Week #9 Get to Work

Kansas Wichita Mission Office

Monday, March 21, 2016

¡Otro semana en paraíso!

Another week in Paradise!

I guess I need to fill everyone in on what it is that has been

happening here on my mission. I apologize for being so brief and

negative in my past two weeks. I have made it sound horrifying to be a

missionary!! I have been suffering from some extreme anxiety, so bad

that it was practically paralyzing me to the point where even when we

were serving someone I would lose focus and get shaky. I have been

started on some medications to help calm my anxiety. They really were

not helping, I was try I'll that I could to come out here. At this

point after much prayer, talking with my mission president, the APs,

my Zone Leaders, everyone you can think of, I was set on coming home.

Plane ticket was purchased, itinerary set, I should've been on a plane

to Arizona right now. I was just miserable. What happened? Why a

sudden change of mind?

My beloved young men's president gave me a call yesterday. He told me

there is no way in heaven that you are coming home. How could he say

this? Did he not know what I was going through? Did he not understand

I am suffering and that going home would be the best thing for me? He

understood perfectly that I was struggling, but he understood

perfectly what the Lord had asked me to do, and something that I had

committed to do a long time ago. I committed to the Lord that I would

serve a mission for 2 full years in the Kansas Wichita mission. I

committed to the Lord that I would go find and rescue those precious

children of God and bring them back to the fold. I committed to the

Lord that I would give Him my everything. Who am I to think that I

could walk away from my mission because my anxiety was getting bad

when our Lord and Savior suffered every pain and affliction. Jesus

Christ had a mission to perform when He came to earth, that was to

complete the Atonement-overcome sin and death. Was it easy? Absolutely

not. Did he suffer? So much more than any human being could ever

comprehend. Did he complete his mission? Yes. Why? Because he didn't

think once about himself. He knew that if he failed all mankind would

be lost and fallen forever. He suffered all that he suffered for each

and every one of us. So it came to my realization that I need to stop

thinking about myself and fully, 100% put my faith in the master, the

one who conquered everything. I need to truly get lost in the work.

I always knew the Savior was there for me, I always knew the Atonement

was available to me, but it has never impacted me as much as it has

these past few days. Family and friends, if you think you are alone

you are NEVER alone. If you think you can't conquer what may seem an

unconquerable task, you can WITH the Savior. I testify to you that

Jesus Christ knows each and every one of you by name. He knows your

struggles me weaknesses. He knows what makes you cry and what makes

you laugh. Call out for help from Him and He will help you. He is all

powerful and with Him you can do all things. If it were not for Jesus

Christ I would not be here serving a mission for 2 years. If I did not

absolutely know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

was the true church I would not be out here in Kansas. Brothers and

Sisters the Church thay Jesus Christ established on the earth has been

Restored. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and because of Him we have

Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon. I love the

Savior with all my heart. I am so beyond grateful for Him, for His

sacrifice for me personally. I feel Him walking beside me every step

of the way, I challenge each of you to reach out to Him.

While I know that my mission will continue to be a challenge, with

many times of trials, I know that there are so many happy moments

ahead. I know that this truly is Christ's work, the greatest, holiest,

most amazing work in the entire universe. May God be with all of you,

always remember who you are, you are a beloved Child of God.

How Firm a Foundation

3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

This week is Holy Week- the week leading up to Easter. Please take two

minutes to watch this video our church has put together about Jesus

Christ. What has Christ done for you? What are you doing to show your

gratitude to Him?

https://www.mormon.org/easter?player=bc

¡Dios te bendiga!

Con Amor,

Elder Pilkington

I love to see the temple!

President Bell and I

Oklahoma City temple

Everybody has Vivint in KS haha!

Fried Pies are so yummy.  Thank you Sister Calder!

Elder Allen is a stud!

Week #8 Semana Dos in the field

Kansas Wichita Mission Office

                                                                                   

Monday, March 14, 2016

Hola

I hope everyone has had a great week. Quite a few things happened this

week out here in Garden City. As for a quick update I am currently on

the office with two office elders. I am here until I can start to

adjust a little bit better. I'm not sure what the plan is for after

the office if things get better.

Week two with the work was a lot better for sure. Since Elder Yardley

and I were both new to our area we knew absolutely nobody. What we did

is jut went through our book that tells us about investigators or less

active members and tried to visit as many people as possible. We have

the sweetest recent convert. He is a massive barrel chested 6 foot 3

guy who used to be a gang member, used to be going down the wrong

road. He took a complete 180 degree turn and is a stud. His testimony

is so strong, he gave up his "fame" to being wealthy and living the

"worldly life" to being dirt poor living pay check to paycheck. But he

said that doesn't matter to him because he has the Gospel of Jesus

Christ and that is all that matters. So powerful, we all need to be

more like Jason. What is it that is holding us back from having that

100% happiness and joy that we get from having Jesus Christ as our

main focus.

We met with a sister who Is less active. She has been having a really

rough time these past few years. About a year ago her baby boy passed

away at 24 days old and that just led to her getting into trouble to

try and ease her pain. Her and her fiancé who just got out of jail are

struggling trying to find a job. The best thing is they realize that

they need to make a change in their lives and the only way that

they're going to be Able to do that is through Christ. We had them

each read Alma 36. I love this story in the Book of Mormon. It's about

a prophet, Alma, now when he was young he was an AWFUL person. He was

leading people away from God, telling them he wasn't real, and just a

sinner. He has an experience where an angel appeared unto him and

suddenly all of his sins and iniquities were brought unto his

remembrance. Alma was struck dumb for 3 days and 3 nights "even with

the pains of a damned soul"(Alma 36:16). Alma then cried unto the Lord

to have mercy on him and so it was. "Oh what joy and what marvelous

light was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!" We then

explained to Audra and her fiancé that they too can experience this

same feeling. I love this story, Alma became one of the greatest men

in the Book of Mormon. We all can become great through Christ and His

Atonement, we all can receive this joy and happiness in our lives. We

are excited to keep working with Audra and her fiancé.

We had stake conference this weekend, which was great because I got to

see Elder Sperry (MTC companion) and catch up with him.

Elder Sperry and I

 He's killing it out in Liberal while I'm having this setback.  I'm trying to push

through it. I know that with Christ I can overcome this struggle that

I am going through. President and Sister Bell have been such a

blessing to me. I'm so grateful they are allowing me to stay at the

office to try and get adjusted better. I have felt so much love from

the both of them, I'm grateful to be here in Kansas.

Les Quiero

Con Amor,

Elder Pilkington