I'm a greenie again!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!! ...... April 14,2010

hey everyone,

So how is everyone doing? i'm doing good. the weather is finally getting warmer here! so that is good. today is supposed to be like 70 something. all of the other elders have already taken there suit coats off, except for me. the wind here can still be cold and the weather changes really fast, so will take my chances wearing my coat. and i feel really cool in it! lik a real legite missionary! hahahaha... so yeah, last week it did in fact snow on us, while we were riding our bikes. it was crazy! and i almost froze to death i think, got a nice cold wich i am currently fighting, and i am so happy to be back out in the field! no mom, you don't need to send me a coat. an elder gave me a sweater. so in between the sweater and my suit coat, i made it through the cold. oh, and another thing... don't call my mission president about little stupid things like that okay:) i'm not mad, just letting you know he is very busy and the Lord will take care of me. But thanks for worrying anywas. :)
so i was able to buy a bike off of an elder going home. i bought it for 40 bucks, which isn't bad at all for a bike out here. although it is a mountain bike and it's kinda heavy, so i get a real work out keeping up with my comp. i almost decided to buy a good street bike, but then i figured it's only five months, why waste the money. so i am good with the bike i have and getting used to riding it around. my butt is way sore though! and my legs! at night all i want to do is sit down and stretch my letgs out!
so chicago is quit different than Brasil. the people aren't nearly as open and accepting to the gospel, but at least i am speaking spanish. the hispanic people are way nicer and accepting than the americans! man, americans are jerks! like no joke.sadly to say, I'm not as proud to be an american. anyways.. i can now say i have truly had the experience of someone slamming the door in your face. it kinda sucks but you get over it and move to the next door, and then the next door, and then the next door, and the next door....etc...
so my companions story is very interesting. His mission call was to go to mongolia! he was at the mtc for 3 months learning mongolian and then the week before he left the mtc let the elders in his group know that they would be reassinged due to visa problemas! so we have just about the coolest companionship in the world you could say. an elder who's call was to mongolia and one who's call was to brasil end up together in chicago! crazy huh. so there is obviously a reason that i am with him in this area.

so did i tell you i feel like a new greenie. i'm learning a new language, a new area, new types of food (mexican/HOT), new people, riding bikes..... it's crazy! My comp is technically a greenie! this week starts his second transfer in the field!!!! how crazy, and he is almost training me. i say that talking about the language and the area. but even in the lessons i let him kinda take charge cause i still tend to get lost. spanish is really similar to port. like extremely. except that the words are harder(?) like the sound is a harder sound. not a soft sound like in portugues. so instead of talking all eloguently like in portuguese, i feel like i am talking like a hick that doesn't know how to pronounce his words in port. the two languages are very similar. i can usually understand everything, except when they start talking really fast and depending on their accent. but i am hopping that i will have spanish down by the end of this transfer, if not sooner. I am really praying tha the Lord will help me.
hey, did i leave my mp3 at home. i can't find it. if i did, would you please send it to me, along with the usb cord which is probably in dads room. he used it the day i left to transfer the stuff from the recording device, the usb cord. we only have two cds in our house and i already hate both of them. hahaha.. anyways, well i hope you thoroughly enjoy this book i have written. especially you Mom!!!!!! tell everyone hi for me and that i love them! thanks for everything !!! i love you all!!!
A Igreja E verdadeira!!!!

Elder Wilson

Sup guys!.....April 7, 2010

Caro Familia,

I'm not in Utah anymore! or Brasil for that matter!! so i did make my plane last night. amazingly. the plane from salt lake was late and we landed in cincinnati at 7:30. so ran to the other building and they were calling my name as a last call right when i got there. so once again, i was the last one on the plane. but its all good.
so guess what, i am going to be speaking spanish. the Pres. threw me in as a senior comp. to a junior who has only been out for a couple of months. crazy huh. but he is mexican, so he speaks spanish. which is really good. so i think that i am really going to like it here. except for the fact that it is freakin cold, oh, and it is supposed to snow tomorrow! great..... anyways, oh yeah, i also have to buy a bike. so i hope i have some money in my acount. i will probably do that today, i'm hoping to find a cheap one. but i think the cheapest i will get is about 300 or so. and then i have to get a helmet and locks. so yeah, it should be fun. i really think that this will be quit the experience. i am excited and a little stressed, but it should be good. so wednesdays are now my new p days. today i have had the chance to see a little bit of chicago. its huge, and everything looks expensive. apparently you have to watch out for shoe shining fanatics in the streets. hahaha so yeah.
oh, and my first area is in downtown chicago. so i will be on a bike the whole time i am out here. i think i am going to get really sore. well, i hope all is well back home, since i left yesterday.:) Mom, don't freak out to much, i will be home in 5 months. ;) i love you all! have a great week! a igreja e verdadeira!!! Jesus Cristo e nosso Salvador! peace out!

Elder Wilson

Elder Cotton Top Contemplates

Elder Cotton Top Contemplates

By: Elder Wilson

(Kidney stones? Or just chutado nas bolas?)

5:00 a.m.

It was a gloomy rainy morning in the missionaries’ home in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Elder Wilson was busy finishing his luggage, making a run through the house to make sure he hadn’t missed anything. He was going to the mission office where he thought he would talk to his mission President about being able to do a surgery in Brasil or just wait out the next 7 months with the pain if need be. He had 3 kidney stones. He had had them for about 4 months and it was a daily battle to go out and work. Having to walk countless miles everyday, and with every step it felt like someone was kicking him in the privates. But nevertheless he was loving the work.

11:30 a.m.

Upon arriving at the mission office Elder Wilson waited around for about 1 hr for his President to arrive to talk to him. Then one of the secretaries, franticly working, asked when his plane would be going home. With an extremely shocked look on his face he replied, “What are you talking about? I’m not going home!” But unfortunately to his finding out, he was going home. His flight left in an hour. So in between frantic driving from the mission office to the home of the mission Pres., then to the airport, he missed his flight.

His flight was rescheduled to leave his beloved Brasil on Monday afternoon and he would arrive in his home town of St. George (which really didn’t feel like home anymore) Tuesday afternoon after 15hrs of flying on a plane. Low and behold, amongst all this, he was ruining his family’s vacation to Hawaii, which comforted him a little bit.

Over the next 2 weeks he would go through surgery, pass many kidney stones and be home sick for the mission life, all the awesome Brazilian foods and weather, and the language of Portuguese. Being home brought new obstacles for Elder Wilson. Keeping the mission rules, drinking lots of water, but most of all, speaking English. He came to find out that he couldn’t speak proper English anymore. “It just aint comin out right!” he would exclaim in frustration and then rattle something off in Portuguese. And he would find out that it would be very difficult to return to his same mission in Brasil, and that he would possibly be re assigned. But amongst all the heart ache and pain of being home and not in the mission field, he knew that his Lords will would be done and that he would be sent back out where the Lord most needed him to serve.

So amongst all of my hard trials, passing stones, and speaking English, I know even more in my heart that this is the true church of God. And even though sometimes we don’t know why things happen, our Heavenly Father is watching over us and will take care of us. His will is greater than ours, and he sees the bigger picture. I am grateful for the time I had in Brasil! I love that country and have considered, in a very bug way, moving back to live there! All though my mom hates the idea, we’ll just have to see what happens! I love you all!! And be sure and drink plenty of water so you guys don’t have to go through the same private aching pains of kidney stones! Ate mais! Jesus Cristo e’ nosso Senhor e Redentor!!!

Elder Wilson

The longest two months of his mission!!

Elder Wilson and his Mission President and his Wife

Mission Pres always picks up the light ones!

Sister always cuts off the bottom of the ties for a keepsake
of the missionaries that go home

Elder Wilson got home on Feb 9th, had his surgery Feb 11th and was well enough to be headed back to Brazil on Feb 14th. But then there was the waiting!

Elder Wilson did get to see his best friend Elder Jolley come home from his mission on Feb 10th, the day after he got home. And we were at the airport to greet Elder Morwood and went to his homecoming in Beaver.

Elder Wilson went to work with his comp (his Mom) everyday, except for those rare occasions that Chanae or Brent were off work. He also was able to serve in the Temple and work in the Bishop's Store House.

We did help Elder Wilson celebrate his 18 month mark on March 17th. He burned 4 pairs of dress slacks (that his mom said he was NEVER wearing again.) and we went to lunch at the Made in Brazil Restaurant. It was very very yummy. The drinks were sooooooo good.

Elder Wilson got word that he would not be retuning to Brazil. Instead he would finish his mission in the Illinois Chicago North Mission. He boarded a plane out of here on April 6th and was very excited to get back to mission life.

Elder Wilson was way surprised to see
us there waiting for him at the SLC airport.
He thought we were still in Hawaii.

The Shoe!

Here we are getting ready to board the flight for
St. George. As you can tell, Elder Wilson has lost some weight.
All that walking!

Home at Last!.....
well that's not what Elder Wilson was thinking.
He was instantly homesick for Brazil, and he was freezing. When we walked out
to board the plane from SLC to St. George he said
"Holy Cow....I can see my breath!"

Thank heavens Chanae was home. She was the Chairwoman of the
Welcome home party since the Mom was out of town.
And She did a Great Job!

The Next Day Elder Wilson's best friend Elder Jolley
came home from his mission.

Here is Brian
singing to himself!

Elder Wilson got home just in time
to help plant the lawn.

Elder Wilson was in charge of watering
the newly planted lawn. I guess
there was some raking involved too.

Unfortunately Elder Wilson was forced to celebrate his 18 month mark here at home. But at least he got to celebrate with his 2 favorite companions.
Here we are eating at the Made in Brazil Restaurant.
Elder Wilson was Loving the Food and
conversing with the waitress in Portuguese.

Here is Elder Wilson Burning his slacks with some help
from his Senior Comp (Dad) who provided some fuel for the
FIRE!

Elder Wilson got some good Basket Ball Games in with his Dad and Brothers

Finally the time has arrived. Elder Wilson is leaving us
to finish off the last 5 months of his mission.
He is going to Chicago Illinois!!

SEE YA IN 5 MONTHS :)