First Few Day in Washington DC

Hola!! So the first few days in the mission field have been interesting. There hasn't been that many lessons or any tracting at all. It's been pretty busy with other stuff. To start off, I have two companions, Hermana Simpson and Hermana Spencer. They are sooo cute. They were together last transfer, so I'm just trying to fit in right now. There are only two beds in the apartment, so for now, I'm sleeping on the couch in the main area. It's actually pretty comfy!! But I had to go buy a big blanket and a pillow cuz I had nada! So we're just gonna have to see what happens with all that.. oh and I've had to mooch off my companions' food too. good thing it's pday!! Also, because I'm a visa waiter, I don't get my own debit card, insurance card, or get to drive the car.. bummer. OH well!! haha oh and it's so nice to listen to music again, because we couldn't at the MTC. My companions have great taste and are so talented too. But when I leave them, I wont have any music, except like one cd... So that will be fun!

Another fun fact, Jillynn Christensen, my buddy from Utah State is in my zone!! so great to talk to her!

So here are the interesting things so far.... The first night, we went by this woman Patricia's house to share a message or something. Turns out there is some Mexican man that lives with them, but we don't know his name. But anyways, he totally hit on me. He saw i didn't speak spanish well, or understand it, so he's like I can teach you 3 times a week! Then said, " do you like Mexican food? What's your number?".. so I walked away, and when it was time to leave, we all shook his hand, and he totally went in to kiss me!! I turned and kinda started walking away, and he got my cheek.. AH... great! Haha so every time we go stop by to see if Patricia is there, I just pray that he's not. haha. Anyways!! The next day there was a wedding for their investigator Esperanza. This has been a work in the making for a LONG time. She needed to get married before she gets baptized. Let's just say Hispanic weddings are so funny. Those people are nuts. But gotta love 'em!! So Esperanza is getting baptized next Saturday! She's the second one in her family so far to get baptized, and we are currently teaching her neice Heidy. It's kinda hard that my companions are super close to all them, and I'm just jumping in midway, but it'll get better with time! Then the next day there was a baptism for 3 of my companion's investigators. And yesterday they were in a musical fireside which took up most of the day between that and church. So I haven't knocked on any doors yet, or taught someone new! I'm looking forward to that, and getting to know the people WITH my companions! One thing that I've learned is that I need to just chill. At times I may just need to smile and nod, and say "si" or "wow" or "bien!!" haha but everything will come with time. I won't be an expert right away. But this mission is great, the mission president and his wife are great. Still have lots of people to meet and things to learn and stuff, but it's all good!! Any thing is possible with the Lord! Love you all, and if you so desire to send me a letter or something, my address is: 14054 Lotus Ln. #8110 Centreville, VA 20120. Have a great week!!!

Hermana Wilde

Here is the first Email from Brynn in her new district.  Short and sweet! Send Letters!!!

Hey, so my first area in D.C is called Sudley C, and I have two companions! Their names are Hermana Spencer and Hermana Simpson. Our address is 14054 Lotus Ln. #8110 Centreville, VA 20120. Send mail there! Love you!

Last Week in MTC

REASSIGNMENT!!!

We got to talk to Brynn Early this Morning!!!! She sounds GREAT!!! She is on her way to Washington D.C. South!!!  She is so excited and should arrive there later today.  She sends everyone her love, especially to her cousin Lexie who goes to the MTC today.  I will post her address as soon as I get it. 
Missy

8-15-2013

Hola everyone :)

Still waiting on my reassignment! We are expecting to get them tomorrow, but we never know! So just going with the flow, and enjoying it here. I've gained a good 5 pounds and can feel it for sure. No bueno. But it's all good! Oh, and thank you mom for the package! My district sure appreciates it too :) haha. But this week has been a blessing. I see that I was supposed to be here an extra week to prepare me even more. My companion left us on Tuesday morning, so I have been in a tripanionship with the other two Hermanas in our district. I was skeptical about it at first, but it has been wonderful. I'm learning new things from them and am being more prepared for the field. This morning we got to go to the temple for the first time while being here. I've missed it so much, it was so spiritual, and uplifting and the best way to start of my day. It's so neat seeing how people change and become more Christlike. These 18 year old elders are growing up, and I love seeing that. 

The cool experience we all had started on Sunday night. After the devotional, we get to choose a movie to watch. We wanted to go see a documentary thing on Thomas S. Monson's life. However, for some reason they didn't play it. We watched a talk he gave in conference, then were supposed to watch a talk by Uchdorf. However, they didn't play that one either. They played a talk that Richard G. Scott gave on prayer. Great talk. Then in class on Tuesday, we talked about teaching about prayer, and we watched a clip of that same talk. Then guess who came to speak at the Tuesday night devotional?? Richard G. Scott! And he spoke on prayer. Obviously we were needing to hear about prayer. But I have definitely appreciated prayer more and understand it more this week. Prayer is a WONDERFUL thing. Our Heavenly Father is never absent. He hears, and wants to hear the deepest concerns and feelings of our hearts. We shouldn't rush through prayers. We should always pray, especially when we don't want to. That may be the time that we need to the most. When we don't receive an answer to our prayer, it is a trial of our faith, and an opportunity to grow. Elder Scott also gave those who are learning a new language a special apostolic blessing that we will be able to do it. Another sweet thing he said, was that he was super emotional that night because he knew that his wife's spirit was there with us. It was so sweet, and I admire his love for his wife, and hope to have that love with my husband in the future. Man, apostles are just the coolest!! He said more amazing things, but I don't have much time left. But i'll leave you with one of them that I love. Faith builds character, and that character in effect builds more faith. So have faith everyone!! Pray to our loving Heavenly Father!! Give thanks often!! Gratitude leads to self worth and love for others and trust in God. I love you all so much, and thanks for all your support. :) 

Con amor,

Hermana Wilde

Hola my wonderful family and friends :)

 

So basically I'm still trying to figure out the whole emailing group thing and what not, so bear with me! But HEY! I'm doing so great. Today I found out that I get to spend another week at the MTC, because they haven't done my reassingment yet. So who knows how long I will be cooped up here. But I'm loving it. Loving the people, my teachers, the food, the gospel, the language sometimes.. Just a great thing. Just wanting to know where on earth I will be going after this. It's a little nerve racking, but I'm good with going with the flow. And on the bright side, I can go to the temple on my next pday finally! Because the Provo temple has been closed the whole time we have been here. Today we got to go help clean the temple, and us hermanas cleaned each and every crystal on one of the chandeliers... It´s crazy how much work is put into the beautifying of the house of the Lord.

Mom, about the whole Ryan Reynold's brother thing, there's not much to it. I was talking to one of my new friends and he was like "oh and this kid is Ryan Reynold's brother".  I started freaking out and had to force myself to lower my voice and calmly ask him where he is going, and not draw attention to the fact that his brother is my favorite human being on earrth to look at. Haha but yeah he looks like him, just not as attractive and is pretty short and stuff. He is going to Taiwan or something.  Oh and I saw my buddies Emmdog Mendenhall and Matt Easton this week, and it was wonderful. But anyways!!

 

This week has gone by so dang fast. I feel like I was just emailing yesterday. It's so true that the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. I am learning lots every day, continually, never ending. And I've never learned this fast in such a short amount of time. It's so wonderful. I have had several aha! moments this week from devotionals, and my personal study. I'm personally learning how to descern the spirit, and know when it is trying to tell me something. It's still a work in progress, and definitely takes practice. I'll just share with you my favorite parts of this week. So Sunday night we had a devotional and had the pleasure of hearing Jenny Oaks Baker, the most talented violinist like ever (sorry mom). She spoke and played for us, and I just didn't want it to ever end. She talked a lot about her dad, Dallin H. Oaks, and spiritual gifts. Elder Oaks said that for him to acheive his spiritual gifts he had to desire, pray, hope and WORK for his spiritual gifts. It is our DUTY to ask for the gifts we don't have. When we misuse our gifts, and try to build up ourselves, rather than the kingdom, it will bite us in the butt. (These are put into my own words.. haha). Charity is necessary for when we use our gifts.

I loved this, and realized that if I want a certain trait, I need to ask for it, and work for it! After this devotional, we watched the Joseph Smith Resoration movie.. Holy cow.. Definitely strengthened my testimony of our profet Joseph Smith. He was so charitable. In EVERY thing he did. When others were being completely crude and evil, he says "every soul is great in the sight of God" and still treated them with love. If I even become a fraction as great as that man, I would be so happy. Yo se que Jose Smith fue un verdadero profeta de Dios. Se que Jose Smith oró a Dios, y recibió una respuesta. El es un ejemplo a mi, y estoy muy agradecido por el.

 

As far as teaching goes, it´s getting better each time. Before, I would break out in red rashish hiveish things on my neck and chest whenever I would go in and teach or something. Now, it only happens a few times, and not terribly. That is one thing i am overcoming and I´m so glad for that. I´m so glad that I´m getting more confident with teaching. My companion´s and my problem has been inviting to baptism. We do it sometimes, but other times when it is the perfect time, where the investigator is showing faith, signs of repentence and willingness to change and follow Christ, we fail to do so. Baptism is the next step! It is the great big goal we are helping them prepare to reach. It´s crucial that they know what path they are on, why we are there, and why they are doing the things they are doing. This work is so wonderful, and I cant wait to get out there and learn even more. I know it´s going to be so hard, but it is the most important thing in the world right now. The Lord loves us all so much!! I love you all so much too, and keep CTRing and keep on keeping on!! I´ll let you know in a week if i know where I´m going to be reassigned.. :)

 

Hermana Wilde

Week 4

Hola :)

We'll start out with matters of business. Shorts. Basketball shorts. It'll basically be too late for gym and stuff but I could use them for sleeping or something. Much appreciated. If you could also toss in a t-shirt that would be great too.. I have like no clothes for gym and pday and sleeping and stuff. But it's okay. And mom, did you pay my tithing for me by chance? Also, yes Hermana Carlson is going to the same mission as me, and we are roomies. It is just us and the other two Hermanas in our district in our room, and yes it is on the MTC campus.  And my shoes are treating me well. No blisters, just getting sick of the same shoes every day. Also! guess who I met on tuesday.. Ryan Reynold's brother.. he looks just like him, just shorter and not as attractive!! I was so excited about that one. Also, I met another Hermana Wilde that is going to Argentina. We are totally related. Actually I have no idea, but probably :) Another fun fact: we have the privelege of having Hermana Eyring as teacher for quite a few days. She is President Eyrings granddaughter. She went to Buenas Aires on her mission. She's seriously the cutest thing ever, and makes us all love life. All the Elders love her, and say that they are going to marry her. I ran into Emily Mendenhall yesterday and Matt Easton today. it's so fun!! I love seeing my friends here :)

Sounds like all of you are just having a dandy summer!! sounds like Jax had a good birthday! I still want some pictures!! Send me a family picture or something.. I want pictures of anything!!! Haha but as for me and everything else, the MTC is just dandy. I'm really starting to love this place, and it's becoming home for me. Which kind of scares me to go out into the field! I'm starting to freak out! I don't feel like I'll be good enough to go out and teach real people in a week and a half or whatever it is!! Hopefully it's stateside spanish speaking, otherwise I will lose all my spanish before I get to Argentina. Apparently Cam Stowell who got called to Buenas Aires and left in Feb or March, just BARELY got his visa this week... So it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. I should get my reassignment like next Friday or something. 

Our lessons with our investigators are getting better and better each time I feel like, and I am learning how to teach better. I learned yesterday the importance of just listening to the investigator and my companion, and most importantly the spirit. Before, we would just like think in our heads what we were going to say next and stuff. But yesterday I really tried to just listen, and to ask better questions so I can really understand what their thoughts are. Although my spanish was not as good, and it took me longer to figure out what I was saying, it really meant more to the investigator and teaching by the spirit really works and is a miracle!! I'm learning so much each day, and am loving seeing my progress. Our devotional on Tuesday was so wonderful. Elder Richards, a former seventy spoke to us, and talked to us about our legacy and stuff. But the thing that stood out to a lot of us was the clip he showed of Elder Holland, speaking at the MTC several years ago. He said "salvation does not come at a cheap expense". We all are going to have hard times. We all have to spend a fraction of a time in Gethsemani. When we wish things weren't so hard sometimes, we need to remember that we aren't the only ones to ask God if there is an easier way. Estoy muy agradecido por mi Salvador Jesucristo, y por la Expiacion. Yo se que el Evangelio es verdadero y Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial. Yo se que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero y me ayuda mucho en mi vida. Estoy agradacido por el conocimiento que familias son eterna. Les amo mucho!!!! xoxOXoXoxOX

Hermana Wilde