BACK ON AMERICAN SOIL!!!

(Written by Mom)

He's really coming home!!!

One of the mom's posted this on Facebook.  Not sure who took it and posted it but these are the Vlad 14 at the airport in Korea!!!  They are getting closer!

While we waited we had fun talking to other parents. There were four Elders arriving together.  10 others came with them that were being reassigned to other missions in the U.S.A. but we didn't see them.  

Elder Brower's fam with pix they enlarged from the MTC of the four Elders that are returning.

We had a large crowd of family.  Weston had Taylor on Face-time from Hawaii. Aubrey brought some friends to take photos and video it.  That was such a huge blessing because I hadn't even thought of it. I didn't have time, this all happened so fast! 

Holding the photos of the Elders in the MTC that Elder Brower's mom brought.

(Not so) patiently waiting!

Taylor all the way from Hawaii!

It's them!!!  I see him! He's almost here!

We had to wait quite a while for him to actually make his entrance.  Lots of people that came off before them told us the missionaries were at the back of the plane.  It seemed like FOREVER!  But then...  there he was!!!!!  OH MY GOSH!  He's actually HOME!  THERE ARE NO WORDS!!!  It is the most amazing feeling in the world to see your son after two long years!  Seriously, no words.  But somehow, I'll manage to use some anyway.  ☺ 

He is so cute and looks SO GOOD!  And he is taller! I didn't want to let him go from my tight hug I had waited two whole years for!  Did I mention two years is a dang LONG time!

I went back for a second hug

Missing Taylor, but he is smiling from Hawaii on McKay's shoulder

SO happy he's back!

Cousins

Grandparents

Now, if only Taylor were here in person instead of joining in via Facetime. But I am SO glad for technology because it felt like he was there.  It's time for some kind of technology from heaven so Tyson could join us too!

It was fun watching his reunion with everyone.  He had on a cool suit with a purple lining that one of the other missionaries (we can actually call him a missionary now in stead of a volunteer!) gifted him before he left. He said his suits were bad and the pants looked like work pants they were so worn.  He had no access to money thanks to his dysfunctional debit card and so he had planned on buying a new suit but was unable to.  Amazingly this one fit's him like it was made for him.  A miracle McKay said. 

PURPLE lined suit!  Good job McKay!

Blessings!  SO grateful for his safe return!

We took some photos with the other Elder's parents.  We have had the unique experience of being a close knit group due to the unique small numbers of his very large mission with the majority of "volunteers" being from Utah.  We have a Facebook page and everyone is friends and we have gone to lunch a few times.  We also didn't get to know any of the members in Russia like I did with my other two sons because they don't communicate with us thanks to the strict Russian laws.  We got a group photo with the boys and their mamas.  And then with the dads.

Elder Barr, Elder Parry, Elder Wilding, and Elder Brower with their dads.

These missionaries/volunteers/now friends,  have been through a lot together the past two years!

 A couple of the MTC photos

After the family photos, we headed out to load him up.  We then went to Nielson's Frozen Custard on the way home because he wasn't hungry enough for Panda Express.  Yum.  

The drive home was so fun listening to him talk about his mission. Interesting stuff. We stopped at Big O for a photo.  It is so awesome to have him home!

Then we dropped the boys off and headed to the church so he could be released (by his own dad). We were there late. I have to say that was the highlight for me sitting there listening to him talk to his Dad about his experiences over there and how it felt to be a volunteer and then hearing him bear such a powerful testimony of the gospel, the people of Russian, the other missionaries, his Mission President, etc.  It brought me to tears to see the sincerity in his voice and heart.  All I could think of over and over was what a valiant young man he is and what a man he has become and how blessed and fortunate I am to be his mother  I sat there in awe of this amazing boy that I sent out and listening to the man he has now become.  It gave me chills. I could not hold back the tears.  He got a little teary as well.  He bore his testimony in Russian and I could feel his conviction, faith, and strength even with the language barrier.  It was one of those moments in time I will always remember. It was a bit of heaven on earth.  The spirit was there in abundance. Coolest thing ever. I wish I could bottle what he said. So spiritual. His future is bright. What an amazing young man I can tell he was one great missionary. He loves Russia and the people.  He truly loves his MP.  He truly loved the whole experience. He has grown in so many ways. The best part was when Dave told him that he had a big brother who would have wanted to serve a mission as well and he had a hunch he was there with them. That was the moment I couldn't hold back the tears. It really choked up McKay as well. Him and Tyson were very close and best buds. 

It was after midnight when we got home but the boys were still up.  We all gathered in his room and chatted for a long time.  We got to bed after 2.  

                                               Wow!  He's home....  What a blessing!

I am including this little excerpt from a letter Dave wrote to Taylor because he sums it up so well.  

 It was a week ago today that I was at the clinic when I received the message that a certain young man would be released from his mission.  Looking back it seems like a month with all that has happened since that fateful day.  I can only imagine what it has been like for McKay to come to terms and adjust to all that has changed.  As human beings we use time to adjust to life’s twists and turns.  Time gives us the modality to accommodate and prepare for the anticipated changes that inevitably come.  In McKay’s situation a plan was in place for a scheduled return from the Motherland to the Promised Land, but that all got turned on its ear when he was given a few short hours to pack up everything, close an area, and make the necessary arrangements for hastily made travel plans.  It sounds like a chapter from an international spy thriller.  I’m still not sure how it all came together, or how he made the adjustment to crossing multiple time zones on three separate planes, or how he endured a 10-hour flight from Seoul to Seattle, but when he showed up at the Salt Lake International Airport that little brother of yours looked great!  His flight didn’t arrive thirty minutes early like yours did, a topic that was repeatedly brought up on the drive from Brigham to SLC, so by the time he arrived all the principal parties were in place anxiously awaiting his appearance at the top of the escalators.  I know you were there in spirit thanks to the marvels of modern technology.  It seemed like it took an inordinate amount of time for the four elders to make their way from the gate to baggage claim, as we were repeatedly advised that they were coming from the back of the plane, but once the pilots started showing up I started to wonder what was taking so long.  Eventually they made it and you know the rest of the story.  We stopped at Nielson’s Frozen Custard on the way home and then McKay, Mom, and I went over to the church to issue his release from his full time missionary labors.  By the time we eventually got home it was close to midnight so you can imagine my surprise when McKay showed up a little after 6:30 a.m. the next morning to read scriptures.  It was something that we had done every day before his mission, but between the jet lag and trying to adjust to all the changes he had been through I wasn’t sure I would see him before noon.  Suffice it to say that I was greatly impressed.  Mom came down and joined us and we’ve been there at the appointed hour ever since. 

Aubs posted this on Snapchat.   

Yippee!!!

I woke up the next morning wondering if it was all a dream.  Was my son really home from Russia?  He was!  And up early to read scriptures with us to boot!  SO GOOD TO HAVE HIM HOME! It was a cold morning.  Me and the boys all sat around talking to him.  It was fun hearing his stories.  Then Weston came.  We basically all talked about his mission all day. Weston was hilarious.  He had us all laughing.  So fun to have all these boys back together again!  Just like old times! Now if only Taylor was here!  I know I keep saying that, but it seems there is always one missing!  haha

He really is home!

BLOG FORMAT and SIDE BAR

Screen shots from McKay's blog format and side bars:

Brrrr...

The Russia Vladivostok Mission includes much of Siberia and some of the harshest weather on the planet including Yakutsk, the coldest city on earth. The average daily temperature in the winter months is -37 F.

"Well that was unexpected" [McKay's Last Mission Email]

***Hello family and friends of Elder Wilding.  There have been some big changes the past couple of days concerning our son McKay and the Vladivostok Mission. We received a phone call from Salt Lake on Saturday informing us that McKay would be returning home in four days instead of 46.  We got a phone call today informing us he will be coming home even sooner.  He arrives on Tuesday May 23 at 7:45 pm on Delta Air 311  His mission has been dissolved and is merging with the Novosibirsk Mission which is directly west of his. The official church press release from the First Presidency is below.  We are so grateful for your support of him through these past two years and have faith that the Lord's servants have been guided in this change.  We will be grateful to get him back on American soil! Our prayers are with the other volunteers as well as his Mission President for their obedience and faith in doing what they have been asked to do, as well as with the Russian saints who will feel a great loss from this change. 

Thank you again for your support!  

Jodi  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What's Up! 

I'm coming home!

This week was crazy, probably the craziest week on the mission. It all started back on Friday night when we were on a lesson with Konctantin. We didn't even start the lesson yet and got a call from the AP's saying that we need to come to Artyom with the 1st River Elders either that night or in the morning. They told us that we would be having a meeting with President Perkinson tomorrow at 8 in the morning and that we should be praying to accept the will of the Lord. Well, right at first we are freaking out having no idea what is going on or what will happen. We don't know if it is just us or the whole mission. So we ended up just reading the testimony of the 3 witnesses with Konctantin, saying a quick prayer and ran back home. We took a taxi (because of how late it was the buses had stopped running). We get there and find out (to our relief) that the whole mission will be on this meeting and not just the two of us. That night we spent there, I didn't sleep much. Not because I was nervous but because everyone was talking forever and I couldn't fall asleep. So the next day we go to the Artyom church building and see President his wife and Elder Samaykin of the 70. Before we start our meeting we had to get the rest of the mission there through Skype. They just told us that Elder Samaykin was here on assignment from the 1st Presidency and that last Thursday while in the temple they received revelation regarding us. He told us that your mission (the biggest mission in the world) and the Novosibirsk mission (the 2nd biggest mission in the world) are getting combined. And that a new mission president would be coming in about a month to preside over these combined missions and that due to the fact that it is now one mission it doesn't need two mission presidents and that the Perkinsons will be going home. Along with 4 elders who would of ended their missions in 6 weeks but now will be going home this week. And that 10 Elders who would have gone home in 3 months will be reassigned to stateside missions to finish their labors. It was a shock. It was a complete shock. Then the Perkinsons talked to us for a little bit and bore their testimonies. A lot of people were crying, mostly the ones going to the states. After the meeting president gave me Barr and Perry our departing interviews. It was really good, unexpected but good. I received the news that we need to move out of our apartment as soon as possible and that we would be closing the area. They said we would learn when our planes leave as time goes on. 

So that's basically the story. I am going to miss Russia a lot... But I'm going back to America! I can't wait to see all of you! It has just happened so fast! I love you all! The mission was the best decision of my life! I have loved every second out here! It has been sooooooo fun! It has changed me! I love the Russian people! I love to be a missionary! It has been the best time of my life.

See you soon

-Elder Wilding

-------------------------------------------------------

First Presidency Announces Mission Merge in Russia

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following statement Saturday regarding the merging of two missions in Russia:

The First Presidency announces that effective July 1, the Russia Vladivostok Mission will merge with the Russia Novosibirsk Mission. Doing so requires fewer volunteers to staff the combined mission. In anticipation of this change, volunteers from the Vladivostok mission who were to be released in July will return home in late May, and volunteers who would have returned home in August will be reassigned and complete their service in missions in the United States.

President and Sister Perkinson, who have presided over the Russia Vladivostok Mission for the past two years, have been released. We are grateful for their years of faithful service. The Europe East Area Presidency will supervise the combining of the two missions.

Happy Happy Mothers Day! С Днём Матери!!!

Привет) -- (that is how the Russians do smiley faces, without eyes)

I wish all the mothers and especially my own mother a very happy and rewarding Mother's Day. None of us would be here without you, thank you for all you do and all you have done! A mission is a perfect place to be on Mother's Day because you come to realize just how much your mother really does do you for. Skyping home today was happiness! 

President Martino of the 70 and Elder Drachov (also from the 70) came and visited our mission this week. We had an awesome zone conference about how we can improve our work and had principles taught that will bless me not only on my mission but forever. The invitation to act is always the most important part. That is the only way we will become. Elder Martino taught the difference between a follower and a disciple...a disciple wants to become like who he is following. And not only wants to but works to. Elder Drachov is so so funny! He is from the neighboring mission and really had good experiences with missionary work that he shared with us. And he has 6 kids! That is almost unheard of in Russia. He told me that I looked like President Monson! I don't know if I agree, but of course I was flattered.

A lot of members flew in from Sakhalin for the District conference that was held the following day and it was good to see some familiar faces. We had the great opportunity of taking Вася (a 17 yr old from Sakh) on splits with us into the work! All of our plans worked out which in itself was a huge miracle! He is a great teacher and a exceptional young man. He will be an outstanding missionary!

On Victory Day we were able to see the parade and take in a little of the Russian spirit of this special day. They had so many casualties from WW2.  We were able to see the posterity of those who died carry a picture of their ancestors on a stick during the parade. The crowd was as it seemed numberless and it seemed that there was no end in sight of all those hosting a picture. There was also many cool military vehicles. We were able to meet with our friend from Zambia who brought his friend from South Africa. While we were together we ran into people from India (they area lot darker than the movies show) Brazil and a few other countries. All these people are at college at the university on Russian Island. When we were walking around by then it was amazing and funny at the amount of people that asked to take pictures with them. They say it happens everywhere they go. And someone joked that they should charge 50 rubles for every picture. If they did they would be loaded in no time.

I know this is God's work. He leads and guides His church through His living prophet Thomas S. Monson (who apparently I kinda look like). I love when the members of the 70 come. They are proof of what happens to a person when they live a Christ centered life.

Love,

-Elder Wilding

 SKYPE ON MOTHER'S DAY!

Emergency blankets for emergency situations

uhhh.. that is a big podezd...

Xpam

Look at our stairs

One of the elders got pooped on by a bird!

Letter from his Mission Pres and wife:
Dear Brother and Sister Wilding

This weekend has been a wonderful uplifting and spiritual gathering for the members of the church here in Vladivostok! 

Saturday morning we were early in our seats prepared to greet the Europe East Area President Martino and the Area Seventy Of East Russia Gracho for a marvelous spiritual feast! We were encouraged to build the foundations of the branches where ever we serve! We were invited to prepare a 3-5 minute talk on Diligence. Elder Sanders and Sister Arrington were called upon to deliver.

We reviewed Images of Christ and read brief reviews of what the Apostles taught about Christ at our last General Conference. We were encouraged to ponder these messages and seek for more personal revelation each time we study the words of Christ.

We were encouraged to read the white handbook as to the opportunity to talk to our mothers on this Mother's Day. We do hope that you enjoyed you Mother's Day phone call and we honor you with good choices! Thank you for your prayers in behalf of the work of The Lord!

Sincerely,

President and Sister Perkinson

Vladivostok Russia

Just Like Old Times

Hello everybody!

I feel somewhat lucky I am able to write this letter today. This day has been quite a fiasco. To start off we went to our main place where we always go but for whatever reason "myldsmail.net" would just not load. So after 30 minutes of juggling with that we went to another place in Center which worked for about 47 seconds flat, and then out of nowhere the power went out. We planned on waiting there until the power came on but after 10 minutes of waiting the workers said that they don't know when the power will be back on and that they are closing up the store right now because it will probably be a long time. But all hope was not lost, we knew of a different place about 15 minutes away on bus that we could go to. But, that was closed due to Victory Day, a holiday that will be tomorrow. On our way to the place that was closed, we saw a different internet cafe that none of us have been to before. We went in to try it, but it was a super dark and sketchy place. And to add to that, their computers had no internet. As a last hope we came back to the 2nd place we visited and to our great pleasure the power had been turned back on and now were in business!

This has been a nostalgic week, mainly just because me and Elder De Sandre were on splits and he made pizza. He has a gift! We met up with a man named Ivan who I met at a bus stop a week or two ago. We met near a church and started talking to him and an older guy comes up to us and says "Mormons?" and then tells us he knows a lady that goes to our church. After he left we looked around and Ivan was nowhere in sight. We went searching for him, he simple disappeared. No longer having plans, we decided to go to a soccer field to see if anyone was playing. We went up to about four teenage kids and they said we could play with them. My soccer skills are not up to par.  We were having a great time laughing while we tried to play. After the game we got their numbers and planned to meet up again. 

On Thursday to Saturday I was on splits again but this time with Elder Barr. We had a really good time. His investigator, V, took us to a lighthouse! It was super small, I took some pictures and I will send them next week. He is very interested in the gospel and a really nice guy! And on Friday we had to set up a projector for a "Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration" movie night. It was a lot of what happened today trying to write. Running there and back and then to another place. The activity went good! And on Saturday we had a picnic with the branch! It was a little windy you could say. That is actually a huge understatement. The wind was incredible. Also, it was a miracle because when we started the picnic, the weather was rainy and cold but we decided to hope for the best and have it anyway and despite the wind it was really nice weather.

Another miracle: on our way to the picnic an 18 yr old girl comes up to us and asks, "You're Mormons right?" (now that the coats are off we are getting recognized a lot). We affirmatively responded and she told us that she goes to the ДВФУ (the college in Vlad) and is studying Mormons. She told us that there is a lot of negative info about us and wants to do a report showing that we are good normal people. What? This never happens! She was way cool too! 

Well, it has been a fast week. I have been getting a lot of sun and my arms are feeling it. 

Have a fantastic Victory Day! 

Elder Wilding