Week 64

Hello family!

Wow can you believe it's only been a week since I last talked to you??? It seems like forever!!! haha but I am excited to give you some updates on my wonderful missionary life!!! :) On Saturday we had a stake relief society activity and C came! she actually drove us :)  and it was so fun! And 2 days before I had decided that since I was asking my investigators to sacrifice things, I was also going to sacrifice. So I decided that I was going to give up caffeinated soda for life. And Sister Jensen decided to do the same! Also a family in our ward invited us and C and Sister Mcowen over for lunch on Sunday as well and that was a blast!  :) In Sunday School we had talked about baptisms for the dead and someone had made a comment about taking dead bodies out of the morgue to baptize them and everyone in the class just laughed except for C and G! haha So I had to explain that to C but she totally understood it! ! Gary is still doing the same...he's not making a ton of progress because he is focusing so much on his job that he has not been reading the BOM or praying which makes my heart BREAK! he is so overwhelmed and he just needs to down size! I know he knows that he will be so much happier when he puts God first, but it's so hard for him to change, poor guy...we took Brooklyn Falter with us to the lesson and it was absolutely perfect!!! she's the best! She is hopefully going to be getting her mission call this week or next!!! :) So exciting! :) but Gary still came to church. He told us on Tuesday that he was about to give up and say "what's the point" but he is totally fine after we come over! It's just so sad to see him struggle. I know that if he took that leap of faith to be baptized, his life would be so much better! But he has to get there :) Sister Jensen wants us to give him a break but I just can't give up on him!!! Nyah and Alaisa wood are getting so close! Nyah just turned 11 last week and Alaisa is 8 almost 9! they are the cutest little girls! I love them so much! They always ask questions and are so smart! :) We took over a present for Nyah this week and just visited with them and it was a lot of fun! I love those two! :) Domonic who is 10 is growing so much! This week he actually participated in the lesson!  he's surely a stinker but has such a good heart! I love that little boy! I just hope that he can find a desire to be baptized! We visited Kelly Walker this week, it was quite the experience. He confessed all his sins to us and we talked a lot about the Atonement. Tears were definitely shed and the spirit was so strong. I know that we can all be healed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Shawna Lorge is struggling as well; she has apparently called off her wedding and moving out. but she is turning to the BOM for help and it's awesome! :) It's amazing how much I love these people. I never thought in a million years that my mission experience would make my heart this full of love! last night I prayed for each of my Recent Converts and Investigators individually and realized that they are the most precious people to God. He surely loves His children and I get to have a small taste of that. Missions truly are a small taste of heaven. I can't wait to be in the celestial kingdom with all of you and all of the amazing people of Washington!  and I think I have joy now? I can't even wait! :) Last night we had a fireside in Centralia! It was such a sacred moment for me. I got to sit next to Sister Packard and some of my dearest friends. And remember the Savior. I just cried. It was truly a taste of Heaven. I told President Weaver that I wouldn't mind staying in Olympia for the rest of my mission and he told me that he has been meaning to ask me about that and it sounded to me like I might stay til the end. I am trying not to get my hopes up! But I would LOVE to stay here! I love these people SO much!  We also had zone meeting this week and it was amazing! President had me conduct the music which you know is totally out of my comfort zone, but there's no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone! :) haha It was fun though! :) I love to just learn from the weavers. They are leaving the mission on June 27th. I am going to CRY MY EYES OUT!  President called me this week to make sure I was planning on going home September 3rd so he could get my plane ticket in line. It was a crazy phone call, but he told me I had to promise to tell him when my homecoming was. So remind me when I get home cuz I'm sure I’ll have a zillion things on my mind! :) but we talked a lot about the Saviors love for us each. There's a song called "one by one" It's a way good song! look it up!!!  but I just feel so much the love that the Savior has for me this week especially. It has been such a good week, In studies I have been reading 3rd Nephi and eating it up! I love how much compassion the Savior has for the people he comes to see. And He loves them one by one. Individually. I know this is true because I have a miniscule taste of what that is like. I love each of the Recent Converts, Investigators, Ward members and missionaries individually. And my heart is full of love; I can't even imagine what the Saviors love is like for each of these individual sons and daughters of God. They are amazing, each of them in their own way. And I am just so grateful I get to have the sacred opportunity to know them and be a small part of their life and eternal progression. It is the best! :) I love being a missionary! It really is such a blessing. God blesses us so much more than we deserve. I love Him! I know that this gospel is true. It is SUCH a blessing in my life. All of my joy comes from the fact that I know the Savior and Heavenly Father love me and their gospel is here to sanctify me! I am out of time!!! but I love you all!

 

Love always,

Sister Wilkins :)

This is our best friend Crystal :) haha she's the best!!!! :) She has horrible lighting in her house...but we are going to hiking in a week with her and I will take more pictures :) But I figured you'd like to know who my investigators are :)