16 April 2013, Amor (Week 1, Transfer 7)

Buenas tardes familia!

Interesting week this week. First and foremost we got dropped by Alfonzo:(Our hearts broke!!!!) The night before he told us he wanted to be baptized on his birthday, and then the next day he called us and told us we couldn't come over anymore.  His wife is getting worse and doesn't behave when we are over there- so he thinks that this is the best thing for her...even though he knows it's true and wants to be baptized.  We tried to call him yesterday just to see how he was doing and after we told him who we were he hung up on us:(  Sad day. but I think he'll eventually come around.  He just needs some time to coool. 

On a happier note, we picked up 8 new investigators this last week!  We are slowly loosing all our current investigators, but at least we've still got some people to teach:) The weather here has been beautiful! it was a little chilly yesterday, but I imagine it is much worse in Utah if you all got snow yesterday!

Wow, what a neat experience it sounds like you all got to go and meet with Elder Gay of the 70.  Sounds like it was quite the spiritual high and a sweet experience for all involved especially Katie. 

Ali, that is interesting that you mentioned in you email that you feel that Gpa Stones has been with me/watching over me on my mission, because there's been more than one occasion that I have felt the exact same thing!  I imagine there are so many more things that we miss (feelings/impressions) because we are always too busy to hear them or notice them.  What a neat promise that was given to Katie that she will have angels to surround her!!  Oh how loving is the Lord to all of us! Are we not so blessed? We ARE. I forget that sometimes and I am trying to be better at constantly reminding myself of that fact.  

Jami- glad to hear that you had a nice birthday!  The other day we were driving one of the back roads to an appointment and there was a sign at a local farmers market for 25 avacados for $5! Wish I could have sent that to you for your birthday- you Love avacados:)   There are pretty darn good here too!  

Gma- YES I got your letter finally:) Thank you kindly! 

Mom- I also got the puzzle and I LOVE it:) We have already used it in quite a few lessons! Glad that Gma Stones made it home safely too!  Mom I am mailing a chekc home to you that I would like you to deposit por favor:) Gracias! 

Ali- thanks for the booklets, those really do make for the perfect gifts!  Also- would you mind accepting a few people on fb for me? Muchisimas gracias:) oh and I am in the process of writing my "How i know piece" so that will come soon. Sorry it has taken me so long!  

Tara- Good luck with the school screening tomorrow, I'm sure all will go just fine:) sorry that everyone was sick there...again... but glad to hear you are feeling better!  

Cami- Have you and the kids ever had a mud fight with all that mud, instead of a snowball fight?  I bet the kids would get a kick out of that- you should do it for an fhe activity:) haha  and take lots of pictures!  

KAtie- don't worry, I'll send you a picture of my ears asap:) They're pretty good ears and I'm sure you'll want to model your new ones after mine...I just knew it! 

Sorry, this is kind of a lame email- nothing too exciting. But all is well here. The work goes on! And time flies when you are serving the Lord!  Hna Sheffield and I are doing well together- we are already down to only 5 more weeks together (well, for sure at least 5 wks)! Then- I Get to see all of your lovely faces on Google plus in a few short weeks!!!  And then right after that we are going to get a new mission president, and who knows, there is a very real chance that I might end up in the IRVINE mission.  That'd be a cool story huh? Start your mission in one mission and end it in another? Who knows?  Well, I'll know actually- an July 1 st:) Your bday Daddio!  

Well- glad to hear all is well:) All are in my prayers, especially the doctors to find a solution to this problema for Kate. Love you all dearly!!! 

Talk to you next week!

- Love,   Hna Whicker

9 April 2013, Week 6, Transfer 6

Gma- We haven't gotten the mail yet this week, so I still can't tell you if your check has arrived. It's transfers week so we don't get mail until Wednesdays. SO I'll for SURE let you know next Tues if it arrived or not:)  

Time is sure a flyin' here in Escondido. One transfer has already passed and it's amazing to see how many miracles have really happened.  Maria and Conchita are...okay.  They will not be getting baptized this weekend, but hopefully in the near future. Nothing major happened, they just need some more time to prepare before they make this big covenant with Heavenly Father. 

We found a family this weekkk!!!!! Wahoooo we are super excited about it.  They didn't commit to a baptismal date but it was a miracle find. We were just walking down a street a few weeks ago and there were these 3 kids playing in a front yard, so we went to talk to them. They told us we could come back-which normally happens with children, it's usually just a problem when we really do come back and the parents are home and they completely reject us. Happens almost everytime. BUt we still went back, half expecting the same thing to happen again....BUT to the contrary. The mom immediately let us in and the dad even got up form his nap ( this is a big deal...this NEVER happens)  and we did the first lesson. It was great!  We are super excited about them, they are just very kind and loving and don't have much experience with any source of religion, but they believe in God. We are going to see them again tonight, and we are excited!  Saul and Rosalio are their names and their sons Brain (9) and BRandon (3). Pretty great stuff. 

General Conference was SO GREAT!! I just wanted to sit there after it ended and listen to it all over again!  It was fun to see in the Satudya afternoon session a few friends of mine in the choir:) Brought back lots of memories from college and was kind of a smack in the face that life is still going on without me there:)  Haha, but it was so beautiful. I just love conference. Talk about the themes of missionary work, virtue, and Obedience. Sometimes I think I go into conference expect some grand new doctrines that I need to learn-- but it is ALWAYS focused and a call back to the basics. the basic princples of the Gospel- FAITH, Repentance, BAptism, gift of HG, and Enduring to the end. Everythign goes back to those things.  Really- everythign we need to do is simple. So basic. But sometimes it's those simple basic things that are the hardest.  May we ALL apply what we learned. I need to be more obedient. Obedience brings blessings. EXACT obedience brings miracles. 

We have this member in our ward- her name is hna Montecinos.  Basically she is a full time missionary.  Rockin.  she talks to EVERYONE about the gospel, has no fear, and just love s it sooo much. Oh how I hope I can be like her when I am no longer a full time missionary!  Let's all "Catch the Wave" like Elder Nelson said.  Love it.  Mom and Dad, When are you guys going go on a mission? It's comin up pretty quick huh?

I was sad to hear that Elaine S. Dalton got released a Gen YW president. I really love her. She speaks so powerfully.  She was the one who was speaking at a fireside at BYU when the spirit told me I needed to serve a mission. 

Alfonzo and Reina ( our blind investigator and his mentally challenged wife) came to a baptism this Sunday. It was stressful...to say the least. All in all I think they felt the spirit...despite the fact that when Reina stood up to leave her pants fell down.... it was quite sad.  But we fixed the problem quickly and she didn't even notice- so all is well.  

Kate, I'm sorry but I do not understand what I am supposed to be doing with the letter "E" for this art project you are doing.  Please- someone elaborate and fill me in? All I know is that the deadline to have it in is by July 10th:) 

Cam- lucky duck that you get to go out to Utah :) Jealous that you will all be having a sisters retreat this weekend!!!! How fun will that be? Enjoy yourselves lots okay?  And tell CJ I say congrats!!!  Love you all.  

Jami- so glad that you are going to be making a "Tinkerbell"movie! Haha that was so funny when we made the Rapunzel one:)  How generous of Addie to offer me the top bunk when I get home! Love them so. I can't promise I will live there, but we can make another movie when I get home!  And as far as the bake sale goes, somethign easy to do would be chocolate covered pretzels. Just put a bunch of pretzels on wax paper and melt some chocolate to drizzle over them. Super easy and fast.  You can sell then by the little bag, by the handful, or whatevs.  Hope you have success and that it help out little Zach.  

Tara- Sorry you coulnd't read my handwriting. that is suffering as well as my spelling...just trying to say too much too fast:) Congrats on the "Screening' call back for Audge. That's GREAT!

Mom and Dad- love you both. That is all:)

Time's up!  Love you all.  Until next week!!

-Love,

Hna Lynds Whick

P.s. 2 pics. 

#1: Me and Hna Sheffield matching one day (it was our companionship unity goal for the week.;)

#2: Our Zone! 

2 April, Week 5, Transfer 6

What a week.   It's been a long one, but a good one.  

It started off a little rocky, but it wasn't anything a good companionship inventory couldn't fix:)  All is welll, just sometimes you need a comp inevtory on the spot.  

Let's be honest, I've been super blessed. Blessed with my family, my friends the areas I've served, my companions- and this week was no different.  We had FOUR investigators at church this week- which is pure BEAUTY. AND we had a super less active come to church with her mother and daughter- and it was just great.   A GREAT birthday present.  Maria and Conchita are getting excited to be baptized on the 13th and we just set a baptismal date with another investigator named Alfonzo.  

So funny story.  We had a lesson with Alfonzo yesterday and he is completely blind. His wife has demensia and has  no memory and can't really do anything by herself.  The only thing she remembers is how much she doesn't like us.... anywho:)  We brought a recent convert with usto the lesson - Areceli, who is also almost completely blind.  We have a bomb lesson, set a baptismal date, and before we leave I go to the bathroom.  This is the scene I see as I leave the bathroom and walk into the living room:  Areceli standing up with her cane and moving her arm back and forth in the air ( vigorous punching motion) and saying to Alfonzo, "Mira, Mira, asi, asi.  MIRA! ASI! (Look, like this.  Look. Look. Look.  Like THIS)" trying to show him how to do this exercise. All the while Alfonzo (who can't "mira" SEE, because he is blind is trying to recreate the exercise as best he can by swinging his arm over top of his head and out in front of him. ( Please keep in mind that both of these people are on the older side...like 75 plus)  So this is what I walk out to in the living room- and it is ALLL I can do not to burst into laughter! It was probably one of the funniest scenes I have ever seen in my life. Don't worry, we helped Alfonzo get the correct arm motion down to do the exercise, but we got a good giggle out of that:) Hehe it was really great!!

Thank you everyone for the Birthday packages I received!  We opened gifts on Saturday night and celebrated with our roommates, the english sisters.  It was fun:) Tara- yes, yours arrived on time, and i LOVE the dress- I wore it on Sunday:)  Mom- Love the skirt I wore it yesterday!  Thanks for the Camera too:)  It works just lovely:) Cam- the candies were delicious:)   Sunday was Hermana Lythgoe's birthday too- ( my MTC companion that is currently serving in Oceanside) so that was fun to know that we are exactly the same age:)  I got to church and A member made me a nutella/ banana cake!  It was delicious:)  Dad and Mom thanks for the card and lovely words of love!  Overall- It was a GREAT birthday and the members here are so full of love!  People are so giving, even when they just have absolutely NOTHING.  I almost cried when Areseli, our blind recent convert, that has absolutly NOTHING, gave me a picture clutch to put pictures of my family in.  She struggles to buy food and gave me this things that she surely sacrificed something to give to me.  It was so tender and truly is an example of the pure love of Christ.  I am so spoiled, that experience definitely humbled me.  

Grandma- nope I still haven't gotten a letter from you, but I have a feeling that I'll get it this week when we get mail. Don't worry I'll let you know!  

April fools day joke. So our roommates, the english sisters, have an obession with garlic.  So yesterday, for april fools day, we left them some peeps with garlic salt on them...let's just say I  think they've found something that they don't like garlic with....:) 

Wow- quite the news about Katie. I will keep her and the doctors in my prayers- I hope everythign can be worked out and they will know what to do!!

Also, this isn't the first time that Julie and zach have been mentioned in their emails...and how they are in their prayers.  I have no idea what is going on...anyone want to fill me in?

Also, I finished the Book of Mormon Challenge this week!!! Wow, I just love the Book of Mormon! It is so sosoososo powerful and testifies of Chirst on  nearlyt every page!  Well, el tiempo se va como agua...the times flies when emails come.  But know that I love you all and I ma SO appreciative for your love.  I am especially appreciative of the love of my Savior and His sacrifice, his Suffering, and his Resureccion for US!!!  I feel and overwhelming love for Him and I pray that we can all work daily to be worthy of the loving gift He has given us!  Love you all soooo! 

Have an awesome week:)

Hna Whicker