Conference

Hello Hello Hello :)

This week was amazing. We saw many miracles. I can't believe that Elder Standage and I have all ready been together for more than a week. It's pretty crazy to think about. we have been doing some great work. We got 3 new investigators this week which was awesome. And two of them came from knocking doors. It's really kind of interesting to see how the Lord works sometimes. Elder Standage and I have only knocked on a few doors since we have been together, but the majority of the people we have talked with have been receptive. So it's been really cool.

Elder Standage is absolutely great. I think the thing I like about being a missionary is that I am still allowed to be myself. I don't have to be some robot that preaches the restored gospel. I was sent to the specific areas on my mission that I am in because my personality and Spirit are needed hear. And we are placed with certain companions because we are needed. And I feel that way with Elder Standage. We have been having a blast and we really push each other to work hard while it happens. It's awesome. We have developed a good sense of "whistling while you work" and it really pays off when things don't go well. But ultimately we are just extremely blessed for all that has been happening.

General Conference was absolutely amazing. I felt the spirit so strongly. I'm really grateful to have a living day prophet. Someone who can lead and guide us. It's an amazing thing.

The Des Moines District is doing great! When I first got hear we had o baptismal dates in the whole zone... and as of now we our zone has the most dates in the whole mission and our district has 12 dates. 10 of which are for April. So we are all working very hard and it's remarkable to see the progress of the missionaries that are here. I don't accredit the fact that we now have 12 dates in the District to the fact that I was called as District Leader (especially because I haven't don't much) but I am proud of all the missionaries and the work they are doing.

On Mormon.org there is a new video of Elaine Bradley who is the drummer for the Neon Trees which is my favorite band. So I was absolutely stoked about that! You should all check it out.

Well I love you all. Please stay safe and warm.

Love always,

Elder Wardle

Transfer Week

Hello,

This week went great! I have a brand new companion named Elder Standage. He is from Mesa AZ. And he loves to skateboard and he is super funny. He is 22 and has been a little worried about how old he will be when he gets home. But he is a champ and we will see miracles. Elder Flint is now home and I hope he is doing well. This week mainly consisted of Elder Flint packing. Then Thursday we woke up really early so that I could get to the new trainers meeting in Iowa city before transfer meeting. We woke up around 5. Which was rough since I have been exhausted my entire mission. 

Thursday night we drove home and got Elder Standage settled in. He has been so tired since he got here. The MTC Is exhausting and on Wednesday thy woke up at 1 in the morning to catch their flight out here. So he has been pretty drained. But he is doing better. On Friday we had a few lessons. One was with Curtis Cochrun and Elder Standage enjoyed that. Then we had a lesson with Sunday, an investigator who has been meeting with us for a long time and wants to be baptized but can't because he has been going to a Catholic church that funds his tuition at the Catholic school he goes too. But he is a great kid. On Thursday night we had a lesson with Brian and his girlfriend was there as well. his girlfriend talked the entire time so we didn't get any teaching in. Which was sad because we were planning on setting a baptismal date. It was the most interesting lesson I have ever been in to say the least. They just kind of awkwardly argued and talked over us the entire time. It was interesting. Anyways, Friday was great.

On Saturday I conducted my first district meeting ever which was pretty nerve racking. But it was great to train missionaries on how to more fully fulfill their purpose. I talked about starting fresh and starting a brand new transfer and how we can better ourselves and become even more committed to helping others come to Christ. So that was great. It went well.

After District meeting though, we saw miracles! We had scheduled to meet with our recent convert Andrew from 4 to 5. But District meeting ran a little bit over so we were going to be late. And we had a dinner appointment at 5. So we were debating whether it was even worth going. But the Spirit told us that we needed to stop by and see how he was doing. On the way to our appointment, the members we were supposed to have dinner with cancelled so we thought that was perfect. We went to see Andrew and he had told us on Thursday that he sent a letter to his mother and father that day explaining about his baptism and about his decision to go on a mission and to go to byui as well. Well we got there around 4:15 and the talked a little bit. He said that he had listened to a few talks the night before and read his scriptures and He said that he had never felt the Spirit more. Well, we were there for about 15 minutes... and his parents called. And he talked to them for about a half hour. They were so upset and so angry. And I won't share all the details but Andrew was a champ. He just said Mom and Dad I know what I have felt, It's all ready done and I am gong to do what I know is right. It's happening. It was the craziest lesson I have ever been in! Andrew's last words to his family were I love you, and then without a response they hung up the phone and he dropped his phone in his lap and just started balling. I started crying and Elder Standage just looked like a deer in the headlights because it was his 2nd full day... Andrew cried for about 10 minutes and we just sat in silent. He looked at me and said I need a hug. And he gave me the best hug I have ever had. (Besides hugs from family of course) We shared our testimonies with him and then read a chapter in the book of Mormon. I have never felt the spirit more in my life. It's amazing what the book of Mormon. Anyways, after the lesson we said the biggest prayer of gratitude and called a few members of the ward to ask them to call Andrew. Our ward mission leader brought Andrew over to his house and they watched a basketball game together. Brother Poole also gave Andrew a blessing.

Moral of the story. It was absolutely a MIRACLE that we were with Andrew during that. And our appointment even cancelled so we could stay with him longer! The Lord just guided us and then cleared the way! It was absolutely amazing! I'm so grateful for the Lord's guidance. I am grateful for Andrew.

On Sunday we taught a lesson to an African man named Oliver and he accepted the invitation to be baptized. We then met an awesome guy at church named Max who we will be teaching Wednesday.

Miracles are happening! IT's great!

Well, I love you! Please pray for these people. Sorry this email was so long!

Love always,

Elder Caleb James Wardle

 

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

This week was great!

Family,

This week was great and very spiritually uplifting. I had a lot of cool experiences and it's spiritual experiences that really put a mission into perspective. So I was really glad that the Lord could send me those. It'd amazing to see his hand in those. I've decided that in these emails I am going to spend less time on the day to day things and talk about our investigators a bit less, and really just talk about some of the spiritual things (of course it's all spiritual but you know what I mean) So here is just a quick update on the things that are going on with investigators.

Andrew Elbe, the recent convert that we work with is still working on getting on mission and he just got a patriarchal blessing last night. He hasn't told us how it went yet, but hopefully it went well! Anyways, things are going great for him and we love him so much.

We didn't get to meet with Comfort and Joe Biden and their family this week, Africans are really spotty when it comes to scheduling a time to meet with them. They are super receptive, but the hardest part is getting in the door.

I went on an exchange with Elder Monson, one of the zone leaders in Des Moines. And they are Spanish missionaries... so I definitely struggles following along with what the heck they were saying... But I did a decent job. The only problem was that when I actually knew what was happening I couldn't say anything because I don't know Spanish! It was frustrating but also a blessing to see another culture and how other missionaries have to work. We ate some pretty dang good Mexican food though!

Curtis is doing great! he is planning on moving to another group home here pretty soon. We have a lesson with him this week as well. he is a great guy.

Sunday is doing great! We taught him on Thursday and then asked him when we could come back and he said tomorrow! It was awesome. And it was his birthday! So we bought him a massive kitkat bar. He is a great kid and we keep praying for something to happen.

Last night we visited a women in the hospital. Her name is Theresa and she is very sick. But it's interesting how sometimes we as missionaries can fulfill our purpose just by shutting up. She talked to us about her life for about two and a half hours. And she was grateful for us coming. We have another appointment with her today. I love how experiences with health can either make u s or break us, sometimes they draw us closer to the lord and sometimes they pull us away. But no matter what, looking form the outside in, we draw closer to the Lord. And as a missionary there have been several times where I have had to go to a hospital and minister to those that are sick. And every time I am drawn closer to the Lord. And my purpose as a missionary is put back into perspective. My purpose is to invite others to come to Christ, as sometimes I can do that just by being there when people are struggling. I love the Lord so much. I am grateful for the trials we are given. Whenever you doubt, look toward the Lord and you will find your strength. I love you all! thanks for everything!

Love,

Elder Caleb James Wardle

Fambam and friends

We had a great week here in Des Moines. I really love it here. The people are great and the ward is one of the highest baptizing wards in the U.S. which is really cool. In 2013 37 souls were brought unto Christ in the Des Moines ward. That was due to a lot of great effort on behalf of the missionaries who had been serving here. But the ward has seen a recent trend that the activity of those who have made the covenant  of baptism has been decreasing. It was almost like there were too many baptisms to handle in the ward all at once. Elder Flint and I and the Assistant's to the President were really anxious to see what the new baptismal goal would be for 2014. And we found out yesterday that the new goal is 20! Which is perfect. It gives the missionaries and members a chance to slow down and catch up as well as focus on reactivations. But twenty is still a great goal and will push us. I'm grateful for great leaders who receive revelation on behalf of the people they have stewardship over. I'm excited to serve here.

Elder Flint and I continue to grow closer every day. He is  great guy and he loves to teach.

We met with a man named Curtis this week who is less active. Well he doesn't want to be less active but he doesn't drive so sometimes he has trouble getting to church. But he is a great man. He is around 50 or 60 but he can't live on his own due to some mental disabilities. He basically acts like a 12 year old most of the time... He lives in a group home, which in better terms is basically just a house full of crazies. I've never taught a lesson on my mission where I was more worried about what was going on around me. The people in there are crazy! There is a man named Maurice there and he is hilarious! He was eating pizza and said "This is the best pizza I have ever had. Pizza Hut is way better than Dominoes!" It was so funny! He was literally falling I love with his pizza. I guess one time Elder Flint went over there and Maurice stopped him and said "Are you the Mormons? Mormons are the nicest people I have ever met. They are truly going to heaven. I want to be baptized into your congregation. I think you men are angels. God Bless you for al that you do." He is so funny. he is just this crazy black guy! Anyways, Curtis is doing great. And we love him!

We also taught a recent convert named Andrew. Andrew was baptized in December and he has a super strong testimony. His parents are Lutherans and they don't actually know that he has been baptized... and they are were ready to disown him just for meeting with missionaries! Yikes. his faith amazes me though. He has a super strong testimony of the gospel. He spoke in church yesterday about his conversion story and his girlfriend and her family who are members in Nebraska came to here him speak. It was amazing and the spirit was so strong. He is a great kid. He just got accepted to BYUI and plans on going on a mission sometime next year. What a champ.

Anyways, I am loving Des Moines. We had a great zone training meeting on Thursday and learned about a new way to teach investigators. And so Elder Flint applies what we learned with an African family we are teaching. We taught lady named Comfort (Africans just choose random words to be there names when they come here) and her son Nezi, and her father. He told us his name but it was impossible to say, so Nezi told us to just call him Joe Biden. It was so funny! So that's what we call him. But Joe Biden wasn't at the first lesson we had with them so he is now a new investigator. We sent a message to our zone leaders that we got a new investigator and they usually send a message out to the zone and say something like "keep up the good work" or "another miracle" but this time they said "we are penetrating the government! Elder Flint and Elder Wardle got anew investigator named Joe Biden!" it was super funny!

Well, I love you, keep praying for blessings to come. I keep you all in my prayers and I hold you close to my heart.

Love,

Elder Caleb James Wardle