Package from Elder Wilcox

This is very unusual! Usually we are sending Skyler the packages but since he was leaving the MTC and going to Texas, he had a few things that he didn't think he needed any more so he sent them home.

He didn't even send us a letter with it. I am sure he was in quite a hurry to get to Texas!

"I LOVE MY MISSIONARY"

Elder Wilcox's Testimony in Spanish

On Monday, morning at 7:18, we got a call from Elder Wilcox from the Salt Lake Airport. He sounded so good. We had a few complications with our call because he kept getting cut off. We connected Bryce and Shelynne on the phone with us and had a pretty neat, but short, conversation. We asked tons of questions and Skyler had some of his own about flying. Then at the end of our conversation, Elder Wilcox bore his testimony. Brittanee is so amazing with the computer that she took the picture that was sent to us and the phone conversation we recorded and put them together as a video. I am so thankful for her and her skills with the computer. This is Elder Wilcox's testimony in Spanish. 

During our phone conversation we knew that Skyler was a little worried about flying alone but the Lord was watching over him and our prayers were answered. He told us as he was sitting in the gate area, he saw one of our cousins, wearing Bear River attire. It was Zack Williams, the answer to all our prayers. We decided that Skyler had never been so excited to see a Bear River Bear in his whole life. They started chatting and realized that they were on the same flight to Houston. Zack said he could tell that Sky was a little nervous but was so relieved after they ran into each other. They loaded the plane and never saw each other after that.

Sheldon tracked the flights all day long. He even had some pictures of the plane in flight. He text me and sent me updates on Sky's arrival times on my cell. The Houston Airport was huge with 5 terminals in it. We hoped that all went well for Skyler getting from one gate to another. Sheldon said he would have to ride a tram to get there. Britt and I decided that Sheldon would make a pretty good flight attendant if he ever wanted to.

So we thought that maybe Skyler would sent us an email or something letting us know that he made it to Texas. He was suppose to arrive around 2:10 and Brother and Sister Trayner were there to meet him. The rest of the elders were arriving about 40 minutes later. We never heard anything that night or the following day. Finally on Wednesday morning, after Sheldon had left for work about 5:20, I was laying in bed and had a thought that I should get up and check my

e-mail. I had just checked it the night before I went to bed. I decided to get up and go downstairs and see and there it was. There was an email from the Mission President and his wife from Texas. The picture from above was on the e-mail and then she wrote us a short letter giving us Sky's new address and his new companions name. I was so glad to receive this email and so glad that I listened to the prompting that I had. The letter went as follows:

20 September 2011

Brother and Sister Wilcox,

We had the privilege of meeting your son, Elder Wilcox when he arrived at the McAllen International Airport. He looked great and appears very anxious to go to work.

We are grateful to have Elder Wilcox in the Texas McAllen Mission. Already he has impressed us as a well-prepared young man with a great spirit and a desire to serve the Lord. He has had excellent training and orientation at the Missionary Training Center in Provo in preparing for his missionary labors here in South Texas. Your support from home will be of great value to him as he serves his mission.

His first assignment area is in the Corpus Chrsti Zone. His first companion is Elder Wilde who is from Hooper, Utah. He is an outstanding missionary, and your son will receive excellent training under his direction. Their mail address is as follows:

5757 S. Staples Street #3406

Corpus Christi, Tx 78413

We thank you for sharing your son with us. We are confident that he will bless the lives of many people here in South Texas while serving as a missionary. May the Lord bless you abundantly while he is in the mission field and always.

With warm regards,

President Stephen J. Trayner

Sister Sandy Trayner

Texas McAllen Mission

This is the only communication we have had from Skyler since he arrived in Texas. I sure hope all is going well and we hear from him soon.

MTC Pictures from Elder Wilcox

I received these pictures in the mail today and was so excited to see them and then blog them. Sky must really know how much I like pictures. Well here they are:

In English this is their motto: "Use the Force of the Spirit"

Picture of their class with a note to the Elder who keeps stealing this picture.

Teachers: Anderson and Nava (also their investigators).

Skyler really likes Nava and he will be leaving soon.

Elder Boswell, one of Skyler's favorite elders and his poem.

The poem reads: Your eyes are green, and I love you very much. Your love is very great and sometimes you take a shower. Please kiss me with their lips, and love much all day. All I can is WOW.

Elder Wilcox, he hasn't changed very much. I love the tie by the way!

Skyler's ties. Almost like a coat of many colors.

"Study Time"

Elder Rupp and his girlfriend.

Studying "Gods View"

Elder Wilcox and his companion Elder Bybee.

Elder Wilcox's scriptures and song book.

District 13C at the Provo Temple.

Provo Temple

Elders at the temple.

Elders doing their dance

Provo Temple

Someone's sleeping and it isn't Elder Wilcox. I think its Elder Rupp.

Elders in the District by the map.

District 13 C showing where they will be serving on the map.

Some crazy elders!

The beautiful Provo Temple where my son attends.

Elder Wilcox, what a great son and missionary.

Now Elder Boswell is sleeping. It must have wiped him right out thinking up that poem.

I am so proud of my son and love him so much. He is an awesome missionary and will touch many lives. I can't believe he will be in Texas in about 4 more weeks.

"Good Luck Elder Wilcox"

Mailing Sky's First Package to Texas

Britt and I had a fun time getting Skyler's package ready to send. We had to go to Walmart to get some bedding stuff and after we found that stuff I said we should send him something to do with Texas. Then I remembered how much he liked Macaroni and Cheese and I just said we should send him some of that. Britt just looked at me like I was up in the night. She was wondering what mac and cheese had to do with Texas. It really didn't but it did give us a good idea. Britt said we should send him lots of different things that spelled out the words "Texas McAllen". We had a fun time going all over the store finding things that either started with or had one of the letters in it. Finally after about and hour, we got all the items and checked out. Then we came home and started fixing the package. Britt covered up all the other letters on each item that didn't pertain to our words. By the time we got done, it looked like this.

TEXAS

MCALLEN

Sure hope Sky has fun with this package when he gets to Texas.

So we put all our stuff into a bag and went to the Providence Post Office. I really like going there because they are so helpful. We walked in and saw the same lady we have worked with a lot. We showed her all the stuff we had to send and she said to us, "I just love a good challenge". She was amazing! She stuffed a blanket, a pillowcase, two sheets, a bed pad and all of our items except one into this box. There were 14 things in this one box. We had to send the box of cereal in a separate envelope because it was the only thing that didn't fit.

Britt filling out the label for Skyler's package and the post office lady being a good sport. I should get to know her name because she is going to be seeing a lot more of us. I can't wait to see what she does with our Christmas packages!

Skyler's Mission Pictures

Today I got a letter with these pictures in it from Skyler. It was so good to see him and how much fun he is having with his district. He is even wearing the blue tie I gave him in most of his pictures.

This is Elder Bybee, Sky's companion, and Elder Wilcox

Their room

Some of the guys in their District.

Left to right - Elder Marble, Elder Willson, Elder Wilcox, Elder Bybee,

Far back - Elder Cullen, Front - Elder Rupp

This is the desk that Elder Wilcox sits at for 3-4 hours a day.

A map where all the Elders in their District are going.

Elder Wilcox and Elder Bybee explaining something to Elder Boswell, one of Sky's favorite Elders

More teaching

More talking

Elder Quezada, Elder Wilcox, Elder Bybee and Elder Boswell

"Their District"

Elder Wilcox's scriptures all marked up.

This is what Elder Quesada's mom sent him. It is the shape of Texas. It was way cool.

Skyler also sent me some pictures that he got developed.

This is Quinton, Elder Harrison, one of Sky's old roommates from BYU and Skyler, Elder Wilcox. All five of Sky's roommates from BYU were in the MTC for a very short time together.

Front - Left to Right - Elder Quezada, Elder Marble, Elder Wilcox and Elder Bybee

Back Row - Left to Right - Elder Boswell, Elder Wilson, Elder Rupp and Elder Cullen

Elder Wilcox and Elder Bybee

This is such an important time in Skyler's life . I am so proud of him and the work he is doing for the Lord.

Our first letter and email from Elder Wilcox

I was so excited! We got our first letter from Elder Wilcox.

I brought the letter into the house and started running around yelling “I just got a letter, I just

got a letter, I just got a letter, and I know just who it’s from!”

Dad and Bryce weren’t home yet so Britt called to see where dad was and he was at the dump and he rushed right home. Bryce was on a run so we had to wait for him to get back. I didn’t let the letter out of my hands.

Britt was jealous because I wouldn't let her touch the letter.

I finally put it down so I could take a picture. Then I picked it back up again.

Everyone tried to get it to see what the front looked like, but I had a serious death grip on that thing. I even unloaded the dishwasher with it in my hand.

Finally everyone was home so I got to read the letter out load. This is what it said, "

On July 25th we got our first email. It reads:

Mom and Family (because I don't have enough time to write emails separate),

Thanks so much for the letter and for talking yesterday! It really meant a lot. I've seen quite a few people here that I've known. Lots of kids from high school, a kid that was in 4th grade with me and then moved, and I've seen Ben, Quinton, and Will. Quinton actually went and got Ben yesterday and brought him to my dorm last night so we could talk. What an awesome guy! He leaves today, and because I was talking with you and President Hacken, I wasn't able to take the group picture, but Ben and I are meeting up before dinner to get a picture.

Yesterday was so amazing, especially last night. We had a devotional and the guy talked about why we are here and how important it is. It was absolutely what I needed to hear!! He gave all types of quotes and stuff.

Sorry we only have half an hour to write letters on the computer, so Shelynne I'm going to write you a personal letter. Dad I'm going to have to include yours here's with moms. Sorry I hate doing that, but we have like no time to write. We played volleyball for our gym time and I actually blocked a kid with one hand!!! Haha everyone was laughing pretty hard. Then I had a dang good hit right at the line. Birtt, you would have been so proud. A couple of the guys in the district asked if I played in high school, but I told them I learned from my awesome sister.

I really was struggling yesterday, but I know that it was the advesary, and he had me pretty good. I'm doing better now though, and I am going to call on Thursday to talk to ya'll ok?

Today was P-day and it was so nice and relaxing! We didn't do a whole lot during the day, plus we got to be in regular clothes, which I forgot how much I actually liked. lol. We were all able to sit in our room and talk and relax. Elder Bybee is a great guy with an amazing spirit. I kinda feel like I have to take charge with lessons and stuff, but thats ok. My favorite Elder in our room is Elder Rupp, the district leader. He actually is dating a girl that was in my ward at BYU. He is such an amazing guy! I also saw Bryce today, so I went up to him and started the conversation. I started by telling him that I was suppose to tell him his family loved him, and then we talked for about five minues. It was kinda nice to talk to someone again I hadn't seen for a while.

Britt I sent you a letter today, and Shelynne I also sent yours off. I just barely got your letter from July 22nd though today! It takes forever for mail to get from Logan to here, so if you guys can work it out so I can get some every once and a while, that'd be awesome. Dad, thanks so much for your email. I didn't get to read the poem, but I can print it out and look at it soon hopefully. We've only been to the gym twice, and we've played volleyball both times. The devotional was awesome last night, plus we have one of Tuesday with a general authority. It will be great to have that experience again. Last night everyone started singing Come Come Ye Saints. At the end we all stood up and sang and the Spirit was so strong!!! It was exactly what I needed after a really tough day.

I really need ya'll to do me a favor. Will you please call President Hobbs and tell him that I apologize? I didn't say anything real mean, but I was pretty determined and I think it hurt him a bit. Tell him that I am extremely sorry.

I'm glad to know that I am in your prayers, because you are all in mine. I think its really great that everyone in the ward said the things they did, and that Mom got really popular on her facebook wall. Just a side note, I think I am going to meet with President Hacking on Thursday, so thats when I would call. I don't think Dad or Britt will be home, but that will be ok. I'm also going to ask President if its possible to put in a transfer. I'm not really struggling with the language, but I feel like I would be so much more effective as an English speaking mission. We'll just see what happens. I really think that I would actually be better off only being here for 3 weeks rather than 9.

I love you all so much and its so great to hear from you. I have 2 packages waiting for me, because the mail room has been closed since Saturday! It will be awesome to see whats insdie those packages! I'm thinking I am going to pick them up early tomorrow! :)

This gospel is so true! It is the only true gospel on the Earth today. We will all be so blessed for me being on a mission and ya'll sharing me with the world. Heavenly Father lives, the Holy Ghost is real, and Jesus Christ is my Savior! He knows everything that we are going through and will help us so much! I love this gospel with all of my heart.

Can't wait to hear from you again! Love you all,

Elder Wilcox :)