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