February 23, 2015

Peter Wright was baptized. Hopefully I can send some pics, the service was great and he is a stud! We also had a branch fireside on Sunday and zone meeting this week.

 But I just got one scripture for you all: 

2John 1:12 :)

Nuff love for all of you! I know like I know that this gospel is Christ's own and that it truly will bring the world all that we need to survive the temptations and sorrows the devil throws at us. I have seen the light it brings to people Hourly! It is true. I know the Book of Mormon, all 531 pages additional to the Bible, are his words and that as applied in our lives we will receive his image for we will be like him. I know that prayer, real sincere, heart-felt prayer is answered every time. It’s when we seek for answers with a 10 cent effort that we don’t receive the million dollar answers! I know that attitude is altitude and that we are agents unto ourselves and we choose if we are happy in this life or not. (Alma 29: 4-5) I know that it is by the atonement we survive every minute of the day! Without it we would continue to digress and would never be able to become like God. I know that man may be like God, for as we are, He once was. I have loved all 17,520 hours of my mission! It’s been tough, it’s been absolutely rewarding, best thing I could do for my life in directing my course, and helping others find it as well. I hold to with the prophet Joe Smith after all that is said and done the most important thing to do it so preach the gospel! I love you all, and til we meet again, nuff love, nuff respect and bless up yu selfs!

Elder Wilkerson

February 17, 2015

Monday after p day and we went to Ochi to help them feel loved! We built a big ol’ sand castle (will have to get the pics when we go to the church or something- sorry, can’t always send pics at the internet cafes due to viruses and such.) We also saw Peter. He is doing great and is on track for his baptism this Sunday!

Tuesday we had interviews with President and we had to be running people around. There was also an emergency transfer- we had to pick up an elder from Negril and he is with us now! He is great! Interviews were good, I learned lots and got my 5 year plan ripped apart by Pres.- thought I was in an interrogation haha.. it was sweet though. Also met with Kemar and his family after dropping Elder Henderson in Negril for a trade off!

Wednesday we got up early to bake goodies for Elder Jarvis’ district meeting. It was splendid as we talked about ways to get more investigators to church! Sis. Gardner made us pizza and we also met with Michelle, soon tell you good news bout her boy..

Thursday we did quite a bit of contacting, but also got to see a media referral from New York, the first real one that wasn’t a prank. His son is a member in New York and this guy is a strong Methodist, first one I have taught. It’s weird seeing some more similarities to the church. He was very quiet the whole lesson until we got to the Book of Mormon- he was thrilled and couldn’t wait to get one. He is just hard to meet with now cuz he is very open that his life stinks even though he is well off, that we goes out and gets drunk quite often! But great guy, I’m excited to see where he goes! 

Friday morning we dropped off the new stove in Sav, picked up Elder Henderson from Negril, and did a little bit of weekly planning, interrupted by needing to renew our gym passes and go see Michelle. It has been awesome also cuz we have been working on this new commitment that we won’t teach anyone of the opposite sex without someone of the same gender present- that way it pushes us to teach 1) more with the members and 2) for teaching more families! We went to go see Michelle with a member and I taught her with Prince, then we taught her daughter and the cool thing was during the duration of these two lessons, our new main man, Elder Banton with little help of Elder Henderson tied down Michelle’s boy- friend and had him seriously interested in the gospel! What a miracle, now to solid him up and marry them and baptize them and seal them!

Saturday... (sorry this is going to be lame, kinda sick of typing) haha! Had some more good contacting in a very nice scheme! Also saw some member referrals! 

Sunday was great! Kemar and family came out again, Peter as well, and also a few less actives we have been working with, yes! We had dinner set up to see Pres Brown’s mom (non-member), got a good chat with her as we did dishes, wish we could help her open her eyes! After, went back out to Falmouth and visited some more less actives and blessed them up as they haven’t seen people in the church from like 2 years. Go figure- it’s bush! Soon send a photo. Great faithful people though- love them. 

Moved the sisters Monday and out of here now! Love you all- we link soon!

Liccamor

Elder Wilkerson 

A member's house.

Elder Henderson, Elder Banton, Elder Wilkerson

February 9, 2015

Whatcha! The weeks go too fast I tell you! They have just been so packed full I haven’t had time to think! I quite like it that way! We had some fantastic meetings this week. On Monday we sat down with Peter and the family. His mom is going to come around even though she says she is a strong 7th day! Peter is doing great and working towards a 22nd of Feb baptism, same as Kevin now cuz he slipped up! But it will be cool for Peter cuz his dad will baptize him. His dad said, “I don’t know what is happening, but keep it up, we have never been this close as a family”! Peter is 26 and so excited to home teach and do all the above after his baptism! Tuesday was a jumble. An elder wanted to go home, and we did 3 hours of listening and bearing testimony begging him to stay. He didn’t really chose to stay, but he is and he is coming around. I’m thankful for him pushing through it. I feel everyone has to push through a wall at some point. This was his and I had mine at one point! But I will tell you now I love this mission and I have been licking the plate clean trying to soak it up! I can’t believe it’s almost done. It just wasn’t hitting me, but I have never been more focused and testifying and directed. It’s been an amazing week! We had district meeting again in Mo Bay with Elder Jarvis. Some talked on diligence and obedience, followed by companionship unity, and me and Elder Henderson have continued to grow closer from it! I still have lots to work on though you know! ALMA 5 and Christlike attribute test in Preach my gospel is a great personal assessment. But we also have been working with Michelle and family. Her 4 kids are so in it, now it’s just to work with her boy friend, gosh its tough! But Thursday we also had MLC.. my last one. President Brown threw down for a while on becoming through covenants and not just doing them. I really was shocked at the spirit I felt and eventually after all was said and done they asked me to bear my testimony as I was leaving the council... gosh I couldn’t believe it, it rushed to me, it finally clicked I just might be leaving. And like I have said before, I feel like my mom and dad are both spiritual cry babies and maybe I can’t blame them, but me a bawl and a bawl and bawl during my testimony. This mission has done so much for me, and directed my path. Yes, my parents did a great job, yes my leaders played a big role, and my church family and community, but God has given me so much these last two years that caant gway! We also had to teach on district leader council. It went well. The other highlight of many this week was meeting these two guys, they are brothers and were working on a car. We truly must talk to everyone and never judge by the cover. Omar and Kemar. Both drink and smoke, didn’t look too interested, but we met with them Saturday, seemed okay with the message and said they would try church. They came taking pics in front of the church and ended up loving it as we had fast and testimony meeting. There really is a lot of love in this church, oh ps. these guys have cars and families! Gosh, tender mercies! They all felt something different and told us they are coming back next week and not missing it! So cool. We took the Lees that night and saw them again. Boy them soon hit wata! But we had 6 investigators at church and the zone on the whole increased in many aspects as well! So much faith, this mission soon explode!! I wish I could stay longer so bad.. I feel like it always works that way though, once you figure out the system God moves you. As once heard, the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable! But we are in Ochi right now emailing. A sister had a grandma pass away so we are up here to help her out. We built another sand castle, pics soon come. But I love you all. Keep the faith, share the faith, and it will come screaming back to you! Bless up and take care!

Elder Wilkerson

February 2, 2015

 We went to Negril this morning to play on the beach and lift some missionaries who have been struggling! 

This week has been a tender mercy for shore though. On Monday, we had the opportunity to move Winsome, a former investigator, and got to meet the baby father as the other elders were never able to, so progression there. 

Tuesday we got to meet Michelle’s baby father and start working with him. He was pretty turned off to us, but once we showed up in service clothes and machetes in hand he opened right up. Though he still is a huge jerk when he is drunk... gosh it is terrible what drugs can do to people! We also started working with Peter, from the Wright family. He has been struggling with smoking for years so we are helping him out as well! He is doing great, just like Kevin! We also met with Melody, a potential who is very successful. We are meeting with her again tonight. That same night the Porty elders stayed with us which was cool cuz Elder Groesbeck’s mtc comp emailed me and we are all going to link when we get home! Good to see him back on the right track! Made me soo happy!

Wednesday was zone meeting. We taught on revelation leading into the goals that God has for us and this mission. After that we had some talks on diligence and a break. Right after we talked about contacting and had some short role plays and then took it to the streets where they could practice on real people! 

After, we took the Port Antonio elders home, and did a trade off there cuz they were out of funds. 

Thursday was the trade off cuz it takes 4.5 hours to get to Porty. I went with Elder Lewis the younger and Elder Henderson went with Elder Rammell. All of our appointments fell through which was sad, but we had an opportunity to do lots of contacting which I love cuz we just get to get them pumped about learning and share our testimonies, one of those things that gets better the more you give it! :) We also did an interview for one of their investigators. She is coming right along in her conversion, did an excellent job. 

Friday we drove back early and planned out the following week. We then left out to find a potential named Gorden. He owns a big tour company down here. We missed the appointment cuz his directions were terrible, but he understood and still had a big desire to meet. We also planned to help a less active we have been working with that she needed to try harder to get work off. To our amazement she got a promotion and gets Saturdays and Sundays off now! So cool! We also got to meet with a police officer and his girlfriend. Gosh, the gospel is awesome!

Saturday was good\

Sunday we had a Caribbean conference that replaced church. Afterwards, we went to Falmouth with Sis. Fergie to visit some members out there. The branch closed down like 5 years ago. All that we saw were real welcoming and excited to see someone. Gosh, it hurts that they can’t come cuz of their position in life. They just need to choose to have bigger faith. I think that was kinda the theme of my studies this week. We choose our attitude, what we want to accomplish, dream big, involve God, and work and we will make it!!

Sorry, it sounds like a boring list of things, but it was a great week and the zone is doing really well!

Love you all! Bless up family and friends!

Elder WIlkerson

After District Meeting

Getting buried in the sand this morning.

 Show message history

Jan. 26, 2014

Can I just tell you now I am completely scared to come home, especially  after all those "white" people came to church. It was weird, but very spiritual!! 

Man, I don’t even know if I can squeeze all that happened in this week! It’s also cool that as we open our mouths the spirit fills in the words. I feel like it can do that with our typing! My fingers are off the walls right now!! But anyways, Monday we had to go pick up Elder Prete from Negril and also Elder Jarvis- took them to Ochi and stayed the night. Woke up at 5, changed the tire, then drove the 3 district leaders into the training for them at 9- 4. It was a great meeting... it was a bit long and we were last to talk. We were supposed to speak for 40 minutes and got cut back to 10 and taught on follow up calls. Fantastic meeting, many little rebukings by the spirit to me. After that we drove back to Ochi with the assistants for dinner and then did a 3 way split in Ochi, Port Antonio and Mo Bay. Elder Ruesch and I stayed in Mo Bay and drove Elder Prete back to Negril at 6 in the morning. We went to Elder Jarvis’ district meeting here in Montego Bay, followed by some more ways I could improve as we talked about pleading verse begging and improving our prayers. Begging is on our behalf and sometimes quite selfish. pleading is turned outwards and is to bless and enrich others lives. We had a kneeling prayer for the Mo bay area and people to bring the church out of obscurity and also to find families. Elder Ruesch was telling me earlier :”you get what you go for!" We have really been focusing and praying to find families this week, and guess what.. we are working with several. Never Doubt The Little Things! They are where the power lies! Elder Ruesch and I worked on our contacting. and then Thursday woke up early again and left to pick up Ochi and drive Porty to pick up the others, got lunch and headed back. Honest mistake on the speed limit... got another ticket.... cha.

We then stopped in Falmouth on our way back to see some members that aren’t coming and see what we can do in that area. We met some sweet members and also got some referrals down that way. Really focusing the efforts on males and families! Then back home, plan, and off to bed. 

Friday we did our weekly planning, then took Elder Kuehn to the doctor, and then had him show me more of our area and where some members lived as Elder Jarvis and Henderson did a little trade off. It went well and we contacted some more families. Saturday we had to take Elder Agurrie back to the doctor so up to Negril twice and supplies to Sav. Got back in our area to teach Michelle and family, Brian and family, and Winsome and trying to work with her family as well, also while... you got it - finding more families!! Sunday was awesome. Like I said before, 110 tourists from Doterra. Very spiritual meeting, one of the white ladies spoke and two amazing others. They brought some clothing for the branch and gave us a few referrals. We ourselves had 4 investigators at church and the other missionaries had some as well.

Church was packed with I believe 211 people!! It was very awesome and weird talking to so many successful and wise people. We finished the day with some awesome lessons as well. Sorry I’m not good at giving the details of the lessons, all you got to know is they were awesome. Members came and the spirit was felt and they are working towards baptism. Sad part... some when I won’t be here, but happy for them either way! The work is true. It’s Christ’s. We get help and our blessed as much as we put in and give. Bless up. I love this work and look forward to continuing it back home with all of you! Have a great week! ChoW!

Elder WIlkerson

January 19, 2015

This week has been neat once more. I do strongly believe attitude decides the day. You choose if it a good day or if it’s______. You pick. But after we got done emailing we had to go to Bro Lee’s watch shop in the middle of Samsharpe Square. And guess what happened? Well, we ran into these crrazzzzy bible bashing... children of God. Just a bit confused. Elder Whitlock had warned me of these gentlemen. So we get down there and these old, wrinkly, long bearded, nerdy looking dudes come running towards us with cards and pamphlets... I knew what to do.. kept walking! The other 3 stopped and that was the down fall of our next 30 minutes. Many different religions meet here to preach their beliefs in Christ, all very cool with each other but when it comes to Mormons they team up against us. The main preaching is “we are saved by grace”- unless we are a Mormon!  But just like Lawrence E Corbridge said in conference, look for the biggest dust cloud and there you will find the truth. You got it. These guys ripped into us for the dumbest things. Like you worship the wrong Jesus cuz you believe he is the brother of Satan. And mostly things pointing back to the one thing they are to read and pray about, but went wherever they wanted and by the end the truth prevails. We got talking about the authority and truth. They said you get authority from the bible or the word, but long story short it was real fun and each time they think they are tearing us down it’s just the opposite. You get the opportunity to bear your testimony and the spirit confirms that much stronger! It’s neat- you get what you give!

Tuesday we saw Michelle again. She is doing really good. She is like the only person we got to keep out of our teaching pool so we got to do lots of contacting that day and meet many, many members! 

Wednesday. You know what is. Transfers. Driving or I guess I should say riding all day. It was my turn to relax. Except we had a route to Sav this time. We got to past through Blackriver and see the ocean view there. Got some good pics.. sorry I haven’t sent any... need to get to a safe computer that doesn’t have viruses and we will send them! 

Thursday we settled in the Sisters, so now I get to join my father in sleeping on the floor. We gave the Sisters our stuff, cuz theirs didn’t come in yet. So hopefully tomorrow we will be back on board. But it was cool, we got to help the Sisters learn their area, and take them to many members and the investigators. They really are great. Sister Wilkinson and Hudson go home with our group next transfer and Sister Schwendiman has been out 10 months. Stellar missionaries. They have Kevin progressing and a part member family! And we have Michelle progressing and the other Elders almost have a few as well. Actually the whole zone is doing fairly well! Much more than any I have been here!

Friday we got a gym pass and also did more contacting in our area. Met some elect people, very educated and successful. Our area now is very nice and far out so we are forced to knock some millionaire houses. Challenging, stretching, and quite fun. You know that they are great when they have one of the few Chevy trucks in JA. 

Saturday was a different story, we had tons planned, but an emergency happened in Negril where we needed to get an Elder to the hospital. Well, I wasn’t driving so you can ask me how we got there some other time! And what happened;) But needless to say the missionary is doing well and will recover well. bBt we did get to Negril in 30 minutes.... that ruined all the rest of the day. 

Sunday was a blast! We had those white people from Doterra essential oil company, the people that started the company. Learned some amazing things from them. We also are scheduled to see them again at their hotel this week, they are bringing over 100 people to church next week!!! REFERRALS FOR DAYS!!! Haha, and they are staying in our area!! Haahah! But church was a blast, lots of investigators there(blame it on the Sisters) that’s the joke. When they come. Church full. When they leave. Church empty! But great classes and a great branch missionary meeting after. I’m excited for all that is happening in this work! I can’t believe it, the only down fall and regret I have is I can’t give as much as I am taking away from it, but trying to!!! We also received some referrals from the 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency that took up our night to contact, but they are solid. One is a 7th day pastor’s daughter.... they always are like the country songs. rebellious. Haha! But she is intelligent same way! But short email today I know.. we got to prepare for a district leader training tomorrow. We have been invited to speak on follow up calls for 40 mins. Should be really good and then we have zone meeting next week! Love you, have a great week ya ere!! Bless up.

Elder Wilkerson

January 12, 2015

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;
an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
~Winston S. Churchill

“We cannot change the cards we are dealt,
just how we play the hand.”
~Randy Pausch

I finished the Book of Mormon here in 5 weeks! What a perfect book! What a perfect week! 

Monday= we spent cleaning the house that the sisters will be moving into. We also split the areas again, and the sisters will be taking the bulk of our investigators. They are taking everything from the meadows of Irwin towards Lucea. It will be great for the branch though to have sisters and they just bring a special spirit to the work! One of them is named sister Wilkinson. I think President Brown was sick of mixing up our names so he banished us to this side of the island! Haha. But the other 2 coming in as well are power house missionaries! 

Tuesday we did a split with Elders Kuehn and Laffyette in their area to help them build up a teaching pool since they are in a new area. It went really well. We did lots of contacting and talked to some very successful people. It was good to just boost everyone’s faith and have some fun. I went with Elder Laffyette. One of the more cool stories was we stopped to talk with these gentlemen...moments in we find out some are taking meth. But minor details, it’s quite common... but we get talking to them and this one guy is trying to shut me down... and I never have felt like the spirit had given me the answers as fast as they came at that moment, I felt like Elder Holland for a minute. And eventually this guy just eases off and says " I believe you. Ya, I believe you. You know true Christians don’t judge and run off just cuz we smoke. Respect, I want to learn about your church" and puts out his spliff and the other guys do too. I don’t know where they will go, but just another faith building experience. They come in all shapes and forms! 

Wednesday= we traveled to district meeting in Sav to meet the Sav and Negril elders there. It was a great meeting, mostly about comp unity, and then we went to a dentist appointment for Elder Henderson afterwards. I am scared to find out what has happened to my mouth after the mission, even though I have no problems now. I feel like it is a gift of the spirit, to not feel pain.. haha! We had some good lessons that night, one of which was with Natanya’s sister. She had studied out the plan of salvation pamphlet and loved it, too bad the sisters get her now as well. Haha, oh well, one work this!!!

Thursday= since we moved the elders in with us, we had to paint their old apartment for the 3 sisters coming in. Took about 6 hours, but looked great of course!!  At night we did quite a bit of contacting in Ironshore (our area) a part we haven’t spent much time in! One guy we talked to walked out and said he had to go look for his other 3 wives... ha, not funny, I caught him in his joke. But he was interested to learn for some reason. People are funny. 

We also got to meet with 2 other potentials in... you guessed it, the sister’s area. They are great! One named Nadeen and one named Mack. Both very interested in the gospel. One drives taxi and the other cleans cars, haha. 

Friday= Friday was a shock! Michelle had read like 10 chapters in the Book of Mormon! and retained it all! Very cool. Just got some minor things to work on with the family, but wants to come to church. She is in our area, haha! We also got introduced to a man named Kevin by Pres. Allen. He is 27 and is an accountant, but has a terrible smoking addiction. We have been working close with him, and he’s making some progress. President gave him a blessing.. it was just really cool for me to see how much members care about their friends and helping them. I look forward to doing that with some friends back home! We all should -this restored gospel is the only way for happiness in this life and the eternities! 

Saturday= service for Sister Brown moving chalkstone... boy, I’m sore. New Year’s resolution.. get back in shape. It’s not going well. We did like 30 an hour and was dead!!!Bbut soon finish it!

We also got to go see a recent convert who lives by a less active that is quite frankly against the church. The other elders said they were quite rude in their conversation. Different story when we went. Elder Henderson is a powerful missionary and the spirit is sooo cool! Tender mercies and blessings seen make you want to work that much harder to guarantee that spirit will be there to back you up!! The ones that are rude just walked out cuz of what they felt and the recent convert we got to talk about missionary service more seriously, good experience for all I think. 

Sunday= church was great. Kevin came and is working towards 22 Feb baptism. We went and saw Michelle again with Tyrone, Sis. Chensang, and Bro Sterling. Then we went to see Patricia's boy, Karby. He is a strong Rasta, but nothing caught his attention more than we are a non-paid ministry. we was very interested in the Book of Mormon. We had some deep talks, but I think more than anything it was cool to see like a flicker in Pat again, that maybe this might be something amazing if Rasta man is convinced!! Very cool. 

We were dropping people back at home and saw the elders heading to a recent convert’s house. so we thought we would prank them and say we told them we would teach Jennifer today... they acted confused, but did see the truck and blocked our tires. They left a note on the windshield. It basically said the wiggers will never win! Well we had a spare padlock so we changed it before we went up to see Kevin and wrote them a rap in a chastity pamphlet and taped it to the door. Coincidence again, we saw them heading home after Kevin’s and took a back road home and parked at the neighbors one road up and watched them find out they got pranked! Haha, missions are fun, lots of hard work, but fun as thrilling and spiritual uplifting as well. 

Well, I love you all once more. Keep up the good work, remember to add God in your setting of goals and making plans, and account to him daily. He is diligently involved in what we can become. Bless up and nuff love!

Elder Wilkerson