This week was great! Ain´t got much time, but wanted to tell all that being a missionary is pretty sweet. I go by the words of my Aunt Marci, ¨DON¨T WISH IT AWAY.¨ That is true for the mission, and for just about any period in our lives.
People change. That is the message of the Gospel! Along with others. We were teaching Marina this week, a progressing investigadora. She rocks! But has a massive addiction to cigarettes. She wants to quit super bad. We kinda half suggested that we could take the cigarettes with us so she wouldn´t be tempted. She immediately got up and gave us the cigarettes, about four packs! It was awesome seeing that change and willingness to FOLLOW CHRIST. God will not forsake us.
We also found out that A and H are not married. So....we´re gonna be working on that. I think the commandment most horrible when broken is the law of chastity. It´s sad.
Anyway. Twas a good week. Happy Birfday to Jaren Wilcox tomorrow! I think about 50 times on my birthday Elder Siale said as Ronald Weasley, ¨By the way Harry, happy birthday.¨ Ha.
Elder Wilcox
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
How firm a...pair of legs (from May 23)
Good day,
This week I went on a nice run with my pal Elder Healey. Also in the mornings we tried to convince ourselves it was time for a ¨leg day¨. And on top of the biking I have for sure been feeling the soreness building up jaja. ¨Let the lower calves be burning.¨
I am learning more and more about being a good missionary. Me and Elder Siale have been having a ton of success finding people through the members, because they are the path to baptisms. Referencias, or member present lessons, or various things of the area book. BUT we did somewhat forget for 2ish weeks there that it is STILL very important to be contacting and talking with everyone! We kinda stepped back and realized we weren´t doing it nearly as much as we should. Immediately upon starting again, we found that there are so many people that God planted long ago and need to be taught again! The field is white.
Alma 34:32. We did some serious thought/study this week about our purpose in life. Simply put, we are to prepare to meet God. But because God made all of this so that we can return to live in his kingdom, but also to realize our divine potential! We are seeing so much progress in an investigator, Adriana. It is incredible to watch! She wants to get baptized. But she said once, she´s not gonna be a classic ¨mormona¨ and go to church all the time and be nerdy in a sense. I have thought about that a lot. Well, here is my partial answer. We do not go to church, nor live in a family, nor anything else we do...just to make things ¨run smoother¨. Like Pres Uchtdorf said, they are the ORDER of Heaven. The commandments exist to protect us from things outside of our mortal sight! The things we do, especially according to our faith, are of ETERNAL importance. The faithless ask, much faith always be blind? No. But faith must always be humble. Humble enough to be seen as ¨nerdy¨, if that´s what it takes. And humble enough to see past the veil and do what God asks! He doth immediately bless you, all he requires is our obedience and gratitude! Anyway
Today for p day we went to Luján and saw the Basilica, cathedral thing. It´s a beautiful thing! Also, we are going to Pizza Libre, mmmmm. Pizza place.
I had a cool birthday! We put a massive bday goal of 10 lessons! But didn´t quite get there, all of our appointments went through. Darn influence of the adversary. I guess the only special thing about my b-day was my bidet! It loves me and keeps me clean from sin and....other things.
Have a great week!
Elder Wincox. (Adriana texted us ¨feliz cumple elder wincox!)
Pic:us at the Basilica and with sweet little Hermana Lucena.
This week I went on a nice run with my pal Elder Healey. Also in the mornings we tried to convince ourselves it was time for a ¨leg day¨. And on top of the biking I have for sure been feeling the soreness building up jaja. ¨Let the lower calves be burning.¨
I am learning more and more about being a good missionary. Me and Elder Siale have been having a ton of success finding people through the members, because they are the path to baptisms. Referencias, or member present lessons, or various things of the area book. BUT we did somewhat forget for 2ish weeks there that it is STILL very important to be contacting and talking with everyone! We kinda stepped back and realized we weren´t doing it nearly as much as we should. Immediately upon starting again, we found that there are so many people that God planted long ago and need to be taught again! The field is white.
Alma 34:32. We did some serious thought/study this week about our purpose in life. Simply put, we are to prepare to meet God. But because God made all of this so that we can return to live in his kingdom, but also to realize our divine potential! We are seeing so much progress in an investigator, Adriana. It is incredible to watch! She wants to get baptized. But she said once, she´s not gonna be a classic ¨mormona¨ and go to church all the time and be nerdy in a sense. I have thought about that a lot. Well, here is my partial answer. We do not go to church, nor live in a family, nor anything else we do...just to make things ¨run smoother¨. Like Pres Uchtdorf said, they are the ORDER of Heaven. The commandments exist to protect us from things outside of our mortal sight! The things we do, especially according to our faith, are of ETERNAL importance. The faithless ask, much faith always be blind? No. But faith must always be humble. Humble enough to be seen as ¨nerdy¨, if that´s what it takes. And humble enough to see past the veil and do what God asks! He doth immediately bless you, all he requires is our obedience and gratitude! Anyway
Today for p day we went to Luján and saw the Basilica, cathedral thing. It´s a beautiful thing! Also, we are going to Pizza Libre, mmmmm. Pizza place.
I had a cool birthday! We put a massive bday goal of 10 lessons! But didn´t quite get there, all of our appointments went through. Darn influence of the adversary. I guess the only special thing about my b-day was my bidet! It loves me and keeps me clean from sin and....other things.
Have a great week!
Elder Wincox. (Adriana texted us ¨feliz cumple elder wincox!)
Pic:us at the Basilica and with sweet little Hermana Lucena.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Saludos de Buenos Aires
Hellos Broshkums,
Ever since I sent my email entitled ¨MAGNIFY¨ and said this has been a mission changing week, I feel the same way every day! I don´t know, I guess it´s good sometimes to be humbled, and then pushed to new heights through your own merits! The mission is incredible.
What a week! Let me just say that living with these new zone leaders is a total blast! They are both incredible missionaries with great testimonies! Elder Aguirre is incredible! Speaks really good english, in a british accent for some reason. We´re not really sure why. He is a cooker too. He made little bizcochuelitos con nueces (walnut muffin thingys) in the morning! Who does that? Me and elder siale, a couple weeks ago got up at six in the morning to make empanadas. They were good! With onions, peppers, salame, ham, muzzarella, sal y pepper. We also made a pizza last pday, like the crust and everything. used WAYY too much flour. We made one crust like the equivalent of four pizzas. haha, it was good though. And Elder Healey is awesome too. He´s canadian. I´ve known him for a while, and he likes Star Wars so.....
This week we had a big activity in the city over yonder called Francisco Alvarez. All the youth from around came and about 10 missionaries. We went on little splits for about an hour with two youth. I was with a deacon and teacher from my ward in G. Rod., little Gabi Poma and little Axel Frattoni. They are awesome but SO SHY. We contacted and gave away two book of mormons (books of mormon?) and it was GREAT. No, they didn´t talk much. But the people we talked to talked to them specifically about opening their mouths and not being shy. It was great! God will always give you what you need, even from contacts on the street!
Other than that I really cant think of other specific things......but it has been a fantastic week! This week I will be having 19 years of age. Thats weird. What scares/surprises me even more is that this week I also finished 10 months in the mish.
I am not ashamed of the Gospel! Have a good week everyone.
Elder Wilcox
Pictures: Me with our terrible pizza, y us with la familia Fernandez, capos!
Ever since I sent my email entitled ¨MAGNIFY¨ and said this has been a mission changing week, I feel the same way every day! I don´t know, I guess it´s good sometimes to be humbled, and then pushed to new heights through your own merits! The mission is incredible.
What a week! Let me just say that living with these new zone leaders is a total blast! They are both incredible missionaries with great testimonies! Elder Aguirre is incredible! Speaks really good english, in a british accent for some reason. We´re not really sure why. He is a cooker too. He made little bizcochuelitos con nueces (walnut muffin thingys) in the morning! Who does that? Me and elder siale, a couple weeks ago got up at six in the morning to make empanadas. They were good! With onions, peppers, salame, ham, muzzarella, sal y pepper. We also made a pizza last pday, like the crust and everything. used WAYY too much flour. We made one crust like the equivalent of four pizzas. haha, it was good though. And Elder Healey is awesome too. He´s canadian. I´ve known him for a while, and he likes Star Wars so.....
This week we had a big activity in the city over yonder called Francisco Alvarez. All the youth from around came and about 10 missionaries. We went on little splits for about an hour with two youth. I was with a deacon and teacher from my ward in G. Rod., little Gabi Poma and little Axel Frattoni. They are awesome but SO SHY. We contacted and gave away two book of mormons (books of mormon?) and it was GREAT. No, they didn´t talk much. But the people we talked to talked to them specifically about opening their mouths and not being shy. It was great! God will always give you what you need, even from contacts on the street!
Other than that I really cant think of other specific things......but it has been a fantastic week! This week I will be having 19 years of age. Thats weird. What scares/surprises me even more is that this week I also finished 10 months in the mish.
I am not ashamed of the Gospel! Have a good week everyone.
Elder Wilcox
Pictures: Me with our terrible pizza, y us with la familia Fernandez, capos!
VIVA HIJOS DE TRUENO (May 9, 2016 letter)
ALMA 29:2 VIVA HIJOS DE TRUENO
Anyway.
Transfer calls came. And Elder Siale and I are staying together in Gral. Rodríguez for one more transfer! We are stoked to hasten the work even more here. ALSO, the zone of Luján is getting split in two, and both Elder Donnelly and Mattinson are leaving the pench, and we are recieving two new ZONE LEADERS. Elder Healey and Elder Aguirre. I don´t know E Aguirre, but Elder Healey is from Canada and is a capo. These coming weeks will be the sons of thunder versus the ozone leaders.
SO. Best part of the week by far was saturday. After many long weeks, Walter y Graciela y Guillermina all got baptized!!!! Guillermina I was privileged to baptize, and Elder Siale baptized Walter and Graciela. They are the cutest couple. They got married in order to be baptized, and they are so in love. And then Guillermina was found on ACCIDENT looking for Walter and Graciela. They all live right next to each other, same building! Guillermina has said a hundred times, the first time she talked with Elder Cortes and I, she was left with a profound peace. I also confirmed her yesterday in church. She just sat with her face in her hands afterwards. She is so so amazing. It was such an incredible moment. She stood up and wanted to kiss me.....but I had to decline ha.
We also went to the ZOO in Lujan! COOLEST thing ever! I´m not much on time right now. But we got to touch/feed just about EVERTHING: Llama, lion, tiger, sea lion, elephant, snake, toucan, mule, etc. Good memories!
Happy Mother´s Day BrenDawg! You look super foxy with your new haircut! Hope everyone loves it as much as I do. Hope everyone loves YOU as much as I do. You are the greatest!
Elder Wilcox
Misionero
Pic: Bautismo :)
Pic: My lunch yesterday.
I shared a moment with a donkey. I fed a toucan by mouth. I walked among LIONS, and also fed that elephant!
Anyway.
Transfer calls came. And Elder Siale and I are staying together in Gral. Rodríguez for one more transfer! We are stoked to hasten the work even more here. ALSO, the zone of Luján is getting split in two, and both Elder Donnelly and Mattinson are leaving the pench, and we are recieving two new ZONE LEADERS. Elder Healey and Elder Aguirre. I don´t know E Aguirre, but Elder Healey is from Canada and is a capo. These coming weeks will be the sons of thunder versus the ozone leaders.
SO. Best part of the week by far was saturday. After many long weeks, Walter y Graciela y Guillermina all got baptized!!!! Guillermina I was privileged to baptize, and Elder Siale baptized Walter and Graciela. They are the cutest couple. They got married in order to be baptized, and they are so in love. And then Guillermina was found on ACCIDENT looking for Walter and Graciela. They all live right next to each other, same building! Guillermina has said a hundred times, the first time she talked with Elder Cortes and I, she was left with a profound peace. I also confirmed her yesterday in church. She just sat with her face in her hands afterwards. She is so so amazing. It was such an incredible moment. She stood up and wanted to kiss me.....but I had to decline ha.
We also went to the ZOO in Lujan! COOLEST thing ever! I´m not much on time right now. But we got to touch/feed just about EVERTHING: Llama, lion, tiger, sea lion, elephant, snake, toucan, mule, etc. Good memories!
Happy Mother´s Day BrenDawg! You look super foxy with your new haircut! Hope everyone loves it as much as I do. Hope everyone loves YOU as much as I do. You are the greatest!
Elder Wilcox
Misionero
Pic: Bautismo :)
Pic: My lunch yesterday.
I shared a moment with a donkey. I fed a toucan by mouth. I walked among LIONS, and also fed that elephant!
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Magnify
This has been a MISSION changing week! I guess all of them are. But some weeks it´s a lot easier to see that than others.
Anyway.
There ain´t much time to write, but I will try to help you see what a great week it was. As I wrote last week, Elder Siale and I have really been trying to make a difference in our work and vigor and urgency. Those labors are bringing forth many fruits! We have found MANY people who are almost ready to enter the ¨straight gate¨ (baptism). Truly the field is ready to harvest. But the laborours are few. The trick is to WORK WITH the MEMBERS. References are so much more likely to progress. Also, we have been having incredible experiences reactivating less active members, which I consider just as important.
I listened to a talk this morning for President Henry B. Eyring. He gave a great great talk in a recent Priesthood conference about magnifying our callings. The newest deacon needs this, as much as does the most experienced high priest. But that extends to all of us, as members of the church. All members are missionaries. In a talk Elder Holland gave, he described how missions are miracles. How if we realize that if we just trust in the Lord and do what he asks, really it takes a LOT of pressure off of us. We do what we can (which is a lot more than we think), then God does the rest through the Holy Ghost. The Gospel is SO simple if you let it be.
Quick story. We go and see occasionally a lady less active named Selina. Really old, with a walker, alone in her house. She honestly belongs in a home, but I´m not sure if those exist here. She has some kind of disability, because she can´t talk all that well. Anyway, she asked us to take the sacrament to her yesterday, so we did. It was a very sacred experience. We used crackers and a small cloth and glass of water. We had a priest, Gabriel Vergara, with us. He gave great testimony after the ordinance. Right after we finished, she said ¨It´s a miracle!¨ (Es un milagro). She was right. The Spirit was really strong in that moment.
Love you all, have a good week! I´m stoked to talk to you mom! I´d even call to say I´m not calling.
Congrats to M & M for having yo baby! The bun is finally out of the oven.
Also congrats to NICK BOND for your call to Buenos Aires Sur! You will LOVE YOUR MISSION. As ghetto as my mission is, I hear yours is even more so :)
Love from Elder Wilcon
Pics: Eating milanesa with a small plastic spoon is NOT easy.
and a pig head I found in a kiosco.
Monday, May 2, 2016
MAGNIFY
This has been a MISSION changing week! I guess all of them are. But some weeks it´s a lot easier to see that than others.
Anyway.
There ain´t much time to write, but I will try to help you see what a great week it was. As I wrote last week, Elder Siale and I have really been trying to make a difference in our work and vigor and urgency. Those labors are bringing forth many fruits! We have found MANY people who are almost ready to enter the ¨straight gate¨ (baptism). Truly the field is ready to harvest. But the laborours are few. The trick is to WORK WITH the MEMBERS. References are so much more likely to progress. Also, we have been having incredible experiences reactivating less active members, which I consider just as important.
I listened to a talk this morning for President Henry B. Eyring. He gave a great great talk in a recent Priesthood conference about magnifying our callings. The newest deacon needs this, as much as does the most experienced high priest. But that extends to all of us, as members of the church. All members are missionaries. In a talk Elder Holland gave, he described how missions are miracles. How if we realize that if we just trust in the Lord and do what he asks, really it takes a LOT of pressure off of us. We do what we can (which is a lot more than we think), then God does the rest through the Holy Ghost. The Gospel is SO simple if you let it be.
Quick story. We go and see occasionally a lady less active named Selina. Really old, with a walker, alone in her house. She honestly belongs in a home, but I´m not sure if those exist here. She has some kind of disability, because she can´t talk all that well. Anyway, she asked us to take the sacrament to her yesterday, so we did. It was a very sacred experience. We used crackers and a small cloth and glass of water. We had a priest, Gabriel Vergara, with us. He gave great testimony after the ordinance. Right after we finished, she said ¨It´s a miracle!¨ (Es un milagro). She was right. The Spirit was really strong in that moment.
Love you all, have a good week! I´m stoked to talk to you mom! I´d even call to say I´m not calling.
Congrats to M & M for having yo baby! The bun is finally out of the oven.
Also congrats to NICK BOND for your call to Buenos Aires Sur! You will LOVE YOUR MISSION. As ghetto as my mission is, I hear yours is even more so :)
Love from Elder Wilcon
Pics: Eating milanesa with a small plastic spoon is NOT easy.
and a pig head I found in a kiosco.
Anyway.
There ain´t much time to write, but I will try to help you see what a great week it was. As I wrote last week, Elder Siale and I have really been trying to make a difference in our work and vigor and urgency. Those labors are bringing forth many fruits! We have found MANY people who are almost ready to enter the ¨straight gate¨ (baptism). Truly the field is ready to harvest. But the laborours are few. The trick is to WORK WITH the MEMBERS. References are so much more likely to progress. Also, we have been having incredible experiences reactivating less active members, which I consider just as important.
I listened to a talk this morning for President Henry B. Eyring. He gave a great great talk in a recent Priesthood conference about magnifying our callings. The newest deacon needs this, as much as does the most experienced high priest. But that extends to all of us, as members of the church. All members are missionaries. In a talk Elder Holland gave, he described how missions are miracles. How if we realize that if we just trust in the Lord and do what he asks, really it takes a LOT of pressure off of us. We do what we can (which is a lot more than we think), then God does the rest through the Holy Ghost. The Gospel is SO simple if you let it be.
Quick story. We go and see occasionally a lady less active named Selina. Really old, with a walker, alone in her house. She honestly belongs in a home, but I´m not sure if those exist here. She has some kind of disability, because she can´t talk all that well. Anyway, she asked us to take the sacrament to her yesterday, so we did. It was a very sacred experience. We used crackers and a small cloth and glass of water. We had a priest, Gabriel Vergara, with us. He gave great testimony after the ordinance. Right after we finished, she said ¨It´s a miracle!¨ (Es un milagro). She was right. The Spirit was really strong in that moment.
Love you all, have a good week! I´m stoked to talk to you mom! I´d even call to say I´m not calling.
Congrats to M & M for having yo baby! The bun is finally out of the oven.
Also congrats to NICK BOND for your call to Buenos Aires Sur! You will LOVE YOUR MISSION. As ghetto as my mission is, I hear yours is even more so :)
Love from Elder Wilcon
Pics: Eating milanesa with a small plastic spoon is NOT easy.
and a pig head I found in a kiosco.
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