Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Returned with Honor
Monday, August 17, 2009
"This is Satan giving you doubts"
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?
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.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Coban, Senahu, El Estor, & Rio Dulce Zones Celebrate Pioneer Day with a BBQ Cook-Out on July 19, 2009
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!
Monday, August 10, 2009
"My New Companion's Rock"
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
The Castillo Family
and Whitney and Hermana Lott withthe family that they taught and was baptized.
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Monday, August 3, 2009
Transferred to Molina
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.
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.
New pictures! To see more pics; click on "MY MISSION PHOTO ALBUM" in right column
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.
Photo's of Mayan Temples in Guatemala
Tikal, Guatemala
Uaxactun
Tikal, Guatemala
Temple VLomas Del Norte Barrio Ward
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!
whit
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