30 November 2009

Well, thanks for all the emails. It’s good to hear the family is doing well. And I’m glad everyone is pre-occupied about having a good newsletter this year. I’m excited to read it. I was thinking a bit about what I would write, at least on my behalf. You can tell the world that I spent the last 5 days in South America dead broke. It’s kinda funny to think that. I didn’t have one penny or peso to my name, but the Lord always provides and I lived.

Thanks for the email Dad. It does help to know that so many people are praying for me. It’s just some things in the mission you never expect to happen and thus can’t be prepared for them. But I will tell you one thing, everything that is happening to me is making me a better person. And every time I have a problem President da Silva is there to help me. That man is the most amazingly spiritual person I have ever had the privilege to know. It’s hard to explain, but my interviews with him make me feel like I’m talking to God. And I mean that in the most respectful way possible. He is God’s representative in Uruguay and I have the privilege of serving under him. I was reading, in the conference issue Ensign, a talk about enduring difficulties in the first session. Trials come from 3 sources: natural events, other people, and your own wrong choices. It’s some interesting doctrine.

Mom likes to hear my favorite scriptures every now and then. Here’s what I’ve been studying recently – Alma 13:12 and D&C 50:29. It’s an interesting journey to get to the point where you hate sin. That’s a problem I see in missionaries here. We tolerate breaking rules. Once we become completely and consistently pure, anything we ask God will grant, and, even better, God will let us know through the Spirit what to ask for. That’s how you accomplish goals with God’s help.

Oh, and I have a question for you guys, but more for Mom because she’s the smartest. I was reading under “prophets” in the Bible Dictionary. Could someone explain to me the difference between a forthteller and a foreteller? English dictionaries don’t exist over here, and who really knows what a forthteller is anyway.

And FYI to everyone, Michelle is dominating in her letter writing efforts. She’s the best. But don’t worry, I’m not mad. I just like updates.

What else do I have to say? Happy Birthday Dave, enjoy Tucanoes with whomever.

The baptism we had this week went very well. I felt the Spirit a ton. It was kinda funny because we didn’t start the water early enough so we spent like an hour running buckets of water from the kitchen to the font, never did that before. Lucky it was a hot day because the water was not warm.

Stay beautiful Michelle and enjoy your jacket.

I love you all.

Elder Whitaker

23 November 2009

So, Elder Bednar visited this week. That was awesome. We did a question/answer session. It was really interesting. One thing he wanted to teach us is that the Holy Ghost is the real teacher. Elder Bednar can’t always be with us, but the Holy Ghost can. That’s the biggest thing I learned.

So for P-day this morning we went to the beach as a zone. There was this famous eagle head slash house. Dad will be crying for joy because I read the explanatory sign in the front of it all. (I’m so mature now.) This eagle head gismo was a famous writer’s house. We also played football on the beach. My district leader played college football last season at a junior college. He’s a big guy. But I two-hand-touched him down.

We’ll have a baptism this week. Leandro is 15. It’s kind of hard to explain his situation. I think he’s a foster child that lives with members because he had a tough life living with his parents. The gospel will bless his life.

So, I’m getting better at the guitar. And I’m going to try to send photos right now. Pray for me.

But thanks for everything. It’s truly a blessing to be serving the Lord full time.

I love you all.

Elder Whitaker
Your prayers worked! He was able to send a few photos. Admittedly they don't look very "missionary-ish" but it was preparation day, and he is wearing his name tag on his t-shirt. We can always imagine him cycling through town in his white shirt and tie.

16 November 2009

So Mom, I took money out of my account because I bought a bike this week. Our area takes 20 minutes to walk to from our house, and longer to get to our appointments. Maybe I can send a picture some day. The tuko turned out very well. I’m learning a lot about cooking. And yes I shared with all the elders. With 200 pesos we can all eat very well when you actually cook something. It’s like 10 dollars.

And Mom asked if I am developing my piano skills. Kinda. Every now and then I’ll have some extra time in the chapel to practice, but I’m still not good enough to accompany anyone. But it just so happens that this week I started learning the guitar. It’s really not that hard. I was practicing with chords and I know like 4 or 5. I learned the hymn “Testimony” and although Dad won’t approve I practiced on some country songs that Elder Jones has. We’ll see if I can develop this talent, although I don’t really have much time to do so.

So my companion is from Honduras, Elder Ferman. He has a bit less than a year in the mission. And the other 2 elders are the zone leaders, Elder Brown and Elder Jones - from Utah and Missouri respectively. I love Elder Brown and Elder Jones. Elder Jones reminds me a ton of Brad and it just shows me how much the Lord knows me and what I need and when I need it. Elder Jones is the one who has a guitar and is teaching me. He says he will give it to me too when he goes home. Cool.

Brad I got the letter from you last Monday. Thanks a ton. It’s what I needed to hear.

And David, I love your story. I had almost the same thing happen this week. Except I was pondering what I should do to solve this problem I have. I was looking in the scriptures for answers, but I didn’t find a solid answer, so I went to my room to pray. As I knelt the church music was playing and the words were ´´I know he’s smiling down on me¨´. God knows what we need. When I do my best I have total confidence that God is smiling down on me. Everyone can have this confidence.

So I’m really excited for this Friday. We’re having a conference with both Uruguayan missions with Elder Bednar.

But thanks for all the prayers. Thanks for raising me in a home where obedience was expected. Not every missionary had that blessing.

I love you all, Elder Whitaker

9 November 2009

Thanks for the pictures, Mom, today was the first time I actually saw them. I don’t know if I was stupid and I’m getting smarter, or maybe this computer is better. Maybe I’m getting smarter, that would fulfil something in my patriarchal blessing.

This morning was very interesting, but first the update. Elder Gonzalez is from La Serena, Chile. He’s a good guy. I have one transfer more than him. Unfortunately, this morning we got a phone call and he’s going to a different area and I’ll be getting a new companion. I’ll be junior companion again – so much for being a leader . . . but I don’t care. I’m still excited to work here. Oh, and my area is called San Jose de Carasco. It’s like 30 minutes outside of Montevideo. It’s very different from my past area. The people are way more affluent and as a result they work which makes them generally more busy. But this ward has an awesome ward mission plan and I’m excited to be here working.

Brad sent some questions so here are the answers:

How’s your Spanish coming along? Amazing. I can say whatever I want and I understand a ton. I need to study grammar more, because so far I haven’t studied barely at all and I want to speak better. I’m working on my accent and I’m trying to learn more words. The hard thing is knowing which words to learn, because I don’t know them yet. But it helps having 4 consecutive Latin companions.

Are you in a 2-man apartment or a 4-man apartment? 4 man, with 3 Americans. The other companionship is the zone leaders. One of the zone leaders was in this are last transfer, 3 new missionaries, and they split the area.

Is your companion’s old companion still in the area/apartment? No, we both came new.

Are you in a ward or a branch, and about how many people went to church last week? Ward, between 80 and 100 I think. It’s a strong ward, and lucky for us most of the members live on our side of the division

When you arrived, were there already a lot of investigators? We have a couple that look promising.

If not, what are you doing to find more? Contacts at first, but the ward’s mission program is starting up and we’re going to start working with the members a lot and getting to know them.

What city is your companion from? I had 2 companions from Santiago (Garcia, Osorio). Already answered that one.

And I’m out of time. Dad wants me to send some pictures, but it takes work and I don’t have a USB cord. I’ll try to send some eventually. But thanks for everything. I’m doing great. But now I’m going to go home and cook fideo con tuko, or pasta with a meat sauce. I hope it turns out well.

Love you all, Elder Whitaker

3 November 2009

Thanks for all the emails, like always. First off, David, you didn’t fail because this week p-day is Tuesday because of transfers. Brad congratulations on your spider web game, Mom Steven and Michelle and you mentioned it. To answer Mom from last week they do celebrate Halloween here, but it’s wimpy. They don’t really have a huge selection of candy, no decorations, and a costume consists of a mask, but it was fun to see some of the youth and kids of the ward dressed up.

So, I think Mom told me last week that the truck had a flat tire that needs replacing. I had the same problem on the bike I’ve been using for a transfer and a half. Lucky for me 200 pesos fixed the problem and got me a new tire, like 10 dollars.

In my studies this week I learned something interesting. In the Bible Dictionary we learn "angels do not have wings" There’s doctrine for you. I love the scriptures.

This week my companion told me I was talking in my sleep, singing actually. Some patriotic America song. I’m way confused though, because I don’t know the song.

And just to verify something crazy I heard this week, some one told me that Catholic priests can marry now. Is this true, just wondering? I love Rruguay!

And the big news of the week are transfers. I’ll be leaving Sarandi del Yi, my only area. My companion will be training. 2 new missionaries back to back. I’m really nervous because I’m going to an area that’s being split into 2, with Elder Gonzalez from Chile. This will be his 3rd transfer and my 4th. Wow, I’m nervous, senior companion in my second area. I’m excited to see the hand of the Lord work miracles through our efforts.

Oh, and we had some bad news and our 2 baptisms didn’t happen this week. We had a whole transfer without a baptism, but we were obedient and my last night there I felt very content with my efforts there. I feel like I accomplished what I was sent there to do. Well, time’s up and I gotta go. Thanks for everything, and I’ll write again next week, Monday.

Love Elder Whitaker