Elder Colten Wells

2010-03-29T20:34:00.004-07:00

YEP, time to hang this banner again..... YIPPE!!!!!! Elder Colten Wells will be home on Wednesday, March 31st! Cannot wait to wrap these loving arms around his neck, and welcome him home!

2010-02-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Mom
What is going on? Well another great week, also another week done which is crazy to think of for sure. Well things are good here, I am just working super hard doing all we can to try and build up the area as much as possible. Sounds like you had a fun time in Colorado. The weather here has been pretty decent, it has been in low 30's and high 40's, and supposed to snow tomorrow, but here you never know if it will actually happen. I am going to pack a few boxes and send them home to you. They are pretty expensive to send, the flat rate boxes went up in postage. I am going to think about how to send them. We committed some people to baptism, but they still haven't came to church, and they have alot more progress to make so we will see what happens. I am excited to come home and see the family for sure, I am really starting to miss everyone. Have you recieved my flight information yet? I am just curious... Anyways, I love you! Have a good week.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2010-02-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom
I hope things are going well for you! Sounds like you are having fun in Colorado. So you think that the weather there is cold? Haha, that is not cold, that is warm. New Jersey is having some freakish cold weather right now, with the humitity and wind chill it gets crazy. We got 14 inches of snow last Wednesday, and we are supposed to get 6 more inches tonight. Thanks so much for the valentines day package. I always love your packages for sure! Oh I found out I am staying in Morristown for my last transfer. I am glad to stay here for sure! Oh, here is a story for you for the week. We have a new convert named Marcie, she lives with like 4 or 5 other people, and we are teaching them. We are going over there this week and we are going to watch the movie "Joseph Smith, the prophet of the restoration", which should be really good. I am excited, the member is really a sweet lady. Last week was pretty slow with everything going on, it was a snow day for zone conference. I am hoping this next week will be better. Time is flying by, and I am working really hard. I am not going to lie, I am getting excited to come home, it has been 2 years since I have seen my family, and it will be 3 months short of 3 years since I saw Logan..
I love you, have a good week.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2010-02-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Hey whats going on Mom? Well it has been really chilly here. Today is not as bad it a little over 30 but its been like low 20 and teens the last couple days which has been pretty chilly but I have been allright and not too cold. Time is just flying by its February, thats means next month I will be home... WOW, thats just crazy! I think it is really insane, but I am excited to come home. But it hasn't affected me I am still working really hard so thats not to big of a problem. THANKS so much for the package it was great, I am going to make one of the crumb cakes today actually, so thats should be pretty fun I guess. Well I can't wait to relax the rest of the day it will be really nice. Well not to many crazy things happening here so its all good. What else is new for you? I am glad that your doing okay. I think you should be getting a letter from the mission soon talking about me coming home soon, so thats pretty crazy. I hope everything continues to go well for you, I am great here working hard. I love you.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2010-02-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Hi Mom!
Well we found 2 amazing people this week, one is a jamacian lady that takes care of 2 older people in Madison. We found her while tracking which was great we taught her a first lesson, and it went very well we taught her yesterday the second lesson. We are going to comit her for baptism on Thursday when we see her again. On Saturday we met a sweet lady name Kerry she let us in we taught her a first and as we shared the first vision she started to tear up she said I can feel the spirit, so it was really good we are going to go back and teach here this next week. That is great that Jayson and Tina are coming for the weekend, be sure and tell them "Hello". Our cousin Alex sounds like a cool guy, can't wait to meet him! I believe those were a couple good experiences that I had this week. I love you so much! I will see you in 2 months, it is coming fast! take care. Love, Elder Colten Wells

2010-01-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Hi to all. Glad to hear everything is good back home. I am doing awesome. We are teaching a sweet jamacian lady, she is so cool and is loving learning. We are seeing her again tomorrow. Oh you asked about a temple trip? Yea, I will have a last temple trip on my last transfer, we get to go to the statue of liberty and also to Ellis Island, we go with all the departing missionaries and the MP and his wife, that should be fun. I did get the package and the cash, Thanks so much. I am glad to be just a normal missionary, I am working hard till the end, so no worries. I love you, till next week.
Elder Colten Wells

2010-01-23T22:13:00.002-07:00

Monday, January 18th, 2010

Hello Mom!

Well it has been a pretty good week, we are still working hard and we are finding new people to teach. We are trying to build our teaching pool here. It is pretty cool cause we are in the same ward as President and Sister Bahr so that kinda weird but cool at the same time. We are really trying our hardest. The weather has been really nice lately it rained all day yesterday but still not that bad. Oh what else? I am trying to work my companion to death he is a little disobdient but I won't let him but he tries so it has been pretty fun i guess you could say. Well, I would love a package that would be great! So anyways thats about all that is going on here, I am just working really hard and I am going to finish strong! I am not dying at all thats for sure, I am just going to keep doing what I am doing now and I will be fine! Well I love you so much, I hope you have a great week! No worries about me, things are good here!
I love you and I will talk to you nextweek.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2010-01-23T22:12:00.003-07:00

Monday, January 11th,2010
Hello...So what is going on? Well things are going good here .I am just working hard in the new area which is great its a really nice established ward. It is alot like the Ledgewood Ward where I just came from which is pretty nice. Things are going pretty well, I have a fairly new companion, this is his second transfer in the mission he has been out 7 weeks and he still has lots to learn but he is doing pretty well he is from Alberta Canada which is cool. This area was pretty dead, the last and the last missionary that was here was pretty dead too. It was eElder Searle, who was my MTC companion, but I am going to build it back up so we have people to teach and so forth. The weather has been pretty cold I would have to say not as bad as last week but still pretty cold it hasn't really been over 30 in the last 2weeks. I have started running again in the mornings it was about 15 when I went running this morning but its all good for sure. I am in the same zone as before I am just not the Zone Leader which is great, so my old companion Elder Shields is now my ZL which is pretty cool I guess. Well thats about all going on here just likeI said just working hard trying to find new people to teach so its been fun! My companion told me we did more work last week than him and his old companion did the whole 6 weeks before. So I guess I am working him hard. We have to show the new missionaries good work ethics. I love you tons! Thanks for the card and cash, I bought a pizza. Love, Elder Colten Wells

2010-01-14T20:02:00.002-07:00

Colten and Larry

I got the sweetest email from Betty, her father Larry passed away on January 13th. Colten got special permission from his mission president, to attend his funeral. Colten gave the opening prayer, and also a talk and was also a pall bearer. Betty had told me that Colten was the only missionary that her father would let talk to him about the gospel. Thanks for the sweet note, Betty!

2010-01-06T19:04:00.002-07:00

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Hello, well things are going okay here. As usual just working hard we have transfers coming up Jan 6th which is pretty soon I will probably be out of this area so I can go to my last area for 2 transfers before I am home which is totally crazy to think about. I am trying to work really hard I am not going to die or get trunky I am going to work my butt off! It hasn't hit me at all that I will be going home, so I am still doing just fine. We got a couple presents from the members here were waiting to open them till christmas morning which should be fun. Sorry I didn't do much for you guys we have been so busy latley we are just working our butts off like crazy we havent had time for anything else. You should have a card any day now. Well lets see a week and a half a go was Dads birthday but I don't have there address so I couldn't send him a birthday card I had a member from a couple wards ago call him he didn't answer but I guess he told him Happy Birthday for me I hope that he got it. Thanks so much for the subway card we already used it, I also got a card from Grandma and Grandpa so that was really nice of them. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and I will talk to you on Friday if I make 2 seperate calls I can talk a hour on each phone call so that would be the better thing to do more time of course! Not to much more to say I will see ya soon but talk to you in 4 days thats going to be great! I love you tons have a great week, thanks so much for everything your the greatest ever.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2010-01-05T18:17:00.003-07:00

Yes.... Colten finally sent his memory card home, sure brought a smile on my face for sure!

2010-01-05T18:05:00.002-07:00

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Hello,what is going on Mom? Sounds like things are going pretty well for you. Lets see things are pretty good here nice and cold thats for sure but its all good. I am getting used to it again. Yes,we were able to watch the christmas devotional we watched it at the church last night it was great! President Monson is so good at telling stories it was really good I enjoyed it. I am not sure if the gps came in, one of our zone members picked up the mail for us because we had a appointment this morning so I will find out tommorrow if not I will get it next week. Thanks so much for that! A member gave us a little fake tree yesterday for our house which is pretty cool first christmas tree in almost 2 years I didn't have one last year so its kinds nice to get one this year. We have been really working hard we are really trying to get new investigators but its been really difficult but we are doing are very best thats all we can do. Wow, I miss Charleston's restrauant so much that amazing soup and sandwhich is so good! Sounds like Aardbark has been busy, and you are working hard. How is the business going? Has work slowed down much or is it about the same? Thanks so much for sending the new bank card, that would stink to be without it if i needed it. Oh thanks for the stamps also. Well things are going ok here like I said just trying to work as hard as possible. Well I am not to sure if I am doing the christmas cards again just cause its takes some time and it seems like I hardly have time anymore just always too busy. I will try can't promise but I will try to get at least one for you! Well I am trying really hard to finish the B of M right now before christmas thats what President Bahr wants us to do so thats what I am working on, I have to read about 12 pages a day to finish so I am going to do that for sure. That is about all that is going on here, we get to talk like in 18 days which is not very far at all. I hope you have a great week I love you and miss you and I might be emailing late next week cause I am going to the temple Saturday with our ward so that will be our P-Day for next week. So if you don't get a email next Monday that is why. I love you!
Elder Colten Wells

2010-01-04T21:42:00.006-07:00

Yes, Colten really does exsist.. A few pictures from him! Thanks son!

2010-01-04T19:25:00.001-07:00

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Hey, whats going on Mom? Well things are going good here. Well transfers are now tommorrow which is okay, I am sad to leave this area but it will be good to go somewhere my last 2 transfers. I have no clue where I am going but I am sure it will be fine, I am not to worried at all. Everything will be fine I am sure. Thanks for everything you do I had a great birthday we went out to the Cooks house and they made me steak and potatoes it was so good I loved it. I will let you know next week where my new house is and whats going on. After we get thru here and emailing I am going home to pack everything up and be ready to move tomorrow so it is kinda of exciting. I am just going to be a normal missionary no calling and I can just work as hard as I can and not have to worry about to much it will be great. I am pretty excited about that! Time is just flying by I have hardly any time left and I will be home before you know it which is absolutely crazy, I can't believe it at times. Thanks for all that you do Mom, I love you! Oh, how was Garth Brooks? Man, I would love to see him in concert. I bet it was amazing. I love you tons, have a great week. I will let you next week whats going on and where I am at and things.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-12-28T19:13:00.001-07:00

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Hey whats going on Mom? Well things are still the same around here as they were 3 days ago at christmas. It was so good to talk to all of you guys it was great. Today is P-Day which is great I am excited to relax a little bit since it has been forever. Well can you let Dad know that I got there package it was great for sure, I got it Saturday so that was cool! Ithink you are flying home today if I am right? I am on the computer a little earlier than normal but we got done with everything pretty early this morning which was great. We are just going to go to the mission office after this and pick up mail then we are done for the day which is really pretty nice. Thanks again for everthing is was nice of you! You are such a awesome Mom, to take such good care of me! Well transfers are on the 6 of January I will probably get transferd and dropped as a ZL and just be a normal missionary, which would be nice but whatever they have in store for me I am fine with! There is supposed to be snow flurries today but who knows, New Jersey's weather is the craziest ever its so weird yesterday is was 55 today it is 35 and tomorrow is supposed to be a high of 23. I don't understand the weather but its all good for sure. I hope you had a Merry Christmas and you have a happy new year and I will see ya in 3 months! I hope you have a great trip back to AZ! Tell everyone at work I say "hello". I love you tons Mom!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-11-30T21:42:00.002-07:00

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Hey, what is going on Mom? Well things are good here,I just found out that I am staying in the area for another transfer, so I will be here till January 6th. This has been the best ward ever the people here are so amazing so I am glad I will be here for the holidays. There is no other place to be in this mission at this time so it is great! Well hopefully I get the package today that would be really sweet. Well what else is new with you? Things are going good here, as usual I am just working really hard. We had a great Thanksgiving, we had 4 thanksgiving dinners from Wednesday to Saturday, I am sick of thanksgiving food right now. How was your dinner? Where did you eat at and with who? I have the same companion which is great we get along really well so thats good. I am so glad that the Elders Quroum and the Allen's were able to help you move. Did Logan leave for Colorado? How is he doing? Well there is not too much new going on here, just the same old missionary work which is good of course. Time just keeps ticking away really fast so I am just trying to work as hard as possible till I go home. Well tell me whats else is new with you and whats going on. I love you tons I hope everything is going well! I can't wait to see you... It is not that much longer thats for sure! I hope you have a great week!

Love, Edler Colten Wells

2009-11-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Hello, well it has been a pretty good week. The other Elders in our ward had 2 baptisams yesterday which is always good they were really great the spirit was really strong there. Well like I said we have transfers coming up on Wednesday, but I really don't know whats going on with those. I guess soon enough who knows? Well lets see we have been focusing on finding new people to teach we have found some pretty good people to teach so far which is always good. It is starting to get pretty cold which is always good but bad casue its gets really cold you know but it all good cause it is my last winter then I am home! The ward here is so amazing I really enjoy the people here, they are really nice just amazing people for sure in this ward. I am glad you got the couple of pictures I sent. Oh, if possible I could use some razors just like a 3 pack cause they will last me the rest of my mission. Well I am glad that your doing well. I do love you tons Mom, I hope everything continues to go well with you and I hope the move goes ok. I am glad Logan is staying to help you move thats good. Have a good week and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Love, Your son Elder Wells

2009-11-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Monday, November 16th, 2009
Hey, what is going on Mom? Things are going okay here not to bad at all thats for sure. Yes, I sent the shoes off today I also got the fax thanks so much, I gave them my email address so I won't really know until next week when I eamil unless they call you. Well it actually hasn't been bad the last 2 days it has its spells it gets really cold then cools down again the wind chill has been really cold thats for sure it will say like 45 and it will be like 30 its pretty crazy how bone chilling it is. It amazes me but I am staying warm as of now not to bad. I have kinda heard the word on the street about them going to Colorado. I guess Dad wants to open a wing place restrauant. Just like you said you need to focus on the positive things in life I know it must be tough, but get on your hands and knees and plead with our father in heaven in the name of christ ask for guidence and direction. I know he will help you with what ever you may need! In Mormon 9:21 he will answer as long as we have faith no wavering it is a promise that he will answer our prayers. Yes, mission interviews went great, yes Pres. Bahr is a super awesome guy, I love him and his great leadership! Oh so sorry about the photos we have been so busy lately, its been crazy I promise I wrote you a letter this morning so I hope you get it soon! Sorrry I have been a bad son in the photo department. I love you so much Mom. Thanks for all your prayers, and support, I feel your love for sure! Keep me up to date on everything!

Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-11-12T21:44:00.002-07:00

October 5th, 2009
Hello, how is everyone? What is going on Mom? Well things here are going ok.I have been pretty sick for the last couple of days but I am starting to feel
better. We are working with some good people not really any that
are going to be baptised, but hopefully really soon.
General Conference was great for sure the next one I will be home though so that is way cool I guess,I am just trying to make my time count that is for sure! Well thanks so much for all the stuff, the cookies were great and I loved them!
Hoe is Logan doing? Tell him to write me next week. Also tell Kendra
"hello" for me. I am tired so I will be going home to take a nap this afternoon.
My comp and I are still getting along great so thats good. We haven't
ran in a couple days cause I haven't felt like it cause I have felt like crap.
But hopefully I can start running again in a couple days. I hope your having a good week cause I know I will have a good one! I will look forward to your letter next week! Ask some questions so I can give you some answers. Until next week, I love you tons.

Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-11-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Hello! How is everything going? Well it actually hasn't been to bad at all I am staying pretty warm it is not to cold right now but here really shortly its going to get much colder I am sure. Sorry I haven't sent any pictures in awhile,I will print some pictures off today and send them to you. We just got done moving some Elders in our zone apartments so we are just getting to email and not only that we still have to shop and do our laundry so it going to be busy the rest of the day. Well I am glad that you found a house to move into thats a good thing because you were patient. I still have 4 months till I come home so thats still a while to think about what I want to do when I get home. What is going on with Logan? I always pray for our whole family each and every one of them everyday! I haven't forgot your cell phone number.But send me your new address. Well I love you tons, Thanks for all you do I really appreciate it! It was a great week here we have been working really hard trying to find new people to teach. Till next week,
Elder Colten Wells

2009-11-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

Monday, November 2nd, 2009
Hey, what is going on Mom? Today we did a mission hike it was pretty cool! We just got back it was about 3.5 or 4 mile hike it was really fun got to hang out with all my buddies so it was really fun. It was another good week here for sure the weather has just been rainy all the time thats like all it does anymore is just rains it kinda stinks but its all good at the same time for sure. Well lets see I did get your halloween card and gift card thanks for that! I appreciated it for sure! Oh,wow you mentioned Wings Express, man I really miss good wings there is hardly no such things as wings out here, but its ok I can wait a little longer. Well it seems like Logan is quite the little traveler. Did Daniel Mcrae serve a mission or what just curious? On a side note I think my desert schools card expires in Jan? So just a heads up on that so I am not without a card I guess that is right around the corner so thought I would let you know about that. Well I am glad that you have been able to be patient in searching for a house, that a good thing for sure! I love Ether 12 it is all about faith its a great one. Well continue to be examples to those that are around you.Keep living the gospel thats all we can do and endure to the end! Well thats cool that you went trick or treating with Tristan, thats way cool. Did Jay and Tina take my car to Colorado? Just wondering. You asked what I have learned on my mission? Well I have learned to be a strong member of the church. I have gained a stong testimony of the power of prayer so thats always good, I have learned to trust in the savior and his atonment in my life and I have learned to love everyone to have the pure love of christ. There is so many things to name but I really have learned alot on the mission. My testimony has grown so much I know so much more than I did before its crazy how things work on a mission. I am truly grateful that I was able to serve a mission its amazing out here! I really love it I am learning so much everyday! Well Mom I appreciate everything that you do for me I love you tons! I am glad that your my Mom! I love you take care, I hope that you have a good week!
Love Always your son, Elder Colten Wells

2009-10-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 26th, 2009
Hey what is going on Mom? Well things are going alright here. Me and my
companion are getting along just fine. He is a great missionany, he worked but wasn't really going to church or anything like that so its pretty cool that he made it a goal and is serving a mission he is a really good guy. Well today is my 19 month mark is that crazy or what? I think that is pretty insane. When I hit 20 months its all down hill from there for sure then I will pretty much be home that is how fast time goes. Sounds like you have been super busy with so many things thats crazy that you don't have much time for your self it seems. That is pretty sad that Matt's Mom passed away that wasn't very expected was it? Well too bad that they don't have a better understanding of the gospel cause if they did it would be alot
easier, but it is there choice. It is so good to hear that your going to the
temple alot thats always a good thing. I am sorry that you haven't seen the
kids since May but don't feel too bad I haven't seen anyone for the last 19
months and I have 5 more to go so it is all good. I can't wait till I get to
see everyone that will be so amazing! The trunk or treat at church sounded fun, so glad that Tristan went with you. All of us missionaries have to be in at dark on the 30th and 31st again just like last year so it should be a fun one again. Well if your patient I am sure you will find the right house that you need. I am sorry I am
bad about the whole picture thing but I will try and send some soon, okay? I
have been slacking! Today was a really short pday we helped some investigators
put up a fence this morning so that took up most of our day that is why I am
emailing so late it was their only day they could do it. But it is all good it
was fun and we helped alot. Oh to answer a couple of your questions, yes I did get
the pictures thanks so much. Yes, Jayson can borrow my car as long
as there is insurance on it. Well thanks so much for everything I love you tons and miss you! Elder Colten Wells

2009-10-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Hello, how are you doing? So what is going on Mom? Well things here are going ok. Well as you know we had transfers this last week and my companion got transferd pretty disappointing but what can you do? I did get a great new companion he is from
South Jordan, Utah he has been in the mission almost 15 months. He is a little
older than most he is 26 which is pretty cool, his name is Elder Shields. A
cool guy it should be a great transfer. So it is all good here lets
you got a email from Jeremy Cook, he is a super nice guy in the ward he is married
and has 2 kids there supper great people. Well it is getting really cold over
here this last Thursday we had snow it was pretty crazy it snowed from like
2 in the after noon till like 9:30 at night so it was pretty cool I got some good
pictures! It has been in the low 30's in the morning and the
day time has been like 40 to 44 or colder it wasn't this cold last year at
this time. Things are going great as of now,we are just working hard. Well we are doing our best to look for new investigators we have been knocking on doors quite a bit lately so we are searching its been a little tough but its alright I know that we
will start to find some good people to teach here soon. We are just working with a
lot of part member familes and less actives but everything is going pretty
well as of now so its great. I hope everything is going well for you as
it is for me I miss you guys tons but I will be home soon! I will hit 19 months here
in a couple days so thats pretty amazing cause time is just flying right on
by, its pretty intense how fast time goes by! Well I love you tons and
miss you take care and have a good week.

Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-10-14T21:51:00.002-07:00

Monday, September 28th, 2009
Hi Everyone, How are you all doing? Everything is good here just working hard trying to find new people to teach everyday. We haven't been the most succesful but I am sure we will start to find some good people soon. Sounds like things are going pretty well back home. Things are great here, just doing all we can to find people to teach. I hope all is well for you, sounds like that HCG diet is going well with you, keep it up. Tell everyone that I love them and I miss you guys but in 6 monthsI will be home so it will be great! Let me know if there is anything new going on for you. So sorry that your back was messed up I hope that you are feeling better now. Have a great week! Thanks for everything, I love you take care Mom!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-10-14T21:35:00.002-07:00

Monday, September 21st, 2009
Hi everyone...Well things are going great here. We are just working really hard every day,that is for sure! I was looking on your blog that you have for me and it says that that my 5th area is Patterson and I am actually in Hackettstown so you may want to change that. Things are alright here, we are working with some great people right now. My companion is driving now cause he will probablybe here longer than me they usually don't let you stay ZL longer than like 5 transfers they want to give others the oppurtunity so I will probably stay one more transfer then go to my last area for 3 transfers, so he has to know the area better than I do. You asked what I would want in a package? Well of course peanut butter m&m's are always great! But whatever you send is always good. I really don't need any clothes I have way too many as it is. Sounds like you had a great time in New York, I am glad you did! I pray for everyone everyday especially our family! I will try and get some good pictures for you and send them home, I will start taking alot more pictures of things. We get fed every so often from members, it is pretty good nothing to complain about for sure. People keep asking us if we need anything so we are going to start telling them we need a gallon of milk or just whatever and see if it works. Sounds like Grandpa and Grandma are doing well that is cool that you took them to dinner. This computer is starting to act stupid so I hope that you can get this before it messes up. I love you all tons and I do miss you. Oh, maybe a good gift card for my 18 month mark that would be cool if you could do that for me. I hope everything works out I hope work is going well for you. I love and miss you all tons. Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-10-14T21:05:00.003-07:00

Monday, September 14th, 2009
Hey whats going on Mom? Well things are going good here I just had a nice long email written and the computers just shut off which stinks for sure! We are at a little community college but its all good. Things here are ok we are working hard my comapnion is great we are getting along really well. Yes, I am still running every morning so that is good. So you are still in Michigan? That is pretty cool sounds like you have been pretty busy with everything there as well, sounds like you had a good time in New York thats for sure. You said Logan went out to Utah, what did he go out there for? I think our next temple trip is like December. No, I haven't gotten the post card maybe I will get it today but who knows? I think it would be ok to send packages to our apt, the neighborhood is pretty safe. I think they will just leave it in front of our little apartment. I guess we will find out... I could use some more green onion dip, you know the good stuff! I hope everything for you is going good. Things are great here for us! Thanks so much for everything I love you tons and miss you guys! Wow, almost 18 months down 6 more to go! Sorry this is not to long I had a long one and the computer shut off. Tell everyone I love them!
Love, Elder Wells

2009-10-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 12th, 2009
Hi Mom! Well it was another great week here in New Jersey, we are really working a ton with the members to have them help us out but as well reactivate some
people we have a family coming back to church that hasnt been in a couple of
years so thats good but we really have a great ward. No I haven't had to speak in
the ward its huge so I probably won't have to because they have plenty of
other people to speak. Oh, I don't know if I am getting transferd I am guessing
not but transfers are 2 days later cause president is at a mission
presidents seminar so transfers are Friday. I am guessing I am staying because I
just got here. We normally find out on Saturday night like a couple
nights ago but we don't know when there going to tell us now so we will see I
just hope I stay for atleast 6 more weeks my companion is great for sure.
Oh,well lets see you wanted to know about a family in the ward? Well there is the
Alexanders they are one of my favorite people in my whole mission great
people they buy us groceries every now and then a feed us all the time. They are
super sweet people for sure! There is also another family the Cook's they are way
awesome as well they are really cool people I did get some pictures with them so
you know who they are so you can put some names with some faces. Things
are really good I will try and write a letter today to you so you will have one
soon. The weather is getting pretty cold a couple of nights its been in the 30's or so at night which is pretty cold. We ran 5.1 miles the other day so that was really cool well. I love you tons! Things are going ok here for me. I love you! Please tell everyone I say hello. Love, Elder Colten WElls

2009-09-01T16:44:00.002-07:00

Monday, August 31st, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY on Wednesday Mom.... had to get that out of the way! I love and miss you sooo much!
Yes, it was another great week we have been working really hard we have been getting new investigators like crazy we have just been trying to work with members and knock on doors and talk to everyone we can which always pays off for sure. I think I told you about Benson from Nigeria? Well he has come to church the last 2 weeks, he should be getting baptised in a couple weeks of course when I am gone... But we shall see I guess. The area I could be going to is super sweet, one of the Elders that I am super tight with that is in my zone now just came from there a couple transfers ago he loved it there so much it was his favorite place by far. He is going to tell me a bunch of people to go teach and things like that so it will be pretty exciting if i go there. The only other place I could go would be Patterson and that is where my companion just came from so I don't think I will be going there? We will see for sure on Wednesday... Well everything is going good here just working really hard and trying to make everything count cause I know time is just going to fly by. I love you tons and I will keep working hard and doing what is right! I will see you soon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, well sorry there wasn't a card but it was a birthday letter. I can't wait to hear from you all, hopefully soon.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-08-31T22:33:00.002-07:00

Monday, August 24th, 2009
Hey... whats going on Mom? Well things are great here, of course I am just working really hard. I sent a long letter and you didn't get it? I checked and it wasn't in my sent mail? Things are really good for me. My companion and I are getting along really well which is always good. I am not sure if I am going to get transfered whatever happens, happens. I am not too worried I figure God knows better than me. I will know Saturday what is going on. Thanks for the package! They are always great! That is cool that Logan is starting school today I am sure he will like it, he will probably have to get used to going again. Well I hope you have a great week I love you ,take care!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-08-31T22:11:00.002-07:00

Monday, August 17th, 2009
Hello... What is going on Mom? Well again its been another week here in New Jersey, just working hard trying see many miracles each day which we do which has been great for sure. Well lets see you wanted a story I have a couple crazy stories as you know I am in the ghetto... well yesterday I saw a Mom and a daughter fighting the daughter was trying to get away and she ripped of her shirt and yeah it was all hanging out (hum, I wonder what was hanging out?) it was really crazy though. Then theday before that we saw a white girl get jumped by about 3 black chicks it was pretty nuts but thats just a couple of the crazy things we have saw lately. Things are just going good. Oh, you said that you made some enchiladas the other day wow that sounds amazing and good. There is no good mexican food out here its not AZ , I can tell you that for sure. Wow, it ispretty crazy how everyone is starting to come home from their missions, but thats what happens you leave then you come back sooner than later. Thanks so much for always sending me packages they are always great, and I appreciat them for sure! Transfers are coming again really soon. Time is just breezing by so before I know it transfers will be here. Do you think you could make some more videos and send them to me that would be great some videos of everyone? Well I have to go we are at a new library today, the one we normally go to is closed till next week. I love you tons thanks so much for everything, you are the best! I hope you have a great week, I know that I will! I am always excited to hear from you! Take care make sure you tell Morgan to let me know when he gets his call! I love you tons!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-08-31T21:50:00.002-07:00

Monday, August 10th, 2009
Hey whats going on? Well lets see things are great here, I have been working really hard this past week which was great. We are seeing lots of miriacles everyday. Zone conference went great. Us zone leaders have to do traning now they call it breakout during the zone conference so we had 1 hour to train our zone we trained on finding with faith and planning so it went great it went really well, President Bahr and 1 of the assistants sat in on ours they said it went great. This coming Friday we have president interviews so we have to do some more training there, I know it will go well I am not worried. Funny you don't even know how I am anymore remember how frightned I was to give talks or to do anything like that? Well not any more the mission is the best, it has helped me grow and learn in many diferent ways thats for sure! It has definetly been the best thing I have ever done! Well, I guess you do have a idea cause Logan has grown up so much he is so different its great! Yes,there should be so video clips on the memory card the thing is full there is like ove 3oo pictures on it. Elder Decker and I are doing great together we are getting along pretty well. That is really cool that you and Logan went to California and got to see "So you think you can dance", I bet it was super sweet and really crazy. Thanks so much for everything I really appreciate it alot! I have to sign out and log back in so hopefully it will let me do that. I love you tons!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-08-31T21:01:00.002-07:00

Monday, August 3rd, 2009
Hey, how is it going? Well things are good here I am just working hard. Well I did get the letter that you sent the other day with some pictures. Yes, my companion and I are gettting along great for sure. We are working with a lot of good people right now we commited a guy named Benson the other day for baptism he is from Nigeria he is pretty cool for sure that is for August 23rd which is great. I can't believe that its already August either its great. Time is just flying right on by. Yes,you are right its my 3rd transfer as ZL, its going good! Tomorrow is zone conference and us zone leaders have to do a hour traning session with our zone in the middle of zone conference which will be good ,we are going to do a little more planning for it today. Well I am sorry that you all are sick, I have only been sick 2 times I think that is pretty good. That is great that Logan is all signed up for school. I am still thinking about xray tech and ultra sound tech when I get home. That would be really good great job, but I still have a little time to think about it, but you can do some research for me that would be great. I hope Logan can totally help Jayson and Tina, I hope they can recognize that the gospel of Jesus Christ can bless everyone! Well Morgan emailed me again it was great to here from him I told him that would be super sweet to have him come to New Jersey to my mission that would be so cool for sure. We will see where he goes, where ever he is called to will be the best place. Tell Dad to send me a letter I wrote him a couple weeks ago and he never wrote me back? Please give him copies of my emails though. I have been running again, I ran 4 miles the other morning it was great for sure. I hope that you have a great week I love you!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-08-31T20:48:00.003-07:00

Monday, July 27th, 2009
Hi All!
Well sounds like things are going great back home and everyone is really enjoying Logan being home which is great, I am happy for him he served a great mission which is so great what an example he is for the rest of us. Well I know he was for me at least! Things are going good Sakinah is doing great she is supposed to get baptised this next Sunday. Elder Quirino will get his package on Wednesday, when we go to the mission office. Thanks so much for sending him that, you are awesome! Well this what I am doing for the the rest of the day I have to go home and plan for zone meeting tomorrow. It has been a really busy day but its okay it happens. We are working with a lot of good people right now for sure. Things are great for sure I hope you guys have a great week I will talk (write) to you guys next Monday. Thanks for all that you guys do, I love you tons. That would be great to get some pictures of everyone especially Logan.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-07-29T12:34:00.002-07:00

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Well things are great here, though I am really sad. My companion is leaving he was only in the area one transfer iI am staying at least one more transfer which will be pretty good. I am really going to miss him he was such a stud and we got along great he was probably my favorite companion he was really great we never argued never got mad at each other or anything. I think he is going to be a Portugese ZL they got rid of the spanish ZL in Newark and I am pretty sure thats where he is going. I will be going to transfer conference on Wednesday to get another new companion but it will all work out I am sure. Today we went and played sports and hung out so we were kinda late on emailing but its all good. I sent Dad a letter and also one for you with the news letter it should be there any day. So Nate Cleverly talked to you man that one is really weird. Make sure you record Logan's homecoming talk and be sure to tell everyone to say hello to me on the recorder. I will be sending a memory card home soon so don't worry I won't hold out on you guys. Well Sakinah has been doing alright she is still coming to church so hopefully here soon she will get baptised. No I never found my charger I amsure I will find it soon. I have a another question my companion that is leaving Elder Quirino from Brazil, do you think you could send him a package with some things he has never recieved a package, his family is too poor to send anything to him he gets letters like 1 every 3 weeks he would love that you could just send it to the office like you do mine but with his name on it that would be so sweet I don't know if you can do that also maybe like a gift card or 2 and maybe like a volcom shirt? Things like that in Brazil are crazy expensive he said like a volcom tshirt in Brazil is like 80 bucks. I just know would really love that,I know it would make his day. I wont tell him either just anything he would really enjoy it I promise. He wears a medium size shirt? I love you for sure you guys are the best.! Have a great week!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-07-29T12:12:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Well its been a great week we are working hard doing the best we can. I am pretty sure I will stay at least one more transfer here. I am hoping so me, my companion and I are working great together so we shall see. We had exchanges with the assignments yestersday and they asked us what should go on with transfers and we told them of course we wanted to stay together so we will see. I am sure im staying in Irvinington. Sakinah is still coming to church she came last week she is just not 100 percent ready yet but I am sure that it will be soon cause she is really prepared so it will all work out. Well about the Jones's coming out that would be great that would be really cool for sure, well anyone from AZ would be great of course. Things are going great. Thanks for the pictures of my car they were great for sure. I just wasn't sure I hadn't seen any pictures of it my whole mission thats why I was curios how it was doing? Well lets see Logan goes home in 8 days thats pretty crazy for sure. I bet he is pretty excited. I have 8 months left so I will be home really soon as well so its kinda crazy how the time flys by but i am really enjoying it for sure. Really not much new going on here. No I haven't heard anything from Morgan tell him to write me. I want to hear from him that would be really sweet tell him to email me please. Well about some photos I am trying to decide if i should let you guys see them I want to get home so you guys won't know who I am that would be pretty cool. The other day we went to a stake priesthood meeting and the Scotch Plains members were there, and everyone that saw me said I was looking great this one member ignored me, then one of the youth saw me and I was like what the heck Anthony? Then he was like holy cow Wells, I didn't even reconize you then he gave me a big hug it was pretty cool for sure. Things are good so far but like you said this Monday I will be emailing you cause that will be our p-day from now on which will be a little weird but I am sure it will be okay. Thanks for the pictures of Tristan and my car. I love you guys I hope you have a great week ,try to stay cool! I hope to hear from you on next Monday.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-07-27T21:39:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
Hey, how is it going family? Things are going ok here for me in New Jersey. Well you were asking if I got the charger I did get it and thanks for the videos you can make a lot more. I like to see things like that its really cool. Could you please send a couple pictures of my car I am beginning to think I don't have one any more or its wrecked. You asked about the baptism and it didn't go through she didn't show up to church but its ok she will probably be baptised in a couple weeks then well I hope so. Well you asked how often we meet as a zone every monday for district meeting and a lot in the morning for sports. Well you also asked if we do baptismal interviews we do our DL people getting baptised then they do the ones in their District then one of the DL does our interviews for people we have getting baptised. Well that is crazy that Logan has like 12 days until he comes home, I bet your really excited for that. Sorry we didn't email yesterday we were cleaning our house all day and we are still not done. Well the 4th of July we went to a members house that had a party so we were there till about 9:30 then we went and tried to watch fire works and we couldn't see any so we just went home. We just didn't really care. Well yes I am still losing weight I have been running about 2.5 miles every morning and watching what I eat I just broke 190 this morning I am down to 189 today so thats good I am feeling much better but I am still trying to loose quite a bit more because I want to be a lot slimmer when I get home. That is pretty crazy that Justin and Lorin's baby is due at the end of the month tell them I say congrats that is really cool for them. I have been meaning to ask you about Morgan and I always forget but he just has his physical and his papers get turned in again? I am so excited for him, and cannot wait to see where he will be going. Tell him to write me! I hope you guys are doing good things are good here. Oh, by the way I had to rent a carpet cleaner on my home card so the mission is going to pay me back so they will write me a check then I will send it home so you can put in back in my account. I hope everything is going well for you guys have a great week ! I love you guys!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-07-01T19:04:00.003-07:00

Wednesday, July 1st
Hello, so what is going on? Things are really good here we are working hard and doing all we can. We are working the hardest we can which is going great! I love my companion he is a great guy for sure. We will be having a baptism this sunday for a girl that me and my old companion found her name is Sakina she is 17 which is really cool she has changed so much, and is so ready for baptism. So hopefullly we can help her follow through with this on Sunday. Everything is great we had amazing numbers again this last week. We have been working our tails off which is good. No, I haven't found my charger but I probably will when I get the one you sent. Because you know how that usually works. Oh, yes I am in zone 6, I will send you a thing with all the mission numbers so you can see what it looks like for my scrapbook. We went on a hike this morning with a member which was pretty cool but it took too much of our day up, but it was still fun though. About the 4th of July, I don't know what we are doing but I am sure something will happen. Everything is good here its starting to get nice and hot, but I am sure it is not as hot as back home. Have a good week! I love you guys let me know if there is anything new going on. I love you guys tons!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-06-29T21:30:00.003-07:00

A few pictures that Colten just sent home...

Awww look at his poor finger....

2009-06-29T21:00:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Hey Mom and Dad! Everything is going well here, we are just working really hard. We had zone conference yesterday. They are giving the Zone Leaders more things to do, so yesterday I conducted zone conference which was not too bad I was kinda scared and nervous at first but it wasn't bad at all. We are still working with those people we do have a couple set with dates July 5th, looks like on that date we should have a couple baptisms. I am still loosing weight I am feeling pretty good because I feel much lighter. I still have a ways to go but I am hoping to get down to 170! I do have a good story to send home to you, my companion and I made it on mission news this last week! We do our zone numbers every Saturday and Sunday night and we had a amazing week. We had 27 lessons taught and 12 member presents 5 investigators at church 6 new investigators and 10 hours of finding which is really good! That is why we were in the mission news. My companion is great I really enjoy him he is way cool for sure! What is the weather like back home right now? I bet its nice and hot? It is not nearly as hot as last year at this time its actually been kinda nice, but its just starting to warm up which is not too hot yet. Well like I said things are good here we are working hard and its paying off. I hope you guys are doing great. New Jersey is sweet. I love you guys take care, keep working hard. Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-06-29T20:33:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Hey, How is it going Mom? Well things here are going good, me and my new companion are getting along great we are working really hard its great for sure! hHis name is Elder Quirino from Brazil, he is a awesome kid! I love him for sure we work great together he is from Sal Palo, he taught me how to make the best rice and beans its so good man I am hooked! We have been finding a lot of new people to work with which has been great for sure. We are working with some good people we didn't have any baptisms this last week but here really soon we should be having some baptisms. My finger is fine it was not broke or fractured but it was pretty nasty for sure the color is almost gone its still sore but it will be healed in a couple weeks. I took a lot of pictures of it so you can see for your self. I still haven't been able to find my battery charger for my camera I have been looking for it for like 3 weeks. If you have a extra one at home, could you send me one? I know as soon as you send one, I will find the one I am looking for... Well you asked for a spirititual experince.... we got out to knock on some doors we have a zone goal we set that before we get out of the car to knock or to teach a lesson we sing a hymn and say a prayer but we be have to be spacific in our prayers. When we prayed we asked to find 2 people to teach for new investigators and the first 2 people we talked to we taught lessons to both of them and got 2 new investigators! We are going back to teach them both so that was really cool for sure. We are having a lot of changes in the mission we are going to be switching P-Days from Wednesdays to Mondays next month the day before Logan goes home July 20th, also there making 3 different zone conferences now instead of 2 so it is kinda different. President is making a lot of changes in the misison, which is fine. I hope that you guys are taking lots of pictures and videos. Mom your new car is nice, I loved your jeep,but the new one is okay, if you like it! How is work going for you? And Dad? Tell Dad, I want a letter I have wrote him twice and he hasn't written me. I will keep Grandma in my prayers for sure! I wish they had the gospel in there lives it would make them so much more happy! It is crazy how much the gospel changes peoples lives for the better, I see it everyday for sure. Everything is going good for me, I love you guys so much! Thanks for everything you do for me! I couldn't never ask for better parents!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-06-29T20:15:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
Hi Family!
How are you all doing? I am great! I got both packages today. I am wearing one of the new shirts right now. The ones that are 16.5 they fit great. My new companion is Elder Quirino,he is 1 transfer younger than me. He just got called to be a ZL which is cool, so I am the senior companion already which is pretty crazy that is for sure! Oh and thank you for the gift cards as well. Well this morning we were playing b-ball and I hurt my little finger, I showed it to President Bahr today and he said I probably fractured it its all purple and blue and super swollen. I am fine they said I have to go get xrays tomorrow, so who knows? Don't freak out about it I am fine it hurts pretty bad but I am okay Mom... (Hum, I guess he knows me? I am really not freaking out, it is just a finger....) President said they will probably just put it in a little finger splint. I hope everything is good for you guys. I have been doing great on my dieting, and broke 200 pounds this week. I am losing some weight. I am staying in my area for at least another transfer. My companion Elder Dixon is leaving man we have worked so hard. Thanks again for everything you do. I love you guys have a good week.
Love, ELDER COLTEN WELLS

2009-06-06T20:27:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Hello, How is it going? Things are really good here Mom and Dad! We have been having lots of success we have been working like crazy thats for sure. We have mission standards and this week was my first time I have hit all the mission goals. Which are 20 lessons a week 7 hours of finding as in knocking on doors and 5 member presents we had all of those this week. We also had 4 people at church and 5 new investigators which is great. We are seeing tons of miracles everyday. Just yesterday we went and knocked for about 2 hours and we taught a girl out on her porch gave her a BOM and we are going back on Friday, then on the same street we taught 2 more young women they want to feed us and learn more. Then later in the same day we taught a brother and sister on their door step which we are also going back to see them on Friday. We are working this family with a Mom and her 2 daughters. We commited 2 to baptism the other day so if it all works out we could have 5 baptisms on the 14 of June. Things are going really well for us as of now. My companion and I are getting along great. I told you I am losing some weight well this is the lightest I have been my whole mission I am down to *** and I am trying to get down to at least 180 but hopefully 170 I should be decent looking then I won't be so fat that is for sure. I am going to write you guys a letter today. Remember to make some videos I love them so make a lot please that would be really cool. I am so glad I have great parents who love me and support me in all that I do that is for sure. I hope you guys havea great week I know weaare going to have a great week because I am a missionary! The mission is so great, I am learning so much each day. Tell Dad he needs to send me a letter, I am sending him a letter today as well. You guys rock.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-06-01T21:15:00.003-07:00

Wednesday, May 27th,2009
Hi Family!
Well things are going well here. ZL is a little tiring a times but it is all right thats for sure. We have been tracking a lot to find new people to teach, which is good we are working with a lot of people but not to many that are close to baptism. We are going to be inviting some people this week for baptism thats for sure. The memory card you sent was amazing, make some more videos please, that was like one of the best things I have gotten because I got to see you guys and it is cool. I know you think they are lame because you guys see each other all day everyday but I haven't seen you guys in 14 months so I love to see stuff from you guys! Oh and no my car wasn.t in the videos you said in the video that Jayson had my car and he needed to bring it back so it wasnt in any videos. Oh and take some videos of Dad and some of you too Mom, just take a bunch of random things and I will love it so don,t worry. Oh, I need a couple more white short sleeve shirts the ones from last year are really nasty, I had to throw 2 away. I just opened all the ones you sent me last year but I only have like 4 really clean white ones so if you could send me a couple more that would be great. Oh,and l like the non button collars now I realized there way better than the button ones, remember at first I wanted the button ones? Well I am glad I didn't get them because the non button ones are way better. So if you could do that it would be amazing you don't have to get the expensive CTR shirts I know those are expensive this is my last summer out here. The weather here is so crazy today it is like 55 degrees out side and in 3 days it will probably be about 90 so the weather here is nothing like I have ever seen thats for sure. You are the best thats for sure. Everything is good here! I love the gospel, and love serving here for sure! THANKS for everything you do. I hope you guys have a good week. You rock Mom, I love you!
Elder Colten Wells

2009-06-01T20:59:00.003-07:00

Letter May 20th, 2009
Well its been a great week we are working hard we are trying to find people to be baptised by June 7 th, so that is our goal we have some time left I know we can do it cause we have the lord on our side thats for sure. Well everything is good here I can't believe that you went to New York that is pretty crazy especially cause you flew in to Newark which was crazy because that is not very far from where I live that is really crazy! (try to be a Mom that hasn't seen her son in 14 months, talk about a hard thing to do....but how do we teach obedience if we aren't obedient ourselves?) Everything is going well thats for sure! Sounds like you had a good time in NYC, tell me some of the things you did? Like where you stayed ? Oh and everything else just curious? Did you rent a car from Newark? Did you drive to NYC or did you take the path or NJ transitor? I am glad you were able to come over here and experince the east coast and see how many people are over here, it is pretty crazy. Well you happened to be here on one of the coldest days of the week thats for sure! I hope you have a good week and had a good time over here! I love you guys a ton ! Well I will talk to you next week. Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-06-01T20:49:00.002-07:00

Letter May 13th,2009

Hey, whats up Dad and Mom?
Well things are good as you know, since i just talked to you guys a couple days ago. Thanks so much for sending that package I will probably have it by Tuesday which will be good. We are working with some people but not too many, we are trying to find a lot more that we can work with. So we will see how that goes soon. I am going to write some letters today tell Dad I am going to write him today. When is Dad going for surgery? Be sure and tell me how it goes and everything else of course. Well time is just still flying by I just don't understand it at times. To be honest time goes to quickly at times! Well it sounds like evrything was going good for you guys. Well like I said everything is going great for me we are working hard, we want to find some people ready for baptism which I know we can do which will be great. Everything is going good here Mom and Dad so don't worry about me, I love you guys so much thanks for being the best parents ever and always being there for me
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2009-05-11T22:13:00.002-07:00

5/6/2009-Letter

Hi
Sorry again this is so late....Yes, I am getting used to this now, no news is good news) We had a really busy day. We went to NY and went to the temple, it was great as usual. We left about 9 am and did not get home till about 4 pm. I will try to write tomorrow. Oh, could you send me a copy of my immunization's? We are going to be doing some volunteer work at the hospital, and I need that. Oh, I will be calling about 6:00 pm AZ time on Sunday. I am keeping my call to only 1 number, and President is being strict and wants our calls to be only 60 minutes. So have everyone at the house....I have to be a good example, and be obedient. Well I love you, and can't wait to talk to you on Sunday. Have a great day.
Love, ELDER WELLS

2009-05-11T21:52:00.002-07:00

4/30/2009-Letter

Hey Family

Things are good here in Maplewood. I just was made a ZL, which is pretty cool. The area I cover is pretty ghetto for sure. The area we cover is Irvington and Newark, it is different than where I first was serving. Newark is really big. We have some good people in our Zone, the AP's are in our zone too. My companion is Elder Dixon, he is from Nevada, he is way cool and is 1 transfer younger than me, he hits his year mark in a couple of days. He seems to be a really good guy, this is his 4th transfer in this area. This area, is not quite as big as my last area, actually quite a bit smaller... We had a couple of appointments today, and they went real well. We have Zone Leader council tomorrow which should be really fun, it is like 5 hours long and just the Zone Leaders, I guess we talk about goals and do some training which will be good. Well everybody in my area is Brothers/Sisters, if you know what I mean. Elder Dixon says the whole ward is like that too. He says they are very nice people, and I will like the Ward. Well we are very busy, we have lots of things to do for the zone. Could you send me a pocket reference book? It is a book that compares our religion with others with scripture reference? I think I would find it very helpful. Thanks so much for everything. I love you!
Elder Wells

PS Tell Jayson to write me... He never does.

2009-05-11T21:35:00.002-07:00

4/22/2009-Letter

Hello Family!
Things are going good here. We are going to have a baptism this Sunday, it is a boy named Alex, he is 12, his mom is Catholic and is fine with him getting baptized. They live next door to one of our members which is cool. They have been a great example to him. Well, I am pretty sure I am going to be leaving, I would not mind staying longer, I really love this area it is so sweet. The word on the street is I am going ZL, but I don't really know for sure. Hum, I guess time will tell. Sometimes we just don't know what the Lord has in store for us. We get our transfer notices on Saturday, usually by fax. Most of the time, we will get a phone call from the MP or the AP's thanking us for our service. The weather here has been crazy, it has been raining alot, and I heard it is going to be in the 80's soon. A few days ago it was 45, then it will be 70. So weird. I am glad you are sharing the gospel more, it is so fun to do that and feel the spirit. I love it! I am sending a couple of boxes home, be careful not to cut the box cause it is one of those spacer bags. I am done with a bunch of sweaters and the warm clothes. I am also sending a memory card and some other things for my scrapbook. Well, I love and miss you. Have a great week.
Love, Elder Wells

2009-05-11T21:24:00.002-07:00

4/15/2009-Letter

Hi Mom and Dad
How are things going? Things are going well here. We are still working hard, and teaching quite a few so it is great. I am pretty sure I will be leaving this transfer, since I have been here for 4 allready, and that is close to 6 months in this area. We are still teaching Deborah, we are not teaching Judge or Rosa anymore. Deborah told me that I could not leave till I baptize her, so maybe it will happen on the 26th? It would be nice to have a baptism before I leave this area, but we shall see. I am going to send home a package, I have too much stuff to keep moving and trying to pack. Well Easter was good, we went to a spanish members house for dinner, and the food was way good. My talk in sacrament went allright, it was just a couple of minutes, so wasn't really a big deal. Tomorrow is Zone Conference which should be good, I am excited to go for sure. Things are going great here, you should be getting letters soon! I love you!
Elder Wells

2009-05-11T21:11:00.002-07:00

4/8/2009

Hello Family!
How is it going? Sorry I am so late today. The Hayley's took us bowling this morning, we had a really good time. They are the nicest people in the world for sure. Yes we are still working with Don, he is coming along and is clean. His girlfriend is a alcholohic, so he kicked her out he said he prayed about it and that is what he had to do. We are hoping she stays gone, as she just drags him down big time. All we can do is pray for him each day. Yes, conference was aweseome. I love Pres. Eyring, he is always so humble. He is always my favorite speaker! I also loved L. Tom Perry, and his talk on missionary work. Us missionaries are the teachers and members are the finders. Well things are great here, and sounds like things are going great back home too. I don't have much time, we have some appointments. I am hoping to get back on tomorrow. I love you. Elder Wells

2009-05-06T21:40:00.005-07:00

So excited to get a memory card from Colten..... I love pictures.... here are a few......

Colten and Zone 7

Colten and his District, he was a DL over the Sister's. They were in great hands for sure!

Colten with his companion and roomates.. (or whatever they are called on missions)

Bowling on P-Day with the Hayley's.

2009-04-05T20:50:00.005-07:00

April 2nd, 2009
(Colten was a day late on his email... I thought it was a mean April fool's joke..He said he was busy at the mission home and with appointments. OK, I guess he is forgiven!)
HEY Mom and Dad!
How is it going? Sorry I didn't write yesterday. I just didn't have time. No, it wasn't a April Fool's joke either. We went and helped at the Mission Home from 9 am till about 1:00, and then we had appointments and didn't get home till after 4 pm. Then we had laundry and shopping to get done. So, that is why we are emailing today. Well, it has been a good week. Oh, could yuo send me some of the space bags, the ones that you hook up to a vacumn? I need to send some things home, and also pack my suitcases. I think I will be leaving this next transfer. I will be in Scotch Plains for almost 6 months, so it is about time for me to transfer. Only time will tell though. The District Leader assignment is going well. I have to call them each night, and see how there day went. I also teach the district meeting on Mondays, so it isn't that bad. I think we are watching conference at the Church, we are hoping to have some investigators come too. I am excited, I really am intriged by Pres. Eyring and am hoping that he will be a speaker. Well have a great week. I love you. Elder Wells

2009-04-05T20:50:00.001-07:00

Pictures

2009-04-05T20:35:00.003-07:00

March 25th, 2009
Hi Mom and Dad!
Well how is it going? Things are good here in New Jersey. We are having a good day we are going bowling today at 11 with Bro.and Sis. Haley and Don our investigator. Our investigators are doing really well. We are working well with the members and our less actives. We have a couple that we are working with and they both came to church the last 2 weeks, which is really good! We are just showing them lots of love and so are the members so its great. The area is great here we are working hard and having lots of success thats for sure. I didn't send home a memory card so thats ok.(he sent a letter home, and the end was opened) Well ,you said that you sent a package? I haven't gotten a package, did you send it to the office or to the house? Well either way I haven't gotten it. Everything is going really well. Oh, I just called my zone leaders and they said I think that I have a package, so I hope that I do that would be great. Well lets see one year tomorrow... thats crazy it seems like I haven't been out that long. Time is going way too quick I don't understand it sometimes I will be honest. But its all right. I love you guys so much you are in my prayers every day! I appreciate everything you do for me! Have a good week. Love, Elder Wells

2009-03-26T11:12:00.001-07:00

HOORAY......Colten is 1/2 thru his mission! WOW, one year served, and one year to go.....

2009-03-22T21:42:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
Well I have good news I am staying another transfer in Scotch Plains that is way good I love it here. I am glad I am not getting transfered I am staying with Elder Van der wyk for 6 more weeks it will great. The Spanish Elders that we live with one is leaving Elder Eatough he is going to be a zone leader some where and I am staying as district leader. Well lets see I will get a letter out today to you. That is cool that President Gulbrandsen saw Logan in Puerto Rico. Well time is continuing to fly by, can you believe that on next Thursday is 1 year? That is crazy for sure! No Jeff did not get baptized but its alright he is progressing, so hopefully this transfer we will be able to get a baptism that would be really sweet, but we will see what goes on. Well that is cool that Skyler and Kaitlin are getting married and that Blair Mason is going to El salavador on his mission that is way cool tell him good luck and congrats to both if you see them soon. There is not too much going on here, just working hard thats all we can do. I am glad that I can be here serving the people of New Jerseyit is the best thing in the world! I love it here I am so glad I decided to serve a mission! The people are amazing, I have learned so many great things that I never knew before, I have become a better teacher, and a better missionary, a better speaker its great its the best thing I have ever done. Thanks so much for the support, this would be so much harder if you guys were never there for me! So I thank you guys so much! I hopeyou have a good week. I love you guys tons!
Love, Elder Colten Ross Wells

2009-03-22T21:30:00.002-07:00

March 11th, 2009

Hey Mom and Dad, Thanks for the pencil and the memory cards they are great! Thanks so much.It has been a pretty good week. We don't really have anyone with a really solid date its been pretty tough but its all good we are working hard and that is all that matters. Well that kinda stinks that Cyndi came down and you had jury duty well you are right things do happen for certain reasons but you know that. That is cool that you guys were combined with the spanish branch I love spanish people I am learning some spanish I can communicate pretty well. Wow, Logan will be coming home really soon, that is crazy and I will be at hump day really soon thats even crazier, I can't believe it sometimes. Thanks for the pictures of Tristan he is so cute I can't wait to play with him when I get home that will be so fun! Well lets see you know we are 3 hours apart now we have day light savings out here so on Sunday we are 3 hours apart again. I will send home some pictures really soon with a letter and the news letter too. Sounds like things are goingwell back home. I hope you guys have a great week like I said things are good here, I love you all. Tell Jayson to email me I emailed him and he didn't write me back. Tell everyone "hello"! LOVE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE.
LOVE,ELDER WELLS

2009-03-18T21:16:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, March 4th,2009
Hello! How is it going? Well things here are really good. We had a pretty good week we have just been working hard and trying to find new people. We are still working with Jeff he is doing pretty well we comitted him to baptism he said that he wants to get baptized but he wants to wait a little bit longer. We told him March 15th so we will see what happens with that. We are still working with Deborah, Rosa and Judge they are coming along pretty slow but there doing ok the hardest thing is getting them to church that is supper hard here just getting people to church. But its allright I guess as we are working very hard. That is cool that you guys went to Red Lobster for Jayson's birthday I sure miss that place! There is one here in my area right now. When you send the memory cards make some videos and take some pictures so I can check them out when they get here. That is what a lot of Moms do, you should have everyone make a video for me so I can watch them that would be really cool! Well my companion and I are doing ok he is just a little **** but its allright. I hope you guys are having a good week you guys rock. I have a couple videos I made for Jayson saying "happy birthday" on the memory card so I will send that home soon. I love you guys have a good week. I love you all.
Elder Colten Wells

2009-03-01T20:29:00.003-07:00

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Hey, How is it going? Things are great here. We are having a great time here, we set another baptisimal date for March 15th with Jeff he is 16 he is Errin's boyfriend he said yes so that should be good. I am just learning so much out here its great I love it more everyeday. Oh about my District, there is 6 in my district 4 Sisters and my companion and I. The Zone Leaders came to my District meeting on Monday, also the assistants but they said it was great. Then Monday I went on exchanges with my Zone Leaders which went really well. We are just seeing miracles each day which is great. We have a great week ahead of us which should be really good! I cannot believe how fast time is flying, wow 11 months tomorrow! Logan is going to be home really soon, man time is a crazy thing, huh? Is time going fast for you guys? I hope that it is going really fast because it is for me thats for sure. Oh,could you send me a pencil high lighter from the book store? I think you know what I am talkiing about there is like 1o colors in it alot of missionaries have them and I have used theirs a couple of times. Well I love you both thanks for everything you guys rock! I hope you have a good week!
Love, Elder Wells

Weird New Jersey weather

2009-02-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

Hey Family,
Well it has been a pretty good week here in New Jersey, the weather is so weird here, it has kinda warmed up it been in the 4o's lately but not that bad at all. Yesterday was zone conference which was really good I enjoyed it Elder Dixon was really good we justed talked about things to help our mission especially baptisms their stressing that a bunch right now here. We got a new assistant to the president it is Elder Noble that I went to high school with and also Elder Blodgett he was my first zone leader. Well the new shoes are great, they are so comfortable I love them! I am so glad that you got to meet Sister Shupe, I love her she is amazing! She is a sweet lady she was so good to us. Please keep in touch with her, and always tell her hello for me. Thanks for both the packages! Next week I will have P-Day on Wednesday as normal. Not too much more going on here, I am just working hard. Well I love you guys a ton, I hope everything is going well .You are the best. Love, Elder Colten Wells

Picture Time

2009-02-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

So nice to get Colten's memory card in the mail today. I love seeing him in action!

This warm blooded Arizona boy, seems to be handling the cold..... (he made his beanie himself)

Here is Elder Marble and Colten and a family they are teaching.

I am busy busy

2009-02-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Hello.
How is it going Mom? Things are great here. I have a bunch of Sisters in my District too, so we have to be sure they are all taken care of but its all good for sure! Well Elder **** and I are doing ok. Oh, I got the packages, I am wearing the shoes right now there great and really confortable I love them. YES, I use the electric blanket every night. Betty is a great lady for sure, we do alot of things for her. That is really cool that Blair's papers are in, you will have to tell me where he gets called to. Well Deborah, Rosa and Judge are doing pretty well. Rosa pretty much said she can't give up smoking right now, and Judge told us he would do his best because Judge and Rosa drink coffee and tea. Deborah said she is done she can quit she is ready. Wow Tristan just turned 3 thats crazy he is so big and talks alot. You will have to send me some pictures for sure. Well I am glad that the business is still going alright. I hope you guys have a great week! I will be emailing next week on Thursday, because we have someone from the area 70 coming to talk to us so our p-day is next Thursday. I love you guys have a good week. Oh, I sent a package with a letter and 2 memory cards. Love, Elder Colten Wells

From Betty, in Scotch Plains

2009-02-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is an email I recieved from a lady, that lives in Scotch Plains. What a great tender mercy to know that Colten is serving with such love and kindness. Awww, I miss him!

Hi Kim
Elder Wells was such a great help to me today. I left this am on my first solo outing in almost four months. I wanted to try and pick up a few groceries but was unable to. When I got back to the house the guys were there and helped me get out of the car. They then went to the store and picked up a few groceries. Most important they got my bed so the mattress is on the floor. It was really high and I have been having trouble getting in and out of bed. Elder Wells then read a beautiful story from the December Ensign. How blessed I am to have him here at his time. The Elders have always been helpful but Elder Wells is so sincere in his willingness to help. Yesterday they went to a nursing home were a friend/neighbor is recuperating and gave her a blessing. She is a non member. Her daughter, who is a really good friend, is so grateful that they visited her. We spent some time talking about the family and about his plans when he gets off his mission. What field he would like to study. What a wonderful young man he is.
Love, Betty

Transfer time, I am staying!

2009-02-05T21:47:00.000-07:00

Letter February 4th, 2009

Hey Mom and Dad...
How are things going? Things here are amazing its crazy how things are going as of now. I am staying here in Scotch Plains for another transfer my companion is leaving he doesn't know where he is going but he doesnt really care. I don't have a clue who my new companion is, but I am sure it will be fine. Oh, I got a call Saturday night from the assistants and I am DL also thats pretty crazy, that Logan and I are both DL's . Well the work here is still going really well we went and saw Deborah, Rosa and Judge last night we set them with a baptisimal date for February 22nd for all 3 of them so that was pretty good they all said "YES".They are progressing really well. We also we have this girl name Karla who we are teaching she is from El Salvador, she speaks perfect english her Aunt is a Young Women's President in El Salvador so she got on the internet and ordered a BOM. We had a member pick her up for church last Sunday she loved it so we are going to talk about baptism with her also and we have a couple more that were going to set like Jeff too. It has been been pretty crazy lately in a good way, really busy with everyone though. Sounds like everything is going really good for you guys at home. Betty is a nice lady, we really do a ton of stuff for her but I don't mind .Thanks for that last package it was great I love the mesh garments they are there comfortable! Again thanks for all of it your the best. Well I did some acics to play basketball. Everything is really good! I also have to tell you about these 2 other people we met Reese and Nancy they are way cool they have a couple mormon friends they love mormons, they fed us dinner then we went there Sunday we watched a little of the Superbowl and they fed us again. We just shoveld there snow this morning, they are like in there 60's but really cool. It snowed all day yesterday which was pretty cool ,we got a couple inches. Today is high is like 28 which is pretty cold! Tell everyone "Hello", I love you guys.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

Modern Miracles

2009-02-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

Letter January, 21st, 2009

Hi Mom and Dad!
Well things are good here. We had another amazing week we are seeing miracles like crazy which is good of course. We went to see Deborah and Ross and they wern't there but Judge was so we went in and talked with him and he was really nice to us again we talked for about 45 minutes then I said Judge can I share one of my favorite scriptures with you before we leave out of the BOM? He said yeah that would be great so I shared Alma 34:21 which he liked of course and then he told us how his wife died in September this is a big looking biker guy mean looking everything he started to cry like crazy it was really sad as he told us what was going on he said that he felt like a piece of his heart was missing so we said Judge we want to come back and share with you this plan that we share the plan of happiness or plan of salvation he said that would be great when are you coming back we said how about wed night so were going there tonight at 6 o'clock to teach him its going to be great also we started to teach a couple of other people there from nigeria so we went and gave them all BOM's and we taught the restoration to them they loved it we went back yesterday morning and he was reading the BOM and he said this thing is powerful he said he had the goose bumps as he was reading it and we haven't met his Mom but he said that his Mom started reading it and she couldn't put it down she read till 11:30 at night so we have been seeing miracles like crazy. The work is going really good in this area I am loving it so much. So lets see everything is going really well almost 10 months thats crazy how time is just flying right on by. The Cardinals are going to the super bowl thats great I watched about 3 min of the game so it was pretty cool! Oh, can you send me the hymns that sing that would be great there are alot of good hymns and I would like to listen to them in the car, if you can get those for me but just make sure they are the ones that sing the hymns with the music that would be great. I sure do love you guys a ton you are so good to us. We have been invited to go and watch the super bowl with a couple of our investigatorsbut we may go to Judges and watch a couple minutes with them. I hope the Cardinals can win that would be great! Mark has a new baptisimal date for February 3rd, so hopefully he still gets baptised. I am hoping the bed bugs are gone for good this time! Yeah, I might be getting bit but I haven't felt it yet or had any bumps on me so good so far. I am not taking medicine for my feet anymore but they look alot better now. Elder Marble and I are getting along pretty good. The Elder's in our house are great we play basketball every morning together so thats always fun. The acics shoes I brought are already all tore up also. The members are still feeding us so good. Some members fed us lobster and king crab a couple weeks ago, I thought I was in heaven it was so amazing. A member is taking us to a all you can eat buffet today that has crab legs so I love that of course. Well a member present is where the members come with us to the teaching appointment or we teach in there home it helps so much more because they have a friend so its pretty good. The members help us so much here they will do anything for us its great. Our transfers are 4th also I should be staying cause my companion has been here 6 months but I will see, I hope I stay! Well sounds like everything is going good with work and everything else. Keep going to the temple its amazing there. Well we were at the laundry mat doing all of our clothes from the bed bugs when the plane landed in the hudson river, remember those pictures I sent home? They are on the Hudson front, the ones where I am standing with New York in the background but thats in our mission its like where Jersey City is kinda crazy. Well I hope you have a good week, I love you all so much, Thanks so much for everything!
Love, Elder Colten Wells

The best week of my mission!

2009-01-15T21:23:00.000-07:00

Hi
Well, how are you doing? Things here have been amazing, probably one of the best weeks of my mission! Last week was great also, everything is starting to work out. I have a couple of stories for you, the Lord has helped us so much lately. Well we have been teaching Deborah and Rosa they are progressing. Deborah's step father's name is Judge, he ran out the door the first time we came over and the next time he went and hid in his room. We went over there last Sunday, he let us in and we were talking to him for a minute and we were talking about us and being sick and he said that he would never have a sick day for fishing so we started talking about fishing and hunting we talked for about 30 to 40 min straight and it was all about hunting and stuff. We were like best friends when we left. It was great, remember before he would not even talk to us. We even had a prayer with him before we left! The spirit was so strong. We are going back on Thursday and I told Judge we are coming back and we have to talk some more, he was like alright sounds good. Could you send me some picture of the all heads? That would be great I told him I would show him some pictures. Could you send me some of Dad's Africa animals too? That is Judge's dream to go to Africa. I know that he would really love to see them. The next thing is we try and get members to come with us to appointments. Last week was the only time my whole mission that we ever had 5 member present which was great. This week we have potential for 11 member presents we had a member call us yesterday and say hey my girlfriend is here and she wants you guys to come over and teach her. Her name is Jenn so we went over and taught her and she really liked it. We are going back tonight at 7 to teach her more. After tonight we will have 5 member presents and its only Wednesday so we are seeing miracles like crazy right now! I know that the Lords hand is in the work 100 percent and we are seeing it everyday! We are also still teaching Jeff, we went back and taught him again and he is doing great and we are going to commit him to be baptised. We go see him on Monday. Everything is going so good, its kinda crazy how everything has picked up so suddenly. Well I guess I will keep the thermals, its been pretty cold. I have managed to keep warm. Friday is supposed to be pretty cold its says it will be a high of 15 and a low of 7 with the wind chill it will be in the negatives. Tomorrow night is supposed to be 3 which is dang cold. It is about 20 right now and windy,so it makes it worse but its all good. Oh, when I was sick it was headache with runny nose and head congestion, but I am fine now. And we are also getting sprayed for bed bugs again tomorrow. I guess they are back. My companion and one the spanish Elders are getting bit, but I am not so its not too bad. We have to wash all of our stuff in hot water again. Sounds likeyou guys are doing good, things here are great! I got Grandma's card I will write her. Please send some the pictures of the stuff I asked for that would be great! I love you and appreciate everything you do for me! Thanks for the love and support.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

Last letter of 2008

2009-01-02T22:16:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad!
How is it goin? Well things are great here! We have had a great week we are starting to see some success so thats always good. We got a media referral from this lady who ,wanted a bible so we went and took her one, her name is Deborah she is a nice lady. We set a appointment to come back and visit her, and when we did we taught her half the first and half the second lesson so it went great. She had tears in her eyes, she felt the spirit like crazy! Her daughter was there and she loved learning too. We went back again yesterday with Brother Zollinger and shared the plan of salvation and answered all of her questions. Wow the spirit was super strong and they both loved it. Deborah told us that when she looks at me or when ever I say anything I bring tears to her eyes which is pretty cool! We told her that is the spirit, she liked when we told her about the 3 degrees of heaven she said that is more true than her church so that was also pretty cool ! So it has been a good week. I did get the package on Monday, thanks so much! No I never got the card from Grandma. I don't know what happened to that. Well I hope you guys have a Happy New Year! I am going to send you home a memory card it had about 130 pictures on it and I don't know what happened, but they erased? One of my roomates tried to recover them, they came up but they wouldn't go back on the card, so don't use the card, maybe you can try and recover the pictures? Well tonight were going to the Acompra family tonight, they are having like 5 families over so we are going over there to eat. We have to be in by 6:00 tonight because of New Years eve. I hope you guys have fun eating a nice big steak, I sure miss good old steak, thats for sure! I hope you guys have a have a happy new year! Thanks again for everything you are amazing! I love you guys have a good week.
Love, Elder Wells

The bed bugs are gone!

2008-12-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad
How are you guys doing? Things here are pretty good. Well, I got the package you sent the other day it was great, the fleece jacket was exactly what I needed. Oh, the garments you sent me were just regular garments, I wanted a couple pair of the thermal garments cause its getting cold. Maybe in the next package? It is crazy to think that in 15 days, we get to talk. Time is just flying by way to fast. We went to New York yesterday it was pretty fun we had a good time, we went to the Manhattan Temple it was great to get to go. I haven't been for 6 months so that was really good, I miss that the most. I really enjoyed going before my mission. Oh, I love that new camera the zoom is great the other one didn't zoom very much. Thanks again so much sending me a new one. I am going to be sending home some christmas cards can you send them to people for me. We are going to get them printed today. The Allen's sent me a christmas card with the family picture and 10 bucks to Mcdonalds which was really nice of them. Oh, don't write to my address anymore, write to the mission office they will just forward it to where were living. We are moving next week. I think on Tuesday, we will go to our new place which is really nice it is in Scotch Plains, it has 2 seperate bathrooms and showers and big rooms and everything. We had some profesional place come and spray our place for bed bugs,e we had to move everything out of the place we had to wash every single piece of our clothing, so the mission is paying for all of our stuff to get dry cleaned and wash all of our clothes it was a crazy process that we went through for the bed bugs. I am so glad we dont have them anymore! I had to spend like 60 bucks to do everything but the mission is paying us back which is good. Everything else is going good. Thanks again for everything, you guys are amazing. I did sent Dad a birthday card so hopefully it gets there by Friday, wow he is a big 50, that is so crazy! I hope you have a good week. You are the best parents ever.
Love, ELderWells

Here are some photos from New York City.

What....bed bugs? another thing for us to fret about?

2008-12-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad.
What is up? Well things are good as normal around here. We are working hard, but it is so hard to find people here, we are not having much success tracking, so were trying to do lots of member work which is also pretty hard but we are pushing it alot with members and the members here are really cool. They love us so much its crazy they feed us 24-7 really every body wants to feed us. Thanksgiving was great we ate at 3 different places and also had dessert at somebodys house we got tons of left overs . We still have left overs so its good. We were broke last month so everybody was giving us food. The Haley's are the sweetest people in the world they are an older couple yes, they are members. We were doing service at their house yesterday morning so I asked him to call you and of course he did. They are so good to the missionaries its crazy they bought us grocceris the other day,like 40 or 50 bucks worth then they callled us last night and said hey do you guys want to go bowling in the morning? So we were like sure so we went bowling then they took us to go get subs it was great. The nicest people ever. I am sure they are going to call you guys on Christmas they said they call every year ,for the missionaries in there ward, and have done it like 15 years now, so you will really enjoy them . (side note-Colten lost his camera so Bro Haley called and I sent Colten a new camea, Merry Christmas Colten!) I don't really know what happened to my camera to be honest I had it Thursday morning we had a big thanksgiving turkey bowl game with everybody in our Ward and then every since then I haven' t seen it but I know I knowitwas put in our car but I can't find it anywhere hopefully it shows up that would be great. Ineed to send my memory card home. Yeah, if my camera doesn't show up then I guess I lost the ones that were on the card but what can you do? Lets see whats else I havent told you, but we have bed bugs at our house they are eating Elder Eautough alive he has been bitten like 40 times. So they are coming to spray our house on Friday but also we are looking for a new place to live cause we have a crazy lady that lives below us that is always freaking out on us. We found a new place which is really nice like 2 times the size of house we live in now ,so that would be good we are going to look at it at with Elder and Sister Nielsen they are the finacial consultents for our mission. Hopefully we get that place its way nicer than ours. Mark's baptisam was postponed I have to call Elder Jackman and find out when it will be. I haven't asked President Bahr if I will be able to attend or not. I am sure he will probably let me go. I gave a talk in church last week Elder Marble and I did, I spoke on missionary work it was good, I guess . At least people said it was good, but who knows .Thanks so much for the new camera ,you guys are amazing I should be getting the package today because the Spanish Elders went to the office today and they should be home soon then I will see what I got.It has cooled down a little but Friday it is supposed to be really cold again. I love you guys so much ! Thanks for everything have a good week. Love, Elder ColtenWells

8 months served

2008-11-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad!
How is it going ? Well the area is great we are working hard, its hard some times because our area is so big. We are doing all we can. I got yours and Dad's letters a couple days ago. Sorry I was so late to email today, we took our car in because the heater is not working very well, so the dealership is fixing it. The Elders we live with went to choir practice today so we sat at the house all morning, I did laundry while they were gone. Laundry is expensive here we use the one below us in our complex it cost 5 bucks to wash and dry are clothes which is to much but what can you do? The people here are really nice we get fed quite a bit we have 2 set appointments to eat on Thanksgiving but we have a couple people were going to stop by and get left overs everybody wants to feed you here we could have had 20 appointments if we wanted. Well today is 8 months thats crazy time is still flying by which is good we will be able to talk before you know its just right around the corner. Everything is going good here, I hope everything is good there. Tomorrow morning me and Eder Marble are going to our Wards Turkey Bowl we are going to play football at 9 tomorrow which should be pretty fun. I hope you guys have a happy Thanksgiving and a good week tell everyone "hello" for me. I love you guys tons! Love, Elder Colten Wells

New Area and Companion

2008-11-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad!
How are you doing ? Well things here are good. I am in Scotch Plains now, the new area is huge. We have a car, this area is not even possible without a car. I like it here, we are in a Ward,which is really nice. This is the first Ward I have been in since I have been on my mission. It is great the people are really nice here, we get dinner appointments too. Elder Marble and I get along great. We came out together so that is really cool, we are working hard! The members always want things or need things so we dont do a ton of tracking because there is so many people in the ward we had 110 people in church last week. We are working with a really cool guy name D*** he was a huge drug addict but he has been clean since the missionarys met him 2 months ago he is really cool he is on parole right now he goes to jail on the weekends he only has like 3 weekends left. He is going to come to church which will be really good. It has been pretty cold here, yesterday was 38 the whole week is pretty cold the warmest day is 41. I have stayed warm. I could use a couple pairs of thermal garments for under my pants. I wore the thermals you sent me the other day and I stayed warm so a couple more pairs would be nice. Because its only going to get colder. I think my coat is okay for now. I could use a fleece jacket, a black zip up one that I could put underneath my coat. I think that would be pretty good that is what a lot of Elders have or if its not that cold I can just where the fleece jacket. Well you can send packages to the house, but I woundn't send anything of any value, just send that to the mission office. Scotch Plains has alot of everything ,there is some ghetto and normal and rich we cover like 5 cites. The ward mission leader is pretty cool, we are going to see him tonight. The people here are willing to come out with us which is pretty cool. We have a Thanksgiving appointment to eat at. We are trying to get a couple more. Tell everyone Hello for me! Thanks for everything.

Love, Elder Wells

Here is some pictures of the leaves changing colors, and a wild turkey!

Short and Sweet, not much new..

2008-11-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

Letter 11/5/2008
Hi Mom and Dad
Things here are good, like I told you Iwill probably be transferd but its all good, like you said I will at least get to know people before Christmas, so thats good. Well I am glad to hear things back home are going good. I love you guys, thanks so much for all the packages and everything else you do for me. I will be sending home a memory card soon its full. Well you asked about Mark he is doing good he came to church last week and he bore his testimony, it was amazing he got up there and said I know that the book of mormon is true, and a bunch of good things, it was great. He said he is excited to take the next step to baptisam so thats really good! I will write you guys a letter today. I hope you have a good week!I love you. Elder Wells

new pictures have arrived!

2008-11-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

Aww...Look at the fall colors. Awesome!

Colten and Elder Jared Flack

Here is Colten with NY in the background

Here is some of the members of the Bayonne Branch

Maybe some snow in New Jersey?

2008-11-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008
Hi Mom and Dad!
Things here are good, we have a mission conference
tomorrow so that will be really fun. Things here are great we have some
good investigators were working with we set a baptismal date for Mark, he is the one we have been teaching. We set his date for November 30 which should be pretty cool. Hopefully he continues to kept reading and doing everything he needs to. Its been pretty cold here yesterday it was 40 all day and is supposed to be the same today. It is supposed to be snow that would be really cool, but we will see. I think my coat will be fine for now, so Mom don’t worry about it. Oh the socks area lot thicker, thank you I wore some yesterday they worked pretty well. You were saying Christmas is right around the corner I cant wait to call home that will be pretty exciting! The only thing that kind of bad is I have transfers the day before Christmas, December 24 which could be bad. If I stay another transfer, it will be fine, but if I get transferred, I will be in a new area with a new companion right before Christmas. I guess it really doesn’t matter, because I am not home anyways! We have Halloween Friday but our Mission President said we can’t go out past 6pm tomorrow or Friday, so we are going to have a party at our house so that will be pretty fun. I am sure we will play some cards and board games. I love you guys your the best! I will send a letter today with pictures. We have been super busy, so sorry that I haven’t sent any letters in a week or so. Have a good week.
Love, Elder wells

2008-10-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

Well things here are alright seems like you guys are having a good time back home for sure. Well Bayonne is getting pretty cold or I am getting pretty cold! This morning when we left to come to the library it was 46 degrees that’s pretty cold for a Arizona kid! My toes are getting better or at least they look a little better there not bothering me at all. We are still figuring the bus situation out its kind of rough, but not to bad. The Spanish Elders we live with still have there car so we get a lot of rides from them which is pretty cool. Things here are a little slow, but we did have one of our investigators come to the last session of General Conference on Sunday so that was pretty cool. I got to watch all the sessions of General Conference plus the Priesthood Session, it was great! You asked which one was my favorite talks, my favorite talk was with Joseph B.Wirthlin I really liked his talk because I like how he said just laugh when things are bad not get mad at things just laugh at them that was pretty cool. Another of my favorite speakers was Pres. Eyring man that guy is so humble, I love him, everyone of his talks were amazing! The sprit was just strong and heartfelt, I loved it. So Jay and Tina got rid of there truck and got a Mazda? That will be so much better on gas. Yes, you are right, I am glad I am not buying gas right now. You said that Jay still has my car? How is work coming along? I forgot to send Shelly a card so tell her Happy Birthday for me. I know it was a couple weeks ago. Everything here is pretty good. Thanks for the Applebee's gift card, since we don't have a car, it is pretty far, but we are going to make it there today for lunch. Our roomies, Elder Merrill and Elder Flack are taking us there. Well I hope everything is good there, I am glad to here Dad has a full crew and making some money! I love you guys a ton! Have a good week.

Love, Elder Colten Wells

2008-10-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

Hi Mom and Dad!

Well it has been an alright week we have been working hard, still trying to find people. We always find people that have a strong interest in the gospel, we teach them, they are so willing to listen, and pray with us. We give them the challenge to come to church, and they don’t come. I am staying positive and being a good example, I know that someone will hear our message and take the things we are teaching and become strong in the gospel. I am staying in Bayonne which I am very happy about. They took our car to give to another companionship. The mission had 6 Elders leave this week, and we got 13 new Elders. Since our area is one of the smallest, they turned it into a walking area. I guess it is somewhat of a trial, and we might get a car back if it doesn’t work. The only tough part is going to be walking and finding out bus routes to take us places because we don’t know the bus system at all. It will all work out, because it always does when we have the faith. This last week has been pretty busy, with going to the Doctors; oh my in grown toenail isn’t that bad. When the doctor pushed on it, it really didn’t hurt. They did give me some cream for the fungus, I have to put it on 2 times a day, and it is getting better already. I also had to have some blood tests, so they would know what kind of medicine to give me. I use my medical card for the visits and prescriptions, but I do have to pay the co-pay. With all of that going on last week we didn’t have much time to do to a lot of missionary work. Well tell Dad thanks for the package I enjoyed it, the Alaska fish was good, and I loved the pictures! I am glad that Grandpa is feeling better, and so happy to hear that he came thru the surgery for his pacemaker. He is a trooper for sure! Tell Grandpa to write me that would be great I like to here from him! Oh to answer your questions, yes I hear from Chad, he is supposed to send me a Russian hat..I also hear from Bryce. Logan and I email every week too. I hope you guys have a good week.I Love you both so much.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2008-09-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Hi Mom and Dad!

How are you doing? Sounds like you had a pretty good time in Colorado! I bet it was great to see the grandkids again. Things here are great, we have transfers coming up this next week. I hope I stay in Bayonne. I talked with our Zone Leaders yesterday and they said that they put in for me and Elder Jack man to stay together in Bayonne, which would be great! I love it here, so we will see what happens. It has been another great week, we keep meeting great people. But we are not having much success in getting them to church. Things in New Jersey are just a little harder. I know that is why I am here, I will continue to work hard. I will hit my 6 month mark on Friday! I wanted you to send me a Applebee’s gift card. Elder Jackman and I are going to celebrate my 6 months and his 3 months at Applebee’s, but we don’t have any money right now so its kind of hard to without money. Everything is great! Thursday I am going to see a foot doctor cause my toe nails are still falling off and I have a ingrown toe nail, but it should be alright. I have been learning how to make some good food lately I can make fried rice now, and also empanadas which are really good! I love you guys, I hope everything is going good at home.
Love, Elder Colten Wells

2008-09-24T18:28:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
Hey. How are you? Well sounds like your doing pretty good. Things are great here. How was your trip to Colorado? I bet that was pretty fun, getting to see the grandkids. I bet they were really excited to see you! It has been a really good week we have seen much success in finding people we tracked a ton this week, we knocked on doors for 17.5 hours this week. We found a couple of less actives that have been a great help to our Branch in prior years. Its crazy how the Lord puts you before these people and at the time you may not realize it, but things always happen for reasons. We drove around this block like 4 times because we were early to a appointment that we had with a former investigator, one of our less active members lives pretty close so finally we wasted enough time and decided to go to the investigators house, we parked the car and we walked for about 2 min and all the sudden we heard Sis Jackson, she said “ Hey Elders”, and of course I said Sis. Jackson, “ How are you?” and “We have missed you”, We have been trying to get a hold of you, we have stopped by at least 10 times. She had moved and her phone had been disconnected but we got her new phone number. Miracles are happening every day, that was just a couple days ago. I am glad that you enjoyed the pictures and the videos. If you can send me back a blank memory card, the one I am using now is getting full.. The GPS works great! Thanks so much for getting it for me! We used it to get to Stake Conference. There is 2 or 3 stakes in Northern New Jersey so I got to see about 20 missionaries at the Caldwell Stake Conference. I am hoping that I am staying in Bayonne, I think I will. Elder Jackman and I will probably stay together. I will more than likely stay at least 1 more transfer or maybe 2 more, that would be really cool. Oh yeah Dan already went home the one from AZ he was not supposed to leave for like 3 or 4 weeks but we went and saw him like last Thursday and he left Friday morning because he has a doctors appointment tomorrow in Mesa I gave him the house number and your cell phone number I told him that you guys wanted to take him out to eat. Hopefully he calls you soon. I think that is basically it for now. I love you guys a lot, Have a good week!
Love, Colten

2008-09-11T20:48:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
Hi Mom and Dad!

Well sounds like things back home are going pretty good. Bayonne is great I love it here we are doing great! I am hoping that I stay another transfer maybe even 2 that would be sweet! Dan that lives here from AZ might be leaving to go back home soon because he has been going to the doctor and I guess there is something wrong with his heart he has a really slow heart only when resting and stuff but when he is active its normal, so they are releasing him from the Coast Guard he is getting a pace maker and a heart monitor so he thinks he might be leaving in a couple weeks. I was trying to think if I could give him anything to take to you guys, I know he would. We are way tight! He still says that is he going to come to my home coming and he is going to bring me a Fillaberto's burrito! That is good to hear about Morgan, tell him it will be worth it I promise! I am glad that you are such a good Mom, thanks for always sending me good things, and taking care of the Mesa Elders. It means a lot! I love you tons have a good week love you.
Love, Elder Wells

Happenings in Bayonne

2008-09-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

Colten sends weekly letters by mail. Yes, we are so lucky! So here are some of the highlights of his letters.

Colten talked in his Branch on Sunday, August 31st.
His topic was "Enduring to the End".
He said he talked for 20 minutes and didn't even write his talk,
gave it all straight from his head and heart!
Way to go Colten!

Colten and Elder Jackman have been working hard.
They are teaching and finding lots of investigators!
Here are a few of there names
Arlene, Lola, Andrew, Tammy, Bill and Mark

I guess he did not park the car off the street when the street sweeper was coming, and recieved a $42.00 ticket. But the great news is he paid the ticket!

He took some pictures to some deer in a park. Not much to brag about, he said the deer were small. I am sure he had to hold himself back, being the great hunter he is.

2008-09-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

Hey! I am glad that you had a good birthday seems like you have some good friends or the friends you have really care about you which is always good. Well that’s not good that Dad sold a bunch of your stuff, that sucks I bet but it was just stuff, you can always get more. You know nothing to get to down about just remember life is good! You asked about my talk I didn’t write a talk at all which is pretty amazing I know, but the mission does that stuff to you makes you so much more knowledgeable! My talk was on enduring to the end I talked for about 20 min which is also amazing in its self but its true, people said it was good but I don’t really know. I felt pretty good about it. I was going to tape it for you, I brought it and everything but forgot to start the tape. Sorry, you probably wouldn’t be missing much anyways. You should get a letter today I about the investigators I sent it Tuesday actually like Thursday cause mail was closed Monday so they didn’t take it till yesterday. This area is amazing right now I love it! We are meeting good people everyday that are ready to hear the gospel, which is really exciting! The work is progressing for sure again. My companion and I are getting along great, I love him. Have a good week kept working hard! I hope you enjoy this letter. I love you tons, miss you see you soon. Love, Elder Colten Wells

Yes, we have pictures!

2008-09-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

Colten with Elder Sopu and Elder Soon

The Bayonne Bridge..

2008-08-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Hi Mom and Dad!
How are things going back home? Things here are pretty good!
I am the senior companion my new companion is amazing he is way cool, we get along great he is from southern California his name is Elder Jackman. You asked if I still live with Elder Aldridge and Elder Merrill I still live with Elder Merrill but he has a new companion his name is
Elder Flack which is way cool we all get along really well. My companion is a hard worker he is 19, of course I am like 28 months older than him. This is his second transfer. Dan (that is from AZ) is amazing, I love that guy! We get along great! You are so right, it is a small world for sure! We have interviews with our president on Friday which should be pretty cool he is a great guy! I tell you more about investigators through the mail. I just got a letter from Matt Wilbur which was pretty cool. I will defiantly write him back and see how he is doing. He says he is doing pretty good he says he is dating a Mormon girl. That was nice of him! You have a good week don’t get too tired from packing and unpacking! How is work going? How is Dad’s work going? Is he still working hard? Tell him and Grandpa to have fun in Alaska, I know they will! Yesterday was my 5 month mark that is crazy, I can’t believe it has been that long already doesn’t seem like it at all. I am glad everything is going good with you guys! I love you guys a ton! Have a good week the Lord loves you remember that!
Love, Elder Wells

August 20th, 2008

2008-08-24T22:47:00.001-07:00

August 20th, 2008
Hey Mom and Dad,
How is it going? Well things here are great well there is good news I am staying in Bayonne my companion is going to East Orange for his last transfer supposedly. I don’t know how true it is I will find out in a couple hours but I will be getting a pretty young missionary he has been out for 6 weeks only, but again I don’t know if it is true but it would be really cool it was true I will be the Senior companion already. I willl write you and let you know for sure who my companion is. Lets see you asked about the girl Emma she moved to Pennsylvania but came back for a week so we are going to see her Friday night before she goes back. Oh, lets see a crazy story well remember the guy Dan I told you about he is in the Coast Guard here and he is from Gilbert AZ so of course he is way cool we have a ton of things in common he just turned 21 way cool guy. We went and visited him last night and were talking and guess who he knows he knows the Allen family like Bethany Allen, he dated her for like a year and a half, her Dad spoke at his baptism and stuff. Is that way crazy? We talked about that forever I told him that I had hung out with her for a couple months. This guy is way cool he is telling me we should hang out when I get home. He wants to come to my home coming, it’s a small world! That is pretty crazy that Logan is going to that little island, he will have a good time. I miss black people they are amazing I miss the ghetto a lot! But its all good. So it sounds like you guys are almost all the way moved it which is pretty good. Grandma wrote me I am going to write her back and tell her hello and happy birthday. How is work going? Tell all the girls hello for me tell them they can write me! Time is flying by out here its literally crazy how fast time goes I cant believe I have been gone for almost 5 months. Time as a missionary goes by twice as fast as normal time, I don’t know how it works but man its fast! We just got a new AP cause one just went home my old Zone Leader is the new AP, Elder Blodgett. I sent home pictures of me and him in new York so that is pretty cool! Well that is basically it for now .I love you, hope you have a good week !
Elder Wells

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

2008-08-13T23:07:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad,
Sorry I didn’t have much time today but I will write you a little more now. You said that you had to put Jenna to sleep that’s kind of sad but like you said she is in a better place now. . I don’t really need any more sour cream and onion dip I have like 6 or 7 left still but el pato that would be great. The See’s candy was not melted at all. I use the electric blanket I just don’t turn it on. Oh about music here, well that is one of the rules we just got, we cant listen to music any more, it kind of sucks but what can we do about it? About the area is really hard right now, its really hard to find people to teach we have been tracking a lot and trying to find people to teach but its not easy. We can only do our best. I will write a letter tonight cause I got pictures today so I will send some tomorrow! I am glad you had a good time in Michigan, it sounded pretty fun. Well I better get going, send anything you want if you send it within the next week I can get it at transfer conference. Well Elder Merrill or I will be leaving this transfer because his companion has been in Bayonne for 6 months or 4 transfers so he can pick it up if I don’t end up leaving. I love you guys tons you guys are awesome the best ever. Write me soon and have a good week! Can you give Grandmas email so I can tell her happy birthday, thanks. Well again I love you tons.
Love, Elder Wells

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

2008-07-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hey, how is it going?
Things here are great in Bayonne well the companion and I are doing all right I am living. I can say that some times its really hard like you said the Spanish Elders are keeping me sane the Elders names are Elder Merrill and Elder Alldredge. Elder Merrill has been out 18 months and the other Elder 6 months, Elder Merrill and I get along great were good friends. Well you said that I haven’t been writing much I sent everybody letters so everybody should have gotten one. I guess Logan didn’t get his cause he left yesterday or did he get the letter? Oh about the hard drives we use them on p-days or we go to the church and use them but there pretty neat. You wanted to know how driving a car is, I am a good driver its not as bad here as it was in Newark. The Spanish Elders have a car they actually have a mini van. We usually drive to the street we want to knock or whatever and walk the street and come back to the car. Yes I did get the package Thanks it was good the shoes are pretty tight on my feet but they loosen up when I wear them they will be alright they are only tight for like a half hour or so. Thanks so much! That’s crazy Logan is already back in Puerto Rico that’s nuts! I am so happy that he stayed so strong and went back that would be hard but that’s where he is supposed to be right now. I love the ring he got me I wear it every day. Those are some pretty cool pictures from the tear drop. I am excited that you going to Michigan that should be nice to get out of the Arizona heat. Tell Mark Stoker and Scott Petty and everybody else I say “Hello”! I remember Daniel Klein I think I had Seminary with him . I am sending a package home today I hope you guys like it. It’s not too much but hope you guys enjoy it! I miss you all! I hope you guys are doing well. Well quick story the Lord is really starting to bless us we found 5 investigators in one day which was a big blessing! I love you all and have a good week

Love, Elder Colten Wells

P-Day in New York City

2008-07-20T00:13:00.000-07:00

Colten at the bus stop in Newark

A trip to New York City, down town and Time Square

Colten at the Manhattan Temple in New York City, NY

Letter July 16th, 2008

2008-07-19T23:39:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
Hey, I just had a huge letter wrote and I hit escape so it erased. Oh well. Things here are good I hope everything back home is good. That’s cool to here that you guys are looking to move, well it won’t really affect me because I am gone. I will kept you guys in my prayers. I am going to try and answer all of your questions, well the dip I loved the dip I still have some I bought a big thing of sour cream today and chips. The Branch I attend is tiny I thought that Spring Garden was small its twice as small there was 30 people there on Sunday and 11 of them were kids under the age of 8 and there were 4 missionaries us and the older Sister Missionaries Sis. Shupe and Sis. Davidson. My companion is Elder Cleaverly from Idaho, we work hard we knocked on doors for 13 hours in 3 days ask Logan about that, it is pretty hard work! We have a couple of new investigators we also have been doing lots of street contacting and I have got a couple really cool people out of it I met this girl she is a Brother of one of our members, we have a appointment with her on Friday. We went and saw 2 members yesterday that bought us Dominos pizza but it is not that good compared to jersey pie, that’s the only time we have gotten fed. The new zone seems like its pretty cool I really miss my old zone. I called Elder Soon from my old apartment last night cause I miss them. He was like he did too, we had the best house in the mission in Newark with people wise . Elder Searle is with Elder Sopu in north Newark. I really like driving its pretty cool. I cook when I have good stuff to cook, we just went to Sam's Cub today and me and Elder Merrill one of the Spanish Elders that lives with us, bought a ton of stuff to share he has a Sams club card. I haven’t had any jersey pie here yet so I will keep you posted on that. Oh there is one thing I need for sure and that’s my patriartical blessing, can you make it small so it will fit in my scriptures and laminated? That would be great. If your going to send a package again any time soon I will take more el pato but no rush. I wrote this twice because the first one erased. I love you all! Have a good one and tell Jayson to write me he hasn’t in like 4 weeks that punk.
Love you all! Have a good one work hard! Elder Colten Wells

Letter July 9th, 2008

2008-07-15T00:20:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
Hello. How are you doing? Things here are great. I am for sure getting transferred today; we go to transfer conference at like 12:00 noon, so I am still in north Newark as we speak. You asked about New York, that place is pretty crazy really busy people are all in a big hurry the taxi cabs there will run you over if you are in the street, my companion almost got hit . So crazy! I sent a letter on Monday it should get there today I believe. I will try and send some pictures home soon the problem was we didn’t go to Wal-Mart 2 weeks ago and last week I didn’t do them cause I wasn’t sure if I was going to be here this week so when I get to my new area I will print some pictures and send them home to you. I got to go to the fear buster again there was like 13 new missionaries that came in so I had 2 this time and I of course talked to them and they said they saw Daniel in the airport which was pretty cool. Well on the 4th of July we got to stay out till 10:30 pm that’s normally when were in bed so we didn’t get to bed till about midnight. Our zone just went somewhere we actually ended up near a hospital and we just watched fire works every where and had pizza and ice cream it was pretty cool. I will defiantly miss my zone my zone was sweet lots of cool Elders. You sent a card? I never got it well not yet unless it is at the house when I get back. I hope so cause it will be a while if not cause there are 8 zones in our mission and I was zone 5 but 1 through 4 meet up and 5 through 8 meet up so now I am on the other side of the mission but will see hopefully its there today. We met President and Sister Bahr, pretty cool people they seem pretty nice I think in about 2 transfers they will be really cool because they will know what there doing and be settled down. Well tell Dad thanks for the money and Thank you for everything you do for me, you are the best parents ever! I love you both so much. Love, Elder Colten Wells

Colten with the new Mission President and Sister Bahr

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

2008-07-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008
Well how are things back home? Things here are great. I will try and answer all your questions. You asked about President Bahr we get to meet him on Saturday I haven’t meet him yet but we have a get to know him on Saturday for about 3 hours so that should be pretty cool. President Parkinson gave me a blessing also he gave them to all of us. I don’t really know what I am doing for the 4 of July we might go to one the members house and climb on there roof and watch fireworks but not to sure.. We do have transfers next Wednesday I don’t really know if I am getting transferred or not I would almost bet I am cause I pretty tight with the zone leaders and they called me the other night and asked me what I wanted to do if I want to stay or leave I pretty much told them that I wanted to go but its not all up to them but they turn in a paper about all the missionaries in the zone to the AP's so they told the AP's that I should probably get transferred we will see what the Lord wants also. If I stay will have the same companion because this is his dying area this is his last transfer he has 7 weeks left That’s cool that you guys are going to Rocky Point, I hope you guys have lots of fun! I did get your letter last week I got to read it before I got I even wrote you back. Ok, here is a story yesterday we did service all day long pretty much but it was really good, we left the house about 10:30 and we got back at 6:30 we first moved our Branch President then after we moved some lady her brother had got a hold of Elder Kendrick and Sister Kendrick from Florida saying she needs some help moving so we went over there and loaded her little truck all up and she was so grateful she was a less active member her whole family is active besides her but she said she is going back to church when she gets back to Florida she is moving in with her parents but she asked for a blessing before we left so Elder Kendrick gave her one she thanked us so much she said there was no way she could have ever done it all but with tears in her eyes as she thanked us was so great this is why I am on a mission to serve the people here it was great! I enjoyed it so much. Well I hope you guys have fun the next couple days I love you all be safe and work hard.

Love, Elder Wells

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

2008-06-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hey. Well I am going to try and answer all of your questions before my time is up, we get 60 min on the computer but if there is nobody waiting it gives us an extra 10 min. So I have 10 min so well see if I can answer them all the lady with me and the ties that is Carina Alvier she is a member she is like 25 or so but one of the Elders that used to live in our apartment came and got some of his stuff he left, but he said he took my ties but really he just hid them so she found out and bought a bunch of ties they were really cheap but its the thought that counts. Well the shoes were to big the belt fits good it seems to be a really nice belt it hasn’t stained my shirts at all. Yes I got the calendar and everything thank you that can be helpful. I got the shirts, Elder Supo says “Thanks”! We still see Freddy but he has backed out of getting baptized. Maybe he will soon who knows. We are just doing the best we can with him. About James Hudson the guy is really crazy we haven’t been there in like 2 weeks he is not on are priority list cause like I said he is pretty crazy. Oh Musa is a muslin we meet with he lives in the same place as Sam but on the second floor way cool guy I love him he is so nice, but supper poor but the nicest guy. I am getting sour cream today so I will tell you next week how that kind of green onion dip is. The gift cards were great the Burger King one I spent all at once I bought stuff for my whole apartment. But there was only 30.00 on it you said there was 40.00 just to let you know. I love gift cards another good one would be Papa Johns there is one not to far from our house. That would be good to have for dinner every now and then. If you can find a couple good cds that would be fine you could send them in a little cd holder then I can put the rest of my cds in it. We will see what the new MP thinks about iPods. I can’t watch DVDs I have no where to watch them. I don’t email Grandma because I don't have her email address. The mission conference was great yeah they gave there dying testimonies it was great.It was the last one for President and Sis. Parkinson. They leave next Monday. I'm going to miss them a lot. The Conference was amazing, and the Spirit was so strong. We also got to go to the Manhattan Temple on Saturday. It was amazing, I took lots of pictures and some videos. We took the train and did a lot of walking, we were gone almost all day. If you want to send some ties you can, we don’t do much tie trading here. I hope I answered all of your questions. I love you tons! Thanks for everything! Tell Dad I am going to write him a letter today. That is cool Morgan is going to get back out.
I love you all a ton!

Elder Wells

2008-06-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

Hey Family,

Well things here are great! I am having a good time. We are already half way through another transfer which is crazy but time is going pretty fast. Well I never got cookies, I haven’t yet at least they might be at the mission office and our zone leaders haven’t gone yet this week. . Who knows but I did get the memory card that’s the only thing I have gotten. I need a couple more short sleeve shirts would be nice just get 16.5 that would be the best! My companion and I get along pretty well he is about dead, but I just do my best to keep working hard that’s all I can do. I can’t make him do anything he doesn’t want to do. If you would send me back a copy of that cd that would be cool it is the best cd! I love it we listen to it every day. I want my own copy for when I get home. Oh, give one to Jayson he needs some good music! How is Morgan doing? Is he still planning on coming back on a mission? Please tell him from me that the mission is the best time ever to serve the Lord and that you only get one chance while your young to serve a mission, its great tell him that for me. The Kendrick’s yes they are a senior couple there awesome I love them they go home in September. Oh, President Parkinson picks up the new mission president on June 30 and July 1 president Parkinson and his wife fly home and new mission president can do whatever he wants. We are going to the temple on Saturday this could be my first and last trip because who knows what the new president is going to let us do. We are taking the train then we just walk all around we can do what we want to do all day we just have to do something at the temple.
Oh please save all the videos from my memory card I want to make a video when I get home that will be sweet. If you see Blake Jones or talk to his Mom tell him I say “hello”! That would have been cool to go to a Glenview reunion, you probably saw lots of our old friends.
The weather here has been nice only about 4 days where it’s been really hot the rest of the time it has been nice for me, my companion complains that it’s hot but I don’t think it’s too bad. How is work going tell all the girls I say “hello”. How is Dad doing with work? Did Dad get my fathers day card? I hope so. Keep working hard, so will I. I love you all very much.
Elder Wells

2008-06-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Hey,
Well things here are great. well I am going to send back those shirts but can you send back my memory card I am going to the temple in a couple days and I want to be able to take lots of pictures my memory card is about full. Could you send me a new black belt cause the one I have is staining my shirt black I have been told cause its a cheap belt but I don’t really know so I don’t really want to be ruining shirts the last couple days here have been really hot its a lot different than AZ the humidity is pretty bad here the last couple days have been about 95 and 98 which is really hot here with the humidity some members said that Monday and Tuesday have been the hottest since like 1934 but I don’t really know how true it is we have a huge storm last night the power went out about 830 and it came back on some time in the middle of the night also some sees candy would be great I am craving that stuff also some of that sour cream and onion dip we would always get they don’t have that here either if you could send me a couple packs of it that would be really cool I am going to try and put my memory card and a cd that we listen to out here its the best cd I want you to make Logan a copy he will love it and save me the cd I want it for when I get home its approved by our mission president buy hopefully I send that in a couple days my companion just gave me a hair cut last night its nice and short I like it though he gives great haircuts I guess he has been doing it his whole mission so he is like a expert that’s so good to here that logan will be able to go back in about 3 weeks that’s great I guess somebody really does answer our prayers huh well I am happy for him. Well Freddy is doing great hopefully we can still get him baptized on June 29 that would be sweet but will see. I sent dad a father’s day card yesterday so I should be there soon. we are meeting with a guy name James Hudson the guy is pretty crazy he had talked with the jw a lot that is Jehovah WITNESSES of course so he has a lot of messed up doctrine but were working with him well I hope you guys are all doing good did you ever find out about the taco bell gift cards there is also a burger king not to far from our house either but hope I have not asked for to much I love you all. I hope everything is going great I am keeping you all in my prayers so work hard.

Love, Elder wells

letter from Elder & Sister Kendrick

2008-06-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

This was a letter I got in the mail, from the Kendricks...

June 2nd, 2008

Dear Brother and Sister Wells,
We are Senior Missionaries serving in the Newark area. We just wanted to write and and tell you how much we are enjoying your son Colten. He is off to a great start! He is polite, obedient, and a dedicated young man. Thank you for preparing him to enter the mission field with the very qualities that are required to be a sucessful missionary. It is a joy to be around him. He has such a great personality and everyone loves him. He is one of the happiest missionaries we know. He is always very respectful of us older missionaries. He is also a hard worker... he is one of the first to ask what we need done, and isn't afraid to do more than his share.
Sincerely, Elder & Sister Kendrick

letter Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

2008-06-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hi Family,
Hey what’s up? Well we are kind of late emailing today cause we had to go to a funeral, we went with the Spanish Elders Rust and Soon they both still live with us in north Newark. I had never meet the guy either, but we just went cause he used to be a member there were 6 people there us four missionaries and the caretaker and her son but that was kind of crazy. I took a bunch of pictures of him. Things here are great I will send home some pictures.
Sam is not progressing that much but we continue to try and help him out. We committed a guy name Freddy last night to get baptized on June 29 he has been investigating for about 5 years now. He said he would pray about it so we are going to pray for him to help him receive an answer so hopefully that will turn out good. I have not got the package yet but hopefully soon. Dinner appointments with members don’t happen very much once in a blue moon we might get lucky, but it’s alright. Things here are great we get to go to the Manhattan temple this transfer which should be pretty cool we will probably go in about a week or so were not to sure yet. You should send some Taco Bell coupons I already used all the McDonalds ones. That’s crazy that Daniel leaves in like 2 weeks that’s pretty cool though. He will love it, I am enjoying my mission so much. Well I hope everybody is doing well and I am down to like 195 to 200 pounds, so hopefully I kept losing weight, that would be nice! Well I love you all! Have a good week.
Elder Colten Wells

Letter, May 28th, 2008

2008-05-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

Hey. How is it going? Well New Jersey is so sweet I love it here. Things are going great. I just got done with my first transfer which is pretty crazy the time is going pretty fast but I am really enjoying my time in north Newark I am staying here my companion Elder Memmott is going to East Orange with one of the Elders that came in with me Eder Marble. I am getting a new companion name Elder Supo he is from Tonga he has 2 transfers left he is supposedly huge like 6.4 like almost 300 pounds which will be probably be pretty cool.
We had a baptism on Monday night with Doreen it was so awesome I loved it. Elder Memmott baptized her I will try to send home some pictures as soon as I can.

I have tried some pretty interesting food lately, we met this lady in the street and she didn’t want to talk to us but my companion started talking about fu fu that is some food that Africans make so she then just fell in love with us. We have gone over there two different times and she has made us food but she is from Ghana but they made us fu fu and peanut butter soup its was nothing special but I can at least say that I have eaten it I wouldn’t ask for it again.

I wouldn’t mind some more white shirts short sleeve yesterday was like 100 percent humidity or it felt like it wasn’t that hot but it does make it feel a lot hotter with humidity.

Yesterday the new missionaries came in so I am not the newest missionary any more also I told you about when I came out we did the fear buster where we went to Broad and Market which is still in my area but the AP’s called us up and wanted us to go down there for the fear buster so I got to be a street pop, it was pretty cool it is where the new missionaries partner up with the older missionaries and then we go talk to people show them how to street contact pretty much it was way cool there was 9 new missionaries that came it so I had Elder Clark he was pretty cool he thought I was like amazing, but the funny thing is I don’t know half as much as the rest of the missionaries but it was cool cause all of the other missionary pops have all been out for like 1 year or longer well then there is me I have been for 6 weeks so I loved it.

I loved the razor by the way, well I can’t think of anything I need right now but I will think of something I need when I am done that’s just how it works. Things are great here. Well hope everything is going great. Well love you all! Love, Elder Colten Wells

Pictures from the MTC (sorry for the delay)

2008-05-26T20:09:00.001-07:00

Elder Wells is studying hard.

A fine group of Missionarys

Elder Chase Judd (heading to the Mexico Vera Cruz Mission) and Colten

Here is Elder Chad Dewey (heading for the Russia Ye-Kat Mission)

Wednesday, May 21st letter home

2008-05-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Hey what’s up?
Well things here are good. Sounds like things back home are really busy; things are really busy here too. We are working really hard we have been getting lots of return appointments which are always really good. We have pretty busy days now which I enjoy a lot just talking and teaching people about the restored church it’s great. Well sounds like Logan is just having a good old time at home tell him not to get too used to it because he will be back before he knows it. I know he will continue to make those right choices cause a mission really helps you a lot you grow up so fast I know he is a smart kid that’s why he will bet back out there and finish his mission up he only has 14 months left that’s not very long I have almost 22 months. The only thing that sucks is I was hoping to gain some time back on him so I don’t know if they will count it for his mission if he is home for a couple months cause we can be coming home closer now but well see what happens but it would be so much cooler if we weren’t 8 months apart.

Doreen came to church last week but she is not fully comfortable so she is now going to get baptized on June 1st ,hopefully we can follow through, that would be awesome! About Sam we go see him tonight and he is doing alright. I went on exchanges Monday with my zone leader Elder Blodgett he is from California he is way cool I like him a lot that crazy thing is he left the same time as Mike Kleinman and Matt Jones. I told him about Matt and come to find out that was his companion in the MTC. Elder Blodgett is a Spanish Elder also like Matt Jones.

I got both cards the McDonalds gift cards Thank You so much! I will be using those any day. Tell everybody I say hello, I love you all, keep working hard back home! I will do the same and I think I will be staying here this next transfer that’s what my Zone Leader told me.
Love you all have a good week.

Love, Elder Colten Wells

Pictures

2008-05-11T21:35:00.000-07:00

Here are the 5 new Elders and 2 Sister Missionaries that arrived in New Jersey on April 15th, 2008 with President Parkinson and his wife.

Here is Elder Colten Wells with his trainer Elder Memmott

Here is his new home, on Halleck Street in North Newark, New Jersey

Pictures from Elder Wells!

2008-05-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

These photos have a awesome story behind them. This is Colten at the SLC airport, getting ready to fly to Newark. The Elder that trained Logan in Puerto Rico, Mom works for

Delta airlines. She just happened to be the stewardess that was on the plane. Oh, how I love tender mercies. I was so happy that she sent these photos from her cell phone! Thanks Brenda!