Week 59 - More Missionary Work, A New (Old) Companion, and Another Baptism

Dear Mom,

Elder Brown did get transferred, and Elder Emerick came in!! WE ARE COMPANIONS ONCE AGAIN!!! :D It's crazy that it's been a year since Elder Emerick and I were comps in the MTC, and here we are again! Except we both know a lot more Spanish now! haha 

Also, you haven't seen any more pics from Sis. Summers because we haven't seen her at all since then. We used to have a class for members on Wednesday nights, and Sis. Summers would always be there as well, so she would find us and take our picture haha

The guitar that I was using this time belongs to one of the members here in Vista! :) The one I used before belonged to members in Temecula, and I did return it before I left there haha

I did get my white easter tie!! I love it! I actually wore it yesterday to church with my 3 piece gray suit! :)

Yesterday we had a super good dinner at a member's house! And I ate a fish! Like it wasn't taken apart or anything, just a whole fish haha I only ate half of it, because it was super stressful to try to eat, and then later on, I didn't feel good from it. But I got some Mexican style feel good stuff from a member, and I felt loads better after that!

I'm sorry that my emails are short, I just can't think of anything else exciting that happened this week. We did missionary work, and more missionary work. Felt the spirit, .....O there was another baptism in the ward! The sister-in-law of the lady who got baptized a couple weeks ago got baptized on Friday, which is where I played "When I am baptized" on the guitar. :)

Please continue to write and email when you can, I love hearing from you!

With much love,

Hogs & Quiches

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss

Also, thank you for sharing your revelation and notes from the woman's conference! I loved reading about it! :D

Week 58 - Personal Poetry

Dear Mom,

Thank you so much for your council and wise motherly words! I always need them :) This past week, Elder Brown and I have come to certain realizations and decisions. This week, things are going to change. Elder Brown will be calling President and be getting transferred out tomorrow, so you won't seeing any more pics with him sidling up with that sister. As for me, missionary work is more important. Whatever God wants to happen after the mission will happen AFTER the mission, not DURING. 

Communication is something that I've learned more about on my mission. Especially here in Vista. Our mission president wants companions to over-communicate with each other, so that way there's nothing keeping us from each other. That's something I've obviously struggled with in the past. But with Elder Brown, we've done SOOO much communication with each other! I honestly feel like he's my best friend, because we tell everything to each other. The good things, the bad things, things that are on our minds, things that the other said that maybe hurt our feelings, all that good jazz! We tell each other everything! And I'm learning that that's honestly the way that it needs to be. When I come out and talk to Elder Brown about something, I feel so much lighter! I don't feel like it bothers me anymore, since I'm not keeping it bottled inside, and it's gone in the past and I don't think on it anymore. So thank you so much for helping me realize in greater detail how important communication is. I love you mom :)

This past week, I wrote a poem for the first time in my life! Elder Brown told me that he really liked it! he told me, "come on! You can play guitar AND write like that? It's so not fair!" haha He meant it in good way :)

I was kind of nervous sharing it with him, well, with anyone really, because I'm not confident in my creative writing skills. But you're my family, so I know you will love it either way haha

(I don't have a title for it)

Many years it has been now,

Since my father has laid down

in a grave and can't be seen

under the grass, warm and green

and will be for many more years

so long as the clocks turn their gears.

My thoughts turn to the Savior,

as I ponder His behavior.

If His love is so infinite,

why is this pain so intimate?

Sometimes it's hard to recall,

but He has a plan overall.

He too laid in a grave like this,

and three days hence, broke the abyss.

Of death and pain, we can be free

and with our families, full of glee.

I know what He did for me,

bleeding in Gethsemane.

For me and all, I know He bled,

from every pore, so scripture said.

We can feel relief from sin,

and from all bad things therein.

And now this year, I connect

on how Christ could resurrect;

to my family, what that means

and to all what it can be.

Let me tell you what I see

when Christ's reign comes to be.

I can now picture that day

when I come forth from the grave

and flesh and soul shall reunite

upon the man who taught me right.

In his face, I clearly see

of pain and guilt, he is now freed.

Running with love in his stride,

he comes to my family's side.

We embrace our father tightly,

for now eternal is our family.

I hope you really like it! :) I got your easter package today, and I just LOOOOVEEE the Batman tie!!!!! It totally made my day!! I'm actually eating the candy from a Batman egg as I type haha

I also greatly enjoyed the pics you sent of everyone from church, that also made my day! :D

Please continue to write and email when you can, I love hearing from you!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss


[A portion of e-mail from Mary to Elder Wockenfuss: One of the scriptures I came across this week was Psalm 119:103-104 - "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." There are some days where frustrations, anger, and other negative feelings threaten to overwhelm me and draw tears. During those times, I get a reminder to read my scriptures. As I obey that thought, the Holy Spirit fills my soul with the peace and calm I so desperately need. The problems or situations that brought on those feelings might not be gone, but I'm better able to handle them thanks to that peace. I know that in a world full of contradicting, confusing views that lead mankind every which way, I can find the truth in the Scriptures, and that it can guide me along the path I need to go.]

[his response:]

Reading what you just told me, it makes me think about the hymns of the church as well. There have been days in these past few weeks that I was stressed or upset about something, but then I get the impression to grab the guitar (yes, I'm borrowing one yet again :P) and start plucking out some hymns. Whether it's one of the lovely renditions that I know, or if it's just plucking the notes out of the hymnbook, it always brings me peace, and to Elder Brown as well. It calms the both of us, because they have the spirit of God wrapped up in them, just like the scriptures. So I have a testimony of Godly music! In the front of the hymnbook, it basically says that the hymns are scripture, and that we should use them often and place them among the sacred books of scripture that we hold dear. They bring peace to my heart when I struggle most, and reminds me of what I can do better, and it helps me to think of the savior. That's something that I learned this week. I am so grateful that God blessed me with a gift of music, and I hope and pray that I can use that gift to help others :)

Week 57 - Dinner, a Spanish Hymn, and a Baptism

Dear Mom,

Fried chicken, fried okra, mashed potatoes and salad

Dinner yesterday was super good! I've always loved okra and white gravy! :D 

After dinner, we sang a hymn that is a Spanish hymnbook original, "Placentero nos es trabajar." [click the song title to go to the words] It's one of our favorites!

As for sitting arrangements and what the pics look like, we are just family and friends. We're all working in the same ward and we're united in that aspect. We treat each other as a family, and we respect our calls to serve as missionaries. There is nothing else to it. We're closer than what you may have seen in my past districts, but it is because with me as the district leader, I want us to be a family. And I truly believe that is what we are. We are allowed to eat with elders and sisters at the same dinner. Don't worry about us, we are being obedient and keeping everything in check haha

Also, there was a baptism last night!! :D He's been a dry mormon [UrbanDictionary definition here] for YEARS!! And this past thursday, he came to me for a baptismal interview, everything turned out great, and he was baptized yesterday! :D

I loved the ties you sent me! Most especially with the goofy names you give them! XD

This past week I watched the new Easter video, and after watching it, I gained a deeper appreciation and gratitude for celebrating Easter and Christ's resurrection. In the end of the video when it talks about how because of Christ, our loved ones will be resurrected one day, it hit me pretty deep, because I thought about how Dad died about 11 years ago. I always knew of the resurrection, but I never fully appreciated it like I do now. Because of Christ, Dad will be resurrected and I will see him again with a perfected body and we will live as a family forever.

Please continue to write and email when you can, I love hearing from you.

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss

PS Did you get my letter this past week?

Week 56 - Fried Chicken and the Remission of Sins

Dear Mom,

Thank you for all the pics!! I love seeing them! :D We actually got the phone number for Sis. Summers that night, and we (all us missionaries in the most recent pics) are going to eat dinner with her this upcoming Sunday, and we're gonna have fried chicken, and fried okra, and mashed potatoes! It's gonna be great!! I think Hermana Young and I are the most excited, since we're both from the south haha

I love the package you sent!! I love March's tie! and all the goodies in it! I'm probably going to get fat haha

Before I forget, Hermana Young and Hermana Parris would like matching Toadsuck shirts, if you could please? they would like a medium, if you could, and not in yellow. Just take the money from my account. Also, have you sent the Toadsuck shirt to Elder Dowda? He says he doesn't have it yet, but maybe it's hung up in the office for some reason.

Elder Wockenfuss, Elder Brown,
and the sister missionaries at the San Diego temple

This week was pretty good! Especially since we got to go to the temple! It's always good to go and leave behind all the worries and troubles of the world and just ponder the revelations that God gives you.

Yesterday, I got the opportunity to confirm an investigator of the sisters as a member of the church and to give the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I was a bit caught off guard when she asked if I could confirm her, I was of course willing to do it, I was just a little surprised. But I was also very honored to do it. Thinking back on it, I had given her and her family the blessings that started them on the journey towards baptism. I had since given her a health blessing as well, during a time when she was sick. So I suppose that I had a bit of a connection with her, which may have been why she picked me to do it. But something I realized yesterday was that sometimes the confirmation is a bit overlooked and people focus more on just the baptism by water. I studied the scriptures and found that receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost brings a REMISSION and purification of sins. I didn't know what Remission meant, so I looked it up in my dictionary. It means to give or receive a relief from pain and sorrow. That really hit me hard! That's one reason why now I hold the Gift of the Holy Ghost so dear, that's why we need this precious part of the ordinance. It brings relief from the pain and sorrow of your past life, and you can truly start anew, leaving it all behind. This gospel is so true, Mom!

The unity in the district is a little better, still needs improving, but it's better than the first week! Thank you for the prayers! :)

On another note, we've been playing soccer every Friday with members and investigators, and at first, Elder Brown and I weren't very good at playing. But just this past Friday, we kicked butt!! That was the most I've exerted myself playing a sport for quite a while! It was so much fun! You should've seen us! :D Maybe once I get back, I'll get a group together to play, and you can see me play!

Please continue to write and email when you can, I love hearing from you!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss

Week 55 - Being a Beacon, and Being a Stinkin' Beacon

Dear Mom,

I love what you learned from the lesson that you taught! :) I learned a little bit from the priesthood lesson this past week! Well, a little background first. This past week was the first week of the transfer. And there have been some issues in some companionships in the district (not Elder Brown and I, but others), and I have been a bit stressed just trying to figure out how to help work out these problems. I've been praying A LOT this week! and on Sunday morning, I was in conversation with the Lord about these issues and what I should do, and among the answers I was brought to remembrance on the words of one of the blessings I received in my life, (can't remember if it was baby blessing, confirmation, when dad died, or some other time) that I would be a "beacon of light to those around me". I paused and thought about that for a minute. What do beacons do? they guide people in the direction to go, they're a signal of hope, and of help. And they can unify people in working towards that direction. (Not that I'm trying to get a big head about it or anything.) I think about the Lord of the Rings when the beacons of Minas Tirith were lit. The ruler there refused to light the beacons to ask Rohan for help, but Gandolf knew it had to be done, other wise, they would not win the war. So the beacons were there to be lit in a time of great need and assistance. Way to tie in Lord of Rings to the gospel haha I also thought about how in the past, I've unified my friends and others. Perhaps God sent me here because I needed to help in that way. I don't know. But God told me then that being that Beacon was something that I need to continue doing. Then in the priesthood lesson that day, they talked about being a light to those in darkness in the world. They talked about being an example of the believers like it says in 1 Timothy, but most especially in word and conduct. They talked about being like a caring big brother, and helping others to follow Christ. and many other things. That helped me connect what God told me earlier about being a beacon of light to that lesson, and it was awesome! God does so many cool things! So, that helped me out, but I would still LOVE prayers for me and for my district concerning unity probs and in whatever other way you feel inspired!

I got the opportunity to give another blessing on Sunday! One of the hermana missionaries was really stressing out, and we were going to give a blessing after church, but she changed her mind to wanting it after sacrament meeting. The blessing is helping her I believe! The spirit said many wonderful things in the blessing to her! Then Elder Brown gave a blessing to the other hermana that was stressing out, and great things came in that one as well. I love how God can work like that to help His children!

The blessing we gave last Sunday went well! The investigator needed a blessing of health, and she felt really good after. I gave a blessing to one of our investigators this past week as well! Her husband had cheated on her and beat her as well, so you can imagine that was a pretty rough time for her! We came a few days later and she told us that after we had given her a blessing that night, she went to bed without feeling any of the pain from what had happened. It was wonderful to hear that!

All in all, blessings just rock! God is awesome! And I will never get tired of seeing those miracles!

On another note, I was a stinker this past week! Back story (again) a few weeks ago, we had eaten with a member family, and after dinner, they offered a mexican delicacy called "champulines" to us. Champulines in english are grasshoppers. I, of course tried them with gusto! one of the hermanas absolutely refused to try them! So I started concocting a plan to sneak some of these champulines in her dessert one day. About middle of last week, we went over to that family's house with the hometeachers to give him a blessing because he was sick. After the blessing, I asked for some of the champulines and told them my plan. They laughed and laughed and gave them to me whole heartedly and wanted a report after I accomplished my plans! So, I had made chocolate muffins for our district to start off the transfer good! little did they know that we had blended up champulines in these muffins. I was giggling to myself all day about it! The next night, when I called to get info on their progressing investigators, we usually tell a joke along with it! So, I made sure they had their phone on speaker. "Hermanas, do you remember those muffins I made for you yesterday? I put a special ingredient in them this time....Champulines." There was a moment of silence, and then all of them bursted out laughing! Except one of the hermanas, the one that had refused to eat the grasshoppers that one time. She grabbed the phone and told that I should bolt the door if I didn't wanna die that night! I laughed and laughed, because I knew she wasn't that serious, of course! and the next day, I get hate mail dropped at our door step. A piece of paper with leftover blended muffin paste spelling out "H8 U" I though it was super funny! She laughs about it now! She's over it! But it was so super funny! The hermanas now say that instead of being Batman, I am now the Joker! it's super funny! Now I carry a joker card with me in my planner :P

Please continue to write and email when you can, I love hearing from you!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss/Joker :P

[Some images shared by a sister on the California Carlsbad Missionary Moms Facebook page, before and after a baptism]

Elders Wockenfuss and Brown arriving at the baptism

We must have funny faces!

Later, she saw them riding their bikes.

Smile, Elder Wockenfuss!

Week 54 - Comic Relief and Blessings

Dear Mom,

My District and I absolutely love your dream* and the goofy pics that you all sent me! They say "that explains so much about you!" as we all are laughing and having a good time over here! My district loves you guys!

[The Wockenflock assurance that all is swell: Buddy swallowing a sword,
Mom putting the hammer down and stabbing him in the back, Katie pointing Loki's scepter at everybody in the world as Mary cuts her head off.]

[Pic 2: Buddy riding a scepter, holding a sword.]

I'm super glad that everyone is doing good! I talked with Elder Brown (my comp) about those feelings that wouldn't go away, and he completed understood about the whole empathy thing that we have, and I'm pretty sure we figured out that I was empathing off of Hermana Lichfield. She's one of the sisters in our district, and she's finishing her mission tomorrow, so we figured that I was just feeling all of her mixed emotions about going home. Everything's fine now! :)

Man... what happened this week since Wednesday?? O I know! We found a less-active family through the efforts of an active member! We haven't been able to find this family for a long time, but because of this member working hard, we were able to find them! The husband needed a blessing because he has tumors in his colon or something like that, and the wife has a brain tumor, but she says that she's doing better than he is, so we gave him a blessing of health and guidance that he needed, and we're going back to see them this week! After the blessing, the husband gave us both a really big hug! I could seriously feel his love, deep appreciation, and relief that we were there and that we gave him a blessing. I almost cried from how strongly I could feel it! Once again, another miracle and instance of seeing God's power in the lives of his children! I will never get tired of telling those stories! Tonight, we actually get a chance to give a blessing to another investigator of the hermanas! We'll see what God has in store tonight! :)

Please continue to write and email when you can, I love hearing from you!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss

Never too old to be a Power Ranger!

*Mom's dream: I had the funniest dream last night where I was going somewhere and along the way, I ended up outside a room for a Carlsbad, CA, missionary training meeting. I felt I shouldn't be there because you were in the room, but I was told it was okay. This meeting was taking place because President Kendrick had decreed that all the missionaries should learn to lip sync the lyrics to current popular music.  I stood there watching the group while some song was playing and missionaries were trying to learn the lyrics, lip syncing along. It was imperative to get this right in order to further the work. Your companion, but not Elder Brown, was on the verge of a meltdown because he couldn't keep up. He cried out in frustration when he messed up and banged his fists on the table in front of him. I felt bad for him, but knew with a little more practice he would get it.  After a while I walked over to visit you and I noted your accessories.  With your white shirt and black pants, you were wearing a shiny, dark red patent leather tie, with matching hat and belt. Boy, did you shine and look sharp, as dreams go, though I can see you wearing such an outfit for real. Haha. What a dream.

Week 53 - Not Much Happening Beyond Cleaning Up the Ward List

Dear Mom,

I'm sooo glad to hear that the kitten is alright! The name fits perfectly! :) **

I did get the packages! I got my power ranger shirts, thank you sooo much! And I got the package with the UCA Jedi Shirt and Wickles, super funny and hilarious!! :D I'm not sure about the 4th package, what was in it? If you're still having a hard time deciding on a february tie, could you send me another creme/offwhite paisley tie like the one you gave me at some point before my mission? I traded it for another tie in the MTC, which I super regret now. Because I really really liked that tie! haha

As for the 3 piece gray suit you saw me wearing, Megan's mom sent that suit in the mail last week. She asked me for my sizes, so I went to a suit shop and got all my sizes done and sent them to her, so then she went on JCPENNY and got me suit that I wanted :) It's so snazzy and I love it! Almost everyone comments on it now haha

The snazzy new suit

So this past week, Elder Brown and I have been cleaning up the ward list, and we only have 2 names left to verify!! :D Apparently, there have been hundreds of members who have moved out that didn't tell anyone, and it's been annoying us that the ward list hasn't been updated, so we decided to take care of it that it could finally be done! And we're almost there! :D

Not very much else happened this week, not that I can remember anyway haha

For some reason, in the past couple of days, I've been having a feeling that I couldn't really shake, that something has happened or was going to happen to either you guys or to someone that I care for period. Has anything been going on?

Please continue to write and email whenever you can, I love hearing from you!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss



[an excerpt from his e-mail to Mary. A few weeks ago, he had asked for her help setting up his FamilySearch so he could use RelativeFinder to see if he was related to any of the missionaries in his district. Turns out he's related to all but one. Here's more info.]

I think the closest relation I have is to Elder Talbot, our common ancestor is David Maggart, on granny's side of the family. I think he's our 7th great grandfather, so pretty cool stuff!

This past week I got the chance to go to MLC(Mission Leadership Council), because they invited the DL's to come. And we got to see and practice what we were going to be doing in our Zone Training Meeting's and District meetings next transfer. And it looks like it's gonna be good! We learned about effective studies, answering/ teaching complex questions simply, and teaching our investigators about repentance and how to use it in their lives.

Elder Wockenfuss and Elder Brown

Having a really good laugh over something!

The lady who took the pictures really...

really...

... really likes funny face photos.

All smiles

** The story of the kitten - Well, you never know from one minute to the next what life will bring.

When one of the new kittens was missing, Katie discovered that she had accidentally put it into the washing machine with a load of towels.  She found it next to the washing machine, all stiff, eyes open and locked jaw,  breathing, but unresponsive.  We were sure it was going to die.  I mean, holy kow!  It went through the nightmare of going through a whole laundry cycle!

I left to get Mary from school and when I got home, Katie had put it into a small box to let it die.  After a couple hours of being in the box, the kitten suddenly started screaming and thrashing about like it was trying to swim and find a safe place to put it's head.  We picked it up and it screamed louder, thrashing,  We set it on the floor and it walked really weird, throwing it's limbs out wide and coming to rest its head against something solid.  When we tried to pet it for soothing, it screamed.  So we left it alone to rest.  And maybe die. But maybe not.

It slept once we put it on a towel with a warm rice bag. Then all its siblings came along and lay down with it on the towel, and he was fine for the rest of the night, sleeping through the night, in fact. By morning they all had climbed up on to one of Mary's Monster critters and were sleeping in  a pile.  

This morning when he was found standing on the back of a chair, having climbed up Katie's jacket to get there, we decided he was really going to be all right.  He has been to the kitchen looking for food and water of his own accord. 

We have named him Miracle Max.  How can a kitten survive a full laundry cycle except by a miracle?  That final spin cycle is brutal, let alone having to swim for at least a half hour beforehand.

I have decided Miracle was just stunned and in shock, or knocked out when Katie first found him.  When he came to, he must have thought he was still in his nightmare experience.

I have a new washer (and dryer) that washes more gently than the older traditional ones with the rough agitator in the center.  Also, it doesn't fill up as high as the older ones, therefore allowing the kitten to be able to "walk" on top of the towels as they washed and agitated against themselves.

New rule:  put clothes and towels into the washer one piece at a time.  Check for kittens.