New Years

Well 2012 is finally coming to the end, and what does that mean for us? A new start on new things, new goals to achieve and such. A complete start over.  Just this past week we get a call from our mission office, saying that they had found us a new place to stay and that we had to move on January 3rd. We were quite upset because we didn't want to move out of our apartment that we were staying, we love our land lords they're quite awesome. But they (the mission) said that we had to move out because our landlord's twin boys will be 16 in march and their oldest son will be home from his mission in June, so it was inappropriate for Sister Missionaries to be living there. We completely understand that, but the only thing we don't understand is that why they decided to move us in the middle of the transfer instead at the end, which is in two weeks. But I guess its a new start to a new year. :)

So we went and checked out the new house, its just as nice as the one that we're living in right now. And we are the first people to live in their downstairs apartment, that they just got done building. So that's pretty exciting. We also are now living with an elderly couple just down the street from the Tempanogos Temple.. oh wait we were already living down the street from there. :) So now this week we are going to be packing up and cleaning up our apartment and getting ready to move out. So this will be fun.

I'm just going to say that Me + Snow+ Ice+ Shuffling= A bruised bum! Just this morning as i was walking down the stairs to our apartment to get my wallet, I slipped and fell on the stairs, just adding more bruises to my bottom! Then last night while I was Shuffling (if you don't know what Shuffling is, look up truffle shuffle on youtube) and down i went landing on my elbow, that hurt. My companions laughed, because sometimes I purposely slip and slide on the ice and i say i'm not going to fall, then when i slipp accidently I fall.. >_< so epic.

Then it gets even more epic, we went to little ceaser's to get a pizza, crazy bread and italian cheese bread for our new years party. So we were there at a quarter to 9 and i ordered. We went to the store to get ranch for our pizza. Didn't even think to look at the pizza to make sure that everything was right. So now at home, we're doing our planning and I just wanted to eat my bread sticks, mouth watering and such. So after planning I opened the box to find a Heart Shaped Cheese pizza inside. I was FURIOUS! So freaking mad! (mind you this is at 10 pm now) and I was like We need to go back to little ceasers and get this corrected. I was taking everything that happened to me during the day really well, but when i saw that cheese pizza that blew the top, I had enough and i had to go and correct it. So we go back to little ceasers, past curfew and I walk in (mind you i'm in my footie pajamas) and I'm like, "I was here about an hour ago and I had ordered italian cheese bread and when i opened the box I found this," I opened the box. and the manager's like "We were looking for that, because one of our employees had made it for his girlfriend. We're glad you brought it back. So they gave me my cheese bread. I walked out with a grin on my face, my companions were in the car parked next to the store, and I'm happy as can be. Next thing you know, I'm on the ground. Stupid ice! I officially hate ICE, i don't want to move anywhere that has snow! UGH. My companions start laughing, i myself didn't care if I was hurt, i was more worried about ruining my Cheese bread, went though all that to get it just to have it ruined by the snow. But to my luck the only thing was hurt was my bottom and ankle. I promise you it will never ever happen again!

 Weill Report again next monday!

Snow in American Fork.

Alright, so I haven't seen snow since 2010 when I went up to Wisconsin for my grandfather's funeral. Then I get my Mission Call to Provo Utah, I'm like ok, that mean's i'm going to be experiencing snow. And driving in it. Well, now i don't have to drive in it cause of my incident back in September, but i am sure now experiencing it :) Here are some loverly pictures of my snowy day's in Utah. I prayed for a white Christmas, and thats what i Got!

This is In Orem, back in November, this is an investigators

house that had a LOT of snow.

Got a little bit of snow in American Fork, so I wrote

on the Car windows

Epic Snow Man that me and my Companions built

with our landlord's son Logan

After building the snow man, we made Snow angels,

Mine is on the Left, Sister Mamea's in the center and Sister

Wood on the Right, Logan is on top

Snow Christmas Eve

This here was when I kidnapped my Companions bunny and put him in

a bag on the car mirror.

Here I am in Sandals standing in about 2 inches of snow :)

Helping the LandLords son's Bronson and Lincolin shovel snow from the

drive way.

We're working so hard! :P

12-26-2012 Snow fort built by Bronson, Sister McFarlane and

Sister Wood! :) It was epic

our Supply of snow balls that got snowed on during the night.

12-26-2012 Snow Fort built by Logan, Lincolin and sister Mamea,

They built it almost like a igloo

Beautiful picture of the sun set on the snow in the trees. 

Taken at the mission home in Provo.

My Name written on the car

Snow man, that kinda sort of looks like Elmo. Built at the Mission home

with my bare hands, no gloves, gee can't you tell i'm from the south.

Looking at these pictures, can't you tell how much fun i'm having here in the Utah-Provo Mission. All of ya'll that are in California (meaning you elder reinhardt) Bragging about how nice it is, well i'm just going to say, Too bad ya'll aren't here enjoying the fun snow with me. :P I love you.   Now there is about a foot of snow on the ground and its going to stay for a while.

Picks from the Mission

Shoveling The Snow

Shayliah Lassen's Baptism

Serge Katawalabala's Baptism, he's from Congo

Brayden Hurt's Baptism

Damage from Hitting the Fire Hydrant

Jeremy Jordan's Baptism

Louis Johnson's Baptism

Kallie Terry's Baptism

Aaron Serine's Baptism

Mike Jones' baptism, we had to throw this together last minute

He's from texas and watned to be baptized by his future father in law

so he comes to Utah and we had to put it together.

Carolyn Mitchell's baptism, 79 Years old

Adrian Beltran's Baptism

Aidan Smith's baptism

Nathe Lovetts baptism taught him in 2 weeks

Me and Sister Barrera, she's from Houston Texas

This is what happenes when you leave your camera laying round with

a room full of Elders >__<

Snow!

Brother Gifford, the highlight of Christmas!

Christmas in the Mission

First off, its finally Christmas and as a Mission we have done alot.  On wedensday December 19th all the sisters in the mission got together and had an activity. We first went to Pizza Pie Cafe off of University Parkway in Provo for lunch. I Love that place! I can't tell you how many pizza eating contest i've had with the elder's there when we had district lunch.  After that we went to the mission home, where Sister McCune shared a spiritual thought on Sister Dibb's Conference talk "Know it, Live it, Love it." In which we all made bracelets, the Blue bead represented Know it, the Gold represent Live it and Red for Love it. It was fun, i made an anklet, but then it broke! :( So had to fix it. We then made Gingerbread houses, and frosted Cookies. I happened to be the only Sister covered in Frosting, why me? haha. We did a white elephant exchange and that was a lot of fun, we all ended up liking the gifts we picked. So that was good, because i've been to white elephants before where it turned real ugly real quick. So that was good. Around 6:00pm we went to Riverwood an outdoor mall, and we sang christmas carols.  Let's just say that by the end of the night, my toes were numb, i could not feel them. ((Also i built a mini snowman with my bare hands, no gloves, my fingers were bright red)

When we were in provo on Wednesday, there was about 3-4 inches of snow on the ground, same with Orem, but American Fork where I'm at, its like a bubble, NO snow! :( So we're praying for a white christmas. Snow snow snow! :)

Then On Thursday December 20th, we had A zone conference. There were three of the six zones there. We had the opportunity to hear from the artist Greg Olsen. That was an amazing experiance, he talked about how he was inspired to do each of his paintings. After that President McCune talked to us (and I being in the front row was picked on to read scriptures!) We then heard from elder Bedenbaugh, and Elder bishop they gave their final testimonies. Then we had lunch, which was DELICIOIUS! Loved it. We had a talent show, where a few of us got up and did something. There were some really good talents. 3 elders put together a skit and a video, impersonating President McCune and the Assistant to the Presidents, it was too funny. Then Me and my companion Sister wood played a clarinet duet, two songs, O little town of Bethlehem and Silent night. We had planned to play It came upon a midnight clear and Hark the Hearld Angels sing, but for some reason when we were practing right before we went up, my clarinet was not making the connections from a low note to the high note, and I did everything i knew to fix it but it still continued to do so.

At the end of the conference, we were given our packages that they had been holding since Dec 10. And I want to thank my brother Jason for the Blanket that he Sent me. And my sister Melissa for the two things of Stamps, i now have over 70 stamps! Keep em coming. I have letters to write. haha. But seeing all the other missionaries get a lot of packages and stuff it bummed me out. I got really sad thinking that no one really misses me or what not, but then i was like you know what, its not about the gifts, its about the birth of Christ! So i got over it really quickly. 

I hope all of you have a very merry christmas, and hope to hear from ya'll soon! My address is

Sister Whitney A. McFarlane
Ut-Provo Mission
85 N 600 E
Provo Ut, 84606

:) love ya'll

BRRR and a snowman or two

Well, it is December. Do we know what that all means? Temperature under 30's during the day and down in the 20's at night, Snow, and more snow and Ice.  Yup, let me tell you this little suthern girl is just loving the Freezing weather out here! Ha Ha

Updates.

I am now currently in American Fork, Utah. I had been transfered from Orem after being there for 4 1/2 months. I have had 7 baptisms down in Orem and now looking for ward for 3 more in which i can go down and witness. My companion from japan went home in October. And i was joined by Sister Smith from Canada, and Sister Barrera from Houston Texas.  We were together for a total of 6 weeks and then I was moved. I was bummed, because I love Orem! I love the people there. Now here in American For, I am with Sister Wood from California, and Sister Mamea from American Samoa.  THEY ARE AWESOME

There are some of the weirdest things found here in utah, and I'm just so glad to have the camera on hand to take some of these epic pictures :) 

I want to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I thank all of you for your support and love. 

Whit

Title: The Utah Provo Mission Song - Artist Unknown

*Awesome Guitar Riff*

Run down to the mailman to see what he's got,
It's a big white envelope with my name across the top.
I stood there in triumph with my arms high in the air,
When I read my mission call all I could do is stare.

What did I do, what did I say?
Is there any other way?
Wasn't my time well spent?
Oh well, it's too late to repent.
Be why you, be why me,
Is this the way it's got to be?
Looks like I'm going soul fishing
In the Utah Provo Mission
The Utah Provo Mission.

It took a few weeks, but I got used to the call,
Apparently not everyone there is a mormon after all.
Ship me off & ship me out put my knowledge to the test.
It turns out our little humble mission is the best.

"Beware of pride boy, your eternal soul is at stake."

What do I do, What do I say?
I know this way is okay.
I'm sure it's time well spent,
I still need to repent.
Be why you, be why me,
This is the way it's got to be.
I guess I'm going soul fishing,
In the Utah Provo Mission.
The Utah Provo Mission.

So people ask me what I do all day,
My simple reply is "I put them on date"
That's what I do, that's what I say,
I know the Lord shows me the way.
I love my time well spent,
I call these people to repent.

Be why you, be why me,
This is the way that's for me.
I'm glad I'm going soul fishing,
In the Utah Provo Mission.
The Utah Provo Mission.
Let's all go fishing in the Utah Provo Mission.


*Note from me: My companion had this song on a CD and when I heard it for the first time it was so true of me. I love it!!!

Hello there from the Utah Provo Mission- Currently I am in ORem where it's really hot!
SO I have decided to write a blog letter once a transfer, and that would be at the end of the transfer, except this one. (So the next one will be in October!)
Anywho, things have been extremely busy out here! So busy that time just goes by fast. On September 11 would be my two month anniversary, which happens to be the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attack! Crazy!! Eventually I'll be back home wondering where the time had gone, but then i'll think "When we are doing the lords work time moves rapidly!"
By the end of this transfer I will have four baptisms. The first one was August 25, 2012, it was a 10 year old girl, who reminds me a lot of my sister Melissa. The next one is September 1st, he is 25 years old, from Congo (which is in Africa), and he speaks french and is learning english. Then an 11 year old girl was baptized on September 8th as well, we met her and she's like "I want to be baptized!" She's what we call a golden investigator! I'm so excited!
Things I have learned thus far- I am not the perfect teacher, but that is okay none of us are. I know heavenly father answers prayers (I will expand on this later). I have learned that church makes the world so much smaller. Utah has the best fruit, but it has the worst drivers in the world! Everyone out here isn't Mormon after all <--- taken from the lyrics of  the song titled "Utah Provo Mission". Ramen noodles are life savers! and P-Day goes by really fast! One day I was out contacting Bishops, and we come to one Bishop's house, they let us in. In the doorway of the house was a cardboard cut-out of their son who is on his mission. Right away I recognized his face, but I had to ask which mission he was serving and they said Orlando, FL! I was ecstatic, he was the Elder in my ward serving in the Inverness area! The Elder Riley! And his family let my friend Brian stay at their house for a couple of days before going to the MTC!
Then our next door neighbors, their son-in-law served his mission in the McCallen, Texas mission and was in the Corpus 3rd ward when I moved down. Harsh, I believe his name is. So indeed the world is small.
3 weeks ago I challenged my 15-year-old investigator to read the Book of Mormon daily. Then her foster mom challenged to have it read by the time she was baptized. So that meant 25 pages a day! I took on that challenge as well. And as I have been reading, I realize that there are a lot of things that are taught in the temple which are in the Book of Mormon (those who have been through the temple know what I am talking about). And it's really amazing! And I've found my missionary purpose purpose in the Book of Mormon as well. The Book of Mormon is such a great learners guide, and invite ALL to read it! My goal is to read it once a transfer, so that is 12 times. :) You truly learn something new each time you read. Read with a question in mind, pray before and after you read.
Now I KNOW Heavenly Father answers prayers, sometimes right away & sometimes when he sees appropriate. On the 22nd of August, I was getting ready for personal study, and I said a prayer. In that prayer I prayed for something specific, about something for after my mission. When I closed the prayer I picked up my journal and a picture, that I had known was in there, fell out. I picked up the picture and looked at it. I tell ya I have never felt the spirit so strong since I got a blessing from the Elders at the MTC. This feeling of extreme happiness came upon me. I had a grin from ear to ear and was to the point of tears. On top of that my body was all tingly from head to toe. I know that if something made me this happy it had to be of God. Then I heard a still small voice, saying " If you focus on you mission, this blessing will be attainable when you get home, but if you do not focus, this blessing which has been promised to you will be harder for you to attain."
I know what I felt is true, that through the Holy Ghost, Heavenly Father answered my prayer. I know I must focus and not worry about things like not getting letters, or not having enough time for myself, or a certain person back home and not hearing from them. I have been called of God to teach his children. That I am to get lost in the Lord. D&C 88:67-69 (thanks to Robert for that one!)
I must bid thee farewell until the end of next transfer. Hopefully I will get pictures sent so Carli can post them on the blog!
With much love
Sister Whitney A. McFarlane
UT - Provo Mission

MTC & First Week in Field

So I entered the MTC July 11th, and I can tell you that I was nervous, because I did not know what to expect! But I was led by a host sister to my residence where i dropped off my luggage. My residence was on the top floor and there are NO elevators!! So that was fun, then I was taken to my class room where I met my MTC district, and companion. THere were 6 Elders and 4 Sisters, myself included.
Elder Jensen- Serving Milwaukee, WI from Bountiful, UT
Elder Stephens- Serving Provo, UT from Long Beach, CA
Elder Xiong- Serving Milwaukee, WI from Fresno, CA
Elder Smith- Serving Milwaukee, WI from Delta, UT
Elder Galke- Serving Provo, UT from Panama City, Panama
Elder Bilodeau- Serving Provo, UT from Modesto, CA
Sister Rush- Serving Winnipeg, Canada from Alberta, CA
Sister Waterhouse- Serving Winnipeg, Canada from Alberta, Canada
Sister Ipson- Serving Milwaukee, WI from Centerville, UT
and then me!
During the 3 weeks we were together we developed this really close bond. We did everything together! Sports, study, meals, etc. Shared some really amazing spiritual experiences. I loved my district!! I was able to go to the temple as a district, and that was an amazing experience. My days were 16 hours long, 6 hour class, 1 hour gym time, 45 min breakfast/lunch/dinner, then rest and study time. Monday was P-day, at 6 we had class, Tuesdays we had workshops, and a devotional. Sunday was church, study, temple walk, and devotional.
MTC, to me, felt like a prison, or a school where you cannot leave. Ahh!! Food was okay! but 6 hours of class was a killer!

Week 1 in mission field:
My companion is Sister Uryu, She is from Tokyo, Japan. We are extremely busy! I hate driving in Utah! I love Pride Rock which is the mountain behind the Provo Temple. I don't know what else to say! Love ya all!

Love,
Sister Whitney McFarlane

Happy 4th of July

Today marks 236 years of Freedom of the tyrant King George the III of England. Today the Declaration of Independence was signed.  Happy 4th of July!

Today is also another very special day. I get set apart as a Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  The day I become a representative of my Lord and Savior. I'm very excited! I cannot wait. And since today is my last day I'm going to go to the pool for the very last time then head out to Eustis to get set apart.

I'm going to miss you all, I love you all. And Once a month or every other week, I'll have a Blog Letter to send to my cousins :)

See Ya'll in 18 months

Love,

Sis. Whitney A. McFarlane

Packing Day

As I sit here today unpacking and repacking making sure that things all fit into my two suit cases; I start to think of all the people I would love to pack in my suit cases and bring a long with me. But seeing all the things that I have to pack, there is no way I can pack you, so I have to make room in my heart and bring you that way.  I'm really excited to go, and I'm sure that this week that I'm going to spend with my family in Utah before I report to the MTC is going to be a blast and will help me get over the fact that I'm leaving a lot of fantastic people in the world behind, though one will be in the MTC shortly after me. He'll be in Provo for 2.5 months while at the MTC learning Spanish. So you can say "so close yet so far away". And he won't be there until October. But till then we'll be over 2,000 miles apart, and after he goes to California we'll be 631 miles apart.

I will be living out of these two suit cases for a year and a half, transferring to different wards through out my missions. Just the seven pairs of clothing, two pairs of shoes and simple necessary things I need for everyday living. It is such a sacrifice to give up everything in every day life to go and serve the Lord, in gathering the tribe's of Israel. To going from staying up all night on the computer, sleeping in till noon, watching movies, hanging out with friends and doing what ever you wanted to no communications to family and friends except for once a week on p-day, no movies, no music, bed time curfews and rising very early. Its going to be a hassle for me, but you know what, its going to be totally worth it!

Tomorrow is my interview with the Stake President, then Wednesday is when I become a missionary, and Thursday I fly out to Utah! :)

I leave in a week

Alright I leave in one week to go on my mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have been called to serve in the Utah Provo Mission and I report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) July 11th. 

This is something new to me, so i'm really nervous about it because I really don't know what to expect. I'm afraid that I won't be the best missionary, and sound like I don't know anything about the church. But I know that this is going to be a learning experiance for me and a growing experiance as a person. Probably one last step I have to take before I get married and start my own family.  I'm not looking forward to saying "see ya laters" to all of my friends that I have gotten to know and love. Especially the one's I talk to everyday. Having to go from talking every day to once a week is going to take a heavy toll on me. But needless to say I'm very excited to be going on a mission. I've worked my butt off towards this goal since October of last year. Including having extreme dental surgery that I wish I could have avoided.  Its all for a good cause.

So I get set apart as a Full Time Missionary on July 4th, what a special day to become a Missionary of the Lord. Then July 5th I get on the aeroplane to Salt Lake City Utah, where I will be staying with my Aunt Julie for a week before having to report July 11th at 1:10 pm.  My cousin Courtney and I will be doing a temple spree before I have to report and we're going to be going to 6 different Temples, oh the blessing of living in Utah.  I'm going to have Her or my cousin Carli keep up my blog!

I am so thankful that I am going to have friends serving the Lord at the same time as I. We're going to make such a great support system for each other, encouraging each other!  Though, of all my friends serving Mission's I'm the only one in Utah. Everyone else is in California.

~Elder Bourgeois: San Fernando, California

~Elder Reinhardt: Arcadia, California

~Elder Kidd: Los Angelos, California

~Sister Gilmer: Riverside, California.

We're an awesome team!

I would like to bear my testimony, that I know with out a shread of doubt that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the Earth today. That Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ in the grove of trees in New York. That he was called to be a Latter-Day Prophet to restore Christ's Church upon the Earth again and to translate The Book of Mormon. I know that The Book of Mormon is another Testiment of Jesus Christ. That the contents of the book are true, that he did come to the America's after he was crucified and taught and ministered unto the ancient americans.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is the living Prophet today, that he continues to lead, guide and council the saints to continue to come unto Christ and becoming a member of the church. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

I wish you all the best of luck in everything that you guys do, I will miss you and will think of you guys from time to time! Keep me and all the other missionaries in the world in your prayers.

With love,

Sis. McFarlane.