Dear Shanell,

Happy New Year! Our mission is having a New Years Eve party tonight. It should be fun.

We had some changes come up with the baptisms we had planned. We had committed this one family to baptism on Saturday the 28th and when we went back yesterday, Mrs. Snell said, "I have prayed about it and the answer is no." Well, I almost went into shock! We continued to give the 5th discussion and towards the end of it we asked her what kind of feelings she had after praying. She said she felt good on Saturday night when she prayed, but on Sunday morning she had "feelings of contention telling her not to have us come back again. It was so neat to hear that. We quickly explained and asked her if she prayed Sunday morning when those bad feelings came. She said no. We then explained to her that until the family is baptized, they cannot have the Holy Ghost all the time. Only if someone else brings it in or to answer prayers and that she needs to pray, with the rest of the family often to keep Satan out. By the time we got back into the discussion, their 2nd oldest daughter came running in crying and then the dad rushed out. Apparently, her old boyfriend hit her in the stomach and all his friends were giving her heaps of garbage. Elder Adams and I were just getting ready to go help Mr. Snell work them over, but they got away. Mr. Snell had a hold of the window, but fell and scraped his hands and knee rather bad. He then came back in the house and the boys rang up to apologize, but Mr. Snell told them to come to the house and apologize. It was a mess! This family is facing a lot of opposition. They will still be baptized on the 15th though. I know it. The sister missionaries have been working with them since last January and once taught 4 discussions. I am District Leader now with Elder Adams so we asked permission to go in and work with them. We committed them to baptism. Actually, the Spirit did, but we helped a bit.

Being on a bicycle keeps me fit. There are heaps of hills around here. I hope you have a good week!

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Dear Shanell,

Well, I still have my companion with a fried brain. I will be staying here and transfers are today. I already know I will be staying. I am happy. We have 6 people we are teaching now.

Last night Elder Toi and Adams and Sisters Peterken and Benson all went caroling. The first lady we went to was an elderly lady and she started to cry! She said it was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard. It gives such a great feeling to make people happy like that. I think it is times like this that make missions all worthwhile. Too bad Christmas only comes once a year.

Our mission has our Christmas party today and our mission president is going to make us wear our suits instead of jeans and t-shirts. I guess he has his reasons. It sure doesn't seem like Christmas here. It is hot and there is no snow. We are still working toward a "white Christmas". Hopefully, we can have a baptism.

The members here are kind of going crazy. We have been to 2 tea dates (dinner) and Elder Ottley belched through both of them. When we were caroling, he asked to use our investigators' bathrooms. It is slowly driving me insane. I can handle it though, I hope. The other night I was talking with him and I found out that he hears voices. I asked him what the voices say and he said, "They call my name and they tell me I'm standing in cement". I'm going to chat with President Wells about it today.

Have a nice week!

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Dear Shanell,

It has been about 6 months wince anyone has taught a family in this area and we are doing it now! The family's name is the Tamarapa family. They are islanders from New Zealand. They are a super family! I am looking forward to to Friday when we teach them again!

Instead of giving out Book of Mormons, we have been asked to sell them. They cost $2.30 each and I can't afford it like many others. We have been asking the members in this ward to help, but they aren't helping much at all. I am going to write to my home ward to see if they could donate enough for a case of Book of Mormons. It is really sad to see the members not doing their best. The bishop is really hesitant to give us money to buy Book of Mormons and I wish he would talk to the members more.

I wish I could have seen President Kimball's funeral. I loved that prophet so much. He went through so much. President Benson will do super, too. I know he is a prophet called of God!

Today is p-day and I just cleaned and rearranged our bedroom. Elder Ottley is still having problems. At members' homes, he asks them their names about 4 times. His memory is terrible.

I appreciate your support and encouragement!

Love,
Elder Wallentine