WOW!!! Monday is finally here! This was one of the longest
weeks ever, I swear! haha But we figured out it's because we had all of our
appointments cancel this week :( But it was still a good, but long week! So now
to let you know what happened...
|
Mom asked that I send silly pictures -- is this what she meant? |
|
More silly pictures for Mom! |
|
Mom--is this silly enough for you? |
Monday the 12th was such an AWESOME day! We had a Sisters
Hike, like I mentioned last week. All 29 of us Sisters got together with Sister
Becerra and we had so much fun! Not going to lie though... When I saw Sister
Davidson (my trainer) it was really weird! haha We hadn't seen each other in 10
weeks so it was kinda trippy. But it was nice to see her again! I have missed
her as my companion. But I have also loved my other companions so that's good!
But we met up at the church at 9am and then drove to where we were hiking (I
forgot what it was called but it was somewhere in Monrovia...) It took us about
30 minutes of so to hike to the water fall but it was fun! And after the hike,
we went back to this members house and had brunch and we just got to all sit around
together and talk. There was so much laughing and smiles and it was just....
fun! haha It was a much needed Sisters day!
|
MTC comps -- Sisters Wheatley and Lehman |
Then on Tuesday the 13th we had a church tour with our new
investigator, Linda. She had been taught a couple times by missionaries in the
past but stopped taking the lessons. But we felt like we should go back over
and talk to her. And she was very happy to go on a church tour. It was a very
good tour and the Spirit was there! She goes to the Lutheran church here but is
open to learning about other religions. So after the tour we stood around and
talked for a few minutes and were able to set up another appointment with her
for next week after Thanksgiving.
|
Sisters Butler and Wheatley and their BIG EYES |
Also on Tuesday, we went over to our Ward Mission Leaders
house and did service for them! We got to wear pants! Heck to the yeah! haha We
helped them trim their bushes in their backyard and that was fun. Who know I'd
have fun trimming bushes (shhh... Don't tell Dad ;) We love the Butler's. They
are this older couple and are super cute! And we had fun over there!
|
Studying!?!?! |
|
Study, study, study! |
Then on Wednesday the 14th, Thursday the 15th, and Friday
the 16th we did even more service! Which meant pants again!!! LOL Wednesday we
went over to the Vanwyk's and pulled weeds in their front yard. It's
mid-November and we could still work out in the yard... Never thought I'd be
able to do yard work in November haha Brother Vanwyk is from the Netherlands
and I found out that at the local super markert, they sell Stroopwafels. Not a
good thing... I think I might have to get me some for a birthday gift to myself
next month :) Then on Thursday we did service at the Crawford's and helped
Sister Crawford paint their front room! And that was tons of fun! I never knew
that I would like painting so much! It's so relaxing! :) But we had tons of fun
there. Sister Crawford joined the church about eight years or so and her
husband joined about three years ago or so. They are a very awesome family.
They are working toward a Temple Sealing sometime next year. So that's exciting
for their family! (They have two young girls also.) Then on Friday we did
service at the Lindstrom's. Sister Lindstrom got sick while she was in Idaho so
she wasn't really up to doing a lot of cleaning before all her kids and other
family members come this week for Thanksgiving. So we went and helped her out.
So needless to say, this week was full of service! And it was tons of fun! I
have really enjoyed doing service since being out on my mission. I guess I
never took the time to look around and see the service opportunities around me
back home but service is for sure one thing that I will be better at when I get
home. Not only can you help others but you can also feel good about serving
others. I'm sure Mom and Dad will laugh at that since they tried to teach us to
do service but I never got it apparently. But it's better late than never
right?! :)
|
Sisters Wheatley and Fogavai and Rachel Hendertilo |
|
Sisters' Hike |
Then on Saturday the 17th, we went out at 10am (like every
morning) and we went to visit another lady who missionaries had talked to a
little bit in the past. When we got to Mary's house, she was not very happy to
see us, she wasn't rude to us but she wasn't welcoming either... But we got
talking to her for a few minutes and we were laughing and then she asked if we
wanted something to drink. So she let us in and we ended up talking to her for
an hour. We just asked her about her family and about her and then she asked us
a couple questions about the church and we were able to answer them. She had
some ideas about the church but we were able to help her see the truth of what she
asked us. So that was nice to be able to talk to her and get to know her. You
could tell that she really needed someone to talk to. So that was nice!
|
Sister Filimoehala and Sister Wheatley |
Then that night, we had dinner at Bishop Whitworth's house.
His daughter got married that day so we went to the reception. Now this next
thing I say will sound kinda creepy but those who know me will laugh.... As we
were driving to the house, all these cars were parked on the side of the road
and I saw this Prius parked there with a Marathon man sticker on the bumper and
I said, "Oh my gosh! That's the Tanner's car!" The Tanner's live in
Chino Hills in my last ward so I saw this car all the time. I can remember cars
really well... creepy I know haha So as we were walking up to the house, I
looked in the window and there was the Tanner family! So when we got in there,
I went into the kitchen where they were (the reception was moved inside because
it was raining) and they looked over and saw me and so we got to talk for a few
minutes, over the very LOUD music. Turns out that Brother Tanner is Sister
Whitworth's youngest brother! So it was very fun to see them there! And the
reception was nice also and the food was DELICIOUS!!!!
|
Sisters Wheatley and Carrell (second companion in Mission Field) |
Then yesterday, Sunday the 18th, we had meetings at the
church from 7:30 am - 3:30 pm. Such a long day at church AND I forgot to bring
lunch :( But all our meetings were really good! We got a lot of information
that will help us in our area. Plus, in sacrament meeting, they called a new
Ward Mission Leader. We love Brother Butler but he is getting older and his
health is not very good so he was released and they called Brother Ballard!
Brother Ballard is a former Bishop and he is very missionary minded so we are
excited to work with him. Good things are coming to this ward! We are looking forward
to it!
Well, that's about all that happened this week. Hopefully
this week will be good. Holidays are a little hard but we are going to work
really hard! And hopefully we can have a few lessons this week and none will be
cancelled.
|
Sisters' hike |
Thanks for the letter from Janey Orton! And a very Happy
Birthday to Lisa Wheatley tomorrow and a Happy Belated Birthday to Manouk,
yesterday! Love you all!
|
Sister Wheatley and her trainer, Sister Davidson |
Well... gotta run! Still have to do a couple shopping trips
today before the day is over! Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I am very grateful
to be a member of this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
And I am also grateful to be here in California for 18 months to serve the
people here and to help spread the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! What a better
way to show my thankfulness than to share it daily!
Love you all so much! Hope everyone's Thanksgiving is filled
with family, food, fun and football! haha :)
|
Sister Wheatley and her MTC Comp, Sister Lehman, and Rachel Hendertilo |
|
Sister Wilcox and Sister Wheatley -- both from Provo High |
|
Sisters in the back of a van on the way to sisters' hike |
-Sister Rachel Wheatley