One More Week

What's up everyone! 

I've only got one more week in Gilbert and it's kinda sad honestly. When I first got here in June I was ready to go to Mexico and couldn't wait. Don't get me wrong, I'm still pumped for Villahermosa but it is gonna be sad to leave here. I've learned a lot of things and have met a lot of great people! Especially the area I am in right now, there has been a lot of people who have become great friends. 

This last week was kind of weird. My companion Elder Barlow got transferred to Highland and I am in a trio with the Elders I live with until I leave. It was sad when he got transferred because we really got along! We now cover 2 areas so there is not ever free time which is good! 

There's not much in the area going on other than the few people we are teaching! I also finished the Book of Mormon again this week. I sat down and grinded through the last 100 pages so I can finish it in English again and switch over to Spanish. I am sending all of my English stuff home because I really wanna get my Spanish down! 

But as I finished the Book of Mormon again, I still have a strong testimony that it is true. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. I love this Gospel. The Book of Mormon has the power to change your life and I PROMISE that. When you have doubts, struggles, or anything else, read the Book of Mormon. 

Love you all, 

Elder Wilde

Quick Trip

What's up my dudes! 

Another solid week in Gilbert and Salt Lake... I'll explain that in a second. 

So this week we had a lot of solid visits with members and non members. There's a family we are trying to pick up to teach and they LOVE Elder Barlow and I. We went there like 3 days in a row and they talked to us for at least 45 minutes each time. They are super active in their church so right now we are just building a good friendship. I was able to go over and hit in their batting cage and man did it feel good! 

The other visits were amazing as well. What we did to get in the door was take bread to them. Elder Barlow makes some killer bread so he made like 12 loaves and we took it around. Even if people don't wanna hear a message, they can't turn down a fresh loaf of bread. I really think the area is gonna have a lot of work in the next few weeks. 

Now for the fun stuff. I went to Salt Lake today to see the Mexican Consulate because I'm supposed to go back to Villahermosa! If everything goes according to plan, I'll be back on the 23rd. I flew out this morning at 7:00am and I am writing this email on my flight back. I was able to spend the day with some of the Elders that I was in Villahermosa and the MTC with! Funnest p-day I've had in a while! We finished our appointment at the consulate early and had about 4 hours to kill so we went over to the mall, temple square, and Vivint Smart Home Arena. Seriously so fun! 

This week my focus spiritually was conversion. I got an email from my mission president in Villahermosa this last week and in it he asked me some questions. One was him asking what I want to accomplish in my last 6 months of the mission. I obviously wrote that I want to perfect my Spanish but I also said I want to stay converted to the Gospel and continue in my personal conversion. I then shared my testimony in church on Sunday and talked about the same thing. The church is so freaking true. Take some time this week to see how your conversion is and if it isn't what you'd want it to be, I invite you to work on it. 

Love you all! 

Elder Wilde 

Bull Whippin'

Hello my friends!

First week of this transfer was pretty chill and we had lots of cool stuff happen! We had 5 non members at church, set up a "lesson" with a family, and learned how to do a bull whip. Not too bad if you ask me. 

So real quick, last week I didn't talk too much about my companion because I wasn't with him yet. His name is Elder Barlow, he is from Huntington Beach California, and is originally assigned to Tahiti. He's a homie I really like him. 

So the nonmembers we had at church came because a member gave a talk and had invited them! Members are the key! Elder Barlow also spoke and it was awesome to feel the spirit work through them. There's a mom and daughter that came and we think they have a lot of potential. I'm praying that we can teach them! 

So the "lesson" I referred to wasn’t an actual lesson. This family is so freaking dope. They are legit the nicest people ever. I told them I would get them Crumbl cookies, using the gift card I got, so I did it. We then talked for like 20 minutes about sports and TikTok haha. The daughter is on the US national team for softball so I am gonna go back and hit off her... if I can hit it. I'm hoping to go back and do that this week! The point is you have to get to know people and as you do this the spirit will let you know when the time is right to teach an official lesson. 

Not anything else to add, love you all! 

Elder Wilde

I Hate Goodbyes

What's up dudes! 

Today we have transfers and I am staying in the area but getting a new companion. His name is Elder Barlow. I don't know anything about him because I'm not with him but next week I'll update y'all! Transfers are the worst because all of the homies in the district get moved! I loved this district a lot! I'm hoping this is my last transfer before I go to Mexico! 

Saturday we had a foot rodeo. The Maplewood ward organized that and it was so fun! I'd say half of the people there weren't members so we had lots of good opportunities. Elder Beckman and I did the egg toss and took second. Should've been first but its whatever, we still got Crumbl Cookie gift cards! We are gonna use those to buy cookies for people we wanna teach... we will do anything to get us in the door. 

The rest of the week we had normal days. I had lots of good study time. I have been reading in the war chapters. Usually I just skim through them but I have actually learned a lot this time. I talked with our ward mission leader Brother Riggs and he gave some good insights on them. He was a mission president so he knows what's up. He said he relates the war chapters to us dealing with the adversary. The only way the Lamanites could enter the city was through the front gates because the walls were so strong. That means we need to build up our towers and walls to our cities. When we do that we force Satan to come through the front gate and that is where we have our strongest soldiers. When we are strong, Satan has zero power over us. So that's my little thought for the week.

Love you all!

Elder Wilde 

Chick-Fil-A

Sup homies. 

It was a speedy week here not gonna lie. I had lots of awesome experiences this week so I'll go ahead and tell y'all. 

So earlier this week we went to Chick-fil-a and talked with our friend Jenna. She takes our orders every time we go and for the last couple months we have developed a good friendship. Well on Monday I invited her to church and then Friday she said she would come, so I asked if I could give a talk. I asked her what question she has for me to speak on and she said "why are people idiots." So I answered that for her and she didn't even come to church. We went today and I showed her the talk and then we gave her a Book of Mormon and it was so cool! 

We also had a mission tour this week from Wednesday to Friday and that was also amazing! Elder Carl B. Cook and Elder Brook P. Hales from the 70 joined us via zoom. I learned so much it was the best! I would write everything I learned but I don't have time for that, so I will include a couple things. 

The first thing I learned was "but if not". That is referring to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the Old Testament when they got thrown into the furnace. They say something like "the Lord will save us... but if not..." we talked about how that is a HUGE act of faith and we all need to be like that! Go read Daniel 3 when you have the chance! 

The other cool thing happened yesterday at our Stake Missionary Training. A member of the stake presidency talked to the ward members and said we need to have a burning desire to share the gospel and it was super cool to think about that. He also mentioned how we need to pray for missionary opportunities every day and they will come. With that being said, I invite all of you to pray for missionary opportunities and then act on them! I promise they will come! 

Love you all! 

Elder Wilde

Free Goodies

What's good everyone! 

This week went by super quick! Today we got hooked up with some stuff. We went to Walmart and a guy gave us a 50 dollar gift card, then we went to chick fil a and got that for free, and after that we had a member give us a free party box from crumbl… gotta love being in Gilbert! Only bad thing about this is I'm gonna get fat haha good thing I bike a lot! 

So this week was interesting as far as the work. We had a cool lesson with Nate and we taught him the first lesson. This kid is soooooo sick! He is gonna get baptized at some point, we don't know when though. We don't wanna rush him and make him think that's all we care about. We are meeting with him again this week and I am so excited because I love him. 

We picked up a kid to teach and man is this a fun story. So Friday we met this kid at a park and homie was SO golden and loved the Book of Mormon and promised to read it. Well we meet with him again on Saturday and he came with a list of questions. I thought this was awesome because I told him to come with questions. Well this dude pulls up with a list full of Bible verses trying to prove us wrong 😂. He definitely talked to his parents or pastor but it was so funny. I still don't understand why people think we worship a different God and why they think the Book of Mormon is of the devil. Moments like this are where I thrive and just share my testimony. 

For my studies this week I focused on personal revelation. Our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Riggs asked how we receive personal revelation. We all receive it in a different way and we need to find out which way we receive it. I know for me, I receive it through my thoughts and not these huge overwhelming feelings. I invite all of you to find out how you receive personal revelation! 

Love you all! 

Elder Wilde 

Tiger Woods

What's up everyone! This week was actually pretty good! We found a person to teach and had some fun! 

Today for p day we went to top golf and I lowkey was killing it. I was hitting the back net a lot soooooo I think I'm ready to play a round of golf with my little brother Tate and show him who the best golfer in the family is! It is always fun to do district activities and top golf is like pretty much the only thing that is approved in this mission! 

Ask far as teaching, we found someone! His name is Nate and he is awesome! He is the best friend of the Bishops son and I really like him. We met him Wednesday and then taught a tiny lesson about the restoration on Friday. After I talked about the First Vision he said how cool it was and he looked super interested. After talking with him I think he is going to be a future missionary. Pretty bold statement but that shows how special he is. 

We are still working on different ways to find other people. We have been told we need to do 1.5-2 hours of Facebook finding everyday and honestly I'm not excited about it but I will learn to love it I guess. 

I had a pretty good week of studies this week. I read all of Mosiah but I was really impressed with the people of Alma. I love how much they cry out to the Lord in prayer and how he ALWAYS answers. But, He answers when we have faith and patience in him. It is definitely something I need to work on and I would encourage all of you to try! 

Love you all! 

Elder Wilde