The last one

 I finally got to be companions with Elder Ihrke! We got to spend the last week of our mission together and we have been having the best time of our lives... kinda lol. 

We are in a trio, and we are on a special assignment for our mission President to fix some issues in the mission. We are called the TT's or the Trunky Trinity hahah because we go home thursday and everyone thinks it's funny we all get to serve together. We got our own gang signs and everything. 

Anyways we will start back to our mission home experience, that was so much fun. So wednesday we finally got to go to the temple. It was the first time in 2 years that I have been to the temple and man i love it. One of the best experiences, especially after spending so much time trying to help those around me see how much of a blessing the temple can be, then getting to go and experience it for myself again. Man it was amazing. 

After that President Amos drove us to his house and the whole drive he was roasting me for all the trouble I had caused him while on my mission. Kidding but not really at the same time. But dont worry I was way more helpful than I was harmful hahah. But that was a good time reminiscing on the mission. 

Because there was 30 of us missionaries going home, and literally every Elder there played basketball, we decided to play some basketball at the Stake center by the temple which was so much fun. And we could play as hard as we wanted because if we broke our leg or rolled an ankle we didn't care because we were going home anyways lol. 

The sisters stayed at the mission home and made Jambalaya, so when we got home dinner was ready, we ate the grub then had a testimony meeting that night. Boy did I love that testimony meeting. So many elders that I just love so much and have spent the last 2 years of my life with, just sharing what we know and love about the Gospel that we had spent so much blood, sweat and tears trying to share. 

After that President and sister Amos got out the Blue Bell ice cream, then went to bed and let us plow the ice cream and we all decided that we were not going to sleep that night. So we stayed up, all.... night.... long. And that was the worst decision of my life. It was a blast though, we talked about our missions and the memories we had made and the fun times we all had together. We got to hear other elders stories who served in other countries, as well as shared some of our experiences before Covid in lousiana and Mississippi. Just one of the most wholesome nights of my life. 

But when other Elders started waking up because they were getting ready for the day we realized we were so dumb for staying up. I felt like trash all day that next day. 

So since then I've been in denham and it was so awesome to see all of the members one last time before I go! It has been awesome. 

Anyways this will be my last email. That wraps up my mission experience. I'm grateful for every minute of my mission. I've learned so much about who I am as I have served with all the energy of my heart, those around me. God allowed me to feel a portion of his love for random people here in the south. And I could not be more grateful for those experiences and those relationships. I am so grateful for my Savior. I love him. I'm grateful for the love God has for us in allowing us to experience life. Even sometimes just for a short time. I love you all and can't wait to see you soon! 

Pics:

1) My son & my grandson (Kephart & Groom)

2) Wes! 

3) Ruston boys back in January 

4) cute sign

5) final district

6) Final transfer rain bike ride

HURRICATION & DA TISM

 This week was one holy, good, fun week. I will have to fill yall in on a little that happened last week too. 

So it started off with us getting evacuated from the tropical storm last weekend, so our whole zone was sent up to the Hattiesburg Zone for the weekend, which was so fun. We drove up Friday afternoon, then saturday morning we balled up with basically half of the Hattiesburg Zone, half of our Gulfport zone and like all of the young adults of the hattiesburg stake too. So there was like 30 of us playing ball at that stake center it was a blast. Then all day that Saturday the Hattiesburg elders hooked us up with service opportunities all day long and it was so fun! But we got exhausted. Also HUGE DOWNSIDE: We had to cancel our friend Wes' baptism, but he understood and we let everyone know and it was moved back from june 19th to June 26th, so it still happened last Saturday but we were definitely sad to miss it. 

So yeah this weekend we had Wes' baptism, as well as we got assigned talks saturday.

Which meant on Sunday we ordained Wes a member, gave talks and blessed the sacrament as always. So all of the sacrament was just me and my companion doing everything which reminded me of the branch missionary life, even though we are in a ward here. Then Sunday after church my old buddy Jared Stacey, (who used to be a missionary with me, who went home about my 1 year mark then moved back to Alexandria while I was there, so he was with us nearly every day helping us teach and giving us rides and buying us food, best member missionary ever). But he drove down to biloxi and visited us and it was so good to see him. Like I look up to that guy so much. 

I also want to tell y'all about Hermano Gonzales. This guy is hands down one of the best humans I've ever met. Even though he knows almost no english, and I don't speak spanish, he is one of my best friends. He does a lot for me even though he doesn't have to and really can't afford to. He has taught me so much. I have a huge love for him. (Pic below)

My mission is honestly just the best. I'm so blessed and I thank God literally every day for it. I have learned so much and it amazes me every single day. Yesterday I was able to choose the topic of my talk. So I chose Priorities. On my mission I have learned the importance of goal setting. And how first you need to get your priorities straight, then once you prioritize something in your life, you'll have to set goals to work towards actually making it a priority. So what is your biggest priority? Is it a positive thing? Does it pull you closer or further from God? Our biggest priority should be Salvation. Not only for ourselves but also those around us. So what are you doing today to get yourself there, and your friends and family there? Check yourself. Before you wreck yourself. 

Alrighty i'm going to be honest, I enjoy doing stuff on pday that I like, and I hate typing on my phone. But I do enjoy teaching out to yall and sharing this stuff so it's kind of like a lose win situation.

I love yall. 

Love Elder Wilson!!!!

Pics:

1)We folded large stuff for service one of the sisters edited it

2)went to the best BBQ Buffet but forgot one of the sisters was a vegan lol she was mad

3)David's baptism

4)Elder Smith asked if I could fit all the frenchfrys in my mouth I bet I could

5) Hermano Gonzales

6) Wes' Baptism