June 8, 2015 - Week 76

Well, obviously the highlight of the week was Diana`s baptism! It was the greatest thing ever. Anyways... It was a great experience. For reals. She was just so happy and she was just SO beautiful!! So, it was cool. It was actually a really funny story. So, the baptism was on Saturday, and she got to the chapel and everything on time. Things were going great and stuff... Then, we start the service and all. Things are fine. She is like super happy and one of the returned missionaries that helped us out a lot to teach her (Ben) did a talk on repentance, then another girl, Teresa, did a talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost... Everything is fine. Then, we had a cool special number and I sang with that kid Ben ``Be Still My Soul´´... In english (cuz he speaks fluent english) and his sister accompanied us on the violin. So, that was pretty. Diana is like crying to much and things are just great. Then... It`s like her turn to go and get baptized and all. Well, we are like sitting and waiting still to go to the font and like we were kinda confused cuz no one was saying anything... Then, all of the sudden, the 2 doors to the font (where the people can see the baptisms) like start to move like someone is trying to open them from inside the font (cuz it was locked)... So, it was kinda weird and then all of the sudden.. THE DOORS FLY OPEN! And we just see Pable (the one that baptized her) in his white clothes and he totally BROKE THE DOORS to open them.

Apparently, in the moment of the baptism, there were no keys to unlock the font... So, he had permission last minute to BRAKE it open. It was the funniest experience ever and I just didn`t even understand what was going on... But, that is cool, right?? I don`t now how many others have had that experience in their mission, but I will definitely always remember it. I even had a piece of wood from the doors as a recuerdo! Hahaha So, that was the baptism. She was just so happy. After that, we all went (me, my comp, Diana, Ben, and Pablo) to eat pizza to celebrate. So, it was fun :)

Yesterday was the confirmation and that guy Ben confirmed her.. It was so great! And we had a great Sunday. Hugo, Malena, and Luz came from Aratiri to visit me in Luque and so that was cool! It was so cute cuz Malena got up and bore her testimony and stuff and like no one even knew where she was from... Cuz she is from another ward.. But, it was cute! It was my last fast Sunday in Paraguay and that was kinda weird... But yeah. Also, our other investigators that are preparing for baptism were there. So, that was great! Karen is getting baptized this week, so that should be fun. We are stoked for her and she is so excited! This Saturday, the 13th, she will be baptized and it`s her birthday, too! She turns 20. Anyways, it should be a great week. We are way excited.

Well, as for today, we are going to go to Itaugua to visit my area. I am kinda feeling weird about it. It will be the last time I see them and I just never thought this day would come. Well, the last time I see them for a while. Cuz I definitely want to come back eventually! But, it`s just weird to think. I only have 3 weeks left. That is crazy! That is like nothing... But, I will just enjoy it. We had interviews with President at our zone conference on Thursday... It went well. President pretty much just talked to me about going home and never forgetting about the people. Like always helping them out even from far away. Facebook, insta, Whatsapp (everyone here uses that app and I don`t even know what it is yet...) but, just stuff like that. I already knew, obviously, but it was just cool. He told me that I am going to for sure finish my mission strong cuz he can just tell that I am pretty focused. Later, my comp told me that in her
interview, he told her that he can`t believe all that we are doing and the way that we are working in my last change. Cuz usually missionaries that are going home just quit working early, you know? Haha so that made me feel great!

Well, that is that... I am starting to get a little bit sad about the
whole mission ending! But, I am stoked to get home!! LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

June 1, 2015 - Week 75

WOW. Only one month. That is pretty much like nothing. Haha, but a lot can happen in one month! Like, we are super excited cuz we are going to have a baptism on Saturday. Diana is like so ready and she is so excited. It`s just been great. I feel like she is like my sister or something... But, she is stoked and stuff for her baptism. Then, not only that.. But, Karen (the investigator that needs to get married) is actually getting baptized on the 13th! The next week... She actually is not getting married now cuz she split up with her boyfriend. It is kinda sad and a way long story.. But, all in all, it is a lot better for everyone. And she is like so excited, too, cuz she wants to get baptized. So, that is the other good news. As for Gabby, I think we might have to change her date for one more at the end of June. But, it`s ok. She is just really investigating and we don`t have like a ton of opportunities to teach her. She is pretty busy with work all the time, but she is doing well. She has come to church like 5 times now and is reading the Book of Mormon. So, we`re all good.

Also, this week we contacted a guy and taught him the restoration... And we did it SOOO good! Well, obviously it wasn`t us... It was the Holy Ghost... But, he understood so well and even told us in the end that it all made sense and he is thoroughly convinced of what we had to say.. Jeez I wish that everyone here was like that. Cuz it`s true!! Anyways... He didn`t come to church this week, but we have plans to visit him again and like straightup put a baptismal date with him. The work is going well.

In other news.. I am like super excited to go home. It is like pretty funny, actually, but like everyday this week, I have had dreams about going home. And the thing that has reoccured like 7 times since like every dream is that I forget to buy souvenirs! Haha it`s pretty funny though... Every dream is different. Like every situation. Sometimes you guys (my family) are there and I am at home or sometimes you guys are here in Paraguay and I am still a missionary with my companion... But everytime.. In the end I realize that I didn`t buy souvenirs! And then I feel all sad and stuff and regret it a ton.. But, then I wake up and realize that I still have time to do that! And the funny thing is... I am like buying them. So, I don`t know why my brain is like so worried at night about it. Anyways.. It`s pretty funny.

Family Home Evening with Familia Armoa

This week we pretty much just have our baptism that we are looking forward to. So, that is the best part. And also we have a zone conference on Wednesday. It will be my LAST zone conference of the mission. Usually when it`s the last, they make you give your GRAND testimony in front of everyone, but it is the month of interviews with President, so I don`t think that they will do it. And I don`t even know if I will be having an interview because I have to have the FINAL one at the end of my mission and with the number of people going home at the end of this month... He might just save us ``last-changers`` for the last p-day we have here. Which is in 4 short weeks. By the end of this week, we will be halfway done with this change. CRAZY. Anyways.. That is like all for this week. I am looking forward to it being the end of the week cuz or Diana`s baptism and then next p-day... I am going to visit the people in Itaugua! Also... Today marks only 30 more days... LOVE YOU ALL! Obviously, cuz I am having dreams about you every freaking night!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

May 25, 2015 - Week 73

Hermanas Ramos & Whittaker - vow to drink 4 liters a day!

Ok.. So, we got some news... I had changes AGAIN! Freaking the 4th change in a row. But, no worries... I am in my area still and I am now in my LAST CHANGE!! To tell you the truth about changes.. I was pretty sad! Cuz really really REALLY wanted to stay with Hermana Morgan and finish my time in Paraguay with her... But, it`s fine cuz the Lord obviously has other plans for her... And for me... Anyways, my new companion is named Hermana Ramos and she is from Peru. She is really cool and all and we get along pretty well.

Hermana Morgan, Diana, & Hermana Whittaker

Now, talking about the work. It`s going SUPER well! Like way good. I am just like so excited and it almost feels like 5 more weeks to work isn`t enough! Haha just kidding, but really. We are working like hard and seeing some sweet results! So, first of all, our investigator, Diana, is going to get baptized on the 6th of June! So, we have just like 2 weeks! We are stoked for her and I kid you not... I have had like the best and most spiritual and detailed lessons with her in the last week than in all of my mission! She is so cool. She was pretty sad when she found out that Hermana Morgan got changes... But, she is glad that I am still here. I am definitely the favorite.. But, at the same time, sad that I am going home soon! But, she is awesome and I seriously feel so close to her. I feel like she is my sister or something. We are really similar in the way that we think and she is super funny and we have like the same likes and style... I don`t know. But, it`s cool. She is like progressing a ton and she already has like a ton of friends in the single young adults... It`s just great. She talks so much and we cover so much info in the lessons.. It`s just so cool! But, anyways... She is awesome and I just can`t even express the love that I have for her. And how much I will freaking miss her... :( But, it`s ok... Cuz I will come back to Paraguay for HER. Hahaha.

Also, we have TWO other investigators with baptismal dates! And they are both like half member families. One is Gabby, she is the investigator and her boyfriend, Mauro, is the less active that is not active... She accepted a date for the 13 of June! Also, she is just like sooo cute! And then there is Karen (investigator) with her boyfriend, Marcelo (less active) who accepted a date for the 27th of June! So... We`re SUPER EXCITED! For reals. I am just like loving this last change cuz I am stoked to work here and do all this stuff and also go home so soon!!

Anyways.. That is all. I am good and we are having a good time. The time is just flying and in 5 short weeks, I will be home. That is crazy. But, I love you guys a ton and have a good week! LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

May 18, 2015 - Week 72

Well.. I am officially in my last change. And I am just ready and excited for it! I am ready to just give my all these last 6 weeks and work a ton and just do everything I can! Cuz... You only have one chance to be a missionary, right?? So,  gotta live it up while I can. But, it is actually pretty unreal that I am in my last change. It is going to fly and I can`t believe it! This week, we hung out with Hermana Ixquiac, my very good friend from Guatemala who is in the mission, cuz she is going home this week! I asked her how her last change was and she said that she can`t believe how fast it went! It`s just going to be loco.


We had a pretty good week. This week, nothing too special. But, we have an investigator named Diana and she is SO going to be baptized. She already accpted her baptismal date for the 5th of June! So, we are super excited. She actually is an investigator that we met at church cuz she had been going. But, she like found out about the church cuz she was dating a returned missionary and she was like investigating so she could see if it was all good and if she wanted to like be a member. Well, her boyfriend broke up with her, but she is still like looking into the church cuz she feels like it really is true! Haha so that is cool cuz she totally told us that she feels like maybe she needed to meet him just to know about the church! So, it is a cool situation. But, she is super cool and always has like a million questions for us. So, we are teaching her and all. The only thing is that she freaking talks like crazy. She literally talks MORE THAN ME! I didn`t even know that was possible! Haha but she is really cute and we are super excited to help her and work with her. Also, we still have the family that has the less active member and the investigator, Gabby. She didn`t come to church this week, but he did. And we are going to visit them this week and probably also put down a baptismal date with her. So, the work is good. We just need to contact a lot more people. We had like a district meeting on Saturday and the assistents came to teach. They told us that we really need to step it up as a mission cuz we are a little bit low on baptisms. But, they did it in a cool way and shared with us about where are all desires really. And it really makes you think. It especially impacted me cuz I really want to take adventage of this last time that I have and stuff. So, I have goals to contact a lot more people and just SPREAD THIS GOSPEL!! 
So, that was pretty much our week. I am like pretty tired also. Haha it is funny cuz I am like excited and want to work a ton but I am super tired at the same time. I think it just means that I am almost done... Haha but we will work through it. I am hoping that we don`t receive changes tomorrow... I really would just love to stay with my companion these last 6 weeks. So, we will see. We find out tomorrow. 

Paper chain Hermana Whittaker made to count down the days!

Well, I hope you all have a great week. I love you a ton and wish you a feliz semana. Have fun and stay safe. Haha I don`t even know why, but just do it! LOVE YOU!!

May 11, 2015 - Week 71

Well, the subject line says it all. After talking to you guys for forever yesterday on skype... There`s really not much let to say! 

I guess I could talk a little more about the work... So, the baptism that we are really hoping happens in the month of May (or June, probably) is of a girl named Gabby. She is the girlfriend of a less active member named Mauro and the bishop asked us last week if we could visit them. So, we got their number and called them and then set a day to go and visit. They are really cool! They have been together for like 8 years and want to get married. And she has already been to church like twice now and said she feels a difference there. So, she is really interested and he has lots of desires to come back to the church. So, it`s really cool. Also, we had a reference from the elders of a girl named Guadalupe and we went to visit her and she seems really cool. She says that she knows that all we are sharing with her is true and all, but she didn`t come to church yesterday even though she said she would. So, who knows. And then there is that other less active member that just showed up today with his family and we figured out that his wife isn`t a member yet. AND there was another girl that had been to church before and she was a reference also from a member. She came to church yesterday, too and wants to share and receive the lessons and stuff. So, we are getting really blessed right now. 

This week, we went to the temple as a zone and it was really great. I just love going. The spirit was just so strong and I literally just felt sooooo happy! So, that was cool. Also, we had a testimony meeting with our zone and President before the session and it was super cool. I bore mine and really realized that I have learned a ton here. It`s so weird that it is all ending!! But, it was really spiritual and awesome and stuff... Also, President dropped cane again on contacting. So, that is something I am gonna step up.... But, we really did have a great week. From the temple to finding some cool investigators, to skyping the fam... Just a solid, good week. 

Well, that is about all. I don`t know what we are gonna do for p-day today. We were going to go into the office if my comp had her package, but it`s not in yet.. So, we will probably just chill and shop around for stuff I need.. Hahahaha.

 So, that is my week. I love you and miss you, but calling yesterday just made me super happy and even more excited for July. I love you and stuff!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

May 4, 2015 - Week 70

I can`t believe it either... 2 months left! That is crazy. Well, this week also wasn`t too cool. It was pretty normal. You know, missionary work and stuff. But, it was cool. Some bad news that we had is that our assistence yesterday wsa really low. It was like 57 when usually it is like 100... But, that is only because on Saturday night and on Sunday morning, it was raining like a ton. Like a huge storm and Paraguayans just don`t do anything when it`s raining. So, that is the reason. But, it was still a good Sunday and I actually learned a lot from the classes. So, that is cool. A few people gave some really cool testimonies and stuff. The spirit was super strong even though only a few people showed up at church. So, that was way cool. Also, I realized that I only have one more fast Sunday left in Paraguay... Weird!

Another cool thing that happened this week is that I did divisions with Hermana Morales!! So, that was a blast. She is an hermana leader now and so she and her companion are in charge of doing divisions with the hermanas. So, of course when it was our turn, she obviously chose to go with me! So, that was fun. I went to her area with her and it was cool. I seriously was just remembering all the cool and great moments we had in Itaugua together! Cuz her area is like Itaugua... And so it was super fun. 

But, that is about all that we did. We just had a pretty borning week. We are really trying to help that one family get married so that the girl can get baptized. But, the boyfriend is kinda being stubborn. So, it`s just a frustrating experience. But, that is all. Today for p-day, I don`t even know what we are going to do. I think we are going to go to a place to eat with Hermana Valenzuela and her companion... But, who knows. Haha I hope you all have a great week! LOVE YOU!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

April 27, 2015 - Week 69

The companions in their home

This week was a pretty alright one. Nothing, again, too cool happened. We are just working and stuff and it is good. We did, however, meet a really cool family that is menos activo and they are really cool. My companion had already met them and shared with them a few times. They are the familia Martinez and we went to their apartment (cuz here, there are mostly just apartments) and shared with them on Tuesday. It was fun and we really got to know them well. They are funny and stuff and we just passed the whole night laughing and stuff. But, that was pretty much it of all the cool stuff that happened this week. In fact, we are going over to their house tonight to celebrate the birthday of the hermana. Should be fun. Also, we are still working with that one family that has to get married so that the hermana can get baptized, but when we visited them, she told us that her boyfriend doesn`t want to get married all of the sudden. So, that kinda sucked. But, we are going to try talking to him to see whats up. Other than that, we had a cake contest in the chapel this week and only three people make cakes. Us, the elders, and some other member BOUGHT a cake. So, that was kinda lame. And we didn`t even win! All the little kids voted for the elders and their ``tres leches cake``. Whatever. Haha but it was fun.

The activity with the Hermanas

Today, we had an activity with all the hermanas in our mission that are close (cuz there are like some hermanas that are like 8 hours away). But, everyone within like an hour`s distance in colectivo was invited. And a lot came! There were like 12 companionships or so. So, it was fun cuz I saw like everyone. And you know you have a lot of time in the mission when you see ALL of your companions except the 2 that have already gone home... Haha but it was fun! We all had to like bring a authentic dish from our country to share. So, I tried a lot of Peruvian, and Guatemalan food. And I made Chocolate Chip Cookies. So, that was fun. 

That is like all for this week. Nothing too cool... But, I can`t believe that we are like now done with April and we are going into May! Also, we are excited cuz next Tuesday, we are going to the temple as a zone! So, should be fun! 

I love you soooo much and have a grand week!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker