Wankier Family: the testimony is growing!!!

Just after Christmas I asked Philip to tell me a funny experience and a spiritual experience. His reply:

Something funny that happened is we went to a meeting with the branch presidency. The first and second counselors both have beards. They keep them nice though. We went to the meeting with fake moustaches on that we had bought like a week before. The clerk of the branch said it was a good look for me and I should think about it for after my mission! The spiritual experience: I don't know if I have told you this before, but I think this has been one of the most spiritual. We were teaching a lady and it was my first lesson with her. We were teaching her about the atonement, and she was crying through most of the lesson. The spirit was really strong there that night.

I got a new companion. His name is Elder Chandler. He is from Draper. He played football for Alta High. He is the District Leader. I think we will be able to do some good stuff together. I smell baptisms!

Love, Philip

Jan 7

Hey everybody! This week went pretty well. We set someone with a baptismal date on Saturday. It's for Feb 16. He says that he already knows that it's true, he just needs to fix some things. So that's pretty sweet!

I hated personal and companionship study at first, but now I like it. It's going good now and I'm really enjoying it. Elder Chandler is doing good. We are getting along really good. He is teaching me great things. We have been getting more success now. Baptisms are coming closer and closer. My testimony has come kind of gradual. It never really hit me until I came here. It actually happened not too long ago. A couple days ago we tracted into a baptist preacher and talked to him for about an hour at his door. He asked us if Lucifer was Jesus Christ's brother. We said yes. Then he told us that it was false doctrine. Then the conversation elevated and we were talking about the plan of salvation and stuff. Then we just went on and he started talking about his religion. That's really when it "hit me". No other religion makes sense. While we were talking with this preacher, it seemed liked I was able to answer and correct all of the things that he said, and I know that I wasn't just thinking of all those answers. They were put there. Then I gave him a Book of Mormon and told him to pray about it. He also told us about how no one in the Old Testament was baptized (which isn't true, Adam was baptized, talks about it in Moses) and how Abraham wasn't baptized, all he did was had faith and he was saved. Anyway, that's when it "hit me".
Love, Philip

Jan 14

Hi everybody! this week went good. We found two new investigators. One of them is the most prepared person that I have ever met. We hadn't even taught her a lesson, but we went in and we talked to her about what we do and about the Book of Mormon a little bit. Then we asked her if she would read and pray about it. She said yes. We asked her to come to church, she said yes. We asked her to be baptized, she said yes. It's awesome! She did come to church too, and she liked it. After church she even asked for something more to read. So we gave her a gospel principles book.

The weather has been great here. The past couple days have been around 50 degrees. The snow is melting little by little. But I think that it's supposed to snow again this week.
Love, Philip

Jan 2

Family!

So today is transfers and I am now in a trio again for another 2 weeks. I'm back in White Oak with Sister Bullock (not related to Sandra) and Sister Lawrance. My companion gets here in two weeks. She's from Estonia. I did see Jenny and Dave Hickman and their cute little family. They came at the perfect time. I wasn't in a super good mood and really just overwhelmed and frustrated, so they answered my prayer. I love them, they seem to be doing so good.

Well, Festival is now over. Yesterday was the last day. It was really cool to be a part of it. Now it's back to regular missionary work. It'll be good, new area, new companion, new experiences to look forward to. It was a great experience to be in Kentlands, but it will be fun to go back to White Oak too. I love you all, the church is true! Love you!
Love, Sister Wankier

Jan 9

Family,
Things are going super good! This is a great companionship! We pretty much laugh all the time. Today we're having Islander day. We're all wearing Sister Lawrance's Guam skirts. It's awesome! This is a great area. I still love it. Yes, I still kinda miss Kentlands, but here is still super fun too. We accidentally tracted into a former investigator. No gospel conversation, but they were super nice. Another investigator I had last time I was in White Oak is getting baptized! He's come so far and he sees the need for it in his life. It's so good!

Well the church is true! I love you all!
Love, Sister Wankier