Chino Hills One Last Time!

This week was such a good week! We didn't get as much accomplished as we had hoped and many things fell through but it was still a good week!

Out to lunch with Sisters Staker and Wheatley and prospective missionary,
Rachel, and the Elders
 

Tuesday the 28th (I couldn't believe we were four days away from June!!!) we did some service for a lady who was moving to Idaho and it was so fun. I love doing service (especially when a bunch of missionaries get together because we are able to come up with a lot of fun things to do while serving.)

Where we do our studying... it is HORRIBLE!
I want to jump in the pool!

After our service, we had a lesson with a potential investigator that has met with missionaries in the past. We met her about a month or so ago and she told us to come back after school ended so we did. We got there, got to know her a little, and then started to talk to her about why were are there. I was in the middle of my testimony when her phone rang. She looked down and said "I'm sorry, this is a phone call I've been waiting for. I have to take this." We decided to go make a couple phone calls outside and then come back in and see if she was done. We got back in and she came over and told us that she needed to reschedule because she was stressed and needed to go to the bank to get things figures out. So we talked for a couple minutes more and then said a prayer. Sadly we weren't able to teach her that much but we were glad we were able to say a prayer with her and hopefully everything will turn out the way it needs to for her.

Wednesday the 29th was good! We spent all day with a member of the YSA ward, Rachel. She's preparing to go on a mission and we needed her for a couple lessons so she decided to just spend all day with us! It was so much fun. We love Rachel! We had two lessons in the morning and then we met the Elders at the institute and then went over to Citrus college to do the booth. It wasn't a very successful day there. There was one young man who came up asking for reading materials and because we didn't have much going on while we were there, all five of us kinda gathered around him. I realized we all bombarded him so I stood back a little and took myself out of the conversation. It was going really well and then it turned kinda not so good. I won't go into any details but it was sad. I've talked to him before and thought he could potentially be an investigator but because of some things that were said, I feel like the chance was ruined. Hopefully not too badly for future but I'm sad to say, now more than likely isn't his time. :(

The best mission President EVER--
he bought all of us Slurpees after Zone Conference!

A couple weeks ago I went in to talk to President Becerra and after we were done, he was talking to Sister Staker and I both and he was giving us some ideas for finding. He told us that if we were smart, we'd take an hour of our day, a couple days a week, and go to Walmart of Target to "get a drink" because it's so hot out and go finding there. Look at our surroundings and just talk to people. Obviously we can't proselyte in Walmart or Target but we can talk to people and say things to them that will put "a bug in their ears" about the gospel. They will see our tags and something will come from it. So that's what we did on Wednesday night. We spent an hour with Rachel at Walmart and it was actually kind of fun. We talked to a few people and it's something that Sister Staker and I will start doing more often!

Thursday the 30th we did more service for a family in our family ward who are moving to Hawaii! Lucky family! And that's pretty much all. We had to do some weekly planning on Thursday because we were having zone conference on Friday in CHINO HILLS!!! :) And that leads me to my next day...

Sister Staker and I with our slurpees!

Friday the 31st was a good day! I went back to my place of birth! I was so happy! As we were driving, it felt so normal to be driving back to Chino Hills haha I know, that sounds weird. But it's true! We got there early and so I decided to drive past Momma J's house. I really wanted to stop and say hi (her front door was open) but I knew I probably shouldn't. But I was very tempted. Then we got to the stake center and it was just weird to be back there. So many fun memories of Pdays, District Meetings, tons of stuff! Fun to think back on things for a few hours.

Our zone conference was REALLY good! We talked a lot about prayer, repentance, and how the Lord is hastening the work. I got a lot of really awesome revelation during the conference! I was so happy!

Then during lunch, we opened the doors to the hall to get food and it was funny because there were a couple former missionaries standing out in the hall Hayden McKee, Jake Leausa, and another one (I think it was Elder Mackay or something like that, I never knew him...) It was cool to see some old missionaries there. They were here for the week and they found out about our zone conference so they showed up. haha I didn't talk to them very much but it was funny because I was talking to Leausa and he's on the institute board at UVU and he said when he got home, he was looking at the missionary wall and he saw my picture and he was like "What the Wheatley?!" haha Ok, that's what I would say but since I'm writing this email, I'll say it my way :) So I thought that was kinda funny! It was just fun to see them again.

All of my companions (except Davo :(  at Zone Conference

Well, to make a very long but very good zone conference short, I'll just end it there. We decided to go chill in the chapel for the last part of our conference because it was getting hot and then President told us "OK, it's really hot in here. And because it's really hot, after we are done here, is there a 7-11 around because I'll take you all to get a Slurpee! What the heck yes!! We were all totally excited! So it ended, we all waited around for President to do some interviews and then he met 30 missionaries at the 7-11 and bought us all Slurpee's!! It was awesome!

And to be honest, that's pretty much all that happened this week. It was a good week even though it didn't turn out exactly how we had hoped.

Just wanted to say thank you to Amanda Parrott for her letter this week!

Gotta run! Love you all so much!

Love always, Sister Wheatley

Guess what I received?  My "pre-trunks" papers --
basically tells me I have 3 months left on my mission!

The Goddards and me!  Love them!

 

Long, hard, and rewarding

Well, we've been at the Family History Center for two hours now and I'm barely getting started on this email. I got kicked off at one point so I have to hurry because we are having a zone activity and I'm so excited so I have to write like a wind storm.

Monday the 20th was an OK day. We went contacting in the early part of the night and then had a lesson with Pam that turned out good.  Then that night we got home and I got a text from Sister Salisbury that made me hyperventilate. She said that the tornadoes in Oklahoma were moving toward Arkansas and I got scared for Daniel. I started to cry and wasn't having a good night. It had been a couple of harder days and so this just made me really scared. Sister Staker talked to me for a few minutes and then she suggested we say a prayer. After the prayer I was feeling a lot better but was still crying so Sister Staker suggested I get a blessing from Bishop Whitworth (we live with their family now.) It was really cool because the blessing he gave me was incredible! Everything he said really gave me a lot of comfort and I received some really cool personal revelation! I really needed the blessing and everything was just perfect! Then it was cool because we walked back into our room and I looked at the phone and it was 10:57 pm and I got a text from Sister Salisbury from 10:54 pm that said she felt like everyone was going to be OK. So I thought it was cool that she sent that almost immediately after my blessing from Bishop. So I was able to sleep well that night but the next day I was completely exhausted and barely made it through.

Tuesday the 21st we had a six week training program meeting and like I said, I was so tired! I couldn't pay very much attention but I got some awesome things out of the meeting.

Wednesday the 22nd was just crazy! I'll try to keep it short... We had a lesson with our investigator Rick but we were going to drop him. We had Sister Hartwig come with us and she asked a couple questions to know how Rick was doing with his reading and learning. He said some things where then Sister Hartwig said exactly what we were going to tell Rick but it made it so much easier for us! He kinda got mad and then we told him that everything Sister Hartwig said was exactly what we were going to say. Then I went off on him a little more and I had a very hard time but had a very cool experience! I told him some things that were on my mind and why I was out on my mission and this was really the first time I have ever seen him quiet for more than 3 minutes. I even said something like, "Rick, this lesson today is to tell you that we can't come back because you aren't doing anything that we ask. We can't keep coming over here and wasting our time, your time, and our members times. We aren't coming back Rick." And at the end of my "rampage" he said, "OK, I want you to come back. I'll read 100 pages in the Book of Mormon. I want to continue to learn." And we left the lesson with my eyes puffy and a return appointment. It was cool but it was so hard! But at the same time, I felt this huge weight lifted off my shoulders. So we are going to go back this week if we call him on Tuesday and he says he's read. But if he hasn't, we won't be going back. We feel like he could really want to be a member of the church and to learn for the right reasons but this will really show us what he wants.

Thursday the 23rd I was lucky enough to be able to have a meeting with President Becerra. Before we went to see Rick on Wednesday, literally everything was going wrong! We got keys and Sister Staker's backpack and scriptures locked in the FHC and we couldn't get someone to open it til 9:00 pm, one of our potential investigators didn't show up at the appointment we had AGAIN, and just a bunch of other things! It was just ridiculous! So I called President and on Thursday I met with him. He talked to me about prayer and gave me some really good scriptures to read. At the end of our meeting, he told me we would find two new investigators by Sunday night! So off we went and I was ready to work! It was awesome!

Not much more happened the rest of the week. We did a lot of finding and talking to members. We took a member of the singles ward who is preparing for a mission out with us on Friday and we had a very awesome time! She is going to be a wonderful missionary! It was just a lot of fun and we made a lot of contacts. But that's about it. We didn't have too much more happen this week but what did happen ended up being amazing! We tried hard to get those two new investigators but sadly, everyone has their agency :( So we didn't get anyone. But we worked hard and I'm really looking forward to this next week! It's going to be good!!

Well, sorry this email is a little shorter and not as detailed as usual. It's been a crazy couple of hours here with 12 missionaries talking and trying to email. It's been fun but now it's time to get going to our zone activity. A set of missionaries got their car taken away today :( so we have to take three Elders with us wherever we go today haha

Gotta run! Love you all so much!

Love always, Sister Rachel Wheatley

No cool email title

The Big Tree Park for lunch.  Sisters Wheatley, Carrell, Allan and Staker

Well, I have no cool email title because not a whole ton happened this week. And we got back from a Sisters hike way later than we thought today because of the nasty traffic so I have to hurry and write this email.

To start off, Monday the 13th was a good day. It was the first day of the new transfer. We didn't get transferred but we had to move to a new home because there were Sisters "Pink washing" another ward and they needed to live where we were. Well, we were running around all day because I didn't think it would be crazy but it was. We were late for dinner and that wasn't cool. But we got everything done (except we had a bunch of stuff in the car for a couple days...) And later that night, Sister Staker and I went on splits again. We had three lessons to teach in two hours. It was crazy busy. But it was really good. Sister Staker went with a YW in the ward, Julie, and taught an FHE with an active family and then went to our investigators home, Pam and Amanda, and taught a lesson there about one of the YW General Broadcast talks, Be Not Moved. And she said that turned out really well. And for my lesson that night, we went to teach Jen. I felt very impressed to talk abotu Esther and the courage she needed to go talk to the King. We watched a Mormon Message about it and it was just a super powerful lesson. The Spirit was so strong!

Beautiful Christus in LA Temple Visitor's Center

Then Tuesday the 14th... Oh my gosh, crazy day! Things were going so well in the morning and then we were meeting up with our investigator Anthony and his friend Valerie and we were going to go to the temple visitors center. Well, we were supposed to leave at 2pm but we didn't even end up leaving until like 6pm. We went out to dinner together and then traffic was horrible and crazy things happened the whole day that we had to keep pushing it back. We were lucky that we didn't have any set plans all of Tuesday so we were flexible. We almost didn't go because it was just too crazy and it was getting late but as Anthony and Valerie were driving away, they stopped and then Anthony rolled down the window and said, "We just need to go today. If we don't go, Satan wins." And it was so true! Everything that was happening, was Satan's way of making it so we wouldn't go. But we defeated him and I'm so glad we did! It was late and got dark but we went and had a great time! We took a little tour in the Visitor's Center and then we just walked to the temple and touched it. I wish we could have spent more time on the grounds but because it was dark and it was already like 9pm, we had to go. But it was good that we got to go because I think that helped with Anthony's testimony. It was his decision and it was wonderful!

LA Temple Visitor's Center. Sisters Wheatley and Staker, Valerie and Anthony

Wednesday the 15th was a good day. Not much happened but we finally got to meet with our recent convert, Mackenzie. It had been a couple weeks since we saw her and it had been about a months since she came to church last, we were getting worried. But we had a great lesson with her and then told her about a 13 year old girl we met who wants to take the lessons who goes to the same middle school as Mackenzie. We asked if she would be willing to help and come to lessons with us if we get permission from her parents to teach her and Mackenzie was very enthusiastic about it! We think it will really help her in her own testimony. (Turns out they know each other and see each other every-so-often in the halls!)

That night we had dinner with the Elders, and two members in the YSA ward, Matthew and Andy. Can I just say... Couldn't stop laughing and having fun the whole time we were there! And Matthew makes delicious food! We had tacos with a delicious chicken and carne esada! DELICIOUS!!!!!! And the guacamole was to die for!

Thursday the 16th we had District Meeting. It was awesome (and kinda weird) because our district got split into two districts and now Elder Gracia is the DL over four sisters and his companion. So it's a very small district but fun! We talked about diligence and the importance of being diligent in our work. It was a very good DM.

Not much happened Friday the 17th but after a couple hours of studies and weekly planning, I needed a break so we called Sister Carrell and Sister Allan and we went out to lunch together. We just bought pizza and ate at the Big Tree Park but it was so fun! I love spending time with other Sisters, even if it was just for an hour. I love Sister Carrell! She makes me laugh so much! I decided this is going to be a very fun but dangerous transfer with the two of us :)

Saturday the 18th we spent the day tracting and visiting members. But that night we had to help out at the YSA regional activity and that was fun. We played games and it was a very small group. There were only about 20 people, if that, that showed up and we just went from room to room playing games and helping out.

Then yesterday was a wonderful day! We had a wonderful PEC were Sister Staker introduced her idea to help get the youth involved in missionary work and everyone was so on board with it! Of course the YW leader wasn't in this meeting so we had to go to another meeting later last night and introduce it to the whole YM/YW board and they also all loved it. We wanted to do it in June because that's the only "open" month without major activities but as we discussed it, everyone decided that doing it in August/Spetember would be better because of what it involves and not being in school might make it a little harder. But the cool thing about it, the Bishop now wants to do it ANNUALLY!!!! And everyone is for that. So Sister Staker's sweet-awesome idea is now going to be done every year in the Glendora 5th ward! And they are making it even better and bigger (this ward does not go small on things like this...) So she's way excited about that.

Well, yesterday in the YSA ward, our investigator Anthony came and he brought his daughter. He gets her every other weekend and he usually brings her to church or they go to the family ward. Well, when he brings her to our ward, they usually leave after sacrament or the second hour, but yesterday they stayed for all three hours PLUS the linger longer! it was awesome! I was so happy because I feel like it helped Anthony and his testimony grow. Cute Alyssa didn't want to be there but she survived and didn't complain. In fact, she gave great answers in our Gospel Principles class that we teach. So that was cool! It just made me happy that he stayed so long!

And yes, that's about all that happened this week. Not a whole ton but it was a good week! It was especially good after we pushed the Adversary out of the way and got to the temple! That just made it all better :)

Well, I have been HORRIBLE at wishing people Happy Birthday the last couple months. I'm sorry! So for all those who have had bdays and I have neglected to give you a wish, consider this my apology and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! :) Love you all!

Gotta run!

Love always,

Sister Rachel Wheatley

Glendora again...

Well... Transfers were this weekend and I'm still here in Glendora! At the end of this transfer I will be here for NINE months! It's pretty exciting!

I'll have to hurry and write this week because we are moving to a new place and we have lots to do.

Monday the 6th was a very good day! We had to do splits because I needed to go to the YSA FHE and we also had a lesson with Pam and Amanda. Then we had FHE with the Jacobson's. It was a good night. The YSA FHE was good. We did a farewell party for the old Bishopric and we just kept laughing the whole time they were telling stories. So I was glad I was able to go.

Tuesday the 7th we had a lesson with Anthony in the morning and we watched the hour long Restoration DVD. Then we talked about Joseph Smith and asked him to pray about Joseph. After his prayer, which was super awesome!, he looked right up to the pictures in the room of the temple and stared at it for a minute and then said "When can we go to the temple?" So we are planning on going tomorrow! We are excited! (As long as we can get someone to take us...) And his baptism is scheduled for June 2nd! Things are going good for him!

 

Sister Staker and Sister Wheatley on Mother's Day at church

Later that day we went and visited a less-active, Brother Paul, and found out that he was having some tests done for his heart the next day so we read in D&C 121:7-8. It was a good meeting with him. He said that if he came out of his testing and things were good, he'd come to church on Sunday. Sadly he wasn't feeling well Sunday so he didn't come :( But close! When we first started meeting with him, things weren't going so well but it is now so we are excited! Hopefully this next week he can come!



Talking to my family on Mother's Day from the Salisbury's home in Glendora

Wednesday the 8th we had a lesson with our investigator Rick. We went in thinking this would be the lesson where we would see if he really was interested in learning to be baptized or if he was just meeting with us to "bash." We didn't get much accomplished with that because he dominated the whole conversation. It was not good! We left feeling horrible! But Sister Staker wants to go back this Wednesday because she feels like he really is interested. But I don't feel good about it. So we're still praying and if she really wants to go back, we'll go on splits. I just don't feel like we should go back. We leave every time feeling down in the dumps. So we'll see.

Thursday the 9th we had an incredible zone council all about faith! It was something that we all needed. Everyone left that council feeling so uplifted!

Then we had a lesson with our investigator Deborah in the YSA ward about baptism. It went really well and after the lesson, before the prayer, Sister Staker invited Deborah to be baptized and she said yes! So we are planning her baptism for sometime in June (haven't set a date yet...)



The rest of my siblings and their "spice" (spouses) watching the video call

Well, to be honest, not much more happened during the week. Saturday the 11th was Sister Staker's birthday. She got a couple packages from friends and for breakfast all she had was candy... Then she got super sick the rest of the day. We went to dinner at the Benson's and she just did not feel well. She could barely eat anything. I felt so bad!

Then yesterday, Sunday the 12th, such a wonderful day! The Spirit was so strong all day! I had the opportunity to sing in the YSA ward with one of the members. We sang "I Stand All Amazed." I was nervous before hand but I said a prayer  and things were going well. But then when we got up there, all of a sudden I got something stuck in my throat and I totally messed up! I was totally embarrassed! It was sad. But oh well... It wasn't HORRIBLE!!! But it wasn't good. But it was fun.

Sister Benson and Sister Staker -- Birthday Buddies



Just being a little weird with cupcakes and frosting on Sister Staker's Birthday
 

Then the rest of the night we didn't do much haha We went to the Salisbury's and that's where we had dinner and then got to TANGO call home! I was so happy!!!! But that's about it haha 



Well, that's about all... This week is going to be another good week! Things are going wonderfully here! And to end this email... Just for Sister Carrell's father who is probably reading this... SISTER CARRELL IS BACK IN MY DISTRICT!!!!! I'm so happy if you couldn't tell :)



Well, it's time to go to our zone activity. Sorry again if this is not a good email. But it was a pretty mello but awesome!

Love you all so much!

Love, Sister Rachel Wheatley





The cake I made for Sister Staker on her birthday





Brother Salisbury from Glendora taking pictures of me while I am on the video call for Mother's Day

 

Pictures from the "Tango" (kind of like Skype) video call home for Mother's Day



I LOVE YOU!  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
 

Can't Complain!

Well, this was a very good week! We had a few lessons cancel which was a total bummer but we ended up having a total of 5 lessons. I know that doesn't sound like very many but trust me, that's a lot for us! haha

To start out with what happened this week... Monday the 29th was pretty fun! We went bowling as a district and that was fun! It was an unlimited amount of games for two hours for $10. So it was pretty good. By the third game though, Sister Staker and I were done so the Elders decided to hurry and finish our last hour or so of bowling. They were just doing silly bowling moves and Elder Howell did this super funny one and he got a STRIKE!!!! It was awesome! I even got it on camera and would totally send it to you but for some reason I can't send videos. But it was awesome!

 

Then that night we had a FHE with the Hyer's and Bramschrieber's. We talked a lot about the Iron Rod, obedience, and repentance. It was a super good lesson and the spirit was super strong. It was exactly what was needed for everyone.

 

Bowling with the Elders (L to R): Elders Carpenter, Bucholz, and Howell

Tuesday the 30th we got all ready for the day and then the Zone Leaders texted everyone saying that because it was the last day of the month and because no one was even close to reaching their finding goal for the month of April, whoever found a new investigator that day would get lunch bought by the ZL's. So I got all excited and joking around I told Sister Staker that we would find someone! So we went throughout the day doing a bunch of stuff in the morning and early afternoon and then we decided to look in the area book. There was a name on there that I knew because of some members who live on the same street and so we decided to drop by this house. I have to admit, my faith wasn't very strong when we were walking up to the house. I didn't think she would answer and I definitely didn't think she would let us in. But guess what... Heavenly Father showed me!! She did both! We were so excited. We got in and talked to her about her family and got to know her a little bit and then we gave her a DVD called Together Forever. (Found out last night that we accidently gave her the wrong one but hopefully it will be ok...) Anyway, long story short, we talked a lot about families and then said a prayer. It was such a nice little conversation! Then as we were in our car, Sister Staker and I looked at eachother and realized WE GET LUNCH FROM THE ZONE LEADERS!! Not gonna lie, we were happy! BUT we didn't go in there remembering these things which was good that we weren't thinking about it during our lesson.

 

Then that night we went and had a lesson with one of the young women in the ward who was wanting us to teach her to help her learn a little more. It was fun! We talked a lot and had some good conversation. We really enjoyed ourselves and love that the young women are wanting to learn more.

 

Wednesday the 1st (I can't believe it's already MAY!!!!) we did a lot of service with Elders Bucholz and Carpenter. Their investigator is moving and she has a TON of stuff to pack and move but she broke her foot a few months ago and can't be on it for too long. So that was fun to do.

 

Thursday the 2nd we met with Anthony and we decided to push his baptism back til the end of the month. He's still trying to gain a testimony on Joseph Smith and President Monson so we thought we'd give him some more time to pray about it and to have more lessons.

 

Sister Staker being funny!

 

Then that night, a small miracle happened! We were just about to go home because we weren't able to get the 12-week program done earlier in the day because we were so busy but before we went home, we decided to go past a less-actives house who just moved in. As we pulled up and said a prayer, I looked up and this man started walking up to the house we were going to. Thanks to the LDS Tools and Brother Nelson in the ward for showing me a picture of this guy during ward council, I knew that it was the same member we were going to go see. So we got out of the car and Sister Staker yells his name. He turns around and we talked for a good 15 minutes outside his house. (Ariel - if you are reading this email, it was Richard (Sister Frederick's son) from the Diamond Bar ward... If you remember him...) It was cool because he thought the Bishop sent us over. He kind of did but turns out Bishop was coming over that night to visit with Richard. So it was really cool that we got there right before the Bishop and also right as Richard was walking home from work. So trying one last house before we called it a night and it just happened to be right at the perfect time! It was awesome!

 

Then Friday the 3rd we woke up super early and went to help out in seminary. We had to teach on why memorizing the scripture masteries are so important. It was the perfect lesson to teach because I was able to tell them really why it was important. I don't know most of my scripture masteries so it was good to give a different view. Now it's just time for me to memorize them all. Only a few months left and I want to memorize them. haha We'll see how that goes!

 

Another little miracle that happened that night... We went through the area book and found another name that Sister Staker wanted to stop by. We wrote her down for Wednesday but never got the chance to go. So Friday she said she really wanted to go. It was going to be our last stop for the night also. We pulled up, said a prayer, and knocked on her door. She came out and we introduced ourselves and ended up talking for about 10 minutes. She's not completely religious but is interested in learning more. The miracle part... She has three daughters but is no longer with their father and this weekend was her off week. She had just gotten home from work or something and was just on her way back out when we caught her. She told us that next week she'd be available to meet with us! We were so excited! It was truly another miracle!

 

Sister Staker and I at Big Tree Park

 

Saturday the 4th we didn't get much done... We spent most of the day with the Elders again helping their investigator finish the rest of the packing and loading on the truck. She had SO MUCH stuff! It was crazy! It was almost never ending. But it was so fun! She got rid of a whole Uhaul truck full of things and she still had more! It was crazy! But we didn't stop laughing almost all day. It was lots of work but it was good! She was very appreciative and it felt good to help her.

 

Well, I just want to end with a quote that I've been meaning to send in so many emails for a long time but never wanted to type it because it's so long. But the last couple weeks we have been sharing it and one of our investigators wanted me to email it to her and some of the ward members wanted a copy so I finally decided to type it up today. So now you all get it too! It's a quote about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It really changed my perspective on Christ's Atonement. There are some lines in there that hit me hard and it's just my most favorite quote ever! So I thought you all might enjoy it as well!...

 

“We know that Jesus experienced the totality of mortal existence in Gethsemane. It's our faith that He experienced everything – absolutely everything. Sometimes we don't think through the implications of that belief. We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. But we don't experience pain in generalities. We experience it individually. That means He knows what it felt like when your mother died of cancer – how it was for her, how it still is for you. He knows what it felt like to lose the student body election. He experienced the slave ship sailing from Ghana toward Virginia. He experienced the gas chambers at Dachau. He experienced napalm in Vietnam. He knows about drug addiction and alcoholism. On a profound level, He understands about the hunger to hold your baby that sustains you through pregnancy. He understands both the physical pain of giving birth and the immense joy. He understands about rape, infertility and abortion. He understands your mother-pain when your five year old leaves for kindergarten, when a bully picks on your fifth grader, and when your daughter calls to say that the new baby has Downs Syndrome. He knows your mother rage when someone gives your thirteen year old drugs, when someone seduces your seventeen year old. He know the pain you live with when you come home to a quiet apartment where the only children are visitors, when you hear that your former husband and his new wife were sealed in the temple last week, when your fiftieth wedding anniversary rolls around and your husband has been dead for two years. He knows all that. He's been there. He's been lower than all that. He's not waiting for us to be perfect. Perfect people don't need a Savior. He came to save His people in their imperfections. He is the Lord of the living, and the living make mistakes. He's not embarrassed by us, angry at us, or shocked. He wants us in our brokenness, in our unhappiness, in our guilt and our grief.” (Chieko Okazaki, Lighten Up, 1993)

 

Well, it's time to get off and go deep clean our place. Sorry I have been horrible the last month with wishing everyone Happy Birthday but hope that the April birthday peeps had good days!  I love you all so very much!

Love always,

Sister Rachel Wheatley

Spirit-Filled Tears

Well... I have to try and keep this email short. I promised Sister Staker that I wouldn't email for too long this week because I usually take a long time. Sister Amataga never cared how long I took but Sister Staker doesn't like it haha So I'm trying!

Leaving sticky notes with scriptures on them on the Elders' door

Last Monday the 22nd we didn't do much. Basically all we did was clean, clean, clean. It was crazy! I had to clean our carpet in our room because it has become so dirty. We tried to clean it before but never knew what to use but found something from the dollar store and it worked pretty good! So I was happy! And that's basically how we spent our Monday. But I didn't want to quit cleaning! haha It felt so good!

Then Tuesday the 23rd we got up super early and we went on a hike with a few of the Elders. I was so excited to go on this hike. We were hiking the "A" in Azusa and I have seen this on the mountain so many times and I thought it was going to be really easy. But we started and we weren't even half way there and I was already super tired! It was ridiculous! I almost gave up and just stopped. But I kept going and thankfully we made it and I didn't die. It was a beautiful morning and I was happy that we made it to the cross on the top of the huge mountain!

Then that morning we had a lesson with Anthony. We had to have the Elders who are also in the YSA ward come with us. We were teaching him the Law of Chastity and Brother Hatch wanted the Elders to teach it. And it was a good lesson. I'm just glad that I didn't have to teach the Law of Chastity to a 30 year old male haha

 

Sister Staker leaving sticky notes on the Elders' door

 

Then Wednesday the 24th we had a lesson with Jen. We haven't seen her in over a month and we didn't know what was happening. It was such a good lesson! We went in not knowing exactly what was going to happen. But I asked Jen where she stood and what she wanted and her answer was "I don't know what to do. I read the Book of Mormon and I don't see or read any relevance." That scared me when she said that. But then she asked what I read when I feel down or need something and so I pulled out Alma 7:11-12. And oh my gosh!! The Spirit came SOOOOOOO strong. Jen started to cry and she asked "Why do you always do this to me??" And it was just amazing!!!! I don't know how else to describe it. I wish everyone of you could have been there to feel the Spirit so strong. She said many other things but it was...gosh!! I wish I could take that lesson and bottle it up in jar and keep it forever.


Then Thursday the 25th.... That was a hard but good day. It was hard because.... Well, I can't say much but I found out that we have to postpone a baptism for one of our investigators. We had interviews with President and not even five minutes into the interview he told me something and I was in tears. I could barely handle it. But it's all good. Everything happens for a reason and things will be ok! I just went home after interviews and cried for a bit. But I didn't let it keep me down. Life throws curve balls and we catch them and throw them back to make things good. It's all going to work out in the end!

Sister Staker lost her name tag and so for now there are two Sister Wheatleys!
 

Friday the 26th was a pretty good day! Lots of weekly planning got done! Sister Staker came up with this awesome idea to do with the youth to help with their missionary work and so we went over that and put it together to take to our ward mission leader to see how we can present it to the ward council and the YM/YW leaders. Sister Staker is on fire! She has many great ideas and she's never wanting to stay more than five minutes at a place hehe She's great! And later that night, we went up to the Duvall's and there we were able to see the Salisbury's! I was so excited to see them. I have missed them so it was a treat to get to talk and see them for a bit.

Well, Saturday the 27th was a very awesome day as well. Our stake had the Mormon's Helping Hands in the city and we did so much! There were a good three hundred people there helping and we worked on homes, parks, and many other things. It was great because we got there just a couple minutes late and as we were walking to see where they needed us, the Whitworth's walked by and Sister Whitworth told us to come with their group. They were a very small group so it was good! And it was awesome that we went with them because the house we went to, we had to clean his backyard and pull weeds and after it was over (I wish I had gotten before and after pictures) we were talking to him and he asked what church we were from. He looked at my nametag and said "Oh! Mormons!" Yes, we are Mormons. And he said that he's always wondered what we believe and that he wanted to come to one of our services. So we took down his name and information and then gave him the Elders information and told him the Elders would contact him to get him to church. And he was very excited about that! So it was a wonderful service! And after we were done at his house, we went over and helped out Brother Nelson in our ward finish preparing lunch. And this stake does not skimp out on food. We had tostada's and tacos and it was just wonderful! It was the best tostada I have ever had! YUM!!!!

Hiking to the top of Azusa mountain

Then yesterday, Sunday the 28th, was one of the most spirit-filled Sundays I have ever had! It was the YSA ward conference and it was also the day they were releasing the Bishopric in the YSA ward. This Bishopric had been in for five years! So you can imagine how hard it was for them and every member of the ward to say goodbye. I was even in tears! I have only been serving in the ward for four months and I was bawling my eyes out. Our sacrament service took almost two hours compared to the usual hour and ten minutes. But it didn't feel that long. It was just amazing!! That's another experience that I wish I could bottle up and take with me to remember that feeling whenever I'm feeling down. Just too hard to describe. Bishop Ferrell, Brother Bell, and Brother Laidlaw have been amazing to work with. It's been a blast getting to know them. But the new Bishopric will be just as fun. We have Bishop Hatch (the YSA ward mission leader), Brother Blackburn and Brother Corbett. And they are all from the Glendora 5th ward!! So we don't have to miss them by not seeing them each week. Especially Brother Corbett. He has the most contageous smile ever!!! I was so happy that he is in the new Bishopric. Just awesome! And this new Bishopric will bring a lot of amazing things to this ward. Things are going to be kicking pretty darn soon! I am excited to work with these great men. Plus the new ward mission leader and his wife are also from the Glendora 5th ward, the Spencer's. So it's very exciting!!! We might as well just move the 5th ward and the 6th ward as one :)

Well... That' basically all that has happened this week. I'm trying my hardest to write a lot with good detail but also make it so I"m not on here too long. We're all going to the bowling alley right now to bowl so I better end here. I love you all! Thanks for your love, support, and prayers that I am constantly feeling.

Love always, Sister Rachel Wheatley



Hot milk!

Hello family and friends!



Sister Staker doing weekly planning

So I'm going to start off with a funny story... Last Monday we didn't have Pday because we were going to the temple on Tuesday so we were out doing regular missionary work. Well, it was cold and rainy and I had been craving hot chocolate for the longest time! So what a more perfect day to get some? Well, we stopped at McDonald's right before one of our appointments and I got some hot chocolate (Sister Staker got a slushy... Crazy girl! haha) I saw them put whip cream on it and I was bummed but I was going to drink it anyway. Well, we get to the church and we have about 10 minutes before our appointment so I started drinking my hot chocolate. I took the lid off first though because I was going to take out the whip cream. It was super white so I was like "dang, it already melted. Oh well, I guess I'll still drink it." I start to drink it and it did not taste like hot chocolate... What?? So I asked Sister Staker to take a drink and see what she thought. It didn't taste like hot chocolate to her either so she decided to dump some out to see if it was. IT WASN'T!!!! All it was was HOT MILK!!!!!! I was so bummed!!! I was so looking forward to my hot chocolate! But we couldn't go back to McDonald's because we had an appointment so we decided to go back after. Well, by that time we were needing to go to dinner so I didn't feel like asking for another hot chocolate, I just asked for my money back. I was so devistated!!!! haha I was so happy to get hot chocolate and then that didn't even happen :( But at least I got my money back!



Now to talk about what happened this week... Monday the 15th was a pretty good day. It was a little hard though because in our minds we were on Pday but we still had to work. So during the day we went to see Aunty Pam, our investigator. It was a very good talk that we had with her. She's not being baptized right away but we talked about when she would be baptized and she feels like it will come by the end of the year. So as much as we would love to see her baptized, we have to respect her decision and just keep teaching her. Then after about an hour, her daughter Amanda came home and she has a baptimal date for June 8th so we talked to her for about an hour. It was so nice because we are usually with the Hyer's with Pam and Amanda and we felt like if we could just talk to the two of them alone, they might open up a little more. And I don't know, I feel like they did. So it was just really nice to talk to them alone.

Then later that night we had FHE with the Hyer's and Pam and Amanda. It was a very good lesson about the 10 commandments. It was shorter than usual but it was tons of fun!



Doing weekly planning outside and I found a spider on me.... IT WAS NASTY!

Then Tuesday the 16th was, as you know, PDAY/TEMPLE DAY!!!! I was so excited to go to the LA Temple. I had only been to the Redlands Temple, which is pretty, but I was so dang happy to go to LA. And it was gorgeous!!! I loved it! I really learned tons of new things and really felt the Spirit. The only not so cool thing is that we had to wake up SUPER EARLY so we could be to the temple by 5:30 for the 6am session. But it was for sure worth it!

Then Wednesday the 17th was a very.... good and hard day! I don't like hard days! It started out by having a Sisters Meeting in Arcadia! That was so wonderful! I can't explain how awesome it was! I learned so dang much. It was weird though because we had SO MANY Sisters. Last year when we had a Sisters Meeting we were able to meet in the Primary room and this year we had to meet in the Cultral Hall. But it was fun! The Spirit was so strong and like I said, a lot was learned!



Then that afternoon we had a lesson with our new investigator, Rick. He has lots of questions and we were going into the lesson to teach him the Restoration. We prayed about it and thought this would answer some of his questions. But to be honest, he hardly let us speak. We'd start to say something and then he'd interrupt and start asking questions that weren't really relevent. So it was hard. I can understand that he wants those questions answered but it's hard to teach when he has so much knowledge and he won't really let the Spirit teach him. So we didn't get far in the lesson before we had to leave. And it was also hard because I would be in the middle of a sentence or I would have just asked a question and my companion would interrupt. She's so cute and has such a love for the gospel and just wants to share it with others. Something we learn as missionaries is to let there be silence in lessons and I asked this really important question and he was thinking and started to answer when she cut in really fast. I can't lie, I was not very happy with that. But that's something that I took with me to help as she is in her first 12 weeks and me being her trainer. But I do love her and she's a great missionary! She said some great things in the lesson! But we left the lesson and were late for our coordination meeting/dinner appointment at the YSA ward mission leaders house. I was already not happy with how our lesson with Rick went and being late to our meeting didn't make me any happier.

In the car: Sisters Sokolowski, Harker, Staker, Wheatley

After our meeting, we tried to go visit some people but I just wasn't feeling the Spirit. I prayed and took deep breaths and tried to focus and do missionary work but I couldn't. Then all of a sudden one of the Sister Trainers, Sister Harker, called needing to know where a good half way point would be between Glendora/Covina and Diamond Bar/Chino Hills and since I have served in these areas she called to ask me. And I'm glad she did! I talked to her for a few minutes and she asked how our day went and so I told her what happened. Well, after talking to me for a bit, she finally told me that there are those days when we just can't do anymore and that President told her once that it's ok to go get an ice cream or smoothie or whatever she wants and to go talk to a "ward mom" for a bit. So she gave me permission to do the same. And so we did. (But we couldn't get ahold of a "ward mom" so I didn't get to have that good convesation I wanted...) I'm not supposed to have sugar anymore (I talked to a nurse about some things that have been going on when I have dessert and she said to stay away from it) but sometimes I just need it! And that was one of those times! So we went to Wendy's and got ourselves Frosty's. I was so happy! I got an Oreo one :) And then we decided since it was 8:30pm to just go home and call it an early night.

One thing that did make my day though was when I needed to ask the Elders a question so I called them and they answered the phone with a funny "WHAT?!?" and I said something like "Fine, it's been a rough day and I didn't want to talk to you anyways..." But I continued on to ask them the question and then all of a sudden it was silent on the other end. I looked at the phone and they had hung up haha At first I was mad but then I realized how funny it was. They called me back and we couldn't stop laughing. So I guess that those two things, the ZL's hanging up on me and Sister Harker calling me to ask directions, even though they were small, they were tender mercies from the Lord after a rough evening.



At the LA Visitor's Center (L to R): Bro and Sis Fredericks, Rachel, Sister Staker, Sisters Sokolowski and Harker, Elders Stocks and Durfey

Well, not much happened on Thursday but Friday the 19th started out pretty funny! So... Thursday night we went to contact a former investigator for the singles ward but she wasn't there. As we were walking out, Sister Staker said, "Let's go knock on this door." (We had gone past it once before and she wanted to go but it was too late...) So we went. This 15 year old freshman boy came to the door and Sister Staker took the lead in talking to him. She shared a scripture with him and we had a good conversation and then we gave him our number and we were just going to tell the Spanish speaking Elders to go by another time. Well, Friday morning we got ready to start our weekly planning and we get this text from the 15 year old kid... "Hi. I was just wondering what the difference is between Mormons and Christians?" And so we gave him a simple but good expaination. He wrote back and said, "ok thanks! Are you the one with the pretty eyes?" WHAT THE DANG?!?!?! Ok, I don't want to sound mean but we laughed so hard! It was hilarious!!! And we didn't know what exactly to say right off the top of our heads without sounding rude so we were brainstorming what to say and not even two minutes later we get another text from him that asks, "are you in school?" UMMMM.... We hurried and wrote back something like "we are missionaries and we are here to teach about Christ. We can send Spanish speaking missionaries over to you if you would like but we are not here to flirt." And then we never got a text back. We were in shock the rest of the day. We didn't expect something like that to come from a 15 year old boy. Took us by surprise! But to be honest... I think Sister Staker is the one he is talking about ;)



Then that night we went to dinner at Sister Edginton's and as we were about to leave, Sister Edginton "Jr." came home and asked if we had any plans for the rest of the night. We told her not really and she asked if we could go over to the Bennett's and help them pack. Umm yes!! I had told Sister Bennett to call us three weeks ago if she needed help with their move and she never did. But Sister Edginton was able to see that she was in desperate need of help (her husbands new job is near San Fran and he was driving home Friday night so he wasn't able to be there.) There were a ton of members of the Elders quorum over there helping but we did small stuff while they did big stuff. It was fun! Especially because we were doing it in skirts so it was funny! But we were able to pack just about everything up that needed to be done that night and then the Elders quorum was going to go back the next morning and finish what was left. I'm just glad that we were able to help.

Not much happened on Saturday the 20th but we were finally able to have a recent convert lesson with Mackenzie and we talked to her about missionary work, especially within her own family, eternal marriage and the priesthood. It was a good lesson. We are just so happy that Mackenzie has such a strong testimony of the gospel and that she knows what she wants and the importance of it. She's amazing!



Then that night the YSA ward had a BBQ/Pool Party at President O'Bryant's house to jump start ward conference for next week (usually the BBQ would be this Saturday but we have Mormon Helping Hands so they wanted to do this before...) It was tons of fun! We had Tritip! Oh baby! It was delicious!! Sister Beck had told me earlier that morning that we were "having exactly what we had at the mission christmas party" so I knew what it was and I was looking forward to it all day! And it did not disappoint :) And it was fun to interact with the YSA members. I was just a little bummed though because everyone went to the spa after dinner and we couldn't go :( That's the only sad part about being a missionary... No spa trips haha But I survived! Maybe I'll just have to accidently shut off the water of our house sometime and have to use the pool to bathe... LOL ;)



Well, Sunday the 21st was a good day! All SIX hours of church was amazing! After PEC in the family ward, we had a church tour with Rick. We had Brother Benson come on the tour and it was a.... good tour? Again, he asked many questions that were hard to explain in a quick 15 minute tour before church started. And then he came to sacrament meeting with us and he was really closely paying attention to the whole service. It was super crazy though because guess what the talks were on this week.... The Great Apostasy and The Restoration!!! I don't ever remember those being normal subjects to talk on so the fact they were the topics yesterday was amazing! It's exactly what Rick needed to hear (in our opinion...) But after the service, more questions and not enough time... So we have a meeting with him on Wednesday but we are thinking that we might have to drop him. He's a very nice guy but we aren't really sure what he wants from meeting with us. In some ways it feels like he just wants to bash with us and in other ways we feel like he's sincere... So we aren't positive just yet... We are constantly praying for guidance on this one. But I think we're leaning more towards dropping him which is sad but we can't waste our time if he doesn't want it and we don't want to waste his time either.



Sister Staker and I in front of LA Temple
 

Then after the family ward (we finally got to go to all three hours because the YSA ward PEC got cancelled!) we went to the YSA ward. It was a wonderful meeting. Again, the talks were on the Great Apostasy and Restoration. Then at the end of sacrament meeting, Bishop Ferrell got up to give an announcement and he said, "I just want to make sure that everyone who's here today will be here next week for ward conference. Some major changes are happening next week and we want everyone to be here. And if there's anyone who used to be in the ward that is still around, we'd really like them to come too." I looked out at the congregation and a couple people just started crying. I even almost started crying. Then I looked over at the Bishopric and Brother Bell was crying! The Bishopric is being released next week! I obviously have only been in the ward for 4 months but gosh, I have grown to love the Bishopric and I'm going to cry next week when they are released. It's just sad. But now the speculations begin... Who's going to be the new Bishop of the Single's Ward??????



Well, we ended church a little early and had a baptism for a girl named Hailey (she was taught by the Elders.) It was such a wonderful baptism. The Spirit was so strong! Hailey was shaking so much and I asked her after, "was it worth it?" And she said yes. It was so cute! She was so happy!

Well, now everyone here is making fun of me for being on so long. Sorry I take so long on the computer.......... I feel bad but this is my journal.... Oh well, I'll just be done now.

Thanks to everyone who wrote me letters the last couple weeks (Ariel, Mark and Marta, Bekkah, and Michelle Gren.)

Gotta run and finish doing some major cleaning in our house.
Love always,

Sister Rachel Wheatley