12-1-14 Happy late thanksgiving!!! oops...

These will be gone so fast ;) 

Ahhhh!!! I am the worst. I always choose to respond to everyone first before I write this and 45 minutes will NEVER ever be enough. Forgive me!!!

So I had divisions with my new sister leader.... drum roll please..... HERMANA DURFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My best friend in the mission!! She now is only 2 hours away from me!!!! haha. Well it was a perfect division of course, only we realized a few reasons why we should never be comps.

1- CANNOT stop talking.

2. Hermana Whitlock gets attacked by a HUGE rottweiler and another almost as big dog. Hermana Durfee runs away. (just kidding, she picked up a big rock while she ran)

3.We get yelled at by everyone and their mom because we are two gringos juntos.

4. We get followed by motos at night that park outside my house and we think were going to die.

5. We don't sleep... much. haha

But also, we get along perfectly and have everything in common and teach like we were born teaching together. Family, you are ALL going to meet Hermana Durfee!!! 

I have just an insane amount of gratitude for my Heavenly Father this week. I sadly forgot it was even Thanksgiving until the elders told me :( and I was sick so I didn't even eat Peruvian food that day.. but ALL week I have been exploding with happiness and thankfulness in my heart for my millions of blessings and the ability I know have to recognize them. EVEN trials are blessings! Hermana Durfee and I talked a lot about this and it's been stuck in my head. How LUCKY I am to live where I live, to have the family and gospel and house and blessings and friends and everything else. And how I have a duty, responsibility and opportunity to share my happiness and knowledge with EVERYONE!!! Peruvians and in my own country :) So just so y'all know now, When I come home, I am not going to stop being a missionary. :)

SO this week has been really slow as far as lessons wise, and crazy as far as trying to get everything ready for a marriage!! We spent 4 hours in the muncipalidad going crazy! But this wedding IS going to happen! 

Also, speaking of weddings, we went to a reception Saturday!!! We did the whole catch the bouquet thing (which is INCREDIBLY awkward as a missionary) but we made sure to not catch it haha. Last reception we went to, my comp caught it... so weird.

Then they played another thing like that were there is ribbon coming out of the cake and all the single ladies (put your hands up!) hold a part and pull it out and someone has a ring on it!! So everyone did it and I was looking at everyone for the ring, without noticing my own... yep. A cute little real gold ring!! Which means I had to go up in front of everyone and wish the couple happiness. So embarrassing and I still get scared speaking in spanish in front of lots of people. But HEY! I got a ring. And I'm going to get married first of everyone now ;)

Well.. that's about it this week. Our investigators are doing SO good. People are coming to church and accepting dates and we are really letting the spirit lead in our lessons. I love this place. I am SO grateful to be here. Love you all. Write me.

Hermana Whitlock

The ring I won at the wedding!!!

Johnny Inga!!! A sister gave us this shirt :)

One of my favorite people here and now totally active :)

I don't even know what this animal is called...

Waterfall!!!!

Durf y yo

11-24-14 Heaven is a place on earth

Okay first thing first.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST SMARTEST PRETTIEST FUNNIEST NICEST LITTLE SISTER IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. Everyone say hi to her and give her a fat hug from me!!! 

So many random points. Not a lot of time. But I will try.

Monday we made baseball bats with the elders!! I have cool pictures but this lovely computer doesn't work... so maybe someday haha. We also had an awesome NDH with 2 families and some investigators. On Sunday our investigator says she LOVES family home evenings because they help her feel a part of the ward and family. It was the cutest. Also, invite a less active or non member to your FHE this week!!

NDH!!!!

Erica and Armando, our couple will be getting married in 2 weeks!!! We are BEYOND excited. I love these people with all my heart and their progress is unreal. Please pray for them to stay strong. Satan is tempting them hard. I don't like that guy.

Another investigator named Beatriz and her 2 kids could use your prayers. They are VERY humble (of course, most are here) but they are perfect. My comp and I are already in LOVE with them. They have so much light, But are very difficult to teach. Please pray they will understand what we teach them. Beatriz has gone to church every Sunday for 2 months. She's awesome!!!

I am also SO excited to be here. Oh wait. I didn't even tell you guys!!!

Cambios--- I AM STAYING IN VILLA RICA!!! With my comp. It's nuts actually. Almost no one stays together for more than 2 cambios haha. Also Elder Layton stayed! But we lost elder Giles :( 

Bueno. I was saying I am SO excited to be here for Navidad. We are planning all sorts of little ways to help and bless the people here. It's going to be the BEST Christmas EVER!! And I am so glad I will be in a ward I know and love with all of my heart. 

Speaking of the ward. They are so awesome!!! Everyone always gives us offerings, always. And they want to accompany us to lessons and always want us to visit. It's such a different feeling from just a few months ago. The work of the Lord continues to go uphill here in Villa Rica!!! Please pray for the Barrio Villa Rica, yesterday we received a new obispado! But it's all in God's hands.:)

Also yesterday, we were walking down the road and we see a very small (he had been drinking) crippled man who was dragging himself across the street and NO ONE was helping him. We ran over to him and tried to help him up,but he was too heavy. So I walked next to him as he continued to crawl to the other side. Cars kept passing and yelling at us either to help him or to stop because hes a "dumb drunk". This made me so sad. My comp tried to call anyone we knew to come help us carry him, but NO one was answering us. I sat down and talked to him for a long time about his life and showed him pictures of Jesus Christ. We even joked around. He doesn't speak very well, but somehow I understood him. I made him read my plaque to see if he could read and he can!!! he pronounced my name so funny and asked if it was quetchwa. Then we spoke quetcjwa for a little too ;) I was praying SO hard that someone would come help us. I looked up for a moment just as a group of 15 MARINES from LIMA came walking. I yelled at them to please come and help us. They all came over, lifted him up, took him to his house, and one even bought him water. It was a miracle. God is SO good. I literally started crying after because I realized that was the most random thing ever, but God answers our prayers in strange ways. :) 

He has been answering my prayers here for this area, and ward and people EVERYDAY. I love him and I KNOW He listens AND answers our prayers. Put your trust in Him.

I love you all.

Hermana Whitlock!!

11-17-14 cosechando los hijos de Dios. All day eryday

Pday we went on a beautiful hike to an even more beautiful waterfall. I sent some pics. I LOVE THE JUNGLE.

The missionary spirit is starting to spread to the members here!!!! We beat our goal for lessons with members this week. We were so happy we almost cried. And EVERY lesson with them was SO much better. Their testimonies help those investigating! So hey! For all of you at home, do everything in your power to accompany the missionaries at least once a week. You will be able to see the spirit way more profoundly in your own life and house as you serve God by serving the missionaries. I promise. :)

I wanna know how politics are going in the states?? Hows good old Obama? Did I tell you there's a member here who looks JUST like him? Only, his name is Jesus, and he's super cool.... hahaha.

If you don't get my title, come to villa rica. Everyone and their MOM's have chacras and that's what everyone's work is. They are always gone cosechando. But that's what we do here too!!! Only, with humans.

Sorry I am out of time and nothing makes much sense. Tomorrow's cambios. Eeeeeekkk. Never ever want to leave here.

We had 8 investigators at church yesterday. Normal attendance when I came here was 55-70. The last cambio it's been 80-100. Yesterday, we had 125!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are re activating and finding and the work of the Lord is progressing here!!! We had a super fun successful activity Saturday and Ahhh!!! I am just so happy. I love Villa Rica. It's my second home. I love the people here so much. We have found and are teaching 4 families too, more about them next week. (pray I stay!!!)

Love you all so much. This church is true. Every part of it.

Hermana Whitlock

Miguelito. My favorite human aquí in villa rica. :))))

Where we live and walk everyday :)))

Our favorite truck

11-10-14 no subject. hehe

LOVE THEM!

 Sorry everyone, but I don't have much to say!!!!

...like always.Haha man, I am so bad at this! Monday we had an uno tournament for pday with all the elders! It was super fun. We play uno all the time here... but it's like crazy fun uno! Haha apart from that, Tuesday and Wednesday we were in La Merced for the Multi-zone so we had 3 days without lessons!!! (which I HATE by the way. Those aren't exclamations de felicidad) We had a SUPER cool family home evening with 3 families and 3 investigators. It was so beautiful! My comp has all of the pictures we took this week, so again... no fotos!! Lo siento!! De verdad. 

We have 3 investigators progressing very well. Their names are Miguel, Erica and Armando. Please pray for them!!! Thank you :) They all have dates for the end of this month!

Ahhh. I just can't think of much. We have been really working on getting members to go with us to lessons. It's normally 1 or 2 who go. This week we had 6 lessons with members and 8 accompany us!!! So were really happy about that.

We have cambios next week and I hate those things. I am pretty sure I will leave. I have almost 5 months here  :( But I just adore my companion and all of her quirks and I LOVE VILLA RICA. It's taking such hard work, lots of tears, time and patience, but we are seeing the fruits of our labors here and God is blessing us with so so many miracles. I just wanna stay here forever. (not to mention our pension is PERFECT and the weather and it's safe here and every other good thing)

Just some HUGE avocados!

Wish me luck I stay.

Also. I love this work. I think I will stay in Peru forever. Sorry, but real life stinks ;) The mission and feeling the constant guide of the spirit and improving on my weaknesses daily, and helping others improve their lives and find Christ is WAY better. No?  ;) 

Love you all SO MUCH. Write me!!!

Hermana Whitlock

These are the twins

That's me about to contact the crap out of the cemetery.

Circo!

Los Elderes (halloween) 

11-3-14 I love slow internet!!!!!!!!

So this week we just worked (like every week) haha sorry I am getting more boring I just can't think of what happens in one week. Everything is so exciting to us, but it's also a lot of the same routine. And I don't ever have internet that works!! I think God wants me to learn even MORE patience than I have been developing... haha

I got to hold a snake this week!!! And 2 monkeys!!! One weird big one in la merced and then on Saturday we were just contacting and we saw a man with a TINY monkey. It was sooooo cute!!!! I took pics, but idk when I will be able to send them.

This week was introvistas con presidente. I love that man and respect him so much!! This week we will have multi-zone and practices.... yay.... (I hate practices)

Hey, did anyone know I hit a year this Thursday??? Que WEIRD. AHHH!! I am old. And I still can't speak spanish... haha 

SO Halloween.... We woke up to POURING rain that continued almost all day. Good thing I had 2 ponchos (orange and black) that I have never even opened!! We totally had Halloween colors :) And the elders carved a pina.... stinking genuises....

We dressed as elderas for Halloween (or twins, which is what everyone thought) and we didn't even eat ONE dulce. Not one. There was lots of kids trick or treating, but they don't really dress up!! And they are all holding tiny pumpkin baskets that would maybe fit 15 candies.... also, only tiendas give out candy. Idk. The whole thing is just weird! I love holidays in the states, but it was a very FUN day anyway!!!!!!

Elderes

Welp.. That's all for now folks! love you!!!

Hermana Whitlock

p.s. some conference quotes I LOVE: 

"A God who makes no demands is the functional equivalent of a God who does not exist."

"We do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity of goodness before God will Help."

"NO FORCE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD CAN STOP THE WORK OF GOD."

"Opposition against the things of God sends seekers of truth to their knees for answers."

"Selective obedience, brings selective blessings."

"Partner with God to endure to the END."

"I may not be my brothers keeper, but I am my brothers brother, and because I have been given much I too must give."

"Decisions determine destiny."

"NOTHING else, NO other choice we make, can make of us what he can."

"Challenges help us become more like our Father in Heaven."

"The best paths in life are rarely the easiest."

And mannyyyy more. Hopefully you can use one of these to lift your spirits this week and remember who's you are.

We buy pinas every week. 2 soles. :)

A swing we found :)) 

Our friend

Armadillo...?

LOOK at that cats face!!!! 

Gatoooooosssss!!!! 

10-27-14 Out of time!!!!!

Hola!!! The internet here in Good ole La Merced is even worse than Villa Rica! I didn’t know that was possible. We are here because tomorrow we have interviews with President!! I love those things. So this week we just worked all week ;) I don’t have too much to write about actually. We have been praying and fasting to find at least ONE person prepared to accept this gospel. And this week we found 3. :)) They have all accepted dates and came to church this Sunday!! It was AWESOME. In fact. Something crazy happened Sunday. We are used to having 0 to MAYBE 2 investigators come to church. Just GUESS how many came?!?! Ill tell ya. EIGHT. We were ecstatic!!! And I gave a talk (which went awesome by the way) and it was SO beautiful to see all of their faces, along with many menos activos. The work really is progressing here in lovely Villa Rica.

So this past week my comp and I watched a TERRIBLE moto crash with 2 deaths. I just want to let everyone I know and love that you are NEVER to ride a motorcycle again… but seriously. Also, it made me realize how insanely fragile this life is and that we each need to be living as if we could die tomorrow. Doing the things that will bring us most happiness and doing what will get us back to our Father in Heaven. Also, please keep the families of those people in your prayers. I do not know them, but I can only imagine what they are going through now.

That’s it for the week folks!!! God is SO good. It amazes me. Everyday I see miracles and His hand here in Peru. I love it. This is hands down the hardest thing I have ever done (and specifically this area) But. I can't explain how important it is to me. My mission will shape my entire life. I am learning and growing in ways that is simply COULD NOT have done at home. I have a lot of weaknesses and challenges everyday, but I am amazed at how patient and loving Heavenly Father is with me--- and ALL of His children. God is the BEST!!!!!!!!!!

 Out of time. Hermana Durfee sent the coolest quote about Holland and keep walking... it won't let me copy and paste. But I listened to the same quote that same day. Not by coincidence. Mom, try and find it please... it's about enduring. I LOVE YOU ALLLL!!!!

 

Hermana Whitlock

10-20-14 jadhjkfydsfhn

Honestly.  I am a little done with the internet here. I have been trying to get this to open for 25 minutes. So now I have no time for anything. I am sorry. Life of a Missionary... right? ;)

So everyone just go re watch or listen to elder Scott's talk, Robbing's, and all of conference really. t was so perfect. I went in with SO many questions and left having them all answered. Isn't that amazing? Like personal revelation is real and I was and am so grateful to my Heavenly Father who knows me more than I know myself. He is so kind and patient and AWESOME and I love Him.

So our area is just crazy. We are working on the "work" in every way possible. As they say here, "estamos trabajando como negros" and that's NOT racist. Haha. But really. We are seeing a TON of improvement in our ward, one of our less actives was rescued and is fully active now, and we are just working on finding and teaching all of Villa Rica!!! We had a lesson with a new person yesterday who God has prepared. She is SO awesome. We have lots who can progress. I don't have time to explain them, but you can keep: Hugo, Rosalina, Ruth, Erica, Edith, Sumacc and Keiko in your prayers please :) All are very special people we are teaching!!!

STORY TIME: So after the elders baptism (Which was amazing!!! Go elder Giles and Layton!) we were walking home and we hear someone say, "hermanas" we turn around and one of the elders less actives was walking towards us. I waved and kept walking. Then he asked if he could talk to us for a moment. He was holding a BIG black bag, and he said, I have something for... YOU. And turned and looked at me and held out the bag... "umm.. thanks!? Who told you to give this to me?" Then he looked around and said, "well.. it was... that one thing, oh yeah the Holy Ghost!" WHAT??!?!?!?!?  hahahaha shutup. My comp was dying. I was able to hold it together as to not laugh in his face (because he was totally serious and scared), said thank you and walked away. My comp opened it up and there a big stuffed animal.... hahahha oh my gosh. So now, I have a snake. haha just kidding. He is a super shy kid and he didn't even talk to me in church yesterday but it was VERY interesting.

My gift from "el espiritu santo"

 Also, I have some awesome pics for this week on my COMPS camera, I will try to get them for next week.... I hope. 

I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!
Hermana Whitlock.

p.s. Me and my comp are doing so great. I love her and appreciate her and I am a very happy missionary :)

10-13-14 DECISIONS DETERMINE DESTINY

Well, this email is basically going to be exclusively about conference because OH MY GOSH IT WAS PERFECT. 

But first... update on the area.

Well, I don't know how I forgot to mention last week about the weather here. It's coming into "rainy season" here and boy is it rainy!!! It's supposed to only get worse in November-January. It's basically just always flooding from the skies here. Haha sometimes the sun is still shining and its super hot, but your super wet. Other times, you cannot see a break in the clouds for MILES. It's so pretty. Except... I can't even dance in the rain, so it's not THAT fun. 

We are working. This week was villa rica's anniversary, which means no one is in their houses, but I will let you know how everyone is doing next week.

This year, I only listened to conference. They had it watching in spanish for everyone and me and the elders listened to it on a USB. It was a little sad not to see all of them and watch their expressions, but it made me have to pay even MORE attention to the words and it was super amazing anyway.

HOW Cool is that that people got to talk in their own languages!? This church is so amazing. The only problem was trying to listen to the spanish and portugues in english. I could understand what they were saying and (obviously ) the english translator and it just confused me!!! haha

So of course, Holland and Uchtdorf ALWAYS deliver, and I would recommend those talks to EVERYONE. But a few that really blew me away this year were President Bednar's (story of his sons), Anderson (on the Prophet Joseph Smith) and Christoferson's (on the plan of salvation and agency). They were PERFECT.  Please go read and watch and study them!!!

Also, I LOVED Uchtdorf's from priesthood session. It was SO inspiring and really makes you think. 

Well. Actually I am out of time...

Next week then..... love you all!!!

NBD. Only 50 kilos

These people are the BEST. Hermano Fermin reminds me SO much of gpa leif! 

Other strange fruit here in beloved Villa Rica.

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

9-29-14 Why am I not more clever?

Welp. Too much to say and never enough time!!

Nah, really I don't got much to say this week. We are working super hard, and there are improvements happening here, thanks to our awesome Heavenly Father. I won't tell you what, but just know they are happening. :)

We have finally put a date on one of our investigators who is doing so good but isn't married. If all goes well, she will be baptized sometime in October! Her name is Elena, please pray for her.

Soooo... 3 crazy things happened with the story of Anali and Ruth

1. Anali answered her not working phone and told us she is locked in the house because her parents don't want her to "run into the Mormon missionaries".

2. Ruth randomly called us the other day and said "I want to meet with you guys, can I come to the chapel?" Then never came. :( Because her mom took her away... long story. Please please pray for RUTH.

3. Anali's mom approached us in the street yesterday and said, "are you the missionaries teaching Anali?" We said yes and told her that we haven't seen her in a few weeks though. Her mom explained that they are having a lot of different problems, etc... but what REALLY surprised us was what she said. Basically this (translated. hehe) "PLEASE come visit her. If you see her, talk to her. Help her. She was doing so much better when she was listening to you guys, and we don't know what to do with her." Also, she said we could come and teach her as well, because she's curious now.

MIRACLES EXIST!!! And we are going to go visit the family tomorrow. They are VERY against Mormons in general, but God is working on them. Please pray for us, and them!!!!

Helaman 10: 3-5--- Read it. Love it. Live it.

That's all I got. And time is UP!! I love you all. I love this gospel. I love this time I have to be here, as hard and as tiring as it is, I am literally in LOVE with this work, this gospel. I learn and grow every single day. I am learning to rely on my Heavenly Father and I am developing a personal and real relationship with my Savior and brother. This is WHERE I need to be, and I love it.

As one of my FAVORITE missionaries said (Hermana Durfee), and I can't put it ANY better: 

"The joy missionary work brings is literally indescribable. There is NOTHING nor ANYONE that has ever made me happy like this work has. I love it so dang much. Every pain. Every tear. Every sleepless night. Every slammed door in your face. Every night of throwing up. Everything. Every little pain. It's worth it! Realmente, vale la pena! 

Happiness isn't something that comes once we receive the blessings we are so desperately waiting for. It's accepting the hardships that come and learning to be happy no matter what life throws at you and accept the Lord's timing. It's there for us along the way. It's waking up every day and facing it with faith, optimism, and a smile on your face, no matter how your circumstances appear. It's about being able to point out every little blessing God as given you and focusing on those even when you are surrounded in tribulation. True happiness is a choice and it's available to all who rely on our Savior Jesus Christ and take his invitation to follow him."

So. Know I am happy here.

Also, take her (and my) advice and BE HAPPY.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR CONFERENCE OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, love you all.

Hermana Whitlock

We made a brownie type pazookie. HEAVEN

My little house :)

The sign's resting.... hahaha oh spanish.

9-22-14 No title.

AHHH!!!! Why don't we ever have more time!?! 

Well, I know why, but I just feel badly for you guys because I never send good emails. I am sorry. Forgive me. :) 

But I am trying to send LOTS of photos, so that should make up for it, right? :) 

Anyway.

- We are really focusing on menos activos in our area right now. Of course, we are finding new people to teach, but they have almost been exclusively through menos activos, it's been awesome! We are teaching our bishops son who has been inactive for 5 years. We have been teaching him and his non-member girlfriend and it has been SO amazing. Every lesson with them is filled with incredible power and peace that only comes from God. The changes we have been seeing in him are awesome too! He is having a change of heart--because that's what living the gospel does!

- We are teaching several people right now who don't have a christian background or don't believe in God. Never in my whole mission have I had this opportunity! It's super exciting, and hard, but they are coming around ;)

- So some super sad news: our beloved Anali and Ruth moved super rapidly one day with their family and we cannot find them. We are still looking for them, so please pray we will be able to get in contact with them.

-So here in Villa Rica we have received very special permission to be in charge of training all of the leaders in our Ward. It's been a very... different experience. It's not something I ever thought I would be doing as a missionary and it's very hard, but we are learning SO much and God is REALLY helping his 4 missionaries out here in Villa Rica! 

-Everyone!!! Conference is SOOOO SOOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so ecstatic!!! I am re-reading all of Octobers ones in preparation. I would encourage you to do the same, conference is literally one of the best things EVER.

- We are working so hard as a companionship, just so everyone knows. My comp is practically PERFECT. I am loving having her as my comp.

-A few excerpts from one of my favorite talks EVER!!! "Grateful in Any circumstances" Dieter. F Uchtdorf

"we sometimes think that being grateful is what we do AFTER our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting for the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?"

"Being grateful in times of distress does NOT mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It DOES mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present- day challenges."

In an area as hard as the one I am in now, I have loved remembering and trying to develop the Christlike attribute of gratitude. I am surprisingly happy and hopeful for what lies ahead in beautiful Villa Rica!!

Welp. I am out of time. Love you all. 

Herma whitlock

Okay answers to questions:

Yes, me and my comp and two gringos haha. We are an hour from the nearest group of other missionaries. And we get to see one set of sisters every week in district meeting-- if we have it. It's crazy out here! haha and we are alwayssss traveling to oxapampa or La merced!

My comp has 8 months, shes from Chili, she has been a member since she's been 15, and she's incredible. She has a super insane past life and she teaches me so so so so much. We have the BEST conversations. Everyday. I can communicate in that sense fluidly in espanol now :) 

We did not get to see the conference :( We are sad about that. Also this week, we MIGHT not get to watch conference because Peru's elections are Sunday. The political rallies and stuff is out of control. It's been happening strong since July, so we are all prettyyy excited for them to FINALLY have elections. Somos Peru! haha

Mexican celebration!!!!

Parrots

Ten commandments

PATOS!!!!

A party with our favorite young woman ;) 

9-15-14 Forget your fears.

AHHHH!!!! SO MANY THINGS TO TELL YOU ALL AND NEVER ENOUGH TIME.

I will try. Forgive me for errors and when it doesn't make sense. haha :)

So this last week, we found 2 different lost children. BOTH times they were without shirts and had fallen down and were crying.

The first was a 1yr. baby girl. VERY far from her home. She actually almost got ran over by a car but I saw her and we ran and stopped the car. 

The second one was a 4yr. boy. We never did end up finding his house, but we took him to the police station :)

The COOL part about both these stories is that we found AWESOME people to teach! We are currently teaching two of the cousins of the little girl and they are fantastic. Anali and Ruth. But they are also going through VERY hard things, so prayers specifically for them would be great. :)

Wait. Stop. Before I go ANY further. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST DAD IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!!!!!! Have a perfect day, Old man. I love you. 

Scripture time: D&C 100:5-8. We shall not be confounded before men. 

We were in a super awesome, spiritual lesson with Anali and Ruth and we were explaining the Book of Mormon. While we were talking her sister and her husband came in. He just started saying super bad things about the church, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We were able to explain to him very powerfully and without arguments or anything. It was a very cool experience because you could TELL he felt the spirit, and although he doesn't want to accept it now, he has our testimonies. 

Hebrews 6: 12, 15. The whole thing is 10-20 and it's super good, but 12 and 15 are my FAV. They talk about PATIENTLY enduring and how we receive our blessings, AFTER we are tried.

And then. On Saturday, Elder Uceda, Area president and Seventy came and talked to us. OH MY GOSH HE IS A MAN CALLED OF GOD. You could just feel the spirit and God's power by his presence. We had an 8 hour long conference with him and I wish I had every second recorded. It was perfect. He talked about so many things, but I am just going to highlight a FEW!

- His wife talked about how we don't need mediocre missionaries. That time has past. We need strong, hard working men and women willing to give their ALL. Like in d&c 4:2 ( I think)

- He talked a TON about Enduring to the END and how that requires patience and faith and how that is what we as missionaries and as a church  need to work on the MOST right now. Not bringing in new people until we ourselves are truly converted. Not for a time, but for forever. 

-"Everything is going to be alright" You may not think so now, but it will be. God PROMISES those who obey that we will find peace. Hold on. :)

-"Forget your fears" When you face your fears, they WILL leave. I needed this, sometimes I forget that I am a SET apart missionary of Jesus Christ and he is with me. If we open our mouths, he will fill them. 

-"THIS IS A NEW DAY, THIS IS A NEW ERA" Forget the past you and become new. TODAY you can be a better, kinder, more faithful follower of Jesus Christ. The world NEEDS you. So start. TODAY.

Okay that's all I got time for today :)

"If at times you may feel lonely and misunderstood because you don't fit in with the crowd, be grateful that your righteous life molds you so that you don't fit in where you don't belong." Thanks Brooke Palmer. I LOVE THIS. (and you) Remember this whenever you feel down because of being righteous. Any time you stand up for your believes you have the chance of being ridiculed, but with the Savior of the World on your side, how can you fail?  ( Answer: You can't) :)

I love you all. Stay strong. Be proud of who you are--- disciples of Jesus Christ.

Hermana Whitlock

p.s. I miss hand-written letters.... :)

Turtles!!!!

A big bug....

Dulce Latte!!! yummmmm

Squished frog....

Smallest dogs ever!!!

World's ugliest dog!