7 February 2011

So the mission has had some changes. Tomorrow is transfer day, but P-day isn’t transfer day any more. We used to all go to the huge bus station in Montevideo on the Tuesday of transfers, but due to a fire in that bus station and having 120 some odd missionaries in basically what you would know as an airport sitting area terminal thingy and a bunch of suitcases and sometimes the disobedient missionaries doing stupid things, all that got changed. Now we have a normal P-day on Monday and tomorrow we are all going to meet in a church in Montevideo. The zones come in privately contracted busses to this church and they leave in the same busses. It’s going to be interesting.

Which brings me to the news that I am being transferred. I’m going to Camino Carrasco. I’ll be zone leader there with Elder Salisbury. I’m excited. It’s another small zone with 12 or 14 elders. It’s the zone where the assistants and the secretaries and financers work and live. It’s also where the temple is. I’ll be working in the Montevideo West Stake, the biggest stake in our mission. Every zone in the mission works with a district or stake, except the west stake. It comprises 2 zones. Cool. I’m excited. It will be my second time with an American companion. I have one more transfer than my new comp. I’ll let you know more next week.

This week was really good. We had 5 investigators at church and a retention of 9 over 10. We had like 70ish in sacrament meeting. It makes me feel really good to know how much I have helped in achieving that number.

I had an interesting experience this week. I realize that the time is coming to an end. I realize that I have 3 more transfers. That makes 18 weeks. So, I made a goal to baptize 18 more people. As I ponder how short this time will be it helps me realize what the mission has done for me and made of me. I’m excited to work with all my heart, mind, might, and strength to help at least 18 more of God’s children do what they need to do to get back to him. Without the sacred ordinance of baptism there is no way they can get back. As I thought about this goal I have set I realized something very interesting. I thought it would be hard to accomplish, but in the last 18 weeks I was involved in the baptisms of more than 18 souls. I know the Lord will put me in a place so that I can accomplish this goal.

I want you all to know I love you all so much. I love being a missionary. Thank you for the prayers and the letters.

Elder Whitaker