Well, I got another companion on Wednesday. His name is Elder Rush.  So we worked together all last week and Elder Martinez is heading out for surgery today.  Elder Rush is a visa waiter.  He will be going to Angola, Africa once he gets his visa.

How are ya'll doing?  I am doing terrific.  This week like I said I got Elder Rush.  So, I have been double training this week.  Finishing up one and starting the other.  I know that the Lord is helping me because I have never been this tired in my life! 

 Anyways, I was dissapointed that Rodrick decided not to get baptized yet, but am excited to keep working with him.  The plan was for Elder Martinez to baptize Natalie and for me to baptize Rodrick so once Rodrick is ready, I will be the one dunkin him!  haha.  They really loved the gift ya'll sent them!  Thank you so much for putting that together so quick.  It was awesome! 

  Jacob Davila is going to be getting baptized this week and I will be the one performing it.  He is awesome and I am glad that I got to work with him.  He has come so far so quick, it is awesome to witness the gospel change people! 
  Anyways, Elder Martinez will be going in for surgery tomorrow.  He is a great Elder and I pray that everything will go well. 

  I was reading in Moroni this morning in chapter 7 verse 48.  It tells us that those who have the gift of charity are true followers of Christ and when they see God they will look like him.  I find that really profound and seek to have charity everyday.  I am not very good at it, but am getting better every day.  I love ya'll and hope ya'll have a terrific week!  

Love my mission!  Love the work!

Elder Willden

John 8

Elders Rush, Willden and Martinez

Chase

Natalie's Baptism


Note from Elder Willden's mom:
I am missing my boy a little more than usual today!  These pictures bring joy and tears.  I feel there are no words to express the depth of this work in serving God's children throughout the world.  I love this work!  So happy to have a son engaged in it even though I miss him so much that it hurts some days.  Could not be happier for what he is doing and learning.  I feel love for those he loves and I do not know them.  Any work that evokes these kinds of feelings is God's work.  

How are ya'll doing?  I am doing good.  This week was a good one.  The picture I sent ya'll with the family is Natalie and Rodrick.  They are doing really well.  Natalie is totally ready for baptism and Rodrick is still saying he isn't sure about it; so we will find out how he feels on Wednesday.  

Elder Martinez is getting ready for surgery.  We have to go to down town Houston again this week for his Pre-Op.  He is doing well though, he is happy that he doesn't have to go home for the surgery.  

We saw Vicky this week.  She is not doing too great.  I think it is because she has been trying to quit smoking for so long and hasn't been able to kick it; so she is getting down on herself.  We are going to introduce a stop smoking program this week to her and hopefully this helps her kick it.  

Jacob is doing great.  He really likes all of the things that have to do with the church and enjoys learning about it. 

Elder Martinez are having a hard time finding people that are ready to be taught; so if ya'll could pray for us to find people that are ready, that would be great!  

I love ya'll and hope that all is going well at home.  I am loving serving the Lord!  My clock keeps ticking though, so I will put in the best effort that I have whilst I am here.  Love Ya'll!

Elder Willden

Galatians 5

Elder Willden with Rodrick and Natalie
they are scheduled for Baptism on Sept. 22, 2013

Biking in Humble, Texas

Hey ya'll.  This week has been a great one.  

Natalie and Rodrick are getting ready to be baptized on the 22nd.  They are so ready.  We had a lesson with them on Sunday and Natalie said the closing prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for sending us missionaries and for the "Mormons". It was awesome.  We also showed them the font in our church and practiced baptism with them.  I am really excited.  Anyways, Elder Martinez and I are doing well.  But, he has to get surgery next transfer and his mom will be coming down to take care of him after, because he has a problem with his eye.  He is doing okay though.  

Jacob is doing great!  We pushed his baptism back a week to saturday the 28th, so he can make sure that this is what he wants to do; and so he can come to church one more time.  He is awesome though. He has already finished reading 1 Nephi and is half way through 2 Nephi.  

Anyways, Bobby had to drop us this week.  His wife essentially told him to stop meeting with us or get a divorce.  He told us that he will keep working on her.  I am going to miss meeting with him.  We exchanged information and he asked for our home address; so he might write ya'll a letter or something.  Who knows?...  

We also met with Charles this week and he is doing great.  We committed him to live the Word of Wisdom and he was totally fine with it.  He wants to get baptized, but has to wait until he is off probation.  

Conrad was at church also this week.  He had to leave early because his knees were giving him grief; so we will see how he liked it later this week. 

   I am doing well and loving the work!  I love ya'll and hope all is going well at home!  And Happy Birthday LUKE.  Hope you had a good birthday.  Love ya'll!

Elder Willden

Hey Everyone.  This past week was a great one.  Elder Martinez and I are working hard.  We taught many and had many amazing experiences.  We taught Natalie and Rodrick.  They are so awesome.  We watched the restoration video and then they started asking questions and we talked about temples for a little bit.  We taught them about how families can be together forever and how they can be sealed in the temple.  They loved it.  They are progressing really well.  They will be baptized on the 22nd of September. 

   We have also been working with a guy named Conrad.  I am not sure if I have mentioned him or not in past reports, but he is an older man with a handle bar mustache, and has a lot of Japanese videos and loves weapons.  haha.  Anyways, this week we went over and read some of the Book of Mormon with him because he has been having a hard time comprehending.  It went really well.  The Book of Mormon is an amazing book. 

  We have been working with Jacob Davila again.  He has been sick for a while and we haven't been able to get in with him, but we finally got in and taught the Plan of Salvation and he came to church.  He will be getting baptized on the 22nd of september as well.  He is a great man. I am so excited for him. 

  Bobby is doing great.  He finally got work situated to where he will now be able to come to church this coming Sunday.  I think I mentioned that he wants to meet ya'll haha.  I was thinking maybe ya'll could just come pick me up at the end of my mission and we could drop by his house before we left.  He would really like that!  haha.

  Yesterday morning I was reading at the end of Mormon in the Book of Mormon.  Those last few chapters are amazing.  I love ya'll and hope all is going well at home.  Love my Mission, Love the Work.

Elder Willden

John 8