Week 41 - April 28, 2026

 A For Effort

Highlights

🔥: This week was just coooooking hot and Morby and I’s shirts really took a beating. The white shirts I came with are really not white anymore. We enjoyed every minute though.

👥: Morby and I found tons and tons of people this week, and so many pulled up to church for their first time, so we stoked about that.

👵: So basically, we knocked on this pretty old member's door and shared a thought with her. She then mentioned how she really had been wanting to go on a walk but needed someone there. I, of course, asked if we could do that for her. Out of nowhere, we ended up just walking around with this grandma for an hour and a half. The conversations were just not real. She is so funny and also the most faithful member ever.

🛖: Morby and I trekked a solid 45 minutes into the jungle to meet this family that wanted to meet with us as the directions guided us. The last guidance given was to take a left and arrive in one minute. We quickly looked at each other then looked at the mountain/cliff in front of us, then back at each other and just started dying laughing. We did arrive at some point--don't worry.

🧹: Morby and I gave the house its first ever clean in about 3 years. Very very needed. The old will be missed though. I already miss the little Caesars pizza box pyramid.

🤔: We taught this one family that still practices the Ancient Mayan Rituals. That was kinda crazy. We are scared they might try and use us as a kind of white lamb sacrifice. I'll have to give them Morby.

👪: We found tons of families this week that we are still teaching and came to church, so I'm so hyped. I want to baptize a family sooo bad.

📞; Transfer news is this week. I'm really hoping I stay again with my comp.  He's the goat.

🔥: Big shout out to field days back in elementary school. When everyone would hold the parachute and run under. Good days.

Spiritual Thought

I'm really not sure if I have talked about this talk before in a different email, but I've been thinking about it a lot this week and feel I need to share it again. Elder Shumway gave a talk in April 2025 called "Participate to Prepare in God's Return," and it has so many parts I love and feel to share. But before i share, a little background.

At the very very beginning of my missio,n I had a Cita with my trainer and could see the frustration building in him throughout. I sat there and all I wished was that I could help him. I wished I could do more and be a part of the work. I wished I could say the words I needed to say like him. All I wanted was to feel like more of a part of what was going on instead of a drag to him at the Cita. I just wanted to help and I just couldn't. I truly couldn't do anything, and I felt like I was not fulfilling my purpose. Everyone knew more and could do more than me and I was just sitting there, but this talk explained to me something I needed and still do.

“God does not expect perfect performance or exceptional talent to participate in His work.”

“After each day of labor, God acknowledged the progress made by saying, “It was good.” He did not say the work was finished nor that it was perfect. But what He did say was that there was progress, and in God’s eyes, that is good!”

I didn't need to be perfect. I didn't need to teach every lesson. I didn't need to know every answer. I didn't need to know every scripture. The mission is nothing of perfection. The slightest can do the most. You don't need to perfectly know how to teach someone to bring them the Spirit. You don't need to know your language perfectly to change someone's life. You only only only need to be where God asks you to be and he will use you for what his plan is. We are alll instruments in the hands of the Lord and we each have different purposes. The 2-inch tap in a putt was worth the exact same as the Drive nuked down the fairway. The 15-second testimony might just be worth even more than the 15-minute lesson. Every effort counts and there is never never never an effort wasted.

Have an amazing week. 

Elder Wilde

Week 40 - April 20, 2026

 One Soul

Just an absolute roller-coaster of a week, but we love it. Long email but its worth it I promise. Please read… please.

Highlights

🎁: We had our Multi-Zona this week in Coban which was lit. Always fun to see my boys again.

💰: After a week of lethal work, we decided to go out after planning Sunday night in the pouring rain and found a miracle family of five and then had such a fire lesson. PRAYINGGGGG.

🥷: I had a long Bible bash with some Midianite minister from Arkansas (no idea how to spell that). I liked the part where he said the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of Satan. When I asked him if it made sense for Satan to want us to have a book that teaches about God, Jesus, faith, baptism, serving others, and repentance, he had to take a long thought and switch topics, of course.

👦: shout out Rainbow Loom this week. All-time great to ever pass through recess. I was top dog. Great little invention, I miss it. Countless hours spent there.

⌚️: WARD COUNCIL FT. STAKE PRESI.???

Basically, this was just unreal. Morby and I show up expecting the most boring meeting ever, but we were very wrong. After three minutes, he just started talking about missionary work and just going after each person in each presidency. And basically just flaming them for everything they have said and done or not done. Shout out the Hermana that helped us out here. Stake Presi put out some crazy bars. Looked like prime Juice World out there.

🔥: Take of the week. Stranded Island. One movie, one song, one food, one thing, one person. Team Wilde: How to Lose a Guy in 10 days (couldn't get old), More Than My Hometown (unreal), Sushi (easy), Pickleball or golf simulator (game time decision), Ya Saben. Team Morby: Super Bad, Season's by Chris Cornell, Pizza, Guitar, Sabrina Carpenter (Teach him to play guitar, ofc). Good match up.

Spiritual Thought 

Basically, to start off we baptized Roberto a month ago and he is just so awesome.  I seriously wouldn't be surprised if he was Stake Presi one day or maybe even more and its truly not a crazy take. I know I'm a very emotional person, but he made me start bawling.

We had a family home evening with the old bishop because they wanted to meet him and after, bishop shared his thought.  Morby and I did, too. Spirit was already hitting which gets ya. Then when I heard Roberto ask if he could share something, it was over. My eyes immediately started to water up.

He explained what was going on in his life leading up to the day we knocked on his door. All his afflictions all his challenges and all his doubts. He hadn't been going to church for years or really thinking too much about God. But one night, he said he felt a prompting that he should pray for the first time in a very long time. He said he promised to God he would drop all the things he was doing if he was given a sign. He said that the very next day two young blonde boys walked up to his door asked to share a message and how he knew they were his answer. As if I wasn't crying enough, he turned to me and sincerely thanked me for everything and for changing his life. He thanked me for taking the time to answer his prayers.

We ended and he headed to the bathroom, and I just started bawling in front of every single member there. I was overwhelmed with so many thoughts and feelings. He may be thankful and think we changed his life, but I could never express what his experience has done for me. It felt that God trusted me to put me as an instrument in Roberto's life. That I could be the lucky one to be a part of it. That I could knock his door on that day, down that dirt path, on the last house of the street. That he picked Elder Wilde to be his instrument in the life of one of the most elect I have ever seen. 

The calling of a missionary explains that you will find a greater form of joy than you have never seen. I have no doubt that this is true. I will never forget that feeling as I heard Roberto testify of his journey to me and the pure form of joy I felt.

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 would like to testify that I know the Lord loves each and every one of you. I know this joy is true without a doubt. I know he prepares his children and answers their doubts. I know this work is not mine but the Lord's. And I know that this church isn't just another church on another corner, but it is truly THE Church of Jesus Christ.

Having amazing weeks. Special place in my heart for reading the rant. Shoutout Ty and Bracken por cumplir años.

Elder Wilde

Week 39 - April 13, 2026

 Highlights

🍻: This is funny but also not funny cause one of our baptism moms posted a picture of him w/ a drink covered up by the worst Fanta (nobody is positive what was behind it though) edit I've ever seen and in our ward council, our Bishop really called me out for it, that I didn't teach him well enough 😭. Had to tell him to give the guy a break, it was his grandpa's 79th birthday. What did you want him to do?

📆: So, Queen Wilde gave me this sound machine in case I had snoring companions or something, but my comp and I used the falling rain on glass feature while we were planning and hit the most unreal planning ever.

⛪️: Church here now starts at 8AM. I don't know how I am supposed to expect these people to come at 8. I was fighting for my life to get to church at 9 before the mission.

🐕: We may have had 9 o'clock church but that didn't stop our friend from getting there at 7:30 “too excited to sleep.” Also, our future Mission President that we just baptized pulled up at 7:45. DAWGS.

⛳️: I was at a member's house, and they just happened to turn on the final round of the Masters. I couldn't be disrespectful; I had to watch. Unbelievable. I miss golf. Top three miss for sure.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦: Some families cooked up the greatest surprise I might ever have on P-day last week.

9️⃣: Hit 9 months today so that's pretty crazy.

💯: Morby and I did some deep thinking on forgotten movies. 17 Again… BANGER. Over The Hedge… BANGER. Little Rascals… BANGER. We both described how deep of a hate we had for the one rich kid back in the day. Morby said, “I would've dropped kicked him if I could've.”  Valid.

🐍: Morby said he's buying a snake for the house to protect him from the bugs.

🐕: One house we visited had an identical copy to Roscoe in their house and it made my day and also made me a little sad. Greatest Dog ever. And Roxie too. They in Doggy Heaven for sureeeee.

🐝: Morby and I randomly started crying laughing over Cayote Peterson and the sting zone. CLASSSSIC.

Spiritual Thought - A Child's Prayer

Last week I didn't share my favorite part of conference, but out of all the great thoughts I think what stood out to me the most was the talk by Elder Matswagothata, “He Knows You by Name.” I liked every single part and honestly as I reread it, I can't even pick out what part I like the most. Maybe two parts stood out to me the most.

To the Savior, we are never lost in the crowd. He knows how to reach us—through a hymn, a smile, a kind word, and sometimes through people we least expect. Just as that family prayed for me, there is someone praying for you. Please remember: Your pain is not a sign that God does not love you. He truly does. So, as President D. Todd Christofferson taught, “In the midst of [the] refiner’s fire, rather than get angry with God, get close to God.”

The question should never be, “Will the Savior walk with me?” He will. The real question is, “Will I walk with Him?” As we choose to walk with Jesus Christ, everything begins to change.

I love both of these so much and invite all of you to read the talk if you have not already. I know the Savior will always choose to walk with us no matter where we are. I love the part where he mentions his afflictions and how the young boy unknowingly answered his prayer. There truly is always someone praying for you no matter where you are or how you may feel. Even if it seems so simple as a Child's Prayer it can make all the difference.

Have blessed weeks

Elder Wilde

Week 38- April 6, 2026

The Hardest Thing That Ever Was Done

Life is amazing; it is what it should be

Highlights 

📺: Conference. Very disappointed that I wasn't locked in on conference before the mission because it truly is one of the best things ever.

🗣: We had interviews with President Urizar, which was great. We actually have the best mission Presidents ever. They are the Goats. I love them so much.

🍕: Morby really wants to lose weight here and told me I have to make sure he doesn't eat, but Tuesday, after our Missionary work meeting with the ward, I looked down at my phone when we were walking to a Cita, and he tried to hide ordering a pizza without me knowing. Then I saw the text. We just started dying. Had to be there…

🔥: We made some more fire takes this week. A monkey in front of a typewriter for an infinite amount of time WOULD write all of Shakespeare's works (and every book ever)? Morby's not buying. “The monkey doesn't know how to type”. We have too much fun out here. Josh Allen on the BYU cougs -> National Chip? How does a Blimp float and why did we make them in the first place?

✝️: We had some guy tell us that no one knows when the Second Coming will happen then proceed to tell us it clearly says it in Mathew and he knows exactly when.

🎥: Morby and I caught these two girls trying to take a video of us from their cars, so we had to go walk up and confront them. They're gonna get baptized. Primero dios.

📝: We made some goated Mount Rushmore lists of all things. Great time.

🍻: Had this drunk guy try and deckkkk Morby.

😔: EVERYONE was gone this week on break, but ofc we pushed through.

🎹: I'm going to learn how to play the piano. I'm committing to practicing every single day after 3:00 for at least an hour.

Spiritual Thought - The Atonement 

As the time of the year, I have been thinking more and more about the atoning sacrifice of our Savior. Morby and I were walking in the street and started dying laughing about how classic of a song Gethsemani was back in the day. I remember yelling that one in the primary program. Truly thought I was top dawg on campus when I was singing that. But also, the song is lyrical unbelievable and is not only just one to yell.

Gethsemane! Jesus loves me,

So He went willingly to Gethsemane.

The hardest thing that ever was done,

The greatest pain that ever was known,

The biggest battle that ever was won—

This was done by Jesus!

The fight was won by Jesus!

Gethsemane! Jesus loves me,

So He gave this gift to me in Gethsemane.

Gethsemane! Jesus loves me,

So He gives this gift to me from Gethsemane.

I have spent a lot of time thinking what it must have been like for the Savior in these moments as he took upon himself every single transgression and affliction of the world possible. It only seemed more unbelievable when looked at on a smaller scale. If you took one person, and you, yourself, gave them more pain and more insult than you could imagine and the next second they turned around and without a second of doubt they told you how much they love. That they would do anything to make you happy and be there for you. You would think they were the most incredible person you could ever meet. But it wasn't only you or me that did this to our Savior individually. It wasn't just the ones around us or the ones in the world today but every single person that has ever lived, is living, or will live. Each person gave him more pain than could ever be felt and he turned and said the same. And not only that, he learned of each person individually. Alma 7 says:

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

He did this so he would know how to “succor” his people. A couple months ago I heard a message about this. The word Succor in Spanish is Socorrer. Or more broken down So Correr. The second part of the word Correr means to run which leads to the full meaning of “To run to aid”. Putting this into the scripture gives it an even stronger meaning to me.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to run to aid his people according to their infirmities.

Because the Lord suffered as he did, he knows how to succor his people. He will run to us to help and knows how to perfectly as he is the perfect teacher. He knows everything we will feel, are feeling, and have felt. He will never leave us but run beside us. He is the light and life of the world and will forever be there for each and every one of us as he knows each person individually. It is because of his sacrifice we have this infinite gift or the key to life here on earth. He died to know how to run to aid his people. Not to walk to us but to run to us because he loves us more than we know. He lives to be the greatest teacher we could ever have throughout our mortal life here on earth. He lives so that we are able to find the path of happiness.

I'm not really sure if anyone still reads these 😂😄 but I'll keep going for you, Grandma, don't worry. I hope you all have blessed weeks. And big Happy 19th Birthday @AubreyCalderwood 🥳.

Elder Wilde.