Week 37

Hey family, not much time, But this week was great. A family of six surprised us by showing up to church on sunday with a lot of good signs that they want to get baptized, we found some interesting new investigators. I am still in Atencingo, I dont know why mom thought I was leaving, I am still here, it is still hot but getting a lot better. We got caught in a crazy rain storm this week and got soaked, My new companion is from colorado and we get along great. He is quiet but at the same time he talks a lot, it is a weird combination but we get a long great. His name is Elder Reilly Case. and he wrestled in high school and worked as a welder on an oil field all summer. We are doing great. Still no news on Dulces parents, but the family of six looks super promising. The Lord is preparing the hearts. Also, this week Elder Fernandez took off for the Dominican Republic may his missionary soul RIP. Right now elder case and I have the goal of 15 baptisms in six weeks. One week down and we have about 7 people that look very promising. I love you and I promise a better email next week. Sorry no pics, we have a new rule and can only carry our cameras on Pdays and I didnt have time to take any. Love you all Elder Jacob Wilson

Week 36

This weekend was awesome, two baptisms and almost a third one. A visit from two more general authorities who speak with the powers of heaven, and two confirmations on sunday. Friday we were in Puebla to hear from Elder Craig c. Christensen accompanied by Elder Piper of the area presidency. Two Spiritual giants, they shared so many cool experiences and stories. Then We stayed the night in puebla so elder Fernandez could take an english certification test. Then on saturday we baptized Arlette, and on Sunday morning we baptized Miguel and then on sunday we confirmed them both. We had a third baptism scheduled for sunday afternoon but it was cancelled due to a revoked permission from an unhappy catholic father and a very intimidated mother of our investigator. She is a member in every sense of the word, but for now we will have to wait on her actual baptismal ordinance. Pray for Dulce and her parents so they can recieve the gospel in their homes! Other than that this week was full of bus rides, lessons, and also Interviews with President Stellmon, that man is like an ucle or a godfather, i am pretty sure there is some kind of family connection there. He is the best and he is from Idaho, there has to be a connection if we go back far enough. The Church is growing here in atencingo, all is going well and we have more baptisms coming soon. The best things that happened this week was after their baptisms the branch here threw a party for the new converts, two parties, two baptisms, all the youth were there and the new converts felt the love. It was a fantastic week full of great experiences. Love Elder Jacob Wilson

Week 35

Apparently the email I sent last week never arrived. I sent it again today. I dont know why it never came, according to my email you all received it last monday at 6. So its not my fault, blame the weather or obama or google or something. This week we have been preparing arlette and miguel and dulce for baptism. The three of them are ready and Miguel and Arlette already have a date. This saturday and sunday the 23rd and 24th. Dulce is having a small problem with getting permission from her extremely unkind and unnecessarily bitter father who is ´catholic´ but stopped attending five years ago. The catholics can be some of the worst people to deal with. first nephi chapter 14. Truth. Other than that we havent done much else. They are taking up most of our time, and the three of them are progressing well. Elder Fernandez is enjoying his last week of his mission and we are going to finish it strong and with success. It hasnt been quite as hot at night here thanks to the rainstorms. I literally took a shower in the rain the other night is was coming down so hard. It has been hot during the days, but the nights are cool and the rain is refreshing. I have been healthy and happy and doing well. Everybody keep being cute and talk to you next week.

week 34

Dear Family, this week was crazy, I got called on wednesday letting me know that Elder Fernandez would be my new companion, my companion was moved to nearby Izucar and Thursday I drove 3 hours in bus to Puebla to pick up Elder Fern just to turn around and come back. The following day we had a great lesson with a new investigator who is a friend of our other investigator, who is a reference from our ONe investigator with a baptismal date.(Dulce is a friend of Miguel who is a reference from Arlett who is getting baptized on the 23rd) We are hoping to baptize and confirm all three before Elder Fernandez leaves and then finish with a small tour of his old areas for his last Pday. It could be the most epic two weeks of my entire short life. It was awesome talking to you yesterday, try not to count down the days till christmas Also when we had the emergency change I was made district leader over our district of us and one other companionship in Huehuetlan. The other two in my district are possibly the lowest numbers in the mission. So it should be fun getting them up to a higher gear and having more success. My new Companion is from the Dominican Republic and will be heading home in two weeks, so we are going to finish his mission really really strong so he can go home and RIP. He sings like an angel, and we get along great. My old companion is still in my zone and I actually played basketball with him today. Sorry for not having much time today, Love you all and be good and read the scriptures and share the gospel with everyone.

Week 33

Hey family. I just wanted to let you all know I love you and that this week has not been super exciting so this one will be a bit brief. My new companion and I are working but when I got here, there was literally nothing, no investigators, no work to do, and almost no references for future Investigators. This has been alot like what happened when I started my mission. I am going to have to do a lot of set up work over the next little while. By that I mean we need some organization, some help from the branch and a whole lot of help from the Lord, and a large new pool of investigators. The good news this week is that the FreeMason who I was teaching with Elder Read is going to be baptized this Saturday and two more of the investigators I found with Elder Scott have a baptismal date for the 23rd. My son is reaping the fruits of our labors! The worst problem I have seen in this area is a lack of diligence on the part of the past missionaries. The area book ( all the records of who you have been teaching and their progress) have been absolutely forgotten for at least 6 months. It made me think, if I was the Lord, I wouldnt have given those missionaries any of my children to teach, if they arent going to take good care and take good records, I will wait for somebody else. I hope I can show the Lord He can trust us with all the best because if not, I dont think we are going to have much success here. I am feeling happy and healthy and also I feel optimistic for the future of this area, just not super happy about the present situation. Time for a good fix up. Love you all Elder WIlson

Week 32

This week has been a really good one. I have found so many members here that love missionaries. First off. Hermano ChaChaCha. He is a convert of about 15 years and has pictures with every missionary that has come to atencingo since his baptism. He is a great member missionary, always giving us new references to go visit and always says when people ask him Are you mormon? Me? No I am not Mormon, Mormon was a prophet hundreds of years ago, Im Eleazar, I am a member of the church of Jesus christ of Latter day saints. He has that kind of quick humor that always keeps you laughing. (the picture is Elder Juarez and I with him) I really love the members here, they all have such funny personalities. What I have seen here in Atencingo is there are two types of members, those that go to church, and those that used to go to church. It is about a 1 to 4 ratio of those who go verses those who dont. It is sad to see so many people stuggling to live the gospel after they have already promised to live it. A huge part of my success as a missionary I feel is going to be helping these people come back to the truth. In the book momma sent me, it talks alot about how when we tell people they need the church they dont want anything to do with you. But when we show them that the church needs them and also the Lord needs them to help build his kingdom. They feel a sense of responsablity, they come back and they do there part to build the kingdom of God on the earth. I hope to be able to find some success bringing back the rebellious lost sheep who decided they dont need the church. The thing is the branch here is small, they have a lot of callings that they just cant fill because they dont have active worthy members to fill them. So it is time to fill the empty seats, and bring em all back with a fiery testimony of the true church burning in them once again. I hope you all find time this week to visit some rebel from your ward, not to bring them to church necesarily, but to show that they are needed, loved, and most of all that they have a friend. The Church is true family. One more thing, Try and find at least 10 people that reject your offer to hear more about your church and have the missionaries visit them. If you complete your goal of finding 10 people who reject you, you are doing all the Lord asks of us. Which is to try, also somebody might surprise you with a yes and you wont be discouraged when you get the answer that you werent looking for. Reverse psychology. Love you all have a great week and the church is true. Elder Jacob Wilson