Week 3

¿Qué tal?

Hey everyone! I hope life is well for you. What a week! I am so blessed to be able to be here. 


First, the winner of last week´s contest is Megan Hawkes! 
Her correct answer for the average size of a Rapa Nui Head is as follows:
Total weight: 13.78 tons (12.5 metric tons)
Height: 13.29 feet (4.05 meters)
Width at Base: 5.25 feet (1.6 meters)
Width at Head: 4.86 feet (1.48 meters)
My, what big heads they have!

At any rate, this week progressed wonderfully as usual. Much learning and many opportunities to grow. I was able to get together with 3 other guys from the district and create a beautiful arrangement of Nearer My God to Thee. We hope to perform soon, but I´ll probably write a different arrangement of a less-used song.

Our progressive investigators, Luíz and Carlos(our new investigator) are coming along fairly well. In our first meeting with Carlos, we were able to speak for the entire 20 minutes in fluent spanish without turning to each other even once. Although we only understood about 95% of it, WE UNDERSTOOD 95% OF IT, and what we didn´t understand we were able to restate and clarify through appropriate questions. Unfortunately, the next day our meeting with Luíz did not go as well, but I know that we will be able to figure it out with patience, faith, and the Holy Ghost.

Mi Compañero, Elder Loomis, is struggling somewhat with things. When we went into our meeting with Luíz, we´d agreed that he was going to take the lead. He did not prepare ahead, however, even singing English Hymns up to 5 minutes before we entered the room. He hasn´t made the connection yet that our ability to teach and have the Spirit with us is directly dependant upon our willingness to obey the commandments, prepare ahead, and invite Him to be with us BEFORE we begin to teach. The experience was unfortunately so devoid of the Spirit that his Español regressed farther back than he´d ever spoken before, and it was even difficult for me to find words. Please, pray for him. I have talked with our DL and our Branch President about the situation, but for the time being the Spirit says that I need to wait for him to ask for help. I care about him, and I hope that that is sooner than later.

What a blessing it is to be Obedient with Exactness. Many Elders here get that, but some do not. I read a wonderful quote from the recent mission president seminar here at the MTC. It was from Elder Bednar, and it says something to the effect of:
"As we serve, we do not represent our families, our friends, our branches, our stakes, our communities or our nations. We represent Him."
The name that I wear over my heart is the name of Christ. I am so blessed to have His power and name to go before me. I pray that I do not do anything that he would not do while I am His literal direct representative. He should not have to defend His own name to God- something to think about as we renew our covenants and take His name upon ourselves.

I will be sending home pictures within the next few days! I am excited to share. I don´t have many, but hopefully you´ll enjoy what you see.

I love you all! A Dios, Con Dios.

Te Querido-

-Elder Wheelhouse


P.S. I have decided that I will accept two winners for each question, one by email and one by regular mail/dearelder.com <http://dearelder.com> . That means FOUR CHANCES TO WIN!!! :P

Té Amo!