Walking a Thousand Miles with Pepper Spray

Sup dudes! Whats poppin' and lockin'? 

 

You know that song A Thousand Miles where the girl sings about walking a thousand miles just to see someone? I have never related to a song more in my life. I am at a whole other level of understanding. Maybe after the mission I should join a walking club so I don't lose all this progress. (Shout out to Brenda and Becky- do I still have a spot on the team? 😁)

 

This week was pretty neat! One of my favorite moments was when we were teaching a lesson over video call and the lights in our apartment cut out. Apparently power outages here are pretty normal but it was so funny using my phone flashlight as a lamp during the lesson. I kinda felt like I was telling a scary story by a campfire. But the story wasn't scary and there was not a campfire. However, the message about the gospel was fire 🔥. I was joking with my comp that the power left the lights, but it didn't leave us 💪#takethatsatan. 

 

Pday today has been pretty dope I am not gonna lie. Sister Ascurra knows that I love to run and that I miss going for runs every day. So today we woke up early and ran alongside the beach. (She is the best). Not only did we get to run but we also visited Jesus! 🥳#party. Well, we visited a statue of Jesus. I think in real life he will have a little more color- what do you think? And after we got acai. So pretty much the best day of my life. It doesn't get better than this- preaching the gospel and eating acai in Brazil. 

 

This week was full of miricales that had to do with being in the right place at the right time. I honestly don't believe in coincidences. I truly believe that God is intimately and intricately involved in our lives- he truly cares about what we are going through. One night during planning I felt like we should visit a person that filled out an ad on Facebook two years ago asking for a Book of Mormon. Other missionaries had tried to contact her but had no success. I put her on our calendar anyway. When we arrived she told us that she lives in São Paulo now, but that she had arrived only an hour before to visit Barra Velha. She said that she had prayed on the drive here asking God whether or not she should go to church. She told us that we were her sign. We were able to give her the Book of Mormon that she wanted two years ago. She left back for São Paulo the next day. An hour earlier or a day later, she wouldn't have gotten that Book of Mormon. 

 

During a lesson yesterday night, we were trying houses close to the beach. Most of the houses by the beach only have people in them during the summer. But one of the houses we tried had a mom and a daughter who we shared a message with. At the end we said a prayer and when I finished talking and opened my eyes, the mom was crying. She told us that she felt like God really had sent us to visit her. She thanked us for coming to visit them. It truthfully is the small moments that make life so beautiful. All we have to do is look for them. Sometimes it is hard to see them but I promise that God has not forgotten you. There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon that I love to read in the moments when I have having trouble seeing the miracles God is putting in my path. 

 

"Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (1 Nephi 21:15-16)

 

He has never and will never forget you. He loves you. 

 

Small jots: 

- The Branch President's wife told me I look like Taylor Swift. She is now my favorite person. She also makes THE best food ever. 

- Saw someone drinking out of a portable gasoline container. Like the one you keep in your car in case you run out of gas. My comp told me she thinks it was water... I am praying she is right 🙏 

- Recently learned that we have been walking through a flavela really late at night. #ghetto. But don't you fret, I have pepper spray and Sister Ascurra has a stick. 

- The Branch had a festa junina and it was awesome. Everybody dresses up like farmers (was so funny because I have seen farmers back in Wyoming and they didn't look like this haha) and we all eat food. I am convinced that the whole world would be happier if they knew how to throw parties like the members here in Brazil.

- Had the best cake of my entire life. I swear every bite was straight heaven.

 

Love yall and Jesus does too! 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Com carinho, 

Sister Whiting 

Never Ending Tower of Babel

Yo! Happy pday!! 

 

This week was pretty great! I hope you all had a wonderful week. ☺️

 

On Tuesday we ate a member's house and I don't think I have ever eaten more food in my whole life. Everytime I finished what was on my plate she would look at me and then say "Come." It wasn't even "eat more" it was just "eat" 😂. After I thought I was finally in the clear, she grabbed my plate out of my hands and started piling food onto it. She piled it higher than the Tower of Babel. I am not even joking this was more eternal than the never ending soup, salad, and bread sticks at Olive Garden. It was the never ending Tower of Babel meal. So don't you worry, I am getting fed really well over here! And all the food here is absolutely divine! #loveithere

 

Saturday morning was a lil' silly! When my comp and I woke up she asked me if I remembered talking to her late during the night. I had no idea what the heck she was talking about. Turns out, I was rambling in portuguese in my sleep!!! Silly goose 🤦‍♀️ She said I was saying a bunch of words about the gospel. She thought I was practicing my portuguese because I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop laughing because practicing the language when I can't sleep sounds like something I would totally do. I have no clue what I was dreaming about, but I hope they excepted my invitation to read the Book of Mormon! 

 

Best part of this week was on Wednesday when we asked one of our friends to be baptized!!! And he said YES!! What was even cooler was when we taught him about the word of wisdom and he said he is willing to give up coffee. I don't think I can even put into words how amazing it is to see someone make a decision to come closer to Christ. And not only that but to be willing to sacrifice something in order to have a stronger relationship with him. It made me think about sacrifices I have made or may have to make in the future. And of course I thought about the sacrifice of coming on a mission. Sometimes it is really hard to be here in a new place speaking a new language. Sometimes I feel like I can understand what people are saying and other days it feels like I don't know a single word in portuguese. It is definitely not easy, but a phrase I really like that I learned in portuguese is, "Nada que é bom é fácil." It means, "Nothing that is good is easy." Every time we have to sacrifice something, it is probably for something good. It is never going to be easy, but I know that God will help us through it. I knew when I submitted my mission papers that I would be making a sacrifice so that I could serve God's children. And even though I may have hard moments, I will never regret making this decision. In the moments I struggle, I remember that the sacrifice of my Savior is all encompassing. So much so, that he understands everything I am going through. Beacuse of his sacrifice I can look at my difficulties and challenges and know that everything will be okay. And I noticed that everytime I am having a hard day, God puts little miracles in my path. I promise that he is involved in your life. I promise that he hears your prayers. I promise that he loves you're than you know. 

 

Small jots: 

- Adventured up to the statue of liberty today! Met some pretty cool dudes and we took a photo haha 

- Went to MCDONALDS!! (it was glorious) 

- Saw a rat the other day. It was the size of my cat back at home. 

- Saw a 11 year old driving a motorcycle. Turns out that scene from the movie Rio is actually realistic. 😆

- Bore my testimony in Spanish twice this week!!

 

I love yall! And Jesus loves you too! 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Com carinho, 

Sister Whiting 

A Melody From A Drunk Man

Hey yall!! 

 

Happy Pday!!! I hope you all had a wonderful week! My week was WILD! 

 

It started off super strong on Tuesday when my comp and I were doing weekly planning at the church. A member came and accidentally locked us in the primary room while we were planning! Whoopsie dasies. And the door didn't unlock from the side we were on. But don't you worry- Lizzie Whiting was determined to preach the gospel to the people in Barra Velha. I found a window. I opened said window. And I climbed right out. Like the saying goes, when one door closes, a window opens. Right after we climbed out the window (probably flashing a little bit of our garments hahaha) we found a family to teach!!!! Right down the street from the church. We taught them about the Restoration and The Book of Mormon. They had lots of questions and asked us to come back again!! I was so happy!! The Lord truly is preparing people to recieve the gospel. 

 

Wednesday night we went to the bus station to buy tickets to Itapema for divisions. It was kind of late at night and there weren't many people there. We were just chilling waiting for our bus when this man came up to us. You know when someone is walking kinda silly and you can tell they have been doing other extra curricular activities earlier in the day that have to do with the word beer? Yah. I remember thinking to myself- this is gonna be interesting. He approaches us and tells us that we are very beautiful. He then proceeds to say that he is a singer and he will now sing us a song. I think he sang for as long as that song by Queen, "Bohemian Raphsody." The whole time I was trying so hard not to laugh because what he was singing made absolutely no sense. Poor guy kept almost falling go the ground he was so drunk. He then proceeds to grabs our hands and plants a big fat kiss on them. My comp and I kept saying "You don't need to do that." He started singing AGAIN! He then said that we should all sing together. But first he said I have beautiful eyes and asked me what my name was. I said, "I am Sister Whiting. I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." I then asked him if he already goes to another church and if he has ever heard of the Book of Mormon. He just looked at me really confused. He then tried to kiss our hands again so my comp amd I made our great escape to the side of the bus station that had more people. I don't think I will ever forget that little drunk man and his melody for my comp and I. It was awesome. 

 

Divisions were awesome! I got to be comps with Sister Prato for the day! She is so funny, we spent the day laughing and having a good time. I learned a lot and I got to recite the first vision from memory during one of our lessons! That night we bought a huge pizza to celebrate my two months on the mission. And the pizza here has chocolate in the crust!!! It sounds nasty but it is absolute heaven yall. 

 

This week I was pondering on the scripture "Every man shall hear the fullness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power." (Doctrine and Covenants 90:11) My mission is a melting pot of people from all around the world. There are people who speak German, Italian, French, and especially Spanish. I remember after I landed here in Floripa one of the APs told me I will have to learn Spanish beacuse so many people move here from countries close to Brazil. He was not lying. We have a woman from Valensuala who we taught last week in Spanish. And by we taught I mean my comp who is fluent in Spanish taught and I read the scriptures and bore my testimony. But the craziest thing was, I understood everything word my comp said in Spanish during the lesson. It is crazy because on Pday when we get to call our families, I can't comprehend a single word she says to her family in Spanish. I wish I could say I am just super good at learning languages and that is why I understood- nah dawg. That would be a lie! I know the gift of tongues is real. And it was a miracle that I was able to understand her. But God is a God of miracles.

 

We are going to be teaching even more in Spanish because another family from Valensuala showed up at the church on Sunday. Their daughter is a member but they aren't and they want to be taught the lessons! Never imagined I would be teaching the gospel in two languages but here we are!! I know that God wants all his children to be able to recieve the fullness of the gospel because with the gospel comes happiness. And he genuinely wants us to be happy. As someone who is learning a language to be able to teach other people, I testify of this love. I testify of miracles. He places miracles every where- all we have to do is look. 

 

Small jots: 

- Not only do they have chocolate in the crust of pizza here but they also put ketchup on their pizza (I am a BIG fan) #yummy 

- Hit two months on the mission!!! 

- Bought my first Brazil soccer jersey!! 

 

I love you all and Jesus loves you too! Stay swag!! 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Com carinho, 

Sister Whiting 

Dreaming of the Extinction of Cochroaches

Hey my friends, pals, and buddies!! 

 

I hope you all had an amazing week!! This week was pretty awesome! We had two of our friends show up to church!! I was SO happy! 

 

We had Zone Conference in Joinville this week. Sister Ascurra and I found out the day before that we needed to find a way to get to Joinville so we could be at the chapel at 7 in the morning. So we got an uber to stay the night at another group of Sisters house! #party. It was all fun and games until we found a dead cochroach in the mattress :/ Sweet dreams for me! Maybe I should pray for the extinction of cochroaches after all? Overall Zone Conference was awesome! For some reason it is a tradition to make the newest missionaries say the prayer at Zone Conference. The Elders asked me to say the closing prayer (those dirty dogs)- out of all the new missionaries they chose the gringa who is still learning portguese. But hey, I didn't fall on my face walking up the stairs to the podium so I call that a win! I was so grateful to get to meet and know more of the missionaries in my mission and to see my Mission President and his wife again. 

 

This week I had a cute lil' spiritual experience. We clapped at a house (forgot to mention that in Brazil you don't knock on a door you clap outside a gate. I have no idea how they hear it or how they know which house you are at- but they always know if you are clapping at their house) and we taught someone we had never spoken to before. She was really curious and asked lots of questions. Even though I couldn't understand everything that was being said, there was a moment of stillness and I felt this overpowering love for her. I know with certainty that it was the love God has for her. I was holding back tears because I had never met this person but I truly felt how valued they are by God. If you only remember one thing from my emails, please let it be that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you so very much. This experience reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite general conference talks. Most of the people we teach don't have a knowledge of this divine love. 

 

"However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines... There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized."

 

Nothing is impossible with God :) 

 

Small jots: 

- Got asked if I was from Argentina this week. Not quite sure where that came from haha 

- A little kid at church guessed that I am 12 years old- I laughed so hard

- The food is still SO GOOD!! 

- I love the members here, they are genuinely amazing people 

- Our bus trip back to Barra Velha got canceled so we got to ride in the Mission President's car with his wife and the APs AND all our luggage. It was an adventure :) 

- It is so beautiful here. God's creations are so cool 

 

Come mais count: 11 

 

Love yall very much and Jesus does too!!

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Com carinho, 

Sister Whiting 

Toilet Paper Problems :)

Hey yall!! 

 

I am finally in the mission field!!! 

 

I am in Barra Velha! This area is HUGE! It is one of the biggest areas in the mission. My companion is Sister Ascurra- she is from Peru and does not speak english. However, I see this as a blessing because it forces me to speak portuguese :) She is the sweetest person in the whole world and I am convinced I won the lottery to have her as my trainer. 

 

This past week has been crazy! Moving to a new place is always an adjustment but moving to a place where they don't flush their toilet paper.... well let's just say that has been a ginormous adjustment for me. Here in Brazil, the plumbing system is so bad they don't flush their toilet paper; instead you put it in a trash can next to the toilet. If you flush the toilet paper it clogs the toilet and floods the house. This week we were at a member's house and I used the bathroom and out of habbit I put the toilet paper in the toilet (you can put an American girl in Brazil but you can't take the American out of her). Imagine my fret when I realized I couldn't flush the toilet or it would be a big problem. I stood there contemplating my life decisions and then did the only thing I thought was right. Please don't think differently of me after this and I think you know where this is going. Yup. I grabbed my toilet paper out of the toilet. Thankfully there was soap. Lots of soap. Needless to say, I am never making that mistake again. 

 

I spoke in sacrament meeting on Sunday! It was a little scary I am not going to lie but I managed not to embarrass myself! Luckily we are in a branch that has about 80 members, so it wasn't a large group of people. Here in Barra Velha the church is very small, we have church meetings in a house/appartment. But they just finished constructing a brand new chapel which will be dedicated at the end of the month!! The new chapel is very far from our apartment so my comp and I will be walking about an hour to get to church every Sunday. But, we are so happy that the members here finally get their very own chapel. 

 

It is actually kind of cold here. It rains a lot and the rain is freezing. However, I am thankful for the rain because there is a legend here, the more rain on your mission badge- the hotter your future spouse will be. My husband is gonna be HOT yall. 

 

It has been so amazing testifying of the gospel. Everytime I have the opportunity to share my testimony, I am reminded why I decided to serve a mission. I am out here because of the love God has for his children. I am out here because I want them to know of his love. Lots of people here are surprised when we teach them that the stories in the Book of Mormon took place here in the Ancient Americas. They are even more surprised when we teach them that Christ came to visit the people here as well as the people in Jerusalem. God truly does love all his children. So much so that he sent his Son Jesus Christ for us. He visits us in our afflictions. He kneels down with us to wipe away our tears. He loves us. 

 

Small jots:

- Gave someone a Book of Mormon and they gave me tooth paste in return #iloveithere

- Everyone and their dog here has a dog. I have never seen so many dogs in my life. 

- Comp and I got called beautiful multiple times by a 71 year old man randomly throughout a lesson we were teaching (what a silly goose)

- I LOVE the food here. I never want to leave. 

- For some reason they have a Statue of Liberty here? Not really sure why, and I don't think the Brazillians know why either. I sang the national anthem when I saw it; bar for bar 🦅🇺🇸

 

"Come mais sister" count: 6 times (I am surprised it is this low) 

 

ATTENTION 🚨🚨🚨

So, my mission president has a rule that we are not allowed to email people individually unless they are family members. I am pretty sad about this rule, but if you email me I can still read it- I just can't respond. Keep sending me emails, I love to read them!! I am also not allowed to have anyone except for my family on my google photos so just know that if you got kicked off my google photos I am NOT mad at you!! I am just trying to be obedient ☺️ I am getting a new mission president on June 23rd so these rule might change...

 

That's all!! I love yall so very much! Jesus loves you too!! 

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Com Carinho, 

Sister Whiting 

Gift of Tongues is Real Yall

Olá amigos!!! 

 

FINAL PDAY IN THE CTM!! 🚨🤘

I am breaking out of the CTM next Wednesday! Surprisingly it is not to go to Taco Bell, but to go love and serve the people of Florianópolis. I couldn't be more excited! #holla holla

 

I saw my first cochroach! And it was as horrible as I feared. I think my heart stopped for a second I am not going to lie. Thank goodness I didn't have to kill it. I know I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me, but thank goodness he didn't have to strengthen me to kill that cochroach. Shout out to Sister Figuera- she reminded me of Captain Moroni going off to battle. After that night, I started praying for my future companions to be blessed with the same courage as Sister Figuera. I figured praying for the extinction of the whole cochroach species was maybe too big of an ask. 

 

All jokes aside, this week was genuinely lovely. The gift of tongues is real. I have felt it within my own life. In class we were speaking in portuguese about how we came to know Christ personally and how we have used the atonement in our lives. After my group was done, we asked our teacher to bear her testimony. She is known to speak super duper fast! Most of the time when she speaks at her natural pace, my brain goes on autopilot and I miss every word. So when she said she was going to speak normally, I kind of expected myself not to understand. But when she started talking, I was able to understand every word. I didn't even realize what had happened until after when she asked us what we understood and I was able to recite it back to her. It was mind blowing. In that moment, I knew the gift of tongues was real. The best part about what she said was, "When we start to understand the atonement, is when we decide to use it in our lives. It is a decision." I am so grateful that God trusted me enough to give me agency to make my own choices. I am so grateful that I have the choice to utilize the atonement. I am so grateful for my Savior, who made all of this possible. 

 

Small jots: 

- Cute lil surprise b-day party for Sister Roberts! 

- Got to sign the STL guitar! (Cute tradition for the STLs here at the CTM.) 

- Acai is the best thing I have ever eaten

- Last week in the CTM!! 

- No pday next week :/

 

God is real and he loves you! I do too!!

🕺🥳🤠💖🤟

Com carinho, 

Sister Whiting