February 23, 2015 - Week 60

Wow. Well, tomorrow we will know if we have changes. That is just crazy to me. The time has gone by so fast and I think it feels even faster cuz I am in a new area and stuff. But, it has been a great change. I don`t know if we will have changes. My companion has like 7 and a half months in her area, so chances are she`s gone... Which I do not want! I seriously love that girl. I would love another change with her. So, maybe miracles will happen.. And if not.. It`s God`s will :) But, it would be awesome. You guys will all know in a week! 

Hermana Whittaker a little freaked over incoming storm!

But, this week was another good one. We actually visited a lot of people, so that was good. We also had our zone conference. It was interviews, too. So, we got to learn some things and have an interview with President. So, it went good. The truth is, I learned so much! My interview went great. That guy is just so cool and I learn so much from him! Also, we had ´´stations`` to learn on how to set goals and stuff. But, they put a twist on it and related setting goals in the mission to setting goals in your real life! And they started talking about like marriage and all that crap... Wow it was a shocker. Haha I`m still too young!! But, it was actually a really good capacitation and we learned tons. Also, as companions we set a ton of goals this week and we are doing pretty good with keeping them! So, that is good. One of our harder goals is lose weight... Haha it`s just so hard! But, we are working with that.

Hermana Whittaker found a wall that describes her...

 But, we had a great Sunday again. 68 people in church! So, we`re going good! Also, our investigator that we have had for like 3 months (she was an investigator when I got here...) came to church yesterday for the first time! She is really cool and will totally get baptized, but she was just too lazy to come to church. But, she came! And her husband was beyond happy that she came with him cuz he, also, is an investigator that has been coming every week for like 3 months... He is so cool! They got married civilly like the week before I got here and everything. The only thing is... He can`t get baptized yet. We are working with him on that. But, they are such a cool family and we are so excited cuz she came and now we can work with her for her baptism!! Their names are Joel and Lucia.

Hermana Whittaker with her companion and Suzana

 So, that is all that happened this week. It was a really good one. I can`t believe how fast it went by, though. Super fast. And this change, too. WAY TOO FAST! But, that is the mission! Have a great week! LOVE YOU!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

February 16, 2015 - Week 59

So, this week was good. We had some really good days and especially yesterday. It was another good Sunday. We had like 57 people in church, so it dropped a bit, but it is still a lot better than what we usually have!! So, that was good. Then, after chuch, we visited a lot of people and had some really good lessons. We are pretty sure that there is this kid named Samuel that is 9 that will get baptized in March, so that is good news! He is the son of one our recent converts and we loves chuch... So we are helping him out.

Also, that guy from Spain, Antonio, totally came to church again! But, he looked so different! Turns out that he got a job as a taxi guy through one of our other recent converts! So, he is like working and stuff, and came to church again! Amazing what kind of blessings we can receive from the Lord, right? Like, one Sunday in church and now he`s got a job and is doing great! Also, he came in a dress shirt and everything! When the other week he showed up in jeans and a tank top... Haha and that`s ok and all... But I`m just saying that there is a huge difference in him. But, we still don`t know if we can teach him so he can get baptized cuz we aren`t exactly sure where he lives permanently... But, it`s cool that he comes to church and stuff now!! 

We also have received some really cool references from members this week that we are gonna visit. They are probably some potential baptisms and stuff. So, that should be awesome, right?? Also, we contacted a family last night on the way home that is really cool. They were so nice! We just went up to them to give them a contact card and invite them to church and they like gave us water and talked with us a bit... Cool! So, we will see how they are and be passing by for them again!

So, that is about all that happened this week. We had a pretty good p-day, too. We went to visit a family that is in Aratiri (but in the elders area) and had another despidida with them (Familia Martinez) and Elder Laura. The hermana made us a delicious lunch and it was so fun! But, that is about all. Tomorrow we have zone conference/interviews with President... We`ll see how that goes. He`ll probably just drop cane like always.... HAHAHA ;) But, that is all for this week! I love you and have a great week!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

February 9, 2015 - Week 58

Well, this week was a really good one. Especially yesterday. It was a great Sunday for us. All week was pretty good. We worked hard and stuff and then on Sunday... It was like a huge blessing!! We had like 66 people in church. And that was in sacrament meeting. That is what counts! We have had like 44 every week since I´ve been here and this week it shot up by 20 people! We were so shocked and so happy. Also, there was this guy that showed up named Antonio and he is from Spain. He just decided to come to the chapel to see what it was like. He doesn´t have a place to live and is alone just searching for a job. Anyways, it was cool that he came and later on that day... We found out that like 3 of our recent converts like totally helped him out and are trying to help him in the process of getting his documents all together so that he can go back to Spain (like he wants). But, it was just so cool to see how awesome our members are and how willing they are to help out other people. People that they don´t even know. We were able to talk with him and found out that he really had kinda a cool experience. He was just going along and all of the sudden, he heard a voice in his head that said ´´follow me´´. He literally heard a voice tell him that and he ended up at the church. So, it was a really cool experience. We shared with him a bit and he said that he would for sure come to church again. He also told us a lot about Spain and stuff. It was really cool. But, we will see what happens with him. If he progresses and stuff.

But, last night I was talking with my companion and we were talking about how happy we were to see our members be so willing and also to see lots of less active families come back to church. It was just really cool.

 

Other than our awesome Sunday, we also had divisions with the hermana leaders. It was fun but kinda sad cuz this is the last division that I will ever have with Hermana Hunt cuz she goes home in like 2 weeks. It went great though. We worked good and even visited one of her investigators in her area that is like golden. She seriously understands the lessons SO GOOD. She pretty much taught us. At the end of the division it was sad, but at the same time, we know we´ll see eachother again.

 

That is our week. Today for p-day we didn´t even do anything. We just slept and then ate lunch at a place and we bought a few things. That´s it! Have a great week and I love you all so much. More than you know... LOVE YOU

Love, Hermana Whittaker

February 2, 2015 - Week 57

Wow January came and went!! That`s crazy. But, this week was pretty good for us. 

We are still working with less active members and stuff cuz our whole area is full of less actives. Seriously. But, we are working with them. I met some more families in our area and they are so cool. For example. There is familia Muñoz and they are cool. At first, I thought that they were super serious, but then they were cool. And I like fell over in my seat in the middle of the lesson and they definitely got a kick out of that. Hahaha it was funny. But, they are cool. Also less actives, but we`re helping them out!

Also, we had a zone conference this week and if you thought that President dropped cane the other time that I said he dropped cane... That is just wrong. THIS time he really dropped the cane. It was harsh. But, we just had some really low numbers as a mission for baptisms in December and January. We all just need to work harder, but I am excited and stuff. We are gonna really look for some people in these next few weeks. So, it`s all good. We also ended up meeting the father-in-law of our mission leader in our ward and he is really interested in learning about the church and stuff and he came on Sunday!! So, that is cool. We will see if he progresses.. Also, speaking of people who came to church on Sunday... You`ll never guess.... HUGO AND MALENA AND LUZ came to visit me!! They came to my NEW ward to visit me. They said that they miss me a ton and I was just SOOO happy... Beyond happy to see them!! So, that was like the best surprise that I received this week. 

Also, the elders had a wedding on Saturday, so that was fun. We made the cake and it took a good two hours. Haha but it turned out pretty good. It was a beautiful wedding and the husband is the investigator that is going to get baptized. The only problem is that the elders found out that he actually lives in the boundries of a different ward and so he now has to get baptized in the other ward and stuff. But, it`s all good! He is gonna get baptized and that is what matters, right??

Hermana Whittaker and her cute companion

So, that was pretty much our week. It was pretty good. Also, today was pretty fun. We went to Pizza Hut with all my old friends! Haha with Elder Laura and the other elders in Aratiri and also the hermanas that we used to hang out with. So, it was like good old times. We went to celebrate that Elder Laura is going home soon! He only has like 3 more weeks, so we needed to celebrate with pizza... Haha but that is so weird, right? We are already halfway through this change. I cannot believe it. It is just weird to me.... The time goes fast. Well, that is my week! I love you all tons!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

January 26, 2015 - Week 56

Well, this week was good. I am getting to know the members and everything... It`s pretty fun. My companion and I are like the best of friends. We get along super good and stuff, so that is fun, too. We didn`t have like any success with finding new families or people to teach this week though.. But, it was still a good week. Also, our assistence in the church was like 62 this week! And so that is like a pretty good number when usually it`s like 40. But, we did have a super cool lesson on Sunday (yesterday) with a inactive member.

So, after church yesterday, we had to go back to the church at like 4 to do visits with the members. So, we go and we ended up doing divisions with the members. It`s a good thing that I am a fast learner cuz I remembered all the houses in my area that we needed to visit haha. So, we get to the chapel and I go on a division with two returned missionaries. That are going to get married in like a week. Awe, cute right?? Haha they actually met in their mission in Argentina and she (her name is Guadelupe) came to Paraguay to get married to him (Christian)! Haha, so I did a division with a married couple ``to be´´. So, we went out and first visited a family less active and it went really well. They are trying really hard to come back to church and stuff and the husband is a returned missionary, too. Then, we went to visit a recent convert that we have named Tito. Haha he is so funny and really does have a testimony. He is like 50 and just says whatever comes to his mind. He is really stubborn, too and just always wants to have the last word.. Haha but we visited him, too and it was good. Then, to finish visits we went to visit a kid named Richard that is like 23 and a returned missionary, too. But, he is inactive and one of his best friends is Christian (the guy that is going to get married). So, we are talking with him and his family and there are like tears and stuff and everyone is just feeling the spirit and we are just like all helping him with his life and trying to put goals with him so that he can come back to church and stuff and it`s just going great. And then we knelt for the prayer... And wow. I honestly felt the spirit SOOOOOOOOOOO strongly! It seriously just like hit me! Wow it was so cool. Seriously. Also, my companion felt the same and so that was awesome. And yeah. I am like positive that this kid will come back to church and feel happiness again. Like REAL happiness. So, that was our cool experience this week. 

This p-day was pretty chill. It was fun. We went to print pictures at Kodak cuz I gotta send pictures to all the members in Aratiri. And then we went to this place to eat called Sorvetto. I felt like I was in the States. It`s actually like pretty close to where we are at and it is so good! It`s like a milkshake place. So, that was cool. We ate a sandwich and the a milkshake. Haven`t had one of those in like 13 months! And I felt pretty sick after drinking it, to be honest... Haha, but it was fun. And that is about it. Pretty low-key day. But, we are looking forward to an even better week! I LOVE YOU ALL!! Chau!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

January 20, 2015 - Week 55

Hermana Bautista & Whittaker

Yes. I got changed. And you`ll never guess where I am........... NEXT DOOR! Hahaha my new area is literally right next to my old one. It`s called Anahi. So, same stake, same zone... Yeah. So, that`s pretty funny, right? Everyone is having the greatest time talking about how my mission isn`t Paraguay Asunciòn North... It`s Paraguay Asunciòn Capiata cuz I have been in the same stake since I got here! And there is a good chance that I will probably finish here... That is, if I have another 6 months in an area. But, that is the news! New area and new companion. Her name is Hermana Bautista and she is from Guatemala! The second Guatemalan companion that I have had. She is just great, also. I already love her tons. We get along really well and also... She goes home with me! So, that is pretty funny. But, she is really awesome and I am excited to be with her.

The Hermanas' study desks

As for everything else. It`s pretty much the same cuz I am still in the same zone and stuff. Nothing has changed in that aspect. But, the area is pretty good. The members are cool and stuff, but there are just a lot and a lot of less actives. I think that the only active family that lives in our area is the Bishop and his family... So, there is some work to be done in that sense. Also... Our assistence on Sunday was like 43 people... That was weird and different for me. In my other areas it was always like 100 minimum every week. But, it`s all good! Just looks like we`ll have to do a lot of work to fill up the seats, right?? Haha but it`ll be good. I do miss Aratiri, though, a little bit. I love them. It was sad to say goodbye, but everyone (me included) was happy cuz I am so close and I will be able to visit them like whenever I want. Well, whatever p-day I want... Haha and everyone says that for sure I`ll finish my mission (that is weird to think about) in this area and so I will be able to visit to say goodbye ``for real´´ before I go. So, it wasn`t TOO sad. But, I love them so much.

After the rain - that is a street, not a river!

This week we pretty much just met the members and a few investigators that my companion and her companion from before have. It went good. Everyone is super nice. There is a member named Maxima who is just too funny. On Saturday, it started pouring rain out of nowhere and we got like soaked so we ran to her house to find refuge. And we stayed with her and talked with her for a bit and she just makes me laugh. She is hilarious! She just says whatever thing that comes to her head. So, that was fun. But, that is what we did this week. It`s been raining a lot, too. It like rained all night and all morning this morning. It might be typical January weather here, I don`t know. 

For p-day, we did an activity with our zone and it was fun. Pretty normal cuz I already know everyone. I think I might be the oldest in the zone for being here for so long. Haha but it`s cool. Before, I was the only American hermana and now there are like 3 more. We just played volleyball and presented ourselves to the zone for the activity. Then, we went to Asunción to go to the dentist... Yes, I know. AGAIN. But, not for me! Haha for my companion. She had like 2 cavities to get filled. So, yeah. And for that reason, I was not able to do cyber cuz it lasted A LOT longer than we thought it would last. We were there for like 3 hours... But, it`s all good! And that was pretty much our week! Lots of changes and stuff, but it`ll be good. I am excited to be in Anahi! Love you all tons!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker

January 12, 2015 - Week 54

Well... And there goes the change. The last day of this change was yesterday and tomorrow, I will know if I stay or if I go. I am guessing that I go... Cuz I got myself 6 months in this area! But, we will see. But, if this week that we had just happens to be my last week here... It was the best way to end!! With a BAPTISM!!

Yep... Malena got baptized on Saturday and it was just perfect. She was just so happy. I am telling you... That little girl had no other desire in the past month and a half than to be baptized! And... She was able to do so on Saturday, January 10th  2015! But, it really went just perfect. Well, first of all it was like the most stressful thing of my life (when it didn´t even need to be so stressful...) but, in the end... It was great! So, during the week, we were like all good. Things were going great and stuff with the plans... But, then, when we get to the whole ´´who´s going to clean the baptismal font´´ we started to have problems. So, we were like totally cool with cleaning it and stuff, but then our zone leader told us that the ward needed to do it cuz it a ´´ward baptism´´ cuz she is 8 years old. So... That´s fine. But, then, when I call our ward mission leader and the bishop, they tell us that the missionaries need to do it! So, everyone is just saying the opposite of everyone else and it just stresses me out. Then... The ward finds someone to clean the font... Problem solved. Wait... No. Cuz now there is another problem. We don´t have ANY baptismal clothes in the chapel! And also... Might I just add that my companion was like really sick the whole day on Saturday and I was trying to do all this planning from our house and I couldn´t actually do anything cuz I was with her obviously. Anyways... I am calling like a hundred missionaries to ask if they have clothes in their chapels... And finally someone says that they do... But, then the zone leader tells me that we can´t go to their chapel to pick it up and that we need to find a member or the bishop to pick it up... Ugh. So, again, we call the bishop and it´s not gonna work. Plus, I am pretty sure he´s like super annoyed for all this. And I am just thinking... Whatever! I will just do it. The only thing that is important is that there is a baptism today! But, everyone is giving their own opinions and one person thinks one thing and the missionaries another and I just don´t like it... So. What we do is this. We borrowed a white skirt from the grand-daughter of hermana Betty and we use one of my white shirts... And guess what. PERFECT! It was just perfect. She was beautiful and so excited and happy. Her dad was super happy also and it just was a gorgeous baptismal service. We even decorated the place all beautiful and it was actually like pretty sweet. And that is the story of Malena´s baptism. And now we see how Satan is always trying to put things in our way so that we don´t do what the Lord wants us to do. But, he didn´t win! Cuz she went under water and received the remission of her sins. And then on Sunday, she was confirmed a member of the church. It was such a great week.

As for other things... We had a pretty normal week. It actually went by super fast and stuff. But, that is how it is. On Sunday... I lost the keys to our house. Yeah. Second time. But, it´s all good cuz I knew that I left them in the taxi that we took to church... Hahaha that is what we do when we are running late to church... We take a taxi.. ;) And sure enough... We went to the taxi stop and they were there. So, it´s all good. But, Heavenly Father was definitely looking out for us with that one cuz there is only one key to our house that exists.. And if we couldn´t find it... We would have had to brake the door down. And the hermana Betty didn´t want to do that cuz it´s like super expensive to fix and stuff. But, no worries cuz we found them!

 

Today, for p-day we went to Itaugua... But not to visit. Just to buy a few cool things and also eat at this restaurant that I love. So, that was pretty fun. But, we were also going to hike this big old rock that is like in the middle of our area with the other elders... But, in the end they told us that they didn´t want to. So, whatever. It wouldn´t be fun with them anyway... ;) Hahaha but it was a chill p-day. And that is it for this week! We had fun and we will see tomorrow what is happening for changes. We will see if the Lord wants me in a different part of Paraguay. But, I sure will miss the people here so much. I better be able to come back to visit them cuz I love them! Also, they have all told me that they don´t want me to go and it feels like I just got here! Hahaha but the time goes by FAST. Well, we will see what happens! And next week you will all know!! LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Hermana Whittaker