2019-12-24

Hello everybody!

I am now in the Centralia Ward in Illinois. It is a smaller ward, less than a hundred active members, but still bigger than a branch! What's funny is that I don't actually live in Centralia, I live in Salem, IL, which is 20 miles away. My address is 1841 N. Broadway, Apt. B, Salem, IL 62881, and that is good for letters but please send packages to the mission office instead of my address. Don't worry though, no witches where I live! Our ward boundaries are HUGE! It covers 165 square miles according to the members, so we have a lot of ground to cover. Luckily we have a car in this area so life is good! I'm driving a 2019 Toyota RAV-4 Hybrid. No goofing off for me, the hybrid doesn't have a powerful enough engine, haha! The Lord works in mysterious ways to help us keep His commandments, one is to give elders a fool-proof car.

My new companion is Elder Sommers, from Cedar City, Utah. He is 5'4" and super sweet. He is big into nerdy things but he stays focused on the mission which is wonderful. He likes theater a lot and it shows by the way he talks, haha! I love him to bits, he has a pure heart.

We had a baptism on Saturday, a young man named Nick. I don't know him too well since we met for the first time on Friday and he was baptized on Saturday, but I do know he has a good sense of humor! I expect many more baptisms to follow because we are teaching quite a few couples so life is good!

One of the pictures below shows me with a senior missionary couple. These are the Lisonbees, they work in the mission office and they go home this transfer. I wanted to take some time to recognize them because we have been best buds since the very beginning of my mission. Elder Lisonbee actually grew up in Mesa, and so we clicked well on that and Sister Lisonbee has such a caring heart. I have gotten along with them so well and have learned a lot from them and am sad to see them go! I'll look forward to meeting up with them again in the future!

We had zone conference yesterday. Our mission president put together a presentation on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and it was super powerful! All of us there felt the Spirit so strong and there is not a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ is real for me. I got to reflecting during the presentation, how I have gotten to know the Savior so personally while serving my mission. I have prayed often and have read the scriptures and have worked hard, and many more things I have done so that He can be not just a part of my life but a big focus for me. He has been there for me in my high points and in my low points, He has celebrated joyous occasions with me and helped me up during the rough patches. I love Him so much, He is my hero and my savior, and He is the bestest big brother I could ask for. He means so much to me and I am so grateful for this mission that I am able to serve, that has opened up my eyes and my heart to how crucial He is to my life. He lives!

Love you all, Elder Wilson