I just gotta remember that this "ride" is all uphill and if I stop pedaling, I'm gonna roll backwards!

Hi Momma!

Still in Arkansas!! Woot woot! 

Yeah Benton is really nice. I loved PB and the members.

I was nervous when I got into church on Sunday (in Benton) because the ward was SO big and I never thought I'd get to know everyone. But I was able to meet quite a few and I'm feeling a little more comfortable now. I know I'm supposed to be here so I'm gonna work hard to figure out why I'm here and who it is I'm supposed to teach.

My companion is a kid from Thatcher, Utah named Elder Mathews. He's been out three months so I get to follow-up train yet again. It's fun but hard. Ever since I left Conway I've follow-up trained. These whipper snappers are keeping me young and obedient which is what this old fart needs. I believe it's divinely appointed for my sake. He's a good kid. 

PB helped me relax, be happy, and take it all in as I work; while being able to be bold with people when we teach. 

We have taught a couple solid people with some really good potential.

I'm just trying to stay focused on the work. I love this work and wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now. I'm just trying not to get complacent. haha. That'll be what gets me if anything. I just gotta remember that this "ride" is all uphill and if I stop pedaling I'm gonna roll backwards.

I have a feeling that good things are to come here.

I love you more!

-Elder Wheatley

I love this experience and don't know where I'd be without it

A few tidbits from this week's email:

President wanted to transfer me six weeks ago but said, "I think there is something you need to accomplish here first." I believe that by the Grace of God it was accomplished and I am so very grateful and just happy. I sure do love this ward and it seems like my mission keeps getting better and better as the time goes on. This was a fantastic ward to serve in and the members deserve all the credit.

I'm just grateful for the very strong and close guidance of the Holy Ghost on my mission. I know I don't always do what I'm supposed to or in a manner adequate to my fullest potential but He's never left. He's been with me through thick and thin helping me out and buoying me up.

I think the hardest part about a mission is that your mistakes are more amplified; that's also my favorite part. When I can blatantly see where I messed up, my own desire to improve increases. That desire allows me to become refined.

Also, one thing that I recently learned is that the devil will try to make your strengths look like bad characteristics. For example, I kept feeling like I was TOO strong willed and that I had to do everything my way and that I was dragging my companion along and "making" him work and that maybe I was getting a little Pharisaical, and that others just wanted me to relax.

Then two comments, inspired from God, came to me, one by a friend from back home and the second from my companion. The first being an unexpected, out of the blue, e-mail saying, "You're super determined to get the job done and i respect you a lot for your sincerity."

The latter being something like, "I can tell you're getting trunky because you're slowing down."

Haha. That wasn't why I was "slowing down," but my reason was dumb. I didn't want him to feel like I was forcing him, so stupidly, I slowed down to see if he'd take the reins. Dumb right??

It was a good lesson to learn. I know who I am and what I need to do. I can't let the thoughts of the world get in the way of that.

I love this experience and don't know where I'd be without it.

-Elder Wheatley

I love this place....I love missionary work!

Alrighty!

So....

This week was just awesome!

As you saw, we were able to baptize Nate and Nomie; which also includes re-activating their mom as well as their non member dad coming to church. They're good folks.

But the highlight wasn't the baptisms, the 6 investigators to church, or the awesome member present lessons we taught this week; but the wonderful moment was when one of our investigators, Chad (Sister Reynolds brother), walked up to us after sacrament meeting and told us he's ready to set a date to be baptized for before the transfer ends as well as Anna (daughter in-law of the Reynolds).

Nate and Nomi and their parents and Elder Wheatley

It's been something I've been praying for very fervently for awhile now. There progression has been phenomenal in the past few weeks, leaps and bounds, and I know it's because of persistence, a strong support system, and love. It was a huge blessing, too, to have Melanie (from Spanish Fork) there. She, along with the rest of the family, helped Chad and Anna learn and grow so fast! Ike, the son in-law, I believe will soon want to be baptized too. It was difficult teaching them at first because they were kind of uncomfortable with us asking them questions or asking them to participate at all so it felt like I was just teaching a wall. BUT, the gospel changes people! Now, the lessons are lively and full of participation and questions by them and us. And it only took one lesson to do it. I love teaching these wonderful folks. They are like family to me now.

Nate and Elder Wheatley at his baptism

Other great things are happening and I'm so grateful that the Lord gave me the patience necessary, because it all is coming together now and it's exciting to witness.

There is still so much potential here and I am hungry to discover it for the next couple weeks I'm here.

We want at least three more baptisms before the end of the transfer. But it's gonna take some work. So if you could, please pray for the success here because there are at least two others besides the three that are ready to be baptized. We just need to help them realize that they are ready. I love this place. I love missionary work!

 -Elder Wheatley