Whitney's First Area!

"BREAKING NEWS!!! Whitney is leaving for San Fernando, CA Monday morning! She will stay there til she gets her visa to Peru!! She just called me! She was crying and I didn't!!"

 - Joel via Facebook

Letter From Whitney 02/12/2013

Ok, apparently Whitney is leaving the MTC this week but doesn't know where she's going!!!
See below! Or maybe she isn't telling us? Not sure!

Hola familia y mis amigos! Como estan? Es muy loco que esta mi ultima semana aqui en el MTC! WOW! Yo no se a donde voy pero yo sabre en 2 mas dias! Estoy lista pero yo tengo mucho mas enspanol que necesito aprender.

Gracias por sus muchas oraciones y por pigetas y cartas! Y Angie gracias por so dones por el dia de corazones! Mi companera le gusto mucho! Yo tambien gracias! Yo tengo muchas cartas que necesito escribir hoy, hare eso! See translation below

Okay wow way to much going on now adays as usual! More spanish and gospel all day everyday. Its funny because before coming here I thought it would be much easier to speak spanish but wow. I still have been really blessed with what I have learned. My companion and I are only speaking spanish to eachother this week. That is really hard but we have learned so much doing that. Anyone who has studied spanish knows that subjunctive is a real pain! Im no complaining its just difficult ;) Okay so it looks like you are all having tonz of fun! And I feel alot like Jeff says he feels in his letter. Man he is looking handsome that cousin of mine. Skinny too. Someone please dear elder me his address because I got a short email from him but I can't email back. Mis pequenos primos estan creciendo mucho! Lindos! Extrano les mucho!

So this week we had some awesome firesides. This one was with a man who works on the missionary committee and it was cool. He had people fly in from Argentina that he taught 40 years ago and it was special for me to see. I want an experience like that some day!

Well you all should write me and guess where I'm going!

P.S I got a letter from Hermana Arnaud! She is in Enterprise! YAY

Les Quiero mucho! Por favor, Leeran 2 Tim 1:7 me gusto mucho!

Hermana Sanders

Hello family and friends! How are you? It's crazy that my last week here in the MTC! WOW! I do not know where I'm going but I will know in 2 more days! I'm ready but I have much more I need to learn enspanol.

Thank you for your many prayers and pigetas and letters! And Angie thanks for gifts so the day of hearts! My companion liked it a lot! I also thank you! I have many letters I need to write today, will do that!

Letter From Whitney 02/05/2013

Okay so wow. 2 semanas left! Still no visas but we will probably know whats going on soonish.

It's been a really good week. We have learned so much but as we get ready to go out I get a little nervous but I trust the Lord and know that I am just an instrument in His Hands.

Today we went to the temple. It was great. The breakfast was awesome as usual! So today I have letters I will be writing. I'm so sorry for those that didn't get replies to their letters last week. I wrote all P-day. I think I was just really slow at writing them. Be patient with me. I'm usually writing when I'm doing laundry so it's hard but yeah.

I have seen Elder Tait quite a bit this week. The MTC can be very overwhelming the first week but he has a great spirit and he is going to do great! It was so nice to see a face from home.

So this week we sat by Sister Nally the MTC Presidents wife and she told us the news of the new MTC in Mexico , which will be fabulous! This week we have 1,500 missionaries coming. There isn't much room but they are very organized here so I know they will have something figured out. Its amazing to see how Heavenly Father is opening so many doors for the Church now. Did you hear that Mexico made special visas for a student for 8 weeks? Missionary training in spanish is only 6 weeks , I don't know why anyone else would be a student for 8 weeks in Mexico. Amazing.

No chior this week ;(

Mom and Dad I can't believe you saw Elder Holland! He really is a celebrity around here!

My teacher says if it is possible for us to get our visas in a few weeks they might have us serve here in Provo for a while! We will see!

I don't know what else to say, so much to say but not much time.

Oh yeah , here is a good scripture to recite while working out ha ha

Y si los hombres vienen a mi,

les mostrare su debilidad. Doy

a los hombres debilidad para

que sean humildes. A basta mi

gracia a todos los hombres se

humillan ante mi. Porque si se

humillan ante mi, y tienen fe en mi,

Entonces hare las cosas debiles sean

fuertes para ellos. 

Try it... ha ha.... Im weak when I work out but the other day I was reciting it I focused more on that than wanting to stop and I got a really good work out in.

Pray for my poor Hermana, her family hasn't really written her this week and its terrible.

Thank you , I'm so lucky to have your support!

Les Quiere!

Hermana Sanders

Letter 1/29/2013

Wow! This has been a really long week! So much to tell you as usual!

So this is our 6th week here and I can't believe it! We are the oldest district in our zone! Still no visas but I had a cruel joke played on me this week. So one night this week I saw that on one of the DearElders I got that my departure date was put for this week on there and I was like WHATTT??? The next day I was called out of class to go to the front desk and I thought it was probably my travel plans, my companion was crying and it was nerve racking. I got to the phone to call the front desk and it was only to tell me that they found my skirt that alterations had lost! Ha ha. Well during this week we sat at breakfast with the MTC President, President Nally. We talked about where we were going to serve and about visas and things. He said if they haven't come by now it's likely that we won't go to the Peru MTC and that if they don't come like the week before we are supposed to leave we will have to be reassigned until we get them. We feel like we will be reassigned. I was sad about that for awhile but now I really look forward to sharing the Gospel anywhere! This week our teacher gave us an opportunity in class just to pray for 10 minutes and to listen. I thought 10 minutes was going to be real long but I ended up taking 15. Anyway after I recieved alot of personal revealation. One part of that was in D and C 79:3-5 and it says, 

" Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss. Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true. Behold, this is the will of him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen."

This was just a beautiful confirmation to me this week that it doesn't matter where I go as long as I am doing what Christ has called me to do.

Wow! Um ... Oh Ephraim is coming tomorrow?!? I will watch for him! Tomorrow we get to be host and bring all the new missionaries in and get them settled so I will watch for him! I loved the fashion show pics! What was that for? Pat looks skinny with long hair!

I hope everyone is staying healthy. We missed going to the temple today because we are coming down with sore throats and stuff. But we can function and we are greatful to not have the nasty flu that has been going around.

There were so many hard things I had to go through this week that I was really missing all of your advice and I wished that I could have just called you. But this time has really shown me that I can rely on the Lord completely. My companion really has been struggling with things and it felt like no matter what I said or tried to do nothing helped. I felt so helpless and we were having a hard time completing all of the things we needed to do because of it. I prayed really hard and was really down because of it. But this Sunday both of our prayers were answered by testimonies of those in our District. Wow... exact answers to our prayers. Heavenly Father really is listening.

Gracias por todos de sus oraciones. Nesecitamos esos mucho! Les Amo mucho. Se que Cristo y Padre Celestial Les Aman tambien. Gracias por su support.

Con Amor, Hermana Sanders

To Grandma Elke & Angie

Yay!  So much fun to get letters from Hermana Sanders in the mail!  Please excuse the "lovely" cell phone pic.  I'm not very good at doing those pics of myself.  LOL!  We just got in from taking Dash for a walk around the block in 28 degree weather and checked the mailbox before going in.  What an awesome surprise!  Thanks, Whit!  We love you!!!

"Dear Abuela!
Su espanol el muy bueno!  Estoy muy impressed!  I'm sorry that work has been so hard but at least you've started your career and you can work your way up to where you want to be!  I've been lucky to be pretty healthy other than a little cough, but I'm healthy and can go to class so I'm so glad for that!  What else have you been up to besides workin'?  How's baby Gavin?  Tell Kristin to send me some pics!  I'm still so sad that I was never able to hold him.  :(  It sounds like the branch is doing well.  When I think of your mission I think abou tthe scripture that says, something like, how great is the joy over one sinner that repents than he that needeth no repentance.  Heavenly Father is so happy that they're there and that your there with a willing heart to serve them!
Awesome!  Te' amo!  (heart) HNA SANDERS"

"Dear Angie!
Como esta?  Estoy muy bien en la MTC y muy animada estoy compartiendo mi testimonia aqui!  Thanks for the Whitney Wednesdays (weird to write my first name ha ha)  I love receiving dear Elders.  Sorry that I haven't been able to write very long letters but I'm doing laundry and have aabout 2 minutes left ha ha!  I'm excited about the Australia trip... send pics!  Oh yeah, tell Blaek that Hermana Horlacher is one of the sisters I room with it's so funny he ran into her family.  She actually told me that before I got the letter ha ha!  Well it's very possible that I will stay here fo rthe next 5 weeks since my visa hasn't shown up yet.  :)  I love it here it's just SO COLD & we never see the sky except for when we go to the temple ha ha. 
Your photoshoot sounds awesome!  I'm glad you're so busy!  Te' amo!  (heart) HNA SANDERS"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland dedicated three newly renovated MTC buildings on Jan. 15.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland dedicated three newly renovated buildings at the Provo Missionary Training Center.

The dedicatory prayer was given as part of his devotional address on Jan. 15 to missionaries at the center including 18 departing couples gathered for a week-long seminar for new MTC presidents and visitors' center directors.

"We have just completed the Matthew Cowley Instructional Building, the Addison Pratt Residence Building and the Dan Jones Residence Building, as part of the upgrading and renovation going on at this center," he said.

"In those three names we celebrate three of the greatest missionaries that have ever served in this dispensation."

He gave brief sketches of each of the three men.

"Addison Pratt joined the Church with his wife at age 36, went to Nauvoo, and at age 41 was called by the Prophet Joseph to leave his wife and go to French Polynesia," Elder Holland said. In 1844, three years before the Saints got to Utah, Elder Pratt began to see the first converts in present-day Polynesia, he said, "and he is to this day a legend, having given his life to service in the Pacific islands."

Quoting President Gordon B. Hinckley, Elder Holland said that Dan Jones was perhaps the single greatest missionary of this dispensation. Young Elder Jones was with the Prophet Joseph Smith when the Prophet was about to be martyred at Carthage Jail, Elder Holland noted. On that occasion, Joseph uttered his last recorded prophecy: that Dan Jones would yet live to serve a mission in Wales and bring great numbers into the Church. "In two missions to Wales in his 40s, Dan Jones saw 5,300 people come into the Church," he said. "Not all of those came single-handedly from Elder Jones, but many of them did."

"Matthew Cowley is the only one of those three that I knew personally," Elder Holland said, having heard Brother Cowley speak when Elder Holland was a Primary child. "I was spellbound by his mesmerizing pulpit oratory and enthusiasm for the gospel," Elder Holland said. At age 17 Elder Cowley went to New Zealand as a missionary, stayed for three years, then went back to serve as a mission president for eight years. "He became a legendary favorite among the New Zealanders," Elder Holland said.

Elder Holland suggested that the lives of those three men could provide inspiration to the missionaries gathered in the Missionary Training Center and that some future day buildings might be dedicated to missionaries just like them.

 

Link to this article: Here

Lead Kindly Light

Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer

Letter #5 From Whitney!

Wow so much to tell you all as always but not too much time so I will try. Today is PDAY! YAY! We had our heavenly meal at the temple again and I love Provo... otra vez. This week has been so crazy and wonderful at the same time. This week Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke to us and dedicated 3 renovated buildings hear in the MTC. I was singing in the chior again and we sang Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer by H.R. Palmer and Brett Stewart... look it up, and I had this huge overwhelming confirmation that he is an Apostle of our Savior Jesus Christ. Wow... chills. His talk was powerful and motivating. I continued to tell us that we are in the most exciting time of missionary work. There are so many of us here now and it is so crazy. He told us that the Lord is hastening his work. He stressed the importance of our obedience and that our mission doesn't end when we go home but that we should continue to live the way we are now so that we can continued to qualify ourselves for the Spirit we have now. He said, "this is Real Life, capital R and capital L" they don't want us to go home and change but to have this be a forever life changing experience. His testimony on his mission is so powerful. After the talks he gave the dedicatory prayer which was then really powerful as he before spoke about the missionaries that the buildings were named after. Please look them up too; Addison Pratt, Dan Jones, and Matthew Caley. That was a beautiful experience. We are also supposed to have someone special coming tonight too.

 

I love the MTC chior and the director. Tonight we will be singing a beautiful verson of "Lead Kindly Light". As we start practicing these songs the director likes to give us a background of the song to help us feel it. To be honest I didn't understand this song before. The Author of the words was a missionary of another faith before the church was restored. He felt he had a mission to do and new he could accomplish great things, but got so sick that he could hardly move. The songs speaks of how through his sickness he realized he was looking for his glory and for something he had planned but then he says " One step enough for me...." he decided to let the Lord choose his path and he just wanted to be able to do every little part the Lord wanted him to. I love this song! Read the words!

 

So this week we did a district scripture study and we read in Helaman 5:6 and one of the Elders pointed out something that struck me to be so true. It talks about why Nephi and Lehi were given their names. Then he related it to us and our nametags. It doesn't have my firstname and it has Jesus Christ's name on it. I'm not serving for me but for my family and ancestors and for my Savior Jesus Christ. This has been so motivating to me this week. I want you all to know I love you so very much and that this work is SO hard but I love it.

 

Yo se que este Iglesia es la Iglesia que Jesucristo restuaro por medio de Jose Smith. Yo se que Padre Celestial y Jesucristo viven. Ellos quiere no ser feliz y tener la vida eterno.

 

Te Amo mucho!

Love Hermana Sanders

Letter #4 From Whit!

Hola mi familia y amigos! Como estan? Estoy muy bien aqui en la MTC! Hemos aprendido muchas cosas este semana! Ha estaba muy loco!

I cannot believe we have been here for 4 weeks already! It really is flying by! The days are so long because we do so much in a day but weeks fly by like its nothing. Im so jealous of you all in Disneyland but looks like you are all having a good time! It's wierd that Olivia looks so different to me already!? Wow . Um yeah and I've been telling my district that the Elders remind me of my crazy bro Pat and then I just showed my companera that pic . She laughed. Its funny for here because she has no brothers so she died one night when I came back from the bathroom and I was like ... don't go in there  I just tore it up... she just kept saying, I cant believe you just said that ha ha. 

Today we went to the temple and I loved it! And the food there is muy bueno.... like I really think it came from heaven. I decided on vacations I want to stop there for breakfast ha ha. Not that I'll be having any vacations anytime soon!  Last night another pipe broke in our residence hall so at 12:00 last night we heard the fire alarm going off and we had to move to the gym for about 45 minutes and  then we had to get up at 5:30 this morning to walk in the cold to the temple. Its so beautiful in Provo! So much snow! Most days haven't been much over 15 degrees I think. FREEZING! Hopefully no more broken pipes though.

Oh this week we went to chior practice, which I'm sure is more like 600 to 700 missionaries. WAY larger than the mo tab chior. Its so spiritual to sing with that many people! Music is so wonderful here.

One of the highlights of every week for us is in TRC. It's like visiting teaching or home teaching and we go teach a volunteer that has come in to listen to us compartir un mensaje en espanol. Yesterday we had a Chilean lady who spoke really fast with a really different accent , but the spirit still can be conveyed in our hearts and not in the words. Its wonderful. Teaching is getting a little better for us but we still have a lot to learn and have difficult days still yet in my studies I find so much comfort in the scriptures and in the words of the Prophets. I know Heavenly Father knows me personally because I have had wonderful moments of personal revalation in my times of need. My favorite hymn is espanol is Nesecito a Ti which is I Need Thee Every Hour in ingles but they dont quite have the same words or means so its been fun to learn the himnos.

Jenny, Gracias por su carta. Yo entiendo todo de su espanol! Im going to try to writed back today but I dont have much tiempo.

Jaimie, thanks for your card . I seriously love hearing from the fam!

Jaci, tell par par lu you babe, and that I miss cutting his hair :'(

Angie and Grandma, Thanks for your letters! I hope work gets better for you and Ang Im excited for your trip. I will try to write back soon :)

Okay Olivia, thanks for your letter and I will be taking pics with Gumbie and Pokie soon even though I don't understand why Gumbie and Pokie??

Ok so spiritual challenge for you all this week...

We have really learned the importance of turning to the scriptures , especially The Book of Mormon for guidance. Read 2 Nephi 4:15. How can the Book of Mormon be for our instructions and benefit if we dont turn to is regularly? We recieve revalation when we turn to the BOM with our questions in mind, searching for the answers. Also there is much importance in writing down our personal revealation we have recieved. It shows Heavenly Father that we treasure the things He has taught us  and we have e those things there for us in times when we need to remember them.

Read your scriptures!

Love you all so much!

Yo se que la MTC es un casa de Dios tambien y Dios ayuda nos mucho en nuestra obra de misionera. Mi testimoni ha crecido mucho en este mucho tiempo pequeno. Yo se que Jose Smith fue un Profeta de Dios y el tradujo el Libro de Mormon

Les Amo! Love HNA SANDERS!

Letter #3 From Hermana Sanders

Hola mi familia y mi amigos!
Como estan?
Mi semana ha estado muy bueno.
There is alway so much to tell you and I NEVER have enough time to write! But now I'm doing my laundry and this is the time I have. So this morning we woke up at 4 am to a fire alarm in our building where we live. A pipe had burst and caused the alarm to go off so we had to wait forever to go back to our room. Then we had to get up at 5:30 and get ready to go to the temple. It was wonderful! It made me so happy to have one close and has been the first time that we have been able to go since all of the holidays have been on our P-days and the temple was closed. Its so beautiful! Especially now with all of the snow! p.s. the temperature has been -0 F almost every morning this week! FREEZING! And last week we had 18 inches of snow in three days last week that has stayed forever! I think Provo is muy bonita! Le amo!
Thank you for all of your prayers and Grandma and Angie thank you for the WONDERFUL care package. My whole district and I have been taking advantage of the halls defense and I swear its working! I loved the package! Thankfully I have not been sick but so many missionaries have been and its so sad for them to miss even one day of class because we cover so much in a day! We have been busier then ever! We teach en espanol and its coming slowly but surely. Mi companera and I compliment each other well because she puts sentences together really well and I understand really well. We were put to together through inspired prayer. Yo se que eso! Pero no tengo mucho tiempo pero yo estoy tratando poner picturas en aqui para ustedes! Yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador. Yo se que nesecito estar aqui, apredir muchas cosas puede ayudar la gente de Peru! Amo la CCM (MTC) es muy marvilloso a mi. Yo se que Dios bendice a mi con este obra de misioneros. Por medio de El Espiritu Santo he tenido aprendir muchas cosas que tiene cambiar mi vida! Estoy muy agradecida por ustedes.

Los amo!

Love Hermana Sanders
ps please send a card reader for my camera! I had to borrow one!

Stomach flu outbreak sickens 250 at Provo MTC

So many sick missionaries!  Here is a report from KSL channel 5:  You can see the link HERE.

"PROVO — A suspected stomach flu that hit LDS missionaries in the Missionary Training Center has been nearly contained, Utah County health officials said Thursday.

Lance Madigan, spokesman for the Utah County Health Department, said samples are being processed and the department should know Friday exactly what is ailing the sick missionaries, preparing to serve around the world for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The health department suspects an outbreak of Norovirus, an extremely contagious and fast-moving virus with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes fever, Madigan said. Many people who believe they have caught the "24-hour flu" have actually contracted Norovirus, he said.

"People (with Norovirus) are just really sick for 24 to 48 hours," he said. "Once it passes the system they get over it and recover rather quickly."

Approximately 20 cases were initially reported to the health department by the MTC's clinic on Dec. 31, jumping to nearly 140 the next day, Madigan said. The number of missionaries being treated was down to about 20 as of Thursday night.

Scott Trotter, spokesman for the LDS Church, said approximately 250 missionaries were affected over several days. The MTC is working to prevent the illness from spreading, and all missionaries must be well before traveling to their assigned missions.

"Sick individuals are being treated by skilled doctors and are receiving the best care available. The MTC is taking steps to keep others from getting sick," Trotter said. "MTC officials continue to emphasize precautionary measures for staff, teachers and missionaries such as hand washing, proper hygiene and limiting contact with others."

Norovirus is easily spread, making a community like the MTC a perfect target, Madigan said.

"It takes very little of the virus to actually pass on and make another person ill," he said. "People all kind of congregate in the same areas, eat in the same place and it's very easily spread."

Madigan commended the MTC's efforts to reinforce precautionary measures and stop the virus' spread.

"The numbers have dropped off significantly," he said. "We think they're getting ahead of it."

By McKenzie Romero"

Here's to hoping the "health" care package we sent Hermana Sanders will help her and some of the other missionaries going through this.  

A Little Note From Hermana Sanders!

 

She wrote:

"Ang & Grandma!

Thank you so much for your gifts.  Very special!  Sadly, I can only use email to write mom & dad but they'll post it for everyone.  Life here is so crazy busy and there has been so much snow (nieve).  Your Christmas sounds like it was fun!  Grandma, the program sounds like it was awesome.   Thanks for the book &$.  Ang, your Christmas card was so cute!  Oh I wish I could tell you everything that's been happenening here... but that would take forever.  The highlights are when we teach our investigadors (espanol) in spanish.  I feel a strong Spirit there because we teach like children ha ha.  I (heart) MTC chior!  It's so beautiful!!

TE AMO

(heart) Hermana Sanders

Yo se que Jesucristo vive!

P.S. Thanks for the Blog!  That's awesome!  Open it to everyone!  Thanks!"

    

"Health" Care Package!

 

After Whitney's last letter, Grandma Elke and Angie threw together a "Health" Care Package for her!  

We threw in some things Angie still needed to send for Christmas and hopefully some flu prevention equipment.  Clorox wipes, hand sanitizers, vitamin C drops, some oranges and then some things, just in case she's coming down with it- and what she can share with her companion and room mates.  Flue meds, chocolates, cookies, lotion, vasaline- everything we could think of!

 

Gotta keep our girl healthy!  Angie mailed off the package right away and it should arrive tomorrow- Jan. 3, 2013! 

Love you, Whit!

Letter #2 From Hermana Sanders!

Buenos dias.. Its my p-day! Yay! We have been so excited to do our laundry and to actually sit on the toilet for more than 1 minute. ha ha! All is great here this week has been super amazing since we have been in a routine after the holidays and have an organized learning and studying system. Spanish is coming slowly but surely. Some sad news is that we dont have our visas yet so we wont be going to Peru MTC until we get them :( but I love it here and its okay for now ha ha. Some other news is that we may only be in the MTC for a total of 6 weeks intsead of 9 like we thought. They aren't for sure but our zone teacher told us that , its possible we may leave early. So in anycase prayers for our visas would be much appreciated! Also everyone in the MTC has been sick mi companera and I have been blessed with health so far but our poor roommate had the stomach flu really bad and many in our building have been throwing up which really is bad when we all share bathrooms. They have even put a restriction on handshaking and touching your face. Please pray specifically for the health of the missionaries. Its the worst place to get sick because there is so much you can miss in one day and your companion has to stay with you.

Anyway, wow there is so much to tell you and only a few minutes are left for me!

Our district had a meeting on Sunday where we all gave small talks on faith. One Elder's testimony really touched me. Elder Clement's said that he had a friend in highschool that would sincerely say everyday... "this is the best day ever". He said he would say it everyday and was so happy because he believed what he said. Elder said one day he decided to ask his friend why he felt that way. He said every day has its challenges and trials and every day has its joys, but those things help him to become closer and more like his Savior. This truely touched me. Everyday should be the best day ever and we can have every day this way if we have a strong faith in Christ like this highschool student. I know it is possible. In this short time my faith in Christ has really increased and everday I see more room for faith in my life. The blessing is that by helping others come unto Christ, I become that much closer too.

I love you so very much. I hope the holidays were the best ever. I'm going to try to get my pics on here.

Oh yeah on more funny thing . My companion and I teach every lesson to our "investigators" in spanish and its difficult but we can get a message through with the Lords help and guidance of the spirit. Well this was just a funny accident. My companion felt strongly to say we care for you but instead she said "Queremos usted" " We want you" ha ha his eyes got big and a little later he understood what we were trying to say haha! It was awesome!

Best experiences of my life. Wish I could share more!

Te Amo!
Hermana Sanders

Happy New Year 2013!

Wishing you a VERY happy new year, Hermana Sanders!

We love you very much!

(Please feel free to leave Hermana Sanders a comment to wish her a happy new year!)

"In Peru, New Year's Eve is not only about the party, it's about making sure you start 2013 with the right food to eat. Don't be surprised if after midnight you start seeing people running around the block with a suitcase - they aren't lost - it's one of our several New Year's rituals. Apparently, if you go round the block, you'll be blessed with travelling somewhere fun in the new year. A little tip though: its easier if the suitcase is empty.
Then, there is the food. Here is the shopping list that you'll need:
• 12 grapes (6 red and 6 white)
• Lentils
• Cinnamon sticks
• Wheat
• Limes
• Yellow underwear
And keep the change... you'll need that too!
Here is the how and the why of it all:
Whatever the dress code, wear yellow underwear to attract good energy. Here is the tricky part: some say that you should wear it inside out until midnight and then change it. Now for the shoes, put a coin inside one of them to ensure you are blessed with wealth.
New Year's Eve decoration in Peru is all about the colour yellow. In Lima you'll find specific stalls in the market where you can find everything you need. Mainly, yes, in yellow. But when setting up the party mood in your house, don't forget the limes. It is said that if you put half a lime in each corner of your house it will draw the bad energy away from you.
In Peru, more important than the midnight's New Year Eve kiss, is when the clock hits 12 - that's when we all hide under the table. You need to have six red grapes and six white ones with you. Every grape eaten will grant you a wish. Make a list - you only have 12!
If you are thinking that the lentils, cinnamon and wheat are for preparing a traditional New Year's Eve dish, you couldn't be more wrong. Hopefully people will come and fill your pockets with them. Lentils represent money, wheat is for prosperity and cinnamon is for love. Remember to take them out of your pockets the next day, as you need to keep them safe all year around.  ..."

(You can read the rest of the article HERE as well as watch a great video and recipe on how to make the perfect Don Ceviche!)

Can't wait to hear of your New Year's in the MTC as well as your next new years adventures in Peru!  :oD
Love, Angie & Blake

Where Shepherds Lately Knelt

Letter From Whitney. December 25, 2012

Letter from Whitney!
Oh yeah I've also seen Elder Hatanaka and Elder Church and a few people from home and thats been very comforting we all have a connection because of that.. If you see any of their family members tell them they are doing great!

On Tue, Dec 25, 2012 at 2:38 PM, Whitney Sanders <wsanders@myldsmail.net> wrote:
Mom and Dad

Feliz Navidad! Hope you have enjoyed your Christmas as I have mine. Though I miss you SO much! I can't believe tomorrow is a week since I entered the MTC! It's been so crazy busy that it went by so fast. The spirit here is incredible and I can't believe how much I'be learned in this short amount of time. I'm grateful to be serving the Savior at Christmas where I'm really beginning to understand what the Savior has done for me and am so grateful for the opportunity to serve and giv this wonderful gift to others. Russel M. Nelson and his wife gave us our devotional this morning and it was a wonderful message for the missionaries. Hermana Batman and I were in the MTC choir which consisted of about 500 missionaries. This week was the first that the MTC recieved the younger missionaries. We sang "Where Shepherds Lately Knelt" listen to it .... its so beautiful and spiritual. The director that directs the choir is the one that directs the "Forgotten Carols".

Hermana and I mostly pray in spanish now and we've taught 3 lessons to our "investigator" in childish spanish. I've never recognized how much the spirit can guide us until I've come here. The spirit is the teacher not me.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RING! I love it and it makes me cry because it reminds me of you. Thanks Olivia for the gifts miss you and tell Pat and Jonah I miss them lots. I'm a very spoiled missionary. There is one Hermana in my dorm that has not recieved a letter or anything from her family and there are lots more. I can't tell you how grateful I am for your support it means so much to me. Thank you.

There is so much to tell you but I only have 20 mins to write so that all of the missionaries can have a chance to email parents. Please if you can send my shampoo and stuff and also a little stash of personal items. Please use dear elder so I can get it the day you send it to me. Email is just for parents here at MTC so please notify people.

Yo se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y Redentor.
Yo se que El ama nuestro y que El vive.
Te amo muy muy mucho

Love
Hermana Sanders
I have a few extra minutes. Class is always in spanish. I'm lucky because Heavenly Father helps me understand alot ... it just have to learn how to respond without feeling like a four year old. Wish I could tell you everything. So much happens in our 6:00 am to 10:30 pm days. I wish I wasn't so lazy before. Make pat go to mission prep! and Jonah should to or else they will be very overwhelmed with MTC

On Sat, Dec 22, 2012 at 9:57 PM, <daveandjoel@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi whit
We have been thinking about you a lot today. We sure do miss you. This seems like some sort of cruel punishment not being able to talk to you, but I'm sure there is a reason for it. ;) I can't wait to hear how you are doing and if you have enjoying it. I'm feeling so lost without that information.