2019-01-21

So drumroll please.....................................

I'm in Rantoul, Illinois! It is two hours south of Chicago and three hours northeast of St. Louis. It is the second farthest area in the mission, the first being Danville which is right next to us, haha. We are in a branch of about 40 people, which I haven't met cause church was cancelled again. Luckily, we went to Danville's services and I was able to partake of the sacrament which I am soooooooo grateful for! I wasn't about to go three weeks without that refreshing ordinance!

More about Rantoul, it is a town of about 13,000 people and declining. The main source of income was an airforce base which was closed in the late 90's. Our apartment is actually on the base, where all the servicemen stayed. Rantoul is thoroughly in the middle of corn and soy country. Lots of farmers out here, lots of land that we cover. To help with that, we have a 2018 Ford Fusion that is actually close to being retired already because of all the miles we put on it, haha. So yeah, everything is different from my last area, haha. It's even colder here!

My companion is Elder Gallegos from Millcreek, Utah. That's just south of Salt Lake City by Sandy. He is 5'7 and very snarky, haha. He's also nerdy which is so fun. I still don't have to keep up with a jock in basketball which is so nice! He's a good man to say the least.

My mailing info:

Letters:

1018 Saint Andrews Circle

Rantoul, Illinois. 61866

Packages:

Same as before, the mission office in St. Louis

[Click here to go to the contact page for more details]

Not much work got done this past week due to a crazy transfer, but that doesn't keep me down. I wanna work hard and help people come unto Christ and happiness!

Love, Elder Wilson

Just a final thought for today

I've been looking at my name tag a lot lately, just contemplating what it is, what it means to me and others. It's such a simple thing, a tag with two names on it. But those two names carry a lot of weight.

First and most importantly is the name "The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints". What a title. The title of Christ's Kingdom once again restored to the Earth and once again being built. The title of the only path back to God. The title of a people who decided to follow Christ no matter what the cost was. The title of peace and happiness and love that cannot be rivaled by any other thing in this world. All the things that this name carries are so wonderful! Preisthood authority to perform miracles and ordinances, eternal marriage and families, revelations and prophets once again sent by God, the Book of Mormon which invites all men and women to do good, and the fullness of the Gospel given to us plainly, to name just a few. What a blessing to have that name on my chest wherever I go!

The second name on the tag is my own. What a great responsibility that is! My name is made public for everybody to see that I am a representative of Christ. I am not ashamed to be known as a follower of Christ, that will never be a shame to me! I love knowing who I follow, and I love letting others know as well. No, the responsibility comes from living up to the standard of a follower of Christ. And with everybody watching, never has the need been greater!

Final observation is that the tag is black and white. Much like truth. Either something is true or something is not. Either something is right or something is wrong. Either The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true or it is not. And that is something every person must find out for themselves.

As for myself, I know that this church is true. I know it. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I KNOW it. I know that He is the only name given under Heaven whereby a man can be saved. I know it. And what's wonderful is that you can know these things yourself.

I'll end with a quote from President Nelson's talk "The Correct Name of the Church" and encourage all of you to read the whole talk. "So, what’s in a name? When it comes to the name of the Lord’s Church, the answer is “Everything!” Jesus Christ directed us to call the Church by His name because it is His Church, filled with His power."

May we all take upon ourselves His wonderful name.

Sincerely, Elder Wilson