Week 76 - The Black Lung at a Zone Conference

Hello! This week has been a blast. Sister Maxwell and I are starting to recover from the black lung and we've been getting back into the swing of things. Things in Pasco 10th and Columbia Basin ward have been a little crazy. The boundaries are huge and the wards start at the same time so we've been trying to work that out. Sister Maxwell and I look crazy trying to off-road on these farms. Columbia Basin is a great ward though! Lots of amazing people who are so willing to help and serve. There are a few part-member families in the Basin that we are excited to start working with. 

On Friday we had a zone conference with Elder Zeballos of the Seventy. It was great to hear the council he had to give on faith and missionary work. He spoke a lot about how we need to have Charity as the main focus of our lives. As we reach out to others in service and love, they will be more open to receiving the gospel. There is also a tradition where the missionaries who are leaving have to stand up and give a departing testimony. I thought that I was in the clear because we made it all the way to the lunch after the meeting. But lo and behold they ask me after I had eaten a bunch of Mexican food and was already emotional about saying goodbye to all of my friends and past companions. They made us stand in front of everyone there (4 zones and Elder and Sister Zeballos) with a microphone and give our testimonies. Now keep in mind I still have a raspy voice from the cold and they made me go last. Fortunately it went alright and people could understand MOST of what I was saying. 

I really am grateful for the opportunity I've had to serve. I love the Lord and I love the people. I know that His gospel is for everyone and it covers every circumstance. Thank you for all of the love and support! Have a great week! 

Love, 

Sister Madeline Whetten 

Week 75 - Columbia Basin, Here We Come!

Hello! Sorry if this email doesn't make much sense... Sister Maxwell and I have been down with a cold that seems to be taking out everyone. But hey! tis the season. Everything is going great here in Pasco 10th. We have had exciting things happening with some of the people we have been working with and we just found out today that we will be taking over the Colombia Basin ward as well. Maxwell and Whetten are taking over Pasco! We got transfer calls this morning and we will be staying together for the next 5 weeks until I go home. I am so grateful we get to be together and finish off strong.

Tuesday we had the COOLEST experience with Mercedes. She has been on this major family history kick and its been so fun to help her with it. We were showing her how to attach some documents to her ancestors and we came across a sister of her great grandmother that she didn't know about. As soon as we found her the spirit was so strong. We could almost feel how excited her family was that we had found them! When we got more information we found an entire line of names that were connected to this sister! You can just picture us all sitting there on her couch freaking out when all of these names popped up on her family tree. My testimony of Family History work has increased dramatically since helping others with it. I know that it is our responsibility to help those who have passed on receive the same blessings of the gospel that are available to us.

On Wednesday we were able to meet with Angie for the first time in a few weeks. She tore her ACL this week and we were able to go and teach her. She has been through a lot recently and we were able to talk to her more about the plan that our Heavenly Father has for her and her family. The spirit was very strong when we talked about eternal families and how she can still be with loved ones who shes lost. She has decided to be baptized and we are grateful for the chance we have to teach her and help her prepare. 

It's going to be a crazy couple of weeks with a giant new area out in farmland and everything going on still in 10th ward but I know the Lord will provide a way! Even if its dragging us out of our sick beds haha. Thank you so much for all of your love and support! 

Love, 

Sister Madeline Whetten 

Week 74 - Halloween and Another Last Minute Baptism!!

Herro! 

To be honest this week was crazy and I want to write down every little detail but then this letter would be insanely long and we don't have time for that so! here we go! 

Last week we got a call from a member in our ward who told us about a part member family who was coming in town for a funeral. She told us he was being taught in Hawaii for the past year and his baptismal date was set for October 29 but then they had to come up for his father in law's funeral. She then told us he would like to keep his date and get baptized HERE INSTEAD. At this point in the call you can imagine sister maxwell and I are FREAKING OUT because we just had a baptism and now we are having another one!!? It took some time to get in touch with them because we had to get permission from the mission president in Hawaii and it was all crazy but last Sunday there they were! Front row! His name is Earnado but he goes by E. and him and his wife Paulina were there with their 4 cute little kids. It was all systems go for Sister Maxwell and I. I don't think we've ever been so busy. We needed to plan this in 2 days for an investigator who was leaving 2 days later. We went over everyday this week and got to know him and his family and prepare for Friday. E has the most powerful conversion story and you can tell he has really changed his life around. I am so grateful for the time that we had to get to know this sweet family. We really do love them even if the time was short. The baptism on Friday somehow came together perfect which is crazy because at one point it seemed like it wasn't happening. The spirit was strong and he was the happiest person we had ever seen. I know that because of our Savior we can be made clean and whole again. I am so excited to see what blessings the Lord has in store for the Frederick family! 

We also had our ward Halloween party on Saturday and to try and participate we dressed up as "hermanas" in my poblano dresses. We got a kick out of it and loved spending time with the ward! I hope you all had a great holiday and have a wonderful week! 

Love, 
Sister Madeline Whetten 

Week 73 - MERCEDES GOT BAPTIZED!!!

Hello! This week was amazing and Mercedes got baptized!!!!! It was one of the best moments out here by far. The week proceeding a baptism is always a whirlwind and nothing seems to be working out at first and then all of a sudden it does. We met with her and Jeff pretty much every day leading up to Saturday and making sure that everything was going to be ok. Working with Mercedes has been the most wonderful experiences. We have seen her grow and progress so quickly and the ward has just totally accepted her. She has more light about her and you can tell she has a better understanding about who she is. She knows now that she is a daughter of God and that He wants what is best for her. All of Jeff's family from Boise came up and so many families from our ward came. It was funny because she had originally said she didn't want anyone at her baptism and on Saturday she walked into a room packed full of people that loved and supported her. The talks were beautiful and she was able to be confirmed right after the baptism by her father-in-law. It was very personal and the spirit was so strong. Watching someone you have grown to love so much make a life-changing promise with our Heavenly Father is a unique and incredible experience. I know that Sister Maxwell and I were meant to be here at this time and we are overwhelmed with gratitude. 

We also had a great lesson with our investigator Carole. We got to her house and she told us that she had read all the way to 2nd Nephi in ONE DAY. She said she was so excited she couldn't put it down. Our mouths kinda hung open for a second when she said that but we snapped out of it and had a great lesson with her. We are so excited for the work that is happening here. It is fast paced and busy and the members are excited. I am so grateful for all of the love and support! I hope you all have a great week!! 

Love, 
Sister Madeline Whetten

Week 72 - Palouse and Pasco

This honestly feels like the first time we have actually sat down all week! That tells you what kind of week it has been. We have seen SO MANY huge miracles it is incredible. 

We were able to find a new investigator this week! Her name is Carole. She has been taught by missionaries before but had somehow fallen off the radar with all of her traveling. She was all excited to tell us that she just bought herself a large print book of mormon so she could continue to study with the sisters. She is so sweet and we are excited to continue to meet with her.

On Friday we had a lesson with Mercedes and Jeff on tithing. We knew going in that this would be a rough one for her as it is for most other people. Money is a hard thing to work with and 10 percent often makes a huge difference. We decided to approach the subject simply and very straight forward. The spirit was so strong when Sister Maxwell and I bore our testimonies of tithing and how it has specifically blessed our families. The next day we went over again to talk more about her baptism coming up on Saturday and when we asked again about tithing she answered with confidence that she would live and obey that commandment. It has been amazing to see her faith grow in such a small amount of time. We love her and her family and could not be happier for them. 

Saturday I had the opportunity to go to the baptism of Ramona in Hermiston. Sister Gomez and I found and started teaching her in May and we were able to go back and see her be baptized. She has changed so much since we first started teaching her. After the baptism she got up to bare her testimony and she said she finally felt like she belonged. She testified of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. She had such a light about her and everyone was feeling of her sweet spirit. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to witness some of my brothers and sisters prepare and participate in this sacred ordinance. I wouldn't trade this for the world :) 

Today we had the chance to go to the ONE cool spot left in our mission! Its called Palouse falls and it is located right in the middle of nowhere just past Connell Washington on your way to Spokane. We decided to road trip it up there today and it was so beautiful. I am so grateful for this chance that I have had to be here. I truly love it and treasure the time that I have. Thank you for all of your love and prayers! They are working miracles in Pasco Washington! ❤

Love, 

Sister Madeline Whetten 

Week 71 - It's Raining, it's Pouring, My Comp is Sick of Me Snoring

Hello! We had so many cool miracles this week and I will do my very best to sum them up! 

We had an amazing lesson with Charity that left us excited and exhausted. She is so amazing and humble. We were teaching her about the plan of salvation and how it is the plan for her and her family. She loves her family and literally does everything for them so we knew it would make her happy to learn about. At the end of the lesson we testified of what we had just taught and she just looks at us with big eyes and said "I completely believe you" It so hard not to freak out when you hear something like that. We love her and her family so much and we are excited to see where things go. We may even get to throw a wedding in the upcoming weeks for her and Jaime! Stay tuned haha. 

Yesterday we had the best surprise waiting for us a church. Jess McCowin ( our 81 year old investigator that was in the hospital for the past month and a half) was just sitting there waiting for us when we walked into the chapel. He is so sweet and really just wants to be baptized so he can be sealed to his wife. We are really hoping his health permits him to take that step. 

We had a great lesson with Mercedes and Jeff last night about the commandments. We truly love them and it has been so amazing to see her grow in the gospel. Commandments can be a very hard thing when it is not a lifestyle that you are used to living. We are amazed at her faith to live them anyway and move forward toward her baptism date of October 22!!! She says she doesn't want anyone there so its going to be a bit of a shock when the entire ward shows up because they are so excited. 

We also had the fun experience of tracting in the cold rain last night. We definitely were unprepared and looked like drowned rats. Its ok though! it was worth the incredulous look we got from a lady as she proceeded to say "its wet outside." Well that's all I have for this week but I hope you all have a great one! keep Mercedes and Jess in your prayers. Thank you for all that you do! 

Love, 
Sister Madeline Whetten

Week 70 - Too Much Birthday Cake and Not Enough Conference!

Hello! We had a great week! Its starting to turn into fall which is actually very pretty here in the Tri-Cities. They have just enough trees to make it fun. It was Sister Maxwell's birthday this week so we celebrated with tons of cake and great members and investigators. Mercedes and Jeff made her a cake and everything. We love them and are so grateful to have met them. We had a neat experience with them this week. We went over to have a lesson and Mercedes' Mother was there from out of town. She was asking a lot of questions about her daughter being baptized so we were able to teach her about what we do and what we share. The next day we went back and taught her again and invited her to watch conference with us on Sunday.  She did and the spirit was very strong. We could tell that there were certain things that really stood out to her. 

The talk by Elder Dale G. Renlund on repentance really stood out to her as it did for all of us. It always amazes me when we talk about the Atonement bearing no scars. I love that visual. Thinking about my actual physical scars on my knees that show what I have been through it is wonderful to know that my emotional ones can be taken away as well. I know the Lord loves us and He wants us to come to him. With everything. Repentance and healing come ONLY through the Atonement of our Savior. I know that to be true and to see that knowledge touch the heart of someone seeking was a wonderful experience. 

We were also able to make contact with Charity and her family this week! WE had a great talk with her husband Jaime and we are hoping and praying to be able to get him and the kids involved with her teaching. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! thank you for all that you do! I hope you LOVED conference as much as we did! 

Love, 
Sister Madeline Whetten