Whoa, week 3 in country

I am slowly getting the hang of the blog updates... kinda.  I hope to be able to get the letter before the pictures this go round.

Ah, dearly beloved :) we gather here today to read about this past week in Korea (me ramble for who knows how long!)

First, I LOVE YOU.

Second, when I call home..in 9 weeks :D eek!! Um, I only get to talk for 30-40 minutes...thats all the information I have about that, so lets keep that in mind and I will update you when I know more.

Third, Uh ..... This part of the email had to be deleted per Whit's request.  She let me know in a previous email that I cannot share her personal experiences thru the email but we are welcome to tell them to people personally.  I have left a little bit of the email attached just ..... they said yes! :) That makes me happy.

Forth, read the talk by Jeffery R Holland entitled Feed My Sheep. Rocked my world. Elder Holland is incredibly bold and I love it, I wish I could be like him! He said a few things in that talk that brought me a lot of comfort. I'm not suggesting ya'll to look at it, actually read it. Please. It will help you understand where I'm coming from. And it will spiritually uplift you. In the talk he talks about after Christ died and the apostles didn't know what to do, so they go fishing. Jesus appears unto them and elder holland kind of quotes what Jesus would have said. He said, "When I asked you to follow me, it was forever!...When I asked you to serve a mission, it was forever!"

Listen, I know I have said this to ya'll before, but I'm going to say this again. I'm in this forever. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the happiness it brings. I love the comfort it brings. I am half way around the world from all of you...through the power of God. God comforts me. Jesus Christ comforts me. And why do they comfort me? Because they want me to follow them forever. They want ME to find His sheep! I know I keep saying this too, and I'll keep saying it too, missionary work is hard. So HARD. There are days I just really can't see how I can do it another day, and through the grace and mercy of God, I am saved. He carries me just one more day. So! As a missionary, my challenge, or commitment if you will, is to let God carry you. DON'T GIVE UP ON THE HARD DAYS. If I can live half way around the world, and still feel God's love, you better believe you can feel his love and comfort where ever you are. Continue seeking Him.

Fifth, Read Alma 26. Along with Elder Hollands talk, this is the best way I could describe how I am feeling. Especially vs 22-37. The anti-nephi-lehites & lamanites are converted and bury their weapons of war. They would "suffer even unto death rather than commit sin" (24:19). Being in Korea I feel like vs. 12,16,22,27,36&37 explains & sums it all up. Here I go again: Missionary work is extremely difficult. Ever single time I'm on my knees pleading for help because I want to give up, or like vs. 27 says, "turn back", the Lord comforts me. He is telling me to be patient in my afflictions. Be patient in learning korean whitley. Be patient in suffering whitley. Be patient in missing loved ones whitley. Be patient when you can't understand anything going on around you because, "I will give unto you success" (vs.27). Blessed be the name of my God, forever! :)

Sixth, something I learned. Take note: Praying wont change the will of God. BUT RATHER changes the will of my heart.

Seventh, remember how I love you all so much?

Eighth, that's all.

Ninth, I don't think dear elders work here, so if you have tried to send me some..I haven't gotten any.

Tenth, sounds like a good number to end with.

Me & God love you! Stay strong and stay safe!

With all my love,

whitley jean xo

um an adventure....the other day i was on the subway and i was reading some korean notes or something i can't remember and this person stands in front of me, which is normal cause it's super crowded in there and this guy like bends over so i am looking at him instead of whatever i'm reading and it's his old korean guy. and i kind of smile cause he's a cute old man but i'm also startled and dont know what to say cause i don't know korean and he says are you american?! and i said yes! and he said are you christian?! and i smile all big and say yes! are you?! and he says here read this! and hands me this tiny bible book that has pictures and is all in korean and then i tried to offer him the book of mormon but he wouldn't take it. anyway that was cool and weird haha.

 I'm not sure what happened when I got this email but my emotions fell apart!  On Sunday nights I get a little crazy checking my email, I guess you could say I am a bit obsessed, when I see she emails I quickly email her back so I can chat with her for a minute. I don't think we exchanged more than two emails and I was crying like a little school girl - I MISS(ED) her SO much!!  I guess I just needed my sister, my friend on Sunday.  Whit is always full of information and full of inspiration - I am TRULY grateful she gets to teach us thru her experiences.  

  

Okay this is the coolest thing ever. The kings palace! Right in the middle of the city of Seoul. Also, it's HUGE!! I didn't even realize how big it was. We walked around for like 2 hours and it's the most open space I've seen since being here.

That statue is the guy who invented the korean alphabet. and behind it you can see the palace.

This is the biggest shrimp I've even seen/eaten in my life. Whoa. This week I also ate pig guts. It was interesting. Haha. For the most part I'm doing great with the food. It's not even a worry or concern for me. I've always been able to eat just about anything, so that's a huge blessing.

I love and miss you!

2nd Pday In Korea

 

Easter gift, Saying bye to Elder Layton/trying to be obedient/I'm going to miss him, Had to say goodbye to her again, my emotions got the best of me. I'm missing Eishelle! But I know that God needs us to be in different parts of the world.

 

  shopping, Ice cream cone! The police station.  These bananas were 5,000 won = $5.00 the fruit is kind of expensive here.

   

The desks where we do all the studying. The bathroom is kind of small. Um there isn't a shower curtain, we just stand on that plat form you see there and shower...everything gets wet pretty much. And there isn't a fan in the bathroom so it gets all steamy and hot ;)

Then the kitchen, behind that door is where our washer is. 

 

This is our bed room. The pad I sleep on is about 2 inches tick, which is pretty good compared to other people. Our living room....with our little table and the rack of where we hang our laundry.

Those shoes and bag I got for 10,000 won each. Which equals about $18.

That's all the pictures I have. We are going sight seeing today for pday so next week hopefully i'll have some cool pictures for you to see korea, like i see korea. Oh also there is a taco bell here! and pizza hut, mcdonalds, burger king. Oh dad and guess what else is here....outback steakhouse! Maybe I'll be eating that steak after all ;) there is a 7-11 on every corner, maybe I already told you that? When we went shopping last week there are name brands every where. and korea is all about fashion so they have their own brands. Koreans are very concerned about the way they look. anyway thats all.

I LOVE YOU ALL

xo

whit jean

OK, so I thought I was done with the blog and went to "preview" my work - and all the typing was deleted, the pictures are put of place, my funnies are gone... all of it ...  and I cannot figure out how to get the letter before the pictures so we are going to let the computer win this time and I will try better next time.  (I am a letter behind so hopefully that will get updated this week as well)  

FAMILY!

 Whoa.. so I've made it two whole weeks here. I still can't believe I'm here. I wrote sky and told him and every morning my alarm clock goes off at 630 and I think, is this real life? I still just can't wrap my head around it. I also told him I don't feel like I'm in Asia, but I don't feel like I'm home either. I don't know, it's hard to explain. Josh, maybe you can understand? And Brady, when you were in Brazil? I don't know how it's supposed to feel. I've never been a missionary and I've never been out of the country. All I know is, I'm not home. 

 A lot of people ask me if I've experienced culture shock. I don't know if I would call it that. I know that I stick out like a sore thumb because I am american, and I have huge eyes. But I think my biggest shock is ALL THE PEOPLE. I mean I was told there was a lot of people, but you can't just imagine it, you have to see it with your own eyes. And wow!! People are everywhere I can hardly believe it myself. 

 I'm not having a hard time with the food or anything like that. Members in the ward are the SWEETEST people ever. Even though I can't understand them, I know they love me, because I am a missionary. I've eaten a lot of weird food. but i dont think i have ate dog yet. i had seaweed soup! mom you would have hated it. Haha. you know when we float the river up in island park and you fall off your tube and drown for a second? and the taste of seaweed gets in your nose? imagine that but warm water..and it's not in your nose it's in your mouth! Haha it was good, i actually loved it.

 As I was sitting in sacrament meeting yesterday, not knowing what the speaker was saying, I looked up the word CONVERSION in the bible...second to las paragraph it says, "complete conversion comes after many trials and much testing." Look up Luke 22:23. Then it says "to labor for the conversion of one's self and others is a noble task. Look up D&C 18:15&16. I'm a missionary. This is what I do...eat, drink, sleep, pray, and walk the gospel. I love this gospel. I love my heavenly father. I love my savior who sacrificed and suffered for me, that he could be my ultimate comforter. I've had to seek him a lot as a missionary, and I believe this is training me to do this my whole life. I'm grateful for the opportunity, even though it hurts like crazy at times.

I wish I had more time.

Korean's are kind. Some are rude, but you find those people every where you go. Some are funny, some are not...haha. Oh this week as we were jundoing (proselyte) we saw a man who just felt like taking off his shirt and....it was gross. I turned away as soon as I saw that, I'm not sure if he was going to take off anything else, and I didn't want to see. A grown man picked his nose in front of me, that was sicky. Ummm yeah that's about it. Haha, hope this cheers you up!

I love you all so much, continue praying.

Love,

Whitley Jean

Alive Week 12

Well, I'm at it again... and either I don't know how to count or she is saying she is heading in to week 12. I am going to hope I didn't count right on the last blog - if so that might have been the fastest week of this whole mission! - and I am TOTALLY ok with that!!!  :)   **disclaimer to readers**  the exclamation marks and caps are for real - I get excited easy and I'm full of warm fuzzies when I talk about our family.  The :) is kind of an LOL, kind of a smile to myself, etc. but I know some people like to see those used sparingly so I have adopted the :) to mean the same thing.

Anyway - Whit's new P-day is Monday which is our Sunday night so when I got her email I was able to go back and forth with her for just a minute - LOVED it!  I think this mission has helped me learn how much the small things matter.  I'd like to think I am a very positive person and I feel like I can look for a bright side in all challenges - for this mission I am grateful to be reminded of the small things.  I have to tell ya - when I talk about my sister (or other family members) people are amazed at how close we are and how well we get along.  I can tell you it hasn't always been like this but I know with each challenge we have faced as a family it has made our bond that much stronger.  My parents and siblings are some of my best friends and I can almost promise you they would say the same thing.  I TRULY believe that as a family we are all getting thru this mission because of each other.  We are not only encouraging Whit but we are encouraging each other.  For those of you who are reading this that will be sending a sibling out on a mission - I won't lie, it's not the easiest thing to stay positive about but I can promise you, if you support one another it will make things SO much easier.
Below is Whitley's email:

So I'm in Korea! Whoa. I don't know if I'll ever get over this culture shock. I can't believe I am actually here. And holy cow, THERE ARE PEOPLE EVERY WHERE!!! I've wrote down a few things I wanted to mention to you. Not that they are important cause they're not, but here they are. Um well lets start with the air plane....longest flight of my life. Literally. I didn't sleep the night we left so I had been awake since Sunday morning we left the MTC at 3 blah blah blah and then we were in san fran and I called :) and I tried real hard not to cry. There were a lot of mixed emotions as you could imagine. But the most important thing is that I made it here, and all of you just said the right things to me and encouraged me and let me know that I could do this and I was going to be okay. Thank you for your love and support. You don't understand how much ya'll save me. So we arrived in Korea, oh and I probably slept a few hours (maybe 4) on the plane. We meet missionaries and the President and his wife. Mom, he should have sent you an email and a picture of us. I'm sure I looked dashing. Traveling and being awake that long and then taking a photo should be against the law. But my mission pres and his wife wanted all the parents to know that all of us missionaries were okay. 

On our way back to his house we took the Subway. Okay the subways here are insane!!! Whoa. Huge pat on the back to whoever invented the travel plans through Seoul. They are amazing. Also, remember how I don't really like big cities? Yeah, I still don't. Anyway the AP's made us jundo, which means proselyte and that was rough because I don't speak Korean. I can't even pretend. I have found myself pondering a lot this week and I'm always wondering, "why did the Heavenly Father send me here?" I can't communicate with anyone unless it's in english. Oh also, a lot of people know english. They learn it in school so you'd think I could get by but no one really wants to talk. Shocking huh? Anyway, we make it to presidents house and it was all I could do to keep my eyes open. They were blood shot red and I literally felt like I was losing my mind. I was so tired. Oh and on the way there I seen a Baskin Robins! There are so many american things here it's nuts. All the stories I heard about Korea was so false.

K moving on the next day was a bunch of training and then I met my companion. Her name is sister Lee. She's from Korea and she attends byu hawaii, so she knows a little bit of english. Well a lot of english. She thinks she's bad at it but we communicate just fine. She is my life saver. Literally. I couldn't do anything without her. She knows her way around and she is so good with people. Later that night after we went to our sook-so (house) we prepared for a lesson, and I had to teach english. The house we went to was crazy big. Well it was an apartment and it was a really nice one that had a camera to see who you were to let you in and the tv on the wall was taller than I was. Anyway it was awesome and that lady was very kind. So that was what my first few hours/days were like here.

There is so much I could tell all of you, I don't even know what else to say. Where do I even start. All I can say is thank you. Thank you for loving me. I love you. At my mission conference this weekend I fell flat on my back on some ice! HAHA that was awful, and funny, and it really hurt. I didn't check for a bruise. It would cover my entire left butt cheek. There is a ZILLION 7-11s here. You know the store 7-11? Yeah, there is one every where you look, it's insane. Seoul is insane. It's so full of people. There is this place I love it's called Paris Baguette. I love it because they play COUNTRY music :) :) oh man I was in heaven when I heard Wanted by Hunter Hayes. I also heard some tswift, and call me maybe! haha oh and A Team, I love that song. Braid, you know what song that is. So I decided whenever I'm feeling like I need some home I'll go there :)

The sidewalks here are covered..with everything. It's nuts. They sell produce, blankets, clothes, all kinds of food actually, fish. Fish! Real live fish. Stinky stinky. Cars are parked on the sidewalk and motorcycles drive on the sidewalk. It's crazy.

Anyway, I've been adjusting...as much as I can. I'm really trying to love it here. I miss all of you!

Love you forever,

Whitley Jean

God is real, and his power is undeniable. I love you!!

She's made it to Korea

 Boy oh boy has it been an eventful few weeks!  This blog update will include a lot of information!

I am going to start with week 9... and I am pretty sure we are headed in to week 11.   Great news right?  One more week and we have made it .25 way thru a year which is passed our half way mark!!  (I think I am trying to convince myself this is going by super fast but its not working for me... how about you?)

Hi again, I hope all of you enjoyed those pictures. Don't we all just look dashing??

I feel like I just may be losing my mind. I thought I had a list of all these things I wanted/needed to write home about anddd...I have absolutely no idea where it is. And I can't really remember anything. My days are so long and crammed full of just information. So I can't recall everything that I would like to. But I'll give it a try.

-My Branch President, President Shin, is a very successful business man and he is writing an article in the Korean Liahona which will be published for March 2013, and he is submitting a photo with it...guess who is in that photo? That's right, this girl. I thought that was just about the coolest thing I've ever been published in. We took a lot of pictures different days, so who even knows if I'll be looking my best, but I don't mind.

-Um if any of you were confused about my letter last week, sorry. When I said I saw Elder Cook, I meant the apostle. Not just some random young man elder, Quintin L. Cook. He said hi and I felt very important, even though he had no idea who I was.

-One of my Elders went home this week. If you look back at the pictures I sent this week he is the one pointing to Korea when we are standing in front of the map. Elder Smurthwaite had a few health problems that started here at the MTC, I'm unaware of what they are. Actually doctors are unaware of what they are. They thought he had mono, but turns out the tests came back negative. So with our departure approaching, they started caring about his situation and tried to find a solution for him. Doctors here at the MTC are....not top notch. Elder Smurthwaite didn't feel cared for and all they did was give him a bottle of gaterade and told him to go home and sleep. Listen, the boy can hardly walk, he has no energy, and you think a bottle of Gatorade is going to fix it? Okay, that's just my two cents. I just didn't like how they handled the situation. Also, my district is like family so you mess with them it's game over for me. ANYWAY. Poor E. Smurthwaite had to go home. He told us on Saturday right before lunch. He came into the class room and you could tell he had been crying. After he told us the news I believe it was Elder Fund who suggested that we have a prayer together as a district. We all kneel and pray and I felt a small prompting to say it, but I ignored it because I felt like Elder Fund should say it. Elder Fund was Elder Smurthwaites companion. But in my district there is our Zone Leader, Elder Leavitt. So E. Levaitt told Fund to say the prayer, or call on someone where it was his idea. I feel the prompting again to volunteer to say the prayer. But I ignored it again, because 1- I didn't feel like it was my place and 2- I didn't even know what I would say. Then Fund says okay Elder Leavitt, you say the prayer. Then Elder Leavitt shakes his head slowly and says, "No. I feel like Sister Hunsaker needs to say it."  I already had my arms folded and head bowed when he said this, so I look up and just nod in agreement. I started the prayer, and I was at a loss for words. Silence filled the room as I gathered my thoughts and let the spirit guide the prayer. Tears dropped from my eyes as I spoke. I can't recall everything I said, but I feel like Elder Smurthwaite needed to hear something that I said in that prayer. After the prayer almost everyone, if not everyone was crying. We sang, God Be With You til We Meet Again. That made everyone cry. It was hard seeing him go. It touched me a lot because I thought of the song, I Would Die for That (Zo, you know that song by Kellie Coffee) and I realized that Elder Smurthwaite would die for the opportunity to serve the people of Korea, but God had other plans for him. I guess what I'm trying to say it that I am more grateful for the opportunity I have to be here and be part of this great work. Also, the spirit works in amazing ways, and no one should avoid a prompting. I'm grateful for Elder Leavitt who followed the spirit and called on me to say the prayer, because I didn't have enough guts to to it. People are placed in our lives for a reason. Cherish those around you.

-I have Korean roommates. Sister Ko and Sister Gu. They are just about the cutest Koreans you ever did see. TRC on saturday was amazing. I think Saturday was the first day that I really was excited to go to Korea and teach the people, even though my Korean is poor.

Well that's about all I can say, my time is up.

I love you all so much,

Whitley Jean

Oh ps, I get my travel plans this Thursday (Valentines Day, what a gift huh?) and so I'll send you the details of what I can next Tuesday. I'm pretty sure my departure date is 02/25/13 but I'll know for sure then! Oh also mom I love the scarf you sent me with the coat. I do wear it, just not in the pics sorry.

Well....  if this letter home didn't bring a tear to your eye I don't know what will.  As I was reading thru the letter again it truly made me think of the song Whit referenced (if you look it up you might be a crying ball of mess - just thought I'd warn you) and it seriously made me think of how this Elder must have felt.  If you have been raised in a home with active members of the church you know that most parents, if not all parents, encourage their young men/women to go on a mission at one point or another in their life.  I would assume this particular Elder put a lot of thought and prayer into going on his mission and then to find out just before he was supposed to leave that he can't go anymore.  I think we can all relate to this Elder to some degree, some more than others, but can you imagine???  I am so grateful for Whit and her desire to serve a mission, I honestly don't know that I'd have the guts to do it.  I am so grateful for the lessons she continually teaches all of us thru her letters and her example.  I'm grateful for her strength and her faith in our Father in Heaven which she exercises daily.

Below are the pictures from week 9.

the chalk board is a bunch of Korean, 

just one of the activities we do. Basically
just make sentences and then respond.

 Elder Roberson is riding on Elder Leavitt's back.

Elder Leavitt and Elder Fund are sitting with
 the Korean Flag behind them

And the other picture is what Elder Peck did. He explains how to be Sassy! If you can zoom in and read it all, you should. It's funny. Or maybe it's not funny and I just think it's funny because I'm a missionary and little things humor me.

First one is Elder Layton!!!!
 He finally came!!
I think my heart literally
skipped a beat when he was
 walking towards me. I can't begin to tell you
 how happy I am now that I have a
 friend here at the mtc.
I usually see him once a day, and usually
 only in the cafeteria. But it is
 SO GOOD to see him. It made
me think of all the good times we had in Rexburg.

Then the one with the map in the back. The elder pointing at korea went home this week :( it was sad. I'll explain more in my big email.

Then the picture of me in the polka dots with my friend Sister Maddee McKay. He and I were assigned to visit teach each other when we lived in Rexburg. We became pretty good friends. And she is going to New York Mandarin speaking! We are on the exact schedule and her classroom is just across the hall from me. I love being able to see her all the time. It brought me the same sort of joy with Elder Layton when I seen her. I love being able to see my friends here.

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I am going to do this blurb a little different - we are going to start with pictures because 1- they are always fun to look at   2- that is how Whit sent them this go round and  3- if I post the letter first you'll have to go back and reread it once you look at the pictures so I am going to simplify all of our lives.  :)  

 

So these are some valentines that I got! One from e.fund, one from bro.tanner, umm the travel plans came on vday (tell you details later today after I get back from the temple) and zo sent cinnamon rolls! mmm they were yummy, as you can see I'm stuffing my face :)

 

 

Me and the best friend, looking good on valentines day! ;) I seriously adore sister taylor. Um that one cupcake is from e.anderson, him and I are pretty good friends. He has a girl waiting for him back home and we always talk about our lovers. anyway an exgirlfriend of his sent him some cupcakes from cocoa bean so he shared the love. Then all of my district on vday. Elder peck is cupid :) and I FINALLY GOT MOMS PACKAGE! Pardon the ill look on my face. It was a long day. Oh also, on valentines day I did my hair and was feeling pretty great cause ya'll know how much I LOVE valentines day, and then by the end of the day, Korean got the best of me and I had to pull my hair up. I feel like putting my hair on top of my head is a huge stress relief. Haha, isn't that weird? So I'm ALWAYS pullin that hair up.

Haha oh so presidents day was yesterday and we all showed our love for our presidents by wearing red, white, and blue! 'Merica, 'Merica, 'Merica :D

These pics are from Lucy's (sister taylors) camera. Um the one with all of us in red was for the 49ers. I don't really like the 49ers but Luc asked me to wear red, so I'm sportin the red out of love for her. Um then it's us again on valentines day. Oh and then us at the gym! Well after the gym. So after service yesterday (monday) we went "shopping". I say "shopping" because it wasn't really shopping. We went diving in the free boxes all over our building and I found these HUGE shirts. They don't want us to wear just leggings so we had these long shirts to cover our butts. To say the least is was awesome. And everyone loved it. Also, I'm desperate for entertainment, and I hate it. Haha everything is funny, even if it isn't funny. So just laugh. Then us again wearing our country's colors!!
I love you all and I'll email you soooon!

    Hi :)

First thing first, have you listened to my tape yet, or what? My heart is slowly breaking because you haven't listened to it yet.

Okay so this past week was the best, ever I think. Valentines day is THE BEST. You all know how much I love it. And February is just a great month for birthdays/love! Bj I hope you had a happy birthday! And me and eishelle's bdays are coming up quick too! Okay so lets cut to the chase and talk about FLIGHT PLANS!!!!!!!!!!!

February 25: My flight leaves SLC @ 5:52am

Arrive in San Francisco: 8:00am (7:00am utah time)

Then I have a 4 hour lay over (which is when I'll be calling!! :):):):)!!! I can't wait to talk to all of you)

Flight boards in San Fran: noon (11am utah time)

Arrive in Seoul: FEBRUARY 26- 4:15pm (feb 26 12:15 utah time)

Korea is 16 hours ahead of utah time

Flight time (in air) is approx 14hrs 23 mins

Travel time approx 23hrs

So I'll prob sleep on the way there, if my nerves will allow :)

Sixteen missionaries will be traveling with me the entire way from ut to seoul

then 8 missionaries meet up with us in CA to go to seoul and then they will go to the Daejeon Mission just below Seoul.

********I don't want to call too early so I'll probably call you around 9 or 10 (utah time) which would be 8 or 9 san fran time.

I honestly have no idea when I'll be calling though. So maybe just block out those 4 hrs from 8-12? I dunno.

I bought two calling cards just in case cause I didn't know if dad would be home or if any body else would be with mom? Idk.

So each call takes off 130mins automatically. Each card is 500mins. I feel like I have planned for enough to talk to all of you.

Um the dear elders you send me will be shredded if you send them after I leave.

So if you don't write me a dear elder by this friday the 22nd, just don't send it.

I think dear elder works in Korea? I don't really know. I heard it costs. Ya'll have to look into that one.

BRADY and MARK, thank you for my valentines! I forgot to take a picture cause I got them on the 13th! I'm sorry. But you two are always on time making me feel loved. Thank you for making me your valentine! I love you both so much!!!

Okay so there is this talk by Bruce C. Hafen called The Atonement: All for All please look it up and read it. I just want to share a quote with ya'll that I LOVED. Well there are a few. And ya'll know how much I love quotes! Anyway he said, "So if you have problems in your life, don't assume there is something wrong with you. Struggling with those problems is at the very core of life's purpose. As we draw closer to God, He will show us our weaknesses and through them make us wiser, stronger. If you're seeing more of your weaknesses, that just might mean you're moving nearer to God, not farther away."

After I read this I just realized how much we are supposed to struggle in this life. It isn't supposed to be easy, if it were easy we wouldn't seek God's help.

Another quote, "This earth is not our home. We are away at school, trying to master the lessons of the great plan of happiness so we can return home and know what it means to be there."

KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THERE! Again, in this life, we are meant to struggle. We have to, so we know we deserved our spot in heaven <3

So, I love you all so much!

TALK TO YOU SOON :)

Um do me a favor and dear elder me NO LATER THAN FRIDAY if you want me to call you and what time so I can figure it all out.

Thank you for supporting me on this journey. I know the Lord has blessed all of us for our efforts in this.

As far as being ready to leave...the natural man inside of me is scared to death, but my spirit is ready.

I trust in our Father in Heaven, and I know he is carrying me.

Love,

whitley jean

MY BEST FRIEND COMES TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!! AH :):):):):):) I am so excited to see Eishelle! Every time I think about it, I cry. God is good. He is so good! K love you, bye!

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So Whit emailed all that information on the 19th and Eishelle went into the MTC the 20th.  We love Eishelle & Danielle Whitney like they are our sisters and there are three other Whitney kids that we to come be a part of our family in addition to the parents!  If you know our family you know that we are very accepting, loving, and welcoming - we welcome people into our family with open arms.  So with that being said I should preface these next pictures by saying my mom got to pick Eishelle from the airport when she flew in on Tuesday and was able to take her to the MTC Wednesday.   

...... AND ......

 

So this girl knew EXACTLY what she was doing when she signed up to be a HOST at the MTC!!!  I am SO glad my mom got to see Whit.  I cannot imagine the worry that goes thru a mothers mind each time a letter comes.  I KNOW with ALL my heart that BOTH Whit & Mom needed to see each other before she left for Korea.  That didn't necessarily calm my mom's worries about Korea but she was able to see that Whit was TRULY happy and ENJOYING her mission.  I'm pretty sure if either of them had seen each other last month Whit would be hiding in the car willingly or mom would have heaved her into the car and hid her as they drove away.  hahahah!!!  It just warmed my heart to see the two of them huge and cry together - once again very much so needed.

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Whit called on the 26th from California before she get on her last plane to Korea.  It was GREAT to talk to her.  She had to laugh and make a comment about me being 30 this year and before I knew it 40 would be here - she has a hard time believing she is 23 right now so I let her know in 10 years she would be older than I was right now.  :)  It was so nice to laugh and talk with her.  When I asked if she was nervous she said "not really but yeah kinda" so of course I want to know if it is a "go to the bathroom" nervous or a butterflies nervous.  We laughed again and she told me it was a butterflies nervous but she doesn't want to think about it cause then the "bathroom" nervous will come.  (yes I just said that and yes this is going to be published)  My mom got the following email and picture from the Seoul Korea Mission.

Hello! congratulations, your sons and daughters have safely arrived in the beautiful land of Korea. They spent their evening contacting on the subway home and finished it with a meal at President and Sister Christensen's house. 

P.S.  Whit wanted me to thank everyone who wished her a Happy Birthday.  I received the letter in the middle of our move so I am not sure how the wishes were sent or who all sent them (I only remember a few names) so a BIG THANK YOU from Whit!  She loves and appreciates all the support, letters, prayers, etc that are sent her way every day.

 Week 8 !!!

Have we really only made it thru week 8 and on to week 9?  Does anyone else feel like we should be on week 38 and on to week 39 or is it just me?  If you break it down in days it seems like it has been much longer than 8 weeks - 56 is a much bigger number than 8.  :)    

You know when you have a funny/embarrassing/"I gotta tell someone" moment and want to share it with someone so you can both get a kick out of your news?  Whit was my go to for that and guess who no longer has a cellular device... yep you guessed it - HER! Whit! My only sister! My parents youngest daughter! My brothers little sister!  W - H - I - T - L - E - Y!!  I say this because last weeks letter was a little rough to read for some of us...  no one ever wants to hear that their loved one is struggling.  You feel even more helpless when you cant pick up the phone to call or get in your car and drive over to offer comforting words.  My mom called last week crying - she just wanted to call Whitely and let her know she is proud of her and try to comfort her, listen to vent her struggles and to remind her how much she is loved and supported.  I agreed with every emotion my mom was going thru and has went thru several time a day I'm sure.  I let my mom know I knew how she was feeling and what I had to do from time to time when I had those moments.  EX:  Remember the picture of Whitley with the fireball in her mouth from a post or 2 ago?  I have been wanting a fireball ever since I saw that dang picture but those are not something I remember to put on my grocery list. I sent the following email to Whit while having one of my cravings that could not be satisfied:  
Whit - I am at work and don't have a lot of time but I wanted to call you on the phone (or text you) to let you know I am CRAVING ME SOME FIREBALLS!!!!  Ever since I saw the picture with you eating a fireball I have been craving some and I forget all about that craving when I am at the store! UGH!!!  

OK - now I gotta get back to work - I often times have random thoughts I want to share with you so this time I did.  :)  

Love you sister!  

Please don't get me wrong - our family supports Whitley (and each other) 110% regardless of what is going on, I just don't think any of us were prepared for this emotion roller coaster.  When Brady left on his mission there were a lot of tear shed but I don't remember any of us being this emotional.  (sorry Braid's - I just don't remember)  Throughout our lives do we subconsciously prepare ourselves for our brother(s)/son(s) to leave for 2 years if that is the what they decide to do?  From my observation it seems as though the parents of young men serving missions hold it together much better than we have?  Do they mask it better?  Is it harder cause she's our sister/daughter and we didn't prepare ourselves for her to serve a mission?  Are we greedy and selfish?  We are VERY grateful for the emails and letters we get from her.  We can all see the change her mission has had on her and it is wonderful to see her growing.  All we can do it take it a day at a time and grow with her.  She has had to lean on our Heavenly Father several times to get her through this and she encourages all of us to do the same.  I am one that tries to look for a bright side in all our challenges - I am truly grateful for Whitley's letters.  She is teaching me new ways to study the scriptures (I've never been good at - or a fan of reading the scriptures, I won't lie) and I swear each scripture I have looked up as of late has had to do with Faith - obviously these are scriptures I have needed to read and something I need to be stronger in or reminded of.  Thank you Whit for teaching us something new each time you write!  We will all continue to be strong and support Whit 110% - I guess we just weren't prepared... 

Below is Whitley's letter from Tuesday along with her pictures.

Family,

So I'm approaching the end of week 8. Holy moly. Is this real life? I mean I feel like I've been here FOREVER, and the same time it feels like yesterday. Know what I mean? Course I'm missing all of you like crazy. But the Lord is sooo good to me. I couldn't do this without him. This week I have been constantly reminded of how much I need him. How real he is. How amazing this work is. How blessed I am to have all that I do. I feel like I have been slightly self centered and I haven't thought about how all of you feel. All of us are in each others lives for a reason. God knew I would serve a mission, and he knew I would need an amazing family and friends to support me. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO AMAZING. I know that I can lean on you and turn to all of you for anything. But you need to know that I am leaning on the Lord to help me get to Korea. Yes, I am a baby bit scared to go, but I am very confident that the Lord will hold my hand every step of the way. I hope all of you are aware that he is taking care of me and watching over me, so don't worry (if that's possible).

--- Highlight of my week- Uh I saw Elder Cook, walked right past me, looked me in the eye and said, "Hello (with a HUGE smile on his face!)" and I smiled and said, "Hi!" So nbd. But kind of. Haha no for real though it was cool, and really neat to see him. He looks exactly like the pictures we see of him. Exactly how you would imagine him.

 ---Yesterday in class I felt the spirit overcome me. I share this with you because in my morning prayers I asked to feel the spirit, (cause I was on a spiritual high from fast sunday, which was amazing) and I know that if you pray for the spirit to be with you, to comfort you or prompt you, the Lord will grant it unto you, as long as you are worthy to have the spirit (obviously).

 ---On sunday I bore my testimony, and a few people thanked me afterwards which was kind of them. I was the first one to bear my testimony, its been a long time that i felt the spirit that strong. But guys, it was AMAZING. Bearing testimony is so powerful. Fast and Testimony meetings are my fav. for sure.

 ---The gospel is everything. It's not what you do, it's who you are.

 ---God has a plan for everyone. A specific plan. Just for you.

 ---I will keep in my heart His son's name, forever.

 

Okay so 8 weeks in and this is what I've realized about Whitley Jean:

 

I'm realizing how much I....love:

Fire balls

ironing

raw spinach

yellow peppers

temple attendance

the gym

being a woman

 

I'm realizing how much I....hate:

Cooked spinach

Hair balls (like literally a ball of hair. i GAG. it is the grossest thing in the ENTIRE WORLD.)

For service this week we cleaned showers and can I just tell you how sick that was? And how grateful I am for you know, cleanliness. Oober goober gross.

 

Okay my 30 minutes is up. Thank you for writing me letters like I am still Whitley Jean.

I'll send pictures around 6pm tonight.

 

Dad, Mom, Zo, Bj, Braid, Mark, Sky, Josh, Tam, and Eishelle I LOVE YOU!

Thank you for being part of my life.

Xo

Whit

Whit just loves this girl...  I guess she has
sent letters to my mom along with Whit's
letters.  I'm glad to see that she has found
some friends she can relate to.

This is Whit's desk.  We have done whatever we could to help make her feel at home while she is away on her mission and from the looks of this desk I'm going to say we have don't a pretty good job!  :)  I love to see all of her pictures on her wall, the pens & paper sent, the manicure set, etc.  This puts a big smile on my face.

She ABSOLUTELY LOVES temple day!