I'm a Song from the 60's

I love you all so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright, I'll try to write as much as I can about this week, but really my mind just keeps going back to Matthew.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU AND FOR ME AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF PERÚ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I KNEW YOU WERE COMING TO PERÚ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Okay, quick story about my ''knowing''. So it was Thursday night, the night I thought Matthew was going to get his call, and I was talking to my companion and the family that we live with. I was saying that I had a feeling he would be coming to Perú. I really don't know how to describe it. Ever since I received my call I always thought it would be cool for Matthew to come to Perú. So that leads us back to Papa. I remember two and a half years ago during Conference he gave a tie to Joseph. He explained that it was al paca wool and that it was really special. I was happy for Joseph and didn't think anything until 2 years ago April 2011 General Conference. Papa came out with two more ties and gave them to Matthew and me. He then explained again how special they were and I was pretty excited. I wore that tie pretty often and really loved it. One day in the Singles Ward my Stake President asked me if I had served in Perú because of my tie and I said I hadn't served yet. Then exactly one year ago I opened my mission call and bawled like a baby. That tie became one of my favorite possessions. I thought about Matthew and Joseph and wondered if there was something really special, almost magical, in those ties. I said Matthew was going to be called to Perú, as for Joseph I'm not sure, but it would be almost perfect.

I told my companion and the family this and they thought it was cool. I guess at that point Matthew had already opened his mission call, but I had no idea. Now today I am shaking, so excited about Matthew and all the fun stories we will have. I thought it would be awesome for him to just speak Spanish so he could talk with Charlie, Hillary, and me, but I received an even better gift. He is my next door neighbor and one day we will be coming back together. Maybe I will be able to come pick him up (seeing as he leaves almost exactly one year after me). I don't know exactly what the Lord has in store, but I know it's something special.

One of the last things Papa told me as I was able to talk to him over the phone has stuck with me and means even more now than ever. He said that he had walked the streets of Lima and had been where I am. I know that counts for so many places in the world, but it was something so special from him. I am so amazed at the love and mercy Heavenly Father shows to us all as a family. I keep thinking that it's impossible for our family to become any closer, but the Lord keeps surprising me and blessing me so much.

I LOVE YOU MATTHEW AND THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright, I hope that keeps you all informed. Now on to my week.

This week we are for sure (sí o sí) going to the temple and I am so excited for that too! We will be going Thursday the 28th and I think we are going for the 2 o'clock session, but am not quite sure. Once again I would love for any and all of you that can to go to the temple and feel of the Spirit there. I love the temple so much and am really excited to go to the Lima Temple for the first time.

Last Monday was such a miracle too. Really all week long has been such a miracle. We watched a movie called ''Together Forever'' and I'm not sure if I had my mission goggles on or not, but it doesn't really matter because it was a response to my prayers. It made me remember exactly why I am here in Perú and comforted me a lot. Sometimes I get thinking about how life just adds stresses and how crazy it must be to be a parent. But then I watched the video and remembered that having a family is the greatest joy we can ever have and I felt the Spirit so much. The investigators (Leonor and her son Walter) really felt it too. Her husband died about 4 months ago and I know it meant a lot to her. They are so amazing and have been prepared to hear the message of the Gospel. I am so excited to teach them again today. That movie is just what was needed at the time.

Oh yeah, so it's with the same family after the movie. We were talking about what we had felt and her neighbor who is a member was there. We asked her to share her testimony and all of a sudden she just takes off. She was talking forever about who knows what and then started talking about a near death experience she had or something.  Walter was just kind of laughing every once in a while. I tried my best to cut her off nicely and thought I was doing good and then she would just pick up where she left off. Nothing worked and so we just had to wait it out. I figure it is just one of those mission stories that will make it through the ages. I'm still laughing about it though and love the adventures of mission life.

Another good story is about how we were searching for an investigators house. The addresses here are pretty messed up (better than some other countries I have heard of) and we couldn't find the house for anything. We did get some good contacts in though as we kept knocking on the wrong door. After 40 minutes we finally found the house after passing by twice and having to evade dogs multiple times. We knocked and they said he had just left. Another good one for the memories. We did find him later in the week though and he actually went to church which was awesome.

This week I caught myself thinking in Spanish and I don't know how often I do it or for how long it's been happening, but it was really cool. The Gift of Tongues is real.

We had a bunch of new investigators this week and I never thought I would say it, but I'm getting to the point where it's almost that we have too many. They are all new though so there isn't really anyone to drop. Oh well, we'll just keep working hard and trusting in the Lord. We met so many amazing families and I know Heavenly Father is blessing us abundantly. I know we are receiving blessings because of our obedience. Elder Figallo and I are far from perfect, but we really try and I know that's why we are blessed. I love my companion so much and this week has probably been the best of my whole mission. We actually study as a companionship which is so important and focus on the needs of the investigators. As we have done so our minds and hearts have been opened by the Spirit and the Lord keeps pouring out His blessings.

We were able to be there when an Elder in our ward was released from his mission. I'm not really sure why he had it done in front of other people, but it was pretty special. It gave me so much of a desire to just go out and work. I don't want to be released, it can come later. I just want to go talk to the people out on the street and help them receive the greatest peace and joy they can find in this life.

Saturday we had a Missionary Night and it was awesome. A lot of investigators came and I think it was a fun time for them. We played a bunch of games including musical chairs and that was fun. The song ''Return to Me'' came on and that was a highlight. I remember watching that movie and for all you chick flick lovers out there, it's highly recommended. We also got wrapped up in toilet paper like mummies and that was pretty fun. It reminded me a lot of the Mutual activities we had and I'm grateful now more than ever for the great leaders who set up so many fun times for us youth.

This week I looked up the street and it seemed so normal to me. Once again, I'm not sure if it was the first time or just the first time that I noticed that feeling, but it was something special. Perú feels like home right now and I am doing everything to keep it that way. Church just felt like church and being with the members really is like being with family. I love Perú!

Now for random moment of the week. We were walking home last night and all of a sudden I just started running ''flighless birding it'' is actually more correct. For those of you who know what that is I hope it makes you smile and for those of you who don't look it up on Youtube. My companion was just laughing at me. I thought about Ryan Tirrell and all of my friends that have done it before though and it was a good ol' time.

As for my reading in the Book of Mormon, it was probably the greatest week of studying the Book of Mormon for me.  It is the most amazing book and my testimony was strengthened so much. I loved reading in Alma 12 about the Plan of Happiness/Salvation/Redemption/God. It was explained so plainly and clearly and I have never noticed it before. It was exactly what an investigator needed. Then I got to read Alma 14 and was blessed even more. I studied it alone and then we studied it as a companionship. We learned how important silence is and how sometimes we need to just ''take it'' as Jesus did. I remember that Charlie sent me some verses from that chapter when he was on his mission and I love it too Charlie. It's so amazing how the Book of Mormon has changed for me on my mission. I always loved it, but my love has grown exponentially on my mission.

Then today I was able to read Alma 17 and we all know how amazing it is for all the brothers and sisters out there in the mission field. I am so grateful for all my friends serving with me and am excited to be joined by even more.

I think that's about it.

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

I love you all so much. Have the greatest week ever!

Love your son, brother, and friend,
Elder Aaron Micah Wheatley

P.S. The title was just something funny that came to my mind. Brianna might know what it is, but Jake definitely does.

An amazing family - Carlos, Luisa and grandchildren

Activity night -  being wrapped up like a mummy!

Happy Days!

Hey Everybody,

We weren't able to go to the temple last week, but I hope you were able to. And if not just go this week. That's the amazing thing about living so close to a temple. We can go whenever and however often we want.

That's so fun to hear all about Brianna and softball, orchestra, a capella, and good ol' high school. Just make sure you keep on loving it because Timpview is the best. Sometimes I didn't realize it, but now looking back those were such fun times.

I'm glad to hear that you got to play games with Oma and Opa. Watch out for me when I get home though because 2 years absence should give me enough luck to win just about any game that I put my hand to. Farkle above all the rest.

I'm excited for Matthew to get his mission call. I remember almost exactly one year ago what it was like. I guess Thursday will make it exactly one year (March 21st). My guess is Perú, I just feel something about it. Make sure to take a video because I never want to forget what it was like when I opened my mission call. Wherever you are called Matthew, I know the people will be blessed by you. We are all so blessed to be your family and that's how I know they will be blessed.

Things sound like they are going great with Mariah and I'm excited to hear about the date. Also Charlie, it's about time you wrote me.

This week we were so blessed. We had so many new investigators and I really see the Lord's hand in his work. Josafat is so awesome! We were also able to talk to his dad and his sister. His dad (Javier) is a great guy too, but he doesn't quite get it. In the first lesson he had read The Restoration pamphlet and he told us that he know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. He also said he knew the Book of Mormon was the word of God and he hadn't ever even seen a copy. He said he knew by the Spirit that it's from God. We gave him a copy and he has read 5 chapters, while Josafat has read into Jacob in less than a week. Josafat has a baptismal date for the 30th, but his dad for some reason or another still feels his baptism was done with the authority of God. We don't really know what else to do so we are going forward with Josafat and just hope that his dad will feel something. The really cool thing though was the first lesson. We went up this hill to get to there house. We entered and there was just one candle for light. I was thinking about how crazy that was and how we couldn't teach by candle light and then I thought. Yeah we can, this is going to be an awesome story

It felt so good this week just to work and talk with the people. I don't know who reads these emails, but if there are other missionaries I hope what I write encourages you in your area. I know sometimes when I read things I feel kind of inadequate or sad because here in Perú it's not exactly the same as your experiences, but I am so grateful to be doing the Lord's work with all of you. This week I relearned how much I love contacting. It's just so nice to talk with people and I'll make an extra effort to contact more this week. I hope the work is going forward in your areas and know I'm praying for all of you.

Thursday was Pi Day, and my oh my was it a good time. We didn't get to go searching for pie until like 8:30 and the two panaderías were out. So we decided to bye another pastry and then I remembered one more store. We went there and they had apple pie. We bought it immediately and then went on to buy some Inca Kola to mix American and Peruvian cultures. We just chowed it down and my companion said ''la gula'' or gluttony which is a capitol sin. It was so good though and so fun to think about those little traditions back in the good ol' US of A. I'm not going to miss a Pi Day for the rest of my life. It's just too good!

Now just a weird thought. We get to walk by Catholic churches everyday and they are so interesting. They are just massive and cool to me. We never go in, but I think after my mission I'll go inside back home. If you've had the desire to go in one, just go for it. Not really sure where that came from, maybe that's what walking around all day in the sun does to you.

This week I was able to finish ''Our Search for Happiness'' and I started ''Our Heritage''. It never ceases to amaze me all that the pioneers did for us. They sacrificed so much and I receive so much strength knowing they went through hard things too. The part about Zions Camp really struck me though, how the Lord needs us to pass through trials so we can prove to ourselves that we have faith in Him and will be loyal to Him. I want to study about Church history more when I get home. It's so interesting to me.

Last night it rained!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, that was a pretty big surprise. It really was nothing compared to real rain, but it was fun to walk around in it none-the-less. I barely even got wet at all, but that's Lima for you.

This week I was reading in Alma about all that he went through to help the people remember Christ. I really liked Alma 8:10, 15, 16. It helped me remember that we can rejoice at any moment when we are keeping the commandments of God. I'll be making an extra effort this week to rejoice in all things. Alma and Amulek are also such men and there's no denying it. End of story. Such great examples who teach me such great lessons, although I haven't read it yet, I just remember from previous readings. They went through so many hard times and trials, but they ended up being so blessed. Usually I just remember all the good they did, but they had to go through a bunch of garbage to get there. Maybe I won't help as many people as they did come unto Christ, but I can be the best missionary I can be and endure my trials with faith in God.

I'm so excited for you Dad to be officially accepted into the program. Have such a fun time in Austria and Germany this summer. That would be so cool for you to ref some games. I'm also excited to hear about all that happens with your administration things.

I love hearing from all of you and hope you have the greatest week ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love your best friend forever,

Elder Aaron Micah Wheatley

What a Great Time!

Hola Everybody,

CONGRATULATIONS BRIANNA!!!!!!!!!  I'm so excited for you to be playing softball and I look forward so much to being able to watch you play when I get home. Make sure you just do your very best and imagine I'm there cheering you on. Play your heart out on Tuesday and best of luck during your Orchestra concert too. I'll be praying for you and thinking about you tomorrow. Also, from the pictures of last week. YOU ARE GROWING UP WAY TOO FAST! JUST STOP IT! Alright, I guess neither of us can stop it, but wow. You are a lady now. I'm sure you feel the same as I do Mom. It's okay though, I guess that's how life goes. Mom, Brianna, and Mariah, you all looked so pretty in the pictures.  I am so blessed to be part of your family. And let's not forget our handsome Dad.

Happy Birthday Hillary and Joseph!!!!!!!!!!! Today is a special day and I hope you are having the greatest joint/seperated birthday of all time. I loved reading Hillary's email and I remember those emotions really well, actually they still linger a lot. I think my emotions confuse themselves sometimes and they're not even sure what I'm supposed to be feeling. I love being a missionary!!!

We're getting a new mission president Blake D. Archibald and he was born in Brigham City so that was really cool to hear. He lives in Northport, Alabama right now and I'm pretty excited about it all. I wonder if Dad or definitely Oma knows him or his family. I just thought it was really cool that he is from Brigham City.

That being said, this week I gained such a strong testimony about President Dorius. We had a Zone Conference and it was so awesome. I was just reading 2 weeks ago in letters from friends about going to zone conferences and how awesome they were. I wanted to have one so bad and then within a couple of days they told us we were going to have one. I learned so much about being a better missionary, about how to use silence and above all teach with more unity in a companionship.

We watched a video and it was so awesome. It was about a group of kids in Thailand that got together and built a soccer field of wood and learned to play on it. Then they got invited to go to the land and play on grass in a tournament and we learned how we need to all work together as a community (ward). I just loved it because it was in Thailand and made me think about Ryan. Sometimes I get a little down because I think about my friends all over the world and how beautiful it is or the different experiences they are having. This time I just watched the video and was so happy for Ryan and all my friends and family without being jealous. It's just that one day I will have to go to Thailand for sure. It's about Panyee FC and I recommend it to everyone to look up on youtube if you can find it. Quality film!

Sister Dorius talked about Havasupai and about how we have living water. The people need to walk through desert sometimes and work hard, but the end is so beautiful and worth it all. It made me think about Jake and how Havasupai was thought about very often during high school, but how we never got to go. We'll go some day!!!!!! It's just a given. Way too beautiful to be true and so fun to think about great times back home with Jake.

Overall, I just remembered why I was on a mission and it felt so good. I learned so much from the Spirit and I have a testimony that President Dorius (and all mission presidents the world over) are called of God. His hand is in every aspect of this work.

Happy Ides of March this week. I don't know why I remembered that, but I thought it was funny so enjoy Shakespeare and something even more important. PIE!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, it's Pi Day this week too so make sure you get your healthy filling of that good stuff.

On the bus ride home a guy just started talking to me in English and it turns out he has lived in New Jersey for almost 30 years. It's pretty crazy to me how bad his English still was, but it was fun to talk with him. I got his address there and it's just amazing to me how small the world is, but even more how much Heavenly Father loves ALL of his children.

Alright, now on to Marco. He was baptized this week and it was one of the most special experiences of my whole mission. As I watched him go under the water and come back out I was filled with so much joy. He is so awesome and has read through 2 Nephi 2 and maybe even more. There were between 30 and 40 people at the baptism, which just might be my mission record and it was so amazing. He bore his testimony and said that he knows Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet of God. I was just stunned. Most of the people don't even remember who the living prophet is, let alone have a true testimony of him. That just blew me away. I am so amazed by Marco.  After the baptism we talked about him going on a mission and he said he wanted to go already. That was so cool to me and I feel so privileged to be a part of the Lord's work. 

This week we were really blessed to teach a man named Carlos. He is the husband of a member and has gone to church several times. We got there and he just asked us what he needs to do to be baptized. We had a great lesson, which was just more us listening to his life story which was really sad. He has had a lot of hard experiences in his life, but he is an amazing guy. He said he never was a kid because he had to grow up too fast so he does his best to help everyone else have a childhood. We talked about the Atonement and it was so special. Yesterday we passed by and he told us that he had to leave to work. We don't know when he will be coming back, possibly months, but we will try our best to stay in contact. He has truly been prepared by God and the gospel can bless his life so much.

Yesterday a young guy named Josafat came to church. We had talked to him in the street the day before and invited him to the church. When he was in Sacrament Meeting I just smiled at him and assumed he was some member I had met, but didn't remember his name. Then it hit me that he was the kid we met in the street the day before. He stayed for all 3 hours and had read the pamphlet about the Restoration we had left with him. That was a really cool thing because a contact has never gone to the church alone before. I have been seeing so many little miracles here in Los Rosales and am so grateful to be here.

Elder Figallo is my new companion and he's from here in Lima. He has 3 months in the mission and he's a great guy. I know we're going to do great things with the Lord's help.

I loved reading all about Abinadi, Alma the Elder, Alma the Younger, the sons of Helaman (Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni (I hope those are there names)). They are such great examples to me and I know my mission will change me just like it changed all of them. I am excited to continue to read in the Book of Mormon and feel the Spirit it brings to my life. I receive so much strength and love that book with all of my heart.

I just might, hopefully, possibly, if all works out perfectly be going to the temple tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be thinking about all of you if I do and so I'd like to extend an invitation. If we do go it would be for the 2 o'clock session and I invite everyone who is able to go to the temple tomorrow (at the same time if you can) too. I love the temple so much and so look forward to going through the Provo Temple again, especially with all of you. If you can make the time I'm sure we will all be blessed. If not, please just make sure you go soon, because I have no idea when the next opportunity will come. Go to the temple as often as you can because I miss it more than I can even describe. It truly is The House of the Lord.

Congratulations to Adam on his call and to Joanna Lam too. I was thinking about the Lam family the other day before you sent the email so please tell them and everyone else hi for me.

I love you all so much and keep you all in my prayers. Thank you for all the prayers you offer in my behalf as well as all the other missionaries serving.

Have the greatest week ever!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just go have a blast! Have fun with Oma and Opa too. Make sure you all play some good Phase 10 and Farkle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TTFN (ta-ta-for-now) Love you all,

Elder Aaron Micah Wheatley

 

My new companion - Elder Figallo

This one is for Gioia and Kim. Everyone else can enjoy it too. My new companion pulled it out and there was no way I wasn't going to take a picture. 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Ol' US of A

Hey You Guys,

This week has been absolutely nuts and Heavenly Father definitely has a lot for me to learn. I'll do my best to write it all down, but please remember me in your prayers as well as my companion Elder Bravo and all the other missionaries out in the field. We really can't do this without heavens help and I thank you for all of the prayers you have offered, I know they have strengthened all of us.

I want to wish Charlie a Happy Birthday last Saturday. I hope it was an awesome day. Also next Monday is the birthday of Joseph and Hillary so I'll write it again next week, but Happy Birthday Dear Hillary and Joseph!!!!! Have the greatest birthdays ever.

My new area Los Rosales is pretty sweet and I know we can have a lot of amazing experiences here if we just follow the Spirit. The pensionista (sister who cooks our food) is probably one of the best in the whole mission. She cooks all types of food from all over the world and even lived in Utah for a year. She is an older lady who works at the temple and is so strong in the gospel. But back to foooooooooooooooooood. Yesterday she cooked us spaghetti and there was hamburger meat, real hamburger. I think that's the first time I've eaten real hamburger in all of Perú. She feeds us lots of fruit too which is delicious.

Quick ´´epistle´´, as Brother Andrew Woodruff calls them, on Elder Aubrey and Elder Bravo. From Elder Aubrey I learned to be more loose and have lots of fun with my companion. Of course it was a lot easier coming from the same culture and speaking the same language and everything and maybe what I learned from him is how grateful I am for the US. I love Perú, but as Seth Cannon said in a recent letter ''God Bless America and it's beautiful language´´ (I don't know if he reads my letters, but I hope that makes someone laugh thinking about Seth). I also learned to be a better follower and allow others to show me the way. From Elder Bravo I have learned to be more respectful, especially to other missionaries. I am currently learning how to be a senior companion (something I never thought would be so hard to figure out), and how to love the people of Perú more.

Now back to America. This week as I was in the bus I heard the song ''Safety Dance'' come on and I highly recommend everyone to go listen to it seeing as I am not able to. It reminded me of Youth Conference with Jake Knell and someone please tell him that he needs to read this email. It was just one of those moments that was way too good to be true. I could imagine the music video and everything.

I went on a work visit to be with Elder Howell and that was so awesome. We both worked so well and it was one of the best days of my whole mission. We both joked around so much and just had the greatest of times. The lessons just flowed so perfectly and the investigators were all so great too. We still struggled a couple of times trying to say exactly what we wanted to in Spanish, but that's how it works. We were at a recent converts house and were about to leave. We were trying to get the little girl to pray. We were just trying to encourage her and the next thing we knew she was crying. Well, I guess there's a first for everything. I just hope no one else cries again because we ask them to pray.

One investigator in our area is named Marco. He's so awesome and has read to 1 Nephi 20 already. He accepted the Word of Wisdow with no difficutly and when we talked about the Sabbath Day he said he would talk to his boss to try to get Sundays off. When we told him he couldn't play soccer on Sundays it looked hard for a second, but he knew what he needed to do so he committed to it. He didn't show up to church yesterday, so I really hope it was him just working his last Sunday at his job or something. I guess even the golden ones have things to overcome sometimes though and we'll just trust in the Lord because with Him all things are possible.

One change that may be for my good that has happened since I arrived in Perú is my touch bubble. It not only has shrunk, but has pretty much disappeared. I guess that's what happens when you have to get on jam-packed, to the brim full, crammed with people buses almost daily. Maybe this will help me find a happy medium for the rest of my life.

I'm so happy that Mariah made it home safely. It sounds like she's doing great and I'm praying for her all the time. That's got to be one of the weirder moments of a persons life and I hope the whole family is spending a bunch of time with her. Good luck on your talk this week and I'll be thinking about you Mariah.

I hope everything is going great with Hillary and am looking forward to hearing about all the happenings on her mission. I loved the MTC, but I think it's like every other part of the mission. When you look back you remember all of the good, but there were also a lot of hard times. I was reading my journal the other day and it seems like it was a lot harder than I remember. I'm grateful for hard things though because they make us stronger and know I'm praying for you Hillary as well as the whole Young famly.

Thank you so much for sending me that email from Daniel Wheatley a couple weeks ago. It sounds like things are going great for him and that's so cool that he got to see Elder David A. Bednar. Keep working hard my brother, I love you.

I hope everything is going great for you Mom, Dad, and Brianna with all of the changes that have happened. It's all so crazy, but as a family we're all doing it together.

This week in the Book of Mormon was absolutely fantastic and I am so grateful for my best friend (the Book of Mormon). I loved reading about Abinadi he is such an amazing example to me. I want to be strong like him and will try to do better. Alma was just as cool too, following the words of a prophet and baptizing so many people to help them come closer to Christ. Ammon just completes the trio and I'm definitely looking forward to reading about all the ways the Lord blessed the people and all of the miracles He did that are coming up soon. I am learning so much and trying to apply the teachings to my life. I love reading it with you Mom and encourage anyone else to join us if you want. We are reading 3 pages everyday and we're on page 189 I think.

I love you all so much and am praying for you with all the energy of heart.

Have the greatest week ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Elder Aaron Micah Wheatley

The view from our window.

Change Again!

Hey Everybody,

Happy Birthday Daddy Micah Wheatley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you have the greatest birthday of your life and enjoy turning 18 on Thursday!!!

SHOUT OUT TO MY BROTHER JOHNNY LIAO!!!!!!!!!!

Well tomorrow are transfers and it looks like my roller coaster ride just gets to continue. I'm moving to another area within the same zone with a Peruvian named Elder Bravo who has been called to the La Paz, Bolivia Mission, but his visa hasn't arrived yet.  He's been out one transfer so he's still training.  My area is called Rosales and my house is right next to the church.  I have really come to love my mission and we're just going to get to work.

I really wanted to stay in my area, but once again I get to learn on my mission just to do the Lord's will and not worry about what I think would be fun or cool. I am learning to be humble, I hope, but always have so much more to learn.

This week was kind of all crazy so I will do my best writing down what I can.

I'm so excited for Mariah to be going home and know life is just going to keep getting crazier for all of us. I am praying for you Mariah and thank you for always supporting me so much on my mission. And please make sure to take a bunch of videos of her so I can hear her accent when I get home from my mission. Have the greatest of times going through the temple too, I miss it and look forward to going through it again.

Brianna, I am praying for you too and am excited to hear the results of softball tryouts. Just make sure you do your best no matter what team you are on. I'm looking forward to watching a bunch of your softball games when I get home.

This week is a crazy one for Hillary and I remember so well entering the MTC. It's really impossible to describe so we will all just have fun talking about it when we are all together again.

Congratulations to Matthew on being accepted to BYU! I don't know if you have decided to go there or not, but it would be cool to take classes with you when we are home if that persuades you one way or another. I'm looking forward to hearing about all your mission plans and promise all you young men out there that the mission is the greatest decision you can make at this point in your life. It's definitely not the easy road, but you will learn and grow in ways that you will never be able to if you don't go.

Alright, now a couple things about my week.

I got a bunch of letters this week and it was so amazing to read them. Thank you so much Mom! I just bawled when I saw the program for Papa's funeral. I am really peaceful still though so no worries there. It's just so weird being on the mission, but you all know how that is. Also, thank you so much Aunt Kimber. I will be writing to the Aunties within a week or two, so be looking for that.

When I received the letters, I realized that I have not been writing very many funny experiences, and it made me wonder if I have been having funny experiences. So I looked for funny things and realized that being funny is a lot about presentation, so I'll do my best to let you laugh along with me about life here in Perú.

Well, my apartment is right next to a bunch of dirty dogs (which definitely explains the fleas) and they are just disgusting. Well, at night sometimes we like to sleep, but I'm not sure if the dogs do. My companion says they are making ''demon noises'' and I think that is a perfect way to describe it. Just imagine if you were, yeah I have no idea how to describe it. It's the worst whine mixed with a bark I have ever heard and for that sometimes we don't sleep very well. I don't know if they are slowly dying or just demons, but that's what it sounds like. WELCOME TO PERÚ!!! I think my new house should be better, but we'll see.

I'm definitely going to miss Elder Aubrey and Elder Howell, my two gringo amigos. We were coming up with some band names and my favorites have to be 3 Whytes Latino, Barely Bañado, and the classic Husky Youngster. I hope you enjoy thinking about all of that just as we all enjoyed it.

Another good time, we had some mentos and a coke bottle so of course the logical thing to do was make the awesome chemical reaction. Us three went up on the roof with camera and everything just to have a good time. Well we put the mentos in the can and nothing happened. So yeah, that was another funny moment. We were all so excited and got fed with disappointment. You just have to hold on to those little chances for fun in the mission sometimes though. It's all part of the life.

We weren't in our area very much this week, but yesterday we had a great lesson with Royer, the man we met 2 weeks ago looking for my water bottle. He is so ready and it was so amazing to be a part of that lesson. I guess I don't get to keep teaching him, but that's all part of the plan God has for us. I know God is concerned in the littlest details of our lives and I'm excited to find out all that He has in store for me.

This week is going to be real crazy for all of you, but just remember that I am praying for you. I love you so much and am so grateful for all of your examples to me. I feel so much peace reading the Book of Mormon and love reading it with you Mom. I learn so much everyday and am so grateful to Heavenly Father that I can learn and grow on my mission.

I love you all so much and know the Lord will watch over and bless you, just as He is watching over and blessing me.

Thank you for all your support and love. I have never felt so much love in my life and am so grateful for my family, all of you.

Have the greatest week ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And make sure to take lots of videos.

Love your best friend forever,
Elder Aaron Wheatley

Weirdest thing I've eaten on my mission so far!  

Octopus Hash

Baby octopus

I cleaned my plate!

It wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't the worst either.