The Spirit Changes People

Momma,

Thanks for the e-mail! I love it. I'm so very thankful you were "straight up" with me about grandma. That helps. I feel like I'm right at home. Except useless to help. :( but when all else fails, pray harder, right? <--- Oh that's good. I should make a Mormon t-shirt outta that one!

Well let me tell you about my week. As was yours, mine went by very fast. Which is good. I like it. Means things are goin good.

This week was just incredible. Last night we had some spare time to go check on some investigators. As we walked we were led and guided every step of the way by the Holy Ghost. He told us to turn here and to go there, knock on this door and to stop and pray for a sec. As we heeded these promptings we were brought to a house were we met an extended family of about seven, all over the age of lets say 15. They invited us in, we introduced ourselves and began to recite the message of the Restoration. Immediately the Spirit enveloped the entire room as Elder Cassler and I taught in perfect unity. You could see the sincere interest and desire to listen. That is what the Spirit does. We are invited back. I'm not sure if all will make it to the baptismal font at this time but I know at least one will-- and that means everything. The Lord wanted us there. And to have physically seen the Spirit working with that family was worth my whole mission. That's why I'm here. The Spirit changes people.

So many things I've learned on my mission. Mom, you're gonna have a heart attack when you see how much I've changed. I love working in the yard and as occasion permits I'll probably be willing to work in the Community Garden for I have found a new love for farming. I know-- shocker. It took the South to do it to me. (No promises though. This document cannot be used in a court of law.)

I just love service and doing hard work. I feel like I've grown up. Although I still hate getting pet hair on me and I don't necessarily enjoy cleaning-- some things will never change.

So I must say, Bomb-diggity watch! I don't know how you were able to guess that I would wear that but-- wow you're good! Oh and the card made me super trunky. Only 13 months! I loved the shirt and the food is perfect! Healthy and sweet. You guessed totally right on everything you put in there. Does my momma know me or what?

Anyway, thanks for everything Momma. I love you. Tell the fam I love them! Tell Jonny I said, happy by the way you're old day (b-day).

The Master Mechanic

So this week was a real growing week for me. Something happened out here that was a big misunderstanding and it almost affected the status of where we are currently serving. No worries though. Like I said, it was a big misunderstanding. But I learned something in high school, believe it or not, that truly helped me discern the actions I needed to take. Let's say something broke and you broke it. Nobody knows you broke it yet it's still broke. Now there are two choices you can make. You can run and hide and hope no one finds out it was you OR you can man up and fix what was broken. With the first choice, you may have saved yourself from embarrassment but the fact is, it's still broken-- not to mention the guilt that would always follow you. With choice number two, the fact you chose to fix it says something. You chose to take upon you shame and ridicule for a moment in order to fix what shouldn't have happened in the first place. Now it's fixed.

I can't help but think of what the Savior has done for me. For all of us. Throughout life we put ourselves in situations that, alone, we cannot fix. But there is one who can fix it. The Master Mechanic, our brother, Jesus Christ. I owe everything to Him yet all He charges is a broken heart and a contrite spirit. His repairs are available to all at the same universal cost. Let us all be partakers of His miraculous atonement.

-Elder Wheatley

"It's like completing a 4th and long and getting it called back because of holding..."

Hey Momma!

Sorry that I wasn't able to let you know that I wasn't gonna be able to write you on Monday but we never heard back from Prez if we could or not.

We went to the temple yesterday! AMAZING! Oh my goodness it was just what I needed. All my concerns just vanished the second I stepped in. I had a lot on my mind but POOF! All gone. In the dressing room my watch broke and not one upset or frustrated bone in my body. I just looked at it lying on the floor and just laughed to myself. I missed that place. I didn't want to leave. I sat there forever with a few other missionaries and the temple president had to come in and kick us out. haha. He said it in the nicest way possible. He walked in, looked at us, smiled, and said, "Are your rides waiting on you?" We all smiled and left. What beauty is radiated there. It just changed me. Gave me a new view. A new charge.

The rest of the week just pales in comparison. We found some new people. Had some outstanding lessons and learned a lot about some of our investigators and their progress. There was a really cool thing that happened earlier in the week but then she dropped us so... not really worth sharing anymore. It's like completing a 4th and long and getting it called back because of holding.

It's kind of weird, an investigator drops us and I just kind of say and feel like, "Oh well," and go onto the next task at hand. I thought I was supposed to be devastated. My heart is most definitely in the work but I just feel like my immediate response to disappointment is apathy. Better than sulking and not being able to move on I suppose.

It happened right after we got out of the temple. It didn't bring me down like I thought it should. I was still on that spiritual high. haha. Can't anything on this world get to those heights.

I am enjoying the work down here. It's hot and not many people are receptive but it never ceases to amaze me, the tender mercies of the Lord. We are having a long, hard day but as we show diligence and keep on keepin on, it is at the very last moment, before we give in that the Lord puts something in our path. It may not be something that will go anywhere in the future but for that moment we were able to witness a miracle and that gave light and purpose to all our work. Happens day after day, week after week, and month after month. I love it.

-Elder Wheatley

p.s. transfers are the second week of October

that front door to our house in bomb diggity! perfect color!

Hope all is well. Say hi to Rach for me. Tell her I said no husband until I can check him out first.

I LOVE YOU MORE!!!!!

"Love you MORE than a Longhorn spanking by the paws of BYU Cougars!"

Hey Momma!

Great success in Lonoke this week. President said in a conference call to the mission, "Be specific and bind the Lord." After prayer to figure out what he meant by that, I got down on my knees and told the Lord that we needed to find two new investigators (something I've always struggled with-- Finding.) I told him that we would show our diligence in going Spiritual Harvesting at a specific time no matter what and asked in return for two new investigators. I figured that is what President meant. The rest He did by telling us where to go and having those people being in the right place at the right time and we found em! Met a very spiritual guy named Cody who is ready to hear the gospel and I'm excited to start teaching him.

Sweet friends in Lonoke...they take care of my Momma
by supplying her with pictures and updates.

My testimony on prayer, which was already huge, increased this weekend as two of our long-term investigators showed up to church, as well as two less-actives we've been working with. We didn't take, "something came up, sorry" for an answer this time and worked through, guided by the spirit of course, the thing that was keeping them from coming and showed them how serious we were in a loving manner. It worked and it is only because of our faith and frequent mighty prayers. They also, all, enjoyed church and I believe they will be back next week.

Those were the big things that happened. We just did a lot of hard work this week. But it was worth it. Results show it. Gotta keep it up though. Can't drop the ball.

-Elder Wheatley

GO COUGS! Someone at church showed me the score and I almost couldn't contain myself!!!!

wait.... seriously water skin and I missed it?! Man!

"A kid in a candy shop happy"

Hi Momma!

:)

I felt very accomplished as a missionary this week. Baptism for Erica, Sister Lindsey back to church, and a tan! I also found out that I was going to be able to go to the temple!

Sunday was incredible. Sister Lindsey was at church and she bore her testimony about being reconverted to the gospel after being away for a while and "feeling it" all over again for a second time. "That's what the gospel's all about," she said. It was a very special moment with

Wheatley, Arkansas

tears in my eyes. It was and is an amazing experience teaching Erica Reynolds in the Lindsey home and seeing not only her become converted but the entire Lindsey family.

We've been on bikes this week so it's been a little hectic trying to get a baptism put together but it was fun. We biked to the church quite frequently trying to get things situated. I think my companion was ready to kill me because I love hoppin on my bike at any chance I can get.

I was named District Leader and it really has been a blessing as I have been learning from other missionaries. It's been very humbling in the few days I've been able to act as such. It makes me want to work harder here in Lonoke in order to be the example. I love all the missionaries in the district already and love working with them. They all seem to be smart and taught right. Tomorrow is the first District Meeting I have to put together and I don't have the DL book to teach me what to do. So i'm goin in blind but with the Holy Ghost as my guide. I was preparing my lesson this morning and the Spirit was so strong. I could teach for 3 hours with what I have prepared! I'm excited. I prayed for help in what I should teach and everything was just coming to me. Then, the crazy cool thing, the AC kicked on and blew my scripture pages to a verse highlighted in Alma that I can close with that works perfect! It was so cool!

Well we only have one computer today cause we're at a member's house because the library is closed so I better get off so that my comp can write.

I love you more!

btw: BEST PACKAGE EVER! So cool! I wish I could watch! AHHHH! I miss BYU sports!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks for everything! so happy!

oh and guess what???? --- I went to Wheatley, Ar!

between how this week went, the package, and Wheatley, Ar.... kid in a candy shop happy!

Much Love,

-Elder Wheatley