Well, can I just say this week was amazing!? The best part was of course going to the temple on Saturday! It was absolutely amazing! The bowers from the Deschutes river ward took us up there and they were SO nice! They took us to Deseret book so Stevens could get some garments and I ran into Carolyn from the chambers creek ward which was fun! and I splurged on buying some little pictures! I love pictures of Jesus! And I bought it with manna from heaven! haha so side story, Sister Stevens and I were knocking the other day on a street named Ursula and legitimately met Ursula! haha there was just a rude lady who told us it was a private road (but there was no sign that it was) and then she watched us walk all the way down the road until she couldn't see us anymore. Well Yelm is boonies so we just decided to walk to the next street and I like rocks so we were looking down examining the rocks! haha and in the middle of the nowhere boonies I found manna from heaven! aka $20!!! Well there were no houses around so I couldn't give it to anyone...So see? When people are rude to you God blesses you with manna from heaven :) hahaha ok end side story :) After Deseret book we went to the temple!!!! I was SO excited! As soon as we got there I saw Sister Hall standing outside and I jumped on her and gave her the biggest hug in the world! It was so good to see her!!! Her mom gave me 2 hugs one from mom and one from her :) haha I was just SO happy! then we walked in and Sister Flanigan was there! She and her old companion Sister Young went to watch a family they recently baptized go do baptisms for the dead. That's one cool thing that President Blatter has changed is that if our recent converts have family names to take to the temple we are allowed to go with them!!! :) We are planning a trip on the 30th of this month with the recent converts here! which means I would get to go 2 days in a row because the Friday before I come home the departing missionaries get to go to the temple together. :) Anyways so I gave Flanigan a big hug! As we were checking in Sister Hall says "I didn't know 2 of your converts were receiving their endowment" And I was like "WHAT?!" haha I found out that Gina Blanchet-Parker was there also receiving her endowment!!!!! I was freaking out! :) So excited! :) So we walk in and the spirit I felt was so strong I seriously just felt SO much love! :) And we ran into some Steilacoom people on the way in! I have missed them! It was so fun to see them! :) After we got changed we went to the chapel and waited for the session. Sister Hall and I were talking about some sacred memories we had of Steilacoom and how we even found papa rich! haha the 2nd or 3rd time we went back he was standing in his boxers drunk! And now he was going to be all dressed in white in the temple. The atonement changes people. Our desires, our hopes, our everything! I have watched the atonement change many lives.. especially mine. :) Then we went into the session and it. was. amazing. that's all I can say. The spirit was so strong and I felt so at home, so comfortable there. In the celestial room afterward it definitely felt like heaven. I went up to Gina and said "remember me?" she was SO excited that I was there! haha she had no idea that I could come! But both she and Papa Rich were just glowing! and SO happy! They couldn't stop smiling! Also a man named Brother Olson from Steilacoom also received his endowment. We taught his nonmember wife while I was there, but she still hasn't gotten baptized. So brother Olson decided to go receive his endowment. It was SO special! :) I can't even put it into words. It was just amazing! This is what missionary work is all about! It’s about the people and it's about coming closer to Christ. And I am SO grateful for the sacred opportunity I had of seeing Papa rich, Gina and Brother Olson make covenants with their Father in Heaven. They were just so happy. I realized really how much this work means to me. It is truly everything. I just love my mission so much! In the temple I asked God "it's true isn't it?" and He confirmed to me that it is. I already knew that, but my testimony of it was strengthened as I sat in the temple and felt the presence of God there. It truly is the place that heaven and earth meet. I love the temple, and I know that it is a place of learning and a place where we need to go often. This morning I read in Alma 47-51 and it talked a lot about fortifying cities against the Lamanites, and I compare it to fortifying ourselves. We need to strengthen ourselves and our testimonies as we go through this life because Satan is powerful. If there's one thing I've learned about him it's that he is very real and has real power. And we as disciples of Jesus Christ must stand strong in the faith. And do those small and simple things that build our testimony. I have such a testimony of prayer, scripture reading, church, and the temple. We NEED those things. They are our living water. WE NEED WATER! :) So do those things, and when the fiery darts of the adversary come, we will be protected. I am just so grateful for the gospel. It is the greatest thing in the whole world. I am so grateful for my mission. Being with the people from Steilacoom and sister hall again as well as writing my final report made me realize how truly grateful I am for my mission, and how truly grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am still the same person, I am not perfect at all whatsoever, but I understand the atonement more and I have more substance. I am trying to be like Jesus as we all should. And through my Savior Jesus Christ and His love and grace I am changed. :) I am so much happier. I realize now how much I needed this mission. I NEED it! :) Sister Stevens is still my greatest friend :) I love her so very much! Last night we had a bit of a scare, haha there's been 2 Hawaiians in our house (sister Stevens last companions) and apparently they were very in tune with the spirit world and they said we have ghosts in our house, but rest assured they're good spirits! haha so there were just some noises going on and the screen door opening and it was scary :) So we said a good prayer and Sister Stevens was so funny. She stayed up till we both fell asleep and told me happy stories! haha It's so nice to have a companion who cares about you as much as you care about them. Comp unity! :) yay! haha it sure makes working easy :) The recent converts here are amazing, I have fallen in love with them :) haha Leon is 22 and he was a drug baby, he hitch hiked around America and has overcome SO much. James Davis is 77 and his wife recently passed away. The night Sister Stevens and Sister Muti found him he has just found out he had terminal cancer and he was grumpy and shewed them away, but he said he heard his wife's voice tell him to bring those girls back so he did. Both of them had the opportunity to go to the temple Saturday morning and do baptisms. When we asked them how it was they just lit up and said it was amazing! :) They couldn't even describe it :) it was so precious! :) then there's Tea and Cindy, they didn't go because it was at5:30 in the morning! haha but they are so cute and sweet! :) I love them! And we might be adding Mary Bird soon! She is the sweetest little old lady! She came to church this week again and loved it! :) so we are hoping and praying that she will join into the church of Jesus Christ! :) I'm running out of time, but I just want all of y'all to know that I know that this is Jesus Christ's church. it really is. I am so grateful that I am a part of it and get to bear my testimony of it each day. I rejoice in anti! because my testimony is stronger than that and I KNOW that what I share with the people of Washington is true. I wouldn't trade this time for anything! :) I am so grateful for Jesus Christ, because of Him I have been changed and I have hope. I love Him so much! I am keeping the family in my prayers especially this week as we welcome baby Benson into this world! :) I am so excited! :) I love you SO much!
Love always,
Sister Wilkins :)
Sister Wilkins with Papa Rich and Gina Blanchet-Parker
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