February 5, 2013

February 5, 2013

Heya Fam,

Thanks for the emails and the updates from this week. Sounds like things are going well. Austen, you're flippin hilarious. Savy, you sound like you're totally growing up! Dylan, you're just the bomb, dude. Reese, well, you didn't write me this week, but I love you :D

I could not believe that someone would have this on their vehicle here, so I took a picture.

I'm glad you like the pictures I send. This week was pretty good. We have an investigator named Samantha who looks like she'll be getting baptized this Sunday! I found her sister on the list who is a less active and that's how we found Samantha. Three weeks ago they both came with us, but haven't been able to make it again, but we hope for the best with them and I really want them to be able to stay in the church. She's 18 and her sister is 17 so they could use the direction. And Gema is now in Alma in The Book of Mormon. So crazy, but she still hasn't gotten permission to come with us to church. We'll keep working there and I'll tell you what happens. 

As for other news, well we had changes and my new comp is Elder Estrada from Nicaragua! He's a good guy. He's a convert of three years and lives with his cousins at home because his dad died and his mom left them. He's a good missionary. He's got three months in the mission and tells me that his last comp treated him like crap. It'll be a good change. He's a good missionary and knows why he's here, so I'm happy. This change will be seven weeks (they're usually six) because of all the changes in the MTC so yeah. Different. 

My new comp.

 An outhouse (I knew you'd appreciate this Aunt Steph)

A street corner that reminded me of Tron

I honestly can't think of anything interesting to tell you that's happened this week. My comp is just getting to know all the members and everything. I think he'll be here for six months, too. 

Anyway, I'll answer your questions:

2- What were some of the members talents?

The members...Well one played the flute, a lot of them sang songs, some kids danced, someone who's not a member played the violin, some Christian lady told like a refective story? I don't really know how to describe that in English. My comp drew four different people in like ten minutes and it was really funny. An old guy got mad because my comp drew him a little older than he looks. That was about it. One person told jokes. It turned out to be the best activity we've had so far. This week we had the Karaoke Night and it was okay. There were about 45 people there. Few less actives. Fewer non members. This week will be sports night with music and ELOTES!

3- What did it smell like inside the bear suit?

It smelt like nothing and a faint smell of...sweat.

4- Do you like living with members? Who are they and what is their situation?

Living with the members is good. They're an old couple and are going to move to the US sometime this year, like in the Summer where their kids live. They're really nice and I think that we help them out more by living with them than they help us. It's good for them because we make them go to church every Sunday and answer their gospel questions and stuff. And sometimes they buy us food to cook, which I do a lot of cooking by the way. Only for breakfast. Their names are Demetrio and Isabel Wislar. Demetrio is a total cowboy and totally funny. He always gave my last companion crap fro eating all of their food and being too loud and sleeping all the time. 

5- Why are you the cutest boy ever??

6- Does the family you live with cook for you?

Everyday we eat with members from the branch and like once a monthish we eat with them and so they cook for us then, but apart from that it's very rare, but they do buy us like potatoes, oranges, bananas, and stuff like that every once and a while.

With mission leadership, I haven't said anything about it because there's nothing to tell haha. I told you that I got made a Senior companion at six months and I have been a Senior Companion ever since. I trained like three changes ago and I get all the missionaries that just finish their training pretty much. President tells me that I'm an irreplaceable missionary, but I don't think he wants to make me some type of leader because it's been a long time since I've baptized anyone. Being a leader isn't important to me. I just try to do the best that I can wherever President want to put me. I'm happy and content and I really am working hard. I actually don't think I've ever worked so hard in my entire life. Although I obviously really would love to have one of my investigators be baptized soon, I know that everyone makes their own decisions on whether or not they want to make the convenants with God that they need to make to be saved. I couldn't tell you why it's been six months since I've had a baptism, I've spent a long time thinking, evaluating, and working my butt off, but I feel like I've come to learn a lot about accepting the will of the Lord in my life. Maybe I want to find a family every single week and have them all get baptized and have the branch completely change here and have all these people really live the gospel in their lives, I know that God knows what he's doing and has His plan. I'm just here to help make that happen and it's my job to always be ready to do anything He needs. I'm always trying hard to listen to the Spirit for whatever impression that I am told, just trying to be an instrument in His hands everyday.

I think that in these last six months that I have not had a baptism, I have learned more than in my entire mission. A lot about staying positive, a lot about diligence, a lot about having the Spirit, and a lot about submitting myself to the will of the Lord, whatever that may be.

So yeah. That's basically all I have for this week. Hope your birthday ruled, UD. Miss all of you tons! Thanks for everything you all do for me. If it weren't for you guys, I do not think I would be here. The mission is good. Say hi to Car for me. Tell Nick to shave. 

HEART YOU

Elder Wheeler

January 28, 2012

January 28, 2013

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,

Happy Birthday UD!!!!! You're the man! I am happy that you were born. I hope it was a totally awesome day!

As for things with me, everything is great. Tomorrow we have changes, so I'll let you know what happens with that. This week we had some good lessons and then no one came to church, so yeah. We'll see about them next week. 

On Friday night we took a bus to Monterrey at about 7:30pm and got there at around 1am for the sealing of the Rangel Gonzalez Family. The missionaries there told Elder Vidal, my trainer and the one who went with me to the sealing because we baptized that family together, that it was going to be at 6am in the temple. So we get up super early and get to the temple by 6 and there's no one there. Just the temple workers. So we wait around for a while and then at around 7:30 I told him I don't think that they had the hour right. So he makes some calls and it turns out it's at 6pm. So we got there ridiculously early. So the family and the bishop came to the temple to buy some stuff and then we went back there and ate and visited less active members. It was pretty cool because we visited people who loved us when we were there and went to church all the time and they all cried seeing us and felt bad for not going to church and all said they'd go the next day. So that was good. Then we went to the sealing at night time and it was totally awesome! They were so excited and so happy. Totally crying, just a cool experience. We were the witnesses for the sealing and it was awesome being there with them. I know that they'll be strong in the church forever. You can just tell.

 The Rangel Gonzalez Family! Woo!

All of the ward that went with the family to the temple!

So then we take the 11pm bus back here, get here at about 4am and sleep for a little while and then we went to church. My comp talked in church because he told lots of people he was leaving and today we're going to go and play ultimate frisbee with the other missionaries. 

My comp, our ward mission leader, a green monkey, and me. It was his Birthday so we took a birthday picture. He's a good guy.

So that's pretty much been my week! We had a branch talent night on Tuesday and it turned out really well. there were about 80 people there and all of them loved it. Lost of people participated, like around 16 different groups, I think. Then we printed out all the pictures and put them in the hallway in the church and everyone loves them. 

Me in a bear suit for the talent night!

It's been a good week. That sucks about Granny's house. Hopefully you guys can fix it all. Did you get Aust a car yet? You have to send me pictures of that guy driving. Also, sounds like Carly is in Ukriane now. That should be a good experience. She will never get any of my letters for the next however many months months so be sure and say hi to her for me. 

I am pretty sure that's all that I have to tell. My life is great. Thanks for being the best family on the planet. Literally, no one has a cooler family.

I LOVE YOU.

Elder Wheeler

January 21, 2013

January 21, 2013

Hey-oh!

Dylan, you are the man! Savy, that's completely crazy that you'll be 14 in two months! Austen, don't drive like they do on Tokyo Drift. Only I can because I'm Asian. I hope Addie had a totally awesome brithday! The pictures of Taylor are always funny. Reese is totally hilarious. Also, that's awesome about Kelsi's mission call! How cool! She's going to do awesome. Tell her congratulations for me! And also let me know about an address that's constant so that I can see about getting her a letter or two before I come home.

So, the temple this week, well, we didn't go but it's because the Rangel Gonzalez's bishop got sick and couldn't do their interview but now they've been interviewed and the date is ofically set for this Saturday! And I get to be one of the witnesses for the sealing! I felt totally good to hear that they wanted me to be one. I will let you know more on that next week. I couldn't do it without you!

REALLY???

This week was pretty good. We had zone conference and other stuff. President told me he's proud of everything that I'm doing, so that makes me feel good. This week we had...76 people in church!! Woooo! And one investigator whose name is Samantha. She's 18 and her sister is a less active and went with her. Her sister is 17 and I'm pretty sure she's going to keep coming. Samantha said she isn't ready to be baptized and needs to keep coming to be sure so we're going to work with her and help her get an answer from God. Because if He says so, you know it's true.

We also had the Branch Family Home Evening last Tuesday which turned out well. We spent a lot of time going to all the people's houses to invite them to participate so that in the end it would be their activity and they all loved it. We had 60 people there, 9 less actives, and 4 non members! And then I wrote thank you cards to everyone who participated. I feel like the branch is starting to get the idea that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a lifestyle and not just the building we go to on Sundays. This week we have a Talent Night and there are 20 people who have signed up to present talents. I'll fill you in on that next week.

We have some other people who we are working with and will let you know about them as they progress. I have almost been here 3 months, and things are going a lot better. I feel a lot better about the work here and the members and everything. I can see a difference in the people and I know that the Lord has softened their hearts. Good things will happen here. Changes are next Tuesday (29 of Janurary) so I'll let you know what happens there. I would guess that I will stay here and that my comp will be leaving. We'll see.

Basically, life is pretty good with me. Miss home a lot but I'm sure I'll be there faster than it seems. I'm really happy to be here. Last night I was thinking about how maybe I've been a missionary so that Heavenly Father could change me into what he needs me to be to really have a good life, help others, and recieve the blessings promised in my Patriachal Blessing. I have helped people here and really worked hard thus far. I've learned a lot about responsability and seeing the bigger picture of everything. Obviously I'm still me, but it's just been kind of cool and a huge belssing to see that. Everyone should go on missions. I'm glad I'm here and that I have time left to try and do everything I can for these people.

Thanks for everything you do for me, fam. Your support is great. I love you tons. Also, I'm grateful that I have good friends. They might be very few, but they're the best people I've met in my youth.

I'm a goofy goober!

Elder Wheeler

A statue horse guy. Anytime we see any type of historical person I always tell my comp that it's Poncho Via and he doesn't like that but it's hilarious so who cares.

January 14, 2013

January 14, 2013

Hey Familia!

So the pictures you sent me were totally awesome. Thanks for that. I miss you all tons! Things here with me are going well. I am happy and we're working and just making the best of the time I have here.  Hopefully everyone is feeling better, too. I feel like a lot of times I don't say thank you to people who write me or respond to everything you send me in the emails, but thanks for everything to everyone. 

This week was probably the best week I've had in this area so far. I feel like we're seeing the branch get more excited and really care about those who are not coming. We had 71 people in church this Sunday and when I got here there were about 45. So it is getting better :D

Except that all of the people we were teaching did not come to church, or they moved away. But no worries there. Tomorrow we have a giant Family Home Evening and it seems like everyone is excited. The whole program is by the members. We went around assigning everyone things and it should be good. I'll let you know and send photos. Next Tuesday is the Talent night and the girl who we put in charge of it (Karla - 30 - Young Single Adult - 6 feet tall) said she'd do the agenda but didn't want to direct the talent night or anything but this Sunday she was going around asking everyone for talentes and being totally funny and she said she'll direct it and everything. It was just awesome to see that little change in her and how she got excited to put something together for the branch and I think it's what is happening to a lot of the branch. I acutally fasted last Sunday asking specifically for a change of heart in the members here and I know that the Lord heard that and is helping these people. It feels good.

A bulletin board we put photos of the Christmas Party on since there was nothing on it. They loved it!

Thanks for everything you do. You're going to like the pictures I have to send. My comp and I decided that our half of Sabinas looks like a zombie invasion hit it. It's just missing the zombies, even though there are quite a few people who could pass for being zombies for all I know.

 Flooding

Questions:

How is Gema?

I am afraid she might not progress because her going to church fully depends on her parents and we'e been teaching her for a month and she has not been able to attend. Also, I can see that her excitement of learning all the stuff we have to teach is dying off a little. Hopefully I will end up being wrong, but we'll see.

In your area is it just you, your comp and 2 sisters?

We're in Sabinas, which is a town of like 60,000 I think. It's divided in half and one half is Sabinas 1, which are the sisters, and the other half is Sabinas 2, which is us. The two branches meet in different chapels and the sisters are never in our area unless we invite them but we go in their area a lot because ours is the ghetto half and all the stores are in their half. Sometimes we get together too like two weeks ago we had a family home evening together with a recent convert of theirs who lives in their area and his parents who aren't members, who live in our area. We pass a lot of references back and forth and also there are a lot of people who don't like our branch, so they go to theirs. Also, our branch president, relief societey president, and our young women's president live in the boundries of their branch, but there aren't enough people who can hold those callings in our branch so they took them from their area. I hope that makes sense.  

3. So did your comp understand or hear anything we were saying to him when we were saying goodbye on Skype?

Hahaha he asked me after what you were all saying. It's because when a lot of people talk at once I don't think he can understand them that well. So I told him.

Thanks for eveything! Love you all tons.

Elder Wheels

January 7, 2013

January 7, 2013

Hey-oh!

How's it going, fam? I forgot to mention this in my last letter. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAULA! You're the bomb and I hope you made your birthday obey you. You're totally old :D Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week to ADDIE AND JETT!! I love you both!

 We basically did the same thing for New Year's Eve. The Sister missionaries came over and we ate tamales and here people have no respect for their own personal safetey with fireworks.

 4 dogs in the street

Things with me this week were pretty good. We have four investigators, so that's good. It's the most we've had in my whole time here. Ask me how many are references from the branch? None. But that's okay. This week I made a survey on how we're doing in living the gospel of Jesus Christ with questions like ¨When I pray, I ask for charity¨ or ¨I actively search for opportunities to help less actives come back to church¨ and stuff like that and we passed it out in Sunday School so hopefully it will help the members see how they can improve with the New Year and everything. Also, we put together 7 activities and planned them all in these next two months ranging from a giant branch family night to a karaoke night so hopefully all of those will go well. I'll let you know. The first one isn't till the 15th.

Also, Nick, this Sunday the guy who gave Priesthood class was wearing a jacket. What type of jacket? A MASTER'S JACKET. I started laughing and remember the midget guy from Rumbi's. 

Anyway, so yeah, not a bad week. I'm happy. Yesterday was Dia de Magos Reyes (Wise men day) and they had a giant rosca de reyes in the plaza (It's like a bread/cake that really isn't even good). So that was exciting. 

 Us and a 57 Express guy (A guy in our branch runs those stores, they're like gas stations and it's his son in the suit. Totally hilarious. He was giving out candy and all the kids swamped all over him and robbed all the candy, kind of like the episode of Spongebob when he first gets a job at the Krusty Krab).

Honestly there's not much more to tell. We painted this week again. 

There were more people at church. I sent a list of suggestions to the mission president about what this branch needs from above (the district and the mission). I ate chinese food again this week. It's getting coldish. But I don't need anything for the cold because I'm sure by the time it gets here it will no longer be cold. 

Oh! The Rangel Gonzalez family (Another one of my converts from when I started my mission) are going to get sealed on the 19th! 

I think that's all the new stuff I have to tell. Hope you guys have a good week and stuff. TALK TO YOU NEXT MONDAY. YOU'RE THE BOMB.

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

December 31, 2012

December 31, 2012

Hey Fam!

I'm glad you were all able to be there for the Christmas call. The mustaches were totally hilarious. You guys are the bomb. Thanks for all you do. It definitely makes the hard times in the mission a little easier. 

This week was a little slower for work, but we have one investigator named Gema who is progressing pretty well. I don't remeber if I told you about her, but she called us over when we were in the plaza one day and asked us for a Book of Mormon. I actually do think I told you. It seems familiar as I type it. Anyway, she knows she needs to be baptized and everything and she's reading the Book of Mormon. She has a lot of questions, but they're good ones. She says she just wants to feel sure about it all. I'll let you know what happens.

Us celebrating Chirstmas Eve!

As for other stuff, well, there honestly isn't too much more to tell. Other than it was really great seeing you all and everything. I am very excited for July. Defiinitely miss home a lot, especially when you have a...different companion and a challenging branch. But I know that in the long run, it's all just good experience. I was telling president that sometimes I feel like Nephi when he is commanded to build a boat and has no tools, so he makes the best tools he can and tries to do his best, but that his brothers do nothing to help him. That's about where I'm at, I feel like, but I know that the future is always bright.

Me and Elder Mikkelsen on divisions (My comp from the MTC)

I love you tons, family. Thanks for everything and I hope you have a totally awesome New Year's Eve! 

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

December 24, 2012

December 24, 2012

Heya Family!

Merry Christmas! I hope everything is going awesome with all of you. I am definitely missing not spending Christmas with you, but that`s okay. Next year :D

Here, Christmas Eve is bigger than Christmas (mainly because everyone just drinks and then wake up hungover on Christmas) so tonight we are going to have a dinner with the members we live with and with the Sister Missionaries who have the other half of our town. I`ll let you know how it is. I`m sure it`ll be great. Not like home, but good either way.

This week was pretty good. Not too much to report. We found some people who really are interested. One named Gema who wants to read all of The Book of Mormon. We were walking through the plaza and she called us over and asked us for a book. She goes to the Catholic Church every Sunday, but she really wants to learn about the church and find out if the book is true or not. We also have Pablo who is a drug dealer, but wants to change and leave that whole scene. He had a baptismal date and everything, but then on Friday he told us he wasn`t going to go to church because he doesn`t feel ready. Also will keep you posted. And there`s Sofia who is 11. She`s a cousin of one of the Young Women and we`re going to see her on Christmas, but she came to church and to two of the activities we had this week and liked them. So that`s good news.

I definitely feel like we`re seeing progress with the branch. I feel like their attitude is changing little by little and hopefully we`ll be able to get them excited about getting all of the less actives back to church. 

We do a lot of service here, so that makes me feel good. Us painting a sister`s house (After putting up the lights we asked if there was anything else that we could do for them and then the hermana who was inside painting yells ¨Mom! Come Quick!!!¨ So we go in and she spilled the paint everywhere. So we helped them clean up and finish painting)

Yesterday we helped a sister put up her Christmas lights (yes, on the 23rd of December) and she was like ¨I was afraid there wouldn`t be lights this year¨ and I said ¨It`s a Christmas Miracle!!!!¨ And it made me think of you, Aunt Steph, and I laughed because no one else thought it was funny. Actually basically nobody here thinks I`m funny. But that`s okay because I know I`m funny :D

Anyway, that`s about all of the new stuff I have to tell. We had changes and me and my comp stayed here. Everything the same. We think with the new year coming people will be more motivated to help out all the people who are not going.

Everything is good with me. Hope you have a totally awesome Christmas! Seduce it. Own it. Make it yours.

Oh, also the call might be at like 7pm my time because I have a feeling my comp is going to want to talk first. It`s his first Christmas away from home. I`m his second comp. I`ll give him a break.

Much love,

Elder Wheeler