Monday, November 18, 2013

Show Me the Meaning of the Haste

Oh Yeah,

This week was absolutely amazing and I am grateful to be here in Perú. I went to the temple and it really doesn't get much better than that. I feel that Heavenly Father is pleased with my service and I'm a happy camper. I love Perú so much.

So, last Monday we went out to some cool ruins that are just chilling in our zone. It was really cool, well really it was just nice to see something different and worthwile. It reminded me a lot of Mesa Verde.  (I'm so grateful for all of the fun family trips we've been able to have and am so looking forward to more on the way.) I mean, I think all the people thousands of years ago built their houses the same so, just go visit Mesa Verde. And then we can all go to Macchu Picchu, sounds like a great plan to me.

It was amazing to me to see the difference in some of our investigators this week. Let's just say when we started off they were having a hard time understanding the simplest of things. I don't know if they were just really scared or what it was, but now you can see there is a light on. They are understanding things and can even explain back to us, or have questions of their own. Alright, I know what it is and it's called the gospel of Jesus Christ. When they do what they're supposed to, especially reading the Book of Mormon, they become much more enlightened. For all of you people out there studying at college or maybe another language in the mission, I know the best way to learn is reading the Book of Mormon. In any and all languages. My testimony of that book increases each and every day. I love it so much. Just put it to the test if you don't believe me.

By far the best part of the week was being able to go to the temple with Luis and his wife Rosa. It was a little crazy getting there, but some nice people helped us along the way and we made it there on time (which is amazing with Lima traffic). It was just so great to see them outside the temple waiting for us and Hermano Luis gave me a huge hug. I kind of felt the whole day like I did at his baptism which was amazing. He was so happy and was treating me like his savior.  I sure love him. Once again, I was looking for something big but found joy in the little things.  I'm so grateful I have been able to be a part of his family's life and seeing him go through the temple made missionary work have a whole new level of importance. 

It was so amazing all day the peace I felt. It just felt like home and I really have missed that feeling. I'm gonna go to the temple as often as I can when I get home because that's where I feel best, that's where life gets clearer. I didn't feel overwhelmed with happiness or anything, but the absolute peace was amazing. There is no place better on this whole planet than the temple and I am so grateful we can go there to feel the love of God.

So about the title. Once again, just go watch the Lord of the Rings. It's amazing, oh yeah and maybe The Hobbit part 2 is coming out soon. I really don't know, but I hope you all enjoy it. Well in Doctrine and Covenants 88:73 it talks about hastening the work and President Monson said that prophesy has been and is currently being fulfilled. That was really cool for me to hear and think about. I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing work. This is the craziest time of my life and sometimes it hurts real good, but then I just feel the love of God even more. I'm learning so much about trusting in Him and just doing His will. I know if we do His will we can be, if not happy, peaceful (FULL OF PEACE).  I know God is with us through thick and thin. He's the best friend we could ever wish for and as we truly remember that he is our FATHER, it all makes much more sense.
I love you all so much.  You are constantly in my prayers. 
 
So, I'm trying this thing where I'm gonna be praying more about baptizing and finding new people because prayer has been so powerful for me. I invite you all to do the same. Think of what is most important right now and don't cease praying for it. 
 
Well, I love you so much and thanks for all the support. I definitely couldn't be doing this without you. Keep fighting the good fight as my brotha Jacob Jespersen says. And enjoy the weather wherever you may be.

Love your Peruvian explorer,
Elder Aaron Micah Wheatley
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Monday, November 11, 2013

Seventy Times Seven

Such a good life,

Matthew 18:21-22 (Perú Lima West Mission Translation)
21 Then came [Elder Wheatley] to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall [I have fleas and continue strong]? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Hope you guys enjoyed that. So looks like I'll be writing once again after 483 more attacks. 7 times in the mission, Seventh Heaven. Luckily this time wasn't too bad, but they just love my blood. I love Perú so much though.

Alright, this week was so awesome. I had a great companionship inventory with my companion and we were able to make our companionship even stronger. It amazes me how much we can accomplish if we all just talk. I encourage all of you out there on missions, or at home, to just talk if there's something wrong. We are going better than ever and I am so grateful to be here with Elder Herrera.

One cool thing about last week I forgot is I met Elder Robles. He's from Mexico, more specifically Nogales. Well, that's a place in a song by Brandon Flowers, so once again I did a little freak out. ''From Nogales to Magdalena there a 60 miles of sacred road. And the promise is made to those who venture, San Francisco will lift your load.'' Once again, highly recommended any song by that man. Oh yeah, it's cool cause not many people live there and now it is verified, that it's a real place.

Yesterday was the Primary program and it was so amazing. It's definitely my favorite Sacrament Meeting of the year all over the world. You always get the classic whisperers followed by the yeller. I just love it so much and it was even better from the first one last year in my first area Fiori. It reminded me so much of home and all the great ones I was able to participate in and then later watch. I'm looking forward to many more years to come.

I was thinking about all of the teachers I had in Primary and please tell Sister Nibley, Sister Sucher, Brother and Sister Broadhead, and Brother Bingham that I am so grateful to them for fulfilling and magnifying their callings. They helped me become who I am today. And just thank everyone. I'm so grateful for all that I've been given. Man, Primary was the greatest and maybe one day I'll be able to help some kids stay strong. Every calling in the Church is so important and my testimony of that just keeps getting strong. Oh yeah, and ''from the mouth of babes'' -- I think that's the videos that is just so awesome. They really understand it, better than us. I'm just so grateful I was able to see that yesterday and remember how nervous I was, I've sure come a long way. This girl was crying, but she went on and it really touched me.

Oh yeah, and there were like 50 kids. That's huge. I love my ward so much.

I will hopefully be going to the temple with Luis           this week and I am so excited for that. It will be either Thursday or Friday so we'll see what happens. I'm just so grateful that he is staying strong and for the tender mercies of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I love being here in Perú so much.

We almost had 2 baptisms set up for this week, but yesterday we found out one of them is co-habitating. She told us she was separated in the first lesson and we were so happy. We were so excited for her baptism and she was working really hard. Then yesterday it came out. Well, really it's our fault. We forgot to ask about her second spouse. Oh yeah, I'm gonna be asking up until 4 from now on. 

I hope you all have the best week ever. I'm reading in 3 Nephi right now and I love it so much. I'm praying for all of you.

Please tell the Aunties thanks for the package I love it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Just keep up the hard work and I'll be looking forward to next week.

Love your flea bitten brotha',
Elder Aaron Wheatley

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Bacon

Vacán,

So, that's how you say cool in Perú and I also ate bacon this week so, yeah, good times.

This week starts with me making my way to the center of Lima because my companion had to go to the doctor for his knees. The good news is that he's doing alright, the bad news is that we were resting all week long so not much happened. The better news is that, I WENT TO THE CENTER OF LIMA. Wowwy dowy, it is so pretty down there. Like I was in the long dreamed of Garden of Eden. We drove right by the golf course and it was B-E-A-UTIFUL. I'm talking, holey toledo status. Then we just kept on driving and out of nowhere pops a Nissan GTR. That was pretty amazing. I was drooling and crying and shouting for joy. Alright, maybe not so much, but it was amazing. It was all just so green down there and so well kept. Also, I got to see the national stadium and that was cool.

Then after the clinic we went to Chili's and I got to eat a bacon burger. So delicious! It really can't get much better than that.

We were just resting all week, so not much happened. I got to do a work visit with Elder Holley and that was super cool again. We just talked some more and threw around his baseball. Wow, that was so good. I miss baseball and we just talked a bunch about sports. He got moved to the offices and I'm gonna miss him a ton, but it's so cool to know we have a long time after the mission to have fun. The picture is a painting we found in his area on the side of a school. I really want to take more pictures now because there is some cool stuff going on down here.

For Dad, and all who know what I'm talking about. This week I was just walking along and did the quadratic rap. It was pretty cool and fun to remember you.

Our ward is doing great and we just keep getting more help. Luis             is going strong and will probably go to the temple this month. I'm so excited to go with him and will keep you all posted.

A good scripture for the week is Matthew 16:25 and also Proverbs 27:5 seeing as President has asked us to be more direct.

Letter to President:

In my studies for the week I learned a lot about preaching to the people even if they don't want to hear -- like Samuel the Lamanite. He just did the will of God and many people were blessed for his work and obedience. Not everyone was saved, but it was a lot more than before he started preaching. He was so brave and so direct and I want to be even more like that. I also loved reading about Nephi and how he was so worried for the righteous people. I love how it says the people were nervous, but were firm in the faith. I can't even imagine how that would be, but they teach me a lot about faith. And then it's so awesome when Christ talks to Nephi and tells him that the next day He was going to come to the earth. That's how it always is, He waits until the last minute and we have to stay strong in the faith.

This week was really weird because my companion has been resting all week. My spiritual experience would definitely have to be the interview I had with a joven named Aarón in Los Olivos for his baptism. I just knew he was ready. It felt so good to talk to someone with so many desires just to do what's right. I love doing interviews because I feel close to the people so quickly and I also feel close to heaven. It just amazes me all of the changes people are willing to make in their lives to follow Christ.  I am so grateful to be a part of this work.

I love you all so much and thank you for the prayers. I'm happy to hear things are giong better up at Nomi's and Uncle Tyler will be in my prayers along with the Youngs and the whole family.  Just know that I am so happy down here. It's a different world, but I love it.

Please send my love to everyone, especially Oma and Opa.

''Put that thing back where it came from or so help me''

Have the best week ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love your Sully lovin' pal,
Elder Aaron Micah Wheatley

Aaron and Sully