Holy moly, can you guys believe that it is 2016 already?? That is super nuts. 

So this week was just a bunch of preparation for the whole new model area thing that Elder Oaks talked about.  I’m super pumped about it and I’m super happy! I’m excited to get back in the field and have the zone leaders come to my area to see how to work. I am praying that God prepares the people here so things will work.  Now, Things haven’t really kicked off yet. 

We had a consejo and I doubt we will see many results for a while.  We will be expecting some good things!! 

Only one experience this week that I want to share. 

One of the zone leaders of the new zone that was created, called me the other night.  He said,  ¨Elder Wessel there is a problem.  We have the district in catriel and things are rough.¨ The zone is a zone of all branches in the mission that we want to get them together and have a good enough attendance so that they can become a district.  He explained that there is no priesthood.  There is no one out there that helps the missionaries and they contact all day and nobody accepts them.. They contacted 200 people and not one received them.  So it was sad.  He said Elder, I think you guys should close this branch.  When I heard that.. My doubts came and I almost agreed with him.  I have heard many bad things about this city from other missionaries and really they have only baptized 1 person in almost 2 years.. it’s ridiculous.  But the thought came to my head, They need to be like Alma and Amulek.  How Alma was thrown out of the city. They were rejected and nobody wanted them to be there.  But he went and received revelation and went back and taught them to repent and be baptized. That was on Friday night.  On Saturday morning, after sharing the thoughts Friday, I received a call again.  He said, we shared that story with the elders.  They are going to go and teach repentance. They are going to go among the people and show them that they are sinners and God will condemn them unless they repent.  They called, with an excitement for the work with only words of gratitude.  (Elder Wessel thank you for not doubting, thank you for calling us to repentance.) I have never felt so good in the spirit for a long time.  I love the way God works through me! He gave me revelation in the moment and I love it. 

I love the mission.  I love God and I know he lives!! 

Elder Wessel

My Companions Birthday

Holy dudes?? What has happened?? All my friggen best friends are getting married!! That’s so radical I can’t even imagine it!! How is Colton Hill doing?? I bet he is married as well!!  Yikes.. And Clara Marsh, Tyson Bowden! Wow... the whole world is changing...

 

But me, I’m still me! Loving the heck out of the mission!! I’m happy as can be and I would not want to be in any other place in the world rather than here! Especially at this time when things are going so well!! 

 

So this week we have been preparing the leadership council and have heard new instruction from the Apostle, Elder Oaks.  He sent some instructional videos to our President and he informed us of the new changes in the mission field around the whole world.  First off he started off with doctrine from 3 Nephi 11.  Where Christ comes to America and plots the gospel there, for all to hear.  He states his purpose and he calls people to repentance. 

 

The interesting thing of this story is when Christ comes, the first thing he does is testify that he is the Christ. Showing that when people obtain a testimony of the living Christ faith will grow strong and will empower us to do many things which we have thought are not possible. He then lets the crowd come up and touch his hands, feet and side.  Testifying that it was him, that was crucified and suffered for our sins, our afflictions and he came for us! Doing so, calling people to repentance so he could use his atonement to clean us from our sins. 

 

The very next thing, he calls up Nephi.  Gives him the authority to baptize and tells the people, upon repentance, ye shall get baptized in the water.  Exactly how ye have seen me do it.  If we look at this, he helps people have faith; he helps them see that we are sinners, gives them a chance to repent and then cleanses them with baptism... In verse 36-40. This is my doctrine.  Repentance and baptism.  If we teach anything other than that, we will have the gates of hell open unto us. 

 

Its super interesting that Christ himself did not come down to teach about all the details.  He came to save us.  He wants us to come unto him.  That is what we are doing! I’m participating in the work that Nephi did in 3 Nephi. I am fulfilling the work of Jesus Christ as it says in the scriptures!! HOW GREAT IS THAT!! What a blessing!

 

 

Then also, as assistants, we have not been able to focus on an area.  Actually our President took our area away and we have just been his right hand men.  It has been fun, but hard to get accustomed to. So that is something I have been struggling with, not being out in the field teaching the things which I have recently mentioned.  But this week, with the instruction of elder Oaks, there is a new system that the church implementing in the whole world.  Areas of example.  Laboratory areas.  Where the assistants are there to set the example. They are there to help missionaries understand how to work well with members, baptize, work with the ward council, mission leaders, and the bishop! All those things we are going to be able to do again! President told us, I knew something like this would happen, for that, I knew I had to call you guys! By the way, I’m super pumped. That is the missionary that I am.  Is a field missionary helping people become better! I love it.  I am so happy and excited to be able to be trusted of the Lord for this position.

 

So this week was just a lot of preparation for that happing now in the mission.  Our following area and where we are going to be working.  We will still hold the same responsibilities and still help President, we will just have this extra wonderful job!!! I’m so excited.  So President this week gave us the liberty to choose where we want to work.  What place would be the most successful for us to be the examples.  We thought about Neuquen.  We are going to stay here. We went and have been interviewing bishops in many different wards and found out that the bishop in Neuquen is the one that will help us the most! I’m super pumped and so happy to serve the Lord!

 

I know I am week.  I know I am not the best.  But I know that as I do everything I possibly can, God’s grace will come and save me from my short comings.  I know that in 2 Nephi 25:23 it says that "we labor diligently.. To persuade our children and also our brother to believe in Christ.. For we know that it is for grace that we are saved, after all we can do."  With no doubt I am pushing myself.  I am doing and going to keep doing everything I can do. God will do the rest.  I trust in him. 

 

This is my message.  After all we can do, his grace is sufficient.  Lets be Diligent.

 

Elder Wessel

Whats up Fam?? how ya´ll doin?   

Sooo this week was interesting.  We have had a good week and we are baptizing more and more each week and I’m so excited that I start dancing like a crazy man around the house!  But seriously, I don’t have very much to write about so ill just let you know how much I enjoy the mission.  I have never been so happy in my life.  I really feel like I’m smiling, being excited all day, laughing, serving and there is nothing in this world that has brought me so much happiness in this life.  That is to say if we didn’t count Christmas music.. ;) I love Christmas music! haha  

Thanksgiving dinner Argentina style

This week we did transfers! We did the whole reunion and everything.  It was one of the coolest things ever.  Kind of scary as well when I am the one moving the missionaries around and their whole life is depending on where we put them on this board.  SOOO we prayed hard and seeked very carefully for the guidance of the spirit.  I had a cool learning experience while we were doing this... At the start of the meeting, we knelt in prayer for guidance.  As my President embarked in the prayer, I fell to temptation, and opened my curious eyes.  I didn’t see any angels or anything weird.  What I saw was my President hunched over on his knees, head bowed to chin to chest, eyes humble closed and his countenance what beaming humility and submission to the Lord.  As I heard the pure words ask for guidance the room filled completely with the spirit, I didn’t see anything but I felt and could sense the angels guiding the thoughts and the actions.  The coolest thing about it is we were laughing and happy during the whole thing.  We were serious being robots with the spirit.  We enjoyed the things that God had blessed us with.  I loved that experience and I thought I would share that.

 Transfers went from 10 am -1 pm on Tuesday morning and it was awesome.  But it’s cool, the week went on and we realized that we ignored the spirit on something’s, or the spirit would guide us to other changes that we needed to make.  And it was an experience that I’ll never forget.  Even now, I’m still receiving things and promptings for the mission.  IT’S INCREDIBLE that God trusts me enough to be here.  I feel great. I hope I’m fulfilling my purpose.  

Other than that, I’m writing today because next week will be all the transfers and we won’t have time.  All the old missionaries are going home, and the new ones get here.  Soooo, yeah.. I’m writing today! I will probably read everything on Monday!! 

Side note, yesterday on Friday, we talked on the radio with a member.  We went to the radio and testified of the book of Mormon and it was cool!! It was a new way of testifying what I know to be true!

 Family, I love you guys!!  DONT FORGET;  

 The mission is incredible.  I love everything about it.  I love learning.  I love coming closer to God. I love being used by him!!  Let’s all glorify God in our daily acts and bring people unto him.  

 Like the story of Alma the younger when the angel came to him.  He said I come to fulfill the promises of God.  HE has heard the prayers of this people and of his servant who is Alma, your father.  Alma the younger changed because of the faith and prayers of other people!! let’s change people’s lives.  Let’s pray for other peoples.  Let’s leave our comfort zone and do things we wouldn’t ever do, to bless other people!! 

 Love you guys!!!

 Elder Wessel

 

Missionary's in Chas Malal

So.... sorry I forgot to write this last week.. We were super busy and honestly didn’t have time.. haha but there was nothing really to report.  So all I’m going to talk about now is what I’ve been up to.

 

Chas Malal

    This week we were still traveling helping El Presidente with all his interviews.  We actually went down to Bariloche to interview all those missionaries.  That is where the President and my comp got robbed.  I did not.  Don’t worry.  We were at lunch and nothing happened to us.  No one was hurt.  They broke into the truck and stole the camera of our pres that is super nice, then they stole his mac book, a dell laptop, his I pad, and my comps camera and his memory cards.. So that yes was sad... but things are great we are still happy.  I learned a lot from pres that day and his patience with the Lord.  He new immediately that the Lord is trying us of our faith because we are in a great work and he told us... "Something huge is going to happen Elders." haha so we are excited and super humbled to learn from him.

  This week after bariloche we went up to villa la angostura and helped the missionaries there, we spent that p day in villa... super gorgeous!! haha great.  Then we went on home.

 IN our mission, we have fell from an average of like 30 baptisms a month to like 15 these past months.. We worked hard and did a tour of our mission, teaching the importance of baptism and the gospel is what makes us happy!  If people don’t get baptism they cannot access or use the atonement of Jesus Christ.  People can literally not repent unless they get baptized by water and by fire.  It is the only way.  We have to work with our heart, might, mind and strength exactly how Doctrine and Convenience 4 tells us so we can achieve that goal that God has.  If we don’t serve diligently, searching to save souls, we will appear before God with the sins of all the people that didn’t receive the gospel because we were not brave enough to talk to them...  Like is says in Enos,  if we do achieve these things, "Come unto me, good and faithful servant."  There is a place prepared for thee in the mansion of my father and glory on high.  I want that promise. I know by serving the lord, glorifying his name, bringing souls unto him I can hear those words!! I’m super excited!! After teaching those words to the mission, we ended up baptizing 40 people in the mission last month. And we started of diciembre with 14 in the first week.  That just doesn’t happen in our mission.  WE ARE SO BLESSED BY GOD!!!! We changed the name of December... it’s called in Spanish, BAUTICIEMBRE. (diciembre)  so BAPTIZEMBER.  It’s a great month and a great way to give a gift to Christ and God.  A savior has been born.  Do YOU GUYS REALIZE THE MIRACLES GOD MAKES FOR US WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT??? ;)

 Then things just have been going well.  We are with President doing transfers now for the next transfer the spirit of revelation is strong and awesome.  

 We are planning a leaders council for the month of bauticiembre, and in the AP spot, there has not been a baptism in this area for more than 2 years... So me and my comp, put all our faith and ideas together, and we thought that before the council we could baptize one person so that the mission could realize that its possible.  We don’t even have and area, and we went with some missionaries to some old investigators that have been to church, and we had a spirit filled lesson outside his door.  HE had never wanted to get baptized, but last night he committed himself to get baptized before the council!! Wow!! God completes with his promises!! GOD LIVES!!

 You guys I love my mission.  It’s awesome!! There is nothing better! I’m too happy... I don’t want to leave!!

 I love you guys!!

Elder Wessel 



PDay with El Presidente

SoOOOO this week was fantastic!! We did a huge tour of our whole mission, and we started on the Friday before that and we got home Saturday night!! Let’s get started... 

We left on Friday of the last week and we headed down to Esquel. Esquel is the farthest zone away from the mission home.  SOOO it was a fun trip.  We were able to pass by a ton old places that my comp and I have been and meet some really incredible people!! Really we have been so happy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Try and get better we have made a presentation to help the missionaries  to understand their purpose here in the mission.  Y eso es john 3:3-7 he who doesn’t get born of water and the spirit cannot enter into the kingdom of God... something like that.. But we have thought a lot of that and know that we need to help people understand that if we don’t help, people cannot repent. They cannot participate of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It will be impossible for them unless they have made those covenants with the lord.  So our job is highly important. And some missionaries just highly don’t understand.  So that has been our struggle to help them understand that this is not a game.  We are here prepare people to meet God.  I wish the missionaries could understand that. WE would be an outstanding mission.  Honestly it’s still super awesome.

 

So we have taken a road trip from Esquel which has traveling, and then we went  to zone of Bariloche which has El Bolson, then we went to San Martin with has Villa la Angostura, then we went to Zapala which has Chos Malal, then we went to Cutral Co which has Ricon de Los Sauces.  Then we went to Plottier and then nqn oeste, and then Roca and now we are going to finish all the other zones that we lack. We did that all in a week.  It was a long trip. Believe me!

 

So really I have been able to just see some real changes in missionaries and see that repentance is real! I feel like that is our main job right now.  While we don’t have an area, we just are with the missionaries calling them to repentance.  WE have all ready seen many changes in missionaries.  Some missionaries have called president telling him that they are sorry for what they have done and want to change after they have met with us.  President calls us his sons that he never had.  He is super happy and last night, he told us, you guys are the best thing that has ever happened to me.  That made me feel really good.

 

 

 

 

 

Because adjusting to the new mission way has been hard.  I was so use to working hard and finding people and now that it is different, he understands and he shows a lot of love. I REALLY appreciate what he has done. Missionaries are baptizing more, we are a more obedient mission and we love the Lord.  It’s a testimony every day that the atonement is real and CHRIST LIVES!!

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.  And happy New Year!! President asked us to make him a turkey for thanks giving, but they don’t celebrate it so he wants us to give it a shot with him!!

 

Love you guys!!

 

Mom send me recipes now!! Before tomorrow!!!

 

SOOO the week has gone super fast eh...  

I have been working a full! So this week we were able to work miracles in missionaries.. I’ve been able to help and see the hand of god! I love it! I’m grateful for every experience. 

I don’t have much time because we are traveling.. But on Monday we went to training in Zapala to help some zone leaders that are kind of a pain in the neck. So we watched that and we loved it and participated and helped out, and the spirit grew over everyone! We were super happy.  We had a missionary that wanted to go home. But we were there, and we took him to the sacramental and we talked to him.. And we gave him a blessing.  Seriously just felt power and happiness for serving this missionary.  Side note... Pres. took away our area because he wants us to help the mission.  So that change has been super hard for me... But as I placed my hands over his head, and then see the tears drop from that missionary's eyes, and look at me with gratitude for the blessing... God confirmed to me that this is my new mission.  I need to travel, bless, and exhort to the missionaries.  This missionary then called President after we took him to get ice cream and talk to him, he called pres and repented and told him he did not want to go home! Seriously something amazing.

Then we were down in El Bolson and lago puelo again, and we were in the church with the missionaries teaching helping them with problems with their bishop, and these members showed up with their investigator that was very indecisive about baptism.  So we taught him prayer.  We asked him if God was here, what would you ask him, He told us, I would ask him if it would change my life, and if I should get baptized.  We then told him God is here, ask him.  We went to the sacrament room to feel the spirit, there was like 10 people there.  We entered, I sat next to him, and he did the prayer.  He said the most sincere prayer, and then finished, and closed his eyes again.  We stayed in silence for 3 min.  My comp, then asked, what do you feel. He told us, I feel something super hot. Something that could be my answer.  Then we sat in silence a little bit longer, and then I asked him, What does he want to do now. He looked in my eyes, and said, “I want to get baptized." we then put the date and he gets baptized next week! 

God lives.  God is great. He answers prayers.  If they are sincere. 

I love the work. I love how I can help.  Honestly, I cant imagine myself in any other place. God has blessed me so much.  He opens my eyes, mind, and heart.  Fills me with love, fills me with inspiration and honestly, I see missionaries a little more like he sees them.  Even though they cause problems... I love the mission. I love the missionaries.  I love God!! 

Love you guys!  

Elder Wessel.

Hey man, how are you guys doing?? I hope things are all super well for you guys! so this week was super crazy... I can tell that my emails are getting pretty boring because mom is sending me things to write about.. haha I’m sorry I honestly suck at expresión what I want to say and how I want to say it. So I will try and get better.

 

So I feel like things are pretty cool.  Getting adjusted the new life and I’m just enjoying it!!  Really I’ve been just learning so much from the president and he has expressed so much trust in us to take over the mission and turn it into a baptizing mission.  ITs been so cool.

 

So this week, I got to the office on Sunday night and started doing the drives test that the church does.  Its super funny and kind of scary.  It starts off with some slide show presentations and then goes into how to be a defensive driver, which I wasn’t before, ;) mm.. haha but then it starts showing some rad and funny videos.  A bunch of hillbillies and how not to drive.  Then all of a sudden it just shows up with some apostles and them droping some loving cane.  They talk about the importance and our condemnation if we suck at driving... haha it’s scary.  But it was funny to think about how really everything we do has or should have a spiritual purpose to it. So it was cool to think that when someone cuts me off now I’m going to be able to wave and smile and be grateful for the favor I could do for them. ;) haha

 

On Monday, we had all the interviews for the missionaries that were going home! It was a craziness.  Holy cow.. all of them stayed in our pension and they went outs... Like what ever the mission is gone!! hah it was a disaster.  But then, it was a complete change when all the new missionaries got here on Tuesday afternoon. I enjoyed that so much.  We just spent time with them, made them feel welcome and just show them how the mission works! We had a great time and I got spiritually regenerated from their energy! I love it!! Then we sent them off with their trainers and all the trainers are super great@@ so they will all become great missionaries!! I’m so excite for them! ;)

 

Then on Friday nothing really happened.. It was a hard day. We just kind of hung out with pres, he told us what he wants us to do.. HE told us in his own translated words.. Elders I want you to be my assistants.  I need this mission to change. I need baptisms and God told me to call you two.  So if I needed you to work in the field I would have kept you there. But I need you guys to help me change the mission.  So that is our mission now, We are going to be traveling helping the missionaries get excited and pumped about the mission work and be at their sides cheering them on when they baptize!! :)  So I’m pumped!!!!

 

My Comp elder Motzkus is from north Salt Lake, he is legit.  We met each other when we were district leaders and we were just innata bestfriends so when we came to white wash we were both pumped and instantly great friends.  IM so happy and we get along great! ;) haha 

 

Then on Sunday we left to a city 2 hours away to got to church in a little branch far away from everything and it was just so cool.  We have been super happy.  And in the class there, there was a family of investigators and we gave their daughter a blessing to heal her from cancer.. I don’t know what happened yet, but it was a spirit filled room and I know that through their faith, great things will happen.  I’m super pumped! 

 

Really I have been stressed, happy, living, running, going crazy, spiritually active and there is nothing better.  Just getting used to everything.  There is a saying in Spanish that is when you can do anything else, you say theres nothing else... "no queda otro" haha so we say all that time!! :) 

 

I hope that was better..  I don’t really have many photos.. cámara is too big and i hate carrying it... So all the pics will be on Facebook!! 

 

Love you guys with all my heart. I hope you like the letter mom!!!

 

Elder Wessel

passing the mantle(phone)

So Family, whats cooking?? I hope everything is just doing great... so I have been called as assistant to the president of the great mission Argentina Neuquen. Its super weird, President called me on martes and asked if I could come up and help him out.. so that is what has happened and now we are here in the office and my sd card doesn’t work so I will not be able to send photos this week... haha my time has come to an end in Bariloche and it was such a good little experience and I’m super excited to start another chapter in my life here in the office... haha its super weird but I’m turning crazy!! haha

 

So this week Claudio got baptized down in bariloche. He was super pumped and the day after we had fast and testimony meeting and he got up and bore a sweet testimony in front of everyone.. I’m super pumped for him! super proud.  Really I don’t have much time, but I have been lucky that I can be a tool in the hands of the Lord.  I’m so happy for this other opportunity to serve, and become a better servant of the lord Jesus Christ! 

 

Family I love you guys! ... next week ill do it! 

 

Elder Wessel