To Whom it May Concern:

I have reached a point in my mission where all I want to do is focus on the work, and everything else around me requires me to focus on coming home, what am I going to do, where do I go to school, what do I do?

I always knew these days would arrive, but I feel as if they have come far too soon. In the beginning of the mission everyone tells you how fast time will fly, but it is always about how we have FOREVER left, and now, every day someone reminds me of how little time I have left. 11 weeks really is not that long, and before I know it, and possibly before I am ready or prepared, I will be back home. It is a very bittersweet, and surreal experience.

I never realized fully what a mission would do for me, but in every single way, shape, and form, my life has been changed for the better. My testimony has grown, my visions have been expanded, my desires for good have increased, and I have been richly blessed. There is nothing better than selflessly serving the Lord. There is nothing that quite compares to the happiness I feel right now, and there is nothing that I would rather be doing.

I am so grateful that I made the decision to serve a mission. If anyone out there is wondering if it is right for them, I can testify and promise you that there is no way it could be wrong. It is the best thing I have done for myself, my family, my future family, and it is the LEAST I could do for the person who has given me EVERYTHING. I am so grateful for this privilege, opportunity, and duty.

Until I HAVE to go home, I will..."Revive a dying world...and RETURN WITH HONOR."

Thanks for the love and support,

The gospel is true WITHOUT a DOUBT!!!

--

I love you, FOREVER and TODAY! (Today because of who you are, Forever because of who I know you can become!)

Weekly update

Hey Everyone,

This week has been super long. This transfer has flown by, until right about now. There are moments when I wake up and wonder if I am dreaming, and other moments that seem to drag on for a long long time. Missionary work is definitely WORK! We have updated probably every single sheet of paper in our area book this week, we have a board to keep track of all we are doing teaching wise and we re-did the whole thing. I have only been in Boise for about 5 weeks and started to wonder how many people we were actually teaching, etc. We have a big list of people who are Less Active or completely In Active. We have 13 investigators and only 2 of them are currently PROGRESSING. There is TONS of work to do, and this week it hit me, that my companion will most likely be leaving me this week. I guess I have a LOT to look forward to. There is plenty of work here.

I think that has been the blessing my entire mission, despite the physical challenges I have had, Heavenly Father has blessed me with the opportunities to witness miracle upon miracle and provide me with areas that have lots of work in them. I have needed it, because when you don't feel like working, it is nice to know there is work that needs to be done, if I wasn't in an area that had a lot of work to do, I think it would be harder to get out of bed to do the work when I am not feeling well. It has been quite a learning experience for me and I am grateful for every minute of it.

This saturday I had the opportunity to go out to Nampa to witness the baptism of two of the girls I taught while serving in Kuna. They are like little Sisters I have never had before. I love those girls so much. Marissa and Hannah were baptized saturday. We also had our very own baptism here in Boise South. Jay was baptized. He has a very beautiful family and wants to be with them forever, and knew this was the first step in getting himself there. It has been a pleasure to witness people change everything about themselves for the gospel and the blessings it provides.

I have learned a lot about repentance and forgiveness as a missionary. It has been amazing to watch how people who have done some pretty horrible things, can change their whole life around and become truly converted to the gospel. This weekend I attended a baptism of a man (not one of my own baptisms) but one of the missionaries in our district taught him. He had been incarcerated and learned about the gospel in prision. While he was there he found a brotherhood that he enjoyed. It wasn't his typical "gang" but he felt a bond that he had been searching for his whole life. He has spent the last 3.5 years working towards baptism, he has had the missionary lessons a few times to say the least, and yet, this saturday, when he did all he needed to, he entered the beautiful waters of baptism and walked away clean---free from ALL that he has done in the past. The Atonement covers all pain, and is for EVERYONE. I have never been so grateful for forgiveness and repentance. Elder Holland has said "It doesn't matter so much where you have been, but where you are going, and with His help, where you are willing to go!"

I really have come to understand that I will never fully fathom the atonement and repentance and forgiveness, but I know it is real, possible, and far reaching.

I love the gospel with all my heart. I love my mission, and I am grateful for miracles! The gospel really is true!!! TRUST ME!!!

Love,

Sister Crysi Wilson

Sister Wilson update

Hello Everyone,

I have been a missionary for 7 months and 5 days...

This week I bought a really cute red polka dot skirt, and I played in the irigation with a little boy (I am not allowed to swim, but I can put my feet in the water) LOL!

Boise South is treating me well. I am learning a lot (it seems to be the case no matter where or who I am with), and I love it. I have had a blast teaching the gospel to several people here in Boise.

I am currently teaching a man whose name is Charles Wilson and that is especially funny because my Dad and Brother, and Grandfather are all named Charles Wilson. He is working on quitting smoking with his wife, and then will be baptized. We are teaching another man named Jay. He is preparing to be baptized saturday (hopefully) depending on interviews and the whole process being complete...He has a beautiful family and really wants to be with them through the eternities. He told us that he doesn't know how he could possibly be forgiven for the things he has done in his life...and honestly, there is ONLY one way. I shared the story of Alma the Younger and how he had done some pretty bad things, but once he remembered that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, he felt the forgiveness he had been looking for. The Atonement is truly for EVERYONE!!

We are also going to start teaching a woman by the name of Toni tomorrow. She got up in sacrament sunday and bore her testimony---GOLDEN!! She said she was grateful for her friends "Sister Wilson, Sister Deschler, and Sister Cope (the Relief Society President)" who have helped her understand that she is a beautiful daughter of God. I don't really know what I did---except serve her, hug her when she came to church, and told her she looked great, but it is truly the small and simple things that touch the hearts of the people. I am excited to start teaching her.

Our most recent converts, the LaRocco's recieved a calling this week. Sister LaRocco will be a 6 year old primary teacher, and her husband has been asked to be her support for now. We were thrilled when she told us she had accepted her first calling. I love the faith of the new members. I hope to always have the kind of faith they have.

I get the privilege of singing at this upcoming Zone Conference on August 19th. I am excited. Our Mission President's wife Sister Cannon will be playing for me. She is wonderful and I love working with her. Transfers will be the 22nd. I am hopeful to be staying where I am at for another couple transfers again...but they do need someone to open a new area this transfer, so who knows what will happen. I know whatever happens is what is supposed to happen.

Another note: I made the goal to read the entire mission library and standard works on my mission...I am currently in Exodus in the Old Testament and Chapter 6 in Jesus the Christ and I have read everything else (the Book of Mormon twice). I love that my mission has taught me to accomplish goals, weather before or during my mission. I know that the gospel changes lives and I LOVE witnessing it in my own, and in the lives of others as well.

This is truly a great and a marvelous work!!!

I could really use some letters!!! :)

Love,

Sister Crysi Wilson

Idaho Boise Mission

1111 So. Cole Road

Boise ID 83709

Update from Sister Wilson

Hey Everybody,
I don't think I can quite express to you how wonderful my life has been for the past 4 months. It is hard to put into words how I feel about the experiences I have had since I left for the MTC January 5, 2011. I loved the MTC. I had two very different, and very fun companions. Sister Jerica Johnson from Huntington Beach California and Sister Natalie Huckfeldt from Brisbane, Australia. We all came to the same mission, and I love those girls VERY much. I arrived in Idaho on January 25, 2011 and was overwhelmed with everything we had to do the first day we got here. We went to a new missionary lunch at the mission home, and then we were whisked away to a training at the mission office. After a couple hours of training they finally brought in our trainers. I was assigned to open an area up to Sister Missionaries--meaning that before I came here Elders covered the wards we covered. I was assigned to serve with Sister Honey So'oialo from Apia Samoa. She became my "trainer" and my first companion in the field. We were assigned to serve in Kuna, Idaho. Oh how I love Kuna. It is like home, just without my family and friends.
4 weeks into my first transfer, after we had thought my companion would be extending we found out she would be going home because, though her mission was extended, they forgot to extend her visa so instead she went home on time. It was a hard transition, but that means that I got to stay in Kuna for at least another transfer. I was assigned to work with my "follow-up trainer" Sister Amy Gwynn from Simi Valley California. She came March 8th, 2011 after my trainer went home. My first baptism was March 12, 2011. Tayya (age 9) and TJ (age 8) were baptized. March 12, 2011 Taniqua (age 10) was baptized. It was super neat to watch those children set such a great example for their family and friends. Sister Gwynn had never had a child be baptized and that was all I had experienced. April 16, 2011 Mariah (age 8) was baptized.
On April 20, 2011 I got another new companion. I am still here in Kuna Idaho and I absolutely LOVE this area. I would be happy to serve here for as long as they would let me. My companion currently is Sister Kaitlyn Bailey Moss from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. She lives very close to State College where Penn State University is located. We laugh literally every second of every day. I love being her companion.
On April 26, 2011 just a couple days after Easter I had my gall bladder removed. I am grateful that it was able to be taken care of out here in the field because I absolutely love my mission. The past 4 months has changed my life forever. I will be forever grateful for the experiences I have already had. Don't worry though, after 4 days of laying in my bed I was ready to get back to work. I still get tired pretty easily, but I am surviving. I work super hard, and doing that pays off.
On May 7, 2011 I was able to witness 4 people I taught enter the beautiful waters of baptism. It was a very special day. Sam (age 13) and Emily (age 8) who have high functioning asperger's syndrome were baptized at 1pm. Sam was ordained to the office of a deacon the follow day after church and will pass the sacrament for the first time this coming sunday. Mila (age 73) was baptized at 2pm. She is from Ukraine and speaks Russian. I can now say 4 sentences of my testimony in Russian and I learned the first verse of "I stand all amazed" in Russian for her baptism. It was a very special experience. Her grandson is serving a mission right now too. I can only imagine how excited he was for his Grandma to take that step. Jackie (age 17) was baptized at 6pm. Jackie read/listened to the Book of Mormon in 4 days. She has an amazing support system of member friends and family (The Avery's) and is such a fun girl. I love her so much.
I think the best part about being a missionary is being able to call my investigators my friends. I would do anything for any of them. I feel very lucky to have met each and every one of them and I cherish the memories and experiences I have already shared with them. It has been an amazing 4 months.
The best decision I have EVER made is coming out on my mission. I love this place, these people, and I love the gospel of Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul. It is true and I know it with all my heart. I love the scriptures and the chance I have to study them each and every day. I also love changing. I love recognizing a need to improve and being able to do it. I know that with God all things are possible. I have witnessed miracles, met a lot of amazing people, and truly become a better person because of these past 4 months. The gospel is true and I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all forever and today!
Love,
Sister Crysi Wilson


Write me anytime---missionaries CRAVE mail!!!
Sister Crysi Wilson
Idaho Boise Mission
1111 So. Cole Road
Boise ID 83709

MTC Address

Starting January 5, 2011 you can write to Crysi at the following address:
Sister Crystalyn Wilson
MTC Mailbox # 209
ID-BOI 0125
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793
She will only be in the MTC for three short weeks.
Starting January 26, 2011 you can write to her at the following:
Sister Crystalyn Wilson
Idaho Boise Mission
1111 So. Cole Road
Boise, Idaho 83709

Fun Idaho Facts

The deepest river gorge in the North American Continent is Idaho's Hells Canyon - 7,900 feet deep. Yes, it's deeper than the Grand Canyon.

The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in the 48 contiguous states - 2.3 million acres of rugged, unspoiled back country.

63% of Idaho is public land managed by the federal government.

Five of history's pioneer trails, including the Oregon Trail and the California Trail, cross Southern Idaho. Wagon ruts are still visible all along the rugged terrain.

Julia Jean Mildred Frances Turner was born in Wallace, Idaho and changed her name to Lana Turner, becoming a famous movie star!

Between 1863 (when Abraham Lincoln signed the bill making Idaho a Territory) and statehood (27 years later), the Idaho Territory had 16 governors, four who never set foot in Idaho.

Appropriately named the "Gem State," Idaho produces 72 types of precious and semi-precious stones, some of which can be found nowhere else in the world.

The Silver Valley in northern Idaho has produced more than $4 billion in precious metals since 1884, making the area one of the top 10 mining districts in the world.

Ernest Hemingway arrived in Sun Valley in 1939 to work on his novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls. Idaho offered wide open spaces for Hemingway to indulge in his passions for hunting, skiing, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Hemingway is buried in Ketchum, Idaho where he died on July 2, 1961.

Did you know that Idaho has a seaport? The Port of Lewiston allows the exportation of millions of bushels of grain down the Snake and Columbia Rivers for overseas shipment.

After the great Wallace fire of 1910, the Pulaski, a mattock-axe tool used in firefighting, was invented in Idaho.

Idaho's Salmon River, known as the "River of No Return" because of its difficult passage, is the nation's longest free-flowing river that heads and flows within a single state.

One of the largest diamonds ever found in the United States, nearly 20 carats, was discovered near McCall, Idaho.

In Boise, Residents may not fish from a giraffe's back.

In 1953, the engineering prototype of the first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus, was built and tested in the Idaho desert on the Snake River Plain near Arco.

In Idaho, riding a merry-go-round on Sundays is considered a crime.

A treasure is said to be hidden in Beaver Canyon near Spencer that has never been located. Theburied cache is said to be that of the Montana sheriff turned outlaw, Henry Plummer's.

The Statehouse in Boise and dozens of other buildings in the city are geothermally heated from underground hot springs. In fact, Idaho is well sprinkled with public and private hot springs.

The longest main street in America, 33 miles in length, can be found in Island Park, Idaho.

Temple

On October 13, 2010
Family and Friends met Crysi at the
Oquirrh Mountain Temple
where she received her Endowments!