Week 6, Transfer 3, 11 Dec

Wow-What a week it has been

A wonderful lovely and GREAT week.  SEriously.  BEing a missionary is the BOMB!  We defintiely saw some miracles this week and picked up a few new investigators.  We had some SWEETT lessons with some of our members here and I just feel so close to them. There are some great people here and I do NOT look forward to leaving this area at all.  Sadly enough, Hna SChwegler is getting transfered.:( I got a little preview of what it will be like when I leave...lots of tears...especially saying goodbye to the ninos, ANdrea and Jose,  and I just don't look forward to it at all.  WE defintiely got jipped only having one transfer together, but we kind of saw it coming-she's been here a while.

No I am not training.  We are only getting three new spanish sisters coming in this transfer and I am not training.  I did however get a call from the APs the other night and they asked me to be Senior Companion...Ali called it.  I am nervous, but it will be good.  Mostly nervous about the part that I speak more spanish than my new companion will...and I still miss a lot of info when people talk to me.  But the Lord will help us out for sure!

Oh man- We are in a super rush today! Hna Schewgler has to finish packing and we have to clean the car and then leave to drive all the way down to Vista for our Transfer mtg.  Pdays are CRAZY, especially Transfer pdays.  So I'lll tell you all next week who my new companion is!!

TAra- Yes I got your package! Thanks so much:)  I LOVE IT:)  Fun fun stuff.  We decided to spread the Christmas season out and open one present a night...thanks so much for the Ramen noodles Tyler:)  HAhaha that was the best one!   No letters yet though...but I"ll probs get them today at the transfer mtg.  

I don't know about the Christmas call yet....I will ask President in my email to him today about that so I can get the correct info about all that.

KAte- You went on the CHoir Tour?  So so fun. I have fond memories of that!  So glad you got to experience it and have fun!   Also- Mom and Dad are taking you to HArry Potter WOrld??  Oh my.  One word. SPoiled....  Lucky duck you!    Write me soon okay?

CAm- you looked DANG good in your ball gown!  And I 'm so excited that you are going to get some sister missioanries out there! YOu will love them:)

dad- Hope you are enjoying your new plane experience in Kansas!  Jame and AL- glad you guys get to have your hubbys home more now!  God luck with all the Christmas projects!

FAmily--I really will be sending a cd of pictures today...actually it might not get sent until next week...today is a crazy day.  But I"ll send it!  There are some good ones!

 Ah I HATE being rushed-----but that is all you know as a missionary! I have to go...but know that I lve you all soooo myuch!!!

Week 5, Transfer 3

FAMILIA!!!!!

Just enjoying the rain here in Mission Viejo. It has ben raining lots here, which is uncharacteristic, but I LOVE it:) I just wish it would storm:)  Things here this week are good! We picked up a new investigator yesterday, Elena, and taught her part of the Resto...but we couldn't get through all of it because she had so many questions. SO many questions...but we have the answers:)  We have been knocking lots of doors and we have some good potentials, it's just a matter of finding them when they are home.  

Enot is doing so well. Although he won't be baptized this week he is progressing so much!  He is reading the Book of Mormon and trying to apply it to his life. We gave him a talk in the Liahona to read for an assignment, and he read it and then the next talk too!  And then on Sunday, he brought THREE friends to church. THREE!  He is awesome!  With him we are just playing the waiting game until he can be baptized. To make a REALLY long story short (i don;t have time to write it all) Bishop has to give the permission for him to be baptized. He is going to meet with Enot this week and pass his judgement on the situation.    So we are just waiting for Bishop to give the go and he can be baptized anytime.  

Iris, the mother of the 2 ninos we are teaching, came to a baptism with us on Saturday.  She couldn't understand a dang thing because it was in English, but it was the most beautiful thing of my life.  I brought her up to the front to see the actual ordinance of the baptism happen, and she just smiled and just began to cry. She was balling. She felt the spirit SO strong!  She is particularly sensitive to the Spirit, and after the baptism, we just sat and talked for a while.  Talked about how her kids want to be baptized and how the Lord wants her to be baptized too!  She says, yes that she wants to and she wants her kids to too!  She knows that she can give permission and that her other son (Adan, who is 21 and is the father figure in the fam) isn't the one in charge, but she wants his approval. And the ninos won't go against what their brother said either...  So now we are working our tails off to teach Adan and create a realtionship with him and help him see that they are ready for baptism and they don't need to wait any longer!  So that is what we are working on now.

I am particularly loving this area. The people here are so great and so full of love for everyone and for the Lord, I just love them with all of my heart. I hope that the Lord has plans for Hna Schwegler and I to be here together for Christmas! But, of course I will do whatever the Lord has in store:)  

I am so glad to hear the Katie is doing well from the surgery.  I think I might have missed an email though....DAd was talking about some new Dr in North Carolina that is gonna look at KT?  Please, inform me:)  

We find out about transfers on Saturday night.  I will probably stay...but we will see if Hna S stays or leaves!  

Well I don't have much more to say today...other than that I love you all! I am so grateful for this Christmas season that we have celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  I know that He came th earth and suffered for my sins and died for me- so that I can have the chance to repent and to change and become the person that He wants me to be. I know that it is only through this Gospel and through making and keeping sacred covenants that we can return to live with Him and with our loving Heavenly Father!  I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon- that we have that in addition to the Bible that we can learn from! I know it is true!  I just can't help but smile to think about all the joy this Gospel has brought to my life!  It is true. 

Con Much AMoR!!

-Hna Whick

Chili Turkey, Anyone? 27 Nov, Week 4 Transfer 3

Happy almost december!

Mother.  You sent me 10 PAIRS OF TIGHTS!!!!!  I love you, but what were you thinking? 10 pairs? I've never had that many tights in my life! I That's wayy too much.  Silly silly.  Thank you for thinking of me though. I'm not sure what I am going to do with all of them...I feel like am set for the rest of my life!  

CAm- I got your package too:) Thanks for the jacket and the tights...don't be offended if I return the tights though...I have quite the plethora at the moment:)  you also sent a few random sticky notes in the box...Pretty sure they were your "To Do lists"...hope you didn't need them too badly:)  It did make me giggle though!

Okay Al- when I wrote that letter about the cold it was 45 degrees that morning when we went running...I was not exaggerating:) It ahd been really cold all that week- and everyine was wearing their winter  coats everywhere.  It has warmed up a bit now though and we are back to short sleeves and light sweaters:)  

This week has been eventful. STarted off with the stomach flu last tuesday. Apparently everyone and their mom in the mission had it...gross stuff.  But it only lasted one night- so I am sO grateful for that!  And on top of that the 3 baptisms that we had scheduled for this week...well that number turned into a  big fat 0.  The mom of the ninos, Andrea and Jose, decided that they aren't ready to be baptized...and since they are minors they can't get baptized without their mom's permission. They were really sad. Andrea came up to us and asked us if she could get baptized behind her mom's back...she was  really cute about it...but they just have to wait.  The Lord has a plan for them, and we are doing everything we can to talk to their mom and help her realize that baptism is a good thing and will only help their familiy.  Anyways...we'll keep you updated.  Enot- was supposed to get baptized today...but he went a little crazy.  I'm pretty sure he will be the death of me.  I've never experienced so much stress coming from the source of One person.  He is funny...but after many visits with him and fasting- he finally decided to be baptized next Tuesday.  We pray that is will happen!  He has changed so much since we met him- and he is ready to take this step, but Satan keeps putting little things in his path that make him want to push the bap date back.  Anyhow, we shall see!

Thanksgiving was good. We slid by with only 2 dinners, which was a miracle!  Although we definitely did NOT feel like it was a miracle right after them...we could barely breathe, let alone walk home. I got some good pics, but this computer won't let me load them...dumb.  Next week I'll send them.  Yes the turkeys were all seasoned with chili--but it wasn't bad.  I just drank lots of water:) 

WE are already in week 5 of the transfer (out of 6).  It is most likely that hna Schwegler will leave and i will stay, b/c she's been here 4months already.  But we shall see!

Tara- your fam pics were GREAT:) What a good lookin family you have!  Um and can I say that you are SUPER skinny in all of them! Man- must be all that biking you do:) Ha and tell Tyler that the food aspect of the mission isn't that bad...you just have to be prepared to eat what they give you...and eat more than one dinner everyday...  Let's just say it is a REALLY good thing we have to run every morning-otherwise I'd be huge.  Seriously.  Everyone gives you everything...soda- chips-food- fruit- chapulines (crickets:) and they are pffended if you don't take it...so you just take it and smile:) ...and then shove it on your companion's plate when they aren't looking:)  

Mother- what is this I hear about Tamra might lose her job this week? And Katie is having another surgery this friday?? My goodness.  I hope they can get all of this worked out soon!  KT and Tamra are in my prayers!  

Man- time flies!  Love you all so much:) I will try and send my memory card home today so you can see some good pics:) Also- be on the lookout for a postcard coming everyone's way this week!  Love you all so !  

-Hna Whicker

The Crazy Life, 21 Nov, Week 3 Transfer 3

Fam Damily,

This week has been a crazy one.  First of all, we had a mission conference this last Friday, Elder Schwitzer from the 2nd quorum of the 70 came and it was beautiful.  We all received some great inspiration and guidance from him.  Not mention I got to see Hna K and  all of my MTC buddies:)  It was great!

These passed 6 months have gone by so fast!  I can almost say I've been out for 6 months now...weird. Time really does fly.  The work here is good. It is much more stressful here than it was in Oceanside though.  The 2 baptisms I had there were fairly easy, because they were both so dang ready and prepared...so everything just simply fell into place. and it was awesome.  That is not the case here. Enot, our investigator who is supposed to get baptized a week from today, is very frustrating.  He is a great man, and is ready to be baptized and WANTS to be baptized, but Satan just keeps throwing all of these things and excuses in his life that make him want to wait to do it.  I have never fought so hard to help someone realize that baptism really IS what he needs and he needs it now. Becuase it's not gonna get any easier later...that is Satan trying to convince him of that.  Anyways, we just had a super intense lesson with him...and it ended well, but the decision is ultimately his.  We can only do so much...he has his agency.  We are praying with all our hearts that he will continue with his decision to be baptized next week!!  We invited him to pray today and tonight and specifically ask Heavenly Father if he wants him to be baptized on the 27th and not later. We will see him tomorrow and see what his decision is.  We are going to be praying and fasting all day that he will be able to know that that is what HF wants him to do, and to do it now, not later!  

Other than that, Andrea and Jose (the ninos 12 and 13) are doing just great.  They are excited and a little nervous for their baptism next thursday, but they are just so great!  Their Mom isn't going to be baptized the same day, but we are still teaching her and hopefully we can set a date with her for december.  

Funny story....I have been pretty blessed health wise so far on my mission. WE all know I am not the most coordinated person in the world, but I somehow manage to survive:)  I haven't had bad any problems or accidents here...until last night.  It was quite hilarious actually. Don't worry, I'm not injured or anything, just my pride is hurt a little...but it's to funny not to share.  So hna Schwegler and I are walking from a members house to another appointment last night.  It is dark and we are late...so we were bookin' it missionary style.  I pull out the phone to text our appt to tell them we are going to be a little late. Keep in mind it is dark and I am looking down at a bright screen...when all of a sudden Hna S just screams "POLE!!!!!!" at me at the top of her lungs! Naturally i turn to look at her, and just as I turn I ram straight into a street pole.  Luckily I hit my shoulder on it and not my face...but it was hilarious. We both fell on the ground and laughed our heads off for a few minutes.  It was so embarrassing, but at least we got a good laugh out of it:)

Cam- Thanks for sending a box! I haven't gotten it yet, but that is so nice of you:)  How are the kids doing in school? Is it freezing there yet? Do you have lots of snow? Tell the kiddios I say helllo and that I love em!!

Tara- My address is the same, and will always be the same my whole mission because all our mail gets sent to the mission home, and not our individual apartments. Glad you are enjoying Florida:) Give all the kids a big hug from me K?  

Mom- Just so you know, the mission address is 451 WEST Bobier Dr...not east:) yOu always put east on yuo letters, and they always get to me, but just so you know:) Glad you guys had a great visit with the Gpadres whick and Betty and JOhnny!  Good luck with all that is going on this week with Thanksgiving:)  

Jame- I honestly don't remember how the green fleece jacket fit me...it fit me just fine I think, because I wore it on more than one occasion... but i really don't remember.  Glad you enjoyed the letters:)  Ella is so funnyy...she carried hers around for a couple of days...little cutie.  Tell Addie I said congrats about her tooth!!  

Well, I am a little bummed that all of you will get to see each other/ talkto each other/ and eat deliocious food together for Thanksgiving:)  I will miss you all, but think of me as you eat your delicious turkey....because undoubtedly I will be eating turkey will lots and LOTS of chiles in it...and possibly stuffed with mustard and mayo....yup.  Mexicans sometimes have interesting ways of cooking. But it will be great nonetheless:)  ESpecially since we will be eating with the Ruiz-Tello Familia who are dirt poor, and are the sweetest people I have ever met. But know, that I am grateful this Thanksgiving season to be here serving the Lord! There is no better place I could be right now,and I am so greatful for all the blessings the Lord has given me in my life. I am truely blessed in all aspects and I will forever be indebted to the Lord. Thanks fam and friends for loving me and being my examples always:) Love you all!!

Talk to you next week!!!!!!

Love 

-Hna Whicker

La Vida, Week 2, Transfer 3

Helloooooo Familia!

This has been a lovely week here in Laguna Hills....except the fact that it is soooo coold!  Okay, it's no Utah, but as a missionary and wearing skirts everyday with no tights and walking everywhere....it's gets pretty chilly!  And I only brought a raincoat! So needless to say I need to buy some winter apparel asap.  

We've had some miracles this week and they have been awesome!  We picked up 2 new kids as investigators.  They are 12 and 13 years old and we are teaching their mom, Iris, too.  The kids came to church with us on Sunday and they really liked it! They already have a baptismal date set for the 30th of November:)  Iris said she wants to be baptized too...but she says that it's too soon for her...so we are going to keep working with her and prep her for baptism and hopefully she'll decide to be baptized with her kids on that day too! 

We also have been teaching this man named Enot.  He's about 47ish and was kind of a little pill the first time I met him 2 weeks ago, not gonna lie.  We struggled a lot with him because he didn't want to commit to come to church  or to a baptismal date.  We finally got him to pray about being baptized...but he kept saying he hadn't received an answer yet.  So, last Thursday we had the most POWERFUL lesson! It was sooooo soo sweet and the Spirit was SO strong!  We were just as bold as bold can be and told him that God was answering his prayers! he was expecting his answer to some in some form of a dream...but we helped him see that God is giving  him so many answers telling him that he needs to be baptized.  I don't even know what else we said, but the Spirit was there and he commited to be baptized on the 24th of this month!  Miracle!!!!  And then we just saw him this morning too and man, when we saw him- you could just tell that he had changed. His whole countenance was different and it was beautiful.  WE taught him the 10 comm, law of Chastity, and the WOW and he just sompletely accepted them.  He was like "Okay.  Voy a dejar cafe....aunque lo tomo cada manana...se que es possible con Dios porque el quire que haga"  He is just so ready to be baptized and has changed. It is wonderful and elating to see someone change and literally come unto Christ.  This is the best work ever! He will be baptized on Tues Nov 27th:)

Oh man- Cool experience. Hna Schwegler and I got to go back down to OCeanside this last saturday to go to the temple with one of the Hnas we worked with down there as she got her endownments! Hna Schwegler served in Oceanside right before I got there...so we both visited Anel's family and worked with them.   It was SOOOO sweet and awesome.  PResident normally gives permission for that only beacuse it is too far away...but we got to go!  It was amazing and I got to attend my first session in Spanish:)  Cool.  Man...I don't have enough time to tell you all of it, but I"ll send pictures next week becuase I forgot my cord this week!!  

Thanks so much familia! I love reading all of your letters and feeling of your love:) I do beleive I have the most supportive family in the world:) Tell Brin that she is being an awesome little misionary:) Good for her!  Half of the referals we received in Oceanside were from an 8 year old kid who wanted us to visit all of his friends and invite them to church! :) So tell her to keep it up!

Mom- congrats on the new calling! Sweet that you get to experience that change now:)  

Oh man- time's up! Until next week:) I send all my love!  

-Hna Whicker

6 Nov, Week 1 Transfer 3--Mission Viejo

Family!!

Not gonna lie,  this week has been a toughie.  REallly tough.  I never thought it would be so hard to leave a companion and an area in the mission...but boy was I wrong!!  I am currently in Mission Viejo-  which is the farthest north that our mission goes.  We live in Laguna Niguel and our area covers Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, and a few other Laguna areas that I can't remember the name of right now.  But I can most definitely say that I definitely live in Orange County now and no longer in the Ghettos of Oceanside!  

My compainion's name is Hermana Schwegler....Sorry Al, you can probably guess from that that she is not a latina:)  She has only been on the mission 2 months longer than me, so we are most defintely still learning together. She is from Cinncinatti Ohio and and is very loud and crazy and happy:) Which is great.  We get along just fine, I think it'll just take some time to create a good solid relationship.  Mission Viejo is beautiful and the people here in the ward are just lovely.  I still feel a little bit like I am drowning...because I don't know my comp very well still, I don't know the people here, and I don't know the area here at all.  But I am exercising my faith that all will be will and I will be able to adjust quickly.  This is where the Lord needs me, and I just keep telling myself that. I'm still wroking on learning Patience....pretty sure that one is gonna be a life long lesson unfortunately....

So I"m doing well...but it has just been an emotional week.  It all started last week. I had quite the shock last week when our Zone leaders called Hna Kohrman and asked her opinion of ME being ready to train a new missionary.  (Of course she wasn't supposed to tell me this, but we had some serious companion unity...and she told me:)  Needless to say, I started flipping out.  Followed by a breakdown...and some tears.  I can barely speak spanish myself and I just couldn't imagine training right after I finished getting trained.  Poor Hna Kohrman  didn't think I would react that way...she only told me because she thought I would be flattered...which it is flattering...but more stressful than anything else.  Anyways...so the week started with that and me worrying that I would be asked to train...and then finding out that I was leaving OCeanside and Hna K...and then saying goodbye to everyone in Oceanside...and then being thrown into a whole nother world of unkownness...(at least that's what it feels like) So yeah. Things are getting better though.  I'm becoming more comfortable here and getting to know everyone and everything.  So that's the emotional life of a missionary...just in case anyone was wondering!  But the scripture in Moroni 7:33 keeps coming to my mind... "Si teneis fe in mi, tendreis cualquier cosa que me sea conveniente"  Only have it momorized in Span sorry. If we have faith in Christ, we will be able to do whatsoever thing is expedient to him.  Dad- I would say that Is my fav scripture right now...so tell thei bishop that one. 

Jame-  Tell Addie and Ruby that I said Happy birthday:) I finally got your package and it was great! Thanks so much, that scent is sooooo goood!  And Ella's letter was hilarious:) Hopefully I"ll have to time to write addie and Ella back today...we just got back from the Newport temple (tiny tiney!) and our Pday has gotten cut shrot a litle.  That is why I am emailing so late!  

Everyone keeps asking me if I need anything...welll if any of you would like to send me some cute sweaters, i would not decline.  I only brought one with me and it is pretty chilly here!  Mom- I got the recipe book! Thanks so much:) It is perfect...unfortunately the members in this area are CRAZY about feeding us...we have had 2 dinners in one evening more than one time this week.  They are really nice, but they just don't take no as an answer...ever.  So hopefully it will be of more use in my next area:)  

Other than that things are good here in Mission Viejo.  There is a lot of potential here...and we've got a few investigators right now that we are trying to get to commit to a baptismal date...we'll see how that goes this week!  I ahve also been told twice this week that I talk like an Argentine:)  That just made me think of DAd and Ali:)  Just carrying on the Argentine tradition with all the mexicanos down here in California! 

Love you all soo! The computer is being dumb so I can't attach any pics today, but I will fo sho next week!1 Love ya lots!!

-Hna Whicker

30 Oct- Week 6, Transfer 2: "Me VOY..."

Hollla mi familia bonita!

Pues...me voy!  I'm getting transfered today! STill don't know where I'm going, but I am all packed and ready to head out.  As exciting as it is to go to a new area and have a new compainion and new members...I am quite sad that Hna K and I are gettign split up:(  We have had such a fun time together and I am sad to be separated!  Yes- Ali, a few tears have been shed...but what else could you expect from me? :)  But, I know that I will be going wherever the Lord needs me!  So, no matter how hard or inconvienient it is to recreate a relationship with a comp that I don't know and with all new members, I know that it will be worth all the pain, becuase that is what the Lord wants me to do:)  So - here goes the beginning of a new phase in my adventure! 

As bummed as I have been about leaving, it has been really fun to go around and get pictures with the members and hear them say how much they appreciate all I have done here.  I truly love them and will miss them all dearly, and it is nice to know that they feel the same about me:) 

CHRISTIAN GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahoooo. Sweet sweetness, it was the sweetest, most peaceful and powerful and pure baptism I have ever been to.  He was just Glowing the whole time, and he couldn't wipe the grin off of his face. What a sweet man:)  He is going to be a such a strong leader in the church and is going to have such a great impact on his family!  His wife is a non-member that hasn't really ever been interested in learning about the GOspel, but hopefully his example will soften her heart and she get baptized soon:) He was baptized on Thursday and confirmed on Sunday, and it was just lovely.  It's moments like those that there is just not a doubt in my mind that this Gospel is true.   The Lord knows us personally, and He has given  us the tools to live life to the fullest, and it is a joyful thing to seesomeone take those tools and implememtn them in their life! 

But now that Christian is baptized...we are down to 2 investigators.  We have dropped all of our others, becuase they just weren't willing to commit...and we are here to find those that the Lord has prepared, so that's what we must do.  But it's hard.  but then again, it's not supposed to be easy is it?  THere was a talk that we watched in the MTC by Jeffery R Holland, and he said something to the effect of [life isn't supposed to be easy. Missions aren't supposed to be easy.  It wasn't easy for Christ, so how can we expect it to be easy for us?]  It's hard, but it's worth the pain isn't it?:) 

Well I am sad to hear the news about Tamra...stage 4 renal cancer...oh man.  I will most definitely keep her in my prayers! And KAtie's face is starting to hurt again? My goodness, will this infection never end?  And Mother, you just need to rest and sleep so your lungs can get over this sickness thingy...whatever you call it! 

Jame- I still haven't gotten your package yet...but only becuase we haven't gotten mail this week.  We get mail today at the transfer meeting:)  As far as Halloween goes, we go in early on Wednesday and don't tract, but there are crazies out and about at night.  If you look closely at the picture I attached o me and hna K...you can see we are wearing our costumes...:) LEt me know if you can spot it:) Our ward had a trunk or treat on Saturday and it was fun to see all the little kids in their costumes.  Our ward combined with the English ward to do it and  they had a pinata full of Mexican Candy...and all the white kids did't know what to think of the Mexican candy ( b/c it's spicy)...and quite gross in my opinion, but everyone here loves it:)

Haha Tara...I have absolutely NO idea what you said in your email...but it was quite hilarious:) Hope you don't miss your flight to Flags...or whatever the heck you were trying to say:)

Cam- thanks for sharing your experience with all of us! I 've never heard that one before about when you were 8...thanks for sharing:) 

Well, time's up!  ove you all more than you know! You are all in my prayers, and I appreciate your constant prayers in my behlaf! Love you all:)

-Hna Whicker

23 October- Week 5, Transfer 2

Wow- So much to say.  This week has been a good one...very rainy and chilly, but I don't mind that kind of weather at all:)  IT's quite lovely and fallish, and Fall is my favorite season:) So life is good!

CHristian's baptism is this Thursday!!!  WAhooooooo.  We are really excited.  HE is doing so great and He's already had his baptismal interview and everything...he is so ready for this and just has a heart of gold.  He works at Denny's and tells us to come by anytime we want for free food:)  So great.  I have pics, but I'll send them with my memory card in a letter this week.  WEll hopefully...Hna Kohrman got her camera stolen and doesn't have any pictures...so she wants a copy of all of mine, but we are waiting to see what happens with transfers this Saturday!  Well transfers don't happen until next Tuesday, but we find out on Saturday  what is going to happen.  LAst week I was feeling VERY apprehensive about transfers and just having to start all over with a new companion and it just seemed like soooo much work. And it will be. But I really feel like Hna K and I are going to stay together here for her last transfer.  Which would be very unusual becuase PResident almost never keeps greenies (me) with their trainers longer than 2 transfers.  But I am feeling at peace with whatever is going to happen...and that's all I can ask for!   So I'll have that news for you next week:)

We are on the search for new investigators, because after this week we have about 3 others...and none of them are progressing.  WE did meet a new family this week- LAura.  We are going to see her tomorrow and it looks like she has a lot of potential, so we are excited for that!!

Wanna know what I ate this week? Anyone ever had Chapulines?   If you have, I am so very sorryyyyyy....so v rery sorry. Chapulines....or CRICKETS are not the most savory dish.  They are dried and flavored and they eat them like candy or nuts out of a dish.  LEt's just say I do not look forward to repeating that meal at anytime in my mission! But- I survived. ...without gagging even...quite the accomlpishment.

Yesterday in District Meeting, the Zone leaders said they got some numbers from PResident Cook about missionary applications. They said that normally after General COnference, they have about 600 new applications for missionaries.  WAnna know how many they got after the big announcement?? 7,500!!!!! SEVEN THOUSAND MORE than normal..  Pretty flippin sweet if you ask me!  Dad- I don't know where you got you numbers fromin your email but. This is what we were told from PResident Cook. Crazinnessss...but aweome.

The Hendersons got called as mission Presidents!!!????That is so sweet!!! Tell them to pray for Carlsbad CA-b/c pres cook is ge tting released this next year, and that'll be the time that they will start their calling.  That would be so cool!  And Sarah could go on her mish at 18.5 now..sweet. When does Malea leave?  And dad- Abby cope is married--she's not going on a mission soon...not sure who you are thinking of...

MOM_----HAppy BIrthday tomorrow mother dearest!! THere will be a card coming in the mail today for you:) Sorry it will be late, but know it's a comin'  Thanks for being such a great, loving, and supportive mother to me in all that I have done!  COuldn't have asked for a better Mother!! Love you more than you know!  Thanks for all your prayers and love- I can feel it always:)  Have fun at your RS dinner (la Socieadad de Socorro en espanol;) and enjoy everyminute of your day!  Make KAtie do all the dishes and cooking K? :)...but for reals...KAte---you hear me:).  /btw...thanks for the letter KAte:) It was lovely to hear from you...finally:)

Congrats on the trip to Kansas DAddio!  Cool stuff right there.  RIght up your alley:)

JAme- I haven't gotten your box yet, but we only get mail once a week on Mondays (but the ZLs pick it up on Friday, we just don't get it till monday), so it probably just missed their pickup or something.  I should get it next Monday:)  THat picture of Addie is hilarious!  She is such a sass, and quite honestly, her braids looked pretty good to me:)  Her water shoes were hilarious....so funny! Oh man. 

AL- please honor me by putting up a picture of me dressed up as Winnie at your Hocus Pcus party this week k?  That was a DANG good costume....man I love that movie:)  CUte pics of WAderade:) 

CAm and TAra- Dang I'm down to 2 mintues on the clock... Just know that I love YOU ALLLLLL so  much!!!!  THings here are good- the Gospel is true!! Muchisimo Amor a todos!!! Hasta el proximo Martes:)

-Hna Whick!

Woooot, 16 Oct Week 4 Transfer 2

BAptismssssssssss are flippin' awesome!!

Actually, it was probably the most stressful day of my life, but that's okay because Juan got baptized and confirmed and that's all that matters:)  Juan was super quiet and nervous and his little brothers were being little pills throughout the entire service!  So much so that Rosi and Ruben (Juan's parents) both had to keep getting up and taking them out throughout the whole thing. I really just wanted to give those children some discipline - but alas, that is not my place, and as it was our investigator getting baptized we couldn't just leave to help them because we were in charge. But despite the stress and craziness, it was a lovely day.  We went over to see Juan last night and talk to him about his experience and he was just so happy. He is normally a very quiet boy with very few words, but he told us that he has felt different, and he was just full of smiles and happiness, and it just brought joy to my soul!  So happy for him and his family!  They have a date to be sealed in the temple next February and they are so EXCITED! Now they can ALL go as a family, and Juan is going to be adopted by Ruben (b/c Ruben is not his biological Dad, but has basically been his father his whole life) I hope I will be able to get permission to go to there sealing from wherever I am in the mission then! That would be SWEET!

Also, CHRISTIAN CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY!! Boom Baby.  I'm not sure I've ever been so happy before!  We had exchanges this week and Hna Farr came here to Oceanside with me and we went and visited Christian.  He was super nervous about talking to his boss, but we were b old with him and promised him that if he prayed with all his heart, and then talked to his boss and told him the importance of coming to church to him, then his boss' heart would be softened and he wouldn't have to work on Sunday.  Let me tell you, the Lord listens!!! Christian called us and told us that he doesn't have to work the next 3 Sundays and that it is probably going to be a permanent change!  MIRACLE!!  So, his baptismal date is the 25th of Oct!  We are so excited for him!  He is so ready, and he is such a sweet man. Can't wait!  

It has been freezing here this week.  Well, really only at night.  But still- I'm definitely gonna  need someone to send me some tights when the winter time comes. because it gets way colder than I ever expected.  And I definitely didn't bring very many or sweaters or anything. So I'll have to get some or have you send me some from my stash in the garage mom when winter gets here. 

Um- Did I know that Maddy and Stu were pregnant??  I think I might have, and I just forgot...but anyways Congrats to them!!! Let me know when you find out what it is:)

Mom- you inhaled chlorine gas? Oh dear. Glad you got a blessing and I hope that you get better quick! It seems like every time you write, you tell me about some type of health issue that you are having...that is not good.  You need to be healthy mother!:)  I'll keep you in my prayers!  How is Katie doing?  All is well after the surgery?

Tara- You won an Ipad? Geez louise.  You are the second person in our family that has won an ipad.  Maybe that luck will be passed on to me when I get home:) Hope Audrie's nose is okay and that nothing is broken!!

Jame- I already replied to your email, but just in case you didn't get it, i most definitely prefer apple over black licorice:)  

DAd- got your card this week:) Thanks so much!  It's always fun to hear from you in spanish:) Hope you are doing well this week...didn't hear from you today, but you're probs just busy:)  

Al- glad you got to go to SG this week! Wade sounds like a little cutie at this stage! Glad you are enjoying him so much !!

CAm- I think you are right, I think that Porter does kinda look like me when I was his age:)  I don't mind at all:)  Love you - and hope the Fords are doing well this week too! 

KAte- I'd really like to hear from you sometime you little stink.  I think that last time I heard anything from you was like my 3rd week in the MTC! Girl-----that is unacceptable! I expect an email from you next week k?  K. Love ur face. 

Well there are only 2 weeks in the transfer left and it is most likely that Hna K and I will be split up.  Trainers are normally only with their greenies for 2 transfers.  I"ll be honest, that makes me really nervous....I feel like we have just gotten to the point where we have really good relationships with all of our members and that we still have a lot of good that we can do here together in this area.  But...we'll see what the Lord has in store for us!  Hope all is well at home and if I can remember to get stamps today I will send my memory card home with pics on it.  Love you all so!  

-Han Whick

9 Oct Week 3 Transfer 2

The Gift of Tongues...

has been abundant in this area!  In more than one way...let me tell you!!  Spanish is coming along quite nicely, and I continue to learn so  much every single day.  I mean, let's be honest, I still have a LONG way to go, but I am getting there, one step at a time! 

We had an interesting dinner appointment this week...anyone ever eaten TONGUE before?  Let me tell you, it was a first for me...and I think I would have been much better off had I not seen it being prepared and cut... it is really quite sickening and fascinating all at the same time. ANyways, it tastes just like regular meat, just a little more fatty, and has an interesting smell to it...but all in all, I'd rather eat tongue than shrimp.  Honestly. I hate shrimp. And people here love seafood. Ugh.  I'm gonna attach a picture for you to see what it look like!  So gross!   ( The third picture is nothing out of the ordinary...ya know, just peeling the tongue to get the meat inside....gross!! The fourth pic is of me in a traditional guatemalen shirt...one of Hna K's converts froma  diff area is in love with her and sent this to her this week:)  DAd and Ali, did you guys ever eat Mole in Argentina or is that a Mexican thing? Mole is like  a chocolate sauce that they put of chicken or other meat...it is interesting, not horrible, but not somethign I would ever voluntarily make for myself.  Just curious:)

This week has been a great one.  Just great. I love Conference SO mUCH!!  I'll be honest though, seeing it made me feel a little homesick. I think it's the first time I've really had a desire to be home since I've been on my mission...I mean I love you all, but I just haven't struggled with that since I've been gone Thankfully. But I'm doing just fine now:) It was great to be spritiually uplifted, but it was a different experience because after it was over, I just wanted to sit and read my  notes and absorb everything that had just been taught...but alas, no part of the life of a missionary includes just sitting and absorbing...:)  Ya just Go go go!  Sweet news about the new missionary age limits huh? so Awesome!!!

And here we are....going!  Juan is getting baptized this Saturday and it is just going to be so flipping great!  HE's had his interview, and all is a go! Christian....is being a little stink. Well, he is still great, but he;s just stuck...stuck with his job! And he can't progress or be baptized if he doesn't COME TO CHURCH! We are working real hard with him, being BOLD, and doing everythign we can to make him act, but we are still waiting to see some results from that. So, we'll keep you updated on him for sure. We still have a baptismal date set for the 27th of OCt with him, so we are praying realllllllll hard for that to still work! 

WE picked up a new investigator this week, her name is Elsa, and she is flipping awesome.  She has SO much potential, and we are hoping that next  time we go over there we can teach her whole family!  This could be the family we've been praying to find....so we are super excited about them! 

Oh. I cut my hair:) Chopped it off again, and it is SO much better! Cooler, easier, and it looks better....so it;'s a win win situation!

MOm- got your pictures yesterday:) THanks so much for all the mints and EMergen-C's!  I also got a letter from Marisa Kendrick and she said things are great out there in OK except BErt wants to move back:)  Haha they are so funny. I hope they do move back:)

Gma Whick! I got your letter too, the print out of the blog!  That was great to read, thanks so much! 

Oh- I have a favor. Mom- you have 2 Paul Cardall cds that are just the hymns piano music....any chance you can burn me a copy of each of them and sen d them to me?  That would be great! Maybe Kate or Ali can talk you through that process when she comes down this weekend:)  It sounds like you already talked to Claudia and heard that I say her son and his family in the Chapel while we were watchign conference:) They were very sweet and told me if I ever needed anythign to let then know:) 

Tara- that is such a sweet and tender experience that you had with KAylee! What a miracle it is to have children around us t oremind us of what is important in life... love that.  CAmi- Porter is a little CHUNK!! WHat a cutie! HE;s gonna be so huge by the time I get home!

Anyways, I am so glad to hear that Katie is doing well!  I was thinking and praying for her on Friday! Glad to hear all went well and that she is on the recovery and back at school already!   

Anyways, I LOVE you all more than you know!  You are all such great examples to me of faith and love and trust in the Lord, despite whatever is happening in life! I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to receive all the joy and happiness that the Lord wants us to have in this life!  There is no greater joy than that of the knowledge of the Gospel and LIVING it! So keep on keepin on, and the Lord will continue to bless you in way s that you can't even imagine!  Love you all so and hope you have a wonderful week this week!!!

-Love always, 

Hna Whicker

Workin' hard!

Baptism!!!!!!!! 2 October 2012, Week 2 Transfer 2

So much to say, so little time....

BUT-Sweet things have happened this week! It has been a good week here in Oceanside.  We had some great things happen and I just get excited to be able to play a part in the work of the Lord! One recent convert family in the ward has a son, Juan, that is 15 that didn't want to get baptized when his family was baptized. He has since taken the discussions but didn't ever want to live the Law of Chastity. BUT, his family is getting ready to go to the temple to be sealed in a couple of months and he really wants to be apart of that. So, we've started teaching him this last week and he is willing to start living the law of chastity, and agreed to set a baptisimal date and everything. He is great, and he is ready!  His baptism is set for the 13th of Oct and we are so excited! Miracle:)

Christian is doing so great!  He is so ready to be baptized...but his dang job is the only thing that is impedeing him from doing it!  He is looking for a new job, but hasn't found one, and doesn't want to quit his old one until he has something secured. Which is understandable...but if he doesn't come to church then he can't be baptized!  Ahh, oh man. He is so ready and keeps ALL of his commitments (except church), we just need a miracle to happen with his job! So we are praying hard for that to happen... and it will...just gotta keep doing all we can to help move thigns along!

K -- imagine this. SO Hna K (who btw has the rest of this transfer left and then 1 more transfer before she goes home...and she is from indiana.  Someone asked me that last week and I forgot to tell them) and I are driving along to get to our dinner appt with a family and we see this only astro van sitting in the middle of the road, broken down with the hazards on. This guy is almost completely blocking traffic on a VERY busy road during rush hour.  Poor guy was sweating bullets.  The light turns green and we go along on our merry way...but we both felt REALLY guilty that we didn't stop to help him.  So, we turn around and go back, and he's still sitting there, sweating bullets.  So Mind you--Hna K and I weere looking pretty good that day, if I do say so myslef... but there we are- two missionaries in our nice skirts and outfits pushing this HUGE astro van out of the middle of the road with a million cars passing us.  I'm sure it was quite the sight to see...I was giggling quite hard myself:) Then to top it off, once we get him around the corner out of the way, this old man beach bum comes up on his bycicle and starts shouting " We gotts keep these ladies safe!!  I'm dropping everything to come help ya right now! We gotta keep these lovely ladies safe!" It was Hilarious! So so dang funny. People here are f unny:)  But, at least they try and keep the ladies safe;) Anyways, it was a fun adventure! Not ONE person out of all the million cars that passed him  stopped to help him, but I'm glad we could:)

We also got hit by a car in the parking lot yesterday.  HArdly any damage, just some paint scuffs, but we were parked in the back of a grocery store parking lot waiting to meet the Zone leaders to exchange some papers.  Hna K looks in the rear view mirror and says, "This guy's gonna hit us!" then he really did hit us, and she is just sitting there repeating, "I can't believe, he hit us...and he's driving away. HE's driving away!" On the other hand, my first reaction is to look at the car, get the model and lisecnce plate number...to which I immediately did! 6HEU639, and I just kept repeating it to myslef while she is sitting there saying "He hit us!"  It was quite hilrious just to see the different way s we both reacted to the same situation:)  Just made me giggle!

Anyways, it's been a god week here!  Bummer to hear that you guys had quite the crazy week with Katie.  Glad that she can get the surgery can get done so quickly, and I will be praying for her safetly and quick recovery as well! 

Mom - I didn't have time to read you piece for the blog...if you could mail that to me it would be awesome! And yes, I do have the green recipe thing for recipes that you gave me before:) I'll work on my piece for the blog and get that to you guys as soon as I can! Sorry I didn't get it to you yet!  Sorry Cam that you have had such a cruddy week with sickness and such, hope all gets better very soon!  Tara - tell Audge congrats on her grades!! That is so awesome:)  AL- congrats on your calling in the Rs pres, that will be fun for ya:) Jame- glad Ella is loving Joy school so much! You're grls are so cute...tell them that I have their pictures that they drew for me up on my wall and I see them everyday:)  Kate! Good luck with surgery this week, you'll pull through with flying colors- I know it!  DAd- so glad your leg is doing so well!!  Mom- hope you get your energy back soon!

Love you all so ! Hope you have a great week! LovE

Hna Whicker

The Journey Continues, Week 1 Transfer 2, Sept 25

Hola mi Familia!

This week has been a whirlwind of a week in many ways. First of all, it's funny that so many of you said that you  have been sick this week, becuase the sickness made it over to OCeanside too...last Tuesday night I got sick... It was horrible! We finished our naightly planning and I was feeling so cold...and when I got in bed I just couldn't stop shivering and I could NOT sleep.  Everything came on so quickly, I had chills, my head was pounding, my body was sore, and my I felt like there was agiant lump in my throat.  I checked my temp and I had a fever of 102 and basically didn't get any sleep that night! Wednesday was not the best day, but we were able to go out and work, and Sister Cook gave us permission to come in at 8pm instead of 9 so that I could get some rest.  But it was a HUGE blessing, because I woke up Wed morning and I was feeling great! I don't think I have ever been sick only ONE day in my life...sickness always lingers with me. The Lord is definitely looking out for me, and for that I am so greatful!

Ready for a miracle? K. here goes. So this Sunday we decided to fast for our 3 investigators to come to church.  We were super pumped, especially for Christian to come because he is going to get baptized on the 6th of Oct. Our Sacrament mtg is last and we knew that Christian was only gonna make it to sacrament mtg, so we walk into the chapel and not ONE of our investigators was there. My heart just broke right then and there...We had had this BOMB lesson with Christian this week and he read 2 N 31 and 3 N 27 and he was so excited becuase he hadn't realized how improtant of a step it was to be baptized and to come to church, so we thought for SURE he would be there. Anyways, I'm standing there and my heart is broken, my stomach is grumbling becuase we were fasting for that very purpose, and I just was very unhappy....a little bit mad in my heart to be honest. So we sit through SAcrament mtg and watch all the other sets of missionaries with their investigators while we sit there with none. LEt's just say I wasn't very happy by the time church was over.

So I decide to check the phone to see if anyone had returned our calls ( because we had called them all like amillion times) and there it is, a voicemail waiting from Christian. I was being prideful and didn't want to hear his excuses so I handed the phone to Hna K and she listened and called him back.  Ready for the Miracle?? She's talking to him and all of a sudden her sad sad face just flips around and she starts dancing around the room pumpin her fist in the air.  I am standing there in shock, as she tells me what he said, "SOrry I didn't make it to church today, I got stuck at work again. But ya know, Now that I know how important baptism is and how important it is to come to church I know I can't do this anymore. I'm going to go talk to my boss and tell him that I can't work on Sundays anymore, and if he says no then I'm just gonna have to look for a new job..." SAY WHAT?? Miracle . MIRACLE!!! He is awesome. He's gonna be baptized and be so blessed for all of his efforts.  Sweet sweetness.

Other than that, this week has been pretty darn good.  The Lord is aware of each and every one of us and we are so blessed to have the knowledge of the Gospel that we do!  I'm excited that the fam is getting that blog going, and I'm probably going to have to snail mail my contribution in, cause I don't have enough time to type it up! But I'll do that today!

KATE!!!! Oh my sweet Katie. I am so sorry that you have to have another surgery:( My heart just dropped when I read that. What a time you have been through recently...but ya know, no matter what the Lord has in store for you, just remember that the Lord never gives us anything that we can't handle. I've been learning that lesson myslef these past few months. There is a reason for all that is happening, even though you can't see the end result yet, there is a reason!  It takes a leap of faith to trust completely in the Lord and do what he wants you to do, but there is no better person to trust in and lean on for support that our Saviour Jesus CHrist!  He is there for you Kate, even when you feel devestated and dread what is going to happen. He knows. Lean on Him.  Just remember Fear is the opposite of Faith. You got this in the bag girly! Just take it one step at a time and know that the Lord is in control. Keep your chin up and be strong:) Thanks for being so strong and being an example to our whole fam;)  Love you so GIRLY!

Mom, I got the memory card thanks! Al- I got the scripture case and it is perfect! Thanks!  Jame- tell Ella that I love and miss her too! GLad you got the honor of playing "me" in their play the other day:) Tara- you have bunnies? Funfunfun! CAm- hope you all get better soon and you can catch uop on rest. DAd- hope  your leg is healing well and quickly!

Love you all!

-Hna Whick

One Down, Sept 18-Week 6, Transfer 1

Fam Damily!

Today begins the start of my second transfer. Can you believe it? 6weeks here in Oceanside...seems like a lifetime yet at the same time seems like I've only been here a week. This morning I was thinging back on the last 6 weeks and all that has happened. I realized I am really good at comparing myself to others...which is something I really shouldn't be doing...especially when I compare myself to my trainer who has been on her mission WAY longer than I have. All too often I only see my faults and where I am lacking, but I oftern fail to recognize how far I've come.  I want to understand and communicate so badly- I get frustrated with myself. But then I think back to the first week I was here and I could hardly catch a full sentence that anyone was saying.  I remember thinking the first evening here in Oceanside- we were walking on the street trying to contact people...oh man I just remember thinking to myself...."Oh man, Oh man...I REALLY hope no one is outside walking tonight!" I was SO uncomfortable..and now I just walk up to peeps and start talking. Even if I can't understand everything that they are saying--at least I can walk up to them and start talking:)  Anyways, just thinking about what has happened these past 6 weeks.

Well let's be honest.  I've been discouraged here in this area. WE have had very few investigators, and we end up dropping all of them very shortly. Jacqueline, the one investigator that we had at the beginning of last week, told us on Friday that she didn't want to learn anymore- and that she was very content being Catholic. She was very sweet about it, but everyone has their agency, and no matter how much I want to change her decision--I just can't. 

BUT- this week we found a Golden Investigator. IMagine that...they really do exisit!! His name is Christian and he is flipppin awesome. He has a baptismal date for Oct 6th and he is SO prepared to receive the Gospel!  It is amazing, and quite refreshing. We taught him the plan of salvation on Saturday and he was just so into it-all the questions that he asked led directly into the next point of the lesson and we we checked for understanding at different points during the lesson he would be like "Well from my understanding..." and then just be exactly right about everything. Flippin awesome.  The Lord knew we needed a miracle, and we needed somethign to keep us going here. Because we both just feel a little lost here. We are working so hard, but we just aren't seeing any fruits from our labors...I guess I just need to be more patient. Well, not I guess, I know. Patience is always on my list of attributes to improve on.

Yes Mom, we cook more than I expected here. If any of you have any simple easy, delicous meals (that aren't pizza, baked turkey sandwich, stir fry, or pasta) that you'd like to send my way that would be great!  Mom- if you can print that email you sent to me this week withthe recipies on it and mail it to me that would be great, becuase I don't have access to a  printer:) Sorry that you are feeling so under the weather Mom, that can't be much fun.  There have been SO many people sick here...which is interesting becuase it has been so dang blasted HOT! It hit 106 the other day...oh man it was horrible. That is very rare temperature for here- and my face was very pink that day...from heat and from the sunburn.  But,we are surviving!  Hoping I don't catch any of this sickness that is going around! Man- that's a bummer that the freezer went out- but deliciousthat you made strawberry jam-jealous:)

Katie! Can't believe you got a warnign ticket...haha that is quite hilarious! DAd said to tell you about my first ticket... but I've never been pulled over before. I've had my fair share of parking tickets from the dear Provo Police Dept, but I've never gotten a speeding ticket or anything. What was your warning for? Speeding? I couldn't open the attachment DAd sent to see.

Tara- glad you are safe and that you didn't get any more damage from your hydroplaning incident!

Jame- I got quite the giggle out of picturing Ella running around with her pockets loaded with rocks and having her pants fall to the ground everystep becuase of the weight! Hilariuos!  That pic you sent of Ruby is adorable! What a beaut she is going to be...that little sparkle in her eye is so cute! Ali- Brennen is home already? Wow- I feel like he just left...time is such a weird concept here! Cute pic of wade that you sent!  Cami- loved your letter! Thanks for sharing all your experiences! 

WEll I've got to go, but I sure love you all! Hope you have a great week this week!

Love always,

Hna Whicker

 Food! This is the haul we got all in one day! 2 mangos abag of chips, 4 sodas, and a package of cake. All from members.

 Us Being Silly!

 We are loven our delicious pizza!

 Me in all my glory!

Our District! Squatting: Elder Hammer (Zone ldr), Elder Perez(District Leader), Elder Armstrong(ZoneLdr), Hma Bauserman, Hma Jones, Elder Thompson(fromHurricaneUt), Hma Kohrman & Me.

11 Sept-Week 5, Transfer 1

Hello wonderful FamilY!! 

First of all I have a few requests:)

1. I need our Banana Bread recipe

2. Ali- ya know the purple scripture case you made me for my small english scriptures? Well, it has caught the eye of many peeps in this area, especially my companion.  Don't worry, I'm advertising for ya:)  But, any chance you can make one in yellow (just like mine-same size and all) and send it to me?  I want to buy it from you to gove to Hna Kohrman;) And yes, I need to buy it from you, you can't just give it to me k? But you'll have to tell me how much it is and I'll just send ya a check k? K. Gracias.

We are down to one investigator, JAcqueline. She is a sweety. She's about 45 or so and has 2 kids and is a devout Catholic.  She lost her Mom and her Dad within the last year as well as her baby several years ago.  We talked about the plan of Salvation and how her parents are in the Spirit world now, and how she'll be able to see them and be with them again after this life. It was a sweet lesson and the Spirit was strong.  We've only taught her once, and she bailed on us when went to pick her up for church on Sunday, but we are meeting again with her tonight so we are hoping to do a chapel tour and get rid of any fears or uncertainty that she has about coming to church. Hopefully she'll feel the power of the Spirit and accept our invitation t obe baptized! 

This week, this week.  It has been a long one. It is hard to work SO hard everyday and do everything you can, and then you get home and you just can't see any results for all the hard work t hat you put in.  That is probably the most frustrating thing to me- not seeing results. I am a very visual person- I like to make things, clean, things, do projects, and then when I'm done I just like to step back and enjoy the fruits of my labor...the Lord is really testing me on that one.  I KNOW there are people her that have been prepared and that are ready for the Gospel, but we just can't seem to find 'em yet.  Hna Kohrman and I fasted this last Sunday to be able to understand what the Lord wants us to do in this area- and we both feel very strongly that we need to work through the members to find people to teach. So- that has been our goal.  Last night we had prepared this AWESOME dinner message with one of our active families. SEriously, it was sweet and we were both pumped to share it.  THey are a great family and we have a pretty good relationship with them.   ANd we got there, we ate, and we started sharing the message and man oh man- they shot down EVERYTHING we said! We had a scripture, a quote from Elder BAllard about member missionary work, and a commitment to pray sincerely to the Lord to find someone they could share the gospel with and have a name by a certain date.  Excuses, excuses, excuses about how they can't do it because they work and on and on and on.  Needless to say it was very frustrating.  So here is the question: What would could the missionaries do to motivate YOU to do missionary work?  Let me know in you r next letters k?

Sweet experience this week.  Our zone put together this musical fireside that was called "Follow Thou Me". All missionoaries played a role and were to invite eVERYONE. Members, non-members, investigators, friends, contacts, everyone. It was all about the life of the Savior and His invitation for us to follow him.  We had narration, clips of the new Bible videos on lds.org and then a song after each of the sections of HIs life.  I was SUPER nervous about it becuase they asked me to sing  "I stand All amazed" and then they turned the song (which was written to be a solo) into a quartet with some other sister missionaries.  Normally, I prefer to sing in a grouprather than a solo-but I was very hesitant in this instance. Ya know how some voices just clash when they mix? Well that was pretty much the case here. Every practice that we did was horrible. But then, as we were sitting waiting for our turn to sing in the fireside, we were watchign the clip of Christ's crucifiction and His suffering in the garden. As we were watchign that, the Spirit just filled me up. It didn't matter what we were going to sound like, becuase the words of the song that mattered. CHrist suffered everything for us. This event was the most important thing that ever happened! And we were about to declare that to the world. And we did. I have no idea how we sounded- but I know exactly how we all felt, and I know how the audience felt. IT was a SWEET experience. Man- we are so blessed. SO BLESSED!  THe Savior died for YOU. Specifically for you. So that You can return again to  live with God. How can we not do what He asks of us when He has given us everythign? Oh I how am forever grateful to my Savior. I can never repay Him for the great gift He has given me. I know with all my heart that He lives. HE lives!! My heart just overflows with love at the thought of  Him and all He has done for me!

OUt of time yet again...but I love you all ! Thanks for being so supportive in all that I do, you are all such great examples of love and light and I couldn't ask for better family and friends!

-HErmana Whicker

 

4 Sept 2012--Week 4, Transfer 1

Oh man oh man, Where to start?

This week has been a toughie...let's be honest.  Missionary work is just plain hard!  HArder than I EVER imagined it to be. Some days I just feel like an idiot going up to strangers and trying to talk to them in a language I don't know.  But then other days I just feel elated and can't I want to talk to everyone!  it is quite ridiculous, I just want to be happy all the time and not worry, but ya know it's just not that  easy.  I realized the other day that I get so frustrated with Spanish becuase I ca'nt express myslef the way I would in English.  In spanish I'm just spouting off vocabulary trying to conjugate and simply get the words out, but I just can't express myself with my personality as I would in English and that is SO hard for me!  BEcuase I don't want be fake, but I can't help but feeling fake when that happens!  So silly.  But Imma pushin through!  We had a Zone training meeting yesterday-- and let's be honest I  really didn't want to go becuase I knew we were going to be doing a million role plays and practices and I just just didn't want them to be telling me that I needed to improve because I already knew that I needed to improve in EVerything!  But, we went and it was so amazing! President Cook showed up (which didn't help my atttitude in the moment becuase it's already stressful practicing with your zone leaders watching you every move, but then when your Mission President comes and watches you, the pressure just multiplies by 10!!!).  Anyways he was watching Hermana Kohrman and I practice setting up and giving the First vision "15mph" so that our investigators can really visualize it and internalize it while they hear it.   Anyways, he had just walked over from working with another group (in which he made one of the other missionaries cry...unintentionally, but still she was crying) and started listening to ME giving the first vision. Oh man...stressfulll. But I was trying so hard to block everyone out and just focus on the investigator. So, I finished and I looked up and him-- and there he was standing over me all teary eyed and he just said "perfect".  Um wow.  It was sweet. Not that I am trying to be prideful, but I really needed that vote of confidence right then and there in that moment.  Man I am so greatful for the Spirit and that I get the opportunity to be an instrument in the Lord's hands and have the spirit work through me! 

We had to drop Maria...our one investigator that was progressing.  She knows it's true--oh she knows it! But, she doesn't want to do it without her husband. And her husband is NEVER home. It took us a while to finally get that real reason out of her of why she didn't want to act...but there it is. So we invited her to talk to her husband and explain why this is so imprtant to her and that she wants to move forward together, but she didn't seem to enthusiastic about it. We were really bummed...but ya know everyone has their agency.  We are going to continie to stop by and see how's she's doing every once in a while, but we're not teaching her anymore:( 

We had a Saweet experience yesterday though.  We had just parked and were getting out of the car to walk a few blocks to our appt's house and this girl passes us just was I open the door. She was walking real fast so I quickly said hey how ya doin? and she hesitantly turned and said hello. Long story short, her name is Estera and she is from Romania- and she had made the desicion THAT VERY DAY that she needed to make some changes in her life, and then we stopped her and talked to her.  Then she asked us if we had a Bible for her to read, so we started talking about the BOM and it was aweseom.  We only had one in Span thoughUm, can we say GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR?? Yes, yes we can.  Except she doesn't speak Spanish. Bummer. So we had to turn her over to the english elders!  But that's okay, becuase we are going to find someone just like her that speaks spanish, and it's gonna be sweet. IT gave me the motivation to talk to everyone becuase we really just don't know who has been preapared and whop hasn't! 

Mom- I got you package yesterday:) Thanks for the 72hr lit supplies and the scripture covers, they are great!!  Sorry that you are sick!  Man, that is no fun at all.Congrats to Brin on your baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   That is sweet that you guys got to go to Brin's baptism on Saturday!  How hilarious that it was in Devil's lake!! Funny funny;)

Cami- that is hilarious that Brinly and Cade both started crying when the bus passed them, thinking it forgot to pick them up!  hahaha so so cute:)  Yes Tara- I got your letter from Florida, but I got it like 2 weeks after I had already been here in CA.  You sent me the link to some movie clip on lds.org, but I just don't have enough time to watch it, so sorry:(  Jami- Addie and Ella are such a hoot.

Oh man, 1 minute left! Love yyou all!!! I am doing well, just growing and becoming the missionary the Lord wants me to be ! Love you lots!!

Lynds

28 August, Week 3, Transfer 1

..In more ways than one. Man, I am weak sauce when it come to running. But I am getting better:) So that's all that matters. But more than the physical tiredness that comes from missionary work (and running daily), is the soreness that comes from being stretched and molded and shaped by the Lord. Man oh man. This week was good, but it consisted of a few breakdowns on my part.  It was mostly just a build up of stress and frustration with myslef that I've dealt with since arriving in the mission field.  I think it was on thursday or something that we just came out of a lesson and the lady was just talking a million miles a minute and I had ABSOLUTELY no idea what had just happened and I felt frustrated because I really hadn't said anythign and my companion had done all the work.  And I had just tried to concentrate SO hard on paying attention to every word she was saying, but then I just get lost and then I'd start thinking about how dirty the table cloth was or how hot I was, and then I'd realize what was happenening and then I 'd focus in again and it was just a frustratiing process. And more than anything I was frustrated with myself. Needless to say, there were tears that night, and thank goodness for Hna Kohrman because sometimes I just need to cry, and I hadn't cried yet since I got here...and it all come out. But anyways, I'm fine. Just need to have more faith and let the Spirit speak through me, rather than over analyze everythign that I say. So in that sense, I am sore as well:)  The Lord is teaching me lots and I'm trying my best to keep up with Him!

I am really trying to exercise my faith and not me fear as we prosilite and teach. It is just so easy to get discouraged because I can't say what I want to, exactly how I want to say it.  Hermana Kohrman has been very helpful though, I am so greatful to have her with me and be an example to me.  I just need to forget myself...because everytime I shy away from saying something, I"m only not doing it becuase of fear I have of being embarassed...and it shouldn't be about ME at all. I am doing to the Lord's work and I just need to get over myself. So that is what I'm going to work on this week.  Just forget myself.

We had a cool experience this week as we were walking through the Parking Lot to visit a less active.  We saw these 2 men just standing over by some cars drinking, so naturally we go talk to them. so we start talking about how we teach about what Christ taught and the commandments came up some how, and this guy just looks down at his can of beer and says, "Man, we were JUST talking about how we needed to make some changes! So he looks down at his can of beer and goes and throws it in the trash! It was awesome! And as we were walking away we hear them, ""Woah! I can't beleive that just happened! We were talking about that literally 5 minutes before they walked over here!"  So it was sweet!  We are excited to visit them this week.

Maria- our investigator that had a baptismal date, kinda pittered out this week. We were supposed to take her on a tour of the chapel this week to show her what it was like because she's never been, and also to reinvigorate her for her baptism. But she called and said she didn't want to go. So we went over there and chatted with her. She has the desire to be baptized, but she's not DOING anything about that desire,. She's not striving to gain a testimony of the BOM or trying to get work off on Sundays, so we are going to help her focus on that this week. ACTION! BEcuase really, you can talk all you want about what you believe and what is good, but if you don't do anything then it means Nothing. Nothing. That is how we Show our love for God-by DOING what He asks. And doing ALL that He asks, none of this wishy-washy "I pick what I want to follow" junk. It's all or nothing baby.  So many people that we talk to say, "Oh ya know I'm fine. We are all worshipping the same God anyways, so it doesn't matter what church I got to."  Yes, we are all worshipping the same God, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so how can he preach all these different and conflicting priciples in each of the churches?  There is only One faith, One way, and one baptism(eph 4:5...not sure exaclty if that's what is says in english, but it is somethign close to that)...and we are it. I say that not pridefully, but with conviction.  I KNOW, that this church truely is the SAME church that Jesus Christ himself restored when He was on the earth.  No doubt.  It is simply true.  This Gospel is the only thing in the world that can give us that peace of mind and that pure joy and love in this life. The only thing!  I have really been thinking about that becuase So many of the less actives here just make excuses. They know exactly what they need to do and what is right, - but they think they are the exception to the rule. dumb. not true. No one is exempt. And that's the Gospel truth (said in the sing songy voice fron the movie Herculues;)

Man- time is almost up. I'll write you a hand letter today describing my area and daily life more. YEs we have a car and we have a large area! Love you all! Hope Brin gets better for her bap this week and she loves every second!  Glad school is going well for everyone! Cam, al and Jame I got your letytersthanks love ya!

 We've picked up some new investigators this week, so we are excited about that! All is well here in Oceanside!

-Hermana Whicker

21 August "And the Life Begins" Week 2 Transfer 1

Where to start...so many many things to say. 

Things are better here this week.  I feel MUCH more comfortable and I at least understand the jist (gist?) of what everyone is saying. 

First of all we  have a baptismal date for MariaSanchez! Miracle! Miracle Miracle.  She is prob about 40 and has 5 kids. She took the lessons for about a year about 6 months ago but never Once came to church.  So we met with her on Sunday and taught her the Restoration and it was Great!  I mean I butchered pretty much every word that I s aid....but ya know I  only have so much control over that right now;) Anyways, The spirit was there and we invited her to be baptized and she accepted. Sept 22nd is the date.  So now we need to work with her on getting work off. I am excited for her to finally take this next step. So that's pretty darn great.  She has a duaghter that is 11 too that hopefully will be baptized too:) Other than that we have started teaching a guy named William. He;'s about 24 and we taught him once, and he said it was all very interesting, but he didn't come to church on Sunday and cancelled our next appointment.  We'll see how that goes. Sandra is a woman that we started teaching last week. We knocked on her door and she let us in, she is really hard to get ahold of and we've only met with her twice. All in all we don't really have any progressing investigators, except Maria, so we are really trying to exercise our faith and find a family to teach. 

Haha-so we were street contact the other day and we talked to this man named Fernando. We talked with him and got his info fora referrel because he lived out of our area, and went up to visit a member in the apartment complex. On our way out, he runs over to us and starts talking about how if he started taking our lessons, would he be able to marry one of us? It was hilariuos and I immediately started laughing. IT is even more funny because I am pretty sure that I am at LEAST 2 feet taller than EVERYONE here. Seriously.  I feel like a giant.

Also, in the CA carlsbad mission, it is mandatory that for their 30 minutes of exercising we RUN. Oh how I do not enjoy running...but I really don't have anychoice but to be converted. Hna Kohrman always looks so lady like and nice when we get back after our run and I am just beet faced with sweat everywhere. LEt's just say it's a good thing I'm not trying to impress anyone here:) 

I defintiely did not remember what humidity felt like. It is like living in a suana...all the time. Okay it really isn't that bad, it's just a big contrast compared to Utah. there is just a lovely constant sheen of stickynesss all over my skin...all day everyday.  It is just great...ish;) 

I feel like I am adjusting pretty well. I still have A LOT to learn, but Hna Kohrman is a great teacher. She takes the lead when I have absolutely NO idea what someone is saying to me, but she pushes me to go outside my comfort zone and do things that I haven't done before.  She is really great and I just love her lots! 

REquest: Mother- we are supposed to have a 72 hour kit in case of an earthquale or other natural disaster.  So, Sisiter Cook really wants us to have those MRE thingys.  So question, can you take the MREs out of my 72hr kit at home and send that here?  If you also have an old backpack so I don't have to buy one that would  be nice too... Thanks Momma:) 

Also, I am in need of Spanish Scripture cases. ya know like the ones that are individual and have a zipper that open and stay on when you read them becuase front and back covers are in the flap?   They don't have a Deseret Booko or anythign here. I should have gotten some at the MTC, but oh my goodness they were just so hideous. so hideous and I couldn't bring myslef to pay for something that ugly. Anyways, I normally only carry my BOM in my bag because the Bible is so heavy, but I really need somethign to protect them both becuase they are gettinga  little beat up.  So if someone could work on that for me, that would just be dandy!

Well It is really good to hear from everyone! I sure do love you all and I enjoy reading all your emails!  That is hilarious that Addie wants an embroidery of Chickens on her backpack:) Hahahahaha that made me laugh pretty hard.  Good luck this week with school Addie! YOu'll love it:) 

Brinly- I got your baptism announcement yesterday!  So beautiful! I am excited for you as you follow the example of our Savior and get baptized--so cool! Cam- hope all is going well with little porter and fam:)

Dad- Hna Kohrman says that you have a movie star face--:)  Just thought you'd like to hear that. Everytime she sees your picture she says that:) 

Mom- I got your card the other day with the memory card in it - so I'll send mine today.  There aren'ta  whole tone if pics on it from Carlsbad...sorry, we've been a little busy:)  But there are some good ones!

Ali- glad that you got to see the HArrisons! I believe Elder Orme's family (from my MTC district) just moved into theis ward in BEllevue.  Tell them to kee p an eye out for the Orme Family-their dad just got back from Iraq like last week or something. That is funny that you associate that couch as my broken finger couch...haha, well just tell them to be careful and never jump onto it is they are mad:)

Tara- that sounds like a LOT of jam! Fun funf un:) Sammy looks so different in the pic that you sent! I feel liek I just saw her and she has already changed so much!

Jame-cute cute pics of your fam and the Girls. Ruby is such a doll! There is a  couple in the ward named ROsi and Ruben, andI keep accidentally calling them Ruby and Rosen...whoops:)

KAte- glad you are enjoying tennis and I  hope the frist week of school wen twell for you! 

WEll I love you all.  This is definitely the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and there are most definitely some crazy people out here! But ya know, we just gotta keep going and find the ones that the Lord has prepared to receive the Gospel!  So on we go!!  Moroni 7:33 has really been on my mind this week.  What a comfort!  Alrighty, I'm out of time. Love you all.  This is most defeintely the Restored Gospel of JEssu Christ!  What a privelige it is to repressent Him !

love,

Hermana WHicker