April 12, 2013

April 15, 2013

Heyyyyyyy!!!!!!

How's it going, family? Hope everything is great. Things with me are going very well. Super busy but really great. General Conference was good. I got to see a bunch of people from the Colinas Ward, because my church building is the Stake Center so they all came and it was really great to see them. It gave me a taste of what August will be like. It was cool, though, because I also got to see a few people that we baptized or helped baptize. It was just a good experience being able to see them at their first General Conference all excited and happy. I got some good stuff out of the conference. I started making questions and looking for answers in the talks and stuff and it helps me to pay more attention and really listen to everything they say, and I always find answers to all of my questions. So it was a good experience for me. 

This week I've gotten a lot of stuff together for Zone Conferences, sent stuff with President to the conferences (like all the materials that missionaires ever need, including cards and packages, too), I ordered some cell phones and new SIM cards for all the new areas we're going to be opening soon as well as all the furniture for their houses. I'm going to order office supplies tomorrow...I feel like this is big list of uninteresting things, but I do like doing all of it. I like the change and all that.

This week a spider bit me on my forehead and everyone feels the need to talk about it and all of a sudden become doctors and tell me exactly what it is and what I should put on it. Obviously I took none of their advice and it's healing just fine. 

Also, we live with the assistants and two other secretaries, so one night Elder Avery and I took a mattress (we have tons of mattresses because all of the new missionaries and leaving missionaries, or anytime missionaires gather in Monterrey and have to stay overnight, they ALL sleep at our house. So there's like 30 mattresses there) and we wedged it directly in front of their door while they were sleeping. It was ridiculously packed in there. Then we did the same thing with 10 more and completely closed them off. In the morning they could not get out at all. They'd run and hit the mattresses but because of how tightly packed in they were, they almost didn't even budge. It was completely sound proof and they called me so I tried to convince them that they were still dreaming. Didn't work. But it was soo funny. They finally had to just pull them into their room, but were under the impression that it was only one or two mattresses. Basically it took them about a half hour to get out and I attatched a picture.

Basically, you just have to find things to enjoy when you're so busy all the time.

I think that's about it for new stuff this week. A very large number of my investigators from Sanbinas are apparently progressing really well and two have been baptized and confirmed, so that's good to know that what I did there had some effect on people's lives and that I may have had a good impact. It's not always the easiest thing not seeing fruits for all of your labors. That's pretty much the story of the second half of my mission, but that's how life is. We're not going to see the whole picture, but that doesn't matter. What matters is what we dedicate ourselves to doing here and now, and if that is what the Lord would have us do. We just need to look for opportunites to be intstruments in His hands. I hope that is what I have been able to be in my time here and hope that will be true forever.

Thanks for everything you do for me, fam. Love you guys tons and miss you tons, too!

Talk to you real soon,

Jordan

 The hammocks

Me being Mexican with Elde Rodriguez

April 5, 2013

April 5, 2013

Hey family,

Thanks so much for helping me out with all my college stuff. Basically that's my entire future in your hands, so it means a lot. That's cool that Tim is helping you. You'll have to tell him thanks for me and hello! And as for me sleeping in the hammock, that would be a large part of the reason, for bugs and other things. I definitely am not look for an experience like the centipede one again. Never again.

I am actually looking forward to playing Just Dance again with all of you. I'll always remember when UD, Ty, and all of them were dancing together. So funny. Hopefully you have that video somewhere because that is totally priceless. 

I'm also looking forward to conference. We actually just have one investigator right now. His name is Ari. We got him to come to church with us two weeks ago and he totally shows up in a suit and tie. He's 19 and I think he's progressing well. He's praying, he's reading the scriptures, and he's learning a lot more about what God wants for him and what he needs to do to be able to be happy forever. He likes to be really sure about things before he makes decisions, so he says he's still not ready to be baptized, but he says that this week he's preparing questions to look for answers in General Conference when the prophet and apostles speak. I know he'll get answers because I do the same thing every time and it seriously is the coolest. That'd be something really good for you to do too, Austen. I never wrote down personal questions and then looked for answers in what the profet and apostles said until the MTC, and I've gotten answers every time. I should have started way earlier! You too, Savy! Just if you feel like it would totally seduce you.

This week in the offices (and the weeks go by super fast for me here, by the way) we did some shopping with Sister Swapp for new houses we're opening, for all the missionaries because these next three weeks there are zone conferences so I've been getting all of the supplies ready and sending them off with the Swapp's from toilet brushes to Finding Faith in Christ DVD's, pamphlets, blankets, fans, dishes, literally anything they need. I feel like I'm in the warehouse with Mark again, but just with church stuff instead of java. Every week I go to this place and pay electricity bills for all the missionaires and we helped the senior missionaries that used to be here in the offices with us pack all their stuff up and load it into their truck. They left on Wednesday. We rearranged the furniture in the office. I called a whole bunch of areas to try and figure out where we can put two sets of missionaries where there are only one right now, made a list, and gave it to the assistants and to President so they can see where they will be sending the tons of new missionaries we'll be getting. I also set up all the stuff for conferences and just basically whatever job is not really assigned to anyone becomes my job. We made emergency maps on how to get to the offices from all the missionaries houses if they need to be called here in an emergency. I was actually telling Sister Swapp that President has his assistants and Elder Avery (the financial secretary) and I are totally her assistants because we just go with her and do stuff for her all the time. It really is cool and I like it because I feel like the things I'm doing matter. Like, if we didn't do our jobs, none of the missionaries would have light in their houses or they'd have no materials to share with the people and stuff like that. It's satisfying. So I'm happy. It's tiring sometimes because we usually are here working pretty late (usually until about 11pm durning the week and on Sundays, that can go until about 3 or 4am) but I really do like it all in all.

I'm happy to be here and just trying to help whoever I can. I'm glad that I have such good support from you guys at home and from my friends. Even though there are like three that write me (which was inevitable) it's totally cool. I'm pretty sure I couldn't be much happier. Sister Swapp sent me an email this week that meant a lot to me, too. It just said ¨I am glad you like it here because I have never been happier with the elders in the office than I have been in the last few week.  I appreciate all you do and the smile only adds to the happiness.¨

Thanks for everything. 

Much love,

Jordan

March 30, 2013

March 30, 2013

Hello,

Sorry I didn't write yesterday. Basically we take our P-day on whatever day of the week that we don't have stuff to do, so yesterday we had a Zone Leader Conference here and we had to talk about stuff there and serve the food, clean up, give all the zone leaders the stuff they wanted (cards for their zones, etc.), go to Costco with Sister Swapp to buy stuff for new houses we're opening up, translate for her in the Conference, etc. So yeah, we were busy. But today is our P-day.

My Area!

I saw the picture you sent me of Ry-guy. How crazy! I guess pretty soon that will be Taylor, too. And then me! Also weird that Alex got his mission call, just because I feel like he's younger, but that is cool about going to Peru. He'll do good.

Sounds like things are going good at home, too. That's good to hear. Everything is great with me. It's kind of crazy in the offices because we are getting a lot of new missionaries and have to open lots of areas and even split areas in half and put four missionaries in areas where there are only two right now. It's cool, but it gives me a lot things to do. I find the best deals on all the furniture, I order them online or I go and buy them, I find out what all the houses and missionaries will need for their houses (old and new), and I have to help the Zone Leaders figure out what kind of houses they need to look for for the new areas. There's basically not like a list of all the stuff I do, it's just what the President and Sister Swapp need. So it's cool. And then, as if I wasn't busy enough, this week they decided to make me a district leader in my district. So now I'll be doing that as well. There are 5 areas in my district, three of which are training new missionaires. Two of them have just white washed their areas, I'm opening mine back up, and there's a companionship of Sisters that just opened their area back up, too. And the zone leaders. So it should be an experience. Honestly, I don't know where I'm going to find the time to do all that I have to do here in the office, help the other areas out and do baptismal interviews, and work in my area, but I'm not too worried about it. I'm sure that if I just do my best, it will all work out.

 Me talking on the phone with missionaries in my district in the offices

Sister Swapp and I doing an example and me translating

So that's been me this week. Yesterday on my way to costco with Sister Swapp and Elder Avery (the financial secretary) we totally got stopped in the road by a huge line of people who were reinacting the crucifiction of Jesus in the street, since it's ''Semana Santa.'' We literally were there for like a full 15 minutes. It was completely ridiculous. They were like pretending to whip a guy dresses as Jesus carrying a cross. Not cool.

 Serving breakfast :D

M bed (hammock :D I literally sleep in it every night.)

I'm glad I'm here for now. I feel like I'm doing some good things and that some people may be benefiting from the little things that I do for them. I sure hope so. Hopefully you got in touch with Sister Cottrell, and if not, either way, the packages come straight to me here. Oh, and I got the Valentine's Day package! A zone leader from my last zone brought it to me at the conference. All of that stuff is totally ridiculous and hilarious. I put the wallflower in the office and it always smells good, now. Yesterday I was like ''Hey president, does it smell like a carribien escape in here?'' since that's what the sent is called. The Justin Bieber card rocks. I always open it and start dancing. I want to find out how to remove the little tab that turns the song on and connet it to like one of president's desk drawers or something. Probably won't in the end, but just a funny idea. The soap on a rope...So funny. Thanks for sending the package. MY FAMILY IS THE BEST.

Hope you're all doing well. I always remember all of you in my prayers. Thanks for everything.

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

March 22, 2013

March 22, 2013

Hello!

How are things going? The offices are very cool. This week we recieved 21 missionaries, and then two yesterday. There has been a ton going on around here and it's actually a lot of work, but I like it a lot. It's cool seeing the mission from a different aspect and trying to help all the areas. 

 One of our office meetings

 All of us in the office (some just got changed out so now we're only 6 missionaries here)

A pair of glasses I made out of a broken cell phone

And I did notice about the email thing. I was opening a package of stuff for the mission like a week and a half ago and I pulled out that memo. And then all of a sudden I had 17 unread emails. So, yeah. But it's cool, though. Now I won't be as dead to the whole world as I once was. 

 A possum that we found outside the office building

It sounds like everything is awesome at home. That's good. That's awesome about the soccer team, cheer, and the Tri For The Cure Race. You've got to let me know how it all goes! The bike portion. I officially hate bikes after being here, just for the record.

I honestly think that is about all I have to tell from this week. Everything is great with me. I'm honestly very happy. I feel good about what I do. I'm glad I'm here for now. I'm greatful for all your help from you and UD, Granny, and Aust, Savy, Dylan, Reese, and everyone else. I'm pretty sure my family is the freaking bomb.

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

March 15, 2013

March 15, 2013

Heyyyyyyy,

Disneyland! Flippin sweet! Thanks for sending those pics. Reese is hilarious. Miss you all tons! 

This week has been really good. I feel like it went by really fast. We have a lot of stuff to do here because we have changes next week and there shold be 21 missionaries getting here on Tuesday and on Wednesday there should be like 8 going home. So it's been busy, but really good. I like it a lot. Our ward is also awesome. They were so happy to see us and to have missionaries again in their ward. It's the ward of the mission president, too and there are also like 5 people who are from the States in our ward. It's like completely the opposite of Sabinas. 

Me, Carolina, and Elder Cisneros at the temple! (We were able to go because I'm like 25 minutes from the temple. It was so awesome. She loved it and is totally excited to go on her mission!)

I'll for sure let you know about the package. Right now there aren't missionaries there so we'll have to see if they reopen that area on Tuesday. There are a bunch of closed areas but this change they're going to open five of them. 

What else...I ordered mattresses this week, pass a whole bunch of references (like 70), organized a whole bunch of stuff, ordered a ton of materials, helped pay the light bills for the missionaries houses, made book where the new missionaries can keep picutres of their converts, and just stuff like that. That's about what my job consists of. I like it a lot. Everyone is always calling me for materials or references. I guess they call those referrals in the states. Either way. 

ME engraving numbers into the new cell phones

That's honestly about all I have to tell! My district leader from the MTC is here as the new assistant to the president, too. He just got here yesterday so that's been fun.

Everything is great with me. Send me more pictures and everything and I want to go on Space Mountain.

YOU'RE THE BOMB :D

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

March 8, 2013

March 8, 2013

Hello Family!

How's it going? I realize that today is Friday, but it is also my P-Day. This week on Tuesday the President called me and told us that we were being changed. I am now the Materials Secratery in the Mission offices! Woo!!!! So that's exciting! I got here about two days ago and our P-Days will be on Fridays. So now I will be writing on Fridays. But I'm totally excited. I've actually always wanted to be Materials Secratery so I'm very happy. Changes in the mission aren't until March 19, so they changes us early, and my old area will be closed for two weeks. It was a good area and I learned so much there. I hope and pray for their progress, but I am also very happy to be here. My area is called Sierra Madre, and it is the biggest area in the mission. It has been closed for a little while, so I will be opening that, too. It is also the richest part of all of Central and South America. My Bishop is from the United States. It should be awesome. My companion is still the same, Elder Estrada. He's going to be the Records Secratery here in the offices and will be opening the area with me, too. 

So that's whats new with me! I'm very happy.  Also, packages...I AM THE PERSON WHO RECIEVES ALL THE PACKAGES FOR THE WHOLE MISSION :D So if you send me a package (and hopefully you can send me lots of delicious food and snacks!) I will recieve them quickly.

Austen, I got your email you sent me by the way. Thanks for sending that. I just want you to know that you are the man. I know that life is not easy. I haven't been through the worst stuff but I have seen my fair share of crap but the most important thing is that we, often times, don't have much control over what happens to us. The thing that we do have complete control over is what we decide to do. There are those who are acted upon, and there are those who act. We have to be the ones who choose the good, who choose to do the right thing, and who choose to follow Jesus Christ. It's not always easy, actually, it's almost garunteed to be harder, but it's always worth it. Look at our Savior. He never, not even once, did anything bad. He never had a single bad thought or committed a single sin. He served and loved everyone and yet people spit on Him, beat Him, made fun of Him, made Him suffer, and eventually murdered Him. He didn't deserve it, and He didn't ask for it, but He chose what He was going to do. That's something that's very important to me and something I try to remember when I am faced with hard times or with decisions to make. When someone offends me, when something that totally sucks happens to me, or anything like that, that is when God trusts in us enough that we use our agency to choose to do the right thing. And after that decision, however hard it may be, is when he blesses us. I know that's true. So keep doing what you're doing. You know what is right. You have God on your side if you choose to. You're the freaking man.

But that's about all I have to tell. I mean, it's only been a few days. Thanks for being the best family that's ever lived. I love each of you tons. I got a letter from Brother Gygi, Deana, and Jake that were awesome. Thanks so much for writing and I liked what you all said. I hope things are going well for each of you.

Love and miss you all tons! Next week I'll send pictures. 

Elder Wheeler

March 4, 2013

March 4, 2013

Hey Fam,

Thanks for writing! Sounds like things are going well at home. 

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAVANNAH! I got the package from all of you with the drink coasters from Outback (which were totally hilarious btw) and all of that stuff (thanks for sending that) and saw the Christmas card from all of you. And Savannah is totally not a kid anymore! SO WEIRD! But happy birthday, I hope you have the best birthday ever and I miss you and I love you tons. YOU ROCKKKKKKKK :D

This week was pretty good. I actually have gotten kind of sick again, but I think it's just the flu. It's made it a little bit harder to do all the things we want to do, but either way we're still doing what we can. Hopefully it'll be gone soon. 

Also, we started teaching classes this week to the members to help them be more prepared to share the gospel with people they meet, answer questions, find oportunities to share stuff, etc. And three people went. But either way, I think they're good. The three that went liked it so hopefully next week we will have more people.

 We cleaned the backyard of some members that are coming back again!

We painted a house of some members and a non member!

I love you all tons. You're awesome. I miss you tons, too. 

That's honestly all I have pretty much of things that have happened to me this week.

Talk to you soon,

Elder Wheeler