April 2, 2012 - April 30, 2012

April 30, 2012

Hey fam,

I did think it was weird that Mr. Summers didn't have the beard, he is bishop? Congrats Hannah on being FFA Vice President.  So poor Wyatt won’t have a house in Dayton anymore, you should tell his family to tell him he can stay at our house, can he stay in our house?

Today we had a great P-day activity. My companion and I, and another missionary went with three members of the ward, and climbed a mountain and made some potatoes with chorizo and beans. We explored and had lots of fun. The activity was legit and I realized how much I missed doing stuff like that, but it wasn't as cool as missionary work. Sorry I can’t write more but with the activity there is no time, I might be able to write you later.

I'm excited to talk to you guys on Mother’s Day. I think it would be cool to do Skype with all of us but I think that you have to pay for the three way thing. If you can find a time that is best for you and Mariah, I assume about the same time as the Christmas call last time but whatever is good. President will be ok with us calling another day if he knows the circumstances, so if you have questions you could call or email him. I am ok with just calling normally. I don’t want it to cost more money that is worth. The pictures are about when I made bread at a sister’s house with Mom’s bread recipe and the mountain today and a little scorpion that we found.

 Love you guys,
Elder Waite

 

 April 23, 2012

Hello Family!

For some reason I am a pretty happy guy today. We just got back from playing soccer. I still am not very good at it. I find the same problem that I did in basketball, I play to hard or rough, not necessarily with the other players but I kick the ball to hard and lose control.

I had a pretty cool allergic reaction this morning, I woke up and was jumping rope and doing pushups and I started feeling an itch on my back. I just scratched it and kept going. Pretty soon I felt a bump and just thought it was a mosquito bite. Then the next time I scratched it, it was bigger and spreading. I showed my companion all the mosquito bites that were showing up, then my whole back started getting extremely itchy and it moved to my chest and shoulders. I could basically see the spots starting to show. Most of them looked exactly like little bites. By this time I was worried and started looking for some medicine and called Sister Romney (who was really confused because I wash my sheets regularly, haven't eaten anything weird or bought any different kind of soap; everything was completely normal exept I haven't been showering with hot water). The best advice she had was take a shower and put some anti itch cream on. (I don't know if you guys remember the James Herriot story about the most beautiful horse in the country that had a reaction a lot like mine and he didn't know what to do. He gave the horse a random medicine and the horse was cured however promptly crashed to the ground. Ol Jim thought he had killed the horse. I was thinking about that and hoping the same wouldn't happen to me. I showered and put the cream on and it worked like a charm - it might have already been going away anyway but it worked which was all I cared about. I don't remember anything ever happening to me like that before and I've always thought that I've been really blessed to not be allergic to anything. As a precaution I washed my sheets, and put my mattress outside in the sun to kill all the animalitos that might live in it. (Mom - Is this newsy enough yet?)

You asked why we put a dress on Santos - because it was easy and fast. We did it because it is hard to change clothes for him.

Yes, I saw Elder Hemsley in the conference and he actually congratulated me for having a DYW for a sister (thanks to Uncle Greg I knew, I don't say that to tell you guys anything - you are very faithful writers and I appreciate it)

The mission conference was great. I didn't take very many notes because E Bednar told us not to (just like I remember he did in another conference that I heard from him). He didn't come and just talk, he had told us to study two talks that he had given previously, Learning by Faith and Ask in Faith, he wanted to know what we had learned from each of them. We commented and he expounded about what we talked about. Then he had a Q and A session. I felt admonished to have more faith in what I do and depend completely on the Lord and not in my own strength. He answered a question that I have had lately about revelation. I have felt that I don't receiver a lot of revelation, and at one time he felt the same also. He talked that revelation isn't the wow experiences that we have but the line upon line things that happen only and when we are working or doing the things that are necessary for the Lord and doing them with faith, very rarely should we receive revelation and we be astonished. Revelation comes through us for others, and it comes just when we are doing what we should be doing: keeping the commandments, being good boys and girls and honoring our covenants.

Answers - I don't know why we had to leave so early to get to the conference. I just think they wanted to avoid problems. The bus ride is about 2 and a half hours. On the way back the bus broke down and we stood on another bus for about an hour. No, I didn't take bedding - I used a sheet that was there and my bible for a pillow.

I'm sorry you feel weak Mariah ¡hechale ganas! Being weak is a sure sign of a missionary. It happens a lot here.

We had a miracle baptism this week. His name is Jaime. He wanted to get special permission to get baptized as soon as possible because he felt like he would die without it. It was cool, President actually gave him permission to get baptized without going to church before yesterday. Jaime is a little special but he is cool. I have had to learn to have lots more patience from teaching him.

Gotta go. Love you guys. Congratulations everybody for being awesome.

Love,

Elder Waite

April 16, 2012

Hello Family,

I imagine you are all pretty worn out from everything that is going on there. Happy Birthday Hallie and Nellie, Uncle Greg told me that Hannah won Distinguished Young Woman (Jr. Miss). That's pretty amazing. I hope you guys can send some pictures. It is pretty cool to have a sister that is a distinguished young woman. I hope you all enjoyed participating in that.

Elder Gonzalez left. They changed him and I got another companion from Utah. Elder Wadley he is from Eagle Mountain and lives right by the stake center where Eli got baptized... small world. He has a little less time in the mission than me but speaks Spanish better, I am his only English speaking companion that he has had. We have many differences, I am just glad that I am bigger than he is. I think we will learn many things from each other. It’s been a hard transition because he was senior comp, so we are both doing the same job. I am thankful that he wants to work and baptize.

We had sort of a tough week, not very many results showing for what we have been doing. We have been working really really hard. We do have people that are listening to us. Carlos, 9 yrs. - son of a member. Francisco, 9 yrs. - son or a member. Hector, husband of a member. Guadalupe, wife of a member. Maria, sister in law of a member. Abigaìl and Daniela, cousins of members, however we did not find them through members.

Tomorrow we are going to Monterrey; we leave at 3 in the morning. It is the only time in my time here that the whole mission will get together. We are going because Elder Bednar is coming!!! He is going to meet with us and the east mission. I am pretty excited, however we will "sleep" in the Zone leaders house with our district and parts of the other districts. That is the only down side but it really isn't a down side because we are going to listen to an apostle of the Lord. 

That's all for now.

Love,

Elder Waite

 

 

April 9, 2012

Sup Fam,

Not much time. I'm doing fine, changes are today, we'll see if there are any for us but I doubt it. I’m fine... again. We had the baptism of Lizeth and Santos, I thought it was a regular baptism but lots of the members that were there said that it was the most spiritual they had ever been to. I assume it was the faith that Santos has shown in everything that has gone down lately. I skimmed your email real fast for questions - the only one I saw was about school.  Yes I would still like to go to BYUI. I'm not sure what is necessary...

 

Here is a picture of the baptism.

Love,

Elder Waite

April 2, 2012

Hey Family and Especially Hallie,

That was a pretty sweet email that you sent me...us Hallie. I am glad to hear you all enjoyed spring break. Sounds like a lot of fun. I am jealous about the fact that you went swimming. I think that might be the thing I miss most and if the weather is good I think that is what I am going to do one of the first days when I get back. However I really don't want to think about getting back right now because I am really loving life as a missionary.

We had a sweet week with the baptism of Lupita on Tuesday, we actually had interviews that same day so President came. It was sweet because we had another investigator family there, I think I told you about them last week. Santos(Father, 65, just had a stroke and lost function of half of his body, but is slowly getting better. He is in a wheel chair) Lizet (Daughter, 30, golden) Roberto(son 30, not quite so golden that he stops whatever he is doing to listen to us but he is a good guy) Girlfriend of Roberto(haven't seen her to much) Stephani (8 daughter of lizet). Santos Lizet and Stephani are all going to get baptized this Wednesday. I am so excited! Teaching them has been really cool, I have learned a lot from them. They are the type of people where we don't have to do a lot of work - we start the lesson, they ask questions, we answer the questions including the things that they need to know, they feel the spirit and like it. They went to church and loved it. Lizet is the type of person who felt so bad that she had to stay home and not go to all of conference, because she had to watch her dad, that she looked on internet and found the conference without us even telling her that you could find it on the internet. It was pretty neat because I found a lot of similarities in her character and faith that were talked about in the conference. In the priesthood session I was impressed about the attitude that we need to have about doing our duties... and that we need to do our duties. Basically I loved all of it... and left with a go get em attitude.

I hope you are all doing well. Hals, you really got me with the shopping joke, I didn't realize what you had said until I reviewed the letter you sent. There isn't April fools here :(

Love,

Elder Waite

March 26, 2012

March 26, 2012

Hello Family,

I don't have any time at all this week, but I am doing fine. Well none of the people that I thought would get baptized got baptized yet, however Laura is going to tomorrow. We found another Lizet and her parents and her daughter came to church with her, they are really cool and really ready for baptism. I'm really excited for General Conference. I have read all the talks from last Conference (thanks for sending the Ensign). Congratulations Hannah on the play. I would have loved to see it. I hope you got a good recording.

I love you guys,

Elder Waite

March 19, 2012

March 19, 2012

Hello Family,

Wow, it really has been quite the week there. After reading your letter I feel like the family that we took to church yesterday. They had friends over that didn't leave until 3:00 in the morning, and they went to three hours of church (they haven't been to any church in years, so three hours in one church at one time is impressive) and a baptism that lasted about another hour with the whole show. I asked the girl how she liked church and she just sort of stood there with a dazed look as if she didn’t' know what to say. I think she must have liked something, because the she and her brother both said they would like to get baptized. Their names are Juritza and Jose Francisco (Pepito) the dad’s name is also Jose Francisco, he is really cool. He likes to listen and ask questions but for some reason he is a little cold when we talk about baptism... that just means there are some doubts that just haven't come to the surface yet. Hopefully this week he will tell us more so he can get baptized with his kids.

Naomi Tamara got baptized yesterday. I'm not sure if I told you about her last week, might have slipped my mind. She has had a tough life, just barely came to live with her mom (a member) for the first time in her life. Paola and Leticia got confirmed with no problems.

Yes, I did watch Maren’s Beauty and the Beast play, and enjoyed it very much. Good luck with your play Hannah, I'd love to watch it... I guess it will have to be next year.

I like my area - the people are solid and like to listen. We are working with a Christian called Lizet who understands everything we say and asks really good questions. That could also be a bad thing because she is using her head not her feelings. I don't know what else I can tell you about the area... it’s really hot, and we drink lots more, and eat lots of freshly made flour tortillas. One of the things I miss is drinking milk at meals.

I hope you are all doing well.

 Love,

Elder Waite

March 12, 2012

March 12, 2012

Hello Family,

It’s been a good week, two baptisms: Leti and Paola. They are real miracles. I love this ward - Everyone is so excited about missionary work and willing to help us. There are a ton of less active members and we already know two kids that are 9 that haven’t been baptized. We got to know them just by visiting random people. I am actually in the area where my first companion, Elder Davis was in, it was his first area. One of the kids we know is of a family that he baptized.

Elder Gonzalez is cool, we get along well, he is pretty relaxed and likes to laugh but sometimes he is serious and all the members always say, “What happened to the Elder Gonzalez that we know. That’s it for today!!

Love,

Elder Waite

March 5, 2012

March 5, 2012

Hello Family,

I´m glad to hear you are all doing good. I was a little worried last week but I figured something like that must have happened... I am writing you from a new area... Obreras, Monclova, Coahila!!!  I am excited to be here. My new comp is Elder Gonzalez from Pachuca. Monclova is about 2 and a half hours in bus north west of Monterrey, it is a good sized city with two stakes (one zone for us). I love the ward - they are all so excited about missionary work. All of the past places I've been they have all been sort of sleepy or zombieish about missionary work, it is a pretty drastic change. We already have two people lined up for baptism this week, Paula and Leticia. And there is another family; the two kids got confirmed on Sunday and the parents (José and Guadalupe) are going to get married and baptized on Saturday. They have been going to church for 4 weeks I think. There are a bunch of other people that we have and lots of youth in the ward. I like the feeling of this place because everyone is youngish it’s a good change.

Our area reminds me a lot of Panaca, just a little bigger. I think it’s something about the color of the dirt or something - I really like it. It’s pretty hot, dry and windy. One day we got up to the mid 90's. There are horses and dogs running around everywhere, all the good ones have owners but the skinny ugly ones just roam around. We are on bikes, I was worried that I was going to get changed and was planning on buying a bike but Elder Morby was the last one here and he just went home and left his bike. It has a while in the mission so it’s pretty worn out. I think I'll just put some new breaks on it and stuff like that. He was my District leader in Morelos, if you remember from the pictures, he is the one without the tooth. Elder Gonzalez only has about 3 weeks in the area so we are lost everywhere we go. That's not a bad thing because we stop and ask directions from people and start to talk to them about the gospel, we have been able to find a couple new people that way.

The stake president invited us over for dinner last night and we were talking, turns out he was a missionary in Guadalajara at the same time Dad was. In fact he was born in 65 as well. I told him you were in the areas San Blas and Ajijic. His eyes got pretty big and he told me that he opened Ajijic. He is pretty sure you were serving at the same time but he would have had more time in the mission than you because he left when he was 18. His name would have been Elder Villegas, he also said he was Assistant to the President. I don't know if you remember him or have stuff that you could look for his name but that was something really cool that happened.

I have a lot to tell you but I think I'll stop here, just know I love you and wish the best. I have a favor to ask you... I bought some granola and realized how much I like it. I think that would be a pretty good food that wouldn't spoil in the mail. I don't know if you still make granola but if you did I would appreciate some, but I don't want you to stress about it.

Love,

Elder Waite

February 27, 2012

February 27, 2012

Hello Family,

Happy Monday! I hope you are all doing fine this day and all days... I have felt good since Friday but there were lots of people that told me I looked skinny on Sunday (one sister wants me to go and eat at her house every night so I start to fatten up again), that probably won’t happen because its highly possible that I will get changed from this area. The famous call should come tonight telling us what happens, I don't like to assume but I feel like it’s time, I've been here for a quarter of my mission and I loved it.

We had two baptisms yesterday, Francisco and Daniela, two completely different groups. It was actually fairly unstressful. I didn't have to do anything except baptize and lead the music. Thursday I got a call from Sister Teresa (Lydia (Pancho's wife) friend of Theresa) and she said that Francisco wanted to get baptized. We had directions to go around 8 on Thursday and make a normal visit and see what he said to us. We were there about 15 minutes when he started to tell us how he has really wanted to talk to us and then told us he wanted to get baptized as soon as possible.  He finally figured out that he was expecting blessings from God without even doing anything that deserved blessings. It was pay day for a lot of work, but I am not taking the credit. Daniela is 8 and the daughter of Ana Maria and Benito, Ana Maria isn't a member and I'm pretty sure I have written about her before. Daniela just said on Thursday also that she wanted to get baptized. I hope it will help Ana Maria out...

That’s all folks!

Love,

Elder Waite

Ps - I got the package and I think it is the coolest one yet.  Grandma’s history is really cool and I am loving reading it. I was actually going to ask you to send me it (I didn't think it would be in book form, which just makes it even cooler) I have read the histories of Grandma and Grandpa Waite and all of the Great Grandparents on that side except Grandpa Loyn Blacker because it is about 170 pages shrunk down. I have really enjoyed them. Thank you very much Mom.