Jan 5

Well lots of changes have happened. I was the only one transferred in my district. Im not training either. Im a zone leader for the Bloomfield hills North zone. Its really crazy with what happened. Because usually when you go zone leader you go into with an experienced zone leader as your senior companion, to teach you how to do everything. But that didnt happen. They have me as the senior zone leader with a crazy missionary thats been out for 9 months. Its so hard right now my companion his name is Elder Young hes from South Salt Lake. But the problem right now is he hates his mission. IM worried he may go home! Not if i have anything to say about it though. So yet another trial.. but im more than willing to go through it, i know im blessed with this challage so i can learn from it. I heard a qoute from church yesterday from elder Eyring he said" God wont get rid of our trials, rather he will helpu us go through them, and by doing so he'll change us. So i know this is how he shapes us into the children he wants us to be. Elder young is haveing a trial, because he just wants to chill and being zone leader makes is so much more accountable, which makes him mad. And my trial is that i have to deal with it and still get work done, and still be a zone leader even though i dont quite know what im suppose to do. Haha! I love being a missionary, hardest 2 years of my life so far....but best! Please I really appreciate all of the family to pray for Elder Young! Pray that he can get a strong testimony, and the real spirit of missionary work. I cant stand to see him so depressed all the time!
Well I know this letter sounds crazy, but this has been the first time i have been able to vent in a week. I really am doing good. I have served with many challanging companions but the lord always blesses me with a way through it.

I'm serving in the Roseville area. This area is sweet because it has half supberbs and half Detroit. So im still here in Detroit! I was so excited when i found out. We have zone conference tomorrow as well. We have to plan a 70 minute instruction for the zone ahh, well let me take that back I have to haha my companion i think is going to sleep. Anyways again pray for him :-)
But things are good. I love this area, it has a lot of potential. We get lots of head quarter referalls, the second most in the mission. Marvelous things are going to happen i can feel it. Well i love you guys and appreciate all that you do. Thanks for the email. I cant wait to come home and eat a Giant Burger with you both! Bun included!!!
Well i love you all and will talk to you next week, Wish me luck :-)

Jan 12

Well it was a bitter sweet week.

I will talk about the sweet first, then proceed with the bitter. The lord blessed us amazingly this week. Headquarters sent us 11 referrals mainly all bible referrals. That means 11 people saw the churches commercial and called and requested us to bring them their free bible. Well from there we took adavantage of that, and ended up getting 13 new investigators this week. It was insane! We found 2 familys and lots of other people that really could go far! So we were pretty excited about that. Also we gave our Zone conference Instruction, which i think went pretty good. Thats a huge burden taken from us. The zone improved from last week, the ward mission leader in this ward is coming out with us and putting the hammer down on members to do the work, and so things are really starting to come together.

Now for the bitter part of the week. Well my companion still has been depressed, hardly talks to me, didnt help me write the zone conference instruction, so i wrote the whole thing... etc. But hes come to a conclusion as to why hes so unhappy. He called president Rawson a few days ago and is planning to meet with him tomorrow. The problem he is having is that hes not worthy to be out here. He told me that he has a past transgression he didnt repent for before coming out. Hes been out 9 months and has kind of just faked is way through it. Hes been with disobediant companions so hes felt fine and not depressed. Untill he was called to be zone leader, more was required of him, and without the spirit to help him, he hasnt been able to handle it. So he thinks hes going to be sent home. Its been a rough week for him, lots of tears, and prayers. But he recognizes that whatever happens is for the best, and that if they let him stay hes going to work so hard! If they send him home hes going to work towards coming back. Either way these 9 months have been good for him because hes gained a testimony about the gospel. Hes is just finally decided to take the consequences for his actions. So thats kind of the rough part of the week. But whatever comes of tomorrow will be for the best. I hope he stays, but i know right now something has to change hes not happy at all.

So thats been my week. Like a rollercoaster it has had its ups and downs, but i remain to stay optimistic!
Im excited to be zone leader in this sweet area, and i will continue to work hard tell my time is up reguardless of the circumstances!

So a little more about my area. Its funny because our ward im in is sooo small. Its probably the size of a branch. The first week i got here a lady from Detroit went up there and bore her testimony on a experience that she had. She told us of a friend she had, that casted a voodoo charm on her, which she then prayed and jesus came to her and put 3 fingers on her chest, and told her to annoit herself with oil and she will be healed. Anyways it was a pretty crazy story. Those are the kind of testimonys you never here in Utah haha.
Our area like I said covers half Detroit half suberbs much like Ferndale did. We get the 2nd most referrals in the mission, which im so excited for! It really is a humble area. I see a lot of good things happening here. The cool thing is i may finish my mission here. President Rawson is trying to leave missionarys in their areas for 6-8 months. So this could be my last area. Although that would be crazy, that would be a long time to be zone leader for.

Hey about the remodeling... i wish i was there too. I miss doing that stuff. When i get home we will have to do some kind of project to fill that big whole in the back yard haha.
Hmm i cant really think of anything else. So i love you guys and hope you have a good week. Dont worry about me and my companion things will work out, whatever the lord has in store will be for the best. I will let you know what ends up happening next week.
Love- Elder whipple

Hello,

Smoked turkey and lots of potatoes>? Sounds like i really missed out haha.
Thats cool you got to meet Brother Morris, he is a really nice guy, he
told me this sunday in the meeting about the visit he had with you,
everyone laughed because the tree was still up, i was like heck ya it is!
He also told me i have a very nice mom, and i told him you bet i do. Well
sadly no i dont have a christmas tree up yet. I wont be getting it up
untill i go on exchanges with the zone leaders, but thats ok. Im going to
try and find some christmas lights today. Every in Detroit is so
expensive, its sad the small stores like CVS, Family Dollar, and Rite aid
take advantage of them and us, we dont have cheap places like wal-mart or
target, its unsafe here haha. ' I still cant believe its December 1st time
really is flying. Soon it will be christmas, and i will hit my 17 month
mark wow that sounds scarey. Oh and yes thankyou, i kept thinking oh I
can get a little more out of my shoes, but i think they are done for, i
want to bring them home to show you guys, youll laugh they are pretty bad
haha. Its crazy though these pair lasted me a year. If you remember i got
these last christmas, and remember the shoes before only last like 3
months if that. I dont know why my feet so abnormally large and destroy
anything that comes in its path, but i appreciate the coat, shoes, and
tree decorations that are on the way.

Well this week we had some interesting news, William the guy who was a
member 20 years ago, and wants to be baptised back into the church, turns
out hes already baptised, and he didnt get his name removed. So its cool
heavenly father lead back 1 of his stray sheep. So i really look forward
to talking to you in 24 days. I will try and get you the right time this
time, so I dont catch you working again haha. But other than that not to
much new happened since my last email a few days ago, im just trucking
along trying to find teach and baptise with all my might mind and
strength, i know i only have 2 years to work my hardest for the lord, so
dont worry im going to finish strong and continue to work hard! Oh yea
the explanation about my new companion from the spanish area in our
mission. Well from what i know and president told me, hes here probably
just 1 transfer with me. I guess there was some problems he had with some
girls in the other branch he was in, so president rawson told me im with
him to in a sense to help him be more obediant, so when he gets back into
his spanish area he will be ok. Since there is only like 6 spanish
missionaries in our mission, they end up serving in the same area more
than once and sometimes more than twice, and serve with eachother as well
more than once, so the spanish missionaries since they are around with
eachother all the time, have hard times staying motivated, and being
obediant. Which I guess i can see, can you imagine me trying to get
missonary work done if i was in a district with Shelby, Brandon, and mark
haha. They all become friends and goof around i guess. Thats why im
serving with a spanish missionary for the time being. I think its only
suppose to be 1 or 2 transfers president says. but I enjoy it Elder
Ramirez is a fun missionary and a very good teacher.

Well i cant think of anything else to say, so hopefully something
miraculous happens this week for me to tell you about next monday in
emails :-0 I love you guys and will talk to you later
-Elder whipple

New Letter From Scott

Hello,

Well i have a crazy story to tell the family that happened this week.

So we were contacting down Livernois On election day Nov 4th, its a pretty
busy street in our area. When we stopped and talked to this guy he told us
hes not interested, and when he said that like 6 guys walked out of this
building, and was in our way of biking around them. So then as we are
standing there this guys asks my companion, " Well arnt you going to talk
to me?" So my companion starts talking to him about the book of mormon,
and while this is going on theres a few guys around him and 1 of the guys
is a camera man. So i instantly thought hmm who is this guys, to have a
camera man following him on election day, i instanly thought he was
someone of importance. So this guy leans over and asks do you guys know
who this is? We were both like no? He told us this is Congressman John
Conyers for the state of Michigan. HAHA. We were both like OHH wow nice to
meet you congressman. Then the congressman asks us do you know who this
cameraman is? We were both like .....No..>? He told us that this is the
head film director for the Movie Sicko ( the one Michael Moore wrote) and
that he is in the middle of making another documentary. Funny enough he
was videoing us, I hope im not going to be in some movie down the line
from here, but anyways. So he said can i have a book of mormon, and so we
gave him one, and as well his campaign manager. He then preceded to tell
us that hes busy at the moment but to come back to his campaign office in
a half hour and that he wants to know more about the book of mormon. So we
were both like Oh yea ! we'll come back! So a half hour later we show up
and enter into his campaign office, and mom and dad its just like the
movies, those places are flooded with people running around with the heads
cutoff. So we go in and this security wont let us into the back where the
congressman is. We tell him that he wants to see us, and he says knowone
else can go back there. Then this guy comes out of knowwhere and whispers
in the security guys ear, and they let us pass. It was so sweet i felt
like a celebrity. We then make are way back and come to the congressman,
and hes like oh you made it! He then gets out 2 plates and piles some
chips on them and gave them to us and offered us some water to drink. He
told us its lunch time. So we talked to him and he told us after we eat he
wants us to talk to everyone. So he tells one of his staff, "go get me a
loudmike, our friends are going to speak to us".

I think when he said that i almost wet myself. Loudspeaker, I instantly
thought of a million things.... like does he want us to go outside and
teach the people with a loud mike, is he expecting us to talk about OBama
haha since hes campaigning for him, it was a lonnnngg wait. He then fed us
this really good pizza sandwhich thing, and it was funny because we were
talking with him and eating there food, and people would come up and be
like congressman i want you to meet my daughter, and of course the
daughter would be going out of her mind because here she is meeting the
congressman, and i just thought it was funny because here we are 2
missionarys who walked right in here, we walked right in with no huge
degrees or fancy service awards, ate his food, and visited with him. I
seriously felt like a celebrity, people were coming up to us, and talking
with us haha. Well then came the finally when he receieved the loud
speaker. He gathered us by him and they took pictures of us by the
congressman, "They said they wanted proof that they were here with the
mormons". He then yelled in the loud speaker for everyone in the campaign
office to stop what they were doing and be quite, then introduced us and
handed us the loud speaker. So we then taught about the book of mormon,
answered questions, and bore our testimonys to everyone in the campaign
office. They all gave us a round of applause, we shook hands and left.
hahahahaha Crazy story huh! The congressman now has a book of mormon. We
will have to tell Johnny he needs to go teach the congressman more, we
planted the seeds :-)

Well as well we are having a really good time. William that guy we found
last week, still wants to get baptised, and should be baptised in maybe a
month. As well we found this brother and sister who's cousin just got
baptised and are interested in learning more, we taught them and they love
the message. Hopefully we will be able to set baptismal dates with them
soon too. I really hope i stay here, transfer calls are this coming
sunday. I dont want to leave its been my favorite area so far. But if I do
leave im prepared to serve wherever the lord needs me. Well i hope all is
well, its getting freezing here, thanks so much for the gloves and the
hat.

Oh also hahah i forgot to tell you. The night Obama won was CRAZZZZYYYYYY.
I heard Gun shots all night hahaha. People yelling and chanting obama
obama obama obama obama obama obama. Cars driving up the streets with loud
speakers chanting Obama. But the night he won was the worst. We hear like
ak47's, rifles, i swear machine guns, pistols, i think i heard about every
gun go off that night. People in the streets were yelling and cussing like
crazy. hahaha it was a interesting night, i thought it was world war 3
haha. And it was funny because ever since it became obama and mcain,
everyone in detroit asks us "Hey Yall Votin foe Obama? Then on election
day it was even worst, they all asked us , Yall vote? Im glad Obama won,
i think missionarys would have been pulled out of the city if he wouldve
lost :-) Love you guys have a good week, tell everyone i say Hi.
-Elder Whipple

Floobie Doobie Doo Song by Shel Silverstein

Thought this was funny :)


As I walk down to Bishop Street I met a girl who smiled so sweet
Now she was young and pretty too
And on a string she walked with a thing called the Floobie Doobie Doo
Oh the Floobie Doobie Doo now what is that it ain't no dog and it ain't no cat
It's not the doll with eyes of blue
I never seen such a thing as thing called the Floobie Doobie Doo

It had one tooth five purple toes sixteen elbows and a twelve-foot nose
You never see one in the Zoo
I mean a thing like a thing on a string called the Floobie Doobie Doo
I told that girl lemme take you home and maybe we can be alone hahaha
She said I'd love to go home with you
But I have to cling to my thing on the string called the Floobie Doobie Doo

Well I took her home that very night we talked a while and I dimmed the light
She cuddled close and the next thing I knew
Just as soon as it seen us in between us jumped the Floobie Doobie Doo
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
It stayed all night it stayed all year I never got to hold you near
I said sweet baby I wanna cling to you
But she wanna cling to the thing on the string called the Floobie Doobie Doo
Oh the Floobie Doobie Doo oh now what is that
It ain't no dog it ain't no cow it ain't no cat
It's not the doll with eyes of blue
You just can't swing with the thing on the string called the Floobie Doobie Doo

Well she cried and cried she wiped her eye she said farewell so long goodbye
For though I loved you yes I do
I can't reveal the love that I feel for the Floobie Doobie Doo
I never see her anymore she never knocks upon my door
And every night alone and blue
I sit and swing about a swing on a thing
I mean I sit and think about a swing on a thing
I mean I sit and sing about a thing on a string called the Floobie Doobie Doo oooh

Scotts Letters

I'm going to start putting scotts letters up so family can keep up to date with him.

Here's the newest one.

So Britney Mielke was confirmed this sunday, and guess who did it... my
companion haha. Maybe one day I will be able to do a confirmation or
baptism, but oh well. Thanks on the congradulations for the baptism. But
guess what.................There is going to be another one now!

This guy named William approached us one night this week as we were
biking. He yelled "Hey elders!!!..... Fromt the church of jesus christ of
latter day saints". Well instantly my companion turned back because
knowone ever calls us that. And meanwhile i was stuck back at the last
light. SO when i got to my companion he was talking to him. His name is
William and he was baptised 20 years ago by 2 missionaries, but never got
confirmed. He told us that he was working a few months ago and found
inside a box, 2 books. One called "A marvelous work and a wonder : By
Legrand Richards and the other" Teachings of Jospeh F. Smith". He told us
that hes studied them for months now and told us that he knows that are
doctrine is true, and that all the other churches are in apostasy. We were
like wow! Well we went and talked with him, and we invited him to be
baptised the first time we met him, and he said yes i think i want to come
this sunday and then get baptised next week. haha. We were like well we
first need to teach you and you have to come to church at least 3
consecutive times. Its amazing he came to church this sunday and loved it.
Met with the branch president and everyone, just fellowshipped right in.
SO we are planning for another baptism either Novemeber 23 or the 30th.
Its amazing because i have really been praying lately that we can find the
broken heart and contrite spirit, and Bam there he is. Hes so prepared its
crazy. He probably knows the bible better than me, I learn alot from him.
So I am really excited for this, as well we have others we are working
with. I hope the lord doesnt move me from this area, Its totally my
favorite are so far. Well i love you guys, and thats crazy we are up to
15!.
You guys are going to have so many grankids, im at least planning on 8 of
my own hahaha. Well i love you guys and will talk to you next week.
Love elder whipple

Oh ps. Thank you so much for sending that package. Those gloves rock! I
can hardly beleive how cold it is biking in winter ahhhhh its going to be
a rough one, but with those gloves it should be better. And as well the
hat. You read my mind, because i had a companion last year that had one
just like it and i really wanted one, and didnt know where to find one. SO
thankyou so much, as well for the healthy bars :-). You know what i
rememberd the other day. I didnt have anyone for christmas last year, i
feel bad. Who did i have and who do i have this year?

Shrek, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were all having lunch together.

Shrek said, I've always thought that I'm the strongest man in the world, but

how can I be sure?

Angelina Jolie agreed. 'I'm told I'm the most gorgeous of them all, but

sometimes I wonder.'

Brad Pitt said, 'I'm pretty sure I'm the sexiest man alive but I've never

had it confirmed.'

They all decided that the best way to find out if their beliefs were true

was to ask the famed talking 'mirror, mirror on the wall' to confirm for

them whether Shrek was the strongest, Angelina Jolie was the

most gorgeous and Brad Pitt was the sexiest. They agreed to meet again the

next day for lunch to discuss their findings.

The next day Shrek walked up with a smile. 'Well, it's true.

The mirror told me that I am the strongest man in the world.'

Angelina Jolie perked up and said: 'And I know for sure that I'm the

gorgeous girl alive.'

But Brad Pitt lifted his sad, sexy face and said.......

'Who the heck is Scott Whipple????! ! ! ! ! ! !'