Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Late hello from down-town ATL!!!

Hey y'all,

How's everyone doing today? Sorry this is late... we ended up going to the temple today and we had to switch our P-day to make that work. It was awesome!!! If you're able to go to the temple and haven't been lately... stop it and go!!! Such an amazing place. Even if you just walk around the grounds... it will help you feel better. I promise.

So... where to start today????? So many things happen down here its hard to remember everything...

So I went on exchanges yesterday with one of the District Leaders... it was great... only problem is that he's a spanish speaking missionary. I didn't understand 85% of what he or the people were saying.... but something I could understand and still feel was the spirit.... it was really neat to go through the whole night and have to fully rely on the spirit. I was able to follow what they were talking about simply by how things felt. We met with an amazing family and ended up teaching them the first lesson... I didn't say much but I was able to stumble through reading a scripture in spanish (with a little help from my spanish speaking companion) and I bore my testimony at the very end (mingled with the little spanish that I picked up). I wasn't able to say much and I don't know how well they understood me... but I know that the spirit was there... and I'll say this much: having the spirit in your life (not just as a missionary) is SO important. Its so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of life that we get so busy and distracted that we lose that feeling... that guiding influence... and we so easily forget how amazing it feels to have that feeling with you at all times. Do everything you can to have that feeling with yuo at all times... do those small and simple things!

Elder Munn's of the 70 spoke at our stake conference... we were also able to go to a priesthood leadership training that he spoke at... some highlights: trials in life are a blessing. Just like a violin string, our souls and selves need to be stretched before we're able to produce beautiful music. This was actually something that's been springing up around our zone and in my personal life out here as a missionary... trials are a good thing!! That's hard to tell someone who just found out that they have a hernia and that they're going to be bed ridden for the next month or so... or to someone who just came in from a temple square mission and is being placed as a trainer and white-washing into an area in down-town ATL... etc., etc.... but its so true. When we're stretched, when we're pushed to a limit that makes us change and grow... as long as we have faith and turn to Him for our help.... we don't just change into something different, we take one step closer to reaching our divine potential as sons and daughters of God.

Another experience... we recieved an HQ referral (someone requested an item from mormon.org and wants it delievered) to a place here down-town... we go down there and it turns out to be an extended stay hotel (pretty much a homeless shelter but far.... worse). The man we went in and saw was a man that we had bought a Subway sandwhich for a few days earlier.... long story short, when we went to leave and I pulled on the doorknob, the doorknob came off. That's a good thing cause the door stayed on its hinges and we were able to leave without getting mugged or shot haha (sorry Mom, don't stress, we have God with us). It was that kind of place... but it made me stop and think about just how blessed we are in life. Be quick to give thanks to the Lord and be quick to count yuor blessings... I can promise you that things can be FAR WORSE... we're so blessed in our lives. Especially because of the knowledge we have of the restored gospel... which brings me to my next point: share the gospel!!! So many people out there need the gospel in their lives and so many people are looking for it... we literally spent 30 minutes on one street corner talking, praying, teaching, etc. and we met a good 10 people in that time that were looking to come closer to Christ... they're out there. People are starting to take notice on how crazy the world is getting... don't be afraid to open your mouth and share the gospel with someone: you literally could be their angel, their answer to a much needed prayer... you could be the vessel that the Lord works through to bring them back to Him.

One last note: We're all brothers and sisters. ALL of us. Love everyone. Pray for the ability to love, serve and have charity towards everyone. People need love in their lives. Everyone does. And if you already have some in your life.... share it! Tell someone today that you love them and that God loves them and that Jesus Christ loves them and that I love them. With everyone you talk to... always try to build them up and help them feel loved.

Sorry this was a crazy letter with lots of stuff... I'll try and have a more focused one next time. I love you. Every last one of you. I'd invite all y'all to keep praying and then pray some more. Prayer is so powerful. Keep following the Savior. Keep having faith. Keep loving everyone. I love you.

-Elder Wahlen

Monday, June 10, 2013

Hello from down-town ATL!!! 6/10/13


Hey y'all,

How y'all doing today? Its an amazing day here today... I just want y'all to know that I love you :)
So hopefully I'll get to a short message today but I have to tell you about serving here in down-town Atlanta... its AMAZING! One funny note though... President Harding invited all us missionaries to go mountain climbing with him after the mission, so make a reminder note for me to do that :)

Anyways... where do I start? Blessed/dedicating apartments? Living a few blocks away from the Bank of America tower? Helping our neighbor out at church while he had a seizure? The chapel... which has a carpet basketball floor? The tradition of saying "good morning" when starting a talk and having the entire group relpy in unison with a "good morning"? My pants tearing getting into the car? Being hugged by a big huge guy with no shirt on? Crazy down town driving? Where do I start????? Haha. Hopefully that gives you a small tid-bit of an idea of how AMAZING it is to be serving here in down-town ATL.... seriously the most unique place in the world. So many stories to tell y'all... maybe I'll save them all until I get back and we'll have one big story telling time. Don't worry, I keep a good journal :)

One thing I wanted to talk about today is aligning yourselves with the Lord. Its been very clear during my short time here that its vitally important to do things the Lords way. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Well, it is.... however, we're often times losing sight of that vision.... losing sight of that path and wandering off on our own. Its a straight and narrow path... but its straight. Luckily, we've been blessed with guides (Holy Ghost, prayer, etc.)... but so often we forget and we stop doing those (take a guess) small and simple things and we go off track.

The Savior is coming... this work is laying the foundations for His arrival... and we HAVE to be prepared. We have to prepare ourselves and others for His glorious return... and we have to do so His way. Small and simple ways. Take things one day at a time.... one moment at a time... and always ask yourself "Is this what the Lord wants? Is this the Lords way?" Look to Him in every thought, action, decision, etc...

We're all on a climb... we're all trying to reach the top. Its slow going and often very hard... but we've been given those guides to lead us there and we've been given the tools to make it there safe. ALL OF US will make it there if we follow those guides and use those tools... now we just have to do it. Just do it. No fear, no doubt... you follow the Lord and NOTHING will stop you from making it there. One step at a time... following in His foot-steps... just keep doing it! Just keep going! He loves you... He won't allow you to fail. Do it. Make it there. Take that next step. No fear! Full faith... you're divine! Align yourselves on this path... on this journey.... follow Him. Do it and you'll be led to the top of the mountain and beyond. I promise and testify to you that you will not fail if you do things the Lords way... and if you falter, if you trip up, if you've done everything you can do and just feel like you can't take that next step up the mountain... He'll carry you. He loves you.

Again, sorry this is short but things are happening here and we gotta get moving! But...

I love you. Y'all are amazing. Just keep climbing. Just keep doing it. Don't stop. Have faith and keep going! We're here for you.... all of us. I love you all.

-Elder Wahlen



Mark also wrote Tracy this email, and she thought others would enjoy it...

Mom,
So... my new area is Atlanta West. I'm the new Zone Leader for.... (wait for it) DOWN TOWN ATLANTA! Holy smokes... its awesome!! We live literally a few blocks down from the Bank of America tower. ITS AWESOME!!! My new companion is Elder Vargus... he's been the zone leader here for 9 months and this is his last transfer until he goes home. He's a big tall black guy from Brooklyn, NY. He's amazing. He's having me do everything so I can get use to it before he goes since I'll be taking over completely so I'm doing everything as a zone leader already which is great. I love being thrown straight into the fire... its been great.
Gotta run so I can email everyone but I love you tons. Things are seriously going sooo good. Have never been happier on my mission.
Love you,
Elder Wahlen

Monday, June 3, 2013

Howdy Ya'll! 6/3/2013

Hey y'all,
 
How are you? Hope things are well! I don't have very much time today so I'm sorry for that... crazy random things really wuick. The best BBQ sauce? Franks original BBQ sauce. Something new and good to try? Watermelon... with salt on it. Yes, you can physically eat a BBQ chicken breast the size of your hand and survive to tell the tale. I'm being transfered! Send your letters to the mission office so I don't miss them!
 
Ok... so quick thought for the week... dang! What should it be? How about this... "do it". In life, the adversary gives us PLENTY of reasons to not do the things we need to do... I'm sure you can think of a lot of things you could do that are easier than doing the right things we've been asked to do... but I promise, with all the energy and passion of my soul, that if we just cut all that junk out that the adversary throws us at... and truly realize who we are (sons and daughters of God with divine potential and power) and move forward with faith (no fear) and just do the small and simple things we've been asked to do each day (taking each day one day at a time!) that we can overcome anything and that we can do it! We can follow Him to eternal life and recieve all that He has in store for us in this life and in the next... and the best part about it?? Everything He has for us is the best... the absolute best!
 
I know that's super quick and I'm sorry its so short this week but just know that I LOVE YOU! I love each one of you so much! You're amazing... keep doing those small and simple things, one day, one minute, one second even at a time and He will be there for you always! He's always there for you. He is the way.... the one and only way. He is the life and light of this world... and He is there for you, always.
 
I love y'all! Have a blessed day!
 
-Elder Wahlen