Companions!!!

Hello again!!!

Hi, It seems weird to write to you since we just talked last night but I'm glad! That was so fun to hear from you! It's weird to go that long without hearing your voices and then be like, "Hey I remember." And again sorry if I wasn't understandable at times. Sis. Lednova was laughing so hard when I would be speaking English and Russian words would randomly come up. She would yell, "Sis. Wilson, your family doesn't understand when you're speaking Russian and English at the same time." I hear its a good sign when you start mixing languages or when you start forgetting words in your native language, so I'm half way there! :) Anyways, last night was fun thank you so much! Sorry I talked so much! I wanted to hear from you all too but I'll read your letters when I get back! :) Well today is a holiday, a big one, like the 4th of July in America, so we have to be in by 6 tonight,but President decided last night that he wants to do a film/training today for all missionaries in Samara. It keeps us off the street and keeps us from being bored. So tonight we have training for a little bit with President, then a testimony meeting, and then we get to watch the Joseph Smith movie. That should be fun! On Wednesday morning is the big day! I'm so excited! I really hope that this cycle with be normal. Everything i know and Presdident knows about Sis. Quinn points to her being a hard worker so we're both really excited! It's a weird feeling knowing that today in America is her last in the MTC. I remember that time and it was a lot of mixed emotions, and I just want to help her adjust the best I can. So anyways. I'm also looking forward to going back and being with my ZL's and DL, and the missionaries in my zone. kinda :) It's been fun here, E. Smith who wasmy ZL is a ZL in Samara right now so I've been able to work with him this last week which was good, but my ZL's called the other day and asked how my day was, and I told then that the assistants and ZL's asked us to dinner to talk and my ZL's were like, "Sister Wilson don't let them woo you to the Samara Zone. You're in our zone...don't talk to them!" THen the ZL's in Samara found out and they were like whatever, you're in our zone until you get in the van on Wednesday. tonight all ZL's will be there, so that should be fun! :) I love the Elders in our mission! They are fun and respomsible, it's great! I forgot to tell you....E. Morris from the MTC, he is a new ZL in the Saratov zone! And his companion is E. Barton(his trainier,my first DL) So cool! And I also forgot to tell you. We all went to a museum last week for culture nith. That was fun! I'll send some pictures soon if I can! THe missionaries going home were there too so it was good ot say goodbye to tehm. Sorry that my typing is so bad...this computer isn't the best so I hope it's understandable! That's cool that you had some contact in a way with E. Humes! I really did always respect him! Tel him hi for me! Well i think that's it for now! I don't have much else to say that I didn't say last night! I love you all so much! I can't wait til December...well I can in a way but you understand :) Take care and I'll write next Monday...no holiday! :) Love you!
Love,
Sister Wilson

One week till I can call ya:)

Hi!
So I finally got the call yesterday...you know, one day I'll get a transfer call that involves me moving to a new area, but not this time! Sis. Braginets is going to Samara, and I am....TRAINING...an American! I'm so excited, and so unbelievable nervous at the same time! To be honest, I know I've gotten better at Russian, but I've always had a companion to lean on if I got stuck...so now we'll really see how well I can speak...I can see the contacting situation...the new sister starts, then gets stuck and turns to me, who turns around and realizes...oh...mmm....! Just kidding...it'll be great, I'm sure! So...here is the schedule for the next week or so. I hope it isn't confusing! If it is well I guess I could call you about it!...6 days! Wednesday morning we are going to Samara and will be with the sisters there for the day, like when Sis. Braginets had her VISA trip. Then Thursday, early early, Sis. Taylor(a sister in Samara) and I have our Visa trip. Friday after we wake up from 8 hours of sleep(when we have visa trips, no matter what time we come back, Pres wants all missionaries to get 8 hours of sleep! I love that man!) me and Sis. Lednova (yep I get to work with her again, I'm so excited!) will leave to a new area in Samara, where she will be serviing. Sis. Braginets and SIs. Taylor will be companions from then on out and me and Sis. Lednova will be together from the 6th-11th, when our trainees come in. Then on the 11th, we'll go to the office, pick up our companions and head to our areas! Yeah..a lot is happening in the next week and a half so I hope that was all understandable! Again, I don't know if I will be able to email next Monday...we were lucky today, the library was open, but next Monday is a really big holiday for them, so who knows. Elder Yates(DL right now) is also staying, which I'm so grateful for, and he will also be training a new American, so our District will be the four of us, the ZL's and thats it. The senior couple got a transfer...so all the misssionaries will be American in our district...should be fun! I'm grateful I got to serve with Sis. Braginets but it is time she moves on. She's grown a lot and she even said she knows she can do this without me, so I'm excited for her! This last week, was good, slow in the work. But I talked with Sis. Sartori last week, and she asked about RS and how it was being run. I told her, and she told me to do, this this this this...yeah. Sunday I trained the RS Presidency...it was ok. Kinda awkward, but good. They didn't know a lot of things that should happen, and I hope it wasn't like a dump everything on them at once, but they know that I now have permission to help them so that was good! The first counsleor, she speaks Englsih, said, "I bet you didn't think that you would be serving two missions...your own, and Relief Society." At first, I didn't want to. I didn't want to take time away from the work, but as I was talking to Sis. Sartori, I realized that if I have permission to train presidencies, and I don't, and I leave an area and the RS is weaker than when I got there, I really do think that might be the biggest regret of my mission. So I'm doing what I can and I just know i need to always remember, Missionary work comes first. I don't think that will be a problem, considering I need to train someone to do the work! :) I really am excited! So what else...oh how could I have almost forgot? Bugs! Mosquitos to be more specific! They hated me in Washington...they love me here! I have so many bites it's ridiculous...and the thing that annoys me...I'm the only one! No one else in the district has a bite...I have like 12! They better stay away from my face thats all I have to say! I know that is vain, but...well...yeah I have no rebuttle to that! ;) So last week it got warmer...almost to 70 degrees so I was without my coat, just a normal shirt, shortsleeve. Yeah...if they didn't know i was American before, they do now! Apparently, it is not short sleeve shirt weather yet...whatever! I was dying it was so hot in my jacket...S. Braginets thought it was funny that everytime we would contact, if people stopped it was to ask where my coat was. It's almost 70 and people are wearing coats! That's just not right :) I got a little bit of a sunburn but not bad...another reason to not wear a coat...if it's hot enough to get a sunburn, it's hot enough to go without a coat! Ok I'm done...I think that is all for now...I will of course talk to you in 6 days! I'm so excited! Thank you for everything! I love you all so much! Take Care!
Love,
Sister Wilson

Hey there!

Hey This will be a quick one, and I won't have time to write any individual emails. We started with the internet in our own area...it was so slow and kept freezing so we had to come to our normal spot in the Elders area, and it took so much time up! Anyways...I still have a hour but my letter to President took longer than I thought. So...next week, I'm not sure if I will be able to email. We think maybe we can on Tuesday but we don't know. It's a holiday (like our Labor Day) and most places will be closed, and the following monday is a big holiday (like 4th of July....Victory day) and again places will be closed. So I'm not sure ...just know that if I don't write, I will call on the 8th! :) And it will be around 9-9:30pm my time, Sunday Evening...I don't know when it is your time, I haven't figured that out. sorry! Anyways...this week was ok...I was sick...I'm better now don't worry! It was a not so fun head cold, so the work was slow, but I feel better now. So all is good! It was a lot of time sleeping. I told them I didn't need to sleep, but there are times, where I don't get a choice in the matter, I found out ! :) It was good though, I needed to sleep! I just don't ever want to become a missionary that anytime they have a headache...oh I have to sleep for a week...but Sis. Sartori told me to sleep, so I slept. And it wasn't hard...cold medicine...well I'm sure you all remember...I was done within 30 minutes! :) So no fun stories this week, sorry! Next week is my Visa trip on the 6th of May. Anyways...I have to get going! I love all of you so much and I'm sorry I didn't write a lot! I'm hoping I can next week, if not...I will talk to you on the 8th! :) I can't believe that time is already here! Take care!
Love,
Sister Wilson
PS. It's 64 outside right now, and I think this week, I will lose the coat altogether...it's hot on the street! :)

Hi!!

Ok, so last week was so busy and crazy that I'm hoping I have time to write about it all...first off...McDonalds in Russia...not the same...yuck! Fries were ok, but the hamburger was sick...needless to say, I don't want McDonald's anymore! :) And thank you so much for the Easter package! It was great! I'm embarrassed to say I ate all the candy already, but the Elders helped with the Jelly beans...if that makes it better! Thank you thank you! Ok, so Tuesday President came and had interviews with me and Sister Braginets in the morning Wednesday was our Zone Leader day again like we did last tansfer, except this time it was really different. The Zone Leaders were on splits already with the assistants so we had E. Zuber(ZL) and E. Eyers(AP) do the training day. It was all fun and really helpful then...ok Bryce I know you'll lvoe this part...we did splits while contacting! Yep Elders and Sisters on splits...one elder, one sister contacted together, while the other sister and elder hund back a little without their tags on and observed. It sounds wierd and awkward but its wasn't. It was so helpful and a lot of fun! Althoguth at first, I wasn't exactly on board with it! :) I learned a lot of new contacting methods and this week we foudn 3 new investigators and tomorrow we have ameeting with one who said, two of her firends want to learn more too, so we'll see! Thursady was Zone Conference. That was fun too! I love being around all the other missionary! It's been a good week! :) I teach the RS lesson this Sunday! Tithing... :) So how is Brad'sshoulder? eerythign go ok? And I sent out a bday card for Grandpa, but in case it isn't there in time, tell him happy birthday for me! :) I did find out that my next visa trip is the 6th of May. So that'll be a busy week. Visa trips usually take up the night before and they morning after. So Thurs night-Sat morning. then Sunday I get to talk with all of you, and find out if I'm being transferred, then two days later, transfers...should be fun, but that's still awhile away. Well I better get going! I love you all so much! Thank you for everything you do! Take Care! Love, Sis. Wilson

Hi again!!!:)

Hi! So Spring is finally here....just not completely warm yet...but the snow is gone, and I don't have to wear a hat (thank goodness) and the streets are clear of water for the most part, so I'm enjoying this weather! Anyways...It did rain for the first time that I remember and I had to use an umbrella...I was excited! I've never used one before! I know Washington, and never used an umbrella, but usually I would get in my car, and out without needing one...well here, contacting and walking alot...I need one! It was fun til the wind came...then it was not fun! Oh my gosh...It's hard to be modest when the wind hits...let just say that! :) So I did get to see Conference and in English! Oh what a relief! It was me and about 6 Elders in a room with a computer...so yeah, it got pretty warm, but I was so excited to be able to listen and UNDERSTAND! :) The were great talks! I think most of you commented on E. Scott's talk being amazing and I would have to agree except for my circumstances...one sister, 6 elders, small room...talking about marriage and love...lets just say no one looked at one another during that one! Awkward! :) I loved all the talk of temples! I'm going to be honest...my mission has been hard...a lot of....well it's not important, but it's been hard...I've loved every minute of it, even the hard times, but there were times that I just felt really alone and didn't know what to do...and that's when every single time I turned to the temple. Pres told me that Heavenly Father has blessed me with a sensitivity to the temple and that he knows it will be the thing to help me through tough times. It's true...I will forever be grateful for the time I spent in the temple before leaving. I miss it so much...but I know for now, the memories and feelings are all I need, and that is so powerful to me! I hope you know that when I get home, that's the first place I want to go...airport, temple, home....just a heads up! :) And I thought of the Singles Ward when they said that some people wake up in the early hours of the morning to do baptisms! Very cool! I'm so proud of that ward! Anyways...I loved Conference...it was great! The work is still slow...we have some contacts and a former investigator we are meeting with this week so I'm excited about that! Well I better get going...we don't hae a lot of time today...oh I almost forgot...story time...two actually...both showing that I may be a missionary and I may be "Sister Wilson" but I'm still a girly girl! :) First...Tuesday...I got pooped on by a bird...gross! Beyond gross! So long story short, I made some fun sqeak noises and entertained more Russians, and went home! :) Then yesterday we went to a former investigators house to see if they were interested and well it smelled bad when we got there...like really bad but oh well right? No not right! After 30 minutes we went into the kitchen and there were a million flies and cockroaches...um...we left soon after and we had to beat our clothes before going home, and clean everything...then the fun part came...calling E. yates and asked for like 15 minutes extra for dinner to take a shower...I think the call went something like this,,,"I told you I would never whine, right? Well I lied..." He laughed. Oh well, another embarrassing story and interesting at times :) Ok, now I really have to go! I hope you are all doing good and have a great week! thank you so much for your letters! They are such a support to me! I love you! Love, Sister Wilson!

Hey There!!

Hi! Ok, so I thought Spring was here to stay...yeah, the snow was almost all gone, except the stuff piled up on the sides, and the sun was out, I was in my spring coat, not the fat winter one...then, Sunday morning....about 4 inches of snow....what in the world?! Then Sunday afternoon, it was all gone, and a lot of water was there! Crazy! Today it's 45 degrees and is so nice outside! It feels like summer...kinda! Anyways...my week was good! My birthday was a normal day...Sis. Braginets gave me a card that she wrote in English...she's doing good with it! :) It was so sweet! And E. Yates made me cookies, and four of the Elders in the Zone called on a conference call and sang to me, and today...I have permission to go to McDonalds!!! yay! We don't do that often so I'm so excited! Oh, I forgot a couple of weeks ago, Mom, when you bragged (j/k) about having a Wii...yes it's true, I don't have a Wii...but I do have a mini PINK DVD player....yes I'm serious! All trainers have one to help with a new training program! So that's me bragging for just a second...a Wii is better, but I have a PINK one! :) Anyways thank you so much for the dictionary! I can understand certain things in the scriptures better when I actually know what the word means! :) I love it! It was a slow week. Sis. Braginets had a pretty bad cold...she still has the cough but the bad part is gone. We were inside for a little bit of the week and Sis. Sartori said we had to cancel some appts (recommended) cause there were going to be kids there...so not a lot of appts and not a lot of new things going on, but it was a good week. We went tracting yesterday and it was the first time I was told if I didn't leave, they were going to call the police! Yeah...it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. We just went to the next floor! :) Oh, early in the week we were tracting and I was so shocked. I told the lady that we had a message about Jesus Christ. And she put up her hand to stop me from talking and she said, "I don't need Christ." And slammed the door. I was like, "WHAT?!" You don't need Christ?! I wanted to knock on the door again so bad, but Sis. Braginets wouldn't let me... :) It just really hit me this week, that there are so many people in the world that either don't know who Christ is or don't understand why He's so important! It really gave me extra energy to work! I want everyone I talk to, to know how important He is to everyone! Well I have to get going! I hope you all have a great week! I love you all so much and thank youfor everything you do! Take Care! Love Sister Wilson