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