she didn’t
want to take it if she didn’t have time to read it, so we explained a little
bit more about it. We talked about how it told of what happened when Christ
came to the American continent, because God loves everyone, wouldn’t he send
his son to see more than just one group of people? And how we can come closer
to Him by reading about him.
She asked when it was written and my
companion showed her how in the bottom of the pages it shows us the dates of
when it was written and we talked about how it was written at the same time as
the Bible and that it was written by ancient prophets.
she was intrigued and ended up taking
the Book of Mormon! And she is going to read it, I can tell. Its not one of
those take your book so you will walk away, but she is going to. She is
searching for something and she needs this right not. It was not an accident
that we found her, we were looking for someone else and found her along the
way.
The Lord is guiding us to those who we
can help. We are being led to friends, family, loved one and complete strangers
who can find strength in what we have. I am learning how I just need to invite
people to learn for themselves, but being bold enough to tell them what I
really know that they do not. Its truly a blessing to me to be here at this
time and realizing how much peace and strength people are missing out on by not
knowing about the Book of Mormon. Man I just want to give it to everyone I
know!
Man we are blessed! And life is great
and grand and stuff and I really have to run! I have to get an report in before
we head out. We are meeting a set of sisters who is struggling to help them
have a fun Pday and so I got to go switch my laundry too before we go.
Love you and stuff! Thanks for thinking
of me! You’re in my prayers as well. Thank you for your love and support, I
hope you have a great time in Texas! Don’t worry about pictures until you get
back. Enjoy everyone, give them my love! Miss you all, talk to you next week,
Love always,
Sister Kindra Wilson
Friday, May 16, 2014
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May 12, 2014
Thanks for the photos! I saved the, on my iPad so I can
see them often
:) I love pictures.
It was treat to see you guys too! I'm glad that Stuart
and Lindy were
able to come down and that I got to see Clara too! She
looks bigger in
her pics but she also acts older! She's talking better
and more and I
am soooo happy she knew who aunt Kindra was :) I was
kinda scared she
might forget me while I was gone since I was around her
only when she
was little little. So it was fun to see her.
Hum, not much has happened either in the past 12 hours.
We’re at target
eating and emailing and getting groceries. We have a
pretty slow day
today, we are going to walk Main Street and see if we can
find some
cute postcards and then probably lay out In The sun for a
little bit
and write some cards to send.
Well, sorry it's a short email. It was great to talk to
you guys
yesterday! It's weird think I won't call home again! And
I was so
proud, no tears this time! Last time there were some, but
it is more
exciting and different when you see each other and all
that. It was
great. I'm sad I didn't get to talk to Garret, but life
goes on and we
will talk sooner than never so that's good :) I hope ye
can figure out
his knees and ear soon. It would be nice if that would
get taken care
of!
I'll try to send some pictures if we get to computers
today, not sure
what our plans are from here.
We have a busy week coming for us. We are doing 3
exchanges so one of
them will end up being back to back. And I'm still trying
to meet
everyone, we are hoping for a second transfer together
since we
haven't seen anyone we are working with twice this month!
It's
ridiculous! I had no idea how big Easter is out here for
people. No
one wanted to see us that week or the week after which is
frustrating!
I'm hoping sis Shaia doesn't get transferred, this will
be her third
ought so it could happen. But whatever happens happens!
All I can say is God is great! Gotta love him!
And tell Keira to check her email! Love you all! But
mostly mom :) Sister Kindra Wilson
Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission 721 Paxon Hollow Road
suite B
Broomall, PA 19008
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
May 5, 2014
Well I will continue to pray for Robb and Grandma and
everyone. I’m glad that he is still making progress! That is good. And I am
glad that he has friends and people who are willing and able to support him
from Vernonia. Man. I am still praying for everyone. I know this is kind of a
big deal right now! So you are all thought of and prayed for daily.
It sounds like Stake conference was good, Im glad! I like
that analogy with the chickens, and when did they get chickens? That’s kind of
random, but sounds like fun! and a lot of work! haha.
How did invite Sunday go? Did you invite Collin? I hope
so. He is such an amazing guy and I just want the best for him!
And man, your getting 80s and 90s? Yeah, that’s a little
warm! We have been getting rain galore and I am LOVING it! Although they are
not built to deal with the amount of water they received, it POURED all day
twice this week, literally all day long. It was a lot of water, and I guess it
was the most water Philadelphia has ever gotten in one day, so that’s
awesome... but life goes on. And I am soaking it up while I can before we hit
summer humidity. I’m glad to be back in PA however, it was way muggy down in DE
and MD and I am not a fan! I was having to scrunch my hair every day because
the humidity wouldn’t let me do anything else, so I am enjoying still
straitening it here in PA for at least a few more weeks I hope!
I’m excited for Keira to go to prom! and for all of these
kids growing up, it’s weird to me still to think that I will be on a mission at
the same time as Tiny Barfuss! And Cody and Andrew has already been out a
month... its crazy talk I tell you! CRAZY! But it is so great. It is really
neat to see how the Lord has prepared each of his missionaries to serve where
they are serving, and when they are serving. It strengthens my testimony of how
perfect Heavenly Fathers plan is for each of us every time that I ask a missionary
how they decided to serve a mission. Mostly the sisters, because thats who I
get to interact with, and deciding for a sister is a little bit different than
an elder, but it is truly amazing to hear everyone's experiences. I have said
many times this week that we are spoiled rotten missionaries! We have cars, and
iPads and gospel library apps, and texting, and facebook and SO many resources
to do missionary work, I am trying to learn them all but I know I won’t even
scratch the surface while I am here! It’s weird. We also use skype and facetime
to teach and there are just so many things out there for us and places that we
can reach now than we could before.
Missionaries here have been able to teach people in other
countries and stay in contact with people who move and when we move we can stay
in contact with them! It’s truly amazing everything that we can do.
The Lord is truly hastening his work, and the time is
now! D&C 88:37.
What an exciting time to be a missionary! Spoiled rotten
I tell you that much!
And I am so grateful to be here.
Doylestown is so fun, its little and there are miracles
happening!
We had a lesson with this investigator Emilio, he has met
with missionaries for a few years and so he is familiar with most things.
Sister Shaia has been able to work with him online and teach him that way and
to send him talks online to answer his questions and help his studies. And he
is awesome number one because he ACTUALLY READS the assignments! Its amazing to
see how the Lord prepares people to hear about the gospel, because he actually
cares and wants to know! So he studies and tries to find the answers.
In the lesson he told us some of the things holding him
back, and it was neat because Sister Shaia was able to tell him 'You know this
is true!' we had a member there with us who told him she could see how the Lord
has been preparing him to hear the gospel message. And after that he said thank
you for telling me that, it strengthens my testimony to hear that because you
are right. Then we read the scripture Mosiah 18:10 which says: "Now I say
unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being
baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered
into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments,
that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" we told him
that he does know this is true and I testified that the next step is baptism.
And that this step is one that we want him to make prayerfully, because he knows
it is true!!!!! HE KNOWS IT! You can tell! He quoted Heleman 5:12 to us:
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our
Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation;
that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the
whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it
shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless
wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a
foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." He quoted Garrets
favorite scripture to us, we didn’t assign that to him. He is reading and
STUDYING the Book of Mormon, and that is the best way to find out for yourself
that this is the true gospel.
He knows its true, and we committed him to pray about
being baptized in June. So pray for Emilio, that he will be able to recognize
the answers that God is giving him and to recognize those subtle and firm
promptings from the spirit.
Man! This work is the best thing I have done with my
life! Its truly amazing to be able to see someone who wants the truth and is
willing to study it out and to go to the source and find out for themselves
what the truth is. I love that! I love in Moroni 10:4 when we read: "And
when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God,
the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if
ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he
will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost."
I love the part about them not being true, its about
finding out whether or not this is right for you. I know it is right for me,
actually I know that this is right for everyone, but it is a different
experience to know surely for yourself that this is what God wants for you than
it is to be told by someone else.
Man the gospel is true! Our Savior lives and it is Because
of Him that we will return to live with our families for eternity if we follow
the commandments and strive to be obedient to the will of God. Each of us have
a different pathway formed for us. How grateful I am to know of my Heavenly
Father who loves me perfectly and unconditionally, to know that he wants
nothing but the best for us and knows what will happen to us and how to prepare
us for our future. We are so blessed! Just as President White talked about in
stake conference, we don’t always see it, but God is blessing us and directing
us, and how grateful I am to have the spirit with me to guide me and help me
know and see that his hand is in my life.
I am so excited to be able to talk to you guys on Sunday!
I am having the time of my life out here. Learning a lot and growing more than
I thought I would, but I am so grateful for the things I am learning, I can’t
imagine trying to go through life without some of these experiences. It is
exactly where I need to be! And I am grateful for the knowledge of that. Man is God good or what!
Well just keep living the dream, we have the fullness of
the gospel and our job is to give it to everybody, so get out there and tell
someone about what we have!
LOVE YOU! Love,
Sister Kindra Wilson
April 28 2014
And a funny story for you. We went to mission leadership
council this week and OKAY sorry two stories for you, one is a blessing and one
is funny.
So on our way there I was driving and I was going the
speed limit and all of a sudden I pass a school zone 15 sign and so I start
slowing down as I have just realized where I am and I see red and blue lights
behind me... AWESOME! So I got pulled over for speeding in a school zone...
this is going to be awesome right? Right.
He probably runs our plates and sees that its a church
car or something because he takes a few minutes and then comes and asks:
Police officer: Do you know why I pulled you over?
Calm cool and collected me: Yeah, I just saw the school
zone and was slowing down when I saw your lights
PO: Yup I got you doing 33 in a 15, in a school zone. But Im
just going to give you a warning, can I have your liscence and registration?
.... trying to find
it among all the papers in the glove box..... he sees my Oregon drivers license
PO: Have you been in the area for very long?
Me: we are missionaries for our church so Ive been in PA
for about a year but we move around inside of that
PO: Okay is it going to come back to the Church of LDS?
ME: Yes
PO: Okay thats fine, give me a minute.
PHEW! Only a warning, no ticket thats awesome! sister
Shaia asks 'okay, how are we going to give him the gospel?' and I just laugh
inside thinking, I dont want to get a ticket! But we decided we would ask how
he knew it was the LDS church
PO: So just so you know, 33 in a 15 zone would be a $500
ticket and a license suspension, and Ive been to Oregon, I know they have
school zones there as well. But Im just going to give you a warning, and watch.
This area is usually going from 6-8 as a school zone.
ME: Thanks, and can I ask you a question (as he starts
walking away), how did you know it would come back to the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints?
PO: I read your tag... starts to walk away... and I saw the
materials in the back seat. Have a nice day....
so he saw our scriptures, and our Preach my Gospel
manuals in the back seat. It was a miracle because before he even talked to us
he had decided to just give me a warning. I am so grateful for that! Somehow he
knew we were missionaries and somehow he has a connection to the church, not
sure what it is or how he knows about it, but it was nice to see someone taking
pity on me. I was grateful for it!
We told our driving coordinator and the APs and the
coordinator always says: "You dont get blessed when your being
disobedient!" and it was disobedient to not obey the law, but I think it
was a blessing!
Then in council we were talking about cutting down on
casualness and President said that he did not want any of us to get into
situations that none of us want to deal with. And they talked about how the
church is sending out attractive missionaries, the ages have changed and these
sisters are beautiful and the elders are handsome and you are attractive! But
we want to remember our purpose.
Well sister Shaia and I are both laughing at this point
and Sister Shaia is turning slightly red and so President walks over and puts
the microphone in front of her face and asks 'are you attracted to someone?!'
knowing that she has a serious boy friend and so we are just laughing now!
President keeps talking about casualness and how he was
proud to have seen that we separated ourselves into a sisters table at lunch
and elders without even being asked! He was very proud of us, honestly we just
wanted to talk to each other!
But I was sitting next to an elder and I whispered to
him, should we even be sitting next to each other? And then we both casually
scooted a little farther apart.
But they kept talking and he turned kinda red from
laughing so much and President saw it and walked over and asked him
"elder, who are you attracted to?' and I immediately scooted way over
practically sitting on Sister Shaias lap. It was so funny!
I love President. Sister Anderson then wanted to say
something so she got up and talked about how much she loves us and how much she
wishes she could just pair us all up!
To which we all started roaring with laughter. It was
funny. I love the Andersons, they are so great!
And now I must depart, but I love you all. Hope your week
is going well! Talk to you next week :)
Love, Sister Wilson :)
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