4.9.12

Being a trainer is the best thing in the world!!! Elder Andrew and I have such a blast together!!! I've been so blessed with my companions! They are so fun and love to work hard!! We are starting to see our area pick up with investigators! Right now our investigators are Steve, Katt, and Sheila. Steve is so golden, we've had two lessons with him and he's is just soaking everything up!!! He's the most excited to read the Book of Mormon than i've ever seen anybody! Katt is such a nice lady. She is 35 and we had a church tour and then she came to church this sunday but she only stayed in the chapel for 10 minutes because she said it was too overwhelming since she hasn't been to church in 14 years. Anyway she has had 13 years of Meth addiction and has been clean from drugs for 6 months. She's really nice. Now Sheila Donat is in her 50's and she's been taught for probably about 6 months. She is so close to joining the church. She is just waiting for an answer. We're going to invite her to set a goal date for a baptism so that she will receive an answer! We'll see how that goes.

We have TONS of potential investigators. We have been finding like crazy!!!

My Bishop here, his name is Bishop Mulloy Hansen. (Bishop Palmer was released which is Debbie's husband from Orem) Bishop Hansen told me one of his quotes and I absolutely love it. "Calling someone to repentance is not so much telling them to repent, but showing them that there is a better way to live." -Bishop Hansen

Bishop Hansen was also companions in France on his mission with Mitt Romney. Awesome eh?!

I don't know if I've ever shared this in Previous emails but this is like my mission motto. This scripture comes up in my mind every single day. Remember when Ammon and the servants were guarding the sheep and the Lamanites scattered the flocks?! Well Ammon and the servants would be put to death if the king found out. Instead of getting upset Ammon was actually happy that it happened. And I have no doubt that what he says is a sequence. In Alma 17:29 he says that he was happy they were scattered so "...that I may (1) win the hearts of my fellow-servants, that I may (2) lead them to believe in my words." Now that is what it is all about. It's changed the way I meet people and teach people. I have to show them that I love them and they have to begin to love me before they will even begin to trust in the message that I share. So I have been trying to win the hearts of the people first so that then I can lead them to believe in my words. And that is when the spirit can testify the truth to their hearts.

It's all about the Book of Mormon! I love that Book more than anything! Well I love my family a lot too of course! haha

I loved the St. Patty's day package!!! Thank you so much!!! The only thing is those bowler hats got glitter ALL OVER the apartment!!! hahah it was hilarious!!! Man I just loved Easter!!! I can't believe you guys didn't have a big easter egg hunt this year!? Maybe cause I wasn't there to find them all.

Love you so much!

Elder Whiting

4.2.12

Thank you sooooo much for the package!! That was the coolest package in the whole wide world!!! The Shirt is amazing!!! I'm wearing it today during basketball! And the magic tricks are so legit. We're going to baptize with those tricks!!! And I loved the warm fuzzies! . The only thing is... I threw away the candy in the package. It was hard to do but this transfer I'm 100% off desserts and sweets. It's tough but hey gotta stay fit. Elder Andrew and I ran 3 miles every morning this past week. Booya! I weighed myself yesterday and I was 145. which would mean I've gained 10 lbs. But i Think their scale was off. It was a cheap one. But I have grown half an inch since I left. Good news eh?! THe harder you work the taller you grow right?! Uncle Jeff must have worked super hard to grow an entire foot!

So one thing you never talk about in Mission Prep is Finding. These past two weeks we've been putting all our efforts into finding new people to teach. It's been a lot of hard work that doesn't seem too rewarding because the results are all later down the road but we've found about 15 potential investigators. But there is always the trial before the triumph so a big miracle is coming soon I know it!

Elder Andrew and I started what we call the "rejection book" since we've been knocking on so many doors and meeting so many new people we get a lot of rejections haha some of them include....

"Keep on movin boys, Just keep movin"

Man: Did you leave anything on my porch?

Us: No

Man: Good then you won't have to come back and get it.

"If I was a religious man I'd b a mormon. I've been Jack mormon for the last 70 years!!! Not interested."

"Yeah I know Mormons, you guys aren't allowed to eat pepper... or even have it in your house!"

"Sorry I don't agree with some of your beliefs, like how lizards can talk" hahaha never heard that one before!

"Not interested" Slam!

"Have a good day!" Slam!

There are also alot more colorful rejections of which I have chosen not to share.

Anyway being a missionary is so amazing!!! I love it with all my heart! I'll have some good stories next week! I'm so excited for Alex's baptism!!!! I can't wait! I have it written all over my planner and my calendar!!!

Love you so much family! Keep sharing the gospel with everyone you can!

Love, Elder Whiting

3.26.12

I love it so much that Great Nana is in PARADISE!!!!! She's probably a Zone Leader up there! ;)

So this week was so bomb!

So my new companion in mission terms is my son since i'm training him. And i'm his Dad! Elder Chambers is my Dad since he trained me! Your second companion is called your Mom. So get this.... since it's so unusual for a missionary to train his second companion Elder Andrew is not only my son but also my Mom! Yeah I know... weird! haha

We get along SO well!!!! We are pretty close to the same person, but way different at the same time!!! He rocks! We are always laughing and teasing each other or in other words (we whistle while we work) and it's a blast!!! I feel so blessed that I got to stay in Lewiston! It's the best place in the world!

So the first full day for Elder Andrew in the field he crashed on his bike. haha Poor guy! I was worried about him at first but he got up really fast and was fine but we laugh so hard about it now because he was trying to walk it off like nothing happened and he was limping so bad. No scratches no lost teeth no bruises. He's so lucky. After our studies we went with Elder Whitcomb and Elder Warnick and unloaded an entire semi truck full of Girl Scout Cookies. It was so fun!

Elder Andrew and I are working extremely hard. We went through the ward list and made a giant list of all the Part Member Families and have been visiting them all day, everyday. So far we have found a lot of people who have invited us back. This has been just a big "finding" week! We've also started this thing called the Family Mission Plan and we are setting them up with each family in the ward and having them do missionary work instead of just giving referrals to us. Since the members are so important. Eventually if they really focus on their friends then we will teach them!

We went up to the Donat's which is about an hour drive then we hucked over 100 bails of hay! It was so much fun!!!! It had been WAY TOO LONG since I'd picked up something heavy and thrown it (the last time was in High School on the wrestling mat) We did that for 2 hours then went in and had dinner with them and then taught Sheila Donat a lesson on faith based out of Alma 32. We've already taught her all the lessons and she is in Mosiah right now still praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true. She is SO CLOSE!!!!! We'll just keep meeting with her each week and support her. She says she hopes it's true but she is just waiting for an answer!

So here's a sweet experience. Last night (Sunday) we had set up 2 FMPs (Family Mission Plans) One with the Hastings and one with the Bernatz Family. We finished the Hastings one 30 minutes earlier than we expected so we went across the street to the Bernatz' house and asked them if they would like to do it now or in 30 minutes at 8:30 like we planned. Brother Bernatz said "well Sister Bernatz isn't home yet so it's up to you. We can do it without her or you can wait till she gets here." We said "Hmmm..... We'll be back in 30 minutes we're going to go find a miracle or something" So we went out in the field and worked. About 1 minute after we left their house we got a call from a member in the ward saying "I have someone I want you to stop by and give a Book of Mormon to. He just moved here because he wants to change his life around and wants to read the Book of Mormon and look into the church!" (Miracle Number 1) Booya! So then we go to visit a PMF's (Part Member Family) and we weren't sure which house it was so we guessed. So it was the wrong house BUT.... we played it off and invited them on a Church Tour and they want to go sometime this week!!! (Miracle Number 2) So then we go next door which was the right house to see the Pare member Family and the guy we were looking for was asleep but we talked to his kids which are about 20 years old and invited them on a tour and they said they would like to and we'd talk more about it when we came back to see them this week. (Miracle Number 3) BOOYA!!!! Then we went back to the Bernatz' and set up their Family Mission Plan. It was so amazing! All of that happened because when we could've just chilled with the Bernatz' and waiting for Sister Bernatz to get home but instead we went out and worked even though we didn't really think we had any time to get anything done.

Get this one. We found out that a Grandaughter of one of the members moved in with them and she isn't a member. So we stopped yesterday to see if she'd be interested in meeting with us and we talked to the Grandpa which is an Active member and basically he told us that if she wants to know about the church she can ask him but he doesn't like how members of the church, including missionaries go knocking on doors and asking people if they want to know about the church. He said that if someone wants to know about the church they can just ask about it. Elder Andrew and I were just respectful and left after saying it was nice to see you and we'll see you next week at church. Anyway it was so ridiculous that he basically told us that we shouldn't even be out here on missions. Especially coming from an Active Member of the church. He makes it impossible for anyone to teach his Grandaughter. But guess what... The Lord won't let one person get in the way of his Children hearing His Gospel. So we were visiting some Part Member Families and we walk away from one of the houses and we see these teenagers walking by and we start talking to them. And she says hey do you know my grandpa?! This teenage girl was the same grandaughter we were trying to talk to! Can you believe that?! The Lord put her right in our path!!!!!!!! BOOYA!!! Nobody can stop the work from moving forward!

Love you!

Elder Whiting

3.19.12

I love Great Nana so much! Grandpa told me all about her going up to the spirit world in his letter this week. As soon as I read it I had the biggest smile and I could feel the spirit confirm that she was doing great in heaven! I'm SO HAPPY FOR HER!!!!! I can't wait to see her again in Heaven! Isn't it so exciting that she is up there teaching the gospel! I've always known she would make the best missionary. She always testified of the gospel! I know she's watching us!

Alright!!!!!!!!!! That's what i'm talkin about! Nana and Grandpa putting in their papers!!! Hey don't let me determine how long they stay out! I say they should serve 2 years then i'll see them just a few months after I get home!!! Might as well serve as much time as you can while you're already out on a mission!

Congrats to Trevin!!! that's so great! He'll be awesome! WOW that is so crazy that you found that translator! That's going to come in so much handy for them! That's a huge blessing!  

Oh man oh man oh man I'm so excited that Alex  IS ON DATE FOR BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh I just screamed and ran around the family history center saying UH-WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that's an amazing date to be baptized on as well!!!

Okay Okay DRUMROLLLLLLLLLLLLL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had transfer calls last night and the results are in............. Elder Chambers is being transfered to Moscow, Idaho as a Zone Leader with Elder Judd (Elder Jake Terry's companion)

and Elder Whiting is.................................................................. staying in Lewiston..............................................but there's a twist........... i'm TRAINING!!!!!!!!!!!! Or in Mission Lingo, I'm going to be a DAD!!!! Holy smokes I could not sleep last night at all!!!! So the training program is 12 weeks long. I just got finished being trained and i've been out for only 3 1/2 months and I'm already training a new missionary! I've been on my knees praying more than I ever have in my entire life!!! I'm going to need Heavenly Father's help big time on this one. I know it's a part of his plan and I'm ready to do it. I'll do what ever it takes to help Heavenly Father shape this new missionary into the missionary he is supposed to be! Sometimes you do feel a little inadequate (or a lot) for what Heavenly Father asks you to do but 1 Nephi 3:7 comes to mind. I will go and do the things that the Lord has commanded me for I KNOW that the Lord gives no commandment to his children without preparing a way for them to accomplish the thing which he commands them. Or as Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". Booya!!!! I'm stoked for this!! I'm getting a little Greenie! Goochy Goochy Goo!!!

What if he has a girlfriend? What if he doesn't want to work? What if he has depression? What if he does't get up in the morning? There are a million what if's going through my mind hahaha

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!!!! I am so happy that I get to email you on your birthday! I love you with all my heart!!!

3.12.12

Hey everybody!

This week was amazing and kinda rough at the same time. For the past 2
weeks we haven't found any new investigators. Which kinda gets to ya.
But the good news is MT is on date for the 28th of April!
Pray hard for him! He just needs to overcome drinking and smoking. He
and his family got to meet President and Sister Palmer! They came to
our stake conference as well as Elder Packer (Boyd K. Packer's son) of
the Quorum of the 70!

I just love President and Sister Palmer with all my heart. I can't
explain how good I feel when I see them. Their love just radiates from
them!

So HAPPY EARLY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!!! I finished the Book of Mormon in
exactly 21 days!!! It's all marked. The Book of Mormon is seriously
changing me. I love it with all my heart. My testimony will never
waver because I know that Book is true with all my heart!

Anyway enough testimony right? you guys already know that stuff! haha

Transfer calls are this sunday and Elder Chambers and I find out if
we're staying or leaving. For the past few weeks i've been so sad that
I might leave here but i'm slowing being okay with the idea that I
need to go wherever the Lord wants me to. It's just hard because I
love these people so much!!

Mike and Jen gave Elder Chambers and I each a flashlight that
has engraved on it "Thanks for bringing light into our family -The
Teigens" Man I carry it every where I go! It means the world to me.
I"ll keep it forever. I just love them so much!

There was a dog that followed me and Elder Chambers (a pitbull puppy)
for about a mile on our bikes. It wouldn't go away! It was outside the
Peter's house (a family we're kind of teaching) and it had been
outside their house for 3 days. Someone just abandoned it. So it
followed us all the way home and we aren't allowed to have pets so we
didn't bring it inside. It slept the night outside our front door then
in the morning followed us to all of our appointments. It was crazy!
We named him Teancum from the Book of Mormon! Because Teancum is
probably the bravest warrior in my opinion in the Book of Mormon. He
sneaks into the tent of Amalikiah and javelins his heart and does is
so quietly that none of Amalikiah's servants even wake up and he
sneaks back out. So cool!!! haha

So we had a guy on date for baptism this past 2 weeks and he's about
74 years old. So he came to church and we asked him how he liked
church a few days later and he didn't remember even going. He has
Alzheimers!! Dang!!!! So we aren't going to baptize him because he's
not really accountable at this point in his life.

We meet so many nice people here that invite us into their homes and
talk to us on their doorsteps but then they aren't interested in our
message. It kills me. There are so many people that I want to share it
with and give them so much more happiness but they aren't open to it!

March Madness starts tomorrow. So i'm sure you all will think of me.

I love you guys so much!!! I realize how blessed I am to have the
family I do. It's unbelievable the amount of love we have for each
other. Not many families have the friendship that ours does. It's
incredible!

Elder Whiting

3.6.12

1) So I didn't write the email yesterday because I switched P-day to today so that we could go to the Temple in Spokane. Which was phenomenal!!!

2) I am terrible at writing letters because by the time I get to the computer I forget everything that has happened this week so I have no stories to tell! I'll do better.

3) Transfer calls are on March 18th and I will let you know if I'm staying here in Lewiston or getting transfered the next day on Dad's birthday! Pray that I stay (or pray that the Lord wants me to stay here cuz I love it so much) haha

4) My address is 820 S. Pines Rd. Ste. 101 Spokane Valley, WA 99206 for my whole mission. Everyone should write there so that if I get transfered I will get my mail. Make sure it has that address on my facebook and not my other one.

5) I love you

okay so i'm trying to think of some stories to tell...

Okay so here is where my mind always is... on the T family. The T's were the first family I ever taught., the first night of my mission. HC the 13 year old Daughter was baptized a few weeks ago and we are working with her Step-dad MT so he can get baptized. BIG NEWS............... M and J are now officially MARRIED!!!!!! So now all he has to is overcome the word of Wisdom and he can be baptized. He wants to be baptized because he wants to have the priesthood for his family. He is such a good guy and is doing everything to raise his new family that he has just married into. I'm so proud of him and It kills me to see the cigarrettes stand in the way of him and baptism right now. It really is hard to overcome. This week we had a few lessons with them. We have daily contact with him it's awesome!!! During the lesson we read Alma 24 where they bury their swords deep in the earth and so we all wrote something on a piece of paper and burried it deep in the earth in the back yard!!! It was an awesome lesson! Compliments to Brother John Chatwin because we did that with him in Seminary! They loved it! He really is progressing so much. He called us this week two nights in a row and just thanked us over and over for bringing the gospel into his life and showing him the light. IT's not a matter of IF he'll be baptized it's just WHEN. He's going to start going to an addiction recovery class through LDS Family Services. He also has Home teachers that have both been addicted to cigarrettes in the past and have overcome it through the gospel.. THey are perfect for them. Our whole ward has really reached out to them. Every week a different family is going to have them over for family night. They are getting better at their prayers and they read their scriptures and they are coming to church.

Here's a story... so MT and JC have been wanting to get married for the last 3 weeks but they needed their tax returns to do it. They have been expecting them for the past 3 weeks waiting anxiously everyday and nothing ever came. So they planned to get married on Leap year (awesome eh?) and Elder Chambers and I prayed and prayed and prayed that the tax returns would come before that day or on that day. So it's Leap year day and we call them after the mail came and they said that it didn't come. So you know what we did?! Got on our knees and prayed... hard!

We get a text from M an hour later: "Have you guys been praying that our tax returns would come today?" we texted back "YES...... why would you say a thing like that?" he replied "They came. Would you like to come to our wedding at 2 today? We'll pick you up in 20 minutes!" 

They called the tax office and they asked if their returns were there and the lady said "We aren't really supposed to check but i'll do i just for you. Yep they're here, you can come pick them up if you'd like"

What a miracle! So Elder Chambers and I shined our shoes, put on matching ties (as close as we could match) and went and saw them get married at the courthouse!!! It was so exciting!!! We are teaching them tonight again. I'm excited!!!

Love you

Elder Whiting

2.27.12

My favorite thing about this week was going into the Primary and
speaking to the kids about times in our life where we chose the right
and they all raised their hands and told us which choice was the right
one and which one was the wrong one. It was so funny!!! All of the
little kids know us and when we walked in the yelled "ELDER WHITING
and ELDER CHAMBO!!!! haha Kids are the best thing in the world!!

My mission is just absolutely incredible!!! And just so you know don't
ever drink Alcohol or smoke cigarettes. Because they are Satan's tool
to stop you from progressing. Man it just traps people. And EVERYONE
DOES IT!!!! It kills me! We have a few investigators that are so close
to getting baptized right now but they just have a few hurdles to get
over first. I am doing everything I possibly can to help them.

Sometimes I feel like the Lord of the Vineyard (Jesus Christ) in the
parable of the Wild and tame olive branches in Jacob 5. In verse 47 He
says "But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened
mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and
I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it;
and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long" In other
words "But what more can I do for my investigators? Have I not taught
them everything, have I slacked in giving them all the tools and
nourishment they need? No, I have taught them all I know, I have
served them in every way that I can, I have been there every step of
the way; and I have stretched forth my hand almost all the day long."

I will continue to serve and nourish the people that I love with all
my heart here in Lewiston. I do whatever it takes to help them find
the Light that Christ has to offer. I just love being out here on a
mission. I wish I could stay here forever. As Ammon said to King
Lamoni after Lamoni asked him "if it were his desire to dwell in the
land among the Lamanites (Washington Spokane Mission) or among his
people (Gilbert, AZ; Home) I say just as Ammon "Yea, I desire to dwell
among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die."
Alma 17:22-23

The Book of Mormon is changing me. I feel different, My prayers are
more sincere with my Heavenly Father, When I testify I feel it coming
from my heart. In the simplest way I can put it, my testimony is going
from my Head to my Heart.

Loves,
Elder Whiting

p.s. By the way the neighbors lambs had baby lambs this week!!!! They
are so cute!!! haha