new pictures - Yea!

These are some pictures that Elder Wahlen sent to me.  The bottom one is some guys they play basketball with on mondays, he says that the tall one is legit and that they are teaching him.  I can see why he has mixed emotions about being transferred.  

Sorry about the top one, but i couldn't figure out how to turn it around

New Beginnings

Hey y'all,

Happy New Years! What are everyones New Years resolutions??? Can I invite each of you to do make at least one??? Will each of you commit to share the gospel (and Gods love) for someone this year? Although I'll only invite you to share with one person, I pray that you'll reach out to many, many, many more :)

So I'm moving on! Good-bye down-town ATL... hello Conyers! It will be a great experience to learn and grow... I'm very sad but very excited... I know that the Lord is leading and guiding me and I'm excited to keep following His direction. Off to new adventures, amazing experiences and witnessing new miracles!!!

So what have I learned during my time here?? Wow... where to begin??? So many amazing lessons that I've learned... so many stories to share... but in the end, I've learned that God and the Savior are ALWAYS there for us.

I've gone through all sorts of up's and down's here... so many times have I felt so amazingly happy... and so many, many times have I felt that my heart couldn't take any more breaking... but through all in all... whether it was during times of happiness and joy or during times of trial, afflicition and sadness... the Savior and our Heavenly Father have always been there for me. They are always there. I promise.

One experience just really quick... on Christmas night, we had the option to either head in early and get dinner or stay out for another 30 minutes and try to find someone in need of this amazing message... it was tempting since we hadn't eaten since early that afternoon and it was a Holliday after all... but nope, we chose the road less traveled... and we simply believed that the Lord would lead us to someone... long story short, we found someone that night just before heading in... an amazing man who needs the Atonement in his life... and he was so excited to hear of what was available to him. Have faith always! Miracles happen!

Love Elder Wahlen

It's finally here!

Howdy y'all,

Merry, merry, merry Christmas!!! Wow!! Can you believe it's here???? What a wonderful time of the year.... is there any better time???? I love this time of year... expecially here in Atlanta! The people are so loving and so amazing... God is in this city!

So... I've experienced so many things the past couple weeks... I honestly don't know where to begin...

I was planning on sharing an experience with y'all... but I feel prompted to save that for the call with the family... perhaps they'll be able to fill you in on that one at a later time... but I do feel that I should share something that I've come to learn recently (yes, next time I promise to share a story/experience!)

So I've learned something really profoud lately... or more so, I've truly understood it and applied it in my life for the first time lately.... and that is the truth that the Atonement is indiviualized. Christ suffered and died for each of us as an individual... He didn't just suffer a general suffering for everynoe... He suffered the exact things that you have, currently are and will ever suffer. He knows EXACTLY what YOU are going through.... and He knows exactly how to help you. Yes, there is only ONE WAY to be happy and to return to live with our Heavenly Father... and that is through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ... but the way we get there... the journey that we take... the experiences we have... and the way that Christ helps us to get there is completely unique to each of us. 

Along with this truth I've learned that Christ and the Atonement are ALWAYS there for us... we don't nead a certain level of good deads, making right decisions, etc... and then we max out or peak and then Christ and the Atonement make up the difference... no! He and the the Atonement are always there for us... through everything! At every moment of the day... forever! 

It's not the light at the end of the tunnel, He and the Atonement is the light that gets us through the tunnel.... and we can and should rely on this each and every day of our lives. That's why we celebrate Christmas... that's why we have Christmas tree's... to represent the one He was hung on for us... that's why we put lights on the tree... to remember the crown of thorns He wore for us... that's why we put gifts under the tree and ornaments upon it... to show our love for Him and the families that He has allowed to have... and that we will have forever. I invite each of you to remember this on Christmas day... and every day of your life moving forward.

 I love you! Pray and ask for His help... He is there for you!

-Elder Wahlen

Happy Early Christmas

Hey y'all,

Only have 2 minutes left but just know that I love you and that the church is true (go figure, right?). Had some amazing experiences this week... but hopefully I'll get the time to elaborate on them next week!

 Be safe... have faith! Belive! Love. 

I love you!

-Elder Wahlen

more pictures from the facebook site

more pictures

Pictures from the mission facebook page

 I got these pictures off of the Mission Facebook page, I am assuming it is Sister Harding, Elder Wahlen, Elder Savage, President Harding and maybe two investigators

Email from Georgia

Hi this is Tracy,
     This week I received a most wonderful email from the first woman that Elder Wahlen had baptized
I would like to share a portion of that letter with you. Her name is Leia.

We have become very special friends.

" A few weeks ago I met Elder Jake.  He was with Elder Wahlen at the MTC when they first started
their mission.

We instantly liked Elder jake when we met him.  He is humble, extremely tall, funny, articulate and full
of warmth and compassion.  There is an deep, underlying appreciation and gratitude I can't quite put my finger on, that he seems to have that some lack.  he reminds me a lot of Elder Wahlen, in spirit and manner.

I don't think he knew elder Wahlen was serving in this mission.  When I started talking about Elder Wahlen, I asked, "He is a Zone leader. Don't you know him?"

He got this look on his face when I asked and when he put it together that elder Wahlen was
"OUR Missionary", the words just started pouring out.  The emotion flowing from this young man,
knowing now that we knew him, was amazing...but then again, that is the kind of thing we have grown to expect from people who have met Elder wahlen.  He does that you know... Elder Wahlen evokes a
kind of respect and honor from those around him, which is not his intent, but a side effect of how he
loves everyone around him.

So this is what elder Jake told us.

He said that Elder Wahlen was a leader when he met him.  Elder Jake was having some issues with the
companion he had and Elder Wahlen had Elder Jake come with him for a day.  Elder Jake could not
stop telling us how much Elder Wahlen had helped him.  I am unsure of all that was said during that day, but whatever it was, it was powerful.  Out of curiosity, I asked him about elder Wahlen's eyes... that is what always got me about him.  And I wanted to know if he saw it too.  A look of surprise and understanding followed as Elder Jake began to talk.  He said, "I know!!! I know what you mean! I
can't believe you saw it too!  When he looks at you, its like he can feel your pain, there is so much
compassion.  It's unbelievable. I  totally know what you mean by his eyes."

Elder Jake said that Elder wahlen had this way of looking into your soul, loving you exactly where you
were, and then pulling out the best in you.  he could stir in you the ability to believe that you could do
that which you thought was impossible.  How awesome is that?!!!

All I can say Tracy, is that your boy is doing amazing! I know your husband and kristi would be so proud.  I wish i could explain how much and how freely he loves everyone.  My plain words do the
action no justice, but these words will have to do for now!

Elder Wahlen is so passionate and full of the spirit.  I know he has grown so much since he met us, and to hear that he is a leader is great.  But to hear of what kind of a leader he has become is just the best. Some of the things we hear from other missionaries and investigators are the following:

He leads by example.  He is humble and never boasts.  He gives glory to god for all his
accomplishments and successes.  He raises the bar for all that know him, and he expects others to meet that bar, and not lower it.  Elder Wahlen is funny.  He's got "mad skills" on the basketball court according to one investigator.  He follows the commandments.  He is a great visual teacher.  he can paint pictures with his words... so much so, even little kids understand!  And above all, he loves the Lord and it shows in his compassion and never ending generosity and kindness towards others.

Love,  Leia

As we will never hear something like this from my son i thought I would like to share it with all of you that are supporting him.

Early Merry Christmas from ATL : Rainy - Snowy

Hey y'all,

Snowing? Raining? Sunny? Doesn't matter... what a beautiful day!! What an amazing time of year... I love each of you so much. Y'all are a gift to this world.... so grateful for each and every one of you :)

Ok... so quick story again (sorry they're so short and crazy!).

One night... it was late, we had just dropped off a member who had been out teaching with us... and my companion and I had a decision to make... we could either head in and get some dinner for a few minutes before we needed to start planning at 9:00 pm... or we could spend those 20 minutes trying to find a family to help... and to bring them the restored gospel. We were EXHAUSTED.... could hardly think we were so beat from the day... and it was cold outside and had been raining most of the day... and let me tell you, it was tempting to head back in and take a minute to breathe and eat some good warm food before planning... but we both knew that there was still work to be done. Those 20 minutes are the Lords time... and we needed to make them count. 

We prayed and asked God to guide us to where He needed us to go... and then we started to drive until we felt prompted to stop. A few minutes later we did... said another prayer and got out of the car... we knocked a few doors and even met an amazing guy... and that took us to about 8:50... but we still had time and we felt there was yet work to be done.... so we prayed and asked to lead us to where we needed to go... exactly where we needed to go... so we prayed and started walking. My companion felt prompted to stop at a house and knock... so we did.

 Long story short, a man answered the door, and after a brief pause and a look over us, invited us in... this man is incredible and has an amazing family... and was so open and loving. He is reading the Book of Mormon now and is excited to learn more... thats a short version but just know he is a miracle and so prepared.

 Prayer works! Have faith... even until the bitter end. He will lead you!

-Elder Wahlen

Thanksgiving day picture

I received this on thanksgiving, I am assuming they are at the church!

Late happy thanksgiving

Hey y'all,

Well hello there :) I hope y'all had lots of pie... cause I sure did!

 Whew!! I love this time of year... the spirit is so strong everywhere you go... family, love, thanksgiving... all those great things are the focus... and people just seem so much happier. I invite each of you to reach out to somone who isn't happy and at least give them a "hello, how are you?" and a smile. Everyone deserves to be happy and feel loved this time of year!

Quick experience... on Thanksgiving night we taught a lesson to an amazing man.... his name is Chris... and Chris has NEVER felt of Gods love in his life before... Chris is nearly 60 years old now and has never felt God in his life... however, Chris is an incredible man. He is always helping people. He loves to serve... and he has changed his life around in so many ways. Anways, we taught Chris about the Book of Mormon, Restoration, etc... and we invited him to pray at the end of the lesson. He told us that he couldn't remember exactly how to do it.... but that he'd give it a try.... Chris bowed his head and prayed... it was a simple prayer... and he couldn't remember how to end it... so he asked us, right at the end "how do I close this thing???" So we told him... "In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."... Chris bowed his head again and closed the simple and humble prayer in the name of Christ... afterwards, Chris sat there in silence for a few minutes before saying "Wow... I felt something there.... wow".

I testify to you that he felt Gods love... for the first time! And I know that each of you, as you pray in the name of Christ, can ALWAYS feel of his love too.

Love You!