December 30, 2013

We had transfers and I’m heading to Constant Springs Branch working in the uptown area and I hear it’s stoosh. Living in a two man apartment with Elder Carter. Very excited to be out of this rainy, mosquito infested swamp and going to a crazy packed city where I have 80% better chance being hit off my bicycle, fixing it more and possibly dying. :) but it should be good. I get to work around the assistants to the president, and President Brown and Elder Bateman (my mtc comp) is my Zone Leader! It is going to be much fun and hopefully give me an extra push to get more pumped about the work!! Hope you all have a crazy fun week with the New Years. I  have no idea how it will be down here.. there are party signs everywhere, so it will probably be a little wild! This past week was good though, we met with a ton of members and just really getting them pumped to do a better job and build them up for their missionary duties and it’s really showed this past week with 8 new at church brought by members and a little finding of our own! Elder Cornish came last week and I think his push was good for them as well saying the gospel is ready to be harvested in Jamaica! Go forth and spread it! So the branch is doing great.. hard to leave this wonderful branch. We also spoke on Sunday. All four missionaries. I spoke on charity and love, Elder Hunt on church and blessings of attendance, Elder Wignal on word of wisdom -  really pounding agency to choose when it comes down to Pepsi (big debate world wide, but super crazy in Jamaica, some proclaiming and enforcing the higher law like have to talk to the branch pres if drank a pepsi) cleared up well! And Elder England talked on the atonement! Great church day and the rest of the classes were awesome and packed full!! This week was rough for teaching investigators due to our bikes mashing up! Elder England bent his rim while we were out in Belmont.. borrowed a rim so we wouldn’t have to walk the 19 km. but we went like 200 yards and my derailer caught in my spokes and ripped off! so took it off and instead of walking to Sav, Elder England towed me to Sav only taking an additional 15 minutes cuz my comp is a tank and a boss cyclist!! Love that guy! So we get our bikes back today. Gotta love bikes :) But nothing too super awesome to share this week. We’re meeting with all the young men tonight at their request to know how they can do their part in missionary work! So awesome, the work of salvation is going forward! Love you all -  have a wonderful new year!

Elder Wilkerson

Christmas season dinner.

December 23, 2013

Sorry I'm so late posting this week.  We got to skype with Sterling on Christmas and it was wonderful.  He looked and sounded great!

Christmas Party!

Hey! Man, I don’t even know what to say! This last week was a drag and this one probably will be as well! But it was still a good learning week!  The christmas devotional wasn’t good on our end either! That was on Saturday. We just endured it and then had a branch tour afterwards that was really good! We had about 50 people show up. 45 members and 4 investigators! Really lame but glad there wasn’t more than that due to the bad connection! But as for Spanish Town where it was held, they had a great show! 780 people! Which is great cuz that’s where the first stake will be so I guess it’s only fair. Start in one location then grow the church out! Ha! Friday we had a branch Christmas dinner that we helped with and friday  night activities as well! That was great to have some investigators go to! Our teaching pool has gotten very small.. Ricardo is are only progressing.. and on date for the 12th of January and the Williams are now on date for the 5th. That’s about it, and on top of that of course no one wants to visit us this time of year! Teaching appointments are scarce.. and on top of it all Thursday just threw a loop in everything.. we were playing cards after planning and of course when you play cards a lot of pride comes to the table, but some name calling broke out and long story short an elder got punched and I just sat there cuz I really didn’t think it would happen.. but since that happened and I didn’t step up to the plate to stop it.. I’m not a good leader.. so we have a new district leader. Took a lot of stress of my back, but at the same time I feel super bad that I lost mission president’s trust, the Lord’s and Elder’s in the house even though we are all cool now! It was a hard week and really good soul searching week. I got a lot of pride to swallow but even though that experience was terrible you learn from it and move on. No missionary is perfect but gosh I guess I have gotten too relaxed and need to turn the heat back on. But especially around this Christmas season is a great time to focus on Christlike attributes and set goals for the new year! I also read 2 nephi 28 this week and got rebuked for pride as well! So I have some things to work on but I have learned to accept challenges cuz we always grow from them and don’t let it or Satan play with your attitude, just smile and look up! But as I was reading over chapter 6 in preach my gospel, it said Christlike attributes are GIFTS so hopefully I can regain some trust and receive some Christmas presents cuz it doesn’t just bless us, those gifts are to bless those around us!! Happy holidays!!

Elder WIlkerson

December 16, 2013

This week really was so much better! To help us focus cuz both of us have kinda been having off weeks due to Christmas and other things, we had spiritual meals to keep are spirits rolling while we had meal times. We listened to John Bytheway. We went through like 10 of his albums this week! But it was so uplifting and I think really showed in our teaching!  We found a few new families to work with this week. Found them through taking paths the spirit put us on! Some of the experiences were quite different. One we found at a power tool shop. Had a thought to go see if he rented tools. What a dumb thought! We went back anyways and he doesn’t rent tools.. but super interested in the gospel and a non member sister was there and joined in and we answered a few of her questions as well! Cool! The other we found is named Maxine. Maxine #3, haha! But we were all out of plans everything had fallen through.. soo had a feeling to go down this lane. We got to the end and was like man.. wasn’t expecting that.. was expecting to find someone.. but at the end there was a house with the gate open and 3 giant dogs ran out to eat us!! And Maxine came out and called them off and we set up a return appointment! Ha! She is sweet though and has a huge family yard we are going to be working with! This next week is crammed for teaching time! So many meetings! Tuesday we have a meeting and our Christmas party as missionaries. Wednesday district meeting, Friday branch Christmas dinner and Elder Cornish broadcast to watch, Saturday the devotional and then Sunday of course! Whoa, gettin crazy and to be honest I am so stressed and just want the Christmas season to be over. There is no snow, few Christmas lights and so hott anyways! Doesn’t feel like Christmas, but hey, only one more hot Christmas after this! It’s interesting that all the missionaries in Sav are having their first missionary Christmas! So that’s sweet!  I am scared for the devotional, but definitely the link will be sent to your email and just remember we are 2 hours different time from you! But this week was lots better as a whole, learned much from the scriptures and new oppurtunities! Love you all!

Elder Wilkerson

Here is the link that we were sent to watch their devotional on Saturday at 11:30 am Utah time.  I sure hope it works!!

http://webcast.lds.org/174211-724150

December 9, 2013

This week to be honest was really slow and I feel like spiritually dead.. probably not even close to that, but this week was just out of the ordinary and different! Monday we had an awesome FHE with a Rc/la Stephanie Smith, on scriptures and played scripture Charades! Very good and picked up some of her friends as new investigators, but she still didn’t come to church this week.. disappointing!  Tuesday we had a great day of visiting recent converts and less actives.. we got 5 new less active names to work with since we activated 3 of the other 5 names! Very cool to work with them. New challenges and concerns, but new opportunities to learn and grow!! Wednesday we had another wonderful district meeting. I love those, I learn so much!! We talked about chapter 5 in PMG and just hammered on the Book of Mormon and using it more when we teach. Do our best to use it in every single lesson!! Finished off that day with a few more lessons then cleaned up and taxied to Montego Bay and sat around KFC for 3 hours waiting for the zone leaders to pick us up so they could drive us into Kingston Thursday to see the doctor. We woke up at like 4:30 so we could arrive in Kingston on time for their MLC meeting and we sat around at the mission home for 4 hours waiting for a ride to the mission office. Finally get to the mission office and wait there like another 2 hours wondering what to do with ourselves. Then went out with the office Elders to lunch and then to the doctor. Waited at the doctor for 2 hours and talked to a super prepared lady! ( I think she was the only reason we had to go to Kingston) but the doctor finally looked at my arm and said it was going down and that it sounded like my bike wreck did the same thing he would have done! Poked it with a needle!! So $5000 later and we are off for a 45 min split then wait at the office Elder’s house til Assistants can pick us up! We stayed there then woke up again at 4 so they could take us to the bus station where we took a $2400/ ticket bus to Sav. Huge bus that could probably fit 80 people with a/c, tv, and the whole bit straight to Sav. and only 5 people were aboard! 5.5 hours later got home and had weekly planning then prepare for Friday night activities which is going super well and helping bring out and get our name out there and open teaching opportunities!! Saturday we had a big service project at the Williams(Shereca’s Family) and then more less active work! A lot of our teaching pool is families, but can only meet on Sunday which is hard to squeeze them all in!! Also another elder from our district went home Saturday, sad but glad they are fixing themselves! So much stronger that way! Sunday we had a great lesson at church on obeying the laws of the land and just cuz you have money doesn’t mean you should get away with breaking the laws! (which is how the system works in Jamaica -  so corrupt! but whateva, can’t talk bout that!) And also a great lesson in gospel doctrine on tithing.. and Priesthood on Joe Smith and a little testimony meeting on him and the Book of Mormon -  very cool! Something I learned this week while reading some books is that Joe Smith translated the Book of Mormon in 3 months with only 3 years of education and little help.. while the Bible on the other hand was translated by 54 scholars and it took them 4 years to do so!! Fraud book? I think not!!  The facts don’t prove anything, but they shore are fun to learn about!! Sis Drummin from England fed us on Sunday a delicious meal and hopefully we can start teaching her daughter Barbara soon! Great little family!! Met with a few other members that night and tried to set up for the Christmas devotional, but it still didn’t work. Gotta get everything running for the 21st or we will be in trouble. They are going to send you guys the link that day as well a few minutes before it starts so you can watch it as well if you desire! Well this week was rough, but I’m still alive! We just had a lesson like 30 minutes ago! It was crazy how convinced some were and the other was like maybe I’ll try again in 5 years! I hope we can meet her again before that!! But I love you all and I hope you are enjoying the cold while I enjoy the sun!

Lots of burning and chopping and killed my first chicken and skinned it.. but didnt get any pics sorry.

Cookin some curry chicken and rice!

Service project at the williams yard.

Dinner at Sis Drummins.

Much love and have a fantastic week!

Elder Wilkerson

December 2, 2013

We have been working on our home a lot to get it to the point of being super clean and feeling comfortable with the Savior coming there! Our house is suppose to be like a temple especially cuz we can’t go to one for two years!! So it’s been really great. It really does change the way you feel and the amount of spirit and revelation can come into the house!! This week was a rough one for me. I think I sometimes am trying to consecrate myself too much and push myself to the point where I just quit or my attitude is gone down hill fast. Change is something that takes time, but I am just trying to make the best of it while I am in this spiritual realm and set up a wonderful lifestyle for myself so I can never fall back! No one wants to do that! But trials are grrreat, I’m learning a ton!! Monday we got to meet with Steve again and we talked a lot about attitude and just thinking positively always! He is praying about a date to get baptized and we’re going to see him tomorrow! Tuesday saw the Williams family again they are now on date for the 15th of December and we might have to push it back again if we can’t get them to church more! Wednesday I had my bike wreck. I was just riding with a flash light in hand, but still couldn’t see the 1st pot hole. I hit it and my handle bars twisted and not the wheel, then hit a second more deep pot hole like 6 inches deep and tacoed my tire and threw me off!! Hit my left elbow but not bad at all! A rosta was there by and came out and jumped on my rim and bent it back to a somewhat rideable position cuz still had a 40 min bike ride on a functioning bike. Nuff fun! Thursday we took my bike to the shop and went home and cleaned the windows and straightened the house out a bit cuz all of our area you need a bike for!! Friday we had Friday night activity! It’s getting big, like once again another 100+ people there! Also got a branch mission leader on Friday! It’s the 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency right now! So guess it’s time to hasten the work! Saturday we went to visit a member that moved in two weeks ago from Linstead, moved up to Bath Mountain. It’s a 2 hour bike ride up hill and about 20 minutes back down!! Very fun down... rough to the top. I will have to get some sweet pics next time we are up there! Also saw a few other less active Priesthood holders we have been working with since I got to Sav.  Sunday was awesome! 3 investigators at church from the Edwards family! 3 less actives back. All priesthood and the ones we were working with! Great to see the labors bring fruit!! It is harvest time in Jamaica!! Sugar cane!! Starts today!! Biked to Belmont today to see Bro Edwards family.. another exactly 1 hour rough bike ride, lots of hills but all down hill back home!! The family is doing awesome and also had a cottage meeting there and taught 8 of Brother Edwards family members. Huge family yard! Much potential. Very cool. Had dinner there and headed home. The teaching was scarce this week, but we still got a lot accomplished looking at the good we did! Lots of behind the scene work has to start happening but there is no time to slow down either! Been a lot of fun, but definitely hard work as well and sometimes frustrating! But it’s coming along. This week we estimated about 155 miles put on the bikes! And no punctures!! Great! Love you guys! I can’t believe Christmas is right around the corner with no snow!!! But the music and lights and sales and parties are still here, haha! Nuff love! Hope you all have a wonderful week!!

Elder Wilkerson

November 25, 2013

My week was a great one! Monday was the kickstart of it all! We had a cottage meeting which is basically meeting with a plethora of people at a members home! We picked up 6 new investigators including the rest of Shereca’s family! Which is so great that she chose to live the law of chastity and move back home. They are getting so close as a family and much happier I have been told! It also helped the family respond positively to our message and also fed us 2 times this week! At the cottage meeting we picked up 4 potential Priesthood and they all seem very promising at this point. We did have Shereca’s baptism this Sunday so another early morning to fill the font, but we had a great turnout other than Emsley (Shereca’s dad) didn’t show. The family stayed for church and had a great experience. We have been focusing a lot on building member missionaries and to go along with that this week we are strengthening the branch councils and trying to get everything unified and flowing well. Building that foundation so the work can progress like crazy. So this week we had a 4 hour branch council, hopefully they will be shorter and run smoother as soon as we get people’s roles and duties straightened out!! But the rest of the week was pretty much the same stuff. We did have a Zone Conference on Friday with Elder Anderson from the 70 who talked a lot about consecration and just the covenants we have made thus far in our lives! It was there that Sis Brown saw my elbow and told me I had to go to the doctor. He wasn’t quite sure what it was but it’s kinda like a sist and I have to go into Kingston to see a surgeon due to the size of it. But no worries all is well!! :) To top it off with the awesome Sunday, we met again with the William’s family Sunday night. Had an awesome plan of salvation lesson and Pansy gave an awesome opening prayer. Emsley gave a very sincere closing prayer. It was a fantastic lesson, the spirit was powerful. We were able to talk about temples a little bit and got them on date for Dec 8th as a family! And we found out Emsley’s concern for not coming to church. Sounds like he has been ripped off a lot in his life, but he was so surprised when he found that we don’t have give an offering before, during or after the service!! Haha. So hopefully we will see him there next week with the family. Then we can kick the parents rum drinking habit :) Love you all, it is a great opportunity of ours as a whole to be a part of the work of salvation. I hope all are taking advantage of being able to share the joy we all have with others. I loved the First Presidency message for December that as we share we won’t lose friends, if anything they will respect you more for sharing something that means so much to you! I loved the idea of giving a Book of Mormon with your testimony in the cover as part of a Christmas package. We are having a Christmas devotional broadcast across the island that I think will be a huge missionary tool! So many ways to share!  Much love!!

Elder Wilkerson

Elder England, Oniel, Elder Wignal, Elder Wilkerson, Shereca, and Elder Hunt

Shereca's baptism

Sorry

Sorry about the posts that have come up white.  I think I've got it fixed now.

November 18, 2013

This week was up and down, but the negatives were nothing due to the awesomeness of the spiritual side! Tuesday we were heading home from an appointment up in Georges Plain, it’s about a 45 minute bike ride there, and Elder England blew out his tire. All the shops were closed so I tried to tow him and hold the bike! Drag him, all sorts of things. Elder England tried to wave down a flat bed semi and we just got chatted! So we came to the conclusion which is the first thing we should have done. Said a prayer to find out if we were suppose to find someone by walking or just need to be humbled by walking or something else and if nothing else please provide a ride for us according to our faith. The very next car after the prayer and probably the only Chevy truck in Sav picked us up! No charge and very kind! Very awesome experience to start the week off!! Wednesday was zone meeting. The taxi down was very awkward and I felt like throwing up, but the meeting was fantastic! Learned about working effectively with the branch mission leader... too bad we don’t have one currently, but soon to come!! It is essential for this work to move forward in Sav!! Thursday Elder England has been struggling to be focused on the work so he asked for a Priesthood blessing. It was an awesome experience for both of us. I don’t remember a thing I said, but words just kept coming and coming and spirit was soo very strong. Fantastic way to start the day and a bonus- we were able to use that experience to enhance the spirit at a lesson as he shared his experience! That just set the tone for the day and when I blew out the tube and tire on my bike it was just like so easy to shrug it off and say okay. God needs us to find someone else, maybe down town! And we did! Potential Priesthood! That’s what the focus is on in the branch right now anyways so very awesome!! Friday had a trade off with Elder Wignal so I could interview his candidate for baptism. She’s solid! Wish we could find some solid Priesthood like her!! Steve is back from Canada, but will soon go back in like 3 weeks!! I’ve also been working on a goal with my speech. Every time I even slip up saying freak or crap I read James chapter 3. I think it has been helping, if nothing else it really makes me sit back and think of all the dumb things I do without even realizing  I’m doing them! Time to change!!! Saturday was transfer calls. Elder Hayes is leaving to Kingston, Elder Wignal is recieving Elder Hunt. We are getting two more missionaries in Negril and we are ready to baptize Westmoreland!! And we gotta have the faith too! This is the last transfer before we apply for a Stake so we gotta build it up the best we can!! Sunday was fantastic! Got up at 4:30 a.m. to fill the font for the baptism starting at 8:30, cleaned the church and set up for all meetings! 3 baptisms in the district. Annyia and Serena were baptized out of our area! But just to show how much the Lord is moving his work forward, this is the first time we have broken the record for the mission for baptisms in one week. The old record was 10 in a week. New is 20 for the mission, 11 coming from our zone!! Very cool indeed!! This week was fantastic! Hope yours was as well!!! Keep choosing the right! The church is true and the greatest thing that will influence your life to make it the best it can be, if we apply the atonement and church teachings!!! Much love,

Elder Wilkerson 

Sis. Murdock - one of their fellowshippers

Our zone in Mobay

November 11, 2013

This week was another rough one! But we still did many good things! I have been looking at trials a lot differently! The hard times are there and try not to get frustrated but just learn from the negative situation! We did have some great investigators lined up for baptism but just having some temporary set backs! Shereca is like my most changed investigator! She stopped partying, drinking, coffee and smoking the day we taught it! She is pounding into the scriptures and just getting soo involved at the church. She told her boyfriend about the way she wants to live and a little bit of heart ache there but as soon as we clear up the law of chastity she wants to get baptized so bad!! It might be in Mobay, cuz she is thinking about moving there so she can live the law of chastity! Saffia was not ready to baptize so quit talking to us! But we are just building up her faith now and hopefully we can keep meeting with her! Serena is also ready for baptism, but we have got to clear up some things with her mom! Dang parents! But hey, at least it shows they care, thankful for that much! We picked up some great new investigators this week and had 4 at church and 3 less actives back! Very cool to see our little chapel packed!! One of the sweet scriptures we found this week since we are working on our language as followers of Christ is James chapter 3, the whole thing! James throws Down! You can’t feel bad and good at the same time when reading that!! Check it and challenge everyone to watch what we say, especially when we get frustrated!! as I did a little bit this week! Another word in my studies that stuck out to me besides "remember" is "nourish".  Jacob chapter 5 says it like 18 times!! So cool! I love studying the scriptures! I probably should just read them! But I love getting deep in them! Not a whole lot to talk about this week! We have transfer calls on Saturday and it sounds like the district is going to be getting bigger! I’m excited to see what will be happening! We have a lot of Jamaicans coming in this next transfer! So yah, that’s kinda a quick wrap on the week! Love yall! You’re in my prayers! Keep fighting off Satan and grasping firm! 1 Nephi 8!

Elder Wilkerson

Remember to nourish!

Dinna

New furniture

Waiting!

November 4, 2013

This last week personally was super long! It was rough and really struggling with the District and getting them excited to do the work.  It seems to me as if they don’t really know why they are here and that’s why they are struggling with obedience which ties into failure in missionary work! My companion and I try to lead by example, but it’s still rough!! In District meeting we discussed a few parts from adjusting to missionary life book about handling stress, very good.  Then we talked about a talk that has hit home not just in missionary life but over looking the rest of my exsistence! It’s called The Fourth Missionary by Lawrence E Corbridge. Wonderful talk for anyone wanting to change desires and become a better person in general! 24 page talk so we just discussed some key parts! It was soo good, but the problem is getting it from their minds to their hearts and making the change! That’s what I’m trying to do!!! I had a trade off with Elder Barker after district meeting til Friday morning.  Can I just say I love my companion, the way we get along, in and out of the work, and not being mission dead or disobedient. That bugs.. Went and taught a few lessons as he had lots of work to do as being the Branch President. He needs better use of time.. but we will work on that!! Probably won’t baptize this week. Saffia and Shereca didn’t make it to church and  they were our top progressing, but we are just working with members a ton more cuz our teaching pool is getting pretty small!! We actually found a great area that missionaries never went to cuz you gotta taxi there, but it seems as if there are a lot of prepared people out that side of Blue Hole! So gotta budget real  well this month due to much taxi riding!! Oniel blessed the sacrament!  That was cool. We dressed  better than the branch presidency! Very cool!! We had the helping hands service project this week. The representatives said we were the most organized through all Jamaica! so that’s cool. Hopefully we’ll receive some pics from that soon!! It took 5 hours to do the road clean up that we did! It would have been so much quicker if we had the great machinery we are so blessed with in the states..(weed eaters, lawn mowers, chain saws) instead we had machetes, brooms, and rakes! Eh, it got the job done!! There is no Halloween in Jamaica, but there is a big nasty party in Negril. Lots of deaths that day due to all the "big partiers" ride motor bikes!! Oh, by the way, I have a small confession... as we ate many of Elder Englands snacks this week.. many had chocolate on them. First I worked around it.. but with the cookies and cream ice cream IT isn’t half bad... it’s probably like 40%  bad and 60% bearable so don’t get your hopes up but it’s alright! Well, that is bout it for my week! Not too

many like super awesome experiences, just the little daily miracles and the way the Lord puts his hand in my life that is changing me line upon line, one step at a time! Loving my mission even though at times the stress is surreal! Love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!!!

Elder Wilkerson

Ice Cream!

Helping hands

October 28, 2013

Well, the week was good. I spent two days in Mobay (Montego Bay) for a Zone Leader trade off! I thought I wanted to be in a truck during my mission! So thankful for that oppurtunity cuz I was sooo tired at the end of each day! I also felt lazy! But interesting experience, we got fed by some tourists, white guys. One actually served his mission here in 91-93 so that was cool! Great meal as well! I would give you details why they were down here, but they actually are the real CIA, haha! We had some great lessons there though and learned some new things! We did have Oniel's baptism this week. We filled up the tank and cleaned the church and got it all ready Saturday for the baptism at 8 Sunday morning. At 7:30 we arrive and the tank is empty! Wow Satan, thanks! So the next 30 minutes we ran the fire hose in and buckets from the spicket with an assembly line to fill the tank, haha! Oppostition at every baptism, but it makes it great I guess! :) If things go well, Saffia will be baptized this week and Shereca the next! Both are member referrals - that's the way the work must progress!! Things are going well. In this up coming week on saturday we have a "heart and hands" service project! It involves all the community in Sav! It's a non-proselyting thing, but afterwards suppose to reap some results so excited to see what will happen there! That's about all for the week.. it was long, feels like it has been a month! I'll attach some pics of some cool things this week! Love you all so so much!

Elder Wilkerson

Oniel's baptism

October 21, 2013

  We had an amazing week ! It was a lot of hard work, but soo soo worth it!! We had zone meeting this Wednesday, the focus was on working with the members, getting referrals from them. But before we can do that we have to build their faith to do the work! So the focus was on bringing out their testimony. We share some lesson for like 5 minutes then the next hour we focus on them!! Getting them feeling comfortable bringing up the gospel with their friends, setting plans and following up with them. Obviously some people need a lot more building up than others so it might be a few visits before we get the referrals, but that's fine by me! President Brown said "we are the trench men" the missionaries who follow us are going to have it easy. Our job is to dig deep and bring the testimonies sprouting out of the members. Blood, sweat, and tears in our planning so that we have a member at every lesson possible so they are growing while the investigator is growing! So that was our focus this week! The members we choose to work with was Bro. Beckford( just got his mission call- will be out in Jamaica next transfer), Bro Miles, Sis Gayle, Sis Murdock, and Sis Roach! and just from the small amount, 8 lessons that we had with members present, the progress increased so much!! We had 4 investigators at church, 3 progressing, and one getting baptized next sunday morning!! We might be down at the beach this sunday if we're still out of water for Oniel's baptism!!! Also have an interview for Elder Carter and Barker this next week! So the district is doing awesome! Shereca is lined up for Nov 2nd, and Saffia is lined up for the 9th along with Sarina (Annyias cousin). We are teaching a lot of people in that yard now! So hopefully this will help Annyia get baptized!! President Brown also came up on sunday to re-organize our presidency. Pres Blake is now the 2nd counselor in the mission and Pres Robinson is the new president here in Sav! He will do great! He spoke in all the classes I was in! Gosh, I love listening to him! Some things that stuck out that he said are: "are we being covenant keepers or ordinance doers" and also in priesthood he was talking about priesthood duties can all be summed up into one word " ministering" like 80% ministering and 20% ADministering! Really slammed down with D&C 121: 34-46! So great! So true and awesome! Well, that's kinda the week in a wrap! Wait! Oniel also exercised some great faith this week as well! He was praying for a way to come to church, and the following night he had a dream that someone would bring him the money and God told him that he would provide a way for him always if he would just do what he wants him to do! So he woke up on sunday went outside, he was sitting on his porch and a guy came by asked him how he was doing. He said "not too well, I want to go to church." The man said, "well I had a feeling to come over here and give you fare, I don't know why, I guess you gotta get to church have a great day! Whatcha!! So there you have it and I think everything that was said was just perfect for him and he is so stoked for his baptism so let's hope the interview goes irie!

 

Well, some fun things of the week I'll send pics:

-cinnamon challenge against Elder Hayes.... I Won! ( might check out youtube, if you want to see epic failures!)

-mac and oat table for between the beds!

-haven't found out a punishment yet, but house goal to stop saying "freak, suck, shoot, anything really negative" so we say like wow and great when things go wrong now!

-used frozen popsicles in a lesson!

-people gave us 6 coconuts this week! mhmm I looove coconut water.. and the coconut itself ain't too bad!

 

This week was so fantastic, I love being a missionary! I'm learning so much and having a great time doing it! Of course there are mountains to climb, and rivers to cross, but it's making us stronger each and everyday! Love you all so much! Talk to you next week!

 

Elder Wilkerson

 

 

October 14, 2013

I had an awesome week! I so very much love missionary status lifestyle!  Let me tell you a bit bout my awesome week and how my faith has strengthened!! Then I'll send some pics!

 

First off, I finished the Book of Mormon! Much studying! Probably went so long cuz I took a lot of it deep, with the doctrine! It's so true and I'm so thankful for the things I learn each and every day from it. A word that stuck out to me that you can't even get 5 pages in the Book of Mormon without reading. REMEMBER! EXCLAMATION POINT! Haha, it is said 136 times in the book! Sometimes we always forget! We always have to remember and strengthen our faith, remember why we are here, remember what we are doing, remember our purpose! There is soooo much we need to remember in this life, but most importantly remember Christ and the teachings in the scriptures!! I also started the Book of Mormon over and 1 nephi 2:5 stuck out. They traveled to the red sea, 180 miles, not a three day journey, like 12-14! And 3 days on top of that, cuz that's the Law of Moses, three day travel to have a sacrifice and build an altar! Love the history of the sciptures! It's so fun to study!! :)  But as for my week here is some details!

Monday- Elder Peart left to the mission office, and flew out Tuesday so I was in another tripanionship. Elder Hayes and Wignal had another baptism and I talked on the Holy Ghost and then we went to Little Tokyo after to celebrate!

Tuesday- Did some service in the morning scraped and cleaned the yard and driveway area.. to show our neighbors we are trying to do good and not just be those annoying missionaries that are up early and always up and about! I think it helped a lot! Actually, I know it! And it was great fun, I miss working!!! I got picked up right after that by my senior couple, the Wrights. We had a long drive into Kingston and got there about 4. They took us to lunch at BK and had a training meeting at 5! It was very good, totally lifted my spirits, but I was still nervous to be training again! We stayed at the Assistant's house.. they picked up the new guys and they stayed there as well! Got to meet them all before transfers, and guess what, my boy Elder England from the MTC is back! Love that, such a great example!! So 4 new guys came in.

Wednesday- Woke up got ready, studied. then drove around with the zone leaders as they picked people up and moved things around for transfers. The meeting started at 4 and I am training a guy named Elder England!! I get my boy! My brother!! So sick! So excite! and so ready to do some work!! We had another long car ride home.. and the Wrights bought us pizza! Very nice people! It's like having grandparents on the mish! .. at least that's what they say!! Got home at 9:30 and planned.

Thursday- Went to work!! Didn't get much done, Elder England had something going on with him. He was weak and couldn't bike far without feeling hot and tingly inside and wasn't breathing well. Weird, but it hasn't happened again. On top of his bike problems, we didn't get much done, but we stayed positive through it!!

Friday- We picked up Sis. Reed as a referral. We're having a hard time teaching her cuz she throws in Hallelujah and Praise the Lord all the time. I hate it, but whatever, that's how she has grown up. Hard to break a habit at 78! She is cool though and we're teaching the grandkids as well! She has had a hard time believing there are prophets today, but we will get there.

Saturday- We went back to Sis Reeds and  helped her with yard work and we got a tour of her awesome land/farm! Ate so much! Had banana, coconut, sugar cane, guava , june plum, grapefruit, oranges, gunip, and she showed us her chickens, quail and all sorts of good vegetables! She's set!!! Lucky kids! That was good.

Sunday- By far the greatest day! Thursday we talked to Oniel about faith and we challenged him to be at church no matter what. We told him we would walk with him. Now it's a 50 min bike ride so bout a 3.5 hour walk! He said "lets do it"! So we planned to leave the house at 5. We got a text at 4:32. This guy got up at 3, got ready, and caught a ride with like the only person awake in the road. He was at the church at 5 so we got dressed, hurried down there, and watched conference and videos from lds.org til church started! This guy put 1 nephi 3:7 to the test!! Love that man! Someone also gave him fare to go home! God loves us and WILL provide a way!! So awesome! After that 8 hours of church all 3 of us were spiritually overloaded! But what a great day! Being a missionary is so great, so hard, so rewarding. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm thankful for this opportunity to learn and grow! Thankful for everyone's support! Love you, have a much awesome week. Liccamor.

Elder Wilkerson

smile:)

Elder Wilkerson and Elder England after a wonderful rainy Sabbath.

October 7, 2013

I am training again! I'm excited and nervous as always! But excited to get pumping into the work! Though I wish the more part of the members were there for the Saturday session with all the missionary talks, Kareen showed up for Sunday last session and we had 4 less actives back at church who brought some friends! Of course they were referrals for the other missionaries! It all went to fast! The quickest 10 hrs of my life! If I had to pick favorites it would be very difficult, but I would definitely say  Giffard Nielson for shore!!!! Jeffrey R Holland always, Dieter F Uchtdorf (Priesthood session) and Henry B Eyring! Loved it all, learned so much, and never fell asleep! But as for the week, in missionary work it was slow and steady! District meeting we went over planning and using our time wisely and such but we are just going to have to talk to more people!! Guess my faith to find isn't there! I'm expecting them to pop up cuz the work is hastening, but gotta continue looking! Searching! And that's the goal this week! Talk WITH EVERYONE! I had all my motivational quotes all over the walls where I couldn't see them and I feel like I have lost the fire so I pulled them down and put them on my desk, trying to get back in the groove! I think of what I have learned though I wouldn't be so humble if we were baptizing every week! Gotta obtain the spirit and hold fast to it and unbottle it in every lesson! No one is progressing right now.. Steve comes back this week and we got a few in mind for a date, but we just need to find better.. I don't like giving up on people, but as long as we leave their progress record in the area book one day they will accept as we plant the seed with 6 to 10 sets of missionaries trying to grow them in this hot waste land of Jam rock! Cool experience this week: we started teaching a pastor lady named Maris. She has a Book of Mormon and actually uses it when she teaches her church.. HUH! Loves it but won't come to our church.. You gotta be kidding me.. she also has a few of our teaching manuals. She is smart, just lacking that authority so gotta nail that down this week. She works at a shop though and it's almost impossible to feel the spirit there, but gonna keep trying! Elder Wignal and Elder Hayes have a baptism today! Totally awesome, the district is doing swell, just Elder Wilkerson is slacking I guess, haha. Oh ,and a terrible story that we have all got over.. we (Elders ) got chewed out by the Branch President for teaching the law of chastity wrong. He was saying when you have a boyfriend or girlfriend you can't hug, kiss, or hold hands! Whaaaat! You maad! He called Pres. Brown to have us removed cuz we said that's not true.. thankfully President Brown straightened him out and we are back on good terms :) Living in Jamaica is great! We kinda have to train the whole church how to function properly and gosh sometimes I dread going to church.. but its good!! :)

 

Elder Wilkerson

 

Cavalash tree

Motivational desk

94 year old temporary replacement Grandma - Sister Walker

 

September 30, 2013

You will have to give Brad a shout for me! A quote he said in Priesthood pops up a lot sometimes.. he said,"the harder you work in your mission, the hotter your wife will be", haha! good memories, good times! Wow! I can't believe 24 degrees! I was missing the snow, but I think I will be fine. I was freezing last night with 2 sheets and the blanket you sent at 70 degrees. It was a cold night cuz of the rain!!!  Yah I have been listening to conferences as I workout in the mornings. You know we try to be obedient, but I can't lie I started to listen to the radio when I worked out in the morning.. cuz I thought I needed to have that drive! I was terribly mistaken, but I'm glad I could learn this lesson on my mission! That day for missionary work was terrible, I repented and found out that working out to General Confernce talks is just as good if not better! Enlighten my body and mind! Some scriptures I applied to that was Alma 26:12 I am nothing but through Christ I can do all things! And Mormon 4:15 where they were driven to do great works by anger, same as I was with my workout, but in the end it worked out better to be driven my good, uplifting things!! Learning so much from my district and my companion!! We had a good week for teaching but 0 at church! Something we need to focus on more! I feel good about this week cuz we have bigged up the prophet so much! But we gotta keep people coming!! The teachings are all there, just waiting for them to act!! But church was good with the members starting to step up, take responsibilty and recognizing they are responsible for hastening this work. We teach and baptize but we gotta have people to teach. We don't know people! They do! we need their help! Hopefully T. Monson can drive that into them!! Interesting things that happened this week: Rastas are racist, gotta have a black Jesus. A bum rubbed my belly while begging some money and I got chased by a drunk guy who thought my name was Joe! Was a rough week, but looking forward to the next especially now that I have food and don't have to do the water diet for 3 days... but hey it's a good way to get in your head that you MUST budget! Much love! Have a great week, and enjoy conference!!!

Sept. 23, 2013

Oh boy, what can I say 'bout this week?  Interesting, long, found some cool people, bike problems, that about sums it up! Ha, just kiddin', it was a great week! Did my interview for Samantha, the Negril Elders' baptism this week! She is awesome! So prepared! I asked how she felt about the Book of Mormon and she bore a powerful testimony. I felt the spirit strong and it was a wonderful teaching and learning oppurtunity! Did a trade off with Elder Belnavis, another Jamaican which is way cool. Our zone is half jamaican and half white and I'm the only one from Utah! Weird! But Elder Belnavis taught me a lot about charity with the people we teach! Great oppurtunity! Negril rains more than Sav! Hard to believe, but true!! We are on another 3 day streak without rain, guess winter is coming soon! Can't believe it is almost October and General Conference two weeks away! So excited! We actually watched a clip from Thomas S Monson in a lesson with a 7th day Adventist! I'm learning really quick that Bible bashing isn't the way to prove them wrong! Bear testimony! They got agency, if they want it.. great, if not, there is 59,999 other people in Westmoreland that might!! But it really grabbed his attention and he loved it! We found a former investigator this week as well! His name is Oniel. The missionaries before us really only gave him a Book of Mormon, but he is so ready now! Just need to find him a job so he can get a taxi to church! We met with him cuz he called us actually. So the next day we went to the church, taught him the restoration, committed him to baptism, read the book of mormon, and was going to commit to reading the plan of salvation pamplet before next meeting.... but he didnt want to ... he wanted to learn about it Now! So we taught the next lesson! The following day we laught lesson 3 and Word of Wizzum! This guy is just taking it in! Church is the only issue, gotta get him to church.. can't be baptized without it! This week we also got to meet with Annyia's mom. We just felt inspired to drop in and she was home! Sat down had a great discussion with her.. when baptism came around how a powerful lesson on the priesthood she wants to learn more.. but does not believe in a 2nd baptism.... so still got to soften her heart there!! But I think she will come around. Annyia was really bummed, but we are just gonna try focusing on her helping her mom see how much she is changing and really learning from us teaching her! We saw Sally yesterday.. we really gained her trust.. she is learning math right now so we helped her with that. So now we do about 20 minutes math before a lesson and then a lesson. Service then a lesson! I'm all bout that! So that's cool. You reallly do grow to love these people you serve and want what's best for them in any way you can help! It's so great! We don't really have anyone progressing at this point due to them not being at church! But just gotta keep looking up! Something will come out of our efforts soon I just know it! Steve was getting so close to baptism, but is in Canada right now with family. Will be back in like 3 weeks! Hopefully he can see the temple and fully functioning church while up there! That's the goal I hope.. he knows he needs to! He said he had to or he might lose that desire! He's the man! But crazy story of the week is probably being stopped by a crazy man who thought he was a police officer and was playing a flute as his departure and coming up to greet me. He told me I got to be careful and that these parts are nothing like I have ever seen before! He also directed me through traffic.. super weird.. but I just went with it! The lil town thought it was so funny, but it was alright i guess. We watched a safety video for district meeting due to all the accidents happening so everyone is fixing up their bikes and apartments. President Brown says we are to bring safety back to the mission.. so consecration, we are leaving nothing out! Almost like we are in the army.. I guess we are! God's Army! It's been a good week nonetheless looking so very much forward to the next one! The days fly by! I seriously can't believe how fast it is going! Time flies when you're working hard! Love you!

Elder Wilkerson

September 16, 2013

Well the week was very long considering the details I will share later. First, soccer, haha funny story with the soccer.. we played some futbol with some guys on friday at friday night activites and I guess cuz I'm white they thought I couldnt play.. so at the beginning this kid says.. k white boy you are goin to pass the ball me. I was like alright black boy.. haha then we schooled them! They were extremely astonished that white boy could play ball! Ha, so we will play every friday now :) We did have a great week though for the work! Helping people increase their faith on every corner!! Thankful for the things I learned from Elder Elliott! Really love to sing at appointments now, but I got my new comp on Thursday night, was in a tri-panionship til that night so not much time to reflect on the situation which is a good thing... but I'm thankful for Elder Elliott and his great example on the atonement and how very important it is! He will be so much more prepared when he comes back out!! Elder Pear is great though!! He hasn't gone to the MTC yet so I'm Double Training him! He actually is going to the Dominicain republic next transfer speaking Spanish so hopefully this is a good kick start to his mission!! Got 3 weeks to get him a baptism! Haha, I think we can definantly do it! Conducted an interview for the other Sav Elders this Friday and have another one this week and hopefully we will have one the following week! So the district is starting to get with the program and is doing great!! We found some solid investigators this week as we have a goal to see one member everyday in the week to build trust and get referrals or just to try to help them in their missionary efforts!! We had 3 at church and a few progressing! The baptism went well, the water ran out so we went down the ocean! It was sweet, poured rain right after!! Definantly cool, hope the water runs out on ours as well, but either way is great! This week was very long, but got many wonderful things happening! Hope all are doing well and enjoying the wonderful rain that I experience every day! Love all much! Have a fantastic week! 

Elder Wilkerson

Smile :)

September 9, 2013

GOOOOD MORNING! What a week it has been!  family is of number one importance that is why its in the restoration and its one of the easier things in the gospel to talk to people about!! take it all back to the restoration and the rest flows from there once they understand that!!  we are on day 3 with no rain! first time in Sav that i have not seen puddles on the road! yes, its hott and humid especially at night. but the plus side is no puddles, easy to see the pot holes, and not as many mosquitoes!! plus all the beautiful nutrients of vitamin D!!  yes, im not so shore what the big deal is with the bike problems and car problems but something i have learned as we are walking instead of biking with great speed people can talk to us more and easier for the lord to put people in our paths to talk to!! on bikes we dont really take those oppurtunitys so it is not needful that mine elders move swiftly from appointment to appointment saith the lord. haha but we can talk bout bike problems later!! haha cant even imagine what it will be like getting back home in the snow! yes the companion is doing Great! learning soooo much from him as we learn together, and i try to teach him the few things i know!!

 

Now for the uttermost spiritual side of our week, it was slow in lessons but every single one of them I would say was worth our time or efforts to prepare for! Elder Elliott looooves to sing soo something we have started doing this week is before every lesson is sing a hymn! It sets the tone for the lesson and is super spiritual!! Loved it! Starting to love singing, we sing everywhere we bike and you could say it is helping bring down my pride cuz I always before thought, no we aint singing in public, people will think we are weird. thats something I am trying to get over. If I'm being good doing the things I know I should who cares whos watching, what they are thinking, and how they react! We are disciples of Jesus Christ!!

 

STEVE, we have seen twice this week; he has told us he knows the Book of Mormon and Joe Smith was a prophet, now just trying to find time to teach him all the doctrine! But he is also leaving to Canada for a month so we might have to hold off on him for a minute. Dang it!

ADRAIN, found him when we got into a hard core bible bash, that's when I realized I really have learned a lot, but that's not the point, bible bashing is terrible. Tried to have the spirit there, just didn't work. The kid we were doing it with wanted us to bring something to the table to dicuss and he would talk bout something. He was soo convinced and into it til his friend came and he started the bashing. Later found out he is 7th day... kinda the problem there. But some people were listening in and one was Adrain and had an awesome desire to want to know more. We met him next day at the church, gave him a church tour and had a powerful first lesson. He said "give me sometime to read but I want to learn more"! He worked this Sunday, but hopefully next week we can get him out to church! A prepared person indeed!!

ANNYA, started to review with her, found out she really doesnt have a real testimony of the B.O.M. so recommitted her to read and pray bout that and then we just got to talk to her mom once she has a testimony there!

ONEIL, found him on the road. Has a B.O.M already and just really wants to learn more. Has studied with a lot of faiths and has a great desire to learn! Man he loves to talk but he is smart. Just another sign that the lord is hastening his work in Jamaica, no doubt bout it.

KAREEN, just need to see her more. Called her every night to read but she just works a TON! Going to see her Tuesday, she has to commit to church or probably drop her!! Despite how amazing her cooking is and how much we love her!

ALSO saw many less actives this week. I have strong hope for them. We both felt sincere love and desire for them, the singing and wonderful lessons.. I do believe they will come back and many said they have friends they want to bring with them.. GREAT!!

One of the less actives in perticular is Sis Walker.. reminds me of back home with Sister Erickson. She is old, sweet, can't walk so that's why less active, but we take her the sacrament and she has a powerful testimony and gives amazing prayers! We love her! Yesterday while singing hymn 86 we were crying, so powerful......

 But to finish my email,  now for the Temporal for the Week!! We had an appointment that we were bound to get to! It had been raining for like 5 hours- I shouldn't say just raining, it was like a blizzard, but RAIN!!!! Anywho, it flooded the canal and drainage ways so one of the main roadways was flooded, houses near by that weren't on blocks were flooded!! Like 30 inches of standing water on the road!! So school was just getting out, taxis couldn't get through so they had flat bed semis with 50 or so kids on each load and other people moving through this little river that was bout quarter mile long! We decided to ride through it cuz we were already wet! It was tough to pedal but when the semis came smashing through it made like tidal waves that we had to fight as well!!! It was a lot of fun, wish we could have got some photos! But didn't bring the cameras!! Some other fun things of the week is painting with Steve, painted his room purple and ate lunch together just talking bout things. Working out every morning at 4:30! Somehow still able to manage throughout the day!! It gets easier as you Go!!! haha OH and cant forget about the weekly bike problems!!! This week no tire problems, but my handle bars snapped of at the neck! So I had to grip the neck going all western on it! and had my handle for brakes in the right hand. That's how I rode from the far part of our other long stretch area! But it was great attention grabber and we talked to lots of people!!! Ha, many people are learning nothing stops us! We go out rain or shine, bike or broken bike, all day everyday!! It was a long eventful week, but much needed with fun stuff or the spiritually draining days would have killed us! One thing I have really been learning on my mission is patience. My bike breaks and I don't even get mad, you just get it fixed and keep going! No Problem Man!! So that's kinda my week in a wrap! Love you all! Work Hard, Play Hard!

Elder Wilkerson

99 aint Good Enough!

 

Sept. 2, 2013

Hello!! Well,  typing is taking a long time today. School is back in down here  instead of 5 people in the lab there is bout 40! Well this week has been an eventful one indeed. Picked up on Tuesday with Elder Groesbeck, we stayed in junction again with the Elders there! Since it was our 6 month mark we bought a liter of kerosene and Sister Newcomer came over and the 3 of us burned ties, drank bag juice, did the cinnamon challenge( which Elder Groesbeck I think is the first man in history to complete it!!!), and a challenge to see who could last longer eating javenaro peppers -  super hot!! Super dumb idea!! Wednesday was transfers, went out to eat. Elder Groesbeck bought this cake and thought  it tasted funny so I took a bite.. goodness it was slaughtered in rum! Not our fault!!! But transfers was great, I got Elder Elliott! He is awesome, we clicked well right at the first!! He's 20, from Cedar and was in the army before coming out. Knows his stuff -  a lot more prepared than I was!!! Excited to see the work we will get done together!! The day we left transfers didn't get to teach cuz the truck bearing went out on the left front tire so we had to wait for a tow truck on top of our 5 hour drive so didn't get home til 10:45!  The next day was rough too, we went to leave and his back tire wasn't even straight so we straighten the rim. We get out and are having a great day, then the rain caught us like mid day, appointments fell through so we went out and exercised our faith!! soaking wet! We biked up this hill til prompted to stop at this shop, bought some bag juice... nothing really happened until we're about to leave and this lady(Sophia) walks in and we start talking to her! We eventually get the shop owner involved and talked about the plan of salvation and got some return appointments! Faith booster!! We will lead us to them or them to us! Sunday we went to see Otis and got caught in the rain again, he ended up not answering after we confirmed it. (by the way its bout a 50 min bike ride out there!) So we are headed back, puddles all over the road, can't see the deep pot holes.. I blew my tire out up in Petersfield....took about 2 hours to get back to the house.... bummer day, but you know that's just satan working on us cuz he knows once we get going we are going to tear Sav up!! Excited for this transfer and this up coming week, gonna work hard physically and spiritually! Much love to all! The gospel of Jesus Christ is true! Have a wonderful week!!!

Elder Wilkerson

99 aint Good enough!

New companion - Elder Elliot

August 26, 2013

HI! This week has been.. well eventful, needless to say! Transfer calls were this week. Elder Groesbeck's going to the other side of the island to Yallahs, my companion Elder Wignal and Elder Hayes (Groesbecks Comp) serving together still in Sav and I will be training this next 3 months! Most of my group from MTC are training like Sister Woolfe, Sister Newcomer, Elder Newcomb, Elder Bateman, Elder Harris zone leader in Cayman islands, Sis Christansen training in Bahamas, just super awesome things going on! Transfer calls are always exciting!! .. probably a lack of work done after as well..  but going strong! Lots of things will be changing in the mission soon! The one I am most excited for that I have been trying to work on is consecration. It is everyones goal now and something we will definantly need if we are going to achieve the new standards of excellence!! The will and want to be Exactly Obedient instead of feeling forced to.. what a blessing!! We also have 12 youth working on their papers and one gets his call soon!! Went out teaching with Randi this week, he is the guy getting his call. Solid. We had aBbook of Mormon stand where we prayerfully decided to go down a certain road and talk to people 'bout the church and try to clear up myths and things!! That was a great success and learned a lot from the members that came out to that, and also helps them get over their fear of talking to people and we get referrals! Great!! Also been studying a lot more than ever, an hour just doesn't cut it anymore! Idk what's gotten into me, just a HUGE desire to learn all I can! I borrowed a movie from Pres Blake, its called Journey Of Faith. I would tell everyone to look it up! It helps you understand the history and background more Nephi's journey and was awesome and very enlightening to see! So we picked up a few more investigators this week, hopefully Steve and Annyia will pull through for a baptism soon! We got some solid working going on and its great to hear of your experiences back at home! The only real down fall this week.. Tuesday my star on my rim broke. Went home after Elder Wignal pushed me home.. changed the rim and axle and sunday night we got ran off the road by a dump truck. It was either into the truck or a huge pothole and really messed up my new rim!! So hopefully we get money on our cards soon cuz we are just all messed up!! But kinda figuring out how to budget.. probably need to take away my personal management merit badge!! But yah, great week other than that!! I'm excited to train, but also nervous! We will see how it goes! Much Love,

Elder Wilkerson

99 Aint Good Enough