Hey Family,

North Philly is absolutely amazing. I learned an interesting lesson this week. For the last little while, something hasn't felt quite right. I was doing what I was supposed to, but it still felt as if I were just going through the motions, and we were having little or no success. I couldn't figure it out. Then we had a zone conference on Thursday. President Fillmore is a great man. He spoke on how to increase and/or maintain the blessings and support we receive from God. He brought up something interesting. He said that we can do things pretty good at a certain time in our missions, and find enormous success. But, in your next area, doing that exact same things will bring you absolutely nothing. That is God's way of bringing us higher over time. As we try to improve, we maintain that success, and we begin to have more of that "fun" that comes with diligent missionary work. I learned a lot from that. That day we went tracting because we had not appoinmnets, and we found a great family of four. I know it's the truth and that God has His ways of pullling us higher each day. I love this gospel and I know it's true!

President Fillmore is leaving this next week, so we are all kind of bummed about that. But, President Murray is going to be a great man, too. He has notified us of the attempt the church is making to move the elders into member homes, but none of us are too sure how that will work with the rowhomes and city housing so prominent in the Center City. It'll be interesting, though. They should be doing that here too before the end of my mission.

I'm so excited about the work, and it is going forward at unreal speed. I know this is God's work and have met many people who have been prepared for the missionaries. I know God is assisting this work. I love the gospel and am so thankful for it. I know that by following it, we can be blessed in all we do!

I love you so much!
Elder Wallentine

Hey everybody,

Thank you all for your letters! It was absolutely wonderful to hear from all of you!

This week has been a difficult one as well. This whole transfer so far has been especially hard. I'm starting to realize now just how easy my other area was with a car and the grass. It's definitely a different experience than up in Morrisville, but I'm growing to love it as well. The subway and public transportation have been a new experience.

I've got a funny story for you. Right before I left, I tried on three of my pairs of slacks out of the four we bought. They all fit, so I didn't give it any thought. Well, I went to wear the fourth pair the other day and the waist is several inches too small. I haven't gained any weight out here, they just don't fit. I don't know why I didn't check those earlier, but I can't do much with them. I don't think Peterson's can do anything about it, can they? Anyway, I'll be okay without them, it's just kind of a waste.

I don't have much more time, but I want you all to know that this gospel and this church really are true. It is the only way to receive all that God has for us. Being out here has really changed my perspective on that. Back in Boise, it almost seemed like there wasn't any other way to go besides the Church. I'm beginning to realize now just how blessed we are to have the full gospel in beautiful simplicity, especially after meeting many pastors and hearing how they understand the Bible. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that President Hinckley is, too. Thank you so much for all you've done; You don't know how much of a strength you've all been to me in my life.

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Hey you guys!

The city has been pretty nuts so far. When we got moved into this area, there wasn't much going on, so we've been tracting a lot. At first, our success has been pretty minimal. We've found a few people here and there, but we hadn't seen much success. This week though, God is starting to justify our labors and the miracles are starting to appear. I've seen that as a well established pattern in how God blesses us. He waits for us to make small changes or ventures in our lives, waits to see if we are humble enough to rely on Him, and diligent enough to give it our all, and then at the very end He steps in and dumps a load of blessings on you. Yesterday we tracted nearly all evening, from about 3:30 to 9 pm. We knocked about 200 doors and just as we were getting ready to do in for the night, God provided us with a family of three teach. The miracles are starting to come at us like crazy!

I took some pretty cool pictures of the city. It looks pretty cool when it's foggy outside.

I finished reading Jesus the Christ early last month. It took a while to understand some parts of that book, but it was pretty remarkable. It's almost like Talmage was talking with the Savior face to face when he wrote that book because some stuff in there was not that specific in the Bible. It was a really good book and I learned a lot about a lot. My favorites were the chapters about the atonement, the apostasy, His American ministry, and when He walks on the sea.

I have to go because our district is going shopping in a few minutes. I don't want to miss the subway train. I love you guys.

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Hey there everyone!

Things have been absolutely crazy here for the past two weeks. Sorry I couldn't get a letter out to you. I was too busy packing all my bags and the library was closed for Memorial Day. Last weekend I got transferred into the city, not just the suburbs, the City! In one week my surroundings went from the Delaware River and historic sites and mansions to the graffiti, litter, corner stores, basketball cages, and sky scrapers of Central Philadelphia. It's pretty crazy here, but the view from my apartment is amazing. We woke up early on Thursday and ran to the Philadelphia Museum of Art--the Rocky steps. It was pretty cool. Next week we are going to see all the old places like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, so that will be cool.

It has been a rough week though. We got doubled into the center city, meaning there was no veteran elder to show me the area or tell us about any new investigators. We were on our own. We got to work and have been tracting all day for nearly a week. Things are starting to shape up. It has been one of the hardest weeks of my mission to date, but it has been a great way to strengthen my faith.

I never really got too homesick, but now I'm starting to miss some of the weirdest things from back home such as the late night trips to Walmart for milk or cereal. I'm doing pretty good though, as long as I'm working, I don't really have time to get homesick. They took our area's car and we are either walking everywhere or taking the subway to church on Sundays. I don't have to worry about gaining weight.

I know this church is the true and living gospel and that without it, we would be so confused. I've seen some of that out here. It's pretty hard to see so many people trying so hard to get by, but without God in their lives, it just isn't possible. I am so grateful to be allowed to witness this work going forth and I know it's God's own.

I love you all!

Elder Wallentine