"The best way to lighten your load is to lighten somebody else's..."

Hola mi familia y mis amigos,

I dont know how to describe this past week I have had because it was an awsome week but also one of the hardest i have ever had. Its weird how that works. I suppose it was a good week because I learned a little bit more about how to forget if it is a hard week for me and focus on making it a good week for others. 

This area is a really hard area, but i found a quote somewhere in my stuff that says "Bloom where you are planted" and "Lift as you have been lifted" Thats what I have been learning how to do. Sometimes the only thing you can do is forget


the circumstances and focus on doing the best you can. I have been trying hard daily to shift my focus from myself and how I feel to helping out others and because of it I have done a 180. The best way to lighten your load is to lighten somebody elses. The moments where I have felt the best is when I made a difference in somebody else´s life. 

I have also had some fun out here too. In the spirit of the world cup we gathered together some of the youth and we played soccer this past thursday. it was super fun to let loose and play for the first time in a long time. Im no soccer star but i can hold my own mas o menos hahaha. I think I´ll be ready for team USA if i keep practicing every week haha. We helped some people repair their roof and plant trees. We found this one member that has cows and they gave us real milk! (thats a treasure here becauseall the milk here is from a powder and comes in a bag).

We got our bikes robbed the other night so we are all on foot now. that was pretty awesome. My comp got mad but i just laughted because there is no point in being mad and now i can say i got robbed on my mission. fiesta. 

well thats my advice for all of you guys this week. Bloom where you are planted. Lift as you have been lifted. Sometimes thats all you can do and it makes you life a whole lot better. Love you all. Take care.

Elder Whitaker

..."the United States is doing pretty good.. but hopefully they dont come up agaist Argentina or I am going to have to crawl into a hole for a couple weeks haha..."

Hola mi familia y mis amigos,

This week was pretty good. It was the first week of a new transfer and we are starting to do some new things to change up how we have been working and to keep the work going down here. It has been a week with some ups and downs.

Down here everybody is going crazy for the world cup which is fun and also annoying because nobody wants to let us in. No i know how the missionaries must feel when we watch the super bowl but at least it is just one day and not for the whole month. The United States is doing pretty good which is awesome but hopefully they dont come up agaist Argentina or I am going to have to crawl into a hole for a couple weeks haha. One of the things we are trying to work on down here is the youth. There are like 3 or 4 active youth which is pretty hard but we are going to try to get some activities going on down here to help them out. We are going to be playing soccer on thursday so we will see how i do against the latinos haha.

We finally have an investigator after the longest time and we commited her to be baptized. Her name is Beatiz and she is a single mother of 4 and has 30 years. she is at the point where she wants to learn about God because she wants what is best for her family in the future so we had a really solid lesson and hopefully we will be having a baptism here in a couple of weeks.

We are really working hard to bring some less actives back and we are seeing some fruits. We have  a couple families that finally came to church this part sunday which was really awesome. Basically we are just going to work really hard this week to find some new people bacuse we dont have a lot to work with right now but I nam hopefull.

I was having a pretty tough time the other day. Just a bunch of stuff piling up and i felt like I couldnt handle it but I had a really good experience. I got back to the pench and was just super stressed out and angry and my comp knew it to so he told me that we are going to kneel down and pray. I prayed and I felt all the tension that I  had inside of me vanish. As I was praying I felt the truth that while i was going through a hard time Christ had carried a weight more heavy and suffered a lot more. It helped me refocus on what I am here to do which is not worry about my incomfort but to help others. I know that the same thing works for everyone of us. When life gets too hard to stand, sometimes you have to kneel and pray. I know that when we think we are passing through things  and think nobody understands how hard it is, that we are wrong because our savior does. We just need to remember him and then focus on what we can do to lift somebody else. I know its true because I have lived it. I know that Jesus Christ is our savior and i know that any burden can be made light if we come unto him.

I love all you guys and love hearing from you all! I hope all is well with everyone.

Elder Whitaker

"I will be staying her in Santa Teresita for another 6 weeks..."

Hola mi familia y mis amigos,

Como anda con todo? As you guys are all getting ready for summer I´m freezing down here. Its funny getting letters from my little brother about surfing and down here I´m like an eskimo. This week was kind of short as far as the work because we had a zone meeting ( there is so much space between the areas it is almost a whole day to go meet with all the missionaries have the meeting and go back) and we went to La Plata which is 5 hours away to go to a conference with a gerneral athority. For the conference in La Plata I got to spend the night in my first area, Villa Montoro. It was cool to be beack in my old bed for a night and talk with my budddies about how the area is going. Mari is still going strong, despite her many challenges she is still firm in the church which is awesome.

As far as teaching goes we had a couple of cool lessons. One was with a guy we found that has about 30 years and he doesn´t have any family anything going on besides work in his life. he hasnt gone to church since he was 17. We have been doing service for him and stuff and the other day we had a lesson with him.It was super cool because as we walked into the room to go and teach him i knew exactly what he needed to hear. We talked about how this life is the time to prepare ourselves to meet God and about what he wants to do with his life. I know that the only life that brings true happiness and fulfillment is a life based on the teachings of Christ. we taught him that and he felt the spirit and he commited to come to church for the first time in years.

One of the best things of my week every week down here in Santa Teresita is taking the sacrament to and elderly couple, the familia ledesma, that can´t come to church because of their health. They are awesome. They are so funny and so appreciative when we bring the the sacrament. I have felt the spirit and the saviors love so strong during my visits with them. We are the first to come by in a long time so it is awesome to see how happy they are. It has really helped me to understand how important the sacrament is.

Well I will be staying here in Santa Teresita for another 6 weeks with Elder Varela so hopefully we can keep on working good and accopmlish some good things down here!

Elder Whitaker

"I can't imagine a better way to use this past year of my life..."

Ty and some missionaries in his District

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

How goes life back home? Its super weird for me to think that school is just about to get out up there and people are graduating and stuff! time goes so fast! I was chillin on my bed last night thinking about stuff and I realized that exactly a year ago I recieved my mission call to serve in Buenos Aires Sur. How crazy is that! i still remember opening that letter and finding out my future for the next two years. Those days when me and all of the guys were getting our mission calls were some of the best days ever. I am so greatful for all my brothers that are out there in every part of the world doing the same thing i am. Maybe a different language or climate but the same thing. I cant imagine a better way to use this last year of my life.

The work here sometimes is difficult. Things don´t always go smooth but then again things weren´t ever made to go smooth. I have grown to apreciate the little moments where you can feel that good feeling inside your chest, the spirit, telling you that what you are doing is good or helping somebody else. i couldnt really tell you anything crazy that happened this past week, just things that i have gained a greater appreciation for. When i had the opportunity to take the sacrament to an elderly couple i felt the spirit testify of how important it was and the love that the savior has for these brothers. Teaching somebody about the gift of repentance and how they could leave behind their past life and start fresh, i felt the spirit, helping the other missionaries when they are feeling down to remember why we were sent here, i felt the spirit. Little things that you could pass by if y


you arent paying attention. I know that when i was taking the sacrament to brothers and sisters in my ward before my mission i didnt take the time to realize what i was doing. Something for you guys to think about this week, Enjoy the little things. look for what you are greatful for and look for the little blessing that you have everyday. Try to feel the spirit when you feel down or lost and it will be there.

One thing im gratful for is the missionaries down here in La Costa with me. We always have fun and i can always look forward to Pdays and our meetings. we play volleyball, make BBQ wings and tacos, and just mess around and lighten up a little. Im glad i have the opportunity to serve with these elders and hermanas. Well i hope all is well with you back home! 

Elder Whitaker

Ty says he wasn't hang many people listen to him, so he got this horse to believe!!

"I testify that the Book of Mormon is the truth..."

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

How is everything back home? All is well down here, im just only a little bit jealous that summer is starting for all of you and im beginning to get cold! Its going to be weird to have the cold after almost a whole year of continual summer and spring! I was on the beach eating lunch with my district a week ago in short sleeves and then randomly it got super cold and i had to start bundling up. Now i know why they told us to bring sleeping bags instead of sheets and stuff. Its a good thing our pench has a fireplace and stuff. 

Luckily we had a warm day yesterday for P-day because we went to the beach with all the missionaries from La Costa and we played beach volleyball and frisbee and it was super fun! It made me remeber the days of playing with my brothers at newport beach! It was awesome! and for the first time i saw big waves in argentina that you could actually ride! it was a temptation haha.

Well the work is going good down here. I have been learning a lot about how to work in spite of whats happening all around me. The things here are kinda slow. There arent a lot of members that go to church and there arent a lot of investigators but I have been developing my christ-like attributes hahaha. With my old comp, Elder granados, we always joked that we got sent to La Costa to develop christ-like attributes, but in truth i have actually seen a change. I´m becoming a lot more patient, and have felt my charity for others growing. And one of the things that i think is most important of all is that I´m becoming more humble. I know that sounds like an oxymoron talking about how i am more humble but looking back i can see that i was an idiot sometimes always trying to show off but my time down here is really teaching me to let go of that and rely on strength thats not my own to become something better. I have noticed how now im not working for my own reputation, but to do what i was sent down here to do. Its slow here but I have seen results. We are focusing a lot on bringing people back to church and helping them be active and this week we went from 19 people at the beginnging of sacrament metting to almost 40 and like 15 of them were people that hadnt been to church in a good period of time. 

One of the things we are focusing on is the Book of Mormon and helping people feel the special spirit that comes with it. Before we were sharing verses and stuff but now we are going over to peoples houses and based on listening and observing them we feel inspired to read a certain stroy with them and we read chapters together and it has gone really well. We have had some really powerful expiriences from doing that. Before my mission i read a chapter from the book of mormon in 10 min now in my studies in the morning its hard to finish the chapter in an hour. I learn so much that i didn´t know before. The book of mormon is filled with knowledge that can help anybody. I want to extend the challenge to whoever is reading this, member of the church or not, to go and not only read, but STUDY, the Book of Mormon, and i promise that the spirit will help you find answers to the questions about life that you have. If you aren´t a member and don´t have a book of mormon, no pasa nada (it doesnt matter), you can write my mom and get my email address from her so that you can write me and I will help you out.  I testify that the book of mormon is the truth and that i have recieved the answers i have needed from that book and have felt the spirit burn inside of me that its true. 

Well, thats my week for ya.

Elder Whitaker

In Argentina (where he is) they get the sunrise looking at the beach.  Beautiful!

Ty & his companion from Honduras

"I have a new companion, and I'm staying in Santa Teresita"

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

This week was super busy and super awesome. It was the last week of the transfer so we were crazy jumping around from one area to another. We had a lot of meetings and extra stuff to do because we had a baptism this saturday! Rosa got baptized this week by my comp, Elder Granados, and I got to confer the gift of the holy ghost on sunday! It was super awesome to see all of our work pay off and see somebody make the first step thats necessary to return and live with our heavenly father. It was a super awesome baptisimal service and even one of the people we are teaching came to watch. It was awesome. 

This week was a little sad because it was the last week with all my missionary buddies i made down here. Its the worst part of the mission that you always make a bunch of friends and then after 6 weeks its possible that they are going to leave!  its a bummer but we had a good run. our district after a district meeting went to go have lunch on the beach which was a good way to send them off. Im also bummed out because Granados got transfered up to Buenos Aires. i´ll miss him. he was a super awesome and funny guy. we always made the work fun. I have a new comp, Elder Varela from Honduras, and im staying in santa teresita instead of going to san clemente. so thats pretty cool and im happy about that because i have a lot of people that i know here. Well thats about it for news of this week. Love you all!

Elder Whitaker

Ty, his companions, and two of his special friends.

They baptized Rosa

"you are now hearing from an older wiser Elder Tyler Whitaker..."

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

Como andá? you are now hearing from an older, wiser Elder Tyler Whitaker. Ehhh posiblé no mas sabio pero a mi yo creo que sí hahaha. but yeah this week went super well! We have gotten more used to working in a super huge area so we were a lot more effective this week and more than double our lesson from last week. My new area san clemente, isnt going to be easy because we have only one active member that goes to church because nobody wants to travel the half hour to church and half hour back every sunday so i have a feeling i am going to be doing a lot of reactivating but im excited. Our mission president always says that baptizing somebody counts the same as retaining a new convert in the church or rescuing somebody that isnt active. It will be hard but it will be really good. 

As far as people we are teaching we only have 3 but they are all getting baptized. This saturday we are having a batism for Rosa, a single mom of 3. She is super awesom and her kids are so awesome. They have 9, 6 and 1 years and they are so funny. One of the reasons im so stoked about this baptism is because i am helping these kids so that they can grow up in, and have the same blessing that i have had from growing up being taught about christ and his teachings. There is a drastic difference here between the kids my age who have the gosple mand don´t and im glad that i have the chance to help some people have what I had.

The other two are going to be baptized the 17th of May. Luis y Nahuel are so awesome. They are so strong. They live in a tent and have nothing to eat but some of the best lessons i have had have been sitting on the bricks outside his tent talking about the plan God has for us. They have been awesome because they werent easy. They didnt just believe on the spot. they question everything but now they have recieved their answer, they have felt the answer in their heart that its the truth and that the book of mormon is true and now they are super stoked to take the next step to baptism. Transfers are in a week so hopefully i´ll still be here to see that happen. 

My birthday was awesome. The president and his wife had us over for lunch and made a super bomb lunch and made me lemon pie. i didnt even know that was a thing in argentina but it was legit. We then went and taught some lessons to Luis Nahuel, and Rosa and then after we went to visit a family of the church. one of the kids found out that it was my birthday and planned a "surprise party" for me and mad a bunch of treats and stuff which was super bomb. In my english class i teach i always talk about how peanut butter is the best food ever and she heard that and gave me the best gift ever!!! She made me a jar of peanut butter from scratch!!! they dont have peanut butter here (triste i know) so i was super surprised when she whipped out a jar of home made peanut butter.I shed 3 tears. So basically it was a good day. 

Well I want to leave you guys with my testimony that I know that  this message i am sharing out here on the other side of the world is true. I have felt it in my life and i have seen it change the lives of others. I know that God is our heavenly father and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that They have a plan for us and that through the knowledge of this plan, it will bring a joy and peace that you cannot find anywhere else in this world. For those of you who know these truths, continue faithful, and for those of you who havent had the chance to get to know these things for yourself, I encourage you to, for the least, hear the guys that live in your area that are doing the same thing as me. I love you all. 

Elder Whitaker

ps from Marisa:  When your son is thousands of miles away, and you're missing him on his birthday especially-it is such a blessing to think he is being loved by those he is with....  I am so grateful for these kind children who threw him a party, and for the bishops wife who made him, from scratch, the thing Ty misses most, peanut butter. (and a lemon pie too!)

Ty's birthday "lemon pie"

Homemade peanut butter made by the bishop's wife