Week 93 - May 29, 2017

Hello!

On to the next, last, and final transfer!  Cannot believe it!


We had a great week here in Wilkes.  A few of my childhood dreams came true!
I was able to go on exchange with a Spanish Elder over in the one and
only SCRANTON, PA!  I got a picture in front of Dunder Mifflin and the
Electric City sign.

Our investigators are doing well!


Teresa is getting more and more excited for her baptism.  She is full
of energy and is certainly going to be one who brings the WB ward
alive -- EVEN.  MORE.


So, sadly Latoya can't be baptized with her children due to
unfortunate circumstances, but her two kids are SO solid.  Sariah and
Alexis will be baptized on the 24th.  They are on top of it.
Maurice is doing well, that kid is so smart.  It's tough though
because his dad has picked him up on the weekend for the 2nd time now,
so we haven't been able to get him to church... we will though!

(This is Maurice.)

Thennn we also have this new guy that we're teaching.  His name is
Dale.  He's about to graduate high school.  He's all over It, wants to
get baptized, and yeah hopefully him in July.

Elder Sandberg and I got a "few" more buckets this week with the
homeboys here - our bodies are paying the price, but it's always a good
time.  "We got Steph and Klay over here" seems to be the theme.  "Man
they probably recordin'' us and 'bout to put this on Youtube" haha.  Love
it..

I love this quote:  "If we are willing to believe, if we desire to
believe, if we choose to believe, then the Savior’s teachings andexample will show us the pathway forward."  The doctrine of Christ
illuminates the path before us and allows us to always press forward &
will allow us to access Christ's Atonement thereby allowing us to get
to and STAY by the Tree of Life.

This week, some of my greatest role models go home -- Elder Winstanley
and Elder Drake.  PPM LEGENDS!

LOVE,
Elder Wilde

Week 92 - May 22, 2017

Hello! 

On to the last week of the transfer now, can't believe it.

John was baptized this week.  We are so proud of him.  He's got such a great heart, that is for sure. 

Teresa is doing sooo well!  She is super excited to get baptized in just a few weeks.  She's going to be a great asset to the church, to say the least.  She has so much enthusiasm, it's contagious!

Latoya and her family are doing well, the kids are SUPER excited to be baptized.  Latoya won't be able to be baptized with him due to some unfortunate circumstances, but she is still going strong.  The kids... wow.  Amazing.

This week, I got to go on exchanges with Elder Selby.  He was in the MTC with me.  We had a great time together up in Montrose. 

I was able to do three baptismal interviews this week.  I absolutely love interviewing people for baptism and listening to their stories and how they came to have a testimony.

 (Janice, who Elder Wilde did a baptismal interview with.)

I am just beyond amazed that people listen to us missionaries - especially myself, it is astounding to me, but of course I know that once they feel the Spirit, it is hard to turn back and quite frankly why would you want to turn back? 

I love in Joseph Smith History where it says:  "So it was with me.  I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart:  Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen?  For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." 

This week, we had a pretty cool experience.  We received a Bible referral a few weeks ago for a man named Daniel.  We scheduled three appointments with him, all which he canceled or wasn't there for -- go figure.  We finally got a hold of him after our last attempt and he said to come over but to a different address.  So we came over to the different address and it was his sister's place.  His sister has a son named Maurice who is 12 years old.  As we started teaching Daniel the Restoration, his nephew, Maurice, came and sat in on the lesson.  I could feel and was certainly told, "You are not here for Daniel, you are here to teach the boy," and so we shifted the lesson to teach Maurice, and this kid is so solid -- he understands the Restoration better than most adults!!!   He has been reading from the children's Book of Mormon and praying, we are so excited for him.  He will be baptized in June! 

 

Saturday afternoon, we were asked to give a talk in Sacrament the next day and Elder Sandburg spoke on faith and I spoke on Repentance.  Elder Sandburg killed it - he is such a stud.  I told the story about when I drove a little too fast on the freeway one summer as a young 16 year old boy - I'm sure my family remembers that one; anywho I tried to relate it back to the Atonement of Jesus Christ at the end because President Packer said:  “The Atonement leaves no tracks, no traces.  What it fixes is fixed. … It just heals, and what it heals stays healed.”  I think the only traces I have are a few scars from rolling down the hill, but I should be alright. 

It was cool.  I got to see some of my people from the YSA, Meredith, Vanita, and Eric went up to the PRS, came and listened to me speak in church.  It was awesome to see them, to say the least! 

Not too much else to add - I thank God for the opportunity to serve and am thankful for y'all!!! 

This describes Wilkes Barre fairly well.  LOL, love this place.

 

God bless,

Elder Wilde

 

Week 91 - May 15, 2017

Greetings!

What a great week here in Phil----- not there anymore, Wilkes-Barre!!!
Tensions have been high here in our quarters over in the one and only
Beaver Ct. after the Jazz were swept by the good guys (#godubs), but
other than that we are doing very well.

("At least we play well together on the Lord's team!  (How cliche' was that?")

Teresa is doing so well!  We taught her back-to-back days Friday and
Saturday -- it's been amazing to watch how the Book of Mormon is
helping her truly repent.
 
Latoya and her family are on fire!  It has been also AMAZING watching
the Book of Mormon and prayer bring that family together in a spirit
of unity.  I would have never have guessed this family making it this
far (I know, where is my faith?), but it's truly been inspiring and it
was quite the spectacular moment helping this mother get to church
with her family - I am so proud of them!
 
We have a baptism this Saturday for a kind man named John!  What a
great name, right dad?!  Elder Sandberg will be baptizing him, I'm so
excited!!!
 
We had Zone Conference this week, interviews with President, and I went
on an exchange with one of my Zone Leaders.  It was a packed week for
sure!

(Elder Lake and Elder Wilde)

At Zone Conference, I volunteered Elder Sandberg to do a role play in
front of everyone LOL it was so great - I don't think he was very fond
of that idea, but he did a great job.  I think everyday he probably asks
the question, "What ridiculous thing is my trainer going to have me do
today?"  Good times, good times.
We also met someone who told us he spent 13,000 years in hell, and so
that was also a pretty interesting story behind all that as well.
This week we are super busy too!  HOW ARE WE ON WEEK 5 OF THE TRANSFER?!

(Elder Wilde said:  "I forgot to mention that we started teaching a French family and they came to church.  The daughter is sooo cute.")

Anyways,
I had my last Skype call home today before I see my lovely fam in two
months.  

I just want to conclude by thanking my angelic mother.

 

I add my conviction to Elder Holland's when he said: "No love in
mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ
than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child.  Maternal
love has to be divine.  I can pay no higher tribute to anyone."
Through the thick and the thin, the ups and the downs, the one thing
that was and is always constant is her pure Christlike love for her
children and for all of God's children.

Love,
Elder Wilde

Week 90 - May 8, 2017

Hello!
 
Well, another week come and gone here in good ole' WILKES!
There certainly has been some tension between Elder Sandberg and I due
to the Jazz & Warriors series... jk but we have had some good talks
about it.  No smack talk though--that would be SO unChristlike.
 
I really don't have too much to report on this week.
Teresa is doing really well.  She is excited for her baptism in a few weeks.
Latoya is doing really well.  We took her on a tour of the chapel a few
days ago and then she came to church on Sunday!  She is so great...
God's hand was truly evident in the way we found and began teaching
her.  She has made incredible changes in just a few weeks.

This is Latoya.
She said, "Can I get a picture inside of the font so I can show my kids
when I get home?"

We had some really unique experiences this week. Its amazing how the
Holy Ghost will lead and guide you if you just take the time to
listen.

If you cannot learn how to seek, receive and act on spiritual
promptings, how can you expect to walk the path of discipleship and not
waver?

We had a Northeastern District/Stake broadcast, whatever it is--I really
have no idea.... but anyways, Elder Oaks discussed four simple things
members can do to help others return/come into the fold.  It was
interesting what he said because the theme/principle behind each point
was to simply love them.  Love really is everything.  Just love one
another and everything will work out.  Every time.  The pure love of
Christ has, is, and will change the world.  The gospel is a gospel of
love - its as simple as that!  Just be a friend.  I've learned so much
about love in these past three weeks.  Love the Lord and everything
will work out.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, this past conference said:  “Kindness is the essence of
a celestial life.  Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others.
Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at
school, at church, and especially in our homes.  Brethren, let us
examine our lives and determine to follow the Savior’s example by
being kind, loving, and charitable.  And as we do so, we will be in a
better position to call down the powers of heaven for ourselves, for
our families, and for our fellow travelers in this sometimes difficult
journey back to our heavenly home."

Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness

can change the world! 

 
"Life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds
don’t sing and bells don’t ring.  Yet in spite of discouragement and
adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from
difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result.
come what may, and love it.”

In faith & with love,
Elder Wilde

 

Week 89 - May 1, 2017

Hello!

Well, all is well here in Wilkes Barre.  Have I mentioned how interesting of a place this is... because it sure is!  It's been quite the experience already.  Elder Sandberg keeps me on my toes, he's so good!  Seriously 100x better of a golden than I was - I am so blessed to have him. 

This week we had a baptism for a man named Mike Hrinko.  Great guy.  Super proud of him. The service was great. 

We have a solid investigator named Teresa.  We started a Book of Mormon class on Wednesday night and she came.  She then came with us to the Priesthood Restoration site and then she came to the baptism on Saturday and then to church yesterday!  We are taking her to all these places and doing all these activities--I think we forgot to actually teach her!  She loved the Restoration site.  She went and prayed in the woods while we were there and she came out and said:  "I would like to be baptized in the Susquehanna River." She is super excited for her baptism on May 27th.

We are teaching this family of four.  The Bizzell family.  The kids are amazing - just eat everything up.  The mom actually is in the hospital and called us up on a private phone and said:  "Elders, you are the only ones I want coming here.  I want to continue to learn from you.  Will you come to the hospital and continue to teach me?" lol - of course.

We also got buckets against some homeboys here on the local courts here in WB.  Elder Sandberg and I taught them a few things -- not about the gospel, but still some important things.  Good times, good times.  As we were leaving, the guys were like, "Man, these white boys balled us up in church shoes!" 

President Randall came and had a lesson with us in Wilkes-Barre this week - it was so fun. 

This week I actually began President Nelson's Six-Week Challenge to study about the Savior from the Topical Guide.  I have learned so much.  SO much.  It's amazing. 

Neal A. Maxwell knows it all: 

One’s individual will thus remains uniquely his.  God will not override it nor overwhelm it. Hence we’d better want the consequences of what we want!

Another cosmic fact:  Only by aligning our wills with God’s is full happiness to be found.

So many of us are kept from eventual consecration because we mistakenly think that, somehow, by letting our will be swallowed up in the will of God, we lose our individuality. What we are really worried about, of course, is not giving up self, but selfish things--like our roles, our time, our preeminence, and our possessions.  No wonder we are instructed by the Savior to lose ourselves.  He is only asking us to lose the old self in order to find the new self. It is not a question of one’s losing identity but of finding his true identity!

As one’s will is increasingly submissive to the will of God, he can receive inspiration and revelation so much needed to help meet the trials of life.

If our hearts are set too much upon the things of this world, they may need to be wrenched, or broken, or undergo a mighty change.

The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar.  The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us.

“If you want to enjoy exquisitely, become a Latter-day Saint, and then live the doctrine of Jesus Christ”

^^ and that's it. 

Love, 

Elder Wilde