Spring Surprises

surprise numero 1: RAIN! it hasnt rained too hard but i think its rained a little bit each day! which is amazing, bc its been almost a year since weve received rain! vinto needs it. its the city of "apples and water" but... theres no water, and without water there arent too many apples tampoco. &if you know me, i LOVE the rain.. and thunder.. and lightning.. God loves me...

sorpresa two: (all my spanglish is for you, stormi) i was in a small car (trufi) crash today. there was glass but no blood, bruises but no broken bones, and lots and lots of guardian angels im sure of it. God truly does protect His missionaries. we were shaken up obviously, thinking about "what if this, and what if that" but theres no need for the IFs, because the reality is that we are fine and protected and loved from above and all of you. :)

surprise three: i dont have a camera anymore, it was lost (stolen?) in the temple. so... that breaks my heart a little bit (a lot of bit) but elder robbins dies in three weeks and says he´ll leave me his camera, he doesnt need it.. so thats a blessing as well. funny how the trials are always blessings, isnt it? we just have to open our eyes.

surprise cuatro: im breaking my usual format for this week.

thursday we went to the temple, and it was wonderful. its incredible how hard satan tries to destroy our good/happy/spiritual experiences. the trick is to realize its just him trying to throw us off course, and throw HIM out of the way. :) i feel like every time i go to the temple i learn something different (and i do) but at the same time, i just learn the same thing over and over. or, mejor dicho, i am reminded of &strengthened in the same things- that God is my loving, amoroso padre celestial, and that Jesus Christ is my/our Savior del mundo. i learn more about the Atonement each and every time. this time was especially special because: 1, presidente y hermana hansen were with us 2, i got to sit right next to the hermana hansen 3, i got to go with my hijita (H Vargas). :) there truly is no other place in this WORLD like the temple.

saturday was womens conference. all of the hermanas serving in Cochabamba got together in the mission home. we sat in a live cooking session with hermana hansen and learned how to make orange ("cinnamon") rolls (which was ADORABLE watching her and president cook together), we learned self defense for an hour (theres a need for that let´s say), we learned about how to control and fight off stress, and we learned that Hermana and Presidente hansen truly LOVE us. the messages that were shared were perfect and i feel they spoke directly to me.. im in need of feeling God´s love and approval lets say, and lets say that i was able to feel a piece of that this week/weekend.

i also learned the importance of enduring. if we endure, faith and light will enter our minds, hearts, and lives. that light enters thanks to the true Atonement of Jesus Christ. i know with all my heart that the help and strength we need and seek for is available if we just SEEK for it. kneeling and pleading is the first step but after each prayer we have to get back up. after each trial, igual. we have to get back up, keep going, and He will help us in every step. this i know. this i experiement every day. and what a blessing it is to have the Atonement strengthen, change, and comfort me every day of this mortal journey.

the weeks are getting shorter, and time is slipping away. i had a heart to heart conversation with my hijita that im not happy with the level of work were doing, i want to do more, i feel like we can do more, but that i cant do it alone. there were tears but after the tears there were smiles, and i pray that this week and the rest of the weeks are spent in the right direction. i dont want regrets at the end of the mission. although i have to fight of satans lies and efforts to feel desanimada, all i want to do is work and help these people come to know the truth that i know and cherish each day.

its incredible the peace that comes from doing the small and little and everyday things the Lord asks of us. each prayer.. each verse read.. each lesson taught or learned.. the Spirit fills my heart. the peace and strength that comes from the spirit is what motivates and carries me through each day, and i know that thanks to Him not a single day goes by that im alone.

sorry this is short, sorry theres no fotos, sorry for mis faltas.. pero..

God lives. God loves. God knows. God helps.
you, me, and everyone else.

1 juan 4:15

--
Hermana Wilson

  distrito Lehi! we're like a family!

we have two more hnas in the zone! 

hna ordoñez (blue dress) and h morales (her hijita)

 were almost as cute as the decorations (WELCOME TO SPRING DANCE)

stormi this pic is for you! her name is hermana lopez and she reminds me so much of you. I LOVE HER, and i LOVE YOU!

 the gringas from women´s conference

the one and only hermana hansen <3
she truly is such an amazing example to me

almost got the spelling right, but thats okay

if he was an hermana, wed have started and ended this journey together... but nope, e wilstead, you have 6 more glorious months ahead of ya. :) haha. WE LOVE YOU MADDY!!!!!!!!!

  family foto! the first three of us (in order) are the hijas of hna ipanaque. then comes the hija of h beltran, and then my hijita... and my oh my are we just growing each and every day. :)

 i secretly hope my husband is one day the president of the best mission in the world (BOLIVIA CBBA) and that this is my bedroom view each night. :)

PUCHA

we cant say PUCHA anymore because an Hermana Pucha is now serving here in the mission and presidente doesnt want her to be offended... i can change to the word CHUTA (ecuador) but i dont think the rest of bolivia will. whoops. pray for her. :)

SHOUTOUT to the dahle sisters! sabrina youre going to be an AWESOME missionary!!!!! and katherine..... YOURE GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!! felicidades a los dos. <3

fun facts..
my carta tronky came today. i literally cried.

yes ive been sick, but no its nothing to be worried about. i had a fever and vomiting and all that fun stuff, but my fever is down and im taking suero and i just feel weak now.

funny moments..
"if you dont come home speaking english im going to hit you. aprovechala!"-señora vargas
"estoy MAL hijita.." yo "por FIN!" h vargas (i never admit to feeling mal haha)
"i studied him from the top of his head to his toes, and the only thing i liked about him were his teeth." h vargas

bendiciones
my nature is changing slowly but surely. instead of getting mad martes o lose my patience i offered a prayer of pure gratitude to my Padre Celestial and it changed my entire day. i invite you to try it.
for the first time john corrales (MA) showed interest in our lesson and shared his true feelings. i hope were able to reach him and rescue him. he got baptized less than 2 years ago. it breaks my heart how many people dont have testimonies.
fun fact, ive been pretty sick this week. BUT, my hijita has shown me so much love and she never leaves my side. she has brought me towels all week to lower my fever, ibuprofin, she has played with my hair when i so beg her, and she just talks to me and stays with me. i LOVE her. she is truly becoming my best friend.
i know for a fact that my wawa listens to the Spirit. there were two specific times this week (i wont go into details) that the spirit told us the EXACT same thing. its just awesome to see that this truly is His work, and He is guiding us, and were both worthy of and seeking His council.
h mebetabel told us the truth of whats passing with nefi. they feel rushed to be married, and its possible nefi doesnt even want to marry her... it feels good to know the truth but it hurts to know that she wont be able to be baptized this week. pray that nefis heart is changed.
friday we were DILIGENT. <3 and man it felt GOOD to have a day full of citas. its been WAY too long. and that night, as i threw my brains out all night long, i at least had the comfort that i did my best that day in the Lord´s work.
we have officially changed consejo de barrio to after church, not before, which hopefully means more than one person will come and we will have not a 25 minute consejo but a normal length, eficaz. :)
yesterday we received two members MA present us to new investigators that want t be taught and baptized. SO PRECIOUS. :)

miracles and hilglights
i took the examen of the christlike attributes and it was a nice humbling experience. even though ive changed so much and grown so much, i feel like i still have SO MUCH more to learn and accomplish and mejorar. but, i know that thanks to the Atonement i will be able to change, and become better, and more like my Savior.
last night i knelt in prayer to my Father and poured out my heart to Him. after praying almost all week to feel His peace, last night i truly felt it. its truly such a blessing to be able to pray to our Heavenly Father, who truly is our FATHER, and feel of His love. to feel He is listening. to feel He cares. i know with all of my heart that He does.

i also know that i am His daughter. i know that i am never forgotten, even if the adversary wants me to think that i am. He loves me. He knows me. His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, wisdom... its all perfect. His plan is perfect, and im grateful for the moments He lets me know that yes, todo saldrá bien. <3

im going to the temple this thursday, and saturday is women´s conference (all of the hnas in cochabamba are getting together to watch it toether. were also going to learn self defense, and how to make cinnamon rolls with hna hansen. im excited. :)

i feel and hope and pray that this week ill be able to find more peace, and feel that Heavenly Father is pleased with who i am and what im doing. that is my prayer, and what im needing in this moment.

i pray that you as well can feel it.

take care!
hermana wilson

scriptures that have helped me this week...
dyc 28:15-16
efesios 4:32
mosiah 4:6-12 <3
mosiah 24:24-15 (compare verse 15 to mosiah 3:19)
1 nefi 7:17


--
Hermana Wilson

"MAN God´s love feels good"

as the Maddy Cicotte says ^^ (shoutout, i LOVE you mujer)

randoms.
there used to be a mcdonalds in CBBA, but no one liked it or wanted to eat there, so they put in a burger king instead... i laughed so hard when i heard that..
ive never had so many bruises on my body... but its fun, im like a walking rainbow
i have started the "12 weeks to sexy" as ex-elder pachas famously said (shoutout, miss you!)

funny moments
"this is the celestial kingdom, where all happiness is found." e robbins
"zona quillacollo is the celestial kingdom?" h vargas

"pasen hermanas" -hombre
"no, you first" hna vargas
"okay. but dont look."

"when do you go home?" obispo jauregui
"in december" h wilson
"and you get married in january?" obispo
"yes" h wilson
"what????!" obispo
"perdón! i didnt hear what you said! my CLASSES start in january.. no, im not going to be married in january" h wilson
"your COLLEGE classes start in january.. but your MARRIAGE classes start in march.. and you get married in april.. and in may, youll be pregnant" hna carmen (bishops wife)
and asi went the conversation... oh well, it broke the ice a little bit haha.

blessings
hno cristian (LM) saved us a TON of money, we got shoes for half off (my companion only has flats, she didnt have anything sturdy.. < he works for the shoe company manaco, disountssss) and he lowered the prices on bartering (is that the word in english)
when i fell from the bus, my head or spine didnt hit. i dont know HOW, i think i must have had a guardian angel. only my elbow got a little messed up but im doing more exercises so it wasnt AS MUCH weight as before. :)
reading 2 nefi 33 with narciso healed my heart a little bit. the spirit as strong and there isnt a single doubt in my mind that the LDM is true and it gives us the answeres to the questions we have. like taylor davis (shoutout, espero que esté bien) once told me "its like a cheat sheat to life, its great, and its allowed."
h membetabel told us she got an answer to marry nefi but wasnt sure if she was going to be able to complete with God´s will.. we talked about the blessings that come from doing what the Lord wants before what we want and used Christ (lucas 22) as an example. He truly is the example in all things and when we testify of Him the lesson and people change.
h varags has been a lot more focused in the lessons and is a huge support for me
h janett caviña has a daughter named nataliy, and told me h cicotte (shoutout, I LOVE YOU) se encariñó mucho with her... i felt the love of hna cicotte . :) (she was here for a little bit)
we got lost looking for the hna capacitadoras´house, but the taxi man was respectful and the barrachos didnt give us problems and the hnas came and got us and even though we were lost at 1030pm, we were protected. prayer works. :)
h casique let me use her T25. it made me happy. im going to buy a copy for 3 BS. :)
i felt inspired to ask an hna in intercambios how she felt as she prayed, if she was okay, and she lookeda t me with a blank face and said "wow. you really are a servant of God, He told you to ask me that didnt He?" and i felt a little uncomfortable but said "yes, i felt like i should ask you.." and she then went to tell us some personal experiences and it testifeid to me the power of the Holy Spirit.
i followed president´s instructions and read and analized the talk he assigned us to read for our zone meeting. i was one of the only ones who did ,and im glad i did, because i learned a lot and it touched my heart. look it up, its awesome. "cudiaos de orgullo" by pres ezra taft benson in general conf abril
e hammond is willing an excited to sing "oh lord, my redeemer" in zone conference. :) its my last zone conf (que triste) and one of my favorite songs is going to be sung! :) super happy.
i truly do feel the power of talking with EVERYONE (is that how it is in english?) like the verse in dyc 24:12 says
i learned the principle of contacting with quality, and not just to do it or do have numbers or anything like that. i leraned that every chance we have to open our mouths (and we have a LOT of chances) we should put our best efforts into it
last night we got cambios (im staying with my hijita one more cambio, que loco, i never stay with companions more than once! but im happy). hno luis calani was the only member that came up to me and asked if it was true, we were going to receive cambios.. i told him we didnt know what was going to happen (we didnt) and he got super sad and expressed his thanks for me and that he hoped i didnt leave... it was special because yesterday i almost broke down from getting desanimada from lack of ward support/love/respect.. it lifted my spirits a little bit. i also have my spirits high for a ward activity were having wednesday, 730am-5pm, and hoping that well gain more respect and ward love.

miracles and highlights
1 in the last libro of juan when jesus asks, "¿me amas?" .. it touched my heart. every action and decsion we take (especially as missionaries) jesus is going to ask us in the day of judgment "did you love me when you___?" and to realize that, it changed my persepective ona  few things. i have the desires to be better in a lot of things and im putting the goal from here on out (as in until i die, and not just the december death) to try and remmeber that question before i act or speak. i want to show Him I love Him and i know i the best way to do that is to ACT (see E. Bednar´s teachings on faith).

2. hno nefi (MA) gave one of the most sincere prayers ive heard.. in part of his prayer he said "i know im not perfect... pero aqui estoy para cambiar". <3 it was so humble, so sincere, and he was truly talking to his Father you could just tell and feel his love... ill never forget that prayer.

3.  Yesterday during Sacrament meeting the Spirit bore witness to me that I truly am a different person than who I was before and at the beginning of the mission. I am a different person because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It has changed me and shaped time and time again into the person God wants me to be.. I did some reflecting on some of the experiences Ive had with the Atonement in my life and during the mission, as well as the experiences of others (investigators, CRs, MAs, miembros, compañeras, etc..) and it filled me with joy.

it truly is the best experience to be a missionary and see la Expiacion de Jesucristo change MY life and the lives of OTHERS. im a missionary but im still just human like everyone else and i need the Atonement every day just like everyone else. and lucky for me (and you) its accessable (how do you spell that?) at all times and in all places if we just show faith in Christ and the humilty to ask. i know the Atonement is much more than just the ability to recieve God´s forgiveness. i know with all my heart it has the power to change a heart, a person, a life, and a destiny forever. its changed mine.

amo a mi salvador. Él es mi fuerza, mi cancion, y mi esperanza. (como dice in 2 nefi 22.. shouotut to riley, go read it.)

have a great week!

and... more fotos next week.

--
Hermana Wilson

 its NUESTRA BATALLA!!! (lenon, i love him.)

  im a proud mamá of my hijita linda. :)

Better late than never!

so.. last week.. (&this week, next week.. :p)

randoms
(do you even like to hear randoms? should i stop doing them?)
-the wind was so strong that it shatered the windows of our apartment complex
-my latina blood is showing more each day. im growing BLACK hairs on my scalp, people think hna vargas is talking all the time when its really me, the USA isnt always the first guess when they ask where im from, etc etc... latina on the inside, white on the outside.. haha, as my comp calls me.. im like an oreo. :)
-im still learning spanish every single day. will i ever be fluent?
-my flip flops have officially died. at least the lasted a while.

funny moments..
--"he wasnt ALWAYS such a parasite" -yo (tried saying the word clown, but parasite came out instead.. oh, spanish..
--"what are you thinking?" yo
"estoy quemando" h vargas
"no, in english!" yo
"I AM BLACK." h vargas hahahahaha
--"grave siempre debe estar esparando mi abuelo" hno jhordan, when we were talking about doing baptisms for our entepasados

blessings
i LOVE the laugh of hna vargas. when she really gets laughing, i think its one of the favorite laughs ive ever heard. i testify that laughing helps with the stresses of life. laugh more, and you will love more, and you will in turn love life in general more. :)
-i shared a part of my experience receiving a testimony that the BOM is true in our district meeting and e`cortez listened to what i had to say. i felt a peace super strong, and i know everyone can come to know the same if they humble and open their hearts.(see pics below..)
-in my EP i studied the talk "creo?" from general conf and it hit me de nuevo the importance of BELIEVING what we teach, not just teaching it. it is the most joyful message in this world. :)
-hna neisa has FINALLY accepted my dying wish of NOT serving me soup, now im only being served segundo.... not saying the soup is bad, but my stomache doesnt enter all the food im being served.
-being able to leave investigators without doubts at the end of our lessons, and seeing in their eyes that theyre accepting the message poco a poco. :)
- as we study 12 semanas i feel that i have something to teach h varas. not in a manera orgullosa but i feel that i have worth and importance in this work.
-i deicided to be strong even though i was sick because i want my hijita to learn to WORK, and to LOVE the work. time is demasiado short.
-the Espiritu Santo led me to testify of baptisms for our antepasados to janet and her kids, and they felt that their parents & grandparents & uncles are all waiting for this, and theyre excited to get to work on their family history and do baptisms in the temple... isnt the Gospel amazing???
-i truly have HUNGER for the word of God
-im planning a lot more specifically for the people and lessons we teach with specific scriptures , questions, etc according to their needs.. even if the lessons arent word for word, or even if they turn out being something completely different, i know the Spirit is helping me because im putting in my part.
-we found hno brito (I from Brazil, hardcore adventista but seems super interested. hed be an awesome bishop someday) in the street and it was fun saying hi to him and laughing a little bit. its important that we can show were normal people, not just robots.
-when (a member) spoke strongly at me, and was making hurtful commments, etc... the family members defended me, and showed me their love. tender mercies.
- we were able to take home the ward conference flowers. flowers brighten my LIFE. <3
-we had SIX people wit a baptismal date this week, and SIX progressing... ive never jamás had so many. :) alma 26:11-12

miracles and highlights
1 i mentioned him a little bit, but hno Brito is one of our brazilian investigators. his college career is literally studying the bible, he knows it front to back and back to front. ive never been that type of person with the bible, although yes ive learned a TON here in the mission. i asked myself why IM the missionary here in Vinto teaching him, when theres so many more missionaries with a LOT more knowledge of the bible.. but the spirit comforted me and testified that IM the missionary hno Brito needs. that he needs MY testimony, not someone else´s. its okay if i dont know all the answers, it will just give me a chance to study and learn more. i felt such a peace that its the Will of God and He trusts in me.
2. after ward conference, our stake president Elvis Castro shook my hand and leaned back shocked and said "wow, aqui se siente el Espiritu misional"... it was if lightning shocked him. i took me by surprise that he could feel my heart and desires from just a handshake but it made me happy he knows im here to work and give my all.
3. at the end of the mission, we have to submit a few fotos of a different things... one of them apparently is one foto that describes the type of missionary we are. i asksed h vargas what type of missionary i am, and she described me with five things:
1. hard worker
2. strong (in all sense of the word)
3. studious
4. jugadora (not always serious, i like to have fun, be happy, play, etc.)
5. loving.
it was special to hear what she sees in me because she hasnt ever really told me before. it was interesting to hear that "love" was atrtribute #5 because it is almost always the first thing people tell me. i was happy she sees that im here to work, and that i have a love for the work. i love HER.

thank you for all of your support. i feel like the missionary with the strongest support system in the world. thank you for your prayers.

PRAY FOR NARCISO!!!

i know this Gospel is perfect and true. the joy we find by living it is unable to describe, sea ingles o español.

mos 5:2
dyc  68:6
1 sam 3:4-10


--
Hermana Wilson
Discover something new.

 hna neisa made us a cake with piña for hna vargas surviving one month with me

and for me my "one year" in the mission

cake face smash. always

  i used the post-it note idea for our ward´s SOCSOC with a twist on NOT gossiping, and supporting/loving one another... it turned out PERFECTLY. they were all SO happy. :) credit to Antelope YSA <3

 wawa love :)

 with H Mebetabel 

 NEFI FINALLY CAME TO CHURCH! :) (the only thing stopping Mebetabel getting baptized is getting married.) ps, i promise with all my heart im not touching him.. 

 this is Nataliy Rodriguez. she is 15 and isnt a member because her mom doesnt want her to be baptized. (i have yet to meet her mother, and when i do, she will be baptized. im going to put my "sparkle" to work as people have told me this week.) she is literally AMAZING, and an inspiration to me. she went up front and bore her testimony and she said "if you think you have a testimony.. come up front and prove it". she quoted Thomas S. Monson and has a rock solid testimony. shes a light to the rest of us and i pray she serves a mission in the Roseville CA mission someday. :)

 look who we found!  hno gary (cr) coming home from the cuartel

hno narciso announced to his family he knows the BOM/LDM is true, and he has desires to be baptized. :) PRAY FOR HIM THAT HE GETS A FIRM ANSWER ON THE DATE. if he gets baptized the 10th (this saturday), theres a good chance my mission AND temple president will come..... :) 

 it doesnt matter what language you read it in; inglés, español, portugués, quechua.. i testify as a representative of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, that this book is TRUE. it will change your life if you read it with an open heart and faith in Christ.

  i feel like im finding sheep left and right... 

 hna vargas got a kiss... 

... y yo también ;)