Week 17

Family and Friends,

Happy Martin Luther King day. Another week is already here.  I am half way through the transfer and can't believe it.  Time needs to slow down.  Everybody says to enjoy every minute because it goes by so quickly, and I never seemed to understand that until now.  We had such a great week full of so many miracles.  Heavenly Father never seems to amaze me.  I hope that you are all staying warm.  We had 50 degree weather this weekend.  It was beautiful, but looks like we are getting your nasty weather here this week.  It is supposed to be 11 below today.  Yeah I am going to FREEZE.  I am so excited for you all to go to Targhee this week.  Ah I am not going to lie I am a little bit jealous, but I wouldn't change my time here for anything. There is going to be many ski trips to come.   Oh that good times we have while we are there.  You all better ski a run for me!! I know it won't be as fun without me because we all know that I am the life of the party well actually Stella is haha!! Have so much fun though, and be safe.  I better see lots of pictures. 

So this week I have been trying so hard to eat healthy, and so Sister Graham and I decided we weren't going to eat any Sugar. I was praying to Heavenly Father how I could stay nice and healthy (because all of the sisters have been so sick).  Heavenly Father promised me that if I eat healthy, and drink lots of water that I wouldn't get sick.  Well of course last week I loving sugar couldn't do it.  Well then my cold came on, and I knew that I wasn't obedient, and it was my own fault.  So anyways this week I recommitted, and was doing so good.  I have a stash next to my bed haha (yes I am my mothers daughter) and so I snuck upstairs so Sister Graham wouldn't see me, and I got in my stash and well I bumped the carbon dioxide detector and it started beeping out of control.  It was so loud.  So of course Sister Graham came running upstairs, and she was like ha ha your CAUGHT!! Put that candy away.  So my plan didn't work, and I couldn't eat my candy.  No worries though I am doing so much better, and haven't eaten anything, and my cold is going away woot woot!!

So onto more important things.  The Trail Center Leaders got special permission for all of us to be able to go to the temple and surprise the Watsons.  So we called the Temple President who we all know so well, and he let us have our own session.  So all 26 sisters, and all 8 Senior couples were sitting in the endownment room as Elder and Sister Watson walked in. Let's just say there was not a dry eye in the room.  Words can't express how amazing this experience was.  Then to all be in the Celestial room was incredible.  I have never felt the spirit so strongly.  This is what it is going to be like when we return home.  All of our friends and family will be there to welcome us home.  It was such an amazing experience.  One that we will never have again.

The work is progressing so much.  Like I said earlier we had so many miracles occur this week.  Leanne is still doing amazing.  She is still set for February 22.  We call and read from the Book of Mormon with her everyday. Our last lesson with her the spirit was so strong.  We taught her the Plan of Salvation.  She looked at me and said this is a lot to take in.  I can't believe that Heavenly Father has a plan for me.  I want this in my life.  I know this is true.  It was so humbling!! It is amazing how the spirit works, and for the opportunity I have to be Christs mouth piece.  Every lesson I leave amazed with what comes out of my mouth.  Alli is still making a lot of progress as well.  When we taught him this last week he was really drunk so kept it short, and sweet.  We went on Sunday morning and tied his tie again, and him and his family made it to church it was GREAT!!   We were teaching a man the other day for the first time named Jason. He is a former investigator from a year ago.  The spirit was softening his heart as we spoke. He is so prepared. So all during the lesson I kept thinking about my interview with President, and how he committed us to set every one for baptism on the first time. I knew that I needed to ask him to be baptized, but I kept questioning myself and would come up with excuses like oh he isn't ready for that, or oh that would overwhelm him, and so on. But then all I could think of is that I promised that I would ask everyone on the first visit. So I just kept praying that I could do it. So I finally asked him to be baptized, and he accepted. He is going to be baptized on February 22. I am so excited!! This experience made me realize how important it is that we keep our commitments. We expect so much from our investigators, and if we aren't keeping commitments how can we except them to as well. I know that there will be days that I fail, but each day I am able to better understand the Atonement, and us it every day. I know that it was through the spirit that I was able to ask him to be Baptized, and that he accepted because the Spirit has softened his heart. We also started teaching a girl named Ashley.  She is 11 years old.  Her parents are less actives, but we have recently gotten them back to church.  Well the spirit has gotten them back anways... We started teaching Ashley this week.  She is so darling, and so prepared.  We set her for baptism as well for February 22.  It is definitely going to be an AMAZING DAY!! We pray every day that they will be able to overcome the advesary, and that they won't fall into temptation.  We have had a great week full of so many miracles. I feel so blessed!!

Elder Watson left a couple of days ago.  It was so hard to see them go.  What a huge influence they have been in my life.  We will be friends forever.  He has changed so many lives here, and truly impacted so many people.  He really wants to meet you guys so you should go and see him sometime.  He is the best!!  He left me with a case of Diet Coke ha ha!! I don't know where I am going to get my supply now!! 

I hope that you all are happy, healthy, and living life to the fullest.  I am so grateful for the gospel, and the blessing that it is in my everyday life.  As we strive each and every day to become more like the savior we will have happiness, and be able to overcome anything that comes our way.  It is like the scripture in Helamen 5:12 that talks about building a foundation.  As we build a foundation of Christ we will overcome the advesary.  I invite all of you to pray tonight, and ask Heavenly Father what you need to do to build your foundation stronger, and then act on the answer you receive.  Father is so aware of each of you.  He loves you, and wants you to be happy!! It is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we can have the fullness of JOY!! I love you all and hope you have a great week!!! Have fun in TARGHEE!!

Sister Whittaker