Dear Shanell,
Thank you for the poem you sent me. I loved it! That was one your dad used in seminary, huh. I miss his great advice and lessons! It looks like I might get to train a new missionary in about a month! I'm excited! I want to show a new missionary how to do his best and I know I would learn so much from him, too. I love my mission, my area, my companion, this great work, and our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love all of this church! I know that Satan cannot overcome someone on the Lord's side unless we let him. Here is a quote we had to memorize in scouts: "There is no chance, no fate, no destiny, that can circumvent, change, or hinder the firm resolve of a determined soul!" This si so true! I am trying to practice this out here on my mission. It is working. Once your mind is fixed on certain goals, nothing can stop it except your own doubting!
I know that as I focus on the Lord's work, He will take care of everything else in my life. The missionary work is picking up here. We are expecting a baptism in October. We don't know who yet, but we will find someone. I have faith! I have a companion that said something really neat to me a couple days ago. I asked him if he thought that if I had enough faith to walk on water, would the Lord let me? He said something that was so simple, but yet so true. He said, "Yes, the Lord would let you, just as he would let you move a mountain, if there was a purpose; a righteous purpose. I think this is true. We need to develop and exercise our faith in ways that will help us and others grow. Christ did not just walk on water to show off. He did it to fulfill a purpose.
It is so amazing how easy the Lord makes things sometimes when it is for a good cause. Without the Lord's help, baptizing out here would be next to impossible.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Love,
Elder Wallentine
Sunday, September 29, 1985
Monday, September 23, 1985
Dear Shanell,
I talked with President Wells the other day and he wants me to become a trainer. I am so excited and know that by being obedient to all the mission rules, I can be a good example to him.
I am reading "Jesus the Christ" and "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" as well as the "Articles of Faith". My favorite is "Jesus the Christ". I love reading it! I just finished reading about Jesus Christ's crucifixion as told by Mark. It brings tears to my eyes when I read of the suffering He did for us. He is a great older brother and I wish I could repay Him for what He did! I also read my patriarchal blessing today. It gives me the neatest feeling inside. There is an elder here that asked me if my blessing would mean more to me if Christ himself had given it to me. I told him it would make a difference and that it means just as much done by a servant of the Lord. He could not accept that. I don't know why not. Our Heavenly Father calls the people in the church. I know it.
Have a nice week!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
I talked with President Wells the other day and he wants me to become a trainer. I am so excited and know that by being obedient to all the mission rules, I can be a good example to him.
I am reading "Jesus the Christ" and "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" as well as the "Articles of Faith". My favorite is "Jesus the Christ". I love reading it! I just finished reading about Jesus Christ's crucifixion as told by Mark. It brings tears to my eyes when I read of the suffering He did for us. He is a great older brother and I wish I could repay Him for what He did! I also read my patriarchal blessing today. It gives me the neatest feeling inside. There is an elder here that asked me if my blessing would mean more to me if Christ himself had given it to me. I told him it would make a difference and that it means just as much done by a servant of the Lord. He could not accept that. I don't know why not. Our Heavenly Father calls the people in the church. I know it.
Have a nice week!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
Thursday, September 19, 1985
Dear Shanell,
I've enclosed some photos of the sunsets here and thought you would like to see what sunsets in Australia look like.
I've enclosed some photos of the sunsets here and thought you would like to see what sunsets in Australia look like.
I am back in Adelaide. I'm in an area called Christies Beach. Our bedroom window overlooks the ocean and it is so gorgeous! I really liked the thought you sent about prayer being a radio. That is so right! Where are you in the scriptures? I just read where Jesus chased all the money changers and others out of the temple. I also found out something new while reading. In Matthew 17:11 it mentions "Elias" and it was a small letter "a" for a footnote. When I followed it, it said to look in Joseph Smith translation. I found out that Elias and John the Baptist are the same person! I found that very interesting. The scriptures are so fun to read!
This new area has been interesting. We have one investigator and he's not progressing very fast. It was neat hearing about the temple trip. I miss not going to the temple. I love the great spirit there. I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ and I know it is the only way to the Celestial Kingdom. I am working toward that now.
Thank you for all your encouragement and support!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
Monday, September 9, 1985
Dear Shanell,
By the time you get this letter, I will probably be back in Adelaide. There have been some problems with a companionship and I think President Wells will transfer me to Adelaide to calm things down in that particular companionship. We saw a camel train here in Alice Springs. I didn't have my camera with me though. Darn.
Things are going quite well out here. It is about 76-80 degrees and it feels great. We just had Zone Conference today and it was pretty good. It was my second Zone Conference in the last week. We have visited 2 members and an investigator. We stopped in at a leather shop and Elder Terry was looking at a sheepskin coat to buy. He and his family are so stinking rich. He is always bragging about his truck and how many cars and businesses their family runs. He always talks about how many nice things his family has in front of our members and investigators. Most of them are real poor and I don't think we are out here to flash our money around. If that is what money does to people, I would rather stick with not having that much.
You would not believe the ignorance of some people here. They give us a bunch of smart comments. This guy today pulled out in front of me and said I was an idiot. I wanted to go back and rearrange his face, but we have been told that we can't while on our missions. I'll remember that. I don't mind people yelling stupid comments, but I have had about 20 people try to run me over. Oh well. The Lord will watch over me.
I really want you to know that I know this is the only true church!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
By the time you get this letter, I will probably be back in Adelaide. There have been some problems with a companionship and I think President Wells will transfer me to Adelaide to calm things down in that particular companionship. We saw a camel train here in Alice Springs. I didn't have my camera with me though. Darn.
Things are going quite well out here. It is about 76-80 degrees and it feels great. We just had Zone Conference today and it was pretty good. It was my second Zone Conference in the last week. We have visited 2 members and an investigator. We stopped in at a leather shop and Elder Terry was looking at a sheepskin coat to buy. He and his family are so stinking rich. He is always bragging about his truck and how many cars and businesses their family runs. He always talks about how many nice things his family has in front of our members and investigators. Most of them are real poor and I don't think we are out here to flash our money around. If that is what money does to people, I would rather stick with not having that much.
You would not believe the ignorance of some people here. They give us a bunch of smart comments. This guy today pulled out in front of me and said I was an idiot. I wanted to go back and rearrange his face, but we have been told that we can't while on our missions. I'll remember that. I don't mind people yelling stupid comments, but I have had about 20 people try to run me over. Oh well. The Lord will watch over me.
I really want you to know that I know this is the only true church!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
Wednesday, September 4, 1985
Dear Shanell,
So the Aborigines camp in the river bed. There is a river that flows through Alice Springs about one month out of the year. The rest of the time it is dry. Well, the aborigines just camp out by the trees in the river bed. They never bathe, they drink all the time, and they have a smell that won't quit. They are our Heavenly Father's children so we need to love them too, but maybe long distance. All of the aborigines that live in Alice Springs get checks from the government and it is pretty sad. The aborigines used to be a real great and hard-working people, but white man has come along and gave them a reason not to work. Some of the aboriginals here still go out hunting for kangaroos or wallabies to feed their tribe. They don't need a license to hunt here. I really think it is sad to see such a great race of people so lazy. There are still aborigines living out in the desert in the same way they have survived for thousands of years. The government has given them houses but all they do with the houses is to wreck them. They are never shown how to live in a house. Some of them have chopped up the wood floors in the homes and they have campfires in the middle of the family room. Some have lit fires inside electric stoves. That is what they think the stove is for. A lot of them knock walls out of the house so they don't have to walk around them. Pretty bizarre.
There is a lady in the branch here that has a baby red kangaroo for a pet! It is about 1 1/2 months old and it was found by her husband when he was hunting. He had shot a mother red kangaroo and it had a very young baby in its pouch. They have raised it and are feeding it with a bottle. It thinks that June is it's mother. It is funny! Every time she holds out a pillow case, the baby kangaroo thinks it's his pouch so he jumps in it. It is so cute! They make great pets but they are really not immune to colds and pneumonia. We went over to her house last night. Her husband goes on mini-safaris and sometimes hunts a kangaroo for an old aboriginal that is too old to hunt himself. The guys name is Nick Patrick and his wife's name is June. He is going to take us out tonight when he goes.
We are working with about 5 people here and one of them should be baptized this month. It has been 2 years since Alice Springs has had a baptism. We'll hopefully change that. I know this church is true. If I didn't, I wouldn't be out here.
Love,
Elder Wallentine
So the Aborigines camp in the river bed. There is a river that flows through Alice Springs about one month out of the year. The rest of the time it is dry. Well, the aborigines just camp out by the trees in the river bed. They never bathe, they drink all the time, and they have a smell that won't quit. They are our Heavenly Father's children so we need to love them too, but maybe long distance. All of the aborigines that live in Alice Springs get checks from the government and it is pretty sad. The aborigines used to be a real great and hard-working people, but white man has come along and gave them a reason not to work. Some of the aboriginals here still go out hunting for kangaroos or wallabies to feed their tribe. They don't need a license to hunt here. I really think it is sad to see such a great race of people so lazy. There are still aborigines living out in the desert in the same way they have survived for thousands of years. The government has given them houses but all they do with the houses is to wreck them. They are never shown how to live in a house. Some of them have chopped up the wood floors in the homes and they have campfires in the middle of the family room. Some have lit fires inside electric stoves. That is what they think the stove is for. A lot of them knock walls out of the house so they don't have to walk around them. Pretty bizarre.
There is a lady in the branch here that has a baby red kangaroo for a pet! It is about 1 1/2 months old and it was found by her husband when he was hunting. He had shot a mother red kangaroo and it had a very young baby in its pouch. They have raised it and are feeding it with a bottle. It thinks that June is it's mother. It is funny! Every time she holds out a pillow case, the baby kangaroo thinks it's his pouch so he jumps in it. It is so cute! They make great pets but they are really not immune to colds and pneumonia. We went over to her house last night. Her husband goes on mini-safaris and sometimes hunts a kangaroo for an old aboriginal that is too old to hunt himself. The guys name is Nick Patrick and his wife's name is June. He is going to take us out tonight when he goes.
We are working with about 5 people here and one of them should be baptized this month. It has been 2 years since Alice Springs has had a baptism. We'll hopefully change that. I know this church is true. If I didn't, I wouldn't be out here.
Love,
Elder Wallentine
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