1 1/2 days! [From July 16, 2011]

It’s been crazy packing. It’s hard to say goodbye to the Elders and Hermana Gueller, along with our teachers. We had our last class with Hermano Scott Thursday and tonight is Hermano P. We had to say goodbye to our progressive investigator too. Very sad and he's only acting!

I got a letter from Sister Meinhardt. She says they have chickens and turkeys, but they haven't produced any eggs. She thinks they're defective. So cute! I’m telling her a little about our chickens in my return letter.

Everyone loved the maple package! There’s only one chocolate left, and a little syrup. So excited to receive it. It was a district event opening it. After opening it a little and getting the SD card and cards (thank you love them!) I saw it was all maple. I decided to let Elder Graham open it. He was so excited. He is reading all the maple letters you sent and loving it! He spouts off some maple fact to any one who asks or will listen. He really wants to come to NH in March 2014. Taffy isn't my favorite thing, but it was good. Hermana Clayton loved it! She ate a number of them! It was very fun to show them where we live on the chocolate map, too. People enjoyed the Boston baked beans. Said they were similar to burnt peanuts. What ever they are!

All 17 missionaries are going to Santa Rosa! There’s a rumor that they're whitewashing. Meaning they are opening new areas and putting new missionaries in them. But who knows. It’s that or there’s a lot going home! It’s about half English and half Spanish missionaries.

LOVE YOU. TALK TO YOU SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 1/2 days!

BYE!

"You can leave now." [From July 11, 2011]

Crazy week ahead! And last week. Saw Abby again! Yah!!!!!!! We loved the balloons and glow sticks. We were like little children and having the time of our lives! We had to pop all the balloons, so we took pins and popped them all in 2 seconds! Way fun. Hno P took a video. I’ll have him send it to you. So if you receive an email from Pablo Penailillo that’s my teacher.

I’m so excited about Lila Doris! I would love to see a picture! And thanks for holding Clara. I saw some little children and wanted to hug them. I miss children so much. The Bradley’s family was in church yesterday. It was the best to hear a little child talk and a baby cry during sacrament! Almost burst out of my skin when I saw them. I was happier than ever!

I had a scary, moment on Wednesday. Elder Graham said something hilarious while I drank water and I choked. I either had to spit out the water or swallow it. I tried swallowing which made it worse. So I spit it into the garbage. But still I was choking and couldn't breathe. The elders and hermanas were horrified and their expressions were funny so I laughed more. Finally I focused on breathing. And getting the water out. But it was about 15 to 20 seconds that I couldn't breathe. I turned purple and they were all fearful for me. Hermana Clayton hit me on the back and I think that’s what did the trick. It was pretty funny afterward, but the hermanas told the elders not to make me laugh any more, especially while drinking water. It was a funny memory

Cleaning the temple was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!! We cleaned the crystal of one chandelier and started to reassemble it in the 3 hours we were there. It was very fun! We had to make sure not to get cut. They use vinegar to clean everything. Also got a tour of the fourth floor where all the engineering and projectors are. Way neat! Elder Graham and Klauck were security detail. Really cool badges!

My teachers told us that if we leave the MTC knowing how to teach with the spirit they will have been successful. Last week we had a lesson and after Hermano P said, "You can leave now." I don't need to teach you any more. We helped our investigator come unto Christ and followed the Spirit. It was a really neat experience! Hermana Clayton told him to pray again to know if God is there and listens and loves him. He did that and the Spirit was very strong. Wicked awesome!

I have another p-day on Sat, so I may email again then. We fly out at at 11:25 am, Monday Salt Lake time so I’m calling before that between 8 and 11:25. Only half an hour, but very excited!!!!!!!!!! Need to get a calling card. Very excited. I’ll be sending a box home of things I don't need. Not too big hopefully.

There are 17 missionaries in our travel group, flying into Oakland. Only an hour-long flight I think. Not too long, but then an hour-long drive. Very excited and starting to pack. I’m a little nervous but also excited. My Spanish isn't that good, but I can pray and testify. Some days are better than others. Had a sub this past week that expected us to memorize something in a minute. It took me almost two minutes to memorize the first vision! But doing well, just can’t wait when it becomes second nature. I am a little nervous about my trainer, the first couple Sundays and lessons.

District is VERY excited about maple. Asked a couple days ago where it was. Can hardly wait!!!!!!!!!!!Thanks!LOVE YOU ALL! Give hugs to everyone for me next week. Have fun in NY!

Forever!

bunny

love!

I brought in four sisters. [From July 4, 2011]

On Wednesday we got to host new missionaries. Meaning we bring them to their dorm, pick up badge, books, etc, and drop of at classroom to meet their companion and teacher and district, WAY FUN!!!!!!!!!!! I brought in four sisters. The last two I brought in were companions! Fun to see them around.

Way cool!

Check out the church website for the mission president seminar for articles and pictures of it. There is one with the choir and me in it, towards center, one left in purple sweater with white blouse, hair down.

We had a special 4th July celebration on Saturday. Bag pipes and lots of singing! And we got to stay up late too to watch the “stadium of fire” (BYU) fireworks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way exciting, have some pictures. It was fun to be with elders and feel like real people. Sunday was rough with more lack of  sleep and fasting. Made it through though!

I have a CD of our performance. Maybe I’ll send it home since we can’t listen to it here. No music in MTC.

On our temple walk we met our teacher’s fiancé, Hermano Scott and Brenda. Way cute! Have pics of that too!

I’m great and so happy.

There’s a wall with pics of all mission presidents and I love looking at president and Sisters Wilkey and Bunker. There are two new sisters that left a couple weeks ago that went to NH. So fun. They have instructions to say hello if they ever make it to Plymouth.

Quote from district, ¨Your family / parents are the bomb.com tell them we love them and are so grateful. ¨ We are VERY EXCITED to have a party today and blow up all the balloons and eat cookies. The elders were practically dancing with excitement. Wish I had videoed the opening! Thank you so very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love it! Still want maple stuff with instructions elder graham really wants to tap the maple outside the dorm. And at his house. Which according to him he can get his hands around. No way will that work!

Saw Jenny Oaks Baker last night, and her 3 daughters! Amazing. They got a standing ovation! Played piano, cello, and violin. I am a Child of God. WAY CUTE!

L&N have fun at camp! G too!

Love you all. Thank you for the package and your love.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

Love forever!

Amazing and an incredible experience. [From June 27, 2011]

This week was wonderful!

We sang for all of the apostles but Elder Hales. He never came. The first day Thursday it was everyone but Elders Hales, Christofferson, and Perry. Elder Holland silently applauded us and mouthed, “thank you.” It was wonderful. He had tears in his eyes. We were all so touched. There were many tears the first day and not as many the following days. We met Elder Bednar yesterday. He came in to thank us for using our talents for good and bearing our testimonies in song. We were all touched and excited. He's shorter than you think. Probably 5’ 8” maybe 5’ 9”.

I met Marisa Johnson’s companion, the one in the district movies. She's very sweet and nice. Loved having Marisa as a companion.

For the next package the district has asked for fireworks, but glow sticks will do! Also they are all fascinated by the process of making syrup, especially Elder Graham. So could you send some syrup or maple candy; pictures on SD card or prints of trees being tapped, and an explanation of the process from tapping to boiling to the product? Please! They would love it. Also an explanation of the differences between red and sugar maple and whatever other kinds of maples there are. Only sugar can be tapped right? Cause that’s what I told them!

I think I may send you my journal entries again. There’s no way I can explain how amazing and all the adventures I had in 30 min never mind in a letter. All the mission presidents were amazing! They were all excited to serve. The special choir got to listen to part of their sacrament meeting with president Eyring. Which is a funny story! They forgot we were to sing so as consolation we got to listen to the talk over broadcast and we'll be getting a CD of our songs! I’ll send it to you soon. Then we sang in our room after it was done and a few presidents and wives heard us and came in. They thanked us and the spirit was very strong. Amazing and an incredible experience.

Our teacher taught us a new way to highlight the scriptures. He bolds words. Using a fine pen or marker he'll bold the words. It's really neat! I'm starting out with the attributes of Christ. Bolding just the nine attributes whenever I see them. I really like it!

The temple will be closed next week and then the week after for cleaning, so today was our last day as far as we know. But it was really cool because there were two brothers who were deaf! So they had two screens with interpreters. Really cool! I understood some things better too. Really neat.

Elder Jensen is doing well. I’ve seen him across the cafeteria a few times. Said hello when I passed by. Seems happy.

I picked up some rose petals from the temple and hope to press them! Maybe I’ll send them to you soon. How do you like the pictures? Is the plaque picture okay? If not I can do another.

Gingersnaps were the best!!! But because of persisting cough I think staying away from sweets will be good for now. Don’t know what you could send. Still have popcorn and goldfish!!!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

Love forever

Three weeks left in MTC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time flies so fast

Love,

Whitney bunny

Whitney is in Santa Rosa!

Arriving in the airport.

All smiles and excitement to finally be in the mission field.

The 16 new missionaries arriving in Santa Rosa.

Hermana Stephenson and her trainer Hermana Christensen.

Whitney Singing for the General Authorities and Mission Presidents

You can see Whitney right in the middle wearing the fuschia sweater between the peach and the purple.

The reason all the General Authorities were at the MTC was for training the new mission presidents. You can see some video and other photos from the week here.
  

We’ll be singing for the prophet!!!!!!!! [From June 20, 2011]

 Hola!

I’m doing better than last week. My throat is better my cold is better, almost gone. My eyes got red because of cold. Taking eye drops (no bueno) and getting better. Taking vitamins faithfully.

I LOVED THE PACKAGE! Thank you so much! We are having a hard time not gorging on cookies. Saving gingersnaps for last, but being aware of expiration date! Tissues came at a perfect time with cold. Tape works well and is fun. I LOVE all the quotes!!!! Thank you! They are everywhere around the room. Elder Kent loves his quote. Came at perfect time. Stamps were perfect timing too. Used last one just before opening package! I love the address labels!

Singing is going well, loving it!!! So fun! Rates priority over everything else. So no class if need be. New mission presidents come in this week. Already begun to arrive. Besides Christmas this is best time to be here.

I am excited for this upcoming week with almost all the apostles coming!!!! We’ll be singing for the prophet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited. All but two apostles of the 15 will be here throughout the week. Building 1 is closed for the duration. This is when apostles will be wandering halls and wandering campus at all hours. Example: Pres. Eyring came last year at 4:00 in the morning to gain inspiration!

Saw Elder [Matt] Jensen twice! Said, “hello,” for you. So good to see him. He’s doing well. Elder Jensen looked very happy! From what I see he has a good companion. They are early to all the meetings and excited about this week. Perfect time to enter MTC!

I told sister Bradley (branch president’s wife) about the blog. I told her she could comment if she wanted to. She was excited about it.

The weather has been beautiful. Yesterday it rained. Poured in the morning then let up in the afternoon just in time for a walk to the temple! Otherwise it has been in the 70's or higher. Lovely!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you forever!

I think of you all every day

Love you forever my eternal family!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BYE