"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

The Dog Days of Summer

Everything went awesome this week. I started living by, "What if you only had 5 days left on your mission?" By so doing, it gave me the extra motivation to listen to the Holy Ghost and to do the Lord's will-- not mine.

It's still hot and humid down here and I understand what they mean by, "the dog days of summer." They just keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny.

But Saturday we were contacting some potentials in another city when again, as it did 6 days earlier in the same city, the Sprit told us to go walking. But it was hot. Both my companion and I were agitated because we just got rejected, harshly, he was tired (as always haha) and did I say it was hot and humid?! (btw it was hilarious-- my companion fell asleep in a lesson the other day and the lady noticed and said, "You fallin asleep on us, Joe?" ...No answer! Haha. He was out!)



Yea, Baby!

Anyway, we were led to this house with a bunch of kids and we started talkin with them when the mom came out on her porch and just stared at us. But we were able to meet with her for a few minutes. It was an awkward meeting because I yelled at her from the street asking if we could come up and talk with her and when we did I was looking into the sun, sweat was pouring down my face, and the kids were trying to talk to me while I was trying to talk with her. But the Spirit was there and she said we could come back. We are going to see them tonight.

Also, we met with George for the first time and he said he wants to come to church next week. It's freaky how much he reminds me of Jonny.

Gracie and Matt committed to coming to church next week. After they said we'll "try," I put a pen on the ground next to Gracie and said, "Try to pick up the pen." She picked it up but I said, "No! I didn't say to pick it up. I said 'try' to pick up the pen." She realized what I was getting to and promised to come to church next week.

And the third thing that happened.... Erica committed to a baptismal date! The 8th of September.

Just an awesome week. Long, hot, and humidy. But awesome.

Oh... and we're going on bikes this week :/



-Elder Wheatley

"This work is nothing without the Lord. NOTHING!"

Hi Momma!

Overwhelmed with amazement this week in Lonoke, Arkansas. The first couple weeks I was here I thought the future of this place was so bleak. I wanted to be the lucky participant of the next emergency transfer. haha. But now... I would pummel the elder that caused me to leave this wonderfully fruitful area via emergency transfer because he couldn't control himself. Truly though, I know I'm supposed to be here.

So much has happened this week that is just so incredible, I'm having a hard time believing that it's happening here. Due to time constraints I can only give you one snippet. Yesterday, since we had saved up some miles on the car, we took our journey to Carlisle, a city not more than 8 miles out of town, to check up on some less-actives on our way to De Valls Bluff, maybe 15 miles further down the road. The GPS took us from house to house with no apparent successes as we faced repeated rejection while the doors monotonously shut in our faces.

It came to my attention that we were just going through the motions and that this mindless work would not produce any results if we continued in our humdrum ways. I also realized that in my "just doing it to do it" mind set, I had left the most important key to our success out of the picture! The Lord! I had neglected to ask Him what He wanted me to do.

Humbled, I muttered a silent prayer.

The answer hit me like lightening and electrified my soul, "We need to go Spiritual Harvesting."

Together we prayed for direction. The consequence was sweet. As we walked we past one of those apartments that you have to walk inside a door and then choose whether to go upstairs or down, a prompting came so strong that I could not shrug the feeling, "Bottom right. Bottom right."

Turns out that we met this Lady, Devin. We left a very powerful blessing on her home and when we asked if we could come back, she said, "Tomorrow."

It was such a humbling experience. My testimony is that this work is nothing without the Lord. Nothing.

Wish I could have had more time to write. I'll try better next week.

Love to all.

-Elder Wheatley

Elders Wheatley and Kowalk

The Spiritual "Mack Truck"

Hi Momma!

Things are picking up here in Lonoke. We've been keeping ourselves busy which I never thought would be possible down here ;)

I'm eating healthy and I am very happy.

We have been teaching quite a few people. I don't know how many are serious, but I recall my last area, Conway, where the Elders before me were teaching, "Shady Eric," that is, if he was ever there when their scheduled appointment was. But I'm so grateful for the Elders that never gave up, and I was able to see Eric baptized. Seeing that is what keeps me motivated to work with everyone-- even though they can be the shadiest people in the world. It all works out in the end if we endure.

The members here are amazing! They go out of their way to help us all the time. We don't get fed very much but they sure do their best at getting rides for us to meetings and appointments.

No, there hasn't been too much rain-- just enough to make it miserably humid. It's not too bad this week because we have a car. We get all our walking out of us between the hours of ten and twelve to avoid the real heat of the day. But even at 10 am when you open the front door the heat and humidity hits you like a Mack truck. We keep the apt at 77 degrees and that's cold to me know. It's funny to see your glasses fog up when you step out of your house or car. That shouldn't happen! ha ha.

The work has just been great. We will be getting a large print Book of Mormons for one of our investigators and I know that, even though he's not interested in changing churches, as he reads the Book of Mormon that he will be the one on the receiving end of the Mack truck-- the Spiritual Mack truck. We're good friends as well as his son and his mother who all live in the same house. Fyi: he wants to buy my bike from me at the end of my mission if I don't decide to ship it back. He wants to start riding with his son. I laughed because that is still over a year away.

I'm just happy.

Boy, from the way I've felt since I have gotten here, it just makes it that much better.

I was praying so hard and He answered. Always does. I'm thankful for downs. It helps me appreciate more. Besides, what fun would this roller coaster be if it was always up?

Love to all y'all

Elder Wheatley

D&C 50

Hey Momma!

This past week was great-- a lot better than last week, I was kind of down in the dumps. Our focus was on logistics and making sure that we build trust with the members, mainly showing them that this companionship is not lazy. As we have done this we have been able to see the bud of our work start to open up and blossom. We hope to continue that trend this week. The members have been fantastic in supporting us even though many of them have either little money or time or both. They surely will be blessed for all their work for us.

Elders Cassler and Wheatley...being silly as usual.  8-4-13

One story about this week: We had the opportunity to teach a returning member's friend in the Branch President's home on Thursday. It was a wonderful opportunity to teach an actual lesson. haha. Really though, it was a very spirit-filled lesson. Even though she was super shy and couldn't even look us in the eyes she was prepared and was very receptive to the message. She came to church and wants another lesson. Elder Staib, from Jacksonville, and I will be going up tomorrow night because we will be on exchanges.

Talking about prophets and apostasy, I compared prophets to a manager in a business. If there was no manager the workers could work for a while but things would eventually get chaotic and some workers would begin to think that they were in control and make up rules for the rest of the employees. Kind of silly, I know, but that is what came to me, through the Holy Ghost I'm sure, and she understood. I'm excited for our next visit. After the lesson we had cake and ice cream and we were able to talk with her about things pertaining to her life, and then, she got talkative. haha. I think that helped break the ice and our next visit should be just as great if not better.

My companion is doing great. We both hit a little slump but we both bounced right out of it. He is a very learned missionary and will do very well in his next two years. I'm glad I have the opportunity to serve with him.

When I was down I read about the Atonement. That really seemed to help. I am thankful every time the Mission President has called me to repentance (he does that a lot-- to everyone) because it causes me to take a step back and reflect on my actions, where I am at and where I can improve.

I'm expecting this week to be amazing. We get our car back and that will give us the opportunity to see people "way the heck out there." Part of our area is, seriously, and hour and a half away! That's freakin Provo to Brigham City! And the worst part, we got a referral for someone out there. haha. How in sam hill are we supposed to contact this person. haha. The Lord will provide.

Elders Cassler from Orem and Elder Wheatley from Provo

Next week I'll tell you about a guy named, Mr. Bailey. We've only had one lesson with him but it went incredible. We'll see what happens this next Saturday when we get to meet him again.

Again, I'm so happy to be here because I know it's where the Lord needs me. I got an interesting and reassuring response to last week's letter to President Petersen. He said, "Build the gospel and know you are the difference." I know I'm here to be the difference but ONLY as I rely fully on the Holy Ghost to lead and guide me. I can't do this work on my own.

D&C 50 says something like, "...doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? And if it be by some other way it is not of God."

Love to all back home!

 -Elder Wheatley