Saying Goodbye to My Colombia-Cali Mission That I Loved!

Monday and Tuesday
January 27-28, 2014
                                               
Sister Prince's fitting quote for this special and tender day!

Sister Prince-- "We celebrated and cried together through their final day...
lunch, interviews, english tests, and testimony meeting."






Sister Prince sent photos and this sweet note of their farewell with Elder Welling...She also posted these tender photos on their own fantastic blog, what a gift! We love and are forever grateful to President and Sister Prince for loving, caring, teaching, guiding, protecting, leading, and cheering Elder Welling on from day one through this last day of goodbyes. Thank you Sister Prince and President Prince - we love you and pray you will be blessed forever for all you have done! We keep you and all our Colombia-Cali Mission brothers and sisters in our hearts and in our prayers every day and always!!

Sister Prince- "I remember so well when this group was just beginning their missions
Sisters Villacis, Guzman, and Galán
Elders Alvarez, Lipe, Fuentealba, Avalos, Welling, Menendez, Rodriguez, Suarez, Zambrano, Alvarado, Guerrero, and Candia"

 Sister Prince--"And now that beginning has come to an end
and they are at the beginning of new life adventures."
Elder Welling going to hug Sister Prince good-bye.

                     
Elder Welling crying as Sister Prince tries to bring a smile to his face-he loves Sis. Prince so much! 



                                                                       
Elder Welling hugging President Prince goodbye--he loves Pres. Prince so much, too!
                                                                          
Elder Welling boarding his plane to America and home...so many tears, so sad to close this beautiful door!
Sister Prince --
"An emotional send off...glad that the pictures do not show how hard he was really crying.
We KNOW we will see Elder Welling again...and soon...easier to send him...harder to send others!
Enjoy your reunion.  He has grown into a wonderful man of God....no longer a young son!

Hugs all around,
Hermana Prince"

Last Time....EVER...Last Pday EVER!!!!

Monday
January 20, 2014

Elder Welling on his very last Mission Pday in Israel with his great comps!
 Hi Family and Friends,

I'm sitting here in the internet store hearing salsa music in the street, and I can't help but think this is my last time writing everyone as a missionary. I can't believe these two years are over. In this email I will reflect on what has happened.


I started the mission super scared on January 18th 2012. I was received by a great friend in the MTC who was standing there to greet me and walk me in. I consider him to have been an angel. Looking back I can't believe it has been two years. After a great time in the MTC I got to Colombia. I was received by the best mission president and mission mom in the world, Pres Prince and Hermana Prince. Also, I was received by the best AP, Elder Belnap.

I had a great time in my first area, Although the mission seemed super slow at first. I was excited and also scared to be there for 2 years, that's a long time. The Family Briñez helped me a ton and were like family, and huge angels in my life. I will always remember them and be grateful always.

After my first area in Cali, I went to the best new area in the world, Buenaventura, with Elder Belnap. That was the best 3 months of my mission. I learned so much and got an awesome friend through it, Love you Belnap. I learned a ton in BV. But more than anything, I learned how to truly communicate with God. My prayers changed and so did my mission. I tried to become the best I could be.

Later, after a heart-wrenching despedida with Jose and Maryam (my BV angels and Colombian Family), I went to Ipiales, where I tried to change the limits of what could happen in missionary work. I loved it there, and had some really great times with great family and another great companion, Elder Rivadeneira.

Then, I got called by President Prince, finished special baptisms in Ipiales, and went to the Mission Office to serve for the next several months. There I learned a ton serving with Elder Menendez, and especially with President Prince. He taught me so much, and I just tried to analyze him and be like him. I love President Prince.

And then, my last change. I went to an area in Cali called Israel where I am now. I have learned a lot about perseverance here, working my tail off till the end of my awesome mission, keeping my prayers strong and fighting through the challenges we have faced here in Israel.                                      


But, as I sit here, I can't stop thinking and knowing that God exists, He is our Father, He loves us and wants us to be good and happy in this life. I know I have come closer to Him, and I have felt His love for me throughout my mission. I have also learned that this is His Church. I also know that it was restored through Josepsh Smith, His Profet...spanglish...I Know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is True, I love it.

I will try my hardest to always be good, to always help others, and more than anything, to always be a missionary. The work isn't over yet. I love it. I love Colombia. I love you all. 


Elder Welling. 
-- Elder Welling 
   Misión Cali Colombia

What to Say...and Inspiration at 2 A.M. in the Morning

Monday
Jan. 13, 2014

                                                                          
Elder Welling and his great mission buddies hike on Pday
Hi Family and Friends,

So, what to say. This last week was good. It was more normal than anything. But things are going good here in Israel. I got discouraged yesterday, because a lot of investigators we are teaching said that they were going to come to church, but in the end never came. It was sad. Only had 1 investigator person there. Which I am sure he is coming to church for his girlfriend, which is so good. But it was alright.

This upcoming week will be better I hope. But as for things with my companion, they are great. We get along really well and are having a good time together. haha 

Umm, super weird and amazing experience and fact...On last Tuesday night I woke up at about 2am in the morning. I had a really bad feeling that someone was in the hospital or in bad shape. The truth is I actually started to cry knowing that someone in the family was suffering, so I got down on my knees and started to pray ferverently that everyone in the family is good and being protected, and that there was nothing wrong healthwise in the family, and that everyone is doing great. I know I received inspiration big time after reading the emails I got from some of you all this morning.

With the passing away of Uncle Robert from his terrible accident last Monday night, and also with hearing how Grandpa fell, and suffered a bleed in his brain that morning I had the inspiration I knew the Lord blessed me to add my prayers for our cousins and all of us, and prayers for Grandpa to be protected and saved and I did it without knowing what was happening at home. The Lord woke me straight up out of my sleep. When I was reading the letters this morning I became super thankful for Heavenly Father "waking me up" at 2 in the morning to pray for you all and to help Grandpa, it was an amazing experience. I hope somehow you all felt more comfort, too. I will keep praying for you!

I hope that everyone is doing ok and no one is ill now. I know this church is true and God loves us. We have always got to be ready to listen to the spirit when it comes, even if it is at 2 in the morning for our family on the otherside of the world!! This was a Super huge testimony builder to my life. I hope it is a testimony builder for all of you, too. I Love the Gospel, I know it is true.

And please. Grandpa, come on, please don't fall every again!! :) I Love you all.

Weird, 15 days. 2nd to last email. Still time left to change the world here in my Cali Colombia! 

Love you all. ttyl
--
Elder Welling

Misión Cali Colombia