We Love Missionaries!

Hey fam,

How is everybody? It has already been another week crazy I know. I am thinking that this time thing is only getting faster as we go. It doesn´t seem to be slowing down for anything. But that is just how it is so we gotta work with what we have. I have just had a full week of things as usual. We got two new Elders in the offices this week, because the Accountant and Secretary both are training new people for their jobs. So there are two new elders that came in to be trained. They are both really cool. Elder Dugger is going to be the new one in charge of finances I don´t know if you would call it being the accountant or what but anyway. He is a really cool kid and we get along pretty well. He is from Syracuse. So not to far from the mutt. So we have become pretty good friends already it is pretty cool how it all works out. That you can know somebody for a day and already consider them friends. I love it. 

So guess what I got this week, MY PACKAGE!!!! It was great thanks so much for doing that drivers license whoever was in charge of that. And also for the rest of the stuff that was in there. Rach that hair stuff works great, you are welcome to keep that coming haha. I don´t know how long it will last me but it works great for what I wanted. Also I was going to ask that you send me my red beanie are a black one like it or something. Because I like the long ones better. The one I have is really small on my head and I don´t do well like that. So I am borrowing one from another Elder for a bit. So whenever you could send that or if not I will just buy one or something. The reason I am asking for it is because for some reason out of nowhere, we just got hit by a freezing front. It was in the short sleeve weather this last week and then this week it has been enough to wear my coat and hat and scarf and stuff. It is pretty cold I must say. I mean it says that right now it is in the low forties or something, but it feels a lot colder than that out there. I am not so sure that this weather app is so accurate. But if it is too much of a hassle to send things just tell me and I will see what I can do to go buy stuff on p-days. So let me know. But ya it has been super cold and also rainy so we have been having to be pretty bundled up to go out and work. But that is ok I am loving the cold. I like it a lot more than the heat. I realized that I should have brought a lot more things to wear for cold weather though. I was not even thinking about that, but oh well. So story time, um I was asking Sister Ávila where I could go to find a scarf. Because I don´t really like the one that I brought. And so she was like well I will just give you one. Because they have stuff for the Elders that don´t bring it. And so I was telling her that I just wanted to know where it was because I know that I can afford to go buy it. And so finally I talked her out of it. But then at the end of the day I was sitting there waiting for my Comp. and she was going through all of the clothes she looked over at me and smiled and pulled out a scarf. I was trying to argue with her to tell her No but she wasn´t having it and then wrapped it around my neck and told me I had to take it. And then President walked in and said ooh! the colors of San Lorenzo which is his soccer team. Blue and red. I was still trying to take it off and give it back but she wouldn´t let me and then President was like I bought that one while it was on a discount with my own money not the missions so you have to keep it haha. It was really nice of them and of course I thanked them, but it was just one of those things that I knew I couldn´t except. I mean after a President telling me that I had to keep it, there wasn´t much I could do about it. It was really nice of them and I was impressed by their willingness to give eventhough they knew that I could afford it and everything. They are both just so great and I have had such a blessing to be here with them and get to know them on a more personal level. I love it so much and will miss it for sure, but also it is hard to be in the offices and not get to work in my area too much. Because I am not happy unless I am out working and doing what I came here to do. I didn´t come here to just sit and be an office worker. And that is what president doesn´t want us to feel like. He wants us to be able to go work everyday by 4. But unfortunately my companion doesn´t always feel the same way and thinks that everything here is more important so we have to sit in the office all night sometimes. But oh well. Some things that you just have to deal with and work through.

Alright so to explain the pics that are there. The first two are of my buds from Panama. They both went home this past week. And so I had to get a pic with them. I don´t like the lighting in the pics they look super bad, but anyway those are my buds. The tall one is Elder Arauz, and the other short one is Elder Obaldia, the one that I spent my first three transfers with in San Rafael. He was the zone leader that I lived with. It was sad to see my buds go but also happy for them to be done and moving onto something else in life. The next step. Then there are some of the trip that I went on with President. Some mountain shots, and also one of me out in front of the hotel that we stayed at. It was a super fun thing that not many can say that they have had the chance to do with President. I had a ton of fun! Another reason I have been so blessed to be out here, and just learn from a wonderful President. But anyway I don´t have much else to say right now. I am really tired as always but I am having fun nonetheless. I hope you are all doing great, I love you and thank you for all that you do for me. I love this experience that I am able to take part in at this time in my life and I wouldn´t trade it for anything in the world. Thank you again for the package it was great. I am going to try and email a letter home to get to Parker if that is possible. 

Love you all,

Elder Wheeler

¡Hasta la semana que viene!

Hey fam, 

So how is everybody? So that gack movie was great. It was making me laugh, although he said he was going to kill me haha. Oh I miss the little dude, that isn´t so little anymore. So how was steve handling everything? Does he have my email address? If not could you let me know when you find out what his is. Because I would like to be able to talk to him. Anyway I hope you gave him a hug for me. So where are all of the Weller going? I haven´t ever been filled in on that info. So let me know where they are all going. Also did you guys sit in the usual bench in sacrament or are we the outcasts still up there. Have we been replaced by a regular or was it a newbie?

So the zone conferences were all pretty fun. I mean I heard the same thing 10 times so that got a little old. But I learned a ton being with President. He is such a great guy and this trip helped me to see that even better. And to answer your question I have no idea what I took while I was sick. I was half asleep and President just told me to take it so I did. And I felt better after so that was good. But he said it was something usually used for nausea in pregnant women or something to that affect. So I am not sure but it helped haha, so I can´t complain.

 I can´t remember what I told you about all of it last week. Because we only had two of them in San Juan this week. But it was fun to be able to be there. I was able to see all of my friends from the MTC so that was really fun. I saw my MTC companion too and it was really cool to see how much we have both progressed since then. We are pretty good friends and had some fun catching up on everything. And also everybody else that was in my district. So it was fun to catch up on everything. Because it has been a long time since seeing any of them. 

So we are about a half hour away from our area every time we go, so it is hard to get a lot of work in. Especially when we can´t leave when we want. So when we go out, we have to hurry around to everything and try to make the best of a really short time of being in the area. This is the first transfer that I won´t have baptized because we just haven´t been in the area. It is hard to do all of the work that the office requires and get people progressing in the gospel. But it is fun either way. The zone conferences were all centered on getting references from the families in the plan 5/5/5. I think the plan is called working together there or something like that. But it is where there are five families from the relief society, elders quorum, and high priest group that the ward wants to work with to get re-activated. And so with these families that are less active we go and try and find ways to help them get involved in missionary work because that is one of the best ways to start coming back to church when you know you have to help somebody else get there. So one of the families we are working with, we went by and actually found them home for the first time on Easter. The other elders in the area had wanted to take them off of the plan because they weren´t ever coming or keeping any of their commitments. But we got a number and talked to the daughter for a minute. Then on Sunday they were all there in church. So that was pretty great. They came to church without us even getting to talk with them. So they were ready to start coming back. And then we went and had a little chat with them that sunday afternoon. And they had some chocolate milk and little biscuits and jam for us. It was really fun to talk with them, because the guy has been a bishop, and he was a bishop in the place where President Ávila was serving as a missionary. So he knows him pretty well. And he was just telling us the whole time that it was time to come back, that they were sick of not coming, and that they weren´t going to let anyone else offending them be a reason for not coming. I swear every person that has gone in-active is only because somebody was inconsiderate and said something to hurt their feelings. If we could just watch what we say and be a little more tactful in the way we do things, we would not have near as many members outside of the church as we do. But unfortunately it is not that way yet.

 

Anyway I have been doing great since being sick, it doesn´t affect me for more than a day or two, which is really nice. I have been very lucky and not been sick as many times as most other people get here. I have a goal to never go to the hospital here so I am going to be staying healthy. 

Alright mom on the sweaters I was thinking just blacks, greys, blues, or reds. Obviously they are supposed to be somewhat conservative, but I am not a big fan of just the plain ones. I like argyle or ones like that. Or stripes or something I don´t know. And ya I think v-neck is the best option. Just swing it through rachuuul´s approval and we will be good. Also I was thinking if it is possible I would love one or two of those tie clips out of Boompies box down in my bathroom. I think silver is the best color, but I don´t know which ones are in there. I really like the tie clips, but just don´t want to go buy one when I already have some there. So if that is possible I would love those. Also I need some pens to do highlighting in the the scriptures or maglazines. Because I don´t really like the crayon or pencil types, they always rip the pages or just leave a bad residue on it. So if you see anything, like maybe skinny highlighters or the really really fine tip pens. So that I can write in the margins and be able to fit it all. Or maybe one of those multi-color pens. The Chip Hayes ones haha. He always had the blue and white pen that has like four different colors in it. Rach will know what it is I think. Also Elder Allen who is my new buddy that had to get the kidney stones out, has a really cool framed pic of his family and I thought that would be really cool to have to set up on my desk. So if you found a frame or something with a good family pic or somethin I would really enjoy that. These are all just ideas, so if you can´t don´t feel bad I understand. 

Also I haven´t received the last package yet. Don´t worry as soon as I get a package I will let you know that week. I just haven´t received any yet, so I didn´t say anything. But also pics are always great if you have any new ones that you want to send. I don´t have any good Hawaii ones. So if you want to send some of those. Also of the mountains, the mountains are not the same down here. They are all just bare and boring. haha. Anyway some ideas for you guys if you have time. Oooh also maybe some uncle dan´s dressing packets if possible? Sweaters are what I don´t have, and ties are always fun to get too. I will keep thinking of stuffs and let you know as I have been doing if this helps you know what to send me. I don´t know if there is such a thing, but do they sell mountain dew in powder form or something like that? I have no idea if it exists but that would be really fun to have also. Anyway that is all for now, thank you so much for everything and for the great family that you are. I can´t imagine possible being in a better one. I love you all, and am so thankful for all of you. You have all done more than you know for me and it makes the difference and you are the reason I can still be here and not have to worry about anything. So thanks and I love you all,

¡Hasta la semana que viene!

Les amo,

Elder Wheeler

I think we just have weak stomachs in this fam.

Hey Fam,

How is everyone doing? I am still doing great of course. I had some very good experiences this past week with the opportunity to be with President and the Assistants. So we went to San Luis, San Rafael, and Alvear. Those were the three zones that we had zone conferences at this week. It was so great to be able to go back to my old zone of San Rafael. It is the one and only other place I have gotten to know here in Mendoza. And it was great to be able to see it all again.

Traveling with President is something else, and not something that very many missionaries get to do so I have been making the best of it and trying to enjoy it. I think it helped him to have me there as well. Obviously because I had to give the presentation on how to do the new letter to president which is the reason for taking me. But also because then he had somebody to help him with his and also set everything up. He is just a great guy and is so funny. When we were driving home there was a big truck that was going really slow and we got stuck behind it. There was a sticker on the bottom that read this is a translation obviously, but it said if i´m not driving my truck, I am with my God. Or something to that affect. And after having read that President said "what a shame your not," only joking of course, but it was super funny. He just always has the perfect thing to say about everything to make everybody laugh. I had a lot of fun with him, and just felt like I learned a ton. There are just things you never would learn from him unless being in that situation. 

One of them that was brought to my attention by Elder Baker one of the assistants, because the same thing happened to both of us. But anyway on monday night we went out to eat late and I had lasagna. But something about it just did not sit right with my body. I think I got food poisoning. Because I was up all night sick and then in the morning, but we had a zone conference to get to. So we went and while we were sitting there starting it all up, President told me to go into the chapel and lay down because he could tell that I was sick. I didn´t want to say anything to him because I didn´t want to be one of those kids that complains about being sick. So I did as I was told and went and slept for a little bit, and before I knew it President had come in with some medicine for me. He just didn´t have lunch and went to the pharmacy to get us some medicine. It was like we were the only missionaries there. And he just dropped everything including his own needs, and helped us. It was just one of those acts of kindness that you don´t see in leaders these days. He is just such a great man and is definitely called of God. He doesn´t ever think about himself and is always helping other people to feel good and have what they need. It is a characteristic that I hope to develope. So ya out of a crappy experience of being sick I learned a very valuable lesson. And then after having the medicine I was able to feel good enough to give my presentation. After I was finished President said that I was super pale and that I should go lay down again. But I just couldn´t do that, I felt guilty enough going and sleeping the first time, I couldn´t do it again. I know that it wasn´t anything bad because the President was telling me to do it, but I just felt like I was being lazy and couldn´t do it again. Eventhough I felt like crap I just stuck it out haha. But now I feel quite a bit better. I mean I still feel the effects of the sickness that I had, but I am getting better.

I leave again monday for two more zone conferences. These to are in San Juan. So I am getting to know the whole mission with not even a year under my belt yet! Pretty crazy I know, I feel extremely blessed to get to be able to do this with President. And I will get to learn a whole ton more in the next few days from him. So it is pretty great. 

I am loving life and everything that I have been given to do. Thank you all so much for the letters and everything that you do for me. You are all such a blessing in my life. I love you and hope you all have a great week.

Love,

Elder Wheeler

Pretty sure he's loving every minute he's there:)

Hey Fam,

How is everybody doing? I am still having a great time here in the offices. The other day I found some old cd´s and so I looked through them and found a picture of Bill. So there it is proof that he was here!  And the other night when we went to pick up the new Elder with Sister Avila she told us to take a picture of the lights of mendoza so that is what is in the huge park that is just down from their house. And then there is one of me with my new jazz shirt on, and the last one is from the third floor of the house we live in. I don´t know if you are going to be able to see much from it, but it is just what I see from there. 

Anyway so this week has been a good one and this one starting will be even better. So we were all talking to President and Sister Avila about who was going to go with Elder Allen to his surgury and President asked if I wanted to come to the zone conference the next day. It felt like it was out of the blue, but in all reality it had been planned that he was going to take me, he just waited until then to ask me. Of course I was really happy to go. So the reason that I am going is because they just changed the way to write the letter to President every week and people have been having problems doing it. So since I am in charge of it he wants me to go and explain it to everyone. So I get to travel to all of the zone conferences with President and the Assistents. It is super cool. We did one in Valle de Uco on Wednesday and then had two on Thursday and Friday here at the chapel next door to the offices. So I have only traveled two one of them. And I take the time at the first to show my presentation and explain how to do it all. It is really fun to be with president so much. He has some incredible insights from the scriptures. Obviously I mean he is a mission president. But we just had some really good gospel discussions in the car ride there and back, so I am just feeling really blessed to be able to go and be with them. So normally I wouldn´t be going with them, and so President is happy to have someone to set everything up for him on the road, because that is what I do when they are here in the chapel close. 

So my comp. is in charge of the finances and so he had to go get a check signed by President last night. And so when we got there, President was like, Hermana they came to eat all of the pizza because she was making it for the kids. And then since there wouldn´t have been extra, he ordered three and we ate them with him. It was just so fun, we went not expecting to get anything of course, just to go drop off the check, but ended up getting a full dinner, and then an ice cream cake to take home. And the whole time that we were there President was just joking around so it was just really fun. 

But anyway that is about all I have for this week. I will be traveling this next week so I should have some good stories and good pictures for you next week. Thanks for all that you guys do. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Wheeler