Nov. 21st, 2011

So... this week...just lots of good, but not so interesting news.

1) We didn`t get transferred. So starting today we are going to start looking for a place to Skype for Christmas. We didn`t want to do it before and jinx ourselves with transfers. Not too many people have internet in their houses and if they do they don`t have Skype. There is a family that offered but they live way far away so we will see what happens. 

2) We contacted this guy who is a hair dresser, Rodrigo. He starts going off about the picture of Christ we gave him and how it looks like something from "Jesus Christ Super Star" and all this jazz. Then he starts touching our hair and asking us who does it and if we could be his models. But he was the type of guy that I would never let do my hair. He says he`s not a hair dresser he is a style designer. It was so funny because he thinks he is the hottest thing to touch the planet. He told us we could come back but we both never want to go back again. 

3) We were contacting this old lady and these guys were opening up their meat shop after lunch and they started talking to us and he offers us a glass of water because it`s really hot outside so he brings us a huge wine glass with carbonated water (I hate water with gas in it) and so we take turns sipping out of it while we are talking. Then this drunk lady comes in and is looking at the meat and she falls down and goes off about how we must  have waxed the floor with stuff , we decided we should leave. So we down this sick water and then he fills it up again. So we down it again and say goodbye. Then as I am walking out he sees my water bottle on my backpack and dumps out my water and fills it up with my favorite gassy water. Oh, how I love Chileans :)

4) The best news ever...Claudia from the country is going to get baptized on Sunday! She is excited and a little nervous. But she is amazing. She is 4 months pregnant and her niece is a member but her family doesn`t want too much to do with the church. Her daughter who is 16 comes with her sometimes but her husband and other daughter don`t come. We are so excited for her! I feel like we haven`t done anything. She accepts everything we teach her and so it`s been super easy. Plus we get to go to the country to visit her 2 times a week so it makes our week better too :) 

 

Yesterday we had a ton of people at church. 5 investigators and a bunch of people who are inactive that we have been visiting. It was a great day. But I`ll be sending pics of the baptism next week. 

Have a great Thanksgiving there! I will be thinking about ya'll feeding your faces :) But looking on the bright side, one thing I wont be missing is the sweet potatoes that I have never liked and I`m sure I still think are nasty. Remember that one time that we had a big Thanksgiving dinner at Granny and Grandpas when they lived in Ogden and we went to dish up our plates and we thought the sauce for the ham roll-ups was gravy and we dumped it on our potatoes and then they were super nasty. ..haha:) I didn`t realize that Granny puts eggs and jazz in her gravy, I thought I was just getting the gravy that was plain. We live and learn right... haha:) Good times. 

LOVE YOU!

Besitos

Steph

The back of the Santiago temple and myself:)

We took this pic after church with Roxanna, who got baptized a year ago, and her daughter, Fernanda, who got baptized in Jan. Now we are just working on their Dad and brother :)

Nov. 14th 2011

This week I  have completed 1 YEAR IN CHILE!!! Can you believe it?! I remember my first month, I thought I would never get to this point!! haha:) But also with 14 months in the mish, the news I have gets to be less and less.

This week, Claudia, from the country, said she wants to get baptized on the 27th. So we hope she comes to church before the sacrament because she always gets their late. But she is excited. We made cheesecake and took it with us. They liked it a lot. They aren`t used to things that are so sweet but they thought it was good. We also made fudge with another investigator and they liked it but they couldn`t eat very much because it was so sweet for them. They could never live in the states... haha:)

We had a lady in the street contact us and ask us to come by. She has a cute little 2 year old girl and then when we looked down realized she was playing with a cigarette. Who knew it was the latest toy for your kid. Some people, I don`t understand them. 

Yesterday in Gospel Principles the teacher asked this lady to say the closing prayer and so she stands up and starts praying but not only a prayer, its her life story about her sicknesses and her kids and her neighbors. I couldn`t help but laugh a little and then after about 5 min of this, I open my eyes to see what we should do and the Elders are looking at us and we all start laughing and then I look back and she is praying with her eyes open and is more like she is giving a talk so the teacher signals for her to finish, so she tells one last little story and then finishes. I think it was the longest prayer I have heard in my life... haha:)

We are still eating the beats that this guy gave us. We both got a little sick to our stomach from eating them so much so I think we are going to give the rest away. We have transfers this weekend. We are starting to pray even harder that we don`t get transferred because we already have lots of plans for Christmas and everything. And I want to be with Hermana Bramwell for at least one more change and stay in this area, for the rest of my mission if I could :) But I`ll keep ya'll updated on what happens and all that jazz. 

Start preparing your stomachs for Thanksgiving, only 10 days more :) 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!! 

Steph

 

View form our 3rd floor apartment at night!

 

Nov. 7th 2011

This week was an amazing week. We got lots of gifts from random people. Yesterday we were counting it up and besides the normal things like fruit we also got red beats, onions, sandwich, pop, and cotton candy. It`s like the people love us or something!!! haha:) just kidding.

When we were in the country we went into a little store to buy cookies for a FHE that we were going to have that night. And we started talking to the people in their and they bought us a sandwich and pop because they didn`t want to listen to our message but thought we were so great for being here to teach the word. Then we were walking to our apartment and there were people harvesting something, so we took a pic because they harvest by hand and then throw it in the back of a pickup and so we stopped and asked if we could help so we unloaded the truck of beats and helped cut off the tops. (Picture included :))We were so happy to have dirt under our nails and our hands all dirty, and then we taught them about the Restoration. The boss is actually form Israel (the first person I`ve met here from Israel) then they took us on a tour of their place and showed us their pigs, fields, onions, and sent us home with a bag of beats and onions. Then yesterday we were walking and there was this guy that has a bike with a cotton candy maker on front and he gave us cotton candy (yes, picture included again) I remembered about half way through that I don`t really like cotton candy a whole lot... but what the heck, I`m only in Chile once right. Oh, we also had this guy give us an army salute too. He was a little off his rocker and was up walking on this fence when saw us he jumped down and gave us an army salute. I thought about contacting him just to try to find out why he is the way he is but knew I would start laughing so we just went on our merry way. Hermana Bramwell and I always have that problem and if one of us starts laughing we both start and it`s hard to stop, but life is made to laugh, right.

Also, this week Elder Cook and his wife came and we had a conference with the East mission. It was great. He talked a lot about D&C 31 and how our calling is to establish the church here in Santiago by helping members, in-actives, and baptizing. Then yesterday we had a stake conference with them again. They focused everything on the family and how we have to have prayer, scripture study, and FHE together because in the future everything is going to be attacking the family and if we don`t prepare we will fall apart. When we were with him as missionaries, we all went up and shook his hand and then afterwards, he got up and said he loved that because it was like a spiritual interview looking into our eyes. It made me think, oh shoot, but bueno, it was fun to be there. Sister Cook talked about the song (the special musical number) ¨Lord, I would follow thee¨ and in the 2nd verse it says ¨in the quiet heart is hidden, sorrow that the eye can`t see¨ and when McCloud was writing this she or her sibling or something had a baby die and they went and bought a dress for the baby to be buried in and the clerk was so happy and so excited that  the pretty little girl could wear this for her blessing and all that, but she didn`t have any idea that it was for her to be buried in. Then these words came to her mind. I liked it a lot, so I thought I would pass it on. Songs always have more meaning when you know where they came from. 

Well, thats pretty much all from my life this week. We found a lady yesterday who is so ready to get baptized. So we are going to start working with her. Her son who is 18 is on the wrong path but he wants to listen to us (I don`t know if its just for our accents, but thats not important, at least he is willing to listen) But the kid who was getting ready didnt come to church yesterday so we are waiting to see if he really wants it and that he is going to prove to God that he wants it. So ya, we are just workin away here in our summer wonderland of what should be fall :) I hope things are good there and that your teeth aren`t falling out from all your Halloween candy. Have a grand ol' week and I hope you`re lovin life!

Con todo mi cariño,

Steph

ps. another town in the country is called Campo Alegre, yes, Happy Country. So I had to take a picture. And actually the airport is right behind me, about 1/4 of a mile.

 

More beets then one will ever need!!!

Cotton Candy

Happy Country

 

Oct. 31st, 2011

¿P-day on Halloween? It`s pretty cool. I don`t know what we are going to do but we are going to live it up :) I can`t believe that we are almost to Nov! Que loco! First off, I want to send a big shout out to Amber, HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week! 

It`s been a good week here in grand Santiago. Last Monday I tried my first ¨ass¨. Its a hot dog bun with chopped meat and whatever toppings you want. I got one that I couldn`t pronounce very well and it was pretty good. Its not to die for but I have seen it on the menus my whole mission and I couldn`t not try an ass. So now I can at least say I`ve tried it :) 

We ran into one of our investigators (Luis) who`s wife and daughter got baptized about a year ago. We were talking to him in the street one night and we finally found out his doubt! It was a miracle! He has been coming to church for the past year and has only missed 4 Sundays. He`s stronger than most members... haha:) But he is afraid that after his baptism he won`t endure to the end. So we are working with him and we have faith that he is going to get baptized this next change. It would be the best Christmas present ever! Also last night we were there, and they have a son who is a little rebellious and never wants to share with us, he just goes upstairs and turns on his music ( he and his Dad are DJs) But last night, we got him to sing and everything with us. Then we had him show us how to DJ. It was awesome!! Sister Bramwell and I decided that it should be our future part time job!! haha:) So now he (the son) is our next project :) One day, they are all going to be in the temple together!

We have been tired this week and so everything is super funny. Plus here, for day of the dead it`s a 4 day weekend (they don`t work today or tomorrow) so everyone has been drinking their lives away. We were outside the fence of our investigators calling him and a drunk lady that lives in the street came and asked us for money to buy alcohol and then she wouldn`t leave us alone, she kept telling us how beautiful we are and how we have to be careful so people don`t rob our backpacks but the worst part is that she kept kissing me. It started with my hand and then she kept kissing me on the cheek with her slobbery alcohol lips. It was so funny!!! Afterwards we couldn`t stop laughing. I wish I had my camera to take a pic with her. Then yesterday we listened to a drunk guy explain to us the picture on our pass along card. I freaking love those Chileans haha:)

This week, we have someone from the 12, a 70, and the presiding Bishopric coming. We have a big conference with them on Sat and then on Sunday we have a special conference with them in our stake. It will be sweet to hear. That is pretty much all that is going on here in the southern lands. Its getting really hot and I`m already having to use a lot of sunblock. But life is good. 

Have a great Halloween and don`t eat too much candy :)

LOVE YALL

Steph

My first A&$

Kiss the Lamb??

A random super hero board thing that we found yesterday. Obviously we had to take a picture :)

Oct. 24th, 2011

Bueno, where to start... This week was a little crazy but it was good. We had a conference with the 1st counselor of the Presidency of Chile (Elder Zeballo), he is Chileano but lived in Utah for a couple years. It was fun to hear from him and his wife. He talked about how we have to use our Spanish after the mish and we can`t forget all that we have learned about the language. And how we can use it to fulfill our church calling and help other people. Little did I know that this would come up later in the week. Because the 2nd counselor (Elder Richards) was coming to our stake conference Sat and Sun. I got a call Sat afternoon asking me to translate for his wife in the conference for the adults on Sat. I asked ¨Me?, Sister Whyte?!¨ and then I thought of Elder Zeballos talk and of course had to say yes. So we went on Sat night and we got there right before the meeting started because we were teaching before and they told me that they already had someone else doing it so I was off the hook. I was so relieved and enjoyed the conference and then afer wards they asked me translate for Sunday. That is even worse because it`s the huge meeting and there are quite a few youngsters that speak English, so I was  nervous and Sister Richards said I have no idea what I`m going to talk about but just pray for the Spirit and you`ll do fine.

So on Sunday we had to go early because they did a special meeting for all the recent converts and investigators. Which was  great because I got to see all my friends from my other ward. Then for the conference I had to translate the whole time for Sister Richards and the wife of my mission pres, which was a little hard but not too bad. It was hardest when a teenage girl got up to speak and you know how they talk, super fast! But it went ok and then when Sister Richards talked I had to go up to the microphone and translate everything in front of I don`t know how many people, a lot! It was full, even the stage on the other end was packed. And I really don`t remember how it went at all... but people said that I did good and that they could understand. So despite all my fears, it turned out ok. Plus, its like a huge family reunion because I`ve been in the stake so long that I have gotten to know a ton of people, plus it was good to see my old converts and friends from my other ward. 

I was also on divisions for 2 days this week. I was with a Sister from Mexico City. It was so great to be with her and talk about our favorite Mexican foods and everything. I didn`t realize until I was with her that her accent is so different. She has a little more of a Chilean accent and it got me thinking, I hope I can understand other people when I get home... haha:) It was fun to be with a latina comp for a couple days. 

I can only think of 2 things that happened this week that were funny. We were walking to an apt and there was this drunk lady that is always lingering in the streets yelling and asking for money and all that jazz. But this time she was passed out in the street. It was the first time Sister Bramwell had seen her, the funny part was that she was laying down in the sidewalk but her pants were undone!  Sister Bramwell asked if we should help her feel a little bit better about herself and pull up and button up her pants so the poor little kids didn`t have to see her. I wasn`t about to do it so we just kept walking. A few min later we passed  2 guys who were gawking at us and yelling "Hi" and everything and then they tripped on a broken part of the sidewalk and fell down. It was too funny... we couldn`t help but laugh:)

Also, we tried 2 new things. There is a fruit here that is called chirimoya. They have it in everything. And I like it in cookies and yogurt and everything but I had never tried the fruit. So this week we bought one and tried it. It was so weird, there is nothing like it. It has a little bit of the taste of a pear (but not) and the texture of an old weird kiwi. It was interesting to say the least. I didn`t finish my half. I didn`t think it was worth it. Then someone gave us the coconuts that they grow here in Chile. They are the smallest things I`ve ever seen. I didn`t think that they could really be coconuts but an investigator helped us crack them open and sure enough, it`s a tiny little coconut. OH the things I`m learning about Chile  :)

Well friends, that`s all for today. Stay tuned for the happening in the wild life of Hermana Whyte haha. Have a great week and I`ll be talking to yall laters

Con MUCHO cariño,

Steph

 

This is the tiny coconut

Sister Bramwell and I after stake conference yesterday, they gave us a tulip for translating

This is the strange fruit, chirimoya

Sisters at the conference on Wed. The one to the right of me is the mexican (Hermana Martinez) that I was with this week.

Hope you like em

BESITOS

Steph

Oct. 17th, 2011

So, this week I feel like I went all around South America. For the celebration of 50 yrs of missionary work in Chile they did a program that was pretty cool. There were about 2,000 kids who participated and they re-enacted a few stories from the BOM and then they had dances from all over South America. The Chilean and the Mexican dances and costumes and everything were my favorite (I don`t know if I`m just bias but they were cool). There were also a lot of missionaries that had served in Chile. It was cool to have a stadium full of people to celebrate together. As missionaries we sang (from all the Santiago missions, Viña del Mar, and a few from the South) it was cool to be there for it. I also saw Lucy Griffiths and her Mom. We only got to talk through the fence for about 5 min. But is was awesome to see her. It was like my mission life and real life together, kind of weird. But it was great to see a familiar face and hear about things going on. It was weird when she said, ¨Ya, I held your new nephew Will, last week¨ and all that jazz but it was fun to see them.  Then by the time we got to the subway after seeing a million people and taking pictures with the dancers and stuff the subway was closed. So we had to take a bunch of buses back to our area and finally got home at 1 am (which is late when you are always home by 10 and sleeping by 11:30) But it was a great adventure. We were in some sketchier parts of Santiago and it`s interesting to see whats going on there on a Sat night, but as Noah would say, I wasn`t scared because the Elders have ¨the power of God¨.

As far as the work goes... its going great! Matias (11yrs old, his Grandma is a member) came to church and brought his friend and his friends little sister. They are all getting ready to be baptized Nov 6 (it`s how I`m going to celebrate Ambers birthday :) ) because Matias`s grandma has to work on the 30 so we moved it back a week. After the lesson yesterday we went to the friends house to ask their Dad if they could get baptized (he is a member but inactive) and he was so drunk so we just told the kids that we would come back a different day. I feel so bad for them (Edwardo and Nayareth) they are so cute and loved church and want to get baptized but their Dad is a lame sauce alcoholic now. It makes me so grateful for my family!!!

We had a great lesson with an eternal investigator this week. His wife and daughter got baptized about 1 yr ago but he just wants to hold out a little longer. He goes to church every week, goes to activities, helps in everything you need him to, takes the missionaries where they need to go when we get transferred. But he just doesn`t want to get baptized. We taught a lesson super clear about baptism and everything. Then we extended the commitment. We were in silence for about 5 min and then he said ¨no.¨ Hahaha:) Looking back on it, its so funny because we were both praying so hard and the spirit was so strong but he just wants to give us a challenge of finding his doubt. So we are working on that right now. I love this family, they are so awesome. Luis (the investigator) told me that when I first got here they couldn`t remember my name but they always just called me Hermana Brittany, because they think I look like Brittany Spears... Haha:) One day while I`m here, he is going to get baptized :)

We also had 2 people from the country come to church yesterday. Which is a miracle because people that live 10 min walking from the church usually don`t come but they came 25 in car. It was a miracle. They liked it a lot so hopefully they will work towards their baptism and progress. The Mom is pregnant and her husband told her she has to get baptized before she has her baby so that the baby is healthy and all that jazz. He doesn`t understand completely but... Hey, if it helps her get baptized sooner, it`s ok!!! Haha. 

That is pretty much all that has gone down here in Chile town. I am doing great and it sounds like ya'll are doing good too. So all in all, we are living the dream. Any new news? 

Welp...thats all I`ve got for now. Have a great week and remember you`re never fully dressed without a smile :)

My new comp, Hemana Bramwell, and I at the end of the 50 yr celebration

This is from transfers last week. Hermana Mera, Me, and my old comp Hermana Eborn

Me with Luci and her Mom on the other side of the fence.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO STINKIN MUCH!

Steph

Oct. 10th, 2011

Soooo, it`s been a good week. I love all the news from home! Happy blessing day William! I am expecting pictures :) Haha!!   All these people getting married, not getting married, having kids, ect. Life is good! 

Yep, that`s pretty much my life. I didn`t get transferred. I`m still here in this ward, but my comp Hermana Eborn left to go to the area where I started. It`s crazy! She is going to be in a trio with My old companion Hermana Player (from Logan area) and her companion from the MTC. What a little mission world we live in. I am now companions with Hermana Bramwell. She is from Lewsville Idaho (close to Rigby) she is so nice! I think we are going to get along really well. She has been here in Chile for 3 months (the same as my comp Hermana Eborn). I am excited to get to know her because we just met but it`s going to be great!

There is a girl, Cynthia, who if from another ward in the stake who got baptized yesterday. She is so funny and loves to practice her English. But she wants to serve a mission so she went out with us this week for a day and it was so great to hear her testimony and the changes in her life. She just met the Elders 2 1/2 weeks ago. She went to the church looking for them. She had been to every church but not ours and never saw the missionaries in the street so she went to church to find them and now, 2 weeks later, she is baptized. She called us and is going to come with us again this week and said she is going to bring Skittles!!! Haha:) She spoils the missionaries!!

Then, yesterday, we met a lady at church who was inactive. She got baptized about 3 years ago but has been working on Sundays. She stopped working so now she can come to the church. We were excited for her but didn`t really know who she was. Then we were walking to lunch after church and a kid came running up behind us and asked us to pass by his house. So we did and it turns out it`s the members house and this kid is her grandson who lives with her. He, Matias, had taken the discussions before but is scared to be baptized   in front of lots of people. We told him that he can just have a small baptism. So he is preparing to be baptized on Oct 30. We are excited. Can you say miracle?!?!

On Saturday we had a party to celebrate 50 years of missionary work in Chile. It was just a fireside but we were walking to the stake center and there was this guy on his bike with his machines selling popcorn and cotton candy. He yelled for us to come over and we told him that we didn`t have any money (plus we were fasting) but he gave us a big bag of popcorn ¨because you are so beautiful¨ Haha:) So I put it in my bookbag and then in the fireside whenever I opened my bookbag it was like we were in a movie theatre with the smell. Haha:)  Oh Chile!! This coming Sat we are going to have a cultural celebration. It should be pretty cool. We, as missionaries, are going to sing. If you can watch it, do it. I think there will be a lot of singing and dances and jazz. So it should be fun. 

Right now we are teaching a lot of 7th day Adventists. There is this one, Gladys, who is so confused... she got baptized about 6 months ago but doesn`t believe in the church, she just likes that their sabbath day is Sat because that`s what it says in the Bible. We taught her and then we went back and she said she didn`t want us to teach her. But we got talking and she let us go in. So we taught her again and she is so confused about everything but doesn`t really want to listen to the answer. In the end she said come back on Wed and I will give you the answer, if I want you to keep coming by or if the Book of Mormon is wrong and you never come again. So everyday we have been leaving little notes or talks or whetever to help her read the Book of Mormon. I am excited to see what she says on Wed because she is always so dramatic and has to sing us a song from the Bible before we leave. Oh people, they crack me up!

Sorry, my letter turns into a novel a lot faster than I think. I just keep talking but I`ll just stop. But I do want to hear about your lives! What`s going on? That is so crazy that it snowed! It`s only the first of Oct what is going on! I am excited for spring here. It`s warm in the day and cold at night so its not too bad. Update me on the kids, life, other peoples lives, whatever comes to mind :)  I hope you are all doing good and just keep on keepin on, ya!

LOVE YOU!!!!!

I am finally getting around to attaching pics, hope you enjoy, I don`t have anything exciting, but just a little feel of my life

This is when we taught a family (of 3, hence the 3 fingers) who are so amazing!

The view from my apt on a cloudy day

Last night after a long day of working, a member who washed our clothes gave us mouth wash and juice.
They are so great!

This is the sunset on the country part of my area. The city part is completely different but I like the counrty here

Steph