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

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.