** THIS IS SISTER WHEELWRIGHT'S LAST E-MAIL FROM THE MISSION FIELD. SHE RETURNS HOME NEXT WEEK!!**

Hey y'all,

      So it's been a fantastic 18 months here in Georgia! They sure did fly by so fast! It's true that time fly's when you're having fun. Grovetown is such a wonderful place. The work is really moving forward here. There are so many people that are ready to hear the gospel! It reminds me of my first area, Warner Robins. It seems like I was just there, a new and anxious missionary. So much has happened since then. I've learned so much. I've been able to strengthen my faith and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through all the different experiences I've had!

        I know with all my heart that this is the only true church here on the earth today. That Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for him and his sacrifices. I know that no sacrifice is too great for obedience. I've been able to see that throughout my mission. I know that blessings come as we're obedient. I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and his atonement and that I've been able to strengthen my relationship with him and learn how to more fully apply it in my life. And also then share that with others. It makes me think of the video "Because of Him". It's one my favorites!

        "He lives, and because he lives, you... she and he and they and we all will live again. Because of him death has no sting, the grave hath no victory, we can start again and again and again. Because of him guilt becomes peace, regret becomes relief, despair becomes hope. Because of him we have second chances, clean slates, new beginnings, there is no such thing as the end because of him."

          I know that's true! I've been able to help people discover what is possible because of him and see the joy come into not only their lives but mine as well. It's been such a blessing. The best part is that it doesn't have to stop now. Missions are forever! These friendships I've made will still be there. Though missionaries may die (go home), Disciples never do! I'll do my best to continue this great work as a member missionary! Thank you so much for all your love and support. It's made such a big difference as I've been serving. I know I couldn't have don't it without you and especially without Jesus Christ. He is my best friend and I love him so much! I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

See y'all soon! 

 

Georgia peach macon miracles,

Sister Emily Wheelwright

Hey y'all,

It's been such a great week! We had Zone conference. My last one. It was so amazing, they're so inspired. It really helps us through out all the different areas of the work. I learned so much from everyone. We talked about the Sabbath day and how we can be able to get more out of it. One thing I learned that stuck out to me is that when we take the sacrament we don't just renew our baptismal covenants but all of them that we have made. It's so much more then I thought it was before. I'm doing my best to make it more meaningful. We've made goals to change the way we look at it now and be more prepared for church. It's made such a big difference! We also talked about how we need to pray more simply with our investigators. Later we visited Angela and we prayed and after the lesson she prayed and said she learned how to from us. It reminded me of the training we had. It was fantastic! At the end of the meeting they have all those who it's there last zone conference share their testimony. I was so nervous! There was 3 elders and 2 sisters, sister Landis and I. The elders went first. It made me think of the first time I spoke it church. I was nervous then too. I prayed and it all worked out. So I prayed up until it was my turn. It went really well. I made it through with out crying! It was such an amazing experience to talk about my mission and how's it's change/strengthened me and my testimony. The spirit was so strong while everyone was speaking. It's one of my favorite parts of Zone Conference.

      Sunday was fantastic! Angela came to church!! She brought her grandson with her too. She loved that he was able to go to primary so that she could listen and learn more. They both had a great time, he didn't want to leave after he made so many friends. It such a great ward I'm so glad they were able to fellowship them and help them feel welcome! Later we went tracting and were able to meet so many nice people who are interested in the learning more. I love it when you meet someone and you can just tell right away they've been prepared and are ready to listen. Even if you get lost trying to find their house at first and can't call them cause you don't have service so your companion does the service dance. You become family and they mean so much to you, yes even the goat!  ;) Love yall!  Missions are the best, I love being a missionary! Make it a great week! Thank you sooo much for all your love and support! 

 

Georgia peach macon miracles,

Sister Emily Wheelwright

 

Exchanges with Sister Danible!!

 

Hey y'all,

    This has been another fantastic week full of miracles! Last p-day for fun we went bowling on Fort Gordon. It was so much fun! I wasn't amazing at first but I'm getting better. We did it again yesterday. I even got a strike! It's only 1.50 a game so that's fantastic! We went over to the Packers for dinner yesterday, it was so much fun. We helped them frost cupcakes to celebrate a birthday! They're such a great family!  I love the spirit they have in their home, I'm so thankful to be able to get to know them.

       We went on exchanges with the Sister Training leaders in Evens, GA, Sister Danible and Muegge. Sister Danible came to Grovetown with me. It was so great! I learned so much from her. She is a great missionary. We tried to make pancakes. We decided to put blue food coloring in them for fun since it's our favorite color. The pancakes didn't turn out so good. We told the elders and they said we made smurf road kill. So true!

     Friday we had a appointment with one of our investigators and we invited Bro Packer to come to. It fell through so we went to see a less active and it went really well! Sister Pack even gave him some homemade cookies to give to us. Blessings! Sunday we fasted to be able to find those who are ready to come unto Christ. Later that day we stopped by another investigators and they weren't home so we went tracting in the area. The first door we knocked on they opened the door (first miracle) They invited us in!  They are so open and willing to hear the message we shared. It was definitely an answer to prayers. Plus they have cats. A few people here have a few cats, so that's fantastic too! 

      So we've been teaching Angela, she is so sweet. She has so much faith already. She wants to quit smoking and is ready and willing to take that next step to be free of it. So we went through the 15 step program with her. I'm so excited for her, I know that she can do it. She is such a great example to all those around her including her family and friends. She is so happy even with all the stress of life.  I love being able to get to know and teach her. It's such a blessing to be serving here in Georgia! Thanks for all you love and support, make it a great week!

Georgia peach macon miracles,

Sister Emily Wheelwright

Hey y'all,

    So far I'm just loving it here in Grovetown! The members are so supportive it makes such a big difference in the work. We have so many people to teach! It's close to the end of the month so we were low on miles so... more walking! It's such great exercise, and you can contact people as you go! Plus I have a great farmers tan. We had members helping us out though so we didn't have to walk all week. They came out with us teaching and gave us rides to church too. It's such a blessing. It's great to be a missionary!

    So many great things happened! One of our investigators Sharlene gave us a ride to our Book of Mormon class on Tuesday. Then she stayed for the class too! It was so great to have her there. We were able to have a church tour with her after the class, the spirit was so strong. It was such a great day! A few days later she saw us walking and stopped to give us a ride. She is just so sweet! I'm so grateful I had the chance to teach and get to know her. This last week we had dinner at a members house, the Packers. I told them that my grandma's (mom's mom) maiden name is Packer and that we could be related. So we looked at our family search. It turns out that we're 5th cousins! I thought it was so cool! Family History is so important. They love doing family history. So they've been so great in helping us get the members more excited about it. Plus they're willing to show people how they can do it. It's been great to have them in the ward. They just moved into the ward too so I thought that was awesome. I know great things will happen here and I'm so excited to be a part of it! Make it a great week! Thank you for all your love and support. 

Georgia peach,

Sister Emily Wheelwright

Hey y'all,

It was a crazy awesome week! We went to transfers, my last one. I loved it! Sister Sorensen gave us a ride to the meeting. She also gave me some homemade granola bars. They are my favorite! It made my day to get them from her. They helped me get through the stress of everything. I'm so gad I got to go one more time. I was able to see a lot of good friends there. You know who you are... y'all are the best! I'm now serving in Grovetown, with my new companion Sister Pilimai! This is her 3rd transfer. She grew up in California and moved to Utah in high school. She loves photography, art, and of course missionary work! She has such a strong testimony. I'm so excited to get to know and serve with her. It's going to be a FANTASTIC transfer.  

 

 I love it here in Grovetown! Sister Pilimai is such a great missionary. I've learned so much from her already. The work here is going so well. I love the people here already! There is this one family from Brazil. They are so nice! They want me to go Brazil with them after my mission. I told them President Cottle served there and they thought that was super cool! There is another who own a pizza place. They are so nice, they want to make sure we get fed. So we get to eat there for free. Which was such a blessing because we were short of food and were able to go there.  We also have been able to find new investigators to teach. Last night it was 8:45 and we needed one new investigator still. So we tried some apartments and this lady invited us in before we could say anything! We had such a great lesson, and she wants to learn more! Also the other day I had to get a new water bottle and the cashier asked why we were so happy. Then he told us that he had been to our church before. So we talked with him and got his information. We're going to be teaching him tomorrow. Attitude can make such a difference to those around us. It was way cool! Thanks for all your love and support. Make it a great week!

Georgia peach,

Sister Emily Wheelwright

Hey ya'll!

This has been a great week! It was my last week here in Albany. I'm getting transferred tomorrow. I'm going to miss all the people that I met here. I've made so many good friends that have now become like family to me. It'll be hard leaving ya'll. The good thing is it's not goodbye it's see ya later! I'm so excited to be able to go to transfer meeting one last time. To go through the excitement that it brings. To get a new companion, and area. To be able to meet more people who will become close friends and come to love them as I do the people I've met already. I know that so many miracles have happened and peoples lives changed. It's not over. There are more still to come! I'm so excited to be a part of it and see them take place. I know that this church is true and that as we come unto Christ we can be perfected in him if we let him in. I love ya'll so much and will forever keep you in my heart! 

Here it comes My Last 6 weeks as a missionary. I hope to be able to continue working hard and be obedient. To fulfill my purpose as a missionary, to become what he want's me to. I know that when I do that then it won't matter where I serve. Also that where ever I go is where he wants me to be. I'm going to be serving in.... To be continued! I find out tomorrow at transfer meeting!

Georgia peach,

Sister Emily Wheelwright