Sister Wilcox is Out, Peace! ✌

Hey y'all,

This is the last hoorah!

I'll be honest, I don't have much to say. I am still in shock that this is my last p-day and that I won't be writing anymore emails! I can't believe this!

This week has been crazy! We've been running around trying to do missionary work and still get to see everyone we planned on seeing. We had a really good lesson with Ron and Madonna one last time, if y'all remember them, and I am curious to see if they have opened up more to what we teach... I guess I'll just have to stay updated through Sister Johnson!

Oh I forgot to mention transfer news! Sister Johnson is getting Sister Jackson, a sister that would be going home with me but she decided to extend her mission 4 weeks! She is the bomb! But that's not all, sister Jackson and Sister Johnson are training a new missionary! So this area gets a trio again and it'll be training again! Super exciting stuff!

Sister Johnson told me that this was answering her prayer perfectly. She wanted someone to be an example to, but she also didn't quite feel ready getting out of training, so she needed someone to help her and encourage her to keep improving. So the Lord blessed her with a trainee and a really experienced sister who loves her mission! Isn't that amazing?!

It also answered my prayers. I wanted sister Johnson to be excited about change and feel comfortable taking over the area, and the Lord totally answered our prayers. He is so good to us!

So yeah, sister Johnson is feeling good, and I feel like a psycho. There is so much I need to do to be ready to leave and I am a little stressed, but it's a good kind of stress. I am excited and ready to be home! I am ready to see all y'all!

I keep getting flooded with memories and experiences from my mission, it's been hard to contain my emotions. I'm just so grateful that I got to come here, that I got to be a missionary. That's something I never thought I would do. Yet here I am, about to return from a mission. God's plan for me has always been better than my plans for myself. He has helped me see that I can do more and be more. He has helped me to see what is truly important in life, and He has directed me onto the path that will lead back to Him. He course corrected my life. He helped me understand the Atonement better, and helped me to seek to have an Eternal Perspective in all things. He has helped me to love my brothers and sisters more. My testimony was never like this, I never had a love for the book of Mormon that I do now. I am so in love with the Lord and His Gospel, my heart is full. ❤

Thank you for all those that have stuck with me on this journey! I have loved hearing from you, and I have appreciated all the wisdom and support I have received! I would not have had nearly as wonderful an experience without all of you. I love you, and I can't wait to be reunited with you!

See you soon!

With love,
Sister Wilcox
 

Well, I Don't Really Know What to Put Here

Hey y'all

It's been a pretty emotionally draining week this week, and I'm sure next week will be too. 😥

Last Monday we hung out at the Rodenbergs pool all day long with the branch. We couldn't get in, but it was still fun to be with everyone. That night we visited Sister Gribbins and had a good little spiritual conversation with her. She is just the sweetest. Then she told us her chickens had gotten bigger and I perked right up. She has afro chickens and fluffy chickens, and they are all mixed and funny looking, I was in heaven! I got to hold her little banty Cochin rooster, he made me miss the one I used to have a couple years ago 😢

Tuesday we visited Sister Hersey and had dinner with the Adams. I love the Adams, they are chill RM's and they just understand us so well, because they have already been there and done that! We get to just talk about our mission experiences and I love it!

Wednesday we had district council in Glasgow instead of Sulfer Well, and I didn't know this before but Glasgow meets in an old Baptist church! It was kinda cool! The font is in the chapel!

We visited Ron and Madonna later that day. I have been putting it off and off and off and finally I was like I just need to do it and go over there, so we did! It's been since March, I think, since I've seen them. We thought they were going to be mad at us, but instead Madonna was like, "Where have you all been?! I've been praying that y'all would come back!" So that was a pleasant surprise! We had a good visit with them, and Ron kept trying to quiet everyone down because he wanted us to share a message with them, so that was great! They insisted that we come back sometime this week before I go, I'm glad they don't hate us! 😅

That night we had dinner with Jack and Renee! Everytime we go over there I feel like Renee is getting more and more comfortable with us and the church and all of it. I really think it will just take time for her, and maybe one day she will want to take the discussions. It was a really good visit with them, and we got to play with their German shepherd puppy!

Thursday we went to Sister Shoffners place with the Karrens and planted some tiger lilies and did some landscaping. We found a turtle after pulling up some weeds, it hissed at Elder Karren. We got some cute pictures with it though!

We had a lesson with Allie, Clay, and Kat, and this time we had them teach us. They taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they actually did better than we did! Not even joking. Allie asked Kat at one point, "should we move on to the next point?" And Kat goes, "well do they understand what we just taught them?" And I about died! They both need to serve missions! 😂😂

On Friday we went up to Columbia with the Karrens and had dinner with the Isaacs. It was so much fun, and Olga made a ton of food! I was dying. We helped them get the food ready because they were running a little behind, and I swear everytime we help with food I always end up cutting the watermelon. Thank goodness I worked at a produce store!

Saturday we volunteered at the local county fair. That was such a blast! The Karrens were the ones who hooked us up with the fair, and they told us that people were kinda leery of having missionaries from our church there. I think they thought we had some kind of ulterior motives, but whatever. We got there and greeted everyone and worked in the food booth. It was a little slow, but we got to talk to and get to know quite a few people. And they seemed kinda upset when we said we could only work next Saturday. I think we broke down their walls 😁

We also visited a member family that just popped into our area book. We pulled up and there were people outside so that was helpful. The lady walked up and said, "I'm Jennifer, but I assume you already knew that." And I immediately felt the hostility. They knew who we were, and she asked us who sent us, and I told her that no one had sent us, we came on our own cuz we noticed they were new. Some of that hostility went away. They aren't interested in us coming by to share any kind of message with them, but she said we can still come on over to visit. It was interesting, but the fact that they invited us back was a good sign.

Sunday was crazy cuz it was the Karrens last Sunday, and it was a testimony meeting so I had to get up there and that was stressful but good. I cried a lot. After church we went back over to the fair with the Karrens because the fair people invited all the volunteers to a dinner. It was really good and we got to talk to more people. Granny, one of the ladies we worked with, invited us over for breakfast this Friday! So that was awesome and I'm so excited! I love that gal! I love all the fair people!  We also visited Sister Mayer last night and she gave me a Magnolia blossom. I have been wanting one of those and she just fulfilled my dreams! It make the house smell so good!

Today has already been busy. We said good-bye to the Karrens this morning, it's weird not having neighbors anymore. So that was sad and depressing. Then we had lunch with Lucy and Joe at an excellent taco truck, they only spoke Spanish to me because Lucy told them we needed to practice 😂 Oh and then I mailed some junk home and that has been my day and my week folks. Looking forward to crying some more and freaking out and packing, and yeah. I cannot believe it's my very last week in the mission. How did I end up here? Where has all that time gone? I felt like this would last for an eternity at first, but then I blinked. Now I'm here. It's so bizarre.

I've spent a lot of time this week contemplating my mission and the things I have learned. The mission has been hard, yes, but now that I think about it, it has kind of been like finding a great hidden treasure. The people I have met and the experiences I've had and the things I've learned are priceless. It has made me rich in ways I never would have known had I never come. It has mostly helped me realize how divine and priceless the book of Mormon is. I have never had so much respect and love for a book. It has proven itself time and time again to me how true it is, how powerful it is. It is exactly what it says it is, another testament of Jesus Christ, and it has brought light and understanding into my life that I have never known before, and I continue to learn. I can see very plainly how it is that rod of iron that will lead us all back to our Heavenly Father, should we choose to grasp hold of it and never let go.

I love you all and I appreciate you all so much. I can't wait to see you in 9 days!

With love,
Sister Wilcox ❤

Some of these pics are old, or repeats, I don't remember what I've already sent or not 😅

 

 

 

2 Weeks!

Hey everybody!

Happy Memorial Day!

I'm sitting at a branch pool party emailing, and it's so weird to think I could be swimming in 2 weeks! What?!

This week was such a blur. We had to drive to Sulfer Well on Tuesday because we were having interviews with our mission president. This is the last one I'll be having, outside of the mission home at least. I cried because it was so crazy to realize that. I remember my first interview with him, it was so long ago! I remember not even thinking about what my last interview would be like because it was so far away and I just had it, last week!

Wednesday we talked to a member, for longer than I would like to admit, about Elvis Presley. She LOVES Elvis and she goes to Elvis impersonator shows in Tennessee, that's how crazy about him she is. She has scrap books full of him and so many things in her house are Elvis themed, it's a little overwhelming. But you know what, that's probably how crazy I come across about chickens and plants, so I can't judge nobody.

Thursday came around and Sister Johnson was totally knocked out. She got hit with some kind of illness and nearly puked a couple times. So she layed around on medication while I gutted the apartment. I threw out so much stuff, missionaries leave so much garbage, I hate it! I got rid of so many clothes too, I have no wardrobe now!

Friday was crazy. We went and tried to find this new family that I've never heard of and they don't come to church, who apparently moved into our ward, but they weren't home so that was sad. Then we went and visited some less active members and then we got a text from another member who needed help laying 1200 sq feet of sod.... so we went on over there and laid down sod for 3 hours. It was the most satisfying yard work I've ever done in my life AND we got to be with my favorite members of the branch. Y'all, if God told me I needed to move to Kentucky for whatever reason, I would move to Campbellsville because I love this branch!

Oh my gosh, speaking of the branch, we have had so many people showing up to the church wanting things. Random people. Who we've watched stalk the building looking for open doors. People around here walk up to churches asking for money and stuff. Its kinda scary. But luckily everytime a random person walks up, the branch president or some of the council members have been there to take care of things.

Anyways, Saturday was crazy too. We got to go to the temple with Allie, Kat and Clay to watch Allie and Clay do baptisms for the dead!!! It was wonderful! I totally cried. As Allie went under, I saw how unending this work is. When one person is converted, it doesn't just affect the one person, it sets off a domino affect for many many more people. Allie and Clay set souls free that day. Those people they were baptized for were directly affected by Allie and Clay's own decision to get baptized. This work is not a solo mission. It isn't just about you. The best convert you will have is yourself, but you affect the lives of everyone around you as you share the Gospel in the way you live your life. You can make change happen. You can change lives. You can turn darkness into light and save a drowning soul. We are the lower lights, we guide the lost sailors to shore. We are holding up the lanterns full of the light of Christ. People will be drawn to us.

There will be those who will try to put you out, or tell you that what you are doing is meaningless, but it's just Satan. They don't know it, but they are really working for him. And that's sad, but true. Don't let Satan win. He is so not worth it. The fight to get back to our home is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears that will and have already been shed in our mortal lives. It IS possible to make it back to God, He has given us all the tools we need in order to do so. It's up to us to use them. So yeah, that's what I was thinking of in the temple with those 2 sweet siblings, God's work is miracle work, and its never ending. Don't ever let anyone tell you that miracles no longer exist. If men have faith, then there will be miracles. 2 Nephi 27:23~

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."

I had someone ask me this today, "Do you feel ready to end your mission?" And this is what I responded with, and I felt like sharing it:

I do and I don't. I go through moments where I'm like, "man, how come I haven't improved here?" or, "how come I haven't been working more effectively the rest of my  mission? Shouldn't I already know what I'm doing? Shouldn't I be better at this?" But then my dad's advice pops into my head when he said that "you still don't know what you're doing even at the end of your mission." I have worked differently in each area with each companion because that's what I've needed to do. I'm doing things differently now because that's what the area needs. Could I do better? Of course. Do I still have problems being the most effective missionary? Yes. The rest of my life is going to be me constantly trying to get better at being a disciple of Christ, because I'm still not there yet. But I think all the negative thoughts are just Satan trying to make me feel like a failure. Because then the Spirit brings to my mind all of the people I've met and been able to help, and all of the things I was able to do. And I realize that I'm not a failure, I just served a mission in my own imperfect way and tried my best. I'm still trying.

I'm not a perfect missionary, but God has worked with me regardless of that fact for this past year and a half. He is so merciful, and so forgiving, it's incredible.

So yeah, that was the week. This next week is going to be crazy too. I'm trying to get everything in order so Sister Johnson has everything she needs when I leave. I'm freaking out, but it's all good. I love you all, enjoy this day remembering those you love! Have a fabulous week!

With love,
Sister Wilcox 😘

Three Weeks 'Till I Expire

Hey y'all,

Not much has happened this week.

From Tuesday to Wednesday we had exchanges. This time I got to go to Bardstown with Sister Barnes, that was really nice! She told me I better be prepared to bike and I was so excited for this. Both of us spent quite some time in bike areas, so it was a lot of fun to bike around with someone comfortable on a bike. I actually miss biking through town y'all! It was taken from me too soon!

While exchanges was fun for me, Sister Johnson had a very different experience. Let me just say that I am so grateful that Heavenly Father let me have one last good exchange! I never have to do one ever again and I am SO RELIEVED.

We have been doing a lot more finding this week, so that's been a blast of course. You get to meet all kinds of interesting souls out there. One gal we met was super open and told us she was looking for a religion, but she was visiting her parents home and actually lives in Louisville! Kinda sad, but then we got her hooked up with the YSA sisters up there and they have already been able to talk to her!

The best part of the week was Friday when we got to drive up to Louisville to hear from Elder Stansfield of the Seventy. He was awesome. He said we (the missionaries) need to enjoy the conversation more. Oftentimes when we meet people we just run through the typical missionary contact approach and that seldom ever works. I have been fighting that my whole mission. The best contacts I have ever had with people was when I nerded out with them about Batman or gardening or chickens, or talked about favorite bands and cartoons. When they saw that we were real people behind the nametag, they were no longer scared of us and we could actually share a message with them. It's harder to treat someone like they aren't human if you are walking and talking like any other normal person. Yes, we represent Christ and yes, we have a purpose behind everything we do, but that doesn't mean we can't be ourselves. The Lord needs us to be ourselves, to be His servants in our own unique way. That's the only way we can actually bring people unto Christ.

I think missionaries de-humanize themselves too. It's easy to be numb to everything. There's so much pressure, everything is so repetitive, and it feels like we're expected to do everything perfectly- even though we're not, and for some that can cause them to become "robotic." A hard working, diligent and obedient missionary does not equal being a robot, but a missionary that is doing all those things out of fear or out of obligation loses all purpose behind why they are on a mission. Sometimes I have felt the robot come out in me, but this last Mission Tour we had helped me realize what I was doing, and to knock it off. Honestly, I started being afraid of talking to people again. I hate feeling like I have an agenda behind every contact. And after that tour I felt new again, like I remembered how to talk to people, like I could find the joy in missionary work again.

Also, when it's a missionaries' last Zone Conference you get asked to bear your testimony. I thought, for some reason, that I would get out of it since a Seventy was coming and it wasn't a normal Zone Conference. Nope! I was wrong! Nearly all my girls that came out with me were up there with me and it was the most surreal experience ever. All I could do was cry. I can't believe I'm leaving Kentucky in 3 weeks.

So yeah, that was great. Saturday we just seemed to be in the right places at the right times. We tried to find this one guy named Scott, but his house looked kinda abandoned. We asked his neighbors, they looked like they were having a family reunion or something, and they said that no one lived there anymore. So then we explained who we were, and one of the ladies wanted us to pray with her. Her daughter had returned home after years of not seeing one another, so we prayed with them and thanked God for answering their prayers. It was so sweet and it was so crazy that we met them all when we did.

After that, we went to this other place to try and meet this gal named Lori who the sisters had taught a little bit before. We met some of her family, but when she pulled up she ran right inside. So, that was weird. However, her dad came and talked to us for a good long while and turns out he knows the Fawbush's from our branch! We had a great conversation with him, and he opened right up. We didn't get to talk to Lori, but we got to know her family better so I'll take it 😁

Sunday was a good day, we sang with the youth at the Linger Longer after the meetings which was so much fun! We were legit! We had a bass, guitar and ukelele. On top of that we found out that the Pearson's all got their temple recommends and they are planning on going this Saturday and we got permission to go with them!!!! I am so excited!!!

Anyways, I feel so scatter brained today, so hopefully this email makes sense! I love you all! Enjoy the rest of May! It's ending soon! To all y'all in school, you'll be free soon, hang in there!

With love,
Sister Wilcox ❤❤❤

 

 

What Happened this Week?

Hey y'all,

I'm going to be honest, I can't remember a whole lot from what we did this week. It's all a blur in my brain. I'll try my best though.

Last Monday we had the Sulfer Well elders come to town because Elder Gibbons needed to do Allie and Clay's Baptismal interviews, so that of course was a blast! We taught their last lesson beforehand and then they were all set. They did well, though in Allie's interview they got a little sidetracked and talked about Captain America for a bit. Not sure how that correlated with baptism, but whatever.

Tuesday was crazy because we needed to fill out the rest of Allie and Clay's membership forms, so we ran out to Sister Pearson's and called the elders and got all their info in (the elders forgot the papers on Monday ). After that we went and had a lesson with Lucy and Joe on the Plan of Salvation. We went more in depth than we typically do, but I think they needed it. Afterwards they both said that that lesson has never made that much sense before. They have been taught by several sets of elders, so they have been through that lesson a few times, but I guess this time was different! Maybe this is the time they will get baptized! 

After Joe and Lucy we hustled over to see Mayra who said she could meet later in the day and it all worked out. She has been more on the fence, we're worried we may have to stop teaching her soon. But that is okay, maybe it's just not the right time for her to accept the Gospel.

Wednesday was weird. We had to do weekly planning that day because our district council had been moved to Thursday. The planning went longer than it usually does, and afterwards we planned to clean the font. The baptismal font was a little cobwebby and dusty (sad!) so it needed to be done. But we got their and got in the building, and Sister Johnson had this awful feeling. I didn't feel anything, though I wasn't in the greatest of moods so that probably didn't help, so I didn't want to discount her anxieties. I went around and checked all the doors and found one on the far side unlocked. We did not like that and she kept feeling like we needed to leave so we hustled on outta there! 

Instead we went out to try some people and felt prompted to go talk to Jack and Renee, so we did. They got a new German Shepherd pup and we came just in time to help them wrangle her into her little harness. She was cute! We always have good discussions with Jack and Renee, and we keep inviting them and seeing how they're doing. One of these days all these lessons and invites and missionaries are gonna get these people to realize they need to make a move. That's what I hope anyways. You never know when something will come around to cause a change of heart. 

Thursday we had district council and the Zone Leaders were there. They're a bunch a goof balls (in a good way). Also I caught a lizard! It was in the gym and the elders were being spastic trying to get it outside. I didn't want him to get stepped on, so I scooped him up and tossed him out the door! He was wiggly. After our meeting we went to clean the font finally with the Karrens. We felt safer with the Karrens there. All went well, Elder Karren showed us how to turn everything on so we were good to go! That night we had dinner with the Kotter family which was a first for me! They have had a crazy time since Sister Kotter had her baby 4 months ago, so I'm not holding it against them that they hadn't invited us over! I think she was worried we did?? 

Oh, they also invited the new family over, the Adams, who then invited us to come with them to visit their neighbors right off the bat! So that was cool. We go to see them tonight, we'll see how things go.

Friday I can't really remember what happened other than we helped Lucy and Joe plant a vegetable garden and we finished the horse stalls for Sister Tucker. Her mare is BIG and pregnant right now. Like, now you can actually tell. She is due here in a couple weeks, I can't wait to see the baby!!!

Saturday was the baptism!!! We got there bright and early to fill the font and set things up. The Sulfer Well elders came to practice a musical number for it, then people started showing up and everything went great! Sister Young got to call in to see the baptism and it was just so awesome! I can't believe Allie and Clay are new members now it's so crazy! 

That night we got to see Sister Hersey and she made us some real Nepalese food! It was sooo good! Oh my gosh. But when we got home, poor Sister Johnson had a food overload and puked. It was sad. She's better now. 

Sunday was Allie and Clay's confirmation, and Mothers day! Got to talk to my mom, and I'll talk to her again today! Sister Johnson and I also taught the Young Women's class because none of the teachers showed up so... yeah. It was kinda cool using Come Follow Me,  I haven't really looked at how the lesson plans are laid out and I liked how it's really just up to you and the people in class to discuss the topics and learn from one another. 

We ate with Sister Pearson and her family that afternoon. We had smoked duck, and it was actually pretty darn good. Then we went and visited Jennifer who is officially off smoking! Woohoo!!!! She just needs to keep going and then she can go through the temple!

Today we made earrings out of clay with a member. It was actually really therapeutic, and they were pretty easy and fun to make, so I might look into doing that back home? Could be fun?

This upcoming week we have exchanges tomorrow (I get to bike in Bardstown!) and on Friday we have a mission tour up in Louisville! Carly is going to be there because she's driving the sisters from Evansville to the tour, so I get to see her again!!!! I'm so excited!!! 

The weeks are counting down fast! I already feel like everything is blurring together and it's madness! It's crazy how I could never see myself serving a mission, and here I am sitting at the end of one, wondering how God convinced me to do this, grateful that he has helped me through this, and pondering on how this journey will affect the rest of my life. This has been one wild adventure, everytime I look back I think holy cow how did I do that?! Truth is, I didn't. He did. I'm just along for the ride, to be the tool in His hands, being lifted by Him every step of the way. The work doesn't work without Him, because it's His work.

I love all y'all, have a fabulous week, and Happy belated Mother's Day to all the lovely mommas out there!

With love,

Sister Wilcox