July 19, 2011 -email

HI FAMILY!!

Well Saturday I got my birthday package!!! And the debit card was still in there. Thanks for that present Sadie, that the card was disguised in. It was a really good week, and today should be a really good day also. We don't have anything planned so I hope maybe I might get a nap in. Saturday we had the annual house checks, we got to see Hermana Romney. She was the one who brought me the package. Thanks so much for the raisins. I didn't realize how much I miss them. The coolest thing I have seen so far is the Jesus the Christ book. I look at all the names in there all the time and just think how cool it is that that book has been all over the world and has been with people doing the same thing the whole time. Thanks for sending that.

I'm going to tell you a spiritual experience that happened in our district leader’s area. I was on divisions with his companion. We went to an appointment where the day before they had showed them the Joseph Smith movie. We went, started talking to them about the movie, answered questions about it, and they started to ask about the Book of Mormon. I love it when people ask us about the things that we teach about, especially about the BOM. We decided to read 2 Nephi 32 about the Holy Ghost. It was really cool, as soon as we started reading the kids who were rowdy and screaming calmed right down, and one of them fell asleep. It was sort of funny, but neat at the same time. I think they were feeling the Spirit. I know the Mom and her daughter that was still awake felt something. They accepted the invitation to be baptized and to go to church and to read and pray. It is amazing what the spirit can motivate people to do.

Not much else to say this week... my arm hurts because I just played foosball with my companion for about 45 minutes. I hope you are all doing good and keeping your testimonies strong by action. Good luck with all you are doing.

Love,

Elder Waite

July 13, 2011 -email

Hello KC7ZKV, KD7NFU, KD7ODQ, KD7HNH, Maren, Ainsley, Hallie, Sadie and Janie!

 How is everyone doing? I hope you aren't too sad that you weren't able to go on the hike this week. It’s starting to heat up in Monterrey.... again. Yesterday it was about 107, today seems just as bad but we haven't been walking around very much. We just got back from playing soccer, the zone here is pretty united and we have lots of activities like that. It’s a good thing there are more gringos than just me, because if not the Mexicans would hate me because I'm so bad. I thought I was getting good, or at least better, but today I struggled.

You have probably assumed this but we went to the temple today, it was really cool. I was the last one to go into the Celestial Room and was accompanied by two elders and a sister for about 5 minutes and then I was all alone. I stayed in there for a long time all alone. It was an experience that I don't ever want to forget. I received a confirmation again that this is the place I should be right now, doing the things that we do. As the spirit always does, I was encouraged to try and give a little more and be more like the Savior, especially when things are the hardest.

 Well I have some good news. I woke up speaking Spanish this morning. I had a pretty rough dream; I don't remember what it was about but I remember being startled and a little on edge so I just decided to get up. It was around 5 and we had to leave a little early to get to the temple. The cool thing was that when I got to my senses, I said to myself how nervous I was and everything all in Spanish, maybe even my dream was in Spanish, who knows. It was neat, but I still have a long way to go, there are still lots of things I don't understand and things I can't say right. That is one thing that I'm grateful for my companion for. I have been able to improve on my language skills just speaking with him.

 Sunday I gave a talk. 17 minutes strong. It was about covenants. I took some thoughts from the conference talk 'Followers of Christ' if you want to read it, and the scripture Moroni 10:33 I think. I'm not sure on the scriptures, I left my notes and everything at home, next week I'll send them...

 To answer the questions, no I do not have the package yet, it has not gotten to the offices so far. I don't remember if there were any other questions. How is Mariah doing? Haven't heard from her for a while. I hate to be a pest but I've been thinking about the radios lately and just want to make sure, or at least know what is going on with my license. I hope I will be able to renew it.

 I love you all, hope you keep on doing the things that lead to happiness.

 Love,

Elder KD7ODR

July 4, 2011 -email

Hello Family!!

Just a quick note today, things are going good here in Monterrey. Today I had a chance to go to a different part of the city... the rich part... an hermano took us to a buffet and then we went for a drive. It was a riot. When I say rich I mean really rich, so rich that there aren’t even missionaries there. I am just going to tell you guys a quick spiritual thought.

 On Saturday we were in a lesson with a little kid and his family that are members. We were talking about baptism and I started to bear my testimony about how baptism is a covenant and how if we are faithful to our covenants and always do the things that God asks us, then he will never leave us alone, I testify about that every day, but this time it was different. In my mind I was thinking about all the times that I have seen the hand of God in my life and how these things really are true. I know I was feeling the spirit, and I was feeling my testimony grow in just those few minutes. It was a very special part of my week and probably one of the most spiritual experiences that I have had on the mission. I hope it can help you out in your lives somehow.

 Love,

Elder Waite

June 27, 2011 -email

Hello Family,

First things first... Happy Birthday Janie!!! I hope you had a good one, I sang you a song in my head on your birthday. I would have done it out loud but my companion thinks I'm crazy anyway. And yes, we are still together.  I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed when we got the phone call, but I guess it’s the Lords will. Things are starting to go downhill again, but I appreciate him still and I have got to know him a little better lately. He was raised by his mother, his father was assassinated because his grandfather was a Narco (Drug dealer). Just some interesting tidbits for you.

Thanks for sending the package with my card. Speaking of that kind of stuff, I took out 500 pesos earlier last week. I will do everything possible to tell Sister Romney to email you as soon as she gets it. If you could, give my congrats to Cache and his Family and tell him good luck. So the Swensons are living in Ralphs house? Where did Afton go? I am glad to hear about the lesson going good Mom, it’s true the manuals are written for a worldwide church, the church is huge here but still many people aren't as sure with the gospel stuff as some of the others. I am glad to hear you are receiving revelation.

Yesterday we got lucky and a girl that we had been talking to came to church, it had been about 3 weeks since we had seen her, but it turns out her friend that is a member invited her to go again. Her name is Fatima she is 13, she lives with her mom and grandparents. They aren't too excited about her being baptized but she knows it is the right thing to do. It’s cool to see the people show their faith once they get a little bit of a testimony. The thing is, they have to get a testimony of the right thing.

Anyway I hope you are all doing well, I love you all.

Love,

Elder Waite

June 27, 2011 -email

Hello Family,

First things first... Happy Birthday Janie!!! I hope you had a good one, I sang you a song in my head on your birthday. I would have done it out loud but my companion thinks I'm crazy anyway. And yes, we are still together.  I guess it’s the Lords will. Things are starting to go downhill again, but I appreciate him still and I have got to know him a little better lately. He was raised by his mother, his father was assassinated because his grandfather was a Narco (Drug dealer). Just some interesting tidbits for you.

Thanks for sending the package with my card. Speaking of that kind of stuff, I took out 500 pesos earlier last week. I will do everything possible to tell Sister Romney to email you as soon as she gets it. If you could, give my congrats to Cache and his Family and tell him good luck. So the Swensons are living in Ralphs house? Where did Afton go? I am glad to hear about the lesson going good Mom, it’s true the manuals are written for a worldwide church, the church is huge here but still many people aren't as sure with the gospel stuff as some of the others. I am glad to hear you are receiving revelation.

Yesterday we got lucky and a girl that we had been talking to came to church, it had been about 3 weeks since we had seen her, but it turns out her friend that is a member invited her to go again. Her name is Fatima she is 13, she lives with her mom and grandparents. They aren't too excited about her being baptized but she knows it is the right thing to do. It’s cool to see the people show their faith once they get a little bit of a testimony. The thing is, they have to get a testimony of the right thing.

Anyway I hope you are all doing well, I love you all.

Love,

Elder Waite

June 20, 2011 -email

Well hello Family!

 Happy Fathers Day DAD!!! I hope everything went well, and you got some good treatment, maybe some good food or something like that. We got some food from one of the parties, a soup with beans, chile and skin from pigs as an appetizer and after that we had pollo asado.

 I hope you are all doing well and am happy to hear that everyone is doing good with the changes that have taken place in the house lately, I'm a little jealous of all the hiking that's going on over there. We walk a lot but it’s not the same...

 I've got some really good news, my comp and I are getting along wonderfully, and I'm pretty sure you could call us friends. However, it’s a little too late because we have changes today, they will call us tonight and tell us if we are staying together or if someone is going.  I really have no idea what might happen, I don't feel anything like I did last time. Who knows, one thing I've learned and felt lately is whatever happens it is the Lords will.

 This week we were stood up by many people who were supposed to come to church and for appointments in general. It has been a rather weird week; there have been lots of other things that we have been doing outside of our area with the zone and district leaders.

 Good to hear about my new cousin.  Uncle Greg sent me pictures. The whole family looks pretty happy. When I first skimmed through the email I saw the name Lucy and for some reason I thought you were talking about that white cat that Grandpa Wadsworth used to have.  Glad to hear it’s something that is a little more important. There aren't going to be any good names left by the time I start my family because everyone has already taken most of them. If you could congratulate them for me I would appreciate it.

 Good luck with everything, especially you Mariah, and Hannah and Maren and Ainsley and Hallie and Sadie and Janie and Mom and Dad.

 Love,

Elder Waite