Hey family!

It is so much different to work with converts than it is to work with people who grew up in the church, isn't it? We have had the same problem, as well as the same advantage. You really learn the struggles of those people, when you see those that are new in the gospel trying to get fully involved. On the other hand, when a convert really lights on fire, all those around them see a glimpse of truly WHY we keep the commandments, and the blessings that come from it! That happened with one of our recent converts, named Anna. She is now FULLY committed to the church, and it is INCREDIBLE! Her husband is getting baptized on the 18th of May!!! After a year they will be married in the temple!!!

It's funny to see some of the students in the ward  here that are from Utah/Idaho that watch her as an example. Sometimes we really do get caught up in the social aspects of keeping the commandments, but seeing that has been a HUGE wake-up call!

I'm moving again tomorrow, after about a year in center city Philadelphia. It will probably be nice in the suburbs, away from all of the rush and all those things that come with living in the projects of a big city. The last year of tracting the streets has been pretty crazy, but I have some pretty cool stories for later on. Not right now, though.

I love you guys, and I hope everything goes well! Make sure you take advantage of having access (somewhat) to a temple as well! It's so important I'm finding out.

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Dear  family,

We had some pretty cool things happen this week. We have been working on strengthening the branch we are already in, and it has been working out pretty well. Right now we are working on helping the members get their own home-teaching done. Many of them are from Utah, Arizona, and Idaho, and many of them are pretty scared of going into some parts of the city to do their home teaching. Right now we go with them into the city, and teach alongside them. It is helping them to get over their fears so they can do it on their own. I never realized just how much home teaching really does for the ward. It's pretty incredible.

I love you guys, and I hope all is well!

Love,
Elder Wallentine

Hey everyone,

This week was pretty crazy. we've had a lot of changes in our area, and I'm not quite sure what kind of work we'll be doing after transfers. We're starting to lean a lot more towards retention efforts, and building the member relationships that are already in the ward itself. That way, with families like you guys, the members start to do their own missionary work! It's pretty cool, maybe you should come and do what you are doing there in Philly!

I love you guys.

Elder Wallentine

Hey all,

That sounds really cool that you guys got to go to Italy!

I'm glad you got to see conference! It was so cool this time to see President Monson as the new prophet, and you could, just as they said, see that mantle fall on him as he spoke. He's probably got a pretty hard job! There were some really good talks. I especially loved the talk by Elder Holland about the Book of Mormon. I'm so glad he finished what he started 6 months ago. His talk on the trinity was pretty intense.

We had some really great things happen this week, and many of our investigators really enjoyed conference. It would really help some of our investigators out here if they could see some of the General Conference talks for themselves. I have a recent convert who didn't get to see conference for her first 7 months being a member, and that was really hard for her.

I was wondering if, when they come out on DVD on LDScatalog, if you guys could send me these last two sessions, fall 07 and spring 08. it would do wonders for our investigators; the "special witnesses of Christ" dvd's are outdated with all the changes in apostleship, and most of these people don't have computers, so it would really help them out to see who the new apostles and prophet actually are.

Thank you so much for all your help with everything! I love you guys!

Love,
Elder Wallentine