I got TRANSFERED!!!!!

I'm going SOUTH! Yup that's right folks. Full proselyting. 1 1/2 hours from the VC and the only sisters in the zone. Weird. I'm so excited though. I'm going to miss the singles, but I'm not going to miss the bishop who's not excited about missionary work. I worked so hard in that area, and it's being turned over to some incredible missionaries, so I feel good about that. This area is new to sisters, and since today is transfers I don't know anything yet, but I just know it's going to be awesome. My companion is Sister Bishop (what a name huh!), and she's from UTAH! My first American companion! It'll be weird not having to drive and explain words I use and American culture, that means I get to stand behind the car and back her out every time we go anywhere. I've been told that we do service A LOT in this area which means I'll get a tan =]. I can't wait to tell you about my experiences. No more part time job on the mission!Pres said he still has to get permission from Salt Lake for me to stay till Jan 2, so most likely, but he'll let me know. He's also working on getting an ASL sister here. He doesn't know when, but soon he will.....hopefully.I'm now living in Waldorf, MD. It's hick town, so I'll probably feel like I'm back in Arizona...Benson or Tombstone to be exact =]. I am stoked to have personal and companionship study everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's one thing I really want. Also, I can do my language study because Sister Bishop knows a little ASL, and I heard there's a less active deaf woman in our ward. Mwa ha ha ha just you wait, she won't be less active for long. Training just wears you out in every way, and since I've been with Sister Cardoso for 2 transfers my body and mind are just tired. Sister Bishop did the same thing (with the other Brazilian sister) and she said this area is perfect for post training mothers. I can't wait to get in there. Plus we have our own washer and dryer (no more quarters!!!!!!!), and we each have our own bathroom, AND the members feed us all the time and give us referrals. That's what it's supposed to be like!Ok, now that I've definitely expressed how much I can't wait for things to get moving I'm gonna go. I hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll talk to ya next time. Thanks for stopping by ;-]

~Sister Witbeck~

another day in the life of a missionary

Hey y'all!So here's the didly-o. I talked to Pres. about 2 things last interview.1: going home Jan. 2, and2:Going to the ASL program (I'm sure he's sick of this conversation =])First things first. 1: He said YES! I'm so excited. He still has to get permission from Salt Lake cuz I'm a sister and to extend in any amount permission from the big dogs must be granted, but it's only a week and neither he nor I see any problem with it. Festival ends Jan 1st (that's the official last night of all concerts) and I will be released, or as Pres. put it "kicked outta here" Jan 2nd. (little does he know I'm staying FOREVER!!! mwa ha ha ha). So make plans as you can and keep me updated. I dunno what you really want to do, but I just want to visit Virginia (Arlington) and Penn (Gettysburg).2: Pres said he wants to send me ASL but has no one to pair me with (...not really true...) so I told him to transfer a sister from another mission. He says he didn't know he could do that (but we've told him before), so this time I'm following up like there's no tomorrow. There's 5 ASL sisters in Oregon and 1 could easily be transferred here and still leave a proper work force there. I would wish for my MTC comp, but I don't think that would happen =]. Long story short, he's going to work on it, and may know in the next couple weeks. Transfers are next week, so I wouldn't go this transfer, but maybe the next one. Who knows...maybe never. But it's worth a shot.This week has been good. We taught a girl the first lesson and invited her to be baptized. She accepted, but didn't come to church. I tell you what. This is the mystery of my mission. How to help people understand that baptism is a privilege and a responsibility. Obviously only those who are humble will recognize that, but there are so many people who have so much desire and little or no action. God does not bless lazy people and He certainly will not sanctify one who does not sacrifice their heart. That includes those who aren't members of the church as well as those who are; YOU.I'm going to the zoo again today. When we went 2 weeks ago we didn't have enough time to go to the Amazon part (which is very important to my comp) so we're going to see that. Adios! I hope your week goes well. Love you!!

~Sister Witbeck~

=Don't be lazy, be cRaZy=

Happy b-day to Nettie and Marie! Happy 11 months to me =[ !!!!eek!!!!

Ok, so the zoo wan not lame, and in fact I liked it so much we are going back next week....well, really we didn't have enough time to see the amazon part (obviously that would be the most important to my comp), so we want to see that when we go back.It was good to talk to some of you over mothers day. I used up more time than I was supposed to, but hey, it's over and done with. Nothing I can do about it now =].This week has been more of the same ol' stuff. Just meeting new people and being dogged by old ones =]. All in a days work. It's still good work though.I dunno who of you are reading Preach My Gospel but I just had a thought to encourage you to do so. It is scripture and will help you to understand the doctrine so you can be prepared to share it. After all Elder Bednar did say the missionaries are the full time teachers, and YOU (the members...me in a while) are the full time finders. The Lord will not set someone in your path if you're not ready to act, and if you are not willing to act. So......do it.--This is not a trunky comment, but all must prepare way in advance if we want this to succeed-- So I was talking to some of the fam over mothers day and I dunno if anyone has said anything yet, but my release date is Dec. 24th. Pres wants to send me home a week before that, but I want to stay through Christmas and festival (which ends Jan 1st) and go home Jan 2nd. If that is possible then it was suggested that whoever could come can spend Christmas in DC with me! (Or new years...whenever he decides to officially push me out). I have an interview with Pres tomorrow and I'm going to ask him to keep me here, and see if he can. I think he needs to get permission from Salt Lake, so we'll see, but I HOPE so! That would be mighty awesome pants. If you have any questions you can talk amongst yourselves and try to figure it out. I'll keep you updated. Pres. told me recently that he'll find out in June what Salt Lake says about the release date a week before Christmas, so....plans may need to be thwarted. It'll work out any which way, but I would like to stay for all or festival. Maybe that's selfish, but mom basically doesn't want me any time before that =] so I'm gonna work on it. ----end of trunky section----Thanks for all you do. I love you all so much!!!!

~Sister Witbeck~

==Don't be lazy, be cRaZy==

Happy mothers day!

well, since I'll be talking to you in a few days I'm not gonna write very much. Nothing new has happened this week. Tina is praying about baptism, and finally opened up to us about her family worries...understandable since all her family is Buddhist or nothing. But I don't worry about her. She's come a LONG way in just 3 months. From knowing nothing about God and never having prayed before in her life to believing in God, recognizing answers to her prayers, reading the book of Mormon and the bible, going to church and institute nearly every week. I mean that's a lot! From nothing to so much and soon to be going on to so much more. I love her so much and can't wait for her to make this important decision, but patience and love are the best ingredients for change.
Well, I'm going to the zoo today with the 2 sisters in the Chinese program (they are the sisters I came here with S. Hamblin and S. Kwun, and who I will be leaving with...of course they are close to my heart =]). I'm excited. I heard it's lame, but I think that depends on who goes. Of course anything will be boring with boring people, but I am expecting to have fun and will do so whether anyone else does or not. It's going to be a good day! Love you lots and will talk to you soon.
~Sister Witbeck~

P.S. Church gets out here at 3pm. I think from there we might drive to the VC and call from there (my comp can call international without using an expensive calling card there). So maybe around 4 my time, which is 1ish your time???? I dunno. Maybe it'll be later. We'll figure out when a good time is for both S. Cardoso and myself then use that. We are allowed to call Saturday night to set a time, so I may do that....Talk to ya then =]