Follow the Spirit

Hi Momma!

This week was "slower" than the past few weeks in Conway but it was still very productive as I stayed diligent.

With three baptized since i've been here we are now low on investigators. Time to find!

Finding is a missionary's least favorite "chore." I used to feel that Finding was a monotonous motion to go through but as we are truly in-tune with the Spirit. It is not a chore, it's an exciting treasure hunt!

The approach we use, Spiritual Harvesting, has proven to work. What we do is as we feel prompted to go down a particular street we listen to the Spirit tell us which house to knock on. We introduce ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ and inform them that we felt inspired to knock on their door to leave the Savior's peace and blessings upon their home. We ask if we could come in to leave that blessing. Once we're in is when we work our magic. We get to know them, find out what they need, etc. Before the prayer we invited them to pay attention to the feeling they receive as we pray. After the prayer we ask them how they felt. We explain that that feeling was the spirit and show them how they can have that feeling stronger and with them always.

It works-- as we listen to the spirit guide us of course.

The other day we were looking at our map and I felt inspired to Spiritual Harvest down a street called, Rushing Circle. As we walked down the street I felt this huge pull towards a particular house and as I looked up at my companion he was staring that same house down. We decided to hit up that house last on our way back.

There we met a middle aged man, Glenn. I thought his name was Glancer at first because when I asked his name he said, "Glenn, Sir." Haha.

When we knelt down for prayer you could feel the Spirit envelop the room. He was so excited and HE asked us, "When can you come back?"

Next visit, on Thursday, we felt inspired to give him a bible and Book of Mormon. He was stoked. "My very own bible! My first King James bible!" And when we explained the Book of Mormon and how they were equal, he put them level with each other on his lap and he froze for a split second. He said I just got a chill down my whole body! He said i'll take the Book of Mormon with me to work and read it on my breaks.

I'm so glad we were able to meet Glenn. He has definitely been prepared for this time. I'm stoked too!

I loved the Broadcast last night! I'm so glad you went! It was just as good as General Conference. So inspiring! I wish everyone could have watched it. Nothing really new was said but it sure invited the spirit and got me fired up.

I loved L.Tom Perry's soccer analogy. We need to know our position so that we aren't caught  playing "bunch-ball." haha.

And Boyd K. Packer saying, "It comes when you start."

Maybe this week WAS better than I gave credit for! haha. 20/20 hindsight

I love you more!

Don't know how long i'll be on cause a member (with investigator!) is taking us hiking today and we gotta go shop before we leave!

Love you, love you, love you all!!!!!!!

-Elder Wheatley

My Joy is Full...

Momma!

I've been trying to find the right words for how I am feeling today but I keep finding myself deleting and retyping and if it continues for much longer time will run out-- so i'll just type and hope it sounds good.

Late Friday night I got this phone call from our investigator, Brad.

Brad (18 years old) is the kid from California who we met at his Grandmother's funeral about a month ago. He decided that he needed to stay here permanently and take the lessons.

First off, I gotta tell you, this kid is the greatest. We were definitely friends in the pre-mortal existence. He has a magnificent grasp on the spirit and listens to it incredibly well.

He decided that he wanted to be baptized but was going to wait til his dad could come back out from California.

My friend, Brad Gregersen

Back to this phone call... He says, "Elder Wheatley. I want to get baptized ASAP and I want you to do it." I was blown away. Neither me or my companion could go to bed after that. The spirit was so strong in that call we just stayed up and partied and gave thanks to Heavenly Father.

So Sunday after church I had to blessing to baptize my friend Brad. Most spiritual experience ever.

In the changing room I asked how it felt. He said, "Oh, I felt it! I'm still feelin it!"

Then I asked him, "You wanna know how you can feel the Spirit even stronger than you do now?"

"How?"

"Go on a mission."

The response was the best, "Oh, i'm already planning on it." He continued to tell me that the other day, I had told him a story about me not listening to the spirit and the negative consequence that ensued and that because of that story (in which the spirit told me to tell) he knew that he needed to serve a mission.

Mom, my joy is full.

I don't know how I could be any happier.

I feel completely at one. Peace. Love.

This week has just been amazing. I don't know how I got so lucky as to be in this beautiful city at this marvelous time and have the blessing to reap the harvest. This is true happiness.

-Elder Wheatley

Just Follow the Spirit....

Hey Momma!

I really wish I could write a long letter this week, because of all the excitement that went on, but we're at the library and only had an hour and we showed up late ;) and I was enjoying all the pictures!

Let me just start out by saying that I just love this work! As I am striving to do what is right and put the Lord's will before mine own I have felt the guidance and promptings of the Holy Ghost so incredibly strong!

"Brother" Eric Jackson - highlight of my mission so far!

 

I no longer worry about what I am to say in meetings or in lessons. It's kind of funny to say but I just sit back and let the Holy Ghost do it's thing. He speaks through me and it's almost like I don't have to try. All I gotta do is stay in tune.

Man I wanna tell you everything that happened this week but someone else is in line behind me and I gotta get off :(

It's brings the biggest smile to my face when I see my recent converts and current investigators at church gettin along with each other and smiling and laughin and just havin a good time.

Eric got baptized. Highlight of my mission to see someone come so far along. And when he embraced his 70+ year old Mom-- It does a heart good.

Just in case I can't get back on-- I LOVE YOU MORE!

 -Elder Wheatley

Most spiritual week on my mission...

So this week has probably been the most spiritual week on my mission.

It all started in district meeting when Elder Mortensen asked me to give a quick thought. The Spirit had me give a 5 minute lesson instead. It was pretty incredible. Not me-- the Spirit.

"Oh my goodness --  he DID learn something at home!"  BASEBOARD CLEANING!

On the way out to the car, after the meeting, we both felt like we needed to go back in and attend the funeral that was going on for a lady in our ward. Everyone thanked us for being there (built some great rapport) and the husband of the lady who passed came up to me, took my hand in his, looked me in the eyes and said, "I love you, Elder." That alone made it worth it, but it gets better. Not only did we get a free lunch and the left overs (fist pump) but we met the grandson from California who wants to take the lessons and be baptized! Crazy thing, he was Atheist and wanted nothing to do with the church before. He had taken the lessons before but nothing came. Her death brought this family together like you wouldn't believe. You can tell that God had something cookin up the entire time. It truly was her time to go. 

The Spirit was SO strong on Tuesday. And it carried with us the rest of the day. Man, it's just been so incredibly strong this entire week! I don't even know how to really describe it. I know it's because i've invited it. I've been striving to be meek (not let little things bother me) and it's been because i'm trying to be more "exactly obedient" which is hard for me. Haha. But it's proven worth it. So worth it.

Let me tell you about what happened this weekend. We went on exchanges two nights in a row. I stayed 

What more can I say?

here both times. Saturday night we went to teach Brad (the grandson) again. Third lesson in four nights. I had no clue what to teach. But I went in confident and relying on the Spirit and I'll tell you what-- the Spirit taught. I simply opened my mouth and the words poured out. Most amazing thing in the entire world. At the end of the lesson, Brad looks at me and says, "You're the best missionary I've ever met."  Made my whole mission.

I just love this opportunity to be out here and become reconverted every day as I see others growing in the gospel and in spirit.

-Elder Wheatley