Welcome Home Elder Wilkes!

 

Giving it My All to The End

Dear Family,

Well what can I even say...I am so thankful for all of you guys and the love and support that you have given me...I just want you all to know that I love you. I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have had to serve a mission. I think that the greatest thing I have accomplished is the change I have experienced in my own heart. I know that this really is the Church of Jesus Christ. This gospel changes life. Other than that I am not sure of many things. I am giving it my all to the end because I know that is what the Lord requires of me. I remember when Micah came home as they released him he just said, "I know who my Savior Jesus Christ is and what my standing is before Him." I know what he means now. I love you all!!

I will see you all next Wednesday!!!

Elder Wilkes

Spiritually Prepared

Well this last week was a week of miracles...Elder Whiting and I had the opportunity to baptize five people. Ludbena Lopez and her 4 daughters....it was not as easy as it sound though... Ever since we have found them they have been golden investigators. Like it was almost too easy. They read and did everything that we invited them to do. The mother even cut off a relationship she has been having for years to be able to keep the law of chastity. It was awesome to see her faith grow. Then on Wednesday we went to visit them and we started the visit there was just something weird. The spirit was telling me that something was up...as soon as we said the prayer she said--these visits have been awesome and we have loved it...but we are not going to get baptized this Sunday. We can't get baptized. And then it got really awkward and that was kind of it...like she just cut it off... and we left...I honestly can even describe the sadness that Elder Whiting and I were feeling. Honestly my only goal has been to help him have success and after that I was just so frustrated. We could hardly even speak. I could hardly even walk...We then saw our Ward Mission Leader in the road and he went to go pick them up for a ward activity....to our surprise they came!!! The next day, Elder Martinez came to work with me and with the help of Elder Sorto and Elder Whiting we really tried to obtain the revelation that we needed. We received exactly what she needed...that night we visited them and it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever had on my whole mission.

I know that I am not perfect, but the Spirit sure is. They all ended up getting baptized on Sunday. I think that it is so important that as missionaries and disciples of Christ that we always take the time we need to be spiritual prepared. I know that the spirit is the answer we just always need to find the right question.

I am so excited for Jamison to be in the field. I have been in a trio and also my last change as assistant we were a 4 some so you just got to find the way to make it work! I love you all.

Elder Wilkes

This happened as we finished the day yesterday.

The Reason For Everything

Well things are going really well..this week Elder Whiting and I are going to baptize the Lopez family. It is a single mother and her 4 daughters...I think that they honestly are some of the most prepared people I have ever taught. Man this is all so crazy with Jamison leaving and everything...I am not ready to come home... just read an email and I may or may not have lost my scholarship from a huge mistake on my part...so man things are just kind of crazy..... but then I got on my email and I saw this email from a convert family...they were baptized 20 months ago. I want Jamison to read this...this is why we serve missions. The reason for everything... In midst of some much confusion of the world today, it is only the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can bring us peace. Let us never never forget that. I love you all...

Elder Wilkes...

P.S. The letter is broken English. I did not go to the sealing because i wasn't informed in time... but it is all worth it... Also we went on a sick hike yesterday.

"Hello Elder hope this good will write to you to know that we love you very much, thanks for having spoken of the Gospel, thanks to that we could be sealed in the temple as a family and is an unforgettable experience that live there; always know that you remember him as a great missionary, and to admire, knows will never forget you because you were baptized ... thanks for the pasiencia (patience) that we and all the love we asia reflection. I hope you do not forget us when and finalize its mission. I hope you understand this letter with love the family sotoj Guatemala. Amatitlan."

Working Hard

Dear Family,

Well can I just say that I am going to be so excited that I won't have to write these anymore haha. These letters are just really not my strong point.

Anyways this last week was a very good week. In our new area we found a family of five that came to church for the first time this last week. So things are looking pretty good in our area. We are just working hard...I don't have any idea of what to say this last week. I am excited for Jamison to go into the mission field and am so proud of him for the kid that he is.

Well here is a picture of me from when I feel asleep this last week when my comp was in the bathroom. Also us on the Fourth of July.
Love you!!

- Elder Wilkes

City of Parramos

Dear Family,

Well I cant believe that is has been another week...time is really flying so wow my time is short and I just don't really like that..This week was a good week we were just trying to get to know our new area and work with all of the members. The members in our new ward are so awesome and excited to work. Our ward mission leader is the funniest guy ever. He is super excited. This last weekend we had a baptism. We baptized Guierllmo Vielman! His wife has been a member for a few years and she just recently started going to church. This weekend if everything works out we are going to have 3 more! I love you all.... just working hard and trying to finish strong!

Elder Wilkes

Here are a few pictures, one of me and my good friend Zach Burhley from before the mission...he was my zone leader last change.

My Last Six Weeks

Dear Family,

Well.....my companion and I had changes this last week and now we are in a different area in the same zone. Pretty funny because I know have had 3 areas in this same zone. Yesterday we made the change and it has been funny just because we dont know anyone yet....but I have faith that we are going to see success in my last 6 weeks... I dont really have much to say becuase we just got to the area but things are great!! I am feeling really weird with so little time left....

One cool thing that we saw yesterday is we were looking for the house of a member and we got lost and a lady came up to us and started asking us about the church and we went and taught her. she told us that she has just been praying to find the best church. the spirit was very strong and she told us...I have never felt anyhting like this before. I just want everyone to remember that there is not a bigger blessing than being a member of this church!! The power of the spirit only is in the true church of Jesus Christ. I hope that we all can really recognize those playings everyday. Love you all.

Elder Wilkes