Transfers

Hey everybody! This week was another great one! we got a lot done and we got a new investigator! So that was awesome!  His name is Brian. He is a super humble guy. On Tuesday, which was the first lesson we had with him, he told us about all of the things he has going on in his life. He just lost his job, he smokes, drinks, lives in a terrible house with his girlfriend and just isn't very capable. He has really been crying out for help. He told us of an experience where he woke up at midnight one night and just was overwhelmed with everything that was going on. He said he got up and got out his bible and just read for hours. His girlfriend woke up around 8 in the morning and she went to help her father with something. So he had the house to himself. So Brian said that he just got down on his knees and prayed to heavenly Father all day. It was an awesome story. And he has so much faith. So, we whipped out our scriptures and read about Enos with him. And he really liked the connection between him and a prophet. He thought that was cool. We shared the message of the restoration with him and then invited him to be baptized. And he accepted. We came back on Thursday and in the middle of the lesson he said, you know guys now that I think about I have never been baptized, so if you want me to come to church on Sunday so that I can do that I would be happy too. Well, we dodged that bullet by changing the subject. After we left the lesson we were really concerned he would come to church with the expectation that he would be baptized that day. Obviously he has some addictions and things that he needs to get over before he can do that. So maybe with Brain we will have to drag him away from the baptismal font rather than to it. So it will be really interesting to see where this all goes! Anyways, it was great to meet Brian. Something came up so he couldn't get to church. That was almost a blessing. It could have been a potentially really awkward situation.

Well, we got our transfer calls today. I will training a brand new missionary and was called to be the district leader here in Des Moines. So hopefully I can live up to both of those callings! Training a new missionary will be a lot different than the first time because this time I know the area and know what's going on. And there are plenty of people and plenty of work to do. So that will be great! it should be a great couple of transfers. I love Des Moines!

Anyways, that's all the news.

I love you all so much!

Love always,

Elder Caleb James Wardle

Happy St Pattys Day!!!

This week was pretty good as always! We saw Andrew a couple of times because his parents came to pick him for Spring Break and take him back home for a week. And he is planning on telling his parents that he got baptized after he gets back from spring break in a letter. He wanted to see them one last time and get some of his belongings just in case they kick him out for good. He is a great guy and has so much faith. I hope everything goes well, and I have faith that the Lord knows the master plan. He knows the way things need to go so that Andrew can grow. And so that his family can as well. So continue to pray for him. He needs as many prayers as he can get.

This week we also had an opportunity to hear from Brother McConkie of the General Sunday School Presidency. He came to have a fireside with the Des Moines stake, but he had some of the missionaries around Des Moines come for a special meeting as well. It was awesome to be a part of that and to shake his hand! He told us a lot. He started off by having us think about the teachers that have had the biggest impact in our lives and I thought a lot about Brother Carter, my Priests quorum adviser, and the Carrs who taught me in Sunday school. And I have realized more and more why they had such an impact on my life. And I truly believe it is because they just loved what they did, and more importantly they loved me. They had a genuine concern for me, and how I was doing. And that was the most important thing I saw in them. I didn't dread going to those classes because I knew that I was loved and needed and wanted. That was a big change in my spiritual progression as a youth. And I owe a lot to them for just loving me. And I have been realizing that we cannot do this work without loving those we teach. We can't do it. If the love isn't there, if they can't see how much we care, then they won't want to make the commitment. They won't be drawn to us. We will just be missionaries or home teachers or visiting teachers rather than friends who are generally concerned for them. The love has to be there. And it's something I have been lacking a little bit I think. I hope I can gain more love for those I work with and for the Savior.

Brother McConkie also talked about asking the questions that will make people think. Instead of asking what is faith, maybe ask when is a time you have exercised faith? Or how has your faith helped you in your life? Rather than asking someone to recite knowledge that they know, we need to ask them to recite experiences to us, we need to get them to speak from their hearts. Questions are everything. And it's amazing!

Well, I love you all! Thanks for everything that you have given me. For your time and efforts and for your testimonies. Please never forget the Savior. He is everything. Love those you interact with. And please pray like your life depends on it. Because it does!

Love Always,

Elder Wardle

March 10, 2014

This week was another great one. We had a great district meeting and I had the opportunity to train on Developing Christlike attributes. Specifically humility and patience. And it was great to be able to study those topics a little bit more. My mission has truly opened my eyes to a lot of things. I think the main thing is that my thoughts have turned from secular things to things that actually matter and will help me eternally progress. It's amazing to see the difference in my life and the amount of happiness that focusing on the savior can bring. I have been focusing on repentance as well. And repenting daily. And it has really brought the spirit into my life. I encourage you all to repent daily. And to really focus on the blessings that the Savior has given you. Each day we can look for the hand of the lord. And we can truly feel his magnitude if we just look for the blessings he gives us daily. I know that the Lord loves us.

This week we visited a few people. Andrew is doing well. He has a friend who recently became a Christian and he has had a few questions about the church and what we believe. We were able to meet him and talk with him about the gospel. He had a lot of questions. Somewhat Anti arguments as well. But we were able to expound on all of his questions. And we really played "Defense" during the whole discussion. We came back to see Andrew the next day after we talked to his friend because we didn't get to talk to Andrew too much. But when we cam back the next day his friend was there again and we talked with him again. So he is obviously pretty interested. We tried to explain to him that we know these things because we have a testimony of the book of Mormon. And he thought we were putting just a little too much trust in the Book of Mormon. But we put trust in the testimony that we have received from Heavenly Father that the Book of Mormon is true. So really we are just trusting Heavenly Father. Anyways, it was a real testimony builder to talk with his friend. Andrew did a good job testifying as well.

Anyways, this week was great. I love you all! And I hope you are doing well.

Love,

Elder Wardle