Wednesday, January 28, 2009

MTC Halfway Point

Hey hey!!

Well I'm starting my fourth week!! It hasn't been too exciting. Just another week at the MTC.

So I started taking calls in the referral center!! This one guy I called about a Book of Mormon he was supposed to receive. He got it and I started telling him about how he will be blessed for reading it and stuff. I tried to make it like really spiritual. Well when I was done he was like " Awite, well I'm going to go slaughter me a goat!" and hung up.

I've got an investigator!! Two missionaries who are leaving asked if me and my companion could take over and teach him. He doesn't speak English. But I'm hoping my Spanish is good enough.

I'm happy to hear about the goals that you have made. One thing I have been doing is going through the Preach my Gospel and going through the scripture study boxes in the lessons. I found that if I study by subject and not by just reading through it that I get alot more out of it. and as an added benifet, my scriptures are all filled with colors now. Ive gotten alot of use out of those scripture marking things. One of them practically melted in my fingers because I was using it so much. Ive only been reading in the Spanish scriptures now because they make so much more sense in Spanish. I will read a scripture in Spanish and then when I read it in English it practically scares me its so confusing.

Anyway I don't know what else to say other than I'm glad im here and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Four elders from our district just got called to the travel office. They are going to Salt Lake today to meet the Mexican ambassador! Isn't that exciting!!!

Much love,
Elder Whetten

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

More News from Jay (with comments from Mom)

Melanie's comments are in red -

Thanks for the tip on questions. My companion is having a hard time thinking of some good questions or questions that aren't confusing to use in our lessons. I shared it with him and He really appretiated it. (I told him about our Teacher Training lesson on developing questions when teaching - If you're interested check out "Teaching No Greater Call" pg 68 or 98 )

I asked my branch president if he knew who was coming into our branch today and Brant's name was on the list! So he is going to be in one of the rooms next to me. I haven't seen him today yet though.

Oh and I run inside. I use my jeans for p-day and service assinements and I dont want to wear my shorts when I do laundry because I use them for gym and stuff. (This sounds so much better than what it sounded like he was saying last week - that he ran 4 miles every day in his jeans and also wore them on P-day, so he couldn't wash them.)

Oh and don't worry about the candy. Grandma sent me a bunch of stuff today.

It truly is amazing how much faster you can learn a language with the spirit on your side.

Tell dad to not work too hard. I want to be the only one in a stretcher when I get home. (?? I wonder what that means??)

Tell everyone at church that I'm doing amazing and progressing really well. (I am however; having trouble with the humility! -could he get that from his mother?) Tomorrow I get to work in the referral center, basically where people call to learn about the church. I'm really excited.

Did I mention its like ground hogs day here? It feels like I got here yesterday. But its also like 3.5% of my mission over with.

I get letters from Audri and Courtney. Aimee and Sister Clark and Grandma have sent me a letter too. I really love getting letters. (Shameless plug for more letters??)

Nothing much else has happened. I'll talk to you next week.
LoveElder Whetten

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Email, January 14th

Hey mom.
Elder Holland spoke to us yesterday. I’m not sure if you can but if you can try to find a recording of it. Im doing the choir at the MTC and they had a close up of me.

By extra things in the package, did you mean like t-shirts and jeans? Because i only have one pair and I use them for gym everyday and i can’t really wash them because i use them for p-day too. Sorry i didn't notice earlier.

But anyway things are doing great over here and I think my brain has converted to spanish at the moment. Me and my companion heard some apostle say that if you memorize one thing every day that by a year you would have developed a photographic memory. so right now we have two weeks worth of scriptures and preach my gospel stuff memorized. Half of that stuff is in Spanish.

Im going to send my blessing back to you guys because im going to get it shrunken down and laminated so i can put it into my scriptures. Have you seen the restoration movie at the temple yet? If you haven’t I highly Suggest it. It’s worth it.

I’m going to try to get a picture of my whole district to send you guys soon so expect that too. Oh and I got my Hep A shot so expect a bill or something on that to.

Does grandma want to send me any snowballs? Tell her I love her. And tell Galen and Kenna hi too. Tell Galen that Geronimo was like the best scout trip I’ve ever been on.

I haven’t been able to gain any weight yet. I do eat a lot but I run four miles every gym period. I’ve heard a lot of stories about where I’m going. Like the Mexicans kinda worship this "angel of death" that looks like a grim reaper and is like mechanical and stuff. And when you teach them the lessons they ask if you believe in it and when you tell them that death isn’t a god it’s a process they are like oh my gosh he's right!!!

Well I can’t think of anything else to talk about now. Tell me everything.
Love, Elder Whetten.

P.S. Feel free to correct any missspelled words or grammar in any of my e-mails. I’m sure there is a lot of mistakes

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Another email!

Yah if you want to switch out my luggage then go right ahead. and i dont think your a bad mom. your the best mom i ever had!!!

I forgot to mention that i forgot a few things. I forgot my manicure set, and my patriarchal blessing. I also would like, if possible, my cd player with speakers. they gave us alot of cds with like motab on it and the guy in our residence with an ipod only has like three songs on it and i would like a little more variety.

I also forgot to mention that they are taking really good care of me over here. Im eating alot more than i used to. and im trying to gain more weight.

I went to the temple this morning. we got up early in the morning while it was still dark and crossed the street to go to the temple. there was like two feet of snow on each side of the pathway up to the temple and as we went, i could look up to see the temple glowing upon a hill of snow. it was really beautifull as was the whole experiance.

I am sorry to mention that i havent used my coat once yet. Im telling you, im a snow person!!!

anyway if there is anything else you want to know just send me a letter. i would prefer if it was on dear elder so it could get to me faster but if you want to write then go right ahead. I really appreciate all of your letters. loveElder Whetten

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Email from Jay

Sorry I Wasent able to e-mail you for a while. the first couple of days are a little hectic for missionaries. from now on ill only be able to e-mail you every wednesday and friday. at first i was a little homesick but after a while ive made some new friends and ive gotten over it all. I still miss you though.

The missionary I met at the airport isnt my companion, and im glad he isnt. I have a better companion named Elder Jordan Russell. He is from Rexburg, Idaho. the guy on the plain was starting to annoy me a little bit.

Ill send you guys some pictures sometime. Its about 10 degrees over here right now and im loving it!!! Its been snowing alot. So yah this is like the first time ive seen it snow.

As for the spanish, I know more right now than i have learned french. I can bear my testimony and pray in spanish. ive already done it a couple times allready. i can already see gods angels helpings us along the way. some visible some not.

well when i send you my sd card its gonna look like im not doing much but i just want to let you know that im working really hard and learning this language like no other.

I love you and i really miss you. I hope you guys are able to find your way without me. dump the trash before it starts overflowing. love,Elder Whetten