June 13, 2011

Hello Family!!

How is everyone? I'm hecka excited to write this week. We just got back from a Zone activity. We played soccer, football and basketball, and also had a water fight. I didn't win but it was still fun. It’s getting pretty hot here again (for the past two weeks it’s been pretty nice, only about 35 degrees but it’s getting hotter now) and any chance we have to get wet is sweet. Actually we are pretty wet all the time from our sweat.
Monterrey is more humid than people give it credit for.

This week has been a little up and down. The problems with my comp are still there but we have talked about it a lot and I've come to the conclusion with myself that I just need to be happy. Attitude is everything.

I'm glad you got that package. I was worried that Hermana Romney had forgotten.

We had a baptism, Maria Teresa, it was legit, but I need to baptize more gently the people say...

Good luck with everything!! I love you guys.

Love

Elder Waite

June 6, 2011

Hello Family,

First off the pictures – 1- Me and my comp at the temple. I don't think I sent this one to you, sorry if I have. 2- Martha, the lady we baptized this week. Boy was it an adventure and a miracle to say in the least. Her brother had his legs amputated a couple years ago and has had lots of problems since. Thursday he went to the hospital because his kidneys stopped working, so we went to the hospital to see them. He didn't want anything but Martha was golden, and it was legit to see her faith. We learned that they had gone to the hospital from the neighbor. It is a huge hospital, and we didn't even know the full name of her brother to ask the people there, but we went and we found Martha. It was a miracle. I didn't even realize it until I was thinking about it yesterday how impossible the odds were of finding her there. I guess we live in a world of miracles after all. We were able to arrange for someone to stay with the brother for the time that it would take to do the baptism on Sunday. We went to pick her up from her house Sunday and on our way to the church we stopped and picked up another investigator, Maria (she is the other lady in the picture). It turns out that they have been friends since birth. They went to school and everything together, they even dated the same guy and hated each other at one point in their lives, but they are cool now. Anyway, now the both of them are even more excited to be going to church together, and Maria is going to get baptized next week. It’s a pretty cool story if you ask me. I hope I wrote it well enough so you can all understand.

Things in the companionship haven't improved one bit. I don't really want to write about it and there's not much to say other than I am amazed that God is blessing us with more success now when there is contention. Spanish and I are battling. I always confuse myself when I am talking. I haven't quite fallen in love with it yet like I thought I would. This whole mission business is a whole lot harder than I ever thought it would be, but it is still pretty easy to count my blessings.

Sorry I haven't been keeping up on investigators that you could pray for. It’s pretty tough because they come and go pretty fast, but I think Maria would be a good name for you guys. I hope nothing impedes her from getting baptized this coming Sunday.

We went to the offices today (4.5 pesos in metro and a 25 peso for a taxi, in this area we almost never use the buses, mostly the metro, for 4.5 pesos you can go almost anywhere in Monterrey). I had to do some things with my visa, and I am legitly legal now.

I hope you all are doing well. I have some Dear Elders and a couple letters to read but I haven't yet. I am really excited to. It’s like Christmas every time your letters come. I have been really stressed lately. Today we got together as a district and watch The Singles Ward Two with pizza. It was a legit break, except I am the only American in our district and felt a little alone. That movie is pretty funny. Maybe it’s the fact I'm a missionary and haven't seen a movie in a while.

Love

Elder Waite

June 1, 2011 -email

Hello Everyone!!

First off I need to plead for the pardon of Sadie - I don't think I told you happy birthday!!!!! Sorry it’s a little late. I really did think about you the whole day on the 18th. I don't have much time today, not much new though... my comp and I are still having some little problems, but he's a little guy and not that hard to whip into shape.. just kidding.

We are going to have a baptism this week!! A lady about 50 named Martha, very poor and humble, but she gave us beans and bread to eat the second time we saw her. Her heart is in the right place and we get along very well.

All this talk about the hike is making me so excited for all the pictures that are coming my way! I hope you all enjoy it, when are you guys going to go?

Glad to hear Mariah is in Japan. It’s really cool to tell people that I have a sister in Japan. I think about her all the time, and now she is out in the real world!!

Good news: I'm still under 200 lbs. I was thinking I was over but I'm still not. Sorry that this is short and doesn't really say anything at all, but just know that I send my love.

Love

Elder Waite

Dear Family,

How is everyone? From all the mail that I got this week it sounds like you are still busy as ever. We had Zone conference this week, it was great. I'm going to include some of the thoughts if I have time to later. I got a ton of Dear Elders and 3 other letters from Sadie, Hannah and Mom telling me about Aunt Amy's funeral.

First off I need to take care of some business and answer some questions that were asked in the DE's. Dad, my Ham Radio license is going to expire in August I think. I really don't want to have to take that test again, so could you check into that for me please? Good luck with your foot surgery. I read about what was going to happen the night before, so I got a prayer in for you before it happened. I hope everything is well.

I also read about the possibility of you guys getting an exchange student. All I have to say about it is if you think you can handle it go ahead. I always thought it would be cool to have one. I don't think my opinion matters very much in this though; you have probably made up your mind.

I finally got rid of the fungus that has been growing on my neck. I actually didn't know that it was fungus until I asked Sis Romney, it was just dry. One application of Gold Bond did the trick.Yes, I got the DE's after Mothers day. They usually come in weeks. I have the week of the 9th of May. I might take out some money today, the most it would be is $40. It’s been a tight month with changes and all, plus my comp has already ran out of money. That is my biggest pet peeve, people not being responsible with their money and begging the rest of the month.

Sadie

Man I wish I could be there to see you get baptized!!! But even though I'm not I'll be thinking about you. Baptism is something very important, it is when we have the opportunity to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, after baptism we are on his team, and we need to always follow him. I know that you will feel something very special during and after your baptism and even more special when you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. I know that you are doing the right thing and that you can feel and receive the blessing of this decision for the rest of your life. Enjoy the time that you are free of sin. I love you so much!!

Love Elder Waite

Hello West Side Missionary's!

How are you guys all doing, it's so cool to think about everyone and where you all are. I am doing great here in Monterrey, and it is HOT!! I'm sure that most of you know what I am talking about. I am starting to get fat from this Mexican food, and I'm getting kind of good at soccer. After the MTC I was a visa waiter in the Salt Lake SouthMission, and after a little wait I finally got to Mexico, I just got to my second area here in Mexico.

It is my hope and prayer that you are all doing great and making our school proud. I am still pretty young in the mission but there are a few things that I have gained a stronger testimony about that I want to share with you: Jesus is the Christ, and we as missionaries are not exempt from having to repent ourselves. The Church is perfect and it is directed by a prophet under the direction of Jesus Christ.

Love, Elder Waite

I hope this is ok it was a little on the fly but I hope it works. In the pictures, the first one is of a sign in our area, although there are a lot of things going on in the world right now and people saying stuff like this, I don't really think it is helping the missionary work :(. The rest are of a birthday party of one of the hermanas in the ward. Yes, that food was amazing!

We had a miracle this Sunday, some guy showed up and wants to get baptized. His name is Ernesto. We confirmed someone this week. It was a tough week.

I love you guys, Get well soon Dad!!

Love,

Elder Waite

May 16, 2011 -email

Hello Family!!

Well like what I said to you on Mother’s Day, I got changed!! Pretty cool, I am now in a ward called Morelos 1 and it is a completely different life, but I like it. When we get changes the zone leaders call and tell us what is going on at around 9:30 the night before we leave, and then we have to be at the bus station at 830 the next morning. At about 6 on Monday President called me…a little startling…and told me in person that I was getting changed. He didn't tell me where he just said that I would be getting a companion that I would learn lots from. I'm not going to go into more details about what he said, but it was sort of a warning call. And now that I have been with him I know why. He is a very good missionary and has exploded this area. We live with another companionship, which is sort of fun. During the day I never speak English and rarely in the night.

I am excited for this change here. I am learning so much more in every aspect of being a missionary in Mexico. I am sending some pictures of where I study, where my clothes are, outside the window from the study room, and of a bird that was in our house last night. I might be able to write you more later...  If not goodbye.

Love

Elder Waite

May 16, 2011 -letter

Dear Family,

Well, today is Monday.  I wrote you guys this morning, not very much.  I hope this letter will maybe fill you in on what I didn’t say this morning.  We are at an Hermana’s house washing.  They have a washer and a dryer.  It’s the first time that I’ve used a dryer since being in Mexico.  I actually think they don’t exist in Salinas Victoria.  I had to come into the big city.  Our area really is in the big city, but it is mostly residential.  It is so weird being here.

My new companion was born in Brazil, his mom is Brazilian and his dad is Mexican.  For the past 10 years he has lived in Chiapas, Mexico.  He is short and really dark.  He knows how to talk to people and can gain their confidence really fast.  I am glad that I am with him.  For one I am going to be able to speak Spanish better, the other is I hope to be able to talk to people like he can.  This week that I have been with him has been interesting.   Obedience is related with everything we do. 

Monterrey is awesome.  I am still amazed at how big this city is.  It pretty much never ends.  The mountains all around it are really cool also, they are huge.  From our house you can see the Silla (Saddle Mountain), and in another direction another group of mountains that look bigger, but I think it is just because they are closer. 

Today, and all this week it has been raining and one day it even hailed.  Not quite as bad as it was on the hike with the Waldrons but it was still pretty intense.  It’s been pretty nice weather lately.  I have been using my long sleeve shirts more.  I forgot how much I like them.  The primary song about earth right after rain makes a lot more sense to me now that I have been in a city that doesn’t get clean very often.  Sunday afternoon it was really cool.  It rained really hard so everyone went inside and about 45 minutes after, it stopped and everything was silent.  Nobody was outside but us and everything was fresh.  It was pretty cool, or a different experience at least. 

22 May

I fell in love with Mexico a little more last night.  We got to go to a birthday party of one of the sisters in the ward (We baptized her future son-in-law my first Sunday here.  That was cool.)  Mexicans really know how to party.  They got these huge speakers from somewhere and had some karaoke going on and there was also a piñata.  I had the honors of breaking it.  Right now it is early Sunday morning.  We don’t have any baptisms planned but there are lots of people who showed up last week and if they come today they could theoretically get baptized.  We are taking the white clothes just in case.  I am pretty sure we are going to be in church at the same time as you guys.  It is cool to think about that.

Sister Romney (Mission President’s wife) is going to mail this sometime, hopefully soon from Texas, so it should get to you guys pretty fast.  I think about you guys all the time, and I love to show the pictures of us to people.  The usual comment is, “Wow, 7 kids, didn’t you guys have T.V.? “  Anyway, I love you.

Love,

Elder Camden Waite

May 16, 2011 -email from President Romney

Thank you, Bro and Sis Waite, for your letter and your concern for your son.  Let me first put you at ease and tell you that your son is doing very well. 

The warning call that I made was to let Elder Waite know that his companion had had some challenges in the past, had been changed from a senior to a junior companion, and that I was once again making him a senior companion.  I wanted your son to be aware of a few of his companion's past challenges to ensure they were not repeated. 

I am actually very pleased to hear that your son's companion is responding so well to the move to make him a senior companion again.  It sounds as if they are doing very well together.

I very much enjoy having Elder Waite in our mission.  He is one of those Elders that I anticipate will always be "part of the solution" as opposed to "part of the problem".  Thank you for sending me someone with such great desire and ability.

May you be blessed in all you do,

President Brent Romney
Mexico Monterrey West Mission

ps - I am unaware of any problem with Dear Elder.  It does sometimes take a while to actually get the letters in the hands of the missionaries.

January 29, 2011

January 29, 2011 – Letter received May 7^th (14 weeks later) – retyped by Eve

                I’m here in Mexico and I’m safe.  Monterrey is sweet.  We flew in last night around 6:30.  Our president met us there and took us to the mission home.  We had our last American meal.  I really like President and Sister Romney.  Monterrey is really clean, at least what I’ve seen so far.  Lots of American companies are here, and there are probably more American cars than any others.

                We are going to probably be put in temporary assignments for the next two or three weeks and then hopefully our more permanent assignments will come.

                I keep having lots of surprises.  That’s pretty much what my whole mission has been so far, but I’m glad to say they have all been good surprises. 

                I am already in love with Mexico, and Monterrey is probably one of the prettiest cities I have seen.  It is about 60 ̊̊ here right now, no snow, which is really nice for a change.

                I’m doing great and hope you all are as well.

Love Your Son and Brother,

E. Waite