Sep 26, 2011 First Baptism in Nemby

OH MY GOODNESS.  The hermanas have to

cross this creek to get to the other side of their area.

I hope their flip flops have GREAT tread.  Look at all 

that slippery mud.

What a great ward support for these two who were

baptized.

Don't they look great?

Elders, G. and Hna Plummer and Little

hola familia, this week went by so slow. whenever we are excited for something to happen, it never seems to come. we were so excited for friday. G was baptized! it was so awesome. they usually do baptisms on saturdays, but our chapel is the stake center and they were going to have some big event for the youth, so we did it on friday. which turned out to be better since it is the noche de barrio (neighborhood night) and there were a lot of people that could come to support her and then one other that was baptized from the elders that we share the ward with. she was nervous all day long she said, but when she got there, we said a prayer, and when it came time for the baptism, she said she felt so calm and so confident in her decision. she really had a big weight on her shoulders of her past. but has made the mose incredible change in her life. it is like a 360 degree turn. it wasn't easy, but she really has showed a ton of faith. she attended the church before where her daughter was baptized, but never had the desire to be baptized. but this was her time. everyone has their time in which heavenly father prepares their hearts to accept the gospel and make the decision to enter in the covenant of baptism. we call her on the phone, and she is so happy now and has a new perspective on life.
right now we are visiting with a man named P. we just can´t figure him out. he came to church last sunday, is reading in the book of mormon, and reads everything that we leave him. he says he knows that joseph smith was a prophet and that this is the true church and that he wants to find real peace in his life. he really is a great man. the only funny thing is that he kind of drinks a lot. we knew that, so we shared with him the word of wisdom. he was so set on it and wanted to follow what the Lord wants. two days later, we come for our appointment, and he is a little bit tipsy. so we thought we would talk for just a sec and then leave becaue the spirit isn't going to be there. but he starts telling us how he had been reading so much and read and re read the pamphlet on the word of wisdom and how important it is. you had to be there. it is the way he talks. it was almost hard not to laugh as he repeated over and over how important the word of wisdom is while half drunk. always an adventure in the mission. he does want to change, and we are going to keep working with him. it was just a bit ironic. haha
well, I am out of time. hna little and I are working super hard. we are really trying to put into practice what the area president has asked us to do. I lack faith sometimes, but I try to have faith that if we do what he has asked, we will see miracles. but the thing really is that miracles happen every day in our lives. but sometime we expect them to be bigger so we look them over. but I know that if we pay attention to the mini miracles that happen everyday, our faith in Christ will grow so much.
well, I love you all so much. Amy, I love you tons and you can know that your mom and your family are in my prayers. and lindsay, you are so awesome! thanks soooo much for the package. everything is so perfect and just what I needed. take care. oh and woohoo. general conference this weekend!!! and I get to watch it in english!!!!!
love,
hermana plummer

Sep 12, 2011 Saying goodbye to Leopardi - like family. Hello Nemby

Saying goodbye to 2nd mom Hna Canete who loved

and treated Whitney like a daughter.  Also Silvia one

of the young adults who loved her too.

David Canete finally got his BYU t-shirt!!!

New area called Nemby about 20 miles south of Leopardi.

Hna Little from Utah and Hna Plummer

hola, muchas preguntas (many questions) haha. I am going to combine letter to family and you two. well, ya, it was really hard to leave leopardi. I have some pictures that i am going to send. I have felt kind of weird this week. this area is a quite different, and the streets are more difficult. well at least it seems that way right now. we share the ward with our zone leaders who live next door to us. the ward is a lot bigger, but the area is a lot bigger too. I can't lie. I have been missing the members of leopardi. they are really special. I know I will get to know everyone here better with time, but they just aren't the same for now. but I know i will get adjusted and like it more here. my companion is hna Little from utah. she came with hna knapp. she is way great. I really miss hna ramos - we got very close, but hna little is really great. I am already learning a lot from her. she is way different from hna ramos. way different. I am not used to being with someone with such an american accent. haha. mom, I don't know where I live yet, but I will get on that this week. ñemby is a mixture of city and country. there are parts with lots of colectivos (buses) and people, and there are parts with dirt roads and houses like those in coronel oviedo. it is really pretty. I like that part.

yesterday I totally forgot that it was 9/11 until someone asked me about it. I had to think for a second. he asked me about the torres gemelos (twin towers). I cant believe it has been 10 years, back in the 6th grade. a day we will always remember.

this week I tried to do what I could to help hna little. it is kind of hard to help in more than teach because I don't know where anything is or who anyone is. I don't like not knowing. we have a señora that we are teaching, G. she is really depressed. she has been in a depression for a really long time, and it affects her in almost every way. she keeps saying she is waiting to feel the peace and happiness that we say comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It breaks my heart. she feels a huge burden of a bunch of things. she feels really awful about all of the sins she committed in the past. I know the change doesn't come instantaneously, but I know she is beginning to feel the peace that comes from letting Christ lift our burdens and take away our sins. She has repented, but satan is trying to make her feel like she isn't worthy of forgiveness. she asked for a priesthood blessing, so we called the quorum of elders to come and do it. tears streamed down her face as the words from Heavenly Father promised her a blessing of peace. I don't remember exactly, but it was a really special moment. he also shared his testimony of when he was baptized 5 years ago. but had rejected the missionaries who came to his door, but he finally excepted them and felt such guilt in rejecting them so many times. he shared with us how he cried and cried the day of his baptism as he felt all that guilt wash away. The atonement is so incredible. I truly have a testimony that through the atonement of Jesus Christ and through baptism we can be cleansed completely and renew ourselves. G points to the folleto (pamphlet) of the resoration and says that she is restoring herself. so true. she will be baptized the 24th of this month and is really excited and feels and knows the restored gospel is true.

dad, I almost had a few tears yesterday while teaching thinking of you. I don't know why, but we were teaching about the dia de reposo (Sabbath), and what we need to to to santificarlo. we read in the 10 commandments that no one should work on sunday. and the investigator said, you two work on sundays and don't rest. when she said that, a moment came to my head from when I was younger. I said to you one sunday, "why do you have to go back to church and work? isn't this the day of rest?" something like that. I didn't get why we couldn't just rest all day. I didn't understand the doctrine behind it. but you said, "the day of rest is to rest from the things of the world, but sunday we serve the Lord". something like that. I don't know how old I was, but I still remember that important lesson you taught me. one of the many you and mom have taught me by your words and actions. I don't know why, but when I was sharing how my dad taught me that lesson once upon a time, tears started to swell up in my eyes. don't worry, I hid it really well, but felt the spririt and felt such a gratutude for the lessons I learned early on. sharing my testimony, I am learning, is how I strengthen my testimony even more. every time I testify that joseph smith was a prophet of God, I don't just say it, I feel it more and more. I pray that the Spirit can use me to teach and testify of the truthfulness of our message to the world. well, I have to go. I love you all so much. oh and thanks for the birthday wishes. I got a letter from mrs. lugash, sis richter, jillair, sis holmgren, all the postcards, oh and a letter form julie too. mom, please send them my love and thanks.
love,
hermana plummer

Sep, 5, 2011

Opening fake box of old shoes...

Now happy with the old things.

Christian in the middle was baptized Sep 10, 2011

His father and brother are soon to be baptized.

hola familia, this week was great!!  one of a kind birthday in paraguay. we eat lunch with the bishop´s wife every tuesday, and she makes the best cakes. so she made a cake for me. ricísima! and then later on that night they had a get together for my birthday with all the young adults at the cañetes. it was so sweet of them to do that. silvia made me a pillow. I will send you a picture. so all in all, it was an awesome birthday that I will always remember. oh, also, elder brown in my district made brownies for my birthday in our district meeting. my package came! the one with the shoes. when I got to the district meeting, elder fernelius (he is my district leader again, the one that knows doug and kris). well he gave me my a package (he knew we were waiting for Hna Ramos shoes in your pkg you sent)and said, you should definitely open it right now to make sure everything is there. We both opened it and it was bread, old shoes, stickers, and a box of hierba mate. haha. he was like, your mom is so great! she sent the best stuff. we took a picture, and I was going to send it as if it was real, but I forgot my camera and i think mom would go crazy if she had to wait another week to know if i got it yet. but thanks mom. it was so great. hna ramos had never tried nutella, and she is addicted now. the shoes and everything were all safe and sound. I will get the other package  tomorrow at district meeting and will find out if we have a transfer.
Christian is all set to be baptized this saturday. his dad has given his consent, he has his invterview, and he is way excited. they are even going to do EFY here for the first time this summer, and he is way excited to go. it is amazing how much christian has changed since we first started teaching him. he and his brother diego came to church yesterday. during the testimony meeting, he commented on how much he is impressed with the way we share our testimonies and share with others our love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. he has been able to feel the spirit testify of the truthfulness of the restored gospel. when we receive a witness of the Spirit, it doesn't matter what anyone says or what happens, we know what we felt, and it doesn't change anything. the scripture in gálatas 5 that talks about the fruits of the spirit. it says, contra esos sentimientos, no hay ley. I dont know how it is in english, but you can look it up. have you ever read our search for happiness? read it. so incredible. well, I dont know if i will be in a different area next time I write, maybe, maybe not, but I have really learned so much in my time here in leopardi. sooooo much. it is incredible. I look back and think of where my testimony was when I started my mission. I don't ever want to go back to who I was before. I have a ways to go, but have learned so much. i love you all so much. got to go.
love,
hermana plummer

hi mom, i am not sure. i know that as for credit cards, only visa works i thinks. as for the service fee. depends on the area. some are more. here  leopardi it is 25 mil guaranies, which is a lot. but I almost never take out money of my own.other areas it is less, like 10 mil no mas. i only did it once. I don't know what he is buying, I will look and see if there are any american banks. but i never need anything, but yes I need scripture covers so bad. ahh. i will have to find some for spanish scriptures. they are a different size. when is it that kameron allphin (from Jonesboros Ward) is coming to paraguay? I think he will get here just in time for summer. haha. I got here in the heat of summer. DEATH.
well, I just reached down to get my camera and send some pictures, but I left it in the pension. sorry. we took some pictures with Christian and his family and my fake package. I will send them next week.
looks like you found the church! we live on atelio galfre 2 blocks from the church. atelio galfre c/ lomas valentinas. maybe you can see where I live!! woohoo.
well, I love you soooo much mom and dad. thanks for you emails. and for the football update. maybe byu will be good by the time I get back. ha. well, I am gonna go and write the familia. love you!!
love,
your daughter 
oh and mom, sent my love to elicia! tell her I am so excited for her and that the mission is the best decision she could ever make.  (Elicia is a friend in our Peachtree City Ward who is going to Halifax Nova Scotia.  Sounds cold to me,)

Aug 29, 2011

HaPPy 22nd BiRtHdAy WHITNEY on Aug 30
hola familia, thanks mom and dad for the birthday wishes. and thanks david for the letter! it totally made my day to hear from you. getting a letter from home is like christmas day.
well, this week we had zone conf. Pres. Arnold of the Seventy came. woohoo. it was so awesome. it was so incredible how strongly we all felt the spirit. I felt so rejuvinated and ready to conquer the world. haha. one thing that he shared that I love was actually what someone else said - about a missionary in europe. all the other areas in the mission weren’t baptizing at all, and he was baptizing like crazy. the mission president asked him what he does differently to have such success. he said that he didn’t see the people like they were in the moment. but he saw them all dressed in white being baptized. (kind of like the secret, remember mom?) he saw their potential, like Christ would do. I loved that. some members say, oh don’t visit that person, they do this or that and won’t want to change. but it doesn’t matter. I felt strongly that if I imagine everyone the way Christ would, it will change my perspective and take my faith to another level, which I need. we also learned a whole bunch of other stuff that hna ramos and I are excited to put in action. the only thing is that there is a good chance this is my last week here in lepoardi since I’ve been here 6 months. we will see. in one sence I feel ready to take what I have learned and experience a new atmosphere, but at the same time, I feel comfortable where I am. I learned a bunch in coronel oviedo, and I have learned a ton here in leopardi. it is incredible, and I know my next area will bring a bunch of new twists and turns that will help me progress. I will miss leopardi and hna ramos!!!  we are really close and very good friends.
we had a special experience this week with Mirna.  she has a 9mon baby girl, milagros (milly for short). they named her milagros because she was pregnant 4 times before, but lost all 4.  Very sad.  when we shared with her the plan of salvation and that those precious little souls can still be hers and that she can be with them someday, tears rolled down her face. she felt such a peace. the plan of salvation is so incredible.  my life would have a very different perspective if I lived without the hope of eternal life with my family. it is so special to share it with others.
I am a bit worried that after my mission I wont be able to speak English anymore. the owner of some company, that is right in front of our pension, that makes stuff for semi trucks stopped us in the street and asked us if we could translate through the phone for him into english. he wanted to buy a truck from a company in another country that only speaks english. people think we are all americans – haha, hna ramos is from Honduras. so I agreed to talk for him.  we called the place for him, and it was so hard to speak english. I kept talking in spanish. ahhh! I think I will just be a bit weird for a while when I get back. well, got to go. I love you all so much!!!!!
love,
hermana plummer
next time I write I will have 22 years!!

hi mom and dad, I didn’t get the packages yet because we didn’t have district meeting this week because of zone conf and we can’t receive packages at zone conf anymore. so I will get one tomorrow I know for sure. Thanks so much for sending them!! we are way excited. it cost me about 14 mil guaranies. I don’t know how many dollars that is. I hear the dollar is dropping like crazy these days. but I’m always good on money.  piano lessons are going great. we have a few that come. which is okay because we can’t teach a million people piano with one piano. it is so fun teaching. I forgot how hard it is, but it is all second nature to me. hna ramos plays a bit. she taught herself. quite impressive. we have those beginner books from the church learning how to play hymns, borrowed from a member. it is perfect. we share our emails a bit. she has a boyfriend who is actually really awesome. he was an incredible missionary and always sends advice, which she shares with me. well, I haven’t read my other emails yet, so I will go read them. I love you sooooo much. thanks for your support, love, and prayers.
love,
your daughter
Louise – there are 3 packages floating around Asuncion and I’m not sure why Whitney hasn’t received them???  The first package has a pair of shoes for hna Ramos, since she liked Whitney’s Ecco shoes, skin care and misc items. The next pkg has BYU t-shirts and birthday presents.  The next package Lindsay and David sent for Whitney’s birthday.  They have a new system of mailing the pkgs to the missionary instead of giving them out at zone conference or transfers.  The tracking shows both of my packages have arrived, so where are they?  I’m a bit worried.
Last week Whitney talked about an EFY song that helped her decide to serve a mission.  The words are so meaningful and powerful.  Here is Kenneth Cope singing the song – I Will Not Be Still

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saM-i9szsFI

I’ve also enclosed the lyrics.
I've never been the kind to testify
I don't have the words his truth deserves
But it's a simple thing he asks
A worthy heart and willing hands
He says if I'll make the choice
He'll help me find my voice

He calls me to serve and i cannot fail him
The one who has given me all that I have
I place my trust in him alone
He knows the yearnings of my soul
Because he believes in me
I will go willingly

Chorus:
How can I keep this gift to my self
When i can lift somebody else
I am(will be) a witness of his miracles and his mercy
I put my future in his hands
Knowing he's made me all I am
(When) I put my faith in him the(and) truth begins to
speak
His power is real it moves me until i will not be
still

Lifting the hands that hang down in sorrow
Strengthening knees that bend in despair
Reaching the hopeless hearts who do not know his love
Seeing their lives begin to change
I know ill never be the same

His power is real
I trust in his will
I will not be still

Aug 22, 2011

hola familia, ¿còmo estàn? news of the week: paraguay es loco. last week was blazing hot, and this week it is freezing cold and with wind. they say viento sur. I think it came from argentina. so I had to take out my gloves again and all my winter stuff. I hope the cold ends soon because my tights won't last much longer. I can practically wear the same thing everyday and no one knows because I always have my coat on. our energy bill was really expensive last month since we used the heat a bit, so we are just suffering through to not have to pay. I sleep all bundled up, and it's all good. well, today I woke up to hermana ramos yelling "ahh, hermana plummer, son las 7:20" turns out we accidentally deactivated our alarm on our phone that we always use. we never set it. it just goes off every day at 6:30 am. but not today. we jumped up and hurried to get ready before 8 to start personal study. it was pretty funny. good thing hermana ramos got up to go to the bathroom, or we would have just kept on sleeping. That's what christian said yesterday when he didn't come to church. he didn't charge his phone, so it turned off and his alarm didn't go off. happens to everyone. 

anyways, I cant write much because my hands are frozen, the door of this place doesn't stay closed, and i am frozen. haha. sorry. 

anyways, this week we witnessed so many miracles. seriously, we are finding so many inactive members, one could say randomly, but we know it is the work of Heavenly Father. I know it because all have been looking or praying for help in coming back to church. they just needed a push and a bit of support. we also received a reference from an inactive of a friend who wanted to know more about the church. so we passed by on monday night, we didn't find them, but we went by the next day, and found them! this couple is so amazing. we haven't been able to talk with her marido, but once, because he works really late, but en serio, she is so prepared to accept the Gospel. she had been praying for help to know how to overcome the problems they are having in their relationship. she said, I am looking for something, as in religion. I don't want something just for tradition, but something real. the next time we met with her, she had read everything in the pamphlet and prayed to know if this is what she has been looking for. she understood everything. she said how incredible it was that this isn't just some other church, but is the original before everyone came and changed everything. we just sat there stunned. they didn't come to church on sunday, I think her marido got home really late and they didnt feel organized to go, but I pray then next sunday. she accepted a baptismal date, so we are really excited to continue teaching them. tonight we are going to watch "Together Forever," a video that we watch with a lot of people. you should look it up. so awesome. well, I have to go. my time is up. I love you all so much. I feel my testimony deepen day by day and am so amazed at how heavenly father works miracles in the lives of his children. I know it is true. I know it. 

love,

hermana whitney plummer

Aug 15,2011

Look Mom - I made the muffins you sent and used

the muffin pans you sent too.

Hna Ramos enjoying the muffins too.

Hi Familia, well once again we didn’t have the baptism. Christian’s mom hates all churches and freaked out that he was going to be baptized. His dad was fine with it, but when she freaked out he said no too. So, I don’t have answers to most of your questions mom - sorry. That was the sad part, but we finally were able to teach Christian with his dad and brother (his parents are separated, so his mom doesn’t live with them). The lesson was great and the three came to church yesterday perfectly on time. His dad loved it and really wants to come again next week. He loved the lesson on the law of chastity and was so impressed that the youth learn it too. So that was the miracle of the week and 3 baptisms are better than one! But on top of that, we had to drop Nestor and practically all of our investigators. Nestor said he doesn’t want us to visit anymore and that he believes more in the Catholic church, which is not true and I don’t know why.  Ruben said again that he doesn’t believe the church is true and doesn’t want to come anymore. We’ve been down that road before with him.  We’ve had a few challenges this week and a few more.  Sorry my letter is full of sad news, but it is ok. I am learning Heavenly Father always provides a miracle to remind us he is there, like to walk up to the church and see Christian, his dad Andres, and his brother Diego already at church.  Hna Ramos and I both gave talks yesterday in church. We speak every second Sunday. As I prayed and thought about what to speak on, I felt prompted to share why I am here in the mission. Remember the talk I gave in stake conf before I left?   I shared part of the song “I Will not be still” from efy? You can look it up in my laptop. and you will see just how many times I have listened to that song. It really says what is in my heart.  My talk gave me a boost of faith as I spoke about how Heavenly Father helps us put into action our desire to share the gospel. The members have the desire and know it is their responsibility, but they put other things as priorities or they let their fears or insecurities get in the way of putting desire into action. I got a quote from the Liahona of July. The talk by Pres. Uchtdorf when he says, how we can’t expect all the blessings Heavenly Father has for us if we only give 50%, and it is silly to say that for now I will only give 50% and when Christ comes again I will give my 100%. I never want to give less than everything I have like I did before the mission. Christ deserves everything I can give and more. Well, I love you all so much. Happy Birthday to Hudson and Harper!!! I will see you before your next birthday!!! woohoo. I love and miss you all soooooo much. Please send more pictures!!
love,
hermana plummer
ps
This cambio I have learned a lot with Hna Ramos. She is great. I don’t know if I will be here for another cambio, but it is definitely possible. The hermanas are always in their second area for a while. My Spanish is good, I think. Always a ton to still learn.

Aug 8, 2011

Leopardi Ward

Leopardi Cultural Hall

Is that Hna Plummer?

Ruben (Whitney's first baptism) with his mom,

Hna Ramos and Hna Plummer

hola familia. happy birthday raelyn! woohoo. amy and brian. i am in the process of writing you a letter, which i will tell you in advance demands pictures. Haha... I know you are busy, but please send some pictures! anyways, as always, the week flew by. we got rejected a lot this. week. it was so sad. I guess i got a taste of what missionaries feel like in other countries. the paraguayos have a fear of "no". so they reject you soflty, but hard rejection is rare. we got a taste of it this week. but it is ok, because our investigator Christian is puréte. he is way excited for his baptism this saturday. we still have a bit to teach him, but he is progressing so much.
there is something really hard about the mission. it is that you love the people. these people are so great. we teach people for the first time and feel a love for them. we worry about them. we want so much that they accept the restored gospel in their lives. what is hard about that? Then they close their hearts. we had a lot of experiences like that this week. mom, you have asked me what is the hardest part about the mission. that would be one of the hardest parts for me. everyday, I am reminded of what a blessing it is to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. the world is so confused. it is so complicated, but the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple, so amazing. I think back to my life before the mission. how my perspective has changed. how can we not do everything possible to share with others this amazing gift we have been given of knowing the truth? sorry this is short, but I am running out of time. send pictures please! oh I got yours lindsay and nic. so cute! until next week.
love,
hermana whitney plummer