Monday, July 28, 2014

7/28/14

Today is Independence day here in Peru, so we will have to see how that goes.
Alright, I'm excited to answer your questions. And save them in some place, because I may not remember in 5 months. The hardest thing that I have done on my mission would have to be... it could be a few different things, like, it what way? well, learning the language was a big one for me. It was very hard for me, but I speak well now. With lots of practice and study. The piano went well yesterday. Though I accidentally picked a song that the ward didnt know, so they didnt sing. I dont have extra time to practice, just during the prelude music is when I practice. Its a lot of sight reading and luck.
My companion is a hard hard worker, and I love it. We are currently trying to help the ward lift itself up. Its a very difficult, very small ward. We had 73 people in the church yesterday. Very small. There are lots of less actives in the ward, and we need to rescue them. We are in process of doing a Rescue Plan so that the members go to houses that are assigned to them to visit the people there. We are going to try and to that this coming Sunday. This ward has lots of potential, and I hope that we can help them reach their potential.
Well, I think thats about it for this week. I love you all very much, and wish you a good week.

Oh yeah, Hna Jenny didnt understand what you were talking about when you sent the message that I was turning 21 on the 22. She was confused, my birhtday is on the 21 or the 22? I started laughing, because I could see where she got off. Just because she doesnt understand english, and google translator didnt help much either. Hahaha. It was really funny. But she got the message that my birthday was on the 22. I had a great birthday last week! At 6:30 am, all of the sisters in my zone (4 companionships total) came to the apartment to wish me a happy birhtday. My companion had that all planned. Many people wished me happy birthday, Hna Jenny came, we ate, took pictures. We also had 6 lessons that day, which was awesome!  I am now 21, and feel a little old. Hahaha. The year 20 was a blast, and I think the year 21 is going to be another marking point in my life.

Love Always and Forever,
Hermana Heather

7/21/14

Thank you for the Birthday Wishes! The piano playing was pretty good, I decided to sit out for one of the songs because I really had no idea how to play it, and didnt want to make the singing worse. I repented of that while they were singing, and vowed to not sit out on the piano, and at LEAST play the top hand, a few of the notes at least. Because the singing was AWFUL. It was so sad. Very very sad, and bad. I will be playing for everything now. Hahaha.

Me and my companion share the same food likes. She is very sweet, and sometimes im sweet, so that is something in common, she loves animals, is not afraid of them. Desires to serve God and work extremely hard. A mutual desire to help the people here. Im sure there are more, I just cant think of them right now.

My leaders are great, I do get along with them quite well. They normally leave us alone, which I am fine with. Sometimes they come with us to do visits, which doesnt bother me either, because they just want to see how they can help us. Today, we are going to be making TACOS and watching a movie, im not sure which one yet. We are making tacos because we want to, and we have 2 real life mexicans in out zone (sisters) who are going to help us make real mexican tacos peruvian style (because Im sure there are some ingredients that we dont have here). So im excited to eat tacos.

The Peruvian Festival sounds awesome. I LOVE Picarones. I will be honest, the first few times, I was not too impressed with the sauce either, but you have to get used to its sweet/bitter taste, and it is delicious! I did know that the main ingredients were squash, but im still not sure how... I will have to figure out how to make them. But that makes me happy that they were able to make those in Utah, that means there is hope for me to make them there too! (I have recipes, but I am not familiar with all of the ingredients in espaƱol, I will have to look and translate some of the things). Are they going to do the peruvian festival again next year do you know?  That is funny about the drunk. Drunks can be pretty funny sometimes.

Wow! How time flies. I feel like we just started July, but now we are about to enter August. Im turning 21 (I feel so OLD!!!). I can definitely say that the defining year of my life that I have had until now, has been the year 20 of my life. That is where I changed, grew, and still growing right now. And I will never take that back, I dont even wish to take it back.

I love you so much mom, and hope that you have a great week.

Love Always and Forever,
Hermana Heather Whatcott

7/14/14

I am doing quite well here actually! I love my companion, and adjusting well to her and my new area. My area is very small. Very very small, but its good. Yesterday I had the opportunity to play the piano in sacrament meeting. First off, the member discovered that I play, and there is nobody in the ward that plays. Second, the way that they sing in sacrament meeting is TERRIBLE, it does not bring much of a spirit into the meeting. It was extremely bumpy playing the hymns, but I got through it without COMPLETELY slaughtering the hymns. And it was a little better than the congregation just singing. Its the worst that I have heard yet... so I think I have found myself a second calling. Hahaha. I just hope that my fingers can get used to playing again, and that I will improve. Because I think I can count on one hand how many times I have touched a piano since I have come to Peru. But I am glad to be able to help and serve the ward in this way.

Yes, it is extremely cold down here, but I am doing just fine. The cold really does just hurt the bones. Its the humidity that kills. There is no heating in the apartments (neither air conditioning) but for me its bearable. At least we have hot water. They take better care of the sisters than the elders (not by much but they do) so we are blessed to have hot water. I did buy a long sleeve shirt that is really comfortable and warm, and I absolutely LOVE it.

A Peruvian Independence Day festival in Utah? That sounds awesome! I wish I could go! Yes, independence day is the 28 of July. Now that I think of it, Independence Day here might be a really bad procyliting day... I am sure they celebrate with a lot of beer. But I will definitely let you know how they celebrate. Tell me what they do there if you do go.

Way to go Alex! I am so proud of you! Doing things that I was not able to do. He was always so good in school. Very smart kid.

I will take pictures of my Apartment of where I am now, its actually really nice. Or maybe that is me turning into a peruvian... uh oh. Hahaha.

Remember to always do your visiting teaching and home teaching, it really does help the members to know that they are thought of outside of the church.

Joshua 1:9

This part was sent to Heather's dad:

The new area is going. I do like to have transfers sometimes, because sometimes, if you have been in an area for awhile, it gets rough and frustrating. But with a new area you can see new ideas, new ways to help. And use the knowledge that you gained in other areas in your new area.

My head is filled with spanish right now. I almost feel tired, and spanish is flooding my head. So if I manage to go off in Spanglish, at least you will understand. Hahaha.

My new companion is awesome. I love her so much. She is so sweet and caring. She was a little serious when I got here, but I got her laughing, and she said she really enjoys that. That with her other companion they didnt really talk much, menos laughing. I am very content with my companion. I feel like she will help bring back out the sweet side in me, that I think I once had. Hahaha

Sounds like the boys are all off doing something fun and adventurous. Including you.

For p-days, im not sure. last week we went to a mall area that was fun, and we watched other missionaries play soccer (I just didnt want to play, because it was cold, and the elders sometimes play a little rough). Today we are going to have p-day libre, where we can go and do what we want. Mostly because we have room checks from presidents wife this week. Our room is basically clean, just needs a little light cleaning with the broom, mop, and we´re good! But the elders have to do a little more scrubbing I think....

So today we are going to go and buy food. We are in charge of our own food for breakfast and dinner everyday, and we eat with the members for lunch. I am just about completely out of food, and need to buy more. We are also going to pass a little more time in the market, see what there is to see (because you can find some pretty cool and cheap stuff there) and maybe take a nap in the apartment when we get back. It should be a relaxing day. I think I might buy some ice cream. I still have more ganas a comer helados en invierno que verano. When did you come back from your mission? in what month? I am really nervous that the climate is going to hit me hard. Yes, that it is dry, but I am going from 90 degree weather to 30 degree weather. AH!!!! I will be coming prepared.... hahaha.

Love Always and Forever,
Hermana Heather

7/7/14

Well, I am now in the Stake of Comas, in the ward of Libertadores. I am about 15 minutes (maximum) from my old area. Right next door you could say. My new companion is GREAT I love her so much, her name is Hermana S. She just recently finished her 12 weeks in the field. She is from Piura, Peru, but her family is currently living in Trujillo, Peru. She is 21 years old, and will turn 22 in October I believe. She is very calm, and very sweet. I dont think she laughed very much with her previous companion, but Im fixing that. Hahaha. My last companion and I laughed ALL THE TIME. And its good to laugh and enjoy yourself too. I am greatly enjoying myself here, and getting a little wigged out at how close I am to finish. I almost dont want to go back...

Oh, we did have a baptism this past week in my old area that I was able to go to, I will try and send pictures next week If I cant send it right now.

I am doing quite well here. I get lots of compliments on my spanish, and that I pronounce the words really well. I am happy about that, but then I get a little frustrated when some people dont understand me. But thats ok.

I think we are going to eat at Chiles today. It will be my first time eating there while I have been here, and the 2nd time in my life. Haha. I am excited. Food that I like and want!

I have 4 transfers left, and that is including this one. I cant believe where the time has gone. I do know that the mission has definitely changed my life, dramatically. And in a very good way. And now I have lots of friends in lots of different countries as well, which is even more awesome!

Have an awesome week, I love you so much. Hugs and kisses to all, especially you mom!

Love Always and Forever, 5 fast sundays pending...

Hermana Heather

6/29/14

As the heat rises up there, we are cooling off quite a bit. And with the humidity, a little more so. A lot of the time you dont even realize the world cup is going on, but I am trying to keep up with it today. USA is going to play today! I forgot against who, but I hope we win! Did you watch the game with Brazil and Chile? It was so intense! Did you know that Brazil has one of the BEST goalies in the world? He is huge too! We have been successful in the baptism part, but not so much in the marriage department. There are a few more issues that we have run into with the documents of the couple that we are helping, but we are closer than we were a month ago, so we are progressing. At least like a turtle, but they say he won the race, right?

People STILL treat me and call me GRINGA. It gets a little annoying, but I have learned just to laugh it off. At least I know Im pretty and that my eyes are BEAUTIFUL. Hahaha. Maybe my ego has grown a little bit here... lol. It may or may not be transfer week for me. I have no Idea what is going to happen, because whatever thing could happen here. We are usually with our companions for 2 transfers, meaning about 4 transfers in one area. I have been in this area for 3 transfers, and 2 transfers with my companion. So I think it is more like flipping a coin here. When we do transfers, we meet as a zone to learn who is getting transfered, and then the next day (tuesday) the people who are getting transfers (and their companions) go to the mission office, and thats where they tell us where we are going, and with who. I dont really think there is a mission home here. There is a church that has the offices to the mission there, here in our mission. The mission president and his wife live outside of the mission, a little far away.

We had a conference with Dallin H Oaks. It was AWESOME. His wife is awesome, he is funny, and it is so cool and awesome to meet general authorities. I learned a lot, and loved loved loved it.

I am doing well here, im still going here. I am absolutely broke right now, and in desperate need to take money out of my account, but it is so hard to find time to do it. But now that I am desperate, I think that I will have to make time to do it. And if we have transfers, we are going to need money to get to the mission offices. Hahaha.

Have an awesome week!

Love Always and Forever,
Hermana Heather

6/23/14

Im doing well here, im not dead yet! But I only have 6 months to live... hahaha :) Thats what we call it. When you go home from the mission, you die. I just hope that I dont have a sad death. Meaning that I just stop working. I may or may not have seen the last part of the the game with USA and Portugal... THE LAST 5 SECONDS OF OVERTIME!!! We werent very happy...I could just imagine you screaming, and everyone else as well.

My tummy is doing alright this week, as long as I make sure to eat. I am pretty sure that I eat as much as I did as when I first started. Which is a LOT. You would die if you saw how much food we eat. Yesterday, the sister mounded a round plate full of rice, and then a little bit of other things. I wanted to die. I didnt finish it. Lately I tend not to finish if it is a lot, because it hurts me. The thing is, you have to be careful when you do that, because they get offended here if you dont eat everything that they give you. Im just grateful that Im not in the jungle, because I hear that they serve more, and if you dont eat it all, they never invite you to their house again...

This week we are going to see two baptisms, and a possible wedding with a possible two more baptisms! That would be 4 in total. Pray that the papers are all ok, and that we can get them in and get this baptism wrapped up nice and tight.

I have completed a year! Wow, how time flies. I remember so many things like they were yesterday. I remember how slow the time started out. I imagine it as a train, starting out slow, and then it slowly works up until it reaches full spead. I will be home before we know it.


Love you all!

Love Always and Forever,
Hermana Heather

6/16/14

I am close to my one year anniversary, how strange! I even gave a talk on Fathers Day! That was kind of interesting. Transfers will be coming up the first week of july. the 1st of July. Im really not sure if i am going or if i am staying.

Something fun that happened a few weeks ago that I forgot to mention, is that my camera got stolen out of my backpack when we were in the bus. I was so sad, because I hadnt copied the pictures to anywhere. I dont care so much about the camera as the pictures. So I am back to pops camera, which I think I fixed the dying battery problem as well.... hahaha. But I am glad that I had sent you all pictures of a lot of things. I tried to send you a few everytime I took some. So that was a little downer for me, but im ok.

I am doing well here. I think I may getting a little sick, but I am doing everything that I can to not get worse. To prevent it from getting worse. I will be completing a year, and I am thinking much about where I was, and where I am now. I would have never guessed that that is where I am now, so different, but so well. I am grateful for this experience that I have had, and that I am having. Thank you for everyone who has and is supporting me. It has helped me a lot. 6 months to go! 4 transfers left... now that is short.

Thank you, I love you all!

Love Always and Forever,

Hermana Heather

6/9/14

Last week was a nice change of pace to do something, but it was a LONG journey to Ecuador. I think I could get used to plane rides to be honest. I was a lot calmer than normal...I think. It was rather fun. I remember a year ago, I said I was not going to get on another airplane until I go home, because I dont like them (maybe I was referring more to the plane ride from california to peru) but it was a LONG ride, a VERY LONG ride.

Lets see, this week I realized a few things about myself. So a few weeks ago my district leader asked me if I felt like I was becoming more like Christ. I said, "sure, why not? I dont know." But this week, I started thinking about the things I have been learning, about being diligent, even when times are rough, to have faith, because there is nothing else you can do about things, to trust completely in God, and to have pacience. Not with other people necesarily, but with yourself. To not get irritated when things dont go your way. Because that is what patience is, to be able to support what comes, and not get easily mad, or frustrated. I have learned how to control those feelings, and that I feel better when I have patience. Though sometimes, lets be honest, I dont want to be patient.

See the good in everything, enjoy every day that you have, because you live it only once. And if you make a mistake: learn from it, but dont let it get you down, because there is nothing that you can do about it but move on.


Love Always and Forever,
Hermana Heather

6/2/14

Well, it has been a WEEK. Yesterday, about 15 of us illegals took a little trip to Ecuador. To leave the country, and then go back in. It was really fun. We took a plane to Tumbes, and then crossed in a bus. Got everything done, entered Peru again without a problem, and then spent some time goofing around and shopping. It was really hot and humid there in Tumbes, and there was GREEN. Lots of GREEN! we enjoyed ourselves immensely. So that is why I was not able to write yesterday. But I supposed you all might be used to me not writing a whole lot on mondays anyways now a days...

Something really cool happened last week. I wont be able to tell the whole story because it is long, and lots of description is required. So we were having our little chat with the investigator who wasnt taking out time seriously, and we were getting close to finishing, when a young man approached us (we were teaching on the porch) and asked if there was an open church nearby, that he needed to talk to someone. We were around the corner of the church, and we said that we represent the church around the corner. He didnt know, he just wanted a direction to look for a church. We asked for 5 seconds to finish our conversation with the investigator. After, we went to talk with the young man, called Jacob (that name is not common here) and we asked how could we help him. He said that his story is long, and if we had time. We decided to stat for a members house because it was late at night and cold. But we normally dont do that either. We started up, and he started to tell us things. That his heart was in turmoil, and had been for a long time. Said that he has tried to commit suicide many times, but not successful, for many reasons. Said that he had been praying, praying to find someone, to know God. And that if he didnt, that same night, would really end his life. (that part he told us the next day). We learned (when we were in the house of the member) that he lives in the street, he doesnt have a home, doesnt have family. His parents passed away years ago, and he has NO IDEA where any of his siblings are. He was put in an orphanage when he was 6 years old, and when he was 15 he left. He was robbed of everything he owned about 2-3 weeks ago. He came walking from a province up north, and doesnt sleep during the night, just walks. The next day when we went to visit him, he said that during the night, he gave everything to God, all of the pain in his heart and soul to God. He looked more peaceful. He was able to experience the atonement of Jesus Christ. The member where we had taken him to teach, let him sleep in their house, and are helping him find work. He is spending a lot of time with the brother of the member, and the family loves him. He has a family here now, and he is going to be baptized the 21 of June.

Thats a little miracle that we are living here in Peru right now. One day I will be able to tell you more and more extensively about this young man. Oh, I forgot to tell you, his birthday was this past tuesday, the day after we met him.

I am still changing. I guess I could say that I am a miracle as well. I am learning how to put all of my trust in the Lord, and that everything will work out. I would like to share a few scriptures, for the family. The first is in D&C 123:17. And the other is in D&C 58:1-4. These are scriptures that an elder shared with me yesterday, and it is something that is helping me a lot at this time, and I am sure that it can help you guys as well. Remember to put your trust in God, he has a plan for each and everyone one of you. Although you may not see the blessings now, or it appears that there is no light at the end of the tunnel, put your hand in Gods, and he will lead you through the darkness.

I cant believe there are only 6 fast sundays left... wow. Time flies, its true. Sometimes I want it to go by faster, but sometimes I want it to go by slower, but im content at the speed we are going.

Thank you for all of your support, I appreciate it a lot, it is well needed here!

Love you so very much!
Love Always and Forever,
Hermana Heather

5/26/14

Happy Memorial Day Mom! and family!

Last week was awful. Lets be honest. 17 lessons (when normal we have at LEAST more than 20 per week, an investigador just LOVES to waste our time, didnt show up to his baptism interview thursday, we got him out of his house friday to do it, with the baptism prepped for him, and he decided he didnt want to come out of his house. He is always lying to us (the past week) and keeps asking for money. A returned missionary who served in this area (she returned to live here in peru) said the same thing happened with her and her companion, and also other companionships. The EXACT same thing. So me and my companion arent going to let this happen again to others, and we are going to  have a little "chat" with him when we find him.... So im tired, ready for my p-day, and to at least relax a little bit.

We dont need mosquito nettings around our beds, I think that is more for Iquitos. I have taken one picture of a little critter, but just a cocroach and her egg, Before I sprayed raid on them....hehehe

Im hanging in here, and trying to focus as best as I can, but im getting closer to the year mark everyday! You wouldnt believe how much the mission has changed me, how different I am. I feel confident in myself, so confident, and I am learning so much about the gospel.

Love Always and Forever,
Hermana Heather

5/12/14

I am still alive, and a little bit stressed out with everything that is happening, and just in general. We havent really had a day in the past three weeks to just kick up our feet and relax, so I need to find a way to help myself out in this one. The soccer tournament last week was fun, I think. We went there after the hospital, but just to chat with our friends. Hey, I found an old friend from jr high/high school there! She has been in the field for 6 weeks, and is from lehi! her name is Whitney T. It was so weird to see her, but I recognized her immediately, and her me as well. It was really neat.

No more spraining of the ankles! Sometimes, I tweak it a little, but Im very careful with how I am stepping in general.

We have a baptism coming up this week, for a man who is about 50 years old, and trying to find money to have surgury on his eye, because he cant see at all in one eye. He was listening to the missionaries a few years ago, but never got baptized. But he is now! And we are starting to teach is son too, who is about 18 years old.

Hna Pin is doing well, she is absolutely CRAZY now that she is basically better. She is always cracking herself up, and I tend to laugh with her. I have seen her testimony grow a lot in the past 6 weeks. She was in a dark place for awhile, with things that had happened in her house. She completed 6 months in the mission today! And yesterday, I completed 11 months in the mission!  I cant believe where the time has gone, and how much I have learned. And I still have 6 months to keep learning.

I am grateful for the mission, and the change is has put into my life. I have learned so much about life, and about God. God loves each and every one of us, and gives us trials not to punish us, but to help us progress. Because that is our purpose in life, to progress and learn, and be like God.

I love each and every one of you, and hope that you all have a fabulous week.

Love Always and Forever,
Hermana Heather