Letter #15 from Australia

November 1, 2015

Dear Everyone,

          What an amazing week it has been!! We had our baptism on Saturday and what an amazing day it was for the girls, their family, and us Elders. We have gotten a lot of work done this week and have been really successful in all of our efforts. It has been an amazing blessing given to us from Heavenly Father! We did have some trials though this week, of course, because there has to be opposition in ALL things. Without those hard times this past week, we wouldn't have been able to appreciate the amazing times. And what amazing times we had this week.

          So I will start out with the first miracle of the week. On Wednesday, Elder Solomon and I had a half hour set aside to do some previous investigator finding. (Which is were you try and contact some of the investigators that were being taught, but then stopped for some reason.) As we were going through the list, I saw a name that popped out at me and I felt impressed to contact him. I texted him a message along the lines of this, "Hey Laurence. This is the Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We would love to meet up with you sometime this week and share a message with you. Is there a time that we could come by?" It wasn't long until he texted us back and told us that he would love to meet up with us. When we went to his house on Thursday morning, he invited us in and was very happy to see us. At the beginning of our lesson, we asked him what he was expecting to get out of our lessons and his reply shocked both Elder Solomon and me. He said, "Well boys, I want 2 things. First, I want to learn more about the LDS Church and Second, I want to be baptized in a couple of weeks. These are our 2 goals. Okay?" Haha talk about the perfect investigator!!! 

          Now let me tell you about the baptism. What an amazing and special day it was. T'leisha and Shaye looked beautiful in their white baptismal dresses!! (Yes that is how you spell their names. I have been spelling them wrong this entire time...) We had such an amazing turn out too! We were only expecting about 13 people, but there ended up being about 30!! It was so good to see the branch come and support them and their decision to be baptized!! The girls asked me to baptize them and I was so honored to. It was my first time actually baptizing someone and I was pretty nervous to be honest, but as soon as I got into the water, I was so calm. The Spirit was so strong and everyone could feel it! The girls mother Regan had tears in her eyes as her girls were baptized and I knew she was feeling the Spirit! It was the best Halloween that I have ever had and made all of the work and lessons that we taught them worth it. Jason and Regan will hopefully be getting married soon and we will start teaching them this week. Since we had been focusing more on the girls during the lessons, so that they could be ready for their baptism, we are going to re-teach the lessons and focus on Jason and Regan. 

          I am so happy to be out here on a mission and especially to be in the wonderful bush area of Wangaratta!! Amazing miracles are happening each and everyday and we are being blessed with success. I am so grateful for all of you and the support that you show and give to both my family and me. It gives me great comfort in knowing that I have such an amazing support team made up by my friend and family!! I hope you all enjoyed Halloween and that you got heaps of sweets!! Since Halloween isn't too big over here, there weren't many kids out trick-or-treating. But Elder Solomon and I almost went door knocking at night to see how many people would think we were trick-or-treating and in hopes that they would give us some sweets!!;) But we didn't. Haha. Enjoy your week and remember that I love you all and that Heavenly Father and Jesus do too! 

Sincerely,

Elder Bryce Wheeler

P.S. Birthday shout out to my amazing and beautiful older sister, Shaelyn!!! And to her fiancé and my future brother-in-law, Colten!!! HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY!!!! I love you both so much!! 

Me with T'leisha and Shaye in our baptismal clothing. We all look so good!

Jason and Regan with all of their kids. Plus me and Elder Solomon!!
Everyone is looking at different cameras! Haha 

The two newest members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!!:)

My Halloween costume...a fake mustache that my wonderful 
family sent me in my last package!! How do I look? I am thinking 
about growing a real one when I get home! Thoughts? Hah

Halloween sweets sent to me from my family!!! Loaded with American chocolate!!
Oh how I have missed it!!