Dear Shanell,

I am at a member's home right now typing on a computerized typewriter. It is really neat. Things are going super here "down under". We just got a referral from a member and guess what. . . she said that she wants to be baptized. Nothing comes easily though, and when we went to commit her to a baptismal date today, her mother was very sick and we weren't able to teach her. Please pray for her and us. We need everybody praying for us. I really love the people in this ward because they are finally beginning to pay attention to us and giving us referrals which is keeping us busy.

Tonight we met a member family that went inactive because the ward members did not welcome them at all when they tried to come back into activity. They invited us to tea and it was really good. The mother is getting married to a really nice man named Guy and he wants to know about the church so that he can understand how she feels about certain things. He is a super man, too. Her name is Selina Cartney and she has 3 daughters and 1 son. Her daughter, Elizabeth, was complaining because of the restrictions that her mother puts on her when she is going on dates. I just told her that the advice that her mother gives her is the most prized possession that any teenager could ever receive from a parent. It sure does beat a parent who doesn't care. I really don't know about having parents that don't love me though because I know that my parents love me just as your parents do. I thank my Heavenly Father each night, and I will continue to do so, for my parents and for the teaching they did on my behalf.

We have been busy with our investigators and haven't had much time to do anything else. The scriptures have really taken on a new look to me on my mission. I love them!  We now have 2 baptisms! We had Jane Snell earlier and on June 7 we are baptizing Barbara Davis. She is 15 years old and is excited!

Well, the church is true! I love the Book of Mormon!

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Dear Shanell,

Our new mission president , President Grey, comes here the first of July. I think President Wells is getting a little bit trunky. I am still with Elder Chapman. He has a very bad swearing problem and I remind him of it, but he must forget because he keeps doing it.

We are still teaching the same people. Mr. Smith and his two daughters are progressing. His daughters came to church on Sunday and they really looked pleased about it. Mr. Smith is a bit hesitant about being baptized because he is a bit stubborn on the idea that we should go through all of our modern-day prophets and then through Christ to get to God when we are praying for repentance. He has a good point. He thinks we should pay more respect to our prophets, past and present, than we do. I think the best way to pay respect to a prophet is to live his teachings. It is sometimes discouraging teaching people, but God helps us.

I want you to know that this church is true I love it with all my heart! Sometimes I wonder what I have done that is so good to deserve a beautiful, smart, loving woman like you! You mean the world to me.

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Dear Shanell,

Things are going awesome! We should be getting at least one baptism this month! We're excited! We were at the sister missionaries' flat and we were just going to get into the car and a lady walked by and said, "Boy, you sure look happy!" I just said, "It makes life seem less miserable, I guess, when you're happy!" She replied, "I guess it does." It made me feel good to cheer someone up. We are servants of God and it is not hard to enjoy the work!

We just finished watching General Conference. They were on tape since it doesn't get broadcast here. It is the first time in my life that I actually sat down and listened to every talk! I took excellent notes! I loved Jacob DeJagor's comment--"My assignment is to talk. Your assignment is to listen. If you finish your assignment before I do, please raise your hand." That was funny! President Benson is a powerful prophet. He does not mince with words. He is also loving. I believe that President Benson and Romney are two of the greatest examples we have of what Christ would have been like to know Him! I love our prophet and General Authorities! I felt so proud to stand up, during the Solemn Assembly, as an Elder of Israel. I have learned not to fear people out here. I love my beliefs and I will share them with the world.  Why not? They're true!

We never found the tracting records. Satan is trying to discourage us, I guess. Ha! It isn't working! I know God is on our side. It is not easy telling people that we belong to the only true church on the earth, but it is true.

Love,
Elder Wallentine