The Awesome Adventures of Elder Wheeler

Feliz Lunes from the tropical land of the Republica Dominicana! This past week we’ve been having a lot of fun preaching and teaching and finding awesome people to baptize! We had an intercambio with the Zone Leaders last week and I learned a lot of how to talk to the youth and get their friends to come to church! In the process of teaching these youth we found a couple others as well who are prepared to be baptized. We found another family the other day, when a little girl brought her friend to a so called "English class with the missionaries"   No one else showed up so upon request we taught them how to read music.   Afterward, they told us they were going to come to church on Sunday! Because they’re awesome, they did!!!! And we were able to talk to one of the moms of one of the girls, last night! She was super receptive about our message and told us to come back as soon as possible to teach them more! She also was super glad that her daughter had a lot of fun ...

Feliz lunes from the tropical land of the Republica Dominicana! This week was a ride and full of hard work and much more opposition.   We were supposed to have two baptisms this past weekend!   Their names were Emely, one 10 and the other 19.   These two young ladies are amazing people and love the message of the gospel.   Each one, however, had their own difficulties. This past weekend we tried super hard to get the permission from the younger Emely's parents so we could baptize her.   We got super close!!!!   So close I wish we were doing government work! Or lobbing hand-grenades. Or playing horseshoes.   At the end of it all, the mother refused to give the permission claiming that we were obligating her to sign the form.   She denied her daughter the opportunity to not only be baptized but to have any connection with the Church. This was not somewhere we wanted to go. My parents have taught me that the Lord’s hand is in everything...

Feliz Lunes from the tropical land of the Republica Dominicana! This past week, as you all know, was the first week of a new transfer! My new companion is sick [really cool] and he’s always using the word "dope."   All the time!   His name is Elder Rodriguez and he’s from Texas though many people think he’s Latino! It doesn’t help though that he does look Latino and his name is of Spanish origin. He has one transfer less than me but he is just under an year older than me.   He’s super cool and is helping me a lot to remember some of the basic things that I may have forgotten in the terms of teaching and the importance of staying focused on the work. We are actually a really good team and every day I get more pointers on how to be a better District Leader from all that are under my leadership.   This past week, I had my first experiences giving the baptismal interview before an investigator is baptized.   It’s a new perspective, definitely, being on...

Feliz Lunes from the wonderful tropical paradise of isle Dalphino*oops* I mean the Republica Dominicana! This week flew by faster than usual. So, many of you don’t know, but this past week was the last week of the transfer.   Usually the last week of the transfer is super long because all are anticipating the sudden change in scenery or companions! But, not for us! Elder Rich and I had really no concern nor worry that we were going to leave this area after 6 weeks together. We honestly thought we’d be together for another transfer!   But This is what changed! Elder Rich for his 4th transfer in a row is leaving to go to my old Zone! OZAMA!!! In Maqueteria, I might add. And I am staying here receiving another from La Romana named Elder Rodrigez from Texas, with me being a District Leader! WOOOOOOOW! After receiving my call from president, the weekend went by so freaking slow!!! I don’t know why at all!! This week not much happened! It all just kind of blurred t...