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