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