Whitney Robbins

Time Flys!

2011-01-23T21:26:00.000-08:00

10 days 18 hours and 18 mins till Preston comes home....who's counting? I'm definatly not even excited! haha! Its been a while since i have blogged. How sad that my followers have been deprived of my whitney goodness as Prest would put it. Well I have been busy and trying to survive so blogging hasnt been in the picture i guess.

I am sick, yet again with a terrible cold! I know right how could this happen to me again....yes its the story of my life. I was sick with a head cold all of December. I got over it the first of Jan and now I have a new cold and its the 3rd week of Jan...pretty pathetic eh? .... that reminds me Jennifer and I spend the whole night the other day quoting the movie The Emperor's New Groove while we watched it....beware of the groooovvvveee! haha I love it! I have been hanging out with my co-worker Jennifer Green, she is fab!

I gave a talk in sacrament today and I have to admit it was the bomb.com haha I owe it all to the Lord for his guidance in what to say but I definatly felt like i did well! LOVE IT! I am moving out this week, CRAZY! I never thought it would come, but yes it is! Ill be married before I know it. I am so happy! I am starting to look for job opportinities in Tempe, AZ if anyone knows of any let me know. Ill need to work full time to pay for our bills and cost of living. Its going to be intense but it will work!

Temple Lights!

2010-12-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

This last weekend our family went to the SLC temple square, to the temple lights. It was breath taking, not just because it was cold outside haha but because it was so beautiful. It was good weather too it wasnt too cold. We bundled up and walked around then we listened to some carolers and sat in the tabernacle. It was a fun night. It was my first time ever going to the lights.

So this week I have been so sick. Its kinda nasty, I have lost my voice for the whole week and I have a cough like no other ha its been a fabulous experience...NOT haha! I have had a great last few months being a teacher's assistant. My teachers that I work with told me that because of me everything works out okay and I make them look good as teachers because of all the behind the scenes work that I do for them. They were begging me not to get married and they want to convince the principal to rehire me. Ha! What a great compliment but im getting married to the man I love and they can try to convince me all they want hahahah! I am excited though they want me to bring Preston to the school to volunteer in the spanish classes with me for the first few days he is home, so that will be fun! 55 days!

The swift winds of change.

2010-11-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

I have realized that as time has gone on that I have had more responsibilities placed on my shoulders. More decisions as an adult. Ever since I was 18 I was forced to be my one adult and adjust to how life changes even though we may not want it to. I know that a lot of times I don't feel quite yet ready for the changes that I am placed into or the extra responsibilities and choices that adults make. I have learned to be completely in dependant in making my life's choices, but now I get the extra help and thoughts of the man I love to help me make the choices that I have in life. I am ready to embrace the next chapter in my life whether others are willing to accept it or not, I want to make the best of it and embrace it with open arms. The Lord doesn't give us challenges we cant handle and I have learned that myself through my life's challenges and also by watching others go through trials.

I am so ready for the holidays. The joyful and cheerful feelings that come with the Christmas spirit make me so happy, I just want it to come and fill me with some good cheer. I love working with the children in my classes. they make things so funny and simple. For just a few hours each day I can appreciate the simple fun things in life that children bring. I got to read a cute Thanksgiving book to my 1st graders it was so fun to hear the fun remarks from them. I even get those cute little kids that come up to me and want to give me a hug or tell me something cool that happened to them at recess. Children are so great, I have learned that I defiantly want to teach as a profession. Preston's flight itinerary came this week. Time is flying and its become more real now that we have his flight info and it kinda gives me hope that "yes" he will come home.

He never said it would be easy, but it will be worth it!

Tengo un nuevo trabajo, enseñando español

2010-10-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

I got a job as an Assistant Spanish teacher in the Spanish Imersion program at Sand Springs Elementary.The objective of the Spanish Immersion Program is to provide a quality second language learning experience for students during their key language acquisition years at no expense to their primary language development. The program is research based and provides a culturally diverse experience for the entire school community. The district along with the faculty and staff at Sand Springs Elementary are united in their support of this school choice opportunity for students.

The Spanish Immersion Program at Sand Springs Elementary is designed for students whose primary language is the dominant language of society (English) upon entry to school. In the Immersion Program, a second language (Spanish), along with the students’ home language, is used to teach regular school subjects. A major objective of the immersion program is oral fluency and literacy in both English and Spanish.

For the Spanish portion of class, students will be immersed in the second language. The teacher will only speak Spanish and instructional materials will be in Spanish. The teacher, using multi modalities will communicate through visuals, songs, body language, expression and drama to achieve understanding. Beginning in first grade, there will be a clear and sustained separation of languages during instructional time. Students will have two teachers and two classrooms. (If enrollment numbers remain consistent.) Fifty percent of a student’s instructional time will be spent in the “Spanish” classroom with the “Spanish” teacher and 50 percent of their instructional time will be spent in the “English” classroom with the “English” teacher. It is amazing how quickly a young child is able to understand the new language and speak in words, phrases, and sentences.

I will primarily be working with the 1st and 2nd grade. I will be assisting the teacher in teaching, grading papers, and helping with all activities in the classroom, all in spanish!

True Love

2010-10-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Preston-"A Scripture that I wanted to share with you before I go is Alma 32:28, but everytime it says the word ¨seed¨, I want you to put ¨love¨. That´s how I feel about our love. It´s a wonderful feeling. I love you Whitney Dawn Robbins, I truely and deeply do. =)"

28 Now, we will compare the word unto LOVE. Now, if ye give place, that LOVE may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be true LOVE, or good LOVE, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is good LOVE, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

I love him!

I know that my redeemer lives.

2010-10-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

I love all the feelings of my heart, and the strong assurance of the testimony of the everlasting gospel. I know that Jesus Christ died for me and I thank him daily, I am so grateful to know that I can return to the Savior's presence again. I know that the atonement is real. I know that without it I couldn't be anything. I know that one day Ill have the opportunity to feel the prints in the Savior's hands and feet and I will be able to know not any more than I know already that he is the Christ. I am so grateful for the Temple of the Lord. I got the opportunity to take my sister back to do temple work and I had such a comfort of the spirit. I know that I will be able to be sealed to my one true love for time and all eternity. I can and will have an eternal family. I love to see the miracles in my life, even though when bad things happen I know that the Lord is still blessing me with things that I need in my life. I am truly grateful. I love my family and my friends for the constant love they give me! I am grateful for the amazing man I have in my life. For the settle comfort he gives me even from thousand miles away I can still feel his love and comforting arms around me telling me everything will be OK even though I don't think they will. I am truly blessed with my our perfect man. He may not be perfect but he is my kind of perfect. I love Preston with all that I have to give. Sometimes I don't really understand all the feelings that come from my heart and how I can have the most firm love for another person like I do for the Savior but I know that he is the one for me.

... Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee, How great thou art, How great thou art!!

Goin CRAZY- estoy loca!

2010-10-06T22:38:00.000-07:00

I have been going crazy. I got the job at bath and body works but I have been working long 8 hour days at Macys. I had my lovely mission reunion last week. I loved it to much!

The Magic of Macy*s

2010-09-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

So, I GOT A JOB!

I am quite excited, I got it after only being here for 4 days. I have been blessed really! I feel like this whole choice of moving to Utah was the right thing. I am loving it. I am quite excited for the training and stuff this week and to get working. I do better when I have stuff to do. I actually have a interview at -

I worked there before my mission and I loved it to death. I hope that I get hired again and I can get good hours. I know the products and the system and how things work so I hope they are looking at that and realize that Yeah... we should hire her! So I'll have my fingers crossed! This weekend Brooke came up to spend the weekend with me. It was alot of fun. We did a bunch of random stuff and enjoyed time together. This week will be crazy and random. I have my mission reunion on Friday night and I cant wait! I am super stoked about general conference this weekend! YAAY! Its going to ROCK!

Fast approaching!

2010-09-23T23:49:00.000-07:00

Its just insane how quick this year has flown by. I am currently living in Syracuse with the greatest family! I got a job at the magical Macy's clothing store in the mall and everything is working out smoothly. I enjoy the time I have here and Its just great. I love seeing all the colors change and the season become fall. I cant wait for Halloween and all the adorable trick or treaters. I have a feeling its going to be a great few months. Preston is doing well and is having transfers this week so I am quite excited for him. He will have 2 more transfers till he is home...CRAZY! I have been enjoying time on my skype with my sister and just enjoying my surroundings. Its been a while since I have been able to just enjoy the moments verses waiting for time to pass because the future was so much better. But now i think I have been able to catch a breather and just relax with life. It will be interesting how it will all unfold in the next few months!

UTAH Bound!

2010-09-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

I am moving to Utah! See on the map the last red dot the city called Logan...well I am moving just south west of that in a city called Syracuse! Actually 13 days from today Ill be moving up. Its going to be great I am living with a great family and I am going to get a job and work full time until Preston comes home. I am praying I get hired as a school sub-teacher In the Davis county school district like I applied but we will see. Ultimately I dont care as long as I have a full time job that I enjoy and makes good money. I have a lot I mean a lot planned for myself next year and money will be needed haha! Well If you want to hang out and you live in Utah ya'll will have to let me know!

The Month of LoVe!

2010-08-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

Marriage is what brings us here together today! My younger sister Brooke got married over the weekend. YES she is now Brooke Rose Tyler. Her and Chad got sealed for time and all eternity in the house of the Lord... the San Diego Temple. We had a long and crazy weekend but it is over and it went very well! We enjoyed the company of our friends and family who came to support Brooke and Chad in their marriage! Thanks to everyone who came!

FuN aNd FrIeNdS!

2010-08-16T23:41:00.000-07:00

I have fully enjoyed my summer of fun, surprises, and laughter. I got to visit my ex mission companion. She came down from Chinle, AZ to tour good ole LA. She and 2 friends got the oppertunity to drive down here to see all the sites of CA. I drove down to Anaheim to Downtown Disney and we walked around and laughed and made fun of each other and caught up on life. I enjoyed it! I missed her a bunch! This last week we had an enjoyable time as a family. We got alot done for the wedding. My mom is a trooper, she is working hard! My Aunt and Uncle drove down to our house this weekend and we went to a concert in the park. It was a beatles cover band and it was fun, but the electricity went out half way through it was kinda funny! But we enjoyed it! I am ready for fall to start and then winter and spring to come around. This year has been going great, but i cant wait till next year, its going to be the best year of my life! oh yeah!

Yes, I have fallen madly in love.

2010-08-14T23:12:00.000-07:00

Yes everyone I am in love. I am madly in love with the most amazing man. I find myself everyday falling harder and deeper into the sea of love that he provides for me. PRESTON WILLIAM TUCKER is the love of my life. He is my one and only, my better half. He perfects all my imperfections. I have never loved before I met Preston. What do I love about him you may ask, well I could be completely superficial and name all the immature things like his outstanding looks or his laugh. But its so much better than that. Yes his outward appearance and studly personality could whoa me but its so much more. I love him for his thoughts, his mindful thoughts. He has much more of an intellect that is intriguing. He is so thoughtful in every way possible. He is a "thinker", just like me. He is thoughtful in the sense that he puts people's needs in front of his own and he is the shoulder people can cry on.

He gives mindful advice. He is intellectual. He sees the world differently than most men, I love it, he takes in the small moments and makes it last. The tender mercies he loves and cherishes them. He is very smart, not just book smart but he has common sense. He knows whats going on and takes initiative in making things happen ( I think his mom taught him that one). He is a leader, he knows how to lead and guide people in any type of setting. whether it be a large group of people or just us as a couple, he knows how to lead and guide. I admire his spirituality. He has such a great testimony of our Lord, Savior, and older brother Jesus Christ. He knows him, and loves him. He puts the Lord first in his life, and its inevitably noticeable. I admire his love for the scriptures and to learn and study them. He is a reader and when he picks up a good book he reads it and understands every word. He is talented on many levels, one of my favorites is that he is musically talented. He plays the cello and played the piano growing up. He is phenomenal, I melt every time I hear his cello. A life time of heart melting awaits me! Its so beautiful. He is gifted with so many talents I could go on forever.

I love him for his dashing good looks, I have to thank his parents for that one! haha! I think he is incredibly good looking! I love that he is goal oriented and makes sure that he completes his goals. He is an organized person, for the most part... I might have to get him up to par with me haha, but he will fit me well with that! He is a clean freak like me, we like things clean! I love him so much, with more than I can express. Its an eternal love, our spirits are intertwined! He is mine and I'm his! I wish I could just shout it out from the roof tops, I AM IN LOVE! I want everyone to feel how I feel about someone special in their lives. I love this song I came across today, its on repeat right now on my itunes! I wish I could just explain exactly what is in my heart but this is all I can express, I am kinda bad with words. Preston is good with words, another thing I love!

"Come Home"- One Republic

Hello world hope you're listening
Forgive me if i'm young or speaking out of turn
But there's someone i've been missing
And i think that they could be the better half of me

They're in the wrong place tryin' to make it right
But i'm tired of justifying

So i say to you come home come home
'cause i've been waiting for ya for so long for so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all i see is you and me
And the fight for you is all i've ever known
So come home

I get lost in the beauty of everything i see
The world ain't half as bad as they paint it to be
If all the sons and all the daughters stop to take it in
Well hopefully the hate subsides and the love can begin

It might start now yeah
Or maybe i'm just dreaming out loud

But until then come home come home
'cause i've been waiting for ya for so long for so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all i see is you and me
And the fight for you is all i've ever known ever known
So come home ooh

Everything i can't be is everything you should be
And that's why i need you here
Everything i can't be is everything you should be
And that's why i need you here

So hear this now come home come home
'cause i've been waiting for ya for so long for so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all i see is you and me
And the fight for you is all i've ever known ever known
So come home come home

Top summer things I have enjoyed!

2010-08-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

1. Spending time with my family.

2.Writing my Amazing BF!3. Awesome Summer trips.

4. Quality time with my Best Friend

5. Great new summer shows

6. Beach Trips!

Things this summer have been fun! I cant wait till next summer! things have gone pretty smoothly after my mission/ surgery. I have been enjoying my time with everyone and exploring new things! I got to go white water rafting for the first time this summer. I had fun with my best friend and spent alot of fun time with my boyfriend's family. We have Brooke's wedding in 2 weeks so I will post plenty of pictures of it! I cant even begin to describe how crazy things have been in the house but as the holidays come along I think it will just get hectic but I'm going to enjoy the fall and winter. I cant wait for Christmas!

Loving the Life I Live!

2010-07-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

I went to visit my future in-laws and went to my sister's bridal shower! We went to the Logan temple to take pictures and check out the grounds. Its a beautiful temple! I got to admire the beautiful work of the saints! I loved it! My mom and I got to go up to Brooke's shower on Saturday. We spent time with her fiance's family and we got to meet a bunch of people on his family's side. I got to spend some time with my wonderful best friend Jessica! It was fun and I got to meet her fabulous bf Bobby. It was so much fun to just relax and be silly and talk and share experiences and stories! I loved my time with Jess even though it was short. Then My mom and I went to my Mission President's Home coming. It was my president of my Texas mission. It was so much fun to see everyone and to give them hugs and just rejoice in seeing each other. We then went to Syracuse, where Preston's family lives. Preston's mom Paula was singing in sacrament and so we went to hear her sing and then we got to spend time with them. We got a special phone call on Sunday night from Preston. It completely made my life! He was able to call home to talk to his family about the recent changes in his mission, and I just happened to be there! It was awesome, we put the phone on speaker and then we got to all talk sitting at the table together! Then I got my time to talk to him alone. Then I piled on his parents bed and the three of us talked to him. I just had the best recomfirmation of spirit about marrying him, it was amazing! We went to Bear lake where they own a home and we played! It was so much fun, we went to the beach and then we ate and laughed and played and made fun memories!

I had a great time and I cant wait to move up there in MARCH!!! oh YEAH!

This love is difficult, but it's real.

2010-06-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes, and the flashback starts,
I'm standing there,
On the balcony in summer air.

I see the lights, see the party, the ballgowns.
See you make your way through the crowd,
And say, "Hello",
Little did I know,

That you were Romeo,
You were throwing pebbles,
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet."
And I was crying on the staircase,
Begging you, "Please don't go".

And I said,
"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting, all that's left to do is run.
You be the prince, and I'll be the princess,
It's a love story, baby, just say, 'yes'."

So I sneak out to the garden to see you,
We keep quiet, 'cause we're dead if he knew,
So close your eyes,
Escape this town for a little while.

'Cause you were Romeo,
I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet."
But you were everything to me,
Begging you, "Please don't go".

And I said,
"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting, all that's left to do is run.
You be the prince, and I'll be the princess,
It's a love story, baby, just say, 'yes'."

"Romeo, save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel.
This love is difficult, but it's real.
Don't be afraid, we'll make it of this mess,
It's a love story, baby, just say, 'yes'."

Well, I got tired of waiting,
Wondering if you were ever coming around.
My faith in you was fading,
When I met you on the outskirts of town.

And I said,
"Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting for you, but you never come.
Is this in my head,
I don't know what to think,"

You knelt to the ground,
And pulled out a ring and said,
"Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.
I love you, and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress,
It's a love story, baby just say yes."

We were both young when I first saw you...

I can't help but love that song! I finally got an email this week, its been a little spread out because of all the changes that have been happening to Elder Tucker's mission, but im learning patience! I was told a good quote today it says "Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring... patience
is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!" -Dieter F. Uchtdorf Preston reminded me today that the Lord said " I never said it would be easy, but I said it would be worth it." Its amazing because I had told someone that quote yesterday, we are definatly on the same page

I will not doubt, I will not fear;
God’s love and strength are always near.
His promised gift helps me to find
An inner strength and peace of mind.
I give the Father willingly
My trust, my prayers, humility.
His Spirit guides; his love assures
That fear departs when faith endures.

I have been doing some fun stuff lately, today My mom and I went down to the Anderson's house and we had a Twilight marathon before the movie tomorrow. We watched both Twilight an New Moon. I made this really good Crunchy Ranch Chicken for dinner.I cant wait to go White Water Rafting on Saturday, Its going to be my 1sttime going. There is alot of random stuff going on this week but its nice. Ihave been going to the gym and lifting and swimming but my knees have been struggling with that.

Things have been going smooth this week and I am so excited to finally go up to Utah and visit my bf's parents, I love them so much. I also get to see Jess and Its been a few months and we give the best "best friend hugs" ever! My sister should be having a great bridal shower too! Its going to be thrilling to see everyone at President Thurston's Home Coming. Its going to be like a mission reunion! I love the TEXAS missionaries!

Hectic Summer Days

2010-06-22T23:03:00.000-07:00

Well this summer is just jammed pack! My younger sister Brooke is getting married August 21st down in the San Diego Temple. I never knew how hard it really was to plan a wedding. My parents have been working really hard at getting it all put together for my sister, so far its just stressful; but its working out fine. I am going through my physical therapy as best as I can and Im really recovering well. I am going 3 times a week and they said I have really good range of motion. I started lifting weights and that has been a little tough but im trying my best to work hard and get better. I have a gnarly lesson to teach on Sunday and so Im preparing for that, I just hope I dont choke up there haha! I have had fun recently chatting with a bunch of old mission buddies, Its been alot of fun getting to know each other on a more personal friendship level then on a missionary basis. It was always hard as a sister to gain a friendship with an elder so its nice now to just chill and have funny conversations. One of my old district leaders is coming down to Cali this week and we are going to the beach, so that will be fun.
I am now updating Preston's blog every week, its been alot of fun to do. I enjoy keeping busy and that is one thing that has helped time pass. He is working so hard and I am so very proud of him. I never knew that falling in love would be so easy yet so hard at the same time. Its all about sacrifice and devotion and its totally worth every second. I have recently witnessed my best friend Jessica fall in love for the first time and its been nice to share those connections with her, we both can relate to the feelings of love and it has grown a strength between us. I think she and Bobby will get married before Preston and I but thats going to be fun! I cant wait. I never realized how fast I really grew up until I look back on the things I have done in my life and how grateful I am for choosing the right things to lead me to where I am today. If anyone is interested in checking out and supporting Preston read his blog: www.elderpreston.blogspot.com
I cant wait for July to start, I have alot in store for me, we have our white water rafting trip and then I get to go up for Brooke's second Bridal Shower and stay with Preston's family for a few days and getting to know my future family that I absolutely love to death. I love Paula and Pw and my mom and I are going to have a blast hanging out with Paula and Hope at the lake house, I am just really excited for a good summer. I have still been competing with Preston to see who can finish the book of mormon twice through, highlighting the refrences to Christ the first time through and then the second time highlighting the gospel principles...guess who is losing...ME haha I am still in Alma the first time through and he is already gone through the whole thing once and Im sure he is passed me in Alma his second time through. Its ok though I enjoy taking my time and highlighting it. I am really learning alot about things I never noticed before. I love the scriptures!

Life at Home

2010-06-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

Well its been about 2 and a half months since I have been home from Texas. I have recoverd well from surgery and I am starting my physical therapy. I just got called as the Gospel Doctrine Teacher in my singles ward and im chuggin along just fine. I am trying to keep busy and after the wedding get a job. Its been nice being with the family and enjoying my first summer in over a year. I forgot how nice it is to vedge and lay out by a pool. I am waiting for my amazing boyfriend to come home from his mission so we can get married. I am trying to preoccupy myself until then. Life has been good to me and I try to strive to be better daily! Thanks to my Heavenly father for the many blessings I have received!

POST-OP REPORT.....

2010-06-03T14:36:00.000-07:00

Whitney had her Post-Op appointment last week and after her examination the doctor said that Whitney's knees are as good as new! She is to begin physical therapy for several weeks and should be fully recovered in a month or two.

Whit says that her knees feel good; no grinding, no pain, and the swelling is almost completely gone. Some soreness and swelling may temporarily return as she begins her PT, but that's to be expected. She is walking fully with no crutches, no limping, and no pain. She does however still experience some sore and tiredness by the end of the day.

DAY 2 POST SURGERY

2010-05-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Two days after surgery and Whit's surgical sites look really good. Today she was able to remove her bandages and shower. Now she only has to cover the sutures with small band-aids. She says that she already can feel a difference in her knees from before the surgery; there's no pain under her knee-caps and it's not grinding anymore; "feels smooth," she says. She is moving around very well walking with crutches. She's also exercising a little each day per the doctors orders.

SURGERY IS COMPLETE!!!!

2010-05-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

I took this photo of Whit's knees as we sat in the Surgicenter waiting for Whit to be taken back for surgery. It's the last external scar free picture taken...See how they are swollen in the lower portion of both knees. This is pre-surgery swelling due to the cartilage fragments grinding in her knees causing internal swelling and scarring.

Well, today was the big day for Whitney to go under the knife. Whit had a pre-OP appointment yesterday (Mon 5/17) at Dr. Glousman's office in the Santa Monica area and was scheduled for surgery early the next morning, which is today at 8:00am, at the Spaulding Surgicenter in Beverly Hills. The two appointments were so geographically close together that we decided to stay the night in Santa Monica in the Temple apartments instead of having to get up extremely early to drive from Palmdale down to Beverly Hills in the crazy 405 traffic. This saved us so much time and stress doing it this way which was of great help to Whitney with her already heightened nerves.

The surgery took an hour and forty five minutes, and then another 45 minutes for her to fully wake up enough to go home. The doctor said that he found both scar tissue build up and fragments of cartilage floating around that was causing her pain. He removed the scar tissue and cartilage fragments and then checked the patella alignment to be sure that it was good, it was, so no realignment was needed of the patella/s. He said that over all her knees looked to be in really good shape. He said that her recovery should be quick and smooth as she is to begin today with simple exercises and walking to increase the blood flow and healing process.

Whit was in good spirits as we began our drive home, but then the pain began to set in and her mood changed to...a wee bit cranky. She's now resting comfortably with pain meds in her and her laptop on her lap.

Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers during this painful trial that she has endured these past nine months. We are truly grateful to you all!This post-surgery picture was taken by Whitney as she elevates her legs at home. The bandages can come of Thursday morning and she can then bathe and replace small bandages over the two small incision's on each knee. We expect her to be fully recovered in three months time and external scars minimal.

GREEN LIGHT FOR SURGERY

2010-04-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Alright...So yesterday was Whitney's doctor appointment with Dr. Glousman, Orthopedic Surgeon of the Kerlan-Jobe Center. He said that since her last appointment he's been able to examine her MRI and can see that there is some cartilage problems due to her patella's (kneecaps) being tilted, and so in the surgery he will re-position her patella's and clean out any bone and cartilage fragments floating around causing grinding when she walks, and repair anything else that he finds in there that needs fixing.

Now that Arthritis has been ruled out he has given the green light on scheduling the surgery. Pre-Op is scheduled for Mon, May 17th, and surgery is scheduled for Tue, May 18th at a surgicenter in Beverly Hills. Dr. Glousman said that even with the surgery there is no guarantee that Whitney will be totally pain free and that there is a small chance that knee pain will plaque her for the rest of her life. We are hoping and praying for the best. He also said that it will take...after healing and physical therapy in all...about three months for a complete recovery.

Then Whitney can get a job and begin her third year of college in the Fall.

RESULTS ARE IN

2010-04-21T21:02:00.001-07:00

Blood work done a week ago testing me for Rheumatoid Arthritis in my knees finally came in today as negative...No Arthritis! So now I'm scheduled to see the surgeon on Tues the 27th; hopefully now something will be done to get me out of this pain.

LAB WORK

2010-04-12T19:22:00.000-07:00

Whitney went to a medical lab last week and had blood work done for a Rheumatoid Arthritis check; as the knee doctor requested. We are now waiting for test results of which we all expect to be negative, but it has to be ruled out before the doctor will scope her knees.

A GOOD DAY

2010-04-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

Whitney and Cory have known each other for 20 years and had the special opportunity yesterday of giving their Mission Homecoming Talks on the same day (Sunday, April 11th). Who would have guessed that 20 years ago. Both of them did a fantastic job sharing their mission experiences and their testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Cory served in the Illinois Chicago South mission and Whitney served in Guatemala City North and Fort Worth Texas missions. Both served the Lord honorably.

My Homecoming talk is this Sunday

2010-04-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

My homecoming talk is scheduled for this coming Sunday, April 11th, 9:00 am in the Leona Valley Church building. I'll be speaking along with my friend, Cory Richmond, who just returned home from the Illinois Chicago Mission last Friday, and also with, Chris Roach, who is a newly baptized member of our ward who will be speaking in Sacrament for his first time. I hope that you can all attend.

My parents and I have been asked to attend a Stake High Council Meeting tonight so I can bear my testimony to the Stake Presidency and Stake High Council Leaders. Apparently all Return Missionaries, in our Stake anyways, are asked to do this.

FIRST DOCTOR APPOINTMENT TODAY

2010-04-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

Whitney called a recommended Orthopedic specialist yesterday and to all of our surprise they had an opening today. Yaaaeeey!

Dr. Glousman was very nice and gave us good sound advice. He had Whit get X-rays on her knees so that he could see inside her knees for himself. He said that he could not see anything that shouts "THAT'S THE PROBLEM!" So he suggested that Whitney do one more thing before going under the knife....See a Arthritic specialist to rule out arthritis in her knees. Dr. Glousman said that he would be totally surprised if arthritis was the problem, but wants every possibility ruled out before scoping her knees. So we will now see an Arthritic specialist as he suggested.

A NEW CHAPTER IN MY LIFE

2010-04-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

Message from Tracie:

Adam, Bryce, and I drove up to Utah on March 19th (Bryce’s Spring Break) to visit Brooke for the week and to be present while she received her Patriarchal Blessing the afternoon of Sunday the 21st. While we were staying with friends in South Jordon we received a phone call late Sunday evening from President Thurston, Whitney's Mission President.

Obviously my immediate thought was that this could not be good. He asked to speak with both Adam and I at the same time, so I put my cell phone on speaker and waited for him to begin in anticipation of what he was going to say. Well, it was just as I expected. Whitney’s knees had been giving her problems again, for about a week now, and she had already seen a surgeon in TX a few days earlier (the same surgeon who had performed knee surgery on Pres Thurston in January).

This surgeon said that Whit needed both knees scoped to see what’s causing the pain. He was wanting to do the surgery himself, both knees at the same time, the following Wednesday. President agreed and asked me if I were willing to fly to TX to stay with Whit while she has the surgery, I said yes, but we had to get authorization from Salt Lake first. Pres called SL and spoke with a General Authority the next day, but the GA said that Whit was to go home for the surgery where post operative care was more feasible, and then could return to TX when recovered. Problem is, here the doctors will only work on one knee at a time making recovery process twice as long. Being that Whit has already extended her mission by 5 mo's the first time she was sent home from Guatemala, I know she won't be willing to go back out again. It would extend her 18 mo mission to 2 1/2 to 3 years.

Whitney prayed about it before we were contacted on Sunday and she got the same confirmation that Pres Thurston received; that she is meant to be at home. And when Whitney and her two companions baptized Claudia on Saturday the evening before, she received a confirmation from the Holy Ghost that she was sent to TX to baptize Claudia, and now that she‘s baptized, her mission is complete. Whitney was able to be instrumental in bringing the gospel teachings and baptism into the Lords church to many people in both Guatemala and in Texas, and many more seeds planted for future full-time and member missionaries to reap. We know that the Lord is pleased with her accomplishments.

Whitney is at total peace with the circumstances and is ready to move on with her life. I think that if anyone is having a hard time with it, I am. And “hard” really isn’t the right word to describe how I’m feeling, because I too knew almost immediately that it’s what the Lord wants; as I felt peace in my heart and mind during our conversation with President Thurston. I guess it’s just that I loved all the wonderful experiences that Whit was having, and as a return missionary myself, I too wanted her to have a full year and a half of those great experiences as well. I have to accept that six months is what the Lord wants for her...She has!

Each of us here in the Robbins home have felt so much love and support from all our family, ward members, and friends this past year. All your letters and packages to Whitney while she was on her mission was always a source of encouragement for her; a vital element that every missionary needs while providing so great a sacrifice for the Lord. And for all of you who would inquire with us of how Whitney was doing; we felt the love and support from you each and every time making it easier for us to be apart from her…. For all of this we are truly grateful to each of you.

We'll do our best to keep an update on her mission blog of her knee progress so you can check it out on occasion to see what's going on from time to time. For now, Whit is looking forward to getting all the medical stuff out of the way so that she can move on with life; work, school, and love.

Tracie

Bringing Down the Powers of Heaven

2010-03-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

Wk# 8

3/18/10

Hey Yall!

It was good to hear from you all! I love to hear all about how you’re all doing. The mission this week was way out of whack! We had Our Zone conference yesterday and I had to attend a Leadership Mtg. We got wailed on by President for the lack of work. It was crazy, I didn’t realize how intense it is to hold a leadership position! CRAZY! It was a good Zone Conference though, we had a lot to go over and President gave us a lot of challenges, but it is totally possible to complete them!

So Claudia passed her Baptismal Interview. I know I came to Texas to baptize her. I have never felt a stronger love for a family than I have for theirs! We had a sister’s conference and we all came together as sisters in the mission to have a little lunch and spiritual lesson, it was great! So Oscar the man from Guatemala- He smokes and drinks coffee. So I gave up soda for him... it will be good for me! NO DIET COKE!

So I got sick of listening to excuses this week about why people won’t listen to me when I knock on their door...So o got bold and said:

Me: Hi I’m a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Do you know why we are here on earth?

Him: Uh no
Me: So you can get baptized in this church, you need to be baptized and I’m here to baptize you.... What’s your phone number?

Him: hum... ok ... (then he gave me his number)

I got guts :)

I am jealous of the Clippers game! haha! Also Brooke you should write the elders in TX, they keep bugging me to have you write them. I’m just telling you now you will like Elder Hatch more, just email him please! Mom, don’t worry about the thing to Preston, no big deal I wrote him a letter instead!

Things are moving slowly and the Lord is helping me in every way I need! I finished the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price this week! I am so excited to start the BOM!

Mom I can’t find Grandma Dawn's address, can you let me know what it is? Tell her I love her and I say hi!

I have had to use my credit card like once a week. I hope you don’t kill me, we are only given 150 a month and with the costs in TX and the fact that we are required to eat out with our district and zone once a week... it’s expensive! But we are starting to get fed more by members which it nice! I hope you have a good trip in Utah! I hope the Blessing goes well, let me know if she is from the one and only amazing tribe of EPHRAIM! haha!

The mission is amazing and my testimony is growing every day, stronger and stronger! I have a strong testimony of the love our savior has for us, even the times we feel like we can’t go on the Lord always provides a way!

So we did some service this week and helped Claudia and Noe paint the kids room, it was fun we really enjoyed it, By the way, I ate cow face tacos... hahah don’t you love the weird stuff I eat... It was good! I hope you all are sill reading the scriptures and praying daily! I love you all!

Whitney

"WHAT THE TURKEY IN TEXAS"

2010-03-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

3/11/10
WK# 7

AHHH HI Ya'll!

Well the title of my e-mail very well fits my week! I'll explain in a minute!

So many amazing miracles happened this week and I don't know where to start! So Ill return the answers to the questions and emails I got from you all and then tell you about my week.

So to start off, are you all ok? I heard that there is going to be a horrific earthquake in Cali... knowing we live on the fault line I started to freak out, basically crying when a member told me about the terrible stuff happening because the Chile earthquake.

I have something to tell Brooke, tell her I have emailed her every week and just sent her letter the other day so simmer and stop crying about it! I love her and she knows it, that’s why today I just showed her picture to all the elders in my zone so she can have a missionary to write! So Brooke, write Elder Hatch... yes his name is Hatch! Eric Hatch... his email is (removed for privacy).... He is cute and will be home in 2 months to Utah and perfect for you! Also there is an Elder Bishop, my Zone Leader, he wants you to write him, just hand write my mission address but put Elder Bishop instead of my name!

Now that I have that taken care of and the Elders can stop bugging me, Brooke I want to tell you how proud I am of you and the desire you have to live the gospel. The Lord's plan for us is amazing and his atonement is available only if we take it into our lives. I want to know how your Patriarchal Blessing goes! Mine has been a source of comfort and love from the Lord in my life. In the CCM we were told to write down the blessings and the counsel in our blessing to help remind us of the things that will guide our lives!

So this week has been great, the weather is insane if you all only knew the craziness, So one day it was sunny I was so excited, FINALLY SUN! Then we go inside after working out and I shower and actually straighten my hair and then curled it with my curling iron, I was ready to get all tan and so I put on summer clothes and then after studies, I look outside... to my dismay, I here thunder, and I see lightening.... It was raining as hard as it did in Guatemala.... AHH you can imagine how I felt.... ha! I changed out of my white skirt and played in the rain lol! I love Texas and its randomness (guess what the word random doesn’t exist in Spanish, which is a bummer because I use it a lot.)

Dad, I can’t believe your birthday is already here again...guess what that means.... Mine is coming up haha! Remember how we would share a birthday cake ha. So I can’t believe its March madness... how is basketball going dad? Ok so are you ready for the top events for the week....

Drum roll please...
# 5) So we were going to our dinner apt (we get fed almost daily…who wouldn't want to have me over for dinner, haha) and we talk to whoever we see right?!? So there was this man and he was working on his car. We strike up a conversation with him and he was way random saying he has talked to missionaries before, yada yada yada... So we are sharing a bit with him and he stops us and said; " Donde esta JesuCristo" ( translated: Where is Jesus Christ?) ... Me having a sensitive humor, starts laughing... He was serious that’s the bad part. But the way he said it was so funny. I’m like WHAT... Well I guess in heaven... I’m dumbfounded by such a random question, and I start crying because I’m laughing so hard to the point that I had to excuse myself and walk away. Hna Vasquez had to finish the contact. Let me just tell you how I just laugh too much in the mission.

# 4) So today we went bowling as a Zone, I have the best Zone ever! We went bowling for skittles... It’s where you pick a skittle and then bowl according to a chart they make up, like if you get red you have to act like a ballerina then bowl, it’s hilarious. We had sooo much fun! I am actually feeling a little sick from eating too much skittles!

#3) So we were contacting before our apt last night and we were all denied at this house so we just keep walking. You know me and my loud voice can wake anything from the dead (the elders always make fun of me being so loud, I just say be glad you haven’t met my sister, she is louder). So we walked to the next house then all the sudden a turkey flies from the tree above us and then starts running. So I’m laughing, practically going to pee my pants it’s so funny. The best part is that Hna. Hinton starts chasing it with her camera. But she isn’t just chasing it she is walking like a turkey and making noises. I’m just rolling I’m dying of laughter... It was an interesting night!

#2) So, I set another Baptismal date! YAAY! Bringing souls unto God how great shall be my joy… It’s pretty great! So I have an investigator, FROM GUATEMALA! So we were teaching him one evening this week and had gone in there planning to set a date. We get to the door and I start freaking out... He made Platinoes fritos for me ... remember the big banana thing I made yall. I smelt it standing at the door, I was in heaven! So we get in there and teach him and Sister Hinton was “FABULOUS" and asked him to be baptized... The down fall is he is going to Guatemala for like 3 weeks, so we had to set it at the end of April. But we feel it’s perfect for him and we couldn't be more blessed! So we are just amazed the Lord really blesses sister missionaries haha!

#1) TEMPLE TRIP IN DALLAS! That’s all I have to say really! So we went to Dallas and did a session, the one time in the mission I can be completely selfish and pray for myself. I had a lot to enquire of the Lord, I was so inspired in so many ways. I have the most amazing testimony of the Temple. In my Patriarchal Blessing it said I would be like this…and I am. I can’t wait to go very often when I get home! My goal once a week! I couldn’t have been at more peace then when I enter the Holy house of the Lord. The Lord gives us such a marvelous opportunity in this life to do the work for our ancestors. By the way Elder Doss and I are in fact related....Through the McAllister family line...I have a packet of stories that he gave me to send ya so I will this week!

There is nothing more I want in life then to let you all know of my testimony of this Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have the strongest love for the Lord and the amazing miracles I get to witness daily. If you only could walk in my shoes for a day you could see the amazing witness of Christ I have become. I get to wear his name on my heart and become stronger every day through him. The atonement is such an amazing blessing in our lives; we all can be sealed to our spouse for time and all eternity and become heirs to the throne. The Plan of Salvation is key in our lives and some don’t even know it. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to teach, preach and work... as missionaries do. There is nothing I want more then to tell all the family who isn’t a member or who is but not active, this is the true church I testify it is, without a shadow of a doubt. But of course we Invite all to pray and know for themselves! I love my life! I love you all! Bryce good luck on your test!

Hermana Whitney Dawn Robbins

*** Preston- I got 2 of your letters finally after 7 weeks. I will be responding quickly, and about your email, and the recorder no worries I’ll take care of it. Look for fun stuff in the mail! Be good and work hard! ***

In a trio companionship...AGAIN, but now Training.

2010-03-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

WK# 6
3/4/10

Hey Family and Friends!

Well guess what! So I get a call this week about transfers that I and Sister Vasquez need to attend the “Trainer and follow-up trainer” meeting. Then later that night we get a call that we are co-training Sister Hinton... YES! SISTER HINTON and it was the best news ever! So we are her follow-up trainers and we love it! Sister Hinton and I are going to room at BYU-I when we get home, basically we are like sisters! I love it! The mission rocks! So here is my top 5!

5. A hick man with overalls and a straw hat chewed me out. I was contacting and I said I was a missionary and he said what are you selling and I was like “we’d like to talk to you about salvation.” He then chewed me out. He wanted to see my panhandling permit and wanted to basically make me feel stupid! I told him to simmer and I walked away.

4. So I saw a baptism that the Elders had in the English ward. The lady was black with weaved hair, and when she went under, her wig fell off, it was hilarious!

3. Its amazing…I am staying in Ft. Worth, we had transfers yesterday and I am training Sister Hinton... I told you that but it is a top priority!

2. I set a Baptism date with Claudia... Well we moved it up so she is getting baptized on the 20th and she is sooo excited! I am going to go to the temple a year from now and see them get sealed!

1. So our investigator was sent to the hospital last night. I had a feeling to call them to bring the men over from the ward to give them a blessing and strangely enough when I called his wife was crying, they had just taken him away to the hospital. Her daughter was hysterical and so we raced to the hospital with them and they gave the man a blessing. It was so spiritual and amazing. I love the mission.

It’s amazing that you’re doing the scripture challenge. I am going to the temple next week! yaay! Well I hope yall are doing great. I couldn’t be better! I am glad you enjoyed the pictures!

Whit

P-Day Bowl

2010-03-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

AN AWESOME WEEK!

2010-03-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

Picture #1) Hna Hinton & Robbins. #2) Hna Robbins, Savage, & Hinton. #3) Whitney's first baptism in TX is of Steven, age nine. #4)District at Steven's baptism. #5) Hna Robbins & Hna Hinton.

P-DAY FUN =)

2010-03-01T19:23:00.000-08:00

Pictures: #1) Hna Checketts, Vasquez, & Robbins. #2) Hna Vasquez. #3) Whitney-Dope! #4) Whitney Shopping. #5) Vasquez & Robbins.

Rancho Vista's better!

2010-03-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

"WEEKLY STUPID MOMENT"

2010-02-25T13:37:00.000-08:00

WK# 5
2/25/10

Buenas Mi Familia!

Goll I have soo much to tell you all! Ok I’m going to try and keep it short though because I want to download pics on to my flash drive so I can send it home! We had emergency transfers this week, another sister went home early and Sister Checketts left for another area! So its just sister Vasquez and I! I LOVE IT!

Hermana Robbins' Top 5 de la semana~

#5 So I tracted into a F-LDS Man. He went off about how he was a member of the church and has been his whole life. But a month ago a branch from the church broke off and he has joined the “Mormon life Church" It was hilarious. He was a big man, and at first he wanted us to come in and talk to him, but we couldn’t so we sat outside. He just blabbed about a bunch of nothing until I was like well sir we can send the Elders over but other than that have a great day. He was like can you leave with a prayer and I said ya. So he puts his hands out and said hold my hands lets pray. I was like uhh we don’t pray like that! haha Then he was like ok then you tell me how to pray... we explained how and got out of there!

#4- We had our baptism this week on Saturday of Steven Mendoza, the little boy. It was so good. We sang a musical number and I gave a talk on Baptism. Sometimes talking in Spanish is a little scary but I was perfectly fine and just talked, my Spanish is getting better! It was awesome I’ll send ya pictures asap!

#3 We had a lesson with Claudia and Noe. It was fantastic. I basically took over the lesson and just put my whole heart and soul in it and she is going to be baptized in March. We watched the Last 15 minutes of the Movie the Testaments and then we talked about Lesson 3 (the principles of the gospel) it was super spiritual and amazing. I love that lady so much! I hope I can see them get sealed!

#2 So I got my package from Auntie Robin, It was awesome and my Zone just loved that the Heart Candies were in Spanish. She sent me a whole valentine’s package! I have gotten more for Valentines in the mission than any time in my life, I’m always going to be a missionary now!

#1 Ok so don’t judge my retardedness! So we were contacting and I found a guy getting out of his car. There was another person in the distance, with a big fluffy marshmallow jacket. (I couldn’t tell if it was a boy or girl) So I’m talking to the man about the Restoration and telling him my testimony of the prophet and what not. The man was from Cambodia, with a thick accent! I could hardly understand him but the conversation went like this:

Me: So this is the message we share about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

(Person in jacket walks up)....

Me: Oh sir is that your wife?
Man with accent: No that’s my Uncle
Me: Oh it’s your Mom.
Man: NO MY UNCLE
Hna Vasquez: Fool that’s his UNCLE!
Me: OH MY....

I turn around and just start crying, I was laughing so hard I was crying. You know how I get when something is toooo funny and I just laugh to the point I cry. Well then Sister Vasquez tried to end the contact while I was walking away, then she starts laughing and we both run to the other side of the street... PATHETIC! IT WAS SOO NOT COOL I KNOW~ hahah

So ya that was my week! Mom, I can’t believe you’re packing up my room, mean! haha No don’t worry about sending me anything! You’re wrong it snowed again Monday! It’s very cold! Oh and thanks for sending me the update on Janae! I haven’t heard from him since I got in the mission so it worries me! I am glad that the family had fun at the Birthday party! How is the D&C Challenge? Are you all reading? I hope so, I’m almost done with it all. I love you all and keep up the good work, spread the gospel and share your testimony!

-Hna. Whitney Dawn Robbins

Well Goll Hey Yall!

2010-02-18T16:50:00.001-08:00

WK# 4
2/18/10

Well Goll Hey Yall!

Mom I know how you hate that but I have already started to love it hahaha, jk! But really I'm trying not to say it but I can't make any promises! I am so grateful for the package you sent me! Thanks sooooo much! I got both of them. I have been wearing the thermals all day every day. We ended up getting a foot and a half of snow! I twas insane! So I just died laughing at the pictures of the animals in the frame you sent me. Mala looks so mad it was funny!

But gosh so this week was crazy. So Aleksandra my other baptism got postponed but we are still on for the baptism of Steven this Saturday. I have been working like crazy this week. We had exchanges for 2 days and so Sister Savage from the North came down and stayed with me and Sister Vasquez. We had the best time ever!

So a crazy story: We were at church for a baptism of the Zone Leaders and they were baptizing a young girl. Her family was super unsupportive and didn't show up. She was crying her eyes out in the bathroom and said she doesn't want to get baptized. This was a shock to the Elder's, so they ran and found me and had me go talk to her. I gave her a big hug and we had a long talk along with a prayer. I shared how both of my parents are converts and they haven't had the best support about joining the church and being married in the temple, but how it is the right thing to do and the most important thing the Lord wants from us in this life so that we can be an eternal family. She calmed down and she said she wanted to get baptized again. We let the Elders know and she was then baptized, and it was fantastic!

So we had our Valentine's party for the ward this week and we got to go and serve food. It was so much fun. It was actually a surprise to all of us when the bishop got the microphone and said I'm going to marry someone right now...We were like uhh, wait, what! So he married a girl in the ward, it was crazy! Mostly because she's a member who was living with her boyfriend and she wanted to go to the temple, so they got married civilly first since they are living together. You can imagine how awesome that was!

So today we went bowling as a Zone, it was sooo much fun! I'm so glad you're going to take into consideration the things I said in the letter. It's great to strengthen the family. I want you and dad to feel the same love for the gospel as you did in the mission and with these daily things I know our home will be such a spiritual power house!

Thanks mom for putting money on my card! I was wondering how much was on there. It's hard to have such little money and stuff is so expensive here! I have budgeted my money very well and I still have a decent amount for the month. Gosh, can you believe I'll have 5 months in the mission this week! So crazy! Mom and Dad, happy anniversary! So I can drive now in the mission which is nice. Tell Grandma Robbins I love her and Happy Birthday!

Thanks for everything! I love you all! I love this mission and the work, it's really making me a better person every day. I know that Jesus Christ is our savior and suffered every pain and affliction for us. In Mosiah 3:7 it gives a great description of the pain that he had to suffer for us. The amazing thing is through that we can be clean and return to our Father in Heaven who loves us so much! I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Love, Hna Robbins

Ft Worth Spanish 7th District

Missionaries get to eat free at this member owned restaurant

The Science History Museum 2/4/10

It snows in Texas! HOLY HANNAH!

2010-02-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

WK# 3
2/11/10

Buenas Mi Familia!

Awesomeness! I love being in this Mission, well in the mission in general! Things went well this week with Claudia. Well we taught her and Noe and it was so spiritual. The whole atmosphere of the house was great, the kids were calm and the spirit was there testifying. We talked about the plan of salvation and we told Noe to prepare to baptize his wife. So next week we are setting a date with her! So I woke up to 5+ inches of snow this morning! I can't believe it! I am freezing! My knees are having a hard time with the cold actually and I had to get a blessing at district meeting yesterday. But the Lord will help me and I have faith!

So here is my TOP FIVE for the week!

5. I wore sweat pants under my skirt this week and I looked like a doofus but it was hilarious! I can pull anything off that looks ridiculous haha that was proof!

4. We were tracting and a little boy answered the door and yelled "STRANGER DANGER" and slammed the door. Then the next house was a Gay man who was super flamin and he was absolutely not interested, let's just say door knocking was funny this week.

3. This guy who was 100% high on weed was standing in the street and sister Checkett goes to talk to him. She was super into the contact and I'm just dying. He smelt and his eyes were red and he was just out there. Well he stops looking at her and steps towards me and turns his head and was like "hey, you're alright, and you're cute" .... I was trying not to laugh just imagine me just dying. I just said; alright and walked away. haha

2. We got a flat tire and guess who changed it? ME! haha Thanks dad for teaching me how to change a tire at 16!

1. I have a second Baptism for the month! Yaay! So this lady from Brazil was being taught by the elders, but her husband hated it so we were sent to teach in English to her. To make a long story short, she has been investigation for 3 years and her husband gave her permission. I challenged her to baptism and she has a date set for the 21st! OH YA

So this week was fantastic as you can tell the Lord loves his missionaries! Sister Vasquez had surgery this week on her back so we have to stay inside our apartment. Elder Rank says hi, I'm with him right now. He is our District leader and knows Elder Saena, such a small world. I'm working on writing individual letters to the family so you should get one of your own this week.

So get this our 5th Sunday lesson 2 weeks ago was hilarious I forgot to tell ya. So we are in there and the Bishop is teaching. There are 7 missionaries. The topic is how to have a better relationship with your spouse. We were like uhh, but sat down anyways. The bishop says I don't know why you are here but okay, so we just stayed. He starts talking about how it's important to do stuff for each other then starts talking about sexual stuff and we were all like OMG! We all stood up and walked out and everyone in the room just died laughing! Mom they have Hobby Lobby here! I want to go in so bad! haha I'd be too tempted to spend money though haha! Well, I want to challenge the family, I want you all to read D & C and the Pearl of Great Price and highlight repentance, faith and anything to do with the atonement. I want you to do it by my Birthday! You will gain a stronger testimony for the gospel and I promise if you do the family will receive blessings. I love you all have a fantastic week!

Hermana Robbins

7th South Spanish District

2010-02-09T11:32:00.001-08:00

Whit's two comps; Hermana Checketts from AK

and Hermana Vasquez from AZWhit at THE famous "Braums" Texas' #1 dinerWhit and her two compsWhit and Sister HintonRobbins, Vasquez, Checketts, Dulye, Rank, Savage, Hinton

BEST MISSION in the WORLD!

2010-02-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

WK# 2
2/4/10

Hey Family!

Well sorry I didn't answer all the questions you had last week mom, I was totally spacing it and I had 18 emails in my inbox so I had no idea we couldn't email other people accept one a week to my parents so I just spaced out. But I'll try hard to answer the questions.

So guess who is in my mission... Dr. Theurer's son.... He is in LV ward, next Sunday look at his plaque on the other side! We just died when we found out that we were from the same home town haha! Also there is an Elder Doss from Kanab, I think we are related, I forgot the name he said but we are related somehow. So I can't believe Brooke is sick, feel better, the power of the priesthood is so real and you can always receive a blessing! So this is the top for the week.

#5 It snowed! haha It was in the 20s and freezing!

#4 I got kissed on the hand by this old man who we are teaching then he tried to hold my hand....AWKWARD

#3 We got to go to a Rodeo today!

#2 We got to teach Claudia, and her husband Noe. It was AMAZING the spirit was sooo strong. We taught about the atonement and I got to testify so much and it was so amazing. We talked about how the Lord gives us challenges that are heavy on us and it's not because we did something wrong but because he loves us. I got to share about my knees and how it wasn't a sin or something I deserved but what the Lord wanted. It was exactly what they needed and now Noe is preparing to baptize his wife. It's a miracle.

#1 ZONE CONFERENCE! We had the best time ever! The spirit was so strong and I enjoyed listening to all the talks. It was so good to meet all the other people as well.

So sister Hinton said that you talked to her mom on the missionary moms site, hilarious we are serving in the same ward and talk all the time! Kira is awesome, I'll write her, I know who she is! Uhhh I can't believe you found Debbie, poor cat! I love her! And Dad, Molly is not dumb! I love her, she is my cat and I miss her! Mom can you send me pics of Mala and Sophie!

The Spanish is definatly different here, it's a lot of Mexican Spanish and I'm not used to it, all the slang and other country accents, but it's okay, I'm learning fast. The Lord really does work miracles and I get to see it daily. We are a Baptizing mission; the mission motto is "We are the BMW" (BEST MISSION in the WORLD!) I do live it in Sycamore Trace right off of Seminary haha mom you're so funny ha, I live in Fort Worth, that's the town.

My comps are awesome and we are doing great, we are trying to set good goals. Our district is working together and trying for a baptism a month at least and so far we got it! I teach a lot actually, I got to eat a tortilla and make them in a lady's house and it reminded me of Guatemala. I started to cry! I miss Guate! Steven is going to be 9 on his baptism! yaay!

My contacts are in my dresser on the left side the second from the bottom...I think. I would like some Thermal garments; the tops 28 tall and the bottom 28 as well, it's cold here in the 20s and I am freezing. If you can find some dark brown or black leather gloves send them my way, and scarves! I went to Burlington and got a suit coat and a heavy jacket, I put it on my credit card, it wasn't too expensive for both is was like $125... So look for that statement in the mail.

Uh well I love you all and the church is true, I am proud of your talks and the amazing progress you are all making, please make sure you have family prayer every night, and FHE! It's really the key of keeping a family together and the spirit in the home! I love you all!

Hermana Robbins!

I love TEXAS! I LOVE FT. WORTH!

2010-01-28T12:50:00.000-08:00

WK# 1
1/28/10

Hey Family!

Well crazy! I love TEXAS! I LOVE FT WORTH! I have 2 companions, one is Sister Checketts from AK, and the other is Sister Vasquez from AZ. I have the best time with both. Ok, so I can only send one email a week to the family, so if you can do me a favor mom and email some people and tell them a message for me, I would love it, but I'll write to you first.

I am in the 7th South area Spanish ward in Ft. Worth. I have a nice apartment. I live in Sycamore Trace...so you can google it mom hahaha! Well I have awesome Spanish now, the Lord has blessed me. The most amazing thing is I have seen so many miracles since I have been here. I have actually taught in both English and Spanish! It's been a joy and a half. I have never loved my mission president as much as I love Pres. Thurston. He is a professional motivational speaker. He gave me a fantastic blessing and it was just amazing!

Here is my top 5 moments of the week:

# 5) I contacted alone by myself in Spanish while my companions were across the street.

# 4) I went on splits with a new Greenie...Sister Hinton and we were tracting and a lady yelled at us saying:

"Jesus Christ lives in my house" And Sister Hinton said: "Have you read the Book of Mormon?"
"NO, I DON'T LIKE IT!" door slam! hahaha

# 3) I taught a lady named Claudia who is going to prepare to be baptized this month. She is married to a member and speaks both English and Spanish.

# 2) We had a miracle lesson. We knocked on a door on accident thinking it was someone elses apt, but it wasn't, and she let us in and she accepted the message and is coming to church.

# 1) I invited a boy (Steven) to be baptized, my first commitment. He is getting baptized on Feb 19th!

So Texas has unpredictable weather! Oh mom, I have to get a suit coat so I'll put it on my credit card and the statement will come to you! Oh and my contacts are in the dresser in 2 boxes, I need them sometime! Oh Sophie is so CUTE! I can't believe you waited so long and didn't get it when I was home! Give her loves, and I miss Molly too!

Love,
Whit

Texas Fort Worth Mission Spanish

2010-01-25T16:56:00.000-08:00

He wasn't kidding when he said that "she could leave on a dime." A dime it was!

Whit faxed her medical release forms to President Porter on the 14th of January, he then forwarded them to Gerald Lund in Salt Lake. We were told that the call could come very quickly, or take a few days, up to a week. Time became an oxymoron as our frustration grew while we waited patiently for the phone to ring in hopes of seeing DeLewis Porter on our Caller ID.

Thursday morning, the 21st, Whitney and I had just returned from our early morning gym work-out when the phone rang at just minutes before 8am. It was President Porter with the call. I called out to Whitney to get the phone but she was already on. He told her she was going to the Fort Worth Texas Spanish speaking Mission and that he would need to call her back with flight information, but that she would either be leaving Friday or Saturday. He called back a half hour later and said to her; "I hope you're packed and ready to go because your flight is set for Friday, Jan 22nd, tomorrow morning, at 6:50AM out of Burbank airport." He didn't have any information on the mission other than that the Mission President's name was Thurston. We didn't know for sure if that was the last name, or first.

There was no time to let it sink in. She was leaving for Texas in the morning.

Adam said that he would stay home to help us get ready and the tone for the day was immediately set into high gear. We packed, cleaned, made phone calls, shopped, cleaned again, and packed some more so that we were ready for an impromptu farewell party later that evening and Whitney's bags would be all ready to go. All went well at the party. A lot more people showed up than we had anticipated considering the short notice and rainy day n'all. It was great to see so many come out to support her.

The next morning we left the house at 4:30 am and arrived at Burbank airport at 5:30 am to find that her US Air flight had been cancelled. We then had a choice of booking the next Burbank flight Saturday morning, or booking a 9:30 am flight the same day at LAX...We chose LAX.

Whit's flight got off on-time but was long with a layover to Los Vegas, then onto Dallas, TX. I called the mission home and let them know of her flight change. She was picked up by President Wright Jenkins Thurston and his wife, Janett, taken back to their home for dinner and an interview before meeting up with her two new companions...That's right...another threesome companionship.

She called us here at home just before leaving the President's home. We spoke briefly about her flight and of her time with the President and Sister Thurston. Whit said she really liked them both and has a really good feeling about them. President Thurston wanted to test her Spanish so they had a five minute conversation in Spanish during her interview. He told her that her Spanish was good and that he was content in where her was placing her. I'm guessing that she's going to a Spanish Ward/Branch, but we won't find out till Thursday the 28th. P-Days are on Thursday's in this mission.

Here are some pictures taken at her farwell party and arriving at both airport/s. Once again she was anxious to get on her way!

Called to serve...

2010-01-21T10:28:00.000-08:00

I got my mission call today. I am called to serve in the Fort Worth Texas Mission, Spanish speaking. I will get my address and have it posted soon! I leave in the morning for TX and will be loving life and completing the Lords work! I love you all and thanks for the support!

Get in the GO mode!

2010-01-12T23:49:00.000-08:00

Well im sorry I havn't posted anything lately. Its been a very busy holiday for my family. I have been informed by my stake president that I need to get into go mode and start packing for the mission "otra ves" - again! I have been cleared and released from my doctors. I developed a stomach ulcer from stress of coming home early causing a delay in my papers and resubmitting process. But im glad to say its all taken care of and the Lord does provide! I am taking new leaps and bounds and being 100% grateful to my heavenly father for the oppertunity to serve him again. I have been able to request to stay in a spanish speaking mission. I am sending in my medical release to my stake president. Once that is taken care of he is going to fax it to SLC and then he will get a phone call in a matter or a day or so with my flight information and new mission call. I am very happy with the way it has turned out. Estoy muy contento con las cosas lo pasen. Sentir como traquilidad y estaba en mi casa en esta tiempo por como un proposito, estoy lista por todas las cosas en esta nueva mision. Me amo mi padre celestial y estoy agradecido por los bendiciones recibi! Pues esta Iglesia es la unica iglesia en todo el mundo cual tiene el completo autoridad de dios. Jose Smith fue una profeta de dios y tiene los llaves de dios para restorar la iglesia otra ves en la tierra! Thank you everyone for the love and support. I will post my new call within a few days! Saludos!

The End Result!

2009-10-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

Well this journey has been long and trying. Its been 2 months and 2 days since I have been injured. What difficult things the Lord put in my path to help me become a better person. Well I had a monthly appt. with my surgeon, and it was a relief to rule out surgery. I was told that I still have major bruising behind each of my kneecaps and its going to be a long painful process to recover from. But I'm up for the challenge. I was given 2 shots of cortisone, one in each knee. It was a terrible experience that hurt so bad. Good thing my mom was there to hold my hand, but that didn't stop me from passing out. The medication and tube was about 1 inch in diameter and 5 inches long with a needle pretty thick in gauge and about 2 inches long. It was inserted into the joint of my knee, behind the kneecap and it was very painful. It was to help with the swelling. I was prescribed some more medication for the pain and told to go to physical therapy once a week. I also have to go to the gym 4 times a week. My muscles have become weak and its hard for my body to carry my weight properly. I try as hard as I can to keep active as long as I can during the day, but its just taking time. I remind myself that I need to remember patience and that it will be alright. The doctor predicts 6-8 month recovery from the injury date so thats about Feb- Apr. of next year before I can re-submit my papers. I have every intention in returning and completing what I started. I feel like this is a good learning experience for me and every day I learn something new and I realize with different events that have happened since i've been home that i'm here for a reason. Two different Elders that I entered the mission with have been sent home as well both for medical reasons and we have discussed the trials we are facing. Its not easy and I don't think some people understand that. I have heard some really rude things in regards to me being home but I know that my faith and testimony is strong enough to keep the wall from falling and satan from prevailing. This gospel is amazing and blesses my life 100% every day.

Physical Therapy!

2009-09-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

Well i started my Physical Therapy this week and the lady there said my condition is not very good and the fact that I'm still so swollen after a month of injuring my knees is not good. But I have to go 3 times a week and I went twice so far and they have done exercises with my muscles and electro therapy and Ice then taped my knee in place. I guess my knee cap wont move in my knee like its supposed to, so its causing a problem. I also was told that i probably have a tear in the side of my knee that the MRI didn't pick up because of the lack of movement and pain that I have in the inner part of my knees. But I'm not walking, slowly but its coming along and I'm working on returning to the mission as fast as I can.

The MRI results are in.....Surgery, or no surgery?

2009-09-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

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Hi Everyone~ I wanted to let you all know how Whitney's doctor appointment went this week on Wednesday the 16th.

The Orthopedic Surgeon showed us her MRI scans of both her knees and said he said that he did not find a tare in either knee and that surgery is not needed. Thank goodness! He did find that there was soft cartilage damage due to her injuries and fluid built up which is what is causing the pain and swelling. He said that she will need about 4-6 weeks of physical therapy and then should be almost as good as new. She is to start walking now and stop using the wheelchair except for when she's out at the mall or someplace where she would have to do a lot of walking. Thank goodness... The wheelchair was killing my back taking it in and out of our SUV.

She has a follow up appointment with him in a month to see how she's progressing. Hopefully in two months he'll give her the okay to go back out into the mission field. When he told us she didn't need surgery she became upset thinking that she didn't need to be sent home from Guatemala in the first place, if only they had done an MRI there perhaps they would have put her in the mission office for a month or two to recovery and then be sent back out into the field. I told her that would have been too difficult for them to deal with since she needs a companion and sitting in the mission office would only hold back her companion too. She understood and has accepted it.

Perhaps we will be able to start working on her papers for her second mission call soon. Don't know how long that process will take. A Church History mission or Temple mission would be fun, but I'm thinking maybe they'll send her to Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or San Diego where she has plenty of opportunities to use her Spanish. We shall see.

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Sacrament Homecoming Talk

2009-09-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

Whitney gave her homecoming talk today and did a fabulous job, even baring her testimony in the Guatemalan native language.

First Doctor Visit ~ Diagnosis & Treatment Plan

2009-09-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

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We finally got in to see an Orthopedic Surgeon today, Dr. Karzel from the Southern California Orthopedic Institute SCOI, and got an official diagnosis on Whitney's knee injury.

Patella Femoral Syndrome, as previously diagnosed by the Guatemalan doctor. Only this time x-ray's were taken to rule out any bone damage, and now Whit is scheduled to get an MRI to see the full extent of damage to the soft tissue; cartilage and tendons. Both Dr. Karzel and Debbie, his Nurse Practitioner, did say that she will need surgery on both knees followed up with physical therapy. Her right knee will be operated on first, and then approximately two months later (depending on her own personal recovery time) her left knee will be operated on. The operation in tells using hardware such as pins and screws to reattach the soft tissue back to her patella and tibia. I'm sure there is more to it than that, but spare us the nitty gritty details. There didn't seem to be any broken bone fragments floating around in the x-ray, but the pad between the bones showed some ware and tare due to her active lifestyle with dancing and swimming; nothing to be alarmed of though.

They said that this type of knee problem is common among young active individuals and that she will be fully recovered after the surgery and physical therapy; well enough to return to the mission field if she so chooses. She is to begin gentle knee Pre-OP exercises tomorrow to strengthen her quads, hamstrings, and gluts so that she doesn't lose strength in her legs and assists in the Post-OP rehabilitation. She's also to use crutches at home and a wheelchair when going out so that she doesn't put anymore pressure on her knee joint.

We will keep you posted on what her MRI tells us coming up in about two weeks, unless we get Pre-Authorization from our Medical Insurance Company and can have the MRI done sooner than whats currently scheduled.

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MISSION MEMORIES

2009-08-31T15:31:00.000-07:00

Making Pupusas

Me and my two companions having a pizza party my last night in the mission with our neighbor, Janet.

Miguel Paz' baptism.

Water balloon volleyball with Hermana Lott

City of Molino, the area and just minutes before I injured my knees.

Cleaning the font for my first baptism.

A MESSAGE FROM WHITNEY'S MOM:

2009-08-31T10:08:00.000-07:00

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Last week I didn't post Whitney's email letter home. The best way to describe it is that Adam and I were in shock at what news we received from her and I guess you can say that we were in a state of being totally numb. Since our email from Whitney last Monday (Aug 24th) she has returned home for surgery due to a double knee injury sustained while walking down a flight of stairs. Here is what happened:

On Tuesday the 18th, Whitney and her two companions were walking down a flight of deep stairs on a mountain side when her right knee popped and locked, and then pain shot from her knee up through her thigh. She met with a Guatemalan Orthopedic Surgeon that day and he quickly examined her knee and consulted with her for about five minutes (no x-rays or MRI). He told her that she has Patella Femoral Syndrome and if her knees lock up or swells with fluid then she'll have to have surgery, but for now she can take IB Profrin and continue to work…So she did. Two days later both knees locked and she couldn't bend them and the pain got worse. Sister Torres told her last Sunday night that they’ve seen this same knee condition several times in the mission and just recently sent someone home for the same reason and that Whitney will probably be going home and to prepare herself emotionally. She also told her that she was to go only to the really important appointments that she had for the week. Whit had a baptism on Saturday and had to get him interviewed and make baptismal arrangements, which she did, the rest of the time her and her companions just sat in their apartment. President Torres spoke with this Gua Orthopedic Surgeon and a doctor in Salt Lake. They all agreed that Whitney was to go home to have surgery and that she will not be allowed to return to Guatemala since it is a walking mission, but that she could go back out and serve in the U.S. Monday morning of this week Whitney emailed us and informed us of what was happening. President Torres called Whitney Monday afternoon and told her she was leaving at 5am the next morning to go home. We then got a call from Pres Torres giving us her flight info. Twenty four hours later Whitney was home and released as a missionary that evening.

I’ve been on the phone and Internet daily searching for good referrals of an excellent Orthopedic Surgeon in our area. I had made several consultation appointments when a member of our Bishopric called and told me that he had reconstructive knee surgery this week by a surgeon in Valencia, CA who does the surgeries on the pro football and basketball players. So I looked him up on SCOI.COM (Dr. Karzel) and read up on him. He sounds like the right one, so I made an appt for Wednesday of next week. From what we are told from the Dr in Guatemala Whitney will need two surgeries and it will take a good eight months including rehab. We are hoping that this Guatemalan doctor is wrong and that she’ll only need some physical therapy, but we’ll find out on Wed for sure.

Right now she’s in culture shock not knowing what to do with her time. So I try to take her places each day to get her out of the house. She can’t go out of the house on her own as she needs someone to help her with her wheelchair. She sits in her room much of the day listening to her mission tapes and reads the scriptures. Our Stake President counseled her to keep up on her Spanish and her spiritual growth so that she can return to the mission field if she chooses to once she’s all recovered. Whitney met with our Bishop yesterday during church and he advised her to carry on with her life by going to the singles ward.

It greatly saddens all of us that she will not be returning to Guatemala as we know how much she loved her mission call to Gua; teaching the Gua people and learning Spanish. She was just becoming comfortable there now that she had two great companions and understanding most of the conversation in Spanish. Whitney seems to be accepting her reality pretty well now; at least I don’t signs of her crying. She says that she cried a lot while she was in Guatemala her last week sitting in her apartment knowing that she was going to be going home and trying to accept it all. She’s come to the conclusion that it’s what the Lord wants of her and she’ll now just wait to see if the Lord wants her to return to the mission field once she’s recovered, or see if he has something else in store for her. She was asked to give a homecoming talk in Sacrament and she'll be presented with her missionary plaque as well.

Me however, I’m still trying to accept that her mission has been cut short by fourteen months, but I too have to believe that this is happening for a reason and that someday we will understand what that reason is. For now I have to concentrate on getting her the medical care she needs, and try to help her stay on her current spiritual plane and adjust to normal life at the same time. Yesterday while we were out getting Whitney’s haircut we missed a phone call that came in from Guatemala. Whit’s two companions and one of their investigators were calling to check on her. Unfortunately she did not leave a phone number so that Whit could call her back. We wish she were home to receive the call, and we know that this phone call was very costly for her to make. The Guatemalan’s are amazing people!

I belong to a Missionary Mom Email Group where I email with other moms who also have sons & daughter's in one of the Central American Missions. What a blessing it's been to have all of the Missionary Mom’s whom I've gotten to know and have gotten to know me and Whitney through our emails, pictures, and blogs that we've shared with each other and have been a source of moral support to our family. I truly appreciate the MM's putting our names in the temple prayer roll, for all their prayers, tears, and words of encouragement and even generous offers to come stay in their home while we seek medical treatment in their state of Utah and Colorado. They are all truly amazing and I’m grateful to them all!!!! We are also grateful for all the love and support we have received from family and friends. We will keep you post of her medical progress.

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Returned with Honor

2009-08-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

SO this has been a crazy and very quick week. I was walking down the side of a mountain in my area and there were some steep stairs and i ended up injuring my right knee at first. I stepped down the step and it popped and then locked up. I ended up seeing a orthopedic surgeon and he told me to keep working and so i did. to make a long story short i worked on it and i was putting all the weight on my other leg and then the same thing happened to the other knee, it popped and locked up so i couldnt bend it. I ended up laying in bed for 5 days and putting ice and heat and taking ibprofen and it still hurt and i couldnt hardly walk at all. I called my president and it all went so fast, he called my doctor and he said ill need a MRI and surgery on both knees. So my president called Salt Lake and then they made the decision that I needed to go home for knee surgery. Monday morning my President called me and said that i needed to pack my bags he called my bishop and stake pres. and Salt Lake and I was going to go home and be released as a missionary right when i get home. I cried for ever and packed up and flew home all yesterday. Im able to walk a bit but I have been in a wheel chair when we go places. I will try and post updates on my surgery. But as for returning to Guatemala I most likely will be serving in the states in a car mission if the Lord will have me serve again. I am looking forward with every blessing i have received and greatful for the atonement and that the Lord knows how i feel.I am having a pretty hard culture shock and I was released last night as a full time missionary but I returned with honor and I have learned that as long as we have faith in the Lord things will work out.

"This is Satan giving you doubts"

2009-08-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

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Monday, August 17, 2009

Hola Familia,

So this week has been great. I had a Baptism on Saturday.

Julio Claviria, he is the last of his family to be baptized. He has 3 children and has been investigating for over a year. We had his date set and he was shaky about it so I did what you did mom on your mission and I did the prayer circle and we all knelt and prayed one by one and the spirit was strong and then after we talked about how we felt and about baptism and then he said he wanted one more month. The lord was working on me and I just shouted out… "this is just Satan giving you doubts. This is a family that the lord wants to be eternal and the devil is working hard to keep you from being baptized." I didn’t realize how blunt I was until after when his wife started crying and bearing her testimony about how I was exactly right and her husband needs to be baptized. A few minutes later he finally said ok ya this is the right thing to do, I need to be baptized, this was on Thursday.

Friday we had his interview and Saturday was his baptism. The spirit was so strong; I had never felt that way at a baptism before. I was so overwhelmed with the Lord´s love and I wasn’t even getting baptized. I sang the musical number nearer my god to thee. This man in the ward has the talent to just play melodies of music to all the hymns. He can’t read music and so he just plays and I sang a beautiful rendition of the song along with 6 other hymns because everyone wanted me to keep singing. It was amazing how strong the spirit works. I’m sure that’s why I was able to sing so well. Then his family bore their testimonies and it was just amazing.

I got your packages and loved the tape; I already used up one tape and I’m starting another. I didn’t realize how much I really talk, I talked a whole side to just Brooke, ha, but thank you so very much for the packages I got both on the same day. My comp says hey dad where is my Lakers shirt, lol, but golly it was so awesome, thanks so much its exactly what I love, it’s amazing how well you know me mom. I love the chalk idea I know exactly who to use it with and I still want the peds, yes! Oh jerk Brooke I was thinking about applying for BYU I when I get home, ha we can be roommates. Happy Birthday to you Brooke, I hope you got my card in the mail by now.

Some random stuff: A guy I knew from school has returned home from his mission and I'm told that he's still mean to people like before his mission. A talk I heard from Jeffery R Holland has to do with that and how you need to change on the mission, and if you change back when you get home, it was a waste. So I got a water burn on my hand from washing my clothes by hand if that’s even possible, lol, ya but everything else is great and I can’t really think of more to say about what’s going on.

Love you all and I am glad you’re treating the missionaries so well!

Whit

Questions & Answer...

From MOM:
Q: So how is it going with your comps?
A: It’s going awesome and I love them more and more every day.
Q: Is Hna Oremundo still helping you out a lot?
A: Yes they both help me out.
Q: Is her name Oreomundo or Oreamuno?
A: It’s Oreamuno; they spelt it wrong on her plaque.
Q: There’s a picture of a Hna Oreamuno on the Torres blog standing with Pres and wife, is she your companion?
A: Ya, that picture is of Hna Oreamuno and in the middle is Hna Torres and Presidente.
Q: How long has your other companion, Hna Castillo, been out in the mission?
A: Hna Castillo has been out 13 months in the mission and is awesome.
Q: Who is senior companion?
A: Hna Castillo is because Hna Oreamuno and I entered the mission at the same time.
Q: What is your apartment like?
A: It’s the nicest apartment in the mission right now. Its 3 rooms a bathroom and kitchen. I took photos I'll send them home.
Q: Do your companions email family at home too?
A: Ya, and Hna Oreamuno gets to call home like once a month too, lucky!
Q: So what American meals have you cooked for them? Did they like it?
A: I have been making my own food for myself, but tonight we have a FHE and are doing a food around the world with our investigator neighbor and so I have to figure out what to make. They don’t use ovens here so I don’t know what I can make, we will see.
Q: Are you becoming accustomed now with the differences and feeling more comfortable with your surrounding?
A: Ya, I have adapted well and gotten used to the dirt floors and make shift homes.
Q: Have you had to do any Karate chops to any men in the neck yet, ha?
A: I haven’t quite had to chop off heads, but gotten close to a slap in the face of one man who grabbed my butt on the bus. Presidente says your chastity is lost when you get on the bus because you have to be so close to everyone, it’s funny and so true.

From DAD:
Q: Do you get a chance to relax or is it mostly shopping, laundry, and letters ?
A: All of the above ha we can’t play basketball and soccer anymore because of too many fights with elders and too much contact, sad I know. But ya we go to the mall and go shopping for food, that’s where they have food…Funny I know.
Q: Do you hear much from my family, Grandma, Robin, Scott?
A: No. I hear more from mom’s mom and Uncle Scott, and I have gotten one letter from Uncle Paul. But I hear from Scott the most. While I was in the MTC I got like 5 or 6 letters from Scott. I’d like to email him now instead of sending hand written letters.

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Coban, Senahu, El Estor, & Rio Dulce Zones Celebrate Pioneer Day with a BBQ Cook-Out on July 19, 2009

2009-08-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

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President "Chef" Torres flips burgers

Hermana Allen and Hall dress as Pioneer woman

Herman Lott wears PJ's

R-L: Hna Lott, Whitney, Elder White, Elder?, Hna Hall, Hna Allen, others?

And their off; Whitney is loosing but having fun!

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"My New Companion's Rock"

2009-08-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

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Monday, August 10, 2009
Hey, Hey, Hey!

Q: Do you have warm showers there too?
A: Yes
Q: Are you living in an apt or with members?
A: No, we live alone in an apartment, I’ll send pictures.
Q: So what is your new area like?
A: It’s the smallest area in the mission and the picture’s you sent me are of my area, ha, the last one was down from my house I live in 75c, I don’t know the street but it’s in colonia molina or molino I don’t know which it is lol but ya zone 6.
Q: How are the members there?
A: I miss the members from my previous area, but they are awesome here too.
Q: What kind of people have you found the Guatemalan people to be?
A: Some are hard hearted and some are very humble. They are loving people once they know you and they are very heartfelt and will do anything for you.
Q: How are your living conditions now and are you getting along well with your companion's?
A: I love my comps they are great. (Moms note: She now has two comps; one older sister who has two children, and one who is 21, both are Latino and speak no English).
Q: Since you have to cook now, who does the cooking?
A: We all cook separately and I cook both types of food; from the U.S. and Guatemalan.
Q: Do you have a Kitchen?
A: Yes, it’s small though.
Q: Is your apartment better than the last one?
A: Yes, its an actual apartment not a garage.
Q: Are you able to go back to your old area for the baptism?
A: No, but I think it went well.
Q: How far away did you get transferred?
A: I’m about 30 minutes away from the last area.

Okay, wow this week has been insane! I live in the smallest part of the mission right now which covers 6 streets and that’s it. I have 2 amazing companions and I’m actually teaching them English its awesome, I love them so much. I have been getting better at my Spanish. It’s good to hear everything is good at home. How is Heidi Porter’s dad Chuck doing, and the Latham’s too? NO, I didn’t get my packages. They are starting a new thing where we only get our packages at zone conferences so I have to wait till next week. I know it sucks ha! I am excited for them though. It’s so awesome that the family is doing well. Here there was a parade yesterday for all the Catholics, it’s so weird.

I’ll write more next week in detail. It’s so hard to think when I’m forced to cram my thoughts. Hna Lott was moved back to Jr companion and moved to the jungle, and not to train anymore. But my new companion's rock.

Love you,
Whit

Whitney purchased this "Tree of Life" plaque

The Castillo Family

and Whitney and Hermana Lott withthe family that they taught and was baptized.

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Transferred to Molina

2009-08-03T16:56:00.000-07:00

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Monday, August 3, 2009
Hey fam,

This week has been super crazy. I got changed today to Molina. I’m not sure what zone it is but it’s in the city. I’m companions with actually 2 people. I have an older women as a comp, she is from Costa Rica, her name is Hna Oreomundo, she has 2 kids and she is super sweet always trying to help me out. My other comp is 23, she is from el Salvador. Her name is Hna Castillo. I’m terrified lol they don’t speak English, lol, but my Spanish is progressing well. Some days it’s so hard and others I can socialize just fine. I have a small area; I guess it’s only 5 streets, but I’m not sure as it’s only my first day.

I’m glad you liked your package, the ties are cool huh. I will make sure I get a wrap around skirt so you can adjust the size, lol. I laughed so hard when your letter said “quiero eso” (I want that) lol, it actually made sense. The pictures on my camera of the elders are funny, yes that is Elder White, that stinker is funny, he was always stealing my camera and taking random pictures, you should see the ones I have now of him they are classic; Elder Fetters mom would love them I’m sure. How is Elder Fetters? Tell him not to slack (ha) and write Elder White.

I fasted for the Latham’s. I’m glad they are doing well. I’m glad the ward is doing well and that Andrew looks good. I haven’t heard from them at all. Pouch is no longer working through Salt Lake and we are only getting our packages like every week so, I won’t get it for a while I think, I don’t know. Bryce thanks for writing me, I sent you and Brooke mail today with an elder who is going home he lives in the valley. I’m super excited for my packages from everyone. I think I need to buy stamps from here now since pouch doesn’t work but I don’t know.

Oh so one cool experience I had was I was bearing my testimony to a family and while I was talking the spirit was so strong like it wasn’t me speaking. I was just crying and speaking Spanish it was awesome.

I love you all and wish me luck with this area and week. I will be cooking for myself so we will see how it goes; I don’t have a cook anymore. Oh, I learned how to make tortillas it was cool.

Love you all,

Hna- Robbins

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New pictures! To see more pics; click on "MY MISSION PHOTO ALBUM" in right column

2009-08-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

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Provo MTC Lobby

Whit with her cousin, Brent Dubin. Brent is called to serve in the Philippines. They were in the Provo MTC at the same time.

Comp's lurking around the Guatemala CCM (MTC) grounds.

Whit with her two companion's and their Provo MTC Teacher.

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The Gua CCM Gym

Sister's (Hermana's) in the Gua CCM District. Whit with her two gringo comp's and Latino roommates.

Pday in the jungle

Leaving the CCM to the Guatemala City North mission field

Whitney's first mission apt is a member's garage! City streets in her first area

The Latino's are very good at playing soccer. This elder runs circles around the gringo's.

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Photo's of Mayan Temples in Guatemala

2009-08-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

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Tikal, Guatemala

Uaxactun

Tikal, Guatemala

Temple V

Flores, Guatemala

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Lomas Del Norte Barrio Ward

2009-08-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

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Monday, July 27, 2009
Hola Familia,

Our baptism yesterday was awesome. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and so does Satan. So on Friday we couldn’t find the family anywhere and we still lacked a lesson and we were freaking out. So we leave a note and decide we will come back on Saturday the day of the baptism, but we will skip our study for the day and focus on our baptism. So we go to find them and they were not there. We were like oh no so we call her cell 4 times and wait for 40 min at their door and we are like man Satan is working on them. But as we are walking away from the pay phones I said a prayer and then we heard... Hey sisters and we turned around and 10 minutes before their baptism we find them. They were buying shoes and new clothes for their baptism. Well it ended up being awesome and I sang the musical number but I lost my voice the day before and so it was bad but the day went well.

I am in the Lomas Del Norte Barrio Ward. The church buildings are just like ours in many ways like you can tell it’s our church by the look of it. It has a fence with barbed wire around it and all tile floors. The windows here aren’t ones like ours they are slats of glass and you turn a knob at the bottom and there is like 10 slats in one window and they all crack open so you can get some air flow because there is no AC unit. There are no benches in the chapel it’s all fold down chairs.

I get my new comp next Monday the 3rd; I won’t have p-day so I don’t know if I’m writing next week. I miss milk it’s all powdered here. I miss boneless chicken its all the bone stuff even in your tacos, you bite into bones its sick. The way they raise the chickens here they are really pink and when you cook them, they are rubbery, its sick lol. I miss the candy and omg RANCH there is no salad dressings here. I miss a lot of stuff…Don’t get me started.

Our mission goal is to have 140 contacts a week and a lot of times we don’t make it because we are teaching lessons but we try to contact every day. My Spanish is better. I understand more and it’s not as bad as before, but it’s still hard. Well this week has been crazy. It’s so true the gospel is so important, especially about families being eternal. The lord blesses us with so much especially our lives and the opportunity to be here as a family. The second principle in preach my gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families and it’s so true.

I can’t believe you’re going on a cruise! I hope you book an Alaskan one or something for when I come home! You all SUCK! Or even Mexican Riviera, I’ll be able to talk to the people. It’s funny that Debbie and Molly play together. I really miss noel! I’m praying for the Latham’s, I hope they are okay. Let Bryce know I’m sorely upset with him. It’s been over a month since he has written me and I have written him 2 or 3 times...and nothing! Give him my email address and tell him to write me!

I am glad you got a new calling it’s about time. I hope you do better than they do here with their callings. There is like no one in our ward and no one has callings. We have to tell the bishop how it’s supposed to be and help him redo the church records in the computer because it’s all done wrong, it’s funny.

I can’t believe the computer died again, I swear it’s the Habbo or something, and there is no way it can crash that soon. You need to just invest in a Mac. I hear they are so much better than a PC, but I don’t know. I’m glad to hear that food ex is doing well. I have an idea with the diet move to Guatemala and walk at least 10 miles a day, lol, I have lost like 10 lbs or more, all my clothes are falling off of me lol, that’s a good way to lose weight. I would eat the nutria system food lol, it’s better than some of the stuff here.

That is awesome the missionaries at home are practicing by teaching members the discussions. I would recommend studying the lessons and have them use visual aids about each bullet point in all 5 lessons. Tell the missionaries to make flip charts. I am glad to hear your treating the missionaries well to the point where they want pictures with you, that’s a good sign you’re good to them. I love you all and I don’t think I’ll have pday next week because of changes but hold firm to the iron rod and say your prayers. I hope all is well and give the missionaries references!

Love,
whit

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"I have 3 baptisms this month...cool huh...my first baptisms"

2009-07-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

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Monday, July 13, 2009

Hey Fam!

Dad´s Questions

Q: Do you have to shop for any food during the week?
A: Well we get to go shopping at the Costco and Wal-Mart place on P-Day and stock up for the week. We get like 300 Q every month for breakfast which is like $40 and then we give the rest of the money to the cook and she will provide us with lunch and dinner. We normally buy granola bars and juice boxes and I got some fruit loops. They only have powder milk here so I don’t drink milk, LOL, I eat the cereal dry.
Q: Have you had to cook any meals?
A: We don’t get to cook in our apt/garage, LOL, because electricity is so expensive so we are getting a gas stove today and the church will pay us for it. We can’t even use the microwave. But we get to cook at the cooks’ house when she is not home, but we just make eggs and beans.
Q: Are you learning how to make tortillas yet?

A: Not yet but I will eat them with every meal and there are tortillarias on every corner so they make several hundred a day and sell them.
Q: Do you have a refrigerator?
A: We have a small mini one and we have yogurt in there, LOL, and some fruit but nothing much since we only eat breakfast there.
Q: Is their fresh meat around every corner?
A: Well I don’t think so, I don’t live by the butcher shops and so I don’t notice it, but I did see intestines just hanging on a line the other day…Pretty Gross!

Mom’s Questions

Q: What kind of sandals are you talking about? I have several different kinds. Do you want me to buy and send them to you?
A: They are called Chacos, I believe I told you that LOL, but they look like your Jesus sandals. I think you can buy them online. When I’m in the jungle I’m tracting in them so my good shoes don’t get sickly worn.
Q: I was wondering if you have hot or at least warm water to bath in and can you take showers in your garage?
A: There is a pipe that comes out of the wall that has water and it’s warm, but I hear everyone else has cold showers.
Q: Does the Mission Home give you medications every month to kill parasites or worms that you might pick up?
A: I will get a pill at the end of my mission that will clean me out.
Q: How is your mattress? Are you sleeping alright? How’s your back, any problems?
A: They are sore and the bed sucks, but its okay. At least it’s not the floor. But I’m getting a backpack today to help with the stiffness of my back.
Q: Will the mission home call you when your package or mail arrives?
A: We have district meeting once a week and they bring all the packages and letters so I get it every Wednesday.
Q: So how is the umbrella holding up? Do you need a new one?
A: I’ll buy a new one here that is double lined, so don’t worry about it.

Q: Are your shoes ruined from all the rain?
A: yes and no…They are holding up okay but they are expanding from the rain and one pair I’m still trying to break in because I always get blisters.

OK THE REAL LETTER:

This week has been a lot better. I had interviews with president about all the issues I was feeling and that solved a lot of things. He was saying that she has issues and that her pride gets in the way and all this stuff about why they had to keep her in the field and not to make her the mission nurse because the bad talking she was doing and all this stuff. He told me that in 3 weeks he will give me another companion and that things will be better. He said he knew I could handle her personality more than the other sisters so he put her with me. But that cleared up a lot for me. I got a letter from Lizi and she is pregnant crazy huh, I’m writing her later about it all. I was thinking about it and isn’t Hess home now? I want a picture of him and Brittan.

We have 3 baptisms this month...cool huh...my first baptisms. They are a family we found the familia Jimenez. They have 2 girls and the dad had a stroke and can’t remember anything so he might not get baptized but the mom is for sure and the 8yr old daughter too. We are also planning a wedding for the familia castillo they aren’t married and he lost his job so we are working on getting the means for them to get married and then baptized.

I’m not too sick anymore; I just deal with it and move on so it’s not too bad. The weather here is crazy it rained a grip load the other day and we just get soaked and keep walking. Most of the houses have dirt floors. I don’t know how they deal with it all. I can’t believe Debbie is being such a beast to Molly.

The transactions I made were at the cosco here and the ATM. I think the ATM was what gave me problems, but I’m going to take out a larger amount like 200Q or so that’s like $25 but we will see. I sent you the package I had for you of ties and a CD of pics and the tape so you should get that next week. I’m excited for your package. Let Chels and Jess know I’ll probably hand write them. I got this shampoo from grandma and it’s a demileralizer (a what?) it helped so much with my hair. I was also wondering if in the next package you can send me some makeup I have to wear it at zone conference and its like 20 bucks for mascara. Just get me the creamy natural you wear from covergirl in the powder and liquid and also some natural colors of eyeshadows like creams, browns, and corals, and brown mascara. Something I can stock up on and save, I’m almost out.

I want you to know how glad I am to hear that my service is blessing the family. It makes up for the hard times I have in the field. I can’t even imagine being in elder White’s spot now. He found out Monday his mom has brain cancer and I know the lord will bless his family too because him and his brother are in the mission now, but I’m glad I get to see the blessings the lord gives me. I pray for you all every night and I want you to know that your prayers and scripture study helps me out a lot. I hope I answered your questions, and give Brent my love and know he is in my prayers. I want you to know that with all my heart that this church is the only true church on the earth and the lord gave his only begotten son so that we can repent and be forgiven and live with him again. Is Troy out in the field yet? Has anyone else receive their call, or come home? Tell Brooke and Bryce stop slacking, and Brooke good luck on the test.

Love you all!

Whit

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2009-07-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

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The CCM June 2009

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I LIVE IN A MEMBERS GARAGE

2009-07-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

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Monday, July 6, 2009

Hola Fam!

I loved the letter from both of you this week I just started crying after I heard that Brooke was doing so much better. I have been praying so much for her and its all I wanted is for her to be married in the temple and follow in the footsteps of the lord!

I am so glad to be an American. I missed the Fourth of July. I wanted to cry that night because I knew you were having a BBQ or something so instead I sang I’m proud to be an American and went to bed! How come you do all the fun stuff once I leave you punks! White water rafting ... I’m shocked dad didn’t say..."You will break a bone!" lol.

My companion and I have gotten to know each other now and she’s like a boy version of me and we have everything in common and our personalities are so similar that we just talk loud together, it’s fun. Well yes Brooke I ate cow balls and it was sick and I described it on the tape I’m sending Wednesday along with the 2 ties and a CD of all my pictures from the mission so far. I have 10 new investigators this week and they are golden. My Spanish hit a dead stop so I’m struggling with the language but it’s coming along as I speak more. I understand a lot more than I speak. I check my blog every week now just to look at it. We go to the mall here and there is an internet cafe our district goes to and we sit here for an hour. I was able to print off some pictures too so I’ll send some home I think but you will have the CD.

Uh so I live like 1 hr east of the CCM (Guatemala MTC). I don’t know if that helps. I live in the colonia del maestro, ha I know that means nothing but the city is in the large Guatemala city and the part I live in is called Lomas (north). I was tracking yesterday in a butcher market street of our zone and omg guess what there was 3 dead cows all cut up and parts everywhere and skinned heads on the floor and a river of blood and flies lol so sick huh, scared for life ha. It stunk like blood eh.

So I didn’t have a problem taking money out I took out 100 quets which is 13 or so us dollars and so as long as I have like 20 bucks or so in my account when I need it that’s good. I used my card at their Costco too to get CD’s for my pictures and a pillow, it was like 15 bucks total if that in us money. But tell me what’s going on with that, I still don’t know how it works when I take money out.

I got a letter from Jackie and tell the Crosiers’ I say hi, and that Nicholle is a slacker. Tell Brooke and Bryce I expect an email once a week and they need to step it up. I can’t believe Bryce has a girlfriend, that’s cute. How is the diet going... you two losing weight, I have lost at least 15 lbs my clothes are falling off of me. I have a cook her name is Hna. Maldanado and she makes us beans eggs platanos and cheese together, it’s so good. A word of Spanish you can add to your vocabulary is rico, it means yummy. They feed us lunch and dinner. I have had a hard time with the food it’s made me sick twice. They like to eat the fattiest part of the cow so I just get sick, but like the bishop said; “don’t let it stop you.” My body has to get used to it so I’m pressing on.

I’m glad you’re continuing with prayer. I hope you all have read the last Liahona on the general conf talks. Dad read the priesthood section it’s very good, I read it last week. I try to read a talk a day. Oh and I think that I want to print off nice copies of each letter I get when I get home, and get it bound, so make sure you save all the letters you send and receive. I don’t know if I answered all the questions. Ask Brooke who the elders were that visited her in co and if one of them was elder white. Because the elder white here, his brother is serving in your and dad's mission and I was curious if he was the one that came over to her house.

I love you all and thanks so much for everything. I got the package from grandma and I wrote a thank you to her. I am so mad at myself for not getting that backpack at Wal-Mart. I have to find one here because the bags I bought are falling apart. Oh and for my 6th month in October or Christmas I want chacos, they are sandals I can wear in a size 9 and black they are like the sandals you wear mom. My shoes don’t dry out fast enough for me some times. Thanks for the package I’m excited to get it and I think that the rain boots Brooke had were my old ones so good send those!

I want you to know I love this gospel and it was such a blessing for you two to serve a mission and an example to me that I can do it when its hard, and I am so happy that you have the advice for me to get through it when it’s tough. I love you and I have faith in the lord and savior Jesus Christ. I hope you get a chance to watch the movie of Joseph Smith and share your testimony.

Thanks for everything-

love Whitney dawn!

Oh ya, to answer your question from my letter last week. White washed is when they take out both missionaries and put in two new ones who don’t know the area....And I live in a members garage. LOL!

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G U A T E M A L A

2009-07-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

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"He started crying during the First Vision and....

2009-06-29T17:05:00.000-07:00

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Hey Familia!

I miss you all so much. Oh my gosh so much has happened I don’t even know where to start. Well I had divisional I believe the last time I wrote and so I went and it was a blast I had 2 Latino companions and they were great. Until I had lunch and then I ate cow balls and was sick for 3 days strait! lol its funny I know I died lol.

I taught a man who was a grandpa and he let us in and we taught the first lesson and he started crying during the first vision and said he knows it’s true it was great. It rained so much that afternoon it was insane! I was soaked, it rained through my umbrella! Well I’m in the field now in Lomas North, it’s in the city, and I have a difficult companion. I’m having a worse experience with this one than with hna Allen preaching to me... She is from St George her name is Hna Lott. She has been here 13 months and she is way strict and I have really shut down when it comes to being myself because she always chastises me for being animated. She talks trash about her old comp so I hope she doesn't talk about me. She tells me I’m wrong all the time it’s frustrating but the lord has blessed me with amazing patience. I live in a garage... you would die if you saw where I live; actually I died for the first few days lol. So here you can’t flush the paper right so you just wipe and put it in the trash (that was Jackie's question) lol.

I would love if you sent me copies of those pictures they are cute and the cat Molly is so cute! So I’m in a super poor area its crazy and I’m so humbled by this experience. I got called out at zone conf for talking to that district leader I told you about, elder white. He mentioned me in his testimony and now everyone thinks stuff, it’s pathetic. I just think of you and dad getting called out for talking its, pathetic ha.

It’s funny here because pointing your finger at someone means the “f “ word to your mother and stuff, it’s crazy so I’m trying to adapt. I have had the hardest time adapting to the culture most of all. I have a cook and we only eat eggs and beans lol. My Spanish was really good till I hit a wall and lost it all and I think its slowly coming back but it’s a struggle. The lord has blessed me with a family to teach in my area. The Castillo Famila; Edwin, Nancy and their 3 kids. The only problem is they are not married so we have to wait but they are golden. I got a letter from Vanessa with Chels wedding pics and I just loved it. Tell Jess I got her email and I wrote her a letter she should get it soon I hope. I can’t wait for Grandma Dawn's package! Thanks so much! I'll let you know when I get it. I am glad to hear from you Brooke. I love you and you hang out with Brittan please he needs friends! And tell that fool to write me!

Mom in that package would you send me some peds the nylon socks in black and tan. I don't have to wear nylons here and it’s like 6 bucks for one pair here. I am going to put all my pics on a cd and send it home with the ties. I will get scripture covers made for the family for Christmas. I only get 210 quetz a month for personal use and that's like golly nothing in American money like 40 bucks maybe, its 8 quetz to one dollar, you do the math. Oh and send a mosquito net for my bed please!

Our area was white washed so it’s been crazy trying to figure out the area. The ‘Area-Book’ sucks so we have struggled finding the investigators. We have 600 members but only 90 are active its so sad. I heard Michael Jackson died and that's all people are playing here now in his memory but I didn't know Farrah died too, so sad.I want you to check my hotmail account often so it doesn't close. Oh and I’ll probably pull out some money today because they didn't give us money today so I’m going to try and use my card maybe pull out 40 bucks American money. I looked at my blog, it’s cute. Thanks so much but I think you forgot that I was in a trio and there was the three of us, not just hna Allen, but hna Farnsworth too lol. I love what you did with the blog it’s nice. In case I didn't tell you P-day is Monday now. Oh and if you wanted to know who I was talking about Elder White is the elder in the picture in the back of my district pic on my blog with the brown hair the tall one in the back behind the elder with the red tie. He is related to my comp through marriage. Their siblings are married it was funny to hear about her from him and then I am her companion now.

I know I’m so scattered with my thoughts. I haven't been able to express my feelings since I have been out here and I really just wanted to type. I want you all to still keep reading the BOM I know you’re slacking but you need to stay strong for me. I need you to also do FHE and keep our family strong. I am curious to know how the diet is coming...Did you two give up? Guess what coke isn't allowed at all so no more it sucks lol. Anyways, I love you. I’ll write next week! Send me pics, I want that the most and the tape of your voices!

Love,
Hermana Robbins

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A NEW BEGINNING

2009-06-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

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Hermana Robbins "Whit" left the Guatemala MTC (ccm) on Tuesday, June 23rd with her District for her Mission Home where she received orientation for her first assignment and met with President Torres and Hermana Torres. She has grown to love the companion's that she's had since April 22nd, Hna Allen and Hna Farnsworth, and I know that she will miss them both a great deal. She has been assigned with a new companion, Hna Lott. In the email sent to us by President Torres he informed us of her arrival to the Mission, but did not tell us the name of Whit's new area. We will have to wait till tomorrow for Whit's letter.

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WHAT? HOW DO YOU SAY IT?

2009-06-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

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Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Email

Hey it’s me!

Oh I loved the pictures, ah they were great. I want copies of all of them! Okay, where to start... Well last week was great and it’s so crazy that I’m going in the field a week from today, ahh so crazy!

I got your package...Oh my gosh mom it was awesome and oh my it was a crazy trip getting it. I had to go into town to pick it up and so I went with the teacher to the post office an hour away so that was a crazy trip in its self and the package was leaking with shampoo lol. Well the cap of the dove broke off and got all over, but I was able to save a lot of it. But mom I just love you thanks so much!

Okay so in sacrament this Sunday my president called me up to speak and so I get up there and I’m like okay, I can do this, and my talk was on diligence. So I start talking really slow and I come up on a word and I’m like, Oh! Crap! I don't know how to say this and so I sound it out... and then I’m like uhhh and then the Latinos start shouting words so what do I do... push the microphone to the side and lean over the pulpit and start asking the sisters in the front row for help I’m like WHAT? HOW DO YOU SAY IT? OH! Then I leaned back over and I pushed the microphone up and keep going. At this time the whole congregation is rolling off their seats laughing. Then I come up to another word and I don't know it so I ask the second counselor, but he was too busy looking at the spider crawling on the stage that was as big as my hand, it was crazy. So that was the funny story of the week.

The Latinos love me more this week than the last group its bad, lol. They are always calling my name and are like “Hermana Robbins...We wanna practice our English with you.” My companion would say to them; “Go practice with an elder and leave her alone!” lol.

I was so glad to see pictures of Brooke. I’m dying at how big Bryce is and your new glasses Bryce are hot! Oh, I bought ties for dad and Bryce they are sweet with the Guatemalan temple on it, you will love it. I can’t believe the Lakers won! President Christensen leaned over to me today and said; “Hey, Hermana Robbins, Lakers 4-0!” I just about died lol. He gave me updates every game!

I get to go to the field in a week and I have splits tomorrow in my mission. I went to the temple today for the last time in 3 months it was sad! My companion keep making fun of me they think I’m going to marry our district leader. I wanna hear from Jess, tell her not slack! I wrote Chels and so she should get one soon. I got Aunt Robin's letter too, tell her thanks!

Oh, so I have been really into searching the scriptures about the atonement it’s been so awesome. Reread 3 Nephi 11 again if it’s been awhile. Uh I don’t think I have lice yet but I should be ok if I am careful but I never know. Oh yesterday we had an English fast so we only spoke Spanish...It was sooo hard! But I did well. Oh and I’m singing tonight again ha it will be interesting! Okay, I love you. Send more picture’s in a word format so I can open it and see it on pages, you know what I mean? I love you all the church is true! Read the scriptures and pray often!

Love, Whit

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2009-06-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

BANCO DE GUATEMALA

2009-06-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

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Whitney mailed home some Guatemalan Money for us to check out. I can tell you that the white flower you see is actually see through, and I think this UN QUETZAL is their version of a U S $1 bill.

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"I have had this barrier with the scriptures"

2009-06-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

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Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Hey, how's it going! I just finished reading the email you sent me - it was good to have a recent letter from you, I’ll accept emails as long as it is all combined but try not to keep it too long. I was glad to hear about your trip to CO and I want pictures of it all! I got the package from dad and my companions say thanks for the candy, we were dying. I have had it up to my eyes with the food here and enough with the puréed beans ewwww! Okay so I hope I remember what to say...Because I forget the stuff in the letters!

I hope your keeping a copy of the emails I send and the ones you send. I did feel the earth quake and it was not bad here but we all have flashlights in our rooms and the president is doing well with handling it all. I was so out of it that I hardly felt anything. I got a letter from Man Yu, you know my Asian friend from Snow College, and it was awesome. Brooke and Bryce stop slacking and write me! I am glad you got my card dad it was all I could do I wasn't able to get a card!
Well this week was good. On Monday we went to las colinas which in Spanish means the hills and I hiked in the jungle and spiders attacked me and if it wasn't for some of the elders I would have died, but it was way cool though. My comp got bed bugs and gave them to me lol sick huh, so I have to spray down all my stuff today. I think the cats name should be ... la luz it mean the light ... or gato it means cat, or uhhh, I don’t know, think of something good and send me a picture.

I wrote a letter to the Young Women (YW) and I’m sending it home. Have them read it to the girls Sunday when you get it. I hope that all is well I’m glad that the Crozier’s are moving back. I have gotten letters from people saying the blog is nice. I keep getting repeated dear elders. Its okay if you sign my jury paper I don’t care! Uh I am going in the field again next Wednesday to the north mission, ahh so scary. You shouldn’t send anymore letters the GUA-MTC since I leave in 2 weeks. For now on send my letters and packages here:
Whitney Robbins
Guatemala Guatemala City North Mission
5a Avenida 5-55, Edificio Euro Plaza
15 avo. Nivel, Oficina 1504, Zona 14
Guatemala City, C. A.
GUATEMALA

Oh and guess what so I got new roommates and they don't know how to use anything even to flush the toilet. Its crazy they are locals and they’ve never used a washing machine so I taught them and they saw me use my hair straighter, and so they asked to use it. Well, because of the head lice problems here I didn’t want them to use it, but I don't know how to lie in Spanish yet so I let them, and then I had to sterilize it, and then I lied the next time. But its crazy how the culture is so different.

Tell Vanessa I’m proud of her for the choice to serve a mission and that I can’t wait to hear where she is going. Uh I wrote Brittan a letter last week so tell him he should be getting a letter some time this week. I also loved the note from Grandma Dawn and I’m glad to hear from her! Uh my companions are good and I can’t believe I’m getting a new one here in 2 weeks I have been with these two for 7 weeks...I feel like we are sisters.

So what's the plans this summer... Any cruises you’re going on without me? Ha I’ll kill you if you do! Uh I hope the weight loss is going well and the scripture reading as well. I have had this wicked head cold all week and its no bueno pero, its ok I guess, I’m getting better day by day. I know this letter is supper scattered, I have not a lot of time so its really random.

Since I have been here I have had this barrier with the scriptures and I don't know as much as I would like and a lot of the missionaries know all the stories and stuff. So I started to re read it with a map of the land that my president made for us, and I understand it, and I’m able to retain the stories I read. Its been awesome how much I love the scriptures especially the Book of Mormon. Its the most amazing book! I have been told I’m very good at knowing the scriptures and I can pull out a scripture randomly, so that's good.

I love you all and I hope all is well. Chels write me or I’ll smack you, and Jess I hope the baby is ok! Send my love to everyone….Go Lakers!

I love this church and the gospel!

Whit

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Missionary Story by Hermana Katie Brandt serving in the Guatemala City South Mission

2009-06-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

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"This week, Hermana Perez focused our attention on preparing Delmi to pass her baptismal interview. In some ways, I think maybe it was a good thing she didn't pass the interview the first time because she was able to see the baptism of her sister and realize that it´s nothing to be nervous about. After she saw Lili baptized, she was so excited. I´ve never heard her talk so much since we started teaching her. As a result it was easier to prepare her. We passed by every day to review the baptismal interview questions. Then, one day we brought our district leader to teach with us so that he could win her trust. We have a new district leader, Elder Lopez from Peru. He was previously a zone leader, so he has lots of experience interviewing. When we invited him to teach with us, we decided to play a game. I was in charge of the game, so I taught them all how to play Pictionary. I had them draw words from the baptismal interview. It worked like magic. Everyone was laughing and relaxed. Apparently none of them had played anything like it before. Delmi passed her interview, and Saturday was the baptism. We passed by early with her to help her get ready (her mother passed away some years ago and she lives with her sister, but she doesn't really receive that much attention). My companion helped her bathe...I felt a little like we were in the middle of ¨The Other Side of Heaven¨ when the missionaries bathe Tomasi, only we were helping bathe a child. After she bathed, we helped pick eggs from lice out of her hair. She looked very pretty afterwords, but the best part was to see her excitement for the ordinance she was to receive and to know that she understood the importance of it. She was so happy. I love to see the faith of children. I can see why the Savior loved little children. They have such a desire to believe and to do what´s right."

Delmi is the child in front and Hermana "Katie" Brandt is on the right.

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SALT LAKE CITY AIRPORT

2009-06-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

'Hermana Farnsworth, Hermana "Whitney" Robbins, Hermana Allen'

A card arrived at our home today from a family who came across Whitney and her two companions while in the Salt Lake City airport waiting for their plane departure to Houston, Texas, and then on to Guatemala. The card contained a photo taken of the three missionaries and a message to us, Whitney's family. The message goes as follows: "Dear Robbins, We met your darling daughter and her companions a couple of weeks ago in the Salt Lake airport. They just sparkled! We happened to be on the same flight. Thought you might like a photo - The Healy's" What a pleasant surprise it was to get this message and photo of the girls and how thoughtful it was for the Healy's to take the time to capture their image and mail it out to each of the missionaries families! Thank you, Healy's!!

"It's a wonderful thing to have this truth"

2009-06-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

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Hey Familia,

¿Como le va? I miss you all so much!

Okay, So I got two letters, I got one from Jess and it was a dear elder, and from dad and Bryce and the letter you mailed mom on the 21st. Today I get an hour on the computer so I had time to read your emails. Tell Pat hi and I’m glad she is feeling better! So I still haven't gotten a package and I’m out of shampoo and hairspray lol its interesting.

Well today is so different because we are the only missionaries in the GUA-MTC, and all 13 of us are north Americans. There is a 3 week cycle where missionaries transfer in and out of here and today all the missionaries who have completed their time here have now transfered out and have gone to el campo (mission field) and so its crazy. (Tracie's Note: The Provo MTC is currently on lock-down due to the recent Swine Flu outbreak in the P-MTC so no missionaries are leaving Provo for the next 2 weeks, this means that no new missionaries will enter the GUA-MTC and those who have completed their time there have moved out into the mission field. This leaves only the 13 North American missionaries, including Whitney, that arrived in the GUA-MTC three weeks ago there for at least the next two maybe three weeks...Can you imagine, only 13 missionaries in the the whole GUA-MTC for at least two weeks...That's some GOOD one on one time with their instructors).

I had my divisional and I went on splits on Tuesday and we were gone from 8 am to 5 pm and it was interesting. I got paired up with a native who only spoke Spanish, not funny! So I struggled talking with her. We contacted door to door all morning about 97 homes. Here they have door bells and intercoms no one comes to the door accept a man who answered the door, and he wasn't wearing pants, and chewed me out in English. It was funny, my companion was like “What was he saying?” and I tried to translate but it was classic. He said; “I lived in SLC for 3 years and wasn't baptized, so I wont get baptized here thank you!” and slammed the door lol.

Well its crazy the bus here really doesn't stop, you jump on and off lol. So the rest of splits was crazy...It's so nasty hot that I was sweating in places I have never sweat before, and as I said earlier my companion speaks no English, so she didn't tell me about this person we had an appointment with. So we get to this house with all plexy glass and scraps for the walls and a woman answers the door, their dog then jumps on me and bites my hand. No skin broke and I was fine. Then we go inside and there are turkeys and chickens and hens walking around it was hilarious. My companion, Hermana Barios, starts talking in Spanish and I am catching most of the conversation, and then I bear my testimony and share a scripture and it was good, the spirit was defiantly there entoces esta bien. I loved it but I don't like door to door contacting. But, you do what you gotta do.

Oh and so about the beans, its black runny soup beans with the consistency of poo or something and its got this gross spice in it, and it is sick, and I don't eat it, I avoid it if at all possible. I am glad you got the picture from Pres Christensen, and I am so excited to have you meet him and his wife, they are sweet. So we heard from Sister Cook of the YW General Presidency. She came to the CCM (MTC) and she spoke to us about virtue and it was awesome. I loved it all. She is the sweetest lady.

We do go to the temple every Pday. Its small and the sessions are in Spanish but we have the English headsets and then do some stuff in Spanish, its interesting but I love it! You think the elders here look young, that's a definite, lol, but not all are that young looking, that's just our district. The group of north Americans that went out today were older looking. lol It makes me laugh because I think about you and dad married each other and now I don't see the problem with it, I just laugh. But the spirit of elders on their missions is amazing.

So the toilet paper situation is different and yes it stinks bad. We have plumbing in the MTC but in the field its different. I have normal showers and its hard because the water is nasty and makes everything mold in .2 seconds. I haven't gotten sick at all from the water so its good. I actually don't have to purify the water there are Sparklets water everywhere so we use that to brush our teeth and stuff. I will send you some of the money in the mail today its 8 quetzals for every one American dollar. And I got a sweet scripture case, and side bag native hand made.
I am loosing weight its crazy probably because I’m so picky and because I sweat it all off of me. But my clothes are good, accept my old navy shirts are falling apart with the water, its not good, they are wearing out, but I’ll buy some shirts in the field when I leave. I can’t believe its been 6 weeks already, and my testimony has grown so much its crazy. My testimony of the Savior and for Joseph smith is more than I ever thought it would be, but its been such a blessing to me to teach and to become what the Lord would have me be.

I am so glad my blog is awesome, you must be doing well with it. I want to send you pictures so bad and print them but I can’t here so I have to wait 3 more weeks till I enter the field. Thanks for the TV updates and thank uncle Scott for the sports updates I can’t believe it all. And omg guess what happened the swine flu broke out in the MTC in Provo so we will be the only Americans here they won’t let anyone out of the MTC there.

Oh and you know how I said that the natives fall in love with you?! Okay, creeper story... So I sang that solo 2 weeks ago, and this elder loved me, and would always say; “HERMANA CANTAR”... which means “sister sing,” every time I saw him he would say that and I’m like no, and he says “porque no” which means “why not?” and I finally gave in like the 5th time he asked, and I sang for him. But then the real creeper story is when this other elder I didn't know wanted to take my picture, kinda like the creeper on the cruise ship, lol it was funny but I didn't let him take my picture. Its classic when the elders fall in love with the north American girls lol.
So we went to this place called las colinas which is a camp for the missionaries and members like YW camp, and stuff. There I hiked in the jungle with my comps and 2 elders, which I just love them they are great, and a spider crawled on my arm. I flipped out! It was classic ha, ha, they were laughing at me. No, the women at the temple didn't ask us for money she was just telling us how the lord blessed her even though she had no money.

I have mailed letters to seriously everyone like all of dad's family, and Grandma, and the Latham's, and all of my friends, and so I hope it got there safely and a letter to Brooke and Bryce and dads fathers day card, so it should get there this week. I will write Jess a letter but tell her I love her and I am proud of her passing her test, and I’ll write her more in the letter.

Brooke- Hi sissy how's my baby doing, I miss you a lot. I sent you a letter well actually 2 but I don't think you have gotten them but I just want you to know how much I love you and that I’m proud of you for working so hard to become a nurse and you can reach what ever goal you can set your mind to.

Bryce- I sent you a letter too and I hope you get it soon. I’m so proud of the priesthood that you hold never take it for granted, and I’m so glad mom and you are reading. I have decided to re-read the Book of Mormon too and its been awesome just going through it and seeing the wonderful experiences the Profeta Nephi took from the hundreds of years of scriptures and compiled the 532 pages or so of the BOM. Always keep in mind that the scriptures are so important and I hope you learn to love them.

I challenge everyone who reads this to share your testimony of the Lord and Savior jesucristo to a friend. The most important thing is also your testimony of the Profeta José Smith and all he has done for us because without the restoration we would be like any other church. The lord will fill your mouth when you speak. Then Satan will bind you so you wont speak. I have grown such a great appreciation for my testimony and I share it with everyone I talk to and I challenge all to do that, and even place a Book of Mormon or invite someone to church. I know the gospel has blessed my life and the Lord has died for me and my imperfect life but that's the glory through him we can be saved. I know how important eternal families are and that I can have an eternal family and be married in the temple for time and all eternity. Its such a wonderful thing to have this truth.

Oh and about the rain its crazy, its hot and rains buckets of hot water. I can’t believe Jenn is having twins so awesome! And omg Allyssa is pregnant, so crazy! I am doing well with my Spanish. If you wanna know, I’m kinda at a stand still and not progressing much so I’m focusing on the spiritual aspect of it and its helping. How are the Croziers are they moving back or what's the deal. I haven't heard from them at all. I’m excited to get the packages its been forever and I miss U.S food so much, and its crazy how much I miss just soda! I cant drink soda, and its ahhh crazy, and the fact I don't have candy. Ha, its funny...the humidity here makes chewing-gum soggy, its gross, you pull it out of the pack and its nasty. (Tracie's note: Darn, I sent Whit about 20 packs of chewing gum last month). Oh, I think I’m going to study ESL when I get home to be a teacher for Mexicans, well I mean its like I’ll teach English to Spanish speakers. And I think I’ll be in the Liahona soon so look, okay!

love you all bye!
Whit

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A Simpler Way Of Life

2009-05-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

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I email with other moms who have missionaries in Central America and one of them has shared photos of her daughter Katie who is currently serving in the Guatemala City South Mission. These pictures tell an amazing story...It's true that "A picture can speak a thousand words." Here Katie is standing in her dwelling and she loves it even though its one of the poorest areas of the mission. In the background you can see the toilet stall, to the right behind the blue sheet is the shower stall, both have a sheet for privacy, and the concrete sink and counter top for their toiletries on the far right. Laundry hangs from the ceiling. The dwellings are made of concrete because its cooler and they can easily hose it down to get rid of the bugs each day. They get running water from 1am to 8am only, and it's cold! The beds are in the room that she's standing in. There is no kitchen, and no paper products of any kind can be put in the toilet. They are bagging it.

Katie stands proudly next to an elderly woman who is one of her investigators. Katie is 5'4" tall. The average height for Mayan people is 4 feet. They are warm good hearted people and are probably one of the most humble people you'd ever meet.

The missionaries pay the members to feed them....Hence, no need for a kitchen. Here Katie makes tortillas with this sister. One of the many perks of being in this region of the world is learning to make home made tortillas!

Thank you Laura for sharing Katie's pictures with us!

The Ground awakens in Central America

2009-05-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

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Earthquake in Honduras
Struck this morning at 2:24am, Thursday, May 28, 2009.

The Honduras border runs south east of Guatemala, and from looking at a map, the epicenter is approximately 400 miles from Guatemala City, about from Los Angeles to Phoenix. Whitney is currently in the City of Guatemala training in the Missionary Training Center. The MTC was built by the Church and constructed of the highest earthquake standards.

All phone lines and electric power is out which makes it more worrisome for the families of missionaries waiting to hear if their missionary and other missionaries are okay. Whitney comes from Earthquake country and has experienced several of them. I believe that both the Californian and native missionaries will be ones who will help calm the fears of those missionaries who are new to the earths movement. I personally have full confidence that all is well with our missionaries and they will be instrumental in helping the Central American people who have been affected by this earthquake, to rebuild and pick up their lives again. The Lord will continue to bless them and their efforts.

Reports say that Guatemala receive no major damage in this 7.1 quake. However, the mission president will make contact with the missionaries asap. The church will be notified about them. The church will make a statement about the missionaries. The missionaries will probably end up rolling up their sleeves, and going to work to help in the clean up effort.

Check the Newsroom at the churches website for reports:
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e419fb40e21cef00VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD

More detailed info on the quake below:

Honduras Quake
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 28, 2009
Filed at 10:46 a.m. ET

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) -- A powerful earthquake toppled more than two dozen homes in Honduras and Belize early Thursday, killing two children and injuring 40 people as terrified residents spilled from their homes across much of Central America.

The magnitude-7.1 quake struck at 2:24 a.m. (4:24 a.m. EDT; 0824 GMT) off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of the beach town of La Ceiba, according to the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colorado.

Democracy Bridge, which spans the country's largest river, the Ulua, collapsed in the town of El Progreso, Cordero said. The bridge is one of two connecting the northern city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras' second-largest, with the rest of the country. Officials were evaluating the second bridge to make sure it was safe.

At least five wooden houses on stilts collapsed in three Belizean coastal towns, while Belize City residents ran into the street as glasses and framed pictures crashed off of shelves. A water tower toppled in the town of Independence and electricity was out all the way to the Mexican border, local officials said.

Closest to the epicenter were the idyllic islands of Roatan and Utila, where officials and hotel employees said there were no injuries or major damage. A tsunami watch was canceled for Honduras, Belize and Guatemala when no unusual waves appeared.

The quake was felt strongly in El Salvador, Guatemala and northern Nicaragua, but firefighter Byron Juarez said a survey of firefighting offices throughout Guatemala revealed no reports of major damage. No damage was reported in El Salvador or Nicaragua.

The quake was relatively shallow, with a depth of only 6 miles (10 kilometers), increasing its potential to cause major damage, said Don Blakeman, a U.S. Geological Survey expert.
''It is still possible we may find out there was more damage, but I think the fact that this earthquake was a bit off shore has helped tremendously,'' he said. ''Obviously the further away from the epicenter you get, there is less damage.''

Associated Press writers Juan Carlos Llorca in Guatemala City and Patrick Jones in Belize City contributed to this report.

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"I will probably get lice here, everyone does!"

2009-05-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

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hey hey hey!

Hey, how's it going? I loved the letters! So its crazy here you wouldn't believe how much we have done here. Its very different here compared to the other MTC. I have been doing so much. I have taught in Spanish several times and guess what happened this week, ok so I had the great idea to go to the temple. Here we have to be escorted by security with guns or teachers, and so our teacher took our district to the temple and so she gave us pamphlets and said we have to place them and get 3 referrals. So my comps and I talked to a man and they for some reason froze up, I was the only one talking, and I bore my testimony and talked about eternal families and gave him a pamphlet, and he was so receptive. I got his address and everything, it was awesome... Okay so here is the question answering time:

I have the same companions, but a different district. Its the 3 of us and elder Fetters, elder White, elder Fusi, and elder Hess. ( PS: email elder Fetters mom and tell her she should be so very proud of her son. He is the district leader with his companion elder White and they are amazing). Okay, then we have 2 teachers and we learn basically only Spanish. I have 3 roommates, all Latinos. The cafeteria is crazy, the Latinos fall in love with the Americans so we are not allowed to sit with the opposite sex and especially a Latino.

Speaking of falling in love, okay so I sang at the fireside last week. It was great...At first it was the 3 of us singing the whole song, and then they chickened out and had me sing solo and they would sing with me in the chorus, so I belted my voice in Spanish, and it was awesome. I sang “Where Can I Turn For Peace.” I didn't know I had it in me but I’m sure the Lord is blessing me because mom people here have horrible voices. You think you can’t sing?! Just try to come here. Latinos have no tune whatsoever, its obnoxious, lol, but even worse is when every day even 4 days later, the Latin elders come up to me and asked me to sing for them on the spot, like begging me, to the point that wherever I went, they were like; “omg, Hermana Robbins, sing for me.” lol it was awesome. (Mom’s note: This is funny because Whit doesn’t have a soloist voice and for her to be singing solo, well it’s a crack up...It must be the gift of tongues in melody. We have always laughed at my singing because it’s so bad!)

Okay, so I have been fine with the food down here even though I’m super picky, and the food is sometimes sick and I have to just suck it up. My comps have to run to the toilet with the runs every two seconds. I’ve been lucky and haven't had the problem with it at all... knock on wood.

I can’t believe Mike Tilden is serving with Trevor?! Its awesome. (Moms note: Trevor is a guy Whitney knew up at Snow College). I called him pee pee don't ask why I don't remember but I thought about Trevor last month actually and asked around and no one knew about what he was up to. I thought he was home by now. Tell Mike to tell him hi for me and I want to hear from him!

I’m glad you got a little pond thing started in the backyard that's so sweet. Okay, so the weather here is so crazy and so hot you can basically chew the air, but it rains, and when it rains, I mean it’s a thunder storms! Oh the best part: guesssss what?...I’m going on splits tomorrow in the field with a missionary from the south or central mission for the whole day. I’m scared but I think it will be good. I get to have my picture in the Liahona in like 2 months so check for it ok! The whole MTC has pictures taken every month so I should be in it soon.

So there’s this thing that the MTC has where we go to this house that the church owns and we teach a fake investigator, and we get taped, lol, so crazy! We go twice a week and some times the spirit is so strong!

I was wondering if you could send me some stuff. The thing is we can’t leave the MTC and we don't have a store here like the other MTC, so I’m screwed lol. I need some shampoo, hairspray, water bottle...like a heavy duty one, & febreeze because the mold & pee smell in the room is sick...like I hate it! And some dryer sheets would be nice. The soap stinks here and the water eats away the coloring on the soap bottles...its weird. Oh, and a soap dish holder maybe like the plastic ones and some candy...Oh I’m dying without it. If it wasn't for Jess` package I’d die. And I don't care what kind of candy it is, maybe some hard tack old fashion root beet and lemon candy they have at Wal-Mart I’m just dying without it and we can’t leave which is the worst thing so I’m screwed lol.

Okay, let Chels know I got her letter and I love her so much and I loved her letter so much and how awesome her wedding was. I bet it was amazing and she should have eaten the food. Tell her I can’t look at her website, she needs to send me pics. And tell her that I will try to write her a letter next week, but I need her new address. I have so much to say and less than 5 mins. I am glad you liked the tape and I knew you would enjoy it. I haven’t gotten any mail from dads family accept from Scott. I wrote them all last week and they should get it sometime next week.

I want you to know especially how much I know this gospel is the only true church. And if anything the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the rock of my salvation and I love the gospel with all my heart. I know and that Joseph smith saw god the Father and Jesus Christ at 14 and, I love you all. Read and pray! Brooke your getting a letter from me this week, write me please, and mom send me what you think I’ll need. PS: I will probably get lice here, everyone does, so be prepared to help me with it when I get home! keep writing and keep reading the BOM its true and the church is true-

Love,
Whitney dawn!

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" IT'S CRAZY ! "

2009-05-19T18:17:00.004-07:00

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Hola!

Hey, I’m going to send a few different emails because the internet is bad! Okay, well things here have been crazy. Its so humid you can chew the air, lol, but I’m use to it now! The rain is insane and its crazy, but I love it. It will be blue skies, then just pour down. I have had the curliest hair lol, its funny, but cute!

It was so good talking to you the other day. Did you get my package? I can get mail here like I did in the Provo MTC. But its sad, I only get it once a week on p-day. My p-day here is on Tuesday. I was shocked I didn’t get any mail for the past week and a half, not even a “Dearelder” letter from any of my friends. I normally get like 4 “Dearelder” letters a day lol.

The people here are great, accept not as clean as us. We can’t flush the toilet paper, and the smells are getting to me lol. There are 3 Latino girls in my room who don't speak English so its like hand motions and trying to talk to each other in the little Spanish I know. I taught my first Spanish lesson yesterday, they film you and play...it back it was funny. I still have the same companions and I would probably die if I didn't lol.

The GUA MTC is super small and there are probably about 20 north Americans and 35 Latin's, its crazy. On Saturday we went to the temple and contacted people, and it was crazy. I talked to a women who was a member and I bore my testimony and talked about the church a little and then she was crying and she started to bear her testimony and I tried to understand it all but she said she was poor and didn't have much food and she was so grateful for the church and then we sang a hymn to her and it was great the spirit was so strong. My Spanish keeps getting better.

The food is interesting here; my comps are super sick with the runs, and I’m cast-iron tummy and just endure it all, lol. Its not that bad to me, accept for the beans that you eat with everything, even to dip your pancakes in lol.

Let Jess know I’m sending her a letter in the mail, and that Chels needs to write me. Tell Uncle Scott that I love him and he is great for writing me and that I’m doing just fine. I’ll try and write him today but it will take about 2 weeks for him to get it, but thank him for me! Its been great!

I can’t think about what to say but that I miss my old district so much. The new one is way immature, and its annoying. Oh lame story; So I got asked to sing at the devotional tonight, there is a General Authority speaking here in the CCM (MTC), and I’m singing, lol, with my two comps, in Spanish too, lol, non of us have great voices so it should be interesting. I have the best voice here, lol, and that’s not saying much, huh! I also sang last Sunday too, lol, they love me, lol!

Did you get the picture from my ccm presidente? Okay, I gotta go, but I love you and maybe send me candy, the candy here is nasty. Anything chocolate, and oh, maybe the blue box of mike-n-ikes jelly beans ya know, lol, and Febreeze, it stinks here, I’m smell a phobic. I’ll try and get pictures taken, but I can’t send them till I’m out of this ccm in June. I love you and please write me anyone...it gets me through the week.

I want you to know how much I love my savior Jesus Christ and how much he has done for me and that I know that José Smith was a profeta of de dios y I love this gospel. Keep me updated. Oh and tell Annie thanks for the cookies, and her card should be coming in the mail in 2 weeks. Thanks to everyone who wrote me and tell Shar and Mike thanks for the letter, and tell Nicholle to write me, and tell Bre I’ll be writing her today too.

I love you all!

Rub them Bryce...write me or else!

- Hermana Robbins

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GUATEMALA MTC PHOTO & LETTER

2009-05-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

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President Christensen of the Guatemala Missionary Training Center (MTC) is standing with Whitney and twelve other missionaries who just flew in to Guatemala City, Guatemala on Tuesday, May 12th and they will be training here for another six weeks before departing to various other countries in Central America.

Below is a portion of an email that Whitney's parents received today from the Guatemala MTC President. We'd like to share it with you...

Dear Parents and Loved Ones:

Your missionary arrived "safe and sound" Tuesday night and was involved all morning in orientation for their next phase of training at the MTC here in Guatemala. They finally got into the classroom in the afternoon (Tuesday 5/12) and have started learning more Spanish & teachings from Preach My Gospel. I've attached a photo of them out in front of the flags in the entry of the MTC here in Guatemala. Enjoy!

You are no doubt very proud of your missionary. You should be! This is a very good group of 13 missionaries who join another extraordinary group of 11 North Americans who are in their final three weeks PLUS 35 missionaries from Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Chile, Panama, and other Latin American countries.

Your missionary has Preparation Day on Tuesdays and will be writing to you then. I know that your support and letters bless your 'missionary' a lot --- and will be greatly appreciated. In addition to email, you may choose to send letters as well through the pouch according to their set guidelines. This is a one page 8.5 X 11, triple-folded, taped or sealed with the address and stamp on the outside.

Pouch Address:

"POUCH" Whitney Robbins

Guatemala MTC P.O. Box 30150

Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

For the next several weeks you can ALSO send letters, packages, or other mail to your missionary at the following address:

---Whitney Robbins---

Centro de Capacitation Misional

Boulevard Vista Hermosa 23-71, Zona 15

Vista Hermosa 1 C.P. 01015

Guatemala Ciudad, Guatemala C.A.

I recommend that you don't send anything to the above MTC address after June 13th or it may not arrive before the departure of you missionary on June23rd. Anything you send after the 13th of June should be addressed to his/her mission address. Otherwise, there can be significant delay in them getting their mail because of the time it takes to forward the mail or have the missions drop by at their convenience and pick up and distribute mail to missionaries all over the mission. You can use regular US International Mail Service.

I also invite you to go to our personal website at: http://www.davidachristensen.com/ When you get to the site, click on “Guatemala MTC”... You can then browse around or take a tour of the MTC. Within a few weeks you may find your missionary in one or more of the pictures. ENJOY!!!

Thanks again for your missionary!!! We come to love these missionaries a great deal and appreciate you lending them to the Lord for this season of their lives.

Thanks again!

President David A. Christensen

TRACIE'S NOTE: Whitney would like for anyone who writes her to do it through www.dearelder.com while shes in the GUA-MTC. It's easy to set up an account and send her mail both via paper/envelope and email, and it's free. Just follow the easy website instructions. Her mission is the Guatemala Guatemala City North Mission, but until June 13th, send mail to the Guatemala MTC-Free. Her email address is wrobbins@myldsmail.net. She said she does not have time to respond to each individual via email, only her parents, she is only allowed 30 minutes each P-Day on the computer. So she is prepared with lots of stationary and stamps to write you back.

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Provo MTC World Map

2009-05-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

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Whitney with her two companions. Thursday is their preparation day or otherwise known as "P-Day," a day that they have to take a break from their studies by doing their laundry, hanging out on MTC grounds, or going to the Temple across the street from the MTC.

Laundromat Photo. Sister Allen, Farnsworth, Robbins, ?, and Magno.

The Country of Guatemala is no bigger than Whitney's finger tip and is centered around the Countries of Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras, with a small beach coastline of the Gulf of Honduras in the Caribbean Sea

P-Day trip to the Provo Temple. Whitney bought her red dress at the MTC Shop. Looks like they all bought dresses there, ha.

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PROVO MTC Elder's and Sister's in her District

2009-05-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

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Here are four Elders from her District, L to R: Elder Pratt from Taylorsville, Utah, Elder Cannon from Logan, Utah, Elder Tolman from Glendora, CA, and Elder Todd from Boise, Idaho. Whitney's companions, L to R: Hermana Allen (in blue) from Logan, Utah and on the left is Hermana Farnsworth (in pink & black) from St. George, Utah. Hermana Farnsworth is a nurse and will be serving a "Service Mission" in Chile. Hermana Allen will be going to Guatemala with Whitney.

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"Good thing my companion is a nurse"

2009-05-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

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Thursday, May 7, 2009

MOM and DAD!
HOLA I miss you- Okay, where to start. I can only write on my p-day that includes both e-mail and letters. I get the mail 3 times a day and my district leader picks it up for the district. I will try my best to remember all the questions you asked me. I got your packages and I love them thanks so much, your awesome, it really helped me a lot. I also put in a note with your mothers day card did you not see it, it said that the 12 was fine and you can send it! I love the CD player I listen to it all the time now!

Things with my comps are better we are getting along a lot more than we first did. There is 5 in our room, Sister Magno is from the Philippines going to the Arcadia, Ca mission and then her comp sister Jones from South Jordan, UT going to Chile. Then my two comps. I have the top bunk and its nice not to bad, just a little hard. Our schedule during the day is crazy we wake up at 5:55 and shower and be ready by 7, we have class 7-7:45 then breakfast at 7:45-8:15, study from 8:15-12:30 then lunch at 12:30 - 1:15 and class from 1:15 - 4 and gym from 4 - 5:30, dinner at 5:30- 9:30, and bed at 10:30, so ya its crazy busy but I'm forgetting myself and working.

Okay, so speaking of gym I played basketball and sprained my ankle good thing my companion is a nurse, lol, so I have been limping haha its great, not! I got 2 shots they were $151 for 2 and they hurt like a mother, but they are taking care of us in regards to the swine flu. We can't touch anyone and we have to wash our hands all the time and there is hand sanitizers everywhere.

I fly out Tuesday at 8:20 and I don’t know how long the flight is but I have a layover in Dallas, TX for 3 hours and so what's the best way to call and what number should I call you on. I can call collect, or maybe pick up a calling card. they didn't say how long we can talk but I’m guessing an hour so I’m excited. Tell Bryce happy 16th birthday, I sent him a card with pics in it too, so you can have the pics. I have a on-line photo album in case you didn't realize mom its on my blogspot and you can sign in and add pics to that the password and username is the same as my blogspot info. I am glad your working hard at working out both of you, I have been loosing weight because I am not eating out every day lol.

Every week we go to the TRC (teaching resource center) and we practice teaching and so I have taught in Spanish for the first half and then English in the second have and we have to prepare a talk every week in Spanish, I think I'll be called to speak this week since its my last week. I heard both Lynn Robbins of the quorum of the 70 and he talked about Christ like attributes, and then this week it was M Russell Ballard of the 12 and he was amazing he spoke on the desire to serve.

I have seen a few people I know. I saw Brent for a sec and we couldn't talk because his teacher was teaching them, I met a girl who is on the Esperanza Ward in Palmdale Stake, and then also a girl that I knew Megan she was in my public speaking class at Snow. My district is awesome its Elder Kelly from Orem, UT going to Wisconsin and then his comp Elder Rollins from Mesa, Az, then Elder Tolman from Glendora, CA and his comp Elder Todd from Bosie, then the 5 of us girls who are roommates and the last two is Elder Cannon from Logan, UT and his comp Elder Pratt from Taylorsville, UT. Oh I met Que's nephew, it was random lol he was awesome ha kinda like Que. I goof off with Elder Cannon and Pratt all the time in class its great they are hilarious. Okay so a funny thing happened so we were walking to the gym and my comp Sister Farnsworth said "oh look its the missionaries" then we were like omg are you serious, and she was like; "oh, ya, we are missionaries!" it was funny.

So many funny things have happened here, I love it and I'm comfortable now and I'm leaving. I'll send you the address but don't send anything in the mail unless its overnight because I gotta get it by Monday! I am so glad Tiffany sang a song, I'm mad I missed it, and I laughed toooo hard to think about you winning cookie contests with Tollhouse cookies lol!

We go to the temple on p-day and I went last week and in the Provo Temple you don't change rooms, its weird! I got 2 dresses they are Jody and very "Molly Mormon" but I love them lol. I don't know what I'm missing I think you have asked so many questions that I don't remember. The spirit here is so strong if you can watch the movie called Joseph Smith the prophet of the restoration, its was so amazing I cried soo much, and also read Matt 11:28-30. How is the reading and praying coming? I want you and dad to pray together ever night together. Companion prayer is so important, I pray at least 20 times a day and its so awesome to talk with the Lord. I gotta go but I love you and miss you let me know what number to call Tuesday love you so much and I’m excited for the new clothes!

Love,
Hermana Robbins

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Thanks for the package, I shared some of it...I’m nice!

2009-05-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

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Friday, May 1, 2009

Whitney mailed to me a beautiful handmade accordion Mother’s Day card that she made before she left home, and a short letter for the family...

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Hola,

Sorry this is going to be short. I’m hiding this (the card) LOL, my Companions will go A-wall LOL. Thanks for the package, I shared some of it...I’m nice! There is a scale here, no worries. I would love whatever you get me. I should get your pictures printed by Monday and I’ll send copies then.

We were warned about the flu. We can’t touch each other, not even handshakes. I will answer your questions in my next letter. I can only write Thursdays, so don’t get mad. Tell Bryce and Chels thanks for writing me! And tell Bryce that the translation makes no sense! (Bryce wrote some Spanish to Whit).

I got two dresses and you would like them. Oh, I got my flight plans. I fly out May 12th @ 8:20 AM to Texas then to Guatemala on American Airlines. Things are getting better and I saw Brent (Whit’s cousin is also currently in the MTC). I love it here, thinking about leaving makes me sad. Happy early Birthday Bryce :)

Love,
Me!
PS: Dad-I love you. Thanks for the letter :)

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"An Amazing Spiritural Experience Happened"

2009-05-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

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Thursday, April 30, 2009 Letter

Hola Familia :)
So the computers in the laundry room are really bad, so I can't email this week, but I guess you can scan the letter or type it and send it to people. So this has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. At first I wanted to come home because I couldn't handle it. Then the second day an amazing spiritual experience happened.

Sister Magno, my roommate from the Philippines was very sick and so our district leader Elder Pratt offered to give her a blessing. We were in class, and keep in mind there are 3 sets of elders who are in my district who have never blessed anyone and I was having a terrible day because I don't relate to my companions and I'm required to teach in Spanish on Tuesday so I was harboring frustration, when all the elders stood up in the room and they said they will all bless her. So she was on the floor in pain, the elders knelt around her and placed a hand on her head. Elder Tolman administered the consecrated oil then Elder Pratt started the blessing. He then broke out in tears in overwhelming feelings of the spirit, then I started to cry along with all five other elders and four other sisters. After the blessing I had never felt the spirit so much in my life as this whole room of elders and sisters are crying. Then we all shared our feelings about it and bore our testimonies, it was awesome.
So Brent came in this week? I haven’t seen him yet! Tell Bre to write me! So this week Sister Magno fell down the stairs and face planted into my back end. It was funny and she is okay. Oh, send me a calendar, like a wall one. I’m loosing track of time. Maybe a Church one or something. I’m printing pictures but I don’t get them until Monday, so I’ll send them soon.

Love,
Hermana Robbins

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"I even have started to forget some of my English"

2009-04-30T12:12:00.000-07:00

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Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:36 AM Email

Hola Famila!I miss you all so much. How is the diet coming, and how is Bryce doing driving sally? This letter will be short but I’ll be sending a letter with it that is much longer! I am so glad you wrote me! I was having the hardest time. Chels wrote me on dear elder and I got it the next day so please use that to write, and please copy and paste this email to my blogs, I can’t use them in the mtc. I’ll send some pics with my letter, I can’t email them.

Well this has been the hardest week of my life. I couldn’t handle it at first, I don’t get along with my companion’s. We are like night and day so its very hard for me. I have two so they gang up on me and its not always fun but I try not to get offended. They are super straight laced to the point where one of them won’t say fart, only fluff. I try to be myself and they chastise me and tell me I’m not being obedient and I’m a bad missionary so its been hard for me to handle, but I am working on it.

I love the work and I’m picking up on my language pretty fast. Tuesday we taught in half Spanish and half English to an investigator. I can sing and pray and bear testimony in Spanish, its awesome. Even though I’ve been really frustrated its been interesting how I devote all my time to studying my scriptures, its different for me but I love it. I have to write a talk every week in Spanish and its been so goof for me. I have even started to forget some of my English.

Please send me a cd player or something even like a shower radio cd player or some small speakers with a cd player to plug it into. I can’t get it, and I need it. And also some Lysol, my roommate is way sick so I need some. I have to buy some dresses at the shop here because I don’t have enough skirts. My companions have like 6-10 skirts and i realized my black one is not mission approved after i washed it, lol, so I gotta figure something out. If you still have that receipt mom of the white JCPenney skirt maybe order me a black or brown one.

But its crazy like I don’t know what's going on in the world and I rely on hearsay, like I heard the Lakers won. I was super excited lol. Guess who I saw, Kessia Robinson from the old ward it was funny and I love my district if i haven't said that enough there are 3 sets of elders and then 5 sisters. We have a great teacher. Please write me Bryce, just go on dear elder. I miss you boy rub them!( twice) yo se que jesucristo nuestro renedor y salvador. yo se que de la inglesia de jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias es verdadro y la evangelio es verdadero, te amo mucho ( sorry its in spanish, try to figure it out lol, you probably cant translate it because its missing the accent marks).

I want you to read Mosiah chp 10, it’s awesome and also I want to tell you how much I love you all and need your support. I am going to be getting my flight plans today for my flight in 2 weeks. I get to call home in the airport on the 12th so be available so I can call home. I am running out of time but I will send you some more in a written letter. Tell Brooke I say hi! and she better write me. Oh, send me a pic of Debbie! Its so funny that some elders say they didn't have time to write because they went to the temple, its a lie, its because they didn't do laundry. I love you, say your prayers as a family and strive to be strong together through family scripture study and Family Home Evening so I can stay strong without the family and develop that bond with my companions. Try having a goal to complete the Book of Mormon as a family by the time I get home and highlight the different scriptures and give me a few a week to study that you loved!

te amo - Hermana Robbins

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"What did I get myself into?"

2009-04-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

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Hola!

What did I get myself into, LOL, J/K. This is great, I love the MTC. The food is really good. My companions are Hermana Farnsworth from Saint George, she is going to Chile and she is the mission nurse, so she is a service missionary. My other companion is Hermana Allen from Logan and she is going to Guatemala with me. There are five of us total in our room. So we have to prepare talks in Spanish for Sunday on baptism...pssh, me? speaking Spanish in 3 days...LOL! I love my comps, we get along so well it's great.

Sister Farnsworth is our Senior comp and it's going to be great. I love my district. There are 40 in my zone or something like that. Brother Estes is my President. He is amazing. His spirit is so strong. I love this gospel! My P-Day is Thursday and I'm singing in the Choir. The spirit is so strong here, and I know Jesus Christ is our Savior who died for us.

I love you guys! Say family prayer every night and as you go forth in family home evening the spirit in the home will grow and if you stay strong it will keep me strong. Read and pray daily if you don't your busier than the Lord intended. PS: Bryce..Twice! :)

Love,
Hermana Robbins

My Branch is: 50. District: D.

My address is:
Sister W. Robbins
MTC Mailbox #285
GUA-GUAN 0512
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793

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Entering the MTC

2009-04-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

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Wednesday, April 22nd @ 12:50pm, we arrived at the Missionary Training Center. Missionaries and their families were everywhere and parking was tight. We found a spot across the street from the MTC and like many others, with luggage in hand, we made our way to the MTC entrance. Notice who's carrying the large bags! Whit stopped along the way for a photo-op and was joined by a tiny tot who couldn't resists getting his picture taken. We followed the signs to the luggage area and dropped them off. Volunteers were everywhere directing our every move. There's no stepping out of line there when you have a 60 year old dedicated volunteer to set you on the correct course.

As we arrived at the front doors of the training center, there the Missionaries and families were separated for a brief time so that the Missionaries can receive their badge, their mail box address, and further instructions before joining their families once again for one last photo opportunity. Mother's are given the sentimental privilege of pinning their son or daughter with their Missionary Name Badge..."Hermana Robbins" was now Whitney's name (Hermana; meaning Sister in Spanish). This is what she'll be known as to the Guatemalan people.

We were then told to turn off our camera and cell phones and were directed to one of the many holding rooms where we were given instruction by a former Mission President and his wife. This was a large room with a huge movie screen at the front and two signs posted on the wall, each one by a door, the one to the right said; "Missionary Exit" and the one to the left said; "Family Exit." The 40 minute meeting was opened with a song and prayer. Both the ex-president and his wife spoke briefly on how each of the missionaries will grow and become better people as they will have many experiences preaching the gospel, and family members were admonished to study, pray, and gain in spiritual growth as well, so that when our missionary returns home, he/she will have a much easier adjustment period to regular home life. All the missionaries were asked to stand. Whitney was the only Sister Missionary in this particular holding room. A video was then played showing a large auditorium of Elders singing "Called to Serve" It was heart wrenching and we all sang along. Whitney had been asked to give the closing prayer, which she now did closing the meeting. We were then instructed to say a brief goodbye and depart through our exit door. The three of us tearfully hugged and said our goodbyes, then Hermana Robbins left being the second missionary of this group to walk through the exit door. She couldn't wait to find her companion and begin her 18 month journey. We won't be able to talk with her again until Christmas Day, but look forward to her weekly letters home.

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Salt Lake City Temple - April 21, 2009

2009-04-25T14:41:00.000-07:00

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Church History Museum

2009-04-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

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We also went to the Church History Museum near

Temple Square and we discovered that they had

a painting of missionaries teaching the Indians

and Guatemalan items displayed that depict the

Book of Mormon stories.

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"THIS IS THE PLACE"

2009-04-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

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While in Utah we did a little sight seeing and one of the Church Historical sites that I (Tracie) wanted to see was Ensign Peek also known as "This Is The Place." This is the place were Brigham Young and a wagon train of Latter-Day Saints arrived to what became the Salt Lake Valley. The picture of the grassy hill with the poles going over the top is the location where the wagon train came over the hill and decended down into the valley below.

There are now several acres where monuments have been erected and replicas of the homes that were built by the Saints . Whitney stands on a two rock platform which sits in front of the home of Brigham Young and was used in the day for women to stand on so that they could easily step up into horse drawn wagons.

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Spending Time with Family and Friends

2009-04-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

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These last few days I've have been in Utah County, and Salt Lake, and have been super busy with trying to fit everything in before I go in the MTC today. I was able to Visit with Chels and Vanessa and that was great. I will miss them so much. I also got to do a session in Salt Lake Temple. That was amazing! And I have been spending most of my time with my Family. We also went to the Church's History Museum and they have the coolest Guatemalan blanket.

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Im a Missionary!

2009-04-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

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I am being set apart tonight as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, to serve in the Guatemala City North Mission. I will miss you all. Please write me as I will be having a hard time...I'm sure, and I need all the support I can get. If you want to be added to my e-mail letter list, e-mail my mom at Galrocker@sbcglobal.net and let her know that you want to get my letters and she will forward them to you! I will try and post as much as I can each week. I love you all! HLJ (CTR)

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Follow the Prophet

2009-04-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

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“Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.”

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Mission Card

2009-03-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

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Here is my mission post card. I sent out 100 and that still didnt seem like enough. Here is my Provo MTC address for all thoughs who want to send me a letter or package:

SISTER WHITNEY DAWN ROBBINS
MTC Mailbox # 285
GUA-GUAN 0512
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793

My estimated departure date for the Guatemalan MTC is May 12th.

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Prepare to Serve

2009-03-12T22:44:00.000-07:00

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Things are finally slowing down. I am just about packed and ready to take off to do the lords work, I cant wait. I have gotten all that I need and I have had a lot of help from parents of the missionaries in my mission. Right now I'm still working at Foothill and its crazy busy. On the weekends my mom and I do all we can get me ready to leave. I have about a month left and less than a month till my farewell. Its going to be the best 18 months. I found this Video that is amazing i love the song ...

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Mission Call

2009-02-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

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EVERYONE- I got my mission call on January 23,2009, I am called to labor in the Guatemala, Guatemala City North Mission. I am super excited to serve the Lord by being with the Guatemalan people. I report to the MTC April 22,2009!

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