Wow! What a great week! Well, first thing's first, we just got some HUGE and AWESOME news! Elder David A. Bednar is coming to visit our mission in the end of April!! I am so excited and humbled at this great blessing and opportunity to receive instruction from one of the living prophets here on earth. It is such a blessing to be a missionary!
--This week has been a little bit different...but fun! There was a space transfer, and so we have been in a companionship of three for the past week! Anziano Kendrick, from my MTC group, came to serve with us until the end of the transfer! Like they say "Your first companionship of three is never your last!" ...this is my third! It is always a really great time, but also has it's downsides (like scaring the daylight out of basically everyone we try to stop on the street!) haha. No, not everyone...but we walked around a few corners and really scared a couple people! But it has been a great experience, and we have been seeing some miralces around here!
--One of the other Elders' investigators, Alberto, was baptized this past weekend! What a blessing! It was a great experience, just like every baptism! Alberto is so funny...just picture a big truck driver with a long red beard and glasses, who never stops talking. That's him! He is great, though! We had the opportunity and blessing of bringing Guiliermo to the baptism. He had a wonderful experience! And after it was over...we went to the other room and picked out white clothes for him to use next time! He is so excited about it; it is a true blessing! We did the practice interview with him this past time we met with him...everything went well! His wife has been a big support to him, and they truly want to be a family for eternity!
--Thought: I was recently studying the parable of the two sons, and the first part, about the first son, stood out to me. It reads," 11) And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthyto be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."
I was touched as I thought of the deep and enduring love that that Lord has for each of us. How much we truly mean to him. He loves us, and doesn't care that we make mistakes, sometimes big ones, every single day. He loves us the same. He rejoices when we kneel before him in repentance, and will rejoice with us as we abide with him. How thankful I am for the knowledge and understanding that the Lord has granted me about our Savior's Atonement. I have seen it change lives, just as it has changed mine. I know that He loves us. That He has experienced every sorrow, sadness, and difficulty that we will ever experience. And He rejoices when we stand shoulder to shoulder with Him on our journey back to our Father.
--Miracle: This week we have been experiencing many wonderful miracles in terms of finding, teaching, and preparing investigators for baptism. Guilliermo is progressing really well towards baptism, and we are rejoicing in investigators' (and in one case an 8-year-old's) baptisms from each coppia here in this wonderful city. There are some great things happening in Alessandria. But the miracle I would like to share was one from my personal studies this past week. I was reading from the teachings of Joseph Smith, particularly about the enduring patience and love he always had, and it touched my heart. I thought of his example, and all of the things he went through in his life: Constant persecution, multiple, extended, stays in prisons in unhuman conditions despite his innocence, being literally torn from his family--emotionally and physically--on multiple occasions, and many of his close friends betraying him. I was touched, and the Spirit reminded me of the things that are expected of all of the Savior's true disciples. Of the man that the Lord expects me to be. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had and continue to have to be on the Lord's errand, and for all of the knowledge and understanding that He has been giving me. It is a miracle to be a missionary!
--Everything here is going really well. We have enjoyed a lot of success this past week, especially in lessons with members. I am doing really well and am thankful for the blessings that are coming into the work. We are all very excited to have Elder Bednar with us soon!! I love you all and thank you for the wonderful things that you do, the service you render to others, and for your support and prayers. Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
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