Hey there,

The Spanish branch in our area has grown a lot in the past few months. It's almost doubled in how many people show up. It was interesting when the missionaries there started to focus on reactivating priesthood holders, how the priesthood holders went on to help build the kingdom in their own lives, and the branch really took off!

The mission has changed a lot recently. With President Fillmore, we had a chance to go out and tract for 5-9 hours, every day. That was it. Find. Teach. Hopefully baptize. But missionary work here has changed a little bit. I'm having a chance to learn to do something I am not very used to.
In school, I feel like I understood most of the stuff pretty well. Well enough to do everything on paper and back some of it up with actual common sense. At work, I could sit and dig trenches for hours without giving it much thought, just getting it done. The mission is forcing me to learn something new; imagine that.  That is, working SMARTER. It's not something I'm too good at, but it's making me think that's something God wants me to learn. It's funny how that kind of thing works.

We had a pretty great week this week. The ward has really opened up to us. The bishop said he was willing to make up a "fake meeting" on a Sunday night, just to help one of our investigators get to know the ward, because she works on Sunday. The whole leadership is trying to help us to help Jim, too. The auxiliary leaders went to a concert this week in Rosetree Park, and Jim and his family went along with the party. It's so great to see them working together, and missionary work goes so much smoother that way. Please continue to keep Jim, Nancy, and Mimi in your prayers. The work here is doing wonderful, and keep up the good work over there! I love you!

Love,
Elder Wallentine