Letter #4 - The Well

We Got Rules:

Do not ever pray for humility, seriously. No matter how much you want to improve that Christ-like attribute never ever pray for humility. You know why? Because God has a sense of humor, and he also answers your prayers, and he will answer that one fully. This week I made that mistake...
So we work out every morning (at least my companion does, I think I just make strange noises while I run) and after a refreshing work out we come home hoping to have an equally refreshing shower. This is were we began to be humbled. Our water system comes from a well, which normally is fine although it tastes a little funny. The problem is if your filter has a problem the sulfur from the well remains in the water. We now hate eggs, and everything to do with eggs. Although I mentioned to my companion that if this was the worst thing we would have we were fortunate, he agreed with me on day one. This is day four. 

Other than that everything is going fantastic. Our investigator pool is steady and we're having incredible success with our baptismal commitments. Which has been a huge challenge but also very enjoyable. The Lord has definitely prepared people here to hear our message. 

Let me tell you something about Canada, everyone here is super nice (except when they aren't) and has an interesting accent (except for when they don't), they also love their hobbies, whether that be woodworking, gardening, hunting, or one of the more popular ones in our area, sitting outside all day on the porch. Honestly I didn't know what the fuss was all about until I sat down and had a nice cold glass (of water) in my hand. It's kind of the coolest thing ever. Right now though we've taken up a new hobby, fly hunting. It involves taking a thick rubber band and waiting for the flies to stop on the wall or the ceiling. My score isn't doing to well but Elder McDonald is up to a kill count of ten.


We've starting listening to Les Miserables songs. our favorite is the Finale or the Bring Him Home.


Please feel free to send your questions, comments, or interpretive dance ideas.


Can you hear the people sing?

Elder Wolford

Missionary Letter #3 - Arrived in Canada

We Got Rules:


(first off thank you to everyone that sent me an email, I wish I could reply personally to everyone. Just know that I do read what you send and I'm so grateful for it. )


Let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time there was an elder, and the strange thing about him is that he had never before been on a plane... Ever... However this was mitigated at the airport because he had two duffel bags (thanks mom!) that allowed him to have one free hand, which further allowed him to carry one of the sisters suitcases (the elders can take care of themselves). As he was ready to depart on his quest a 'wise'... opinionated older fellow allowed him some brief parting advice before the departure. The first was, just in case, to not eat a meal in case the young lad responded badly. The second was to stay awake and admire the first three hour flight in his life. So as one would imagine the Elder took some of his companions along and got some Cafe Rio, (which he ate half of the burrito and then didn't want the rest, does anyone else do that?) Then, after a long line and files of paperwork, he boarded the plane and set off. Unfortunately there was no one squished between him so he passed out and woke up right before the landed (it was a good nap, not gonna lie).

Then, with his carry on and the excitement of being in a new country, our brave hero went into the Toronto airport, where he waited in lines until he died a natural death.

The End.


How was it? I'm thinking about adding a chorus but I'll need help with the phrasing. Perhaps I'll turn it into a ballad, does anyone know ballads really well?

So this is my first week (applause), and I'm sure there are some questions that need answering from the general populace reading these emails. First off, Canada is not that different from the US, the people just say their 'o's differently and can't carry firearms (which includes pepperspray and a tazer, which I found shocking). Also, my companion is fantastic, his name is Elder McDonald (bahbahbahbahbahI'mlovinit!) who's the greatest trainer I could have asked for. He's quiet but has got a fun side to him, he's also incredibly strong, and knows all the tricks about working out (which maybe will help me keep from gaining a hundred pounds). After the first night when we pulled out blue wax stuff, (don't ask me what it was because I don't know, I washed my hands afterwards just to be safe though) and began trying to get it to stick to the walls. I've taught him a little bit about what I've learned about the yoyo in the brief time I've had it, (which is very little) and he's getting pretty good. He's patient with me and I think together we can have a lot of success here in Belleville.

Question, how many of you knew what poutin was? Shame on you that raised your hands for not telling me of it's glory and majesty. There's a lot of interesting things here. Because this area has such a wide variety of people there's a lot of different stories. Today me and Elder McDonald went to a Thai/Japanese buffet (which was ALL YOU CAN EAT!!!) and had more food than I've ever had before in my life. I think the total was around 47 pieces of sushi and that didn't even include the other food (so much for that maintaining my weight thing :P)

So for now I bid you adieu, because I've literally heard no french while I've been here. Although we did meet some wickens... that was interesting

Anyways, I let you get back to the normal thing that you normal people do.

Loves's and handshakes

Elder Wolford

Letter #2: Sick of the MTC

This is my second and final week at the MTC, and boy am I anxious. There came a point while I was studying that I couldn't take it anymore, me and my companion looked at each other and we both knew what we were going to say "Get us to the field". Although we're happy to be leaving soon it's also kind of sad. This is the only time in our lives we'll get to be missionaries at the MTC (for the foreseeable future anyways) and thinking about that almost makes me want to stay longer... Almost. I've found that little everyday things have become alien to me, I remember going to the field to play some spikeball and a car whizzed by playing some tunes. I couldn't put my finger on it until I paid attention, it was so weird. I've only been here for a very short amount of time and I'm already confused by the world. Crazy right?

I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone for their letters and emails. They are great rays of happiness from day to day and mean a lot to me. It's refreshing to be apart of the loop of normal day to day activities.

As for what I've been doing... This week we have had two TRC's (don't ask me what it stands for because I don't know) A girl who we think is a member and a guy from Japan, who is an investigator recommended by his friends. Going in to teach the girl we were really nervous because another companionship in our district had taught her before and said it was a disaster, but as we taught we took the time to get to know her and she really opened up. The guy from Japan was awesome! He's always so into the lessons and conversations and asks the greatest questions. It's funny because as I help them become converted I find myself become more fully converted. In a talk by Jeffery R. Holland he said that "You are the Lord's investigator. You want your investigators to become converted and He wants you to become converted also." Even in the MTC Elder Holland is making my eyebrows burn a little bit. We did get to hear from Elder Anderson, and the rumor going around right now is that we'll get another Apostle for the devotional this coming Sunday. Keep your fingers crossed.

My companion doesn't know anything about Brandon Sanderson.

I pray that everyone is doing well and that you all are seeing the Lord in your life. I'll stop preaching for now and say that I love you all and am thankful for all that you've done for me.

Your veteran in the MTC, (not like that means much)


Elder Wolford


P.S This (Thursday) is my last P-Day at the MTC, so I'll probably either take a week and a half to email back once I know my P-Day in Toronto.

Letter #1: The MTC-iest

The We Got Rules blog has languished since Instagram and Facebook became much easier to share the events of our little family.

For the next couple of years we're going to do some missionary letter posting mostly to keep track of stuff.  I'm going to make a pie-crust promise of good intentions to do some more writing, but . . .


So here we go:

Letter #1: The MTC-iest

To the Fam and the friends and anyone else on We Got Rules:


I can hardly believe that I've only been here at the MTC one week! It seems like an eternity since I was kicked out of the car and missed out on some Dairy Queen (joking... mostly). It's been a lot of fun and a lot of good work, I originally had two companions, and we referred to ourselves as the Tripanionship, sadly that has been changed so now I only have one. My and Elder Deweese, who's awesome! Let me answer a couple of questions, I can't remember them all so I'll try my best.

First off, I don't remember taping anything to anything so it probably wasn't me... (Anna did it)


I haven't partaken of the orange juice, partially because cranberry seems much more appealing early in the morning.

There are no cotton-candy smelling trees at the MTC, although I haven't sniffed them all yet so that may change.

My district is considered the loud but spiritual district, I'll let individuals decide for themselves which attribute I connect to.

If I had to tell the biggest temptation the devil is giving me right now it would be the MTC food. It's everywhere. (help me)


That's just a few of the many wonderful and terrible things going on here, including a spikeball game every morning and a sand volleyball tournament coming up this Friday, the other district in our zone challenged us and we couldn't just let that insult stand. There hasn't really been anything spectacular that's happened yet, although we heard that only two weeks ago the missionaries were watching a video called the "Character of Christ" (made me cry, it's so powerful) by Elder Bednar, and when the lights came back on after it was over Elder Bednar himself was standing at the podium and said "Alright, are there any questions?" I missed that by TWO WEEKS!!! Apparently Elder Bednar likes sneaking into the MTC and surprising the missionaries. Which keeps us all on our toes. The way our Branch President explained it to us it sounded like he might walk into our classroom one day if they were feeling like it. I can only hope we get an apostle before I head out to the mission that would be incredible.

I tried the MTC Choir one night but the other we were teaching an investigator so I wasn't able to perform with them, but it sounded really good. The conductor is incredible, he sounds like that guy at the beginning of General Conference that says "Welcome to the 185th Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" it was the first good choir experience I'd had since ward choir.

Other than that everything has become normal, except for when I wake up I dread my alarm clock going off. Usually what happens is a wake up at about 6:20 and wait in fear and anticipation for it to go off, knowing that when it does I have to get up but not having the desire to rest for another ten minutes.

"I wanna be the best, that no one ever was!"
Elder Wolford


P.S Book idea: A group of two thousand young men go to war to fight for their fathers, their country and their liberty... I think I can claim divine inspiration on that one.


To Mom:

I'm feeling good, the spirit is constantly giving me revelation and filling me and others. There is so much that I want to say but I'll just keep it brief because I only have one hour to write to you all. My testimony in the week I've been here has become a thousand times more powerful, I know that my Redeemer lives and that the Book of Mormon is a true book and that it blesses the children of our Heavenly Father. I've seen it already, the blessings that people receive when they decide to come closer to Christ. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be here and am excited to tell you all more....


Also just a question, Sister Nebeker told me that when I'm washing whites I don't want to press the 'white' button on the washer but the 'bright colors' button because colder water doesn't shrink or fade the whites, could you give me your guidance?

To Dad:

I'm not going to pretend that I heard all of your advice but I did listen to a couple of things, like... Things. I think the majority of my problems are taken care of by the fact that everything had been scheduled out for me. The first three days were really hard getting used to everything, but after Sunday I feel like you get used to being exhausted and just roll with everything. I would have put my orange dot on this Wednesday but it halfway tore off of my tag. I did get to say "Welcome to the MTC!" about a thousand times, so that was fun. I thought your comic was good, but I have an Elder from Canada who would vehemently (and when I say that I mean a little annoyed) with you over the superior scale of measurement.

To Anna:
You'll never guess who's in my district. YOUR FIANCE!!!! Elder Jared Thompson is going to the Nashville Tennessee and when I walked in the room for our district he yelled 'Brother!' and I was like 'what?' so I hate to tell you this but you're going to have to break it off with Dallin and start writing to Elder Thompson. Sorry. Also I'm disclosing (maybe, we haven't figured out how to send pictures yet) a picture of my companion and me, you can tell me if he's cute because honestly I can't tell. So jeron.thompson@myldsmail.net is his email so I'm expecting confirmation from him that he got a message from you.

To Becca and Ellie:
I love and miss both of you, even doing dishes with you... just kiddin. (did I sound like Ellie there?) I can't answer much now because my companion is telling me we need to do some laundry but send me some questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

Check my email Tommy :)

Love you Mimi and Alice, by nice at FHE


I shared a picture with Dad and Mom, but tell me if they made it through... Me companion Elder Deweese is standing next to me looking epic


I wish I could write a little more but it would seem my time is up for today.

The mish
Elder Wolford