Hey family!

So I’m loving my new area.  We are right by the beach and right next to one of the biggest cities besides Buenos Aires.  And! Everything is sooo green! Awesome. The people here have been pretty friendly so far. So I’m excited to find people to teach. 

Okay, so my companions. First I’ll start off with Elder Contreras. He is from Rio Negro, Argentina. He also speaks English too! Legit! He is basically like my twin but from Argentina haha. We like the same stuff, have the same humor and the same personality. It’s awesome. Probably one of my favorite companions so far. I have to be careful in a trio because I don’t want to give all the attention to one of my comps, or the other is going to feel bad.  Its already starting to turn into this. My other companions is  from Paraguay and I’m trying my best to love this guy, but he isn’t a happy person.   I’m super stoked to be in Mar del Plata, all the elders in my house are super cool. And we get along great. The Spanish all the time is pretty easy. When I first thought of being with Latinos, I was scared haha. But it’s super easy. Spanish is coming along great. There is still a lot to learn, but hey it’s okay. I’ll never be perfect. 

So we have 2 investigators that I want to tell you about. They are this couple that are living together (not married), and between them they have 15 kids...and one on the way haha. Their house burned down and now they have nothing. The dad sold his car to buy a piece of land to build a house on. He collects pieces of wood where He can find it and puts it on his house. We’re talking super humble. But they are soooo amazing. Super great people. When we teach them, I feel like we're camping haha. We sit on wooden stools outside at night..and we turn into ice cubes because it’s so cold! They have problems with smoking, but they are ready to drop it. And haven’t smoked since we taught them the word of wisdom. Also they are going to get married really soon. This week they are going to take a number to get married. It might be like a 4 month wait, so that sucks. But at least they are fulfilling the commandment with God. They’ve been to church twice already! YEAH! They have to walk 45 min. to get here too. Basically nobody has a car here, so we can’t help them out. But yeah, their baptism is on the 13th of October! I’m super excited! 

Sorry this email is so random. I had to type it super fast because I didn’t have a lot of time. Also Nathan never wrote me to tell me about the tennis match haha. FAIL! That’s cool that he’s driving now alone! Scary Stuff. Also..teriyaki. That sounds soooo good. You don’t know how bad I miss that. That’s one of the first things I want to eat when I get home. But we won’t talk about that yet haha. I love you guys a ton! Have an awesome week! If you have any questions, let me know!! Chau!

Elder Wheelwright


okay so about this package...beef jerky teriyaki flavored. Dried Fruit..mangos, papaya? Hot sauce. Cholula. Yumm. Haha food, somewhat healthy. haha. Almonds!! Flavored almonds please!! The blue diamond brand in those cans haha. Please!

                            

Baptism in Santa Rosa

Hola family!!
So big news... I got transferred! haha It was a huge surprise. Being in Santa Rosa for only 6 weeks is weird. People usually stay there for months and months. I thought I was going to end my mission there. But yeah, I'm now in the city of Mar Del Plata! It's a HUGE city and it's right next to the beach! whooo! I'm stoked! Its the furthest place away from Santa Rosa though. My bus ride was 11 hours! Ugh...it was so lame. and uncomfortable! I tried to sleep, but it was pretty much impossible. In the end, I actually wanted to stay in Santa Rosa for the ward and the investigators. We have 2 baptisms that are 100% for sure that I had to leave...nooooo! I was way sad about that. But in some ways I'm happy I left. Fresh air, new companion, new area.
The baptism on Saturday was awesome! A miracle happened too. Marta, the lady who got baptized, has a huge fear of water. In her whole life shes never put her face under water. The night before the baptism she couldn't sleep at all because she was so nervous and scared. We even stopped by her house 2 hours before the baptism to check on her, and she was practically shaking. But when it came time for the baptism, I asked her how she felt. She said that all of her fears left her and that she was calm. We did the baptism in one try! YEAH!! What a miracle. I'm going to miss her and her family so much. They are sooo cool! We bonded like instantly with them. They would always invite us over for dinner and stuff too. She cried when I had to leave, it was way sad. I'm no goood at saying goodbyes haha. Bleh. But that's the life of  missionaries. Don't live with feelings, or else you're just going to be sad in the end haha.
So I am finally with my first latino companion! He's from Paraguay. Actually, I have 2 latino companions... I'm in a trio. Nooo...those are the worst. The other guy is from Argentina and he is waiting for his visa so he can go to Spain. The air in Mar Del Plata is so awesome, its fresh and clean and moist and smells like the ocean. Our house is not that great. It's 2 stories though.
I forgot my memory card this week, lame. Sop I'll have to send you guys some pictures next week! I love you guys so much and thanks for all of your support! Let me know if you have any questions, chau!!

Elder Wheelwright

Oh, as for stuff in the package. I'm super good with supplies and stuff. Shirts, I have too many haha. It's almost time to start ditching stuff, like all of my winter stuff. Maybe just food from the states haha. I'm not sure. Tapatilo hot sauce and cholula hot sauce would be great!! haha I love it.. Chau!

No way! You got a tablet...haha. holy cow, look at you mom all high teched up and up to date with the world. haha I'm super jealous. Nathan is playing tennis? This is news. Haha. I don't think you told me that. Tennis is super borring, pero mal. Haha. But I'm glad that he enjoys it. I'll make fun of him for it later haha. Syke. I love you Nathan! So how is your spanish anyways? You should ditch it at Decatur and take it at Highline. You will learn so much more!
So the amount of snow was super lame. We're talking flakes falling for like a minute. Santa Rosa is so weird. Its hot for a week and then freezing the next. When I say hot, it is HOT. I got burned already haha...crap.
Nathan has his license...legit! Watch out world! So does dad drive the white car now then? Hey I've been thinking..on the subject of a car...haha. Its not trunky thoughts or anything, but one does have to think about what one is going to drive. I'm thinking an Audi...think about it. hahahahahaha. Anyways, we´ll talk later. You should drive the white car off of a cliff, it doesn't even work properly. What classes are you taking at Highline Nathan? The kid that never writes me...
OH! So we don't have to move just yet. We didn't have a new place to live so the mission gave us an extra month in our house and to keep looking. Legit! This weekend we have transfers. Wow. Already! We'll see whats going to happen. For some reason, I really do think I'm gone this transfer. Its weird. I guess next Monday you will find out! haha

So this week we have someone getting baptized!! Her name is Marta. She's been investigating the church off an on for about 4 years in total. So we're super stoked for that! YEAH! This week we worked super hard. We taught like 29 lessons! YEAH!
Oh..so yesterday we got in a bash attack with an adventist. He let us in, and before we ever started talking. He pulls out his phone and calls someone. He says...Hey so I'm talking here with 2 Mormons in my house about the bible. You uhh.. you think you can come down here? Hahaha oh my gossshhhhhhh!! hhaha  He called his pastor who happens to also be a famous religious radio host down here haha. Dang. Luckily he never came though. It was a super heated conversation. I can't sit there and be attacked. I always get mad haha. So I kind of let him have it. But its okay, it was still in a loving manner I think haha.
We'll I am out of time.  OKayyyyy bye!! Love you guys!!

Elder Wheelwright

Hola family!
Today I am actually feeling better. Funny story...haha. So I got better from being sick and then I went and worked on a super super cold day and then the next day I was sick again with something different. Awesome no? haha. But I think I'm on the upside of it now, whooo! Finally! This transfer has been a transfer of being sick, bleh. I got a blessing from a member in our ward and he said in the blessing that I would never get sick again on my mission. So that was pretty cool!

Yeah everyone is coming back home! Super weird. It doesn't help me stay focused...haha. It actually makes me trunky haha, but thats okay. I always bounce back super fast! Spencer is going back to California already haha, Seattle didn't last very long. It was too awesome for him to handle ;) hahaha. Yeah so Alisha told me that they were up there visiting, its like a giant party. Fun stuff! Babies are kind of rough. Its easy to play with them for a little bit, but then after (at least for me) I get super bored and frustrated. haha like go away baby! Give me my space! haha what zoo did you guys go too? The one in Seattle? Woodland park? Miracle is a beast, she`ll take down anyone who gets in her way, even babies. So watch out haha. I saw this dog yesterday that looked like Miracle awwww haha. I had a picture in my scriptures of her, so I showed it to the owner of the dog haha. Legit. She liked it a lot. QUUUEEE HERMOSA!

The work down here is coming along. We are seeing blessing from the Lord. He knew we were going to get sick so he gave us people in the beginning of the transfer to teach. We are preparing 2 awesome investigators to get baptized on the 7th of September. One is named Marta, she has investigated the church for 4 years now. She loves the missionaries and is always making us food. Awesome. Although I don't eat it a lot of the time haha. (they are usually sweeets). But yeah, super awesome and everyone in the ward already loves her and yeah. Good stuff. The other lady has investigated the church about a year ago. She is now participating in all the activities in the ward and is making friends and exchanging phone numbers. Haha this is a good sign to us. She couldn't come to church this Sunday because she got sick. (possibly because of us haha) I feel bad! Everyone in the ward knows I'm sick and every time someone else gets sick, the blame gets put on me haha, its not fairrrrr!!!

Transfers are already in 2 weeks! Holy cow! I have a hunch that for some reason I'm getting transferred already. Hmmm, we´ll see. (it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world...haha) uhhh I mean....  OKay
Have you eaten anything weird lately?  Nope, nothing weird recently that I've eaten. I now just tell people what I don't like and they don't get offended and I never have to eat gross intestines or things like that. = a win.
Holy cow, it snowed in Santa Rosa on Saturday!!   It was only a little bit but still. It was awesome!! Well I gotta run, this week we have to move out of our house...noo. First we have to find a new one though haha. So I'll probably be in a new house by next Monday. I don't want to leave our hotel and our elevator!!! nooo....haha   Love you guys! Chau!

Elder Wheelwright

Hola Familia! 

So it was good to hear from you guys finally haha. So your vacation sounded pretty fun and pretty adventurous. Those little cars look legit. I miss driving a lot, gah! But thats okay. 

This week was a little bit weird. We only worked for like half of it because I'm sick and my companion is sick too. 

On Monday, we found this awesome lady who is pre-prepared and is going to get baptized. We went to visit an investigator who is kind of weird and that doesn't really understand what we teach. In the same house, someone just moved in (to live with this investigator). The person that moved in is Mariela. She has talked to missionaries in the past and has even been to church and activities. She never got baptized because she was living with her boyfriend. So it was a miracle that we found her. She told us she was super excited and surprised when we knocked on the door. She told us that she's been wanting to come back to church, and that its something that has been missing in her life recently. YES! She accepted a baptismal date and went to church this Sunday!!   It was awesome. 

We also found this one family that I think I mentioned last week.    The mom didn't want to get baptized because she has fears of water. But now she accepted to get baptized and is fully committed to it now. We ate dinner with them this week too. How legit. The Lord is preparing us with people to teach! 

Wednesday we had a conference with the mission president and he talked about the Book of Mormon a lot and how it should be our focus always. Its the thing that sets us apart. So now in our teaching, I'm trying to use the Book of Mormon even more. 

 

So..I officially have a sinus infection. I went to the hospital and they took some x-rays of my face and stuff. I've been taking like a million pills recently. I don't like it at all. Ugh. Luckily there is this awesome family in another ward that is helping me out. The mom is a nurse and shes giving me medication so I don't have to buy any more pills. Its amazing. I love those guys. 

 

Well so that's what has happened this week. My email feels really short, but I don't think there is anything else haha. I love you guys! And I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Wheelwright

 

 

Hola!‏

So we have a rule change! Yayyy..... We now write in the mornings at 11am my time. And now we only have an hour. It kind of sucks, but what can you do.
So I'm still pretty sick right now.  Its just a bad cold, but my body didn't take it well. I have a sinus infection right now and I often have a fever. Bleh. I called the mission doctor and he has me on some medication. It was super funny talking to him. He lives in Buenos Aires and he is the doctor for all of the missions in Argentina. He is from the states and doesn't speak spanish at all. So when I was on the phone with him, it was super hard to speak English! I started in English and then I automatically changed to spanish. GAH. haha. Its hard. I have a feeling that when this is all done and over with, I'm going to sound dumb trying to speak English.

This week was a little confusing because I was on exchanges a ton.  Since my comp is the zone leader, I have to do all of the exchanges too.  So we didn't have a lot of time to work in our area. We did find a lot of awesome people in the time that we were here though. We found this one family that loves the missionaries and their 10 year old daughter got baptized 8 months ago. The mom was going to get baptized, but is afraid of the water. Strange, huh? SO we are going to work on that. We already got invited to dinner with them on Wednesday.   They already love us! haha. I'm super stoked for them! We also found this 24 year old girl who knows some members and they are friends, so we taught her and we also have something set up to teach a lesson in the home of those members that she knows. YAY! So we are seeing a little bit of progress. We work super hard, and a lot of times we don't see any results.   Its lame and discouraging. But every time something good happens and you find an awesome person, it makes everything worth it.

I think that is it. I don't have a ton of time left. I feel rushed again with only an hour...ugh haha. Well I love you guys and I hope you had a good vacation!! Until next week! Also write earlier..haha because I didn't get an email from you guys this week..tisk tisk tisk haha :P

Elder Wheelwright

oh p.s. those are all the pills that I have to take. Its sooo hard haha. I feel like I'm going to die all the time.

Wow, so you guys are on vacation right now haha how awesome. That's not like you guys to just get up and go like that. Isn't Nathan in school right now, or is it still summer. My whole concept of time is so confused right now. 

So Santa Rosa is super super super hot. Bleh. Its like not even winter here. I miss the cold weather in Bahia Blanca. I'm glad I'm here in the winter though, because this place is the hottest part in our mission. I don't want to be here for summer. So my first week was pretty nuts and very successful. In one day we found 9 new investigators. Holy cow. We were definitely blessed thats for sure. We work super hard and talk to literally every person in our path. My comp. walks really fast..haha. Too fast. I don't walk slow, he just like runwalks. But yeah, we found some awesome families this week who are going to get baptized, I know it. The ward here is really awesome. I'm loving all of the members already. Of course they aren't as friendly as those in Harding Green. We had an activity this past weekend. We played human battleship haha. It was way fun. Its kind of like blind dodge ball, and you are attached to other people. 

So I'm currently really sick..lame. I got it from my comp...ugh.  Its just a really intense cold. I'm super congested and I'm always coughing and I can barely breathe. Bleh. I want to die. Trying to work like this is really hard too. I have no energy at all.

So yeah, our house is too nice. Compared to what I was living in in Harding Green... its 100 percent different. Although the mission says we have to move, its too expensive to live here. haha. I don't know when that will be, but I hope its in a couple months... When I'm gone haha.   Im pretty much used to my area already, although I'm so lost. I don't know where I'm ever going. I just follow my companion everywhere. Our area is pretty big.
Umm I traveled to Santa Rosa with one other missionary, but we sat in different parts of the bus, so it was like I was alone. That's the best haha. I love the chances I have to be alone. It feels so good. Traveling at night is usually normal, I'm not sure why. Its lame for the people that have to be there waiting for you.
Living in the big city is great, I would love it if I weren't a misisonary. haha. Its really hard to find people to teach. Yeah, I have a great record of everyone haha. I am really good at that. I think that is it for now. Pray that I can get over my sickness please. haha I'm dying. Also can you send me a recipe for hummus. Thanks. Umm yep that's all. I love you guys a ton. Enjoy your vacation. Also....sorry this keyboard is lame. I cant use exclamation points at all..so my letter seems super borring. I did want to use them though, I'm not borringªªªª that's what happens when i try to use itªªª I love you, chau chau

Elder Wheelwright