May 30, 2012
Hey fam,
I'm really sorry but it’s going to
be a short one today. We went to the temple today. I have some cool news, I got
changed to Garcia Nuevo Leon. I was sent there training and opening an area! I'm not
having to do a lot of training though because my companion has 6 months on the
mission. He just had visa problems so he has the hang of the mission, he is
just trying to adjust to different rules. He is called Elder Banegas. We
get along well. Opening an area is legit, it’s just like starting fresh and
being able to be 100 percent obedient. We are sharing a branch with other missionaries,
and we live with them so it’s a little different than opening an area. They
were able to show us our house and the house of prayer and if I can’t find a
colony I ask them at night, but other than that we are on our own. Garcia is
cool with tons of cool people, we are really working hard. The dreaded fungus
that comes from sweating to much is back in full force. It got to 113 last
week, I’m pretty burnt.
I have been thinking about what I
was going to say to you about priesthood blessings; however there haven't been
many opportunities to give some here. There are times that we will give 5
in one day or other times when we won’t give any for a week.
I love giving blessings, I always ask my companion what part he wants to
do (usually they always choose the first part, or if it isn’t for health I just
ask if he wants to do it) they almost always choose to not do it. I usually
hope this. I love having the chance to talk and know the things that I say are
inspired, I've learned not to be afraid of silence and just let the words come.
Being able to give a blessing is an automatic spiritual experience. I have
tried to apply the principle of not saying anything unless I feel like I should
say it, or if I know it will help someone, especially in the everyday
conversations.
I hope you can all have a spiritual
experience every day.
Love,
Elder Waite
May 21, 2012
Hello Family,
Happy Birthday Sadie! Thanks for
writing Mom. I had no idea that there weren't chickens anymore. That’s cool
that you have them again, I sure have missed real eggs and am excited
for them when I go home.
I don't have a lot to say. This week we confirmed (Viviana), baptized (Karyme)
and have three people that will get baptized next week (Guadalupe, Brianda,
Kiriel). The bad thing is that I might be changed. I'll tell you next week what
will happen. Today we are going to have an activity that is mandatory that we
go to because for the last transfer 60 percent of the areas in the zone were baptizing every
week.
I thought about sharing with you
something that I was really worried about before the mission: giving priesthood
blessings.., I hope I remember to tell you more next time - we have to go now.
Love,
Elder Waite
May 14, 2012
Hello Family!
It was legit talking to you
yesterday. I feel bad that we didn't invite Mariah to join in on the prayer
with us because that was pretty cool. I really liked when Dad started speaking
in Spanish. I am sending this email to Sister Waite as well, earlier the church
email wouldn't let us send emails back and forth, however she sent me a email a
couple of weeks ago and I responded so I don't think there is a problem
now...at least I hope not.
I was hard not to smile just hearing
your voices. I had many things that I wanted to say to you and I forgot most of
them, but I think I will share this: we had zone conference last week, it was
President and Sister Romney’s last one. They still have a while left before
they go but the next time they come here will just be for interviews. Sister
Romney shared with us some of the things that Elder Bednar talked about with
them alone. Sister Romney asked him what the Twelve and First Presidency were
most concerned about, his answer was interesting and involves the members of
the church. They are concerned that many people have really strong testimonies
but of the organizations of the church, instead of having a testimony of the
Savior. He said this is extremely important because of the things that
are happening in this world right now - as an example, the fact that Mitt
Romney will probably be the Republican candidate this year (is he
officially?). Quoting E' Bednar, Sis Romney said "if that
happens all hell will break loose." I don't really know what all that
is supposed to mean (I doubt he was saying he didn´t want Romney for president,
I think it has more reference that there will be many people attacking
the Church and its members because Romney is LDS) or what to
expect however I do know that a testimony won't get us through all hell,
even a testimony of the savior. We need to be converted to him, which means
'laying down our weapons of rebellion' (Alma 23:5-8). When Sister Romney was
telling us this, I was also thinking about the talk that Elder
Eyring gave called Mountains to Climb - I agree with him and don't think that
we should pray for the trials and tribulations that we need to prove ourselves
but what an opportunity we have to be converted to the Lord. Lately there have
been things happening in our family, and last year as well, that have kept all
our family on their knees; these are not extremely joyful times but hopefully
the same thing won't happen to us as happened to the Nephites time and time
again: they fell away, not necessarily away from the church but from the Lord.
I feel lots better today. And I also
have a new drive to be the type of missionary that everyone wants me to
be. I pray for your spiritual and physical protection.
Love,
Elder Waite
May 7, 2012
Hello family,
I am doing well. To
answer the questions, it is true that there were three North Americans that
went up the mountain, Elder Patterson is from an area close to ours and he was
with us because his companion had to go to Monterrey to a doctor’s appointment.
My companion is the one in the red and E Patterson is the one in the blue.
We had a baptism, it was a kid
named Carlos, who is 9. His parents and Grandparents are members, however the
parents are less active.
We've been trying to get him baptized for the past 4
weeks but the parents are lazy and never want to go to church. During the baptism the mom was so happy, it
really called my attention. I asked her why and she told me because she knew
that they were doing the right thing and it made her happy. It made me
happy also. He asked me to baptize him; the water was freezing cold but it was
a good break from all the heat that is going on here. We also have a pretty
promising investigator family - they didn't go to church this week because the
girl just turned 15 and had her quinceañera and had a bunch of stuff to do
on Sunday. We are teaching the girl in English because she lived in North
Carolina (it was actually because the mom talked to us that we got to know her,
she doesn't want her daughter to forget English so she invited us to talk with
her daughter) we haven't taught the parents or the other kids much but they all
really wanted to go to church. The girls name is Maricruz.
We made bread while we were
washing today, it was whole wheat. We actually changed our minds half way
through and made cinnamon rolls, they turned out really good.
Well I'm just going
to assume that you are going to call around 7 on Sunday unless I hear
anything different.
Have a sweet day.
Love,
Elder Waite
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