Chairball! - October 20, 2014

Hey Family!

 It's good to hear that you guys have had such a wonderful time on your trip! Did you buy the usual Kinder surprise? Luckily they have them everywhere over here so I wasn't too disappointed that I wasn't able to go with :) How are grandma and grandpa doing? Ah the Prince of Wales. No point in doing your hair really. One proper gust and it's all over!  Lately it's been pretty windy over here and I hate it so much. The cold has been on and off but it makes it so much worse when it's blowing. I finally got a winter coat today but we'll see if I end up keeping it. You know how indecisive I can be. Holy champion bowler mom!! Now I see where I get it from :) haha just kidding. That's so awesome though that you guys were able to make it up there and have a good time. I love hearing about all of your adventures and look forward to it every week!

  Things are going pretty good here in Woodsetton. The week was slow but we had some other things going on. On Thursday we were able to help Sister Brannon paint her living room. Normally people don't give us a lot of opportunities to serve so it was fun to finally be able to help someone.On Friday we had our follow-up training at the mission home. It was awesome! I was able to see Sister Silsby as well as the other missionaries I was with at the MTC. Everyone seems to be doing really well! At the beginning we split up and the new missionaries talked about the things that we were learning and what we were experiencing. Then everyone came back together and we talked about how to make our study more effective. One of the things he talked about was likening it unto ourselves. As an example, he had us flip to the first page of the restoration in Preach My Gospel where it talks about God being our loving Heavenly Father. We read over it once, and then we read over it again but replaced the word we with I and me. It was so powerful! It was something that I had read over dozens of times but when I likened it unto myself, it was a completely different experience. Kind of obvious but it was still really cool. Tomorrow we are teaching a lady named Georgette. I haven't met her yet, they talked to her during our workover with the STLs, but I'm really excited! I haven't had a "first" lesson yet and I'm stoked to finally have one. Hopefully things will go really well and she'll want to learn more :) Tonight we have FHE with the recent converts and some members. We have somewhat of a lesson planned so hopefully it will go alright. Afterwards we usually play chairball, a.k.a the best game ever. YOU GUYS HAVE TO PLAY IT. Everyone has a chair and you usually sit in a circle on the outside of the gym. Then you have a futbol and you kick it at each others chair. If your chair gets hit you are out. But, you can throw the ball while sitting down and get other people out. Preferably the person that got you out because it's revenge. It might not sound very fun but it is. Carson, you'll have to ask Ryan and Cameron if they have played and see what they think. This Wednesday we have zone meeting and I would be really excited except I have to give the purpose. It's not a big deal but I don't like doing things in front of people and I get really nervous. Hopefully I don't mess up! Other than that I'm really excited and can't wait to see the other missionaries again.

  I'm sorry I haven't sent very exciting pictures! I'm awful at taking them. Mom, I was planning on sending you some of the flat but it hasn't been very clean so I figured I should probably wait :) I promise I'll send you some more. I haven't figured out dropbox yet but I'm going to try it again. I hope you all have a fantastic week! I'll try to write things down as they happen so I can write more exciting emails. Keep up the good work! You guys are AMAZING. I love you all!! Thank you for everything! Talk to you soon!

Love,

Sister Wilde

       

One Month Down! - October 13, 2014

Dear Family,

   It's so good to hear from you! I love getting the scoop about all of the good and crazy things that are going on in your lives. Happy birthday to Carter and Vivi! That's so awesome that he had a brown bear birthday party :) Is he walking yet? And Eleanor has teeth?! What is going on? You guys aren't supposed to be changing while I'm away! I'm sorry to hear that the termites continued to get worse for Jesse and Heidi. Did they move to a place in the same area or are they somewhere completely new? Congrats to Matt on his first test! That's awesome that things are going well in school as well as in the area for them. Good luck to Trevor on his interviews! I'm so excited for them and anxious to hear where they will end up!

   Yesterday was the primary program for the Woodsetton ward too. The primary was tiny but they were so cute and they did such a good job. I'm so grateful for primary kids and for the sweet spirits that they have.  It strengthened my testimony and I know that the Lord has a special love for the young children. We had an investigator come to church! Her name is Charly and she came with her 3 year old son Connor. She is definitely a miracle. When we were on exchanges, Sister Rasmusson and Sister Eldredge were here in Sedgley. They decided to go out GQing and while they were out talking to people they came across a lady who was very drunk. She was walking out in front of cars and busses and they had to keep pulling her off of the road. Most of the people around them just kept on walking by but Charly was there and helped them out. That was two weeks ago. On Wednesday we were out walking and we ran into her again. We started talking with her and being the good missionaries that we are, we started talking to her about why we were there :) She told us that she was Catholic and that she hadn't been to church in a while. We told her that our church was held on Sunday and since her son Connor was there with her we mentioned that there were things for children as well. She turned to him and said, "What do you say Connor, do you want to go to church on Sunday?" She pretty much invited herself to church! It was awesome! Unfortunately she didn't stay for very long. She came early so we could give her a tour of the chapel and at 10 we went out to meet her mom who was bringing her other son Anthony. We talked about how the primary would be doing a special program in the third hour and when she found out that Anthony wouldn't be coming she decided that they would come back then. But she never did! We are going to try to meet with her this week and actually begin teaching her. It was kind of a bummer but I'm grateful that we were able to meet her again and that she was able to come for a little bit.

   I had my first Sunday roast yesterday! There was Yorkshire pudding and it was really good! The food is a little bit different here but for the most part things are pretty much the same. I'm definitely not complaining. We also had chips (fries) on bread while at a members house this week. Definitely going to eat that more often. I'm jealous that I wasn't able to partake of that German goodness but hopefully you'll be able to make it for me sometime :)

   Things are going pretty good! We did some contacting in Dudley this week and have a few people to contact. Hopefully they will still be interested and that we'll be able to set up a time to meet with them. We do have one investigator though that they were teaching before I got here and he isn't really progressing. We are meeting with him tonight and hopefully we'll be able to figure out what he needs. The work is busy but I love it! The beginning was a little bit tough for me but things are picking up. Even though we aren't having a whole lot of success, I know that the Lord is preparing people to hear the gospel. I love being a missionary and I love this gospel! Thank you for your support!! I love you all!! Talk to you next week!

Love,

Sister Wilde

Second Most Wonderful Time of the Year! - October 6, 2014

Hello Family!

   What an amazing weekend! I'm so grateful for General Conference and for the chance that we have to hear from a living prophet. It was kind of weird to hear them talk about missionaries while being a missionary but it was definitely a cool experience. 88,000 missionaries! That is so incredible! I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to have a part in this amazing work. Unfortunately we weren't able to see the last session of conference. We watched the women's broadcast as well as the first session, and then yesterday we saw the afternoon and morning sessions. It was weird watching them so late in the day and not being in my pjs on the couch but it was so cool to be with other missionaries and members. There was definitely a special spirit there. I agree with Dad that the talks were very direct and simple. I felt like some of the main themes were that we need to be more obedient, understand the sacrament, have a firm faith in the prophet and the restoration, apply the teachings of Christ, and use His atonement daily. I know that is the only way that we can have true happiness. I feel like as the world around us is getting more complicated, the way that we need to live our lives is more simple. By following the example and teachings of Christ we will be able to withstand the temptations that are all around us. I'm so grateful for general conference and for a living prophet today. I know that he speaks for the Lord and that if we sustain him whole-heartedly and follow his counsel that we will be blessed.

   Last Thursday I was able to go on splits with Sister Burch in Harborne She is so awesome! I was able to talk to her about how I was feeling, my worries and struggles, and it was nice knowing that things do get better and that someone else has gone through the same things as me. It was just what I needed. We had plans to meet with a few new investigators but we got flogged on every single one so we GQed a little bit and stopped by some members houses. It was a lot of fun and I'm excited to have that opportunity again.

   Congrats Jesse on your race!! That is so awesome! It sounds like except football, it was a great weekend for everyone. How is the weather? It's rained a few more times since my last email, and today feels like the first day of winter. It's really windy and has been raining all morning. I finally busted out the boots, scarf, and gloves and honestly I'm pretty stoked about it. I haven't had to GQ in it though so that will probably change. Our flat is starting to get cold and I am frequently turning heaters on and off as I go from room to room. Thank you mom for the tights! They have been lifesavers! I haven't had the chance to buy a winter coat yet but we're planning on going shopping today. It kind of weird using pounds but it's becoming pretty normal. Driving on the other side of the road, however, has not. Round-a-bouts are terrifying and the roads are so small and jam packed with cars. The lady that we drove home with last night was crazy and I thought that I was going to throw up! There aren't really any rules and people just do what they want. I'm really starting to miss America. I haven't bought a bike yet because we have access to the bus. I'm sure that I will need one eventually though so hopefully I can keep enough money to do that. My clothes have worked out pretty well although there is definitely a bunch of stuff that I could have left home. We do have a grocery store right by us but it is a little more expensive so we go to an Aldi about ten minutes away. I actually really enjoy riding the bus so I don't mind going places.

   I can't beleive that it is already October!  I will hit my one month mark!! There have definitely been long days but I can already tell that the time will go by so fast. We still aren't having a ton of success but we have some people that we can contact so hopefully things will start to pick up. Once again thank you for all of your prayers and support! I know that I say that a lot but I know that I couldn't do it without you. I know that this church is true. I'm grateful that I have this opportunityto be a missionary to share the gospel with the people here in England. I know that this is where I'm supposed to be and that the Lord has a specific plan for me. I love you all! Keep up the good work! Talk to you soon!

Love,

Sister Wilde

Finally in the field!! - Sept. 29,2014

                                      My first fish & chips!

Hey Family!

   I'm so sorry that I didn't get an email out to you last Wednesday. That morning was pretty crazy and I didn't end up having enough time. We left the MTC around 6:15 and it was about a two and a half hour bus ride to the mission home. We were met by other missionaries and President and Sister Rasmussen. They are amazing! They have so much love for the missionaries and I'm excited to be able to get to know them more. Mom I got that letter from you with MaKell's letter. Thank you so much! You make me cry every time but it was great to hear from you :) 

   While I was talking to one of the missionaries and he asked if I knew a Braden Wilde. He said he was from Orem and when I looked at his name tag it said Elder Harris. It was Megan Harris little brother!! He's been out for 18 months and he remembers when we ate spaghetti at his house with weird utensils. Crazy!  He and his companion did a lot of our training that day and it was fun to kind of know someone. They gave us lunch and then we had a meeting with our potential trainers. While we were sitting there I knew that Sister Rasmusson was going to be my trainer. She's really cool and we've been having fun together. The work definitely hasn't been easy but hopefully we'll be able to find more people to teach soon. We only have one investigator right now so most of our time is spent GQing. (Golden Question/ street contacting) We do that as well as knocking doors. Most of the time people just brush us off but every once in a while someone will listen and it gives us that little boost to keep going. Hopefully we'll find someone soon.

   The first night that I got here we went and worked out with some of the members. Brother Bat is trying to be a fitness trainer so he is doing sort of a trial run I guess with the ward. It kicked my butt! I was sore for two days and it made walking around a lot less fun. But I totally needed it because the chocolate here is amazing and I've already eaten way to much. Hopefully I can send you some! There are four sisters and four elders in our district and they are all wonderful. Sister Francis from the MTC is will us and it's been great to be able to still work with her. We had our first lesson with Samuel on Saturday. He is a recent convert and was baptized about two months ago. We talked to him about general conference and about a living prophet. He's seems really excited and is anxious to watch it!

   The picture wall looks so good mom! I'm right where I should be, front and center :) Jk but I'm glad that it turned out so well. It sounds like the temple dedication was awesome! I'm sad that I couldn't see it but I'm glad that we were able to go through it before I left. We were lucky to go through the Preston Temple one last time before we left and I know that the temple is so sacred and special. I'm so grateful that we have with them and I can't wait to go again when I get back. That's crazy that there's been that much rain! It's rained once the whole time I've been here. What the heck. But it is getting colder so I'll definitely be needing to get that winter coat. Maddie and Vivi look so good! HOT DANG! I love seeing all of those pictures and others so please keep sending em this way.

   Thank you for all of your prayers! It's so humbling to get on to email and see that there are so many people praying for you and thinking of you. You're love is felt! I'm sorry I'm not the best at emailing but hopefully as I get into a routine things will get a bit more organized. I love you all! Talk to you next week!

Cheers

Sister Wilde

Here is my new address:

Flat 4

Malthouse Court

Tipton Street

Dudley

DY3 1HY

                                  

                                  

                                       Dudley Row Houses

                                                                                                                    

Arrival at the Mission Home - Sept. 24, 2014

Hinckley Zone - September 11, 2014

Letter from Pres & Sis Edwards - Preston MTC

 

ENGLAND MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTRE

Temple Way, Hartwood Green, Chorley,

Lancashire, PR6 7EQ, England                                       

                               September 19, 2014

Dear Brother and Sister Wilde,

Your daughter will be departing the England Missionary Training Centre on Wednesday morning, September 24.  We want you to know how much we have enjoyed having her with us. 

Sister Wilde is a fine young woman and we are grateful for the opportunity we have had to work with her on a daily basis.  She is well-prepared for her mission and she continues each day to grow spiritually.  She is developing good teaching skills and is excited about the work.  She is ready for full time service in the England Birmingham Mission.

We love this young woman and are grateful to you for all you have done to prepare her for this wonderful time in her life.  Your love and continued support are important to her success.   Letters from home are always greatly anticipated and appreciated.  Please address all future mail to:

England Birmingham Mission

187 Penns Lane

West Midlands

Sutton Coldfield

England  B76 1JU

United Kingdom

May you and your family be blessed as she continues to serve our Heavenly Father.

Sincerely,

President and Sister Edwards

President and Sister Edwards