December 27, 2010 -email

Dear Family,

This has been one of the coolest Christmases ever. I hope you all had as much fun as I did, it’s been literally a riot here...

Somehow Christmas snuck up on me once again, and on Christmas Eve I found myself thinking "Holy cow... I can't believe it’s already here." This past week has flown by, as have all the others. As a district we have had lots of fun telling each other our family traditions, or about some of our best memories of the past and best of all going to pick up our packages. Christmas Eve was a normal day except we had a Fireside that night, it was very good and we all felt the spirit of the season. The MTC presidency talked and told lots of stories, and the story in Luke 2 was read to us. After that we watched Mr. Kruger's Christmas, I'm pretty sure I've seen that show every Christmas of my life... but that made it that much better.

Christmas morning I woke up around 4, I don't know why, my body must just have a yearly alarm clock set for then. So I opened my presents, thank you so much for everything, the tie is sweet, I've already been offered 4 ties for it. but I think my tie trading is done, I like my collection as it is. We had a talent show in the morning, President Smith raised the roof with a harmonica number at the very beginning, and the rest of the talents were amazing. The MTC has talent, we all got pretty rowdy, which was kinda bad because the next meeting was with E' Nelson, but it was good. He stayed with us all weekend, we had three meetings with him.

Christmas night we had another Fireside with two legit actors who told us a shortened version of "A Christmas Carol," I'm glad I got to see that, it probably wouldn't have been Christmas without it. Pres. Smith gave us an assignment that night, we were to read Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 52, 3N 1:1-23, Luke 2, 2N 9:21-24, John 3:16-17 and to record our thoughts in our journal.

I hope you all had a good Christmas, I did, the words “God be thanked for the matchless gift of his atoning son" were in my mind

love e waite

December 25 and 27, 2010 -letter

Dear Family,

                It is just after 6:00 on Christmas Day.  I just ate the sack lunch we were given to eat for dinner.  We have about an hour until we need to be back in the 19m for another devotional.  19m is the gym that we also have devotionals and stuff like that.  We’ve spent lots of time in there lately.  Christmas has seemed to sneak up on me once again this year just like every other.  When I woke up yesterday I didn’t even realize it was Christmas Eve, We’ve been singing Christmas Hymns since Thanksgiving maybe, no matter how much I want the Christmas Season to last longer and to get more out of it, it will never be enough.

                 I hope you guys had a fantastic time at Grandpa’s.  I hope you were able to get my package I sent you, and that you could open it for Christmas.  If not, you will all have a late present.  I listened to that tape, I loved it.  Thanks everyone for talking.  It was fun hearing your voices.  Janie sounded so different.  I think she is talking lots more.  Thanks for the pictures and that sweet tie and clip.  My companion liked his stocking and so did E’ Cox.  Me and E’ Christensen had our PEZ dispensers in the front pickets of our suits.  We got a lot of weird looks but it was cool.  So there are 2 other Elders here that I have got to be really good friends with, we are all really good friends but I really like these two: E’ Kay and E’ Farley.  E’ Kay, as I’m pretty sure I’ve already told you is from Swan Lake.  We talk about all sorts of farm stuff.  What we miss.  E’Farley is a rich kid, he lives by Deron Williams.  But his hear is in the right place.  We play a lot of Connect Four together, we are usually faster getting ready than our companions, so we play lots together.  It is my new favorite game.  I’m not sure why I just told you that except for the fact that I just beat him.

                Yesterday and today have been lots and lots of fun.  This might be one of the most different Christmases of my life up to this point. 

12.27.10

Well I wanted to write lots more on Christmas but we didn’t have time.  It’s Monday, I’m doing laundry.  We just got back from cleaning the Temple.  We cleaned in the cafeteria.  I was assigned a fridge.  I pretty much took the whole thing apart and put it back together after cleaning it.  It was lots of fun, mostly to not be studying.

                How was Christmas for all you guys, what did you all get?  How was Gpa’s house?  Christmas here was really cool, I already told you about some of it in the e-mail this morning but I’ll tell you a little more now. 

                I wasn’t particularly excited for the talent show but it turned out to be the highlight of my day.  I thought there would be tons of piano songs and dumb skits but no… I loved every minute of it.  Mostly what was done was guitar, magic stuff, jokes, piano stuff, but it was a really good serious-not to serious ratio.  After the talent show we all sang “The Twelve Days of Christmas” MTC style.  It was legit.  These were the things we said.  It’s pretty corny but true.  1 rock solid testimony 2 haircuts free, 3 new companions, 4 chocolate milks, 5 hours at gym, 6:30 wake ups, 7 lukewarm showers, 8 hours of rest, 9 vaccinations, 10 new commandments, 11 ?, 12 hours of class.  This was complete with actions.

                Before we ate lunch we were in the entrance part of the MTC looking at some of the pictures and statues in there, my companion turned to me and told me that someone who looked like either E’ Nelson or E’ Bednar just parked in the Apostles parking spot.  The whole MTC presidency was standing around so we just decided to act casual and see what was going down.  Sadly a security guy came up and asked us to leave, but we didn’t go very far.  It was E’ Nelson, it was pretty sweet.  We were the only missionaries in the whole MTC that weren’t surprised to find out he was speaking to us.

                Anyways, things are really going good here.  At the first it was easy to see my Spanish progress but for the next three weeks it was kinda tough to see but lately I have been getting lots better again.  It’s kinda cool to see.  Sometimes when I am speaking I think “How do I know this already?” and then I remember about the amazing gift of tongues. 

                So you might be getting a call home from me soon, but it will only be 5 minutes.  It’s not official yet but there is a good possibility we might be getting reassigned temporarily.  I am actually kinda excited about it.  I don’t even care if I am going to the Snowville mission haha.  We are supposed to know Wednesday at 4:00.  You guys could probably call Salt Lake and find out also.  I’m going to maybe record it on Arianna’s recorder.  Anyways we’ll see what happens.  I wasn’t going to tell you but you probably won’t get this letter til Wednesday anyway so I hope you probably won’t get too excited.  I love you guys!

E’ Waite

December 20, 2010 -email

Greetings from the MTC! How is everything going? Are y'all excited for Christmas? I know I am. I got a huge package full of presents, thanks. I haven't seen Elder Cox yet, I was hoping I'd see him yesterday but no. So who is going to get the Noel Prize this year? Have you already decided? I've been thinking about who should get it, and like usual I can't think of just one family, so good luck with whatever you decide.

I've really enjoyed the stories you sent Mom, and so have some of the other Elders in my District. They will probably get more used today because the temple is closed, so for the two hours that we usually go there will just be spent in the dorms. Next week we'll get to clean the Temple, I'm pretty stoked for that. However that also means that depending on the day we leave I won't be able to go to the temple again...

It’s been a good week. Elder Christensen and I rocked it steady by getting 54 Key Indicators, the best in our zone in two months. Key Indicators are just our numbers of how many lessons we taught and how many investigators we have we really worked hard. One thing I've noticed since being here is how much time we have in a day, and when we plan good how much more we can get accomplished. It’s weird but when we have five or ten minutes to spare, and we don't do anything, I start to feel guilty for not using that time a little better. I guess it’s good that this is a learning experience.

Elder C says hi and thanks for the Christmas stocking. I say hi and thanks for mine also, I've opened the CTR ring and the Gold Fish already. The CTR ring is great, it doesn't fall off my finger at all... in fact it’s sort of stuck on. It’s not really stuck, but I jammed my finger last night and my finger is huge, so I can't get it off. That’s alright, I really like it, I love to spin it.

Espanol is awesome.

Love Elder Waite

December 13, 2010 -email

Hey there Fam!

Hello, How is everything going? It’s so great to hear from all of you, thanks for all the Christmas cards and DE’s (especially you dad). I love to hear about everything the fam does in a day and what is going on at home. That little nativity set is the coolest thing around!!! I love it. I had to wait til this morning to get it from the post office because they were closed when I went to pick it up on Saturday, but it was worth the wait. The lemon bars were delish as well... however, I think that when a post man reads fragile on something he takes the liberty of not being nice to it like he should, but the taste of them was still the same. When I opened them and realized what they were I went and put them in the microwave and purchased a milk to drink while I ate. It was so good to have a taste of home. Thanks Sadie for helping Mom make them.

Things are swell here at the ol' MTC, we teach lessons to other missionaries and they are progressing investigators, the missionary picks a name and thinks of a person they know in their head and tries to be them so we can answer 'real' questions and see what really happens. It’s a far cry from being legit but it’s still kinda cool, we are having two baptisms this Friday, you can all come. I am also getting baptized on that day... my name is Corneilus and I am extremely intellectual. I am another investigator also, my name is Hugo (yes the Hugo in Peru) nobody has been able to baptize me yet. I kinda feel bad that I’m so tough on the missionaries but they told us to think of real people, and he is definitely real.

Elder Christensen is going to Adequipa, I told him to baptize the Yanque family.

I met some missionaries from Mexico, they say that Moterreyans are considered cheap. I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean but it made me more excited to get out there.

Last night we got to see the BYU Mens Chorus for the Sunday night fireside. It was sweet.

Not much time left, I love you guys. Merry Christmas!!

Love

Elder Waite

December 6, 2010 -email

Dear Family,

Santo Vacka!!! Japan?! Who would have thought, pretty sweet. Congratulations Mariah. That is so cool, sounds like you had a lot of fun opening it with everyone there, I'm glad you got some sweet video footage of that so I can see it. If we would have been making bets I would have guessed somewhere in Europe for sure, I guess it’s a good thing we weren't.

Thanks for the copies of poems and such, La Familia y El Cristo Viviento are legit also, I carry them around everywhere. I've already memorized both poems, and recite them so I can fall asleep at night.

Everything here is great. Yesterday I was made district leader again, it’s kinda weird because I'm sort of a transplant but I'm still excited. I am still with Elder Christensen, I get along with him fine, but sometimes he doesn't like to get out of bed so I'm pretty sure he hates me, I'm always turning on the light and talking loud right when I get up... poor guy. We teach really well together, he teaches very sincerely and is kinda soft spoken. We are at about the same level in Spanish so that's really good.

Thanks for all the DE's I love getting them and hearing about the cool thing you are all doing. Hopefully everything is good back home, all the animals are still alive and everything.

I love it here but I can't wait to get out in the field, I've gained two pounds since I've been here but it feels like ten. I am sleeping lots better, thanks for the melatonin, it works like a champ! The past two weeks we have only taught two lessons in English, all the rest have been in Spanish.

Mom I'll write that stuff you told me about in a letter as soon as I get the one you sent. Could you please send me Cody’s and Josiah’s address'?

I don't have much to write about this week. Thanks for everything you do I love you guys!

Love,

Elder Waite

November 29, 2010 -email

Hello Family?

How are things going for everyone? How are you all liking the snow? That sounds pretty sweet... sounds like the snow day was a much needed rest for everyone, and you got a lot done! I was really jealous that you got snow and we didn't, but we have about six inches now... but we are only allowed to touch it with one finger at a time so it’s really doesn't even mean anything.

How was Thanksgiving for ya'll? Did you stay at home? I don't really remember what your plans were but I kinda thought you were thinking about going somewhere. My Thanksgiving was legit. Elder Holland came and talked to us and all his grandchildren came and sang. When I first saw him I thought we might get chastised a little bit, but that wasn't what it was at all, He said that for that day his family was our family. It was probably the most spiritual meeting I have ever been to. Near the end of his talk he did start on a little hell fire and damnation speech about being lonely, he said we shouldn't be lonely.

Well I think you could call me the black sheep of the MTC... I have a new Companion! Who would have thought...

His name is Elder Chistensen from somewhere in California, I wish I could remember but I can’t, and I’ve already asked him about four times and I don't think he'll appreciate a fifth.. It doesn't really matter. We got the news last night, so I haven’t been with him very long. He is supposed to be in Peru but he is waiting on his visa. I'm a little worried about changing all the time like I have been, I think it’s starting to affect my Spanish. Speaking of Spanish, I haven't taught a lesson in English for about five days. I don't know if I could really say I've been teaching in Spanish, most of the time we just sit there is silence trying to think of something to say.

Anyways, it’s pretty much the same old thing day in and day out. I guess I should be grateful for all the companion changes so I have something to write about. I really love it here, Elder Holland helped me realize that. I hope everything is going good, you guys are probably just as busy as ever. I love you!

Love

Elder Waite

P.S.

Sadie, yes I think I have been getting all your letters, but I don't know the exact number I have. Thanks for all of them! I can't wait to be in Mexico. I miss you to..

November 24, 2010 -letter

Hello Family!!

 Whats going on??? As always things are really good here. I think the letters that are sent from here take forever to get home, I've sent you a couple lately but I’m not sure if you got them yet. Today is my new P-day. Last Tuesday Elder Robertson and I were transferred. Elder Robertson went home last Friday, he found out his gma had cancer and that was the last straw. He never really told me a lot about what was going on, what I do know is that right before he left a girl he had dated a few months before called him a hypocrite and he was having a hard time with the fact that he might be a hypocrite and he still had Christ’s name on his chest. He never told me this part but I think something happened in the residence hall that made him uncomfortable, I think it was just showering or something, I don’t know. We were put into a new district because the MTC didn't want him to blame anything on them as far as organization and obedience is involved. It’s really complicated and probably really confusing to read about, but it’s all over now. This week I have been grateful for the weight of district leader being lifted from me. That last district was a rough situation, three of the elders were threatened to be sent home, I had a tough job of trying to keep them in line. I am glad to be where I am now, I have already had five companions assigned to me and I've slept in 4 different beds, so my MTC experience is already something more special and different than anyone else’s.

I am in a threesome now, E' Kay from Swan Lake and E' Mcneil from California. I’ve only been with them since yesterday but they are cool. E' Mcneil reminds me of David Cache Morgan, except multiplied by 5. He is District leader and he rules with an iron fist. E' Kay is the only other farm kid that I’ve been around and I’m glad to be with him, I think we'll be good friends.

Well you are basically up to date on my life now, Spanish is ok. The first week it was easy to see the improvement, it seems to be going a little slower now. Teaching however is fantastic, it so great to teach with the spirit. 

I am dying to know where Mariah got her call to!! We haven’t had any mail delivered to us since sat. Hopefully I’ll find out tonight.

There is a really warped sense of time here, I no longer have the ability to tell what time it is throughout the day. Maybe that’s messed up because I wear a watch now, I don't know. The days seem like weeks but looking back the weeks seem like days. 

I love to hear how you are all doing, I’ll try to write letters later. Thank you so much for the pictures!

love elder waite

November 22, 2010 -email

Hello Family!!

 Whats going on??? As always things are really good here. I think the letters that are sent from here take forever to get home, I've sent you a couple lately but I’m not sure if you got them yet. Today is my new P-day. Last Tuesday Elder Robertson and I were transferred. Elder Robertson went home last Friday, he found out his gma had cancer and that was the last straw. He never really told me a lot about what was going on, what I do know is that right before he left a girl he had dated a few months before called him a hypocrite and he was having a hard time with the fact that he might be a hypocrite and he still had Christ’s name on his chest. He never told me this part but I think something happened in the residence hall that made him uncomfortable, I think it was just showering or something, I don’t know. We were put into a new district because the MTC didn't want him to blame anything on them as far as organization and obedience is involved. It’s really complicated and probably really confusing to read about, but it’s all over now. This week I have been grateful for the weight of district leader being lifted from me. That last district was a rough situation, three of the elders were threatened to be sent home, I had a tough job of trying to keep them in line. I am glad to be where I am now, I have already had five companions assigned to me and I've slept in 4 different beds, so my MTC experience is already something more special and different than anyone else’s.

I am in a threesome now, E' Kay from Swan Lake and E' Mcneil from California. I’ve only been with them since yesterday but they are cool. E' Mcneil reminds me of David Cache Morgan, except multiplied by 5. He is District leader and he rules with an iron fist. E' Kay is the only other farm kid that I’ve been around and I’m glad to be with him, I think we'll be good friends.

Well you are basically up to date on my life now, Spanish is ok. The first week it was easy to see the improvement, it seems to be going a little slower now. Teaching however is fantastic, it so great to teach with the spirit. 

I am dying to know where Mariah got her call to!! We haven’t had any mail delivered to us since sat. Hopefully I’ll find out tonight.

There is a really warped sense of time here, I no longer have the ability to tell what time it is throughout the day. Maybe that’s messed up because I wear a watch now, I don't know. The days seem like weeks but looking back the weeks seem like days. 

I love to hear how you are all doing, I’ll try to write letters later. Thank you so much for the pictures!

love elder waite

November 17, 2010 -letter

Howdy Fam!

                Well we got permission to do laundry today because we were running pretty low on our necessities, so I get to write another letter to you, hopefully the two this week make up for no email.  You wouldn’t believe who I’ve seen here, I was walking down the hall and I saw a lady that looked like she had been struck by lightning….   It was Mrs. Matthews!! (Now Sister Matthews)* I couldn’t believe it, I wanted to chat it up with her for a while, but we were in a big hurry so I couldn’t.  I have seen our relative, Elder Westover, we used to live in the same residence hall, not anymore, but we are still in the same building for class.  He didn’t know who I was at first, but he remembered after we got to talking.  There is an Elder Kay in our new district who is from Swan Lake, they live in one of the houses on the WS highway as you are going to Red Rock.  Dad, I think you worked with his g-ma at one point.  I’ve also seen Aunt Sara’s friend from Ohio who is teaching at the MTC.  It’s a small world!

                Mom, your food is amazing.  Food here isn’t bad, it’s just nothing like yours.  Everything has about six times as much sugar than it needs, I’m pretty used to it by now.

                Hey Jane! Thanks for your DE you sent! Do you still play with Mattie and that awesome cat with six toes?  Have you noticed if they miss me yet? I know I miss them… but not enough to come home!

                Thank you all for teaching me how to work.  Our new district is a bunch of rich city kids.  They have good hearts and I love them!

                We teach lots of lessons here, the hardest part is being serious, yesterday I taught a less-active named Paco de Esperanza, he insisted that every time we say his name, that is what we said.  It’s good and bad because that seems to be the only time during the day that we can really let our personalities show, but that also means there is too much personality.  I have learned so much just in two weeks.  The Espiritu Santo is the greatest blessing here and it is always with us when we deserve it, and when the spirit isn’t with us we are like lost little kids.

                I hope everything is good there.  I know it is, and if we ever think it isn’t then we are wrong.  The lord knows what’s good!  If only I could get my companion to see that….

                Thanks for the package!  Man, I love Werthers!  I am already half-way done with the Ensign!

                I’m not really sure who deserved the thanks here, either ma or pa, but whoever it is, thanks for giving me a huge neck.   I never realized that it was different than anyone else’s but apparently it is!  In both of our districts, everyone was always saying something about it, I guess I’m just disproportionate or something.  :)

                Anyways, I feel like I’ve said a whole lot of nothing in this letter, but whatev.  I can’t wait to hear where Mariah is going.  Her call will probably come today.

Love,

Elder Waite

* Mrs. Matthews was Mariah's, Camden's, Hannah's, and Maren's fourth grade teacher.

November 16, 2010 -letter

Mother and Father,

                Well this week has been adventurous already and it’s only Tuesday.  Elder Robertson has been contemplating going home and was supposed to give his answer today.  He had decided he was going to leave.  So we went to one of the head honchos office that he has been talking to.  We have also been having lots of problems with disobedience in our district.  It was so bad that I thought three of the Elders were going to be sent home.  They just didn’t realize their purpose and take their calling seriously.

                President Bertasso is the man we have been talking to.  He has been deciding what is going to happen with the district.  When my companion told him he was going home, he realized that it would be lots better if we were in a better district that would be a better example and have a better spirit.  So we were transferred.  My P-day is now on Monday so you won’t be getting an e-mail from me on Thursday.

                I am doing well, I really love this here.  I just opened a Dear Elder from Janie.  It made my day!  Dad, thanks a lot for the DE you sent me, guess what!!!  I watched part of that meeting you told me about!  I love you guys!  Sorry I haven’t been saying much, the only purpose of this letter is to inform you about our transfer. 

Love,

Elder Waite

PS-I have been sleeping lots better, and the food isn’t bad either.  I can’t wait to hear where Mariah is going!   Our new mailbox # is 177

November 15, 2010 -letter

For Enrichment(it was combined with the YW) one night, my mom was going to speak and needed Elder Waite to write her and tell her a way that girls affected him and his choice to go on a mission.
This was his reply

 Dear Mom,

                I hope this gets to you on time, sorry that I didn’t write this in the email so you could have it faster.  I’m not sure what to say about girls helping me go on a mission, I really don’t have any legit stories or anything.  The first thing that popped into my head was about Aubrie.

                When we were dating I had that No. 10 can full of coins.  When we opened it and started counting it, I was talking about what I wanted to spend it on.  When I asked her what she thought I should spend it on, she said “Ummm, on your mission maybe…”  Her tone was really funny, almost as if she thought I was supposed to think of that myself.

                I don’t have any other specific stories.  The best thing girls can do is just say, “You better go on a mission.”  Also, if boys know that girls expect them to serve, I think helps.

                Sorry I don’t have very much for you.  I hope this helps.  I could probably come up with more, I just don’t have time. 

Thank you for everything.

Love,

Elder Waite

November 11, 2010 -letter

Dear Dad, Mom, Mariah, Hannah, Maren, Hallie, Sadie, and Janie,

                Well a half an hour isn’t’ near enough time to tell you everything that has happened here.  I hope you got that E-mail.  I sent it with 1 second left.  Our zone has a reputation of obedience we have to keep so we have twice as many rules as everyone else.  Today is the only day we can write to anyone, so I’m pretty rushed to tell you everything.

                Yesterday Elder Holliday told me he got temporarily re-assigned, he is still waiting on his visa.  He is going to McCallen, Texas.  I’m pretty sure that’s where it is.  In the very southern part.  (Mom)  That should make you really happy to hear…  You’ll probably get to tell his mom before she even knows.   Maybe I’ll write it on the envelope for her so she can see it when she delivers your mail. *

                Elder Smart was sure happy to see me, I think I was more happy though.  We were in the store getting some paper.  I was standing right next to him for probably 2 minutes before I realized it was him.  All the sudden we both looked at each other and realized who we were… It was awesome.  He is still the same old Keaton.  I saw him again right as he was leaving and gave him another big hug... I hope Chile is nice to him! *

                Besides Elder Fe’ao my other favorite fellow district member is a body builder from California.  The three of us are pretty good friends.  His name is Elder Picket.

I have a favor to ask, if you guys could pray for Elder Robertson, my companion,  that would be good.  He is having a rough time, poor guy.

                 One of the best things about the MTC is we get to have legit people come talk all the time.  The past four weeks we have had four apostles come.  Tuesday Elder Bednar and his wife came, and Sunday Sister Dew came and talked to us.  We sang in the choir on Tuesday.  It was fun, and it was a really good meeting.

                I can’t believe how much we are already speaking Spanish.  We can contact people, pray and bear our testimonies already.  Basically we just speak Spanish all the time.  We’ve taught a few lessons to some people, they went really well.  I got really excited during one of them because the Spirit was there and I knew we were working together.  I was sad that they weren’t real.

This place is kinda weird, I can’t sleep but I’m never tired, and I’m proud to say I haven’t fallen asleep in class yet. 

                I’m doing GREAT! How is potty training Janie comin?  How are all the animals?  How much snow did you get? Where is Mariah going to go on her mission….?  I met an Elder here, he is in the room right by ours.  He is from Rexburg and got called to Pocatello.  So Mariah, Snowville East?

                Thank you guys so much for everything.  I love you and love to hear from you! I liked to get Grandma Waite’s emails also and Cody’s and Keaton’s.  Thanks for sending them.  Thanks for all the DearElders!  I love you guys so much.  Every time I say I have 6 sisters to someone it makes me happy. 

Love,

Elder Waite

*Sister Holliday is our mail-lady and she is also the mother of Wyatt, Camden's good friend.

*Elder Smart is a friend of Camden's from High School.

The First Letter (November 11, 2010 -email)

What we've been waiting for!!!!!
A LETTER FINALLY CAME!!!!!
Elder Waite's first letter!


Hey there Family!!

I have been waiting for this time all week! The MTC is great, there is so much i want to tell you... I dont know where to start. Things were great right from the start, after I left you guys I went in and got my name tags, keys, ect.... Then I went and got my books and was taken to my room. Then we went to our class room and were told to read this huge black binder with all the rules. After everyone got to our room we all introduced ourselves and sang "Love One Another" in spanish. The spirit was so strong, right then I knew we were in good hands. We had class for a while and then went to dinner. I didn't meet my companion until after dinner... He is cool, his name is Elder Robertson, From St. George. He's kinda a goofy son of a gun but i like him.

On Thursday we met our Branch Presidency, and they called someone to be the district leader. Guess who it was... me! pretty crazy. Its a tough job, its mostly just glorified babysitting. I think we have a good district. We are all really close. Those first days until Sunday were pretty rough, but sunday was really good. I bore my testimony in spanish! It was pretty legit.

I really like our roomates. Elder Fe'ao (he is half samoan and half tongan... he's huge) and Elder Eyre. Me and Elder Fe'ao are pretty good buddys. Me and him haven't been sleeping very good. The second night we were here I was up around 3 and so was he, so we just talked for the rest of the night. That has happened almost every night since then, for some reason we both just don't really sleep very good. but its cool, when we talk like that he says "thanks for choppin it up with me". i love him.

I'm not sick anymore which is good, those first couple of days were rough but i survived!

I have learned a couple of things since ive been here...
1- I really need to work on my stupid face. when someone is talking to me in spanish i'm sure i look really dumb.. but i can't understand what they are saying!
2-I am really grateful for the holy ghost. Its great to have the spirit here all the time.
3- I really really love mail! Thanks to everyone for anything you send!
4- I am a really slow typer, my time is almost gone :(

I can't wait to hear where mariah is going on her mission! I can't dissagree more with sister cook now, the sisters have a great spirit and i love them! I saw Elder Smart and Elder Holliday and delivered both their packages.
I hate to ask you  something but could you send me some pictures? i dont have any and i especially want some of the fam
love eld

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Hello Family,

    Several of you have asked that we tell about our day on Wednesday, so here are a few of the details.  

    First of all, we went to meet with the stake president at 9:00 on Tuesday night to have him set apart.  President Keller asked Camden to ask someone to bear their testimonies of which he picked Adin and I.  After setting him apart, he asked Camden to bear his.  It was very touching and the spirit was very strong.  The girls all had a pretty hard time through it all and bawled buckets.  ( Mariah was not there, as she was meeting with her stake president in Rexburg at the time).

    On Wednesday morning we all got up early and got ready to go.  Just before we walked out the door, Adin gave Camden a father's blessing.  It must be a wonderful thing to be a father and be able to lay your hands on your son's head and bless him with wonderful promises.    After that, Adin and Camden each consecrated a couple vials of oil.   

    We had a nice ride down to Provo.  I had printed a really good letter from Cody (Todd's son on a mission in Zimbabwe)  and read it to everyone.  Adin had taken the "Missionary Experience" story from Grandpa Blacker which we also read. 

    After getting to Provo we went to eat lunch at the BYU Creamery.  We had some time, so then went to the Provo temple where we took pictures, gave Camden hugs, and told him goodbye.  Camden was just a little teary there, whilst the girls were all sobbing uncontrollably.  At the appointed time, we all got in the car and drove across the street to the MTC.  They had missionaries all lining the curb waiting to greet us and take our boy away.  They had signs placed every few feet with numbers on them.  They directed us to pull into slot # 3.  I had the camera in my hand and set it down on the dash board so I could get out and help get luggage out.  There were only two suitcases, so by the time I got to the back of the van, Adin and Camden already had them out.  Camden gave me one more quick hug, I remembered the camera and ran to the front of the van to get it, turned around and he was gone.  It all happened that fast.  I have attached the only picture we got.  He is wheeling the suitcase clear up by the construction.  It was really odd compared to how we used to take missionaries to the MTC.  It was so fast, that it really was less painful.  I am glad that we had time and were not in a rush so that we could go to the temple and spend some time.

    After he left, there was an older sister who talked to the girls on the sidewalk and assured them that they were going to take good care of Camden.  She said they were going to have ice cream sundays for dinner and they had gotten chocolate donuts for lunch.  She also said, "look at all of these happy elders.  I promise you that in two weeks your brother is  going to be one of these laughing happy elders standing here ready to greet the new missionaries."  

    Camden was already one of the happy elders.  He was grinning from ear to ear when we dropped him off.  He was so excited.  I had such a feeling of peace as we drove away.  In Camden's testimony the night before he said that he already felt different after being set apart.  By the time we dropped him off, he had already been a missionary for 16 hours and he was ready to get going at being a missionary. This is what we have prayed and worked and hoped for for nineteen years.  What an awesome experience.  

       From the MTC we went to the Monte L. Bean Museum on BYU campus.  It is a really neat museum with all kinds of animals on display.  This time they had quite a display on bees.  We then went back to the creamery for ice cream.  Since Camden was getting ice cream sundaes for dinner, we needed ice cream didn't we.   We got home about 8:00 that night.

    In all, it was a very nice day.  I have thought of Camden every minute since we dropped him off, wondering what he is doing, what he is eating, what he is learning, etc., etc., etc.  We can hardly wait to get his first letter.

    Yesterday, the doorbell rang and it was the florist dropping off a big boquet of flowers.  The card read "To Eve Waite and Hannah, Maren, Hallie, Sadie, and Little Janie -- What a wonderful missionary you have raised.  You're incredible daughters of God.  With much love, President Dax Keller."  What a neat way to deal with a bunch of blubbering females after setting their missionary apart. 

    We have had quite a few people call to see how we are doing and if we are okay.  We are definately okay.   We are only three days into it, but I just love knowing that we now have a missionary.  I appreciate all of you who have been interested in knowing the details of our big day.  We love you all.

Eve