March 16, 2015

dad! I'm doing great :) this new area is small but it has loads of potential ha im so excited to see what happens.. my companion I'm with now is awesome and funny but he is lacking a little motivation... so my goal so far is to pay attention to the details.. do what I know im supposed to and pray that God will bless us so he can have a similar experience to what I have had.. it just takes testing the word to know its right. but there is no way I'm wasting time right now haha i'll have eternity to look back and regret it. its go time! :) I'm coming home dad!! haha how crazy is that! its not going to be real until im on the plan.. i don't feel trunky or lazy or anything.. I'm just excited and want to see what I can do :) I'm still district leader.. that means i'll have been district leader for a year! how nuts is that? I have learnd so much from it though... I started out like a weak people pleaser but I think I'm at the point where I can do what is right. and know God is backing me :) that's going to help in the future.

I'm totally down to hunt and fish!! I have tried hunting a few times out here I miss it so bad. I would have tried fishing but there is a huge fine if you get caught... so I probably better not... the Queen likes her fish haha we had a pond in Cheltenham and we found a fishing shop but i would have had to get a licence and everything... and only on p-day for a bit. I'm so stoked though to come home and chill :) I'm going to have to geta job really quick so I can survive without mooching more from you guys.. thinking about work... from your opinion. do you think I would be a successful sales man? thing is rejection is nothing to me since I'm out here. I can talk to people all day in the rain without crying. but maybe construction would be better for me. I would have to work my physical guts out and they pay pretty good.. maybe I could talk to Jack Briskey again and see if he has work.. what do ya think pop? sorry I'm so bad at making a decision. it only pops into my head today usually ha.

i'll read that chapter :) I finished the New Testament in my last area and I'm on 43 of Doctrine and Covenants right now. its great! I have been learning loads :)

I cant believe stant is leaving in July!! haha what a crazy dude!! I'm going to try and make some cool things for him that will help out in the field.

I love you dad :)

have a great week!!

March 9, 2015

holy cow!! Austrailia!   That is awesome!!  I think his personality will fit in so good there :) laid back. sunshine. and really good at creating relationships. I was thinking about what sorta missionary I think he will be based off of what I know.... Mom, he is such a good dude! He really is! he can take control of situations and lead but at the same time is patient and loving. what good qualities. I can't wait to see him when I get back! I can't wait to see you all!! its weird how I only have two transfers left... its so unreal to me.. a huge group of mission friends are leaving this transfer.. thats going to be tough.. Elder Higham is going home... i'll miss him so bad!!!!! If you guys are in idaho he will be giving his homecoming in Shelly. he is a stud!

thats rough to hear about Grandma Wiser and Bassett.... ill keep praying for them. that is really rough.. they work so hard.. how is grandpa? when is Grandma Wiser going to come live with us? I love them all so much!!! its going to be crazy to hug all you guys... I feel like I haven't even been gone for to long then I hear shelby is 16 and stant is 18 haha ah man.. life is coming up so fast!!!!

That sounds awesome about your school!! haha mom you are so cool :) your a great teacher. I still remember a lot of teachers I have had over the years. you have a real impact on people mom :) its cool becuase its not just standing up and giving info its leading and there is loads of stuff after school and prep you do to help them all.. its really cool :) your a legend!!

time is a movin! I cant wait to chill with the family.. do you think you guys will be able to pick me up from England? I would love that. I would get to talk to you guys loads before everything and it would be fun to show you around the mission and some of my best friends :) but at the same time it would be good to just step off and see everyone in America :) so whatever is the most easy. I'm down :)

love you!!

March 2, 2015

**This is Sterling's response to my question of how he teaches the Plan of Salvation and if he had any experiences to share**

hmmmm.... a lot of out investigators just accept the Plan of Salvation... I have had some cool stories of people being really happy and beliveing it is true but we just taught it with an aid and with our testimoneys... do you know that little wooden cut out of the plan we have on the piano in the front room? Elder Sorensen has one of those and we use that :)

We are teaching the plan of salvation to a very strong seventhday adventist this week though... so i'll let you know how that goes. We had an amazing spiritual lesson with him yesterday talking about the Godhead and the atonement.. I think he is open for the idea of the restoration but he didn't accept a Book of Mormon.. he said he needs to test the spirits.... he is one of the most doctrinaly sound people I have taught on my mission.... it has been so good to expound on scriptures and he understands and knows other ones in the bible... its so cool!! so i'll let you know :)

**Here is his letter to Shane**

Hey dad :)

ah man!! stants call is killing me... i want to see him so bad when i get home. im sure i will.. time is a moving.

I sent mom a pretty good mail about how things have been :) I'm happy and have been learning a lot. the gospel is about learning! its funny how the hardships out here are so easy but they seem so dramatic. if I had troubles with a roomate back at home I don't feel like it would effect everything like it does out here. but I'm really trying to learn what I need to so I can be a good husband. I dont like saying it that way but it is what it is :) ha

hmmm for work... I just want to do something that is hard. I have been thinking alot about selling.. and I talk to charity workers all the time on the street...I dont know if I would be good at it... I wish i could have a list to choose from but I have been thinking where I would fit best.. I'll keep thinking about it.. but whatever I do I want to try and be good at it.. if its like contracting or something i'll do my best. thing is pop... I'm like stupid haha I have been testing myself out with math problems and stuff.... when I get home I'm going to start to spend time online taking prep tests... everyone says you will regret what you did in high school.. and you don't belive them untill your out of high school and you regret it haha.. we shall see though.. i'll think of some things this week :)

I sure love you dad :) you are a legend. I cant wait to chill when I get back :) I have a lot of questions already but I'm just going to save them.. its going to be weird that I'm going to be replacing stant. I really hope we get to do some stuff before he goes.. but God ask and we do ha 

Your a really good dad :) the reflection of how awesome you are is how you run your family and personal affairs :) not bragging on my part but our family is pretty dang good.. we have been majorly blessed... we just have to use what we have to bless others :) but one hundred percent honest... you are thee man. and I love you :)

have a great week!

love elder wiser :)

February 23, 2015

hey mom :) how are you? its good to hear from yuo!! your guys package was awesome. thanks so much. :) im saving all the candy and eating only little bits here and there ha the flash drive is working right now. thank you!

things are going good on this end though :) its week four already... last week we lost basically all of our investogators.. but we think its just a learning time. it really sucked to be honest though. it just shows that we were doing something wrong. it has to go back to pride and charity and stuff.. we may have been teaching what we thought was best instead of the spririt. we really want to be better though and we havent stopped working hard. so ill have to let you know about that as well.

have a great week :) 

love elder wiser

**Here is and excerpt from his letter to Shayna**

Thanks for your package sis!! you hooked me up big time :) the tie and everything is aweomse :) that key chain as well ha I'm going to attach it to my back pack. BYU is awesome!! I have to figure out to go to BYU I. or to go to Utah State. I think Utah State will be a lot more fun and its an amazing school. The cool thing is is a bunch of my mission mates are getting a house there off campus and they said I could room with them. I served with a few of them as well so it would be so much fun. but if I go to BYU-I  I think that I will be able to focous more... since I don't have anyone I know really going there it would be an all new thing.. I just want to be a good student! but I'm leaning to Utah State :) we shall see.. I think when I get closer i'll be able to ask god more and sort it out.. I have 14 weeks now.. time is a movin.

Things are going good on this end though :) its week four already... last week we lost basically all of our investigators.. but we think its just a learning time. it really sucked to be honest though. it just shows that we were doing something wrong. it has to go back to pride and charity and stuff.. we may have been teaching what we thought was best instead of the spirit. we really want to be better though and we haven't stopped working hard. so i'll have to let you know about that as well.

how is the district going? dont all the missionarys just look so young now? haha I see the new ones coming in and I just want to hug them all. the Lord is for sure hastening his work.. everyone that comes out comes out ready to slay it.

Flip! I sure love you sis :) thanks for all you do.

have a great week :) 

love elder wiser

February 16th, 2015

ah man!! there is loads of stuff going on.... I'm really proud of stant :) I prayed super hard for him.... :) he looks like a killer haha I can't wait to see the video!! legend!! and I totally know how he feels, ha I was so depressed after my last match... he reached his goals though :) I'm sure he was going for higher but his name is on the board... I wish I could just like tape Elder Wiser under his name or something haha I hate thinking about my last match... but it gives me strength to not ever think about that again :) I bet everyone is so happy though, ha just eating all the time.. I loved that part... all you can drink water all the good stuff.. has he sent in his papers yet?

Man telling me Shelb is 16.............. that so flippin weird!! ah man I feel like old sorta!! Everything is going to be so different at home.. Stant is going to be gone, Sis is going to be doing her thing.. and Shelby is going to be dating........ man thats hard for me to wrap my head around. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I stll have so much time left as well.. I'm going to finish strong mom :) ha I can see myself getting a little trunky but thats like getting pinned in the last match you ever wrestle....but eternal and way way worse.... so I have some goals set and im planning on trying my best :) I know this makes me lame but president sent a email this week that I loved!! and I want to share it with you.

Dear Elders and Sisters,

When was the last time you tried something you had never done before? As creatures of habit, we tend to eat the same foods, take the same route back to our apartment, and use the same GQ or door approach. There is comfort in the familiar—that is why we call it our "comfort zone.”

But how many mission goals resulted from staying in our comfort zone? Our goals—including personal growth—happen only when we lengthen our stride, challenge ourselves, and reach out just a bit.

The missionary who improves his or her second language, the shy missionary who tries to be more outgoing, the trainer who decides to rendered additional service to his or her new companion, the missionary who increases expectations and effectiveness near the conclusion of his or her mission—all leave their comfort zones and reach their goals. As a result, they become more abundant servants of the Lord and experience greater joy.

Occasionally, missionaries share instances where they were not satisfied with a diminished experience and wished they had done things differently. They wished they had lived up to their potential and partaken of an abundant feast of spiritual opportunity. By hanging back, afraid to try something new, we risk facing that same regret. Therefore, let us “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.” (James 1:22) 

Often it’s as simple as deciding to be a better listener or to perform a small act of service every day. Speaking more kindly to potentials, lifting an investigator’s spirits with a phone call—there are countless ways to try something new. When you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in our missionary efforts.

Once we take that step into the unknown—even if it’s a small step—we discover that our comfort zone was actually holding us back. The satisfaction of conquering our weaknesses, the joy of expanding our ability to serve others, will more than make up for any "discomfort.” We may even discover some truth in the phrase "missions begin where your comfort zone ends.” 

Surely the Lord loves, more than anything else, your unwavering commitment to serve others even when things are a little uncomfortable. Thank you for not hanging back and for all your righteous endeavors. May He continue to bless you with abundant joy! 

With much love and admiration,

President Rasmussen

How flippin cool is that? In my email to him I asked what I could to to feel more fulfilled and like I'm progressing. after I sent my email, I read this..... fair play! haha so I'm going to be trying to get out of my comfort zone :) this applies so well with those quotes you sent ma... you can't have space for new stuff if you dont get rid of old.... and eggs and potatoes :) those are going on the planner.. your really inspired mom.. you send me things all the time that are things that I think about alot... you're in tune :) I love you!!

I have been on a weird self control kick lately as well haha so in the morning I get up work out and shower but at the end of my shower I put it to freezing cold and stand there for a certain amount of time I choose haha I feel stupid most of the time but I think it helps me realize that I can do tough things... street contacting in the rain or the cold.... even things that seem dumb like not chewing gum in public.... non of it matters.. if God asks we should just do it... thats what I feel like sets missionarys apart.. being your own missionary or being Gods missionary... follow the spirit!

I love you mom :) thanks for all you do!

Elder Wiser

oh man i got hit in the head with a pole this week in sports morning.. that is andew attah :) he is way cool!

as well.. my eyes have been hurting quite a bit lately so I think im going to stick to glasses exept for activities and stuff... it will be good to go to a doctor when I get back... I hope my diet of rice chicken and curry keeps my body healthy haha I have been eating pancakes every morning though :) gluten free! I have been way better at the diet in this area.

I love you mom! :)

dinner again! we have been doing these a lot :)

things are going great :)

February 9th, 2015

sorry ma my time is so small!! I'll try and send a better email next week about my experices but things are going great :) My comp is way cool, we are working hard. And we are going to see some big big improvments... our goal is to try and planning and time effectivness..... I think those things will help me be so much more successful in life.. if you can do it on your mission you can do it at home!!

dang!! Stanton is killing it!! He his going to smash state :) what is the line up looking like? Im way proud of him.. he looks like one of those guys that just get on the mat and clean up, haha! It's really impressive!! I'm going to have to bite and scratch to win when I come back! haha

good job my bro!

We have some way cool people we are working with. One chinese girl named Zingy.. prayed at the end of the second lesson and asked God if he was there... she thought for a bit and closed... and said "wow, I do really feel a warm feeling in my heart!!" ha how cool is that.. she did the same thing the first lesson but in her head asked for forgiveness for not praying for so long.. man I love chinese people.. there was this one girl named Grace who whenever she would pray would say.. "Dear Heavenly Father.. its Grace" and then go on with her prayer!! They are like little kids its so cool!!

Pearia and kimia are going alright.. they told us a "voice" told them that the BOM isn't true a week or so ago but they still want to meet up with us because we are friends.. that about killed me.. they were supposed to get baptised yesterday but satan is on overdrive on them.. when they first met with us they asked for Book of Mormons that they could give to their firends. so prepared!! we just have to stay consistent.. after the voice told them about the BOM they were scared and confused..... does that come from God? NOPE!! ha they are amazing girls though so we will keep it up. I really like it here :) The new companion I get Wednesday goes home in 2 months.. I have less than four haha so we are some old missionarsy!! this is his favorite area already and its only been half a week ha he has served in some of the smallest areas with the toughest comps his whole mission... weekly planning we just set some goals and we are planning on killing it this transfer!! work way hard..  I want to come home with like a glow that comes from knowing you did what you could :) no regrets!!

the church is true :)

love you!

dinner with members, pearia, kimia. its a persian food!! it was way good :)

we got stuck on broad street sorta late one night... and so we made friends with a dog :) haha waiting for the bus.. i love this city!!

February 2, 2015

Hey Mom!!! this are going great here :) Elder Sorenson is an old missionary!! he goes home in about 2 months.. so ll probably finish him off and then i'll go home right after that.. man thats a lot of home sickness battle I have ahead of me... He is from Washington State though :) he is pretty cool. we have a interesting few days at the beginning but we are in the zone now. Ha! you know when you sorta figure each other out and then hit it when you get there? yeah it was one of those. I met him when I first came into the mission so I knew who he was.

I love chinese people!! Ha Alex is so funny. She teaches with us all the time :) I actually have to go in about ten min. She is going to teach us how to make sushi today.

Tell Stant he is awesome and that I love him! he will do great at Divisionals this week.. just leave it all on the mat :) Man I am nervous for him.. before Elder Holt left i watched the highlight you sent me in Newport. I love it!! its going to be good to come home and wrestle him. He looks sharp in his photo.

Well I have some photos but I have like zero time sorry mom!!

things are going good!

Here is a thought from President Rasmussen:

Each person has been given the power to change his or her life. As part of the Lord’s great plan of happiness, all have individual agency to make decisions. Each can decide to do better and to be better. In some ways all of us need to change; that is, some need to be more diligent, less selfish, better listeners, and more considerate. Some have habits that need to be changed, habits that hold them back. Sometimes they may need a jolt to propel them into changing.

God’s elect must be totally committed to change for the better. A Chinese proverb says, “Great souls have wills; feeble souls have only wishes.” Unless they have the will to improve, all the other steps that lead to change will be wasted.

This is your one and only chance as a young missionary—here and now. The longer we serve, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities to help others change come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn during our missions are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. Let us use our time wisely and continue to help others to come unto Christ and change. As you continue to give your time to inviting people to come unto Him, your heart will change. You are extraordinary, Christlike missionaries! Thank you for helping others to change.

this is from president!! amazing!

have a great week :)

this is elder sorenson and our last supper with elder holt!! i love elder holt.. he is great

my new comp is the one in the tan trousers :) yay!

america rocks.