Hola Amigos

Hola Amigos,

Okay, I can't believe it's P-day again!!! This week WAS AMAZING!!!! I got to meet my mission President--President Ruiz and his wife! They are so cute and little....but seriously have the most powerful testimonies!! President Ruiz can speak a little English! There are 10 Hermanas' and 10 Elders here in the MTC going to my mission, so it was fun to meet them all!! President Ruiz talked to us for 45 minutes... all in Spanish! I understood every word. The gift of interpretations is real. He said the 3 most important things are:

1. Our own conversion and bearing our testimony to the people of Reu with CONVICTION

2. The little white missionary handbook (the white bible)

3. Preach My Gospel

On Monday I was in the bookstore and all of the sudden I heard in a little Spanish accent,  "Hermana Minnick, Hermana Minnick!! Will you come help my wife? She needs help picking panty hoes!" So, I guess my Spanish is good enough to pick out tights... Hermana Ruiz is such a sweet heart!! 

President Ruiz also said that we would not only be learning Spanish, but also Quiche...some Mayan dialect...so rad!!! I have also come to the conclusion that Heavenly Father sent me on a Spanish speaking mission so that I could learn patience. I'm working on it!  I can tell he is going to be an incredible Mission President, I'm going to learn as much as I can from him!

Future Rue Missionaries in MTC together! Our new mission President, President RUIZ!

This week at the MTC was crazy! We had almost all of the mission presidents in the world here, plus members of the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency here EVERY DAY! This place is special. I'm so blessed to be here. And how about the WORLD WIDE BROADCAST, right?!? So incredible! I didn't get to sing in the choir because I came in the week after the cut off date, but I did get to sit 3 rows up from the stage.  I could definitely see the facial expressions of the twelve. I will never forget that experience. Also, I must have zoned out during the whole Facebook / technology part... I didn't even hear about that but everyone wrote me all excited. First, I don't think that they have facebook in the jungle... Second, I want to share the main point I got out of that meeting --  To LOVE those you serve, listen to promptings of the Holy Ghost, work together as a team, and last do everything in your power to help others come unto Christ. I loved that meeting.

On Tuesday we got to listen to Janice Kapp Perry. She is hilarious, and so talented. I guess I need to thank her for helping me gain a testimony. Her primary songs literally taught me the gospel! Then, on Wednesday we had TRC. It was incredible. I was able to bear my testimony in Spanish. I made the women I was teaching cry. It was a special experience.

The rest of the days I study, I study so hard. Lazy is not in my vocabulary. I also spend 20 minutes of my day staring out the window at the beautiful mountains saying "Dracula" over and over and over again. My teacher is determined to help me find a way to learn to roll my R's. It's working. I'm slowing getting better. Also, my district hate me and Dracula (they really love me). Speaking of my district, aka my family, I love them!!!!!!!! We have so much fun! We all gave each other Disney names... They gave me Jane from Tarzan. We also have a problem with laughter during prayers. By the end of the day we can't speak English or Spanish and we are so loopy and anything is funny. We get laughing so hard we can't breathe. Es muy divertido.

I haven't seen Elder Bench yet, I'll keep my eyes peeled!

I love being a missionary. I love this gospel. Se que la iglesia es verdadero. Se que Dios te ama. Remember who you are!! Sons and daughers of the most creative Being! Make sure you serve someone today!

SHOUTOUTS:

• To the people who write me...you're going to get blessing and prosper in life.
• Grandpa Sherrell! Thank you for the dear elders!! I love and miss you! I also got Grandma Linda's letter! I sent a letter to St. G today!
• Congrats to Westy on the 4.0! I didn't know you were smart ;)? Have FUN this summer! Also, Weston, the last time I checked you have two arms two hands and ten fingers...WRITE ME A LETTER. Gracias.
• Thank you Uncle Dan for the pictures!! I loved them!
• Tell Ryan Cahoon that his note on the poster made my day! I put the picture of the note in my scriptures! Tell Ryan I pray for him too!
• To all of you people who went to Lake Powell, thanks for the pictures!
• MOM: Hermana Bontempo loved the package you sent her! That was very nice of you! Also, THANK YOU for sending so many dearelders! They keep me going, you are still winning!
• Dad..I don't want to hear any more excuses. I'm not asking you, I'm telling you..WRITE ME!!!!!!!!!!!
• THANKS FOR THE GOLDFISH!!!! Send more soon... :), also necesito stamps por favor.
• Thanks to Sara y Stacey for the package! I love you guys!

I LOVE YOU! Stay classy.

Hermana Minnick

 P.S. www.dearelder.com is the best way to write me. Handwritten too!!

Hermana Bontempo 

Future Reu Hermana's

Fun in the "box"

Love these glasses!

MTC District plus our teacher!

Rapping?

Roomies!

Singing in the "box"

Tough chicas!

I Feel Like It's Been a Year...

I've been here for 9 days and I feel like it´s been a year...a very good year! Haha!! I LOVE being a missionary. I love being Hermana Minnick and not just Whitney. It´s weird that I have a first name..

Anyways, first, I should apologize for my letter last week. For the first three days I think I literally lost my mind. It´s back now, so we´re good. I´ll give you a little overview of my week.

Friday: After emailing you wonderful people I got to go to the temple. I think that experience helped my brain find me head again. I love the temple. You guys should go someday...or today, that would be better.

Saturday: We taught our very first "investigator" Karin. It WAS SO FUN! All in spanish too...I can teach the first vision in Espanl...listos? Cuando jose Smith tenia catorce anos... haha jk. (Also FYI, I've lost my sense of humor here. This week an elder tod this chiste, "Where do dogs park?"..."The barking lot"....I have never laughed so hard in my entire life.) Anyways, I loved teaching. Even if my spanglish was muy mal, it was still divertido.

Sunday: Everyone says, "Make it to Sunday and you're homefree.." Es verdad. Sunday was incredible. We have joint Relief Society with all of the sisters here. When we sang the opening song, I literally lost it. (I cry a lot, but so does everyone else. Esta bien.) The spirit is tangible at almost every moment here. I know that's why we learn so fast. For Sacrament Meeting each week we have to prepare a talk in Spanish, and then the Branch President gets up and calls on someone random... Luckily I wasn't chosen. However, I am known here as the professional Prayer (thank you dad, for teaching me) so I prayed in sacrament meeting. We also got a new Branch President. President Lindahl...he is incredible! He has a son or daughter in the 6th ward, I think! He talked to us that night, what he said changed my whole life. I seem to have those experiences everyday. In just one week I have learned so much about myself, my Savior and what I need to do on this earth. Then, Neil A. Marriott, 2nd counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency spoke to us that night. It was so great! We get the best speakers here. I wish I could write down all of my notes, there is just not enough time!! That night we watched The Testament and Hermana Bontempo and I literally weeped. It happens to the best of us...

Monday: I don't remember. Mostly we sit in a little box ALL day long and study until we mentally lose it. The MTC is the weirdest, happiest place on earth. The Church is true because I can sit in a box all day and learn a buttload about the gospel (name that movie) and still be happy about it. Also, our district is so fun. I think we laugh too much sometimes but that's okay because Sister Hinckley said, "In this life you can either laugh or cry, I prefer laughing, crying gives me a headache." We live by that quote.

Tuesday: Robert C. Gay of the seventy spoke to us at our devotional. It was at the Marriott Center. I wish you could have seen the army of missionaries walking there and back. He talked to us about our purpose. It was incredible. I really don't have words so just believe me, okay?

Wednesday-Thursday: We studied and studied and studied. The Spanish is coming along... I will get it. I know it. Those Guatemalans will meet the pulpit pounding spanish speaking Whitney and then run to the baptismal font.

Today: I GET TO GO TO THE TEMPLE. It's one of the highlights of my week.

Also, here at the MTC there is an abundance of food. Especially cookies. I am not really a cookie person, I don't know what happened to me but I'm sure I need some type of rehab to get rid of this addiction. Mostly I crave spinach and carrots. I eat fruit for every meal. I JUST WANT A VEGETABLE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

For gym time I usually play volleyball, sand or indoor. I ache to run. Since I live on the fourth floor I usually sprint up the stairs. The Hermanas think I'm crazy. Also, I've never done so many push up and sit ups in my life. I almost have a six pack. If I could just give up the cookies....That's my new goal. Bye bye cookies.

I wish I could express the things that I have felt here, but there are no words. Mostly I know that this gospel can bring us true happiness. I know that more than I know anything else. You are loved. I pray for all of you.

Please write me. Mom is winning in the letter department. GO MOM! Thanks for the packages, but I REALLY can't have anymore candy....I like pretzels and goldfish. And words. I like to read your words!  You guys, at the end of the day it is always nice to hear from someone who loves me. So, if you love me you'll write me. It makes my day like 50 times better. Letters are gold.

I love you guys, rememeber who you are.

Hermana Minnick 

MTC Survivor of DOS DIAS!

HOLA!

Como estas mi amigos? I'm going to be straight honest with you all...the MTC is HARD! But, the good kind of hard. It pushes each missionary to their limits! Sometimes I think it is harder than Chem 285! But, I love it! I eat, sleep, drink, think, and breathe Espanol. It's only day 3 and I'm getting frustrated with myself. I need to stop doing that! I know the Spanish will come. I know it. My companion is Hermana Bontempo-I truly lucked out, she is awesome! She is from Huntington Beach California! Hermana Bontempo is really laid back like me, we have a lot in common! I found all of the Reu sisters! They are so cute! I love ALL of them! In my district there are 10 people- 6 Elders (going to Mexico) and 4 sisters! The other two sisters are also going to Reu. Hermana Ostler y Hermana Parker-we have fun together! Last night we were praying in espanol and lost it because Hermana Parker said the prayer completely wrong. It really wasn't even that funny but when you sit in a classroom all day, someone sneezing makes everyone laugh. One thing that drives me nuts about the MTC is that even when you are outside, you feel like you are inside. You can never see the sky. You can never see the mountains. Every once in a while I see them and almost burst into tears because I want to run on my mountains. It's all good though. :) Also, I forgot to tell you, Madel was the very first person to give me a hug. I had just barely put my tag on, walked out of the building and then BAM...she attacked me! She literally picked me up and spun me around! I've also seen Brooke, half of my BYU ward, and kids from high school. Speaking of high school, there is an Elder from Draper in my district- Elder Walker..he graduated from Alta last week. I don't know if you know his family Mom? There is also Elder McCubbins... Stacey's nephew! It's a small world here!

 

-The food is bien. I just don't question. I have pineapple for every meal. This morning I had a hard boiled egg, a piece of toast, fruit, and skim milk. I WILL NOT GAIN WEIGHT HERE.

 

-I sleep on the top bunk, 4th floor...we haven't had gym time yet, so my exercise consists of running up and down the stairs and standing up from my chair to go to the bathroom.

 

-My Branch President is awesome! His name is President Peer. In our interview he rattled off lines from my patriarchal blessing. He also said, "In 20 years I would love to be a fly on the wall in your life...I never say that to missionaries." That helped me a lot. I struggled a little bit yesterday. I am a perfectionist. I want to know spanish. NOW. So, I was feeling down, like I couldn't do it. He helped me take a step back and realize that I need to let it go. Take it one step at a time, and count on the savior to help me.

 Another thing he said is that as long as we are keeping our covenants things will work out and we will be blessed. He said, and I quote, "Come hell or high water, we are a covenant keeping people!"

 

-My P-days are on Fridays, I always knew Friday was a good day! We get to go to the temple today. I am so excited!! The temple is my favorite place.

 

-PEOPLE: remember to write me.

 

This spirit here is unreal. I can feel it almost every second of the day. I am going to give it my all. My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I WILL ENDURE TO THE END. I am so happy to be here, I know this is the place for me.

 

I will write more next week!

Have fun in Powell my beautiful family!! Thank you for the cute notes hidden everywhere, they truly uplift me each time I find them! Also, thanks for the package MOM!!

 

Con Amor,

Hermana Minnick

 

 P.S. I will send pictures in a minute!! :)

To Write Me:

Hey Friends! I love letters and I love you. So, if you want to write me, here are my addresses:

E-mail:
whitney.minnick@myldsmail.net

-I don't have a lot of time to e-mail while in the MTC, but with dear elder and hand written letters I can take more time in writing you people back!

Dear Elder:
Before July 23rd:
www.dearelder.com
Select Provo MTC
Unit # 178
Mission Code: GUA-RET
Estimated Departure: 7/22/13

After July 23rd:
Select Guatemala Retalhuleu Mission

*Both are free

Provo MTC:
Sister Whitney Minnick
GUA-RET
2009 North 900 East Unit 178
Provo, UT 84602

Retalhuleu Mission Home:
After July 23rd

Guatemala Retalhuleu Mission
Iglesia Mormona
Boulevard Centenario
Salida a Coatepeque
Zona 2, Apt Postal 26
Retalhuleu
Guatemala

LOVE Y'ALL!! Also if you want to be put on the weekly email list you can tell my mom... tamiminnick@me.com
Or, you can just follow this wonderful blog!

Love,
Whit

Last Items of Business

Hi People! 

This post is kind of random so just bear with me for a moment. This blog is about to change gears and turn into my weekly missionary blog! (my mom will update)  I LEAVE IN 5 DAYS!! Can you believe it?? Also, yesterday my Stake President called my Dad to inform us that instead of flying to the Guatemala CCM on Tuesday, I will be driving down to the good ole Provo MTC on Wednesday. I guess the Guatemala CCM is too full, so I will be crammed into the (packed to the rim) Provo MTC. At first, I must admit I was bummed. But, then I realized I would get to hang in my favorite place ever (Provo), experience firsthand all of the cool speakers that come, and see my friends that are already there! I'm excited. (That's an understatement). And I'M READY TO BUST OUT OF THIS PLACE. 

However, I am really going to miss Draper, my home, my family, my friends...the list goes on. Let's just set one thing straight. I will NOT be a trunkie missionary. I don't even know if I know the real meaning of "trunkie" or if that is even how you spell it..? In my mind "trunkie" has a negative connotation. From what I've heard, having a companion who is "trunkie" is exhausting and annoying. I'm going on a mission. I'm going to do it right. I'm going to give it my all. Whining is unacceptable. I think it is okay to miss your family, it would probably be unhealthy if you didn't. However, when you are working in the mission field, your mind shouldn't be thinking about the favorite TV show you're missing or the boating trip to Lake Powell (thanks for going without me fam! really nice...)  I want to be there 100%- physically, emotionally, and mentally! SO, right here, right now, I am going to write down all of the things I will miss so that I don't have to open this door for 18 months. 

Ready? Okay! I'm doing this in a list, I like them...they are organized.

1. I am really going to miss MY mountains. I never get tired of looking at them, running on them, hiking on them, crying on them....haha ok we'll stop there. Basically, they are a special, sacred place for me.

2. I'll miss my Mom. She does like EVERYTHING for me...it's going to be a wakeup call for me to say the least. She's the bomb. I love you MOM!

3. I'm going to miss Castle. It's my favorite TV show. In the season finale Castle proposed to Beckett.... I guess I'll never know if she says yes or no. No one send me spoilers please and thank you.

4. I'm going to miss boating, snowboarding, scuba diving, and motorcycling with my family. 

5. I guess I'll miss Weston. He's alright.

6. Moment of truth: I will miss instagram, twitter, snapchat  and not Facebook. Amen. 

7. Sleeping in.

8. Staying up late.

9. JUST KIDDING WESTON I"M REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU!! 3 1/2 years ain't got nothing on us!!!!!! You're my best friend. I love you Westy.

10. Food: Zupas, cafe rio, french fries, training table, SUSHI, Mama's fish house, peanut butter and this could take forever so I'll stop.

11. I will miss Utah's weather...haha jokes. 

12. The snow. I really love the snow. It's peaceful.

13. Zane. He is going to tower me when I get home. He'll probably also be able to demolish me in volleyball too. What a shame. I love you Zane!

14. English. It's a good language. I'll miss it. 

15. Clean drinking water. I keep telling myself, "Diseases are fun Whitney! They help you lose weight!"

16. Temples. I'm going to miss having a temple so close, even just to look at on a rough day. I love the temple.

17. Hi Dad, I'll miss you. You're really going to miss me too. Whitney + Dad = Same Person. I love you DAD!!

18. My bed, my shower, my clean home, AC, and my car. 

19. Alone time. Whitney time. Me myself and I time. 

20. I'll miss the people here. You know who you are. And if you don't write me, run. I attack with words. JK. Just write me!! I want to know about your lives and the outside world! Also, I'm a really good secret keeper (especially in another country)!

Peace and Blessings my friends.   1.5-be ready for me! 

Mucho Amor,

Hermana Whit