Mission Boundaries.... say what?

Well hello family and friends!!!

Not a whole ton happened this week. Things are slowing down right now and that's not fun. But that's ok because we are going to find someone new to teach and things are going to be good! :)

So I guess I should probably get started writing this email... We've been here for an hour and I haven't really done anything haha But I'll see if I can hurry and do this.

Tuesday the 12th was a pretty good day. We left the mission!!!! (Hence the subject line...) We got permission from President Becerra because Sister Amataga got garments for Christmas but her mom sent the wrong size so we needed to go exchange them. So we went out to Upland with Brother and Sister Powell. We had a fun time! We didn't do much because all we had to do was exchange things but we also went to Ensign books and got Sister Amataga a CTR ring. It was so tempting in that book store... It's just like going into Deseret Book back home. I wanted everything in there but obviously couldn't buy anything because I am poor LOL But it was fun! We got to take a fun little drive and we felt like such rebels ;)

Sister Amataga scared the bajeebers out of me when I turned around

Then that night we had a wonderful lesson with the Moon family. We haven't seen them in over a month so we were getting a little worried that something had happened. But we watched the Restoration DVD and it turned out to be a wonderful lesson. Before we started the lesson, we had them watch the DVD as if they were Joseph Smith. And when it was over we asked them what they were feeling. It was cool because Brother Moon was reminded how important the Book of Mormon is and Sister Moon realized how important the gospel is in their lives. So while Sister Amataga was talking to them at one point, I felt a prompting to say "If you don't set a date for something, whether it's to stop whatever is holding you back from being baptized or coming to church, it will never happen." So I said that and they agreed. They knew that but there was never really "a reason" to do anything about it until we said something, or that's just what I get from it... So they said that they were not able to come to church yesterday but they set a date for Sunday the 24th and we have another lesson with them tomorrow and then we will follow-up on Saturday at some point. So we are so excited and hopefully this will get them to move forward.

On Wednesday the 13th, oh my gosh what a fun evening we had! Elders Gracia, Yoshikawa, Sister Amataga and I were all apart of the stake mutual night. Each ward put videos together of popular YouTube videos and made funny things out of them. The Glendora 5th Ward did the Harlem Shake as part of their video and Sister Amataga and I had a couple seconds in the video. It was awesome! And then the Elders and I were part of a skit while Sister Amataga played the piano for it. There were little 8 and 9 year olds saying things about going on a mission and then they started singing "I Hope They Call Me On A Mission" and when it says, "when I have grown a foot or two" the Elders and I came out in front of everyone. It was so fun! haha And the videos were SOOO funny! I couldn't stop laughing!!! Especially at the opening video of the young men in the stake who made a music video to "What Makes You Beautiful" by OneDirection. Holy dang, it was awesome!!! It was just a fun night!

 

Legends Restaurant in Upland, California (outside of mission boundaries, with permission from the Prez)

Then Thursday the 14th we had District Meeting and President Becerra came to it. And it was a very good meeting. We talked about "Teach People, Not Lessons" and it was really good! The Spirit was so strong and we learned some things that will help with our two areas. And having President Becerra there was wonderful too! I love when I can learn from him so I was not bummed that he came to our district meeting haha

Then Friday the 15th was a good day. We had two lessons that day. One with our investigator Anthony is the singles ward and another with our investigator Mackenzie in the family ward. Anthony's lesson went pretty well. We taught the Plan of Salvation and that is a lesson that I still struggle with. I don't feel like I can teach it very well but we have to teach it so I might as well pray during the whole thing and work well with my companions and the lesson will turn out the way it needs to. And our lesson with Mackenzie... yeah, the most awkward lesson ever! haha We had to teach about the Law of Chastity and it was just awkward. Thank goodness we had a Sister in the ward who taught at the MTC for two years come with us to teach this lesson. She really helped us out. I think I would rather teach the Plan of Salvation a million times and mess up on it then teach the Law of Chastity. It is not fun! haha But we have to teach that lesson because it is part of what we believe so I'll get over the awkwardness eventually.

At Ensign Books in Upland, Cali

Sister Amataga at Ensign Books in Upland, Cali

Then Saturday the 16th we spent the day with Reyna from the singles ward and did some fun missionary work! haha We had an after baptism lesson with Henry and Peter and we just talked about missionary work and temple and family history. It was a good lesson but oh my goodness, those boys. haha They asked some funny questions that we all looked at each other and just laughed because we didn't even know what the heck they were talking about. They are just way too smart for us and they are only 12 and 9 years old! But it was a good lesson with them.

 

Then we went out to lunch with another member in the YSA ward and then did service at the VanWyk's in the family ward. So it was a good fun day!

But that's about all that happened this week. Nothing too exciting! But it was nice! This week we are hitting the pavement hard because the weather will be BEAUTIFUL and hopefully we will be led to someone who is ready to receive the gospel, or they will be led to us. Things are slowing down here but we aren't going to let that get us down :)

Well, thanks to mom for the St. Patrick's Day package this week. I was all excited but I was sad yesterday when the only green I could wear was a pair of earrings. If I had been at home I would have been all decked out for the holiday haha But it was ok, at least I didn't get pinched ;)

And a very happy birthday to Celeste Hernandez today and Margo on the 22nd. Love you both tons!

Love always, Sister Rachel Wheatley

Restaurant in Upland, California

ONE YEAR say what??

 Well, this last week I hit it -- that year mark! I know I said it last week but I just can't believe it! I texted my MTC companion that day and it was weird to wish her a happy year mark. I feel like we just got out here. Anyway, because I said that last week, I'll start writing about what happened this week...

Tuesday the 5th was a pretty good day. We did A LOT of walking but it felt so good! I can't wait til it gets even better weather and we walk more. But I'm not looking for the heat of the summer. That's the bummer with being in California, only a couple weeks of PERFECT weather... Anyway, we had a good day and meeting with our new investigator Jen. She wanted to read 11 chapters of 1st Nephi by the time we met but didn't get that far. So we just talked about what she was able to read and then we talked about what she was going to read next. It was a pretty good lesson. Then we just did tons more walking and didn't have a ton of people outside to talk to but that's ok.

Having fun with my teddy bear

The sad thing though about that day is that we were supposed to have a lesson with the Moon family but we haven't been able to go over in three weeks. They never answered last Monday when we asked if we could come over on Tuesday so we just thought we'd stop by but no one was home :( We were really sad. They were progressing so well and then it just stopped. I don't know what happened but hopefully we can get back into their home and help them progress again.

Then Wednesday the 6th we had a lesson with our investigator Mackenzie. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and she really knew a lot about it. She basically taught us about it. So that was cool! And while we were meeting with her, we talked about her baptism on the 24th and asked who she wanted to baptize her and give the talks. We had told her earlier that her father could baptize her (if he started coming back to church) and she, without hesitation, said she wanted her dad to baptize her. So we said we would talk to the bishop and she had to talk to her dad about it. And that was cool because she started to cry a little when she said she wanted her dad to baptize her. She also told us that she wanted her grandmother and aunt in the Glendora 1st ward to give the talks. Well, to keep this a little short, that night we went over to her grandmothers house and talked to them about it. Turns out, they didn't even know Mackenzie was taking the missionary lessons until that afternoon. Apparently she likes to surprise people haha So we had a nice talk with them and found out that Mackenzie's father stopped going to church when he was 14 years old. That was a shocker to us because we thought he went til he was at least 18 so he could baptize her. But nope.... So then we had a little more work to do in order to get Mackenzie to be baptized by her father but we were up for the "challenge." (Will come back to this later...)

Then that night we went to mutual at the church because we thought Mackenzie would be there but she ended up not being able to go. Well, while there the YM/YW were putting together a video for the stake and the YW president asked if we could be in it. So we went around while all the youth were doing the Harlem Shake (haven't seen the original but their version was pretty awesome so I'm sure it is funny!) and we shook all the youth's hands. They didn't really understand why we were doing it because they were being loud when the YW leader told them what we were doing but that's ok... It was just a little awkward... But it was fun to watch this. Now I just want to see the original Harlem Shake. Plus, we are part of the program when all the youth in the stake show their videos so we get to go watch all these. We are pretty stoked! haha

Then Thursday the 7th was MY YEAR MARK!!!! We got up at 5:45 am and got ready because we were teaching seminary for Brother and Sister Stowell in the ward. And that was fun. I don't like waking up that early anymore but it was fun to go to seminary. I've always loved going to seminary and institute and going to help out as a missionary reminds me of how fun it was in high school.

We had zone meeting that day also and that was tons of fun. We learned a lot about how to contact people on the street and to teach them doctrine when we first talk to them (after getting to know them a little of course...) But that's something that we're really working on as a mission. And it was good!

About to burn my skirt as a tradition for meeting my one year mark!

Oh, before I forget a couple things. The zone leaders had a couple announcements for us that day and some of them were kinda "yeah, we knew that" announcements but there were two that were good and sad... Good news! We are now able to email ANYONE we want (as long as it's not someone of the opposite gender within mission boundaries without permission from President Becerra...) and we can email for as long as we want on Pdays as long as our companions are ok with emailing for just as long! haha That made us missionaries happy! But the sad news... Starting July 1, 2013, the Chino zone will no longer be in the California Arcadia mission :( It will now be part of the Rancho Cucamonga (sp??) mission. So I was sad to hear that since I served there. But to add to that, there will be between 12-16 missionaries from the Arcadia mission that President Becerra will be sending to the new Rancho mission in July. He said he is going to hand pick them, not even help from the Assistants on this one. I know that I shouldn't pray to keep me here but I have been. I know that no matter what, I will be put wherever I'm needed but I will be sad if I have to leave the Arcadia mission. By the time this happens, I'll only have two transfers left and so I don't want to leave. But I guess I shouldn't dwell on it because I know President Becerra will pray about it and he won't move anyone unless he is told by the Spirit to do so. I know I've been in Chino already but that doesn't mean it keeps me safe from the move. But we'll see what happens...

Then we did service at the Salisbury's that day and it was fun! We always love going over to their house :) And that night we went to the Hyer's to talk to Sister Hyer about an inactive lady that lives up the street from them who Brother Hyer home teaches. And while we were there we talked about Pam and Amanda and found out that Pam's mother passed away suddenly so that made us sad. We have come to love Pam and Amanda and it was just sad to hear that. And we talked about a lot of other things and we shed tears of joy and while talking the Spirit was there. I just love going over to the Hyer's because I can always count on leaving with a smile on my face and to have felt the Spirit at some point in our conversation, no matter what we talked about. Sister Hyer just brings the Spirit so strongly! Love her!

Then that night after we went home and planned, I grabbed one of my favorite skirts that has always been too big for me but I still wear it and I cut it up and burned it! I always wanted to burn a piece of clothing on my mission! It's the thing to do! haha So I was very excited! But I was scared at the same time... All I could think of was something going very wrong and the house burning down while Sister Beck was in Argentina... But luckily I have a companion who has burned plenty of things back home that she knew what to do and how I wouldn't burn down the house (we did it outside on the sidewalk but I was still scared something would go horribly wrong.) But it was tons of fun! haha And that's how I celebrated my year mark :)

My fingernail burned in this picture!

Then on Friday the 8th we had to cancel a lesson with our investigator Anthony because we couldn't find fellowship :( We were totally bummed because the last lesson we had went really well and we didn't want to cancel this one, but we had to. And then we went to Jen's again and taught her the Plan of Salvation. I was bummed because it wasn't as powerful of a lesson as our first one was. So I was worried that we messed up. But she asked a lot of questions and she made sure that she understood things. So that was good!

Then that afternoon we had another lesson with Mackenzie. We talked to her about the commandments and other things. Then we asked if she had talked to her dad and she said no. So we talked to her a little more about that and after our lesson, her mom picked her up and we talked to her for a second. Vanessa was wondering about what she had to do for the baptism so we just told her some basic things but that she didn't really have to do anything for it. But we did tell her that Mackenzie wants her dad to baptize her and that requires some things on Tommy's part. So we talked to Vanessa and she said she would talk to Tommy as well, after Mackenzie talked to her.

Then Saturday the 9th we did weekly planning (we didn't have the chance to do it on Friday.) It was a very long weekly planning session. I can't go into much details because I've been asked not to but there were some things that were holding Sister Amataga back and we spent a long time talking about it and trying to help her. To be honest, I always felt like something was holding the both of us back from being even better missionaries and the "comp inventory" that we had, really helped to let these things out.

Then the rest of the night we went to dinner, had a recent convert lesson with Henry and Peter, visited a couple less-active members and then went home and made cookies. (I owed the Elders recent convert cookies again because the last batch I made were way too dry. But these ones I made turned out good! The only thing was that they were too flat for my liking, but tasted like they are supposed to when I make them at home...)

Then to the part about Tommy and Mackenzie that I said I'd get back to... Sunday the 10th was a very good day! We had a very good ward council meeting and then a really good sacrament meeting! As Sister Amataga and I were sitting on the back bench, we were by the doors and all of a sudden Mackenzie comes in WITH HER DAD!!!!!!!!!!!! I got this HUGE smile on my face and I almost started crying. We had told Mackenzie that if she wanted her dad to baptize her, he'd need to come back to church and talk to the bishop and he did! After sacrament meeting I went up to Bishop Whitworth and told him that Tommy was there and then they went into bishop's office and had a little meeting. We don't know what happened or what was said but OH MY GOSH!!!! HE WAS AT CHURCH!!!! And to me that means something! Whether he's able to baptize her in two weeks or not, the fact that Tommy came to church means something! I was just so happy all day! That is such a big miracle! It's one of those big miracles but I know that Heavenly Father is there! It's the thing that makes my mission worth it! I just am so happy, still!

And yeah, I'll end right there on that happy note. I know that this church is true. I have seen so many miracles because of the gospel of Jesus Christ and it makes me happy to know that I'm lucky enough to be apart of this gospel. I have had so many opportunities to share my testimony since being on my mission and it makes me so happy. I never took advantage of bearing my testimony like I should have when I was home but now I will. I need to share it in as many ways as possible. And one thing I challenge you all to do is to share your testimony with family, friends, co-workers, anyone. Maybe not one like you would share in fast and testimony meeting but find a way to share it with someone, whether they're members or not, less-active or fully active. Sharing your testimony with others is a great way to strengthen yours and to help others strengthen theirs as well. I know that our Father in Heaven is there helping each one of us in all that we do and that He will never leave us alone. He's always there listening when we need someone to talk to. He's the best listening ear! I have gotten down on my knees many times and each time, He's there. And he will be for each of us if we go to Him. I know that Jesus Christ came to this earth to suffer and die for each of us so that we can return to Him and our Father in Heaven again. He knows how each of us feel at all times and He is also always there. Whenever we feel like we can't go on any longer, we can because Christ died for each and everyone of us. I know that though Joseph Smith was only 14 years old, he was chosen to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ and that President Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. And I can't wait to hear from him and the other apostles in a few weeks at General Conference. I look forward to hearing the words they have for us that have come from Heavenly Father. I'm thankful for my family and friends, each one of you. Without each of you in my life, whether I've known you for a long time or a short time, without you, I would not be who I am today. I have been molded to who I am because of all of you. Thank you!

The remains of my burning skirt

And last but not least, I forgot birthdays this week but hope that if there are any birthdays, that you have a great day! And thank you to the van Os family for the card I got this week! I got it on Thursday so it came on the perfect day :) And CONGRATULATIONS to all those who are engaged or going on missions! Such an exciting time in all your lives.

Love you all so much!

Love always,

Sister Rachel Wheatley

Week of Miracles

Can you even believe it?! This week, Thursday, I hit my YEAR MARK!!!!! I don't feel like it's been a year, it's gone so fast! But it has been one of the best years of my life! I have learned so much about myself and about the gospel of Jesus Christ and I really never thought it would come like it has. I just have loved it! Like I said last week, it's coming to an end so fast and I don't want it to come yet. I'm just now getting into the groove of things and I know there are going to be amazing things that will come in these next six months. It's just crazy how much has already happened! Life changing experiences that I will treasure for eternity.

Now to get started with what happened this week. One thing is a MIRACLE!!! But let's start with Monday the 25th. Crazy day! And the crazy part all happened before 10am! We had zone conference in Chino on Monday and we left at 8:15 am because we needed to be there by 9am. Plenty of time to get there early. Yeah.....no.... I have to start out by saying how much I dislike the fact that California has a million freeways... I accidentally took the 210 freeway east bound when I really needed to take the 57 south bound. Ugh! While we were on the 210, I was not recognizing the road. I drove that road to Arcadia for seven months while I was serving in Chino Hills so I know what the drive looks like. Well, we finally got into San Bernardino county and saw signs for Upland.... Totally different mission! Dang it! (Yes, I have a GPS but President asked me if I could give it to a Korean Sister who is training in a new area....) So we called the Elders and they had to tell us where to go. Well, little did we know that the 210 and the 57 DO NOT connect  so we had to get off and go find the entrance to the 57 and that took us 20 minutes! So we were on our way and all of a sudden I realized that we needed to take the 71 freeway and I missed it. So we had to pull off in the middle of the freeway and call the Elders again asking what to do. It took us about 15 minutes of being on the phone before they finally just said, "Tell us where you are, we are coming to get you." I was totally embarrassed because I was just going to a church that was in an area where I served for SEVEN MONTHS!! I felt so dumb! So it took the Elders 15 minutes to get to us and  then it took us that long to get back to Chino. Ugh! I was so mad at myself! I couldn't believe I was needing Elders to come save us. Now, it wouldn't have been as bad but I wasn't feeling well at all so being sick just added to the drama.

So we finally got to the church building that we needed to be at and because we were late, we made everyone else wait for us. So embarrassing! haha BUT, it was a wonderful zone conference so that was good! And not only that but it was with the Chino zone so I got to see Sisters Carrell, Lehman, and Butler. It was nice! And the stake RS in Chino were serving us lunch so I got to see Sisters Knecht and Williams! So that made me happy! Anyway, it was just so wonderful! The Spirit was so strong the whole conference! I especially loved that we took time and got into our districts and read Enos in the Book of Mormon and got to discuss it verse by verse and we only got to like verse seven in 10 minutes. So cool! And then at the end of the conference, President brought us all into a smallish room and we had a Q&A session. Just so awesome! Can I just say how amazing President Becerra is?! Love him!

 

Then on Tuesday the 26th we were doing laundry at a members house and we get this text from a potential investigator that said, "Hi Sisters!!! I think it's time for some lessons!" Umm... We were so excited! This text came from Jen, who is Becky's daughter in-law. The night of transfer calls a couple weeks ago, we were at their house and she said that if we don't get transferred, she wanted to learn from us. Well, after they were sick for a week, she just randomly texted us! Whoop whoop! So the next day, Wednesday the 27th, we went over to her house while she was home with her two kids alone and we taught her. She had a couple questions for us that led us right into the Restoration lesson. And I basically taught the lesson by myself because Sister Amataga was keeping her son, Elijah, entertained so Jen could focus. Well, we were there for TWO hours! We aren't usually supposed to be at appointments for that long but we really didn't have any other plans for the day and we didn't feel bad about being there. And to be honest, when we looked down at the phone to see what time it was, none of us thought it had been two hours. We thought maybe an hour. So that was crazy how fast it went!

Well, like I said, I was teaching the lesson (Sister Amataga would interject every once in a while when she had something to say) and I was telling Jen about Joseph Smith and how he restored Christ's church. I quoted what's known as "The First Vision" and she started to tear up. Then she asked a few more questions and as the discussion went on, she said, "You know, I've been to a lot of churches. I've almost become a Jew because I thought that was the closest I could come to Christ's religion. I almost became a Jehovah's Witness. I have almost joined a number of churches but none of them have felt right. As I've been listening to you, a hunger that I have felt for a long time has started to fill me." OH MY HECK!!!

 

Seriously?!?! I'm not gonna lie, I've always wanted to have this kind of missionary experience but never thought it would happen. I just thought they were stories. But no! This was happening right before my very eyes. I just started to cry! It was incredible! And yes, the Spirit was incredible throughout the whole two hours. Basically all I can say now is WOW!

Then on Thursday the 28th, just a little something... We were supposed to go to Citrus campus at 8am to do the booth for all the morning students and then the Elders would come after studies and take over. Well, we didn't leave til about 8:15 or so and by the time we got to security it was almost 8:30. I grabbed my wallet to get my license out and IT WASN'T THERE!!! I started to freak out! I had no clue where it was. Sister Amataga and I looked EVERYWHERE in the car and couldn't find it. On the way back to the house we thought of all the places we'd been since I last saw it but couldn't figure out where it could be. Well, I went home and looked in one of my bags and couldn't see anything. So I finally got down on my knees and prayed to find it. I looked around the room for a minute and then decided to go back out to the car to look. I looked under my seat and there it was! Miracle! Not sure how the heck it got under my seat but it was there and my prayer was answered! Just another witness that Heavenly Father is there watching out for and listening to me and my needs, no matter how small they are.

Then that afternoon we went home and made cookies! I love being a Sister missionary! haha We felt like we needed to do something different for our investigators who we haven't seen in a while and also for the less actives we haven't seen. So I was very happy to make cookies! I was bummed because I wanted to make Chocolate Chip cookies but sadly we didn't have enough chips. But because mom sent Sister Beck her delicious Gingersnap recipe, we were able to make those and take them around to a couple people with either a General Conference talk or a little quote. It was awesome and I was happy to be making cookies :)

Then Friday the 1st I spent a lot of the morning in bed because I was not feeling well at all. I had been sick for a week and wasn't really getting better. But then we had a couple lessons and we had to get going. Then I was so sick of being sick and down, I said a little prayer to help me as we walked that afternoon because it was "No Car Friday" and all of a sudden I got feeling a lot better! So wonderful!

Then that night we went over to Jack and Lorie's house to give them cookies and a card with a little quote. Lorie has been investigating the church for about five months but we haven't been able to see them because of the holidays and their work schedule. Well, last week we went over and found out that they were moving. So we brought them cookies and wrote in the card that we hope they continue to take the lessons and that one day Lorie will get baptized. Well, before we even said anything, Jack said that he was at their new house that day with the movers and they were sitting outside in the garage and the SISTER MISSIONARIES showed up! Really, Heavenly Father?! You are just incredible! They were walking the area and when they saw Jack outside, they went and talked to him and the movers. He let them do their "spiel" and then said something about the Celestial Kingdom and the Sisters started to laugh and asked if he was a member. He said yes and that his wife was investigating. So, they told the Sisters that when they get settled, they want to start up the lessons again. So dang cool!! It just made me want to cry! I was so happy! Miracle!

Then on Saturday the 2nd we met some of the young women from the La Cresenta stake in Arcadia and they went out with all of us Sisters in the mission. So we took around Heather and we went to help at Jack and Lorie's, we helped them pack up his mom's books. So it probably wasn't the missionary work that she was looking forward to but that's what we do! haha And it was fun!

Well, that's about all that happened this week. Saturday night we went out with the Nielson's to Olive Garden (which was delicious and if you've ever been to OG with me, I ALWAYS get the Bruschetta... But not this time, I am branching out! I know, blows your mind right?! haha) Well, while we were there, Sister Nielson told us a story of when she was on her mission in London while they were filming the last Harry Potter movie. She had a story about her and her companion (mainly her companion) finding out when and where they were filming a part of the movie and they went and waited all day to just hopefully get a glimpse of and meet "Harry Potter." Ok, I was cracking up at her story because I felt like it was me with one of the bands that I love! I really wish I could tell it over email but I could never tell the story as well as her. BUT if you have the last Harry Potter DVD, she said that her companion was being chased by the security at the train station because she had her camera out. Well, I guess this chase is on the extras in the DVD. So if you've ever seen it, it was a Sister missionary in London who was being chased. I was cracking up!

Well, yeah, that's about all... Not more to say. It was a good week full of miracles! And I'm so happy for this coming week to happen. I don't know what will happen, but I know that it will be full of more wonderful things! :)

Oh, before I forget, Happy Birthday to my cousins Hayden Wheatley and Matthew and Jordan Tharp today. And to Jamie Webb on the 6th. I think that's all for birthdays this week??? And thanks to dad and Sam for your letters in the last couple weeks and mom, I did get the package from DB so thanks! :)
Love you all so much!

Love always, Sister Rachel Wheatley

Busy Bees....

Enjoying her ribs at a member's home

Re-enactment of my first district picture.  Sister Davidson and Elder Linford were going home. Elders Durfey and Williamson were at the office for transfers so we took another picture together.  Just sad I was not in my proselyting clothes (we were going to wash the car while at the office)

Sister Ackley and I with Sister Davidson before she left for home. Davo spent 11 months of her mission with just the two of us!

First of all, I forgot to tell mom last week that we were going to have Zone Conference yesterday so that's why I didn't email yesterday. Sorry about that. I know mom was updating her email every two seconds to make sure she wasn't missing an email haha

 

Secondly, Happy Birthday this week to my Uncle Dawain (today) and Uncle Micah on the 28th. He gets the best bday present ever, having his daughter come home from her mission! And also to my cousins Perry and Michael the III. Love you all!

 

Speaking of Mariah coming home, WELCOME HOME!!!!! It's been so much fun serving with you these last 11 months even though we were across the pond from each other. I know that I have said it many times but thank you Mariah, for your example! Love you so much!

 

Wow! This week went by so fast and it was so good! We got a lot accomplished this week. We have been busier than I've ever been on my mission and it's so wonderful! (Yes, I just read the email from Bubba and I feel like I'm copying what he wrote but I'm not...)

So, to get started... Last Monday the 18th was such a good day!!! Sister Amataga and I went to the mission office to say goodbye to Sister Davidson, my trainer, and to wash and vacuum out our car. We spent about two or so hours there and it was nice. We sat with all the Sisters that were in the office and we just laughed and talked and had fun. I don't think I ever stopped laughing while at the office. I think everyone was getting annoyed of it... JK But it was fun. Sister Davidson and I sat and talked about all the good times we had while we were companions. I just can't tell you how fun it was to just sit and relax and enjoy one another's company. And Sister Ackley sat with us and talked and yeah, it was fun! haha But then it was time to say goodbye to Sister Davidson and that was sad. But no sad tears. She has this really cute picture of the two of us right before she left of us laughing. I'm so thankful that I was able to learn from her for six months of my mission. She will never really know how much I learned from her but I did learn a lot! She's been a great example to me the last year.

Then on Wednesday the 20th, we did a booth at Citrus College again. The new semester started and there were a ton of people around. Plus there were a lot of other booths around. Sadly we ended up leaving earlier than we wanted to because for one thing, we had a Jehovah Witness come up and talk to us and he kinda made things not so nice and also, a radio station was in the courtyard and they were playing loud, not-so-good music and the Spirit was just not there. But hopefully this week will be better and we can get some good contacts out of it!

Then that night, we went over to a part-member/inactive families home and talked to the 12 year old daughter, Mackenzie and her mom. Mackenzie has been coming out to church for a long while now and we felt, and the Bishop has asked us, to teach Mackenzie the missionary lessons. So we asked her a couple weeks ago at church but we needed to get the permission of her parents. So we went over that night and talked to her and her mother and she gave us permission to teach Mackenzie. Vanessa said that when she and her husband were younger, they felt like they were forced to go to church and they didn't want that to happen to their children. So growing up, Mackenzie went to church with her grandparents in the Glendora 1st ward and her great-grandparents who are in our ward and so she just keeps coming back. So we got permission and we set up a time to meet with her! We were so excited! Mackenzie is a great girl and has such a strong testimony and I know that it will help her and her family.

Then Friday the 22nd we spent a few hours over at the church helping set up for the Women's Conference that was happening the next day. And it was so fun to set it up! It was a Victorian type feel and I loved it! (It's something that I might consider as decorations for my wedding someday ;) It was very simple but very elegant and beautiful!

Then that afternoon we had our first lesson with Mackenzie. It was super good and the Spirit was so strong. I'm not a fan of committing someone to baptism in the first lesson even though Preach My Gospel tells us to but we have talked about it a few different times with Mackenzie so we felt like it was ok to set a date with her. She said yes so we set a date for Sunday March 24th. It's so exciting! And she's really happy!

And after our lesson, she asked us to help her prepare a talk for Sunday. The Bishopric asked her to speak in Sacrament meeting and so she needed help. Her topic was knowledge and it was fun to be able to help her. I'm not good at writing talks but together the three of us came up with some good ideas and she went home and put it together and she gave an amazing talk on Sunday!

Then that night for dinner we went over to the Ingram's. Their son, Matt, is in our singles ward we are over and he invited us for dinner. It was such a fun night! We didn't stop laughing all night. And come to find out, Brother Ingram owns a catering business and he said if I came back after my mission, I could work there! haha :) I couldn't stop thinking about what Sarah said to me in high school.... "Rachel, I could see you working out in Hollywood one day!" He said he's done a couple big weddings and he was even in the movie Matilda. If you remember that movie, his place is where they go to eat dinner in the fancy restaurant and all the cake and stuff flies everywhere. haha So cool!!! :) But it was just such a fun night with tons of laughter (I won't tell you why we couldn't stop laughing but I will tell you it was because of something that happened to me since I've been on my mission... and just other funny things that were said that night by everyone.)

Then Saturday the 23rd we were able to go to the Women's Conference at the stake center. SO good! The theme was angels and it was just amazing! I'm sad though because we weren't able to go to all of it because we had to go do some missionary work haha But we went to the beginning and the end of it and it was just awesome. We don't talk a whole ton about angels in the church so that's why they had that as the theme. It was awesome! Basically the major message I got out of that was that we are all angels in our own way and we have a loving Heavenly Father who sent all of us here in this world to be one another's angels. It was cool!

Then after the conference, we went to La Verne to sing at a memorial service. We got a call on Friday night from Becky and the Elders and they were having a memorial service for a friend of Becky's and her sister Olivia's (who lives in La Verne) and they were going to have Olivia's wards primary sing but they had to cancel so the Elders in Olivia's ward, Elders Duerson and Smith, and I sang a couple songs and then Sister Amataga played the piano. It was a great service and the Spirit was there. It was sad though because their friend, Linda, who passed, was raising her granddaughter and at the end of the service, Charlotte got up and said a couple things and it was just heart wrenching. She was in tears and could hardly speak. She's only 9 or 10 years old and it was just so cute! But it was hard because you could see the sadness and pain she feels now that her grandmother is gone. But, she's been going to church with Olivia and her family (not sure she's baptized....) and so she basically bore her testimony saying that she knows she will be able to see her grandmother again. It was just beautiful but sad.

And that night we had THREE meals, one right after another. One was lunch but it was a late lunch and then we had dinner with a family in our ward at 5pm and  then we had a dinner with Brother and Sister Lancaster in the Heritage ward with the Elders. Sister Lancaster works in Chino Hills and Davo and I met her while we did service there and so she had us come to dinner with them. It was so fun! And the food, DELICIOUS!!! We had RIBS. Yes, RIBS! Would I have been caught dead eating those before my mission, yes. But I have come to LOVE Ribs (which could be a dangerous thing when I get home and want to go out to eat......) And these were so good! They just fell of the bones and melted in your mouth! Yum! But, I was so full by that time that Sister Amataga and I only ate a little and then we had to take the rest home.

Then Sunday the 24th was such a good day! Church in both wards was amazing and then at 5:30pm we had a baptism for Henry and Peter. It was so awesome! The Spirit was strong there and it was just good. The ward gave them a lot of support and Brother Ding baptized his sons, which was really cool. After being inactive for six years, they have been coming back to church for about two months and he was able to baptize his sons. It was just a very good service!

Then that night we went over to the Jacobson's and Brother Jacobson is a chiropractor and he's been helping Sister Amataga with her arm since she fell in December while bowling and he helps me too. He's worked on my feet a couple times and this time he told me "I'm going to work on you too." And he cracked my back and neck. It was so nice! I have been in need of some "back crackage" as Sister Davidson would say, and it felt wonderful! Then they showed us pictures of their trip to Isreal and told us about it. It was awesome! To get to see these pictures of places where Christ walked when he was on the earth. They were telling us all about it and I just felt like I was there myself. It was so cool because they were just pictures but I felt the Spirit so strongly! It made me want to go to Israel one day and walk where my Savior, Jesus Christ walked. Can you imagine?! I can't! But it was awesome!

Well, that's about all for this week. But I will end with this. On Saturday at our first dinner appointment, I was giving the Spiritual thought and at the end I was bearing my testimony and out of my mouth came something like, "Before my mission I didn't know how I could make it for 18 months. I felt like 18 months would be an eternity. But as I am now just a couple weeks til I reach my six months til home mark, I realize that 18 months isn't long enough. I am just now "getting it" as one of our AP's, Elder Nielson, said. I don't want to go home yet. I was always told that with six months left on a mission you will feel like you are just then learning and doing the right things but I just kinda laughed and brushed it off. But now that I'm at that point, I realize how true it is. I don't have much time left. I go home soon and I don't want to leave this work behind feeling like I didn't do anything. I have six months left and I am going to work harder than I ever have." And it's all true! In about two weeks I hit that point of six months left. I don't want it to come yet because I feel like I just now "get it." But I know that my time is almost up and I'm not going to let it slow me down. I have seen miracles happen all throughout my mission and I know there are more just waiting to happen!

I have a love for this work that I honestly never thought I would have. But the more I'm out here serving the Lord, the more that love comes. I know with all my heart that this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is THE church that Christ set up while He was on the earth and that it was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that it is true with all my heart! I don't know how I could still be out here on my mission if it wasn't true. I just want to shout it from the top of a high mountain where everyone in the world can hear it. Whether they are a member or not, active or not active, I just want everyone to know of it's truthfulness. It had changed me in so many ways. I have learned and grown in ways I never could have if I was at home. If I had one wish granted, it would be that the people I love the most, my family and friends, members, non members, and members who have fallen away, would pray to their Eternal Father in Heaven to have that witness of it's truth. I would never need anything else in this world if I could see those I love being baptized and going to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity. I know this to be true and I'm so thankful for my parents, leaders, friends, and family who have taught me my whole life of it's truthfulness. Thank you, every single one of you, for your examples you have been in my life. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love always, Sister Wheatley

Stake Women's Conference - table decorations

Sister Davidson and I -- gonna miss my trainer and friend!

Henry and Peter's baptism with their parents

Sister Amataga and Iin our sweet-awesome matching shirts.  All the Sisters that came to the office last Monday thought our shirts were way cool.  Plus, we have matching rings from Becky and Mike for Valentine's Day. Just matching all around :)

Transfer #9

Well, transfer calls were this weekend but thank the heavens above, Sister Amataga and I are staying together!!!! We are so happy! To be honest I was almost positive that I was going to be transferred. Things are going WONDERFULLY here and I just knew that I was going to be gone and I was so sad. But I am very happy that we have another six weeks here together in the Glendora 5th and Glendora 6th YSA wards! Good things are happening and coming!

District Picture

Well, I will try to make this short because we have very little time to write because we are going to Arcadia today to say goodbye to my trainer, Sister Davidson, who goes home tomorrow :(

So to get started... Last Monday the the 11th we were supposed to have dinner with a part member/inactive family in our ward but they had to cancel because of something that came up. I was bummed! But we have a raincheck so we have to set that up again!

Then Tuesday the 12th we did a LOT of walking. We had to pass out Mormon Next Door fliers and that took us a couple hours going from house to house putting them on doors. But it was nice to be out walking and getting to talk to people along the way. President's commitment to me at interviews has really helped me. I haven't talked to five people every day like he asked but I try! Sadly there aren't a lot of people walking around in the middle of the day and I just don't feel good about two girls walking around after dark in the evenings so yeah. But it is helping me!

V Day with Sister Russell and the Butler's
 

Then we had an AMAZING lesson with our part member family we are working with. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they had a lot of questions and they also had good answers and comments and it was just amazing! At the end of our lesson, their inactive son, Jonathan, asked what time church started and he really wanted to come! And Sister Moon said that he needs to help them all get to church. Sadly we didn't see them on Sunday but we aren't giving up and seeing them someday at church! They are so close to coming! I just love this family! I can see them going to the temple within the next two years and I'm just so happy that they all want to turn their lives around and be better!

Then we had our lesson with Henry and Peter who are getting baptized this coming Sunday! They are so incredible. They have a very good knowledge of the gospel for being so young and not active for as long as the family was. So it's so fun to teach them!

OK, the finger thing is a joke because
of something the Elders did and we couldn't stop laughing at it

Wednesday the 13th was good! We didn't do a whole ton but we met with the zone leaders and discussed how we can have better success in the YSA ward because we are really struggling. But it's looking up there. We had two non members at church yesterday with their friend who's in our ward and we are going to call them today to set up appointments to meet with them! We are so excited about that. They were in our Gospel Principles class yesterday and they gave great answers!

Then that night we went over to our less actives, Sharron, and started teaching her the lessons again. She hasn't been to church in about a year or longer and she loves the church and the people but we think that us teaching her the lessons again will help her have a better understanding of the gospel and will help her to come back to church. And she was very nice to have a lesson with. She knows a lot but sometimes it's hard for her to explain. But we love her and keep going to see her and helping her to come back! The whole ward loves her and wants her to come back so we are hoping soon!

Red tongues from the Petite Sour Hearts...THANKS FOR THOSE!
 

Rach with Elijah, Becky's grandson

Then Thursday the 14th, SAD (Singles Awareness Day) or as some people call it, Valentine's Day ;), we had a district meeting which was good and then we did more Mormon Next Door fliers haha That was our biggest push this week and it was a good turn out (will talk about that later...) But for dinner that night we ate with Sister Russell and the Butler's. Sister Amataga was so sad when we got our dinner calendar and no one signed up for Valentine's Day, I wonder why... :) But she said something to a few people, haha, so we got dinner! And it was so good! We had this delicious Shrimp dish! Yes, Shrimp! I ate Shrimp! And I love it! We have it all the time out here! It's delicious! I really have expanded my food likes. It's funny what I love now and didn't love just one year ago :)



With Sister Wilson from the Carbon Canyon Ward

Then Friday the 15th we had a really long planning session! We got a big map of our ward boundaries so we spent a couple hours home made laminating it. Staples and Office Depot could only laminate things 24 inches and our map was bigger so we had to laminate it with packaging tape! I love packing tape now! It's my new best friend! I use it so much as a missionary to laminate things!

Not much happened Saturday the 16th. We had a meeting with our district leader and in the morning made cookies for the Mormon's Next Door thing on Sunday. Speaking of.... Mom, everyone LOVED the Ginger Snaps!! haha So thanks for the recipe. Sister Beck forwarded it on to a couple people who asked for it. So you are famous with that recipe even all the way out here in Glendora California!! :)

Sister Davidson and Rach with their convert, Rose

Then Sunday the 17th was a good day. We had church until 3:30 and then a lesson at 4, the Mormon's Next Door presentation at 5, and then the missionary farewell in Arcadia at 6:30. Church was incredible! Our lesson went really well and the Mormon's Next Door was awesome! President Becerra and our stake President, President O'Bryant put it on and they did awesome! We had to leave part way through to go to Arcadia but there was such a good turn out there! We had about 75-80 non members there. We sent out about 40,000 (maybe that's an exaggeration but it was a big number) of fliers so I have to say, I think that was a great turn out for it! Then the missionary farewell in Arcadia was awesome! I wasn't able to go at first because we didn't have investigators or recent converts to take but I got permission to go if Rose, mine and Sister Davidson's convert from Carbon Canyon, went. And she called during church yesterday and said she was going! So Sister Amataga and I got a ride with the Powell's in our ward and we were able to go! I was so happy! And I was doing great until Sister Davidson got up to bear her testimony. She told a story that made me cry and then as we were singing the closing song, God Be With You Til We Meet Again, I wasn't crying but then I looked up at Davo and she was BAWLING! So then I just let go and cried! I'm going to miss seeing her around the mission. She taught me so much while she trained me for six months and she is one of the best missionaries and friends that I know. But I'm glad that we got to serve together and that she'll be in Provo going to BYU so we can see each other once I get home. And after the testimonies, I went back with Rose to see Davo and a couple people from the Carbon Canyon ward were there and it was so nice to be reunited with the people that helped me learn and grow as a missionary. So yeah, it was a little sad to be there because it made me miss Chino Hills but I love the people here in Glendora just as much!

with Brother and Sister Williams from Carbon Canyon Ward

Well, I forgot to check birthdays this week so happy birthday to anyone and everyone who's celebrating this week. Gotta run but will talk to you all next week! Love you all tons and tons!!!

Love always, Sister Rachel Wheatley

With Brother Apgar and his daughter Jessica from Carbon Canyon Ward

With Ryan from CVYSA ward and Elder Nielson -- awkward picture!

Interview Week!

Heyo everyone!!!

This was a very good week! It did have a rough start when on Monday we contacted our investigator in the YSA ward to make sure that we were still on for our lesson on Tuesday and he said to us, "I can not meet with you anymore. I thought you were Christian. I am Christian...." NO!!! It made us so bumbed! We told him that we ARE Christian but he doesn't want to meet with us anymore. It was just so sad! It's interesting because I told him when I first met him that we are Christian, that we worship Jesus Christ, and when we took him on a chapel tour, we told him that we are focused all around Christ. But for some reason he doesn't think we are Christian. It makes us so sad because the only thing we can think of is that he talked to someone and they talked him out of meeting with us. It was just a total bummer!

Well, now to start talking about happy things... Monday the 4th, we were lucky enough to have Sister Duvall in our family ward look at her grocery ads and find us good deals for shopping. Then she took us out and we went shopping! We were very happy because we only spent $30 total! It was nice! And we have a lot of food! We went home and I cooked our hamburger and other foods while Sister Amataga cleaned the house. It was very nice! Now we are saving money by not going out and we are eating A LOT healthier! So that made us happy :)

Well, Tuesday the 5th we were supposed to meet up with Sister Harker and Sister Synderrgard to do exchanges early but Sister Harker had a meeting so we kept pushing it back so we didn't do exchanges until about 8:15 pm that night. And right before exchanges, Sister Amataga and I went to a less-active members home that we hadn't seen in a few weeks. When we got there Sister Lupton was home (she's a nurse so she has weird hours of work...) so we were able to go in and see them. We love the Lupton's! They are so sweet! We just go and see them and share a little message with them and say a prayer and we hope that they will come back to church sometime soon. I think the biggest thing with them is that they had jobs that make them work on Sundays and so they got out of the habit of coming to church. So we are hoping that we can help them to come back sometime soon! They are wonderful and the ward loves them and they seem to have testimonies of the gospel so we just hope to see them come back to church. Then we went to the church and did exchanges.

Then on Wednesday the 6th, Sister Harker and I did a lot of work! Not like Sister Amataga and I don't do a lot of work but for some reason, we got a lot done and saw people that we haven't been able to see since I got here about four months ago. The biggest happiness of that day was when we went to the Cutler's home. We were on our way home for dinner but Sister Harker and I looked at each other and said, "Let's just try one more." So we got to the Cutler's and they let us in. Brother Cutler has been inactive for many years and his wife and daughters are not members of the church. They were making dinner and they asked if we had had dinner. We said we were just on our way home and Sister Harker said, "Yeah, Sister Wheatley made a bunch of good food!" So we started talking about how I love to cook and Sister Cutler said she wanted to learn something from me. So I told them that I make some killer Chicken Enchiladas and that I would love to make them for them! They said yes and we set up a dinner with them for tonight. President Becerra always tells us to use our talents and no one ever takes us up on it so when they said yes, I was so happy! (Plus I had been craving my enchiladas for a while but had no reason to make them and didn't want to spend the money to buy the ingredients....) Anyway, it made me happy that I was able to use my talents finally and that it was with a less-active/part member family. So we were planning a great night but yesterday they called and said they have to reschedule :( That made me sad but I'm not giving up hope that we can have dinner and a FHE with them.

Then Thursday the 7th we had interviews with President Becerra. So happy! I know Sister Amataga and I just had an interview with him about a month ago but it always makes me happy to meet with him and learn from things that he says. We talked a lot about many things but something we talked about is how quiet I STILL am. I think I am coming out of my shell but as we were talking, I realized that I'm still really quiet and I really need to come out of my shell and talk! So, President gave me a commitment to talk to five people a day for 14 days. Sadly I have only gotten about three people per day but I'm trying and I think that's the purpose of it, to try harder than I have been. So it was really good! There were a lot of other things that we talked about but couldn't write them all down in this email and neither would I want to just because they were really personal to me. But it was so good to have another interview with President!

Saturday the 9th we went out early and met Brother Ballard, our ward mission leader, at the church because we were handing out The Mormons Next Door fliers that our stake are putting out. There's a big presentation that President O'Bryant (the Glendora stake president) and President Becerra are putting on to help neighbors, friends, and random people understand us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe and that we are normal :) So we had sections of the ward boundaries and gave them to people as they came up. It was cool to see how many people came out to help us with this. Of course we still have more routes to do so Sister Amataga and I are probably going to be taking them and doing them this week.

Well, the last couple things to talk about.... Yesterday, Sunday the 10th was a very good day! We got up early and went to Ward Council and it was so good! We have a lot of things happening in the ward and everyone is so willing to help us as missionaries and all of the members in the ward.

Then we had three investigators at church, plus Auntie Pam was there which from what happened last week and her dropping the lessons, we didn't think she would be there. BUT she was there and she was also called to serve in the Young Women's program! So things are looking up again for her! We also had a potential investigator there. There's a family in our ward who are less-active/part member and we went over a couple weeks ago to see them. Their daughter Mackenzie has been coming out to church and mutual activities almost every week and so we want to see if she wants to take the lessons. We saw her after sacrament meeting and talked to her about it and she said that yes, she would really like to take the lessons and be baptized. So because she is underage, we have to ask her parents for permission. But we, along with the ward council, think that her parents will say yes. They of course have their agency and can say no, but the fact that they let Mackenzie come to church and mutual, we think they will allow her to take the lessons. So that was really exciting! And when we mentioned it to Mackenzie, you could see in her eyes that she really wants it! So prayers are going up and hoping that her parents will say yes.

Then that night we had another lesson with our two new investigators who we thought were baptized when their family started coming back to church. We had a really good lesson with them and then we had dinner with their family. It was Chinese New Years yesterday so they made this authentic Chinese New Year meal. It was good. I can't lie. Everyone knows how picky I am but it was a pretty good meal. We of course are not used to their food though and they had tons! I don't eat a lot so I stopped half way through dinner. Sister Amataga on the other hand wanted to try all the foods but then ended up getting sick. I felt bad. I wasn't feeling the best either because we aren't used to their foods but I wasn't feeling as bad as Sister Amataga. So we made one last stop before going home and we were hoping she would get better, but she didn't. So we went home and called it a night (it was about 8:30 pm)

Anyway, it was a pretty good week! I am opening up a lot more and amazing things are happening in the ward!

Before I end, thank you to Mark and Marta Zacheis for another letter and also Allie Parrott for her letter! And happy birthday this week to my cousins Katie Monnier and Ammon Wheatley!

Love you all so much!

Love always,
Sister Rachel Wheatley

Sleepover!!!!!

Well, not a whole ton happened this week... It was actually not a very good week work wise and companionship wise haha Sister Amataga and I get along SOO well but for some reason this week we were at each others throats! It was horrible! We had a couple major disagreements and one turned into something it shouldn't have. BUT!!!! Everything is good now! We talked it out and we are back to how we have been the last two months. So we are happy :) It was just weird that it happened because we get along so well, it was surprising to both of us.

Anyway, done with the sad part of the week... On to more happier things :) Tuesday the 29th was pretty good! We didn't have much to do during the day but we had two appointments at 4:00 pm so we went on splits and that was good. I went and taught the Moon family with the family ward ward missionary, Mary Ellen. She is leaving on her mission in March (she is going to Daejon Korea.) And it was really cool to go with her. She shared her testimony and it was way powerful. She's going to be a great missionary. We taught about faith and did a really cool object lesson with a tea bag and fire. So we shared a couple scriptures but the one that we used that is one of my favorites is Ether 12:6 where it says "...dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." And it was really cool because their son was out while we were there and at the end of the lesson he said, "I really needed that scripture. Thanks!" It's really interesting how the Spirit works. I always worry when we go into a lesson with them because I want to help them come back to church and to have Sister Moon have the desire to enter the waters of baptism because I know what a difference it can make in their lives. So when they say things like that, I breathe a sigh of relief and send up a prayer of thanks to my Father in Heaven. It's just incredible!

On Thursday the 31st we had to wake at 6:15 am because we were going to teach Sister Whitworth's seminary class again. And it was so good! We read in Acts 6 and talked about how Christ's disciples chose seven other people to help out the widows of the church. So we had to talk about why they needed assistance and how we can be of assistance to the apostles and prophets in these the Latter-days. It was a good lesson. Although I was really tired ;)

Then later that night we went to the Relief Society activity and while there, Sister Hyer grabbed my arm as I walked past and said, "Pam is taking a break. Something happened and she doesn't want to continue with taking the lessons right now." I just wanted to cry and fall to the floor. There's a quote in the Preach My Gospel manual by Elder Holland that says something about how we, as missionaries, our first reaction when an investigator says they aren't keeping their commitments, they want to be stop taking lessons, etc. will be devastation. I have not yet experienced that as a missionary. I get sad when our investigators aren't keeping their commitments or they just chose to not meet with us again, but when Sister Hyer told me that, I finally felt the devastation. I went numb and didn't know what to say or do. I tried so hard to not cry in the middle of the RS activity. I couldn't believe it. Auntie Pam was doing so well and was getting so close to baptism, what could have happened? So that night as I was saying our companionship prayer, I started to pray for Auntie Pam and I just started to bawl! I was just having a hard time knowing what happened. The only good thing about this though, is that Auntie Pam is saying many heartfelt prayers and is doing this for herself and not for anything else. So that's what's good about all this. It's just hard because we love Auntie Pam so much and we want her to enjoy the blessings of the gospel now. But I'm sure with many prayers and fasting opportunities, Auntie Pam will get the answer she needs at this time in her life. It was just hard to hear from Sister Hyer.

Well, also that night we had a sleepover at the Whitworth's! Actually, we had a four day sleepover at their house :) Sister Beck's daughter and son in-law (who happen to be in David and Valerie's ward in Orem...) were staying at Sister Beck's before heading off to Hawaii, like everyone else in Utah from what I hear... Anyway, so we needed to leave for a couple days and so Sister Whitworth let us stay at their house! We were so happy :) They have a beautiful home and it was just fun. We really enjoyed our time there, even though we weren't home most of the day and it was just nights that we were there haha :)

Well, Saturday the 2nd was a good day. Not a whole ton happened that day but in the evening, we didn't have anything to do and I felt like we should go contact a young women in the ward who comes to church almost every week but has not been baptized yet. Her father in less active and her mother is not a member. Bishop Whitworth wanted us to contact her and everytime we tried going to her house, she was never there. We were just going to go to mutual on Wednesday nights and contact her but the last couple weeks we haven't been able to go. So we felt like Wednesday was a good night to go visit her and she was home! So we went in and got to know, not only her, but her mother and brothers as well. It was nice! She loves coming to church and mutual and so we are hoping that she will want to take the lessons soon. We just wanted to get to know her a little the first time meeting her.

Then yesterday, Sunday the 3rd was a VERY good day! Yesterday was the Glendora stakes conference. I was so excited! I love conference times and to top it off, President and Sister Becerra were speaking at stake conference. And it was no different than any other time President and Sister Becerra speak, just wonderful! Sister Becerra talked about Elder Holland's talk from General Conference and President...wow I just drew a blank to what President talked about... Maybe it wasn't that good ;) JK It was! I have my notes at home, I just can't remember right now...

Then our stake president, President O'Bryant spoke for only a few minutes (he kept calling people up from the audience to bare their testimonies.) He said he had a talk prepared but he felt like he should talk about something totally different (he talked about hesitating.) When he said that, I held my breathe because I had been praying that our investigator who was there and who is holding back from being baptized for some reasons, would have a spiritual experience from one of the talks. So it was just way cool that I had been praying for a talk like that, and I feel like that was exactly what needed to be said!

Then after conference, we were standing around waiting to talk to President Becerra and Bishop Whitworth came up and said, "What are you Sisters doing at 4:00??" We had nothing set so we told him that and he said, "Perfect. You have an appointment with the Ding family tonight." Turns out that this new family who have been in the ward for two years but their records didn't come with them because they have been inactive for six years, their two sons, ages 12 and 9, have not been baptized yet. So, we now have TWO baptism dates for the end of February! We are so excited! Not just because there are two baptism dates but because that means two more of God's children who are choosing to follow the example of Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and be baptized so that they may one day return to live with Christ and our Father in Heaven again! So exciting!

And that's about all that happened this week. It was a very hard day but it turned out wonderfully! This coming week we are hoping that things look up for the singles ward, which we are still struggling with but aren't giving up! We have a couple potentials for the YSA ward but have to get green lights from their friends who are in our ward. So we are praying that happens this week!

Other than that, not much more to say. Just working hard in the most important work on the face of the earth! I feel so bless to be apart of this work! I can't believe that this week I hit 11 months. Time is going by so fast. I got an email from Mariah today and at the end she said "Go out and kill it your last few months, it goes by way too fast!!!!!" And it's so true! She comes home at the end of the month and that's just crazy! I don't have much more time left before I'm in my last couple weeks and I need to continue working hard and helping to bring as many people to the truth as possible! It's hard when people use their agency and turn from the truth but when we see those ones that enter the waters of baptism, it's just amazing!

Thank you to Mark Zacheis for your letter this week. And happy birthday to my cousin EmmaLee today :) Love ya!

Thanks for everyone's love and support over the last year! I love you all so much!

Love always, Sister Rachel Anna Wheatley