CHINO IT IS!

Just received an email from Rachel's mission president. She has been assigned to CHINO, California. Please keep her in your prayers that her adjustment will be easy and she will have a great first experience in the mission field! Oh, yeh, and SEND LETTERS :)

A MUCH NEEDED LETTER FROM SISTER WHEATLEY

This last week has been very long, waiting to hear from Rachel...well, a few minutes ago, this sweet letter popped up in my inbox and I couldn't have been more excited! I know she was struggling a bit last week, so I was praying that things would turn around and she would have a good experience with the MTC this week... well, although she had her share of struggles, you can tell just by reading this email that she has caught the vision and she even made me smile when she said, "I have really enjoyed the MTC and all the learning that's been going on but it's time to leave and teach people in California about the gospel. Even though I'm a little scared, I'm so excited! It will be wonderful!" She made her Mom VERY happy with that statement. I then knew she would be ok -- so, without further adieu, here is her letter:


Hello to all!
Can you believe this is my last week in the MTC??? I leave
on Tuesday! It's going by so fast! Sister Lehman and I were talking this
morning and there's only like 75 or so weeks til I come home LOL It sounds like
a long time but only 17 months left! haha

Just a couple things that happened this week! We got our
travel plans last Thursday! We have to be at the travel office at 5am on the
27th! So early! But I'm getting excited! I'm also kind of sad because I have
really enjoyed the MTC and all the learning that's been going on but it's time
to leave and teach people in California about the gospel. Even though I'm a
little scared, I'm so excited! It will be wonderful!

For the last two weeks we've been teaching this lady,
Lawanna, who's investigating the church. She's really tough and it's hard to
teach her because she never says anything or asks questions. She just sits
there. Last Thursday we were teaching her (I can't remember what we were
teaching her) and when we were done she asked how we thought we did. Well, we
thought we did fine... Turns out she wants us to TEACH her... Umm... what does
she mean by that? I thought we were... We were trying to teach by the spirit
and give personal examples and make it relate to her but in the end apparently
it wasn't working. And all she kept saying the whole time was I want you to
T.E.A.C.H. me. I was getting so frustrated! I didn't understand! She wasn't
explaining herself. Then Sister Lehman started to cry so than I started to cry
and it was just horrible from there. Turns out she's been a member of the
church for 4 years but she comes and does these things to help the missionaries
learn. But I was so frustrated by the end of the meeting with her because she
didn't explain what she wanted. Anyway, it was hard to go back yesterday just
because we didn't know what to teach her now that we know she's a member. So we
just talked to her and got to know her a little better and it was so much
easier to talk to her this time around! We have one more time with her so we'll
figure out what to teach her! She's a nice lady but she's a hard investigator!
haha

We are also teaching two other investigators, James and
Daniel. They are being portrayed by Brother Nate and Brother Pinnock but they
are playing these investigators that they had while they were on their
missions. It's really hard but fun! On Saturday we were teaching James and we
were teaching him about prayer and the spirit was so strong! It was amazing! We
even got him to pray at the end of our lesson! Sadly, Sister Lehman and I both
felt like we should ask him to be baptized but for some stupid reason, neither
of us asked him! We were so mad when we left! I've been thinking about it all
weekend and hopefully today the same spirit will be there and we won't miss our
chance to ask him again!

Yesterday at our devotional we were lucky enough to have
Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his wife come speak to us! It was amazing! The spirit
the second he walked in was incredible! We were singing prelude songs and all
of a sudden we all stood up. I couldn't tell who it was but obviously with us
standing up it was a general authority and the spirit was just so awesome! He
talked about the Holy Ghost and about the sacrament. It really made me think
about how I take a sacrament each week. This next week I will for sure change
the way I take the sacrament! I feel so lucky that we were able to have a
general authority come before we leave! It made me so happy!

Well, I don't have much time left on the computer so I will
have to end now and write a letter and send it off asap.
But first, Happy Birthday to Brooklyn on the 25th, Maria and
Jazmine McKee on the 30th. And I know that last week I forgot birthdays for
Michael IV, Aunt Kate, Gabriel Tharp, and baby Lillian! And also happy birthday
to Celeste last Sunday! And Happy Birthday to Margo tomorrow, and Laura and
YaeJin this coming week! I think that's everyone! If I forgot anyone, I'm sorry
and Happy Birthday to you!!

I have one minute left so I better go! But I challenge you
all this week to memorize the sacrament prayers. Elder Oaks mentioned that we
should all have it memorized so I challenge you all to memorize it!

Gotta go!
Love you all!
Sister Rachel Wheatley

FIRST E-MAIL FROM SISTER RACHEL WHEATLEY!

Hello to all!!!

Right now we are in the laundry room doing our laundry haha :) It's so weird to do laundry with so many people around especially since I'm the only one that ever really used the laundry room upstairs at home!

Things are pretty good here!! It's been a real adjustment this last week. With a very packed shedule of classes, workshops and meals. I'm not used to having to be so scheduled with things.  But it is all good!

This weekend was a little hard for me. I kind of had a breakdown because we were learning to much and I'm kind of a perfectionist that not being able to get understand things is hard for me. But I'm lucky that I have a great companion who is there for me and we were able to talk to one of my teachers, Brother Nate, and he really helped me as well.  And then last night we had a devotional and Craig A. Cardon of the Seventy spoke and it was really good! The one comment he made that really hit me and helped me with what happened this weekend was "I am here because of what I felt, not because of what I know."  And that is totally true for me! I may not know a lot but I know that I am here for a reason and if I try my hardest, God will help me and this mission will be a success.

Also on Sunday at the devotional, no mom we did not have a General Authority, but Richard I. Heaton spoke, he's the administrative director here at the MTC.  He said something I like and I hope that I write it how he said it.... "Missionary work is a "perhaps" goal. It may or may not happen, but I do my best because I know this is what I'm suppose to do and the rest I leave up to God."  So both Elder Cardon and Richard Heaton gave really good advice that will help me through these 18 months.

And the classes are good! My main teachers are Brother Nate and Brother Pinnock (Bro. Pinnock served in the Netherlands like 2 years ago I think he said...) And they are super good teachers! They really love what they teach and that really helps!

I feel so loved to have gotten packages this week and so many letters from home! Almost everyone else wonders if they are going to get something everyday and thanks to mom I know that I will get something and I feel so blessed! I love recieving letters! They make my day!  And also a package from Shellie the first day I got there! I haven't been able to write her a thank you yet but I will soon! But I thought I better mention something here :) And also Bekkah and Jen at DearElder! I love getting packages from you guys! They make me smile so much! I love you guys and miss working with you!

I only have 10 min left so I better hurry....

We got started right away with learning how to teach investigators. We are teaching James (aka Bro. Nate) and Daniel (aka Bro. Pinnock) and things are going ok... It's really hard for me to do role play but I'm trying.... We got both of them to read the BoM and James is really taking to it. Daniel on the other hand is a deep thinker so it's a little harder to teach him. Plus for both of them our first time teaching them was a total fail! It was HORRIBLE!! But it was our first time and that's why we are at a training center, it will get better!  Then yesterday we started teaching in the TRC and teaching a real investigator (or at least we think she is...) And she totally called us out on all the bad that we did. It was horrible and depressing. But I know that if we try our best, and trust in the Lord, we will be able to teach her what she needs to learn!

Just a couple things before I have to get off and then I'll write you a letter during the week on other things you asked me about or things I want to tell you.. The thing about the $4000 freeze-dried meats/cheese order, SO cool! That's a lot of stuff! So happy for the ward and all they are doing to get prepared!

Dad, Sister Lehman's mom served in Holland in 1981.... I'm trying to remember when you were there? When was that?

Mom, Sister Erickson is from Cedar City and Sister Debruin is from Sacramento. And in case mom, you didn't put up my other letter LOL for everyone else, my companions name is Sister Lehman. She is from a town in Florida that I've never heard of LOL She reminds me SOOO much of Emily Sabins!

Well, I better go. Time is ending quickly! Like I said, I will try to write a letter during the week with other things that I've been thinking about.

I love you all and I'm so thankful for all the love and support and prayers that I feel! Thank you!

Love,

Sister Rachel Wheatley :)

I'm Still Alive

It's been 11 months since I last posted on here. So much for writing at least once a month haha But I decided to start up again. And I think this will be the blog that I have my mom use while I'm on my mission. So here's just a quick update of my 2011...

In May, I went on the trip of a lifetime! I never thought I would actually go on a big trip like this but I was able to save enough money and I feel so blessed that I had the experiences that I had. I went to Europe with my parents! We went to the Netherlands (2 weeks), Italy (5 days), and Paris France (less than 15 hours.) It was one of the best experiences of my life! I got to be with my parents but I also got to be with good friends, who are family!

A couple days after I got home I went with my Grandma and Grandpa Wheatley to Montana for my cousin, EmmaLee Woodland's, graduation. I had a lot of fun spending a couple days with my grandparents and my aunt, uncle, and cousins.

Most of my summer consisted of going to concerts! I LOVE concerts!! Most of my concerts this year consisted of small venues, not well-known bands, and spending time with friends! I think that even though they aren't the big name bands, I had just as much fun! Especially because we were able to meet them after their sets, they were all super nice! And like I said, spending time with friends is always fun!

This last year I chose to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can't lie in any way, it was a hard decision for me to make. I never thought that I would serve a mission but when the Lord calls, you listen. So that's why I'm going. And I'm really looking forward to it! It will be good for me in so many ways! But I know that's not the only reason I'm going. There's someone out there that needs to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ and maybe I can be a hand in finding them. I will be going to the California Arcadia mission and I leave on March 7th! I'm very anxious, excited, nervous, and so much more! But like my cousin said, "It will not only be the best experience OF my life, but it will be the best experience FOR my life." I really liked how she said that. I never really thought of a mission in that way, but it's true!

December was very eventful! Going through the temple for the first time, my brothers wedding, my best friends wedding, and Christmas.

Christmas was one of the best ever! Knowing that I won't be with my family next year made it even more special. I was really able to just enjoy more than ever my time with my family. After going to see Santa Clause at the mall, we had our annual "Christmas Eve pizza" and this year we did something different. We opened presents on Christmas Eve! It was a last minute decision but it was better than ever! Plus, Grandma and Grandpa Wheatley spent the weekend with us and having them here was extra special. I feel extremely blessed to have such a wonderful family!

Here's to another wonderful year! More memories, more chances to be a better person!

When I grow up...

Since I can remember, I've always been asked the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" And my answers to that question have changed throughout the years. I remember there were times where I would answer that I wanted to be a teacher, an author, or an artist. At one point I remember wanting to be those all at one time. In high school I wanted to be a caterer and have my own catering company or restaurant. Although my mom always supported my choices there was one thing that she always told my sister and I. For as long as I can remember, my mom has always told us that she wants us to be stay-at-home moms as long as our future family situations allowed it. She understands that sometimes being a stay-at-home mom isn't possible because of needing the extra money. She understands that because she works. The difference is that she works from home. She doesn't like that she can't be a "full time mommy" as she says but for our family situtation, it wasn't possible. But since she works from home, it's kind of like she is a stay-at-home mom, but not in the way she wants. She always tells us that she wishes that she didn't have to work. But lucky for her, her boss lets her work from home.



In the last couple years I've learned so much from my mom and I've decided that "when I grow up" I want to be just like her. Maybe not in the way of working (unless needed) but in the way of spirituality, preparedness, love towards her family and friends and so many other ways. There is no one I look up to more than my mom. She's my best friend and like I said, she teaches me so much.



One thing that has really stuck out to me the last little while is her willingness to have food storage. When I was little we had our food storage packed with so much food and various things that we've needed but I never appreciated it as much as I do now. Even though we've always had food storage, in the last 4 years or so, mom has gotten even more and has worked harder at making sure that we have what we need. We may not have it all but we have so much! It's amazing to walk into the food storage rooms and see what we have. We have been so blessed with money to be able to put our food storage together in case of an emergency or disaster. And this is all because one day she had a strong feeling to prepare. We've always been taught by our teachers and prophets and apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to have food storage but it wasn't until recently that they've encouraged it more and more (or at least in my eyes I feel like more recently they've encouraged more) but I don't know how many people really listen to this commandment. But what I do know is that I'm so thankful that my mom has listened and is doing all that she can to get our 3-year supply for each member of our family. We have so much more to get but she's trying, and I think that there are blessings for those that try.



Yesterday at church as she was preparing to hand out clip boards, I took a cannery product and price list and we started talking about how it would be smart of me to start my own food storage, even though I still live at home. It's never too early to start, right? So we made a plan that I would spend about $15 a month and we'd go get me dry packed foods to start. We decided on 12 "foods" that I would like and by this time next year, I'll have about 40 cans of beans, dry milk, rice, wheat, apple slices, carrots, macaroni noodles, oats, dry onions, and spaghetti noodles. It's a lot of money for a 20-year old to spend money on when I could spend that money on clothes or concert tickets but with the example of my mom, I know that if I get started now, it will be easier for me to keep it up so that I will have stuff for my future family in case an emergency or disaster happens. And this isn't just because of my moms example but because I know that this is what my Father in Heaven would like me to do and who am I to not listen when He speaks?



Below are pictures of my moms food storage rooms (and she'll probably be mad that I took pictures when it wasn't organized to her liking but she's been so busy lately that we haven't had time to go in and organize it.) A food storage room (or two) is something that I'm going to have in my home when I get married and it's going to look something like these pictures:



These shelves are full of condiments and salad dressings and such.

These shelves have canned chicken and hamburger, soups, jams and jellies, frosting and the likings.

Here's a different view of the frosting shelves along with cake mixes, peanut butter, tuna fish, etc.

These selves have freeze dried fruits and veggies, and canned fruits and veggies.

In our "2nd" food stoarge room we have our drinks (Gatorade, Sobe, water, Apple Juice, Grape Juice, etc.) along with our treats.

Another view of our "2nd" room...

I'm so thankful for this wonderful example who I call my mom and best friend. I just hope that "when I grow up" I can live up to what she does and that I can be an example to my kids like she is to my brothers and sister and I.

Mom for a week

This week I was "Miss Mom." My parents were out of town and they took my brother Daniel with them so it was just my youngest brother Sam and I. We had some fun! We didn't do a whole ton cause after being at work and school all day, it was nice just to have time to relax.

We started off on Saturday afternoon going to see Jonah and the Great Fish (starring David Osmond) with my best friend Sarah Garver at the LDS Film Festival. Sam and I had seen the stage version last year but wanted to go back and see what LIKEN had done to make it a film. And it was very good! I'm very impressed. There are things that they need to fix but they are working on those and it's going to end up being a good film, with of course, the message of listening to what our Father in Heaven asks us to do.

Then on Monday we went grocery shopping and then went home and ate dinner and watched Diary of a Whimpey Kid. It was a cute movie but Sam enjoyed it a ton! He loves the books that the movie is based on. It was a good night.

Tuesday Sam was up at Lehi High School with the Provo High basketball team. Sam is the sophomore manager and loves it! So while Sam was gone, Celeste came over and we watched Camp Rock 2!

On Wednesday I had my first "real mom" experience. Sam's elbow had been hurting him for about a week and before my parents left, mom told me she wanted me to take Sam to the after hours clinic if it got worse. So after work I picked him up and went to get his elbow checked. I was a little nervous about going because I'd never been to a doctors office by myself cause I don't have to go very often myself so going to take my brother was a little scary for me. I just hoped that it would all go ok. We took an X-ray and they found it to be either a fracture or a growth plate. So they gave him a sling to wear until they could have their radiologist look at the X-ray on Thursday. It turns out that it was nothing at all but mom wanted him to keep wearing the sling to make it heal a little faster but Sam has had a hard time wearing it, so I don't think it has helped him that much.

Then on Thursday night after making Pasta Stir-Fry, we met up with my friends Renata and Brieann to help put up flyers around town for the Truman concert at Velour on the 11th. After about an hour, we went to Sammy Cafe to wait for Chad Truman and while there we bought some of Sammy's delicious food! It was very cold outside so while Renata and Brieann had Sammy's famous shakes, Sam and I had Sweet Potato Fries and Hot Chocolate! It was getting late though and Sam had school so we left. It was a good night!

On Friday I was left alone again while Sam was in Orem at Mountain View for the PHS basketball game.

Saturday seemed to be a very busy day but not much was done. I had lots of laundry to do, I had to go to work for a couple hours, and then I sat at SuperSonic car wash for two hours while they detailed my dads truck as part of my moms Valentines present to him. Then that night we met up with lots of family at Chuck-a-rama. My grandma Wheatley's sister and her husband were down here from Washington state and they wanted to take us out to dinner. So although I didn't know most of the family, we went and had a good time with some of my Wheatley cousins, aunt, uncles, and my dads cousin and her daughter. It was tons of fun and I'm glad we ended up going. And lots of thanks to Aunt Sharon and Uncle Ray for buying us all dinner!

Then to end off the week we went to church today and we are now enjoying Super Bowl XLV! (GO PACKERS!!!)

It's been an enjoyable week with Sam and a great "mother" experience for me.

HELLO BLOG WORLD!!

I've finally decided to join the world of blogging. Let's see how well I do. I've had this account since 2008 but just haven't gotten to do anything with it. So, starting this New Year, I've decided to start a blog to let my friends and family know what I'm up to. I hope I can keep up with this and blog at least once a week!

So, as of right now, this is officially my first post! Yay me :)