December 7, 2011
Hey, how are you? I’m doing fine thanks, except it’s kinda cold. Yesterday we woke up to a little rain, but mostly it was just cold. It hasn’t frozen yet but it’s really close. Thank the heavens that we have a little heater here.
Yesterday was changes. Elder Riley left. I have a new companion, Elder Abbott, and I’m training! That was sort of a shock to me but I’m excited. I haven’t even been with him for 24 hours but I am having flashbacks to when I got here. . .I’m glad that’s over. I feel so bad for him. He seems like a really good kid. He is really skinny and short – it’s probably a little funny to see us together.
Right now we are waiting to go to district meeting. We are listening to the forgotten carols. I am starting to feel the Christmas spirit. I hope all of you are feeling the same.
Yesterday we had to go to the offices and I got a package from Aunt Amy!! I haven’t read the stuff yet, only up to the part that she said I had to wait to open the packages.
I sent you a package by our bishop who is going to Salt Lake for a couple of days. I was going to have you meet somewhere, however I think it would be a better surprise this way because you’ll probably get the package before this letter.
I just realized that today is D-day. Happy D-day.
I feel like the Lord has been giving our family a chance to simplify our lives through the stuff that has been happening lately. You guys are probably laughing at that, but it might be a little true.
Thank you for all you do for me, especially you Mom. I hope that you can all stay a little sane. I’m sure that you are all in a hurry like usual but I hope you can feel unified as a family. I feel unified to you.
There are commercials that the church has put on the TV for a free copy of Joy to the World, the copy of the movie made by the church. There are all sorts of people who just come up and randomly ask for one from us. It is one of the great tools that the church has provided for us lately.
It is an interesting time to be alive and a great time to be a missionary!
Love,
Elder Waite
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
November 1, 2012
Handwritten, snail mail letter. . .
Dear Waite Family,
I take pencil in hand to tell you that I am doing just fine. Today is Tuesday, usually we have zone meeting but this week we don’t because we have zone conference on Thursday. This morning has been normal. I woke up around 6:20, earlier than I should but I was awake and just decided to get up because I knew if I didn’t I would be more tired later. I exercised doing push-ups and sit-ups, ironed my shirt, showered, ate peach yogurt with corn flakes in it, then started to study.
I studied to the Mo-tab CD of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, and started to review my notes from General Conference, because in zone conference we are all going to share something that inspired us. I found in my notes something that said, “teach in a way that doesn’t impede learning,” and other various quotes about the Holy Ghost so I started to study about that.
In companionship study we just talked about the lessons that we have planned for today. We ended about 10 minutes early and went to a sister in our ward who has a blender and lives close, so we could make ourselves a banana with oatmeal shake. Right now is language study. I rarely study language anymore – not because we don’t want to, but because there are always so many other things that we need to do.
Today we are going to eat with an hermana that has a Mexican hairless dog. She usually fixes us picadillo or something like that. It should be good.
I has been getting pretty cold here at night – not enough to shut the window, but I have been using a blanket. I really like the brisk feeling that there is right now. The Mexicans don’t. I think that fall is my favorite time of the year, and it is easy to miss home thinking about the reasons why. However, I am glad that I am here. That still doesn’t make me wonder how you all are doing. In your letters it sounds like you’re all just as busy as ever.
I hope this letter gets to you, or the mail man just pockets the 20 pesos that it cost to send it. It’s not a long letter and I haven’t said much, but I at least wanted to say hi. Hi! I love all you guys and miss you.
Love,
Elder Waite
Dear Waite Family,
I take pencil in hand to tell you that I am doing just fine. Today is Tuesday, usually we have zone meeting but this week we don’t because we have zone conference on Thursday. This morning has been normal. I woke up around 6:20, earlier than I should but I was awake and just decided to get up because I knew if I didn’t I would be more tired later. I exercised doing push-ups and sit-ups, ironed my shirt, showered, ate peach yogurt with corn flakes in it, then started to study.
I studied to the Mo-tab CD of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, and started to review my notes from General Conference, because in zone conference we are all going to share something that inspired us. I found in my notes something that said, “teach in a way that doesn’t impede learning,” and other various quotes about the Holy Ghost so I started to study about that.
In companionship study we just talked about the lessons that we have planned for today. We ended about 10 minutes early and went to a sister in our ward who has a blender and lives close, so we could make ourselves a banana with oatmeal shake. Right now is language study. I rarely study language anymore – not because we don’t want to, but because there are always so many other things that we need to do.
Today we are going to eat with an hermana that has a Mexican hairless dog. She usually fixes us picadillo or something like that. It should be good.
I has been getting pretty cold here at night – not enough to shut the window, but I have been using a blanket. I really like the brisk feeling that there is right now. The Mexicans don’t. I think that fall is my favorite time of the year, and it is easy to miss home thinking about the reasons why. However, I am glad that I am here. That still doesn’t make me wonder how you all are doing. In your letters it sounds like you’re all just as busy as ever.
I hope this letter gets to you, or the mail man just pockets the 20 pesos that it cost to send it. It’s not a long letter and I haven’t said much, but I at least wanted to say hi. Hi! I love all you guys and miss you.
Love,
Elder Waite
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
January 16, 2012
Hello Family,
How are you all doing? Today is the last day of the transfer for us. I'm pretty sure I'm not going anywhere and neither is my comp. The plan that they gave us is for two transfers and we only have one. I will be in this area for six months... a quarter of my mission. But I like it, the members are cool, my comp is cool. Sadly I don't have baptisms to report this week. We had two possible baptisms this past week, however they didn't feel ready and the sister is afraid of water. Willie and Guadalupe went to church with us and also a really old guy that sold me one of the oldest, coolest cameras ever for fifty pesos. We aren't sure if he wants anything but we'll see.
It was stake conference this week, It was really good, they did a broadcast from Salt Lake with Elder Rasband and Elder Oaks. Everything was great except they told everyone that it stated at 10 so we got there, started the meeting, and turned the projector on to see that the program would start in 55 minutes. Everyone just chilled there or left for a little while. Surprisingly they also talked a lot about temples as well. Thanks Mom for telling me about Sacrament Meeting and Dad’s talk on temples.
NO time:( As far as talking about me this week, I love these chapters of the Book on Mormon - Moroni 7 and Alma 41.
Love,
Elder Waite
How are you all doing? Today is the last day of the transfer for us. I'm pretty sure I'm not going anywhere and neither is my comp. The plan that they gave us is for two transfers and we only have one. I will be in this area for six months... a quarter of my mission. But I like it, the members are cool, my comp is cool. Sadly I don't have baptisms to report this week. We had two possible baptisms this past week, however they didn't feel ready and the sister is afraid of water. Willie and Guadalupe went to church with us and also a really old guy that sold me one of the oldest, coolest cameras ever for fifty pesos. We aren't sure if he wants anything but we'll see.
It was stake conference this week, It was really good, they did a broadcast from Salt Lake with Elder Rasband and Elder Oaks. Everything was great except they told everyone that it stated at 10 so we got there, started the meeting, and turned the projector on to see that the program would start in 55 minutes. Everyone just chilled there or left for a little while. Surprisingly they also talked a lot about temples as well. Thanks Mom for telling me about Sacrament Meeting and Dad’s talk on temples.
NO time:( As far as talking about me this week, I love these chapters of the Book on Mormon - Moroni 7 and Alma 41.
Love,
Elder Waite
January 9, 2012
Hello family!
Thanks for the email, I really enjoyed it this week. This Feel Great in 8 team thing is interesting . . . I’ll be my own team. What do you get if you win? ¡Hechenle Ganas Hallie and Sadie!
We had a legit week. Uriel got baptized. He is the son of Francisco and Lydia. I hope to report that the parents get baptized this week. We had a legit dinner with President and Sister Romney. The baptism was especially good. I don't know why. Another Hermana named Lucy went to church. She is pretty much blind and deaf and doesn't understand me with my accent... I appreciate her faith. She has extreme family opposition.
The past 5 weeks I have been studying faith. It’s a pretty amazing thing. I think I'll compile my thoughts and send you something next week.
My comp is doing very well. I love training.
I also love you guys, have a good one.
Elder Waite
Thanks for the email, I really enjoyed it this week. This Feel Great in 8 team thing is interesting . . . I’ll be my own team. What do you get if you win? ¡Hechenle Ganas Hallie and Sadie!
We had a legit week. Uriel got baptized. He is the son of Francisco and Lydia. I hope to report that the parents get baptized this week. We had a legit dinner with President and Sister Romney. The baptism was especially good. I don't know why. Another Hermana named Lucy went to church. She is pretty much blind and deaf and doesn't understand me with my accent... I appreciate her faith. She has extreme family opposition.
The past 5 weeks I have been studying faith. It’s a pretty amazing thing. I think I'll compile my thoughts and send you something next week.
My comp is doing very well. I love training.
I also love you guys, have a good one.
Elder Waite
January 2, 2012
Hello Family!!
It’s a pretty nice day in Monterrey today. All the smoke from the fires and fireworks from the party on Saturday is cleared out. How was the party for you guys? They really know how to party here. I would like to know how much alcohol was consumed the past weekend here. We had fun - ate dinner (twice), tried to keep some recent converts from drinking, lit some fireworks and broke a piñata. I'm glad we had cool people to kick it with. I was worried about Sunday and if we would be able to bring anyone to church but the family that we have been teaching went - Francisco, Lydia and their kid Uriel. Uriel wants to get baptized this Sunday (I think we will be able to do that for him). Francisco was supposed to get baptized this week but he never had a dream that he needed to feel like it’s what God wanted him to do. Sometimes people are so funny and want some of the funniest things. I just realized how funny it was that we have been praying for some random guy to have a dream... I have actually had lots of people ask me to translate their dreams, most of the time I have no idea what to say so I just change it a little and make a reference to some scripture that talks about baptism. Latin or Mexican people are dreamers (which proves even more to me that they are descendants of Lehi). I think that is an active form of people receiving revelation. Thinking about that I feel a little left out because I only remember that I have had a total of two dreams as a missionary.
Not a lot of news this week. I whole heatedly agree with Mariah when she said that missionary life is over-eating, under-sleeping and stressful. I think this is a way God prepares us to live normal stressful lives. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I helped put out a truck that had caught on fire New Year’s Eve... it was pretty intense.
I love you,
Elder Waite
It’s a pretty nice day in Monterrey today. All the smoke from the fires and fireworks from the party on Saturday is cleared out. How was the party for you guys? They really know how to party here. I would like to know how much alcohol was consumed the past weekend here. We had fun - ate dinner (twice), tried to keep some recent converts from drinking, lit some fireworks and broke a piñata. I'm glad we had cool people to kick it with. I was worried about Sunday and if we would be able to bring anyone to church but the family that we have been teaching went - Francisco, Lydia and their kid Uriel. Uriel wants to get baptized this Sunday (I think we will be able to do that for him). Francisco was supposed to get baptized this week but he never had a dream that he needed to feel like it’s what God wanted him to do. Sometimes people are so funny and want some of the funniest things. I just realized how funny it was that we have been praying for some random guy to have a dream... I have actually had lots of people ask me to translate their dreams, most of the time I have no idea what to say so I just change it a little and make a reference to some scripture that talks about baptism. Latin or Mexican people are dreamers (which proves even more to me that they are descendants of Lehi). I think that is an active form of people receiving revelation. Thinking about that I feel a little left out because I only remember that I have had a total of two dreams as a missionary.
Not a lot of news this week. I whole heatedly agree with Mariah when she said that missionary life is over-eating, under-sleeping and stressful. I think this is a way God prepares us to live normal stressful lives. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I helped put out a truck that had caught on fire New Year’s Eve... it was pretty intense.
I love you,
Elder Waite
December 26, 2011
Hello Family,It was cool to talk to you all yesterday. I was going to tell you more about our Christmas experience that we had on Saturday. We went over to some recent convert’s house. They were going to eat, and they were also planning on reciting and laying down the God Child (which is a Catholic tradition - usually in the houses you can find them laying down or sitting depending on the time of year). Anyway, we got there they were listening to music (worldly) and everything. We helped get the tables up and chairs set up and then they all sat down and the mom started saying the Padre Nuestro or the Lord’s Prayer. She had the necklace with the beads and cross with her little book and everything. There were two boys kneeling by the birth scene with the baby Jesus, and at certain parts of the things they were saying they would take the old clothes off, clean the doll (Jesus) and put new clothes on him. Everybody seemed to know what was going on except us. You could also tell the ones who really actually had faith in what they were doing and the ones who did it just for tradition (luckily the converts just did it for tradition, I was happy to see their faith in the Church and how they knew that this stuff wasn't right. I think this is one of the most confusing times of their lives. Just imagine having done something one way your whole life and when you get baptized eve rything changes. . .everything). I enjoyed being there and watching just to know what they do but it didn't really feel like Christmas. When they finished with all the beads and stuff they say, they passed out candles to everyone and from one candle lit all the rest then started a song that said something about all the sinners coming to Jesus, then they kissed the doll and crossed themselves. All in all it was really interesting to see all the stuff they do.
I am sending pictures to you - Christmas Conference, ones of the Elders that I came with, along with my gifts. Thank You!! And then comes the favor that I need to ask you. There is this lady that loves these little dolls, they have a special name but I don't remember, the girls probably know, anyway it would make her year if you could find the two that are marked in the picture and send them to her, or me. First she wanted to know the prices, if you could research it a little I would really appreciate it. I think that is all. Thank you for all you do for me. Is there snow at home??
I love you!!!
I love you!!!
Love,
Elder Waite
Elder Waite
December 14, 2011
Hello Family!How are you all doing? I am doing great, I'm sorry but I don't have time to read the email you all sent me, but I'll print it, Thanks very much! I GOT 2 PACKAGES!! I am sending you a picture with our tree and everything. And thank you so much for the blender, and the nativity set and the tree. We had lots of fun putting it up. I love Christmas.
You might notice that my companion got changed. That’s right, I got a new comp - I mean really new comp. They think I can train this poor guy. His name is Elder Abbott from Murray, Ut. He is a really good guy and Training is So FUN!! I could do this for the rest of my mission, but I am so glad I am past that stage of not knowing what is going on. He is a solid missionary. He is really grateful for the gifts that you all gave him. We have had a lot of really good lessons lately.
We have someone planned to get baptized this week, his name is Pedro, the Husband of Gloria that was going to get baptized a couple months ago. She might get baptized if she prays. We'll see today.
I am excited to get to talk to you soon.
Love,
Elder Waite
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