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

Well???????

Hi, Momma!

White Bible says no pets -- Psh!

I love hearin about the week back home. Wow. I am so proud of Sam. An Eagle Scout and a High School graduate! He's got more credentials than me! Tell him I just think he's the coolest!  

Anyway.... My Week.....

In one word: "Well?????........"

Haha. My weeks been great besides the fact that (ready for this?).... we don't have any investigators.We're tracting all day using a method that hasn't worked but we are required to do so by El Presidente (no new investigators for 3 weeks now!). 

Our investigator has gotten cold feet the last two weeks both within 30 minutes of baptism and her guests waiting for her arrival at the church. A. didn't show up to church because he was going to go running instead and told his friend that he didn't want to go to church anymore. Anti-ed for sure. E, who had a solid baptismal date for last Saturday, left town without telling us (no phone) and now has been gone for over a week and a half.

UCA Boxing Instructor lives in Conway -- legit!

But to be real honest, although this week should be getting me down, I feel great! Happy. Energized. Gettin outta bed at 6:30 like i've been doin it my whole life. Spirit strong as ever directing my way. Opportunities presenting themselves as I put forth my own effort. I'm lovin this mission life! Hard? Yeah. Worth it? Heck Yeah!  Sweaty back, nose bleeds via dehydration, mosquito bites at all hours of the day. Over lookin it all cause this work is legit. 

Chillin?

It helps to be in an AWESOME town with AWESOME people and AWESOME support back at the Home Front. Somethin is goin on in this town. Gospel growin like crazy!  People think a "curse" has been lifted. Happy to be apart of it.

I'm doin great though!

I love you more Momma!

-Elder Bubba 

"It's about time, young man!"

Didn't hear from Dan until later last evening and that had me worried due to the horrific tornadoes heading toward him.  His first email to me said, "Mom's thoughts right about now, "It's about time young man!"  He was right!  I told him I was worried about the tornadoes in the area and he said, "shoot. i wrestled one of them yesterday.... showed him who his daddy was. thanks bro miller."  He had me laughing and, as he knows, once he gets me laughing, he's got me :)  Well, then he said, "I've never actually seen a tornado yet.  Kind of a bummer but it's a good bummer."  Silly boy!

Here is the rest of his "short" email this week:

Really though I am sorry it's taken so long. Crazy busy day. We even have to get to a lesson in a couple minutes. It really rubs me the wrong way when I can't write a full letter to ya. But there is work to be done and this mission is only for a short while. Sacrifices need to be made. I'm just sorry you have to be on the end where you don't get a real good length e-mail. But I think next week will be better.

Not much to talk about this week. we've been doin a lot of "finding." hasn't worked out too well. although... it has been fun. besides this wet-air business. the other day we went up to these people on their porch and right as we were about to leave (didn't say much, just handed them a card cause Mort was on the phone) their little 6 year old started askin me question about what we do. super funny kid. then he started askin me if I could dribble the basketball that was on the ground on my knees. I figured he ment juggle it so that's what I did. He thought it was pretty cool. Then I told him I could spin it and when I did that his face lit up! then he wanted me to dribble between my legs. so I did that and he was lovin it. Nothin came of it but it made "finding" and my day so much more enjoyable.

sorry not much but I gotta run.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Elder Wheatley

Another beautiful week in Conway, Arkansas

So this week I really took to heart what Prez Petersen said in my interview about becoming a better missionary. It took some getting over myself but I realized he was right and let me tell you what happened...

We got back from District meeting and we were both drained. Mortensen wanted to nap but I was determined to show not only Prez but also myself that I could be that "4th missionary." I realized that I hadn't hit my peak of greatness yet but that I had so much more to learn. I needed to break down the wall that I put up when Prez pretty much told me I wasn't being a great missionary.  Mother's note: I asked Dan about this and he said that the President "didn't say I was bad but he told me I needed to become a "Preach My Gospel Missionary".  He continued on and said, "I have improved a ton but there is always room to get better and someone has to break me down so that I can get stronger."   So I got up off the la-z-boy and said, "let's go," even with nowhere in particular to go. We prayed and found a place to park, thought of an old investigator to follow-up on and started walking to save miles.



Alan's Baptism -- with Elders Wheatley and Mortensen

As we were walking the greatest thing happened... A car rolls up in front of us-- an outstretched hand holding a couple water bottles. Never seen the girl before. We thanked her for the water and started a conversation. Turns out she had met with the missionaries a few years back but lost contact when she moved and when she saw us talking to someone on the street, felt inspired to get us water. We asked if she'd like to continue taking the discussions and she was so excited to! She wanted to meet that night and gave us her address... so we thought. She gave us her building number-- but not her door number. So we prayed to know what door to knock on and the instant we ended we both said, "That one," pointing to door 1305.  We knocked and it was her.

Great lesson. Turns out she's still livin the Word of Wisdom from when the last Elders taught her. How cool is that?!

 

Elders Wheatley and Mortensen - Conway, Arkansas

 

We returned once more with a member, she came to church on Sunday (loved it), and we went back after church and set a date.

The blessing of just gettin out there!

Momma you would love her little 3 year old boy, Jeremiah. He's a character!

Well my week was exciting and full of growth.

2 things:

1) Baptism went great and Alan asked me to confirm him and church yesterday. The spirit was so strong. It just felt good.

Elder Shady!

2) I finally tried gator! SO GOOD! During lunch we went down to the fair grounds, cause it was Toad Suck Daze, and got me some gator!!! Another thing off my Bucket list.

Lovin' Conway

Good mornin Momma!

First of all I have to say, "ZIGGY!!!!" That's sick! I can't believe it! Well I can but... ZIGGY!!! I'm stoked to hear he got picked up by a semi-decent team. The Lions "D" is gonna be sick! Suh and Ziggy! Watch out!

Anyway, back to missionary work....

Conway. Yes. It's great! It's super nice here-- I like it so far. And the members in this ward are great! Yes, I said ward. It's weird saying ward again. I kinda like the homey feel of a branch family. There are two wards here and 3 sets of missionaries. Only one set in our ward. Thank heavens! And the people here are legit! A lot more open to listening to us. A lot of Catholics but instead of insulting us they just say, "Thank you but i'm comfortable with where i'm at. But thank you!" So I like them. haha

My companion is Elder Mortensen from Hyrum. We work very well together and we get along great and I think i'm startin to sound like him now. haha

So the coolest thing so far was, Alan, that had gone to church last sunday, we only taught him for the first time two days ago, and he has a baptismal date for this coming saturday (the 4th). So cool! You can really see how the Lord has prepared him for this time. And I know that i'm supposed to be here at this moment. It's great. Alan, (30 years old), is a triathlete and really cool. He reminds me of my friend Shumway in how quite/ humble he is but at the same time he is very chatty and receptive to everything we have to say. He's just way cool. He said that he had been praying about religion and what church to join and he said that that night he had a dream about Indians. So when we read through the intro to the Book of Mormon with him and read the part about how the Nephites/Lamanites are the principle ancestors of the Native Americans he about fell out his chair. You could see it in his eyes that he instantly knew this was "it." It was an awesome experience and i'm so glad I was here to witness this life changing moment.

A greatest reassurance was that at church yesterday he was tellin everyone he knew that he was gonna get baptized on Saturday. Wow.

The members are pretty great. They are willing to go out with us a lot which is a big help. We have baptisms planned for each of the next three weeks. I like the pace of this place. We are here to work and that's what we're doin. I like it.

Wish I could stay here and write back and forth but we have a full plate today.

Talk to ya next week. I'll get on to set up a time with you for skype.

Love you more Momma!

-Elder Bubba

Conway, Arkansas -- Ready or not, here I come!

Hey Momma!

Sorry about not bein able to write yesterday. As you know, I'm getting transfered and leave tomorrow. The only problem was we had no way to even get up to transfers! They took away our car and then when we asked how we were gonna get up to North Little Rock, in a nut shell, told us, "we don't know" and to, "figure it out." haha. Not kidding!

So yesterday mornin we had to hitch a ride up to Bismark where we could catch a ride with Doug up to Hot Springs, played ball with the Elders until we could get the car from the Sisters who just so happen to be the ONLY missionaries within 90 miles of us who are not being transferred and won't NEED their car. So we have their car now for two days. The sisters are awesome! I am so happy to have a car! It took a lot of anxiety away knowing that I would be able to go say goodbye to Doug and Bridgette and Georgie and Bianca.

Packing sucks. haha. I have WAY tooooooo much stuff. haha. At least I don't have to worry about the weight limit this time. It's actually not that bad. I started a couple days ago cause I figured i'd be leaving. So the stress of packing has been absent. Thank heavens. Really.

My friend just got called back to his first area again were he was, "a punk" and is scared about what the members will think of him even though he says he's changed so much and, "isn't that kid anymore."

I was and am so happy to have been able to stay in this area after my first companion cause I wanted to gain the trust of the members so bad and show them who I really was and that i'm not my companion's mini me.

It's been great and i'm so thankful for the time i've been able to spend here, the growth i've made (spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and unfortunately physically), the lives i've had the opportunity to affect, and the life-long friends i've made.

I really love the people here with all my heart and have mixed emotions about leaving but I love the Lord more and trust in his guidance for where I need to be at this time.

I learned another lesson the other day when we were walking the streets. We saw this guy working around his truck. His ridin lawn mower on his trailor-- I think he was fixin to leave. I went up to him and started a conversation. I didn't get too deep cuz in my mind I stereo-typed him and just saw him as every other person we had met this week and didn't have any faith that our conversation would go anywhere-- even though it JUST started and we hadn't even discussed gospel principles or doctrines. Stupid I know! Even worse, I thought the guy was cool and classy in the way he accepted us and talked with us (listening to instead of telling us) but I still just handed him a card and was about to just walk away.

As I was making a 180 to head back to the street I heard my companion start asking him if he had heard of the Book of Mormon before. My 180 turned into a 360 and I listened as he started to describe what the book was.

As my companion spoke I saw an interest starting to grow in this guy's eyes. I got excited and joined in. The guy, Ronnie, was understanding every word we spoke and he seemed so stoked about the book. He even said, "I want to read that! Can I get one?"

Awesome.

Lesson learned. And you can bet i'm not gonna just give up on someone ever again just because of what others have done.

Well.... 6 months down. 18 to go. Lovin every minute of it.

Love you more than food. haha
-Elder Wheatley

 

LOVE YOU MORE!

P.S.!!!! I know where I am going!!! I just found out on the computer as I was reporting numbers. It looks like i'll be heading to Conway. That is on "this side" thank goodness! And my companion from what I hear is a good one!