June 19, 2013

I just love you so much:) I need to tell you that more, but I do:) Thank you for everything that you have done for me and our family:) But I got my travel plans last friday!! I have to meet at the travel office on campus at 4:30 in the morning, my flight isn't until 8:36 so I'll have time to call you. I'm flying Delta and i'll be flying into the Oakland airport, which I think is weird that I'm not flying into sacramento, but we are flying with a group of 24 missionaries so we'll all be together and it'll be so fun! I am beyond excited, this time next week I'll probably be teaching a family in Espanol!! It's so exciting!!

 

I'm glad that my father's day letter made it in time! did dad wait to open in until sunday like he was supposed to?! I don't think i've ever been more homesick in my entire life than when we all watched music and the spoken word's father's day special. It was so hard to sit there and watch all these little kids talk about their dads and seeing these dads with their little girls. If I didn't have companions I probably would have left. It was like watching that missionary documentary between conference sessions this past april. My heart literally couldn't take it, but I sucked it up and I'm glad I stayed because it was a really good program. But don't worry about me! I love you guys and I miss you but not to the point where I can't focus on anything else or where I cry myself to sleep every night. The Lord has definitely blessed me because I am completely at peace with this decision to serve a mission and he is blessing me with the lack of homesick-ness;)

 

But anyways...I absolutely love to get your dear elders and hear what's going on at home! It's the most exciting thing! How is rachel's class going? That's so exciting that Ty is going to Arizona! Scottsdale is where I send my rent checks for pineview and that's absolutely fitting for Whitney to go to taiwan, doesn't she speak Mandrin already? I can't believe that Aaron got an X shaved into the back of his head! I thought that was so funny!! Did he like it before you mentioned church? I'm just shocked that you actually let him do that;) I'm glad to hear that Jerold got better fast, it would be so hard for both Jerold and Kathy to be down and not be able to help one another. I loved that thought about the founding fathers. Those men were the strongest men to do all that they did. There's no way God didn't have a hand in the setting up of this country.

 

We sing As Sisters in Zion every sunday in Relief Society but Janice Kapp Perry changed the lyrics in response to the massive amount of sisters serving missions, here are the Lyrics:

 

The sisters of Zion are called to God's labor

We willingly serve him with Spirit and might

We go to the nations with truth everlasting

We teach of the Savior our Lord Jesus Christ

 

We thank thee oh God for a prophet to guide us

We trust in his words and our purpose is clear

The angels of heaven are walking beside us

We'll share our glad message with all who will hear

 

We go forth enlisted with Helaman's Army

In numbers much greater than ever before

With power and spirit we'll faithfully witness

The heavens have spoken and truth is restored

 

I can't ever get through that song. By the middle of the last verse I'm in tears. It's the coolest thing ever though. We go forth enlisted with Helaman's Army with numbers much greater than ever before. It's the truth! there are so many sisters here. We will make a difference in the world and it's the most amazing thing to think about! For my whole life I've been told that I'm a part of the group that's been saved for the last days because we were among the strongest of god's children. I never really understood that. I mean yeah life was hard, but it wasn't significantly hard. It didn't hit me until Sunday that God saved this part of his children to go and preach the gospel in the last days of the gathering of the House of Israel. He knew that the age change would happen, he knew how many would respond to his call. He knew to send us here for that purpose. And I am so grateful to be able to know that this is exactly where I need to be. The Lord knows who I need to teach in California, it was by no accident that I was called there. I can't wait to meet the people there! I also had a thought in the temple last wednesday. My mission is not only going to help my investigators on the earth now, but also the ones who are not yet here. My mission is teaching me important priciples and teaching skills to be able to raise my children properly and to teach them the gospel the way I teach my investigators.

 

This past sunday, we were able to watch the testiments movie, the one that kevin and his kids are in because it was filmed in hawaii. But anyway, I was thinking about Kohor and the non believers. I could definitely see their side. It is hard to believe that a man was going to come to the world to save it from its sins and I wondered why it was that I believed this? And as I was thinking about that I watched as Christ suffered beyond all that any physical being could suffer and as they nailed him to the cross, and when he returned to the America's and called Helam by name, It found my answer. It's because it's true. This gospel, the book of mormon, everything the prophet says, it's all true. I've felt the stirring in my heart, I've seen the power of priesthood bless my life, I've heard the still and small voice of the Spirit in times when I need guidance. No, I haven't seen the Lord. No, I didn't meet Joseph Smith. Yes, at times it can be hard to follow in faith, but because of the small and simple testimonies of Christ that I've felt I know the gospel is true. I know I am doing the right thing. I know that if I serve this mission with all my heart might mind and strength the Lord will bless me throughout my life and I will be welcomed at the gates of heaven.

 

Here is what I've been studying about in my personal study. I've been studying the different missionaries in the book of mormon so I can encorporate what they did into what I do. Ammon is one of the best examples. in chapter 17 of Alma: vs 2-3 alma and the sons of mosiah searched the scriptures diligently and they prayed and fasted that they might be able to teach with the power and authority of God. Without showing God that you are willing to work for revelation he will be reluctant to send you any. vs 9 I was set apart to have a portion of His Spirit to be with me (also Alma 18:25) vs 11 it is so important for me to be an example and remember who I represent at all times and in all things and in all places. I wear the name of Christ, I am and example to the world, I have "the power to astonish the world" (Elder Holland) vs 13 along with vs 11 I must understand the seriousness of this calling vs 23 I'm going to dwell with the people vs 25 I'm going to be their servant. Chapter 18 cs 16 It's so important to teach with the spirit. If there is one lesson I don't teach with the spirit, there's one life that goes unchanged. It's not fair to my investigators vs 22 I must be wise and ask questions that are inspired of the spirit and would not be offensive vs 36 the doctrine is the same no matter where we go or what time period it is being taught in. Chapter 19 vs 6 is what the gospel does to an investigator's mind and vs 36 is the promise the Lord has to his children.

 

Also Christ is the best missionary. In 3 Nephi 11, vs 3-6 it took three times for the people to understand the spirit, I may have to keep trying with my investigators, keep helping them. vs 8 sometimes they may not understand, it might be hard for them to recognize that what we're teaching is true v 10-11 Christ testifies of himself, we must testify of Him too vs 12 the people then remembered, our investigators knew of this plan and this gospel before they were born, I must help them to remember that which they knew of before. vs 14 Christ invites all to come unto him, we invite all to come unto him. vs 15 they people then went forth, it's my investigator's choice to accept the gospel, no one can force them. vs 16-17 they witnessed for themselves, when my investigator's witness for themselves, they will be so happy! vs 21-41 Christ teaches his doctrine specifically baptism, look at how many time baptism is mention in these 20 verses, circle them. I must teach the doctrine of Christ too, specifically baptism.

 

I love you so much! thank you for supporting me in my decision to serve the Lord! Tell the family that I love them:)

 

Con Amor,

Hermana Wilcox

June 12, 2013

I am so sorry to hear about Jerold! How is he doing now? is he out of the hospital? that was the sweetest thing about dad and Jerold. I tear up every time I read/think about it. He has been in my prayers.

 

This week has been the best week I've had at the MTC so far. I went to the health center and the doctor told me that I could take benedryll at nights along with my regular allergy medicine so I went and bought some in the bookstore and for the first time in my MTC experience I was able to sleep the whole night! It was fabulous. So I figured out the scriptures that my branch president gave me. Jacob 4:14, 3 Nephi 12:48, 3 Nephi 15:9. So I found out something that works for me. I noticed that some days I was feeling discouraged and super frustrated for no reason. I thought, throughout the day, nothing really happened that would make me feel that way. For the first time in my life I realized that we can choose to have a good day. I know I've been told that my whole life but I never thought that it would actually apply to my life until now. It's such a wonderful feeling to know that you have control over what you feel. I don't wake up dreading the day, I wake up excited! It's such a good feeling.

 

Also another thing I discovered. I am on the Lord's time. just like with the positive attitude thing, It never really clicked until about three days ago. This is the only time I have to dedicate all of my heart, might, mind, and strength to him. So what if I don't like that I can't wear spandex capris while I work out? So what if I don't like how I have to stay inside for hours on end and study? So what if the food here sometimes makes me sick? I can sacrifice 18 months of my 80, maybe 90 years of my life to the Lord because he gave me everything I have, and I will serve him with everything I have.

 

Also every day I try to think of three ways the lord has blessed me, either in that day or in my life. Last night I thought of what a blessing it is to be able to have faith. There's an elder in my district who struggles with the idea of a God. He is just so logically minded and the gospel just doesn't make sense to him. And it's so sad because the spirit stuggles to be in the room when he and his companion teach because he just has so many doubts. But I was thinking about it last night. I am so blessed to be able to believe in what I don't know or haven't seen. I haven't seen God and Jesus Christ, but I have faith that they exist and no, I don't understand completely what happened before my life here or how things will work after we all die, or even why some things happen on this earth but the Lord has blessed me with faith to follow the commandments of God and follow the teachings of the prophet not knowing completely why, but being able to know that it will bless my life. I am so greatful for faith. (JST Genesis 14:30-31 is a cool scripture I found on faith)

 

We read through the chapter of Omni one night in spanish with my native spanish speaker friend Elder Ronco and he had some cool insight on the chapter. Like in verse 5 when Amaron said "the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed" does he mean destroyed as in they were all killed, or destroyed as in the wickedness was destroyed and they were baptized? Baptism is a symbol of death. I Just thought that was cool to think about. Also in verse 11 when Abinadom said "I know of no revelation save that which has been writted, neither prophecy" I just thought that it was cool to think about because Abinadom probably wasn't a prophet if he hadn't had a revelation or prophecy, he was a normal man. It just shows that the book of mormon wasn't written by perfect people and you don't have to be perfect to be important in the sight of God. I think my investigators would like to know that.  

 

I've also been reading in 3 Nephi when Christ comes. In 3 Nephi 13:25-26, read it please! but I just love it because my mission call came straight from the Lord. He knows my needs and he knows the needs of the people that are in Santa Rosa. And I am like the fowls of the air, I don't have time to sow nor time to reap, but the Lord takes care of me, just like he takes care of the birds.

 

I don't really know what I would want in a care package. I still have a lot of food left so maybe not food in a care package. And I'm so excited for the food that sister bristol sent me! I'm going to write her a letter today but if you see her make sure you tell her thank you from me because everything looks so wonderful! But I could use more of that aloe toothpaste in about two weeks, I'm about 3/4 through the other one. um, I really don't know. If someone wants to get me a skirt or a shirt i'd be ok with that;) haha! no just kidding, I love letters. Letters are always good. Oh! I do wan't true to the faith, our search for happiness and that other book that I can't remember the name that is an approved mission library book. But I already have jesus the christ so I don't want to buy it at the bookstore here. I also would like a pair of capris for p-days in California because it's kind of warm there and my long pants might be a little too hot. I have a pair in those bags in the closet, but it's kind of a hassle to get those, so I could just buy a pair when I get to Cali. Also do I just send those scholarship papers to the scholarship place or back to you? And could you get me Hawken's address? I want to write him in spanish because it would be great practice I think!

 

I'm so sorry that this past week has been so hard on you. I'm glad school is over for you and you can "relax" a little. I can't believe it's already June and that you guys are out of school! I bet it feels so great! I've almost been here a moth, can you believe it?! I'm only out here for another 17 months! It's going to go by so fast! I'm glad you were able to get my testimony translated by someone more trustworthy that google translate;) I try to bear my testimony in spanish as often as I can so I can practice my spanish and bear my testimony, I get to kill two birds with one stone in a way;) There are 19 of us girls who are headed to the Spanish speaking Santa Rosa mission on the same day and when we get there, there will be over 50 spanish speaking sisters. That's only sisters who are speaking spanish, my mission is huge!! Whereas Hermana Piggott's Roseville Spanish speaking mission barely opened there spanish mission like in January and so far there are only 2 spanish speaking sisters there. We've only met one other sister here who is going to roseville speaking spanish, so when she gets there, there will be 4 sisters. I am so greatful to be going where I am.

 

Yesterday we were able to skype with a girl from Malaga Spain. It was cool to talk to a native speaker. I understood a lot of what she was saying, but it was hard because she's from spain so she uses the vosotros form and a lot of the conjugations that I am not used to hearing. But it was cool! speaking of which, will you tell Jan or John Taylor to tell Adam that I think he's mission president and his wife came this past sunday. President Clegg and Sister Anne Clegg. Sister Clegg spoke to us in relief society and she was amazing! OH! before I forget, I am in the choir for the worldwide missionary training broadcast on the 23rd so go watch and hopefully you can see me on the screen!! there will be a choir of over 2200 though, so just pray you'll be able to see me!! I'm sorry I don't have any good pictures. I don't really do anything exciting, all I do is study. And I try to only send pictures with me in it because I know that's all you really care to see;) haha! I'm kidding but serious at the same time.

 

Well, my time is almost up. I'm trying to follow the rules as much as I can! but I love you! and tell the family I love them!

 

Con Amor,

Hermana Wilcox

June 5, 2013

Half way mark until I leave spirit prison!!!! I'm sort of excited:)

 

But hola mi mama! Espero tu estas bien:) I got your package, thank you for the banana bread and my shirts, I loved the pictures and josh's emails, I've been showing everyone I know because I love them so much! but my sweater used to be in my white laundry basket before I left, so I don't know where it would've been, but actually, you can just send it to me this winter, I don't need it now:)

 

So I've been getting allergies super bad and I don't sleep at night because I can't breathe and I wake up feeling awful and I sound like a man. Those allergy pills work, but they just don't last 24 hours. I'm going to go to the health clinic today to see if I can take one morning and evening. Because not being able to sleep and then having to study and focus and work as hard as we do is not fun especially mixed with my perfectionism and determination to do everything and do it right. This week has been awful. I fall asleep in class and I'm just dead all day. I feel like a zombie. Yesterday I just broke down. I guess Elder Stoor, our district leader, noticed and told the Branch President because last night he took me out of class and interviewed me. So I told him about not being able to sleep and then how I get frustrated when I don't meet my list of expectations for myself and he gave me some interesting advice. Well my first assignments are to go to the health clinic and schedule an appointment, second, find some time to fit in a 2-3 hour nap (which is going to be so hard to do because I literally have no time, but he said that I should skip class because it's that important) and then he helped me understand my perfectionist problems a little more. First we talked a little about the difference between being stubborn and steadfast. Stubborn has more to do with pride and when you're stubborn you're looking at yourself, whereas steadfast is looking at the savior. So when you're a perfectionist you're looking at yourself whereas if you're perfect, or trying to be perfect, you're looking at the Savoir. So he told me to every night lay all my burdens and my list of expectations at the feet of the Lord and then the next morning, just ask what is one thing the Lord wants me to do that day and do it. He knows I'll never be able to speak perfect spanish in 6 weeks and I won't be able to teach perfectly ever now I just need to let that go and accept that and with the Lord's help I can be an instrument in his hands.

 

But anyways, this week I've been studying the fall and the reason God gave adam and eve two conflicting commandments. I took the question to the temple and then after I read a bunch of talks and scriptures and I think I figured out the answer. So God gave Adam and Eve the commandments in a certain order, in order of most importance. First to multiply and replenish the Earth and second, not to partake of the fruit. The Lord wanted to place them in a situation where they would have to use their agency and choose what they wanted to do. It was important for them to fall to start the plan of salvation, but God could not force them to do it, they had to choose for themselves. I forgot my study journal in the classroom, so I don't have the scripture references with me, I'll try and send those next week as well as some quotes I found, but It makes sense to me now. The plan had to start somehow, but it couldn't without the fall, but the fall couldn't happen unless Adam and Eve chose it, and Adam and Eve couldn't choose it if they had no agency. But I thought it was interesting.

 

We have two investigators that we're working with. Mario (Hermano Day) has a wife and three kids but is super skeptical of our church because he has been to a lot of churches and hates how hypocritical and prideful they are. He said he'd come to church with us on sunday and I think he's starting to feel the truth through the spirit. Pablo (Hermano Evans) on the other hand has accepted our invitation to be baptized and we have set his date to the 16 of June. (Our investigators are just our teachers pretending to be one of their investigators from their missions). It's really helpful to teach like this, because It's like what we're going to be doing in the field. Except we'll have a senior companion that really does speak spanish and it'll be a lot easier to teach with them because if I need help, she can help me. Spanish is still coming, I still sound like a Gringa though. The native speakers help us with our pronunciation. Was Reggie spanish or english? Because we got tight with a native elder going to Lubbock and I told him to look for an Elder Reggie Walbeck.

 

Just so you know that I really am learning spanish here is my testimony in español.

 

Yo sé que Jesucristo y la Expiación puede ayduarme en mi vida con mis pecados, afliciónes, dolor y pesar. Yo sé que  Jose Smith fue un profta verdadero de Dios y que tradujó el Libro de Mormón por medio del poder de Dios. Yo testifico que  la iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ulitmos Días es verdadera y este Evangelio ha cambiado mi vida por la mejor. Amo a Dios y Jesucristo y predicaré su palabra toda mi vida. No terminaré hasta Dios decide tomarme de este mundo. Este es mi gozo. En el nombre de el Hijo de Dios, mi salvador y redentor, Jesucristo, Amen.

 

Just google translate it or something;)

 

But I love you so much! I got dad's two letters and arron's letter, I'll be writing them back today because it's P-DAY!! best day of the week:) it's seriously like a holiday around here. But I'll talk to you next week! Love you:)

 

Con Amor,

Hermana Wilcox

 

May 29, 2013

We didn't get mail for three days and I thought I was going to die! saturday and sunday we don't get mail, even dear elders, and then monday was a holiday, so we were all dying to get mail. It's nice practice for the field when I won't get mail everyday. But I'm so proud of you for picking up the baby!! I'm glad to know that she has a friend now that I'm gone!! I can die peacefully now;) I'm sorry about aaron's birthday, but if I got a nano I'd be happy;) in fact if you can find one on ksl for pretty cheap like on ksl, I would love one for either my birthday or christmas. I'm not allowed to listed to music at the MTC, and basically any other happiness is banned too. But I need to figure out what President Alba's rules are against music. Yeah, we never did spring ball, that's interesting that they're doing that this year. I bet they're stressed, end of the year testing was always hard for me too. It's a stressful time. I bet it was fun to see everyone! When I get home, let's go visit them please!! I saw Julian again yesterday. We talked a little in spanish, but it was hard, I could understand everything he was saying, but I couldn't respond back in spanish because my mind doesn't think that fast, but it was cool, I can't wait to see them all again and speak to them in spanish, it'll be so cool!! We're super good friends with some of the native speakers on our floor, they come over and help us with our spanish, I made friends with an elder from colombia he was kind of hard to understand though, he spoke super fast. I have the first vision, my purpose as a missionary and the invite to be baptized memorized all in spanish. It's pretty cool.

I will always respond to dad's letters. It just might not be as fast as the last time. Basically here is my schedule...wake up at 6:00, study at 7:00, breakfast at 8:30, gym at 9:10, class at 10:30, lunch at 1:30, class at 2:15, language study at 5:15, dinner at 6:30, TALL at 7:15, study at 8:15, planning at 9:00, go home at 9:30, bed at 10:30. and then repeat, with minimal changes. It's super monotonous and sometimes I don't know if I'll make it. But I always do. I'm already super sick of the food so I've ended up eating a vegetable wrap every lunch and a salad for dinner. Every morning I have an asiago cheese bagel with cream cheese, that's the best though. And we can't eat in the classroom or even the building we have class in so I can't eat the food you sent me. I'd eat it for lunch and dinner, but I forget to pack because every morning I'm rushing to be on time to personal study because they literally give us no time to get ready. some days I wake up at like 5:30 to be on time.

This week has been the hardest week, probably of my life. There are days where I seriously consider coming home. It's all I can do to not break down and cry. I've been praying so hard to have the Lord help me through this. I don't even know what it is that is so hard! I think it's mostly that I get frustrated when I can't express myself in spanish during a lesson and I expect so much more out of myself and I am such a perfectionist and when I can't get it, it makes me mad. So I've been praying and the lord gave me his answer during one of the devotionals we had on sunday. Stephen B Allen came to speak to us and he got up and told us that he had a lesson prepared but the spirit told him that that wasn't what he was supposed to talk about. So he got up there and everything he said was through the spirit. He talked about how hard the MTC is and just how hard life in general was. He told us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not unto our own understanding and the Lord will guide us. And that it's during the hard times when the veil gets the thinnest, when we can draw closer to God. Then he applied the song Come Come ye saints to a mission. That was exactly what I needed. "Come come ye saints, no toil nor labor fear, but with Joy wend your way, though hard to you this journey may appear, grace shall be as your day...And soon we'll have this tale to tell, all is well, all is well." I cannot fear the toil or the labor, and even though this journey appears so hard right now, I have the grace of god and his infinite atonement on my side. And soon I'll have this tale to tell, all was well, all was well. It blew my mind, the lord works in mysterious ways.

During personal study I was reading Nephi's vision in chapter 13. That was so cool!! It's about the great apostacy and how Columbus found the Americas and the revolutionary war, it talks about the bible and the coming forth of the book of mormon. Read it when you get a chance. Also I was reading in Alma 5:38. It's all about baptism. The shepard will call us by the name of christ at the last days and those who will not hearken are not of his sheep. I was thinking about reasons why people wouldn't hearken to the call. A reason I came up with is that when someone calls you by a name that's not yours you're not going to respond right? so when we get baptized, we take the name of christ upon us, those who are not baptized, do not take is name. So when He calls us, by the name of christ, only those who were baptized will respond. Which makes sense because no one can enter the kingdom of heaven without being baptized. That's my job, to bring people to christ so they can hear the call and be part of the fold.

  

Con Amor,

Hermana Wilcox

MAY 22, 2013

Wow, I can't believe it has already been here a week. My district and I have decided that in order for us to learn spanish and the gospel within 6 weeks, the Lord slows down time, we all feel like we've been here for years!! the days definitely go by like weeks and the weeks go by like days. Can't wait to see what months feel like. Well anyway, I absolutely love my district! I room with my companions and two other hermanas from my district. All four of the elders are going to Tampico Mexico. Elder Stoor, Elder Anderson, Elder Tipton and Elder Miller. Elder Tipton looks and acts just like Kevin, it's pretty crazy!! But Elder Miller went to Lehi high and knows courtney, so I thought that was pretty cool. Turns out that Joshua was in the same zone as I am in! and was the previous zone leader right before I came in! so they all know joshua.

Getting ready is kind of a joke around here. They only schedule a half an hour to get ready in the morning, so I've just been waking up early like at 5:50 to get ready, which isn't against the rules. I've been trying so hard to be obedient and follow the rules but there are so many here! I can't possibly remember them all! Which reminds me, I got your care package. Thank you so much fo all the food!! We'll definitely enjoy it:) but I actually can't chew gum. They told us not to the very first day. Which is probably one of the hardest rules for me to follow because a day doesn't go by that I'm not chewing gum. So I'll have to mail them back to you when I get to california because I can't send packages from here. But thank you for thinking of me!

I've seen Callie, Jordan Ayre, Jordan Uritia and Eric Proctor from football, Blake Laker is in my classroom building, I have a picture with Bryton Davis (but I forgot my camera cord so I'll send pictures next week.) And I see Dustin Hicken everywhere! It's so good to see people I know! I love it, it's almost like being at home. Almost;)

Spanish has been pretty easy for me. But when I say easy it is relative. Everything I've learned in the past is slowly coming back to me and not just coming back, but making sense. Like why we use ser versus estar and with the indirect pronouns and when you use them. It's been nice, but also still very difficult because I still can't speak very well. I can write just fine. They had us praying and bearing our testimonies in spanish the thursday after I got here. They don't waste a second!

They had us teaching an investigator in spanish that friday after we got here. It was probably one of the most stressful things I've ever done. The MTC is one massive roller coaster. Each day has it's ups and downs and then the week itself has its high points and low points. All of my low points happened after we taught Armando. Its so frustrating to want to say so much and not be able to say anything because I don't know spanish. I've gotten so discouraged and it's times like those that I just want to go home because it's so difficult and I hate it so much. But the first 3 lessons we had written out what we wanted to say and basically read it to him because we couldn't say anything by ourselves. but this last lesson yesterday se decided to just study words and go in without notes and just rely on the spirit to tell us what to say. It was our best lesson. It was amazing to see how the spirit gives you words to explain. The gift of tongues is definitely real.

I feel so blessed to be in a district that's as good as mine. The branch president even commented on how usually newer districts have a lot of problems getting along and we have none. We all get along so well and for the most part we focus a lot. But we all have so much fun together and get along just great. It's such a blessing I can't even tell you. They are the reason I make it through the day. We spend literally like 8-10 hours studying spanish/the gospel all together in the same class. we're only in the room for maybe a complete hour and half.

We get an hour to email now. It's so great! but I feel like there's nothing more to say because all I do is study spanish in class. But I do want you to read Alma chapters 34 and 42. That's what we taught armando yesterday. Those chapters are so amazing. Yesterday we got Armando to pray and while he was praying I felt the spirit so strong, even though he was just pretending to be an investigator. I got a glimpse of my purpose as a missionary. To invite others to come unto christ. It was exactly what I needed to make it through the day.

I only have a few minutes, so I'll end now. But I love you and the family! Tell Aaron and Rachel to write me and that they're bums for not writing me yet! haha! well until next week, or whenever I remember something that I'd like you to send me and I write you;)

Con Amor, su hija amoroso

Hermana Wilcox

The Workings of Satan Will Never Outmatch Our Savior

Have you ever had the feeling that nothing is worthwhile, that your life is pointless and you have no where to go? I am here to tell you that Satan is very much alive and that he will do everything he can to get you to stray.

About a week ago I was struggling a lot with the idea of leaving on a mission. I kept thinking, "how on earth can I teach people the gospel? I don't even know it" and "I can't leave my family" and "I'm not spiritually strong enough to serve a mission". It took me all week to figure out that it was Satan trying to get me to refuse my call. He knows not only what I can do for the people in Santa Rosa, but also how this mission will change me into the person God wants me to be and how I will influence generations to come for good. Satan does not want this to happen.

He thought he had me. For a while I was straying off the path and I did not want to come back. Little by little he left me, until I was utterly alone. I didn't know where to turn, what to do, how to change. I found hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Christ will never leave us alone. In the story of the man walking with the Savior on a shore, he looks behind him and could see his set of footprints alongside the Savoir's. But there were places where there were only one set of foot prints. He recognized those places as the hard times in his life, he asked the lord, "Lord, why did you leave me then? Those were the times I needed you most!" The Savior looked at him and gently said, "Oh my son, it was then that I carried you."

If we rely on Christ he will carry us through the storms, our trials and tribulations. The atonement is there for our use. If you feel like you have no where to turn, turn to the Savior. He is always there. I just need to make it til May 15th. May the Lord guide me through the temptations of the Devil and may I always remember to doubt not my first impression to serve a mission and fear not, that everything will work out in the end. Amen.

The Announcement That Altered History