December 17, 2012

December 17, 2012

Ey!

Thanks for writing, fam. Sounds like things are going good. How was Dylan`s orchestra concert? And wish Granny Donna a happy brithday for me, too! Love her.

So this week, I feel like I have a lot to tell. It was a really good week. We had some members in the English classes so that was good, but the people who commited to come to church did not go. But what can you do. 

Friday night my comp and I went to Monterrey (thanks so much for sending the cuernos de rana UD). We left at about 8pm and got to Monterrey at around 1:30am. Then on Saturday we went to the temple. It was by far the best experience of my entire mission. We didn`t get to go in the session with them, but we waited for them in the Celestial room (the temple was totally packed, and I got to see Elder Hemsley there so that was awesome. He goes home tomorrow!). When they came in, they were totally happy to see us because they weren`t sure if we were going to be able to make it. There were a lot of members from their ward there, too. 

They totally have made good friendships and have such good support there. When they came in, I felt so happy and so proud of them. I feel like that`s how our Heavenly Father will feel when we go back to Him. He`ll feel so proud of all the sacrifices and everything we had to do to get there, but how it was all worth it in the end. 

When they were sealed, you could see just how happy they were. I remember when Claudia came in (the oldest daughter) she seemed a little nervous at first, but then tears started rolling down her cheeks. I started to cry too just because I felt so happy for them! I honestly don`t think I can fully explain how I felt but it was the best experience of my entire mission. It`s so special to me and just so awesome. I love that family and my comp and I had to talk on Sunday (our bus left at 12am and we got home at 4:30am by the way) and I shared a little bit of that experience and I totally started to cry. It honestly is something I`ll remember forever and an exerience very sacred to me. I`m just seriously so proud of them!

Love this picture.

Us and the Nuñez family!

As for other things, Dani, the Asian in the chinese food place barely speaks Spanish. We went this week, too and right as we come in he comes running up and hugs me and says ¨Chiva!¨ (that`s what he calls me) and he did not say hi to my comp and he got upset. It`s an Asian thing.

That`s basically the highlights of this week, I think. Oh, we had a movie night in the church this week, too and it went really well! We had popcorn and drinks and everything. Projected the movie 17 Miracles, but the Elder that lent me the disc only had half the movie copied onto it. So I felt like an idiot and i knew I should have checked it beforehand, but oh well. We told everyone we`d watch the other half in the next movie night haha. Only like 4 families showed up anyway who are active members and did not bring anyone new, but that`s okay, too. Next time.

Oh, also, on the bus rides that cross state borders, like the one we made to Monterrey and back, there are soldiers from the army who get on and check people`s ID`s and everything to make sure people aren`t traveling illegally and stuff, but Goobert told me a story about how he and his comp got deported to Tamaulipas and had to get his original visa from te border and a whole ordeal. He got deported twice. So It`s a really good thing that I do not look American because they didn`t even check my ID. If they had, I am pretty sure they would have taken us off the bus and sent us back and we would have missed the sealing. So anyway, I know the Lord looks out for us, even with the little things.

As for Christmas I`m excited to talk to you all!

And sounds like Brother Gygi`s talk was awesome. For all the crap I give Taylor, he`s a good guy and I`m really glad, how things worked out, that we are friends and that we are where we are. 

Thanks for everything, family. Love you all tons.

Elder Wheeler

December 12, 2012

December 12, 2012

Hey fam!

How`s it going? That`s awesome that Nick is back. Glad you guys have been able to hang out with him! You know I`d be right there with you all if I could! Soon enough :D 

Everything with me is going really well! It was a pretty good week. I`m definitely learning a ton here, especially about how to react when you do not see the results you are hoping for! But it is great here. Church attendence is going down (there was about 40 people there this week), unity within the branch is kind of low as well, we had zero people for English class on Friday, and we found no new investigators this week since we depend 100% on the branch for investigators.

But that`s not important! I think it`s important to focus on the good things, especially in a case like this. Good things: we have a lot more people who said they`d go to English class this week (Less actives, non members, etc.), we have a movie night this week on Thursday and we`re going to see ¨17 Miracles¨ and we are going to have popcorn and everything (obviously the best part) and we made invitations and have been giving those out. Hopefully we`ll have good success and that there will be lots of non members there as well as members. Also, my comp and I get along well so it`s gravy. We made a big list of things that we need to help the branch do becasue we`ll never have investigators unless the people change their attitudes and from of thinking. And we`ll most likely have another whole change here together to have lots of success.

El Banquetazo! A huge market in the street they put once a year.

 Me and an asian boy named Danni

As well, it is getting cold, so that`s good news, too. And the Nuñez Family is getting sealed this weekend! So I`m super excited for that. I`ll let you know how it goes! 

Oh, I almost forgot. This week we also went to a Middle School for a service project and they were learning about diversity, so we went and shared about our contries and states (seeing that none of us are from here) and they just asked us questions and we talked about how it`s different and stuff. It was actually really fun and a good change from what we do every single day. 

Us and all the middle schoolers!

Our zone and all of our homes.

Thanks for everything.

Excited to talk on Christmas.

That`s me.

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

December 3, 2012

December 3, 2012

Hey oh!

Nick!!!!! I love that kid. How cool that he´s back! Miss him like crazy. Definitely say hi to him for me. The picture of all you guys totally rocks!

Glad everything went well at Tyson´s. Dylan, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAN! YOU ARE THE BOMBBBBBBBBBB. I hope your birthday totally rocks. Cannot believe you´re turning ten. What the heck, man?

This week was a little rough in the terms of work, but it was a good week. We found ZERO new investigators! Woooo!!!!!!!! But we´re seeing lots of progress in the branch. They are really coming together and I think that all we need is a family to baptize so that they can all come together to work and help them. It´s a good branch.

We had a family night planned on Friday and the Martinez family, who are members, had about two or three families invited that said they´d come. We get there on Friday and only the Martinez family is there! I´m like Oh geeze. The other families couldn´t come because they were sick or other stuff, but we decided to have the Family night anyway. 

I shared a message about being grateful to our Heavenly Father from the Ensign December 2011 and it talks about all our blessings and showing God we´re grateful. We talked about the message and then the mom shared that she thinks that the Family night we had planned wasn´t for the people they had invited, but for them. They all started to cry and talked about how they needed to be better as a family and it was a really good lesson. My comp cried too. Then we had sandwiches.

Gift bags I made for a family home evening we had on Saturday! Thank you so much for the stuff! We put a bunch up and the others we gave away in these gift bags and the people loved them!

And then, we went to our Ward mission leader´s house because he and a member named Sergio who is blind had grilled chicken for us. So we go and his wife goes to her mom´s house to bring her chicken, and the truck breaks down. So we had to go there and push the truck all the way back to his house which was like 8 blocks! It was totally hilarious and Sergio said he wanted to throw up after. Those two guys are totally funny when they´re together. So I attatched pictures. And a dog tried to bite me while I was pushing.

 Me, Sergio, and E. Ballesteros pushing the truuuuucccccccckkkkkkk

 Sergio saying he wants to throw up hahaha

The four of us after pushing the truck

Other than that, it´s basically all that´s new with me. Life is totally good and we´re hoping to have some good new investigators this week.

We helped a Sister who is sick put up her Christmas tree.

I got the packages! One from Haloween and one for Christmas! Thank you so much! The bag is under the tree and everything. You are totally awesome, thank you!

I ripped a shirt while playing Volleyball in a branch activity we put together, so that was awesome. I still have plenty, so no worries. Basically I am trying to make all my stuff last the last sixish transfers I have left.

I think I will be sending letters today.

UD, let me know what´s up with the dough and when I should go by to pick it up. Thank you for helping me with that, too.

You´re the best family ever!

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

Me and my comp going to church on Sunday. We upgraded from sitting on buckets to lawn chairs

November 26, 2012

November 26, 2012

Hey fam!

Hope everything is going awesome with all of you! Life with me is going well. Just kickin it in my small town. It was a decent week. We are struggling to find new people to teach, especially with the new plan here in Sabinas. It`s a good branch, but I don`t think we`re all on the same page here about the importance of Missionay Work. But that`s okay. We started up English classes this last week and they went well! We have a pretty good turn out of about 20 people! But they`re almost all members...So hopefully soon we`ll be able to get some new people in there, too.

Me and Chilo!

We put up a Christmas tree in our house! So that was cool, too.

Oh, also, in December, guess who is going to the temple? The Nuñez family! They`re my first converts and they`re going to be sealed! I`m totally excited! There are other familes as well that are going to be sealed (one in January and so forth) . Good timing to get shipped out to Sabinas! But no worries.  It`s super important!

This week really hasn`t been too eventful. Oh, the packages (there are two) at the offices for me. I think I`ll get them this Thursday because we have a conference? So I`ll update you on that next week.

Definitely miss home a lot especially during Christmas time! Miss you tons, family. It looks like I`ll probably make my call on Christmas day, but I`ll also keep you posted. It should be by Skype again. We found some members with a computer.

Love you tons and thanks for all you do for me! 

Elder Wheeler

November 19, 2012

November 19, 2012

Hello Fam!

Sounds like life is going good. No worries about no email last week. Glad to hear things are going good. All your trips and stuff sounds exciting! Be sure and include me when I get back :D

Things with me are going great. There are about 60 active members in our branch and about 400 on the lists, so we have a lot of work to do. We had interviews with President this last week and his vision is that one day our district can become a stake. It`s been a district for about 50 years, but we will try and do all we can on our part to help our branch grow and really progress. I honestly haven`t taught as missionary lesson in all of my time here so far because we have been meeting with so many less active members and inactive members. Hopefully we can get them to start coming back. We have an activity tomorrow where all the ex missionaries are going to bring their pictures and everything to show everyone (just like we did in my old ward) but here there are about 8 ex missionaries that are innactive! So this is more for them than anyone else. We are also starting up English classes this week! Should be exciting. Lots of people are excited because no one`s ever done them here before.

That`s about it on what`s been up with the work. Everything is good with me. 

Living with members is a lot different. The members we live with are great, but they do like to talk to us forever, too. They`re an old couple but just funny people. Totally ranchers. My address, I`ll have to get it to you next week. I`m not totally sure...but if you google Sabinas, Coahuila you should see more or less what it`s like. We live in a neighborhood called ¨Los Montes.¨ As for weather, it`s a lot cooler, but I think it`s just because the time of year. There`s a lot of dust here.

Oh, UD, Sister Swapp was telling me about how you guys know some of the same people from your missions in the DR! Que cool!

I think that`s all the stories I have for this week. Everything`s great. I haven`t recieved any packages, but they could be there in the offices. I`ll check and let you know.

Thanks for everything, fam. You`re the bomb!

Much love,

Jordan

(aka Elder Wheeler)

November 15, 2012

November 15, 2012

Heya!

Hope everything is going awesome with all of you, fam. Miss you tons! This week has been eventful and a big change.

So, my whole mission I`ve been in Monterrey in the city, but now, I am not. I am currently in Sabinas, Coahuila, which is the state next to Nuevo Leon where Monterrey is. Here, it is a lot different. It is a total small town and nothing like Monterrey at all. I feel like I live on a ranch again like I did back in the day with Mom. It`s totally crazy, but awesome at the same time. I loved my old ward a lot, like, I`m pretty sure I`ve never loved and cared about a ward so much (which is weird for me because we all know I`m not all into the showing love and affection thing) and now I am in a branch of about 60 active members. It`s extremely dusty out here. We use bikes again. Yesterday I spent the entire day drafting behind my companion and laughing about it to myself. 

Oh yeah, my companion is Elder Bellesteros. He`s from Tabasco, Mexico. He`s a good guy. A lot different than Elder Mccoy, that`s for sure. He`s got three months in the mission. 

In this area, I forsee a lot of challenges. There is a lot of gossip, a lot of innactive members, a lot of distrust towards the missionaries because of past missionaries who didn`t do much, and things like that. We have some...special leaders here as well in the branch, but I know it`s going to be great. President told me he sent me out here because the branch needs some help so I hope to be able to lift them some. There are some great people here, too. It will be a good time here. 

We share a house with members, which is also different. There`s a lot of horses here. Life is a lot more simple with the people out here.

I`m excited for the future and to work here. I`m happy to be out on the mission. I`m about five and a half hours away from Monterrey (to give you some sort of reference. I`m closer to Texas than Monterrey). 

Life is good.

Much love,

Elder Wheeler

(I have not recieved any packages, but I have a feeling it will take much longer to get them out here. Like once every six weeks minimum.)

November 6, 2012

November 6, 2012

Hey!

Thanks for the email, fam. Sounds like things are going well. Austen driving everywhere; I totally remember those days, too. Drive better than I did. I don´t think I ever paid enough attention even though UD always told me to. I was young.

As for this with me this week, it wasn´t a bad week! We had our talent night activity and it was totally awesome. There were about 17 people there who are not members! In total there were about 100 or more people there. It was definitely a success. We´ll be working with those people if I end up staying in this area. We participated, too and the talent we presented was eating watermelon. I cut the watermelon with a machete and everyone cheered and then my companion ate all of it during the whole talent night. It was totally hilarious and I was dying laughing. When he finished, he stood up and someone was finishing a dance thing and just held up the last bite and yelled ¨SANDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¨ and it was so funny because at first everyone looked scared because he just started yelling, but then they all started to cheer and everyone took pictures with him after. Then he got the worst dirarreah of all time. But he´s good now. It was totally worth it. 

So anyway, it was a good week. We taught the mission prep class again as well as our English classes, and we get a decent turn out every time. Life is definitely good on my end. I do like being a missionary, in spite of all the things I miss, I´ve learned things and developed a testimony that I am 100% sure I could never do in the mindset I had before. I feel the influence of the Holy Ghost everyday and am really just trying to do all I can for these people and bring all the good stuff with me. 

I am pretty sure today I´ll get changed to another area. I have now been here for six months and in Solidaridad for 7 and a half months. Elder Cisneros thinks I´ll have three areas my whole mission, he says. We´ll see, but I will be sad to leave this ward because they are honestly so awesome. I don´t think I´ve ever loved and worried about a ward´s progress like this one, but even if I leave, it will be good because I will hopefully be able to help some more people in another ward as well as help people be baptized and expeience that happiness. So it´s all good.

Thanks for all you do. Love you guys tons. I have some letters I´ve been meaning to send out to you, so hopefully I´ll get that done soon! 

Much love,

Elder Wheeler