Elder Wheeler,
I'm very excited to be writing you. Ever since I got your letter on Wednesday, I've been very happy. It really made my week. Thank you. Its okay that it was shorter that usual, I understand.. and I did read both your parents letters.. the email and the written one. You are quite the stud, you know. And dont worry, I'm not worried when you talk about other girls. Though, that doesnt mean you should stop confirming to me that everything's alright when you do :-D. Your letter really did make my week. Ive been really happy ever since I got it. It seems you were a step ahead of me in that you told me you believe in us even before you got the tape. I felt kind of sad though, because you wont know until you read this that I got my confirmation that everything is okay in your last letter. You really are an insprired man, you gave me exactly what I needed. I suspect I'll need a few extra special reminders every once in a while throughout the next 20 months, so please dont hesistate if prompted. And just so you know, I believe in us too. I love you.
Also, thank you for sharing your testimony with me. It was powerful and much appreciated. I actually read it to Helen outloud and just as I started crying and feeling the spirit, she started reading over my shoulder outloud and distracted me. I think in doing that she didnt feel the full power of it herself. Satan sure knows how to work. I also let Ben read it at YSA conference this weekend. He gave it back to me with tears in his eyes. He's proud of you and is working on making you proud of him. He said he runs 3 times a week and has a job now. It seems he only works one day a week but at least its a job. I gave him your email address so you might be hearing from him and he would really appreciate a letter from you. I sent his address to you a while back. If you need it again, let me know.
As for me, this weekend has been a very good weekend. On Friday night I volunteered at a dance for the place I volunteer at.. for the mentally disabled adults. It was a lot of fun. I started out serving food and then when that died down, I "chaperoned" on the dance floor, which is basically just dancing with them and making sure they're having fun. It was a blast. The other volunteers laughed at me when the chicken dance came on. I knew right away what it was and started doing the dance and they had to jog their memory for what song it was and how the moves went. On Saturday there was a service project for all the YSA's in the area. I think it was a quad stake thing.. we planted 1,000 "trees" at a local elementary school. They were actually big plants. The day was really nice for service and everyone worked together really well. We finished about an hour before they thought we would. After that, everyone went home to get ready for dinner, and a fireside/testimony meeting. The talks were about institute and our jouney in life. I bore my testimony in testimony meeting. I'm getting more courageous about that. I dont like doing it because I cry a lot but I was told today that the more you do it, the less you cry. We'll see. I've also felt like I would be very ungrateful if I didnt bare my testimony. People always say that and I dont think I ever quite understood what it meant. But I've felt lately like it's the least I can do to show my gratitude to our Savior and Father in Heaven. I'm always scared that something really embarrassing will happen to me on the way up to the podium.. I'll fall or my dress will be in my nylons.. but I've felt that if only one person will feel the spirit or be touched by what I have to say, it's worth it. Your example has really helped me to this conclusion.
Today was a very good Sunday. I went to my home ward for all three hours and then to the branch for all three hours. I can remember a time when I often looked at the clock and couldnt even handle three hours of church, and today I chose to go to both and enjoyed every second of it. I feel like I'm growing in the gospel and it makes me really happy. I know a lot of it has to do with you. Thank you again. You're such a wonderful example to me. I hope you know I'm proud of you.
I also bore testimony in testimony meeting today in my home ward. It was really good to be there. Even though I'm not appreciated by some there, I forgot how loved I am by a lot of others. I felt very welcomed. At first I sat by myself and then Sister Jacobs saw me and invited me over to sit with them.. so I sat with Sis and Bro Jacobs and Kristi and Alex. It was nice. I pray that I'm able to be a bit more of an example in issues concerning them.
Oh! Sister Withers is a lady in my ward that I kind of have a special friendship with. She really likes me, I think its because she knows we can relate a little bit. Anyway, my last counselor year at camp, she was our cabin angel (or cabin chaperone or whatever you want to call it... just our leader) and this year she is in charge of certification at camp. She asked if I was too old to go to camp and I said yes, but that I would LOVE to go back. She mentioned that she can call adult leaders to help serve and that she'll look into calling me as a leader for certification. I'm really excited and I hope it goes through.
I heard something in Relief Society today that I thought you might be interested in.. "If you go to church and the Sunday services fail you, YOU have failed." The lesson was about church meetings and why attending is important and how to get the most out of them. So I guess that goes with any aspect of church.. if you feel you get nothing out of a meeting, its most likely you, not the meeting because whether or not you choose to have an open and willing mind and an open and willing heart determines whether or not you feel the spirit.
So today was a very good Sunday.. and its not even over. Break the Fast is tonight. Its the finale for the YSA conference with the seniors. I'm so grateful for the YSA program. I dont really have any close friends yet, but its nice to gather together with people who are willing to smile at you and say hi. I actually met Nate and Trisha Kiplinger at the service project on Saturday. They are the family that moved into your ward from Indiana. They're both really nice but me and Trisha kind of connected, I think. We worked together at the project and then ate dinner and sat next to each other at the firside. She's going to go away to Idaho in the fall but I'm going to make the effort to be friends with her.. she's a really nice girl. Kind of funny, huh?
So I think this letter is long enough. From what it seems, the sisters kind of get on your back about how long you're on the computer. I want you to know that I am doing well and its in large part because of you. I love you and I miss you. I believe in us and I'm supporting and praying for you. "Youre always on my mind." I'm working hard to better myself and strengthen my testimony and I feel really good about where I am right now.

I love you,
Naomi

PS- Remember when you were in the MTC and they told you to try not to speak terrestrially? When you told me that, I thought it was a great idea... very well worded. I actually made a sign and put on the board in my room.. I've been working really hard just like you were before your mission to not speak terrestrially. I wonder if at least in your letters to me, you could not say "crap" and "crappy". Its kind of weird coming from my missionary. Gracias. Te amo mucho.

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