7-21-14 Welcome to the JUNGLE!!!!!! (La merced. Area: Villa Rica) Look it up.

Whoever told me the jungle is hot is a LIAR. Thats right, I am in the
jungle.  Green, Coconut trees, coffee plants,Green EVERYWHERE, rain
(everyday) parrots, monkeys, wooden houses, the whole shabang. Its
BEAUTIFUL. And cold. So coooold. I dont even understand. Everyone told
me, “villa rica is so cool, but so hot. Get ready!” Like I said…
Liars. Haha

We had the baptism of Geral in Micaela (huanuco) Tuesday night and had
cambios Wed morning. It was wonderful!!! Shes so cute: I have tons of
pics, but like I said… maybe someday.

So some cool facts:

We live above a coffee roasting business. So our house ALWAYS smells
like coffee. Yum.

The internet is slower than ALL get out. And it gives your cards
viruses… so as for now. No pictures :(

The roads are FULL of desaguas. If you dont know what that is… well,
its poop water. So everywhere smells like… well, you can imagine. ;)

Our pension (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is an italian restaurant.
REAL YUM. I'm going to get so fat! But! I convinced my comp to go
running with me 3 times a week, we went this morning and I loved it!!
Hopefully we can do it more because then I might not actually come
home 300 pounds.

There is a Little girl here named Renesme. Thats right. From Twilight. Hahaha

My comp is Hermana Mecias from California. Thats right, ENGLISH! And
fluent spanish. It's the BEST. Also, she is the sister I went on splits
in Cerro and sent a photo home a LONG time ago, shes GREAT.

SO the wooden houses here remind me SO much of like the fake wooden
houses in pirates ride and other rides at disneyland. Like theyre
going to fall apart any second. But theyre SO cool. And some of them
even smell like the pirates ride…

Does anyone know an Elder Layton from Gilbert? ( think the Smelsers
do!) Well, he's in my ward with us! Actually, all four of us are
Americans. Its chistoso.

You guys should write  me with DEARELDER.COM they actually DO come!!!
(and I havent had any letters in months and months!) :)

Well. I am just getting to know the area and the members and
everything, so I dont have much to report in that aspect. I am so
ready and excited to work HARD here because there are a lot of
problems here. I just know that this area is going to help me grow a
LOT spiritually, emotionally and physically (hopefully not my size
though)

I love being a missionary. Forever and Always. :) There is NOTHING
like the joy that comes from teaching others about the Gospel of our
Lord and Savoir and inviting them to live it. I love serving a mission
at the same time as a lot of my friends too. I get to see their
examples and growth. I really do have the best friends ever. :) I love
you all!!!! I hope everyone has an awesome, faith filled week.
Internet is sooo slow, so I am going to try and send this now, sorry
if it's short!!


Love, 
Hermana Whitlock