Elder Matthew Whittle--December 23, 2012

Elder Matthew Whittle-- December 17, 2012

  

Boo ya!

Man I think I would maybe be ok with visiting my mission in November;) haha That doesn't sound to awful to me;) That'll be so great to have Grandma there with us. We should have her there the whole time! I love being able to see her at the temple. She's amazing! I always feel the spirit when I'm around her.

I hope Josh can get out there! That will be awesome! I'll keep praying for him. Tell him I love him and miss him, and that he's best be ready to go to UVU in a year. What's the Choster going to do for Christmas?? How's mama Cho doin?

We will be able to skype again this Christmas so that'll be great! It might be pretty early in the morning that we do it. We'll let you know once we figure out when.

So last week it was awesome. We had a super cool Christmas Party for the ward. There were about 20 non-members that showed up so Elder G. and I were going around like crazy trying to talk to everyone haha, and then we got up on stage with the guitars and with a phillapino guy that's in our ward named Ray and we played and sang Feliz Navidad for everyone. It was so much fun haha. The two little kids of one of our investigators got up on stage with us and were dancing around in front of the whole audience. I'll have to send you the video. It was pretty funny. The crazy thing was that we didn't really even practice. We practiced it once and Rays house for like 15 minutes, and then ran through it once together before the performance, but it turned out great haha.

That would be cool to get some testimonies to put into the Books of Mormon. I think that would be a great Idea. You can just send me the testimonies and I'll put them in the copies and get them out to people.

Well I hope you all have a great week! Keep looking for ways to spread the gospel. We're going to go caroling to non-members homes starting wednesday. Love you all! Hablamos pronto!

Con Amor,

Elder Witle

P.S. I think my ward mission leader sent dad something for his back on email.

P.S.S. I had dinner sunday night with Brother Empey's brother haha. Small world right. They're down in st. george now right??

Elder Matthew Whittle--November 28, 2012

Hahaha Boo Ya!

I'm glad Josh caught that:) haha It's possible that I could extend. The thing is with all these new missionaries coming in it might throw some stuff off, but if I do extend it will only be a couple of weeks. I hope I can! That would be awesome!

So for thanksgiving we ate some super narsty stuff. We ate a Phillapino delacacy called Balut. It's a half-incubated duck egg. It was pretty disgusting. We filmed ourselves eating it and we felt like throwing up a couple of times, but we ate the whole thing. So the egg is warm, and you crack it open and some juice starts to come out so you suck the juice out. (That made me wanna barf haha.) The juice was like brown and didn't smell the greatest haha. Then you break away the rest of the egg shell. Well to my luck the first thing that I saw when I opened the egg was the long neck and the head all squished into the body. So I uncovered it more and asked sister W. what I do next. She said just bite into it all. So we just started eating it all like a boiled egg. There were a couple of times I felt a little bit of a crunch. (probably like the beak or something haha.) The egg white was pretty gross too. It was all down at the bottom and it was really hard, and tasted like we were eating crumpled up rubber. So ya it was a fun experience. Sister W. was just laughing the whole time, and then said well now you don't have to eat anymore all day. You just ate an entire duck haha. She's so awesome!

I've been just teaching in english, but still get to talk to people on the street in Spanish a lot. It's fun. I just got to go on exchanges with Elder Simmons in spanishland here in Vista. We saw so many miracles together. He's the District Leader now in the Vista Spanish District so I get to see him quite a bit. There was a hispanic lady that we talked to and we asked her if we could come by and teach her and her family about Jesus Christ. She said no, la verdad es que somos catolicos. (The truth is that were Catholics.) So we asked her, well have you ever wondered why there are so many religions and different beliefs. She said ya know I have. I've wondered that same thing. So then we told her well the original church that Christ established was lost once the apostle's were killed and everyone just began to do their own thing, but we know that the Church of Jesus Christ has been brought back and that God has called a prophet and twelve apostle's to guide his church. Then we asked what would it mean to you if you could know that Christ's church was restored? She told us it would mean everything to her. Then we said what if we were to tell you that we had evidence of that, would you be interested in seeing that evidence. She said yes I would. So we explained to her what the book of mormon was and about Joseph Smith. She then said that we could come by this weekend and share it with her family. It was a really neat experience. People don't understand what we really have, but the more they begin to understand it, the more they want it in their lives.

I hope that Josh is doing better. I keep praying for him as well. Tell him I will write him soon, as well as the Choster. I'm glad that he'll be closer now. I miss that guy. I think about him a lot, and pray for him. How's Justin Christensen and Caleb Weeks doing? They're home now right?? That's so weird. I can't believe it's already almost December. Tell them all Hola por mi:)

 

Things have been going really well. Super busy, but good! It was really neat to have Elder Schwitzer here with us. Hope everything is going well for all of you. Love you all. Keep looking for missionary opportunities:)

Con amor,

Elder Witle!

Elder Matthew Whittle-- November 20, 2012

Hola!

Man I'm so jealous that Jaden is going to Peru! That's so awesome. Peruvians are the best. I've taught a couple of them on my mission. They're such great people. She should try and learn quechwa (spelling?) while she's down there. That's awesome about Brad as well. Tell him congrats. He's going to love Chile. We have people in our ward who are from Chile and they're super nice. They always ask if we are hungry or thirsty and want to feed us haha. Brad's going to get fat:)

Elder Goble is from American Fork. He's such a funny guy. We've been having a blast. He has one eye and the other one is fake so he always opens and closes his pens with his eye and it freaks everybody out.

It was so great to see Grandma in the Temple. She has such a good spirit about her. I feel like she's the one with the shining light. It was fun to talk to her there while she introduced me to everyone. She needs to come up to Utah when I get back and live with us!

Gertrude is doing great! He wrote me a big long letter talking about how KT Mafia is going to be restarted once we all get back, and told me a lot about how his mission is going. He seems to be growing a lot and seems to be doing a great job with the language. I'm excited to talk to him one day in Spanish. It will be fun. Tell Josh he needs to start learning! He's got a year still ;) (extension! Boo ya!)

The conference with Elder Schwitzer was so great. Kind of stressful getting everything set up and giving trainings, but it was great! The spirit was really strong. It's always neet when a General Authority visits the mission. President Cook came out to a couple lessons with us when Elder Schwitzer was here, and Elder Schwitzer went out with the assistants to a lesson. It was a neat experience. Elder Schwitzer's car battery died just as we were leaving with President Cook, so Elder Goble and I turned around and went and gave Elder Schwitzer a jump.

Things have been going well. I can't believe that we are already half-way through the transfer. We've been so busy that this transfer has just flown by. Elder Goble and I are getting ready to sing and play guitar together at the Christmas talent show. It's going to be fun. We're going to sing Nearer my God to thee. We'll try and record it.

Wellp not a lot of new stuff to tell ya. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Love you all. I like the Carne asada idea. You should make Molet! I love that stuff! Don't forget the Chapulines!

Con amor,

Elder Witle!

P.S. Tell Kaleigh congrajulations for me!

 

Elder Matthew Whittle-- November 14, 2012

Note: Matthew was able to see his Grandma Whittle at the San Diego again! Yeah! Congrats Brynn, Jaden, Marissa and Brad on your mission calls! We are so excited for you!

It was SO wonderful for me to see Matthew (Elder Whittle) yesterday at the temple. He looks GREAT and has that missionary shine and great spirit ! He looks healthy and seemed to me to be more mature and like a more well seasoned Elder than he did a year ago. I got to meet his companion, both fine looking young men, and when I asked if they got along well together, they looked at each other and smiled and Elder Goble immediately said, " I LOVE Elder Whittle !" I was so pleased that I got to visit with him for a little while. I met them at the top of the main staircase going up to the dressing and endowment rooms where I had been watching for him and hoping I hadn't missed him. It was funny because several people who work on my shift were just arriving so it was kind of like a reception line when I got to introduce him to some of my co-workers. Throughout the day people kept saying how nice it was to meet him. I guess I was really showing him off. As they were leaving going quickly down the staircase with their shoulders squared and a purposeful stride I had a lump in my throat and I thought, "There go some very fine 'Elders of Israel' who are more than eager to save souls for Christ and serve in a righteous way." He seemed to me to be a true shining bright light and you can surely be pleased with him and the work he is doing.

LOVE all of you. Mom/Grandma

Elder Matthew Whittle- November 12, 2012

was funny.

Things have been super crazy the past week, but really good. We've been having a lot of cool little miracles. We gave that big training to the Zone and everything turned out great. We had members come to it, and role play investigators. It felt like a mini mtc almost. It's been pretty cold here lately. Last night we were out and it was 49 degrees. I was freezing to death. I think the California weather has made me into a wuss now haha.

So we had a really cool miracle last night. We were at the gas station and after we filled up and put air in the tires. There were two kids that went walking up to the gas station. Well one of them stayed outside and he was wearing this crazy spiderman cosutme. So I went up and started talking to him while elder goble filled the tire up with air. I asked him where he got that crazy sweater and we started talking. His brother soon came out and they told us about how they had grown up in the Jehova's Witness faith, but how they didn't like it because they felt like they were being shunned for not keeping all the commandments. We started talking and they began to ask us questions about the Book of Mormon, and what the difference was between us and Jehova's Witness. We told them that we have continued revelation today, and a prophet and 12 apostle's. We then explained the apostasy and the Joseph Smith story. They asked us if they could get a book of mormon. We opened the trunk and gave them each one. Then they asked us about church. We told them where it was and invited them. They said they wanted to come this weekend. It was so awesome! "open your mouth and it will be filled." We had like a 30 minute conversation just there in front of a gas station. It was funny because they said that Mormon's are so much better at casually sharing the gospel. He said if a Jehova's witness doesn't have a suit on then they wont share the gospel, but then he said that he runs into mormons all the time who are sharing the gospel even if they're not missionaries. That made me so happy to hear that. That's how it should be. Have you guys been able to share the gospel with anyone recently? I love hearing stories about sharing the gospel.

Elder Schweitzer is coming to our mission this thursday and friday. He's going to be at our Zone Leader Council so that will be really neat. We have to set up 400 chairs on thursday for the mission wide conference on friday. It should be fun haha. It's good to be busy.

Well things are going well. Hope you all get over your sicknesses. Those are no fun. Everyone has been getting sick down here in California as well. Tell Cho, and Josh hi for me and that I miss them. Do either of them know how I can get ahold of Alex Tamayo. I've been thinking of him. I miss that guy. Tell them all that I love them and miss them. Keep praying for missionary opportunities.

Love you.

Adios!

Con amor,

Elder Witle!

Elder Matthew Whittle-- November 8, 2012

Como Estan?

Man it was a pretty crazy transfer. President Cook made two more zebra companionships. That's when he puts a Spanish Elder with and English one. He's been doing that with the Zone Leader companionships because we can get referrals for the Spanish elders while we're out proseliting. I stayed here in Vista and now have my new companion. His name is Elder Goble. He's great! He's from American Fork. He used to skate a lot and he plays guitar, so for the Christmas party we're going to play something together on guitar.

It's been a super crazy week. We have only been able to have studies once since last Tuesday. We've have Stake Meetings all week long in the mornings, and trainings to give to the ward mission leaders. It's been pretty hectic, but good. This week we're doing another 3 hour training to the Zone. We had zone leader council last weekend, and President Cook talked to us about the change in the amount of missionaries we were going to have. We are at 171 missionaries right now, and our compliment, or how much we have room for is 178, but by May we will be at 250 so we had to figure out what areas we could split up and put another companionship in.

We all came to the ZLC with all the areas in our zone that we thought could be split. When each zone had written the areas up on the board it added up to exactly 80 new missionaries. It was pretty inspired. This whole change is going to be really neat to see.

Things have been going well with the work here in Vista. We're teaching a lot of people, and many of them are preparing for baptism. Elder Goble is a super funny guy, and we get along really well. Elder Rupp ended up going to Encinitas. He gets to train for the last transfer and a half of his mission. That's such a great way to be able to end.

Tell Grandpa I said happy birthday and that I love him and miss him. I love just sitting down and talking with him. He has such a strong testimony of the Gospel, and such amazing stories to tell. I always feel good when I'm around him and Grandma. Next Tuesday we're going to the temple so you'll have to let Nona know:) I can't wait to see her. It's been a while since I saw her there.

As far as the gift cards go. Sometimes there's not a Wendy's, Subway, or whatever in my area so I think just money would be better. Thanks so much. How much do I have in my account right now?

I just finished the Book of Mormon again and as I was reading the last chapter of Moroni I could feel the Spirit very strong testifying to me once again that the Book of Mormon is true. We had an interesting thing happen last weekend. We were walking into the post office, and we began to talk to a lady that had just gotten out of her car and was walking in as well. Well I told her that we were from Utah, but we love the weather down here in California. She told us that she wanted to go to Salt Lake and see the temple. So I asked her if she was a member. She said no, but that she had been a member of the Jehova's Witness for years, but then found out that there were some things that weren't true about it so she stopped going. She then said that she had walked into a store a couple years ago and the owner was a mormon and he had a book of mormon out on the counter. So she asked him about it, and he gave her one. She read a little in it, and liked it. She said that she knows that there's a lot of false things out there, like people thinking that we're a cult, or satanic, just like there's stuff about the Jehova's Witness. So we told her there was going to be a baptismal service on saturday at the bobier building and if she wanted to come. She said she would, and then we showed her where Christ visited the americas. She really wanted to read about that. So she came to the baptismal service and liked it. Then the sister missionaries gave her a church tour while we went to a meeting with the stake president. There was also a halloween play going on in the cultural hall that she decided to go watch. So we called her the next morning, Sunday, to see how she like the tour and the play. She said that she was apalled because there was a witch in the play that was flying through the air, and then walking around after, and said that we can't have witchcraft in the church. She then said that she went on line and did some research about mormons. She said that she found out that the word mormon comes from a satanic word, and that there are satanic symbols on the temple, and all this nonsense. So then I asked her where she got her information. She said, "well I googled it." I couldn't help but laugh. haha. I told her that she was getting all false information and that she needs to make sure she gets information from the right source. She asked me if I new what the symbols on the temple were. I told her that I've been through the temple, and know a lot more than what she thinks I know. I told her that she hasn't researched the Church until she's read every page in the Book of Mormon and prayed about it. Then she went on about how Joseph Smith was a free mason and how they were a satanic organization that doesn't believe in Christ. I told her that she was wrong there as well. I told her that we just interviewed someone who is a free mason for baptism. She then said did you ask him if he believed that Christ was his savior and reedemer. I said yep, and he believes that 100 percent. Then she said did you ask him if he prays to the father in the name of Christ. I said ya he actually offered the prayer just like that in the interview, and says he prays every day to heavenly father. Finally she just came back to the whole thing about a witch in the church. It was pretty ridiculous haha. I just had to laugh. It was like a 30 minute conversation on the phone haha. It's funny how people think anything you get online is true.

Well Love you all. The Gospel is true so Keep sharing it with others, and praying for those opportunities.

Con amor,

Elder Witle!

P.S. Sorry that was so long haha.

Elder Matthew Whittle-- October 30, 2012

So Lee and I went to California over UEA break for an awards dinner for Lee's work. We flew into San Diego and went to Matthew's mission home and hurried and took a picture and drove through the areas he has been in. He said he only lives 10 minutes from the Mission Home. We hurried with the pictures so we wouldn't risk running into him :0 I didn't want to say goodbye twice and we didn't want to disrupt the flow :) I've attached a few pictures so you can relate to what he is talking about in his e-mail. Have a great day! Just love our missionaries!!!
(Jeanette attached some  great  pictures of the Mission home, Temple and of the area but I could not get the pictures to up load.  Sorry!!---- Carol)

Hey Que Honda!

Man those pictures blew my mind. I go in that door on the side of the church into the mission office about 2 or 3 times a week! That's crazy. I could have come walking out right when you were there haha. President Cook doesn't live there, but he has his office inside. It's the mission office. President Cook has a house in Vista about 10 minutes away. It's a neat church huh? It's huge! It has two Chapels inside, and it's a two story building. I'll have to show you inside someday. The picture with the sign saying Solona Beach by the train station is where I used to run every day. I used to run right under that sign every morning. The light that's at that intersection right after the sign is Fletcher's cove. You would have had to just turn right at the light and you would have been there. I love that area! It's so much fun!

I'm glad that Megs is doing better. I hope she doesn't have to get surgery or anything! That's cool that Brandonion is moving up in life;) por fin. haha Just kiddin.

Things have been going great as usual here in Vista. Today is transfers and Elder Rupp is taking off. He gets to go train for the last 9 weeks of his mission. He's pretty excited. Apparently from what President Cook was saying, there are going to be some pretty big surprises at transfers. I'm excited to see what all happens. The age change has President Cook stressed out because were supposed to all of a sudden in May have 250 in our mission and I think we're around like 140. He has a lot of things to change. It will be really neat to see how it all happens. The Lord is definitely hastening his work.

This week is going to be a really crazy one. Tomorrow morning we're meeting with the stake president to discuss a training that my companion and I will be giving to all the ward mission leaders this coming Sunday, then we have to go to a couple of district meetings, and then on Friday we have Zone Leader Council to be to. So we have a lot to prepare for. It should be fun though. It's good to stay busy.

That's too bad to hear about Mr. B. I really hate how that is. We just started working with a guy who has a super strong testimony of the gospel, but once he moved out to California he felt like everyone was really judgmental because he has a couple of tatoos, and some people made some comments to him saying he needed to wear long sleeves and cover them up. He said he just doesn't feel welcome, and feels like a lot of the members are stuck up. Its a really sad thing to see happen.

Thanks for the glasses! They're great haha. There not exactly approved to wear out proseliting but they're fun to wear at night. We have to be in tomorrow night at 6 for Halloween so we'll probably end up doing some planning and what not.

I hope Josh can get out soon! That would be awesome! I'll keep praying for him. Tell Slot dog (Alex) I said hola! Oh have you heard at all from Alex Tamayo?? I need his address so I can write him a letter. That would be great if you could get that for me! Tell Cho hi for me and that I miss him and his family, and that he can't get married until I get back haha. Well love you all. Keep up the good work with sharing the Gospel, and fellowshipping others. Tengan fe que Dios les va a bedicir con oportunidades misionales.

con amor,

Elder Whittle

About Elder Matthew Whittle-- October 13, 2012

Hi Everyone!

Here is a note that was sent to Matthew's cousin, Krista, in Logan, Utah from Matthew's companion.  Thanks for sharing Krista!!!!

From:  Krista

I got a postcard from Matthews Companion Ty Rupp, who I know from high school. Matthew mentioned him a couple letters ago, anyway thought i would share with you what he said!

 

"Your Cousin Elder Matt Whittle wanted me to say hi for him. I thought it was pretty cool to find out that you guys are related. Elder Whittle is one of the best missionaries I have ever served with. All your family should know that he shows his love for people unlike any missionary I have met. So it is an honor to be serving here in Vista with him. We are going through some struggles but with patience, miracles always come through. I love the mission and love serving the Lord with your cousin, he really is a stud."

 

Elder Ty Rupp

Elder Matthew Whittle-- October 10, 2012

Oh man!

Conference was soooo good! I loved it! We ended up missing the sunday morning session because we had to go up to Camp Pendleton to teach the recruits, but the Tapia's recorded conference for us so we're going to go over when we get a chance during a less productive time of the day. We'll see when that happens haha;) It was such a great conference. I can't believe that the age requirements are now changed. Super Awesome! I would have loved to just get straight out on my mission right after high school, but that wasn't what was supposed to happen with me. I was definitely held back for many reasons. I can see that now.

Man we had one of the coolest miracles I've ever seen. So on Friday night we were going to go visit a less active, but we had the impression that we needed to go somewhere else first. So we decided we were going to go to a potential investigator who had told us that she was usually home Friday nights. So we went and stopped by but she wasn't home. Well we felt like there was a reason we were there so we started to walk around the apartment complex, and as we came around the corner we saw a little ways away a group of 4 black guys standing around their car. So we hurried over to them and started to talk to them.

They were super nice, and they were all Marines. So as we were talking to them one of them asked, "So what's the word for the night." So we said, "Well have you all ever heard of the Book of Mormon?" A couple of them had heard of it. So we explained how it was lost scripture that was found around 1820 by someone named Joseph Smith who had been called by God to be a prophet, just like Moses and how the Book of Mormon is what helps restore us to the truth. After that, one of them asked, "Ok so how did God call another prophet?" Hhe was kind've being disbelieving) That was the key question. So we started by explaining how Christ set up his church, and how he called apostles and gave them authority to baptize and teach true doctrines. We then went into the Great Apostasy.

They were really getting into it as we explained it. Well we got to the story of Joseph Smith and we slowed down a little bit. We explained the background and what was happening to Joseph Smith at the time. Then we shared the experience of the first vision in Joseph Smith's own words. Everyone got quiet and the spirit came in and testified that it was all true. They all believed it was true and were blown away by the experience that Joseph Smith had. Then we continued to explain how the Book of Mormon was written here in the Americas by prophets, and how it started with a family that left Jerusalem. We explained how it contained the fulness of the gospel and how there are 12 apostles and a prophet today on the earth. O ya and after all of this a member of the church pulled into the parking lot with his family. The dad came over and started talking to one of the guys, B., and testified of the restoration of the gospel. B. really liked it and they ended up exchanging phone numbers so that they could keep in contact and talk more.

Well to make a long story short, they all asked us if they could have a Book of Mormon, and if we could come by and tell them more. It was AWESOME! Then we stopped by on Saturday night. They were all there. We talked about General Conference. B, the one that was super interested, had already read in Moroni 10:3-5 and had already prayed and said he felt good about it. Then we showed them a Mormon message on mormon.org, and invited them to General Conference. Bidney came on Sunday and loved it. He sat down with us, pulled out his notebook, and began to write down all these notes from what the prophet and apostles were saying. It was incredible.

We had a member there as well for fellowshipping who invited him over to dinner at his house right after. So we all went over to the members house and ate dinner together. Bidney lives right in the same complex as the members, and said he really wants to be baptized. So ya that was a pretty cool miracle I would say:) The Restoration is true!! Boo Ya!

Well considering that miracle took up all my time to write. I kind've have to get going, but I love you all! Thanks for having such strong testimonies of the Gospel. Keep praying for missionary opportunities, and looking for them.

Con Amor,

Elder Whittle

Elder Matthew Whittle-- Oct. 2, 2012

Tuesday, October 2, 2012 4:34 PM

 

Que Honda!

 

Vista is great. It's not super hot like up in Orange County so that's good:) Elder Knavel is in our Zone. He was actually just made the AP. We have 22 in our Zone with the assistants. It's the biggest Zone as far as missionaries go, so it's super fun to get to know everyone. We had a pretty stressful weekend, but it was really good. So Sunday morning we got up at about 5:40 and headed up to camp Pendleton to teach the Marines. After church services up there we had two baptisms. It's crazy because the marines are only up there for like 4 weeks, so we have to teach them lessons 1,2,3, and 4 pretty much all at once, and then get them baptized. It's crazy how it works, but really cool.

 

What we do is we have usually 5 of us that head up, and then the Marines that are members invite their friends to church and then after we all split up as missionaries, and take a couple of the recruits and go and teach them and try to get them to be baptized within the 4 week time period. Last sunday we had I think 8 investigators we taught at Pendleton. It's amazing how much Boot Camp humbles these people as well. There's one that I was teaching that had just finished reading the Book of Mormon, and he said he wants to be baptized. So it's really neat. The week before I talked to him about baptism and he said he wasn't sure, but then he finished the Book of Mormon during the following week, and recieved his answer that he needed to be baptized. The Book of Mormon is so powerful...... So after teaching up at Pendleton we came back to Vista and went straight to our ward. It was the Primary program. I love those! Made me think of 3 nefi 9:22. Good stuff. So after sacrament we taught Gospel Principles, signs of the second coming, and then after that there was a combined ym/yw class that we taught on the Book of Mormon. It was cool. We challenged everyone to share a Book of Mormon with a friend of theirs in the next two weeks, and gave them each a copy. So Sunday was pretty crazy, and then on Monday morning we had to get up again around 5:30 to finish preparing a 3 hour Zone Training that we gave Monday morning at 10. It was a pretty intense weekend, but super fun:) I've been learning a lot since I got here.

 

So we learned something really neat from President Cook. Ever since the Great Apostasy there began to be all these incorrect Paradigms about God, and many other things, But if you think about History God has been planning for a very important paradigm shift. The paradigm shift of the Restoration of the Gospel. Think about the incorrect paradigm of the world being flat in the 15th century. Everyone thought that the world was flat and that limited exploration, because people feared they would fall off the earth. So think of that and then think of the Book of Mormon. Christopher Colombus believed in God, and said that he was moved upon by the Holy Spirit to explore the seas. There are many other things that took place. Many paradigm shifts such as the printing press, the nicean creed, the reformation, etc. All these things that God was doing to prepare for a huge paradigm shift. The restoration of the Gospel. There were four paradigm shifts that ocurred with the restoration. The first event was the 1st vision. That event answered the WHO we are. We are children of a loving Heavenly Father who has a body of flesh and bone, and His Beloved Son is a separate being of flesh and bone as well. The 2nd event was the restoration of the fulness of the everlasting gospel throught the Book of Mormon. That event answers the WHOSE we are. Because of Christ's sacrifice we are His. We know that it is not only by works alone, or by grace alone that we are saved, but we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. The 3rd event was the restoration of the Priesthood. That event answers the HOW we get back to our Heavenly Father. It is through Priesthood Ordinances such as baptism, the Sacrament, etc. that we can be saved and make it back to our Father's prescence. The 4th and final Paradigm shift of the restoration of the gospel answers the WHERE. Where do we go to recieve these ordinances. The church was restored and again organized upon the earth, and we now have a place to go to recieve these priesthood ordinances. It's amazing to see how much preparation our Heavenly Father put into this. The Restoration is true, and I know that we really do have a Loving Heavenly Father and He's given us the fulness of the everlasting gospel once again.

 

Wellp don't have much time, but thanks for everything. Love you all. Keep praying and looking for missionary opportunities and you'll have them. Thanks for sharing that cool experience mom. Keep it up. That really made me feel good to know that you're doing missionary work too:) Love you!

 

Con amor,

Elder Witle!

Elder Matthew Whittle-- September 26, 2012

Hola!

 

President Cook always lets the cat right out of the bag haha. So there's kind of a twist on things that I don't think he mentioned. I'm not in Escondido. I'm in Vista, and I'm in english work now. It was really weird. I was not expecting that to happen at all. We were sitting in transfer meeting and I was waiting for him to get done announcing the english elders so I wasn't really paying attention when suddenly I heard my name. It caught me so off guard that I didn't even here where I was going. It was crazy! So ya now I'm here in Vista. I feel kind of weird being in English work, but I'm getting used to it. Luckily there are a ton of hispanics here so I still get to talk a lot of spanish in the streets. Plus I get to go on exchanges with the spanish elders so that's good at least. The hardest thing is I feel like I've lost my english. Sometimes I say things kind of strangely haha and my companion makes fun of me, but I'm getting better at it. It's fun to be a zone leader. We get to go to all the district meetings and get to know more of the missionaries.

 

So it was really cool on sunday. Every sunday morning we get up around 5:30 and head up to camp pendleton to teach the marines. They have a branch up there of about 40 recruits. It's awesome because they bring their friends to church and then after sacrament we go and teach them in a different room. They're only there for 6 weeks I believe so we try and get them to get ready for baptism quickly. It's really cool how it all works. Boot camp is definitely a humbling experience for them.

 

So my companions name is Elder Rupp. The crazy thing is that he lives right up by the Whittle's in Logan. He sat in front of Kayla in Calc class or something like that. Knows who Jake is, and had a class with Krista. He was really good friends with Austin Robbins, there next door neighbor. He's a funny guy, and a good missionary. We've been seeing some cool miracles together.

 

So Cherry's still alive eh? That's good to hear. I'm glad nobody has totaled her or anything;) haha. Does smoto still run? Sounds like things are pretty much the same back home. How's Cho? I miss that guy. How's mama cho doing?

 

We were able to set a baptismal date the other night with the wife of a member. It was an awesome lesson. She brought up how she was raised in the Catholic church, and how she was a very devout catholic, and she had made a promise to her father who passed away that she would never join the mormon church. Well she told us that night that she was feeling like something was missing in her life, and that she wasn't exactly sure what but she needed to figure it out. We talked about priesthood authority and why it was important for baptism. She told us that she didn't believe the Catholic church had that authority. We invited her to be baptized and she accepted. The other day she saw us on the street, pulled over to talk to us and said she's excited for the 3 of November and she's already inviting people. It's amazing how the spirit causes people to feel and understand things. None of that was Elder Rupp and I. It was all the spirit, telling her that she was missing something and that she needed to be baptized by someone with authority. Have you had any cool missionary experiences lately? If not you should start praying for them, because they're the best! It helps your testimony grow so much when you see the spirit work on others.

 

Well things are going amazing. I feel kind of weird being in english work, but it's fun. Hope yall have a good week! love you all. Adios!

 

Con Amor,

Elder Whittle

 

P.S. So this morning a helicopter was circling our area with a huge megaphone saying that there was a felon on the loose. It kept repeating 30 year old male hispanic, black pants, black shirt, red hat. So ya keep an eye out for him haha. It was crazy. k bye.

 

P.S.S. The Church is TRUE! yaya

 

ELder Matthew Whittle -- September 11, 2012

Hey Que Honda!

Man this is a great area! Things are going so great. We had a bunch of investigators come to church on sunday, and they liked it a lot. The Lord has really been blessing us. We're doing really well as a district as well. I've never had such a unified district. It's amazing. Yesterday we had a district meeting and we had a testimony meeting in the Chapel as a district. The spirit was so strong! It was great. I don't ever want to leave this area, but I'm going to have to in 6 more weeks:( That's going to be a hard day.

How's Josh doing? Does he know for sure yet? I think him and his Grandpa should come out to Mission Viejo instead:) They would love it! The people here are great. There's people from all over southern and central america here. We're teaching somebody from Peru right now, and she's been teaching me some Quechwa. It's a dialect from Peru. Really cool sounding too. Imainum chachi canki. (como estas en quechwa). It's been really neat to get to know all these different people. I look back and it's really neat to see that I've taught people from korea, brazil, argentina, guatemala, el salvador, peru, colombia, and all parts of mexico. It's so much fun to get to know all the different cultures.

 

Elder Hall is doing great. He's been talking more and more. We've been having so much fun together. He has a really fun sense of humor. It's very dry. He's says the funniest things, but he doesn't change his tone of voice or anything.

 

I'll try and get you some more pictures sent. It's hard to find time because we always have things to be doing, but that's a good thing. This last transfer just flew by. It was crazy. It's seems like we just started the transfer last week. Transfer calls are this weekend, and then transfers are on tuesday, but I don't think anyone in my district is going to be leaving since it was pretty much a district white wash. Elder Kitchen. Do you remember him? He's from farmington. He came out about 8 months ago I think? He's in my district too. He was the only one that had been here before the rest of us got here. So basically all the missionaries in the district are new to the area except Elder Kitchen.

 

Well Hope you all have a great week. Que esten bien! Banense y no coman tierra!:) Les quiero. adios.

 

Con amor,

Elder Witle

 

p..s. Por que vuelan al sur los pajaros en el tiempo de frio?

p.p.s. Por que pintan las unas rojas los elefantes?

Elder Matthew Whittle-- September 4, 2012

Que Pachuca por taluca mis Chapines! haha

 

La palabra corriente quiere decir current, y arrastrar quiere decir, take away. So remember a shrimp that sleeps, the current takes him away:) Es un dicho en espanol que quiere decir como si alguien no hace algo, las cosas del mundo le controlan. Hay otro dicho bien chistoso: Con paciencia y saliva le hizo el amor, un elefante a una hormiga. haha

 

Things have been going great here. Elder Hall is doing really well. I'm surprised how well he already speaks spanish. He took I think 6 years in school so he already knows it pretty well. The work has been progressing a lot in our area. We have a couple people with fechas bautismales so things are going great! Our district here is awesome too. I've never had a district so unified as I have here. We do conference calls at night, so like a three way call so everyone can talk and we talk about the miracles we all saw during the day. It's really neat. We had a super fun district activity too. We made a cabin out of cardboard and dressed up as cowboys and indians, and made tipees (Spelling?). It was awesome haha. Then we made tin foil dinners, ate cactus, and mexican candy, queso fresco. It was so fun haha. I'll have to send you some pictures of it.

 

Man Jake's already gettin married?! That's crazy. It's really weird to hear about all that stuff. That's cool that you saw Kaleigh. Tell her Hola por mi! That's good that megs and el Chapin are going to be closer to yall. And yes that was a brilliant idea to put all of her stuff in the toyhauler. I know what it's like to live with an older person. It's great! They always brighten up yur day. In Del Mar we lived with a 96 year old senior. He was awesome!

 

I can't believe Kyle is already done. I remember when he left. Time goes by way to fast. Justin Christensen and Caleb Weeks are going to be done super soon as well. How was Kyle's homecoming talk?

 

Wellp I'll try to get some pictures off soon. Love you all. Gracias por todo! Que esten bien! Adios

 

Con Amor,

Elder Witle!

Elder Matthew Whittle--Aug 21, 2012

Que Pachuca Por Taluka!

 

Eso quiere decir como Que Honda. It's just another way to say What's up. It's slang. And I do recognize that picture of Mission Viejo. I drive past that lake a couple times a week. It's really nice. I almost feel like I'm in Utah again with all the big mountains. It's kind of weird. It's a nice place though.

 

Things have been going great here. I found my license! It was really cool. We said a prayer, Elder Hall and I, And then we started looking for it. I ransaked the whole appartment looking for it as well as the car, but no luck. So then we stopped at the main office to our appartment complex, and asked the manager if I by chance left it when I checked in. He looked and said he couldn't find it. So I kept looking in the Apartment for the next day or two, but still no luck. Well we kept praying to find it, and for some reason I just felt like we needed to go back to the main office, ask them if they had seen it, and if they hadn't I needed to ask them to make a copy of the copy they had made when we checked in. So we went back. He checked again and didn't find it. So I asked him to make a copy. So he made the copy, and then grabbed some siccors out of a drawer to cut out the copied license. He gave me the copy and we started to walk out. As we were walking out the door, he said hey wait up! He had the license in his hand. When he went to put the siccors back into the drawer he saw my license sitting there. It was awesome! Talk about getting an answer to your prayers. The cool thing that I learned is that we have to do everything we possibly can and then a little more, and then the Lord helps us out. As missionaries if we want the Lord to help our investigators have a change of heart, an answer to our prayers, so they can take the steps of faith repentance and baptism, we have to do all we can to help them first. I definitely have a testimony of that.

 

So what's this thing with Josh!? You can't say something like that and then not tell me what it is! haha Why do you enjoy torturing me;) haha I can't wait to here from him. I have his picture along with corbster, tan tan, y trude on my study desk right in front of me:)

 

Elder Hall is from Mountain Home Idaho. He's doing awesome. We're having a lot of fun together. He's a good guy. I'll make sure to take some good pictures. I'll try and send you some more soon as well. We played soccer today but no pics....:/ sorrito! I'll see what I can do about that, and yes that is the Creme soda tree haha. It smelled delicous!

 

Wellp thanks for the package y todo. It was nice to get! Love you all. Cuidense mucho! Que Esten Bien!

 

Con Amor,

Elder Witle

ELder Matthew Whittle-- Aug 13, 2012

Que pachuca por taluka!

Man Pres. Cook just let's the cat out of the bag everytime haha. Ya Elder Hall and I are here in Mission Viejo right now. About 20 minutes away from the Newport Beach temple. We actually just got back from the Newport Temple. It's an awesome temple! We like it here in Mission Viejo. It's a nice area, but really really hot! We're right inland from laguna niguel. It's fun though. Walking around in the 100 degree weather sweating to death haha. It's awesome. Elder Hall is a stud. He has really good spanish already. We're getting along really well. It's crazy we're white washing obviously so we don't know our area at all, but it's super fun, and I'm so glad I'm in an all spanish district. Now I can hold district meetings in Spanish, and talk on the phone all in Spanish. That's one thing I didn't like about being down in Del Mar, but I do miss that area too. I'm excited for you to meet Juana, Martin, y Brandon. They're awesome!

 

Elder Hall got his first Baptismal date set this week. It was awesome. We taught the restoration and Elder Hall invited the investigator to be baptized, and they accepted after we resolved their doubt. He's doing really well. This area is awesome. I feel like I'm back in Mexico again, how I felt in O side. There's a lot of hispanics around everywhere. It's actually a ward here too, instead of just a branch.

 

So I agree with Gertrude. We shouldn't sell Cherry until I get back;) haha, unless someone is willing to pay like 10,000 for her. I'm glad to hear that he's doing well in Argentina! I miss that guy. I'm so glad he's out serving, and I can't wait to hear his goofy argentine accent. It will be fun to all talk after the mission.

 

Man so what's new with the Choster? I miss that guy! I'm still waiting for his letter:) haha. I need to get him off another one as well. Have the missionaries been by to visit his parents yet? What's new with that?

 

So I might have lost my License..... ya I'm going to look for it more in the appartment today when we get back. I had it a couple of days ago when we checked in but I'm not sure where it is yet. I'll let you know if I find it.

 

Man The Corbster is going to feel really awkward in english work for the first little while. It's really weird to teach in English, but It's fun too. It's cool to experience it both ways. I really liked being in the Single's ward. It was a blast!

 

I got the package by the way. Thanks it was great. Tell Josh that he has to wait until I get back to go to Powell so I can come with again. Maybe I'll just fly to like St. George and then head over to Lake Powell for the week;) haha. Tell Josh hi and I love him and I'm praying for him.

 

Well love you all. Things are going great. Have a good week!

 

Con amor,

Elder Witle!

Elder Matthew Whittle-- Aug 7, 2012

CUMPLEANOS PAPI!

Que pachuca por Taluca! Cuantos anos tienes ahora papa? Como 30 algo? haha espero que lo disfrute! Gracias por ser un buen ejemplo para mi. Al seguir con mi mision me doy cuenta de todas las cosas buenas que me has ensenado a mi. Estoy agradecido por tu paciencia con migo y por tu amor. Espero que pueda andar en motocicleta o algo con M. Seria muy bien para el. El no es miembro todavia. Ha tenido un pasado muy deficil, pero el es uno de mis mejores amigos que tengo aqui en Del Mar. Se me hace muy deficil de salir de este area. Hemos fijado siete bautismos que vienen en esta mez y la mez que entra. Ojala que pueda yo regresar por esos bautismos.

 

The Moores are such a great family. I miss them all a bunch. I got a letter from Elder Moore the other week. He said he's doing really well. Seemed really positive. Tell them all hi and I love and miss them.

 

So something really sad happened this week, but in a way it was good as well. We have an investigator who all his brothers and sisters are members, but live in S M. He has 3 daughters, and he hasn't been progressing towards baptism at all. He already has a testimony of the church, and joseph smith. Well we've been praying a lot for him, and what happened is he just found out his wife, who is super catholic, has been cheating on him. So they're breaking up. It was really really sad to hear about it, but he's now is coming to church, reading, and praying a lot, and wants to be baptized as soon as he can. It's sad that it took that, but now he's really serious about putting forth the effort to be baptized. Kind of a crazy story huh?

 

Things are on fire down here. It's going so great. I've never seen so many miracles on my mission as I have this transfer. We taught a girl in the singles ward for the first time last week, and we taught her the restoration. We invited her to be baptized and she immediately said yes I will. She then asked us what do I need to do to get ready. We've taught her twice since then and she's understanding everything and keeping all her commitments. She's awesome. We taught her the law of chastity on the second lesson and told her she needs to either get married or stop living with her boyfriend. She agreed to do that as well. She has definitely been prepared. I love it down here in Del Mar. Oh ya by the way I am getting transferred. I don't know to where yet. Transfer meeting is today. The family S. are going to take me up to Vista to the transfer meeting. It was really hard to say goodbye to everybody here, but that's how it goes. I can't wait until you meet J. and M. They're so awesome. Some of the greatest people I've ever met. It's going to be really really hard to say goodbye to them.

 

Well things are all good here with me. I love the mission! It's definitely the best thing I've ever done. Hope everything is going great with all of you. Keep praying for missionary opportunities, and then Lord will give you them. There's a lot of Joy that comes from missionary work. I never want to stop doing it. Love you all. Cuidense mucho! Adios

 

Con Amor,

Elder Witle!

Elder Matthew Whittle-- August 3, 2012

Well transfers are coming up soon. I can't believe I've been here in Del Mar for 6 months already. Time flies by super fast out here. The days just blurr together. Next tuesday are transfers. I think I'll probably be getting transferred, but you never know with Pres. Cook. I'll know by this saturday wether or not I'm getting transferred. It's really hard to leave an area. I don't like it at all. I feel like I'm leaving my family all over again. Remember the family sanchez? J and M? They're the ones I was talking about a little while back. Well they're probably going to be coming up to Utah in December this year. I told them that if they wanted to they could stay at our house. Hope that's ok:) They would only be there for a couple of days. They might just stop by and visit though instead.They're such great people. J. is a member, but her husband M. isn't yet. He's had a pretty rough past, but we're really good friends! He wants to come to Utah with me after and go camping up in the mountains, and hunting. Dad and him would get along really well. If they came by in December that would be a great opportunity for some missionary work:) and for dad to brush up on his spanish;) It's pretty good though. And we've been teaching english classes in the church each week, and Juana comes, and she speaks it pretty well now so mom won't have to learn spanish or anything;) haha. They're awesome. They have a son on a mission right now in Nicaragua.

 

 

Things have been going great recently. We've set a couple more baptismal dates, and found a lot of new people to teach. It's been really neat. It's really neat how when you work hard through the hard times the blessings start to pour out. I've definitely seen that on my mission. There have been times when you talk all day long to people and all you get back are no's, but if you just keep working hard the Lord see's that and he blesses you. You recieve no witness (blessings) until after the trial of your faith.

So last night we did a family night with the family sanchez and the family tadeo. We met the the house of the family sanchez and we had some carne asada y pollo con tortillas, salsa, aros, nopales, cevolla, enselada y jugo de sandilla mmmmhhhhhmmmmmm. estuvo muy rica! Then we played a game after. Remember the game helicopter? The one where you have a blindfold and a board and the person has to stand on the board blindfolded and then you pretend to raise the person up and then they fall. We did it to H.T. It was hillarious to see him and then we talked about the gospel and how in 3 nefi 27 Christ talks about the Gospel and how he says in .... I want to say like verse 31.. Christ says that which ye have seen me do that shall ye do also. He actually uses the word do 5 times in that verse meaning that the Gospel is what we do to follow Jesus Christ. It was probably one of the best Family Nights I've ever had.

 

Tell Josh Hola and that I'll be back in one year and then we'll basically just rock up missionary work together wherever we decide to go! We'll just teach everyone the gospel and give out Book of Mormons everywhere! It'll be awesome! There's definitely a reason behind Josh's sickness. The Lord know's what he's doing. Trust in the Lord in all thy doings and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths for good. I know that as Josh just keeps going, and stays strong in living the Gospel that the Lord will direct Josh to do what he should be doing. Tell Josh I love him, and I'm praying for him......... and that he's a stud!

 

Well the church is true! Love you all Que Tengan muy buena semana eh!

Con Amor,

Elder Witle

Elder Matthew Whittle-- July 24, 2012

Hola!

 

I haven't met a Natalie T. yet, but I'll keep an eye out for her. It's possible I could get transferred to the dirty dito, (Escondido). I've been here now for 6 months so it's about time, but you never know. Some times President decides otherwise. Some elders have had 9 month areas in our mission, but that doesn't happen too often.

 

That's a lot of money just to get rid of some bats, but at least it's not 10,000 dollars haha. I did get the sd card back and everything. Thanks:) The package was missing a little something though;) What happened to the CD with those good songs?:) haha That's good that the good ol willow is going to survive after all. Tell Braxton good job on praying. Now he has a testimony of prayer! Sweet!

So I say that Cherry shouldn't be sold for any less than 7,000. You know you can always just wait for me to get back to sell it:) I'm glad she's still alive and everything. That's good news. How's the smoto doin? Oh y para que sepa Papa, La palabra desenrrabadilladito quiere decir como el parte blanco de un pedaso de pan. So you have the crust and the white part. The white part is el desenrrabadilladito, y el delfin quiere decir dolphin pero tambien del fin quiere decir the end.

 

Tell Grandma Whittle Happy Birthday for me and that I love her and miss her! Hopefully I'll see her soon. Our Temple day is scheduled for August so Hopefully I don't get transfered up North cause then I'll have to go to the Newport Temple. I love going down to the Temple knowing that she's there, and that I'll probably get to see her. I think she should move up to Utah too, but not until I'm done with my mission:) haha

So I have a solution for Josh. He can just move out here to Del Mar, and Go to the Torrey Pines Singles ward, That's the ward we work with, and then he can be a ward missionary and just come out and work with us everyday! Perfect plan Eh?:) He would love the singles ward out here. It's super cool. It's not anything like the single's wards back home. Tell him I miss him, and I'm praying for him, and if he does head off to college and continue his life, he better not get married or anything because we still have to party! haha, and he better be ready for me to move into his appartment in a year. He's such a good guy. I miss him a lot.

 

Well the work is going great. We set a couple more baptismal dates this week, and had 5 investigators at church. It's really starting to catch on fire down here. We're loving it. Things have been going great. I love seeing all the cool miracles everyday, and being able to see people making changes in their lives to come unto christ and follow him. I love you all. "Be strong and be true." Cuidense mucho. Adios.

 

Con amor,

Elder Witle!

 

P.S. As far as the "Hump day" package goes, music is always nice:) and Jerky:) and fam pics:) Thanks!

Elder Matthew Whittle-- July 17, 2012

Que Honda Cabezones!

 

Calabaza quiere decir, "pumpkin" pero tambien quiere decir como alguien que no piensa mucho, o sea, alguien que es "clueless". Tu puedes decidir quienes SON las calabazas;) Tengo una broma para ti. Si tuviera todos los peses en una linea, cual seria el ultimo?............................. vas a adivinar?.................................................Ok ya no quiero esperar mas. La respuesta es "El Delfin" :) Tiene sentido, o eres tu una calabaza? Jaja

 

Things are going great right now. We've been teaching a lot and we've found some cool new investigadors. We just starting teaching this 19 year old girl from brazil, and almost have set a baptismal date with her. She's very sincere and is really interested in the Book of Mormon and everything. We're excited for her, and we've found a couple new people for the Spanish branch that we're starting to teach as well. The district is doing really well right now. We had a really good district meeting yesterday. President Cook randomly showed up so that was kind of nerve racking, but it went really well, and the spirit was really strong. It's a really neat opportunity to be able to be a leader because you have the chance to learn more. You get to go on exchanges with all the missionaries and learn from all of their talents, and abilities. It's been really neat. I'm really grateful for the opportunity.

 

So the 4 runners not working eh? That's no good. I think you better just junk it;) haha just kiddin. We were helping that lady with her BMW a while back and her fuel pump wasn't turning on either. What the problem was though was her crank sensor went bad. The new cars can be kind of a pain to diagnose. It takes a lot of time to isolate the exact problem. That's why I like Cherry. When something goes wrong you know what it is. Let me know what the problem was with the 4 runner. I miss working on cars haha. Never thought I'd say that one. I hated working on cars when I was little. I remember being in the garage from early in the morning until about midnight working on that stinkin van we had haha. I dreaded those days, but I really like it now.

 

That's a really cool principle that has helped me a lot on my mission. "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; Not that the nature of the thing is changed, but our power to do is increased." -Heber J. Grant- When we do hard things, we get better at doing it. When we get better at something we begin to enjoy it more. Just like with soccer. I didn't like it when I was little, but I stuck with it, and as I improved I started to like it more and more. It's the same principle with studying the scriptures. At first it's hard for us to understand them, and really study them well, but the more we do it the better we get at it, and then it becomes enjoyable. Then we want to do it daily. That principle has really helped me out in life.

Wellp things are going great. Hope everyone is doing well! Love you

 

 Que esten bien! Adios!

 

Con Amor,

Elder Witle!

 

P.S. Que dijo un pes al otro?.................. Nada :)

Desenrrabadilladito!