Week 61

Hello Family!

I am glad you had a good time here in WA :)  I figured you wanted to surprise me or something so I didn't say anything! but don't worry it didn't take away any focus or anything because I can see you in like 4 months! So I wasn't stressed :) Don't you just absolutely LOVE the people here? I am so happy to hear about the fun you had :) I LOVE WASHINGTON!!! haha I love these people so much and I'm grateful they still love me back :) Anyways I guess you would like to know about what's happening at transfers :) So Sister Flanigan is being transferred to East Tacoma in the Lincoln ward and I am staying HERE! and follow up training a sister that came out with sister Flanigan named Sister Jensen! :) I don't know her at all!  but I am excited :) Sister Logan is going to silverdale and Elder Genereux is going to Port Angeles (the other side of the mission.) but! Sister Hall is coming to Olympia!!!!!! I'm excited!  She's not in my district but she is in my zone! :) So I'm pumped!!! :) I am excited for transfer meeting :) It will be the last "mission wide" transfer meeting...after this one only people who are transferring will be able to go! SAD DAY!!! Which means I probably won't be able to see many people I love until after my mission :( but that's ok! Because sometimes the Lord asks us to be obedient and when we sacrifice everything and turn to the Lord, He will bless us. So I think sometimes our missions are meant to be endured without the people we love. :) (at least that's what the ZL's tell me :) ) haha I am way excited to stay here in Olympia though!!! A few weeks ago I kinda wanted to leave, but I was being selfish because I knew Elder Genereux and Sister Logan would be leaving and I felt like our investigators were kind of in "neutral" but now the work is picking up like crazy! and I have accepted the fact that my friends are leaving because the work is not about that, it's about God and His will and I know that this is part of His plan for me. So I am excited! :) I have actually gotten a sudden motivation and excitement to be here in Olympia with the people we are working with! Gary and C & J and A bunch of little kids! haha we are teaching Domonic he's 10 and Niah and Alaysa they're 10 and 8 and Cassidy she's 9 and alexus she's 8 and I am excited! I love little kids! :) And we also Teaching a part member family the walkers He's the one who's the x-Jehovah's witness! and he loves the church!!! but he has a lot of health problems...But they're all so great and I love them!!! :) Oh we are not teaching Maria anymore because SHE GOT BAPTIZED!!!! :) It was a wonderful service :) Elder Pierce and Genereux came to help cuz Maria LOVES them and a few people from the ward and sister flanin and I sang "be still my soul" and Maria was just crying and crying. That is the first time I have ever seen her cry. And it was so sweet. She just felt so relieved and at peace and happy and it brought her to tears. I was over joyed! It was beautiful. And after she came out of the water she just had the biggest smile on her face! It was the greatest thing ever!!! :) so other than that we've just been working hard this week. a good part of this week though was my personal studies!!! I am feasting on the Book of Mormon!!! it's SO good! :)  I've just been getting so much out of it! this morning I read Alma 44 and the Nephites are at war with the Lamanites and the leader of the Nephites (moroni) is talking to the leader of the Lamanites (Zarahemnah) and he tells him about how God has spared them because of their religion and their faith, and it was just so inspiring to me because I feel like because of my faith God has strengthened me and that if we do what's right and continually strengthen our faith and our testimonies we will win. I also read about the war in Heaven and how it was a war of testimonies. And the war is still being fought, we still have to build and fortify our testimonies! :) And I want to bear my testimony to you that I know that this gospel is true. I know that Joseph Smith literally saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and was the prophet through which God restored His gospel. I know that Joseph Smith was a great and amazing Prophet of God; and that Thomas S Monson is the latter-day prophet on the earth. A true prophet. And because of this, I know that Christ lives, I know that He is my Savior, I know that I have a plan for my life and that Christ is there every step of the way. I love Him with all of my heart. I know that what I am doing is the right thing to be doing. I am grateful to be a missionary. I LOVE it! I miss all of you, and I love you so very much! I can't wait to talk to you in just 2 short weeks!!

 

Love always

Sister Wilkins :)