Hand written Christmas Letter to the Keith Whyte Family:)

December 24th, 2010

I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year! Did you get to do anything fun? Here it's Christmas Eve and everyone is busy celebrating so I have a little time to write you a little letter.

Being on a mission I have realized a lot of things. How blessed I am to have an amazing family (such as yourselves) Thanks for all your love and support you have help me so much. You are great examples to both me and your kids. The other day there was a baptism in our ward and it made me so excited for Noahs baptism. I am glad I got to live close to you for a little bit and was able to spend a little time with you. I have no idea what I am going to do after my mission but I hope we get to see each other a lot, even if it is just to do hair:) Plus, Easton needs to remember who I am...haha:)


I hope you are all doing well. When does Kyle get home from his mission? Some days I think I am going to be here forever and others I just want the time to slow down. I feel like in this letter i keep switching from missionary Steph to real Steph..haha I am beginning to feel like the two are starting to blend into one. So, if I am weird when I come home you are gonna have to come up with a plan to help me out! But, for now I'll turn to my missionary side

I was thinking how horrible we used to be when Mom and Dad would have Scripture Study and FHE and Prayers and such but, now I realize how important they are. Remember to always do it with your kids-they will be grateful someday.

Here on my mission I have also realized how powerful the Book of Mormon is. It really has the power to change your life if you let it.I am so grateful for all the blessings God has given me. I must have done something right in the preexistence  or else been horrible so God knew I needed all the help I could get. Either way I am grateful. Thanks again for all your love and support I couldn't ask for anything better. Remember I love you all and pray for you everyday (As I know Noah is doing for me:)- Thank Bud!)

Love Always
Steph

Hand Written Christmas Letter Home From Hermanas Whyte AND Buckner

Feliz Navidad                                                                                    December 2010

Good tidings we bring to our families and friends from your missionaries here is Chile!! We have had a lot of goings on from Idaho to Chile! We have kept busy and now we are both busy with the missionary life. We wouldn't have it any other way.

A year in the life of Stephanie Whyte
What a  year its been. I started out by transferring to a new school (BYU-I) taking a 6:30AM class in January...In Rexburg...It wasn't my brightest idea. But, as I have been told "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit!" There were some good time, some bad, and some to always remember.We had a lot of changes. My Dad changed careers, Liz&Joel moved to Farr West, I don't have any new nieces or nephews but I'll take the ones I've got. (If they even remember me after a year and a half) Oh, and I live in Chile now!! I never would have guessed this is where my life would take me, but I am loving it! I've only been here a month and I love seeing peoples lives change as they come to know the Savior. Even though I can't understand them sometimes. I just smile and say "No, En Serio?! Eso es lo que paso?! And so...Life is Good! Livin the dream as a Sister Missionary here in Chile for the next year and a half.

A Word or Two from the Almost Chilena (Hermana Buckner)
Wow! What a year opener I had! Started out by arriving in another country, and then being welcomed by a huge earthquake! Talk about an ice breaker, almost a year later and people still talk about it. From having dogs chase me on my bike and having bugs bite me, seeing people completely change their lives for the Gospel, having friendly fliates help me, opening an area where there hadn't been Sister Missionaries for 20-30 years, hearing about my brother Nicks wedding, Bridget graduating, Liz moving to NC for the summer, and now my parents are home for the first time as empty nesters. So, I've just about seen and heard it all. However, there is still more to come, serving a mission is the best thing I've done. I wouldn't change it for anything.

Se que esta es la obra del Senor. Estoy agradecida por estar aca en Chile! Amo el erangelio. Amo a mi Salvador. Se que esta es la Iglesia de Jesucristo. Lo se y lo siento!! Les amo!

We hope that our families and friends have a very Merry Christmas. because "it's the best time of the year...we don't know if there'll be snow (actually we know there won't be snow here) but have a cup of cheer"

To get the latest news on our adventures email us at...
stephanie.whyte@mylds.net
sarah.buckner@mylds.net

or write us at...
Chile Santiago North Missioin
Forestal 2680
Oficina 32, Piso 3
Casilla 18
Conchali, Santiago
CHILE

Or use dearelder.com

Les amamos mucho!!
Love Hermanas Stephanie Whyte and Sarah Buckner

Hand written letter to the Jacobsons

September 27, 2010

Hey Liz & Joel & Ethan

I decided to write a little letter because its p-day and I used up all my internet time.  Now I’m just waiting for my laundry.

It’s fun to hear from you!  Time is a weird concept here.  You never know what day it is because we always do the same things.  Ha Ha.  We crawl from our beds at night but then my mind is still going 100 miles/minute with Spanish but it’s getting easier and easier to fall asleep.  You would think I would know more by now with that going on.  J

We have pretty much learned all of the Spanish rules and stuff.  Now the problem is understanding it and applying it!  I know nothing.  Ha Ha.  But Luci Griffiths said to study hard but don’t worry about the language if others are getting it faster.  So I’m trying to remember that and tell myself it will all work out.  When I get there I’ll be saying “That’s not the Spanish I learned” so I figure either way I’ll be lost.

The Elders that got re-assigned from Mexico to other places are suppose to be temporary; they all hope for just one transfer but they never know.  The ones that stay close I bet they get transferred back to Mexico pretty soon.  But there was an elder who went to L.A.; I bet he is there for a while.  I would be sad to get changed but I guess it is where they are supposed to be.  And luckily I don’t need a visa to get into the country so I don’t have to worry about that.

The food here is pretty good.  You are never super hungry but you eat because it’s the only time you can eat and you want to do something other than sit in class.  There has never been something I didn’t like to eat so that’s good.  Every Sunday they have mashed potatoes, gravy and some kind of meat so it’s great!  Lloyd Lee and some other people told me not to drink the orange juice because it will give you the runs.  So I’ve always been too scared to try it out.  Ha Ha.  I don’t really care to find out if it’s true or not.

I love being able to learn so much though; its fun to walk around just because you always have missionaries coming up and contacting you or wanting to teach you.  Some of them are in the craziest languages too.  We had someone sing “I Need Thee Every Hour” to us in Mongolian.  It was so cool!  I am kind of jealous of the missionaries that are only here for 3 weeks, but there is no way I would feel ready to go and teach people.  I probably won’t feel like I’m ready when it is time to leave but oh well.  Our teacher told us that if someone just keeps saying they don’t have time to talk and puts you off, ask if you can sing a song, sounds weird but he said it brings the spirit and changes their hearts.  I want to try it someday.  J

I’m glad Ethan and the girl you babysit still haven’t killed each other.  Ha Ha.  Are you going to babysit next semester too?  All I know is you’re a good woman.  I don’t think I could handle it.

Well keep me undated.  It’s fun to hear from you.  Love ya’ll tons and tons!!!  XOXO 

Love Always,  Stephers