It is cold enough in the morning for hot chocolate sometimes, you never really know this time of year.  I am doing great we were getting low on finding people and somehow last week we managed to find 3 new investigators.  That was awesome.  Anyways I am doing great.  This transfer is over next week.  But, I am still being trained so I will stay here until the next transfer.  Tell Kolton I said good job.  Love ya.
Elder Willden

Okay so I am doing great we got to go to Nasa on monday so I wasn't able to Email ya'll.  Sorry.  Hope ya'll are doing well.  Tell Jaxon to suck it up.  Haha Jk I feel bad for him. Anyways...
Tuesday-
We went over to Larry Yard's he is the funniest old guy.  After we went over to the Baldwins.  We then went to lunch and emailed.  After we tried a guy named Greg Thomas who we contacted, but he wasn't home so we went to a lady by the name of Brandy Hardy.  And we went tracting for a while and went to dinner at the Allred's.  After we went to the Zambrano's to try to get to know their less active son named Yotsin.
Wednesday-
We had Zone Conference.  It was good.  We had gumbo after so it was all worth it.  Then we went and tried a bunch of people that either weren't home or they couldn't talk with us because they were busy.  We then went to dinner with the Johnson's.  It was all food that I would never touch at home.  Sweet Potatoes and Stir Fry.  Enough said.  After we went over to an investigator's house named Steven Narramore.  Who then told us that he prayed about the Book of Mormon and was told that it wasn't true.  I don't see how that worked, anyways.  After we went and tried a few people but no one was able to talk.
Thursday-
We had weekly planning, ate, and tried to meet with Chivon and Lawrence.  They had some sick kids so we went over and tried Larry Yard and he wasn't home.  So we tracted for a while and tried some people.  We eventually went to the Baldwin's and after we had dinner.  Then we did Hour of Power.  We ran into a 19 year old girl who looked like she was 16.  And I asked if her parents were home.  She told me that this was her home and that the kid by her was hers.  My face was beet red.  Haha, but she wanted us to come back so we will be seeing her in a few weeks.  Then we went to the Holland's and the boys were going crazy like usual.
Friday-
We got a call and were notified that we would be getting a mini missionary tonight that would stay with us until sunday.  So we got everything ready and left.  We went over to Larry Yard's again he just keeps progressing with understanding the Book of Mormon.  Then we went to Beaumont to fix our car which had been broken since I was here.  Then we had lunch and tried a few people and tracted.  Then we went to dinner and tracted some more.  We found 2 people and taught them and got a return appointment so that was fun.  Then we went and tried a few people.  When we got home we met our mini missionary his name was Isaac.
Saturday-
I pretty much was Isaac's babysitter.  I had to clean up his food and his dishes.  Wasn't too happy about that.  Anyways we went to Larry Yard's.  And tried a guy named Donald King.  He wasn't home and my companion's bike wasn't working right so we all stopped while he tried to fix it.  And a lady comes up and offers help and we say no it's fine.  And I start talking to her about our church.  I then proceeded to teach her the entire Restoration.  And while I was reciting the Joseph Smith thing the spirit was so strong.  After she was so excited and asked us if we would come teach her more so we will.  After that we went and visited some more less actives and tracted.
Sunday-
We went out and tried some less actives and went to church and our mini missionary left.  We then went and had dinner and visited a less active named sis. Wilcox and went over to Bro. Long's and he gave us a chiropractic treatment.  It was awesome!
Monday-
We went to Nasa it was so cool!  Then we went over to a less actives house named the Browns.

Sorry I had to rush.  Love ya'll! 
Elder Willden

How ya'll doin?  I wasn't able to email yesterday because it was a holiday.  Anyways this week was a good week Elder Ynchausti and I have some good investigators.  And some that when you show up half the time they aren't even there!  That's always fun.
Monday-
We went around trying people, but no one was home.  So, It wasn't the funnest night.
Tuesday-
We met with Larry Yard.  He is a crazy old guy haha.  Anyways after we went we went around trying some people we had tracted into and etc...  But, no one was home.  And after dinner we went over to some less actives and we got into the Hollands home.  Sis. Holland is divorced and raising 4 boys.  They are so funny and they have a ton of energy.  And after we went on an exchange so I went to Elder Taylor's apartment.
Wensday-
So the apartment I stayed in is Elder Taylor's apartment which is owned by this guy in our stake named Pres. Ross. He is a member of the stake presidency.  Pres. Ross came into our apartment singing with 2 cups of hot chocolate at 6:00 am.  It was so weird.  Anyways he made us get up and get ready.  He handed us the cup of hot chocolate and took us outside and we went on a walk.  That was the weirdest experience of my life!  Haha.  Anyways afterwards me and Elder Taylor did study and stuff.  Then we went out, and Elder Taylor didn't really plan anything so it was the longest day.  We went around trying people and only taught one lesson.  Then after that experience was over I got to go back to my area thank goodness... haha.  
Thursday-
Today we did some service!  We went to a less actives house named the Baldwins.  And took the remains of a burn pile (they pile up all their trash and burn it(its a texas thing)) and moved it to the far end of the yard where the rest of the burn piles went!  It was gross, but way fun!  And, they moved a trailor with a Back Hoe!  I have pictures, but we are at the library and they don't let us send pictures here so bare with me until next week.  And after we sat down and talked.  Bro. Baldwin was raised in the Hells Angels.  They were crazy.  And said he had seen more killings in his life than we could imagine.  He also told us about how Vidor was the home of the KKK.  And showed us the main office where they used to operate.  Then we went to Steve Leiper's and I committed him to baptism!  He has some Law of Chastity Problems, but we are trying to work them out.  Anyways then we went tracting and I was prompted to go down this street and told to knock on this certain door and it was a Jehovah's Witness.  He invited us in and we taught him.  He wouldn't take a Book of Mormon, but we committed him to pray and ask Heavenly Father if what we are saying is true.  Then we went to the Hollands again.  And she showed us the gun she just bought.  I was scared out of my mind cause she didn't know how to handle it and she was showing us how it worked and she cocked it and didn't know how to release it and had to fire it in her back yard!  Haha.  
Friday-
We saw Larry Yard again.  Just reading the Book of Mormon.  Then we went and tried a guy we tracted into and he didn't answer.  And there was a dirt pile and my companion rode over it and I said, "Well that was dumb you didn't even get air"  Jokingly.  And he went flying at it and jumped and totally nailed his manly parts.  I couldn't stop laughing it was so funny.  Then we tried a few more people and went to dinner at the Naylor's.  This family is by far my favorite.  Because the food was good we shared a lesson and then they let us use their massage chair.  That was amazing!
Saturday-
Larry Yard as usual just reading the Book of Mormon.  We ran by Steve Leiper's to see how he was doing and he was doing well.  Then we went to the Zambrano's for their less active son's birthday for dinner.  It was the weirdest mexican food.  I choked it down haha.  I had heard that all of sis. Zambrano's food was good except for one and I was lucky enough to get that one.
Sunday-
We had stake conference and it was really good.  Pres. Scott talked about respecting girls.  After stake conference we taught Steve Leiper.  Its hard because he is living with his girlfriend, his divorce papers aren't through yet, and his girlfriend is pregnant.  He really wants to get baptized and is willing to make changes, but this is a sticky mess.  Anyways after we went tracting and contacted some refferals.  And had dinner at the Simpson's, it was way good.  Then, we went to a Recent Convert's house (Bonnie) and had a member lesson.  
Monday-
We taught a lesson at noon because it was the only time that these people could do it.  It was Billy and Claire.  I recited Joseph Smiths experience and after they told us how they felt during it and that they know what we are saying is true.  Then we finished P-day.  And went to Sis. Wilcox's home and committed her to reading a little bit of the Book of Mormon every day.  We are trying to get her to come back to church, but she is really hard.

Anyways I love ya'll and hope ya'll are doing well.  I am loving it out here.  Time is starting to fly.  And mom thank you for that talk it was amazing!  Everyone should read that.  Elder Ynchausti is a good guy.  He is a little layed back, but works hard.  Haha I am like an energizer bunny out here.  GO GO GO.  Anyways love ya'll.
Elder Willden



(This next email was a response to Michael (dad) telling Chase about some of the new methods for teaching Sunday School and telling him about Kolton's school team basketball tournament:  

Ya in the MTC they teach us how to teach all those things you talked about.  The spirit is crucial.  Anyways tell Kolton good job for me.  And, tell Bro. Rios thank you.  And, that he was a big help in preparing me for my mission!  And, Gumbo can be made a variety of ways.  I haven't had it with crawfish or tomatoe sauce,  but it is way good with like deer meat and rice and all sorts of other stuff.  I also had Boudin this week it is amazing!
Love ya,
Elder Willden


(Boudin is a sausage we laugh about on the TV show Duck Dynasty which is about a family in Louisiana)

Hey guys I have been working super hard this past week!  Hope ya'll are doing well.

Monday-

We had p-day.  We played orangeball (dumbest volleyball game in the world) and cleaned and etc...  We then had dinner with the Callahans, they are a couple in our ward.  They are awesome and really outgoing.  Then we went around and visited some less actives.

Tuesday- 

We did our regular study in the morning.  We then had lunch and after did mormon.org.  After we went and tried a few places, but no one was home.  Then we went and visited sister wilcox and after we had dinner with a family in our ward, the Chandlers.  And after we went over to Steve Leipers house.  He is really excited about our church.  We talked about angel's and how as he has come closer to Heavenly Father he feels that he has more trials, but they always come out with a benifet.  We told him about blessings and asked me to give him one.  It was awesome.  You'll get more details in the letter I am sending today.

Wensday-

We went on exchanges.  I was with Elder Walser one of my zone leaders.  It was a hard day.  It was raining and no one was home.  And at dinner it was with a less active family.  We had Gumbo!  It was so good.  Then we tried to commit them to come to church and they told us someone offended them so they aren't ready yet.  And we started asking about it.  They said someone did something to them 30 years ago and they aren't ready.  It was awkward. 

Thursday-
We did a lot of tracting.  No one was home so we went around tracting.  While we were tracting we went up to this small trailer and knocked on the door.  Someone yelled come on in.  I opened the door and it was a 40-50 year old man watching Ben 10 while playing World of War Craft.  It took all of my might to not laugh.  But, he invited us back so we will be seeing him again.  We also had a baptism.  Aubrey Arnold.  That was fun.

Friday- 

We had zone meeting in orange.  It was about a 30-40 min. drive.  Then we had lunch and drove back and met with the baldwins.  They are less actives and the biggest hicks ya'll could ever imagine, with teeth missin.  Then we had dinner with a lady in our ward Sister Emerson it was gumbo!  After we went to Larry Yards.  Is is a veteran.  He hates women.  And is very vulger, but he is improving every time we see him so thats a plus.  We just go over and read the book of mormon with him so he can gain a testimony then we will teach him the lessons.

Saturday-

We got to meet with Larry Yard again and he was way different.  He did his reading assignment and understood what he read.  Then we tried a bunch of people.  Then after dinner we went to the Zambranos.  They are awesome.  They have one less active boy.  But, they are so fun.  The have an 9 year old son and he is crazy.  It was fun talking to them and trying to teach their less active son.

Sunday-

We went around inviting people to church.  And the Leipers came!  Our church starts at 2:30 and ends at 5:30.  Then we had dinner at the Healys.  They are a fun family.  They have lots of family in Utah FYI.  Then after we went over to Steve Leipers house and taught him.  In Steve's lesson I got to recite Joseph Smith-History 10-17 without the part about satan.  Then we went to the Zambranos and helped Bro. Zambrano give blessings to his children.

I Love Ya'll and love everything about missionary work.  I love the people.  Its way fun.  Elder Ynchausti is a good missionary.  He works hard and we work well together.  Hope ya'll are doing well!  LOVE,

Elder Willden

More of First Week

I have been working hard.  It's awesome when you see people grow and understand the gospel and its disappointing when people don't hold to their commitments.  The people out here are really nice.  My companion is awesome.  I will tell you about this guy named Steve Leiper.  They have been teaching him for a week and we haven't gotten to teach him yet because he is so busy, but he is so excited about the church.  We went over to his house on fast sunday and he was so excited to see us, but was too busy studying.  And said he wished we had showed up saturday.  Then they offered us Crawfish and we couldn't have it cause we were fasting.  Oh well.  I tried to cook eggs on saturday and it didn't work out so great haha.  They looked bad, but tasted fine haha.  We ride our bikes a lot and I get a sore butt quite often.  There are more baptist churches out here than you can count and everyone loves Jesus Christ and the Bible.  So we have to show them that the book of mormon is just another testiment of Jesus Christ.
Ya we have a fridge.  But since this is a new living space they still need to get us a stove and a washer and dryer.  I have only been with my companion for 5 days.  I don't know him too well yet.  He is funny though and loves candy.  We don't get to knock on doors to often, but when we do I get so excited.  I love knocking on doors even though most missionaries hate it.  We do a lot of reactivations and referals.  But, I forgot to tell Ya'll about LARRY YARD.  This man is 66 and looks like he is 100.  He has a bad smoking problem but is very religious.  He is baptist of course but we have been teaching him and he loves it when we come over.  He is just having a hard time with Joseph Smith and thinking he could be a false prophet.  But anyways the first time I walked into his house I about passed out because the smell of smoke was so bad.  Then I look over at him and he is about my height and is super skinny.  He can be postive at some moments but most of the time he is always saying how awful girls can be and cussin.  But, when we are teaching him he seems to be happy.  LOVE YA'LL
Elder Willden

So I totally love Vidor.  The people are awesome!  They think I am an allstar at sports haha.  I had the chance on tuesday night when I first got to Vidor to meet Shivon and Larwence.  They live in a trailor, they are baptist, and they wanted to know more about our church.  We talked about the Book of Mormon and I bore my testimony.  Larwence started crying and said I know what you are saying is true.  And they want to learn more!  It's hard out here, but I love it.  Elder Ynchausti's family lives in center ville, Utah.  Its funny how both my companions names have been hard to pronounce haha.  He has been out for 6 months and he is 24.  He is a great guy!  The bike is great by the way.  Tell the Thurman's thank you for me.  Everyone out here is nice for the most part.  And it's crazy what some of the people live in with such big families.  I love Ya'll! 
Elder Willden
ps. Ya'll is the best word ever.

If you don't say ya'll out here you get made fun of, or you get weird looks so it is now in my vocabulary.

First Week in Vidor, Texas

On Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 10:57 AM, Chase Willden wrote:

Love ya'll.  I have been working really hard.  Its great being out here and learning lots.  

Mom says, "What in the world?"

Alright so some guys that are my age getting ready to go on a mission tricked us into thinking that they had to go get a cat that was out in this long horn field.  And we needed a ride from them so we went to help.  Walked all the way out there and they said they were just kidding and the Longhorns were so close to us, while we were taking the picture that's why I look so tense haha.  They don't look that close in the picture, but they were right behind me and I was scared out of my mind haha.

On Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 10:54 AM, Chase Willden