CANADA Week 39-April 24, 2018

This little stud Gambo... He wants to be a missionary.

Salut friends and fam!

Yes Mudda I have a little bit more time today . . . haha sorry about last week.

These last 2 weeks in Sherbrooke have been awesome. First off it was like 20 degrees today and literally I think it was the first time I have been hot in about 6 months haha. There is still snow on the ground but it doesn't have much time left! So Elder Tarati is finally starting to feel a little more comfortable (in Tahiti it is normally in the 80`s all the time) but he still sleeps under blankets with a beanie and a hoodie and sweat pants haha. He's crazy.

The king.

Elder Tarati got a little tired in between our visits.

Elder Tarati loves pizza, and we named her Elder.

We've been doing lots of service lately (because pretty much everybody in Canada moves every year) and the exercise feels good haha. Wayne (our friend) even came to one of the moves and got to meet more of the members. He wants to become a member of the church and visit the temple, we just need to help him figure out some details first. We also have been having a lot of fun this week, because we have tried to teach our friends in the members houses as often as we could. It is so powerful to feel and hear a members testimony, especially if their family is there. So don't be afraid to open your doors and invite people to come in! You will be surprised to see the difference it makes.

It's kinda funny how time passes when you are serving. Sometimes the days take forever and sometimes weeks pass without me even noticing. After 8 months in Canada sometimes it feels like I haven't learned very much. But one powerful truth has become rather clear to me as I have started to live the principles that I know to be true. Amid all of the distractions and the good things and the great things of my mission and of the world, there is only one thing that really matters. And Elder Holland summed it up in the 2017 conference by saying, "I would hope we could pursue personal improvement in a way that doesn’t include getting ulcers or anorexia, feeling depressed or demolishing our self-esteem. That is not what the Lord wants for Primary children or anyone else who honestly sings, “I’m trying to be like Jesus.”

Life becomes simple when we ask the question, "What would Jesus do?"  And that is something that will never change. He is the light and the life of the world. I love you all, and let me leave you with one of my favorite scriptures... "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Have an awesome week and BE OF GOOD CHEER!

Elder Wilson

Exploring la forêt.

Elder Jimenez is the cutest, and he wished all of you a good week haha (he was Elder Rossi's trainer).

CANADA Week 38-April 17, 2018

Salut fam and friends!

Literally have 15 seconds because we are making a semi-surprise trip to Montreal tonight instead of tomorrow morning, but everything is going good here!  We have seen miracles every day, and it's funny how clear they can be sometimes. Elder Tarati is keeping me on my toes, and he is a great example to me. I love you all, and I've got lots of pictures so you guys can kinda guess my week haha. Love you all and have an awesome week!

Elder Wilson

CANADA Week 37-April 10, 2018

When you don't have time for dinner at home, all you need is bread and peanut butter on the go!

We finished off another transfer this week, 6 weeks seems to go by so fast, and got our new assignments!Elder Tarati and I will be staying here for another transfer, and it is going to be awesome. He is such a humble and loving person, and I learn from his example and thoughts every single day.

Missionary life.

Best April Fools (in French it's April Fishes) joke of all time haha. I unbound his Preach my Gospel book while he was in the bathroom and mixed up all of the pages and then rebound it. He was so confused and I was dying laughing haha. He ended up saying that he liked it, and left all of the chapters separated like that for studying... He's crazy.

I would love to talk more about Sherbrooke (I could talk for days about Sherbrooke) but I wanted to share a thought with you guys. I'll just say that it's still snowing and I still love the people!

I recently was reading the story of Isaiah when he had a vision of Christ. I imagine that the poor guy just opened his eyes one night, and saw Christ and angels haha. One of the angels spoke to him and just the power of his voice shook the door post (the most sturdy and fixed part of a building). I'm sure that you can see why at that point he started to be just a little scared haha. Isaiah says, "Wo is unto me! For I am undone; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." A totally respectable reaction at this point in time. 

Then the angel takes a burning coal from off of the altar and laid it in his mouth.... (I never want to have a vision haha) But then the important part. The angel said, "Lo, this has touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged."

Through my experiences that I have had during and before my mission, I have seen and experienced this process before. The process of repentance. All of us have felt that guilt and sadness that Isaiah felt before. All of us have made errors and sinned. But the path of repentance is always open, and it should be a familiar and well worn trail for us. In this story it is awesome to see the way that Isaiah is cleansed. He receives forgiveness in a very uncomfortable and life changing manner. Through a burning coal on his mouth.... But isn't repentance supposed to be uncomfortable and life changing? And where did this burning coal come from? The altar of sacrifice of Christ. We can receive forgiveness and the joy of purity only in and through the fire of the sacrifice of Christ, and our own personal sacrifices that we offer to Him. Whether it be addictions, sadness, anger, impurity, or anything else. Give it to Him and go through the painful and joyful changing process of repentance, And you will be ready when the time comes to stand worthily in the piercing presence of our Saviour Jesus Christ. That is all that He wants.

So I invite you to join me in continually trying to become more like Christ. It is pretty awesome. I love you all, and thank you for your prayers, thoughts, and constant support. Try to make someones day just a little bit brighter and have an awesome week! I love you!

Oh and Happy Birthday Weenie! Don't be gettin too old without me, we got some stuffs to do haha. Have an awesome day, and do lots of exciting stuff for me ;)

Elder Wilson

This cute fam didn't want us to leave so the kids blocked the door for like 10 minutes.

Les boys... Elder Eakins just finished his mission, and Elder Aalders is leaving to 3 riviere. 

CANADA Week 36-April 3, 2018-Pacques au Sherbrooke

Elder Tarati and I almost died on the way back from Zone Conference (cause I was falling asleep), so we made a pit stop at Subway and ate some of the food that you sent me Mudda. Thanks!

Salut les gars! I hope you all had an awesome weekend, and took some time to think about what Easter, or the Resurrection and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, really means to you. I also hope that you were able to hear the words of the prophets and leaders of the Church of Christ this weekend! It was powerful and inspiring to see these devoted people pouring out their thoughts, feelings, and emotions with the help of the Holy Ghost and in the name of Jesus Christ..... Dad it looks like you appreciated it too haha. Don't worry we brought one of our friends named Esperando to the Sunday morning session and he was dead asleep too. It was one of those "spiritual rest" moments right? :)

Les boys. We played a fun soccer game with all of these little guys that we saw on the side of the street. They are insane haha, and sorry Padre I forgot how to play soccer . . . 

I could talk for days about the messages we received, but I just wanted to throw out 2 points that I thought were awesome...

1. Perry I hope you were listening to the talk of Jean B Bingham (I would think you did, because she had a pink suit and a heart jewel haha). She was talking about the importance and power of young women, and all of a sudden i realized that she was literally talking about you. Pretty cool right? I loved when she said, "The young women are precious!" (I think she did at least I watched it in French...) But Perry you are important! Remember how much you can do, and try to be aware of what you can do, and then don't be afraid to do it. Love ya miss ;)

2. I kept hearing a repeated message this conference about small and simple things. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a 1 day a week commitment, but a glorious style of life. The way to eternal happiness is through steady, consistent effort and improvement. We have God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost on our side, so who could hold us back? Press forward, and enjoy the march!

3. I know I lied about just 2 things, but I'm a missionary so it is okay haha. Just a quick example... The wise man built his house upon the rock. The foolish man built his house upon the sand. When the floods and storms came, the wise man was in control was not acted upon, while the foolish man was tossed to and fro by another. How can we become agents to act for ourselves? What was the wise man built on?

We went running again!!!!!!!! and no I wasn't even tired haha. Elder Tarati destroyed me...

Just really quick this week was awesome and full of miracles. Elder Tarati is seriously incredible, and is helping Sherbrooke so much. The people are awesome, the snow is eternal, and God is the same. Love you all and have an awesome week!

Elder Wilson

Caban a sucre! Literally Canadians are crazy about Maple Syrup haha. And yes Elder Eakins is drinking a giant glass of it haha. He was super full of energy and sick at the same time after. But yeah even the eggs and ham and pork that we ate were all first soaked and covered in Maple Syrup...

We were the only ones at the church for this session of conference.