If It Doesn't Challenge You, It Doesn't Change You!

When my brother Carter was serving his mission, he sent me a letter. In the letter was a little card that said "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." I don't think he will ever understand how much of an impact that had on me. 

This week I have repeated those words in my head a least 10 times. Having less then 20 days left on the mission isn't easy. Sounds stupid I know, but I am getting so excited to come home while trying to stay focused on the work. It’s fun. Also my companions are cool. One of them may be more of a challenge than the other at times, but it is changing me to be a better person. 

I hope you all have been enjoying your summer. Is Utah hot? Cause wow the DR is like an oven. The second we leave the house we are sweating bullets. Even when it rains haha. But it's all good. At least it has pretty scenery. 

As far as the missionary work goes here in Licey, it's rough. We are working hard. Finding new friends. Trying to help them come unto Christ, but wow, not many of them are doing anything to do so. Please pray for the ward and the area of Licey. 

On the other hand there have been some HXP groups or something like that out here and it has been fun seeing them every week at church. Basically a ton of white kids from Utah and its super funny cause they all think its crazy how I am almost going home from my mission.

Anyway, I am sorry this email hasn't been very interesting. I promise I'll make my last 2 better. Love you all. Miss ya’ll. 

Elder Wilde 

Changes

Change is good for you. It is hard but, it’s the hard things that change us. Make us better. 

I've been a missionary for over 22 months. Change is still hard on the mission, but it always has a positive effect. This time the change for me is in  my area, and companions. I am now in a trio. Elder Hernandez and Elder Willden are my comps. They are two big boys and make me look like I’m small  lol. 

To be 100% honest it's been a hard few days. Being so close to finishing my mission I have felt the want to just throw in the towel and quit. But I haven't, and I won't. 

My dad sent me a verse from the Bible yesterday that says "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" I know that for me to be able to say these words I need to keep on going. 

My new area is called Licey. It is in a pretty rough place right now. I mean we have almost nobody that's progressing and the members don't love missionary work as much as other wards have. But we are positive and working hard. With the attitude of "we do this for the Lord" we have found success. 

Our most progressing friends right now are Daniela and Vladimiro. They need to get married and for that reason they haven't been baptized yet. They need to save up money! Please pray for them so that they can save money and be able to make their first Covenant with God. 

I hope you are all doing well at home. I hope you're keeping the faith. I have come to realize the the thing that gives me the most joy in life is reading the Book of Mormon. It's a peaceful activity and blesses our lives. I invite you all to read it. 

A few emails left after this one! See ya’ll soon! Love ya!

Elder Wilde

Trio Time!

We are now a companionship of 3! I was trying to think of cool ways to say that. Like "you know how things always come is 3's? Well now we do too!" Or "the 3rd times a charm" But decided to just put it out there. Trio time it is! But here's the catch, it’s only for a week. 

I come home to Utah in about 5 weeks. Therefore our mission President is putting a new missionary in our area as ZL and taking me out as ZL to finish my mission in a new area. I don't know what area yet. It will be exciting to find out on Wednesday. 

As for our new comp, he's awesome! From American Fork. Named Elder Orton. Played baseball for AF. He's got 18 months on the mission. He's super cool. 

Anyways the work is going. We had 3 people come to church yesterday. Like I said, everything comes in 3's lol. Francy was one of our friends who came. 

Francy is cool. He's in his 40's and is a good man. Has problems with sleeping. I think he struggles with depression as well. The good news is that Francy enjoys coming to church. He's been 2 times now. He has a lot of potential. I hope he gets baptized so he can have the comforting companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

We also sang in the choir yesterday at church. That was exciting. The Ward choir here is not good at singing. We will leave it at that. Sometimes the truth hurts. My mom and dad say I am too honest sometimes. Sorry:) 

I love the mission. Its actually super super not easy. Especially the last little bit, but it is worth it. Challenges help us improve. 

I've been studying some cool talks about Prayer this week. Here's a spiritual poem to end this weeks email. 

"I know not by what methods rare, But this I know, God answers prayer. I know that He has given His Word, Which tells me prayer is always heard, And will be answered, soon or late. And so I pray and calmly wait. I know not if the blessing sought Will come in just the way I thought; But leave my prayers with Him alone, Whose will is wiser than my own, Assured that He will grant my quest, Or send some answer far more blest"

Love you all! 

Elder Wilde 

Summertime

Kenny Chesney has a song called Summertime. It's fantastic. I think ya’ll should go listen to it since we are now officially in the month of June! 

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well! The grind out here just keeps on moving along. It was another decent week, but we had yet again 0 friends that we are teaching come to church. 

It's hard when nobody comes to church. My comp and I are working hard visiting lots of people. Having 7-12 lessons a day, and still our friends just don't come. But we gotta look for the positives.

For example, this week we had the opportunity to fast. Before the mission I was not great at fasting. In fact I don't think I ever accomplished a 24 hour fast. But while on the mission it is somewhat required of us, and it has been a blessing. It's crazy the strength God can give us while we fast. I invite you all to do a fast the next time you get the chance. 

As far as our friends in teaching go... we are having a hard time. This week we are gonna stop teaching most of them. They just aren't putting God in first place. Never let God lose his spot as the most important thing in your life. 

I'm trying to think of some cool things to tell you guys but it's hard cause this week was pretty average. I am however starting to get good at Dominos. Wish I started to play earlier in my mission but I didn't. If ya’ll didn't know, the Dominicans LOVE to play dominos, and shocking enough you don't play by just standing them in a line and knocking them over ;). It's been fun learning how to actually play! Anyways. 

Love you all! Hope you aren't getting bored of my emails. Only 5 more ;)) Have a good week! 

Elder Wilde.