10-6-14 To love another person is to see the face of God.

SO my internet to send anything didn't work for the last 45 minutes, so sorry to everyone I will not be responding to! I was able to read everything though, so thank you for the emails!!!

And NO, we did NOT get to watch Conference. Hardest thing ever. Kidding not kidding. I am so so ecstatic for THIS weekend to watch my beloved conference!!!! 

FIRST OFF. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM AND ROBERT!!!!!!!!!! You are both SO special to me and I hope your day is perfect!!! I will be celebrating the 10th with you guys!!! And also happy birthday Mike and Mel!!! Write meeee :) (the pics aren't working. I am so sorry!!)

Also, today I have 11 months. Can you BELIEVE THAT? I surely cannot. Next month, I burn a skirt. ;)

My comp's birthday was last Wednesday and it was a super nice day of having to eat 7 different cakes at every house we went to. WEEE. We almost DIED of sugar overload. I didn't know that was possible for me. hehe

Well, Elder Layton lent me his Les Miserable cd for a few days. If any of you remember how much I LOVE les mis... you can imagine me very emotional and giddy listening to "even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise" and other insanely gospel-related, motivational lyrics. AHHH!!!!!!!! Brownie points for Elder Layton. haha

EVERYONE GO WATCH "EARTHLY FATHER, HEAVENLY FATHER" right NOW. It's incredible. I was crying a little lot. It's a Mormon message that's perfectly done.

My comp and I honestly feel like abuelitas here. We hear story after story every single day (terrible, sad, depressing, hopeless stories) that people tell us. We just have so much knowledge about life haha. You'd think they would weigh me down or make me struggle with my faith, but its like they do the EXACT opposite. While I do feel sorrow for them, I also feel an insane amount of God's love for them and me. My faith is strengthened with each story as I realize how good God is and how MUCH they need Him in their lives. It is the ONLY THING. this gospel is the only way to find peace, happiness and comfort. A place where you belong and where you can find rest from the terribly hard trials of life. This is where we ALL belong. 

Also, I am becoming bluntly aware of how much my Heavenly Father TRUSTS me. To be here, with these people to help them. He is trusting me with the lives and souls of his beloved children and it is my responsibility to do EVERYTHING in my power to help them. I never ever want to let Him down.

So sometimes people ask me if I really am just HAPPY all the time. I was thinking a lot about this this week. How I feel like God has blessed me incredibly with the power to just be happy. Because it doesn't mean I am not going through trials, I don't feel sad, or I don't doubt myself everyday (because I do) but I just think that there is a power outside of me that is helping me to remember all that I am blessed with. I cannot even BEGIN to number all of my blessings. Because I don't even know a number that high. 

But really. The mission is the HARDEST and BEST thing ever. Nothing I have ever done in my life up to this point is even half as rewarding or as important as my mission. 

My goal is to make my last 7 months stronger and better than my last 11 and to prove to God that I want to be here and no where else.

D&C 88:81 (read and ponder) "As a covenant disciple of Jesus Christ, you are OBLIGATED to extend to others the opportunity to find increased happiness."

Just extend the invitation. Follow up. God WILL give you His help and by doing so, your own personal testimony will be strengthened and fortified. I promise.

I love you all.

Hermana Whitlock

ps. WHOS EXCITED FOR CONFERENCE??!! (answer. all of us missionaries here in Peru who didn't watch it. :( ) ha