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