Seven Months!

Hey Fam,

How the heck are ya? Well this week has just flown by. I am having a lot of good experiences here. I am figuring everything out so that is good. I mean I am going to have to because my comp that is training me on all of the stuff is headed out in like two weeks. Wow that is crazy that this transfer is already almost done. I feel like I just got here. I also realized that that means that I have already been here another month. That makes seven on monday. It is crazy how fast the time is going by. But I am loving every second of it. 

So let´s see what happened this week. We have been working hard. President wanted all of the numbers put into graphs and charts so that he could read them better, and see an overall view of them. So we have been going back to find all of the numbers that have been recorded for the past few years. It is crazy how much stuff there is to go through. Because up until this past year everything else was kept on paper. We had to find everything on the computer and then go through all of the binders to find all of the other ones too. That was a lot of work. But we figured it out and he was very pleased with the results and how fast that it all got done. That was good. He seems to be very happy with the work that we have been doing. It is really fun to be able to do it all and see how the mission functions from the office stand point. Because there are many who don´t get an opportunity to see this in their missions.  I feel very blessed to be able to be here. 

This week we had to go and fix the transfer board in Presidents house. It´s not too fun of a job, but it was really cool to be able to go to his house. Because Sister Avila made us some good food for lunch. She made meat pizza. Which is just like a meatloaf with pizza sauce and cheese over it. It was really good. Might be that I am just always hungry that the food tastes good, but it was good. Then she kept finding stuff for us to have for dessert. Ice cream, then some candy bars, then an alfahor. It was just great. But I think the best thing was being able to see them in a home setting. Not just in the offices working. It was cool to be able to see how they live and just that side of them. It was really fun.

Also today for p-day we have some baptisms. There is a kid that is 22 named Jean-Carlo, and another kid that is 19 named Gaston. They are both just really cool kids..that is mainly what p-day is going to be. Is filling of the font and having the two baptisms. Because due to their work shedule there will be one service at one o´clock and the other at like six.  Today won´t be too much of doing anything other than preparing everything for that. But that is okay. I am excited to be able to be a part of people getting to know the gospel and gaining the testimonies. So I am just loving life and everything that I am doin right now. 

I don´t have any pics for this week. But yes my hair is all blended back, I only had a bald spot for a day or two. I hope it was a good story for all of you and that you got some good laughs out of it. Because I did. 

I love all of you so much and thank you all for the wonderful letters, they help so much to know how you all are doing. I hope you all have a wonderful week, because I am planning on it. 

Love,

Elder Wheeler

What did you do??? Good thing he has two hair styling sisters!!!

Hey Everybody,

 

Well this week has been great and somewhat of a long one too. Not really too long but at the first kinda had a bad experience. Well I will attach a pic to show what happened. But anyway here it is. So Monday morning came around and I noticed that my hair was getting long and so I decided that I would just cut it real quick. I know how to do it with the hair clippers.  I did it no problem. I have some hair clippers that Elder Benitez who went home gave me. And so I was just about done and it looked pretty good. But I couldn´t be sure if everything in the back was done. So I had my comp Elder Lounsbury help me out. He did it just fine and it all looked good. But I decided that I would just go over all of it to make sure there wasn´t anything long. And when he handed it back to me he had twisted it all the way down and I didn´t check before putting it back up to my head. But I didn´t realize that until I had done one swipe on the side of my head and it sounded like I had cut a lot of hair. I looked.. and sure enough I had a swipe with next to nothing on my head. Ya that is one of the worst feelings ever. When you realize you have a bald spot. But what can you do. 

I didn´t want to shave my head completely bald obviously. So I shortened it all quite a bit. And yes it looks like I have a military cut. The first day it was very noticeable  because I have very dark hair as you know and a very white scalp.  I decided to wear a beanie until I could find something else. Even though it was like a hundred degrees outside.  I walked around in missionary attire, with a beanie on as well. Ya it was a little embarrassing. But hey what can you do. Then later that day I found a bucket hat, I guess you would call it that. The ones that have the brim all the way around. But it was yellow plaid and very noticeable as well. But it's not like everyone doesn't stare anyway. They always stare at the gringos walking around in a white shirt and tie. Anyway needless to say I didn't have too fun of a day. 

I mean I really don't care what people think, but I knew it was there and I didn't like it. And then when we had like an hour left in the night I figured out that the inside of the hat was all one color and it was a tan color not really that noticeable at all. But by that time it was already dark, so it didn't matter anymore. And then the next day I decided that it wasn't that big of deal and that I have seen a bunch of really bad haircuts down here anyway so I will just fit in right. So I did that and I was doing fine because nobody that I could tell was noticing haha. But then we walked through this huge group of people and these two girls just stared right at it. DANG IT! I was hoping I could get through without people noticing.It's not like I can really look the other way so people don't see it when they are on all sides of you. Oh well I am never going to see any of those people again so not too worry.

At the end of the day we had a lesson with one of the members. And so I just rested my head in my hand the whole time I was there. And I think I pulled it off pretty well haha. By the time we got back that night I realized it had grown out a little in the past two days so I cut the rest of it down a little and then you could hardly tell. But yes it was just a very bad start to the week in that aspect of things. I mean it really didn't affect me much, but it just wasn't fun. I do however have a good story from it though. One of the kids that lives with us and works in the offices is learning English and he speaks really well Elder Falcón, he was calling me "spotty" all week. But it wasn´t anything new to the million nicknames I have at home. It was a really great experience some would say. But those that would say that... didn´t experience it. Anyway I hope you all enjoyed the story. 

This week I made something really good. Philly cheeSESteak (ganz, matt-er, and rach can explain that one if they get it). Anyway we decided to make those and so I got to cook them because apparently nobody else knows how to cook around here. But they were very good. I sautéed mushrooms, onions, and peppers in a pan. And then cooked the meat just cut into strips with some garlic salt that somebody left here, and some seasoning salt and some sauce that smells like it could be worcestishire sauce. And then we put them with cheese on a baggette and they were just so good. They tasted like home. I need ideas like that to make for lunches. Because we now don't have time to eat with any of the members so we end up just eating crap. So if you could send me some ideas and maybe some recipes that I could make for lunches that would be awesome. 

So I got that package on Valentines day. It is so nice to be in the offices. Because I get it as soon as it comes in. I don´t have to wait another month before someone comes in to get my packages. So that was really cool. Thanks for all the treats. They are the best. I have them right here by my desk and so I get to have snack time throughout the day. Thanks for that it was great. That was really all of my exciting experiences for the week. My comp Elder Lounsbury had his birthday yesterday so we ate a ton because Sister Ence who is one of the Senior missionaries made us some lunch which were these scone things filled with meat and cheese. They were so good. And then president bought some pizza and an ice cream cake. So we were all stuffed by the end. 

So one of the Ap´s is from Alpine, Utah and we were talking the other night and showing each other our pictures. His name is Elder Burr he is a cool cat. We both love watches and were talking about thems. He has his pilots license so that is cool he can just go fly when he wants. And his dad makes planes and stuff. So ya he is a really cool kid. And then guess who he is related to. Ya I doubt you guessed but his uncle is Rick Alden the owner of Skull Candy. So I was telling him about how I met him and all of that so it was really cool. This world is just so small it´s nuts! Anyways that is all I have for today. I hope everyone has had a better week than me. Well I can guarantee you all have because you didn´t shave a bald spot into your head for a couple days. But I love you all and hope to hear from you next week. Also when you have time I would love some more pics of the fam, I don't know if you have anymore of us all together or what but just pics of the fam would be great when someone has time or finds some good ones. Give those little leller fellers a hug for me. Thanks for everything.

Love,

Elder Wheeler

P.S. The Church is true!

Hey Fam,

So how is everyone doing? I am still loving it being here in the offices. It is a lot of fun. I have a really cool companion, his name is Elder Lounsbury. He is the old historian and is training me for this transfer to be the new one. And then we are in a trio with the secretary. Elder Moon, eh well, let's just say I get along better with the one I share the office with. Elder Lounsbury is from Oregon and is a pretty cool kid. We have a lot in common that I have found, apart from the fact that he is a cougar like every other person in this world I swear. What the heck! Anyway time is just flying by for me, I cannot believe that it is already February. Where has the past year already gone. I am still stuck in july of last year. When every I ask someone about something I always base my time of that for some reason and they look at me very weird. Because I say something like, "Oh that was like a month or two ago, right?", but in all reality it was almost a year ago. It is just weird how that all works out. Time is just a weird subject. And it goes by way too fast.

So it just emailed part of the message without me telling it to. But anyway. I attached some pictures. And there are some of the families that I had to say goodbye to from the area I just left. And then there is one of me getting to cut some grapes from somebodies vine. Those grapes are huge by the way. We left that members house with a whole boat load of grapes and a huge bag of peaches that we went out and picked off of the trees that they have. It is really weird to be able to do that. But anyway the last one is of the two ladies that we got to baptise. Raquel and Liliana, they area a mother and daughter. The mom is Raquel and she asked me to baptise her because I have a calming spirit about me or something like that haha. It was just cool to get to do it. I mean it would be better if someone in the ward would have done it because then they become better friends with people in the ward. But nobody ever came with us to visit them, so they really only knew us and so picked us to do it. It was fun, I mean I am not complaining about the experience that I got to have,  because it was great. 

Anyway a story I guess. We got to make some tacos with President and Sister Avila. It was really fun. When I say we, it was mostly me helping Sister Avila haha. But really it was fun. Because the Packers the missionary couple that just left, had left a ton of stuff to cook with. And they left a huge bottle of taco seasoning. So we took advantage and made some. It was really fun and Sister Avila was asking me all about everything. And asking me where I learned to cook. And I said from my mom. She thought that was so cool that I had learned how to cook from my mom. I don't know I have just always loved to cook, and so it wasn't hard to want to learn how to do it. But ya that was fun to be able to get to know her a little better and maybe get some brownie points haha. 

I really don't have too many stories from this week, but I am loving it here and loving everything that I have the privilege of doing. It is such a blessing to be here and I just want to thank everyone for the letters I love hearing from all of you. So thank you so much for all of that, and I hope you all have a great week! 

Love you all a ton,

Elder Wheeler

Love your friendly neighborhood historian:)

Hey fam,

So lots of big changes going on here. I am now officially in the offices of the mission! It is nothing at all as I expected it to be. But it is really good and I am enjoying it already. So the historian really has nothing to do with history haha. The basic stuff that we do here is put in all of the baptismal records and send them to Buenos Aires. That is the main job that we do. And then we have a lot of other things that we are in charge of that are just misc. Also we are basically the computer guys in the office haha. We just get to fix everybody´s problems when they come up. And come up with new programs to make the work in the offices easier. So dad I am getting my excel skills sharpened up for ya. I had no idea any of this stuff even existed in the mission field. But it makes sense that there is something here to run all of it smoothly. I now understand how the offices function and keep all of the things mission related working smoothly. So basically we get to invent stuff that will make life easier. I really enjoy it so far for that part. Well punching in information is not the funnest thing ever, but that´s what we have to do.

Yesterday we had to set up a conference for the trainers and new missionaries. I´ll give you a little overview of what I did and see if this sounds familiar? We first went in and set up Presidents computer and projector. And then we set up tables and chairs in a "u shape" around it. And then put out the tables for breakfast. Yep you guessed it I am back at the guest house haha. I feel like I have the same responsibilities as I did at my job. But then instead of going home after we go out and proselyte. So I really do enjoy it. It will take some getting used to for sure, but I am sure that I will like it Because I get to see President just about every day. And basically when you get called in here you are here for atleast six months.  I have some good time ahead of me. I am companions with the previous historian because he is training me to do everything, and also the secretary. We are in a trio for this transfer. Also there might be eight missionaries working in my area as well. I really don´t know how this is going to work, but ya we have an area full of people. The three of us, and the three assistants, because they are training one of the assistants right now too, also two of the sister missionaries. We have been trying to figure out how to coordinate all of it, but it is really difficult. 

Yesterday after we were done in the office we headed out to go tracting. We walked all over the place and no one was home and it was blazing hot. After we had visited everyone in our plans we just figured we would start over and go back through all of them to see if there was someone that got home in the mean time. And the first one we went to was a less active member that was home. We went in and were talking to her and she started telling us that the bishop was coming over later to do something with them. So he was supposed to be there within like a half hour. We didn´t know if we should wait for him or not. And we came to the conclusion, that we should just teach a lesson and if we were done before he got there we would take off, or if he got there during it we would stay a bit longer. We said the prayer and before we could start talking the doorbell rings. It was another sister from the ward that the bishop told to come by. Then the bishop called and said that he would be a little bit longer, but that he wanted us to wait and that the sister missionaries were coming too.We were a little confused by everything that was going on. But then the sisters got there and we were talking and waiting for the bishop, and the doorbell rings again and we all thought that was him. Nope it was the first counselor in the bishopric. And his family. By this time we were getting really confused and had no idea what was going on. And finally at like eight thirty the bishop shows up, and he has two guys behind him carrying all of this equipment. Ya apparently they were wanting to film some video thing. So we didn´t really have a choice by this point we had already been there forever because he kept telling us he would come and then two hours later actually shows up. So they start filming a family home evening. And we all got to be in it. I was trying to get out of it, but the bishop wasn´t having it. So we all got to be in a video that they are using to train all of the ward secretaries down here in this area. Because apparently the Area presidency sent them to do this. Ya it was super weird, because we had no idea what was going on. But we are all in a training video if that helps haha. 

It has just been crazy so far with everything that is happening here, but I am still loving it and hope that it stays that way for the rest of the time I have here. Also I do have p-day on saturday so letter day is now on saturday. I will come back to see if anyone has written later on today, because it is early and I know that it changed on you. So if you have time today it would be great to hear from you. But if you can´t I understand and maybe I will get one next week. That is a little update on me and everything that has been going on here. I hope that you are all doing well at home and that you are having some fun. Give the pups a hug for me. I love you all and thank you for your support, I enjoy getting letters from all of you. 

Love your friendly neighborhood historian,

Elder Wheeler

P.S. I am finally at a computer where I can watch the movies that were sent and that one of Gack is priceless. I love it. And of course the ones of shaky legs and rolly polly. Thanks so much for those whoever sent them.