September 22, 2014 - Week 38

Un-Lucky Week! This week was just that. The truth is that it was pretty funny, all that happened... But also pretty unlucky. So let`s start with the beginning.

Tuesday, we had to go to Asunción because my companion has like a rash on her back and needed medicine from the nurse in the office. So, we first went to visit Elsa, just for her to tell us that she forgot we were coming and didn`t have time to visit... I am pretty worried about her. I don`t know what happened, but it`s like she has an excuse for everything now. I hope we get the opportunity to talk with her soon! But, anyway, after Elsa... We got on a colectivo and went to Asunción. Everything went well, we got the medicine and then got on another colectivo to get to our area again. Well, we usually have to take two colectivos to get to our actual area, so when we got to the area to change colectivos, we got off, and waited for the next. Along comes one of the three that we can take to get to our area... Or so I thought. I was seriously almost positive that it was the correct colectivo... But, no. We totally got lost in Paraguay! It actualy isn`t as bad as it sounds... We are pretty sure, though, that we were lost in the other mission. But, it`s all good! We just took another colectivo back to where we waited before and waited for the correct one.

 

So, that was the first instance. But then, we had a good few, normal days. We ended having divisions with the hermana leaders and I was with.... HERMANA HUNT! It was so great. I was so happy to see her again and especially spend a whole day and night with her. We had a really good day, too, to be honest. But, we didn`t speak english! Hermana Hunt has a goal to speak spanish until the end of her mission so that she will never ever forget how to speak in spanish. She has like 5 months left in her mission and is really doing it! So, I felt weird if she talked to me in spanish and I answered in english... So we just ended up speaking spanish the whole day. So, that was interesting. But, it was a fun division. Then, in the morning before we went to meet up with our companions, we had a service project with the elders. We went to the area that is like next to ours to help a member move all these rocks and dirt in front of her house to the back of her house... It was fun! And... It was raining. Pouring rain. So, that was quite the experience. We really just moved mud around, but we got the job done and it was good.

 

So, that was a good day, but then Friday night, some more bad luck came my way. At about like 5 or 6 o`clock in the night, my tooth started to kill. My companion looked at it and told me that one of my fillings has like a cavity next to it?? I don`t really know completely... But it was aching all night. So when we got back to the house, I called Hermana Fuller (the nurse) and she said she would set an appointment with the dentist. But when I was getting ready to go to bed, the pain miraculously stopped. And then came the worst... I got SICK. So, I haven`t been sick in the mission yet and I was pretty proud of that. But, Friday night, I was in the bathroom ALL night. Just sick. I am like positive that it was the lunch that we ate on Friday. So, first time that the food has made me sick here in Paraguay. But, ALLLLL day Saturday I was feeling horrible. The truth is that we didn`t get anything done cuz I was just in the bathroom and in my bed for the majority of the day. It sucked! But, I haven`t had any problems with my tooth and so I don`t know what is really going on with that?? But, yeah. Sick all day Saturday. But, Sunday comes around and I was feeling great!

So it was just a one day thing and I am fine now. Ever finally came to church on Sunday. So, that is good news. He just needs to get baptized already. I am hoping that he is really wanting to change and stuff now cuz hermana Hunt and I had a good lesson with him about how he needs to see his future different. Like visualize it and stuff. He needs to change his thoughts cuz our thoughts lead to actions. So, we will see. But, Sunday for lunch was quite the story. We ate with the family that we always eat with. And they served us something pretty weird. It`s called mondongo. And I`ll have you know that I will never eat it again. It is so gross!! It is like the part of the cow`s stomache that surrounds the sack that stores the...... Crap. The crap sack!! YEAH. And it tastes like it too... So, that was a new experience. A new and gross experience.

 

So that was my interesting week this week. Today, also, for p-day we went to this museum of mythology or something? And it was pretty cool. We went with some elders in our area and it was fun. Then, we went to eat at this restaurant of Peruvian food. Cuz my companion and one of the elders in our ward are from Peru. It was delicious! Seriously, so good. But, while we were on our way there... We were just walking down the street... And I tripped. And fell down. Like ALL the way. I fell down HARD. I scraped up all my knees and everything. But, it didn`t hurt too bad and the truth is I was more worried that I broke my glasses than anything.. Which I didn`t. They are fine. But, yeah. I fell down and that sucked pretty bad, too. It all just happened so fast. The elders had no clue how it happened. Hahaha but I am fine. So yeah. That was my week! A pretty good one! But, we are looking forward to a better week. A week more full of luck, maybe? That would be good... Anyways... Hope you guys have a fantastic week, too!! LOVE YOUUUUUU!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

September 15, 2014 - Week 37

Chloe and her new Companion

Hermana... Chuquicallata. That is her name. That is the name of my new companion!! It is pronounced like Chu-key-kie-ata (so you know...). But, she is cool! She was like in an area that is pretty close, too. Like me when I left Itaugua. She was like in my stake and everything. And I knew her before cuz I lived with her in the CCM! She was one of my latina roommates! So, that was funny that now I am companions with her. She is cool though. She is from Peru. Like and area super close to Machu Pichu. She´s really laid back and kinda shy and quiet... But, that is changing cuz I am ALWAYS talking with her. So, now she talks to me. But, the truth is that she has a cool story. She is 21 and the ONLY member of her family. Her parents and brothers and sisters don´t support her in the mission, but she is here anyway! She was baptized when she was 17 and was baptized in secret cuz her family doesn´t support it! Her family doesn´t even write her. So it´s crazy, but so cool to me that she is here in the mission and stuff cuz she knows that it´s the truth!! It´s not like they don´t want to write her, they just ´´don´t have time´´. But, it is so cool that she sacrificed all of that... Like the relationship with her own family to come out here and serve the Lord! She has also had like a miracle story in the mission about a tumor (or cyst, maybe?) that she had in the mission that miraculously disappeared! So, that is cool!! (It´s a bit more detailed and cooler than just that, but that is the long story short).

So yeah! We received changes in the zone meeting that we had on Tuesday in the morning. And... President is going to do that every change now... So, looks like I won´t know changes on the p-day before the transfers... Sad. But, I guess it´s what the Lord wants cuz President receives revalation for these kinds of things. But, I received the news that she would be coming to Aratiri!

This week was a good one. Pretty different cuz Hermana Pelicó wasn´t with me. But, I know the area and the members and stuff, so it is good. Also, Hermana Pelicó wrote me today and told me that she is doing good and stuff in her house. I miss her! But, it´s all good. I know that me and Hermana Chuquicallata will be great friends. But, speaking of Hermana Pelicó, her surprise farewell was awesome!! She totally thought we had like a meeting with the bishop and the other leaders of the ward on Tuesday night. So, we were like going to the church and when we got there, the elders told us that we were late and the bishop already left. Then, they said like we needed to go into the cultural hall. We walked down the hall to go in and all the sudden... One of the elders put his tie around Hermana Pelicó´s eyes! We lead her into the cultural hall and then everyone shouts ´´SURPRESA!!!!´´ And all the members were there!!! She just hugs me and starts crying. She was so happy and had no idea!! So, it went really well. It was hard to say goodbye, but we  will always be like best friends. Plus, she says that she is going to come to Utah FOR SURE to see me and also see the Salt Lake Temple in winter time with the lights in Temple Square... So that should be good!! 

So... For our week. We had a really awesome lesson with Ever this week. I was a little worried to visit him, cuz he really was sad about Hermana Pelicó leaving. But, it went good! He was all excited and ready to really change things. He told us that he would quit FOR GOOD smoking and come to church and stuff. It was seriously a great lesson. And... He broke my heart cuz he didn´t come to church! Ugh... He makes me soooo mad! But, we will see what happens with him.

Then, Elsa.... Ugh we called her to remind her about church and she told us she couldn´t come. So now I don´t know what is up with her. But, we have an appointment with her on Tuesday, so we will verify with her on the whole baptism thing...

That is about it! We had a great week and are looking forward to an even better one! Today, for p-day, we had a zone activity and so that was pretty fun. We like cooked hamburgers and played soccer (well, the elders played soccer...) But, it was fun. I also realized that I am the ONLY American hermana in my zone. The rest are all latinas! That is just a fun fact for ya. Have a great week and I love you so much!!!

LOVE, HERMANA WHITTAKER <3

September 8, 2014 - Week 36

There goes my comapnion... We had another pretty good week.  Pretty normal, but also pretty full of stuff. Hermana Pelicó is getting ready to go home, so we had a lot of packing going on over the week. The truth  is we didn´t even have good lessons this week cuz it has been so busy with everything!

But, as far as investigators go, things aren´t looking too good right now. So, first of all, Elsa didn´t come to church again. We don´t know why cuz she wouldn´t answer her phone.  But, I am sure that everything is fine and we will have the chance to visit her this week. On the other hand, Ever, we just don´t know what is going on with him. He is hardly ever home and we don´t know what he is doing. Really, it´s just a little bit sad cuz it´s like he has competely lost his desire to change his life and be baptized. But, we will see what happens with him. 

The truth is, we didn´t do too many things this week! It really was just full of packing and getting ready for my companion to go to Guatamala again! It´s so crazy.  I can´t believe how fast this change is going. I still haven´t received my changes, so I STILL don´t know who will be my companion!! It´s driving me insane! But, anyway, it is a little bit sad, well, a lot sad, that Hermana Pelicó is leaving. These 6 weeks have seriously  been so full of spiritual experiences and laughing and just fun things. She really is a great companion and super awesome missionary. She really knows the scriptures and the gospel and stuff. So, I have learned some things from her. We packed like all of her stuff and also, the other p-day, we went and visited one of her old areas. The bishop over there made us a dinner and it was just really cute and nice. They all love her a ton.  Then, yesterday, we had her last Sunday is Paraguay. She bore her testimony, obviously, and then we had a really good lunch with the other missionaries and a family that are recent converts (the people whose house we painted that one time). It was fun! And delicious. Then, we went to another area that she served. It is like really close to our area and we went to visit some members that she loves. They were all super excited to see her, too. So, it was fun.

Also, I am throwing a surprise farewell for my companion (which--I don´t know how I did cuz it´s a little bit hard to do surprise things for people that are with you 24/7... But, I did!) On Tuesday night, the members are going to be in the church and then we are going to get there and they are going to shout surprise. Hopefully it all works out. She has no clue, I´m pretty sure. But, there will be like empanadas and a cake. The elders are going to buy that stuff cuz I obviously can´t... Anyway it will be simple, but should be fun! I am sure she will be so happy!

But, that is seriously all we did. Today, we have to go to Asunción to have her final interview and then we have to do a family home evening for the 15 year old that lives in front of us (or--we live in her backyard) because today is her 15th birthday! And, if you didn´t know, 15th birthdays here are like the Sweet 16 in the States. So, she is having a huge party and we were asked to do a small family home evening in the area where they are doing her party before. So, that should be fun!

I still don´t know changes and so, you guys probably won´t know until next week! When I already have my new companion. So, that is all! Sorry it wasn´t a cool week, but, it´s all good.

Love, Hermana Whittaker!!!

September 1, 2014 - Week 35

So, we had another really great week. I can`t believe how fast it has gone by, actually. I now have 8 months in the mission and the weeks just go by faster and faster! It`s crazy! But, we had some great experiences this week. 

We first taught Elsa on Tuesday. She is doing really good and is progressing REALLY good. So, we went to her house to teach her and we taught her the Word of Wisdom and the 10 Commandments. It went really well. She always has like so many questions for us and stuff and I love it! It just shows us that she really wants to understand and learn, you know?? Also, something that I just love is that we know that she is ready and that she knows that this is the true church and stuff. While we were teaching the Word of Wisdom, she was really sincere with us and said, ``Well, I`m not going to lie, I have had alcohol and stuff before, but I am willing to avoid ALL of that to follow this commandment.`` It is just so cool to see her progress and stuff. So, that went great. 

Then, we also ended up finding this guy Ever and he had some good news for us. Turns out that he received his ``freedom`` (the paper that he has been waiting for to be baptized) and he was just sooooo excited! He told us that he was going to stop smoking for real and get baptized before Hermana Pelicò leaves to go home. We had a really great and super spiritual lesson with him and stuff. Then, we visited him the other day (like Friday) and he told us that he smoked 2 cigarettes. He seriously has such the desire to be baptized and has a huge knowledge of the gospel (because my companion has been working with him for like 6 months now), but he just needs to leave behind this small thing in his life and it is just so hard for him... So, my companion shared something in the Bible about Naman who had leprosy and had to bathe in the Jordan River 7 times to cure it and related it to him and it was a SUPER cool lesson... Super spiritual and stuff. He was like so ready and excited to quit then and there and prepare to be baptized the 6th. But, my companino, after the lesson, told me that she isn`t going to be content until she sees him in the waters of baptism.... Which makes sense cuz he didn`t end up coming to church this week and no one knows why.... So, we`ll have to see. But, either way, it was a cool week with him.

So, Elsa didn`t show up to church this week either. But, we talked to her on the phone and she told us that she wanted to go so bad and that she is so sorry, but she was like really sick. The thing is the weather is changing like a ton right now... Like in the beginning of the week it was cold and by the end it was like super hot and humid. It`s just weird here in Paraguay. It`s a lot like Utah. But, anyways, she couldn`t come cuz of that. So her baptism date will just have to be changed to the next week, but that is ok! My companion isn`t even sad that it will be after she leaves... She is just happy that she is going to get baptized.

Also, on Tuesday night, we assisted a baptism of an 8 year old in our ward cuz his mom asked us to sing a song. We sang a sweet spanish/english version of ``A Child`s Prayer``. It was really cool. So, that was pretty fun.

And.... The best part of it all was that I went to the temple on Saturday!!! I totally forgot to mention that to you guys the other week, but my companion had the opportunity to see a family that she taught in one of her other areas (they were an inactive family for 6 years and she re-activated them) get sealed in the temple!! And since I am her companion... I got to go, too! And let me tell you... It was sooooo amazing. The first time I have ever seen a sealing and it was incredible!! Seriously. So, we got to the temple around like 1 and had some extra time. We were STARVING so we ate some lunch. And the only place that was close by was Burger King. So, we ate Burger King. It was delicious. Seriously... I haven`t had American fast food in 8 months and so it was like SUPER good. So, that was pretty fun. Then, we met up with the family in the temple and went in to do the session with them. It was so cool! I just love the temple, so it was just awesome to get to go again. Then, after the session, we went to see the sealing!! It was literally amazing. This family was just so happy. They had their two little kids and it was just awesome. So, that was pretty fun.

And that is about it for this week. Again, it was full of cool things and the awesome experience of seeing this family be sealed for all time and eternity. This change is coming to an end and we only have a week left together! I will be finding out my new companion in one week. Me and Hermana Pelicò are really good friends, so it is pretty sad that she is going... But, we will write eachother every Monday!!! ;) I hope you guys have a fantastic week! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker