Oh Happy Day, 26 March, Week 4, transfer 6

Que Feliz Dia!

Thank you Mom and Cami- I received your birthday packages, but to the insistence of my dear companion- they haven't been opened yet:) I will open them on Saturday night- because there won't be time on Sunday and I want to enjoy them in time for my birthday:)  But thank you for the LOVE!!!  I can't believe it....22 on sunday. That's pretty crazy:)  We don't really have any plans, and a ton of the members in our area are out of town because it is spring break.  

Things here are good in Escondido- I am still struggling to feel as 'at home' here in this ward and with the members here, as I have in the other wards I have served in.  I think partly is beacuse it is just so dang BIG and I still don't know a LOT of people!  But I am hoping that will come twith time.  Hna Sheffield and I just realized that we are in week 5 of 6 in the transfer!  CRAZYYYY   I feel like time went by very slowly when I was being trained...and now that I am on the other side of it- it is just wizzing by!  I hope i can help Hna S learn everything she needs in this short amount of time that we have together!  but we are doing well. We had a couple lessons with M aria and Cochita this week ( maria is probs 55 and her mom is 80) and they rent a room in a little trainer. They are quite hilarious- and we feel much better about them this week after the lessons we had.  They ARE pregressing and their intentions are pure...which was something we were a little worried about before. But they are doing great now:) We are excited for them to get baptized in April. JOhnny- the other person we are teaching that is progressing, hit a road block this last week in coming to church!  We are working with him and hoping he will excercise the faith he already has and is developing into putting what he believes in ACTION and coming to church!  So hopefully that will happen this week.  Our teaching pool is fairly large at the moment, we are just working on continually finding and trying to help those we are teachign progress!  But the work is moving onward!

Oh!  I have a favor to ask of someone. I know that this is super late beacuse my birthday is on sunday- but if anyone wants to get my anything I would really love a  Plan of Salvation Puzzle in Spanish.  We have on ein english on the paino- and I've had a few companions with them, and it is such a GREAT and interactive way to teach the Plan.  Entonces...if anyone feels so inclined that would be sweet. I think you can get them at a webstire like  myldspuzzles.com or something. Hna Adams said she got hers for like 12 dollars or something

Well-I don't think I've EVER gotten whistled at- or hollered at more in my life than I have here in Escondido.  Please imagine- A John Travolta from Grease...only Mexican and with a HUGE  handlebar mustache. He started yelling at us as we passed this shop and when we turned around to see What was going on, he saw our anme tags and just goes, " Oh NO!"  hahahahahahahahaha it was so  Funny!  WE contacted them and told them to go throw away their beers...silly people. but it has been an interesting week as far as thioose kinds of experiences have gone.  

This week in our Spanish competition......we tied.   And...I"ve accepted that. I really wanted to win, but there's always next week:)

We also got a flat tire this week- that was kinda fun:)  I was about to change it when our investigator wouldn't let me...so he did it for us.  but itwas funny:)

Dad- thanks for checking on that stuff for me- taxes and school and such. and I will GLADLY take the Pruis when I return:)  I didn't do anything to celebrate my "hump day"...other than proselite!!!  :)   And you can erase the old pics on the memory card before you send it back to me!  Thanks a million! Tell Gma Stones I say HEY:)  

Mom- I couldn't go to Iris' baptism because she was too far away.:(  There isa rule that you have to be in the "adjacent mission area" to be able to attend a baptism of someone your taught, because it would just get too crazy with peeps wanting to go everywhere for everyone's baptisms.  So I was a little sad I couldn't be there, BUT More happy than ANYTHING ELSE!!!  oh how I love her and I am SO happy for her:) Can't WAIT to go back and visit her. 

Jame- sorry you and the fam are sickos!  Hope youall feel better so soon!

Cam- glad you got my letter:)

Tara- Good luck with the Easter talks- and tell Ty he's lookin Sharp in his baseballl uniform!!  

Al- hope wade feels better soon!

Katie- Heard you went to "el Cheapo"!  fun! How was it and who did you go with? Wwrite me girly!  

Aights Familia!  Sorry this letter is so late today- we had a Zone activity playing volleyball and chair soccer this morning. It was super fun, but LONG.  And my legs are sore...I haven't worked out thos e volleyball muscles for a long time...running will be interesting in the morning:)  

Onward ever onward, is what keeps coming to my head!  This is the best work.  Hard as heck, but so completely worth it!  I am really learning so much, and the Lord is shaping me into a better servant and messenger of the truth everyday.  And that is so great!  I am finishing the Book of mormon this week too- from the challenge our mission president gave to us to finsih by Easter- and it is just so great!  The book of mormon is just true!!!!  I have a testimony that it really was written for us in our day and that it will truly help us in whatever is happening in our lives!  The Lord knows what we need- and He specifically gave that to us for us to use! love it!

 Mucho Amor my fam!

- Hna Whicker

Milagro 19 March, Week 3, Transfer 6

I feel like I start every single email with the word Wow.  Well - sorry about that- but it's just always so applicable! Especially today...

WOOWOOOOWWWWWW!!!!

IRIS got Baptized on sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She is the mother of Andrea in Mission Viejo:)  Ah when I found out I just died- and immediately burst into tears!  It was so joyful I just couldn't contain it!!!  I am so dang happy for her!  I wish I could have been there- but that is okay, all that matters is that she took the step and I am just SOOOOOOOO excited!!! I Love it. I love her!!    Aw. The best!

Anywho- things here are good in Escondido. We are a workin'!  Pretty much all of our lessons fell through this week, but it's okay, we are still going!!  Hna Sheffield is getting more into the missionary life, and we are getting better at teaching together- so that is nice. 

This week has been a little bit of a struggle in teaching in the sense that we have had difficulties Controlling our lessons....some people just TALK! Talk so dang much!  and you try to cut them off and bring it all back...but it just doesn't work. I am a true believer in asking inspired questions to investigators during lessons, but I have had to avoid that all week- because peeps just go off on tangents...oh well.. we are working on it:)  One step at a time right?

Spanish game: 

I've never considered myself a prideful or super competitive person...but this week I have found out a lot about myself.  So- Hna Sheffield and I tried to make a goal to ALWAYS speak spanish to each other outside of the apartment.  This is really always the goal- but never truly functions.  Mostly, because we are still in the US and we contact people in English and spanish and everythign around us is in english- even if It's a town full of mexicans. Ni modo, we decided to make a game out of it. Everytime the other companion says something in English, the other comp gets a point.   Whoever has the most points at the end of the week gets a treat (donut from the DELICOUS donut shop in our area), courtesy of the loser. Let's just say, I have to buy hna Sheffield a donut today. hmmm. Yes, I litttle prideful. She only won by 4 points- and EVERY time she got me right as we left the apartment in the morning- so my mind was still working in English.  She would just be silent for like 5 minutes and then I'd say something to break the silence, and she'd say "HA, Punto!!!"  Little stink. Don't worry I am going to redeem myself this week...:)  but it really is a fun way to improve our spanish really quickly!  

I feel like this is a lame letter, and I apologize. But the work is continuing!!!  And we are a workin!  

Cam- Did you get my letter this week? Hope so, it was a good one:) The story about Cade following Brin out to the bus stop was hilarious! Love them so:)

Perris- thanks for your email and your experience:) Love hearing your stories de Brazil

Mom and Tara and Jame- I missed emails from you today! hope all is well!  love you lots:) 

Al- glad you had a good trip to NYC:)  

Dad- I already emailed you with some questions about taxes and such.  

Aights- Love you all

Love, Hna Lynds Whick

Hermana Wheeker (oh, like semana!) 12 March, Week 2, Transfer 6

...is the response to my name by almost every mexican I have met here in Escondido. oh like "week"  Got it, got it. :) It is just funny:)

Buenos Dias Familia!!

What a GREAT week it has been!  Seriously.  Awesome.  This is an awesome area- I'm pretty sure we got 7 referrals last week and we picked up 4 new investigators. One named Maria-  WHO already wants to be baptized!!! Pretty darn sweet if you ask me!  Except she is only here on weekends because she works Mon-Fri in some other city but lives here with her mom (Conchita). They are super sweet. And then last night we had a miracle!  So last week we contacted this dude named Johnny. He just got here about a month from Mexico, and it was one of those contacts where it was really quick and in my mind I was thinking that nothing would come of it, but that we had to contact him because we talk to everyone, right? So we contact him and get his number.  So after a week of trying to set up an appointment with him, we finally got one last night!  We ended up meeting outside of a laundromat with a million people walking by and interrupting us- but it was so sweet because the spirit was SO strong despite all of the distractions!  Turns out he is SUPER PREPARED To receive the Gospel and he already committed to be baptized!  oh happy day!  I LOVE when people are just ready.  It makes everything worth it!  So we are super excited for all this  happenin' stuff.

I also feel like I have been very humbled since I have been in this area. I have never seen so many homeless people- and some of the recent converts here- the just literally have NOTHING!  nothing. And they just faun over us and tell us how we are going to be blessed for our service in so many ways- and all i am thinking in my mind is how I don't need ANYTHING.  I have clothes, I have food, I have a family. I don't have to worry about what I am going to eat next week. And that is the number one worry of a lot of these people. My heart has been softened and I have been humbled. WE are so blessed. So blessed to have the necessities we need. So blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  Everyone deserves this message- and we ALL have got to share it!  Seriously. I'm challenging all of you to be "Missionary minded" this week okay? Cause you are going to have awesome experiences that will not only bless the lives of others- but will also bless your lives. I love it.  This is the best work ever. Amen.  

So funny story:  Trying to go visit a member to eat lunch with her. She just moved apartments and we still don't know the area. So we call her and she is trying to tell us the name of the apts. Please imagine: An older mexican woman  who doesn't speak any english- trying to tell us that she lives in . So she tells us and as soon as she hangs up I look at what Hna Sheffield wrote down and compare it to mine. I wrote "Cangles Boots" and she wrote "Congly Bod":)  Hahaha So We drive around trying to find ANYTHING that would have been morphed from "CAngles boots".  We tried Cypress cove, and everythign around us. Anyways- we call her and ask her again, so she tells us and I say "Que wood?" as in What  wood? and she just goes "YES YES that one!".....hahahahaha no help ata ll. but we evenutually found it and it was called "Tanglewood" (proncounced in a span accent: Tahn- glay- wud) hahah we laughed pretty hard:) 

Uggghh. Another food adventure this week. It was Disgusting. Worst thing I've eaten so far on the mission. MENUDO Y PATA DE PUERCO.  Sick nasty. Translation= cow intestine (super slimy and nasty nast) and Pig feet. I nearly barfed. Never again. Never AGAIN! I didn't tell hna Sheffield what it was until after we ate it. She still hated it but, she got it down:) 

There was also a tiny earthquake here yesterday. the first earthquake I've ever felt,and it happened and we both looked at each other and thought it was the garbage truck passing or something- but we found out later that it really was an earthquake!  Crazy.  

I just realized that I hit my half way mark last week!!  That is really crazy to think. REally crazy. I still feel like I just got here. 

Oh also- We just got news that we can now EMAIL Friends as well as family. That policy just changed for our mission!  So AL- if you could put that up on the blog/FB that would be just lovely:)  I would love to hear from some of my friends:)

HAppy Anniversary this week to Mom and Dad:)  How many years of marriage is it now?  I hope Gma stones does well at our house this week! Glad she will get to see Vada and that Terry will get to work on the bathroom in peace:) 

KAtie- Cool that you are gonna get prosthetic ears! I didn't even realize that was in the plan! You excited about it?  

mom - I got your bday package! Thanks:)  Hna Sheffield opened it and said nothing was wrapped so it won't be opened until my birthday:) Except asked hr if there were socks in there and so I am already using those, because I really needed them:) Thanks!

Dad- bummmer that you lost all Rotc funding!  That is crazy!  So did the school cut the funding or the Air Force?

AL- Glad you are having fun in NYC:)  Enjoy!

Jame- How's it like having a boy in the family onw with Wade around?:)  Fun that the girls will get to be around him for a few days! hope Ruby survives his attacks:)

Tara- How are the termites going?  Audge looks pretty sweet shooting that arrow!  

Cam- Are you still freezing up there is Michigan?  It has been quite lovely here!  I hope Porter's finger is doing well and that Cade can get better soon!  YOu're doing a great job CAmillioooon:) Loove you to pieces! How did that visiting teaching apt go that you were prepping for- wherer they didn't understand the need for organized religion? I'm sure you rocked it with the Spirit!  

I heard this quote this week and I really liked it "The Lord is easily pleased, but not easily satisfied."  Truth. He rejoices with us over the little things- but we must continually be doing good!  Once just isn''t enough:)  Thought i'd share that:)

Anywho- love you all!  Things here are good:) The Work is progressing!  Talk to you next week!

-Love 

Hna Whicker

Wowzers. 5 March, Week 1, Transfer 6

Where to begin....how about with WOW.  What a week.  I feel like I am starting my whole mission over because I was whitewashed trained myself, so all those feelings of being a greenie missionary are coming back to me now too. Although I do feel MUCH more prepared to whitewash than I did when I was brand new. I am in Escondido!! (Which Dad already knows because he emailed pres cook...silly Dad:)  There are now 12 (TWELVE) missionaries in this ward.  It's really great tand there is a LOT of work to be done here. There are mexicans everywhere on the streets and lots of potential. My new comp is hna Sheffield. (Anyone remember the show "the Nanny"?  Everytime I hear her name the scene from that show comes to my mind when the nanny yells "Mista Sheffield!!!"  Anywho:)  She is 19!  wowzers. Her dad is a surgeon and her mom a Dr. She is great:)  Her spanish is pretty good for a newbie and is learning quickly. In some ways we are very similiar and in others we are VERY different...but that's okay. We have a lot to learn from each other:)

So much to say, so little time. In short, we are starting from scratch in this area and looking for new investigators and trying to build this area up. Hna Schwegler is in my Zone here so it has been fun to be around her at meeting and such:)  Love that girl. We had 33 new missionaries come in this last transfer AND we get the news that they taking part of OUR mission and part of the Anaheim mission to create a new mission (Irvine) in July- which is also ritgh when we will get a new mission president.  Which means that Mission Viejo won't even be in this mission anymore! And if I happen to get transferred to San Clemente before July...then I will be in the IRvine mission for the remailnder of my mission and noth the Carlsbad mission.  SAd thought....but in the end it doesn't matter. The Lord's will will happen and all will be well.  

It's been a crazy week and we haven't even had the chance to take any pictures... So i'll have to send those next week!  

Happy Birthday today to ELLLLLAAAAAA!!  Very cute picture of you in your birthday dress and your crown:)

As well as to CADDDDEEEEEEE Tomorrow!!!! So fun!  Hope you both have a great day and you have lots of good times with your families and you friends!

This is the lamest letter ever- but we have a million things to do and I'll try and hand write a letter to everyone today.  Mucho amor! I appreciate all of your prayers in my behalf...I can assure they are both needed and are being felt! hope youall have a marvellous week! 

- ooo and so sorry about the termites tara...had that happened to me, I  might have vomittedd... ewww so gross. 

-Love you aLLLL!

-Hna Whicker