Dear Family,

Things are going absolutely wonderful here, but it is a lot of work. God works in some funny ways sometimes, doesn't He? We had gone two weeks without seeing anyone of our investigators at church, and it was getting pretty frustrating. I'm not going to lie. Yesterday, we had some great families that said they'd come, but when the time came, and we called them Sunday morning, things weren't nearly so hopeful. It looked like another dry Sunday. But, lo and behold, a woman names Phyllis showed up at church and asked where she could find Elder Wallentine and Elder Urrutia. We had taught her six weeks earlier, but she kicked us out and stopped answering our calls. But, by God's grace, her heart was softened, and she actually came on her own! I know now more than ever that all flesh is in His hands, and that He never drops one of us. I know that He lives and that Christ did so much more than I ever before understood. Jesus the Christ along with the scriptures really put some things in perspective.

I'm moving again. This time I'm moving to West Philly and everything is packed up. It's pretty exciting. I'm moving in with a Tongan elder name Elder Ayu. He's really cool. The new president is amazing! I met with him on Thursday and talked with him Sunday, too. I am way excited to work with him. He's got more vision than anyone I've ever seen! I could see him making new business strategies for how to help the mission out, just as he was first introducing himself. The next 19 months are going to be great!

The 4th of July was kind of cool here, but in light of youngsters liking to shoot bottle rockets at the missionaries, they locked center city missionaries down that afternoon. During break we got to stop by some of the block parties, and so many people gave us so much barbecue it was ridiculous. I wish they liked listening to our message as much as they do feeding us! I'd have some cool pictures of the Center City fireworks, but they got rained out and the only big ones were along the horizon over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. I took some pics of center city, though.

I know that God has a plan for each of us and I'm starting to understand exactly why my papers didn't get sent the first time. I love you all very much!

Love,
Elder Wallentine