November 21, 2011 11:29:59 AM ( Oops skipped a week posting)

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!!

Well, another week down and still working.

These last few weeks weve come across a BUNCH of new investigators.

On friday, we were on the way to an appointment when I had to stop and tie my shoe, and all of the sudden we hear someone shouting "elderes! elderes!"

THis was a single mom who really wants to repent. She listened to the missionaries about 10 years ago but she says that she knows that we are from god and that we can help her to repent.

The only issue with her is that, shes looking to a bunch of churches to help her, so that could pose a problem.

Well, we still dont have any progressing investigators, because NOBOBY COMES TO CHURCH!!!!! Weve been focusing on that, telling our investigators that they NEED to come to church, but they dont do it. And now my mission prez wrote me today saying hes worried that we havent been having anybody at church. GAH!!!!!!!!

But weve been doing all we can.

Oh, we had a training session a couple of weeks ago and our mission prez told us of an experience with a patriarchal blessing that a missionary wrote him about recently. THis was for a recent convert and it said that she wouldve joined the church 20 years ago but a young man that wouldve been her missionary chose not to serve a mission.

That just makes me know that there are specific people that I gotta find and I gotta do all I can to find them.

I am feeling better and my comp is opening up more and more to me. But there is one thing that concerns me a lot. He told me he doesnt think hes gonna serve the whole 2 years. He thinks hes gonna go til the new year and throw in the towel. His girlfriend told him that she would still marry him if he came home early soooooo, yeah....

Well, Ill be on for another 20 minutes,

Love you all!!!!!

Elder Kevin Wilde

WOOOOOOT I AM A UNCLE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YUP I AM SUPER PUMPED!!!!!!! WOOOT WOOT!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS DAN AND MICHELLE!!!!!

Yup, but this was a good week. We finally had investigators at church this week. Were gonna marry a couple, so thats awesome.

Were working with some less actives to reactivate them.

As a mission were focusing right now on the temple. How important it is to have converts, not baptisms.

But Im doing well because were finally gonna have some baptisms soon!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!

AND I HAVE A NEW NEPHEW!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, I would like to vent for one moment about how I DO NOT LIKE self righteous people. They very much irritate me.

Yesterday, I went to eat at a members house, and the wife went on for about 10 minutes about how righteous she is!!!! Im not even kidding, she was talking about how everyone loves her and how shes such a great example of the church!!! And in fact, her rumor spreading is a reason why one less active that we are reactivating is less active!!!!! GAH!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, theres a goods number of members who are like that. Yeah, not cool.

But I would like to take this opportunity to share they story of the people we are gonna marry.

Well, we had been teaching his wife for about a month and a half and we were about to stop teaching her. And her huband drank A LOT!!!!! And she wanted to leave him (yes I refer to husband even though they are not married), but he was drinking so much, that he had to stop because of health issues in his liver. ANd now that hes trying to stop, hes having severe pains. But inicially, he didnt want to listen to us, but one day he decided to, and now he tells us that he wants to leave all of his old habits behind and come unto christ. IT IS AWESOME!!!! And were gonna have FHE with them tonight.

So yeah, Im doing well.

Until next week, Love you ALL

Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

Ugh, drama please stop.....is that too much to ask? Oct. 24, 2011

Yup, is it???

Well in this edition of the weekly report of Kev....err...I mean Elder Wildes crazy adventures.....Elder Wilde is officially sick of having so much drama happening.

We again didnt have any baptisms this week which is dissapointing me because I love those investigators but I am about to make the decision to stop teaching them. Its quite sad really. But Ive been feeling super inadequate of being a senior companion.

Speaking of companions, I think you can start calling me the Killer. This is because I do believe that my companion is probably gonna go home this week, and this time because of other issues before his mission.

I HATE DRAMA!!!!!!! GAH!!!!!!!!!!!

All I wanna do is teach and baptize, is that too much to ask????

On the good news, a few weeks ago I had an epiphany (yes, that is one my favorite words). I do feel comfortable speaking spanish. I can communicate, understand, and joke around in spanish. So yes, I am feeling proud of myself in that regard.

NOW, back to the drama, I felt soooo alone this week, because my companion was not talking to me, not supporting me, and I was basically dragging him around all day every day. Now today he finally opened up as to why he was like that, and yeah, hes probably going home.

Good news, I love the weather right now, not hot, not cold, just right.......ahhhh.......

But yeah, this week, I really gotta focus in on finding new investigators. I dont know why, but I am still nervous of contacting new people. Im getting better, but its still hard.

But dang its tough being a senior companion, especially when you have soooo much to learn.

Oh yeah, I got sick last week, Im still a little sick (spanish word of the day, todavia, means yet, or still). I woke up on friday and I could barely talk, and my throat was killing me. I do feel like the Lord blessed me there because the doctor said I needed to take a penicillin injection and other pills and rest for 2 days. But I felt a ton better on saturday and I worked. And I didnt do the penicillin injection because that wouldve been a shot where I dont like it....

Oh, and even more drama, my district leader is having issues as well, which is really sad, because he is a great missionary, but I wont go into detail.

OH, and today, my tailbone is hurting. I am worried about that because my son went home because of back issues.

But Im really hoping that all of this drama will stop and I can get back to teaching and baptizing.

So, thats my schpeal for this week, Ill be on for another 20 minutes,

Love you all,

Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

Possibly the 2 most stressful weeks of my life! October 17, 2011

The title says it all.

My son died in childbirth(went home) because of issues in his spine, and went home on wednesday. I still felt like such a failure.

I got another mexican companion that came into the field at the same time as me. I am still senior companion. It was very clear to me (and he told me later) that he did not get along well at ALL with his trainer, because he hasnt learned much. Which makes things super stressful on me again because I have been doing everything, teaching, finding. I have to force him to participate. I just didnt think I was ready for this just yet. And that stress culminated on sunday when nobobdy come to church. Now there was a big storm and it has rained a TON in the last few days, but it was still bad. So yeah, I was depressed yesterday. Another elder, elder franco (good friend of mine) saw that, took me aside, and chewed me out for being depressed. SO, now I feel better, Im refocusing and this is gonna be a better week. We have 2 baptisms scheduled for this week, but probably 1 will actually happen. Im so worried about that because she´s still very nervous about baptism (because she´s 18 and worried about what will happen after baptism).

 

So yeah, mission life continues, oh, another part of the stress come because at transfers, we divided the areas of my ward to bring in 2 new elders. And with that, I didnt know half of my area. I lost half of my investigators to the other elders. And they told me that they were about to leave my best investigator, which leads me to believe that she doesnt trust them. SO yeah.

 

Oh, I forgot to tell you all that I learned a new word at general conference, "tweetear", "to tweet", hahahhaha. Sorry, that just makes me laugh.

 

I do very much enjoy going to costco, its like a mini trip to the states, because it is EXACTLY the same. Im going there this afternoon. 

 

I never really realized how much of a big deal blonde hair and blue eyes is until I came here. I mean seriously, it is a BIG DEAL. I get soooo many looks from people (especially women). Even more so than other americans, because right now, I am pretty dang blonde. Example, in a lesson a few weeks ago, I was explaining what would happen in the ressurection, and giving the example that I wear contacts, but in the resurrection, I wont have to because my eyes "will be perfect". And one of the women there said "ya son" meaning, "they already are". Yesterday, a member drove us to their house to eat, and I sat in the middle and there was a little girl sitting in the back. And 2 minutes into the trip, she starts stroking my hair....and did that until we got there.......that was awkward....

Yeah and Ive gotten a ton of comments about my hair and my eyes. As I said, its a big deal. SO, if after my mission I have troubles finding a girl, I know where to go ;)

 

But yeah, so these last few weeks have been rough, but its gonna get better,

Love you all!!!!!

Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

A New Epic has Begun October 10, 2011

Well, as you all know I am training, but Im not too sure it will be for a long time. Actually, I could be getting a new comp this week. For a lot of reasons, first of all, he misses his family SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH, second, Im pretty sure he came out here because of pressure from family and friends, thirdly, hes having some major issues with his back. He and I are gonna meet with President Salinas tomorrow to see what we should do because it hurts him a lot to walk all day, and as you know, we do that all day every day.

 

But he is a good person, humble, and funloving. If he can resolve his back problems here in the mission, I do believe he can be a good missionary.

 

This was a very wierd week, and I felt extremely inadequate. And it was very trying as well. We divided the areas and recieved a new companionship in the ward. And as such, I lost half my investigators and half of my area I dont know. It was even more trying when I heard that the new elders want to drop my best investigator. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, I lost all of my confidence in them, I fear they are gonna lose all of my other investigators. GAH!!!!!!

 

But I forgot to describe conference. IT WAS SO WIERD IN SPANISH. But nonetheless, awesome. But it was clear in one of the talks, the translator was very nervous because he finished the talk a full minute before the actual speaker! I laughed. But the jokes of the speakers just arent the same in spanish.

 

But we didnt have too many investigators as sacrament meeting. Our next baptisms are next week. But I'm quite a bit worried. I really hope I can be guided by the Spirit and help people, but I do believe Im going through a trial of faith.

 

Ugh, I always have things to write in my email but then I forget  them when Im at the cibers!!!!!!

 

Oh just throwing this out there, Heidi, you look soooooo different!!!!!!!

 

Nathan, are you married yet?

 

Funny fact about Mexico for the week, you wanna sell something? Buy a reverse tricycle and make noise.

 

But, all is well,

 

Love you all,

Elder Kevin Wilde

 

I'm a Father! - October 5th 2011

Yup its true, im officially a dad, Im training a noob.

His name is Elder Luna, a native from the state of Puebla.

And that is why I did not write yesterday. I was in merida getting my son. Im super excited and nervous at the same time.

So Im now fatherless. Yeah, he died in his last week but really I can't blame him. He was a great missionary and now I gotta pass that on to my son.

Im grateful that my son isnt a prideful elder like Ive heard of some Mexican elders. Hes really humble and ready to learn. I just hope I can teach him.

I really have no idea how I got so much trust from presidente salinas. Im one of 2 elders from my generation thats training this transfer.

SOOOOOOOO.....

It does look like we´ll have 2 baptisms next week so thats good. But Im just not sure Im ready to be a senior companion, much less a trainer. So I´ll need stregnth and more faith.

I didnt realize until now how little new missionaries now, and in turn,how little I know, but I must press forward. The spirit is what does it all.

But wow, I just cant believe it.

Im about to teach on my own basically.....wow......

This is when I gotta be a missionary, I gotta be good now, pray for me.

Im glad the fam is doing well, and SOOOOO glad that Michelle and the baby are safe.

I hope nothing is terribly wrong with carsey, I love that kid....

Fact about Mexico for the week: Theres more spanglish here than you would think. The words "look" and "ride" exist here, oh and today I encountered a begging drunk when we were studying at the chapel....that was interesting....

Glad all is well!!!

Love,

Elder Kevin Wilde

Ugh, drama please stop.....is that too much to ask?

Yup, is it???

Well in this edition of the weekly report of Kev....err...I mean Elder Wildes crazy adventures.....Elder Wilde is officially sick of having so much drama happening.

We again didnt have any baptisms this week which is dissapointing me because I love those investigators but I am about to make the decision to stop teaching them. Its quite sad really. But Ive been feeling super inadequate of being a senior companion.

Speaking of companions, I think you can start calling me the Killer. This is because I do believe that my companion is probably gonna go home this week, and this time because of other issues before his mission.

I HATE DRAMA!!!!!!! GAH!!!!!!!!!!!

All I wanna do is teach and baptize, is that too much to ask????

On the good news, a few weeks ago I had an epiphany (yes, that is one my favorite words). I do feel comfortable speaking spanish. I can communicate, understand, and joke around in spanish. So yes, I am feeling proud of myself in that regard.

NOW, back to the drama, I felt soooo alone this week, because my companion was not talking to me, not supporting me, and I was basically dragging him around all day every day. Now today he finally opened up as to why he was like that, and yeah, hes probably going home.

Good news, I love the weather right now, not hot, not cold, just right.......ahhhh.......

But yeah, this week, I really gotta focus in on finding new investigators. I dont know why, but I am still nervous of contacting new people. Im getting better, but its still hard.

But dang its tough being a senior companion, especially when you have soooo much to learn.

Oh yeah, I got sick last week, Im still a little sick (spanish word of the day, todavia, means yet, or still). I woke up on friday and I could barely talk, and my throat was killing me. I do feel like the Lord blessed me there because the doctor said I needed to take a penicillin injection and other pills and rest for 2 days. But I felt a ton better on saturday and I worked. And I didnt do the penicillin injection because that wouldve been a shot where I dont like it....

Oh, and even more drama, my district leader is having issues as well, which is really sad, because he is a great missionary, but I wont go into detail.

OH, and today, my tailbone is hurting. I am worried about that because my son went home because of back issues.

But Im really hoping that all of this drama will stop and I can get back to teaching and baptizing.

So, thats my schpeal for this week.

Love you all,

Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

Editor's note: This is the most current of Elder Wilde's emails. I'm afraid I neglected to post for a few weeks. I will endeavor to catch up. My apologies

Say cheese!

I wasn't forgotten after all!

Well, I officially consider myself bombarded! THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE EMAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ESO ES!!!!!(español)
Oh about the finances, I bought a shirt and pants last week and I ordered extra garments because I was rather lacking in those areas so that accounts for about 150 bucks of that spending. And I already resolved before that to start being more careful about my finances, and before that, the mission gave me the wrong PIN so I had to spend from my own money. So yeah, Im gonna start being more responsible.

Entonces....This week FLEW BY!!!!!! Oh, if I didnt mention this in my last email, Im the only american in my district now, and 1 of 3 in my zone. So, next week I´ll send a photo (it will be kind of a where´s waldo kind of photo....) But the baptism streak broke because our investigator Pablo, (we baptized his wife in july) knows the church is true, has stopped drinking coffee, got married, but HES TOO DANG SCARED OF SETTING A DANG BAPTISM DATE!!!! Weve literally taught him everything at least twice to him.

Ugh, Sunday was the WORST!!!! For 3/4 of sacrament meeting, we had ZERO investigators there. But then 1 came after that. But even so, 1 is a TERRIBLE number. This is one of those moments when nathan would say I HATE MEXICANS!!!! Because we had 10 committed to coming, but only one showed up. Oh, and only 2 of our recent converts showed up as well. Were gonna have a lot of recent convert lessons this week.

Oh but the mission, has soooooo many spiritual experiences, its just awesome. Especially when you see someone absolutly change their life to come to the gospel. Oh I finished the book Jesus the Christ a couple of weeks ago. I took about 15 days to read it. Its amazing. I highly reccommend it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABIES!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe they will be 3 when I get home!

My companion really expects a lot from me. He fully expects me to become an assistant to the mission president before my mission is over. And for that reason he wont take it easy on me. He won´t let me make excuses to not improve. He is really helping me to grow as a person. Oh that reminds me, the mission president expects a lot of me too. I didnt tell you all this earlier, because I didn´t want to sound prideful, but he told me in my first interview with him, "I don´t know you, I don´t know hardly anything about you, but I feel impressed to tell you, that you will be one of the best missionaries in this entire mission. As I said, I feel impressed by the spirit to tell you that." I still cant believe it. I have super high expectations from others around me. I really hope that I will be stregnthened by the spirit to fufill those expectations.

Thanks for the sports updates. AHHHHHHHH SOOOO EXCITING!!!! (if you could embed highlights in next week´s email I would be eternally grateful....) That will be a hard part for me. I love sports!!!!! Oh and speaking of which, I´m terrible at fútbol (soccer). But I did score a goal today, but Im still terrible.

Oh, I didnt hear about the hurricane, I dont hear of any news here, literally. A nuke could go off and I wouldnt know about it.

But thanks for everything, I really hope I get your packages tonight. Every week I think "oh Im finally gonna get them tonight" then I dont.
THANK YOU I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
Elder Kevin Wilde

Baptism!

1st Transfer

Ok as of this moment that I´m writing I have yet to recieve a email from anybody but dad, and thats pretty dang lame(no dad you´re email wasnt lame), yes i know that I´m writing a little earlier than I usually do, but come on!!!! This is when I usually plan on writing, but for some reason that never happens. 

But nevertheless, I will write you all of my coming and goings here in good ol Mexico. Sunday was pretty dang lame, because we had 1 progressing investigator at church, so thats something we´ll need to improve on. 
Auriliano was baptized!

I´ve finished my first transfer in Mexico!!!!! But I wasn´t transferred. So it is now officially confirmed that I will be killing my trainer. He predicts that I´ll train next transfer, but I´m not gonna lie I don´t think I could do it, not now. He also says that he thinks I´ve gained the trust of my mission president, because I haven´t talked to him outside of our scheduled interviews. According to Elder Cruz, that means he´s not worried about me. Oh and the first missionary from my "generation" was sent home. Oh about 3 weeks ago, 2 elders from my district were sent home(actually the other elders from my ward). From what members told me about them, they deserved it, but I won´t go into details.  We recorded in this transfer 6 baptisms and confirmations, pretty dang good for a first transfer!!! I do believe we were the highest baptizing companionship in the zone!

With some hope, we´ll have another baptism this week.

So now i´ve officially begun my second transfer, thoughts.....
This transfer went REALLY FAST!!!!! Hopefully the rest will be the same.
I really do have the best trainer in the world.
I still have yet to recieve any packages yet, hopefully I´ll get them tonight!
Quite often I miss the luxuries in the states that we take for granted.
Tuesdays are the best (because we´ve had baptisms almost every tuesday)
I´ve seen a lot of lazy elders and fritas (disobedient), I promise you I will not be one of those.
I haven´t been sleeping well lately, please pray that I´ll sleep better, and learn the language.
I miss dairy products from the states. There´s no such thing as fresh milk here, and there are NONE of the cheeses that we enjoy in the states here, only american cheese(really??? we´re not representing too well)
BUT...I´ve eaten some DELICOUS Mexican food. I´ve eaten the BEST Quesadillas EVER here. Theres this Taqueria near my house that makes AMAZING gringas (yes, tortilla with cheese meat and vegetables, but whatever), and sopes (again, tortilla with cheese meat and vegetables)

But unfortunately I don´t have any more time (8 minutes to write the mission prez.), AND STILL NOTHING!!!!!! UGH!!! Have I been forgotten???? Oh annie, I finally used a computer that could play your vid. THANKS ANNIE and BABIES!!! SUPER CUTE!!!!
So lots of love to everyone AND WRITE ME DANGIT!!!!!!!

Love Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Over a month in Mexico

Another week down, and one more to go until my first transfer is done!!!!

So, first off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope it was a good one of in alabama!!!!

First off to answer questions....no I havent gotten any packages yet, I might tonight, monday nights are when we recieve mail and packages. We cleaned our room today, dont worry. Yes, it was a real tarantula, but it was on the wall of a member´s house, OUTSIDE, but the dang ants are what I worry most about. And yes, I had my first zone conference this week. It was a 2 zone conference. And I love my mission president, he´s the best.

I´m not going to lie, you all know I love BYU football but Ive gotten ZERO UPDATES!!!! WHAT IS THIS????

So entertaining story of the week. While this didn´t happen to me I still think its hilarious enough to be included in the email. So out here theres a billion and a half churches. So one of the ministers of a church here asked one of the members for a triple, and she gave it to him. The reason for this is hilarious. This minister uses scriptures from the book of mormon, and doctrine and covenants to further explain scriptures from the bible!!! WHy doesnt he just tell his members to join the real church of jesus christ????

Question to Nathan, Will, and Dan, how long did it take you to get down the language, because im sick of always bumbling in my speech!!!!!

While me and my companion are doing well, my zone is suffering. We are the only ones baptizing regularly in our zone (speaking of which we have another baptism tomorrow!!!). The sister missionaries literally have no progressing investigators, which means they will not have another baptism for at least 3 weeks.

So story of baptism. 3 weeks ago we contacted a man named auriliano. We taught him a lesson and asked him to come to church the next day, and he accepted. But when we passed by his house on sunday, we could tell that he was a little tipsy, but we brought him anyway. When we came on tuesday to teach him, he was VERY drunk, so we told him that we were gonna come at 9 am the next day to keep him from drinking. We came at 9:30, and already he was very drunk, so we told him, that we were gonna come by the next day in the morning, and he better not be drunk. So we did and he was sober, we taught him the Word of Wisdom and the doctrine of christ and he hasnt drank since!!!! ANd he will be baptized tomorrow!!!!!! WOOT!!!

So mexicans like literally EXERYTHING spicy. Ice cream, fruits, candy, all spicy. And in this part of the country, there are tortillas offered at every meal. Literally every meal Ive eaten at houses of members there are tortillas offered. Even if its something like spaghetti with chicken cordon bleu, and always, tortillas are there.

Now this week weve been without water, and I realized that the water system here is stuck in the 1960s. So what ive done for showers this week is go and grab a bucket of water, bring it into the shower, grab a tupperware container, and...shower...

But yeah, everyone here is obsessed with soccer, as I thought they would be.

So, I think that is it for this week.
Love you all and SEND ME BYU UPDATES DANGIT!!!!
If theres any grammar errors, its because I don´t want to change anything because this computer is SO DANG SLOW!!! Literally it cant keep up with my typing, it is slower than our old computer!!

Love,
Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde 

 

I'm 20 ?!? Ahhhh!

WOW IM 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I CANT BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Sounds so wierd in english, I tell people "cumplo 20 años hoy" or "tengo 20 años" but its hitting me in english. I tell myself over and over and over that im 20, and it just sounds soooo wierd! WHERE DID MY TEENS GO?!?!?!?!??! Oh come on, I have to be an adult??? LAME!

But yesterday did not feel at ALL like my birthday, not to mention that my birthday came on a fast sunday....

BUT, I had the best meal from a member yet yesterday. Spaghetti with chicken cordon bleu with BACON!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!! "YAY BACON!!!!" Jim Gaffigan (Oh this week I completely told my companion JIm Gaffigans Mexican food joke....IN SPANISH) IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!! BACON!!!! Although of course there were tortillas at the table. I literally have not eaten a meal at a members house without tortillas offered.

Oh but so much has happened here in Mexico. I baptized another convert on tuesday, Im gonna baptize another this tuesday, and we are on track to meeting our mission goal of a baptism a week for the month of august. SO, thats great news, because apparently the area of me and my companion is one of the few areas in Cancun thats baptizing right now.

So story that I didnt have time to share last week. The Sunday before last the bishop comes up to my companion while we are greeting people and asks him to give a talk, and my comp tells him "mi hijo puede hacerlo" literally meaning "my son can do it", so yes, my comp bummed off his assignment of giving a talk onto me, and I gave a 10 minute talk in spanish with very little preparation. It was....interesting...Although the members told me that they could understand me, Im not sure.....oh and I had to teach the gospel principles class yesterday as well....

Ive seen several crazy animals here. The week before last I saw my first live wild tarantula while we were teaching a lesson. The cockroaches are HUGE!!!!! Ive seen 3 iguanas today alone. Ive been stung several times by fire ants. Oh, and Ive gotten tons of mosquito bites as well.

Im POSITIVE Ive lost weight since Ive been here. I guess thats what walking all day in the steaming hot of Mexico does to you.

Last week was a really good week as regards to my spanish. Im able to understand much more and many members have told me that I dont sound like someone whos been out for less than a month.

SO, Thanks for all of the birthday wishes!!! As always, I love you all!!!!!
Love,
Elder Kevin Wilde

It's August !

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well, I officially declare this past week as, Mexico has caught up to me week. On Tuesday, I got sooooooooooo sick!!!! I couldn´t hold anything in my stomach that I didn’t come out one way or the other. And as such, I had no energy to work. IT WAS THE WORST!!! I’ve seriously never felt more sick in my life!!!! So that lasted until Wednesday. After that it was a pretty good week. We have another baptism this week and I´m gonna be performing it, which is awesome.

Sorry I don´t have much time to write this email, it´s been a weird pday. But it was awesome when I was able to work. And ITS MY BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As I said I dont have much time so thats gonna be my email for this week. As my comp says, sera mas largo la proxima semana (it will be longer next week)

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

My 3rd Week in Mexico

Well, hello familía!!!!!

I´m now beginning my 3rd week in mexico, and I gotta say, its been LOCO!!!!(crazy)

I´m always sleepy, not quite used to the hammocks here yet, but I did get my other bag FINALLY!!!!! I am learning more and more every day. My vocabulary is increasing but where     I´ve been improving the most is in understanding. I´m understanding more and more of the language when people speak every day. But it all depends on the person. Some people speak very slurred so its hard to speak to them. But then theres people that are more annunciated in their dialogue that I can understand everything they are saying. Like my stake president. I ate at his house on....I think thursday. But I could understand everything he was saying! It was awesome!!!!!!

It´s so interesting to see what people consider cheap and expensive here. The exchange rate here is about 11 pesos to 1 dollar. So most things here are really cheap, except for electronics, those are a rip off.Oh, I never realized that microwaves are a completely american thing! NOBODY owns a microwave!(Except the Stake President, but his house actually felt like it was american. I half expected a sign to be outside of their house saying "This is the American Embassy") But it was interesting to see what is considered expensive. For example, we were taking a taxi for a few miles, and the taxi charged us 35 pesos, so more or less 3.50, which my comp told me that was expensive, but I thought is was really cheap. And things that are considered neccesities in the states are luxuries here. For example, I´ve seen a computer in a home twice.  Most go to internet cafes such as the one I´m at right now and....well, I miss our computer at home. It´s gonna be hard to send pics, but I cant at the cafe I´m at right now, so hopefully next week.

So now to tell you about the work. Well, we did have 3 baptisms last week, and I did one of the ordinances! Unfortunately my baptismal clothes were in my lost bag which didnt come until later that week, so I had to borrow some. So hopefully, we´ll have another baptism this saturday. So, interesting experience, we got contacted pretty much. There was a guy we passed and he asked us "¿Venden Libros de Mormón?" (Do you sell books of Mormon) So we told him we could give him one when we come and visit him, and he´s pretty much the perfect investigator, he said that he didn´t think Jesus would just visit the people in Jerusalem, that he wonders why no churches speak through prophets, like in the bible. He doesnt drink or smoke, and he is trying to save up enough money to marry his girfriend (even when people aren´t married, which is about 90% of the time, they still call each other husband and wife) but yeah, perfect investigator. The only wierd thing about this guy, is that he is 42 and his girlfriend is 19. But I´m told that that is actually fairly common here.

But it´s a dang rollercoaster of emotions here. Some days I feel awesome, and others, I feel useless and pathetic. It´s really hard at times. The food isn´t that bad, although tortillas are served at EVERY meal, because they are SUPER cheap. Oh, the meal schedule is super wierd too. Theres Breakfast at the normal time, but lunch isnt served until 2, and thats the only meal we are served, and then dinner is around 9. Yeah, super wierd.

But, the good times are worth it, or how it is said in spanish, Vale la pena. I sweat soooooo much every day. I don´t like soccer, I really wanna play basketball right now. 

Oh, weird fact about Mexicans, THEY DONT SMILE FOR PICTURES!!!! I dont know what is up with that, but they just don´t

I´ve gotten several wierd looks from people for being a gringo lol.

BUT, I gotta go, oh, don´t take this as a depression letter lol, overall things are good.

Oh, about security of postal service, well, theres 2 ways to ensure your package will get here, 1 writing "Ropa para la muerte" clothing for the dead, and the other, puting virgin mary stickers all over the box.

Love you all!!!!

Love, 

Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

I'm in Mexico!!!

I still can´t believe I´m in Mexico!!!!! The time is now!!!!!

OK, so I´m sure you all wanna know where my first area is...and it is.....Cancun!!!!!
Yup I´m in the city of Cancun and it is NOTHING like the tourist stuff that you hear about! Heck, I don´t think I´ve seen any gringos other than other elders yet! Yup, I don´t think this is Kansas anymore! My companion is great! he´s a native named Elder Cruz and he works so hard! My first day was the longest of my life!!! We just taught lesson after lesson after lesson!!! My companion does about 90% of the talking, which is a good thing. It takes ABSOLUTELY ALL OF MY CONCENTRATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING!!!!

Oh did I tell anybody I would be sleeping IN A HAMMOCK!!!!!! Yup, no beds. Its so weird. I live in humble circumstances, but most of the people I teach in in far humbler places. Mexicans are so poor! Most of the people we´ve been teaching live in glorified 1/2 garages, if that. Its such a humbling experience. Things that we consider necesities are luxuries here. You are very well to do here if you have AC, televisions are somewhat common, I´ve seen one computer in someone´s home, heck, a good 3/4 of the people we teach don´t even have a door!

Oh 95% of the time, we don´t actually knock on doors. We just walk up to their yard and yell "BUENAS TARDES" or buenas dias or buenas noches, depending on the time of day.
Oh and in the words of Bob Barker, control the pet population and get your pet spayed or neutered. Seriously, I´ve seen HUNDREDS of stray dogs, most are friendly though, just because they know they depend on us to survive. But I´ve had 2 or 3 close calls with some mean dogs.

Spanish is so hard!!! A couple of elders have told me that my spanish is better than most that are new to the field, but I still feel so inadequate! As I said, I think I can understand most of what they are saying, but it takes every single drop of my concentration.

A goal of the mission is to have a baptism every week, we´re doing pretty well with that, with 3 tomorrow, and few next week and more the week after. Elder Cruz says that I´ll be performing at least one of the baptisms, but we´ll have to see.

Oh, my first full day in Mexico, They left one of my bags at the Mission Office!!!! ugh!!!!! My biggest bag as well!!! Hopefully, I´ll be getting it tommorow. The people here are extremely accepting to the gospel, or at least pretend they are, I don´t know yet. We teach a lot of lessons.

But its just so awesome when I see people change their lives to come to the gospel. People are pretty much never married here and the teen pregnancy rate is pretty much 100%. I saw a couple get married last week so they can get baptized. The wife is getting baptized this week, but the huband will have to wait because he´s having some issues with coffee.

I don´t have much time left so I´ll send pics next week! I´m doing well!!!!

Love,
Elder Kevin WIlde

2nd to Last Top 10 from the MTC

TOP 10 TIME!!!!!

I ALMOST FORGOT!!!!! Shame on me...this will be a quick one though....

1. 10 DAYS BEFORE I LEAVE!!!!!! WOOT!!!!!!!

2. Elder Bednar spoke to us on Friday!!!! That was pretty sweet!

3. I'm getting in shape!!!! 4 pounds lost so far this week!!!! I love my efforts paying off!!!

4. Yeah, I'm just about ready to get out of here though. 9 weeks will be long enough.

5. We're doing a fourth of july thing on saturday!! Sounds like fun!!!

6. My spirituality is just about at an all time high.

7. I LOVE BASKETBALL!!!! ITS AWESOME!!!! Too bad the gym is gonna be closed next week...maybe I should practice soccer?

8. It rained yesterday, and after gym, I just stood in it....I LOVE IT!!!

9. I helped host new missionaries yesterday also, I'm doing the same next week.

10. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! KEEP WRITING ME!!!!

ELDER WILDE'S 6th TOP 10!!!!!!!!!

1. 2 1/2 weeks left WOOT!!!!!!!
2. Things are still beautiful, but with a TON of new missionaries.
3. I'm not sleeping well, the beds are very uncomfortable.
4. The language is still coming along well and at a good pace.
5. THE FIRST PRESIDENCY AND THE QUORUM OF THE 12 ARE HERE AT THE MTC!!!! No big deal!
6. The temple is such an amazing place, I love doing sealings.
7. Wow...I'm really rushing through this aren't I?
8. Days are all such a blur here, I hardly remember where this week has gone????
9. Things really are an emotional rollercoaster. Some days (like today) I'm feeling great...and others....not so much....
10. I LOVE YOU ALL, KEEP ME IN YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!

4th Edition of Elder Wilde's Top Ten

Oh and we successfully pulled off an all spanish day on Tuesday!!!!! All spanish, from the end of service until devotional. I still ended up doing 30 pushups as punishment for speaking some english though.
Oh and with regards to my new workout routines, I have already started seeing results, I HAVE PECS AGAIN!!!!!! And my arms are getting thicker!!!!!!!
So on that happy note, its time for the
4th EDITION OF ELDER WILDES TOP 10!!!!!!
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. I LEAVE IN 3 1/2 weeks!!!!!!! WOOT!!!!!
2. I've grown a lot closer to my district, we really do get along very well, and after devotionals, well we call them Bawling Tuesdays.
3.The weather is absolutley beautiful in Utah, really, just throwing that out there.
4. I am working very hard right now, to learn how to teach, and the language. Both are coming along very well right now.
5. Still pondering to an extent what should I study ofter my mission is over. I have some things narrowed down, but still a long ways from being sure.
6. I do miss Elder Anderson a lot, but I'm sure he's doing great in the Peru MTC.
7. Life in the MTC is extremely structered. A lot more than what I'm used to. Its kinda like a prison. A beautiful prison, but a prison nonetheless.
8. I'm sometimes saying things in spanish instead of english, just out of habit. For example, last night, instead of saying "but", I said "pero", which is the spanish word for but. That's interesting.
9. Some things that people have been saying to me regarding my knowledge of the Spanish language have been huge self-esteem boosts. I've seriously learned more Spanish here in 5 weeks than I have in 5 years of Spanish in school.
10. I LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your prayers and your support!!!!!!!
With all my love,
Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

 

Week 4 at the MTC

TIME FOR ELDER WILDES TOP 10 #4!!!!!!
1. I am doing well, things are going good, and my spirituality has been ncreased 100 fold.
2. MONDAY WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!
3. Elder Maradiaga joined outr district. He's a major blessing to us
4. Utah is just plain beautiful right now!!!!!
5. I'm all visad up!!!!!
6. I GOT AN AWESOME NEW CAMERA!!!!
7. I do miss music very much right now.....\
8. I love my district.
9. I love the temple.
10. I love you all!!!!!! Keep writing me!!!!!!

3rd Week at the MTC - June 2, 2011

Good to hear from you!!!!

Well, this has been quite a week!!!!

WELL.....its been quite emotionally draining!!!!

but yeah...Elder Anderson left on Wednesday morning to go to the Peru MTC...so our trio is down to 2.... (lion king reference)

Thats actually quite depressing for me because we just clicked so well. We are so similar. He actually appreciates my Jim Gaffigan jokes!!!!

But yeah, so my first 2 bawling experiences were this week. First was when I was praying on Sunday night, I don’t know why, but I don’t think I’ve prayed harder in my life, and yes, I bawled while I was praying!!!! And then the second was on Tuesday, we had a testimony meeting after devotional and it was a goodbye to Elder Anderson, and it was extremely spiritual, and I bawled again!!!! WHAT THE HECK?????? This never happens!!!!!!!!! So now its just me and Elder Painter, and were doing pretty well, but its just not the same....\

Thanks for the package Dan and Michelle!!!! I got it just before I wrote this!!!! I hope the baby is doing well!!!!!

And now its time for TOP 10 #3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you thank you!!!!!!

No really sit down!!!

#1 Elder Anderson left on Tuesday, and it was extremely sad!!!! Wait, why is this #1???? Ugh....

#2 ITS NOW JUNE!!!!!!!! Where has time gone?????? Especially the time on writing this!!!!!!

#3 I'm now over my sickness, although it got worse before it got better. I had an experience with diarrhea but I'll spare you the lovely details

#4 Why are the top 3 depressing things???? I thought this was supposed to be TOP 10, not bottom 10!!!!

#5 My district is becoming a lot closer now, although some things I've learned about other members of my district, quite frankly, I wish I didnt know

#6 I MET JASON BOURNE!!!!!!! Not really, just an elder that lives a few doors down from me look EXACTLY like Matt Damon

#7 Time is dang flying by now, its becoming crazy

#8 Spanish is hard, but I'm learning it

#9 I wish I could write emails more often, but I cant, heck I wish I had more than 30 minutes!!!

#10 I miss you all!!!!! I cant tell you how much, just keep writing me!!!!!!

Love,

Your Elder in the MTC

Kevin Ammon Wilde

Kevin's 2nd Week Post

HELLLOOOOOOO EVERYBODY FROM THE MTC!!!!!!!!

So I'll put the top 10 after my family email.

BOTH NATHAN AND ANNIE GOT A CAR????????????? WHAT THE HECK????? I BETTER BE GETTING ONE WHEN I GET BACK!!!!!

Anyways, thats crazy but the car looks nice. 

Well, I got sick last weekend and I'm still struggling to get over it. I got a cough, and I had to go off campus to go get a perscription. It was sad how exciting it was.

Well, the MTC is trying to get me fat, so many tasty unhealthy options (like donuts at EVERY meal)

But at this tuesdays devotional, RUSSELL M NELSON spoke to us!!!!! Pretty freakin awesome.

Elder Anderson (one of my 2 companions) is leaving next week to go to the Peru MTC. Its gonna be so sad cuz we had THE EXACT same sense of humor. I mean, we have so similar personalities. My other companion, well, we kinda have exact opposite personalities. Hes very serious, and Ive seriously never known anybody who knows the scriptures better than him. But he often goes into his holier than thou mode so its often frustrating. 

I'm keeping the rules here and everything. I dont think youll see me coming home from the MTC for anything.

OH and i really appreciate the dear elders by nathan, my box number is 113, And I can read those every day, AND I WANT SPORTS UPDATES!!!!!

And could you please send me a camera??? As I said, mine broke, and it broke itself, I want to take pics before my comp leaves!!!!

 

ELDER WILDES TOP 10 #2!!!!!!!!!!

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS, well I'm still alive here.

#1 WELL, OBVIOUSLY, theres a sick person, here at the MTC....well that failed

#2 but anyway, I've been sick all week, and its not fun, and theres not much time to recover cuz im going at 100 mph 24/7

#3 but enough about how sick I am. We had RUSSELL M NELSON speak to us at the MTC!!!! PRETTY AWESOME!!!!!

#4 The weeks are starting to fly by. Its seems like I wrote emails yesterday

#5 THAT MEANS ILL BE OUT IN MEXICO SOON!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

#6 Its really wierd being disconnected from everything going on in the outside world!

#7 I hear the Heat are up on the Bulls in the NBA finals, I didnt care before I left, but apparently I care now

#8 I keep having to put up 100% all the time. Thats probably why I'm sick

#9 I wish i could get more packages, my comp HAS GOTTEN 6 IN 15 DAYS!!!!!!!!

#10 I'm gonna keep this at 10 this time, I'm doing pretty well, but keep me in your prayers, espicially pray that I can sllep at night, I dont wanna get addicted to nyquil!!!!

Love you all, WRITE ME!!!!

Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

ELDER KEVIN WILDES FIRST MISSION TOP TEN!!!!!!

HEY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!! ONE WEEK DOWN 104 TO GO!!!!
Yes Ty I'm ripping this off you, so what are you gonna do about it????
So lets get this started:
1. IM ON A MISSION!!!!! Im still not used to that idea. It just seems like yesterday i was graduating high school!!!!
2. Not really, its been a week but it feels like a month!!!! Information is hitting me at 100mph!!!! I CANT TAKE IT!!!!
3. Just kidding, Im able to take it, But i am super busy, even now as I'm writing this I'm thinking "Am I late for something???"
4. But even though I'm super busy and have to be with companions 24/7 I'm absolutely LOVING IT!!!!
5. Yes I am being serious about that one...I have no idea why, but being good and working hard just feels so gratifying! Kinda like my life has a purpose and direction now!\
6. My companions, yes i added the s on purpose. I have 2. We are "The Companionship of Outcasts" because noone else is going to our areas.
7. Elder Anderson, my first companion, is a JORDAN CLONE!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! But seriously, its awesome. We have the same sense of humor so its easy to get along with him. He even likes to hear my Jim Gaffigan quotes!!!!! He is heading to Santa Cruz, Bolivia
8. Elder Painter, my other companion, is a midwesterner like I am, from the great city of Chicago. Hes a big football player, but an extremely spiritual person. Ive never known anybody who knows the scriptures better than him. He is heading to Pueblo, Mexico.
9. On tuesday, PRESIDENT HINCKLEYS SON WAS THE SPEAKER AT OUR FIRESIDE!!!!!! OH MY GOSH IT WAS AWESOME!!!! He looks like him, has the same sense of humor, and the same spirit about him. He was awesome!!!!
10. So remember Elder Anderson??? He has had 3 packages and 4 letters in THE FIRST WEEK!!!!!!!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT???????
11. Wait....this is more than 10....
12. Focus Kev...err...I mean Elder Wilde
13. Oh whoever said sister missionaries were sweet spirits who couldnt get married are kidding themselves.
14. There's so much to say and so little time to say it!!!!
15. Well, Im gonna wrap this up, The Gospel is true, and being here is just so dang awesome, you have no idea. We'll have to see when I go to Mexico how awesome that is yet!!!
16. WRITE ME PEOPLE!!!!! I never realized how awesome mail is until I came out here. If you want a letter to get to me before P-day (Thursday), Write me a physical letter or DearElder.
WELL THATS IT FOR THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YOU ALL
Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde



ELDER KEVIN WILDE'S FIRST WEEK MISSION TOP 10!!!

ELDER KEVIN WILDES FIRST MISSION TOP10!!!!

HEY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!! ONE WEEK DOWN 104 TO GO!!!!

Yes Ty I'm ripping this off you, so what are you gonna do about it????

So lets get this started:

1. IM ON A MISSION!!!!! Im still not used to that idea. It just seems like yesterday i was graduating high school!!!!

2. Not really, its been a week but it feels like a month!!!! Information is hitting me at 100mph!!!! I CANT TAKE IT!!!!

3. Just kidding, Im able to take it, But i am super busy, even now as I'm writing this I'm thinking "Am I late for something???"

4. But even though I'm super busy and have to be with companions 24/7 I'm absolutely LOVING IT!!!!

5. Yes I am being serious about that one...I have no idea why, but being good and working hard just feels so gratifying! Kinda like my life has a purpose and direction now!\

6. My companions, yes i added the s on purpose. I have 2. We are "The Companionship of Outcasts" because noone else is going to our areas.

7. Elder Anderson, my first companion, is a JORDAN CLONE!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! But seriously, its awesome. We have the same sense of humor so its easy to get along with him. He even likes to hear my Jim Gaffigan quotes!!!!! He is heading to Santa Cruz, Bolivia

8. Elder Painter, my other companion, is a midwesterner like I am, from the great city of Chicago. Hes a big football player, but an extremely spiritual person. Ive never known anybody who knows the scriptures better than him. He is heading to Pueblo, Mexico.

9. On tuesday, PRESIDENT HINCKLEYS SON WAS THE SPEAKER AT OUR FIRESIDE!!!!!! OH MY GOSH IT WAS AWESOME!!!! He looks like him, has the same sense of humor, and the same spirit about him. He was awesome!!!!

10. So remember Elder Anderson??? He has had 3 packages and 4 letters in THE FIRST WEEK!!!!!!!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT???????

11. Wait....this is more than 10....

12. Focus Kev...err...I mean Elder Wilde

13. Oh whoever said sister missionaries were sweet spirits who couldnt get married are kidding themselves.

14. There's so much to say and so little time to say it!!!!

15. Well, Im gonna wrap this up, The Gospel is true, and being here is just so dang awesome, you have no idea. We'll have to see when I go to Mexico how awesome that is yet!!!

16. WRITE ME PEOPLE!!!!! I never realized how awesome mail is until I came out here. If you want a letter to get to me before P-day (Thursday), Write me a physical letter or DearElder.

WELL THATS IT FOR THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL

Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde

My new e-mail address

Oh one last thing, my new email address will be kevin.wilde@myldsmail.net. Go ahead and send me emails. I wont be able to respond to them but I will reply via letter when I can.

Thanks!!!!

Addresses

OK my address at the MTC will be
Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde
Mexico Merida Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604
My address out in the field will be
Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde
Mexico Merida Mission
Calle 45 #527 Q y Calle 70
Col. Centro
97000 Merida, Yucatan
Mexico
Hope to hear from you all!!!!

Leaving

WOW!!!! I am actually leaving. I dunno Its been in the back of my mind almost my entire life but I guess I never thought that it would finally come to this, but it has. This will be the blog where you can see what I've been up to during my mission. I will have family members update this blog with my weekly emails, and photos of my mission.
SO LONG WORLD!!!!! I WILL SEE YOU IN TWO YEARS!!!!!!!