Hello One & All From the ATL!!!

Hey y'all,

Y'all are amazing. I love each and every one of you. How are y'all doing this wonderful and amazing day?? Could y'all do something for me? Just take a moment and look outside... how beautiful and amazing is that? How incredible is this world around us? We're so blessed to be here!

Alright, so I have an experience to share from this morning... myself, my companion (Elder Vargas) and two other Elders took a field trip to a place called Stone Mountain this morning for a hike. It's not really a mountain... its more like one massive granite rock... but in a place where the land is flat and you can't see more than a few hundred yards away from you because of buildings or tree's... well, we'll let them call it a mountain... bless their hearts ;) But anyways.... we went and hiked this mountain this morning... and I feel like I learned a lot from that hourish long experience... but one thing I wanted to share is what I saw at the top of this mountain. When we reached the summit, there was hardly any trees or vegetation covering the top. Now, keep in mind.... this mountain literally is a giant mass of granite stone. There wasn't much that could grow on there down around the bottom to begin with.... there was however a few, gnarled and withered looking trees up at the top. I went over and examined these trees... and I couldn't help but notice just how old, worn out and beat they looked. To add to this visual, there was a strong wind blowing and a heavy fog this morning as we hiked and reached the top... it was no wonder that these tree's looked beaten and old... they're completely left out in the open to face the winds, wet and blasting sun.... but you know what? They were still there... old and worn they may have looked, but upon closer examination, I could see that they were incredibly strong trees... and not just the trunks, branches, etc... but the roots! The roots had burried themselves deep into the granite rock to hold these trees strong. Now... there are MANY parables/analogies/etc. that I came up with in my head for these trees... but the one I'll share is simple. We are the trees.... we go through many hard things in life... many storms, many rains, many winds, many hot days, etc... but as we keep ourselves deeply rooted in the rock of life... as we root ourselves to Jesus Christ and His gospel.... we will not only surive but we will be strengthened by all the trials we face... and we will be able to endure all things. I testify to you that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He is the way to eternal life and eternal happiness... He is the rock that we can... and must all stand upon and stay firmly rooted to. Always follow Him... always love Him... always love and serve others. I love each of you so much... you're all so amazing. Have a wonderful and blessed day! (I'll include pics next time... forgot my camera today.... sorry!)

-Elder Wahlen

Hello one and all from the hot and sticky ATL down-town!‏

Hey y'all,

How's everyone doing? Have a great 4th of July? I sure hope so!!! It was crazy down here... but crazy good!

So I don't have much time again today... and I'm sorry for that... but here are a couple things.

I've had the amazing opportunity to go through the Atlanta temple a few times in the past few weeks here... and in the Celestial room, there is a HUGE chandlier that is amazingly beautiful... it literally looks like one giant crystal. Its lit from the inside and as the light shines through all the interlocked and connected gems/crystals, the shine forth with every color imaginable. This chandelier is often the topic of conversation before and after the temple trips as many things can be learned from its beauty... so here are a few things I've learned from it. Just as the chandelier is made up of many different crystals, so too is the kingdom of God. Only His kingdom is created not with crystals, but with amazing people such as yourself. Each crystal in the chandelier represents us.... and as we let the light within each of us shine through (the light of Christ) we're able to see and realize all of our amazing unique talents and ablities that the Lord has blessed each of us with. This is where we can see all the different colors... we're all different and yet all equally beautiful as we allow for that light to shine from within us. So how do we let that light shine through us? Well, just as the crystals and clean and pure in order to allow the light to shine through, we too must keep ourselves clean and pure by being obedient. Be obedient to the commandments and ye shall remain clean and pure.... and that light will shine through you and help you to not only help others see and feel the love of Christ, but it will allow you to shine with all the "colors" or talents and abilities that you have. All of your gifts will be fully realized and utilized... especially as we use them to help others. Sorry if that made no sense, but thats the short version :)

Last thing I wanted to talk about.... we often think about how amazing it will feel to see our Heavenly Father.... and not just see Him, but to be embraced by Him. How amazing will that be? To be hugged by our Heavenly Father? Pretty amazing, huh? Now think of this... how happy will He be... how amazing will He feel when He finally gets to hug us? I testify to each of you that NO ONE wants to hug you more than our Heavenly Father does. He wants you to be happy.... He wants you to come back and to be with Him again as an eternal family... His love can't be comprehended... but I testify to you that its there. It's there for each and every one of you. Pray and ask for help if you're struggling... He will give you the strength you need to break those chains and free yourself from those things weighing you down and He will take them from you when you're strength runs out.

I love you. Y'all are amazing.

-Elder Wahlen

Hello from downtown!!!‏

Hello y'all,

I love you all so much. Y'all are amazing. Always remember that. How y'all doing????

So... what to talk about today... I've learned A LOT this week. Crazy story though... in the ATL Ward where I serve... I'm telling you, its the most unique ward on Earth. It one moment, the whole class was talking about how judgement will be a self-judgement... with nearly everyone singing and shouting out praises like "Amen sister!" "That's what I'm talking about! Ya! That's what I'm talking about!", etc. while someone was eating a breakfast wrap from McDonalds and a baby girl was playing with a pink colored tazer from her Moms purse (don't worry, she took it away after she noticed)... and this was a class being taught by a missionary. I dunno... that doesn't do the whole situation or experience justice... but wow... only in the wonderful and amazing Atlanta ward! I love it! Always a unique and crazy amazing experience each Sunday!

Just a few things... well, maybe only a couple cause I'm short on time... but I'll see how far I can go. Lose yourself in the love and service of others. Love heals all things. I testify to each and every one of you that y'all are loved so much... there is so much love for you in this world and on the other side. There is so many people pulling for you and cheering you on... please, never give up. Keep going. You always have help. You always have someone there to love you... and please, always love EVERYONE around you. There is so many people out there that just need to feel even just the smallest portion of love. I promise and testify to you as well that as you lose yourself in the service of others that you will find yourself... your true self. Pray to have charity towards all and then go out there and love everyone. You'll change the world around you... you'll change those around you.... and you'll change yourself.

One other thing really quick... be obedient so that the Holy Ghost can always be with you. Don't do it for yourself though... do it for the benefit of those around you. You each have amazing spiritual gifts that our Heavenly Father has given you... and as the Holy Ghost is with you... and works through you... you'll be able to maximize those gifts for the betterment of all those around you. Be obedient. Do the small and simple things.

Only 30 seconds left! I love you all. Sorry this was short and crazy!

-Elder Wahlen 

Hello from Ponce De Leon!‏

Hey y'all,

How y'all doing? I'll start by saying sorry... this is going to be short. This key-board is messed up so it takes me FOREVER to type anything up.

Did y'all get the chance to go and see the first Presidency broadcast this Sunday? I sure hope so!!! It was AMAZING!!! If you missed it... go find it! Watch it! Pray about the things they talked about and the things you learned.

There's so many things I want to talk about today... but since I'll only be able to talk about one today... and go with this:

FOLLOW PROMPTINGS FROM THE HOLY GHOST

Story to go along with this... (long story short)... the 2nd councilor here in the ward told us to go visit a lady he home teaches after church this last Sunday... said he felt like she needed a visit. We changed our plans and went... we get there and she asks for our help in cleaning out her freezer. We quickly agree thinking its just a few small things... NOPE! Turns out the freezer was packed with meat... and it had been spoiled completely over the course of at least a week... the place smelled so bad that after we opened the freezer to clean it out, you could smell the stink a good 20 yards outside the front door. Maggots, flies, all sorts of nasty stuff was in there... it made the place unlivable it smelled so bad. This lady has 3 young daughters too... so we dropped our plans and ended up cleaning the thing out for the next 3 hours... we got it done though!

Moral of the story... if the original prompting hadn't been followed, that lady and her 3 daughters would've been in that house with that terrible situation... but because he had the ability to not only hear the spirit/prompting but then had the courage to act upon it, the Lord was able to provide a way to help that family. Always follow promptings... it will bless the lives of others and your own. Don't be afraid to do so either! (Joshua 1:9).

One last note... pray often! Pray for specifics!!

I love you.... I love you all so much. Love everyone, love the Lord.

-Elder Wahlen

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

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

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