Big Shift

Hey family!!!!

hope all is going well with you guys. changes were this last week as i said in my last letter. we had no transfer so I'm going to be having 4 changes here in ka´aguy rory and we are going to keep on baptizing and helping the Lord's work move forward!  there were a bunch of changes in our zone and mission. not just changes in companionships but also in districts and adding more missionaries to certain areas. in our zone there have been mainly just a few companionships or areas that have been baptizing. (in ka´aguy rory the ward has baptized more than 50 people in the last year) so the mission moved them around. now our district is with the office. the APs no longer live with us they got swapped with another area and now we have a brand new missionary Elder Holgate (draper, UT) and Elder Stewart (rigby, ID) who are with us here. its a bit different, but its nice we got to move our study stuff into the room that has AC so that was nice. there are also two new APs one being Elder Schone my old companion. he is amazing and is going to be a lot of help to the mission.

This last week we saw many miracles. we were able to find a bunch of new people who we are helping prepare for baptism and we are going to be apart of the wedding of Arnaldo and Blanca; and Blanca is going to be baptized afterward !!!!! you gotta love eternal families. our friend Jorge who was getting ready to be baptized last week got back from the hospital after getting part of his finger cut off. he is super happy though and is getting ready to be baptized as soon as he physically can! in the zone we are also seeing a whole bunch of miracles. there are more areas that are starting to baptize that didn't baptize  much before and are getting animated and excited and having that be all that they want to do is baptize baptize baptize. 

we also had a different and fun thing that we did this last week. we went to serve! all of the missionaries have been in coordination with the group Project Smile that goes around the world and helps people who are born with cleft palate (i think that's what its called). we took a bus in normal clothes, which was really weird, at 6 in the morning to get there by 7. we  mostly helped with filing, moving boxes, packing things up, and taking out garbage. it was their last day so we were helping them out with that. most of the people there spoke english so it was interesting, felt kind of weird, but it was a great day of service got to head on out around 1 or so. a fun thing is that we were there with the north mission and i met chase quinn's cousin who is serving there. i saw the name tag elder quinn and asked him if he was related to a chase quinn and he said yes. so its great how you can make fun connections everywhere. 

its interesting with the experience that i have had on the mission i find myself just saying to people. "hey, God loves you and wants you to be baptized in His restored church can we come by and teach you how you can prepare yourself to do so?" i read a quote from a talk by Elder Adrian Ochoa and he said "utilize the priesthood power to invite other to repent and be baptized. you have been given the mandate and power to do so from our Heavenly Father." its really interesting how that is our calling to do just that and i am so grateful for it and the opportunity that i have to share it and to grow.

i love you all and am so grateful for all that you do keep on doing those little things to endure!!!

love

elder wilson

The Heat is BACK

Hey fam!!!

as you can see by the title our beautiful Paraguayan heat has returned. today and yesterday we have been in the low 100s and its not death, its not horrible at all. you gotta be super grateful for AC though. 

this last week we had a bunch of great experiences. on Tuesday we were able to have a conference with all of our zone again. it was great, more interaction from the elders and we were able to find 71 people that can be baptized this month!!!! now we just gotta do our part. listen to the spirit ask inspired questions and teach the doctrine and invite them to be baptized and put a baptismal date with them. miracles are going to rain! its going to be amazing!!!

we also had a wonderful opportunity to be able to have a regional conference with SLC this last sunday. all of the stakes and districts in Paraguay and Uruguay listened to a conference where we heard Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the 70, Sister Reeves of the Relief Society presidency, Elder Niel A. Andersen, and our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson. it was so incredible how everything that they talk about was exactly what we need here in our beautiful paraguay - for the gospel and church to grow. the things that i got big out of it, that i want to apply is first: searching for the guidance of the Spirit to know what the people need at that place and time, connect with them. Elder Andersen talked about the biggest soccer rivalries in paraguay and uruguay it was pretty funny, also a wonderful quote that he said was "if we don't try it we won't do it. if we don't do it, then why are we here?" referring to going to church, home and visiting teaching, and other responsibilities. it was wonderful and just a huge blessing to be able to listen to the living prophet of God. he talked about going and saving lost souls and bringing them back to the fold. he mentioned two parts, one showing them their eternal potential and the other knowing that people can change. I'm a witness to that. how i have  changed, it is incredible. thinking about how i was, what i would do, say, and what were my priorities before having completely changed and it is a huge blessing that i have received from that change.

a nice little reminder that came to my mind during my studies in the last couple of days and teaching a man named Santiago who we are helping drop drinking, is the effect of small choices. either doing them or not doing them. both having a negative effect. he drank a little bit and burnt his food with hot oil. now though he is determined and is feeling the spirit so much, has a ton of ward support and is really changing. it is a testimony that man can change. thinking about it, it is how we must do those small things. are we all doing our daily scripture study personally and as a fam., are we praying together and individually, are we going to the temple as much as possible. those are the great questions.

well time is up on my computer love you all an

Learning Through Challenges

Hola familia!!!

hope all is going great and smoothly up north. things are going well here down south. the heat is kicking up again which is nice. sad to say but after living here for the last little while i have gotten more used to the heat. i can say that my old thick Minnesotan blood is almost gone. everything is getting a bit more chilly everyday. its ok though. 

this last week we saw a bunch of miracles. we were able to find a golden family that is a part member family who lives in the perfect spot. RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH!!!! how perfect is that. it is arnaldo and blanca who just had their first kid about 5 days ago or so. he is a member as of 5 or so years. got baptized in ercanacion which is on the other side of the country closer to brasil and argentina. this week we really have been focusing on working with the spirit. to have him constantly with us and to be able to follow the impressions that we receive. a big thing that I'm personally trying to do is listen to the spirit more in the lessons so it is less teaching a lesson and more teaching the person. this week we were able to go on divisions with some other missionaries in our zone and we had two great spirit powered lessons. after we told them about the first vision i asked them how they felt in that moment. every time they said that they felt something different. there is a promise in 'preach my gospel' on how if we confide in the spirit and that we focus in seeing the spirit work in them we will be able to see the progress and the spirit will testify to them the truthfulness of Christ's gospel.

having that be our focus we are working more on how we are going to be helping people come to church on Sundays so that they can be baptized this month. we are working on this with the entire zone. some stress comes when things aren't turning out as they should but as long as you depend on the Lord and find what he wants you to learn it is all good. as my favorite quote "circumstances don't determine  happiness". just gotta put on a smile and be happy and do what we gotta do. declare the true restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This week is going to be amazing i know that it will!!!

i know that this is Christ's true church on the earth and i am so blessed that i have this opportunity to be able to serve him everyday and to dedicate myself to this incredible work. i know that the book of mormon is true. i love you all and you are always in my thoughts and in my prayers!!!

love

elder wilson

The How of Things

Hey family how's ya all doin?

You gotta love having energy. 
You gotta feel good when your all excited and ready to break the limits. 
That is how we have been and how the mission is at the moment. 

today we just got out of a meeting with all of the ZL, AP´s, and Pres. Agazzani talking about the "how to" of things. it is so amazing how the mission prepares you for the future. everyone has vision things that they want to achieve and goals that they want to reach. We as a zone -it is to have confident, challenging, exited missionaries who plan efficiently with the members to baptize every week. our other goal is also to have 22 baptisms as a zone. while i am one for getting all excited and bringing in a lot of energy and wanting to be positive and happy. you do gotta sit a back and say "ok. that's what we want. so how are we going to get it?" plans, plans, plans. the how to of things. whatever goal one has in life they can reach it. it being the will of God NOTHING is unreachable or unbeatable. what must be done is consult with our Father in Heaven and create those plans to help yourself, family, work, friends, or whatever it may be grow and reach that goal.

the biggest goal is for us to become as God is. that truly is the purpose of the gospel and missionary work. to help God's children become as He is. To reach that our Father has set his goals and plans that we must follow if we are to reach our desired goal. For me that vision that goal is to become as God is. Exaltation. All of this goes through; having faith in Christ, repentance, baptism (by someone holding the authority), receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end (making more covenants like endowments and temple sealings) to reach that final destination.

this last week though was amazing. HUMBERTO WAS BAPTIZED! it was a miracle and so amazing! he has been meeting with the missionaries for over a year. they have visited him then left for for a bit and back again for the last year or so. i know and testify that elder pastul (my current companion) was sent here to baptize humberto. the change in him was truly amazing how he humbled himself to ask God if the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was the prophet that was called to restore Gods church on earth again. the day he came was amazing and i had the wonderful blessing to baptize him. i cannot express the joy and the spirit that came into me after the baptism it was just wow. you can't describe the feeling, all you can know is that it is God confirming the truth. Sunday he got sick and went to the hospital and wasn't going to be able to come, but then 20 before the sacrament meeting was gonna start they let him out and he came flying to the church and was confirmed what a miracle. God is calling His sheep to His fold, and what a joy and blessing it is to be apart of it.

well family i love you and pray for you daily. know that i know that this is the true church of Christ on earth. the priesthood authority is real and being a worthy priesthood holder is so important because with out the priesthood we can't live with God again.

i love you all and send my best!!

Elder Wilson


Pictures

1. Me and Elder Stewart (Idaho)
2. HUMBERTO WAS BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!!!

Zaballos

sorry to be late - had a problem posting

Hey family!!!!

i hope that all is going wonderful there in beautiful naperville/watertown/DC/ wherever you may find yourselves.

things are going great . we were able to have a great zone conference with 113 missionaries last weds. it was so incredible. we had the wonderful opportunity to be able to meet and listen to Elder Jorge F. Zaballos of the 70 and his wife. It was incredible! it was one of the most spiritual and uplifting zone conferences of my life. Elder Zaballos is the first counselor of the area Sur America Sur which now consist of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile. The talks were incredible. The hna agazzani talked about real growth in the church through edifying the kingdom of God. Pres. Agazzani talked about using all members to find new investigators not just the active ones and how to use some new lists and tools that we have out here. there was then a great musical number put your shoulder to the wheel which brought a great spirit. then the Hna Zaballos spoke. she honestly reminded me of mom. she was so happy, loved talking about her children and the power of the gospel. she really gave us this big amazing pep talk. one thing that she said that stuck out a bunch which is something that i have always heard was, "remember who you are" then i added remember what you stand for. its funny in a great way how that thought always comes in my head. i always say it to the AP´s when they leave the house. we honestly always need to remember who we are. We are all sons and daughters of the true and living God. we are representatives of Him and His Son Jesus Christ and we must always act accordingly.

this week i don't believe that i have ever fasted and prayed as much. there were two people who needed a boost this last week. one was Aide from Libertad 1.2. we have never seen anyone more prepared than her. she has a rock testimony but due to her parents she couldn't get baptized this week but she will soon. another was don pico. a great man who recognized his answer from god that he needed to be baptized. due to opposition in the family he was not baptized either. it is a bit of a trial. you give all that you got and the final result didn't come through. you are still a successful missionary though. when you give it all you will be able to stand blameless before God in the last day. this week though we are going to work ever harder and smarter to help incorporate the members more and help build temple testimonies (testimonies that will carry people to the temple). it is such a blessing to be apart of this work.

another huge miracle is Humberto. he was going to get baptized last month but he didn't have a firm testimony of the restoration. now after much faith and prayer he does and he is going to be baptized this week. what a blessing from the Lord.

the mission is amazing. the best two years to become the man/woman that the Lord wants you to become. the key though is humbling yourself to let it happen. its happening to me. i have a new mentality for so many things. I'm more bold and confident. i can testify to people and call them to repentance and to be baptized unlike before. its not because i did something amazing. its because the spirit is guiding me and helping me.

the church is true and the prophets receive revelation.

i love you all so much and pray for you daily

elder wilson



Photos:
1. say hello to elder pastul! and richard
2. Roberto and Mirta during the wedding
3. Roberto and Mirta with all of there family that came
4. Roberto and Mirta right before the baptism
5. ya! we made mexican food!!!!! it twas good

Miracles Happening and People Progressing

HEY HEY HEY!!!!

things are going wonderfully here in beautiful ka´aguy rory!!! 

this last week we were able to see the wedding and baptism of Roberto and Mirta. I would send you a bunch of pictures but unfortunately we are on the computers today that you can't connect anything to them. one day though you will see it. the spirit was there and it was amazing. we were kinda nervous to start because not that many members had arrived but when the baptism and the wedding came along there were not a ton of members but the right members were there. Roberto is a security guard who works nights and comes to church right after work which is incredible!!! he has a lot of faith and wants to follow the Lord. it is so amazing how through the spirit and the book of mormon all can come to know that God's true church has been restored to the earth again. Mirna is going to have their first child in about 5 months or so. its going to be such a blessing to have your children be born into the gospel. i know because i have seen the fruits of it. we are also planning for two more baptisms this week. and another wedding!!! Petrona and emilio are going to get married and he is going to get baptized, and then tomorrow we are going to get the permission from a parent of a miguel martinez who wants to be baptized as well. so many miracles happening every day and truly the lord is preparing his sheep to hear and recognize his voice. what a blessing it is that i have to be a missionary to declare this gospel and invite my brothers and sisters to come unto the savior!!!!

this last week we had an amazing lesson last monday night. we contacted a man on the street and he asked us for the book of mormon. we asked him if he would read it and he said of course so we gave it to him and set up a visit. we got there monday night and it was the most simple yet amazing lesson in the world. the spirit wasn't super strong or powerful but you could tell that he was there testifying to this man the truth of the restored gospel of christ. after explaining the book of mormon and the restoration to him we asked him what he was feeling. he said that he was feeling this different warmth inside of him and that something inside of him was just telling him that he needs to read the book of mormon because it will help him come to know the true church of christ. WOW!!!! his prayer was even more amazing. sadly we are not sure if he lives here in asuncion or in ciudad del este but either way he's gonna get baptized. 

another miracle, we were walking down the street searching to find a family prepared to receive the gospel. we contacted some kids and a man pulled by and said. hey are you guys mormons. with a huge smile -  we said yes we are. we are the missionaries. he told us how he wanted all of the pamphlets and books that we could give him. we gave him a book of mormon and invited him to read it to know if it was true. he told us that he worked in park city for four months and has alot of friends who are members. he doesn't live in our area, but the lord has prepared him and si o si he is going to be baptized.

just some short thoughts and fun stories. things are going wonderfully this is the lords work i have no doubt of that. this is his church and the book of mormon is true. testifying of its truthfulness just brings something inside of you that you cannot describe. on weds we are meeting Elder Jorge Zaballos of the area presidency it is going to be incredible!!! i can't wait. its going to be a spiritual and revelation waterfall!!!

love you all hope all of the start ups of school stuff goes well!!!

always in my thoughts and prayers

Elder Wilson

All Is Changing

HEY FAMILIA!!!!! MBA´ETEKOPIA CHE FAMILIA KUERA!!!!

felt like spicing it up a little bit and giving you guys some guarani to start off. it says how are you doing my family. a very nice way to start. 

well things are changing here in the mission. i have a new companion now  Elder Pastul . from El Salvador an absolute "capo" as we say here. a hard working, very knowledgeable, great leader, and wonderful missionary. He is 20 was baptized with his family when he was 9. got a great knowledge and love for the gospel and knows how to baptize. it is crazy all of the changes that are going on here on the mission. there is a quote in PMG that says if we want to reach higher goals and see better results we need to change how we doe things. not really a quote on quote but the general view. every zone leader companionship changed. everyone has a new mentality and we are working in a more efficient way with the members. 

tomorrow we are going to be having a zone meeting. not really a zone conference. it is when the ZL get all of his zone together and we share what we got from our big meeting and share it to them so that we are all on the same page. it is going to be incredible! the spirit is going to be so strong we are going to receive so much revelation and are going to be finding more of God's children who He has prepared to enter into the waters of baptism. 

roberto and mirta are excited and so ready for their wedding and baptism this saturday. Nestor and Mirna (recent converts) are helping them so much. you can just see the power of the spirit working within Nestor he is incredible i have never seen anyone so converted in my life. he just has this huge desire to share the gospel. last night he pulled us aside to talk to us how he wants to help us more than he is and to go out and do home teaching and everything to help activate the ward and share the gospel. hes got a fever!!! and everyone is going to start getting it because it is contagious (don't know how to spell). we are also working with a partial family who are planning on getting married and the husband baptized on the 25. the zone is exploding as well we are so blessed to have so many wonderful leaders and missionaries in our zone who are declaring the gospel of Christ with all of their might.

I got an interesting letter this week. it was from two people. one was an update from Kevin Robinson and his fam, and the other one was from Parker Maurice Wilson, me. i learned a couple of things. first is that I'm grateful that  i learned how to write in english because before when i was 15 i couldn't at all. i am more grateful that i am where i am right now because that is what i wrote in my letter. that i should be on a full time mission serving the Lord bringing the plenitude of His gospel to everyone. now I'm going to write myself another one for the next five years to see where i will be. its a good day to have a vision.

well fam mission work is the best work. I'm tired and hungry at times but it doesn't really matter because when you have people excited and willing to receive the gospel all of your tiredness and hunger just fly away. i am so grateful for this gospel. I testify in the name of my savior Jesus Christ that it is true and that this is His true church. the atonement is real and changes lives, it has changed mine so much. looking back two years ago i was a completely different person than i am today. i have changed for the best and will continue because my vision is set and clear. Return to live in the celestial kingdom with my Father in Heaven, my savior Jesus Christ, and my future wife, children, and family. Nothing else is more important.

love you all and thanks for all that you do you are always in my prayers.

Elder Wilson
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