A Series of Fortunate Events

Hello, All--

...and thus, one of the craziest weeks of my mission comes to a close! Guys I've been wanting to use that email title for weeks now, so I'm hyped I finally get to! :D Let me explain. No, there is too much! Let me sum up! (Bonus points to those who get the quote...)

The only picture of our zone/district (our district is splitting,
so there are 2 normal-sized districts now

our Out-Of-This-World ward missionary/
mission leader team!

found a friend in the girls' bathroom at the church
(yes it's a millipede)

prep for Sister Kikel's birthday

Early Christmas at the Wrights.
We got matching pjs! It was perfect
because so few companionships
are 2 brunettes. A trio of brown
hair is an anomaly!

So this week was mainly preparing for Kyle's baptism, and for Sister Kikel's departure, with a bunch of other things thrown in. I don't usually do day-by-day, but I'm gonna have to for a bit of this email, to be able to fit everything in.

Had to get my companions on my
shoulders...

TUESDAY was our one normal day. We had a lesson with Kyle and it went well, so not much to explain there. But he hadn't told his mom yet (he lives with his parents and works in the family shop, he's 27), and she's a very strong Methodist so he was hesitant to mention his getting baptized to her. We encouraged him to tell her. We also told him that this week would be one of the hardest, because it's the week before the baptism, and the adversary works the hardest this week.

How about all 3 of us in a stack?

His mom didn't take it well, and she told others about it so they could also convince him of his mistake. We got a text Wednesday after District Meeting from Kyle, that said to cancel the baptism for Saturday. (As a missionary, nothing makes your heart drop to your stomach more than a text like that.) We scheduled an "emergency lesson" since we weren't planning on meeting with him that day.

The Fardoses made "Promise Cakes." It's a
watermelon chunk with yogurt. It was so good!

Any other week, we would have just had the lesson but this week, Sister Kikel had her departing interview with the mission president too. So while she was there, Sister Swensen and I tried to figure out what was best for Kyle. Then we headed to the other church building.

...have to do it with every
companion!

at the Wright's house

BEST LESSON. We then had one of the most spiritual and impactful lessons I've had yet on my mission. The three of us and the Harrises (senior missionary couple in our zone) were able to testify and teach. The spirit was literally tangible in the room, as we talked and read the Book of Mormon. If I had all the space in the world, it wouldn't be sufficient to describe everything that happened in that hour and a half. We all left feeling so much better, and Kyle texted us after, telling us he wanted to keep the baptism for Saturday, and his mom was all of a sudden supportive (miracles). That was one of the biggest events this week, was that lesson, by far.

more Christmas treats

Then we headed to the Wrights (not to my last companion; there's a family in this ward/congregation with the same last name and the same amazing energy and love that my last companion had but they're not related), and we had a little Christmas/Birthday celebration! They're amazing, and I'm gonna miss them so much!

nametag photo attempt: gotta love the background

bday gifts for me and Sister Kikel

THURSDAY was Sister Kikel's 22nd birthday, and you bet we sang some Taylor Swift! (song by that name: 22) Plus another lesson with Kyle, that went well. We got to celebrate with dinner at the Fardoses house. They are our ward mission leader and his wife, and they've been an amazing support to us. The love they show us is stronger than I've ever seen! We have to be careful what we say around them if we ever need anything, because it will magically appear. Then Julia (Sister Fardos) will deny it every time. But they got Sister Kikel and I little gifts, and I'm beyond excited for the shirt that's coming soon from them!

Kyle's baptism: he was excited, but stressed
because his parents were there too...
he was really happy though!

OUT 6 MONTHS. Friday's "event" was my 6-month mark! I've been a missionary for more than half a year now, as crazy as that sounds. And of course Saturday was Kyle's baptism as well as my birthday! Honestly, I don't know how that miracle worked out, with the timing that it did. Sister Kikel's last weekend in the field, she gets a baptism, and I got the greatest birthday gift I could ever ask for, especially as a missionary! The ordinance was amazing to experience. While Kyle and Brother Fardos changed into dry clothes, we as the missionary trio got to share our testimonies with the group of people in attendance. The spirit was, again, so strong, and it was really cool to hear each of us (missionaries) with our different personalities, and how we balance each other out.

Post-departing temple trip for Sister Kikel.
I didn't get to go to the temple :( but it's okay
lunch with Sister Fardos and her sister

Then, even cooler, Kyle's mom actually took us out to lunch with them and the family that came! When she first walked in she was very closed off and unhappy but by the end of the baptism she had opened up so much and her entire persona had changed. That's one thing that I'll never get tired of as a missionary, seeing people change as we teach or even over the course of a single hour. She's amazing, and was really fun and talked to us the whole time we were eating so that was a huge miracle! And to top off the night, we ate dinner at a younger couple's house in the ward, and Sister Evans is a returned missionary. So I got to hear her stories, plus she's sarcastic, so we got along quite nicely :)

nature

Stair selfie at the capitol building

CHANGING PLACES. OK, I promise this email is almost done, I told you it was a crazy week so you can't say I didn't warn you. Sunday morning, we got transfer boards. We were 100% sure that I was staying in Auburn 3rd Ward, and the entire ward was praying that Sister Swensen would stay, because that's the logical thing and everyone loves her. Well, Sister Swensen is staying! I'll be moving again tomorrow, to the Alta-Sierra and Lake of the Pines Ward. It's an in-zone transfer, so I won't be leaving the zone/stake, but I'll be in a new area. Kinda weird but President Ward knows what he's doing.

I struggle with normal pictures

Finally met Oso, the Fardos's dog!
He's always outside when we come
because he's such a nut, but look
how big and fluffy he is!

So the long missionary phrases of what's happening is:
"6 weeks and I'm Out!" (staying in an area for only one transfer),
Greenie-breaking (I'll be someone's first companion after they JUST finished training),
Shotgun (Elders were in the area, and now it will be Sisters), and
Double-covering an area (our companionship will serve the members in 2 congregations).

My desk after my birthday. The empty
plate is there because Sister Swensen
made and amazing sandwich
but I ate it too fast for the picture

Yep, it's a mouthful! I've always felt bad for the missionaries that were only in an area for 6 weeks because that's barely enough time to get to know the ward. But, now it's my turn to do that, and leave the greatest ward I've been to yet! I know there are things I need to do in my next area. My new companion is Sister Hatch. I haven't met her yet, but she just barely finished training. I'm excited to help her get her missionary legs underneath her, and see what I can learn from her too! "Shotgunning" an area, is when it has changed from Elders to Sisters or Sisters to Elders, so that will be fun, to start with nothing in a new area! And we'll be "double-covering" so we'll go to 6 hours of church on Sunday :)

Elder and Sister Harris, they're my mission
grandparents and I'm gonna miss
them so much as I leave their district!
They've done so much for us, and these
past 3 weeks they've taken the sisters
out about a dozen times

TRIO THOUGHTS. As the trio comes to a close, I just want to say it was quite the adventure, and I learned so much more than I thought I would. It's been an experience none of us will forget. I'm grateful for the opportunities I have been given, and the lessons I get to learn on a mission! We aren't ever alone, and even when you are surrounded by people but can't seem to connect, He's always there to give us the support and guidance we need!

Just some amazing members of
Auburn 3rd that I won't see again
for forever it's fine

Who's ready for another crazy week ahead? Whatever your answer was, same. I've never shotgunned before and when you get to a new area, your areabook (our life and plans as missionaries) doesn't transfer over for a few days. We'll have almost nothing to go off of initially: starting from scratch! I'll be able to really work hard, though, so I'm excited.

This is Natalie! She's the 17-year-old investigator
and when I first met her I was so confused as to
why she seemed familiar. She looks similar and
acts similar to Kara! I showed everyone a picture
to compare and they all agree so it's gonna be sad
not to teach my little sister anymore. But I know
she'll continue to grow strong in the gospel even
without all 3 of us sisters teaching her anymore.

I love hearing from you! And thank you for all the birthday wishes. I'm no longer a teen, so I guess I have to start acting like an adult?! (Mom, just so you know, that was a joke...) I'm doing what I'm supposed to do out here, no worries! Love you all, remember who you are, don't let it get you down ;) and Good Luck this week!

Sister Whitesell
teresa.whitesell@myldsmail.net

NEW ADDRESS:
14614 Gold Creek Ct. Unit B
Grass Valley, CA 95949