August 18, 2014 - Week 33

So this week was pretty fun, to be honest. We had a really really full week, so it felt like it went by so fast! It was crazy. But, it was fun.

So, we started off with a mini division with the Herm! ana Leaders. That was pretty good. They called us like Tuesday morning to ask us if we could do divisions after the district meeting that day. We said sure, but that we had choir practice in the night (other story...). So they both came into our area and we did a small 4 hour division in our area, the four of us. So after the meeting, Hermana Gutierrez and Hermana Hunt came to Aratiri. I KNEW that I wouldn`t be with Hermana Hunt cuz it was just too good to be true. And, I wasn`t... :( But I did get to see her and that was good enough for me! I can`t even believe it, but she has like a year now in the mission! It is so crazy how fast the time goes! But, anyway, I went with Hermana Gutierrez and we had a few lessons. I didn`t get TOO lost in my new area so that was good. Haha but it was pretty fun. 

So then after we had choir practice. There was a competition with the different wards in our stake to sing and then the winner will sing for the Stake Conference or something. So, our ward, Aratiri, took it really seriously and we had choir practice every night this past week. We got really good and even had a pianist that is the boyfriend of one of the girls in our ward. We sang, ``I`m Trying to be like Jesus``. So, Friday came and we had our performance. It went good! We most definitely won the competition. Well, it wasn`t like there was much competition, to be honest... Like only three wards performed and we went definitely the best. So, we will be singing in the Stake Conference. But, that went really good. But, me and my companion received a surprise that night. So, after all the wards sang, the Stake President went up to give a talk. As he was talking, he decided to take us by surprise and asked us... The hermana missionaries to come up and sing with him Joseph Smith`s First Prayer... So we did!! And it was really good! So that was pretty fun!! Then, we went outside and ate some cake because it was someone`s birthday. And then we ate Lomito with the Elders.

 

But, also something else that happened was we had a Zone Conference on Wednesday. That was pretty good, just also spiritually exhausting. Seriously. It was like a ton of practices cuz while we were doing the practices, President McMullin was doing interviews with the missionaries. What we had to do was ridiculous! We had to teach The Restoration in 15 minutes and then talk about how we could do better for 5 minutes and then do it AGAIN in 15 minutes!! Talk about crazy. And not only that, but we had to do that with The Plan of Salvation, The Sabbath Day, and ``God Reveals His Gospel in Every Dispensation``. It was really hard, that last one... But, it was good cuz we learned a lot. Also, we were quizzed on how well we know the scriptures. Like there are 100 that we need to learn. So, it was a LONG day. Also, I had a interview with the President and it went well! Also, I got a new temple recommend.

ALSO... I got my package!! I just wanna say THANK YOU! It was so great!! I was sooo happy to receive those goldfish!! YUM! You can bet that I ate almost all of them like the minute I opened them! But, thank you so much cuz I have now a brush and I love that nail polish! And the photos! I just loved that!! They are so cute and I have showed them to just about everyone! The one of me in the front is so funny. I just tell people that it is cuz my birthday is on Halloween.... ;) But seriously... It was so great to receive that package!!

 

So that is about all for this week. It was full of tons of stuff, but really productive and super fast! I can`t believe that it is already Monday! Also, on Saturday, my companion got sick from some food that we ate at a member`s house. Not like super sick, but she had to stay in the house for a few house and rest a bit. So that is all that happened!! I love you guys so much and I hope you have a fantastic week. LOVE YOU TONS!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

August 11, 2014 - Week 32

Well, this week was a pretty good one. I am still getting to know the area and stuff and getting to know the members. Everyone is pretty cool here. Really tranquilo. We didn`t have too much success with numbers and stuff. There were like 2 days that we weren`t feeling too good so we didn`t get a ton done... But, it was a good week. We have an investigator named Ever that my companion has been working with for like a few months and he was like all ready to get baptized and stuff, but he is waiting for like a document to be ready so that he can be baptized. I think that it is just something legal that he is waiting for. But, he was all ready to go and he like gave up smoking and everything for like 2 months. Then.... His document wasn`t ready in time and he got sad about it and just recently started smoking again. Like my first week here. And so we have been trying to find him to figure out what happened and stuff and we just barely found him this week. Like on Wednesday. And really, he told us that he wants to get baptized and change his life and stuff... But we just don`t know what he is going to really do about it. So, that was really sad and hard for my companion, cuz she has like worked SO hard with this guy for such a long time. But, we are going to see what happens and see if he really has this desire to change. So, as for investigators, that is about it. We haven`t found anyone too cool yet... But we are gonna really look for some people that can progress this week.

This week we became pretty close, my companion and I. She is cool and we are just really good friends. She is laughing at me like all the time. Even when I`m not trying to be funny. HAHA so it`s always a good time. It`s just a really fun companionship. This week on Saturday, we had the youth activity thing called Zion to the Rescue. I was like SOOO excited to go cuz I would get to see Hermana Morales... And guess what. SHE DIDN`T COME!!! Her new companion was like really sick, so I understand why she couldn`t come. But, still... Haha it was a bit sad. But, I sent with Hermana Meese the pictures that I printed out of all the people in Itaugua that I wrote on so that Hermana Morales can pass them out to all the families. So that was like all that happened in Zion to the Rescue. It was pretty lame this time, honestly. But also, Hermana Meese gave me a note that the familia Portillo wrote me! It was so cute and just made my day. She also gave me the news that Belèn was getting baptized that day. So, in the night I called Hermana Morales and she told me that Belèn got baptized and that she is so happy and that things are going great. She said that Belèn was a little bit sad cuz I wasn`t there to see it, but that she is so happy. So that made me really happy!

So that is about all for this week. Nothing TOO special. We are going to do a diet called the ``soup diet``. That should be fun. We also have been practicing for choir this whole week with our ward cuz there is going to be some sort of competition of choirs with all of the wards in our stake this coming week?? I don`t really understand what is going on, but it has been fun! Today for P-day we played volleyball with our zone, but then left cuz the elders started to play soccer and none of the hermanas wanted to play. But, it was pretty fun. I am excited to see how this next week goes. Sorry this week is so short! But nothing too interesting happened. 

Also,  something else that is cool is that I logged on to my email and had 19 emails! WOO!

LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCH!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

August 4, 2014 - Week 31

Ok... So everything is definitely super different. But, it is also really good. So let`s start with the beginning of this week... Monday in the night time, we went to visit Saùl and he was doing just great. Getting prepared for his baptism and stuff. Then, we told them about the changes. They were sad and said that the didn`t want me to leave, but like as for Saùl... He was still good for baptism! So, that was cool! I said bye to all of them and stuff and it was sad... But I was just so happy that Saùl was making this decision and that he really has just changed so much. It is really so cool to think about how far he has come and progressed. So that happened Monday.

Hermana Whittaker with Familia Portillo

And then came Tuesday.... The hardest day of my mission so far...... So, we went to say goodbye to like ALLLL the families in Itaugua. I was doing pretty good, you know, with saying bye and being ok with it. Everyone was pretty sad and I was like SOOO sad... But, I was trying to keep it all together. So we were about 3 families in and we were walking to the Portillo house and I see Angel. So, I went over to tell him what was happening, and also to give him his triple (cuz he got baptized...the missionaries give a triple). When we told him... He started to cry. And he just threw his arms around me and hugged me. And he just couldn`t stop crying. It was horrible. I felt so sad! So, I have like tears in my eyes and all... Uhhh. It was just so hard! I never would have thought that he would react like that! I couldn`t believe it. So, after that, we went to the Portillo house..... Yeah. I was bawling. It was so hard to say goodbye to them! Even though I know that I will for sure come back to see them before I leave... It was so hard!! Hermana Portillo was just crying, I was crying, EVERYONE WAS CRYING. But, it was ok. Cuz, I know that I will see them again and we will always stay in touch. But, it was still so hard. Then, we went to familia Flores and then Mendez... And then we had a farewell party for Hermana Francois (cuz she finished her mission) and they also kinda made it for me. They made me say some words and like bear my testimony. So that was so sweet of them. I just love Itaugua! And when I told everyone where I was going, they all said... ``Oh! That is so close! We will definitely see you around!`` (Cuz, literally, Aratiri is like 25 minutes away from Itaugua). So it was just a really hard and sad and good few last days in Itaugua.

Hermana Whittaker & Hermana Francois

It was hard to say goodbye to Hermana Morales, but everything will be fine. She is literally like my best friend and I KNOW we will see eachother around. Plus, she told me she is going to go to Utah after the mish... ;)

Ok, so changes. We got to the office like at 7 in the morning on Wednesday and waited around for a while. I got to see like everyone who was in the CCM with me, so that was fun. Then, my companion got there. And we went to my new area! So, it is pretty normal, but a whole lot smaller than Itaugua. Like you can walk the whole thing. So, that was cool. Also, our house is pretty cute. It is just a small house with a small kitchen, bathroom, and two rooms (one to sleep and one to study) and it is in the backyard of a member`s house. I really like it! It was a bit weird at first, only living in two... But I am used to it now and it is fun! Ok. So, now let`s talk about my new companion. Hermana Pelicò is from Guatemala. She is just about done with her mission... Only has 5 weeks left, now. And is awesome! We actually are really good friends and get along great. We both are talking all the time and it is just super fun. I have also learned a lot from her from just watching how she teaches in the lessons and stuff. So things are great with her! I am learning the area and we are getting to know each other. Well, like we are already pretty good friends, so that is really good! :)

Hermana Whittaker & Hermana Pelico

So, Wednesday, we got to know a few people, and then in the night, the ward had an activity for El Dìa de Amistad (Friendship Day). Then, Thursday I got to know a lot of the area and a lot of the members that live in our area. Then, Friday... Was my companion`s birthday! So we kinda just had a party all day. I bought her a cake and then there was a member who gave us hot chocolate to celebrate, and then, at the night, we had a party with the members who live in front of us! They made hotdogs and had a cake for her! So, it was a really fun and special day for her. Then, Saturday comes along, and we did a service activity. We went to a recent convert`s house in the Elders` area (that is another thing... we are like actually friends with the elders here...And it isn`t like that in Itaugua!) and helped them paint their house! It took a while, so that is like all of what we did that day. And then, we watched Charly with them. Which is like a movie about the church... Haha it was so fun and the family is just awesome. They are a complete family that got baptized like 2 months ago and are already preparing to go to the temple in a year. So Saturday was like way fun. Then, Sunday, we went to church, I got to know some more members, and then ate lunch with that same family in the Elders` area to celebrate Hermana Pelicò`s birthday. Then, today.. For P-day, we went to San Lorenzo (which is like WAY close now) to eat Pizza Hut with the elders and some other Hermana`s. Hermana Morales and her companion couldn`t come, but Hermana Meese and her new companion did. It was fun!

Hermana Whittaker & Pelico at mall for P-Day

So, yeah, I miss Itaugua. I love the people and they will always have a special place in my heart. But, so far, Aratiri is awesome and I love this change! It has been going super great here. I am excited to see how things go this change. So, that is about all. I know... It`s like so long. But, so much has happened this week! I am glad that you guys had so much fun, too. Have another great week! 

LOVE, Hermana Whittaker

P.S.--I talked to Hermana Morales and Saùl got baptized this Saturday and he couldn`t be happier!!! :)

July 28, 2014 - Week 30

Well, first of all... Another change down. 6 weeks just flew by and I have no clue where they went. This whole week, I have been just like thinking in changes. They have seriously been on the back of my mind this WHOLE week. And the worst was yesterday in church. Everyone was telling me that they don´t want me to leave Ituauga. They were all saying... ´´We are all going to pray that you stay!!´´ Also, I just really love my companion. So much! So I was just like a worried wreck yesterday... So, today comes and I am just like so nervous!! After our studies, the district leader FINALLY calls and...........

I am changing areas... I am going to an area called Aratiri and I am going to be companions with a latina. Hermana Pelicó. So those are the changes that are happening with me. I am leaving my beloved Itaugua. Really, I am pretty sad to be leaving. I mean, I have spent a third of my mission here and I just love the people. But, I am excited to learn and be in a new part of Paraguay. The thing that I am most scared for is my companion... She has a reputation of being really strict and ´´drop cane´´. But, also, they say she is nice and she is a hard worker, so I will probably learn lots from her ;) But, also, this is her last change in the mission. She is going to end her mission with me. So, for sure I will only have 6 weeks with her. (Not in a bad way, just a fact... haha) Good news is that this area, Aratiri, is like pretty close to Itaugua. In fact, it is in the same stake! So when we do stake activities (which is really just Zion to the Rescue--with the youth) I will see some of the youth from Itaugua and also Hermana Morales! Haha, also, I have been to the area (Zion to the Rescue from a few weeks ago) and it is really cool! It is a nice area. I am excited to get to know all the members and see what it is like. The person that is coming to Itaugua to take my place is Hermana Seeman. She was with me in the CCM in Argentina, so that is pretty cool! My companion is worried though, cuz I told her that Hermana Seeman is pretty shy--because she is. Something else that I found out is... Hermana Hunt got called to be an Hermana Training Leader! I totally knew it, too. I was not even surprised when I found out. She is going to be such a great hermana leader! She is like freaking out, though... She doesn´t feel like she is prepared. But, she totally is! So that is what is happening with changes. I am leaving... :(

Familia Maldonado - Saul is in pink shirt

But, now let´s talk about Saúl. So, he did not get baptized this week cuz when we went to talk to him last Monday, he told us that the 2nd of August would be a lot better for him. Really, he wants to find work so that he can buy clothes to look nice for his baptism (pretty sure). So, we gave him that date. When he said that though, my heart dropped, cuz I knew that there would be a huge chance that I would get changed and not be able to be there. And... Look what happened. But, really, the only thing that is important is that he is getting baptized. Hopefully! He really is so ready and I have seen him change SOOO much! But, yesterday at church, his sister, Sandra, was talking to me and was asking me if I was going to get changed. I told her that I didn´t know and that we would know tomorrow. Then she says, ´´And what will happen with my brother if you get changed??´´ ´´Well, he is gonna get baptized!´´... is what I was thinking. Apparently, Saúl is a person who doesn´t like change and really, he is very used to us--me and Hermana Morales--and doesn´t want us to change. So, I am pretty sure that everything will be fine and he will get bapized and just be so happy. But, that did make me even more sad! I honestly don´t know what I am going to do tomorrow with the members when I go to visit them. Seriously, it is gonna break my heart. But also, I know SI O SI that I will be coming back to Itaugua to visit the people. They are literally like my family here in Paraguay! But anyway, that is the news on Saúl. He will be getting baptized this weekend.

That is about all that happened for this week. I also went on divisions with Hermana Meese this week in her area cuz Hermana Francois was sick really bad for like 3 days and they couldn´t work in their area, so they needed help! Really, Hermana Francois got sick cuz of stress. She has just worked so hard her whole mission that now, in the end, she just got overwhelmed with stress trying to get everything ready to go. Like, school stuff, she is worried about her mom cuz she is sick... Stuff like that. So, Hermana Morales stayed with Hermana Francois at home and I went out with Hermana Meese. It was pretty fun! I had an American companion again for a day! ;)

The main thing for this week is changes and I am sure I will have a lot more to say in the next email cuz it will be a WHOLE DIFFERENT experience. I was like packing my stuff today and  I seriously feel like I am leaving on my mission all over again. I don´t like it! Plus, I am REALLY REALLY REALLY gonna miss Hermana Morales. She is seriously my sister. But, obviously the Lord needs me in Aratiri with Hermana Pelicó cuz if He didn´t.... I wouldn´t have gotten changes there! ;) So, everything will be ok. I hope you have a great week. I know I will probably have a pretty crazy one changing areas and stuff. Let you know about it next week! Love you! Also, can you believe that now it´s 7 months here?? Crazy! LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

Kids from Cañada - Jeny & Damien

Hermana Whittaker in Cañada

Hermana Whittaker with Sandra Maldonado (she wants to become a missionary)

Hermanas Whittaker & Moralez - winter wear!

July 21, 2014 - Week 29

Hey! So this week was a good one. The best thing is that we have seen a lot of progress with Saúl! We are like so excited for him. So, I told you the last week that he totally said the prayer and it was such a mirales, right? Well, guess what happened this week! So, we planned on going to his house to visit him like 3 different times this past week... And 2 of those times, we had to cancel! So, we cancelled on Tuesday cuz my companion was feeling super sick (long story short...a member that gave us lunch on Tuesday also gave us this coconut water that was DISGUSTING. I drank all of mine-cuz it´s rude to not-but, my companion like almost threw-up at the table... Haha it was so funny! But, in the end, she just got sick from it...) so, we cancelled and his mom told us that it was totally ok... So then, we were supposed to go on Wednesday and we were at some other members house way too late and didn´t have time to take a colectivo to the Maldonado´s house. They live like way far from where we live. So, we cancelled again! But, when we called his mom (Lourdes) she told us that it was ok, again, but that Saúl has a surprise for us the next day. So we are like freaking out and we wanna know what this surprise is! So, the next day comes along and we are like si o si we need to go to his house. And we ALMOST didn´t cuz it looked like it was going to rain hard (and long story short AGAIN, when it rains like super hard, there are no colectivos on the street where they live... so we would be stranded...) But, we took a leap of faith and went! And no, it didn´t rain... So that was grand. But, we got there are..... HE WASN´T EVEN THERE!!!!! He was like in another city for work. So, we didn´t even get to talk to him! But, Lourdes told us that the surprise is that he wants to get baptized THIS SATURDAY!!! So I am like so excited and like really shooting for this week, cuz it´s before changes!! Haha and I´m not saying anything, cuz really only President McMullin and the Lord know changes, but, it is just a lot more sure if he gets baptized while I am for sure still in Itaugua! Haha, so that was the cool thing that happend. Also, he came to church on Sunday and told us that he would tell us the surprise when we visit him... HAHA he doesn´t know that we know the surprise... But, we are going to visit him tonight to figure everything out! Hopefully things go smoothly cuz seriously, I have seen such a huge change in him and I am so excited for him to be able to be baptized and receive the same blessings that his family has received! They are all going to be members! Fingers crossed and knock on wood that nothing changes! And that things go good... But, if it's true that he is gonna try for this Saturday... We are gonna have to teach him like the whole lesson 4 (the commandments...) last FAST. But, let´s hope it goes smoothly!

So that is the coolest spritual thing that happened this week. I can´t think about anything else that happened. We found a lot of new investigators this week... That was really cool. We went to a city called San Lorenzo today for p-day, just to explore. There were some cool things. I mostly wanted to go cuz I wanted to go to this music store that is there... And I may or may not have bought some drumsticks. Hahaha ;) But yeah... Not much for this week. There were some other things we did like yesterday, me and my companion made a few videos of us singing... Haha ridiculous. But, really... She is like my best friend! We have like the best times together! There is not a day that we don´t laugh at something dumb that happened or something hilarious that one of us did. I really hope that I get ONE MORE change with her. Just one! Haha also, cuz I love Itaugua and there are some cool people that we are working with right now that I would love to see where they go in the future. But, we will find out next week! You guys will know if I stay or if I go in ONE WEEK. Que LOCO! But, I love you so much and thank you for all you do for me! Have a GRAND week and just remember that LES AMO!

Hermana Whittaker, Veronica, Dahiana, & Oliver

Love, Hermana Whittaker

July 14, 2014 - Week 28

Well, this week was an adventure. So, Monday and Tuesday were pretty normal. Well, Tuesday, we had a zone conference with President McMullin. It was pretty good... BUT he dropped cane on us pretty bad. We need to be planning in our agendas better (because he has been looking through them and checking them off for like 2 months...) and we need to be contacting more. He told us that he had something else planned to teach just like with the other zones, but he decided to change what he was going to teach for us cuz we are lacking as a zone in those areas..... So yeah. But, it was still really good (cuz it´s President) and now we have even more of a desire to do those things! Haha but that was good.

Also, at the conference, I received my package with the card and chip in it! I was so happy! And you can bet that I have been listening to the new music I have everyday this week. I hope my companion doesn´t get sick of it!! She probably is... ;) But, anyways... I got the package and we had a great, 5 hour, conference. Also, another cool thing is that President announced something pretty cool. So, there is an Elder in our mission named Elder Gunther. I don´t know him personally, but a lot of people talk about him. Well, apparently he is a really musical person. Like REALLY musical and so President gave him permission to have a keyboard in his house and for like a few weeks or months or something, and he woke up early everyday to write a song for our mission! And so now our mission, Misión Paraguay Asunción Norte, has it´s own hymn! And they showed us a video of some missionaries singing it and then also have us the sheet music. And it is SO cool. It really is such a pretty song. Sounds like it came right out of the hymn book, too.

So that was the beggining of our week. Then, Wednesday comes along and we had a pretty good day, but the best was at the very end. We went out to the house of one of our recent converts, Familia Maldonado (those 3 girls that got baptized when I first got here) to teach their son, Saúl, who is an investigator. He is progressing really well and we are so excited to be teaching him cuz when I first got here, he wanted NOTHING to do with the church or the missionaries. And now, he has gone to church twice and is reading the Book of Mormon and we are hoping soon that he will get baptized! But, we were having a difficulty with him from LAST week. He told us that he ´´didn´t know´´ if he would pray to know if the church was true. And that kinda took us by surprise. So really, we came to the conclusion that he just didn´t want to pray in front of us or that he didn´t want to pray specifically to receive an answer. So we like brought it up in our district meeting and brought it up at the zone conference and some other missionaries gave us some suggestions. Also, last Sunday, we fasted for him. We just really wanted to help him and know what we should do so that he could realize the importance of praying. Cuz he is assisting the church and reading all the chapters that we give him in the Book of Mormon... He just isn´t praying. So, after all of that, we went to his house on Wednesday night and we taught a great lesson with him. We taught mostly about baptism from 2 Nephi 31 (because that was his assignment to read) and he really was participating and learning... Then, a miracle happened. We got to the end of the lesson and my companion asked him to pray. She just asked him noramally, and he said YES! And then he said the prayer! Not only the prayer, but a really good one! So this means he has been praying individually and stuff! And he wasn´t like nervous or didn´t know what he was doing or anything. And usually he is a shy person. But, he simply just said the prayer. It was seriously so cool cuz for like 3 or 4 times in the lessons he refused! So that was awesome. 

Oh, another thing... So BEFORE this miracle lesson, something happened. We were on a colectivo on our way to their house. And when we got off the colectivo, I checked my side pockets to make sure that I have everything (like I always do...) and I didn´t have our phone. So we lost the phone. Or... I lost the phone. We are guessing that it fell down when we stood up to get off of the colectivo and we didn´t notice until it was gone. So, what we did is we waited till the same colectivo returned (cuz it was on a route that returns) and checked. So like 20 minutes later, the colectivo came back and the phone was not there. We are like 99.9% positive that someone saw it on the floor and then took it. Cuz there is like NO chance of getting a phone back if you´ve left it somewhere. So, that happened this week. But, we were fine about it cuz we had such a great lesson with Saúl right after. And then, the next day, Thursday, we took a colectivo to Asunción and went to the mission office and got a new one! So everything is good and our new phone is nicer than all the others... So that is cool ;) 

But that was our crazy adventure.

And then, on Saturday we went to another area to do this thing (that I don´t remember if I have mentioned before...) called Sión al Rescate (Zion to the Rescue) and that is where all the missionaries in our Stake (so the 2 zones in our stake) get together with all the youth of the stake and we visit all the menos activo families in one area. So that was pretty fun. It´s like every 2nd Saturday of every month. This week we went to an area called Aratiri. Our group wasn´t able to find any of the three families on the list (none of them were home) so we just taught the teens how to contact people with us! Haha so we just contacted some people with our group of youth. It was pretty fun!

Souvenirs at Aregua

So, last thing... Today, for p-day, we went to an area called Aregua. It is pretty close to Itaugua so it only took like 30 minutes to get there by colectivo. It was so fun! Really, we went there cuz Hermana Francois is going home in like 2 weeks and she wanted to buy stuff for her family and her companion, Hermana Meese, has been to Aregua and so she knew where it was. So we went and there was like a ton... A TON of little shops with souvenirs. TONS. And then, we went to this house that Hermana Meese knew that sells real silver for cheap. And there were like tons of cute rings and earrings and stuff there. So beautiful, too. And the guy totally makes all of it! So that was pretty cool. Let´s just say that it is a good thing that my card got here this week...... ;) Haha but it was way fun. 

So, that is my week! Looking forward to another good week! Hope you guys have fun, especially cuz all of you guys are going to be at camp this week! LOVE YOU!! (Scott & Oaken were at Scout Camp, while Isabel and Joey were at Girls Camp - Jill was with Grandma!)

LES QUIERO MUCHISIMO!

CON AMOR, HERMANA WHITTAKER

July 7, 2014 - Week 27

Well, this week was pretty simple. I officially hit 6 months on Tuesday... That was cool. We decided to celebrate it with this delicious food called Lomito Arabe (you can look it up if you want...). So that is pretty nuts! But, this week was really just more full of service than anything. So first, on Wednesday, we went to the hosptial of Cancer with an hermana in our ward cuz she needed someone to accompany her. Her name is Juana and the doctors are pretty sure that she has cancer. So the whole situation is sad. She is single and is like 25-30 (somewhere in between there) years old. So it´s way sad. But, she was way scared to go and hear her results and really just wanted someone there with her. So we went with her and waited 5 hours. Yes, we were there for 5 hours. One more time... 5 HOURS. BUTTTT! It was totally ok, cuz she had someone with her. I was like so nervous for her. She is like our friend! She feeds us lunch every Tuesday and is just always willing to help us out. Anyways... After those 5 hours, she went in with the doctor and they told her that they couldn´t tell for sure if she had cancer, so she would need to come back again for another study. So that kinda sucked that they didn´t tell her after all that time. But, she was really relieved. She didn´t wanna know! But, they also said that for sure she is going to have to have surgery. So obviously there is something there. So that was close to pretty much all our Wednesday.

 

Then, Thursday comes. We were supposed to eat lunch with the familia Portillo and they called us to tell us that lunch would be a little bit later cuz they were in the Center of Health with their baby of 7 or 8 months, Vanellope (yes--she is totally named from Wreck-It-Ralph). Then, a few hours later they told us that they wouldn´t be able to make lunch at all cuz Vanellope has phnemonia (I don´t know exactly how that is spelled...) and might have to stay overnight in the Center of Health (which I am pretty sure is like the same thing as Pediatrition--maybe). Then, the hermana goes on to ask us if we could call someone in the ward to help wash Vanellope´s clothes since she didn´t have like ANY clean clothes. So, right away we said.. ´´No worries, hermana... We will do it!´´ So we went to their house and washed all the clothes... By hand. It took forever, but it is ok, cuz little Vanellope had clean clothes! So that was our Thursday.

Then, Friday comes along and we are eating lunch with the familia Lucas (hermano Lucas is the Branch President). Then, the zone leaders call us to tell us that an hermana in our ward (named Hermana Gabina) wants us to know that she was going to meet us in our area at like 3 to do visits. We didn´t have this planned or even knew that this was going to happen, but cool. We met up with her and she pretty much just wanted to know where all the hermanas in our area lived (because she is the president of the Relief Society). So for all afternoon we just walked around our area showing her the houses of all the hermanas. So, we didn´t have a lot of time for lessons, but she now knows where all the hermanas live.

So, what I am trying to get at is this week, we maybe didn´t get a lot of lessons in, but I did learn that it is more important to serve people when they need it than to worry about numbers! So this week was just really good in that aspect.

P-day was pretty different today. The hermana that trained Hermana Morales came to Itaugua to visit the families (because she was here before I got her--I actually replaced her...). Her name is Hermana Sanchez and the people here absolutely ADORE her. I remember when I first got here, everyone was just like, ´´HERMANA SANCHEZ! How is Hermana Sanchez?! We miss Hermana Sanchez!´´ Haha so they all love her, and she came back to visit today. And seeing as my companion was trained by her, definitely wanted to hang out with her, too. So we went to lunch with a family in our area and Hermana Sanchez with her companion, Hermana Moreno. It was pretty fun! Everyone was so happy to see her, but they also told her that they love the missonaries that they have right now, too ;) So that made me feel like I´m doing somethin right here! Haha... But it was good. We went and did quick visits with a few other families in our area and she got pictures with them and stuff. But that is all we did for p-day today!

Looking forward to a new week! Glad all of you guys had a great week.. Espcially with 4th of July and stuff. On Friday, everything that I would say to my companion had the excuse, ´´It´s the 4th of July!!!´´ For example... ´´Hey! Let´s go eat empanadas for lunch cuz it´s the 4th of July!´´ or ´´Let´s make a cake cuz it´s the 4th of July!´´ She just would roll her eyes and say... ´´Aye... Americana...´´ ;) Haha!!! So that was fun. I will be honest... I missed boating with you guys, but, still had a good Independence Day in a different country ;P HAVE A GREAT WEEK! LES AMOOOOOOO!!! <3

Con amor,

Hermana Whittaker