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
Monday, September 9, 1985
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
Thursday, August 29, 1985
Dear Shanell,
It is now transfers and I have been transferred! My mailing address will remain the same. I am being transferred to a place called Alice Springs. It is in the middle of Australia! Very dry and very hot! Yes, I will finally get a tan! I'll draw you a map and show you where I've been so far. We are going into spring here and it is really nice weather! I will probably be in Alice Springs for the next 4 to 6 months.
It is now transfers and I have been transferred! My mailing address will remain the same. I am being transferred to a place called Alice Springs. It is in the middle of Australia! Very dry and very hot! Yes, I will finally get a tan! I'll draw you a map and show you where I've been so far. We are going into spring here and it is really nice weather! I will probably be in Alice Springs for the next 4 to 6 months.
Right now I am with Elder Larson. He just got his wisdom teeth pulled an hour ago and his mouth is full of cotton. I will be staying here until Saturday, August 31, until my plane is scheduled to take me up there. It should be neat!
I think I told you about our baptism on the 25th of August. We baptized Inatio Ben that Sunday! It was neat! The bishop of the ward was mad at us because he had to come out of his youth council meeting to welcome Inatio into the ward. Crazy! Having a new person in God's kingdom is a lot more important than a meeting. I am enjoying my mission, but the church does not operate as smoothly here in Australia as it does in America! Don't take the church for granted! It runs so much better at home though. It is still the true church, but the people need to get their act together and do things the right way. I love teaching people and bringing them to the true church. I love our Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father! I love Joseph Smith and all he did for us! I love President Kimball and I know he is a man called by God! The church is true and I know it.
I loved your last letters! They gave me such a lift. By the way, the blind elder is doing great! I won't be serving with him any more, but he is doing well.
Love,
Elder Wallentine
Wednesday, August 21, 1985
Dear Shanell,
My companion, Elder Cash, is getting a little better after I sat on him and told him I wouldn't get off until everything was solved! Only 4 days left until our baptism! I am excited! The days go much faster if you work hard out here! I think I already told you that I got to shake President Harris' hand yesterday. He as the neatest spirit about him. I dream of being like that! I would love to be a general authority later in life!
It is kind of funny, I can picture my dad as a General Authority. I love my father so much! I wish I would've showed it to him more often! Don't let a day go by where you don't tell your parents how much you love them.
The missionary work is going forth with tremendous power, but it could use a little more speed! I am well! In fact, "If I was any happier, I couldn't stand it." This is a quote by President Harris! The new discussions are quite fun to give. I love them. By the time 2 months is past, we won't hardly need any notes. They are excellent discussions thought. It gets about 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit here in the summer and very humid. I have taken a lot of pictures on my mission. I want to turn them into a slide show when I get home. That would be fun!
I was reading in the scriptures where Jesus says that John will never die, but will remain on the earth until the Second Coming. That is so neat! What a great blessing to be given, huh.
You would not believe how guys treat girls over here! None of them open doors for them and all the guys here act like they are doing the girl a favor by going out with them. How stupid!
We are going to do laundry and then play racquetball. Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
My companion, Elder Cash, is getting a little better after I sat on him and told him I wouldn't get off until everything was solved! Only 4 days left until our baptism! I am excited! The days go much faster if you work hard out here! I think I already told you that I got to shake President Harris' hand yesterday. He as the neatest spirit about him. I dream of being like that! I would love to be a general authority later in life!
It is kind of funny, I can picture my dad as a General Authority. I love my father so much! I wish I would've showed it to him more often! Don't let a day go by where you don't tell your parents how much you love them.
The missionary work is going forth with tremendous power, but it could use a little more speed! I am well! In fact, "If I was any happier, I couldn't stand it." This is a quote by President Harris! The new discussions are quite fun to give. I love them. By the time 2 months is past, we won't hardly need any notes. They are excellent discussions thought. It gets about 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit here in the summer and very humid. I have taken a lot of pictures on my mission. I want to turn them into a slide show when I get home. That would be fun!
I was reading in the scriptures where Jesus says that John will never die, but will remain on the earth until the Second Coming. That is so neat! What a great blessing to be given, huh.
You would not believe how guys treat girls over here! None of them open doors for them and all the guys here act like they are doing the girl a favor by going out with them. How stupid!
We are going to do laundry and then play racquetball. Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
Tuesday, August 20, 1985
Dear Shanell,
I got yours, Wendy's, and David's letters today. They sure gave me a boost! Thank you for telling David to write. I appreciated his letter. I was beginning to wonder if he had forgotten me or what! I received the cookies you sent. They were all whole and delicious!
Are you ready for this now? Gather your family around again! We have another baptism on this next Sunday! His name is Inatio Ben and he is Gilbertese. That is like Samoan except from the Gilbert Islands. He is so cool! With that baptism on August 25, we might be able to get his wife baptized also! I hope and pray we can. She is super neat, too. They aren't actually officially married until August 24, so we can't baptize them until the 25th. This next baptism will be counted as my 5th baptism in 5 months. That is quite good for this mission. Actually though, it is not my baptism! It is the Lord's. I just helped Him.
I do know Sister Cottrell. I met her at a meeting today. I guess her parents and yours are good friends! She is a good missionary. My companion told President Wells that I am too pushy of a junior companion. I told him that he needs to do what he is supposed to if he doesn't want me to do everything. He is so lazy! The blind elder is actually only 90% blind. He is a great guy! He likes me a lot and we get along great! He does not like our other companion too well.
Elder Harris, the General Authority, came and spoke to us today at 8:30 am. It was so neat! I got to shake his hand and you can feel the Spirit so strong around that man. He is so neat! When I left that meeting, I felt like going out and converting the world! He is a man of God! I should be getting transferred on the 28th of August. It would be nice to have a change!
I am so happy to be out here on a mission serving the Lord! It is so neat! I can't wait to get to heaven and to embrace those people that I helped bring into the gospel again. "How great shall be your joy!" The church is true and Spencer W. Kimball is a true prophet of God today and Jesus Christ did atone for our sins so we can be forgiven! I know that God lives! Thank you for the person you are!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
I got yours, Wendy's, and David's letters today. They sure gave me a boost! Thank you for telling David to write. I appreciated his letter. I was beginning to wonder if he had forgotten me or what! I received the cookies you sent. They were all whole and delicious!
Are you ready for this now? Gather your family around again! We have another baptism on this next Sunday! His name is Inatio Ben and he is Gilbertese. That is like Samoan except from the Gilbert Islands. He is so cool! With that baptism on August 25, we might be able to get his wife baptized also! I hope and pray we can. She is super neat, too. They aren't actually officially married until August 24, so we can't baptize them until the 25th. This next baptism will be counted as my 5th baptism in 5 months. That is quite good for this mission. Actually though, it is not my baptism! It is the Lord's. I just helped Him.
I do know Sister Cottrell. I met her at a meeting today. I guess her parents and yours are good friends! She is a good missionary. My companion told President Wells that I am too pushy of a junior companion. I told him that he needs to do what he is supposed to if he doesn't want me to do everything. He is so lazy! The blind elder is actually only 90% blind. He is a great guy! He likes me a lot and we get along great! He does not like our other companion too well.
Elder Harris, the General Authority, came and spoke to us today at 8:30 am. It was so neat! I got to shake his hand and you can feel the Spirit so strong around that man. He is so neat! When I left that meeting, I felt like going out and converting the world! He is a man of God! I should be getting transferred on the 28th of August. It would be nice to have a change!
I am so happy to be out here on a mission serving the Lord! It is so neat! I can't wait to get to heaven and to embrace those people that I helped bring into the gospel again. "How great shall be your joy!" The church is true and Spencer W. Kimball is a true prophet of God today and Jesus Christ did atone for our sins so we can be forgiven! I know that God lives! Thank you for the person you are!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
Wednesday, August 14, 1985
Dear Shanell,
We are getting a new elder in our companionship. His name is Elder Greene and he is blind. We will be in a threesome until August 29 and then I will be getting transferred. It should be neat being with a blind elder. Missionary work has slowed down now and we are not teaching as many people. Remember when I told you a while back that myself and Elder Dalrymple got "Top Companionship" for baptisms in June or May? Well, my last companion, Elder Fusselman, and myself got "Top Companionship" for teaching the most discussions out of the whole mission. Pretty neat, huh!
Do you remember Elder James? He was my companion in the MTC. He has been telling members here that we did not get along in the MTC and he is making it look like it is all my fault. I'm going to call and talk to him about it soon. I can't believe him. I guess I need to forgive him and just make sure I don't do the same thing. It is nothing I can't handle with the help of the Lord, right.
We taught a discussion yesterday to a lady who has the Jehovah Witnesses come around on Wednesday. They are teaching her how to use the Bible. She was telling us the other day that the JW were telling her that we are evil. She told them that we were nice YM and that if they were going to talk about us that way, they could leave! She is so nice! She lets the JW's over to teach her about the Bible, but she has told us that she doesn't believe a lot of things they teach. We believe that it is helping her to have them over because now she can recognize when the Spirit tells her something is wrong just as He tells her that we're right and true! The Spirit is a missionary's best teaching aid and friend! Without the Spirit, we could rattle on all day and never get any where!
We have a lady--the one we baptized about a week ago--and her husband has this super cool shirt. I was telling her one day how much I liked it and when I went over there a couple days later, they had bought me one. It is a $40 shirt! It is excellent.
I love your letters and the support you are giving me. I am working hard!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
We are getting a new elder in our companionship. His name is Elder Greene and he is blind. We will be in a threesome until August 29 and then I will be getting transferred. It should be neat being with a blind elder. Missionary work has slowed down now and we are not teaching as many people. Remember when I told you a while back that myself and Elder Dalrymple got "Top Companionship" for baptisms in June or May? Well, my last companion, Elder Fusselman, and myself got "Top Companionship" for teaching the most discussions out of the whole mission. Pretty neat, huh!
Do you remember Elder James? He was my companion in the MTC. He has been telling members here that we did not get along in the MTC and he is making it look like it is all my fault. I'm going to call and talk to him about it soon. I can't believe him. I guess I need to forgive him and just make sure I don't do the same thing. It is nothing I can't handle with the help of the Lord, right.
We taught a discussion yesterday to a lady who has the Jehovah Witnesses come around on Wednesday. They are teaching her how to use the Bible. She was telling us the other day that the JW were telling her that we are evil. She told them that we were nice YM and that if they were going to talk about us that way, they could leave! She is so nice! She lets the JW's over to teach her about the Bible, but she has told us that she doesn't believe a lot of things they teach. We believe that it is helping her to have them over because now she can recognize when the Spirit tells her something is wrong just as He tells her that we're right and true! The Spirit is a missionary's best teaching aid and friend! Without the Spirit, we could rattle on all day and never get any where!
We have a lady--the one we baptized about a week ago--and her husband has this super cool shirt. I was telling her one day how much I liked it and when I went over there a couple days later, they had bought me one. It is a $40 shirt! It is excellent.
I love your letters and the support you are giving me. I am working hard!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
Wednesday, August 7, 1985
Dear Shanell,
We are doing great! We had our baptism and I cannot believe how strong the spirit was there! Elder Byington, a real good friend from Ririe, Idaho, baptized her and I confirmed her. I didn't even know what I was going to say until I started the prayer. Then every word just rolled forth so easily. I can't even remember now what was said! The Spirit does take over in things like that! He did it yesterday at the baptism! We have about 9 families in our teaching pool at this time. That is the best in the zone!!!
My new companion, Elder Cash, is weird, but I'm trying to show brotherly love. I know this is a test! Right now I am doing laundry. I sewed my first hole in my socks the other day. That is a major operation for me! I also sewed my pants where they started ripping. I can also iron my shirts super good now! I'm going to make a good wife someday, huh!
My mission is going great! It is so neat to make people happy and to see the Spirit radiate from their faces after receiving the Holy Ghost! They are so happy! We have a new sister missionary. Now, both of them are about 5' 0"! You can imagine the fun I have singing the song "Short People". My companion is super short, too.
I care for you so much! I'm grateful for your support!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
We are doing great! We had our baptism and I cannot believe how strong the spirit was there! Elder Byington, a real good friend from Ririe, Idaho, baptized her and I confirmed her. I didn't even know what I was going to say until I started the prayer. Then every word just rolled forth so easily. I can't even remember now what was said! The Spirit does take over in things like that! He did it yesterday at the baptism! We have about 9 families in our teaching pool at this time. That is the best in the zone!!!
My new companion, Elder Cash, is weird, but I'm trying to show brotherly love. I know this is a test! Right now I am doing laundry. I sewed my first hole in my socks the other day. That is a major operation for me! I also sewed my pants where they started ripping. I can also iron my shirts super good now! I'm going to make a good wife someday, huh!
My mission is going great! It is so neat to make people happy and to see the Spirit radiate from their faces after receiving the Holy Ghost! They are so happy! We have a new sister missionary. Now, both of them are about 5' 0"! You can imagine the fun I have singing the song "Short People". My companion is super short, too.
I care for you so much! I'm grateful for your support!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
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