Week 12

Friends and Family,

Oh my goodness it sounds like you have had an amazing week!! I can't believe that Logan's President came and stayed with you guys.  What an honor.  I am sure that Logan was in heaven.  That truly is so amazing.  What is even better is that Gabriel is coming to the house.  What a miracle.  What an amazing missionary he was, and the lives that he changed.  They will be forever grateful for him, and for his service.  I can't believe that another week has come and gone.  Boy is the time flying by.  I only have 2 more weeks left in this transfer.  Now that is crazy!!  I had a melt down yesterday.  I just sat and cried in the car.  I am truly loosing my other half.  Sister Belka is such an amazing missionary who I have learned so much from.  She is the most charitable person you will ever meet.  I will be forever grateful for her.  I don't know what I am going to do without her.  You need to go to her homecoming.  It will be amazing!!!  Oh and then Logan should take her out on a date;)

We saw so many miracles this week.  This work never seems to amaze me.  I do have to share a really funny Jordy Moment (aka blonde moment) so we were at the bishops house for dinner.  I literally almost peed my pants because we were laughing so dang hard.  We were getting ready to go.  I had my coat on and everything, but for some reason I could not find my bag anywhere.  So I was like Sister did you hide my bag from me, and then she started helping me look.  Well then Bishop just bust a gut laughing and was like oh Sister Whittaker this wouldn't happen to be your bag on your shoulder would it hahaha!!  Leave it to me haha.  I will never live that one down. Another funny thing that happened this week was when we were singing at the ginger bread.  So let's just say that the sisters here are so talented.  They all sing, play the guitar, and write there own songs haha!!  Well me we all know that I can't sing so we put on a Christmas performance every week at either the mall, gingerbread, or homeless shelter.  This week we performed at the Ginger bread.  So Sister Arnold and I are just singing along when we get to like the 4th page and we are still singing, but it isn't sounding like what anybody else is singing.  Well we finally realize that we are totally singing the wrong page haha!!  So of course we start laughing so hard.  We have the sheet music up covering our face, but everyone sure knew we were laughing because we couldn't hold the music still.  We were literally shaking so bad. We darted off the stage when it was over.  It was hilarious!!  Elder Watson couldn't help but to laugh.  That is what they get for making me sing. 

So onto the spiritual side we saw so many miracles this week.  Yesterday at church we had 4 investigators, both of our recent converts, and 3 less actives.  It was such a blessing.  We were so humbled, and so grateful.  Every talk was just what they needed to hear.  The ward was so welcoming ah it was just a miracle. Ramsey also received the Priesthood yesterday, and they are going to the temple on Wednesday to do Baptisms.  They are so excited!!  Christina is a new investigator that we found.  Sister Belka actually found her a long time ago, but she would never return our phone calls or answer the door.  She is now so ready for the gospel though.  We are going to set her for baptism this week to be baptized January 3.  The day before Sister Belka leaves.  I know that it is going to happen.  I am so excited for her.  We also are still teaching Menin.  At our appointment last week she was going to drop us, but the spirit changed and softened her heart.  She knows that she needs this.  She doesn't want to get baptized YET, but she wants to continue to learn and progress.  It may take a little longer for her, but she has such faith.  At our lesson she said the closing prayer and we were all in tears by the end.  She has been through so much in her life, but she continues to have Faith and strive to do what Heavenly Father asks her to do.  Her problem is she isn't getting an answer.  She is so confused, but wants to know truth.  So this week we are going to help her to find that answer. 

This week we got to go to the Temple.  It was exactly what I needed.  The temple truly is the house of the Lord.  It is where we can feel the fullness of the Holy Ghost.  I learned, and received so much revelation from Heavenly Father.  He allowed me to feel of his love for me personally, and to know that I can do this.  Lately I have felt that he has been preparing me for a drastic change, and trial.  I have been studying like crazy, and have been trying to change so that I can be ready.  At the temple he allowed me to know that everything was going to be okay, and that he is proud of who I am becoming.  It was so humbling, and such a tender mercy. I honestly feel as though I have changed since Wednesday.  I am so much happier, patient, and have such a strong desire to do this work.  I want to challenge you all to "Go home for the Holidays" Go to the house of the Lord, and remember those covenants that you have made with Heavenly Father.  I love this work.  I love watching peoples lives change as they center their lives around the Savior.  What an amazing time of year it is that we can reflect on the Savior and all that he has done for us.  I love him with all of my heart.  I know that he lives, and I know that he died for us so that we can return home.  We must follow his example, and become disciples of Jesus Christ.  Now is the time to CHANGE!!  I love you all and hope that you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Sister Whittaker

Week 11

Dear Friends and Family,

Another week has come and gone.  I can't believe that I am already half way through the transfer.  How crazy is that?  I am dreading this transfer to end because that means that I won't be the baby anymore, and Sister Belka is leaving me.  She truly is amazing!! We will be friends forever!!  I have learned so much from her, and will be forever grateful for her.  I am so nervous to find out what is going to happen next transfer, and who my companion will be, but I know that whatever happens will be what the Lord wants.  It is definitely winter here.  It was 10 degrees this morning.  Talk about freezing!!  No snow for us though YET at least.  Everybody keeps say oh you think this is cold you just wait.  I am so nervous!!!!  Good thing I have a warm coat. 

It was such a great week!!  Sharon got baptized on Saturday.  It was so amazing!! Her mom (who is a way less active) was able to make it to the baptism.  Sharon looked beautiful in white.  She didn't stop smiling the whole day.  Christina (Claudia and Ramsey's daughter who just got baptized) said the prayer.  You would have thought she had been a member her whole life.  It brought tears to my eyes.  She is so special to me.  Each baptism I am reminded of the day I was baptized, and how important those covenants are that I made, and how they mean so much to me.  We can't just get baptized, and then live our lives.  We have to be true disciples of Christ at ALL times.  Not just when we want to.  It is so much easier to live the gospel then it is to NOT!! I am so grateful for the blessings that this gospel has brought me, but I am also so grateful to watch the gospel change these peoples lives.  For it to bring them the happiness that I have.  There is nothing greater.  I am so excited for Sharon to start this new chapter in her life.

We are teaching a lady named Menin.  She is from the Philippines, and her husband is a member. She is Catholic.  She has been taught by the missionaries 3 different times, but this time she is getting dunked.  She is amazing!! Our last lesson she said I am tired of being confused, and I just want to do exactly what God wants me to do.  She is praying this week to find out if she needs to be baptized.  We are meeting with her tonight.  I am so excited to have a lesson with her.  Every time we teach her the spirit is so powerful.  I become converted each and every time we go there.  I love being able to change, and progress!!

Our ward had our Christmas Party.  It was actually right after the baptism so it was perfect!!  We went caroling and then had a nice dinner.  Sister Brletich was making the dinner and seemed really stressed so I was like well what can we do for you, and she was like well can you make a ham?  So of course me not being able to say no was like of course we would love too!!!  I wish you all could have seen Sister Belkas face when we got in the car. It was priceless!!!  Bless her heart for having to put up with me.  We sure made it work though, and it was delicious!!  I just told Sister Belka look now you can say that you cooked a Ham on your mission.  Not very many people can say that.  The Ward was very grateful.  I love our ward.  They are all so amazing, and just welcome us in.  I feel like I have known them my whole life.  The party was so much fun!!  Sharon and the girls stayed which was so much fun!! I just love them. 

I am so grateful for this Holiday season and the opportunity that we have to remember the Savior.  Not a day goes by that I don't think about him.  I know that he lives.  I know that he knows, and loves us each individually.  I know that it is only through him and his gospel that we can return to live with him again.  Those days where I am struggling, and don't think I can do it are the days that I am so grateful for the Atonement.  That I can pray to him, and he can take it all away from me.  I want to challenge all of you to REMEMBER what Christmas is all about.  Not the presents, or the trees, the lights, but it is about the SAVIOR!! Think of the gifts that he has given you, and figure out what you are going to give him this Holiday season.  I can promise you that if you do that this will be a CHRISTMAS THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET!! It will be the best Christmas EVER!! I love you all and hope and pray that you are all doing great!! You are always in my thoughts and my prayers!! 

Sister Whittaker

Week 10

My Dearest Friends and Family, 

I can't believe I am emailing again.  It is crazy how fast time goes by.  This week has been so amazing and full of many many miracles.  Heavenly Father truly puts us where we need to be and when we need to be there.  I am in awe everyday.  I can't believe how many girls already have their calls that is so exciting.  I think it should be mandatory for girls to go.  There is nothing better that we can do with our lives then to serve.  This truly has been the best 3 months of my life.  It has been the hardest, but definitely the most rewarding.  I am so excited for the girls in our ward to go.  They are all going to be amazing missionaries.  To answer some of your questions.  President told us that we are going to stay in our areas with the same companion for 8 months.  I don't know if I am crazy about the idea, but Heavenly Father has a plan for everything.  I love my ward so much so I am so excited to be there for awhile.  He also told us that we will be full proselyting for 3 months.  I am really excited about that, but I don't know how I can leave the trail center.  I love it here, but I will do what the Lord asks me to do.  So I don't think all of the sisters will get called to the trail center.  I am sure some will get called full Pros, but we will have to find out.  Speaking of the trail center it was another great week here.  So many miracles happen here each and every day.  I got to take an awesome tour the other day.  It was three sisters in their 60s.  They reminded me so much of Gege and Jackie when they get together.  Just so fun, and great!!  One of the ladies was going through the temple in a couple of weeks.  So I based my whole tour on the covenants that we make at the temple, and the blessings that she is going to receive.  It is amazing how the spirit truly knows what the people who walk in the door need to hear.  Sometimes I am in awe at what comes out of my mouth.  It was so neat to see and feel of her excitement.  She has waited a long time to go to the temple.  It was so neat to also share the pioneers stories of building and entering the temple.  It was such a great tour.  One that I will never forget.  Gingerbread is still hopping here.  We aren't as busy during the week, but on the weekends we are out of control.  It is awesome though.  I got three referrals this week which was awesome!! People think they are coming for gingerbread, but when we get them up stairs to take a tour they realize why they really came, and leave being a new person.  It is amazing!!!  

I had one of the most spiritual lessons this week. We finally were able to go and teach Tom (we tracted into Tom about a month ago, but he will never let us in).  We had a member with us, and taught him the restoration.  The spirit was so strong, and was just working through him and his wife.  After we taught what Joseph Smith said in his own words the room was silent.  We finally asked Tom how he felt, and he just said LOVE, and then broke down in tears.  Here was this Harley Davidson huge guy just sobbing.  So then we were all crying.  I was literally shaking because of how powerful the spirit was.  I am so excited for Tom to find out for himself of the truthfulness of the gospel.  He is so prepared!! We set them for Baptism on the 29th of December.  We hope that all goes well.  Satan truly likes to get his hands on people especially after having a spiritual experience like Tom had.  It is so frustrating, but all we can do is keep praying for them.  

Sister Belka and I saw many many miracles this week. We decided to fast one day, and ask the Lord what we need to do to qualify to have two baptisms this transfer. It was such a great experience to rely on the Lord and to seek his revelation as we fasted that day. That night when we ended our fast and prayed and asked what we needed to do in order to see two baptisms was a night I won't forget. The Lord was just pouring out his heart to us specifically on what we needed to accomplish, and change. It made me realize how much Heavenly Father is truly aware of us, and wants to bless us, but we have to be willing to ask and find out. I am so excited for what this month has to bring. I know that if Sister Belka and I truly do exactly what Heavenly Father has asked we will see 2 baptisms this transfer.

Sharon in getting baptized on Saturday.  She is 11 years old, and is just so pure.  I am so excited for her.  She is so excited.  She is going to play such a huge example to her family.  Her mother is a less active who still doesn't come to church.  We are really hoping that Sharon can help her get to church.  There is so much work to do, and so many people who need this gospel.

That is so awesome about L&D.  Sister Openshaw is a missionary here, and went home because of some complications with the baby.  So she left for a couple days.  She is so amazing!! I am so glad she went and said hi to my L&D friends.  Boy do I miss my job!!  Our ward missionary is pregnant and so love talking to her about her pregnancy.  It makes me feel like I am at home doing what I loved!!  I hope you L&D peops are doing great!! Sure do love and miss you!!  This week I got to do some service hours in a free insta-care clinic.  It was so amazing!! I got to fill prescription bottles. I have realized how much I have forgotten already about all the drugs.  So it was a great refresher.   I am hoping that I can work there each week, and then I can count those hours for my license.  Hopefully next time they will let me do the medical stuff.  It was such a fun night.

Well I am doing great here in the NOM.  I am so grateful for this holiday season that we have the opportunity to remember our Savior and all that he has done for us!!  I know that he lives, and it is only through him that we can return and live with God again.  This gospel is so true!!  Live it, learn it, and love it!!

Sister Whitt

Week 9

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been another amazing week here at NOM.  I sure do love it here.  We had transfers this week.  You all guessed it I stayed.  I am so grateful that I have another week with Sister Belka.  She is so amazing.  I learn so much from her.  She is always doing something to serve me each and every day.  She is the most Christ like person I have ever met.  I love her.  She will be my forever friend.  I hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving.  It sounds like you all got food poisoning.  Funny thing is that I was sick myself ha ha!! I was puking my guts out Friday Morning as well.  Now that is funny.  I took a Fish Oil pill without eating anything, and within 10 minutes I was in the toilet, but the worst was it smelt like raw fish.  Ah I thought that I was going to die.  So I was so sick all day, but the work never stops.  Luckily we were here at the Trail Center and it was crazy busy so I couldn't stop and think about how I wasn't feeling very good.  I am glad we were all puking together.  I had a great Thanksgiving.  We spent this first part of the day writing Thank You letters, and decorating the senior couples doors with leafs.  We then went over to a members house for dinner.  It was so delicious.  No one in her family is members and so we had a really powerful lesson with them.  It truly made me realize what Thanksgiving was all about, and how grateful I am for the gospel in my life.  It made me want for them to be able to experience that happiness that we have.  We then went home, and cooked some mashed potatoes.  We had to cook 10lbs of Potatoes.  It was quite the task, but dang were they good.  We then headed over the Trail Center and had a feast with all of the sister missionaries, the Senior Couples, and our Mission President, and Trail Center Director.  It was so much fun.  All the sisters put on a singing performance of songs that they have all wrote about the pioneers.  They are all amazing!! Your all going to die, but I totally sang a solo in my opera style.  Heavenly Father all of a sudden gave me this beautiful voice.... OKAY OKAY we all know that I can't sing AT ALL!! I am so grateful for all of their talents though.  We then got to watch the Best two Years.  It is so much funnier when you are a missionary.  I was rolling at some parts.  Oh the life of a missionary.  So that was Thanksgiving!! It was a great day! I sure missed you all, but I am so grateful for the family that I have here. I feel like I have 20 sets of Grandparents, and 26 Sisters.  It is the greatest.  Especially during the Holiday season when I miss my REAL family. 

This week started off a little rough.  I was struggling.  People say missions are the hardest thing that they ever do and this week I truly believed that.  I have been fine since I have been here, but for some reason this week was super hard.  I lost my confidence again.  I miss people loving me for me instead of who I am going to become.  It was just a rough week.  Elder Watson pulled me into his office, and told me how much he loved me, and that great missionary I was.  He told me exactly what I needed to hear.  He told me some personal experiences that he has had, and we both just sat there and cried together for over an hour.  I was so grateful for a Heavenly Father who has put people in my life for a reason.  Elder Watson then gave me a blessing.  The spirit was so powerful, and just what I needed.  It was good to be able to know that Heavenly Father was proud of me, and that he does love me.  Elder Watson is amazing.  I have learned so much from him, and will be forever grateful for all he has done for me.  He knows that I love my Diet Coke, and Diet DP.  So he always sneaks me some.  Yesterday he brought me one over to the house, and said I better keep my mouth shut haha!!  Ah I love my Caffiene, and he is the best!!! 

The Trail Center has been hopping since the Ginger bread started.  We have had so many non members come through the door.  I love it!!! I am amazed at all of the people who have come for gingerbread, and have come up stairs to get a tour.  There is one tour that I will never forget.  This couple came in to talk to Sister Lattey about their family history. She had to figure something out first so I talked them into coming on a tour.  They were both non-members, but will soon be members.  I just know it.  They were from a church called the Nazerians.  I started the tour off by just teaching them about the Restoration. He told me that he had a really hard time with knowing that there was a prophet on the earth today, and that Joseph Smith really saw God the Father and Jesus Christ.  Words were just coming out of my mouth as I told him how I was able to gain a testimony that there was a living prophet on the earth today, and the blessing it is each and every day.  I then told him that he could receive that testimony for himself that we have a living prophet on the earth.  It was so powerful.  Our tour continued.  We didn’t talk much about the pioneers instead he learned the whole first lesson.  They asked so many great questions.  At the end I was able to bear my testimony of the temple.  I was able to tell them that they could be sealed together for time and all eternity. I was able to tell them the blessings that have come into my life because of the covenants that I have made in the temple.  They truly want that, and desired to know more.  They left with a Book of Mormon, and I got all of his contact information.  He said that he knew there was something special about our church as I told him about the living prophet, and was able to bear my testimony to him of what I knew to be true.  It was so powerful.  I turned to him and told him that he didn’t come here just to find out about their family history, but to know where he could find happiness, and it is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am so excited to start working with him. I love the Trail Center.  I love being able to give tours to people and watch them feel of the spirit for the first time.  There is nothing greater!! 

Sharon is set for Baptism on December 8th now.  We are so excited, but what is even greater is that Ramsey is going to Baptize her.  Ah I am so excited!! I wish you all could have seen his face as we told him.  He was beaming.  There family is truly converted.  They have changed, and are going to do so many amazing things in the gospel.  I love this work and am so grateful that I get to be apart of it.  There is no place that I would rather be then here!! I hope that you all had a great thanksgiving and will get better soon!! I am so sorry that you have all been sick.  Know that I love you, and pray for you always!! This Gospel is true so SHARE IT!!!

Love always, 

Sister Whitt

Week 8

Dear Family and Friends,

What a great week it has been in NOM. (Nebraska Omaha Mission) We have had so many miracles this week, but the biggest one is that CLAUDIA, RAMSEY, AND CHRISTINA GOT BAPTIZED.  It is a day that I will never forget.  We were going to have them wait another week, but Sister Belka and I prayed so hard to know what to do, and we received the answer that they needed to be BAPTIZED on Friday.  We felt very strongly that they needed access to the full atonement, and the power of the Holy Ghost to do the things that we were asking them to do.  We had 3 days to get everything ready!! It was crazy, but so worth it. So Friday came along.  We were at the church to fill up the font.  We started filling it at 4:30, but we stopped filling it because a lady walked in who was catholic, and we knew she needed a lesson, and so we started teaching her and turned the font off because it was too loud.  The lesson went great, the spirit was so strong, but she wasn’t willing to meet with us again, but we planted the seed hopefully.  So we looked at the font and knew we were in trouble.  So we hurried and said a quick prayer.  When we opened our eyes Brother Jackson (a ward member) was leaning over the font, and was like sister we have a problem.  This is nowhere near full and we are running out of time.  Where is the pots and pans?  Let the fun begin.  So for the next hour we have 4 faucets running at a time and were running back and forth from the kitchen to the bathroom to the font.  It was a riot. Half of the water ended up being on the floor, but don’t you worry we got the font filled just in time.  So Claudia and Ramsey were supposed to be at the Church at 5:30, but around 6:15 they were still not there.  I started to panic a little bit that they weren’t going to show up for their own baptism, but come 6:30 they showed up.  Claudia was in tears. She said, “I don’t know what is wrong with Ramsey he doesn’t want to be Baptized”.  So I wrapped my arms around he and told her, “Claudia remember what we told you yesterday about how hard this day was going to be for you because Satan is going to do everything in his power to not allow this to happen.  I finally got her calmed down, and then in walked Ramsey.  He had no emotion or spirit whatsoever.  So I took him in the other room, and just talked to him.  He said, “I don’t know what happened I just don’t want to get baptized. I can’t feel anything.” Ah Satan makes me so mad!!  He had totally gotten to him.  I just took his hand and said, “Ramsey do you know why you have had such a bad day? Satan doesn’t want you to get baptized.  He has done everything in his power to keep you from getting baptized, but you kow that you need to get baptized.  You have prayed about it many times and the Holy Ghost has told you many times what you should do.  So we aren’t going to let Satan win are we? He then with tears in his eyes said I know.  We watched a film with him about the Savior, as tears rolled down his cheeks he turned to us and said I am ready.  I will get baptized.  I am so grateful for that experience that I was able to be a part of.  That I was able to see the power that the devil can have, but also to see the power that we have.  That we are able to overcome Satan as we center our everyday lives on the Savior and his teachings.  I will never forget that experience.  I have been to many baptisms, but today was so different.  Today I truly understood the importance of Baptist.  I understood and was able to remember those covenants that I made 15 years ago.  I finally realized what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ.  Claudia got baptized first.  As she came out of the font she was beaming.  She had the biggest smile on her face.  She just sat there and cried and then would laugh.  It was so darling.  Christine who is nine went next she was so excited and just so dang cute. My favorite was to watch Ramsey though because he had such a rough day, but to watch his face and all of the grief and pain disappear was something that I will never forget.  He automatically had a new light with him.  I realized that this is why I am here.  To witness miracles and get to be the Lords servant.  As I think back to the first time I met them and then think of who they are now I am in awe.  They are completely different people and are as humble as they come.  They have allowed the power of the atonement to change them. They have become fully converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They will ENDURE TO THE END.  I will forever be grateful that I was able to play a part in their conversion. 

This week the gingerbread festival started.  It is so amazing.  We got to set up for Christmas this week which was so fun.  I loved every second of it.  I can’t believe that it is already this time of year.  I love this time of year.  So back to the gingerbread.  We have over 100 gingerbread house downstairs in the trail center.  They are made from ward members, and just anybody in the community.  This is the 27 year they have done this.  The houses are incredible.  I am amazed at how creative people are.  Last year we got 500 referrals from the gingerbread.  There was 25,000 people who came here.  Talk about amazing.  So the trail center is up and running.  I am so excited!! I will be sure to send lots of pictures.

It has been such a great and humbling week.  I hope that you all have a great THANKSGIVING!!

Ten things that I am grateful for

1.       Being able to sacrifice 18 months to be a Missionary

2.       My amazing family and friends

3.       I am grateful for the power of the Atonement

4.       I am grateful for a companion who loves me, and teaches me something every single day

5.       I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knew me, and is so aware of me.

6.       I am grateful for my testimony and the opportunity that I have to strengthen it each and every day

7.       I am grateful for TREATS!!

8.       I am grateful for nice friendly people who listen to my message

9.       I am grateful to be in Nebraska and to be able to work with such amazing missionaries and leaders

10.   I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and his Atoning Sacrifice for me!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Sister Whitt

Week 7

Dear Family and Friends, 

I can't believe that another week has come and gone.  Time continues to fly by ah!!! It needs to slow down!! I can't believe that I am almost through my first transfer.  I continue to love missionary life, and truly know that this is where I am supposed to be.  Yesterday I had an amazing surprise.  I was sitting up front waiting for a tour when someone came in the door.  It was Sister Belka's turn to take the next tour.  She stood up and said hello.  I couldn't see who it was and then I recognized the voice.  It was TROY!!!  I can't even tell you how excited I was to see him.  To hear how all of you were doing, but also for him to experience this amazing place that I get to serve in.  For him to feel of the spirit.  What I loved most was the opportunity I had to share my testimony with him.  It made me realize how truly important this work is, and that we need to share it with everyone we know, but most importantly share it with the ones we love.  To uplift each other, and help each other return home.  It was so awesome to be able to see him.  I know that Heavenly Father placed me at the trail center at that given time, and allowed troy to come in at that exact time so we could see each other.  I am so grateful for all of you who are so supportive.  Who love me for me, and are keeping me in my prayers.  

This week we have seen so many miracles.  We went and taught Claudia and Ramsey on Tuesday this week.  During the lesson the kids were running everywhere, and there were so many distractions. They had just told us that they were still chewing.   Sister Belka and I were both getting a little frustrated and the spirit was just not there.  I prayed that I would be able to not be distracted and teach with power.  I all of sudden was overwhelmed with a strong love for them from myself, and also Heavenly Father.  As tears rolled down my cheeks I began to tell them how much I loved them, but most importantly how much Heavenly Father loved them.  I then said, "As I representative of Jesus Christ I promise you that if you will read your scriptures EVERY DAY the temptation of chewing tobacco will be removed".  At this moment I realized that I truly am a representative of Jesus Christ.  That I have his authority to act as he would act, to bless as he blessed, and to promise as he promised. I realized how much Authority I have as a missionary.  I have all the faith in the world that if they read their scriptures that the temptation will be drawn from them.  We can do anything through the power of the Atonement. The Atonement can not only give us the opportunity to repent of our sins, but also help us get through everyday trials, pains, and sufferings.  We have been blessed with this amazing gift, and we must take advantage of it.  We must keep ourselves clean.  We must be prepared.  Claudia and Ramsey aren't getting baptized this week because it is Stake Conference this week, and they have to get the Holy Ghost at church so we are pushing it back a week.  We both feel strongly that this is right, and that they still have some things to work on and become fully converted to the gospel.  

We went and taught some recent converts this week and quite the time.  There is an 8 and 9 year old boy who just got baptized.  The 8 year old went to Sister Belka and said I know you showered today, and she was like oh do I smell clean and he was like no your hair looks wet hahah!!! We were dying of laughter.  She had scrunched her hair that day.  So then the story gets better.  They started telling us about this Sperm Whale book that they got at the library.  They kept saying sperm over and over.  We all know how mature I am and of course I couldn't stop laughing.  So I am already struggling.  Well Baily Says the closing prayer and he always prayers for the animals.  Well he says please bless the people that they will be able to feel pain like the animals do when they kill them.  Then he asks to help the people to pay their taxes.  So as we all know I have issues with laughing during prayers, but the members that we brought started laughing, I start laughing, Sister Belka starts laughing, and his parents start laughing.  It was literally hilarious.  Bailey was a champ and took it well.  Gotta love little kids and their prayers. 

As I write this letter I think about where I was a year ago.  I was dating Clayton. I was so unhappy, I was prideful.  I was not myself.  I was miserable.  I look at myself now and I am happy, myself, humbled every day, and so blessed.  I know that I had to go through those hard times so that I could appreciate and realize how far I have come.  I know that it is through the gospel that I am so happy.  It is through the gospel where I have received so many blessings.  It is through the gospel that we can get through the hard times.  We truly are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives.  To know the TRUTH.  To know the steps we need to take in order to return back to live with our Heavenly Father again.  We can't slack off.  We have to strive to do everything we can to better ourselves.  To be Christs diciples.  We truly are in the latter days, and we must be prepared to bring others unto Christ.  We must strive to be better each and everyday.  

I love this work.  I love being a missionary.  I know that this is the WAY. It is the only thing that can bring us true happiness.  Read your scriptures, develop a relationship with Heavenly Father, and follow the example of Jesus Christ. Have a great week!! I love you all

Sister Whitt

Week 6

Dear Friends and Family,

Happy Halloween!!! Where in the world did October go? How is everybody doing?  I hope that you are all happy, healthy, and just loving life.  Thank you for all of your love and support I am truly so grateful for each of you.  You have all played such a huge part in my life, and I am here because of all of you.

We had a training this week with all of the newer missionaries, and their trainers.  The training was given by the President Weston, and the Assistants.  Before the training started President Weston said, “You are all the new leaders of this mission.  You need to learn fast, and be ready to train because we are going to need you.” AHHH I am not ready for this!!  I have so much to learn, and so many things that I need to work on.  I wanted to ask him if he realized that he was talking to me and didn’t mean somebody else!  I just want to be a missionary haha!!  I know that Heavenly Father definitely has a plan for me, and that he has confidence in me.  I know that I can do anything through the Lord.  Keep me in your prayers.  I need all that I can get. 

It has been another great week.  I continue to realize why I am here each and every day.  This gospel is such a blessing in my life.  Claudia and Ramsey are doing so wonderful.  They are still on to be baptized on November 10. During one of our lessons we were teaching them The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We asked Claudia why she wanted to be baptized and she just started to cry.  She said, “We want to change.  We want to do what God wants us to do, we want to be happy! We aren’t just going to get baptized and then start sinning again, but we are going to change for good.” At that moment I was so humbled.  This is why I came on a mission.  If I would only change this one family it would all be worth it.  There truly is nothing greater than watching someone change because of the gospel, to see the light of Christ in their faces.  This is what missionary work is all about.  This is what the gospel is all about.  There is no greater joy!! I am so excited for them to get baptized next week, but I am mostly excited for them to be sealed together for time and all eternity.

So saying my prayers at the end of the day well let’s just say we go go go all day long, and then when I finally sit down I pretty much fall asleep.  So the other night I was saying my prayers and had fallen asleep whoops.  When all of a sudden I farted and woke myself up!! It was hilarious.  Sister Belka was asleep so I couldn’t laugh with someone ha! I can’t believe some of the stuff I tell you, but you all know I am crazy!!

I had a really great experience at the trail center this week.  A sweet lady who was all alone came in, and just looked at me and started to cry.  She said, “Wow, there is such an amazing feeling here.  The pioneers are here with us.  I needed this today”.  We both just sat there and cried as I shared with her my first experience walking through those doors, and having the exact same feeling.  This truly is such an amazing place.  The spirit is so strong here.  Each day I come, and learn more about the pioneers I grow to love it more and more.  As I learn of their stories of faith, and courage.   I am so grateful be a part of such a great place, and to be able to learn and grow and become who my Heavenly Father wants me to become.  Each day I am reminded of why I need to be here.  Not just to bring others unto Christ but to bring myself closer to him each and every day. 

One of my favorite parts about being a missionary is to back Sister Belka up in the car.  It is so great ha ha NOT!!  Especially when we are in the middle of an intersection, and she can't quite make the turn so I have to run out and back her up.  It is hilarious when she means to go in reverse, but puts it in drive.  I have come up with some really good dances to back her up.  The other day I wasn't paying very good attention, and was dancing and she almost hit me.  It made me laugh.  We both are quite the pair, but we have a good time. 

I love being a missionary.  There is nothing greater.  This work is amazing!! I am so grateful for the gospel and the happiness that it brings to me in my life.  I know that this is the only true church.  That Christs gospel has been restored to the Earth today.  That we have been blessed with all of his Authority and power.  I know that Christ lives.  That he atoned for each and everyone of us.  He is the only way back.  We must repent every single day, and become clean.  So that we can become worthy of the spirit, and be intune with those promptings from the spirit.  Strive each and every day to be a little better!!! I love each of you and hope that you have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Sister Whitt

Week 5

Family and Friends,

Another week has come.  I can't believe it.  The days feel like weeks, but the weeks feel like days. I love it!! I continue to love this work.  I am learning so much each and everyday.  It truly is such a blessing to be here, and I thank my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be apart in it.  As for this week we have been so busy as usual.  So I want to tell you a little bit about the trail center.  There is just one visitors center.  We work here 4 days a week.  We take our tours by ourselves.  So we aren't with a companion.  This has been hard for me because of the little information that I know, but they just through you in it.  I know that I wouldn't have been able to learn any other way so I am grateful for that... MOST DAYS!! We start off with a 15 minutes film.  During the film I go and pray to invite the spirit, and to also know what there needs are and prepare for the tour.  It has been such a humbling experience.  Heavenly Father truly does speak to us, and he allows me to know what these people need to know.  I had a really neat experience on tour this week. I was giving a tour to a man and his wife who are from Mapleton.  They were Brother and Sister Carter.  They used to be apart of a branch presidency at the MTC.  I learned so much from them through the tour, but was also able to watch the spirit touch there hearts as I shared stories about the pioneers, and bore my testimony.  At the end of the tour he asked me how long I had been out, and when I told him only a week he was in awe.  Now I don't say this so you all think I am great, but I say this because this gospel is so true and so real.  I know that Heavenly Father is blessing me each and every day.  As I am obedient, and do everything in my pour I am able to teach with the spirit.  I am able to do his will.  Through the tour I was able to walk hand and hand with the spirit. He is my constant companion every day.  I am so blessed each and every day.

Claudia and Ramsey are truly amazing.  They are making amazing progress.  We had the wedding on Friday and it went so great.  We finally found Claudia a dress and she looked beautiful.  It was so fun to plan a wedding, but I am glad that it is done so we can focus just on the work.  What I loved most about the night is when we sang Families Can be Together Forever and they just sat and cried.  They have told us many times that the wedding is just a stepping stone for them to be able to get baptized.  I am so proud of them and the decisions that they are making.  Being able to watch see them change, and to see them use the power of the atonement is truly amazing.  They are trying to stop chewing tobacco, and they had relapsed, and weren't telling us, but through the spirit we both knew what had happened.  So I started teaching them about the Atonement, and all of the grief and worry that shown on their faces was now gone, and replaced with a sense of peace.  They were converted by the spirit.  We continue to work with them.  They will be baptized on November 10.  I can't wait. 

So some funny things that have happened to me.  One Sister Belka and I were studying and I went to stand up, and my dress was totally tucked in my garments ha ha!! She frantically was trying to get my attention before anyone saw.  I just looked at her and said it's a good thing were best friends.  Bless my heart.  Well then the other day I was walking out of the Bathroom when the same thing happened except I was by one of the senior missionaries.  Luckily I finally realized it before I walked right infront of him.  He just laughed, and we both made a joke out of it.  I have also fallen down the stairs again.  It was literally hilarious, but the funny thing was Sister Belkas face it was priceless as she sat and tried to catch me, and then I finally got my balance and fell again.  Oh bless my heart!!  I still struggle and have my moments.

I had a really neat experience the other night.  We were going to meet with one of our investigators named Cathy, and she wasn't home.  Well in getting there Sister Belka and I was dancing and singing in the car and we missed the exit twice.  Anyways as we were leaving I had this feeling totally overcome me that we needed to get out of there immediately.  There was a cop in the parking lot. I have never felt such a strong feeling overcome me before.  I literally thought I was going to throw up.  So we left so fast.  We will probably never realize what had happened and why we weren't supposed to be there, but what I did realize is how protected I am when I am being obedient, and doing everything that I am supposed to be doing.  Heavenly Father used our dittzyness to make sure that we missed our exit.  His hand is in every part of our life, but we have to be doing our part so we don't miss those promptings of the spirit. 

Elder Watson (who is the director of the trail center) pulled me into his office the other day, and told me that I need to learn fast.  That I need to learn everything that I possibly can from Sister Belka.  That I needed to be obedient because he needs me as a leader.  This scared the crap out of me.  We have 26 sisters right now, and 20 of them will be gone by March.  I know that Heavenly Father truly is with me every step of the way, and will help me to become who he wants me to become.  Keep me in your prayers.

I love being a missionary.  There is not greater place then I would want to be.  It truly is such a blessing to be here.  I love Sister Belka.  She is such an answer to my prayer.  She is the salt of the earth, and I am grateful for her.  I learn so much from her each and every day, and am so grateful for her.  There is nothing greater then missionary work.  I challenge each of you to strive to serve somebody this week.  To talk to everyone and to love everyone.  Look at everyone as God would look at them, and find the good in everyday. 

This gospel is true.  I know it because I have found out for myself.  The book of mormon is the word of god.  Jesus is the Christ, and these are the Latter Days.  We have to be doing everything thing we can to bring others unto Christ.  I love you all, and pray for you daily.

Sister Whitt

Week 4

Dear Friends and Family,

I am in NEBRASKA!!! I can't believe that I am officially a missionary.  I feel like just yesterday I entered the MTC, and now I am in the field.  I loved the MTC, but words just can't explain how great it is to be in the field. When we first got here on Tuesday we got to hang out with President for the night.  We each had an interview with him.  I truly know that he was called on God to lead this mission.  That he is in this mission for a purpose!  He is such an amazing man who I already love.  He told me that I have the best trainer in the whole mission.  That I can be an amazing missionary if I truly learn from her.  He told me that she is the top missionary in the WHOLE mission.  I am serving in the Rockbrook Ward.  My trainers name is Sister Belka. President was right she is amazing.  I learn so much from her each and every day.  She truly is my best friend.  She is obedient with exactness, and does everything that she is supposed to do, but not only that she is so humble.  She knows that this is Gods work, and she does everything she possibly can to be a successful missionary.  She is amazing.  Heavenly Father is truly aware of me.  I was so scared to find out who my trainer was because I want to make my Heavenly Father proud, but he truly does know our needs and has answered my prayers.  My concerns became his concerns, and he has blessed me so much.  We live in a house with two other Sisters.  We totally lucked out.  Our house is very nice, and I love the sisters that we live with. 

Sister Belka has been serving in this area for 3 months, and so she has worked really hard, and found a lot of investigators.  We actually are preparing a wedding as we speak for this Friday.  It has been so fun!!  Two of our investigators Claudia and Ramzey are getting married on Friday, and then getting baptized on November 10.  They are a rock solid family.  We meet with them about everyday.  They are so humble, and so excited.  They both chew tobacco, and so we have really been working with them through this trial.  They start classes this Wednesday.  They have such faith and know that Heavenly Father can help them through this.  Sister Belka is an amazing teacher, but she allows me to get right in there and teach.  She will just pause, and I know that it is my turn to speak and bare testimony. 

We also are teaching another girl named Sharon who is so great.  She is ten years old, and truly is amazing.  She keeps all of our committments, and is really trying hard to do everything she is supposed to do.  Her mother is a less active and so we are working with both of them.  I committed her to baptism on November 17 and she accepted.  I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was.  It totally caught me off guard when she replied yes so fast!! I wanted to jump up for joy!!  We are so excited for her.

Gladys Knight goes around the US and does firesides for non members and less actives.  She directs an amazing choir, and bares testimony.  She is amazing.  We had four investigators there.  The spirit was so strong.  I learned so much from being there.  It was held in the chapel.  The choir was amazing they were clapping, and dancing!! Ah it was so great!! I wish we sang with such soul ha ha!!  Her husband bore an amazing testimony and told of his conversion story.  He grew up baptist, and so he pretty much layed the line down. He said that each of them are going to be held accountable in heaven if they don't accept this message because they have been taught with the truth.  They were so bold I loved it.  Gladys was amazing as well as she told her conversion story.  They spoke with such  power.  It was like you could cut the spirit with a knife.  I know that this played a huge role in Sharon accepting the invitation to be baptized.  Our mission received 80 referrals from that night.  It wasn't as many as we wanted, but we were so excited.  Three of those were Sister Belka's and I.  This work is progressing so fast!!

I have truly seen Gods hand in my life as a missionary each and every day.  It is amazing the people he places in our lives, and the places we go.  Everywhere is guided by the spirit.  We had an experience where we were calling to find a ride for our investigators to get to the concert, and we were going to call Sister Johnson, but then decided to call Sister Bentley.  Sister Bentley asked if we could meet her somewhere to get the tickets.  Sister Belka and I just started laughing because we had totally forgot them, and had no idea where to look.  So we pulled over because we were 20 minutes from home and called the sisters who live with us.  We then said a prayer and asked to know where to guide the sisters to look.  After the prayer Sister Belka looked at me and immedietly knew right where they were. Another experience was when we were driving to go and see the Eliwise family, and we had this feeling to stop at Claudia and Ramzeys.  They had been really struggling with chewing, and needed us at that time.  Another time was when we were driving home.  We hadn't eaten dinner because we were running around like crazy and so we decided to stop.  We kept driving for somewhere to eat and decided not to stop when we saw Taco Bell.  So we stopped in and the cashier said I am looking for a change in my life.  I want to change and have direction.  We both just looked at each other and smiled, and then shared a message with him.  It was amazing. God's hand is truly in our lives all the time.

So we work in the Trail Center 4 days a week from either 9-3 or 3-9.  When I first got here they took us on a tour.  There is a room called the memorial room that over looks the temple, and the cemetary.  I was immedietly filled with a sense of peace.  A sense of knowing that this is where I am supposed to be.  I knew that Heavenly Father was aware of me, and that he didn't want me anywhere but here.  I not only felt of his love, but the love of the pioneers.  I know that they are here in this memorial.  They are looking down on us, and helping us invite others to come unto Christ.  This place is amazing!! There is such a strong peace here that in indescribable.  I know that this is where Heavenly Father needs me to be.

They kind of just threw me right into giving tours.  I was terrified.  I feel like I know nothing about the pioneers, but I do know that if I rely on the spirit I am able to teach whatever these people need to hear.  I have so much to learn, but am so grateful for the opportunity I have learn each and every day!! I love being a missionary! I love being a representative of Jesus Christ.  I have never been so happy, and so at peace, and I know it is because I am supposed to be here.  I love this work, and can't wait to continue on. 

Sister Whittaker

Week 3

Family and Friends,

 

I can't believe another week has come and gone!! Can I just tell you that there is nothing greater then being a missionary.  My life is so much cooler than yours j/k, but no really!! Missionary work is so great!!  This week has been the changing point in my mission.  This week has shaped me into the missionary that I want to become.  Yesterday I was extremely humbled and changed for the better.  I realized that Heavenly Father is truly aware of me.  He knows I can do this and knows that I will be a great missionary, but I won't be a great missionary because of the things that come out of my mouth or the things that I do, but I will be a great missionary because I finally realize that everything happens because of God.  That this is his gospel, and through him we are nothing.  He deserves all of the credit.  It doesn't matter what anybody else thinks, but only what God thinks.  I finally realized that I needed to step it up.  I needed to learn the doctrine of christ and have confidence in myself that I can receive revelation and teach through the spirit.  I had a really neat experience happen yesterday.  Our teachers told us that we need to plan, study, and teach for our investigators that we would be teaching last night.  She told us that Heavenly Father will speak directly to us and be specific with anything and everything we need to know about our investigators.  She said you will know if they are a less active, member, or a non member.  You will know what there needs are and concerns, and you can know this before you even meet them.  That Heavenly Father will speak to you through revelation of the spirit.  This seemed a little crazy to me, and a little scary that god could really be so specific, but I realized that if this was gods will I would do it.  So sister F and I will all the faith that we had prayed for gods guidance and help that w could receive revelation.  After we ended the prayer I was immediately filled with the spirit stronger that I have ever felt.  My chest was literally filled with a power that is indescribable.  I looked and Sister F and said she will be a Less Active and she said yup!! I then said she feels as though god has abandoned her, and she needs to feel of God's love, and she agreed.  We were then asked to prepare our lesson for her.  I felt so strongly that we needed to teach her about being humble.  During personal study I studied Alma 32, and during companion ship study I found out that Sister F read the same thing.  So then it came time to go and teach our investigator.  She walked in, was a less active, and was struggling with the fact that she had done everything right in her life, but god wouldn't bless her.  I was in awe.  Everything that I had felt that she would be she was.  So we then taught her.  I taught with such confidence, and gained an instant love for her.  It truly was amazing.  I know that this won't happen everytime on my mission, but it was a huge testimony to me that Heavenly Father truly does hear and answer our prayers.  That he is aware of us, and our needs, but most importantly it showed me that I need his help, and that he is there to help me through every step of my mission.  It was a very humbling experience. 

 

I am now officially in Visitor Center training.  I am with 30 other sisters, 22 of who are going to Temple square.  Part of training we have been able to go to Temple square twice.  The first time we went we were able to have a tour.  It was such a great experience.  I have been to temple square many times, but this day was different.  The spirit that I had with me was different.  It was great to be on the other side of things.  Today we went as well and got paired up with a companion.  I was with Sister Kang from Korea.  She was great.  She has been serving for 6 months.  She struggled a little bit with the language, but she definitely had a strong spirit about her.  We only talked to members which was different.  I won't lie I am very grateful to be able to go to a prosiliting mission as well as visitors center.  I will get the best of both worlds.  It was great to be up there and play as a real missionary. I am entering the field on Tuesday and could not be more excited.  I am so nervous, but so ready to serve.

 

So as a missionary you pray a lot, and so sometimes we start to do funny things when we pray.  Last night I went to say my prayers, and I started out with Labor and Delivery can I help you ha ha!!  I do miss my job a little bit.  Sister Bullock started her prayer off my counting to ten.   Let's just saying being in the MTC does some crazy things to you, and you literally start to go crazy!!!

 

Being with a bunch of Elders is pure entertainment.  They are totally scared of the sisters and it is hilarious.  The other day I was walking up the stairs and the Elder literally threw himself against the wall.  It was a riot.  When we have devotional and you want to get in the doors all you have to say is Sister coming and they all freak out.  It gives us a good laugh. 

 

Our Elders left on Tuesday.  I never realized that I could grow to love people so fast.  We were all put into the district for a certain purpose and reason.  Heavenly Father's hand is definitely in all things.  I learned so much from each of them and will be forever grateful for them.  I was doing really good at saying goodbye until Elder English shook my hand as tears ran down his face as he thanked me for being the missionary I was.  Then I lost it.  They became my family, and I hope and pray that they will be great missionaries. 

 

Being a missionary is the greatest decision that I ever made.  I am so happy, and I know that is because I am supposed to be here.  I am so grateful for the blessings that Heavenly Father has given me.  For the trials that I have had to go through.  This definitely isn't easy, but I know that it will be worth it.  It will bless my life forever.  Our teacher asked us yesterday to realize all that Christ has done for us, and asked us what we are going to do today and the rest of our lives to pay him back.  This hit me hard. There is nobody else on this earth who will ever do as much as he did for us, but yet at times in our life we forget that.  We will never be able to pay him back for what he did, but we can definitely strive each and every day to become more like him.  I can't wait to bring others closer to christ, and allow them to feel of the love of the Savior and his Atonement.  I hope you all are doing well.  Strive to be a little better each and every day, and don't forget about the Missionary in the MTC.  She would love to hear from you, but also appreciates all of the letters and packages she has already received. Love you all!!!

 

Sister Whitt

Week 2

Dear Friends and Family,

 

I can't believe that I am already on week number two.  I love being a a missionary!! It is the best kept secret in our church.  This week has been a great week.  Definitely challenging and hard, but there is nothing like feeling the power of wearing that name badge on your chest, and feeling Heavenly Father's power.  I have come to understand that this truly will be the hardest 18 months of my life, but I know that it will be the most rewarding.  There is nothing greater then feeling the love of my Heavenly Father 24 hours a day. 

 

This week we taught all of our investigators.  It is amazing to look at the progress that I have made in just two weeks.  So here at the MTC they don't teach you the doctrine behind the gospel, but they teach you fundamentals to help invite the spirit, and seek what your investigators needs are.  So all of you preparing to go on a mission.  Learn the Doctrine now.  There is a reason and a purpose that they ask you to be prepared before you enter the MTC.  I had a really neat experience with Matt again this week.  He committed to baptism.  Even though he was just a pretend investigator I could not have more excited.  Our next lesson with him he took two steps back.  I was very sad for him, but through out the lesson I knew that what he knew before was still deap down in his heart.  I prayed so hard to know exactly what to say to help Matt.  I am hear to testify that the spirit is real.  That if we do everything that we possibly can do that the spirit will do the talking.  I looked at my companion after the lesson and was in awe.  I have never had an experience quite like that where I was able to rely on the spirit.  The spirit teaches me something each and every day.  Those times where things don't go quite the way I want them to I am instantly reminded of my purpose as a missionary.  To bring others to Christ.  That it doesn't matter how many Baptisms I get or how many scriptures I memorize, but what matters is that I am obedient, and rely on the spirit. 

 

Something really funny that happened this week was right after Gym.  Sister F and I were in the shower, and we always seem to make fun of everybody who sings in the shower.  I shouldn't just say sing, but literally belts there little hearts out.  So I was like Sister F opera let's sing opera style.  She just started to laugh, and then she starts singing all Jazzy.  So I am trying to harmonize with her.  I am literally belting it out at the top of my lungs, and laughing so hard.  Well then she starts singing all pretty, and we all know I can't sing so I just laugh.  Well then I realize that it isn't her voice ha ha!! So I was like um Sister F are you singing and she starts laughing so hard, and was like NOPE!! Oh my word so now I am literally dying, and laughing so stinking hard!! BLESS MY LITTLE HEART!! Got to love being a missionary, and the crazy things you do.

 

I ran into Elder Anderson this week.  He looked just about as nervous as I did the first day, but I got to sit down and talk to him the next day, and he is happy as ever.  He is going to make one amazing missionary!! He is so humble, and there is just something special about him.  I am so proud of him.  Who would have ever thought we would be missionaries together. 

 

I have truly gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon while I have been here.  It is my life savor.  Heavenly Father has definitely blessed with a better understanding of it, and helped me to really apply it to not just my life, but also to my investigators.  It truly is the Word of God.  If you don't alreay know it then get on those knees of yours and ask, but not only that READ IT!!  Those days where I don't think I can do this and I open the Book of Mormon and and instantly strengthened with the love that Heavenly Father has for me.  I know that he is aware of me, and my struggles.  That he is always there for each of us, and that is because he loves us.  He has all power, and anything is possible through him. 

 

So I am really sick of the food haha!!  It is all starting to taste the same, but I sure do love BYU creamery Ice cream that we get on Wednesdays and Sundays.  It is the highlight to my day.  So here at the MTC they don't have Caffeine.  Well we all know of my addiction to caffeine and how it keeps me awake and sane.  This has been quite the challenge for me.  So my dear sweet elders who I love so much found out there there was a Caffeine Cartel here at the MTC.  That is totally top secret.  So since they love me so much they totally snuck in and found it.  The elders were selling them for $3, but seeing how cool my elders are they got them down to $1.  Let's just say that it totally made my day.  Caffeine has never tasted so good in my entire life.

 

Thanks to everyone for your love and support that you have showed me.  I am truly blessed to have so many good influences in my life.  I love being a missionary!! I have never been so happy as I am today!! This work is amazing.  I know that I am far from perfect, but through the Savior we can all be made perfect.  Have a great week!!!

 

Sincerely,

Sister Whittaker

Week 1

My dearest family,

How are you all doing?  I am now officially a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ, not only that, I am a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ.  Words can't explain the feelings I had as I got set apart and also when I arrived at the MTC.  Everybody told me you would feel different and I honestly didn't believe it, but now I do.  I felt such peace and comfort.  I felt a power that I have never felt before, most importantly I felt joy and the love that my Heavenly Father had for me.  I am so excited to teach this gospel.

Yesterday was a bit overwhelming, but really good at the same time.  My companions name is Sister Farnsworth,  She is 5'11 and has red hair.  She is from Arizona.  She has such a light that radiates about her.  She is very outgoing and I know I will learn alot from her.  There are two other girls/sisters in our district, who are great.  We all share a room and do everything together. I truly was blessed. I know Heavenly Father knows what is best for me and has a plan for me.   I learned something today that I think will help me so much on my mission and that is to love everyone as God would love them.  God has such a strong powerful love, one that we never will understand fully, but we have to try our best and strive each day to be better.

Last night we had a teaching workshop.  We had 3 different investigators, each story being a little different.  One that stuck out to me was the 2nd one.  He was a man from Italy, who believed his son was stuck in limbo, because he was not baptized.  He lived in such pain and guilt.  We we taught him the Plan of Salvation, the light finally came back to his face.  We all sat in silence and just listened and felt of Heavenly Father testifying to us of this truth.  As I watched his face, tears rolled doen his face, I realized why I was here.  I realized the joy that I could bring to peoples lives.  I realized that the people of Nebraska need me.

Family, I can't tell you how excited I am to serve.  How grateful I am for this opportunity.  I know it will be so hard, but one thing I do know is it will be worth it.  I love this gospel.  I know it is true and that through it we too can live with our family forever, that we may also have joy in this life.  Know that I love you and think of you often.

Love always....Sister Whitt

PS  Cathleen won and put my tag on!  However it was so great to see familiar faces.  I also saw Karie Miller, Denece Johnes and Becca Rothey.  Oh and I saw Mitch.  He looks so happy and seems to be doing great.   oxoxoxoxox