I emailed President Olson and very humbly explained the situation and pleaded for help in solving it, mainly focusing on what I could do better to make the situation better. He texted us on Wednesday morning with scriptures for us to study as a companionship and said he was praying for us and our success. It truly helped so much! We read the scriptures, which all talked about unity, and discussed them and how to apply them to us. We were both open and I was praying the whole time within my heart that I would be able to feel calm and see what I needed to do. What it all boiled down to was her feeling that I wasn't supportive of her desires, and my feeling that she didn't love or appreciate me or my contributions to the companionship. I explained my personality and why I came out on a mission, and what has become my mission vision "Invite other to come unto Christ through true Christlike love and service." I explained how I needed to feel that I was loved by someone out here, especially during this holiday season where those I love are so far away.
We worked out ways we can show our love for each other more and support each other while also going by the Spirit. It was a very beneficial conversation. President Olson said he was glad to hear we were doing better and to keep him posted on how we are doing.
The adversary is working hard to divide us, but we have recognized some of the times we most feel contentious toward the other, and have made plans as to how to avoid giving him any success or control over us. He is working hard in every aspect of the work, and we have discussed that. It only makes us want to work that much harder to bring the souls out here unto Christ. We know that the opposition only means that there is much good to do, that he will do anything to prevent. Not gonna happen Satan! We gonna win! 
Don't mess with this determined Chipmunk and Jamaican!
I feel like this week has been two smashed into one. There has been so much going on!
First off, thank you Dad for being the awesome person you are and teaching me some useful skills, even when you didn't know you were. This week our cars tires all went flat. Not completely flat, but enough that they were dragging when I turned. Don't know why. But I fixed them. I carefully drove to the gas station and used the air compressor to inflate them again. Felt a little like Superman as Sister Wilson watched on with amazement and asked how I knew how to do that. Nothing big, I know. But it still made me grateful for the wonderful example my Daddy is and the all talented man that he is.
Then I again swooped in to save the day when our car started smoking. Right after we left Firestone repair shop. I pulled off into a gas station and popped the hood to take a look. The engine was smoking, so we called our vehicle coordinator, the wonderful Elder Edwards, and got his opinion. He told us to turn around and head back to Firestone. Again not much, but still. I'm pretty awesome guys. In case you didn't know. 
Which reminds me, I have been seeing a lot of people that remind me of you Dad. Don't know what it is.
-Brother Marcus Wilson
Same helper personality and funny friendly personality. Great guy. He is the Executive secretary. He also plays volleyball with us on Wednesday nights and is a very good fatherly figure that encourages me to keep trying to hit the ball. Even when I don't. like ever. struggles.
-Brother Craig Grover
Ward mission leader. Very kind and helpful. Another great fatherly figure.
-K.C.Clyde
I've been watching the church videos too much. Which might be the reason he is on the list, but he is a very nice guy. The resemblance was especially strong in "Apostasy" video from the Doctrine & Covenants videos. He plays Wilford Woodruff and for some reason I kept thinking of you when I watched him. Guess it is because you are so faithful and awesome. 
This week we have been listening to some CDs the Elders left in the car when we switched. LIFE CHANGING! I am going to give you the names so you can find them and listen to them and have your lives changed too!
-Hank Smith "Scripture Power"
-Hank Smith "5 Temptation Killers"
-Troy Dunn "Life is a game of football"
(Ryno, go listen to this RIGHT NOW! It is awesome!)
First, Scripture Power. Changed my scripture study so much! He brings up a lot of good points and changes how you see the Book of Mormon. My favorite quote "Have you seen the tear stains on the pages?"
Well, have you? Go do it! Probably listen to it first so you know what I'm talking about...
"5 Temptation Killers" So good! He talks about ways to avoid giving into Satan's attempts to bring you down along with him. Number 4&5 are my favorite. So true. So true.
And my favorite! "Life is a game of football" Y'all, this is amazing! I haven't even played football and I enjoyed it so much! He talks about God's Plan in terms of football and makes it easier to apply to yourself. There is a part that he talks about how our future children are watching us up in Heaven on the big screen. It made me think of what they are watching me do and whether they can proudly say "Hey! That's my mom!!" or if their friends are saying "Hey, isn't that your mom? what is she doing?"
Really changed how I look at my actions. The rest is so good too! I won't tell you anymore so you can go listen to it for yourself. Please go listen to it!
Interesting and awkward missionary experience. Being stuck in the middle of the most awkward and strange divorce ever. There is the Adams family in the ward. We saw their name on the ward roster and naively decided it would be a good idea to go visit them since they are less active. Nope.
Brother Jon Adams is the head of "Security Blanket Security Systems" Nice enough guy. He invited us in and we got to visit with 4 of his 5 teenage kids. The other one, Jillian was hiding in her room, which, we found out is because she is VERY against the church. I told her hair was nice when she walked down, purposely avoiding us by going through back rooms and hallways, all with her long ponytail in front of her face.
Jonathan-19 (wants to serve a mission. Doesn't want to take the steps to get there. ie going to church)
Jillian and Jennifer-15 (Twins. Don't look anything alike.)
Mary-13 (she looks like 20. Gorgeous big eyes and long brown hair.)
Jesse-12 (just stares at his phone. Tried to talk to him, but all I got was a "uh" 
)
We had a nice visit with Brother Adams and his kids, got to know them, found out he had uninvited her to Thanksgiving the next day. Kids didn't know that. He told us for some reason...
The next day we met Sister Adams, now back to her maiden name of Acosta. She was wearing tight black jeans that are probably designed for aub's age group (the decals on them look like something off pants she would wear) , high tops, and a very poofy ponytail. I tell you this not to judge her, but because I find it sad she is going to all this effort to be seen by someone who will love her.
She sat down with us and her mom (we were at her mom's house) and explained her side of the situation. We didn't ask her for it, she just launched into it and we let her vent. He texts her mean messages each day, and she refuses to reply or give him the satisfaction of getting annoyed. He is a chronic cheater, and Jonathan has caught him multiple times, which has caused Jonathan to be resentful and reserved. Jillian has also found some incriminating evidence of his actions. It is a terrible situation. He breaks into the elder Sister Acosta's house to try and find stuff to use against the younger Sister Acosta. He was on the list right along with Josh Duggar. yes THAT list.
We just sat there in silence listening and letting her vent, then we shared a scripture.
We had a sad, but common, missionary experience last night. We had a truly awesome investigator named Shay. I talked about her last week. We taught her "Why Mormons are Called Mormons" and she was SO excited about it! She said she was looking for something like this for so long! I was over the moon with excitement as we set her with a baptismal date. We had a appointment for last night at 6. We went up to the door, it was dark, and there on the lawn chair was the Book of Mormon. My heart jumped into my throat and I said "Please no. Please no." Yep. There was also a note that said "Ladies, I am so glad for the time you spent with me. Thank you. But I am happy where I am at. Sorry. Shay." 
WHY SATAN!? WHY?!?
But alas, it is all part of missionary life, and the Lord knew and prepared a way for our spirits to be lifted. Before stopping at Shay's we decided to stop at a potential's house. Travis wasn't there, but his girlfriend Ivory was! We talked to her and she gave us the low down on why Travis is why so intense about his beliefs. He comes from a Muslim and Christian family that takes the beliefs that are convenient and takes them too far. He was very intent on proving us wrong the last time we went, but we felt like we should go back to follow up. Good thing we did! Ivory sat and talked with us about what we believe. She told us about her situation. She lost a baby girl two years ago when she was still born at 9 months. Then 2 weeks later her house burned down, taking everything she had with it. She took her three children and went out looking for God. She explained that she wasn't doing the best things at that time, and she feels it was God's way of telling her she needed to come back to Him. She goes to church, reads her Bible and has a very firm faith in God and Jesus Christ. We taught her about the Book of Mormon and how it only magnifies that faith! She was so open and said she wanted to read it all last night! We also gave her a paper that has 23 questions answered by the Book of Mormon and where to find the answers.
Then after the disappointment at Shay's we headed to the Jarman's to have dinner. Their daughter Dianne is not a member, but has a very strong desire to get baptized "into the true church" We have been working with her and are preparing to teach her the stop smoking workshop. At dinner, she really opened up to us. In the past she has been closed off and defensive. She explained that she has had bad experiences with missionaries being pushy and aggressive. She said she could feel the love I had for her and it made her want to have the same light. It felt really good to hear that.
Sister Jarman asked when we could come over to teach the workshop to all of them so they could make it a team effort to stop smoking. It was so amazing!! They are on the right path and are ready to go full steam ahead so they can all go to the temple and be sealed. Dianne wants to be sealed to her son who died right after birth this July. They have the right reasons and I want to help them reach those goals.
Thanksgiving, which was also in this jam packed week was fun! We went to Reo and Helen Grover's and got to eat lots of food with their family. There weren't as many people as they thought would be coming, but there was a decent amount, almost as many as a Bell family dinner. The highlight, braiding Rusty's hair. Rusty is an old Shetland pony, who as we came to find out, doesn't like his hair braided. Not very manly i suppose. Brother Reo asked me to braid it like mine so it wasn't getting tangled. I told him I would be more than happy to! Didn't quite turn out how we thought it would. Rusty did all he could to keep that braid from staying in. In the end the fence and his head shaking caused it to fall out. But I tried.
We also went around and stopped by some of the other members houses and shared a quick message with them. I felt bad interrupting their family time, but whatever. Awkward holiday visits as a missionary!
I think that is all folks! Thanks for bearing with me for this long email! Hope you enjoy it, and have a fabulous week!!
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