27 July 2009

Hey everybody. Thanks for the emails. It's nice to have several people writing me.

To answer mom's questions about the health and flus, I'm feeling healthier than I've ever felt in my life. Apparently the water here is okay to drink, because I've been drinking out of the tap water since I got here. I'm trying to eat fruit every morning. All is well. Speaking of food and all, I found the 14th article of faith today in my studies. I found it in Jesus the Christ. I quote, "We believe in enjoying good food." I think I can say I've lived that one all my life. Thanks Mom.

This past saturday was a big day. I got to baptize Cristina. I was very nervous. And the water was COLD. I almost died, and it was worse for Cristina because the font wasn't very full and I had to do it 3 times. Oh well.

We also gave some blessings of healing and helped give the sacrament to a family with sick people. The spirit was very strong watching a newly baptized dad and son give the sacrament to their mom and sister. It reminded me of the times in my life when we did the same thing while camping or during hurricanes.

I had my first interview with President da Silva last week. He was visiting every apartment with his wife. I hope we would pass one of Brad's checks; we cleaned for 3 hours. But I love President da Silva. He's the type of person who always whispers. He told me to thank Mom for raising me the way she did. Thanks.

Before I left a lot of people gave me advice. I don't remember what everyone's advice was. But I remember Sister Tolman's advice. Whenever it's cold and windy I always think of the song "Master the Tempest is Raging." Could you tell here I've done that and I'll continue doing so. It gets pretty cold over here. I even had my first rainy day, and the good news is my rain coat is impeccable' it works great.

So, I'm running out of money from the church account, so there might be activity on my personal debit card this week, just a heads up. Thanks.

Michelle, stay beautiful. Steven....yeah. Wegan, write when you find time, Kyle, love your freaking guts. Davage, stay beautiful, Brad, you owe me pizza, and Steven, keep working out.

Yeah, I´m enjoying myself. The Spanish is coming along. I´m learing a lot. I learned how to appostraphicate words.

Oh yeah, we get to go to the temple on the 4th as a zone. I'm excited about that. Sorry for the long letters. I hope it´s entertaining and not a chore to read them.

jephi

20 July 2009

Family,

It’s so good to hear from you all. Thanks so much. That’s interesting that Dad gave a talk on holy temples and holy homes. This morning I think I read that conference talk – Sunday PM session by someone that isn’t a member of the 12 or First Presidency. I wanted to read it because today we’re going to clean the house really good because President da Silva and his wife want to visit all the houses. They will come tomorrow. I read it in Spanish in an effort to increase my language abilities. It helps a lot. I really started enjoying my personal study time. I learn more than I ever did back home. I wish it hadn’t been that way. I finished Our Heritage and there is some stuff in it that I love. I wish I had it in Spanish so I could share it with the members. I also love reading My Missionary Commission by Bruce R. McConkie. So good. I want that in Spanish too. I also learned that one of the prophets (don’t remember who) became fluent in Hawaiian in 3 months. That’s what I hope to accomplish. It’s possible and I have 2 months left.

Zone conference was awesome. I learned so much. I re-learned the 3 reasons for obedience: fear of punishment, desire for reward, and love of God. The first week in the mission the president asked every one why they were serving a mission. I was serving because I wanted blessings in my life, but I’m working on changing that. I’m here because I love my Savior. I can feel the power in this change.

So I’ve got a story from last Pday. I was going to cut my hair. I rigged up the mirrors, got the clippers and the converter, and started. In America the clippers make a nice buzz. With the converter there was barely any sound. This wouldn’t cut my hair. Foolishly, I removed the power converter and tried it. It sounded better, like home. I started and got my right sideburn and around my ear. Pow and smoke! Oh, tomatoe! I put on my beanie and went to the barber, explaining what happened and that I’m really not a stupid American. So good – the first time I ever went to a barber. Good stuff. During the whole ordeal I thought, “venga lo que venga, disfrutalo. (Elder Wirthlin’s Come what may and enjoy [love] it.) It makes for a good story.

And lastly, this is for Brad. When you’re about to leave, any thing that was way nice during the mission that you won’t need when you’re not a missionary, you can send to me. If there is any thing, I don’t know. It was just a thought. And mom, send a sweat shirt if you want to. I’ll live either way. But if you do send something, I made a list of things that would be nice to have that I don’t have – nothing urgent, just if you send something – cherry chapstick, a black sharpie, a big GermX, a tougher brush for getting dirt off shoes that won’t scratch the shoe, a lint roller, and a shoe horn. That’s right, I would like one of Dad’s million shoe horns. Never thought we’d see the day.

Well, love you guys. Thanks for the prayers. Oh, and if all goes right, we should have 4 baptisms in 4 Saturdays. The new mission goal is a baptism a week. That’s what we’re praying for.

Elder J. Whitaker

13 July 2009

Thanks for all the emails. I didn’t think I was going to be getting any because of the vacation, but thanks.

Mom, I was reading the scriptures last week and found one that I would like to be on my plaque. Alma 29:9, where it says this is my glory. I really like it and I found it last week right after you asked what the scripture was.

I like Brad’s advice on washing clothes. I’ll try that. And I liked how he doesn’t think he changed much, because in one month I see plenty of changes I never saw coming. I’ll explain. Every morning I eat a huge bowl of oatmeal. I hate oatmeal!!!! But I load it with sugar and a banana and dulce de leche and it tastes good. In one month I’ve doubled my life-long oatmeal consumption.

The other change is my hair is super long. I can part it Dad!!!! I look like an idiot. The problem with cutting it is we don’t really have mirrors to use. I brought my own little mirror and doubled the apartments mirrorocity. The van has more mirrors than we do. But I’m going to try cutting it later today because we have zone conference tomorrow. I’ll try to take a picture of the part before I chop it all off.

Oh yeah, I don’t have a picture of my family. It doesn’t bother me at all; that’s why I didn’t bring one. But to all the people here it’s an abomination and they can’t believe it. So, if you send one, the people here will be happy.

So we walk everywhere we go, but this week some members lent us bikes for 3 days. And I was like yay, I hate walking. But now I hate biking. My legs get tired and my rear hurts. But I guess after a week of walking again I’ll hate walking. But it’s okay. Everything is all good.

Send hellos to all the people at home, tell Steven he’s a booger, I like Michelle, and I love everyone in the family. Whatever.

We’re teaching a lot of people and we have the spirit with us. It’s truly amazing to be on the Lord’s errand.

Until next time, keep doing what you do, and I will too.

Elder J Whitaker

6 July 2009

Hey everybody.

Thanks for the letters. This is the second Monday in a row that it’s rained. No wonder Pday is Monday.

So this past week a lot happened. We were teaching Paola and Elder Calarco gave me the signal to ask her to be baptized. That was scary. She doesn’t think she’s ready. We’ll see what happens with her. We also have 2 others with baptismal dates – Cristina, whose younger brother got baptized recently and Pablo, who’s getting married soon so he can be baptized. We also got introduced to Carlos out of the blue after church this week. We’ll see what happens.

This Thursday we traveled to Montevideo for a mission conference to meet President da Silva. Honestly, I was way tired and didn’t learn as much as I should have. We had to wake up at 3 to get from Durazno to Montevideo, but it’s okay because I’m sure I’ll be seeing him a lot more while I’m here.

So my listening skills are getting better. I still have a lot to learn though. I’m getting used to listening to certain people and that helps more than I ever thought it would. My feet hurt less than they did. Everyone said the first week was the worst. I believe them.

So I learned this week I’m officially a spoiled rich North American because I had never in my life washed clothes by hand. But I washed some clothes by hand and hung them out to dry. It’ll take some practice before I get any good at it.

Well, it sounds like your vacation is going well. It sounded like fun going to the temple with everyone like that. I think we’ll get to go to the temple again some time this transfer. I love the temple.

I hope this isn’t too long, but thanks for the prayers. I’m here to serve the Lord and it’s worth it.

Jeff

29 June 2009

Hey, it’s Pday again. This is a long message. I know sometimes I wouldn’t read letters that were long because I didn’t feel like reading a lot. I hope you don’t have that problem, sorry.

A ton of stuff has happened already and I’ve only been here for 4 days. Elder Calarco baptized a family the week before I got here and on Sunday the father and son got the priesthood. The father asked me to ordain him, which was still a surprise when the time came to do it because I wasn’t sure that was what he was trying to tell me. The bishop helped me with the important words, but I was able to give the blessing by myself.

The people here are amazing. It’s truly humbling to hear them pray for those less fortunate than themselves. At least this area is way better off than the one area I tracted in in Buenos Aires.

In sacrament meeting yesterday the bishop had me bear my testimony. That was fun. I Just shared D&C 76, the scripture mastery. I like it a lot.

The members always feed us lunch and so far they have been very good. We were at one member’s house and the kids were playing Uno. My whole life has been a lie, because when they play they say Una. Sad day.

Oh, yeah, this area that I’m in is called Sarandi del Yi. Now you can find it on the map. It’s like a 3 hour bus ride from Montevideo.

It’s been pretty cold here. I’m glad for my coat. I just wish I would’ve brought a hoodie for the apartment. It gets cold at night. I can see my breath inside. That’s different. Elder Calarco is my comp. He’s a good guy from where Brad’s serving. We seem to be having a lot of success. It’s normal for me but I’ve only been here 3 days. We knock doors and they let us in. We’ll see what happens later this week. We have a list of 6 people to visit and teach and like a list of 5 recent converts and less-actives.

This week we have mission conference and we’ll meet the new president. I’m looking forward to that. It’s exciting to be engaged in the work of the Lord. I love the people, and I’m happy.
Oh, and you don’t need to send this part off to everyone, but I found a miracle while reading my patriarchal blessing. It says I’ll be able to communicate well with the people. It blows my mind because I can do that already. I can say enough and they can understand it. It’s truly amazing.

Love, Elder Whitaker

26 June 2009

Family,

Well, I arrived. I sent another email but the computer ate it and I’m tired of typing. Good news is my companion is from Resistencia. He’s gonna get me working hard. The Lord knows me and I’m glad to be on his errand. In the MTC you can only see blessings in your own life. I can’t wait to bring blessings to others. Oh, Elder Calarco is his name. Hey, maybe with 2 of us out we could set a goal to have baptisms every week...wouldn’t that be something?

Lots of love, Jeff