November 24, 2014 - Week 47

Hermana Whittaker and her companion

Well.. We had a great week. We had  investigators in church... So that was awesome. We really saw a lot of success this week. So, that was awesome. So, this week, we were visiting a member that is a less active. His name is Hugo and he has  daughters--one who is  years old.. He is the member who did like a birthday party for me with that halloween cake. Well, we had a super cool lesson with him where he came to the conclusion..alone..that he needed to come back to church and be an example to his daughters. So, we are like totally helping him out so that he can come back to church. Also, we are preparing his daughter to be baptized He also told us... That he wants to be the person to baptize her. So we are just like super excited for them. And they all came to church yesterday. Him and his two daughters. And the one daughter, Malena, has a baptismal date for Dec 13... Cool right--ugh I would be using like tons of exclamation points, but this computer´s buttons for exclamation and question marks doesn´t work... Just in case you were wondering...

So, that was great. Also, the other two investigators that came to church were family of a recent convert in our area from about a year ago. We are working with her mom and her niece and her sister and her niece and nephew came to church yesterday with us. So, we are pretty excited about that, too. We will keep working with them and we are hoping to put a baptismal date this week, too. 

Flooding from rain in Chloe's backyard!

So, the work has been super good this week. Other things that happened... It rained a TON on Friday. Seriously. It was only for like 30-45 minutes, but it was so much. It was pretty lucky that we were in our house when it hit doing our weekly planning, cuz it was crazy... When it stopped, we went out and there was like this street just full of water. There was like a river flowing from one side of the street to the other and it was just nuts. Completely flooded. I guess it´s just the wrath of God here in Paraguay... More people needa come to church... ;P

So, that was how our awesome week went. This p-day was pretty good, too. We just went to the chapel and cooked some Peruvian food with the elders--cuz my companion cooks and there is also another Peruvian elder in the other area--and it was good. Pretty good food they eat in Peru, I´ll be honest. But, that is like all we did. Pretty chill. Also, we couldn´t do anything too cool cuz first, we don´t have tons of money cuz we are now in the end of the month and second, one of the elders had to go to the hospital in the emergency room last night at like midnight and is like super week. Crazy. So, we just did something chill.

That is about all for this week. We are super excited that we have some people progressing. Seriously. I am like so happy. But, this week should be interesting with Thanksgiving being on Thursday and all... But, it´ll be ok. Next year, right-question mark-

I love you all sooooo much and I hope you have a great Turkey Day. Eat TONS of mashed potatoes and think of me.... LOVE YOU 

Love, Hermana Whittaker

November 17, 2014 - Week 46

Well, we had a good week this week. We did better with our numbers and found a few people to teach! It was pretty cool. But, not much happened that is cool. I mean, we only had our zone conference and interviews with the president. And that was interesting... It was pretty good though. We talked about like a few of the goals that I have as a missionary. So, that was good. He congratulated me on the good contacts and stuff. Then, we just talked about the mission. We did like half of the interview in english and half in spanish. Ha it was funny. But, that is like the only cool thing that happened.

As for invesigators.. We visited an hermana again. Her name is Natalia and had an awesome lesson with her. She really could progress and we are going to continue to visit her. She ALMOST came to church this week, too, but Sunday morning, she couldn´t make it cuz of something that came up... (is what she says) But, I have faith and we will see what happens with her. 

We, for p-day today, went to a lake called Lake Ypacarai (that´s guarani) and played volleyball. It was pretty fun, but the lake is actually pretty ugly. It´s not like clean or pretty water, in fact, it was like super green... But, it was still fun cuz it was two other sets of elders and the other hermanas. We are like such a tight district. It´s actually 2 different districts, but we are all like close friends and so it was fun.

This is a really short email, but I just don´t know what else to say. Not a lot happened. We just worked harder and achieved more! So, that is cool! And we are gonna do it again this week!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

November 10, 2014 - Week 45

So, this week was alright. We did a ton of contacting cuz we just really need to start having more people to teach. We need to look for the people that really are waiting for the gospel in their lives. It is a lot harder than it sounds. We  contacted like crazy and I am feeling like this next week is going to be a really good one. So, we´ll see! But, as for this week... It was alright.

On Wednesday, we found a lady who seemed pretty interested and once we were done talking about the restoration and stuff, we told her that we would talk about the Book of Mormon and explain it and stuff in the next visit and she said she was really excited cuz she is curious to know what it is and stuff. So, that is good. We have an appointment with her on Wednesday, so we will see how that goes! Also, we found two other ladies and they, too, are interested in learning more. So, we are excited to see how things go this week.

 

So, I know have 10 months in the mission. Well, technically last week I hit 10, but I just forgot to mention it. It´s so crazy how fast the time is passing. It´s even crazier how fast this change is going. We are now starting off week 4! We are already halfway through this change and I can´t even believe it! I just really don´t wanna get changed... I want to have at least one more change here cuz I know there is someone here that we need to find!! Also, I want to spend Christmas with the awesome members in my area... Haha :)

 

Well, today for p-day we went to this mall that is pretty close to our house with the elders in our ward and also some elders and hermanas in another ward that is close to ours. Also, HERMANA MORALES came!! She wanted to come cuz she couldn´t meet up with us in Pizza Hut to celebrate my birthday last week... So she came this week! I was soooooo happy to see her. It was like seeing my other half again!! Haha but really... It was great to see and talk with her. We ate at KFC... Haha funny, right?? But it´s honestly like the nicest place in the mall. And it wasn´t even that good. It´s a lot tastier in the states... And then after, we went to a frozen yogurt place all together. So, pretty fun, chill p-day. At least I didn´t have to go to the dentist today, but I will be heading in again on Friday... Ugh. But, it´s FOR SURE (hopefully) the last time. 

Anyways... That is all for this week! Sorry it´s short, but there is like nothing that happened. Tomorrow we have a conference and interviews with the President. Should be great. I hope you have a great week and I love you with all my heart!!! 

Love, Hermana Whittaker

November 4, 2014 - Week 44

It`s true. I have 20 years of age!! That is so weird for me... But, that is life, right?? So, I actually had a great birthday here in Paraguay. The people (the members) really made it special for me. They are like my family in this time of my life, so it was like I was with you guys at home!! But, this is what we did!

Friday comes along... And the first thing that I do is open my package! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH! It was so cute and I loved that it was decorated like a present! So cute. I loved everything that was in it! Especially that crack in a bag! Wow! It`s so good. Also, my companion loves it. I am going to take it to district meeting today so the other missionaries can try some! ;) So, that was great. Then, someone knocks on our door. It`s Daihana! She is the daughter of the hermana that we live with (well, we live in a little house in her backyard...) and she had a poster that said ``Feliz Cumpleaños Hermana Whittaker!´´ So, that was just sooo cute. Then, we had to go to the store to first, take out or money for this month and also, eat some icecream to celebrate! Hahaha. But, it was fun. Then, we had our lunch appointment. So, we went to the house that we always eat on Fridays and the hermana wished me a happy birthday and gave me a gift! It was so sweet. It was 2 cute colors of nail polish. Also, for dessert, she gave us cake and icecream. It was sooo sweet of her. Then, after lunch, we went to our house to do weekly planning (which is always Friday) and we planned and listened to music... ;) So, that was pretty chill. Then, we went to go and visit an hermana who is a member and shared with her a scripture. She is having a hard time with her health right now... But, she also wished me a happy birthday! THEN... Last but not least... We had my birthday dinner! I don`t know if you guys remember, but last week, we celebrated a birthday with a member menos activo. We are trying to help him return to church and stuff.. With his two daughters. His name is Hugo. Well, he made us a delicious dinner for my birthday!! He is really good at cooking... And... He made me MASHED POTATOES! And not only that, but they were deliciousssssss mashed potatoes. Also, he made like some meat that was delicious as well. And.. Bought the coolest cake for me! It had a JACK-O-LANTERN on it! It was so cute. It was super cool, too cuz it didn`t even feel like Halloween cuz like no one does trick-or-treating here. So, it felt like a weird birthday cuz it felt like any other day. And I`m not used to that!! ;) Haha, but then I saw that cake and it was just the best. I definitely felt like it was Halloween and my birthday. So, that was my great day of being 20 years old. 

But, it doesn`t end there! On Sunday, after church and the fast and stuff, we went over to a member`s house that lives in the elders` area to eat lunch cuz they wanted to celebrate my birthday, too. So, we went and all of us (missionaires) ate a delicious lunch with the familia Riquelme (that is the family of the house that we painted like my first week here). So, that was super fun, too. They were so sweet and stuff, too. And then.... At night we had to go to ANOTHER members` house that wanted to celebrate! Haha, and they live in the other elders` area. So, we went all went to their house (us missionaries) and they made pizze for us for dinner. And it was so delicious! And also, they made me a cake! And it said... IN ENGLISH... ``Happy Birthaday Whittaker´´ ....Note--they spelled ``birthday´´ wrong, but it`s the thought that counts! They totally wrote in english for me! ;) And so that was fun, too.

And it still doesn`t stop there... Cuz on p-day. We (missionaries) celebrated my birthday, also. We first had a plan for like 3 weeks that we would all go to Pizza Hut in San Lorenzo (which is close to where we all are). But, surprise surprise, we got a call on Saturday night from the secretary in the office saying that my companion had to sign into migrations on Monday and that he is sorry cuz it totally ruins your p-day. So, that sucked. But, I called my district leader and told him and he says... ´´We will all just go to the Pizza Hut in Asunciòn!´´ So, we had new plans. We were all worried that it wouldn`t work out, cuz you never know how long migrations is going to take... Sometimes it`s fast and sometimes you wait for hours.. But, we got done like just in time and asked if Elder Valenzuela (secretary) could just drop us off at the Pizza Hut close to the temple. And he did!! And everyone from my district and also another district were there! And we celebrated my birthday and also the birthday of another hermana (cuz hers was on Saturday). So, it ended up just being a great day! And then... You know.. I had to go to the dentist... And they finished the process and stuff, but... I have to go back AGAIN so they can put on the permanent filling and stuff.. So, that`s fun. And I go back in 2 Fridays. And that is also the reason that we didn`t do our emailing yesterday--we were in the city ALL day. But, that is literally my whole week. Well, the cool parts of my birthday week! I was so fun and I will never forget my 20th birthday here in Paraguay. I just love everyone here so much and they really made it special for me! Also, I love my you guys cuz you are always thinking and praying for me and I really felt like I was with you guys on my special day!! LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!! <3 <3 <3 

Les quiero muchisimo y gracias por una buena cumple!! 

LOVE, Hermana Whittaker 

October 27, 2014 - Week 43

First of all... THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE BIRTHDAY WISHES!! It makes me so happy to know that I have an awesome family like you guys :) Love you SOOOO much! Also, that video was so cute! Haha Oaken singing at the end.... Hilarious!! But, yes, it is true. I am going to be 20 years old!! That is crazy! I feel like I just turned 19! But, that is life, I guess. I just can`t believe that the first number of my age will be a 2 now! I was so used to 1! ;) Also, I will inform you that I did receive my birthday package... But I haven`t opened it yet! I am waiting for Friday to open it! But, it did arrive safe and sound and I picked it up from the office when I went to Asunción for the dentist. But, seriously, thank you so much for all you guys do for me and for being LO MEJOR FAMILIA EN EL MUNDO!! LES AMO MUCHISHIMO! <3

This week was pretty good. We found out changes and, like I thought, my companion and I are staying together! So, that is good. I was actually like almost 100% positive that we wouldn`t have changes this time around. So, we are both happy about that. There actually weren`t like any changes in our district, just that one of the elders got a new companion cuz his companion finished his mission. So, that is cool, too! We have a pretty awesome district and we are all like great friends, so this should be a good change!!

 

Not too much different happened this week.. We have been finding some people and THEY ALL ACT THE SAME. Ugh, it has been frustrating. When we have our zone conferences with the President, he always reminds us that our focus is on the family, so we need to talk to the mom AND the lion (the dad). Not just the mama cuz she is nicer and accepts the visit... But the dad, too. And from the beginning of when we start to visit someone we need to talk with the dad. So, this week we actually found 3 dads. And they are all so stubborn. We are just all so excited to teach these families, and they are just..... Ugh, I don`t know. They`re just difficult! They are actually like pretty nice and accepted our visit and stuff.. But they are all guys who have talked to missionaries before and KNOW about what we teach. And all they wanna do is ask and ask and ask questions that are not even important... Just to see how we react or answer... I don`t know if I am describing these types of people well.. But that is how they are! For example. The other day, we had a lesson with a lady that we contacted about 4 weeks ago named Mercedes. We decided to pass by her house and she was there. She accepted us and we had a great lesson. She understood and said she wouls read the Book of Mormon and pray. We were actually like super excited about her cuz she acted super interested. We told her that we would return and that we also wanted to talk with her husband. So, we returned and met her husband... And he is one of these types of people... But, yeah. We will see! There is a chance that they could progress together and open their hearts and stuff. So, that is just one example of what happened with like 3 people this week. But, we had the opportunity to teach and bear our testimonies of what we KNOW is the truth... And who knows? They could receive an answer and be 100% willing to change or 100% willing to follow Christ. Even the hardest heart can be softened with the Holy Ghost. So, we will see. They are all great people and we will follow visiting them. And also, if now is not their time, the seed has been planted and maybe they will have the chance to accept later on.

 

But, that is what is going on as of now in the work here in Aratiri. We are just looking and looking for the prepared people! And, we will find them! But, things are going pretty good. It`s now like a thousand degrees here in lovely Paraguay and I LOVE IT! Haha, that is kind of an overreaction, cuz it can be pretty horrible sometimes, but it`s better than snow! Also, 30 Seconds to Mars came here on Friday, so that is pretty cool, too. It`s like the same date (or super close to the date) that I saw them last year! Also, yesterday, we watched the women`s conference. I don`t know why we watched it so late from general conference, but we did. It was really good. They talked the whole time about temples and it was awesome. Especially cuz Elder Uchtdorf gave a super cool talk. So, this week was actually pretty good. Also, today we had a fun activity with our zone. We had water balloons and totally had a waterfight. And so we all got soaked.. But it was so much fun! And we also played volleyball. And I got sunburned. But it was a fun p-day. 

That is all for this week. I love you guys more than life and thank you so much for your love, prayers, and birthday wishes! I hope my 20th birthday will be a day to remember... And it will be cuz I am in the mission serving the Lord!! ;)

LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Hermana Bruja Whittaker 

This is a picture with a less active member named Hugo when we celebrated his birthday with him and his daughters on Friday! 

October 21, 2014 - Week 42

Lame week - Haha, so this week was a bit lame. Not cuz the mission is lame, or anything... Just cuz my companion was sick for like 3 days and didn`t want to go out and do anything. I mean, I understand, cuz if I was feeling bad, I wouldn`t want to either... It was like super hot this week. We are now starting summer here. Well, it`s still spring, but everyone is saying that because it is so hot right now and we`re only in October... December and January are going to be DEATH. So, my point with all this is that, the heat and sun gave my companion a headache like everyday and she just hates this weather. She said that her body was hurting like all day and stuff. So, that was sad for her. And, it was pretty boring for me. I just studied the scriptures and made my agenda for this new change and wrote my talk. So, it wasn`t too exciting, this week.

Oh yeah.. I gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday! It was pretty good. I gave a talk and the 2 other elders that serve in our ward gave a talk. And also, one of the elders that is going home in like 2 days gave his testimony. And... all 6 of us, missionaries, sang a song in sacrament meeting. So, it was a Sunday full of missionaries. But, my talk went well. I had to talk about missionary work (obviously) and use a talk from general conference. So, I used the talk by Elder Bednar... Cuz I just loved that talk so much. But, I first talked about WHY we share the gospel (dad) and then how we, as members, can share the gospel. And I just used a ton of scriptures. So, it was good! Also, yesterday, we went to a members house and had a ``surprise´´ farewell for Elder Gonzales (the elder that is going home like in 3 days). It wasn`t really a suprise though.... But, it was still fun. 

This week, we finally found Ever again. He just looks terrible. He looks sad, skinny, and horrible. Seriously. I was feeling so sad for him! But, he also said that he is really sad and that, again, he wants to change. But, we told him that he just needs to make a decision already... So, we`ll see. That is about all for this week for investigators. As other news. Cesar is now like active! He has been coming to church every week now for the past 3 weeks. So, that is pretty cool. 

So, that is all. Today, I have my dumb dentist appointment :( I am pretty scared to be honest. But, it`s better to just get it over with than to have more problems later on... So, wish me luck and pray for me--cuz in about 6 hours I will be in the chair suffering... ;) Hahaha what a p-day, right?? And, in other news, we will know changes tomorrow. I just want to stay in my area. I don`t know if I will change companions or no. Probably not, but you never know. I just don`t want to leave Aratiri yet cuz I love the people here...! But, that is about all for this week. I hope you all have a lovely week... Cuz I will be having a great week here in the 100 degree sun.....!! ;)

Love, Hermana Whittaker

October 14, 2014 - Week 41

So, this week was pretty good. It was the ALMOST normal week in a while. We found a few people who could really progress and stuff, so that is good.

 

I`ll now let you know how the second doctor appointment went... HORRIBLE. So, Thursday comes along and we worked in the morning so we could visit and find people... Then, by 3 o`clock, we had to take a colectivo for Asunción. We got there at about 4:30 for my 5 o`clock appointment. They were all ready to go when I got there, so I went in and she got started right away. She put the anesthesia in and started to work on the tooth. It stung a bit, but I could deal with it. Then... BAM. It sounded like something broke and my tooth just started to KILL. Well, nothing broke but since that point and till the end... It just hurt like heck. I am serious. Everytime the she touched the nerve... It hurt! But, whatever. Nothing I can do but pray and hope for the best, right?? Haha but in the end, it was ok. She did tell me that there were 4 parts she needed to do, but could only do 2 cuz the other two weren`t ready yet... Cuz they hurt too bad. So, she put more medicine in the 2 nerves or roots (or whatever it is) and said that I need to return in 10 days so they can finish them up and fill the tooth completely. So, next p-day is my appointment. How fun. But, I am just wanting them to finish already so I don`t have to worry about it or experience that pain again!!

So, that is the story of the dentist for this week. But, we had a pretty good week of work other than that. We first went to a farewell Tuesday night for a teen in our ward who just left on his mission on Thursday for Salta, Argentina. So, that was fun. And we also did another activity on Wednesday night for the Ward Night. We played with waterballoons again. And then, on Friday, we had another zone conference. It was kinda weird cuz we just had ours.. But I guess that one was for September and this one was for October. But, it was really good. We talked a lot about LOVE in missionary work and also that we can`t have fear to talk to the people and invite them to be baptized. President McMullin always has something really good to say, so it was a good zone conference. Also, I received a small gift from the mission for my birthday.. It is just like some oreos with a note that says ``Thanks for all you do..´´ Haha, but it was nice. And then on Saturday, we had that ``Zion to the Rescue´´ activity in another part of our stake. That was pretty fun.

 

And that is really all that happened this week. We don`t know anything about Ever and what his deal is cuz he is literally NEVER home. But, we are thinking that he just doesn`t want to listen or try anymore... :( It`s sad, but true. And we still don`t know too much about Elsa. But, we keep working and trying to find people! So, that`s good.

Also, we had a fun zone activity today for p-day. All the companionships in our zone were there and we had to answer questions about our companions to see if we know well. And if we didn`t know one of the questions... They popped a balloon full of flour on our heads!! But, lucky me... I know my companion so I didn`t get one balloon broken over my head... ;) Hahahaha but it was a way fun and creative idea. But, that is all. This week should be a good one. And hopefully we can finish up with my tooth on Monday.. Cuz I am just about out of patience with this dental care business! LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker