"So I Can Kiss You?"

Hey friends! 🦦

 

Welcome back to another cute lil' brazil update! I hope your week was slaytastic! 

 

TRANSFER NEWS!! 🚨 

We have been waiting ALL DAY to get transfer news. Talk about anxiety inducing. But anyways, drum roll please .... 🥁 Ya girl is LEAVING! I spent the whole day packing not knowing where I was going haha. My trainer is training again! And actually I still don't know where I am going yet or who my comp is 😃 But I wanted to send this before my pday ends :) But hey, I am happy!! I am writing to you right now from McDonald's eating a yummy chocolate sundae. But I will let yall know where I end up next pday!! 🤠

 

Silly story!! 

One night some men selling perfume asked us if we wanted to buy some. They gave this whole spiel and at the end I admitted that I actually only had about 5 bucks with me lol. We stay out in the road until 9 pm so the likelihood of someone snatching my money is actually very high. Hence why I only had 5 dollars to my name. 😅 That's when they figured out we are missionaries and aren't from Brazil. One of them after they found out I am from the US said, "Eu sempre queria beijar uma americana." (I have always wanted to kiss an american.) But I mistook the word beijar for veja (to see). For those of you who speak portuguese, yes I know it is the wrong conjugation but in my head it made sense and he was talking super duper fast. So I replied, "Então você está vivendo o seu sonho!" (Then you are living your dream!) I thought he meant he had always wanted to see an american in real life. He then responded, "Então posso beijar?" (So I can kiss you?) #sendhelp. I was very confused at this point. My comp, completely horrified, then realized I wasn't understanding correctly and told him he could in fact not kiss me because I am a missionary and it is against our rules. Welp. That was my dumb blonde moment for the day haha! It was a close one that's for sure! That would have been an interesting story for my mission president lol. But all is well and no kissing occured! My comp and I had a good laugh afterwards. I am sure it will not be the last of silly misunderstandings. 

 

We have been teaching a family from Venezuela for quite some time now. I LOVE this family. This past week we taught them about temples. We had the kids draw a picture of the temple and at the end they put their family in their drawings. It was something so simple and tender, yet made such an impact on my heart. I don't think I will ever forget how happy they were when we taught this lesson. The gospel truly brings so much joy to our lives. And it is joy that is pure. Joy that is real. Joy without end. I can't speak fluent spanish, but I understood how much the temple meant to them. They are so excited to go to the temple someday so they can be sealed for time and all eternity. On the mission, I often find things to be clearer than they were before. I already knew I loved the temple before my mission, but I love it more now than ever. I haven't been to the temple since the mtc 3 months ago. But I know the power my covenants hold in my life. I know temples really are the House of the Lord. I know God's loves us. I know families really can be forever. 🤍

 

Small jots: 

- Had my never-ending tower of babel experience part-2. Except for this time it was four plates instead of three and a whole casserole plate of dessert she made. She is a sweetie but I sincerely don't think I have ever eaten so much in my life. 

- 4 months on the mish! 

- The rains here is angular. I literally walk through the street with my umbrella in front of my face and just pray that I don't run into a street pole. 

- Sister Ascurra tried goldfish for the first time (she is a fan) 

- FHE with the whole mission was lit as always! I already love my Mission Pres and his wife so much!! 

 

I love yall! Jesus loves ya big time! 

Com carinho, 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Sister Whiting 

My friends from Venezuela ❤️ (they draw better than I do) #artist #VincentVangoWho #canIgetyourautograph? 

We are buddies and stuff 😌

De boa na lagoa 

Sister Grings!!! She got set apart and is a real missionary! Gonna kill it out in Teresina! 🔥

My cutie pie district. We are holding the number of months we have on the mish. Being trendy and such. 

This is Isolete 🕺 She is the one who feeds me till I physically can't move afterwords. Somehow when I am at her house my plate magically refills every five minutes. I love her more than words can describe! 

Comp made me a cake for 4 months. It was passionfruit flavored 😋

My choco sundae. #stomachisblessed 

Leveled up ⬆️

My people!! Happy blessed pday to you all!! I had a lovely week!! 

This week I obtained my nineteenth year of life! ⬆️👵 What does every 19 year old want to do on their birthday? Go to the dentist of course. So that's what I did. I think most of you already know that my aspiration in life is to become a hot soccer mom dental hygienist. My time at this dental office is what I like to call a study abroad moment. Best part is they were playing Taylor Swift so I got to listen to a couple Taylor Swift songs on my bday! I loved my birthday!!! A member made me a cake, my comp got me a Taylor Swift shirt, and my parents sent me the best package ever!! Honestly, I don't think I have ever been happier! I was blessed with the opportunity to serve and teach others of Christ and to me that made my birthday the best one yet (except for maybe when I saw Taylor Swift in real life... I'll get back to you on that.) 

I have been thinking a lot about the mission age change recently because of my birthday. This week I will hit 4 months on the mission. These 4 months that I have had the privilege to serve the people of Brazil mean everything to me. The people I have met. The places I have seen. The memories I have made. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I know God's timing is truly perfect. 

Two baptisms yesterday!!!! SspPLasSHhhhh ZoOoonNeeEe!! 🌊🏄‍♂️ Luis and Julio got baptized!! I haven't written a lot about the people we are teaching because I didn't want to jinx their progress and their stories are really personal. Julio has been working really hard to be baptized. Yesterday marked his 19th day not smoking. I remember when we taught him about the Word of Wisdom and we made a plan for him to stop smoking. It was a struggle at first but he finally has gotten his stride and I am so happy that he got the chance to make this covenant with God!! Luis is a character! He is so very funny. We spent half of every lesson laughing because of something random he said. He lives in a shack in the trees close to the chapel. He doesn't have a lot but he loves God with his whole heart and for him, that's enough. 

One of my fears as a missionary is that we help someone get baptized and then later on down the road they decide the decision wasn't worth it and stop going to church/lose their relationship with God. I straight up asked Luis if he thinks he will keep going to church and he said, "Oh, I am just gonna live here!!" He went on and on about how every Sunday he will be here at church. That made my heart so happy because I don't want to help people only temporarily, but eternally. 

This week my sister sent me a byu devotional that I absolutely loved and invite all of you to read it!! It is called, "Bread or Stones: Understanding the God we Pray to." In this talk, S. Wilcox describes when he sent his daughter on a study abroad to Russia before cellphones and email (its giving, "back in my day...." hahah) and he wrote her letters to bring with her for the moments she might need advice or a little piece from home. He was guessing what to write in these letters because he didn't know exactly what would happen or what she would need. He then compared the scriptures to letters that God has written for us; for the exact moments we may need them. "The scriptures are our Father in Heaven’s letters; only He knows more than I did as a father what you and I would need. There are times in our lives when we need to open the letter and communicate with our Father in Heaven, and understand what He is like and His concern for us." I hadn't ever thought of the scriptures in this way before. A little letter from God. He knows exactly what we need and exactly when we need it. I know through the scriptures we can understand the love he has for us more clearly and learn more about his plan for our lives individually. Don't forget to open your letter from God today!! 

Sorry this email is a little painfully long it just had so many good bits and pieces! 🥰🤗

Small jots: 

- my comp and I were cleaning and filling up the baptismal font and the water started spurting out brown. It was a whole other ordeal #opposition in all things 

- Finally took the bus this week. We saw someone get off a bus so I chased her down like a mad woman and asked her how she did it. (There isn't a bus stop in town, this dude literally just stops in random places and doesn't have a set schedule. 🙃)

- For language study everyday, my comp and I started reading 5 minutes in English and 5 minutes in Spanish and it is becoming one of my favorite parts of the day! 

- Someone lit a fire in the road the other day and then left it. I was wishing I had a marshmallow and a roasting stick. It was the perfect temp for that golden crisp. 

- Taught a lesson to someone who has a pet goose. The thing had a colar with a little bell and everything. It's name is Diane if you were wondering. 🪿

- Ended up giving a talk in church yesterday. Apparently President Souza decided I wasn't off the hook that easy. Silly guy

 

Sending all my love!! As always, Jesus loves ya! 

 

Com carinho, 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Sister Whiting 

Brazil is becoming a second home for me :) So grateful for these past 4 months.

(Holy happiness) 😇😆

My bday cake. We legit ate half of it in one day. I think the member uses some time of crack in her cooking cuz I am addicted. 

#dunked 

Luis! 

Julio! 

Rafaelli is about to leave on her mission next week. She's really cool, someday when I grow up I am gonna be like her. 😌

The member who made my cake 🥰 I am trying to convince her to open a bakery. 

Diane the goose. In all her glory. 

Piece of Cake 🎂 🤩🕺🥳😍

Gang! How's life? 

 

My week was fantastical! We walked A LOT this week! I have been sleeping really good every night. Mission sleep just hits different. It's like I fall into a mini coma every night and arise from the dead every morning. 

 

Tuesday was Sister Ascurra's birthday!! The night before her birthday I was attempting to put up a sign I made for her as a surprise, but the stupid sign wouldn't stay on the wall. I was making so much noise trying to get it to stay up. After tape was used (probably an unhealthy amount) that baby finally stuck. It will probably never come off at this point. Now that is what I like to call a firm foundation. Let's build our foundation on that yall. Helaman 5:12. The Jaredites wish their barges were tight like unto this dish (the birthday sign against the wall lol). She totally knew I was up to something but it was a great day! I made cookies again for district council and I had a surprise cake for her at a member's house. We ate, drank (water) and on the marrow we didn't die. So pretty much it was perfect! 

 

Yesterday in class at church we were learning about sharing the gospel. Sister Grings was teaching the class and she brought with her a giant chocolate cake with strawberries on top. This cake was probably the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. She proceeded to cut a slice and eat it in front of us. Dude, I was dying internally (I love cake.) She compared this to sharing the gospel. We have something that is truly SO good and we are just gonna keep it to ourselves? Nah dawg. I think not! She then cut another slice and gave it to one of the people in our class. But what about the rest of us? After exercising lots of patience, I finally got my slice. And boy oh boy, that cake was delicious. And she shared with everyone in the class! It was probably the best comparison I had ever seen of sharing the gospel. We have this knowledge of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that other people don't have, but we are just eating our piece of cake in front of them. What if we shared what we know with them? So then we can all partake of the fruit of the tree of life that is "more desirable than any other fruit." Let me tell ya, I was definitely not upset about that piece of cake that she gave me. And she didn't seem to regret sharing it with me. The same goes for the gospel. #sharingiscaring. Sometimes the best way to show someone you love them, is by sharing with them. And what better thing have we to share than the love that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 

Small jots: 

- Have been dousing myself in bugspray. New perfume, you should try it sometime. 

- Had to play the piano at church. They asked me to give a talk the day before too but luckily the person who backed out showed up at church 🙏

- Marked some more baptismal dates! Praying for everything to work out !! 🕺

- Found out the movie, "White Chicks" is called, "Branquelas" here. I don't know why but this detail made my day 

- Only have two weeks left in this transfer (where'd all the time go?)

- Yesterday a member made pineapple cake and when we left, they gave us some to take home with us 🤩 

- One day S. Ascurra forgot her badge and I had an extra with me so there was two Sister Whiting's walking around Brazil. What's a companionship if you don't share everything? :) 

 

I love yall!! Jesus loves ya too!! 

Com carinho, 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Sister Whiting 

You Mom Goes to Zone Conference

My dearest friends!! 

 

I hope all is well! Life is good over here in the boonies of Brazil. Just living, laughing, and loving life! 

 

This week my comp hit 7 months on the mission. So obviously we needed to celebrate. How you may ask? Well obviously with dessert. One problem. We don't have an oven. That didn't stop this girl. First time I made cookies in the air fryer and I am not gonna lie, I would do it again! 10/10 experience. I could only bake three at a time but I am determined brotha. It took 5ever but that is okay because they were probably the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever made! Word got out to the ward so apparently I am making cookies for the whole world (whole world meaning the branch here in Barra Velha) because they want to try the "american cookies". So just let me know if you want some choco chip cookies and I can just mail some right on over for ya. 😌

 

Went to zone conference! Your mom goes to zone conference.... (Pardon my "your mom" joke, I am experiencing withdrawls.) Zone Conference was everything I dreamed of and more! My new Mission President and his wife are awesome! Andddd guess what!! Ya girl can finally respond to your emails!! 🚨🚨 That's right people! I am no longer ghosting everyone! If you send me an email, I have an hour every pday to respond to emails! #holla holla raise the roof 

 

We had 12 friends show up to church this week!! Man we were so very happy. Exhausted, but incandescentely happy. I can't even describe the joy I felt. I really care about these people we are teaching. I want them to be able to experience this happiness that I have through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the story in Alma 22 where Aaron is teaching Lamoni's father. When Lamoni's father (the king) learns about the gospel and the Plan of Salvation he immediately tells Aaron, "I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy." He was willing to give up everything, just to know God- to experience the joy that comes through the gospel. We all make sacrifices in our lives. But I can testify that when you put Christ at the front of your lives, everything else will fall into place. The tiny sacrifices we make every day, will some day add up to eternal life. I will forsake everything I have to know him who knows me better than anyone else. Him who wants what is best for me. Him who loves me more than I can comprehend. 

 

Small jots: 

- I asked someone to be baptized and they said yes!! #splash zone 🌊

- Hit 100 days on the mish. Big hundooo! Yall there is no way I have been out here for this long (I got here yesterday) 

- Pão de queijo is the way to my heart

- Ate figs this week and had the christmas song about figgy pudding stuck in my head. Figs are really good by the way 

- Saw my grandma on the mission (my trainer's trainer). LOVE her! Took a photo of three generations 🤠

- Saw some frogs on the sidewalk 🐸 apparently my comp is scared of frogs... she didn't really like that moment haha 

- Raining so much here it is looking like I need to buy a ticket on Noah's Arc 🚢

 

I love yall! Jesus loves you too!! 

Com carinho, 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Sister Whiting 

Mr. President, Mr. President 🇺🇲🦅

What's up my party people!! Here is another cute lil' update from my heart to yours!! 

 

MY NEW MISSION PRES IS IN THE HOUSE!! President Wellburn has arrived!! Word on the street is that we have new rules. I wish I could tell you if it was true but I lowkey dont know yet. We have zone conference this week so hopefully it will all be cleared up in a jiffy! 

 

But yah! This week was busy, busy, busy! We worked until we were literally pieces of dust!! But that's the way I like it. Tuesday night I got to sing with the Branch President's daughter at an activity in the new chapel and it was so lit! Wednesday was another Brazil World Cup game and best believe Brazil took that cake home 💪🇧🇷 Thursday and Friday we had exchanges in Itapema. It was SO fun! And Saturday we had the dedication of the new chapel!! And boy oh boy was that amazing. Some of our friends were there so I was very happy! The members have been waiting and praying for this chapel. And the moment has finally come. It was beautiful, I will never forget it. 

 

Friends, this week while I was packing for exchanges I found a paper at the bottom of my backpack. Now just think for a minute what might be on this paper. Perhaps it is a paper from the mtc or perchance a letter from home. Nope! ❌️ 🙅‍♀️ It is a paper from my Microbiology class at byu. At the top of the paper it says, "Dengue Heomorragic Fever: bleeding, shock, death." Gulp. When I tell you I laughed so hard. Of all the papers that I just happened to bring with me all the way to Brazil, it was a paper with details about dengue from when I was at college almost a year ago. Silly, silly, silly :) 

 

This past week the majority of the people we taught are going through really hard things. Most of our lessons, the people we were teaching were crying talking about their lives. They kept saying, "You guys are young- you don't understand." And I would always tell them, "Yup you are right. There is only one person who understands perfectly what you are going through." Because truthfully there is someone who felt what we feel. His sacrifice is all encompassing. In my personal study this past week one morning I read Jacob 5. For people who read one chapter a day, Jacob 5 is their enemy lol. But this has become one of my favorite chapters. I love the concept of our Heavenly Father constantly worrying about us and constantly looking for ways to help us. Constantly going to the "nethermost parts of the vineyard." He is in endless pursuit of you. One of my favorite parts of the chapter is verse 21, "And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard." That tree ended up bearing good fruit. All because he went to the poorest spot of the vineyard. He sees our potential. He doesn't veiw us as our mistakes, he sees what we can become. He went to the poorest spot in the vineyard and he went their out of love. During those difficult times, he will come. No matter where we are. All we have to do, is have faith in him. He will be in the nethermost parts and the poorest spots of our lives. He loves us. He grieves when we grieve. He is happy when we are happy. He is always looking for ways to do "more for his vineyard." Not one tree will be forgotten in his vineyard. He is my hope. He is my joy. He is my Savior. 

 

Small jots: 

- Sister Ascurra and I found a faster way to get more rain on our badges (we put them on our umbrellas - genius I know 😆😎) Our husbands are gonna be extra blessed in the looks department. 

- Taught someone about the Plan of Salvation and when I asked what kingdom in heaven they want to live in, they looked me straight in the face and said, "Terrestrial, cuz I am not that holy ya know?"

- Got asked if I am Venezuelan 4 more times this week 

- marmitas = life 

- Stl's made me a friendship bracelet and I thought it stood for "My Best Friend," but it actually stands for, "Mission Brazil Florianópolis." Haha they laughed really hard at that 

 

Big love for yall! Jesus loves you too! 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Com carinho, 

Sister Whiting 

Ratatouille 2.0

Hey gang!! Hope you all had a great week! My week was swell 😌 

 

2nd transfer babbyyyy!! Started the week off strong by making crepes. Call me Ratatouille if you must because it was delish in a dish. My comp told me they tasted just like the crepes her mom made her growing up. So basically just put me on Master Chef. I will make 'em some yummy crepes and win the entire show. 🤠

 

Yall it is dengue season. Everybody start praying. Before the mission in a Microbiology class at BYU we were learning about viruses and I told my sister, "I hope I don't get called to South America for my mission because that is where the highest percentages of dengue is." Welp! Here we are!! Bug repellent is my best friend. I bring it with me everywhere. Holding on tight to the iron rod and to my bug spray. My comp thinks I am so funny because I re-apply generously and frequently, but I am terrified to get dengue. She has already gotten dengue twice poor thing. 

 

Tomorrow I will hit 3 months on the mission!! Holy cheese and guacamole! I still have mornings when I wake up and I am surprised I live in Brazil. Like a cute little surprise every morning! 🤗 But I truthfully love it here. The people here are genuinely kind and welcoming and their food is too! 

 

One of my favorite moments this week was when we stopped by the house of someone we are teaching to see if she had time to talk. When she answered the door she was crying and asked us if we could pray for her. We said a prayer and talked more about our identities as children of God. She was worried about her children and if she was a good enough mother. In such a tender moment, I truly saw how genuinley worried she was about if she would ever measure up and if God still loved her. I think sometimes we all wonder if we are good enough. I think we all have moments where we doubt ourselves and our abilities. Moments where we focus more on our flaws and our imperfections rather than our growth. But no matter what we think of ourselves, what God thinks of us will always be the same. He will always love us. Nothing can seperate us from the love God has for us. His love will always be there for us. No matter what we do, no matter how much we think we messed up, no matter the circumstances. I am grateful for the knowledge that my Heavenly Father is proud of me. He knows how hard I am trying. He knows my heart. He loves me. And he loves you too. 

 

"...Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

 

 

Small jots: 

- Had a cup of hot cocoa #scrumdidliumpcious (it is actually very cold here! Especially because I am close to the beach) 

- Deep cleaned!! (Clean freak and not afraid to admit it.) We aren't allowed to leave our apartment when Brazil is playing in the world cup because the people get a little crazy and drink lots of liquids...of which cause them to act a little silly... if you smell what I am stepping in...- so I cleaned! 

- One of the people we are teaching recently started calling me her granddaughter. I think it is the cutest thing ever! 

- Happy Fathers Day to my Dad!! I love you TONS and miss you BUNCHES! 

 

As always I love yall and Jesus does too!! 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Com Carinho, 

Sister Whiting 

Hold on Tight Spider Monkey

Hey lovely people!! 

 

I hope you all had a wonderful, wonderful week! Yall!! I finished my first transfer!!!! Wow that sounds a lot like first trimester. I feel like this is where I put a photo of an ultrasound lol. Or is that a little farther a long? Although I am not pregnant and they are called transfers not trimesters, I am starting to understand why everyone always says the first trimester is the longest. It was full of so many silly memories and I am so very excited for the transfers ahead! 

 

I don't know if you knew but the World Cup is happening. I could hardly tell... the people here totally aren't excited.... at all... That is proabably the biggest lie of my life. It felt kind of like the Fourth of July here. All the shops were closed, everybody was in the streets cooking meat, and they set off fireworks every time Brazil made a goal or practically anytime they were on the screen. All I need is an American flag and a country playlist and BAM! I am back in Lander Wyoming on the 4th. #heaven 

 

I saw a cabybara this week! It was ginormous!! I don't know why but for some reason in my head I thought they would be small and cute but this thing was bigger than most of the dogs here. It was munching on some grass while chilling in a lake (de boa na lagoa). Kinda like a miniature cow honestly. But it was a joyous experience! 

 

This week as I was reflecting on my first transfer here, I thought about the thing that helped me the most. Everything changed but one thing. My testimony. Specifically of the Book of Mormon. Most days I walk through the streets of Brazil gripping the Book of Mormon with both hands, holding on for dear life. Legitimately, the Book of Mormon has been there for me in every time of need. Through the sad moments. In the happy moments. Moments I will never forget. Moments where I felt God's love for me so clearly I will never deny it. So in those times when I feel lonely and wish I could call my parents. Or those days where I wonder if I will measure up. Or when people don't want to hear our message. I hold on even tighter to the Book of Mormon. Because I genuinely know it is true. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. So here I am. Sister Whiting in Brazil. Holding on tight to the Book of Mormon like Bella holding onto Edward in Twilight when he says "Hold on tight spidermonkey!" And I wouldn't want it any other way. I love the Book of Mormon. I love sharing it with the people here. I love it's teachings. I love my Savior. 

 

"Cling to the Book of Mormon. In doing so, you will see that you are not alone. You will see that Saints of all ages have had to wander through a wilderness—often more than once and sometimes for a long time. You will also see that many wilderness moments have a purpose designed by a God of love who is preparing you for and taking you to—often through some of His greatest miracles—a magnificent promised land that could be enjoyed in no other way."  (Mathew Holland BYU Devotional) 

 

Small jots: 

- Pizza with chocolate crust to celebrate transfers!! (Glorious. Every single bite.) 

- Got asked if I was from Venezuela this week. I think I might be catching a little Spanish accent in my Portuguese 

- District council was lit! 

- Had a picnic by the lake!! 

- Stake Conference was awesome sauce! 

- Saw a BIG FAT spider on the sidewalk. I legit almost had a heart attack. Dont worry, I am making plans to go burn the sidewalk and anything near it. I just need to find a blowtorch. Anyone want to mail me one? 😏

 

All my love!! Jesus loves ya! 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Com carinho, 

Sister Whiting