1 March 2010

Thanks everyone for the emails. Thanks for offering advice and answering my questions. It’s a huge difference as a missionary when your family writes things that can uplift someone rather than things that make you miss home. It’s a shame that lots of people don’t have a family where this type of communication works.

But what did I want to tell everyone? First, congratulate Steven on his new level of nerdyness. I noticed you didn’t even bother comparing scores with me. I’m excited that you’ll be able to help me at college. Both with homework and buying me food. I sure earned it. . .

But seriously Steve, I’m glad you enjoyed giving a talk. I love giving talks too. It’s interesting to me that you spoke about honesty and integrity. And brace yourself, because I’m about to pay you a huge compliment. A few weeks ago I found a scripture and wrote your name next to it – D&C 124:15. Everyone should know that Steven has the most integrity of anyone I’ve ever met. If anyone should be giving a talk on that topic, I’m glad it was him. You’re welcome Steven.

So I learned something cool this week. I have a leadership position as a missionary. Knowing that I’m a leader helps me be a better missionary. I know people are watching. One thing that I would often worry about is the fact that one day I will be a father. I often wondered if I would ever do stupid things as a father. But it’s really cool to me that being district leader is a lot like being a father. If this calling makes me a better person and helps me to “watch myself” (Mosiah 4:30), the calling of a father will probably have an even greater impact on me. It was an interesting thought I had. Maybe Dad or Mom can comment about his idea that I had and tell me if I’m close or way off the mark.

Another thing I learned this week is that the message we share as missionaries is the most important message that there is. This week I’ve made an effort to tell more people that. The result is different than I expected. Saying this doesn’t make more people listen, but it does make me mean what I say, and it makes me sad when and if they reject their opportunity to learn more. I hope that eventually the people will see the sadness in my eyes and maybe that would help them realize or soften their hearts. Who knows?

And Mom, I talked about obedience and sacrifice last week. I think I mentioned 1 Samuel 15:22. Interestingly enough, President da Silva shared that scripture this week at zone conference. That was interesting.

Happy birthday to all those that have birthdays this month. Is Megan’s birthday this month? I feel bad because I really don’t know when it is. Happy 22nd Brad.

Well, I think that’s it for this week. I love you all. Enjoy the email. Choose the right. And right me letters. . . . (I just thought that right now and spelled right wrong on purpose. . .)

Love, Elder Whitaker

22 February 2010

Thanks for the emails. The week was a tough one. We worked really hard.

So, with the new email, I got all the emails you sent today, so what you’re doing is working. I know less about it all than you do because I have 30 minutes on this thing every week and I’m not going to waste it figuring out how it works when I could be writing something.

So, something cool that happened this week is I made French toast with homemade maple syrup. I didn’t even know I knew how to make all those things, but I had what I needed and it worked. And I really enjoyed it all. It reminded me of home and how good Steven and Michelle have it.

So, one thing I was wondering is what were some of my brothers’ favorite scriptural thoughts to share during the mission. I told you guys some of my favorite ones last week, and just wanted to know some of yours.

And I have a question for my brothers that served already. One thing I’d like to better in my life right now is to have more meaningful prayers. What did you guys do during your missions to have meaningful prayers? It’s hard to find quality time at night with planning and calling the district and everything. I’d like some suggestions, but we’ll see what happens between now and next week.

So Mom asked how my studies have been. I haven’t written anything I’ve been studying in a while. So I’ve been looking in the scriptures for answers to my problems. The problem here is like what the sisters in Valrico are facing – no one lets us in, they don’t progress, and they don’t come to church. So, here’s the answers the scriptures gave me.

Helaman 10:2-5. Nephi faced the same problems. He worked hard and the Lord gave him the sealing power. I was likening the scriptures to me, so . . . I might have just got the sealing powers. . . . The next scripture I found was D&C 117:13. It says our sacrifice is more important to the Lord than our increase. I learned that what I can do to increase the church in any manner is not as important to the Lord as my sacrifice. And in 1 Samuel 15:22 the Lord says that obedience is more important than sacrifice. And we’re being obedient.

So, basically, we don’t see visible success, but that doesn’t matter, because we’re happy. We’re way tired but we always finish the day happy. It’s cool. As soon as the Lord wants us to baptize a ton we’ll be ready for him.

Okay, that’s all the things I planned on telling you. I feel like I wasn’t too focused this time because the other elders are talking behind me. I’m trying to listen to them and write at the same time. It’s kind of tough.

But I love you all. Thanks for the emails. Steven, I love how you dominate Spanish, you crack me up. Michelle, stay beautiful and try teaching Steven to swing dance. It will help both of you. That way Steven doesn’t have to dance with the other girls.

And I think that’s it for now. We’re going to go to McDonald’s now and celebrate Pday.

Love Elder Whitaker

15 February 2010

So, thanks for all the emails. I got a ton this week. But wow, it sounds like everyone is doing well. Thanks Mom and Dad for your testimonies. Of everyone’s those were the two I recalled best.

So, Steven, good job being smart. I’m jealous of the love you have developed for learning. You could’ve helped Dave and I in Physics last year. Good luck choosing classes next year, because it seems you’ve already taken all of them. I would recommend weightlifting and English 4.

So for week’s our house has had a bag of fruit-flavored marshmallows. This week I made rice crispy treats with cornflakes. It was good, a nice change from alfajores. Good thing Mom taught me how to do that. We also celebrated Valentine’s Day by buying a cake. We bought the “African Premium” cake. It was so good. I miss Mom’s desserts.

So Mom you mentioned D&C 84:88. I love that scripture. I share it often. My scriptural thought involving that scripture is I read it and talk about angels around us. I always show the family picture I have around our fireplace from 2007. I testify that those are the primary angels around us that are supposed to sustain us. And that my angels sustain me.

Brad said he had a goal of memorizing Alma 34. I love Alma 34:3. It changed my mission and it was a very, very specific answer to a prayer and problem I had. It helped me develop the testimony that the Book of Mormon answers all our questions and problems.

Oh, and in my studies this week, I read a really interesting marriage talk I would recommend to everyone who is married or might be married one day. And appropriately yesterday was Valentine’s Day and this might have been the year where that actually meant something to more than half of us. It’s a talk by Elder Holland called “How do I love thee?” He gave it February 15, 2000 at a BYU visit.

And my companion and I are going great. The work is the Lord’s and that’s why we don’t have the visible “success” I wish we could have. But after 3 weeks together and over 630 contacts, we had someone in church yesterday. A member invited him and he came. That’s what we were working on and the Lord gave us a miracle. This week we’ll be working on setting baptismal dates. Ask me about the miracles next week.

Sorry this is so long, I hope it’s interesting enough. I love you all. Thanks for your examples. I’ll try to make a list of a reason I love each of you specifically and you’ll get it eventually.

Love, Elder Whitaker

8 February 2010

Hey everybody,

Today I got an email from Elizabeth. That was cool. I’m looking forward to having a new sister when I get back to America. It will be cool having a relative that has never been mean to me again. I remember when Megan was never mean to me, but then she did something mean and couldn’t be in that club anymore. Elizabeth, enjoy the “Never Offending Jeff Club” while you can.

So, what happened this past week? It was kind of discouraging, because of the six people we wanted to see at church, zero came. And it’s hard to visit all of them because the fixed schedule isn’t an invention that’s big in Uruguay. So that’s kind of what we’re praying for now, a family with a fixed schedule and time and desires to listen to the missionaries. But we know we’ll be blessed because we’re being really obedient, and we’re really trying. One thing that I’ve been happy with these past two weeks with Elder Stilwell is we’re really going the extra mile in our daily contacts. President has asked for 140 weekly, and these last two weeks we’ve broken 200. Yeah!!!!!!

So like three times Mom has asked how long Elder Stilwell has been on the mission and I forget to tell her. He has five months, two in Argentina and three here. He was in Durazno for his first area just like me. And this is his second area just like me. This is his third transfer here and it’s my sixth.

So the other day I was thinking about testimonies and I realized I don’t know how all my siblings got their testimonies, and I don’t really recall how Mom and Dad got theirs either. I would really like a letter where everyone tells me how they got their testimony.

I got my testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith one night when I was 12 years old. I was reading the scriptures each night to complete Duty to God requirements and I was writing in my journal for Duty to God. Earlier that day I went to a Duty to God fireside. This one night I was reading in 2nd Nephi and I wanted to pray. I got an answer I couldn’t deny, and then I wrote about it in my journal. I forgot that happened for about 5 years, then one day reading my journal I remembered. I know the Book of Mormon is true because the prophets and church leaders instituted the Duty to God program.

I’m sure Elizabeth didn’t know that about me and I’m sure others didn’t know either or forgot. Now you know. I’m so grateful to be able to help others get their own testimonies.

Oh, and Brad, IF you get married before I get back, the “Never Offending Jeff Club” can have two members. Just remember that the Spirit will indicate what you should do.

I love you all, besos, hehehe, o sea, jajajaja
Elder Whitaker

1 February 2010

Thanks for all the emails. I love hearing from you all.

Dad and Brad had questions about being a district leader. Here are the answers. My district has 10 elders. 4 of us live in the same house, which means I only have to call 3 houses every night. The zone leaders live with me and are part of the district. My companion is just a junior companion, but I’ve learned that being the companion of a district leader means you’re a stud. I love my companion. He’s from Provo. It’s weird that Brad or Dave could visit his family in like 10 minutes if they wanted to. He lives by the temple close to that park with the huge bowl where people go sledding. Cool, eh?

So the sad news is that Raquel couldn’t go to church this week. But she’ll come next week. This week we found her 19-year-old son who plays the guitar in a Mexican mariachi band. Cool. He can also play Mario really well. Steven would be excited. It means a lot to me that you are praying for her. It will probably mean a lot to her.

And I have an amazing miracle for you all about how the Spirit speaks to us. Last night I was talking to one of the zone leaders (Elder Bulloch, who has a brother studying CM at BYU, fyi Dave) and I was telling him what I thought we needed to be working on this change. I said unity in the zone and praying specifically for others and the work in their area. They made a zone plan for the change and that was the first plan. My next idea was that we need to make plans each week and remember them. We have plans at district meeting to make us better, but we never think about the plans during the week. And my third idea was obedience because we love the Lord. Those 3 ideas were the 3 things they had already made as the plans for the zone. I don’t know if I explained myself well, but it was really interesting.

And yeah, we get along really well with the three new elders here. I’m way excited. I can tell you next week about how the Lord is answering your prayers.

And I know it’s been a while since I told you all that I know God lives. Jesus Christ is our Savior. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. The Book of Mormon is True. And President Monson is our prophet today.

I love you all.
Elder Whitaker

26 January 2010

Transfers came and went. My new companion is Elder Stilwell from Provo, and I’ve been called as district leader. I’m excited about that. But here’s a story for you. I was supposed to be at a district leader orientation this morning, but I missed it. The zone leader in charge of it said I had a good excuse though. We were late because when we woke up our house was flooded. A pipe under our sink was broken. But it’s really cool to see the hand of the Lord in how our pipe broke. The three elders I was living with all got transferred, so all their gear was packed and nothing got ruined or too wet. If it had broken yesterday lots would be wet, and tomorrow I think a lot would be wet, too. But God loves us. And we were able to dry everything and clean out the house. And I got a packet of papers telling me what I need to know about being a district leader. I’m excited.

And if any of my brothers have good advice about being a district leader, I would love to hear it. That way I can give Steven really good advice in three years, if the world hasn’t ended yet. . . according to the Mayan calendar. . .

So the other really cool thing that happened this week was we found a golden investigator. It was a street contact too. She gave us her real address too. And we found her and the next day she let us in and listened too. She also said the closing prayer and prayed for my companion and me by name. We’re going back Wednesday. Pray for her please. Her name is Raquel.

Elder Whitaker

18 January 2010

So I just had the greatest birthday week ever. I’m way happy. I got a letter from everyone this Pday and last. I even got two from Weston. He’s stepping his game up. I got to go to a sealing for a family I met in my first area. That was way cool. God loves me. Unfortunately, I just have a ton more questions about the temple now. On my birthday I got cake at lunch, cake at a FHE, and the cake I bought. I also learned an incredible lesson from President Da Silva that will help me the rest of my life. I’ll have to tell you about it later though. We played soccer today and I love that stuff. I learned that my brother is getting married. We’re doing an endowment session tomorrow as a zone and I got to send you guys pictures. I’m happy.

Love you all,
Elder Whitaker
birthday cake

Family Home Evening with more birthday cake

Elder Ferman, Leandro, Leandro's uncle, Elder Whitaker

at a recent district meeting

11 January 2010

So, what happened this week? I went on a companion exchange with a good buddy from my BYU ward. That was way good. We have a lot in common and we talked about doctrine all day. It was very edifying. It’s interesting because Dad sent a thought about Abraham and his obedience and trial. This elder told me about these Abrahamic trials that everyone is supposed to pass through. It was something to think about that I never really heard about.

And it was interesting that Brad warned me about robbers this week. I don’t think most missionaries write home about this stuff, but I’m not like most missionaries. We got robbed. They broke into our house while we were out. It’s interesting that this day I was on this interchange and I happened to have my camera and all my money with me, two things that don’t happen all the time. I’m doing my best and God protects me. But don’t worry, we’re fine.

So here’s something interesting that doesn’t happen every week. A brother in this ward is going on a cruise in February and going to Miami and Tampa. He’ll be in the Tampa airport flying back. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to connect with him and send me some cool stuff. I could get you the information. But I know it’s harder than it sounds and Dad will shoot it down. I know you’re trying to spend less and I don’t need anything. And I don’t know the customs laws that make that expensive. It would be cool though. . . .

So here’s an idea I had the other day while reading my patriarchal blessing. Dad will probably shoot this idea down too, but in True to the Faith it says you can share your blessing with immediate family members. I’ve never shared mine with any immediate family members and I’ve never read any of yours. And most patriarchal advice is just commandments that everyone should be doing, and most blessings are valid to everyone that’s obedient. So my idea would be to make a Whitaker family semi-patriarchal blessing. It would be very interesting to see what God is counseling us to do and then we could help each other to do it. It would be a really cool FHE. Too bad everyone isn’t together any more.

And another thing I was studying this week was joy and happiness, from Alma 27ish. In the Guia de las Escrituras, if you look under felicidad it sends you to gozo. And gozo sends you to obedience. Happiness, joy and obedience. Wickedness never was happiness, Alma 41:10. Obvious. And true joy comes only to the truly penitent and those that seek happiness. True repentance and obedience brings joy. The Guia says that true repentance is born from love of Jesus Christ. It’s amazing. I love studying the scriptures.

Yeah, nothing else really happened this week. Kind of boring. Thanks for all the emails. Thanks for all the prayers. Thanks for being examples. But I love you all. I’ll write you again when I’m 20 years old.

Elder Whitaker

4 January 2010

I have really good news for the entire world. The Spirit made it manifest after I read the family newsletter. I’m sorry it didn’t come to me until after reading it. In like 2007 I wrote a Christmas letter that never got sent out. Send that next year. Or use it as a back up next year, Plan B. Who knows? 2010 might bring a really funny year. I mean everyone loves baby jokes.

But I enjoyed the Christmas letter. Honestly I wasn’t rolling on the floor laughing, though. It was interesting to know that Weston busted his knee this year. That was new news. Is he using the torture chamber? Good thing Dave has good advice for all that.

I want to share how I learned again this week that God loves me and he loves me a lot. I was cleaning the house and I found a conference Ensign from October 2007 and a church magazine from 1974 explaining temples. How does God know I love studying conference issues and temples? And how did they just happen to be hiding in our house? One thing I would love to study is the topics hit by the apostles to see if there is a major trend to show how as members we still don’t get a lot. For example, in October 2007, President Hinckley talked about anger in the priesthood session. Sound familiar?

And here’s another thought I had while studying. I’ll share it. Jesus Christ was God’s first spirit child. So in the eternities we spent in heaven before we came to earth he was there the longest. I read somewhere that we will have to study and learn a ton in heaven after this life before we will be ready to create our own planet and all that good stuff, for eternities possibly. All this post-earth learning will take place in the celestial kingdom. We were in the celestial kingdom with God before we came here, and Jesus Christ was there longer than the rest of us. Now my idea is that Jesus Christ spent those eternities taking those mandatory classes that the rest of us will take after we die, the classes that are the prerequisites to perfection. I think he might have took them before he came to earth and that’s how he was so much better prepared than the rest of us. I’m still working it out in my mind but at least for me it helps explain how he did it. If there’s a talk that talks about this I’d love to read it.

Oh, Steven, thanks for the letters. 2 in one week. I was in heaven. I want a step-by-step guide of how to beat the third dungeon. I’m in withdrawal from useless Zelda knowledge. Oh, and you’ll love this. In my BYU ward was Travis W. He’s really smart. He’s in my zone. And he has a BYU math headband. I saw it. It completed my life . . . almost.

So my birthday present from President this year is on the 19th we are going to the temple. It’s like 30 minutes away from here on the bus.

And tell Kyle T. that I love his guts. We live 3 or 4 blocks from the beach. I’m going to put a letter in a bottle and hope he gets it. But Kyle, I don’t understand Brasilero so I need a translation in English in parenthesis to understand the random words you throw in those letters. Other than that I love hearing from you. I love your guts and I think I wrote you a letter. You’ll get it eventually.

And say hi to Brother P., but don’t tell him that I’m still working on my goals. When I feel good about them, I would love to share them with him. Tell him thanks for being a good home teacher.

Oh, and this week we did a sweet service project as a zone. We dug a water pipe trench. It was a foot wide, two and a half deep, and like 80 yards long. It was fun. I enjoyed myself and the exercise. My back is ripped. Luckily we were digging in sand and it wasn’t hard at all. It kind of reminded me of Florida and Africa with pine trees and everything. I said to myself, “I’ve hiked this before.” They were some wonderful moments.

Well, I love you all. Thanks for all the prayers and support. Good luck adjusting back to normal life. Just try to remember Christ still.

Elder Whitaker

15 December 2009

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all the letters. They really help. Thanks for the prayers too. So the new news this week is that transfers came and went. Of the 4 elders that live in our house we are all staying.

So this past week I realized I have been out here for 6 months already. The time has really flown. I’m nervous because everyone says the second year goes by even faster. But I’m realizing why that is, and I’ll kindly explain it to “all a yallz.” When the average American is younger than 18 years old, time is divided into 2 categories – school and summer. School goes by super slow and summer goes by fast. The mission passes like summer. I’m enjoying 2 years of straight summer.

And for the phone call, I understand that they have this phone through the internet and they have done this before; I’ll ask them about it. I think the other 2 American elders in my area will do the same, but we’ll keep in touch about it. I’m excited to hear that everyone will be there. Write down questions so we have something to talk about. And President says we have an hour. I’m excited to obey that. I realize that a lot of missionaries might not obey that. It might be one of the best gifts to Jesus Christ we can give him.

Thanks for everything. Good luck Dad. I love you guys.

Elder Whitaker

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