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