More Baptisms and Lots of Teaching

Hey Everyone!

This week went by super fast! Like what the heck happened?? It was just Monday like 7 days ago!! haha ;)

Sorry I haven't written a mass email the past few weeks. Two hours is not enough time to email but hey, you gotta make due with what you got. Plus we kinda got kicked out of the FHC earlier than expected. haha

The past few Saturdays I have been so privileged and so lucky to be able to go back to Payette for 7 different baptisms. All people that my last companion, Elder Dean, my trainer, Elder Boswell, and I taught that all got baptized! I was so happy for all of them! They are all progressing and I know that they made a great choice and that the gospel will affect their lives in ways that they never imagined! 

Things in Meridian are going good. We have 5 investigators we just started teaching that are all getting ready and are on the path to baptism. They are golden! They keep all the commitments we give them and are coming to church! It's awesome! We walk at least 3-4 miles a day in our 2 square mile area that covers 3 wards... haha. Walking in the snow and ice isn't very fun but hey! We're doing the Lord's work so it's okay.

Thats all I really have to report this week. I hope we can all remember the Savior's sacrifice He made for us. He was sent to this earth, lived a perfect life, taught the gospel, was rejected, scorn, and beaten, suffered for our sins and was crucified. That's the price that He paid for us. All so we could repent and come to live with our Father in heaven again. I know that is true. I love you all! I hope you have a great week! 

-Elder Waite

Me, Elder Boswell, Erica, Elder Dean, Elder Pennington (he replaced me in Payette)

Elder Boswell, Kimberly, Elder Dean, Bryce, and Me

Finally got a study table!

A Good Week in Meridian and Baptisms in Payette

No mass email again this week. I think Jacob's pdays in Meridian include shorter email times! But, that's ok. I write him every week and I'll share some of his responses. I asked him about the baptisms last Saturday because I know he got to go. He said, "I am glad that I was able to go as well! It was so awesome! The spirit was there! And I know that they know they made a great choice! And President and Sister Sorensen were there, too! So they got to meet them which was pretty cool!" Most of the pictures I got this week were taken at the baptism.

I asked him about who he is teaching right now. He said, "Right now we are teaching a family of three. We have taught them the first lesson and they came to church yesterday! And they said they liked it wayyy better than where they've been attending! hahaha, so that's promising! I am enjoying Meridian. It's a lot different from Payette. But its okay. I already know that I won't like anywhere I serve as much as I liked Payette, but that's okay. I'll go back someday." I guess it's a good thing he got his favorite area first! His dad and I had a favorite area as well. 

As you can see he got his HAIR CUT! 

Carla and her husband and kids

Elder Dean baptized Carla and her kids

Elder Waite with the Stowells

Elder Waite with the Wards

Elder Waite with Bishop Youngberg

'Action shot' Elder Waite preparing a video during the baptism

Elder Waite and Elder Hutchings

Elder Waite and Elder Ray on exchanges

A New Area, New Companion, and Hopefully a Haircut!

Transfers were this week and I'm happy to say that Jacob was nothing but positive in his email communications with me! I worried all week that he would be really upset about leaving Payette but I prayed a lot and I know the Lord is blessing him to be strong and ready to learn what he needs to learn! He said, "The week was good! Transfers went well. Elder Hutchings is awesome! I love him already. We are living with the zone leaders, Elders Rettig and Martinez, in an apartment. It's a nice place. I have a top bunk. So, that's a little different. I am planning on getting my haircut today at a place called great clips cause they give us free haircuts on Mondays.. If it's closed for MLK day I'll go tomorrow - it's too long to wait another week. So far Meridian is good. I don't like the city too much but the people are awesome. The Madsens and the McEvoys are my favorite so far. (I've told him and many members that I've found on facebook that he needs a haircut bad!!)

My New Companion, Elder Hutchings, and me!

He told me they're working with a girl that was going to go on a mission and then decided not to and basically doesn't believe it anymore. He said it was really sad but he asked her if she was reading The Book of Mormon and she said no. He challenged her to read it and she said she would. I can't wait to hear more about her and how reading will help her to feel the Spirit! Also, Jacob got to go to the baptisms on Saturday. His mission president took him himself! That's so amazing! He said he hopes to be able to go to the ones this Saturday and next Saturday, too. That would be a bummer to work so long with people and not see them be baptized. 

My New Zone - the Meridian West Zone

He said they're working with lots of great people in Meridian so he has lots of work ahead which is great!

And then, just like that, they were kicked out of the Family History Center Library and he had to say good bye! That's why I'm writing this post today! Can't wait to hear more and see if he actually gets his hair cut! 

Saying good bye to Elder Masten at transfers!

Saying good bye to Elder Price, too!

And farewell to Elder Dean!

From Payette to Meridian and the Storm of the Century

Hey everyone!

This week was kind of a bummer week! We couldn't do hardly anything because of the weather! 22 below is not fun at all!! We spent a lot of time indoors. And a lot of time shoveling snow. 

This week was transfers and after six months I am sad to say that I will be leaving Payette. I am going to Meridian. I don't know what to expect about it. I have heard a lot of different things. But I guess all I can do is trust that the Lord has something there for me he needs me to get done. My new companion will be Elder Hutchings. I haven't met him yet but I am excited to see what he's all about!

So there really isn't that much to report. Except that it is colder here than it is in Alaska. And that this is the worst winter Idaho has had in 30 years. Storm of the century! It snowed about ten inches yesterday and then rained on top of it! So there is about an inch of ice on top of all the snow! Crazy!

I hope that you all have a great week this week! 

-Elder Waite

It's been so cold and the weather so bad that all church meetings were canceled this past weekend! Snow on top of snow on top of ice on top of snow does not make for good driving conditions! Jacob said his ward mission leader, Brother Ward, took them around shoveling a whole lot. He loves Brother Ward and is trying to get him to move to Arizona! :)

He has loved Payette so much and would stay there his entire mission if he could. He's been working with lots of great people helping them progress in the gospel and come unto Christ. He told me, "I also really hate to leave here because this coming Saturday we have three baptisms (two of them were supposed to be two days ago but they cancelled all church meetings for the weekend.) James, Bradon, and Bryce. And then next Saturday Carla, Mariah, and Daniel are getting baptized. And the week after that Erica is getting baptized. That's seven people I've been working with for the last six months and I don't even get to see them get baptized. Hopefully I can get someone to take me back to Payette for the next three weekends. It'll be interesting." I hope he can get back there for a few of them and maybe return to finish his mission there like he hopes. But, this transfer is a chance for new growth. I know he'll find people to love wherever he serves and he knows it, too. It's just hard to change! He said, " I think my time in Payette was well spent. Bishop Youngberg told me that I've done a great work here. And that I should be proud. Haha, I don't think I did that great but I am proud of what the Lord has enabled me to accomplish here.

Another week with no pictures from him. Hopefully next week I'll get some with his new area and companion! 

Happy New Year!

Hey Everyone!

So I have ZERO time to write this email. I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Both were quite a bit different for me as a missionary. It was hard. but it's over now and time to move onto 2017! 

This week will be busy with transfers and everything. Hopefully next week I will be able to fill you in more! 

Never forget the Savior's sacrifice! He suffered, bled, and died for you. He has carried all of your burdens already. Don't keep anything from him! My sister told me that today. That's something I am going to work on this week.

I hope you all have a great week!

-Elder Waite

Jacob seemed to be in a rush today. I think he's a little stressed about a problem with an investigator. We've been praying lots that everything will turn out just fine. And he's been in Payette for a long time so I'm pretty sure he will be transferred (you never know for sure, though) this weekend. I know he doesn't want to leave the area but change will bring more growth and I think he's ready for it. 

Sister Stowell posted these photos on Facebook which happen to be the only photos I received this week!

Idaho is getting hit with so much snow!