It's time for the next chapter in my life...

The Lord has really blessed me the last couple weeks. I feel like He has just unleased a boat load of blessings. I've been loving this work and haven't felt, not even once, like I'm tired of this and want to stop. 

The only "sick feeling" I'm getting is that I have to leave Arkansas and stop doing full time missionary work. It's been such a blessing to me and I'm eternally grateful for this opportunity. 

But I know that it's time for the next chapter in my life. It's gonna be hard but so was this; I relied on the Lord and look where it got me. If I can face these next phases of life with the same mind set-- things are looking up.

Love to all. See you next week.

-Elder Daniel Charles Wheatley

I love it, Mom. I really do

This week was great. It's so nice to be working with these guys who have an actual desire to work. 

Elder W got his Visa and will be heading to Brazil the same day I leave so Elder B will be taking over the area. This is what we figured he was coming in for. It's been a pleasure to work with both of them.

Surprisingly, to me, and my companions, I'm not trunky yet. I love this work. I sent this to AW earlier today,

"Not looking forward to the transition from set apart missionary to normal human but I know that as I keep performing my daily duties of discipleship (prayer, scripture study, etc) the Lord will help me make the switch and keep me strong. I love this work. You know how it is. Can't really describe the spiritual high that I get every time someone accepts doctrinal truths." 

I love it, Mom. I really do.

B-day-- I had a great Bday! We spent it working and I was able to teach one of the best lessons of my life with a lady outside her house. I can't help but feel that that was the Lord saying, "Happy Birthday, My friend!"

Brother S was the one that sent those photos. He's awesome. Car, Sleeping Arrangements, Cell Phone, Etc.-- 

I was thinking a little while ago about getting things set for work and school. I have a pretty solid idea on everything but not gonna really let it occupy my mind. I'll present my ideas to you when I get home. No need to worry about it until then. Focusing on the mission! (Figured it out for the cell phone though-- I don't want a smart phone. I was taught by a very wealthy man out here, "When making important decisions, ask yourself, 'Is it a want or a need?' " And I don't want it or need it. I also hate touch screens.)

FHE-- Do it when you can but don't put it off. If Sam's not home do it anyway. What a wonderful bonding moment it will be for you and the old man.

PMG-- I love PMG! I'm glad I figured out how to use it more effectively down here. It's made the difference. We'll definately have to use it. It's a great tool.

Kris-- Tell him I said I am SO excited for him. This is going to be the best decision he's ever made! You don't really understand why until you're here; but it doesn't take long to figure out. So stoked for him.

LOVE YOU MORE, MOMMA!

-Bubba

"Fully Invested"

Hi Momma!

This was a good week. I wish I could remember all that happened but I am COMPLETELY mind blank. Sorry. All I know is that the week went very well, Gary was baptized, and life is good. Gary is the coolest person ever. He is someone I've learned lots from. He is not a respecter of persons and does things that he knows to be right, not just doing what the world says. I'm excited to see him progress even more in the gospel. He is going to be a great asset for this ward.

I'm reminded every day of how many days I have left. The adversary keeps telling me that I've worked hard for 23 months and that I'm allowed to relax and has given me every reason and opportunity to take a break. I'm tired, everything makes me nostalgic for things back home, and there is now no one solid in our investigator pool. BUT... it's not over til it's over. (that's something you taught me, Momma). I'm not gonna slow down.

The weather outside makes me feel SO good. I just wanna throw a football around with some friends. I am happy to hear about BYU and I want to go to a game SO bad but I am happy I'm here and wouldn't trade it for anything (though a byu ticket would be tempting jk).  Momma's side note: He doesn't realize we have tickets for him for two games when he gets home!

Life's just a roller coaster at this point-- I'm happy on some days and completely drained and ready for Provo the next. But I just gotta keep truckin. I'd like to finish my mission strong so that I can say that I have no regrets. I am gonna take on the motto from BYU football a few years ago, "Fully Invested."

I do love this work. How blessed I am to have this opportunity to devote, strictly, this time to the Lord. I am eternally grateful.

-Elder Wheatley

the photo is of Gary and Elder Durham who baptized him

"I will be forever grateful"

Hey Momma!

Short one today because there is not much to say.

Things are great.

Got my new companion. Elder W. He's a Visa waiter and I met him his first day when they were passing through Pine Bluff. His companion used to serve there so he was showing us some people he used to teach. What a blessing to be able to serve with him. He's someone I know and we are getting along great. He's been out for eight months so he knows what he's doing. 

As for the work, it's SO slow! But we feel good and confident in the Lord and the blessings He will provide as we work hard.

One HUGE blessing is that G is getting baptized on Saturday the 20th! Everyone is so excited for him. He requested that Elder D, a missionary who served here awhile ago, baptize him and I confirm. I'll send you a picture of the 3 of us. I really like him. He's going to be a great member.

On the night of the 20th, I'll be going down to Conway to see the baptism of another G, who I taught last year, and who Elder D is currently teaching. haha.

We had Stake Conference and after the Saturday session I was almost in tears because I reconnected with members from various wards, realized how many friends I've made with fellow missionaries, and it hit me how short of time I actually have left. A week ago I was "antsy to come home trunky" but now I realize how much I love it here. But I'm sure once we start working again and doors start slamming I'll be ready. haha.

I love the things that have taken place the last two years. I've learned the gospel in a way that has opened my eyes and makes me want to be a better man. I have met life long friends, learned lessons, and gained insights that I could have in no other way but by serving. I will forever be grateful.

-Elder Wheatley

ps... I love you more!

Missionary work is LEGIT!!!

Hey Momma!

I'm gonna finish in Choctaw! Good thing. I don't wanna pack, unpack, and pack, and then learn a new area for six weeks. I'm stoked. I love this place. Hard, tough work but I like the members.

This week was a great testimony builder for me. One of our investigators received a call from his mom a few days before his baptism, anti-ing him. He was bombarded with negative thoughts and false ideas, he lost his testimony of the restored gospel, and was thinking about just "feeling it out" for a while before getting baptized; but we all knew that if he did that, he would fall away. We invited him to fast with us.

I hadn't used fasting throughout my mission like I should have. I knew it was a good thing but never put forth the effort outside of Fast Sunday. A couple weeks ago we felt prompted to fast for a different investigator who had been "leveling out" and seemed to be turning into an eternal investigator; that he might have a desire to be baptized. Before we even began our planned fast we heard, via his girlfriend, that he thought he might be ready, though he hadn't expressed it to us yet. We decided that we needed to continued as planned to fast. The next lesson, after the fast, we invited him to be baptized, and he accepted and set a date. He is still going strong and plans to enter the waters on the 20th of this month.

Seeing this and feeling prompted to do the same with this other investigator, we not only fasted, but invited him to fast with us. He immediately accepted, putting his halfway eaten candy bar down.

That next day, the day before his baptism, we visited with him to follow up on the fast. He poured all his extra time into the Book of Mormon and had plenty of questions for us. After helping him find the answers, the Spirit leading the entire discussion, he was confident and ready to be baptized.

While I know that not every prayer or fast will be answered in the way that I want it to, I know and can testify of the power that fasting brings into the life of those whom the fast is in behalf of.

-Elder Wheatley

  

ps.. missionary work is legit. I love talking to everyone. The feeling you get when you chase someone down and share the gospel with them is awesome! haha.

Freak! Did I tell you? I'll keep it short... In my eye exam I was able to share the gospel to two workers! I even shared the WHOLE first lesson and first vision with one of the guys. He was legit and seemed very interested. A member took us there and when we got in the car he's like, "What were you and the worker talking about for SO long?"

I thought to myself, "So long??? I was in and out of there. Quickest eye exam ever" I looked at the clock and it had be two and a half hours! haha.

Until next week,

I love you MORE!!!!

-Bubba

Miracles coming...

Hey Momma!

Last. Week. Was. HOT! Like boiling. We worked so hard though and the people of Greenbrier were great. They gave us water and rides and everything else under the blistering sun. We had no immediate results but then again, I've never seen the Lord work that way for me. It's always been more like Ether 12--receiving no witness until AFTER the trial of my faith.

The results came Sunday when we had two miracles. I can't write about either of them on my blog, but the tender mercies of the Lord were very apparent.

Things are going good. It's hard but I'm happy.

  

-Elder Wheatley

These are the folks I really like to teach...

Hi Momma!

This week went great. We had a ton of success-- first time in forever here!

We are teaching some legit people but it'll take some time before they are ready. These are the folks I really like to teach. They ask questions, search for answers, and are truly wanting to KNOW. These are the souls that will remain.

The main guy we are teaching is middle-aged man. He is dating a member. He examines every word we utter-- so we weigh very heavily each word that comes out. He is a very strong individual and won't be easily swayed. He has been coming to church since last year. When I got here I felt strongly to "put him on pause," even before I had the chance to sit down with him and evaluate the situation. I think he was relieved and maybe a little burnt out on forceful missionaries. So for the first 8 or 9 weeks we didn't even really say boo to each other. Then I felt prompted that it was time. I approached his girlfriend and him about having supper and a sit down afterward. They accepted and from that second we hit it off. He is awesome. He's a spiritual truth seeker and wants to know it all before he makes a decision. After the first sit down we extended the invitation to retake the discussions and he readily accepted. We have taught the first three lessons, very in-depth, and I have seen the change in him. The Gospel changes people. No doubt about it. He isn't ready for baptism yet. He still has some underlying concerns but I put complete confidence in the Lord to help him through his struggles to the point where he will be ready to make the commitment.

He's so cool in fact that he picked us up from a meeting in North Little Rock, an hour plus drive away, and took us out to eat afterward. Pray for him and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will have another solid member.

As for transfers, calls were this morning but neither of us got one. Round number three together. 

Love you,

-Elder Wheatley