May 30, 2012

May 30, 2012

My new area!

Hey Fam!!!

What´s going on?! Hope everything is going awesome with all of you! Everything with me is going great. Well, last week I got changed to Colinas! It´s in Santa Catarina, and still in Monterrey! So it´s totally awesome. This area is a lot...different! It´s right on that mountain that you see in that picture on my blog. The ward here seems totally awesome and totally involved in the missionary work. I´m totally excited to be here and excited to see what happens with the work here. There hasn´t been much success in this area for a little while. No baptisms since mid February but we have high hopes for this place and I know there´s totally people here that we can help. Right now we have one person named Octaviano who has accepted baptism. His entire family has passed away and he lives by himself. He´s 58 and his wife died in December. He says he wants to get baptized on the 29th of June, so in about a month! So in that time we´re going to help him and find other people.

As for my new companion Elder Jensen, he´s a pretty awesome guy! He´s totally excited to work and he´s really new. He´s been here in Mexico for about a month and a half! So he´s still got all this energy to do like basically anything. He reminds me of Nick a lot of times. He´s just super funny and outrageous. I can definitely learn a few things from him. I really think it´ll be a good change here in Colinas and with him!

Hope everything is going well at home! That´s pretty much it for news on my end. If there´s anything else you want to know, let me know!

Thanks for all you do for me and I love you all so much! You´re totally THE BOMB!

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

Elder Sanchez, Elder Sessions, and I on transfers!

Me and Colinas

 Me, Elder Jensen (My new comp) and Elder Mikkelsen (My comp from the MTC) on the bus!

Me and Elder Jensen, a grilled cheese, and a Mountain Dew (Which are super rare)

May 22, 2012

May 22, 2012

Hey Fam!!!

Sounds like things are totally awesome at home! Hawaii again, school getting out, and all of that. How awesome! I totally forgot to say HAPPY MOTHER´S DAY on the call so...HAPPY MOTHER´S DAY!!!!

This week has been pretty good. We set baptisimal dates with two families, and then they didn`t come to church...So we`ll see how that one turns out. But no worries there! Last week we had two baptisms! First, we went to Hector`s wedding so he could get married with his wife because they have two daughters but were unmarried. His wife, Karla, is a member just was innactive, and now he got baptized on thursday and confirmed Sunday. They now have a temple goal of being sealed as an eternal family and they`re totally excited! I sure hope I get to come back in a year and see them there! Then we had another baptism of Dani! He`s Myrthala`s son, the one we first talked to and he`s been to church about 7 times with us, but he had to move out from living with his girlfriend to be baptized. So he did, and he got baptized. He totally is a Mexican version of Kyle Syndergaard. It`s too funny, but he`s a great guy. They were totally happy!

As for the packages, YES I GOT IT! It was totally awesome. I`ve been eating tons of poptarts and mints and the insole things are the flippin bomb. It is way better walking now! Thank you so much! And the monkey I got that one a while back. TOO FUNNY! It was totally a taste of home and it made me laugh. Elder Hemsley always puts it on, too and tells me how the song reminds him of high school.

We have transfer calls tonight! So I`m basically 100% sure I`ll be out of this area, which is fine. I`d love to stay and I`m down for experiencing new stuff, too. Life is good either way! But we all know how changes went last time! So we`ll see what happens. I think I`m out of here, though.

I`m not sure what else you wanna hear about! That`s been pretty much it. We`ll see what happens here this week, I miss you all and you`re totally awesome, Carly, I can`t send your card off until I get an address for you, Maddy and Freckels, I got your letters, you`re both awesome!

Thanks for all you do, family! You`re seriously the bomb!

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

Me, Hermana Blanca and Cesar (Blanca is totally my favorite member here in the ward. She totally reminds me of you, Aunt Steph. She can`t be bothered with anybody but she`s totally a good person and just super sarcastic and funny. Cesar is her cousin who got baptized a few months ago after leaving prison for selling drugs and now is totally different and a hilarious and awesome guy :)

Hector Manuel Garcia Covarrubias´ baptism!! last Thursday!

Elder Sanchez`s birthday!

Me and a soccer champ trophy that`s like the biggest thing ever!

Daniel Garay Mata`s baptism last Saturday!

Hector and Karla`s wedding!

Our district!

May 14, 2012

May 14, 2012

Yo!

It was totally awesome to talk with you all and see you! For real, it rocked. Sorry I wasn`t very clear on the times, but next time (Christmas) I`ll do better!

Anyway, that`s totally awesome that Nyal`s back. Tell him he`s gotta write me. And it`s good to hear everything is going good at home. Tyler`s accent. That`s so funny. I bet you anything when I get back I`ll have one, too. But it`ll go away...I hope.

But yeah! So what`s new in these...two days? Well, Myrthala and Vicky were confirmed and they were crying and everything. Just totally awesome, they totally loved it and I think things will go better with them from here on out with the Holy Ghost and everything. They`re family isn`t really close at all, but I am thinking that has a high chance of changing. One of her sons, Dani, is going to be baptized this Saturday! And we`re totally stoked for that. He`s completely hilarious. He`s already read to Jacob in the Book of Mormon, on his own, in about three weeks.

Also, we have Hector, who is living with his girlfriend and have two daughters. This Wednesday they are going to get married!!! We are totally excited. They are too! And then on Saturday as well, he`ll get baptized (His girlfriend is already a member but was inactive for a while, but now is coming back). 

We also found a family who are friends with Fernando and his family and live like three doors down. We`ll see where that goes this week, but one of the daughters who is 17 seems like she`s awesome. She really liked church this Sunday and everything. I`ll keep you posted.

That`s about it for now, really! Sister Romney told me I should think about cutting my hair again...So I`ll be doing that today. It`s cause even though it`s hot, I am not super down with short hair, but you know. No worries there! 

I think that`s pretty much all I`ve got! Life is totally awesome and I`m excited to see what we can do more here.

Thanks for everything you do for me! Literally, I`m so grateful it`s ridiculous.

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

A sweet storm that totally filled the streets with water and everything. It was crazy.

Us as a zone activity!

Me and Lucha Libre!

May 7, 2012

May 7, 2012

Hey family!

Sounds like things are totally awesome at home! That`s so crazy O`Nyal is coming back this week! Definitely does not feel like two years have gone by since then, but I guess they have! I think that`s how it`ll be when I get home, too. We`ll see! Cosmic bowling, that`s so funny. I`m sure Reese loved it! And yes, Saturday!!! Sounds totally awesome! That sucks you`ve been sick, Sav. Hope you`re feeling better! I feel like I`m almost constantly sick here in Mexico, but nothing serious, so no worries! I just blame it on the country.

Anyway, this weekend feels like it`s gone by way fast! We had THREE BAPTISMS this week! It was totally awesome. The first one was Debani Monserrat Arriaga Reyes (11) who is the daughter of Fernando, who was baptized this last wee on Saturday. She was really nervous about being baptized before, I think, but now that everyone`s done it and she`s seen changes in them, she knew it was the right thing to do. Now everyone in their entire family is baptized. They are putting goals to be sealed in the temple as an eternal family one year from now. I`m totally stoked! I know they`ll be awesome. Fernando was telling us all about how he`s going to work way less on Sundays and arrange his plans so he can come to church every single week. Totally awesome.

Then we had Myrthala and Viky who were baptized on Sunday! It was also a totally awesome experience. She`s totally hilarious and judges everyone she meets but accurately and is just a totally hilarious lady. Viky is the coolest and always talks and jokes around with us all the time. Myrthala is like 51 and Viky is 11. They got baptized together and were totally crying and just so happy. It was a really good day. I`m just hoping Myrthala doesn`t offend other members with her...strong personality. She`s an awesome lady.

Really, the work here is awesome. We totally worked our butts off this week and didn`t have much to show for it. We didn`t bring any new people to church or anything, but no worries because this week we will! And I was really happy to see these three awesome people progress so well. This isn`t our work that we do, but His and that`s why it all works out. Also, President and Sister Romney came to our ward on Sunday and he asked how many people were converts in the congregation and well over half the ward raised their hands. It`s crazy how fast the church is spreading out here.

You asked for an experience that I`ve had that stands out to me, well, I want to tell the story of Carolina Leija Resendez. You already know about her, she`s my convert that`s getting ready to leave on a mission in one year (she`s 20) but just everything about what`s gone on with her and what`s going on now is incredible. Here`s a card she wrote me last week:

``Hi Elder!!

You know I have so many things to tell you...(Some goond and others not so good).

The first week in my ward Morelos (She started going to her own ward out where she lives to help her family come to church and learn more about it and everything) was a little complicated. I`m not used to all of this, to knowing not a lot of people here. I FEEL LIKE A TOTAL WEIRDO!! Things have been difficult with my mom and ever more difficult with my dad. The Elders have come to my house twice and the first time went well but the second not so much. When the Elders left my house, my mom asked me not to invite them back. She said she`d rather have ``classes`` about the gospel from me. At first I was sad because my mom didn`t want to have more lessons with the Elders, but after I thought, Well, I think that now it`s my turn to do a little missionary work and really, I like teaching my mom! I teach her at her pace so it`s not so complicated and in a way she can understand what I explain but I feel like I am missing someone to guide me because I don`t want to go wrong. Every night I pray and every time before I teach my mom and from this way, the Lord will help me. Even still, I feel like we need missionaries in my house but I don`t know what to do.

But everything isn`t bad! The day before yesterday, my mom offered her first prayer alone...and it made me cry. (She goes on to explain that her mom knows she needs to be baptized but she wants to feel more ready and how that motivates Carolina to help her more!)

Elder, thank you so much for all the things you taught me. I never get tired of saying THANK YOU! Because without them and without my faith in our Heavenly Father, I would never be in this moment.

Oh! I forgot...Today, I went for the second time to the temple...it was awesome!! When I got there, they directed me to do baptisms and it was a beautiful experience. The temple is a place where you can breathe and feel the presence of the Lord so strong. When I was sitting on a bench in the garden, I started to sing a hymn and my heart was filled with such joy that my voice gave out. It was something beutiful that I was able t ogo to the temple, the temple of my Heavenly Father.

Also, soon I`m going to recieve my Patriarchal Blessing! I have an appointment and I`m so excited for everything!

And about my mission, I`m just waiting to complete my 21st birthday so that I can go! I`ve never had the desire so strong to go to the feild and serve. I want the people to know the goespel. I don`t want so many people to be without this great blessing! Now I understand how Lehi felt when he ate the fruit. I want everyone to eat it, too! Becuase it`s something so great, something that really matters.

I`ve been thinking about all the things I`m going to leave to serve...My house, my family, my friends, my work, school...But you know that none of that is enough to make me put aside the desire in my heart...I just want to give my best and pay my Heavenly Father for all he`s done for me even though it`ll never be enough! I will never be enough!!

Elder, Thank you so much for the books and pictures you gave me because the`ve been a big help.

(She goes on to talk about some trials she`s had and how they`ve helped her see that she needs to go on a mission)

Elder...Again thank you for everything even though I know I`ve said it a thousand times. You are a good person and an excelent missionary, and excellent person, and a very, very good friend! And I won`t get tired of saying so if I have the opourtunity.

I say goodbye with a scripture that I liked a lot when I read it. Moroni 7:33.

Con Carino,

Caroila Lejia

This letter made me really happy. It makes me want to look for more people like her. She is so awesome. This last Sunday she got a calling in her ward as the Young Women`s President and she was only baptized a few months ago! It`s so amazing to see how the Lord prepares people and then puts them in our way. I`m so happy to be able to be a part of His work and to do what He needs me to do here in Monterrey. I swear, I feel like I`ve known Carolina forever, maybe before this life, right? But either way, I know there are tons of people out there who I can share the gospel with and that`s why I`m here. Even if I didn`t baptize another single person in my mission, I`d be okay because I know I`ve really been able to do some good, but I know there are more people out there, like here, that the Lord is preparing.

I know this church is true. I know this is His work. I could never be anywhere else right now in my life, and I could never be here if it weren`t for all of you. Thank you for all you do! I love you all so much! I`m totally stoked for Saturday!!! Say hi to Nyal for me and but make sure you call him my E.C. 

Much Love,

Elder Wheeler

Zone Activity!

Debani`s baptism!

Elder Sanchez, Elder Session, and I outside in a crazy lightning storm! 

Myrthala and Viky`s baptism!

May 2, 2012

May 2, 2012

Hey Family!

Sounds like things are going well at home. That`s good to hear! Things here in Soli are going well! Last week we had the baptism of Fernando. Remember Edgar Arriaga who got baptized and his family was inactive? Well, we`ve been able to work with them and his dad got baptized on Sunday and this Saturday his little sister Debani will be baptized, so that will complete the whole family! It should be awesome!

As for Adiee, Jorge, and Pricila. Well, they always seem really good when we were going with them, but they didn`t come to church and stopped being at home for the appointments we put and stuff, so I don`t think we`re going to go back. I think one day they`ll be ready, but maybe it`s not while I`m here. But! We have two more baptisms set for this week, too! Their names are Mythala, who`s about...50 something and her daughter Viki, who`s 11! But they`re totally awesome. She`s totally stubborn and has the funniest attitude, and she`s always tell her not to pressure her to be baptized and stuff, and one day we showed up and she said, I want to get baptized and I don`t know when God`s going to call me from this life so I need to do it soon. How about tomorrow? I laughed and told her she could be but it`d be better this upcoming Sunday so she can be all prepared. She`s totally awesome and totally ready and excited for her baptism this Sunday, but she says she doesn`t want anyone there. She says it`s something she wants to do for her and I explained how people want to come to support her and she said she doesn`t need it. That she`s going to come all the Sundays and everything on her own. She always gives us all kinds of free stuff ALL THE TIME. We always try and sneak money in so we`re even. It should be really good, though. 

So now we are just looking for people to be baptized the following week that we can bring to church this week! We three baptisms, a confirmation this week, we just are missing people at church! Really, I couldn`t be happier here. My companion is a good guy, we work well, and we`re having success. Not because of us, but because this is the Lord`s work and when he`s got people prepared, things happen. We just try to do what He wants!

Anyway, that`s pretty much been things here! I have zero complaints, the Spanish is going really well, I couldn`t be happier! I`m really grateful for all the blessings we`ve recieved here and how awesome everything is. I don`t forget to give credit where it`s due, and none of it is to us. Thanks for all your support and everything!

Happy Birthday Reese!!!!!! YOU RULEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! Also, Happy Birthday Uncle Ben and Aunt Martha!!!! I love you guys!!

I seriously am so grateful for such an awesome family! I couldn`t ask for anything more from you! Thanks for all you do! You seriously are THE BOMB!

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

Me and a bunch of missionaries at the temple!

Me and Hermana Cubas from Peru!

Fernando`s baptism last Sunday! Fernando Arriaga Mednoza

                   

Me, Elder Hemsley, and Hermana Cubas waiting for the bus!

Me and Elder Hemsley at the Temple!

April 23, 2012

Hey fam!

Sounds like things are going awesome there at home! Austen, I can totally picture that. How funny! Yep, Soli still! It´s good, though. I do like it here! This week wasn´t too bad! We didn´t have a lot of baptisms or anything like that, but there was one experience that I thought was really cool. We were contacting a whole bunch of streets, which isn´t that bad with my comp Elder Sessions because we just kind of talk and stuff, but we didn´t find anyone really good. So we were moving on to the next street and he called me back and said we should knock on a house that we were passing. I said yep and we went and knocked on it. They now have plans to be baptized in two weeks! I sure hope it goes well! Their names and Aidee, Jorge, and Priscila. They also have another daughter who is disabled mentally and physically. I think people like that are naturally like better people, more than not. I really have high hopes for them.

Something else that happened this week is a drunk guy in the street called us over so I gave him a card that says where the church is, what time it starts on Sundays, and our phone number. He asked if he called the number, would Jesus Christ answer. I said no...obviously, and then he rejected my card. I laughed for like five full minutes. Some people. Also, we found another drunk guy (I would say like 1 in 10 people in the street are drunk) gave me a sweet sombrero! I attached the picture. You´ll love it because I do.

That´s been about it! I am thinking this week we are going to have more success and it will be a killer week. Things are really good here!

I saw ELDER ROGERS! In a mission conference that we had with Elder Bednar and it was really awesome. We got to shake his hand and everything and he taught us some awesome stuff. So I saw all my buddies from the mission there! And it was a good time.

Me and my friends from the MTC! Elder Peterson, and Elder Baldwin!

ME AND ELDER ROGERS!!!!!!! :D

I think that´s about it! Not much more interesting to report on!

Austen, you´re the man! Sophomore year is better than Freshman year, but you´ve gotta own both and make them yours!

Savy, you were totally in my dream last night and it made me miss you a whole bunch! I love you tons, Savy!

Dylan, you´re awesome! Keep tearing up sports and being the bomb. 

Reese! You look gross as an old baby hahaha.

Aunt Steph! Thanks for all you do for me out here and everything. It´s a lot easier to be here with you being so awesome! And UD, too. Thanks for all that you two do. And Granny!

As for more things in a package...I could really use like two pairs of those Dr. Scholles shoe insole things. The gellin crap? They work really good but mine are all broken! So that would be sweet! And whatever else you want to send! Those pop tarts totally rocked and I´d always accept totally awesome ties! I´m also looking for Mom´s address because I think I´m going to write her a letter. I dunno if you could talk with Paula and find that for me? That would totally rule!

As for questions:

I love how you heart attacked Miguel and Isamary. Did they like it?

Ummm...I don´t know. They told us they´d call us when they had more time to listen to us. So who knows!

How old is Carolina?

Caro is 20!

How close are you from the mission home?

About an hour by bus and metro!

What is the weather like?

It´s hot...Like the sun is super strong and it´s just pretty hot! Sometimes it gets humid and other times dry.

What is your favorite food there so far?

My favorite food are the hamburgers here! They do them different but they´re way good! Also the campechanas!

Is there a place to buy American food there?

There´s a place called Waldo´s that kind of sell American food, but not really. Like they have some Mountain Dews and stuff like that sometimes!

I love you all so much! Thanks for all you do!

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

April 16, 2012

April 16, 2012

Hey! 

Sounds and looks like CA was awesome! And soccer and life! Loved the pictures. You guys are awesome!! I hope everything goes over well with Jaime and his family. That sucks for real! But I`m really glad to hear life is awesome with all of you.

Things with me! Well, everyone was sad when I told them I were leaving. They all told me that I am a part of the ward and that I can`t leave and all kinds of stuff. So we get home on Monday night after having a family home evening with the Nunez family because they wanted to say bye and have one last party, you know. So Elder Cisneros and I get home and Elder Hemsley tells us our changes. Guess where I am? IN SOLIDARIDAD STILL! It was so funny. I didn`t even believe him at first. Elder Cisneros went to Saltillo as a district leader for his last change and I`m here as a senior companion now! I was all packed and everything ready to go, but I`m happy to stay here. I love the area, the ward, and everything. So here I am! I got my new companion, Elder Sessions, whose from Idaho. He has  months in the mission! He`s a good guy. His Spanish is, well, progressing. I think he was a little bit more sheltered as a kid, but he`s a good guy. We get along pretty well and I think it`ll be a good change. Everyone in the ward asked me what I was still doing here and all kinds of stuff. The bishop told me he`s going to give me a calling and that I should start looking for a job here because I`m never going to leave.

So everything is good here on my end! This change should be a good one. I was a little bit worried about my Spanish because, well, my new comp knows less than I do in Spanish, but so far we haven`t had any problems so I think my Spanish is okay! 

Hey! So Mother`s day is coming up here pretty soon and it`s when I can Skype you all again! It`s on May 10th, right? I`ll get you some more details when the date gets closer, but just to keep that in mind!

Carolina bore her testimony last Sunday and gave the opening prayer in sacrament meeting. I literally have no doubt about her. She`s so awesome and will be a member forever. She`s getting everything in  order so she can leave on a mission in less than a year from now and she`s going to be a flippin awesome missionary. I`m totally stoked for her!

As for birthdays and stuff, there were kind of a lot, right? But most importantly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT STEPH! I love you soooo much! Seriously, you are the flippin` bomb. You totally rock and I`m so grateful for all you do for me and have done. Seriously, you freakin` rock.

But Fianna`s and Taylor`s birthdays also passed so happy birthday to them, too! And to Granny, Carrie, and Michelle! You`re all awesome!

As for your questions:

Where is you companion from? Salmon, Idaho!

How long has he been out? Six Months!

How many missionaries are in your mission? I think there`s like 160 or something like that?

Sisters? I think there`s like twelve sisters!

Thanks for all that you do. I`m seriously so grateful for all of you! I couldn`t be here without you. Rock your schools Austen, Savy, and Dylan!

Also, if you could send me like a USB memory thing...what are they called...a flash drive or thumb drive that would be sweet! Because then I can back up my pictures and send you the cards! I have one that`s full right now and I`ll be starting on another this week. That would rule! Like 16gigs or something. You`re awesome!

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

Me, Dani, and Liz making brownies! They`re investigators and Dani is exactly like Kyle Syndergaard from BYUI. I`d totally be friends with him outside the mish.

Me and the Benitez family and the Silva family, who totally rule!

Me and Bryan, Juanito, and Valeria! I`d be friends with them, too outside the mish. We spent what we thought was my last p-day  with them.

We`ve been passing by a house of Miguel and Isamary who want to get baptized but they`ve had some family problems this week and we`ve never been able to find them at their house so I decided to heart attack their door with sticky notes that I have in the shape of hearts. They all say stuff like WE MISS YOU or WE LOVE YOU and stuff like that.