Week 60

Hello Family!

This week was quite the adventure... I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!!! :) I know I did!!! :) It was wonderful! Monday I finally got a haircut!!!  Sister Farnsworth cut it in the gym at the church for me! :) I was going to get it sooner, but I didn't want to get bangs in the winter and always look like a drowned rat :) haha But I really like it! :) Then that night we had FHE with the Howes and they made us yummy pancakes! I love that family! :) I wish brother Howe would just get baptized :) but we are working on it! :) Then Tuesday Maria had her baptismal interview and she did great! She's way solid! :) and that night we had a lesson with Gary! He's so close! now he is saying that he'll be baptized, but he doesn't know if he wants to be Mormon. haha I guess what he doesn't know is that you don't become Mormon you become a disciple of Jesus Christ! :) But he's still so close :) He'll get there! :) Wednesday was the BEST DAY EVER!!! The temple was absolutely amazing! :) It was a ton of fun too! :) We woke up at 5:30 to catch the bus at the Lacey stake center and then traveled to the house of the Lord! :) Once we got there we gathered in the chapel to sing some songs and talk about the "Because of Him" video :) And just tried to prepare to feel the spirit and then we went over to the temple and oh my goodness! It was amazing! I just love the temple! It is a house of learning and as soon as you walk in the first thing I feel is an abundance of love! and joy!  I love the temple so much! One cool revelation that I got was that I need to trust in God more. I went with a question of how I can put my heart into the work more. And He answered me by helping me remember when I got my confirmation to come on my mission. I was sitting in the baptistery at the Provo temple and I was just praying my heart out! and I had this overwhelming feeling come over me and I just felt like everything would be ok and that God would help me. And I got reminded of that. Then I walked past this picture that they also have in the Steilacoom building and it's Christ beckoning to someone and when you walk past it His foot follows you. And I know that Christ is always right next to us, no matter where we walk He is always there. But anyways, it was absolutely amazing. I cried during the endowment session :)  I love it so much! :) I can't even explain it :) anyways I was filled with so much knowledge and power!!! I felt a sincere desire to help people make it to the temple. It's such a wonderful place. :) On Thursday we got a surprise call from the STL's and Sister Allred came to Olympia to hang out with me :) It was fun! It was nice because I got to talk to her and she knows what I'm dealing with!  So it was fun! she's from my hometown of Springville! :) it was a lot of fun :) We tracted down some intense hills though...I thought I was going to die! :) Friday was a hard day for me...we found out that Maria hadn't stopped drinking coffee so she couldn't get baptized. I called President and he said that we had to wait til at least Tuesday to baptize her. And I was just heartbroken! I don't know why, but I was so sad.  It was even harder to tell Sister Flanigan and then we had to tell Maria. It was awful. I won't go into details cuz it was just so sad. President called us that night and I cried to him and he helped us to understand a little bit more. I know that it is so important for people to repent before they can be baptized. Saturday I woke up feeling way sick. So I called Elder Genereux and asked for a blessing and it was one of the best blessings I've ever had. Basically God told me that I needed to stop worrying about all the things going on in my head and just love!!! :) and that Heavenly father loves me and that I need to remember the Savior and also He told me that a lot of people look up to me for an example and that made me feel like I want to be better and push myself more! But I know the priesthood works because immediately after I felt so much better! :)  Sunday was the best day ever! We had 6 investigators at church and I ate more food than I ever should!!! haha we had 2 dinners back to back and oh man, I felt so fat :)  Cheesecake and cake and lots of ham and potatoes and rolls and veggies! haha I was absolutely stuffed!!! and as you already know Juan and Jon showed up to the YSA ward with Easter baskets for Sister F and I! I can't even tell you how much I love them! and appreciate them!!! They're amazing! And Anthony also sent me a basket in the mail! I seriously have the BEST Rc's in the whole world! God blesses me so much more than I deserve. I read Alma 26-29 this morning and I love those chapters! It's all about missionary work!!! :) Transfer calls are this Saturday! Pray really hard that I get a good call :) If there's one thing I've learned in Olympia it's patience! Patience with Greenies, Eternal Investigators, and so many other things!!! :) I really just have to be patient! :) haha I'm so grateful for the Christ like attributes that I get to learn about on my mission. It is such a valuable lesson. I learn new things every week! :) I love being a missionary! I kind of want to stay in Olympia because some good stuff is going on :) but at the same time I don't!  because Elder Genereux and Sister Logan are probably leaving and they keep me sane sometimes! :)  but actually....anyways! I am so grateful for Easter and for the time we have to remember the Savior and that because of Him we can live again, and we can have hope and love and joy and everything good in our lives! He lives! and I love Him with all of my heart! :) I love all of you so much! and hope you have a wonderful week! :)

Love always

Sister Wilkins :)