Some People Change

So as I was sitting here thinking of an email title I just started to say the name of Kenny Chesney songs. “Some People Change” was the song I picked for my title. Sadly this week that meant people changing for the worse:( 

Our friend Dariel and most progressing investigator told us last night that he is tired of coming to church and just doesn't wanna meet with us anymore. He said he wants to be friends, but he just doesn't feel like doing the church thing. It was sad, but I know God has a plan for him. As I think of how much he has changed since we met him a few months ago I realize that even though he isn't baptized (yet) Jesus Christ still had an influence on his life for the better. 

Christmas time on the mission is weird. My emotions just go crazy lol. Some days I am like "yeah I could miss Christmas every year it isn't even that bad" and other days I am like "wow I wanna go home right now" so basically I'm crazy. Haha kidding. But for real Christmas is amazing because of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

We had a Christmas activity this week for the mission. It was split up into 2 different days for half of the mission one day, and the other half the next day. A perk of being in the office is that we got to go to both. President Bretón talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and I have never felt the spirit so strong before. That was one of the moments when I thought "I could miss Christmas every year". 

As time goes on I realize how short 2 years really is. I'll be home in about 7 months and I can't believe it. I know that's still a hot minute, but truly time is quick. Even though Some days are harder than others, I wouldn't trade the mission experience for anything. 

I want to share a story that I read in a book that my companion has. It's called "I knelt to Pray" by Sterling W. Sill. 

I knelt to pray as day began

And prayed "O God, bless every man.

Lift from each weary heart some pain

And let the sick be well again."

And then I rose to meet the day

And thoughtlessly went on my way;

I didn't try to dry a tear 

Or take the time a grief to hear.

I took no steps to ease the load

Of hard-pressed travelers on the road;

I didn't even go to see 

The sick friend who lives next door to me.

But then again when day was done

I prayed, "O God, bless everyone." 

But as I prayed a voice rang clear

Instructing me to think and hear. 

"Consult your own heart ere you pray;

What good have you performed today?

Gods choicest blessings are bestowed 

On those who help him bear the load."

And then I hid my face and cried,

"Forgive me, Lord, for I have lied.

Let me live another day

And I will live it as I pray."

I really love this story. It made me stop and think about how I pray. I hope you could all learn something from this story. Prayer is a powerful thing. I know that it is a tool that God has given us. If we use it correctly we will be an instrument in the Lords hand. 

I love and miss you all! I hope you have a Merry Christmas! Don't forget the reason of the season:) 

Elder Wilde 

La Navidad

This week was a pretty basic one. We are still trying our best to help Dariel enter into the waters of baptism. He has 12 straight attendances to church. He is changing so much and I know he will be baptized one day! 

I had a really cool experience on Thursday night. We went to the church for an activity and after I had the opportunity to do a Baptismal Interview for a 14 year old girl. She is so ready for baptism. The spirit was SO strong and it reminded me of how amazing this church is. I was having a rough day but that interview changed my perspective and turned the whole day around. 

Our mission Christmas activity is coming up next week, and it's so close to Christmas day! I am so excited!! Although being away from home for three holiday’s is difficult, I know that this is where I need to be. In the DR we don't get snow, but we do get rain ;) It has been raining A LOT these last few days and has been a little chilly so it has made the season feel a little more like home.

I really don't have much to say this week. I hope we can all remember Christ during this season and serve others. It’s a great opportunity for all of us to Light the World and to just serve. I love and miss you all! Keep up the good work everyone!

Elder Wilde 

Working 7 to 3, 3 to 11, 11 to 7

For those of you who know the songs of the GOAT Kenny Chesney will understand my title. Basically as the office Elders, we are constantly working. Even during P-days :) so fun. 

This week we had a lot of random things to do, but we were able to get it all done. Some of the things we had to get done included a trip to Mao yesterday. It was fun going out there and seeing some mission buddies. We needed to fix a few things in some houses and then we had to move some fridges and washing machines. It was a good day. That's kinda the day in the life of us, moving washers and fridges lol. 

One of the highlights this week came on Tuesday when we got to work in our area for an hour and a half. In that hour and a half we found 2 people who we are gonna return to tonight. They seem like very promising people. We walked by their house and then we had the feeling to go back and talk with them so we did and they were very accepting. They even set their own return date! We hope they can progress. 

As I've been in the office I have come to realize how much I love normal missionary work. As in teaching in an area daily, for the entire day. It’s a privilege that we get as missionaries to teach people the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yesterday when the news came out about Elder Patrick Kearon being ordained an Apostle I remember how incredible it is that Jesus Christ really does guide this church. I am so grateful for the modern day Prophets and Apostles. Listen to their advice. It will bless you forever. 

I love this Gospel. If I didn't I wouldn't sacrifice 2 years for it. I know Jesus Christ lives and loves every one of us. The Book of Mormon is an amazing book. It's unreal to me how much peace one can feel by just reading the words on its pages. I love you and miss you all! 

Elder Wilde 

Week Full of Everything!

Well this week was actually a lot crazier than normal. 

To start things off on Monday night we were at the mission home and President told us to go to Cienfuegos to check out one of the houses to see if it could fit 4 Elders. Now Cienfuegos is said to be the most dangerous area In our mission, so we were excited/nervous to pull up in a truck with clear windows at 9 o'clock at night lol. But we did and started calling the Elders. After about 6 calls and a few texts nobody would answer. So we waited until finally they pulled up in a car of a member and got out and proceeded to tell us that they had been robbed. This dude pulled up on a motorcycle and loaded a gun in front of them and pointed it at them and took their phone and keys to the house. It was a miracle we were there so that we could take them back to the office to find the spare keys and to get them a new phone. We hadn't planned to go there at all, but President Bretón wanted us to go that night and clearly it was a blessing that we did. 

Apart from that, we had to do 2 moves this week which were very tiring but we got them done. We were supposed to do 3 but one of the moves fell through. 

On Thursday I had a pretty rough day. I think I got food poisoning, so I was out the entire day. Friday Hermana Bretón made me go get my blood drawn to see if I had Dengue. Luckily I don’t, but I had to stay inside the whole day Friday to recover. It was unfortunate cause I wish I could have left the house. The plus side to staying inside all day, is that I was in the house with a buddy of mine named Elder Stapelman, who actually has Dengue. The plus side is that we had some fun conversations and got a lot of rest. 

If there is one thing I learned from staying inside for 2 days it's that I love and appreciate missionary work so much more. It really is a blessing to teach about our Savior Jesus Christ to all people we come in contact with. I would like to challenge all of you to share your testimony with someone at least once next week. A testimony is a very powerful thing that can change lives. 

One last thing I wanted to share this week is how amazing the priesthood is. Thursday night I was feeling super sick, so I asked my companion and one of the AP’s to give me a blessing. I truly felt the spirit so strong and know that priesthood power is real. 

Love and miss you all! 

Elder Wilde

Turkey Day!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! This week was a long one again but that's just how it is in the office haha. 

We did A LOT of driving this week. Trips to Nagua, San Francisco de Macoris, Puerto Plata x2, etc. While on the way to Nagua we had to stop and take 2 missionaries to the doctor to get their blood drawn to see if they have dengue. Our mission is in a Dengue crisis, so it would be awesome if you would all pray for the missionaries to be healthy! 

We had a few good lessons early in the week with our friend Oliver. He has a baptismal date for next Saturday, so we are trying to teach him as much as possible. Only problem is we have had 0 time since Tuesday to teach. But we know that we will find the time next week! 

The weather here is super super hot. I just sweat constantly lol. I am excited for the cold, even though it sounds crazy. 

As for spiritual experiences, I just want to share my love for our Savior. Anytime the mission has gotten hard, the very thought of Him has helped me. I love in the sacrament prayer how it says "Always remember Him". Do we always remember Him? I feel that sometimes when life gets hard we look towards the world to help us. For example, if Tony Finau wins the Masters I'll be so happy! If BYU makes March Madness I'll be so happy. Looking for worldly things in hopes of feeling happiness, when in reality we have the choice to remember our Savior always and feel joy anytime because of Him. I love Jesus Christ. I am grateful for Him. 

As the Holiday season comes around I always start to think of my family and how much I miss them. I hope you can all be grateful for family and the time you get to spend with them. It is truly a wonderful gift that God has given us. I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation as well. Families can be together forever. Love you all.

Elder Wilde 

Being a fan of Jesus

This week was a very busy week. But it had some big highlights!  

First off we put our friend Jackson on date. He is the one who speaks English and we met him 2 weeks ago. We have taught him only 2 times due to our calling in the office, but he is great! When I asked him what it meant to be baptized he said "It's like you are showing people you are a fan of Jesus." So we invited him to be a fan of Jesus and to be baptized on December 9th! Pray that he can come to church and be baptized. Also pray that we can find the time to teach him!:) 

A cool little thing that happened this week was transfers. A kid named Drake Terry, who went to my high school, arrived in our mission. When I saw him we just gave each other a big hug and it was awesome. He will be a great missionary. It was perfect timing for me to see him cause our day was so stressful and we were doing so many things but just seeing him was awesome. I love the mission. I love the Lord’s timing as well. 

I also received transfer news this week. I will be staying in the office for another transfer, and to spice things up President made me District Leader again. So that's gonna be fun cause its not like we are already sooo busy....lol. But I know the Lord has a plan and that everything will work out. 

As I learned of President M Russell Ballard’s passing I thought of how amazing the Plan of Salvation is. I am so grateful for a knowledge of the plan and to know that death isn't the end. It is an amazing gift of knowledge that we have as members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

I know Jesus Christ lives. I know that through Him we will all live again. I know that we have a living prophet to guide us in this wicked world. 

I love and miss everyone. I even miss working at the pharmacy lol but I know that this is where I need to be! 

Have a good week everyone! 

Elder Wilde