Hello everyone! I am so very grateful for the love and support so many of you have shown me as I leave on my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day-Saints, to the West Virginia Charleston mission. This is where my good friend Gaines will post each month some exerpts from my emails telling where I am, and how the morale is holding up, and if possible, any WW2 connections I have! If any of you wish to email me personally, message Gaines, and he will send you my email adress! Sincerely, JJWilson
heya jj. best wishes to you. would you have preferred a more exotic location ...maybe africa or south america. the weather is better, cost of living etc.
Ive come across missionaries in Darwin whilst walking my dog...American as f..k. in Darwin! As expected they were very polite but also persistent...My Dingo doesn't like humans so was getting increasingly agitated, and was a convenient excuse to cut the conversation short...(Im RC). <iframe width="640" height="360" src="" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Hi guys, I just got my first email from JJ, Joshua, Poppy, he is in a training program in Utah and will then go to where the church sends him for a couple of years. Perhaps it will be another country. He asks me to edit and post what I thought pertinent but I wanted to post his entire email to get him off to a good start. Hello Gaines, thank you again for doing this. I hope all is still well with you and your family. Here is my month 1 update!! Hello WW2 forum members! I'm here in Provo Utah, at the Missionary Training Center for missionaries of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is beautiful here, and I love seeing the snow (a rare sight in Arizona!). I've been put in a room with 5 other missionaries, only two of us aren't from Utah, the other is from Boise. I've met some Kiwis, a couple of Chinese and Koreans, Polynesians, Germans, Brits, Irish, Swedes, Poles, Russians, and one former Amish member. One of the Missionaries last name is Kilroy, and I kind you not, he writes in every journal, Kilroy was here! I wish you all health and happiness. God be with you!! Here is my scripture for the month Mark 5:36 "......be not afraid, only believe." Will post each month. My best regards to him and to all of you, Gaines
Thanks guys, JJ will appreciate it. He sent two photographs but my computer will do let me sent them am working on that !
maybe he could learn some kind of Jesuit kung foo while there. we've all seen those movies. best wishes
he will learn to dislike the snow. it's pretty, until you have to shovel mountains of it. I dream of Arizona.
New report from "JJ" or Joshua : Hello Gaines!! How are you doing my friend? How is the forum doing? Were you able to include the photos last time? Thank you once again for doing this, I sincerely appreciate it still. Hello everyone! I hope everyone is dong well, and that the forum isn't getting too crazy in my absence! I have been out for one month, and I'm nearing week 3 here in Lexington Virginia, my companion is Elder Gardner from Layton Utah, we get along just fine! It is absolutely beautiful here in Virginia!! Spring has basically already arrived here, and it's gorgeous outside! Me and my companion are responsible for South Lexington, Glasgow, Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge Nation, Effinger, Murat, and Rapps Mill. Lexington is home to Virginia Military Institute, and Washington and Lee University University (Which is the resting place of General Lee Himself!). Only a 3 minute walk from our apartment is where Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson is buried!! The history here is awesome, and so are the people! There are quite a few veterans here, heck I've had dinner with two Vietnam vets, one of them a Purple Heart recipient and C-130 pilot. We're not too far away from Bedford D-day Memorial, so hopefully I can see that sometime. I hope you all have a great week, thank you for your support and love! Scripture of the month... Matthew 11: 28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." JJ emails me which I copy and paste but he also sends images attached which he would like to include. My computer has developed a glitch and I cannot post or transfer any picture, image or drawing....Will get it fixed ASAP. In the meantime, if someone will email me, gtblackwell@gmail.com, I can forward the mail to you and you could post. I am sure JJ would appreciate that, Kindly, Gaines
howdy jj. sounds like ur growing up real good, lol. you will be a fine gentleman some day soon. best wishes.
Some photos to accompany JJWilsons update. Yeager Airport Mural Wilson & Gardner Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery
Hello everyone, it is me!! I thought since I had the time that I would make a personal appearance, my first since February of last year. I apologize for the lack of updates, but I am incredibly grateful for your kind words and support. Since my time in Lexington Virginia, I have since served in Olive Hill Kentucky, Pembroke Virginia, and I am now Residing in Buckhannon West Virginia. I have met plenty of wonderful people, and have grown up quite a bit since I started this journey, I am about 9 months away from coming home to Arizona, where I hope to once again be a regular member here. In the meantime, God bless you all, and stay safe in these turbulent times!! -Wilson
JJ , Your in the right state.I think they have the lowest casualties of any state. Stay safe,He knows you are doing his work. Bob
Hello again everyone!! I'm checking in once more!! I'm currently in Ashland Kentucky and I'm doing just great!! I have a little under 3 months before I return home, and will be able to interact with all of you on a more regular basis. I hope you are all safe, you're all in my prayers. Here is my email address for those who would like to contact me joshua.j.wilson@missionary.org. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
"Learning history is easy; learning it's lessons seems almost impossibly difficult." -Nicholas Bentley Or as someone else put it: "History is a hard teacher. She gives the test first, the lesson afterwards."