Dear Shanell,

Thank you for the goodies! My companion is still Elder Pruett and he is dead against tracting, or any other type of work. I've gotten him out a couple of times, but he's not very cooperative in that way. All he wants to do is listen to music and read his Sports Illustrated. Right now he is listening to "Born in the USA". We aren't supposed to listen to rock music, but he gets sick of me putting in my Mormon Tabernacle Choir tape. It is rather frustrating because I want to teach and baptize people. I hope my next companion likes to work.

The people that said they would come to church didn't come and I am rather curious why. We are going to check up on that, I hope. The blind elder I told you about is now with Elder Todd Herrera. I think you know him. Elder Shawn Crosgrove is going home on Friday, October 25.

Thank you for all your support!

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Dear Shanell,

I haven't received letters for quite a while and just found out why. The Sydney mail system has been on strike! I will be getting a new companion in one week. My current companion has been in this area for 6 months, so he will definitely be getting moved. I really enjoyed him as a companion. I think I already will welcome this transfer though. He is Elder Pruett and he loves missionary work if you leave out the "work" part. He is a super guy, but he still doesn't like working. He is a recent convert and usually they work the hardest. Oh well.

Remember the elder I sat on? When I was with him, he would always drive and go out of our area. I explained to him that we would get our car taken away if he din't quit. Well, I found out 2 days ago that he was caught out of his area and he no longer has a car. I can't believe some of the stupid things missionaries do out here. I'm not perfect, but some missionaries go overboard! This is a pretty rowdy mission. In our district, we have a motto: "Don't be a nerd. . . be obedient". It is working well. When somebody does something not in line with the rules, we just look at them and say, "Elder, you shouldn't be a nerd!" It is working as stupid as it may seem.

We have 2 investigators and both are not progressing very well right now. Faith is the key. Well, all in all I love my mission! A mission is where I have to be now to make my Heavenly Father happy. I love serving Him and I'm grateful for your support.

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Dear Shanell,

I really enjoy all your letters and your support for me out here! We are teaching a lady named Allison Randall and we went to teach her again on the 10th of October, but she was gone. We have 2 people that we met knocking that said they would come to church, too! We just need to work with them. I am so excited for this work!

I have had an interesting experience that has taught me the importance of being an example. When I came to Christies beach, the area I'm in now, my new companion, Elder Pruett did not go tracting at all. He didn't study, he was always swearing and was always watching television. As you know, I got very tired of him being so lazy so I decided that since he is senior companion, I would just try to set an example. I started by praying and studying in front of him. I then suggested that we go tracting more. I also recommended that he not watch his television since it is against rules to even have one. Guess what? He is up-to-date on his scripture reading now and he doesn't swear hardly at all! He is still very reluctant to go tracting, but I'm still working on that. Being an example is probably the best way to get someone to do what's right. I'm learning heaps out here! There are a lot of rules, but I am learning obedience for sure!

I set a couple goals in October and each time I keep them, I give myself a star on a chart I made. I guess I must get a thrill from putting stars on a piece of paper! Our zone leaders came by the other day and asked me how mnay mission t-shirts I wanted. I said two. One for me and one for you! Won't that be fun!

I am trying my hardest out here! I am 100% on my mission! I love this work! I love writing in my journal and am on the 300th page. I love serving my Father in Heaven! I love Jesus Christ! I love serving in His church.

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Dear Shanell,

The missionary work is picking up in this area. We taught a lady yesterday and it took 2 hours for one discussion. I thought it went really well! My companion, Elder Pruett, is still being really lazy. He is the senior companion and he doesn't like tracting so he just sits in the flat and sleeps. I'm not out here to sleep so I just read our study while he's sleeping. He will probably be getting transferred on October 24 so I'm still hoping to train a new elder. I really get along with Elder Pruett, but I hate to see a super missionary like him get lazy! He has excellent potential. Our mission president just came over yesterday morning and talked with us. He just wanted to know how we were doing.

On Wednesday, October 2, myself and Elder Adams were on our way to his flat and he was driving. He didn't see a bicyclist coming down the hill and when he went to turn, a guy ran into my side of the car and his hand came through the window and glass went in my face. Elder Adams quickly slammed on the brakes and we both got out. The guy had flipped over the car and his bicycle landed on top of him. We took the bicycle off of him and his hand was bleeding from about 75-100 cuts. His arm was definitely broken and he was in sort of a mild shock. Someone went and phoned the ambulance and while we were waiting, we put a tourniquet on his arm to stop the bleeding and just directed traffic and kept him calm. We covered him in a blanket ad then the ambulance came and took him to the hospital. The police came and Elder Adams had to give a report of what happened. I never thought I would use what I learned in scouting, but I was grateful to know what to do. We went and visited him in the hospital and he is okay. He just has a broken arm. Elder Adams asked him if he would like to know about the church and I think they are going to try to teach him What a way to ask someone the golden question. The guy's name is Keith Dalton and he is really nice. He is 20 years old. Both Elder Adams and I are okay except I have a few cuts but nothing real serious.

I guess I'll say bye for now.

Love,
Elder Wallentine

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

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

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 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