A New 'Energetic' Companion

Hey everyone!

So I don't have anytime at all to write this. It seems like that is how it is every week and I am sorry about that. haha. But I wanted to at least write something! haha!

So my new companion's name is Elder Pereira. (peh-day-duh) He is from Brazil and is a good missionary. I enjoy working with him. 

I hope you all have a great week this week! I love you all! Remember our Savior Jesus Christ and his sacrifice he made for us! This is so important and I am learning more and more about how important it really is every day! I am so thankful for Him!

-Elder Waite

Elder Waite and Elder Pereira

I think the missionaries answer all their emails before composing a 'mass email' and it gets left to the end. Hence the very short email this week!! I asked Jacob how teaching was going -

 "Teaching is going good. We had a lesson with Travis and Jenna this week. They had a nonmember friend come over to listen as well. She's pretty interested. Her name is Kim. Anyway, last transfer we taught Travis the first 3 lessons but he doesn't really understand. So we are reteaching the first 3 lessons again. But this week we read Alma 18 with the 3 of them to help them understand the nature of God more. It was AWESOME! They were totally hooked on the story of Ammon cutting off the arms and when king Lamoni fell as if he were dead they were all like "well what happened!? did he actually die!?" So we read chapter 19 as well. It was so cool. But yeah. That was fun."

He told me he likes his new companion although he is very energetic! (he had to cut him off from his Dr. Pepper because it made him even more 'energetic' - haha) But, he's a good missionary so this should be a good transfer for Jacob. 

I've also been informed that his 3 pairs of Dockers already need to be replaced and he broke the lens cover off of his camera. I guess these are good things considering that they let you know he is working hard and making the most of his time as a missionary.  

Elder Pereira and Elder Waite

Miracles and Transfers

 Hey everyone!

So this week is transfers! This transfer has just flown by! I can hardly believe that I am now in my 6th transfer! Sometimes I feel like I should be in my 10th transfer by now but that's life I guess! haha. So I am getting a new companion today. We had to get up at 5 this morning so we could get Elder Hutchings over to the transfer spot to go to his new area. So, now I am in a trio of sorts until this afternoon when I will get my new companion. His name is Elder Pereria.. I think.. haha. I haven't met him yet so I don't quite know how to spell or pronounce his name quite yet. All I know about him is that he was born in Brazil! So that's pretty cool! I am excited to have him as a companion!

So there were a couple miracles this week that happened that were pretty cool. The last couple weeks or so Elder Hutchings and I were able to give a couple blessings to a couple different people. One of them to this less active lady named Bobby. She is so cool! And she loves the missionaries coming over to visit with her. She has been having trouble with her health and she has had to go get a lot of blood transfusions. So she asked for a blessing a couple weeks ago. And this last week when we visited with her she was very excited and she looked really good! All her color was back in her face and everything! She told us that she doesn't have to go back to the doctors anymore! That was very cool to see. 

The other miracle was another blessing that we were able to give. So, we were walking around kind of aimlessly one morning, wondering where to go and we both got the impression that we should stop by this older couple's house in the ward and just check up on them and see how they were doing. So we knock on the door and he came out and told us that they were having a little emergency but he wanted us to come in anyway. Turns out his wife had been having trouble with her knees that morning. She thought maybe she was having a blood clot or something and they were trying to find someone to take them to the hospital. So we offered to give her a blessing and she let us. They ended up getting their son to take them to the hospital. Later that night she called us and left us a voicemail saying that they had taken a lot of tests on her that spanned about 6 hours long. And by the end her knees felt perfectly fine. She said she had never experienced anything like it. Whenever her knees had hurt her like that in the past they hurt her for weeks. But not this time! She said she gave all the credit to the blessing. So that was another cool experience for me as well.

The power and authority of the priesthood in my life has been so strong and I have been blessed to have been influenced by it my whole life. I am so thankful for a father that has lived worthily throughout his life to be able to hold and exercise his priesthood and be a good influence to those around him and especially me. I am so thankful for my dad's example to me. I hope that we can all remember the Savior and the sacrifice that he made for us this week. And that our Father in heaven loves us so much that He gave us his Son to be the sacrifice for us. So that we can all, one day, return to live with Him again. I love you all! have a great week! 

-Elder Waite 

There is a Spanish elder named Elder Bench. And he makes fun of me for my last name being Waite. So I get a lot of ''Waite" jokes. So I took that picture of me "waiteing" and sitting on a "bench" for him. lol

Meridian Idaho temple under construction

Elder Rettig - he's going home tomorrow!

Elder Ray - he's cool

Elder Martinez

My new bike!

At the bike shop last week.

Lots of Work and a New Bike

Hello Everybody!

Things are starting to warm up here in Idaho! The sidewalks are clear and now instead of 5 miles everyday we can walk 7!! Except I am getting a bike today so that will probably double! 

The work is going great and our investigators are progressing well. All I can do is hope and pray that they will continue to make the correct choices and continually progress closer and closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ everyday.

Not much else to report on this week. We Jaywalked in front of some cops the other day... so that was pretty funny. It's a good thing that that isn't illegal in Idaho!

I hope you all have a great week! I love you all!

-Elder Waite

I told Jacob that one of the things I pray about concerning him is that he and his companion will know how to make their time productive. Here is his response: "Thank you for praying for my productivity.. haha. I feel like it helped a lot this week. One investigator, Travis, we have taught the first three lessons to but we are going to start over and reteach them because he really has no knowledge of Christ at all. It's pretty crazy and kinda sad. The family of three we are teaching got back from Germany last night so we have an appointment with them on Wednesday night. We are going to review the first three lessons with them. And our other investigator, Sita, is on date for baptism on March 11th . haha, I tried to kinda push it to the 18th.. but it's okay. The sooner the better. We will probably try to set the family of three for the 18th of March. That way while you are all {at Abbie's wedding} I will be here baptizing 3 people.... lol."

Also, I noticed that he spent money on a bike today so maybe we'll start hearing about bike adventures soon!

No pictures...again! :(

Lots to Do!

Hello Everyone!!

Not much to report this week! Except that the snow is FINALLY melting! It is almost 50 degrees today!! It's like a heat wave!! haha. This winter has been ridiculous!

This week was kind of a slow week. Tuesday and Wednesday we got into a few houses and were able to share a few messages. So that was good. We had zone meeting and Elder Rettig gave a really great training!! He is going home this transfer so he is pretty much a pro missionary!! He is awesome!!

I dont have much time this week to write. I hope you all had a great week and that this one will be even better! Just don't ever forget the Savior and the sacrifice that He made for us. I am so thankful for Him and the life that He lived so that I can be the best that I can be.

I love you all!

-Elder Waite

I asked Jacob if they're doing a lot of walking and if he likes his companion. Here's his answer: "We did do a lot of walking! 2 square mile area and we walk at least 5 miles a day! Yes, Elder Hutchings is great! Teaching is awesome. We have 5 investigators on track for baptism right now. It's going pretty good. We are teaching as much as we can!"

He says there is a lot of work and they get a lot of member referrals which is how it's supposed to work, right?

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!