Hello Family!
Thanks for the recipe. Yes Mexicans color Easter eggs but in a different way, they don’t hard boil them, the crack open the shell at the end and drain them liquid, then after everything is dry they color them with crayons, then later they crack them over each other’s heads making a huge mess.
I'm not really sure why we change from Mondays to Wednesdays; yes it’s probably because the temple is closed Mondays. I have seen Elder Hemsley, he is actually in my zone, I see him at least every week, we slept at their house last Tuesday night because it is closer to the temple than ours. He is a pretty cool guy. I forgot there was another guy from Preston, haven’t seen him yet.
Yes mom, I do have a way to print the letters that are sent to me, I usually (a cockroach just crawled out of my keyboard) print all the letters I get. As for sending them email you can do whatever you want, I should start to get them either way. Probably snail mail should come pretty soon.
This week has been a good old hard working week. No baptisms... we worked super hard trying to get various people to accept. Those people were Victor and Minerva Peña, the parents of Adrian, Victor just can’t get over the fact that drinking and smoking in moderation is bad, and isn’t willing to give them up. and Minerva won’t do anything unless her husband does also, even though she knows it’s the right thing to do.
Tony is another guy that we are teaching. He drinks alot, he is about 40 and lives with his sister(a cook for the priests in the catholic church) in their parent’s house. He came to church and has gone lots of times in the past, he just needs to quit drinking. We actually teach him in English, he was born and grew up in Texas. He won’t tell us what he did to need to be living in Mexico; I don’t really want to know. We actually find alot of people like that.
We had some very interesting lessons with random people. We were invited to an Easter dinner with a member and her extended family, she is very strong in the church and only has one year as a member. It started out well, we ate (i hate eating in groups like that, the people always want us to go first, I would rather wait and watch to see what they do with the food, how they serve it and such, this time was very embarrassing because i served myself completely different than i was supposed to) after eating the member asked us to give some blessings to some sick kids, always a spiritual experience, and then the family members started to ask questions about our religion. Why we can’t drink coffee, who is Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. My comp loved it, because he loves to argue, and that’s basically what it was. But it quickly spiraled down hill and just turned into a bashing session (my first real one and hopefully the last) luck we were able to establish the fact that prayer is the only way they can really know why we do what we do.
This week has been really different than most, we worked really, really hard, taught almost 50 lessons, experienced the joy of hard work but didn't really see many results.
Thanks for everything. Hello Mariah!
Love
Elder Waite
Friday, April 29, 2011
April 20, 2011 -email
Hi Family!
I am doing just great. The weather is rough, they say yesterday was 115 and today is about 110. I'm getting used to the heat and sweating 24/7. I take two showers a day, in the night I shower with mesh g's and just sit in on my chair with the fan blowing on me, it’s like a cheap air conditioning. I'm getting pretty tan, y'all would be pretty jealous, except I have a line on my neck...but it’s all good. I sent you some pictures, and I'll leave it up to you mom to get the ones off my email that I have sent to other people. :) Two are of the baptism and two are of me and my comp, the other we are painting the parents house of Hermano Fabian (our new branch mission leader).
Yes, we had a baptism this past week. Adrian, Brenda and Kevin, it was legit, I got to baptize Brenda, E Fotu baptized Adrian and Hno Fabian baptized Kevin. Hno Fabian and Adrian are brothers. The baptism went really well, about 70 percent of the people there were non-members, and I think the field is getting white ready to harvest. President Romney came. It was really powerful, lots of the sisters were crying. I hope because they were thinking of getting themselves baptized but maybe not, they might have just been happy because Adrian is starting to change. I can't believe the change I've seen in him, and Fabian. That might be the coolest thing about this work, getting to see the change in people. I honestly can see a physical change, it’s hard to explain but they just seem more happy, and just look clean. Seeing that is gratification at its best.
Yes I have gotten two of Mariah’s letters that she has sent to me, they came to our house, pretty quick. But I don’t think it’s the best idea that she sends them to the house, because who knows when I am going to be changed. (Changes are coming in three weeks) but it’s been really cool to hear from her. Usually they get here within two to three weeks. I don’t think I have had one more than 4 weeks late. I haven’t gotten any of the letters from Mariah that you have sent me, but I wouldn't stress to much about it.
I can’t believe Derek and Clancy are leaving. Wish them the best of luck, sometimes the mission is a rough road, I would appreciate it if you gave my best to the both of them. But on second thought they are probably gone already. That’s alright, I'll pray for them. That’s a cool story about prayer. I had a funny thing happen to me about prayer this week. We were walking down the road and the wind was blowing, I was thinking about my personal study(my favorite time of the day) and then I was thinking how I wasn’t sure that I said a prayer right as soon as I woke up, I came to the conclusion that I hadn't. At that same moment the wind blew my tie and it slapped me right in the face, and it actually kind of hurt. I took that as a message from the Lord to not let it happen again. That same thing actually happened about two weeks before, we were walking down the road after a lesson didn't go very good, I wasn't thinking about the people we taught in the best way because they were being really stubborn. At that same minute the wind blew and my tie slapped my right in the face. You may think I am joking, and even though it is kind of a funny story, in all seriousness I know that was a message from the Lord telling me to change.
Thank you all so much for everything you do. I love you guys!
Love
Elder Waite
PS Read the Book of Mormon
I am doing just great. The weather is rough, they say yesterday was 115 and today is about 110. I'm getting used to the heat and sweating 24/7. I take two showers a day, in the night I shower with mesh g's and just sit in on my chair with the fan blowing on me, it’s like a cheap air conditioning. I'm getting pretty tan, y'all would be pretty jealous, except I have a line on my neck...but it’s all good. I sent you some pictures, and I'll leave it up to you mom to get the ones off my email that I have sent to other people. :) Two are of the baptism and two are of me and my comp, the other we are painting the parents house of Hermano Fabian (our new branch mission leader).
Yes, we had a baptism this past week. Adrian, Brenda and Kevin, it was legit, I got to baptize Brenda, E Fotu baptized Adrian and Hno Fabian baptized Kevin. Hno Fabian and Adrian are brothers. The baptism went really well, about 70 percent of the people there were non-members, and I think the field is getting white ready to harvest. President Romney came. It was really powerful, lots of the sisters were crying. I hope because they were thinking of getting themselves baptized but maybe not, they might have just been happy because Adrian is starting to change. I can't believe the change I've seen in him, and Fabian. That might be the coolest thing about this work, getting to see the change in people. I honestly can see a physical change, it’s hard to explain but they just seem more happy, and just look clean. Seeing that is gratification at its best.
Yes I have gotten two of Mariah’s letters that she has sent to me, they came to our house, pretty quick. But I don’t think it’s the best idea that she sends them to the house, because who knows when I am going to be changed. (Changes are coming in three weeks) but it’s been really cool to hear from her. Usually they get here within two to three weeks. I don’t think I have had one more than 4 weeks late. I haven’t gotten any of the letters from Mariah that you have sent me, but I wouldn't stress to much about it.
I can’t believe Derek and Clancy are leaving. Wish them the best of luck, sometimes the mission is a rough road, I would appreciate it if you gave my best to the both of them. But on second thought they are probably gone already. That’s alright, I'll pray for them. That’s a cool story about prayer. I had a funny thing happen to me about prayer this week. We were walking down the road and the wind was blowing, I was thinking about my personal study(my favorite time of the day) and then I was thinking how I wasn’t sure that I said a prayer right as soon as I woke up, I came to the conclusion that I hadn't. At that same moment the wind blew my tie and it slapped me right in the face, and it actually kind of hurt. I took that as a message from the Lord to not let it happen again. That same thing actually happened about two weeks before, we were walking down the road after a lesson didn't go very good, I wasn't thinking about the people we taught in the best way because they were being really stubborn. At that same minute the wind blew and my tie slapped my right in the face. You may think I am joking, and even though it is kind of a funny story, in all seriousness I know that was a message from the Lord telling me to change.
Thank you all so much for everything you do. I love you guys!
Love
Elder Waite
PS Read the Book of Mormon
April 4 & 11, 2011 -emails
April 4, 2011
Hey Family,
Well how are you all doing? We don't have very much time to write today, so I will have to be brief. A temple in Meridian? That’s pretty weird. We didn't get to go to the morning and afternoon conference on Saturday, but the Priesthood Session was legit. We took the father of the family (Adrian) that had plans to get baptized, and his father also (Victor). We got to watch it in English. After the session was over we went and stood in the font with them with MOTAB playing in the entire building and talked a little about baptism and how we knew God was going to be happy with them the next day. The spirit was really strong and it couldn't have been planned better which is why I am still confused at why they decided against it. They are going to get baptized this week so I guess it’s ok, we even invited Pres Romney. He likes to come when a family is getting baptized. I can't wait for it to come, mostly because I'm worried they still won’t feel ready. We are trying to work out their doubts.
To answer the question about the house, Paseo del Norte is a colony East of Salinas, if you head east from the plaza in Salinas and before you come to the highway (I think it’s called Colombia) there are lots of houses really close together, they share the same walls. It’s on the north side of the road, and there is a big chicken feed factory really close. I know those are really shady directions. I bet you will be able to tell the difference in the colony Salinas and actual Paseo Del Norte.
Anyway I'm glad to hear you are all doing good, and are safe.
Thanks for the sports update.
Love,
Elder Waite
April 11, 2011
Well Family, it’s going to be a short letter again this week. . .very short. P day is dia de descansa, but it certainly isn´t. We didn´t baptize yesterday, hopefully we will this week. But it’s going to take lots of prayers, just skimming through your email mom I read something about me having 6 months already, I thought I only had 5, I'm a little confused, going to have to my math later on tonight. Happy Birthday Hallie, sorry it’s a little late, good choice on the dog. Have you gotten any letters from me? The post office here is pretty shady, so maybe I'll have to start mailing stuff from Monterrey.
Thank you all for the prayers, testimonies, faith.
Love you guys
Elder Waite
Hey Family,
Well how are you all doing? We don't have very much time to write today, so I will have to be brief. A temple in Meridian? That’s pretty weird. We didn't get to go to the morning and afternoon conference on Saturday, but the Priesthood Session was legit. We took the father of the family (Adrian) that had plans to get baptized, and his father also (Victor). We got to watch it in English. After the session was over we went and stood in the font with them with MOTAB playing in the entire building and talked a little about baptism and how we knew God was going to be happy with them the next day. The spirit was really strong and it couldn't have been planned better which is why I am still confused at why they decided against it. They are going to get baptized this week so I guess it’s ok, we even invited Pres Romney. He likes to come when a family is getting baptized. I can't wait for it to come, mostly because I'm worried they still won’t feel ready. We are trying to work out their doubts.
To answer the question about the house, Paseo del Norte is a colony East of Salinas, if you head east from the plaza in Salinas and before you come to the highway (I think it’s called Colombia) there are lots of houses really close together, they share the same walls. It’s on the north side of the road, and there is a big chicken feed factory really close. I know those are really shady directions. I bet you will be able to tell the difference in the colony Salinas and actual Paseo Del Norte.
Anyway I'm glad to hear you are all doing good, and are safe.
Thanks for the sports update.
Love,
Elder Waite
April 11, 2011
Well Family, it’s going to be a short letter again this week. . .very short. P day is dia de descansa, but it certainly isn´t. We didn´t baptize yesterday, hopefully we will this week. But it’s going to take lots of prayers, just skimming through your email mom I read something about me having 6 months already, I thought I only had 5, I'm a little confused, going to have to my math later on tonight. Happy Birthday Hallie, sorry it’s a little late, good choice on the dog. Have you gotten any letters from me? The post office here is pretty shady, so maybe I'll have to start mailing stuff from Monterrey.
Thank you all for the prayers, testimonies, faith.
Love you guys
Elder Waite
March 28, 2011 -email
March 28, 2011
Hello Family!!
Wow, once again it sounds like there is alot of stuff happening at home. Mom, thanks for sending the DE from Dad. Dad thanks for writing, I've only skimmed it, I'm pretty sure I better wait for tonight. Thanks especially for the encouraging words, they always make me want to work harder, and be proud of who I am and of my family. We are very blessed to have the family that we have, I have been finding this out the longer I have been in Mexico.
We are teaching the family Peña. Adrian(dad) Brenda(mom) Kevin(9) Jael(6). Adrian is a brother to a member, and has seen the recent changes in him because he just got the priesthood, and so Adrian got interested in listening to us. He has had some problems drinking and is sick of the fact he isn't the father he wants to be. I'm stoked out of my mind to be teaching them, this is a family that I might get to go to the temple with. We have actually been teaching Brenda for the past couple months, but Salinas is really small, and lots of stuff happens... lets just say that I hope that the iglesia will never have a bad name for the things that I do. Anyway they are really promising. I hope we have a white Easter.
I've been thinking alot lately about the fact that I am really a missionary. It’s still sort of hard to believe. I am grateful to be one. The missionaries are pretty much celebrities in the church, people are constantly praying for us, and doing simple things to make our lives easier. I think it’s impossible for us to fail.
I got another package last Saturday!! The one with the CDs and the pictures, and also the candy! Thanks so much, especially for the pictures, they helped some of the wild kids in church.
I had the chance to be in the temple with Aunt Amy also, I also felt the presence of Grandma Wadsworth, decho I know she is there every time I go to the temple. Dad, I don't know what I would do if I were in your shoes, I can’t imagine one of my sisters not being here anymore. Thanks for your strength in the gospel and good example to me.
I love you all so much. Congratulations to Maren, I can see they got rid of that BYU shirt as soon as they could... I thought that was really funny. Can you guys send more pictures like those? Maybe of the play and just of things around, like when Mariah went into the MTC? Thanks for everything you all do.
Love Elder Waite
ps. It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.
Hello Family!!
Wow, once again it sounds like there is alot of stuff happening at home. Mom, thanks for sending the DE from Dad. Dad thanks for writing, I've only skimmed it, I'm pretty sure I better wait for tonight. Thanks especially for the encouraging words, they always make me want to work harder, and be proud of who I am and of my family. We are very blessed to have the family that we have, I have been finding this out the longer I have been in Mexico.
We are teaching the family Peña. Adrian(dad) Brenda(mom) Kevin(9) Jael(6). Adrian is a brother to a member, and has seen the recent changes in him because he just got the priesthood, and so Adrian got interested in listening to us. He has had some problems drinking and is sick of the fact he isn't the father he wants to be. I'm stoked out of my mind to be teaching them, this is a family that I might get to go to the temple with. We have actually been teaching Brenda for the past couple months, but Salinas is really small, and lots of stuff happens... lets just say that I hope that the iglesia will never have a bad name for the things that I do. Anyway they are really promising. I hope we have a white Easter.
I've been thinking alot lately about the fact that I am really a missionary. It’s still sort of hard to believe. I am grateful to be one. The missionaries are pretty much celebrities in the church, people are constantly praying for us, and doing simple things to make our lives easier. I think it’s impossible for us to fail.
I got another package last Saturday!! The one with the CDs and the pictures, and also the candy! Thanks so much, especially for the pictures, they helped some of the wild kids in church.
I had the chance to be in the temple with Aunt Amy also, I also felt the presence of Grandma Wadsworth, decho I know she is there every time I go to the temple. Dad, I don't know what I would do if I were in your shoes, I can’t imagine one of my sisters not being here anymore. Thanks for your strength in the gospel and good example to me.
I love you all so much. Congratulations to Maren, I can see they got rid of that BYU shirt as soon as they could... I thought that was really funny. Can you guys send more pictures like those? Maybe of the play and just of things around, like when Mariah went into the MTC? Thanks for everything you all do.
Love Elder Waite
ps. It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.
March 23, 2011 -email
March 23, 2011
Hello Family,
Well how is everyone doing? This email is pretty tough to write. I've been thinking about what I am planning on saying since Monday, (that was when I found out the news). About 1 in the afternoon on Monday we were teaching a lesson to Hilario, I'll tell about him later, and the assistants called, they came out here to Salinas, it was pretty tough for them to tell me about what happened with Aunt Amy, it was also tough to hear. They gave me permission to print off the letter from Dad so I could read it later. The fact that I would really never see her again in this life didn't really hit me until that night after I had read what Dad wrote to me. I've been thinking about her a lot lately and the things that I remember most about her was her laugh, how she loved to joke around and like mom said, the family gatherings. It was really tough to hear the news and it really didn't sink in for a while, I'm not sure that it really has even now, but it’s sort of been a motivator to work a little harder to tell people of this knowledge we have that we will be able to see our families again after this life. I sort of did the same thing you guys did Monday, I read some scriptures and conference talks, It was really good.
A little about Hilario, he is legit, 80 years old, he's been smoking his whole life and stopped after our second visit. He is having a little more trouble to stop drinking coffee, mostly because he doesn't see what is wrong with it. Once he makes up his mind to do something it happens, but it takes alot to convince him... especially when he doesn't see the bad in something. He is really legit, I can’t really understand alot of what he says because his accent is so thick and he talks really quiet. We have been praying for him to recognize that he shouldn't drink coffee. We'll see him later tonight, I hope he has good news for us.
Mom, I got your package!!! Thanks, it was legit, I loved the valentines stuff. and I'm pretty sure everything was there. I don’t know if Mariah is getting my emails, but I haven’t got anything from her. So if you could I would appreciate it if you could forward her emails to me.
I hope everything is going well for you guys. I am doing great, getting a little fat. I have to keep up eating the same food as a Tongan. We had Zone Conference yesterday, it was a great experience, and the meetings here always help me get refocused once again. I can’t wait till the next one. Sis Romney made us brownies, not to different from the ones at home.
I love everyone, and I'm thinking good thoughts about you all.
Love Elder Waite
Hello Family,
Well how is everyone doing? This email is pretty tough to write. I've been thinking about what I am planning on saying since Monday, (that was when I found out the news). About 1 in the afternoon on Monday we were teaching a lesson to Hilario, I'll tell about him later, and the assistants called, they came out here to Salinas, it was pretty tough for them to tell me about what happened with Aunt Amy, it was also tough to hear. They gave me permission to print off the letter from Dad so I could read it later. The fact that I would really never see her again in this life didn't really hit me until that night after I had read what Dad wrote to me. I've been thinking about her a lot lately and the things that I remember most about her was her laugh, how she loved to joke around and like mom said, the family gatherings. It was really tough to hear the news and it really didn't sink in for a while, I'm not sure that it really has even now, but it’s sort of been a motivator to work a little harder to tell people of this knowledge we have that we will be able to see our families again after this life. I sort of did the same thing you guys did Monday, I read some scriptures and conference talks, It was really good.
A little about Hilario, he is legit, 80 years old, he's been smoking his whole life and stopped after our second visit. He is having a little more trouble to stop drinking coffee, mostly because he doesn't see what is wrong with it. Once he makes up his mind to do something it happens, but it takes alot to convince him... especially when he doesn't see the bad in something. He is really legit, I can’t really understand alot of what he says because his accent is so thick and he talks really quiet. We have been praying for him to recognize that he shouldn't drink coffee. We'll see him later tonight, I hope he has good news for us.
Mom, I got your package!!! Thanks, it was legit, I loved the valentines stuff. and I'm pretty sure everything was there. I don’t know if Mariah is getting my emails, but I haven’t got anything from her. So if you could I would appreciate it if you could forward her emails to me.
I hope everything is going well for you guys. I am doing great, getting a little fat. I have to keep up eating the same food as a Tongan. We had Zone Conference yesterday, it was a great experience, and the meetings here always help me get refocused once again. I can’t wait till the next one. Sis Romney made us brownies, not to different from the ones at home.
I love everyone, and I'm thinking good thoughts about you all.
Love Elder Waite
March 14, 2011 -email
March 14, 2011
I don't know what just happened.... my whole email just disappeared... sorry guys no legit email, here it is in a nut shell.
I have a new comp. Elder Fotu he is Tongan, has a scholarship to play at BYU. 6'4'' 300 lbs, he has lost 60lbs since he's been on his mission.
I got letters and Dear Elders. I could read all of them. Thanks. No package yet. You don't need to send the emails from Uncle Greg, I have time to read them.
We had 41 people at church, we've been doing lots of LA work, it felt good.Here is the address to my house.
De los Cabasos 769
Paseo del Norte
Salinas Victoria
Nuevo Leon
Here is the address to the church.
Zaragoza 108
Centro
Salinas Victoria
Nuevo Leon
We've been teaching these people; Yaressi, Alejandra and Juan & Mira - they don’t want to get out of bed to go to church. Missionary work is cool, but tough. Good luck Mariah!! Those first few weeks are tough in the MTC.
Love
Elder Waite
I don't know what just happened.... my whole email just disappeared... sorry guys no legit email, here it is in a nut shell.
I have a new comp. Elder Fotu he is Tongan, has a scholarship to play at BYU. 6'4'' 300 lbs, he has lost 60lbs since he's been on his mission.
I got letters and Dear Elders. I could read all of them. Thanks. No package yet. You don't need to send the emails from Uncle Greg, I have time to read them.
We had 41 people at church, we've been doing lots of LA work, it felt good.Here is the address to my house.
De los Cabasos 769
Paseo del Norte
Salinas Victoria
Nuevo Leon
Here is the address to the church.
Zaragoza 108
Centro
Salinas Victoria
Nuevo Leon
We've been teaching these people; Yaressi, Alejandra and Juan & Mira - they don’t want to get out of bed to go to church. Missionary work is cool, but tough. Good luck Mariah!! Those first few weeks are tough in the MTC.
Love
Elder Waite
March 8, 2011 -email
Hello family!
Well you aren't going to believe this but I got another companion and the best thing about it is he is native!!! I still can't believe it. I've been with him for a week tomorrow and I've spoken more Spanish in this week than ever before. Wednesday night was tough. After my first full day of being with him, I realized that I was probably the only gringo in Salinas, and there aren't very many others that speak English, but I can bear testimony that the Savior will comfort those that need it.
Some more good news... WE HAD A BAPTISM YESTERDAY!!! Crazy... this family came to church last week out of the blue and we started teaching them. The dad is a member, and now the two boys are too, but the parents aren't married so we need to do that before we can baptize the mother. It was way cool. I practiced the prayer all Sunday. Saturday we were trying to fill the font and I was looking how to drain it. The drain was covered in leaves and it was basically just a pipe coming out of the concrete wall. Anyway I stepped on it and it broke off. But not to worry, I was able to go to the store and get all new stuff and tools to fix it, and it was all in Spanish. Sketchy Spanish, but still. I'm pretty proud of myself to say the least. I would send pictures but we are at a different place than usual, and I'm actually not even with my real comp. He went with another missionary. They had to go to the hospital. Luckily I have been blessed with perfect health ever since I have come here. My new companion's name is Elder Guerrero. He is from Mexico City.
I am going to learn so much from him, this week has been really tough, but I'm happy right now. P day is always good. Good luck with everything you do, especially Mariah.
Love Elder Waite
Well you aren't going to believe this but I got another companion and the best thing about it is he is native!!! I still can't believe it. I've been with him for a week tomorrow and I've spoken more Spanish in this week than ever before. Wednesday night was tough. After my first full day of being with him, I realized that I was probably the only gringo in Salinas, and there aren't very many others that speak English, but I can bear testimony that the Savior will comfort those that need it.
Some more good news... WE HAD A BAPTISM YESTERDAY!!! Crazy... this family came to church last week out of the blue and we started teaching them. The dad is a member, and now the two boys are too, but the parents aren't married so we need to do that before we can baptize the mother. It was way cool. I practiced the prayer all Sunday. Saturday we were trying to fill the font and I was looking how to drain it. The drain was covered in leaves and it was basically just a pipe coming out of the concrete wall. Anyway I stepped on it and it broke off. But not to worry, I was able to go to the store and get all new stuff and tools to fix it, and it was all in Spanish. Sketchy Spanish, but still. I'm pretty proud of myself to say the least. I would send pictures but we are at a different place than usual, and I'm actually not even with my real comp. He went with another missionary. They had to go to the hospital. Luckily I have been blessed with perfect health ever since I have come here. My new companion's name is Elder Guerrero. He is from Mexico City.
I am going to learn so much from him, this week has been really tough, but I'm happy right now. P day is always good. Good luck with everything you do, especially Mariah.
Love Elder Waite
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