Monday, March 28, 2016

28 March 2016 Letter

Well, this week has been interesting.  I think we did a great job and I know we have left a mark here in this transfer.  We have found a lot of families that we are going to continue working with.  The interesting news is that I am getting transferred after just one transfer here in this area.

I am getting sent to San Borja in The Santa Patricia stake, and from what I hear it is a really rich area.  They closed our area due to much fewer missionaries entering the mission than normal, so they have combined the two areas here in Villa Hermosa into one.  Elder Cornejo and Elder Sanchez will stay here together in all of the area.

My new companion is named Elder Aguirra and I don't know him, but I am sure he will be a great companion.  I am ready to keep working hard and to learn this new area as soon as possible so I can focus and concentrate on the people we will be teaching.

I am a bit sad but this is what the Lord has prepared for me.  He knows where to put me and exactly when.  I will try to keep in contact with those here in Villa Hermosa so I can see them continue to progress in their testimonies.

Transfers!!

Elder Wilcox



#ElderWes




Monday, March 21, 2016

21 March 2016 Letter

This week our Mission President, President Boswell, sent us this letter.  I think it is great and it really made me think about the things I was to do differently this week.  I know the things of which he testified are true.
Apreciados Elderes y Hermanas, 
Les invito ésta semana a recordar a nuestro Salvador Jesucristo.
En cada contacto recordar como Él habló a todos...siempre levantando y aliviando dudas y dolores.
En cada lección recordar como Él enseñó...siempre con amor y según la necesidad.
En cada paso recordar como Él caminó...siempre con propósito y con una buena disposición.
En cada oración recordar como Él oró...siempre con fe y con verdadera intención.
Hace más de dos mil años, Él nos dio el ejemplo perfecto. 
Él vivió, enseñó, sufrió en el jardín de Getsemaní, dio su vida en la cruz, y resucitó y lo hizo porque Él amaba al Padre y a nosotros. 
Les invito esta semana a repasar la última semana de Él estudiando estos capítulos y versículos durante sus estudios:
- Mateo 26-28
- Marcos 14-16
- Lucas 22-24
- Juan 16-21
- Doctrina y Convenios 19:15-19
Testifico con todo el poder de mi corazón que Él nos salvó de la muerte física y espiritual. Por medio de Él tendremos la inmortalidad y podemos alcanzar la vida eterna. Yo sé que vive mi Señor y yo le amo con todo mi corazón.
Representamos a Él, trabajaremos por y para Él. 
Les invito ésta semana a ser un poquito más como Él.
Well, this week was a bit difficult as far as lessons go because we pretty much never have anyone to accompany us and that makes things really hard.  All the great contacts we have can't turn into news because we can't go back and enter in the home.  It is a bit frustrating but we are there working with the members trying to gain as much confidence possible to get them to help us.

We did find a brother who lives in our area but has been attending at Los Ficus, a church building much closer to our area.  This is the case with many families we have heard of but do not personally know them unfortunately.  We found one named Mario.  He is an Elder and his wife is a less-active member.  He has decided to be obedient and come with us to church.  He is an example to me because from what I hear, Los Ficus is a strong ward and the members are super great and friendly, something our newly converted branch-into-ward is still working on.  He is now accompanying us and helping a bit.

The Lord is providing.  Our goal is to find and visit all these members and families that live in our area but go to Los Ficus and try to help them understand.  The ultimate goal is a branch in our area according to the bishop because we are so far away from the chapel.  I agree with him and am supporting him.  Elder Sanchez as well, along with most of the members that live here.  That is what we are working on and we feel a new sense of purpose, a sense that the Lord is on our side in this, supporting us.  It is a really comforting feeling.  To work!

Also, Angi was baptized on Saturday and it was great.  Lots of people came to support her.  She is one of the strongest converts I have ever taught.  She is already the most faithful of all the Young Women in our ward, and has 100% attendance in seminary.  On Sunday I was able to confirm her a member and confirm the Holy Spirit as well.  I never have confirmed anyone and it was so cool.  I am still amazed at how the Spirit guided my words.  I just waited and the words came to me like someone was literally whispering them to me in my ear.

I know that the Priesthood is the authority to use the power of God.  I feel that so strongly.  The Holy Ghost is so key in that Priesthood and I am grateful to have that restored authority on the Earth today.  Pics will come.  Her parents both came to church and stayed the three hours along with Oscar and his family!!!

Love the mission!

Elder Wilcox



#ElderWes




14 March 2016 Letter

(Note: we did not receive a letter from Wesley last week, 7 March 2016.)

This week was really cool. We saw how the Spirit of God really softens hearts. This week, that led to the Father of a investigator family signing a permission slip for his wife and daughter, something they thought would never happen and now we have Angi's baptism this Saturday. That should be nice after the whole ordeal with Alex's baptism not happening.

I am so grateful for this work. I think I have learned something this week. I have felt something special. That word is happiness. I feel so happy. I don't even know why because I am so exhausted.

Also, we are working with Oscar and his strong addiction he has to cigarettes. Last night we gave him a blessing with his brother-in-law and it was so powerful that afterwards he went over and hugged his wife and two kids and then all of us.

I am excited for this coming transfer. I don't know if Elder Sanchez and I will still be together, but we have seen the things we are improving help us in the work. We had a great companionship inventory this week and we talked a lot about the Christlike attributes.  We have seen an improvment in our relationship. After Elder Robbins' visit, we have been trying to be more obedient and it makes us happier. What most called my attention was 'how my mom wants me to be.' What type of missionary does she want me to be?  It is a great question that usually leads me to feel a bit disapointed in myself but to improve. This week should be a great one.

Elder Lynn G Robbins from the presidency of the 70 came to visit the mission.  We had a meeting with him and the Lima North mission as well.  It was really interesting.  He talked about Chapter 6 from Preach My Gospel - Christlike Attributes.  It was a great learning experience.

He also shared a talk with us called 'Tasting the Light' from a seminar he gave to Young Adults last Spring.  It talks about faith and a certain spectrum on that.  It talks about how we can realize we have more faith and a stronger testimony that we think.  It talks about how we learn and gain light - revelation.  The only way we can receive a testimony is by asking God, because seeing is not believing.  Seeing is not faith.  Seeing God won't help you know he exists.  It is strange but it is how things work.  How many people in the scriptures saw signs or angels and still didn't believe?  Many.  I thought that was cool.  I realized I have a stronger testimony and faith in Jesus Christ.  Just what I needed.




#ElderWes





29 February 2016 Letter

This week I just wanted to talk about baptism.  'cause that is what we are preppin' to do here. We have Alex's baptism this Saturday and we will see what will happen. We have been working hard and praying for the Comombian family and after a great lesson on Thursday, we invited them to baptism and they now have a date for the 26th of March.

We also have Oscar they guy I wrote about last week. He came to church this week with his family. We walked in with them all and everyone saw and their jaws dropped to the floor every one. Even the bishop was so surprised that he stood up and welcomed Oscar personally in Sacrament meeting.

Everyone knows them and later asked how we did it, how much we paid him haha. But we really didn't do anything. Everyone has their time. He is a very skeptical and critical dude, and seemed comfortable but still a bit nervous at church. They let out some deep doctrine in Elders Quorum and he was asking questions too.

That night, last night, we had a lesson with him on faith and repentance. At the end he told us everything, that before he was in drugs and drinking and escaped, but through the addiction to cigarettes. He wants help. He wants to quit. Then he asked how long us 2 would be here in Villa Hermosa. Then he said he asked that because he wants Elder Sanchez to baptize him before he leaves!! Whatttt!!!????

God works in mysterious ways but I am okay with that. Happiness is the end result always. Always.

I know that this church is true. These things don't just happen. All is part of a wise purpose.

Elder Wilcox

Papito Espinel

Sweet sweet ceviche. Saturday is always fish day in the pension


Slushie time. First one in a year



This is a chola hat

(The following is some correspondence between Wesley and his trainer.  I'm including it here simply to have is as part of the record of his mission.)

Wesley's 2/22/2016 letter to Elder Espinel:
Q tal papa!! Veo q sigues ahi en Salamanca!!! Locazo son casi 5 cambios o algo asi no? te extraño mucho y me di cuenta q tu tiempo ya es corto. le falta poco. Haz todo lo posible por trabajar con toda diligencia hasta el fin!!!! hasta pronto en la multizona!!

Elder Wilcox

Elder Espinel's 2/29/2016 response:
Mijitoo!!! que gusto fue poder verte en la multizona, has crecido bastante y debes seguir haciendolo y bueno tambn extraño hablar contigo ejejje de todas esas cosas!! pero bueno , asi es el tiempo va pasando y uy!!!! :O cuando uno menos piensa ya esta es casi afuera!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😨 jaja sabes...? hoy me mandaron mi itinerario de salido :P es loco esto , pero bueno a disfrutar lo que queda!!!!!!!!!! Exitos mijooo!! trabaja!! te quieroooo!




#ElderWes