Nicole, Mérida, & the Plan

What does one write after their last full week as a missionary....I´m not entirely sure. I could tell you about my week:

-the Bishop bought us food every night in a last ditch effort to send me home fat

-for the anniversary of the Relief Society there was a stake activity and every ward danced a jarana. #IloveMexico #lajaranaeselbailedeYucatan 

Relief Society Anniversary: Barrio Quintero

Con mi terno.....just kidding it´s not mine.

-Nicole got baptized. And it was beautiful. I love that family that is on its way to being eternal. 

-I hit 18 months.

-The Bishop made me speak in sacrament meeting. #Ididn´tcry #maybeIwantedto

-Flaviano and his sister Lucía came to church again. #he´sgonesixtimes

-We taught a man named Alfredo. He came to church. And now he wants to get baptized as soon as possible. 

Zona Brisas

It was a great week. And it made me realize exactly how much I am going to miss this beautiful, hard, crazy, amazing experience that is the mission. I learned so much and I feel like I have lived a thousand lives beneath the Mérida sun. I can´t even begin to explain it all, but this is what I know:

I know that God lives. I know He is our Father, and that He loves us and knows us personally. I know that He has a plan for each one of us, and that His plan is perfect. I know that He can do more with us than we could ever do on our own. I know that Christ is our Savior and that His Atonement can rescue us from both the obscurity of sin and the darkness of trials and sorrows. I know that this Church is true. I know it was restored through a prophet of God, and that we have the fulness of the gospel of Christ. I know that I needed to come to Mérida to find the God´s plan for me, and I´m just begining to understand it. And I plan on searching out this plan for the rest of my life. 

I know these things to be true. I don´t know everything but I know enough. 

¡Vale la pena!

Hermana Wilson

Obispo Parra

Our daughter

My super cute daughters.

Brownies, Peace, & Tours

Hola,

We had......a really really good week. Like, one of those weeks that you total everything up at the end and you can´t really believe it. 

Mamá y Madrastra

We taught this new investigator, she´s a single lady with a really sad back-story. At the end of the lesson we asked if she had any questions and she said, ´´yeah, why do I feel all peaceful when you are here? What is that??´´Yup.  And that helped me realize (again) that not everyone has what we have. But that everyone needs it.

We had a ward missionary activity. We had an open house and the missionaries from the zone came to contact in our area. Investigators and less actives came, the members were excited and it was just awesome. 

Four people came to church! That´s the most we´ve had here in Quintero. And two were progressing (that Flaviano keeps on coming, and this time he brought his sister).

And today, we made brownies for a zone activity. I proved that I´m still gringa by licking the spoon. 

(Blurry) Brownie Making zone activity

Basically, I´m so busy and so happy. And I can´t really believe that the days keep flying by. This gospel is true, and I want everyone to know that. I love you all!

¡Vale la pena!

Hermana Wilson

Con Hermana Alducin

Changes, Flooding, & Car Washes

Hola,

Welp. Shortly after writing you all last week, we got a call. Special changes. For those of you who don´t know, that means that they took my companions away. hah. I got a new comp (Hermana Alducin from Puebla) and will be with her until the end of the transfer. It was kind of hard getting our little family broken up, but I know Heavely Father has a better plan in mind. 

We spent most of this week in trainings and meetings but we did have some good adventures.

-We invited everyone to wash their car at the stake center.

-We met a man who lived in Georgia

-We got caught in a flood in San Camilo

-Flaviano keeps coming to church (really the guy is incredible)

Basically, time keeps flying but I am more aware of its passing. Every moment is precious and I´m trying to treasure every one. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and for every one of His children. And I hope and pray that I am following that plan. 

I love you all. 

¡Vale la pena!

Hermana Wilson

I took no pictures this week because I am lame. Sorry. 

Transfer 10: Santa Lucia 4

Best Things...

-Krispy Kreme dougnuts. #´nuffsaid

Worst Things...

-Your companion thinking there are Aluxas (ah-loo-shas) in your house. Aluxas are elves from the Yucatan Peninsula. 

Things that are working for me...

-Sunscreen. I ran out this change....

I wish I would have known...

-

Food...

-Pan de Muertos! 

Fun Facts about Mexico/This Mission...

-They don´t really do Halloween. They have El Día de Los Muertos. But there´s still candy. :) 

Weather...

-supposedly it´s fall now...it´s still hot but it´s cooling off at night

-it´s still raining

Mayan...

-holchoch: mezcla: mix

I learned...

-How to baptize every week...We´re going to do it!

-How to spin a hand towel on my finger like a pizza.

Change, Time, & Five

Sunday in Santa Lucía

Hola!

We had a sisters´ conference this week. It was the first one we´ve had here and it was pretty awesome. They gave us roses and pep-talks and then Presidente gave us some advice:

1. Go home

2. Get married....fast

3. Have children...also fast, none of this waiting to have children thing, that´s flse doctrine.

4. Let your body recover 

5. Have more children

**Bonus: Those children should speak 3 or 4 languages

Conferencia de las hermanas - Misión México Mérida 03/11/2015

That is literally what he told us...no pressure or anything. haha. You have to love Presidente García. 

Also, I had to go to Immigration...hooray for being a foreigner...But that meant that we went to Mérida twice week.

Immigration Part 2

It also means that we ate Krispy Kremes. It was good day. 

Krispy Kreme!

In between all of that madness we actually got to work in our area too. And we had some really cool things happen like:

1. Contacting a golden investigator in the street

2. Finding a taxista who was interested in baptisms for the dead in an area where there aren´t even taxis normally.

3. Having an investigator read the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and understand it 

It was a good week.

We also got Zone t-shirts. They make us look like smurfs. #we´resocool

Zona Campeche....aka Smurf Zone

Last night were changes and the only thing worse than waiting for transfers is waiting until midnight for transfers....#thankyouelders. I was terrified (slight exageration) that they were going to take my daughter away, or send me away, or worse- close my area...But we´re both staying here one more change!! Woo!

For those of you who are counting that makes 5 changes here...

It´s a good thing I love Santa Lucía.

Hna Fatima 

Saraí! 

But really though, part of why I was so nervous before transfers was cause I felt like I hadn´t finished my work here. And I am so so excited to keep working here. I love this area. I love Campeche. And I LOVE these people. 

I love this work and I love being a missionary. I see the Heavenly Father´s hand in everything that we do and I know He is helping this work along.

I love you all!! 

¡Vale la pena!

Hermana Wilson

Our cellphone is Yucateco....

Flood, Death, & Ridiculousness

Hola!!! 

So I didn´t die last week...I just forgot to hit send..Woops. 

My area legit flooded three times this week. THREE TIMES. And that meant that the power went out in most of area almost every night this week...and all our investigators went to stay in other areas...  -_-

Flood

At one point it started to rain, and we ducked under cover just to realize it was a liquor store...

We found other cover. haha. 

Sisters in Campeche!

Sometimes I just have to tell you that the most ridiculous things happen in the mission. For example:

-I got a mosquito bite on the bottom of my foot

-An investigator told us he couldn´t have his lesson because his dog has a cough

-A drunk in the street asked me if I speak maya...nope.

-A lady in a store asked a member if I was her daughter...and said we look alike #nowedonot #salespersonlie

We can´t take normal pictures...

Eating

My companion died (mission death - no one freak out) this week. It was weird to hear her talk about going home and all that jazz (and to know Allie and Spencer got home this week) but as for me, I am completely content to keep my tag on. :) 

Noche de Hogar de los muertos

There is so much work to do, and so little time. And I am here to work.

¡Vale la pena!

Hermana Wilson

PS: Changes were today. I am staying in Santa Lucia (surprise!) with Hna Allen!! She is from Redmond, Oregon. Woo for Oregonions in Campeche!! 

Stake Missionary Activity

Pirates, Campeche, & True Love

Querida familia,

I wish I could write you a long lovely letter but... my companion wanted to write in the afternoon and then we ran out of time soo.... I have no time.

Again...haha

This week was actually really good. I kind of feel like I´m back in my training because Hna Mejía is just about done and likes to coach me. I´m learning a lot and we actually work really similar so I´m feeling good. 

I love these guys a lot... Bishop´s family! 

We went to Centro with the Bishop and his family today. (That´s why we´re late) And as a walked around I realized something: 

I love this city.

I really do. The colors, the stories of pirates, the ocean, the people who just love with all of their heart. It´s all just slowly taking it´s place here in my heart and I´m just trying to guard it all away so I can keep it forever. 

I´ve realized that time passes entirely too fast here in the mission; I´m not going to be able to do this forever.

But I entirely intend to take advantange of every second I have.

¡Vale la pena!

Hermana Wilson

I finished my wall...

We had a RAT in our house...don't worry, I got it. 

JWs, Change, & Elder Bednar

Dear Everyone,

I would love to write you a big long letter about everything happened this week but I have exactly 0 time, so here are the highlights: 

-I ran into a Jehovah´s Witness from Eugene, Oregon in Centro this week. #IamaJWmagnet

-I spent TWO days in Franciso de Montejo this week with Hna Huerta....she is the hija of my MTC comp Hna Rhondeau....and she one of my favorite people here so...good two days.

-ELDER BEDNAR CAME! And it was the best think ever. He didn´t really give a talk it was more of a question and answer thing for three hours. And it was like the best thing ever...minus they put us in height order to take the picture so I ended up  waaayyy in the back for all of it... I´m tall in Mexico (my comp was literally in the very front row. #shortpeopleperks) 

Elder Bednar #NBD (I´m on the far left...) 

-And changes were today and..........I´M IN CAMPECHE! Which is another state in my mission. And I will be with Hna Torres for another change, we´re opening an area, and we will be the sister training leaders here.

Phew... It´s a lot of changes but I´m so excited to be here (I´ve wanted to go to Campeche for all of my mission) and I will be in Barrio Santa Lucia and I´ve heard my area is full of hills..... :) 

I love you all!! I´m so excited to be here in the mission, and I´m so excited to see what´s in store here in Santa Lucia. It´s a great day to be a missionary!!

¡Vale la pena!

Hermana Wilson

Responsabilities, Privelges, & The Reason I´m Still in Chuburná

Dear People, 

 We had zone trainings every morning this week, so we had a little different of a week. Also it was different because for the first time I had to GIVE some of the trainings (Hi, I´m still a mission-baby, are we sure this is a good idea??) Hah I may have accidentally started speaking in english at one point, but it all turned out okay, and I enjoy being able to teach the other missionaries. 

Including intercambios. I´ve decided I love them. I got to work with Hna Barraza this week. She´s a sweetheart, and I think we all need to be more like her. She has a way of helping people realize that they really matter, that they´re important. LOVE HER.

Also, Hna Torres and I got to go help out with a primary activity in Centro with Presidente, and Hermana Garcia and the assistants. The activity was called ¡Niños a la mision! and for our part of the activity Hna Torres and I taught them about our schedule, being obedient, how to handle stress (we totally did relaxation exercises with 60 children), how to prepare spiritually for a mission, and how to avoid big sins. And let me just tell you....it was a blast. #capacitadoraprivelegios

I love children. Why can´t we teach herds of kids all the time??? Also, Presidente talked to the kids about how they need to go on a mission and then come home and get married as soon as possible....

To quote Hna Torres, "¿Hay calor verdad?" 

Hna Torres, Yo, Hna Manning, Hna Gutierrez, Hna Garcia, Presidente Garcia

I learned last night why I´m still in Chuburná. Hna Elizabeth, my favorite reformed less active, told us that before cambios she was praying (a lot!!) that I wouldn´t get changed ("No llevas mi gûerita").

It´s pretty evidente that she has a lot of faith (almost seven months worth). haha. I love her. 

So what I keep realizing in my mission is that the gospel really is the answer. The pure, simple, basic doctrine. We´re not converting people to the side-affects of the gosple, we´re inviting them to come unto Christ and be CHANGED. That is what conversion is, a complete change, of desires, hopes, actions, everything. And I know that I have a long way to go, but that is what I want. I want to want those things that my Heavenly Father wants. I want to lose myself so completely that His Will becomes my will. 

Because that´s when the miracles come. And that is true joy. I love being a mission. I love you all. I love my Savior.

¡Vale la pena!

Hermana Wilson

Transfer 5: Chuburná 2

Best Things...

-I hit 6 months! And still feel like a mission baby. haha. 

-Having people argue with you about Joseph Smith, teaching the First Vision, and then they don´t say anything else. :) #winning

Worst Things...

-Sweat. Waking up sweating. Going to sleep sweating. Sweat in your eyeballs. Sweat. 

-I got bit by a dog! Luckily it wasn´t bad. 

-Shopping as a missionary. Why is it so much work to find modest, cheap, shirts that don´t boil me alive???

Things that are working for me...
-Slides. All of my comps have flip-flops for shower shoes and they all break really fast.

I wish I would have known...

-Find images/demonstrations/visuals/teaching tools stuff. Sometimes people really just don´t get a concept so I have to explain 5 billion ways. And visual things always work out better. 

Food...

-I finally tried a marquesita which is kind of like a crepe only they put this cheese in it and deep fry it. :) 

-I ate a fish eye!! 

Fun Facts about Mexico...

-We went shopping, and there are a surprising number of modest swimsuits here. So I would say if you´re coming here on vacation buy a suit here...Not that that helps much for missionaries...hah.

Weather...

-It´s hot. And it´s still only spring.

-It´s a lot more humid at night. So even though it´s not as hot I still feel sticky.

Mayan...

-p´o a nook: laundry (I think.....) 

-papa: comida

-zules: de los caballeros

(papazules is a type of food) 

-ab: ser (to be)

-may: the correct way to live; justice, integrity, and peace

I learned...

-So very many things...haha. 

-How to love an hija

.How to avoid the drunks

-How to really be patient.

Cambios, Heuvos, & Intrepidez

Querida Familia,

Oh what a week. It was Semana 6! I don´t know how the time is passing so quickly, but it is flying. A lot of things happened this week actually:

We had an Easter Egg Hunt! And it was the bomb!! haha The members were all a little skeptical at first, but they came around pretty quick. I knew they liked it when they came back with like 20 eggs after we told them they could only find 5 apiece. Now I´m just hoping that they found all of them because we could´t count them after because everyone started to eat them... haha Also, if anyone can tell me why the Easter Bunny brings eggs that would be great because I could not explain it to the people here...haha

For the record, it is a lot of work to cook 120 eggs. Also I recommend spoons and not fingers to remove eggs from nearly boiling water. #don´taskmehowIlearnedthat

After, the ward had a little farewell for H´ Ludlam. She finished her mission this transfer and is headed home this week!!! 

I´m an orphan.

Haha but seriously, I just got to Mexico like 2 days ago and she had like 6 months left, and now she´s leaving. It´s madness I tell you.

Family Photo

Mi hija

We had a stake activity with the youth this week (it was a like a day-in-the-mission thing) and so at one point we had 7 youth in a lesson with us. Haha poderoso. You can bet Carlos learned his commandments from them. :) 

Cambios were today! Or as I like to call them, stay-the-sames. Yep, I will be in Chuburná 2 for at least one more cambio. Haha who would have thought I would be in the same area for Christmas and Mother´s day? haha My companion is Hermana Torres. She´s from Guatemala, has 10 months in the mission, is one of the smallest people I know, and we´re going to be the sister training leaders for our zone.....

Yo & Hermana Torres. Told you she was tiny.

...I don´t know what Presidente and los asistentes were thinking either....

Anyway, same area but new adventure. I´m excited to get to work with the other hermanas and continue learning and growing as a missionary. It´s pretty funny that I´m staying because the whole ward basically sent me off yesterday…

Still here. :)

And I am really excited to be here. There´s a lot of potencial in this area. We just have to find it. :) 

Presidente has talked a lot lately about being BOLD. That we have an important message and so even if people are sleeping or eating that we need to insist on teaching them. And as awkward and uncomfortable as it can be it is SO true. I don´t want to show up at judgment day and have a group of people ask me why I didn´t insist on telling them the truth. And so that´s what I´ve decided to do. 

Hna Delfina, 70 years old and the best missionary out there

I can´t make up their minds for them, but I can tell them the truth. And the best part is, something miraculous happens when we do that. They may not accept what we´re telling them, but they can feel that it is true. And they can´t argue with it. 

I know that this gospel is the truth. I know it´s the only way to find true happiness and direction in this life. I know my Savior lives and that this is His Church. 

I love you all. I love being a missionary. 

¡Vale la pena!

Hermana Wilson

Lace suburn...I promise I used sunscreen.

Hermana Castro accidentally hit me with a branch...that had spines...