Week 37 - March 30, 2026

The Lord Always Provides

Highlights

🌊: Roberto was able to get baptized this week!!!!

🥩: We were walking in the street and President's wife saw us and told us to get in the car and she took us to their house, and we had steak and potatoes, which is top tier. And their house is so nice. And we were just chilling with President, so it was crazy.

👨‍💼: First week with Elder Morby out here and it was so fun. I'm really just getting blessed with companions.

🎬: Baptism Reward -> Pizza and Best 2 years movie night. (And being able to bring another soul to our Heavenly Father ofc).

🍤: We also had the old President of the mission invite us over to their house to eat on Sunday, and they gave us fire shrimp pasta, and we played Connect 4 for so long. I'm getting kinda disgusted at it because we also play with another person we are teaching.

👨‍👧‍👧: We were knocking doors and found a lit family of seven, so we are hoping for the best here cause I really want to baptize a whole family cause I think that would be the coolest thing ever.

📩: I had a member from Salama (the really nice area close to where I used to be) text me asking how I was doing and was saying how they missed me and we were the best and that made my day cause I wasn't expecting to see that message come in.

🐕: First day here w Morby and dogs were out to get us. Had two very crazy interactions. One of them had a 5-year-old yelling at us that the dogs weren't going to do anything as they were trying to kill us. Bold take. Morby and I were dying laughing after tho. Good times.

🌧🌙:  Morby and I also been having some deep talks. Morby said, "After the freaking evaporation, the water is clean when it rains." Is rain clean? He's also big on the moon landing being fake. I think it's time we put another man on the moon tho ifykyk. We still trying to figure out how a cloud forms tho. We'll be back with answers next week.

Spiritual Thought

Like I said, this week we had the opportunity to baptize Roberto. Long story short, he is just such a stud. For example, after teaching all the laws you need to follow in your baptism, I asked if he had any questions and he asked if I could tell him the five steps of the gospel again so he could remember them perfectly. The day before his baptism, I asked if his family knew about his baptism and he said yes but they don't support him at all, but he knows it's the right thing and what he needs to do. Then I asked him to explain to me what he remembers about Joseph Smith and he went and taught the entire restoration to me.

We found Roberto knocking doors in the dumping rain and immediately it was something different. He went out of his way to make time for us throughout that week. He would always text us and tell us thank you for our visits. He told us how he knew God was looking out for him and put us there at that time when he needed it most. He told us he set aside the entire day for his baptism. He told us he wanted to get to church not at 9 or 9:15 but 20 minutes before it started so he could have a better seat. He truly is one of the coolest converts I will have.

The truth is that I learned so much from him and am so grateful for the opportunity to help him make his first covenant and come closer to our Heavenly Father. More than anything, I learned that the Lord will always provide. I have come to realize that there is truly a difference between his elect and those that he is preparing. But as I say in almost every lesson, we have to open the door and leave the house to get to the tienda. We have to show our faith to get what is waiting. We will always be blessed with what we are looking for as we search with faith. The Lord always provides for those that try. There is always someone being prepared and ready. We just need to try to find what we are searching for. I want to promise each and every one that if you can make a serious intent to do your part and leave it in the Lord's hands, you will receive what you need.

23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.

I love you all, have an incredible week. Shout out Cam Derrick to the Philippines 🇵🇭.

Elder Wilde

Week 36 - March 24, 2026

Días (No los Deben Contar)

Highlights

🕍: We got to go through temple on Saturday, so that was amazing.

👨‍💼: We had our transfer call this Saturday and I always get so nervous, but I will be staying here in Coban 2 again. But not only this. ELDER MORBYYYY. Elder Morby is out of his training, and I was with him for 2 months in my last zone and he is such a stud we would always have the littlest p-days together. We were both going crazy on the call and we were just shook. They are blessing me out here. We are both so hyped.

🌧: The weather here is way too good. While other people in the mish are cooking, I'm walking the streets with layers on. Working in 62 degrees with slight rain/fog is unbelievable. I also have the templo if anyone didn't know.

🐈🐕: This week the neighborhood cat and dog fights have been getting out of control. It's some actual cartoon-type cat squeals. Somebody needs to stop them.

🎵: One of the members here put Hill and I onto some fire Spanish song that will go crazy on the aux.

LOWLIGHT 😫😫😫😫

This week we had divisions and the Elder that I was with grew up playing basketball, also. So, we decided after a little contacting to hit a 15-minute lesson for a coke deal. Well, this ended up leading to the most stressful days of my mission. I hurt my foot super bad and couldn't put pressure on it the entire day. I woke up the next morning, and both sides of my ankles were super swollen, and I had about 4 different colors and my ankles and the top of my foot were completely bruised and brown. I still couldn't really walk, and I was truly just starting to overthink so much about what could come and what I would have to do. They were some insanely stressful days and hard days to think about what might've happened or might happen. The next couple of days the pain went down but the swelling and bruising only got worse. Eventually I finally built up the courage to find out what it was, and I should be back to normal in six weeks. 

Spiritual thought - Don't count your days

Saturday we had the opportunity to go through the temple in the morning, and it was an amazing experience. I felt so many emotions and felt so many answers to what I was thinking. But more than anything, as I prayed and thought about everything, one answer was so clear.

“Don't count your days, make your days count”

I felt that I was at times thinking of the mission as an hourglass instead of what it truly is. Sometimes it would feel like one more week down or I hit the next p-day, but as I overthought throughout the week, I realized the mission truly is a gift. I am so blessed to be where I am. I cannot believe I only have a year and 3 months left. I know that it truly is the Lord's work and at the end of the day, it is up to Him. I love wearing the plaque each day and I love doing what we are able to do. I'm so grateful to be a missionary and I'm so so grateful for each person here and each one of you that are such a motivation and blessing to me.

I love you all. Have incredible weeks.

Elder Wilde

Week 35 - March 16, 2026

 Don't Look Down

Hit the official 8-month mark this week. It feels kinda weird because the time has gone by so fast, and I can't believe I'm at 8 months, and then I look back at everything that has happened and I can't believe it's only been 8 months. 

Temple

We had a temple visit with one of our recent converts who really wants to get to the temple, and it was such a cool experience. We only walked into the lobby but the second we stepped in the Spirit was soooo strong, and he was just smiling so big and was sooo happy to be there. Spirit was actually so crazy, the emotional side of me kicked in, not sure who I get this from. It was so insane seeing and feeling the difference between inside and outside the temple with him. Blessed to be where we are, to say the least.

💯💯Highlights💯💯

🚶‍♂️: This week Hill and I hit some record amounts of walking, but we found a ton of super cool people. Five of the people we found this week came to church the first Sunday we invited them. Love to see it.

🎂: We got invited to this member's 2-year-old daughter's birthday party and I've never seen so many people at a function. The good dinosaur theme was elite tho.

🥤: I've never seen someone drink as much Coke as Elder Hill every day. It is almost impressive. He just cycles one-liter Cokes all day.

🚪: One night we were finishing up the last 20 minutes we had to work with some good door knocking. And we got to this house, and I was getting ready to drop an incredible thought on them when halfway through, he mentioned that he was already a member and his family, also. 

⛪️: We had some fire church activities this week with one night we had a full missionary prep activity and anyone that had gone on a mission brought a ton of their stuff, and it was super cool. The other one we only stopped by for a second, but "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" was going. Shout out, Perry.

🗣: Elder Hill said he woke up in the middle of the night, and I was teaching a lesson in Spanish in my sleep, so I must be dialed right now.

2️⃣: We had 200 people in church this Sunday, it was crazy. Just normal church Sunday and 200 people pulled up. 

Spiritual thought

So, this last week we ran a family home evening at a member's house and it was super cool. Hill and I quickly on the spot came up with the idea that we were going to read about Lehi's dream and after each part, someone was going to draw that part of the scene on a piece of paper. Obviously, this is a super common story and one I've heard hundreds of times, but this time something came to my mind that I had never thought of.

Of course, when we think of the dream we think of those people holding the iron rod. They are following the light of Christ and progressing closer to the most desirable fruit. They are maybe not perfect but continue to hold on. On the other side, we have those in the building mocking those that are holding steadfast to the rod. They are trying to show that they have it all. But something I realized as I looked at the pictures throughout the lesson was that maybe the people holding steadfast were missing something.

As I think more and more, I hope that these people weren't just holding on to the iron rod, but when they saw someone let go and start to wander towards the building, they didn't put their head down and keep going. I hope those holding steadfast were yelling at these people that were slowly losing sight of the tree. I hope they were doing all they could to help those around them to come back. To make sure they knew what was the greater good. The tree was never given a limit on the fruit it could give but rather gave an aspiration to all that ate it, to invite everyone to participate. Lehi didn't keep what he had to himself. He gave all he could to have his kids partake of it too.

It cannot be enough to put your head down and keep going forward. It cannot be enough to do just your part and think that's sufficient. It cannot be enough to “cross the finish line”. But most importantly, to be the reason why someone comes back. Don't just look down but to the right and left, also. Don't just look down but yell to those that may slowly be drifitng away. There is no greater joy then the joy from our Savior. And there is no greater joy than having someone to share that joy with. 

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

I love you and miss you all and hope you have incredible weeks. I love seeing any and all of your emails.

Elder Wilde

Week 34 - March 9, 2026

 Tiempo Del Señor

Una semana más en la tierra prometida.

Highlights:

70: At our Multi-zone, we had one of the Area Presidencia come, Elder Olsen, and he gave a super super good lesson to all of us on our missionary work.

🌊: We baptized our neighbors, Darlyng and Bryan. Studs. More later

⅓ : We completed a third of the mission now which is just insane. It feels like I left yesterday. and I love it here so much.

⛈️: We were getting hit by a big storm literally an hour and half before the baptism and then 20 minutes before, cleared up. God is good. 

🇺🇸: I was singing Courtesy of the red, white and blue in the street and asked Elder Hill if he knew it. When he said no it was a mix of disappointment and sadness that he had never experienced this. So grateful I only miss one 4th of July.

🃏: The combination of Uno and Skull King with the zone on the way to the multi-zone was so fun. Explaining Skull King in Spanish was a lethal one, but we got there.

Micheal Scott Promise: Elder Olson (Centro América President) gave the mission a promise that any person we put on baptismal date after one was going to get baptized. Stay tuned next week…

🍔: Had an unbelievable hamburger this week, so that was nice.

Spiritual Thought - Tiempo Del Señor 

This baptism once again showed me more amazing principles. We met with this family on the first day of the transfer for the first time and they seemed so lit. They even pulled up to church the very first week. Each week we have a missionary meeting with all of the leaders in the ward, and I was hyped to tell them about all our people we already had progressing. To my surprise, the members started getting a little frustrated and annoyed with me as I told them. They told me I was wasting time and this family was never going to progress or want anything.

I'm so glad we wasted everyone's time and had the opportunity to see them enter the waters of baptism two and a half weeks later. But more than anything, for what it taught me.

God truly does prepare his children and his elect. Seeing the pure joy on the families' face during their baptism was something incredible. Their house is basically our second home. Hearing their desires of entering the temple as a family is incredible. Seeing the joy that came as they progressed was truly amazing. You just had to take the time to get to know them without listening to what everyone else was saying. It is always on the time of the Lord, and all are welcome to go to him.

D&C 33

6 And even so will I gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, even as many as will believe in me, and hearken unto my voice.

7 Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the field is white already to harvest; wherefore, thrust in your sickles, and reap with all your might, mind, and strength.

I love you all and hope you have amazing weeks.

Elder Wilde 

Week 33 - March 2, 2026

The Simplest Act

Big preparatory week, you could say, so I'm not going to have anything too long. Things are about to start going crazy in Coban 2. We are so hyped.

Highlights

🎂: Some members blessed us up with this massive cake and tons of pizza for my birthday, so that was lit.

🕍: Hill and I got to go through the temple during the week. A bit of an early wake up, but it was of course very worth it.

📘: We had so many fire lessons this week and the Spirit was super strong. Love to have those.

🚨: We didn't think we were gonna have a lot of friends in church, then buzzer beater, we ended up having seven pull up last second. Waiting for the meeting to start gets me nervous these days.

🌟: We had a member call us at the last second for us to make a game for the big church activity. Hill and I cooked something up and they loved it. Ended it with chucking little Jesus Christ figures over my head, and it was a battlefield to get them.

🎶: We hit a dance party with this one really drunk guy, and that was a highlight for sure. Great time.

🍕: We went to visit one of these members for the first time and turns out their son is one of the Domino's workers in my last area. After they sent a picture, he responded with saying how they were all wondering where I was and told them my order every time. Now those members call me "Elder Carnivora" 😭😭😭

🚗: Elder Hill is a goat and always gives us something to talk about. This week he chose the topic of "Cars," and I think I heard 1000 "Would you rather (Cars edition) questions. We are always having a good time. He says he WILL have a Raptor R ready for me as my wedding gift and has told me how he's going to do it every day. He might not be joking. What a stud.

Spiritual Thought - The Simplest Act

There are two talks I love that are about this principle.

"Discovering God's Plan for You" - Kilani Sitake

"The Difference One Can Make, The Kent Williams Story" - Brother Johnson

Both of these stories are incredible and show the importance of a simple act. I encourage you all to listen to both of them if you have a little bit of time. I will link them below. I really don't know how I could summarize these two up in a quick email.

Now if you know these talks or after you have listened to them, I understand that maybe they might not feature the “simplest act,” but I imagine to the people that did read them, they were.

The football player in Kilani's story didn't do what he did to receive something back. He didn't do what he did for any sort of gain. He didn't do it because he was supposed to. It would've been easier to stay where he was. He did it because he truly loved those around him. 

Kent Williams may not have been doing the “simple” act but at no point was he doing anything for a return. He wasn't doing it for any sort of fame or any sort of self-centered purpose. He could've showed up and sat and left every day. He could've stayed to himself, but he didn't. He did everything he did because he truly loved those around him.

Neither of them was doing what they did for a return. They did it because they truly loved those around them. And what may seem like an extraordinary act to us was nothing to them because they were doing it out of love. It was only a simple act to them because how couldn't they have done what they did. They could never have sat back and watched because they truly loved those around them. And because of this, it truly was only a simple act. And if there's anything I have come to realize is that the simplest acts mean the most. A simple act can change the LIFE of the recipient. Helping or doing something for the next person not because you should but because they deserve it makes any good act a simple one. Every single person has the capacity to affect somebody's life more than they can possibly realize. And each person is able to decide to do the “simple” act whatever that may be.

Alma 37:

6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

Kalani Sitake: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/kalani-sitake/discovering-gods-plan-for-you/

Kent Williams: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1px1lTUVWleBHVaRnDGZmmS9DYQIRJmXm/view?usp=drivesdk

I love you all and hope you have amazing weeks. Thank you so much to everyone that reached out this last week, and congrats to all getting your mission calls.

Elder Wilde