Starting Over

Hey everyone!

So, many times in the mission a "start over" is needed for things to go forward in the missionary work. We had investigators and we've been working hard with them for a long time. Pretty much this whole transfer. But I had been thinking about how we can baptize and progress here in our area and we decided to drop those investigators and try to find new ones. 

I'm hoping that we will be able to find those people that God wants to be taught in this way. I've realized that we can't waste time with people that won't progress. No matter how cool they might seem or how positive they seem, we cannot waste time when there are thousands of other people waiting to be taught this Gospel. Its the same with being a normal member of the church, sometimes we get used to not sharing the gospel and what we don't realize is that someone is waiting for us to talk to them about the gospel. 

That's where prayer comes in. We must pray in order to find people who need us. There are many who have been chosen to be leaders in the church, but how will they progress if we don't just open our mouths and speak? We need to leave our fears of feeling inadequate and our fears of looking dumb in front of someone and be the disciples of Jesus Christ that God wants us to be. I don't have much else to report. T

he end of my mission is nearing and I'm scared to face the real world again. But I know that there are many chapters to my life and this is just another one of those. I love you all and testify that my Savior lives and loves me as well as all of you individually.

Elder Whelan

P.S. Will send more pics next week!

Don't Let Letdowns Get You Down

Hahaha thats kind of a funny title for an email.

So in life there are a lot of letdowns (not sure how to spell that..). And I'm here to tell you to not let them get you down!! It's a sure way to go down a path you don't want to go down! Regret, sadness, stuff like that sucks! BE HAPPY MA PEOPLE!

So this Sunday we woke up early to get some investigators to bring to church. We woke them up and they said that they would get ready and go by themselves. Keep in mind that this family is very positive and wants to do the right thing and go to church. But, they didn't come to church (sad face with tears in eyes). We waited for them outside the church for about an hour and a half in hopes that they would come and, they didn't. So for me that was a huge let down.

But I've had a lot of those in the mission and what I've learned from them is that I should never let them get me down. Satan has a special way of tempting and hurting those people that feel bad about something and the opposite of that is being happy all the time! I've learned that because of the Gospel I have in my life, I don't need to be sad or have feelings of resentment. I don't need any of that! And to add on to that, I love the people here with all my heart.

I'm coming home soon, but that thought isn't making me stop wanting to work. Im working till I finish! Not much else to say though, we've been working really hard to find more people to baptize and I'm hoping that soon all of the work will pay off. I love my mission, I love the work and I love all of you!! Have a great week and invite someone to church!!!

Elder Whelan

Getting closer

Well, I'm down to just one trainee. With the transfers and people going home, we ended up sending one of my "kids" off to another trainer. I still have Elder Hitz, the one from Wyoming.

When does Dallin get home?? It has to be soon!

My answer to your question [Editor's note: Kollin and I send each other questions and such regarding what we're studying that week. This week I asked him 'how come everytime a group of people are asked to do something for Christ, they embark on the most difficult, challenging, faith-testing experience of their lives?'] is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The a path that Jesus took was a lot harder than any trial we've ever faced in our lives. His whole life was full of trials. Trials are a part of life because they are what make or break us. Many converts go inactive because they don't understand the atonement. They don't understand that the life of a member of our church is not easy because it's the true life that were meant to live. If that makes sense. In one of my areas I baptized a family and their son started to act out really bad, I left the area and they went inactive. Im very sad about it but I know that they felt the spirit when they went to church. They'll return some day and I know it. Why can't it just be easy? Because that's how God wanted it and how we chose it to be. Pre-Earth life we chose to have the trials and afflictions we have today because we knew we could face them and come out on top. That's another reason it's so important to teach these people the gospel, they need to know that they chose the plan of God, not the plan of Satan which WAS the easy way out. The only thing we can do is be humble and suffer our afflictions with patience. At least that's what I think.


Elder Whelan

Charity and Love

Hey everyone!

So today I gave a workshop about charity and love. Its interesting going over notes and scriptures about those wonderful attributes of Christ. Without these attributes its very hard to be a missionary, Ive learned the very important lesson that we have to serve with the same love that Jesus did while he was ministering here. It can be a hard process learning to love people who spit in your face, slam the door on you and swear at you all the time. But I can testify to you all that, it is possible. When I started out the mission I hated when people did that to me, I would hold that anger inside me and start thinking, whats the point in teaching these people if they don't want it? 

I came to realize that that isn't what a true disciple of Jesus Christ thinks. I was told once by a wise missionary to "not get angry because of the agency of others, just love them." In that moment I realized that none of my complaining or being angry was going to help anyone. I was being selfish. Sometimes we don't realize that were being selfish and we don't realize it until someone tells us or we come to the realization to late. Im glad I was told a long time ago because it changed me for the better. It changed my view of the mission. Now, more than a year and a half later, I'm here in Pastores Antigua and I love all those that I come in contact with. I feel the saviors love for all the people here and I want them to know that. Every person I come in contact with I tell them that God loves them, even if they slam the door in my face hahaha. 

So this last week was fun. We've been talking to everybody we can and been having fun doing it. Its fun being a trainer because I get to teach my greenies that the mission is not about being uptight and boring. We can be fun as well because were bringing glad tidings to all people here! Ive been teaching them to not be scared talking to people either hahaha. So they've been contacting a LOT hahaha. We've also been talking in British accents from the medieval times and its so freaking hilarious. Three white dudes talking in those accents attracts a lot of attention hahahaha. 

We have some investigators that are really positive, my kids are learning a lot of hard work like chopping wood and hauling huge things of corn stalks up mountains so thats cool. Were hoping to baptize soon which I cant wait for. I love baptizing so much! 

Read Moroni 7:45-48 

LOVE YOU GUYS!! I KNOW JESUS CHRIST LIVES AND I HAVE A TESTIMONY THAT HE DOES!!

Elder Whelan

This week

Hello all!

Don't have time to write a big email. I'm going to write a huge email next week, I promise!

 I'm having a lot of fun teaching these two guys, Elder Anderson and Elder Hitz. I've sent some pictures of us playing soccer, with a family at a small soccer field, and us. 

Elder Hitz is the dark haired companion and he's from Wyoming. He's super country type kid and has a drawl, Ty would totally fall in love with this kid hahahaha. Anderson is the blonde and he's from California. He is a super good kid and has a lot of drive to do good. I'm training these two guys until the tranfers ends I'm pretty sure. But until further notice!  

We're working hard out here and it feels great... 

Tell the boys I say hi!!!!

I love you guys!

Elder Whelan

A Legend

Hey everyone!

So I got transferred here to a place called Jocotenango, Antigua!!! I've always want to be in Zone Antigua and now I'm here!

So we got our transfer calls and I was told I was coming here. I was also told that I would continue to be a district leader and that I would be training a new missionary. Cool right? What really surprised me though was that I wouldn't be training just one missionary but two!!! What the heck? I've never heard of that happening and apparently nobody else from this mission has either! Haha so I've pretty much become a legend out here hahaha. One comp is from WY and the other is from CA.

I can't believe I only have 70 days left! Oh, and I was able to buy a new camera, but we'll see how long it actually lasts since things purchased here tend to randomly stop working. :)

I was also able to have a suit custom made for me, and it was really cheap!

I was really happy with the success me and my comp had in my last area. It had a reputation for being a tough area but we were able to reactivate a couple of families, which was very exciting!

Other than that conference was super awesome!! A lot of revelations that everyone should be paying attention to! Sorry I don't have more to write but here's a quote I liked!! "In the eyes of Christ each soul is of infinite worth. No one is preordained to fail. Eternal life is possible for all" -Robert C. Gay

Love you all!!
Elder Whelan


My new greenies

Not much time to write!

Hi!

Not much time to write, so I'll just write that Missionary life is normal...working as usual. Thats so weird that Cody is getting home! :) We will know on Saturday about transfers. We don't know yet. I'm super excited about conference. The only thing I miss is our big family breakfasts. 

Well, I'm DOING GREAT! And in response to Mom's comments about phones, electronics, and their constant presence in our lives...the young men here are always on their phones, and whenever I see them at church I grab their phones or start to mess with them. ;) I've been trying to get them to realize that it's not all there is to this world haha.

Sorry I didn't have enough time to write much! Until next week!!!