This week was a great week.  Elder Rush blew his tire on Elder Martinez's bike, so we have had to fix that up.   The weather here is extremely nice around this time, so I am enjoying it.  And, Elder Martinez won't be back until the end of the transfer according to President Crawford.  

Rodrick is doing well, he just needs to read from the Book of Mormon and I think he will get baptized.  This week was a slower week.  I have been working on Charity lately, so I prayed for opportunities to strengthen that attribute and they were given.  I testify that when you pray for God to send trials they come!  haha.  

Elder Rush and I are doing well though.  Elder Rush went to the Consulate on Wednesday and the Angolan Goverment didn't accept his paperwork; so, hopefully when he goes back next it will work out.  

We taught Vicky this week and she told us that she feels like the date that we set with her is the date she will get baptized!  She said that she had a warm feeling come over her when she thought about it, so hopefully all works out and she quits smoking by then.  

Jacob Davila received the priesthood this week.  He is doing extremely well.  We had a very powerful lesson with him about the Plan of Salvation the spirit was extremely strong.  

We have started teaching a new man named Hector and he is awesome.  He is from mexico and his father is a mormon.  He talked a lot about how much he loves his family and how important God is to him.  I will keep ya'll updated as we continue to teach him. 

  I am really enjoying being a missionary at this time.  God has been preparing so many people to receive his message.  Everyday I wake up happy as can be.  I have never been happier in my entire life.  The gospel is what makes us happy.  I always thought that I could find happiness by being popular or being the best at something.  The way you find happiness is in the knowledge that you are progressing, that you are becoming a better person.  Nothing else is a lasting happiness.  It doesn't matter if you can shoot a ball better than the guy next door.  Heavenly Father only cares about if you are improving, if you are shooting the ball better than you did yesterday.  I know this to be true.  I love our Heavenly Father. He is our Father.  I love my Savior.  I love my amazing earthly parents and their great guidance.  And I love my great siblings and their example.  I know this church is true.  I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel.  For I have read it and prayed and asked our great Father if it is true.  I Believe. Love all ya'll!

Elder Willden

Hey Everyone, 

 

This week was a great week.  We were on bikes all day every day.  We found a lot of people to teach this week.  Thank you for all of your prayers. 

 

We are now teaching a young lady named Gracia.  She just barely moved into one of our members homes and the members introduced us to her and she wanted to take the lessons.  She is awesome.  She said that every time we come over it feels different.  And, she is more than willing to read and pray about the Book of Mormon.  Gracia is from the Dominican Republic but speaks perfect english.

  Anyways, we also met with Vicky this week.  She is still struggling with smoking.  Hopefully as she continues to try she will be able to overcome it.  

We also met with Mack this week.  It went really well.  We hadn't seen him in quit a while, but when we met with him he had read part of the Book of Mormon and liked what he has read so far.  We taught him the Plan of Salvation.  He really liked it.  He said that it is different from what he was raised to believe, but it makes sense. 

  

We also went and saw Natalie and Rodrick.  Natalie is doing great.  She just received a call to be the Assistant Secretary to the Relief society.  She is loving being part of the church.  Her family doesn't like it at all, but she has a thick skin, she said that she doesn't really care what they say.  And, Rodrick has been really busy.  He still hasn't put in the effort to read the Book of Mormon.  If ya'll could pray for him too that would be terrific. 

 

 I am doing great. The weather out here has been awesome.  It's been down in the 70's during the day and gets a little chilly at night so I am loving it!  I love it here in Fall Creek and am so glad that I have the opportunity to serve.  I love ya'll and hope you have a great week!

Elder Willden

John 8

 

 

We got rained on my pants are on the right!

That's so crazy that Brayden is home and JJ is leaving.  

Anyways, the work is going great.  Jacob Davila got confirmed today.  He is doing great.  They have us over often to feed us. They are awesome.  

We weren't able to have a lesson with Rodrick this week because he has been so busy.  We talked to him on Sunday and he hasn't been reading and praying about the Book of Mormon.  So, we are going to have to hold off on his baptism again.  We had a talk with him and asked him if he even wanted to know if our church is true.  He then replied and said that he does; he just hasn't taken the time yet.  Pray for him, so that he will put the time and the effort into receiving an answer about the Book of Mormon.  We are going to shoot for another date and I will inform ya'll when we find out when that will be.  

We have been teaching a guy named Bobby now.  He is a really nice guy and studies hard.  He has been reading a lot and coming to us with a lot of questions, so I will update ya'll next week a little more on how he is doing.  

Other than that we have been struggling finding new people to teach.  If ya'll could pray for us to find people that are ready that would be awesome. 

  Natalie is doing great.  She is going to have a calling by next week and she is excited for that.  And, their two kids will be participating in the Primary Program, so that will be awesome to see!  

I am doing great though.  It seems like I never have downtime, but somehow I am able to keep going.  I am loving serving for our Father in Heaven.  I love this gospel.  I have been reading in Mathew and I love the teachings of the Savior.  There is so much we can learn from him....  From the way He acts to the way He teaches.  It is truly amazing.  I love ya'll and hope that all is going well at home.  Have a great week!

Elder Willden

 

This week was an amazing one to say the least.  I absolutely loved conference.  My favorite talk was the one by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf in the Priesthood Session when he talked about rising up.  I love his statement that it doesn't matter how many times we fall down, it just matters how many times we get up. The getting up is all made possible by the Atonement.  The Atonement is a wonderful thing. It is the most extreme expression of love from Heavenly Father toward us as his children and of Jesus Christ toward Heavenly Father and us as his brothers and sisters. I love this. It truly is amazing. 

  My district has been struggling with finding people to teach.  And Friday night I had the prompting that Elder Rush and I needed to go out and knock doors for each companionship in the district for an hour.  As I was on the phone with one of the sisters I was prompted to promise them that if they would pray for a place for us to go, that we would find someone for them to teach.  They did so.  And, after the second session of conference we went out and began to knock doors.  People were being really rude.  We weren't able to talk to anyone even close to being interested in hearing our message for 45 min.  Elder Rush and I then recieved the prompting to go knock a home directly across from the door we had just knocked.  We did so, and a lady answered the door said, "Oh my gosh!" and began to cry and tell us that she had been praying for Heavenly Father's help.  She was 20 years old, pregnant, and the father wanted nothing to do with her anymore.  We then began to teach her about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  And, she wanted us to send the sisters over right then.  It was amazing.  I know that Heavenly Father will fulfill righteous promises from his servants.  

  Being a district leader and a trainer is tiring.  But, somehow every morning I am able to keep on going.  I love Heavenly Father he is truly amazing.  He is blessing my life.  Thank you for all of the prayers in my behalf.  

  We didn't see Rodrick this week because he had to go out of town, but we will be seeing him tonight.  I am excited to see how he is doing.  Pray that his heart will be softened and he will be ready for baptism on the 20th.  Thanks for all ya'll do for me.  I love my mission and love the work!  Love all Ya'll.

Elder Willden

John 8 

By the way, the weather here is terrific right now.  We have been in the 70s the past few days. I am loving it!

Elder Willden's District

How ya'll doing?  I am doing great.  I am extremely busy now though.  I got the call Sunday night and am now a district leader.  So, I am a district leader and training and Elder Martinez is coming back, hopefully, this week; so I will be in a trio.  I will be tired to say the least!  

This week went great!  Jacob Davila was baptized.  His service was awesome, the spirit was so strong and Jacob and his wife were crying.  I can't wait to see them go through the temple in a year!  

We are kind of low on investigators now; so we are having to do a lot of finding this week.  

We set a baptism date with Rodrick!  It is for the 20th of October.  I am excited.  I really think that he will follow through on this one!  

So, Elder Rush and I were in the car one day last week and we were right next to a hobo waiting for the stop light to change.  I got the prompting to hand him a Book of Mormon.  And, then I thought to myself "he won't take it unless there is something else".  Then, Elder Rush reached in his wallet and pulled out two dollars and said that he was prompted to give it to him.  So, I grabbed my Book of Mormon and said we will give this to him too then.  And, we gave it to him and he thanked us for the "bible" and we drove off.  It was an amazing experience to see the Lord work through both of us.  I am absolutely loving the work.  There is no greater work.  

The signs of the second coming are real.  One of them is the fact that missionary work is having a great push.  People are being prepared and are ready to accept Christ's gospel.  There are also the bad signs, "Wars and Rumors of Wars".  We need to stay strong and hold fast to the rod of Iron, so that we are not swept away by that river of damnation.  

I love you all and am so glad that I am part of such an amazing family.  This church is true. 

Elder Willden

Elder Rush, Jacob Davila and Elder Willden

Houston Tx Temple trip on Sep 25, 2013

Elder Willden and Elder Rush at the Houston, TX temple

Houston, Texas Temple

Elder Chase Willden

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