Happy Thanksgiving!

I LOVE Sister Lee!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The last exchange of my mission.

Feeding Sister Lee our dinner one night--chicken crackers.

It's been so cold here lately! It even snowed this week. I felt like I was in Utah... scraping off the car in the mornings.

Hello family! 

This was such a great week. Thanksgiving was fun. We had a mission activity in the morning. It was a talent show and very last minute our zone leaders asked me and Sister Lee to sing with them. So we got another set of sisters and they played guitar and we sang "Because I Have Been Given Much." It was fun! It's funny how I've changed. If that had been the beginning of my mission I would not have felt comfortable doing that in front of so many other missionaries. But singing on the streets to absolutely everyone causes you to lose your fear of singing in front of people. That day we watched the Joseph Smith movie with Blake and Bailie and then had dinner with them at their aunt's house. It was a good Thanksgiving. I was grateful that her aunt's house had a lot of people and  children. It was a bit chaotic and felt more like a Thanksgiving at home with all the cousins and family. 

We met a new investigator this week named Sarah. She is awesome! She came to church and we taught her yesterday. She is very prepared. She's had a hard life with addictions and feels that God has helped her through it and wants to gain a closer relationship with him. She is on date for January 3 (I can't believe we're going to be in 2015 soon)! Keep her in your prayers.

I went on my last exchange this week with a set of our sisters. Crazy. I've been on SO many exchanges the last eight months. But it's good. I always learn from the sisters that I get to serve. I am so grateful I've been able to serve as a STL. Heavenly Father knew it would push me and it would be difficult. I've had to do things I didn't think I'd be able to do and I've learned so much. I love how Heavenly Father works that way. He gives us challenging things that sometimes we think we can't handle. But through the Atonement we can achieve so much more. I really do have a testimony of the Atonement. We meet so many people who are agnostic or atheist and it breaks my heart because life is so much more meaningful and happy when we trust in God--when we apply the gift that is our Savior and His Atonement into our lives. 

We got to go to the temple today and it was glorious! I love the temple so much. Be prepared to go lots with me when I get home! I feel like this is a shorter letter, but just know that I am so happy. I love Heavenly Father. I'm so grateful that He knows what's best for us. I'm grateful that I'm serving my last transfer here in the YSA ward with Sister Lee. I love Sister Lee! I love the Book of Mormon. I know that it is true. Read it everyday! Feast upon it! Jacob 3:2. I love you all! 

Love,

Sister Veronica White

Another Week!

 Sister Salaboa

 Sister Lee

Sister Lee calls this our Asian tourist pose

Hello family! 

This was an eventful week. Lots happened. First off, Blake is on date for baptism! December 20. He seems really sincere. He's a little nervous about it and still has a lot to learn, but he has a lot of faith. More than he realizes. We're spending Thanksgiving with him and Bailie (his sister's), so that'll be so fun! 

Here are two really funny experiences that happened this week. I am sorry that I am not the best story teller... so who knows if they will even be funny to you. But here's my attempt. So on Friday we went to contact a referral, a YSA named David. He's from China but has been living here for about two years. He used to have a host family in Oregon who helped him to believe in God. Anyway, when we contacted him he didn't have that long before he needed to go to class. So we bore our testimony to him about The Book of Mormon and how it can bless him and about church attendance and invited him to come. At the end of the conversation I asked, "Before we leave, can we sing a song for you?" He looked at me and with all seriousness said, "Can I kiss you?" I was in shock. I looked at Sister Morrison (we were on exchanges) and her eyes were so big. I told him, "Oh, we don't do that. We just shake hands." I stuck my hand out for a handshake and he grabbed it and leaned over to kiss it. He was like an inch above my hand. I pulled my hand back so fast but he had a firm grip so he was still holding on to my hand and bending down. It was so awkward! I shifted my hand in his and shook it up and down and told him that is how we shake hands. I had Sister Morrison pray because I knew I would start laughing if I prayed. After the prayer he asked Sister Morrison if he could give us hugs. She told him there were people at church he could hug. hahaha. That was one of the most bizarre experiences of my mission... and I lived in Burien for more than a year of my mission. I've had a lot of bizarre experiences. 

The other funny thing that happened was when I was with Sister Salabao. We were on exchanges. At one of the doors we knocked this old couple answered. I told her we were missionaries but she yelled back at me that she was hard of hearing and I needed to speak up. So I yelled into her ear that we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she threw up her arms in a "Go away, I'm repulsed by you" position and said, "I lived in Salt Lake for ten years. You're WAY too conservative for me." After a couple of times of asking if we could sing for her (my voice getting louder with each time) she let us sing. So we basically yelled the words of "I Am a Child of God" to her. After the song her husband said, "That was okay. Not as good as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, though. I admire the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but it doesn't have anything to do with the truth!" And his wife chimed in (actually, that is too delicate of a word to use here.. screamed might be more accurate) with, "Yeah, you're way too conservative!" and slammed the door. I started laughing so hard. And then to make it even better we hear them yelling at each other inside.The old lady said, "I didn't mean to be so brutal." To which her husband responded with, "Well, you have to be!" hahaha. 

I saw the Davenports on Sunday. That was a surprise. I walked into the chapel for church and Zach Davenport was standing there. And I got to see Sister Davenport, too. I love her! 

We had Zone Conference yesterday with Elder Falabella from the Seventy. It was really great. I learned a lot from the Holy Ghost. I just really love this gospel so much. And I love my mission so much. It has changed me. I had to bear my "departing testimony" yesterday. Really, it's just simple. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that He performed the Atonement for each one of us out of love. I know that because of the Atonement we can become better and happier than we could otherwise. I know that Heavenly Father loves each one of us more than we could ever comprehend. I know that the Book of Mormon is God's word. It changes lives. It's changed my life. I love reading the Book of Mormon because it invites the Spirit into my life. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Jesus Christ's true church. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love my mission. I have developed a deeper love and appreciation for my life, for my family, for this gospel, and for Them because of my mission. Words can never adequately express what my mission means to me. I am so happy.

I love you all and hope you have a great week. Always CTR and read your scriptures. Be happy! The church is true! 

Love,

Sister Veronica White

I love being a Missionary!

Hello family.

This was a good week. It went by so quickly. I can't believe we're done with week 2 of this transfer. I hate how fast time is going by. We had a back-to-back exchange this week with two sets of our sisters. I'm grateful to have this calling. I learn so much from the sisters that I serve. I love the YSA ward and I love Sister Lee! I'm really grateful she's the one killing me off. She is so funny. Our ward has lots of fun activities. Tonight we're having a Thanksgiving Fiesta with Mexican food. It's nice because people invite their friends so there's lots of nonmembers to talk to.

Keep Blake in your prayers. We taught him the first half of the Restoration this week. He has no religious background at all and doesn't really know anything about God or Jesus Christ. It made me really grateful that I was raised knowing that we are children of God and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I am so blessed. Our Bishopric changed this week. It's not like I really knew them very well, but it's still an adjustment. The ward was sad to see our Bishop leave and is excited for our new bishop. Our ward mission leader, Zach, is the best! We had the Member and Missionary fireside last night in Bothell. We're not allowed to go unless we have an investigator, recent convert, or less active going. We had three people who committed to come and then all three of them cancelled Sunday morning. I knew that Brandon and Sister Nelson were going to be there and this is my last one. Sister Lee and I worked so hard to find someone to come! After Sacrament Meeting we walked up to Zach and told him we needed his help. He said he promised he'd get someone there. As long as we showed up he'd have someone! I was so grateful! 

The Member and Missionary fireside was amazing. After the mission I want to come back up and visit with you guys and we're going to come to one of these. The Spirit was so strong. And the best part was I got to see Sister Nelson! I miss her a lot. I was so happy to see her and I got to talk to Brandon after, too. I couldn't stop smiling all night long. And then the saddest part... I had to say goodbye to them. Sister Nelson is in the other half of the mission so I won't get to see her again before I leave. I just can't believe that this is my last transfer... my last Member and Missionary fireside... my last time seeing Sister Nelson while we're both missionaries. It kind of breaks my heart. Last night was the first time I think it really hit that my mission is coming to an end. I cried myself to sleep last night. haha.

But don't worry, I'm working as hard as I can and having so much fun. I am grateful for each one of you. Thank you Mom and Dad for raising me in the gospel and making God a priority. Thank you, Bruce, for always setting such a great example and for loving your mission so much. It helped me in my decision to come on a mission. Thank you, Savannah, for always being so patient and loving. You're my favorite peace maker! Thank you, Joe, for always being so enthusiastic for life and happy. I love you all so much and I'm so grateful you're my family. I am forever grateful that I have had the chance to be a missionary. I have learned so much. But one of the most important things I've learned is that Jesus Christ is our Savior. The Atonement is real and powerful. I have learned that I have so many faults and weaknesses but as I apply the Atonement to my life I can and do become better. I know that God loves us and is mindful of us. I know that this gospel is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is from God. It testifies of Christ. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so much. 

Love,

Sister Veronica White

I Love YSA!

At Alki beach. We went there our last P day before transfers. 

Our extremely awkward district photo. 

Sister Nelson's mom sent her a package of Halloween stuff and included me. Our pumpkin necklaces light up!

Hello family.
This was a great week. I just really love being a missionary so much. I have never been so happy. Every day I am grateful that the age was lowered and that I'm serving right now. My life has completely changed because of it.

I'm really loving my new area. It's definitely an adjustment. Redmond is way nicer than Burien was. I think I was experiencing culture shock for the first few days... seeing clean, bathed, stylish people on the streets. It was weird. This weekend was stake conference, so I haven't officially had a Sunday in the ward yet, but I have met quite a few members and I already love them. This ward is so fun! There's lots of activities in the YSA ward. Quite a few members from our ward already have careers. A lot of them work at Microsoft. The members are really nice and they make really good food for us, so that's nice.

 We do a lot of contacting at the University of Washington Bothell campus. It is so fun! One of the days we were there last week it was POURING rain and we were completely soaked and I loved every minute of it! We just kept talking to everyone. There are some really interesting people. So many people are either atheist or agnostic, but we've had some really good conversations. One of my very favorite things about missionary work is watching people's hearts soften as they feel the Spirit. That happened a lot this week and so many times I've been overwhelmed with how grateful I am for the Spirit and that He testifies of truth. This gospel is true.

We are teaching someone named Blake. His sister was just baptized in March and he's seen how happy it's made her. He doesn't have any sort of religious background but last week we had a lesson on prayer and it was powerful. Please keep him in your prayers because he works Sunday afternoons. Our ward is at one so he can't come. He came to stake conference this weekend though since it was in the morning. He said he liked it, but was kind of bored. haha. We had Mission Leadership Council on Friday--that's where all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders meet with the mission presidency. It's my second to last one. So sad. I'm very grateful Heavenly Father has given me the opportunity to serve as a sister training leader. It's been hard, but I've learned so much as well.

Sister Lee is amazing. She's so cute and fun. She's from Korea, but was attending BYU before her mission. I've learned so much from her. She's so in tune with the Spirit and always asks inspired questions. I'm grateful Heavenly Father let me be her companion.

 Know that I love you all. You're in my prayers. Read your scriptures and study PMG. Heavenly Father has given us so many resources to be happy. To be truly happy we need the Spirit in our lives. And we invite the Spirit into our lives when we keep the commandments. CTR everyday!

 Love you! Love, Sister Veronica White

My Last Transfer!

Hello family! Hope you're doing well. This week was very busy. We had a lot of set appointments and almost all of them fell through. One of our new gators dropped us. It was just a trial of our faith. But through it all we were still blessed with lots of miracles. And I was with Sister Nelson, so of course I was happy! She is amazing. I just love her so much! I'm grateful Heavenly Father put us together. One of the sisters that we serve went home early this week for medical reasons so the last four days of this transfer we were in a trio. We were with Sister Leung. She's from Hong Kong. Sadly I don't have any photos with her but it was a lot of fun. We had a lot of laughs. One night we were tracting and this old man told us he was busy. We asked him if we could sing a song for him and he looked at us and said, "Didn't you hear me? I'm busy. B-U-S-Y!" and slammed the door. It was very funny. We had a great lesson about the Sacrament on Saturday with Brandon and he told us how since his baptism last week he's felt so happy. He said he's felt the Holy Ghost helping him with his schoolwork. And then on Sunday he blessed the Sacrament! And then Blanca got up and bore her testimony. It was amazing! She talked about how she's grateful Heavenly Father sent the sisters to her because she's so happy and she loves God. It was so sweet. That really is the gospel--happiness. I love it! We are so blessed to have it in our lives. So transfers happened. I left Burien. I am really sad to leave Burien--the ward, the people I'm working with, Sister Nelson! I will really miss them. I'm grateful for Sister Nelson. We got along so well and worked so hard together and I've learned so much from her. But I'm ready to serve Heavenly Father with all my heart wherever I go. I am in the Redmond stake--way richer and fancier than the Seattle stake. I think I'm going to face culture shock for a little while. Everything is so nice. My companion is Sister Lee. She's from Korea. She's very sweet and I'm excited to be with her. We are both Sister Training Leaders. This is her first transfer as a STL. I was kind of surprised I am still a STL. I thought I would be released. But I'm excited to serve with her and learn from her and to serve wonderful sisters in this mission. We are in a YSA ward so that will be something new. I've never served YSA before. Definitely an adventure! Apparently we cover the Redmond stake and part of Bothell and Kirkland as well. I'm grateful for this opportunity to show Heavenly Father that I love him and I plan on serving as diligently as I can this last six weeks. I love being a missionary. I know that this gospel is true. I know it changes lives. I've seen it change lives, mine included. I know God loves us. Read and study your scriptures everyday. Study PMG! I love you all! Love, Sister Veronica White

Such an Amazing Week!

 At Brandon's baptism.

 Blanca

This pic is for Savannah and Dad. We pulled up into the church one night and there was this dog in the driver's seat looking like he was about to drive away. It was funny.

Hello family! 

So this week was one of the best of my mission. Of my life! So, so many miracles. I don't even understand how Heavenly Father is blessing me so much. I'm very grateful.

 

Okay, where to even start? On Tuesday Brandon had his baptismal interview and passed! It was so awesome. We were talking with him after and guess what?! He started talking about how he wants to serve a mission. Can you believe it? Sister Nelson and I were just dying of happiness. He's such a good kid. I'm very grateful we met him that night. It really was all the Holy Ghost. 

As is the case with the Adversary, he likes to oppose. The day of the baptism was pretty stressful. We got to the church early to fill up the font and had some issues with that. And the Relief Society room was a disaster. I've never seen a room in a church building so trashed. There was garbage everywhere and the chalkboard needed cleaned, none of the chairs were set up. The Seattle stake center is not known for cleanliness, that's for sure. It took us over an hour to get everything cleaned up, etc. But it all turned out well. There was a lot of ward support at the baptism, especially from the youth. It was a beautiful program. Brandon looked so happy. After he was baptized he bore his testimony and talked about how happy he was and how he's grateful he found this church. It was just so simple and honest. The Spirit was so strong. Such a happy day. Then the next day at church he received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was given the Priesthood. He was just beaming. 

Some more miracles... I don't know if I told you about Pratap and Chandra. They're a very sweet little family from Nepal. They speak pretty good English. Pratap (the husband) became Christian about a year ago and has a very basic understanding of Christianity. Sister Nelson and I realized that we needed to take things slowly and simply. So we made these prayer sandwiches. They're so cute! I wish I had taken a picture of them but we've already given them to our investigators. It was a sandwich that we made out of paper... two slices of bread, lettuce, tomato, cheese, mustard, etc. We built the sandwich just like we pray. The first slice says "Dear Heavenly Father." The mustard says "Thank you for", etc. He loved it and he said a prayer out loud for the first time ever in his life. It was so sweet and after the prayer he had the biggest smile on his face and Chandra was overjoyed. She was even clapping. haha. It was just so cute. 

Guess what?! Do you remember Gina? She was that incredible investigator who was progressing and preparing for baptism and then her family and friends filled her with negative things about the church and she was confused. Well this last week we saw her and we're seeing her again next week. I love her so much and I am so happy that we're going to start teaching her. Keep her in your prayers. She is so ready for the gospel! 

And then the last miracle to share! Do you remember last week how we met Jeff and Mayra? Well this weekend we taught their whole family the Restoration. And they are so prepared! They are very humble and willing to listen and have so many wonderful questions. They're looking for a church and something to unify their family but they haven't found anything that fits yet. They have two kids--Angel (boy, 15) and Carla (girl, 14). It was really stormy outside while we were teaching and in the middle of the lesson the power went out! It was crazy. So they got flashlights and candles and then we finished the lesson. Definitely an adventure. I've never taught in the dark before. We have a return appointment for next week. Please keep them in your prayers. I'm so excited. I've been looking for a family to teach my whole mission. 

Ah, mission life just really is the greatest. I love it so much. I am so blessed to be here. Transfers are next week.... My last transfer. I can't believe it. I really hope that I get to stay here in Burien with Sister Nelson. But I will go wherever Heavenly Father wants me to go and I will work as hard as I possibly can to help people come closer to Christ. That truly is the way to happiness. I know that Heavenly Father is real and that He loves us. Jesus Christ is our Savior. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's true church. We are so blessed to be a part of it. Read your scriptures every day. Repent every day. CTR! I love you.

Love,
Sister Veronica White

I Am So HAPPY!

Hello family!

I am just so happy, words can't even express it. I really think this is the happiest time of my life. So Brandon is officially getting baptized this Saturday. I know we've talked about it a lot, but we had the most amazing lesson on Friday and he told us that in the past there were always little doubts in his mind and deep down he knew he wouldn't make that date. But he feels differently about this one. He said he's confident that he will be prepared for baptism this Saturday. He went to see Meet the Mormons this last week with the youth and he said he feels like that's what really made the difference. He loved the movie. We talked about the priesthood at our Young Mens President's home. It's cool because our YMP was baptized when he was nineteen so he and Brandon can relate a lot. Also Brandon came to the Member and Missionary fireside last night. More on that, later. But the Spirit was so strong! 

This last week we went tracting with Sister Miller (she's in our ward, but she's also part of the Mission Presidency). Sister Nelson and I were a bit intimidated. But it was incredible! We had such a great evening and met lots of new people that we're going to start teaching. There was this one little family from Kenya. Their son, Lyon, was just about the cutest thing ever. He loved when we sang "I Am a Child of God" and he was just so funny. I know that Heavenly Father led us to them. Another cool miracle we had a different night during tracting... we knocked on this door and this lady named Mayra answered and looked so tired. She said she was busy taking care of her husband and didn't have time to talk to us. But then in the background we hear the husband tell her to invite us in so we can say a prayer with them. We found out that he had just been in the ER that morning because of a seizure. They both looked exhausted and broken. We sang and prayed with them and they were so touched. They started visiting with us and they have been so humbled and prepared to accept the gospel. We found out that the husband, Jeff, even has a copy of the Book of Mormon. He had a friend serve a mission. Jeff said that every now and then he'll open up his Book of Mormon and read a few verses. I know that Heavenly Father needed us to meet Jeff and Mayra. I'm grateful we were led by the Holy Ghost to be in that neighborhood to go tracting. We have a return appointment for next week. 

We had dinner with Blanca this Sunday. And her son who's not a member ate with us. He's eighteen or nineteen. He hasn't been interested in taking the lessons. But he stayed for the message that we shared and then Blanca invited him to come to the Member and Missionary fireside. And he came! Those meetings are amazing. New converts bear their testimony about how and why they joined the church. And there's music and President Choi speaks, too. It was so good!

And that brings me to my last miracle I want to share with you guys. The Member and Missionary fireside was in Shoreline (my old area, Carkeek Park!). So I was really hoping to see some people I knew. I got to see Sister Hoopes, whom I love dearly! And guess what? Pat was with her! The gator Sister Salabao and I were working with while we were there. She's the cute old lady that's kind of a recluse. She was there! I couldn't believe it. Sister Salabao came and got me after and took me over to see them. Pat got teary eyed when she saw both of us back together. And Sister Hoopes did too and said she misses us and she's grateful for us. That if it weren't for us Pat wouldn't be there tonight. I know it's not because of us. We were led by the Holy Ghost to meet her and then try her back again even though she had told us she wasn't interested. I love Shoreline! I am so happy I got to see them last night. I love Sister Hoopes so much. Definitely coming back up and visiting them after. I am so grateful to be a missionary and to have met so many wonderful people. I love being a missionary. I love the people of Seattle. I love Sister Nelson! I love this gospel and I love my Savior! I love you all. CTR! 

Love,

Sister Veronica White