Wow that is crazy that EJ Rios is home already.  It shows what little time we have as missionaries.  This week was the best week I have had here in Fall Creek.  We taught a lot of lessons and committed many to baptism.  On wednesday we went on exchanges and I was with Elder Yukon whom is a zone leader.  As we were out working we tried by a guy named David whom we have been trying for over a month.  As we walked up to the door he came outside and said, "How yall doing?  Wanna come to work with me?"  We were a little confused so we asked some questions and found out we would be driving around because he is a tow truck driver, and so we agreed to go.  While we were going, he asked a lot of questions and we ended up teaching him the whole Restoration.  He then asked us to show him our church building so we took him there and he was amazed at how beautiful the building was.  Then, we invited him to go inside and he agreed.  We then taught him about our chapel and about what we do at church.  We then took him to the baptismal font and taught him about baptism.  He then asked us if we could fill up the font right now and baptize him.  We explained that there are some things you have to do before you get baptized and then committed him to a date to prepare for.  We then left and he took us back to the car.  It was an amazing experience, the spirit was so strong.  He also came to church on sunday.  

Anyways, on thursday during our Hour of Power we tracted into a lady named Natalie.  She is a young black mother.  Her kids are so funny!  She has a 4 year old girl named Allayna and a 2 year old boy named Jeremiah and her husband is out of town for right now because he works for a oil company.  So, we started talking and turns out when she was a teenager missionaries used to come over and talk to her dad, but she knew nothing about us.  So, we taught her a short lesson and set a return appointment.  We, then went back with a member and had an awesome restoration lesson and commited her to baptism and to come to church.  And, on sunday they showed up and they loved it!  It was amazing.  Anyways now to my last story.  We have been going over to see a guy named Bobby like once a week.  I think I have told ya'll a little bit about him.  Anyways, we went over last night and were talking and he asked the question, "Why do people do things in the name of Christ that are wrong?"  We then told him that our message can explain that.  So, we taught him the restoration.  The spirit was so strong and he committed to read the Book of Mormon and Come to church in two weeks.  He is a really good man and I am so excited to see what happens with him.  

Well, I love ya'll and hope all is going well at home.  Elder Martinez and I are working hard and loving it!  Love my Misson! Love the Work!  Love ya'll!

Elder Willden

Elder Chase Willden and Elder Yukon

 July 8:

My knee still bothers me, but I dont think it is worth it to see what it is.  I would rather push through it and figure out what it is if I need to at home.  I agree Patience is one of the toughest virtues for me.  And, I didn't get transfered, but my companion is being transfered and I am going to be training.  Transfers are tomorrow.  I am excited about training, but a little stressed because it can be rough.  Anyways, Love you.

Elder Willden

July 22:

All is going well in the Fall Creek West area.  We were not able to see Lee Knott this week because it was pouring at the time of her appt. and we have to meet outside.  We met with a lady named Pat Hosea whom we have been working with for the past two weeks.  I will tell ya'll her story really quick.  One day went to try a former investigator and we knocked on the door and no one answered.  Then, a lady yelled from behind some bushes, "Elders"  and we walked over and it was an older lady in our ward.  We then sat down with her for a while and gave a lesson and asked if she knew anyone that was struggling.  She then told us about Pat and how she had recently moved back here and hadn't been to church in a long time.  She told us where she lived and we left.  Then, we felt like we needed to go see her right then.  So, we went over to her house and she was out on her swing chair.  We went up and talked to her for a while and it went well.  We continued to go back and she opened up more and more every visit.  She came to church yesterday and is now preparing to go do temple work for her parents.  It is amazing how the lord guides us as his servants, there is no way we could've ever found her without going and trying that former because we felt impressed to do so.  

Anyways, I also have another story.  We have a recent convert in our ward named Cynthia O'balle.  And, she recently was called to be an Usher for church.  Right before church started Elder Martinez and I were waiting to see if an investigator would show up and while waiting I watched Cynthia for a minute.  She was holding all the programs and passing them out as people walked up.  People were coming up quickly so she was frantically passing them out.  And, as one person was waiting for her to hand them one she said, "Sorry I am not very good at this."  I felt the spirit so strongly at that particular moment.  God doesn't call us to do something that we can already do.  He calls us to help us learn and grow.  Cynthia was fulfilling her calling even though she wasn't comfortable doing it. She did it because she was called by God.  

Alright now one last thing.  One night last week we ran out of things to do so we decided we were going to walk up and down the street and talk to everyone we see.  As we were walking we ran into a young man named Jasper in his 20's and we set an appt. with him.  We then went to the appt. on saturday and had a lesson and he was soaking up every word we said.  So, I will talk a little more about him in my next email.  I love ya'll and hope all is well!

Elder Willden

Well because ya'll are on the lake, you won't even be able to read this; so I am going to just type up some extra stuffage for ya'll next week.  FYI transfers are this week and the way President has been moving me, you never know if I will be transfered or not.  And, mom I have decided to not get an MRI.  It is too expensive.  I would rather just deal with it than pay that much so they can tell me to take vitamin c or something.  Love all ya'll.

Elder Willden

We also had a baptism for Trey Woods.  Here are some pics.

My companion fell asleep while we were driving to Beaumont haha.