Week 7 - "The work makes me so happy..."

Monday, July 20, 2015

Hello everyone! 

wow it has been the most insane week! I can't believe it is already Monday again! The time really flies when you're so busy aaalllll the time! I'm grateful for it though. The work makes me so happy. To explain the heading:  We are allowed to listen to mellow uplifting music so naturally I had Mom send us the infamous Kenny Loggins CD that has been hiding in my car forever. Sister Williams and I have greatly enjoyed listening to it so it has kind of been the joke of the week! 

ALSO WE HAD A BAPTISM! Cute little Vanessa got baptized and we couldn't be happier. She is the most incredible little girl and is so full of light.She has a strong testimony of the savior and it has been so great to watch her learn and grow.  Sister Williams and I love teaching her and her mother and we are so excited for when Aurora gets baptized. We love them with all our hearts and I am so grateful Heavenly Father has allowed me to take part in this incredible experience. It is so neat to be able to watch others come unto Christ and make this everlasting promise with him. The joy we felt was incredible and I cannot imagine how great the joy is that Heavenly Father feels. We know this decision will anchor her faith and Christ and guide and change her life and the lives of her family! 

We found two new investigators this week! AH! we were walking home and decided to cut through a park so we could make a call. There were two girls sitting on the swings and we decided to go and talk to them. After a super spiritual lesson they both committed to come to church and to pray about baptism on August 15! They were the sweetest girls and I am so excited to have the opportunity to get to know them! The Lord truly places people in our paths for a reason. We need to utilize these blessings by talking with everyone and not being afraid to get out of our comfort zones and serving everyone. 

Howard the mailman was very happy for me this week because I got letters! Letters are like Christmas out here and are loved and celebrated. 

Sickness sucks but luckily it hasn't set me back too much and I know its just allll part of the experience! Elder Bednar explains it perfectly:

"But in the strength of the Lord I can do all things. I can go anywhere He wants me to go. I can do anything He needs me to do and I can say whatever He wants me to say, in His strength."

That is SO TRUE. I know we can do all things with the help of our Heavenly Father. He loves us dearly and only wants what is best for us! 

Everyday is something different and it definitely keeps me on my toes. 

ALSO: President Ware no longer wants us to quote movies and such all the time. There goes my humor. PRAY FOR US.

Anyway! Great week here in Duportail! I sure love you all and wish you the best! 

Love, 

Sister Madeline Whetten  

Sister Williams and I with Vanessa and Aurora

Vanessa's special day!

Week 6 - We have a baptism!!!

Monday, July 13, 2015


HELLO!
Oh my goodness it is like this week didn't even happen but at the same time it feels like everything happened! I don't know if that made any sense but that is the only way to describe it. We started the week off with exchanges so I had to leave Sister Williams for a short time to go to Kennewick. It was weird to not be with her but I definitely learned a lot about being bold and not being afraid of telling everyone of Christ's love for them. This week cooled down to about 95 which was a MIRACLE and we felt like celebrating when we didn't feel like we were being drowned with sweat all day. And the miracles didn't stop there! WE HAVE A BAPTISM ON SATURDAY! ah! Vanessa is getting baptized and it has been so incredible to watch her family grow and progress. They teach me more than I could've ever hoped. I love serving. The Lord teaches you through service and I encourage all of you to gain a testimony of this! 

A great thing about living in a super old apartment are the hoards of ensigns that are left laying around. I am blown away by all the wonderful talks and great things that I am learning! One quote that specifically stood out to me perfectly describes our lives and the daily struggles and blessings we experience as we come closer to Christ. 

   "Despite our accomplishments, talents, and desires for righteousness, we are weak- spiritually without arms. At times we feel what Ammon declared: "Yea I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God" (Alma 26:12). Ammon knew whose arms gave him the strength to perform mighty miracles and proclaim the gospel. May we exercise greater faith in the arms of the Lord- His arms of power, His arms of love, and His arms of mercy. May we allow Him to cradle and carry and comfort us in those arms. In turn, our arms- our determination and our devotion- will be strengthened." 

Isn't that the most incredible thing? I love it and I testify of its truth. I have seen it work in the lives of those I love and teach. It is such wonderful thing to be able to teach this to those who have not seen it at work in their lives. IT IS SO HAPPY 

On Friday I had to make a quick trip to the doctors because the cat allergy has unfortunately turned into a sinus infection!! ah! Its ok though! The doctor gave me giant pills and I am feeling much better. I no longer sound like I'm dying so I'm sure my approval rating has gone up. 

This is the greatest place. I wish I could write about everything that happens and every wonderful person but this email would be annoyingly long. I love you all and wish you the best! Read the scriptures! 

Love, 

Sister Madeline Whetten

p.s.

It was 7/11 and we celebrated the free slurpee way with Sister Mcomber and Sister Purcell. We sure love them! 

Happy Fourth of July

Free Slurpees at 7-11

Week 5 - Happy Fourth of July

Monday, July 6, 2015

WOW what a week! It has honestly been a week of many blessings and many surprises. You'll be happy to hear the heat hasn't stopped and neither has the cat allergies. It's alright though, it gets people's attention and occasionally gets us into their houses for pity water and a fan. There are soooo many great people you meet as a missionary and I truly have been strengthened by them. Just knowing that Heavenly Father has places people in our path that he needs us to meet and serve at this time is such a huge blessing because it solidifies our calling and the importance of opening our mouths and sharing with everyone we meet. It's fun! I mean sometimes people get freaked out by these overly enthusiastic sweaty girls who want to talk to them about their lives and other truly enjoy our presence. Those are the people that make us sit down at the end of the day totally disgustingly exhausted and rejoice about what a fantastic day it has been.  

This week was full of those days! We had an investigator family that was kind of falling off our radar and we hadn't been able to get a hold of them in over a week. We were getting some water at a members house and got the impression that we needed to immediately leave. Sister Williams and I didn't know why we needed to go but we left and began the long walk ( journey) home. As we were walking we came across the teenage girl in the family we are teaching. She was excited to see us and explained how it had been a crazy week but she was meeting her mother and brother in the park if we would like to join her. of course we were freaking out but managed to keep it cool as we went to the park to talk with her mother. It was such an awesome experience. We had a lesson on the plan of salvation right there in the park and it was incredible to see their faith and desire to learn about and follow their savior. We focused especially on eternal families and how much Heavenly Father loves us. The family was moved and expressed their desire to learn more and come to CHURCH ...AH. We ended up giving them a church tour later in the week and it was so great. We love them dearly and are able to know how much Heavenly Father loves them. We are excited to continue to teach them and get closer to them as they progress! 

THE FOURTH OF JULY 

I guess there is a tradition in this ward where they have a giant breakfast on the fourth at the park! we got to go which was great because free food and some people who we had been talking to were able to come. Other than that it was pretty uneventful and we got to watch other light off fireworks. YAY. Unfortunately we aren't allowed to participate and had to be home by 6 which definitely allowed for some companion forced bonding time. Poor Sister Williams thinks I'm nuts but she is so nice to love me anyway. 

Overall it was a fabulous week and I have truly loved it. Really learning how to enjoy every second through the ups and downs has been a great lesson to learn. I know that this church is true and that it is Christs gospel! He loves us so much and wants us to know that! I love you all so much as well! Keep the people of super duportail always in your prayers Have a great week!

Love, Sister Madeline Whetten 

Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast

Some fireworks.... that we were not allowed to light :(

Sharing a Coke and a smile with Mom