Hola Familia y Amigos!!!
Well, I'm leaving an area for the first time... We found out Friday that I'm leaving San Rafael and going to Vacaville. I'm really sad to leave all the ward members and investigators that I've worked so hard with, and especially to leave Elder Perez, who I've learned so much from and developed such a great friendship with. But I'm also super excited to go work in a new area with a new companionship, Elder Lenon and Elder Debora (yes, I'm in a trio). I'm especially excited to work with Elder Lenon, I've heard only good things about him from everybody that knows him, especially Elder Perez who used to be his companion (I'm excited to work with Elder Debora too, I just don't know anything about him). I know next to nothing about Vacaville except that it's hotter than San Rafael (which I'm not excited about, I've been hearing 115 degrees... yech), but I'm super excited to have a chance to go there and help strengthen the Branch, and find, teach, and baptize non-members in that area. I prayed yesterday to have a love for the area and the people there, and I can already feel that love growing within me. I don't know very much about how things will be, but I like the quote from Elder Worthlin: "Come What May, And Love It" and I hope that I can apply this as I change areas and have the chance to learn more from new people, in a new place.
This week, while good, had some not so great news for Elder Perez and I. Marcela, who had the baptismal date, is planning on moving to Richmond soon, probably this week (to get away from a bad situation with her husband, Miguel). Both Elder Perez and I have had to remind ourselves that this is the Lord's work and that He will take care of Marcela wherever she goes. Otherwise though, we had a great time with the branch activity that we had this Saturday, and have had some wonderful opportunities to serve branch members this week. The activity we had went well and was even fairly well attended. We had 3 stations and taught members about sharing the gospel with friends, how we teach with the pamphlets, and how to apply some of the principles of the blessings we do with new contacts to their home/visiting teaching. I think it went well and is a good event to have, especially if it's planned further ahead (we planned for about a month) and if branch members are heavily involved. I think that having events like that, that the missionaries and members are jointly involved in planning are great activities to have in a ward or branch.
I love y'all and look forward to writing y'all from Vacaville!
-Elder Whitaker
Well, I'm leaving an area for the first time... We found out Friday that I'm leaving San Rafael and going to Vacaville. I'm really sad to leave all the ward members and investigators that I've worked so hard with, and especially to leave Elder Perez, who I've learned so much from and developed such a great friendship with. But I'm also super excited to go work in a new area with a new companionship, Elder Lenon and Elder Debora (yes, I'm in a trio). I'm especially excited to work with Elder Lenon, I've heard only good things about him from everybody that knows him, especially Elder Perez who used to be his companion (I'm excited to work with Elder Debora too, I just don't know anything about him). I know next to nothing about Vacaville except that it's hotter than San Rafael (which I'm not excited about, I've been hearing 115 degrees... yech), but I'm super excited to have a chance to go there and help strengthen the Branch, and find, teach, and baptize non-members in that area. I prayed yesterday to have a love for the area and the people there, and I can already feel that love growing within me. I don't know very much about how things will be, but I like the quote from Elder Worthlin: "Come What May, And Love It" and I hope that I can apply this as I change areas and have the chance to learn more from new people, in a new place.
This week, while good, had some not so great news for Elder Perez and I. Marcela, who had the baptismal date, is planning on moving to Richmond soon, probably this week (to get away from a bad situation with her husband, Miguel). Both Elder Perez and I have had to remind ourselves that this is the Lord's work and that He will take care of Marcela wherever she goes. Otherwise though, we had a great time with the branch activity that we had this Saturday, and have had some wonderful opportunities to serve branch members this week. The activity we had went well and was even fairly well attended. We had 3 stations and taught members about sharing the gospel with friends, how we teach with the pamphlets, and how to apply some of the principles of the blessings we do with new contacts to their home/visiting teaching. I think it went well and is a good event to have, especially if it's planned further ahead (we planned for about a month) and if branch members are heavily involved. I think that having events like that, that the missionaries and members are jointly involved in planning are great activities to have in a ward or branch.
I love y'all and look forward to writing y'all from Vacaville!
-Elder Whitaker