Dear everyone,

Wow, it sounds like a pretty crazy trip you guys are having. I'm so glad everything is going well, and I know that god is sustaining you through all of it. As the people here say, "God is good, all the time!" It's just a catchphrase all the baptists use. That and the "Baptized, sanctified, filled with the Holy-Ghost, speaking in tongues and singing in Technicolor." (Except we usually get that one right before they tell us "I've known Jesus a lot longer than you have, leave me alone" [slam of door].

It's pretty funny here, but there are so many people that are prepared in so many ways. I love the mission, even though it has been a little scary at times. I'm in a different area now in North Philly, so don't worry, but when I was in West Philly, some stuff was really going down. A car got bombed three houses down from our apartment on Market Street last week, and there was a police shootout a little down the road. If you want to check out the area on GoogleEarth, the address was 5713 market st, Philadelphia, PA. We definitely get the "Philly Experience" here. Normally, I'd be terrified, but the spirit of God is really something. With all that happening around us, we are promised safety and security, as are our families, I'm finding out in the D&C. It's really true, it's incredible how calm we can stay when people living around all this stuff are having such a time coping with it.

I'm in North Philly right now, but I feel like I'm serving in Puerto Rico. Mi espanol es...non-existent, but I'm learning slowly and surely. We are finding some really great people, I'm very excited. My new companion is really cool, he speaks fluent Spanish, and is trying to teach me. It's great, but all I can say is "hi, we are the missionaries from the church." and then smile, and wait for my companion to butt in. It's going to get better.

My favorite talk was in Saturday Evening session, where Elder Holland ROCKED THE CHRISTIAN WORLD. He bluntly spoke out against false doctrine, (i.e. trinity, the unembodied God, etc.) It was pretty cool, check it out when you can. Elder Nelson gave a sweet talk on the Book of Mormon, but to get the full effect, you have to watch that one on the net.  I don't think I've ever seen an apostle read straight from the BOM in a talk, it was raw Power! Conference was great this time, I loved it!

I love the field, it's great! It's so hard to believe that I have been out 8 months yesterday! 1/3 of the way done. I think I almost got sick when I saw that. It goes by so fast. I know that this work is the truth. They've started to allow us to use the Testaments in teaching, and thus far, it's solidified every person that sees it. I love it, and I know that this is definitely the work of God. Thank you so much for all of your letters, it's so great to hear that you are doing well! I love you all!

Love,
Elder Wallentine