Still doing great. Can't wait to talk to her next week!!!!

You always put a smile on my face and help me to have strength every time I get to hear from you. That is such a great story!!!! I am going to use some of those questions in our lessons. Thank you for sharing! Mom also tells me that you guys have just been   donig hte work of salvation!!!! Iam so proud of and happy for you guys!!!! Just try to leave some family history for me too ;) there were so many spiritual experiences this week that it is going to be hard to write them all. ok, first, my companion went home on Thursday and I am now in one of my old zones,but in a different area, Los Sauces. I am a sister trainer leader, and my companions (we are in a trio) are great! I am already learning so much from them in just 3 days together. A few days this week I got to be companions with one of my best friends in the mission (she is from Argentina!) and her companion, and they are in my first area, Mayorazgo!!!! I got to see some of my favorite members, and two of my converts there. Dad, IT WAS THE BEST!!!! Gosh; i just want to cry thinking about it: i was so happy! yesterday we had a really neat experience teaching about family history to a recent convert: We felt the Spirit so strongly!!!!! It increased my desires to work on our family history. I am really looking forward to this cambio! I already feel like I am going to learn  A TON! and grow a ton too! I feel like the Lord just wants me to keep giving a little bit more of myself every day. Just a little bit more. :) My companions are really good at helping me do that. They are really fun! but hard workers too, and they are both ending, but are not even trunky. They want to be here, and so do I:). I am so excited to talk to you next week!!!! I will just call your cellphone ok? when the weird number comes up Monday morning, that's me:). Don't forget to do your questions for me as a family please! I love you so much!!!! Have a great week!!!!

Love,

Hermana Waite

Letter from Today

so I wanted to write to all of you about the multi zone conference we had this past week. It was AWESOME!!!! We talked about revelation and about how it works like the Liahona. The Liahona only worked according to the heed and diligence and faith of the family of Lehi. When we recieve a prompting from the Lord, we need to decide to act upon it and then act upon it! If we do not act upon the promptings we receive, we will not receive more. It went perfectly with a talk by Elder Holland I had been reading the night before titled 'Cast not away thy confidence'. It's amazing! I recommend it to everyone. But he talked about how Oliver Cowdery had received revelation, but he was scared to follow it, so he lost he opportunity to help translate the Book of Mormon. We have to move forward in faith and complete confidence in the Lord, and I PROMISE that He will bless us with what is BEST for us! Dad, I don't know if you remember, but when you gave me a blessing before I got set apart, you said I would learn confidence. This is something that has greatly marked my mission, and I want to tell you that it is coming about and that it has come about, in various ways. Thank you for being an instrument in the hands of the Lord by using the Priesthood, to change my life.

Another thing we talked about is the temple!!!! As missionaries, we sometimes think that the final goal is the baptismal font, and boom! mission complete. But that is not true. Our real goal, apart from exaltation, is the temple. Everything we do in the church and in the work of salvation should be pointing us to the temple. I have been studying a lot about the temples and am strengthening my testimony of their importance in our lives and in the plan of salvation. 

It is so amazing! to see how the Lord's work is moving forward! I heard that now the general authorities in conference, are giving their talks in their native language. Seemingly little things like that remind me that the Lord is up to something:). I feel like the Second Coming is just coming ever closer, and I am so excited to be found a part of His work along with my family and my loved ones. Keep going strong! You guys are seriously THE BEST!!! and I love each and every one of you soooo much!

Take care! Congrats on the success in all that you are doing, and I hope you have a great week!!!!

All my love!

Love,

Hermana Waite

Letter from the end of Sept.

Hey Papa! Yeah, it has been some adjusting, but you have to have some new things in life every once in a while or things get boring. ;) I told Corbs that we actually entered A HOUSE the other day, not just an apartment, and I was in shock. Today we entered a mall to get to the grocery store, and I had a little panic attack. haha! It is definitely different from the states here, but the funny thing is, I am used to it now. I walk down the street and think, I know I am in a different country, but yeah, normal! I feel normal. haha!

Time just keeps on flying! Next week I am going to have 13months in the mission. Crazy!!!!! I am so happy here! and I am also excited for what the future holds. It still is in the making, but that what makes me happy, is that I can make my future. Agency is such an interesting thing, but a really neat one too. :) 

Things are going well here. We keep working hard and keep plugging along. I am excited to text you lots! (who knows, maybe I will be closer than you think, at least for a while). Pretty soon I will be able to call you guys again! and we can talk on Skype. 

Well Papa, it was good to hear from you. I love you super duper much ! and I always look forward to hearing from you. THanks for your advice and love and support! Talk to you soon!

love,

your little bluebird, Hermana Waite

Last week's letter. Looking for another tomorrow. If you want to send her a note chalea.waite@myldsmail.net is the email.

Wow Papa, looks like an eventful week!That is super cool that you only have the upper level Spanish classes!!! THat is what my companion is thinking about studying to be, a Spanish teacher.  I am just so happy to hear that you guys are happy!!! It gives me more energy to keep working hard. I pray that the Lord will keep giving you guys blessings and that I can keep working hard and that I can be obedient so that He can do so. I think I just didn't learn because I am so stubborn. I have to learn things for myself. Heavenly Father and you and Mom have a ton of patience with me because it takes a long time sometimes to get things through my head and to my heart.  Thank you for telling me that I am growing lots! seriously, it helps a ton! It is true that I forget sometimes because I am living here in the moment. Sometimes I feel I am  progressing lots, sometimes backsliding, sometimes just taking tiny steps, but I am blessed to be able to learn something every day,so I am just very grateful for that. If we aren't moving forward and progressing, well no pasa nada! It's just a bad idea to stay put. I just keep hoping and praying that I can continue to progress in the same way after my mission. Mom's email that I sent her explains a little more about my thought's on the subject. So I stayed here in Chosica, but for 2 weeks my new companion is the daughter of President and Sister Boswell! Crazy cool huh? Then she and my trainer are going and I will be companions with one of my other friends, Hermana Byington. She is from Moses Lake Washington (where Grandma Lee is from!). So that will be good. We had a baptism in the ward on Saturday that was really beautiful and we have a few more that are coming up. things are really progressing here! I am super happy:). When we don't give up and just keep working hard, pray a lot, and move forward in faith, the Lord truly blesses us, just in His own time and way..:) 

did you really hold a baby?! you look a little nervous in the picture.;) Mom told me that you were going to be done after this year. So what are your plans now that you are not going to have soccer? we are going to have to figure out some things to do together.:) I am so grateful that you are all doing well. Mom told me that you gave her and Corbs priesthood blessings. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being worthy to do that. I am so grateful to have a dad like you who respects,honors, and worthily uses his priesthood. I love you so much and can't wait to talk to you soon!!!!

all my love,

Hermana Waite

From Last Week. Yup. She's doing great!!!

That's weird that you guys are going to be going back to school! time passes by so fast! Can you believe that today I have been on the mission for 11 months?! I don't feel like I have been away for so long. I absolutely love it here! I know without a doubt that I needed to be here. I am so grateful that the Lord knows me better than I know myself. When I think about it, I really didn't know anything about a mission before I left. I just knew that the Lord told me to go and that I had enough trust in Him to do so. And how grateful I am for that!!! I have learned so much this week, but something that you and Mom are going to be happy about, I wanted to share. You guys know I am stubborn. Heavenly Father has so much patience with me, because sometimes it takes a long time for me to get things. So I know you guys are probably going to be thinking when you read this, 'yeah Chalea! that's what we have been trying to tell you all this time!' but please just be happy that I finally got it.:) You guys know that I am someone who wants to be able to see the end from the beginning. Well that idea has gone to the trash.:) I have been trying to figure things out, but it isn't what I need to know right now. President Packer shared something that one of the prophets shared with him one time. Sometimes we have to walk to the edge of the light and take a few steps into the darkness and there we will find that the way is illuminated a few steps ahead of us. I just wasn't applying my faith. I KNOW that Heavenly Father will lead me to what is best for me. I keep praying for that and that even though I don't know the end yet, I know He does, and I keep praying that He will guide me to that end and that He will help me to keep on the path now so that I can be guided to where I need to be in the future. I am a lot more at peace and happier. Do I still get curious? yeah! but I am so much less stressed and I know without a doubt that if I am obedient and try my best, He will lead me to where I need to be. I thought you guys would be happy to hear that.:) Another thing I have been thinking about this week is about success. Our district is having a lot of success baptism wise, but not us...yet.:) and I wanted to know if the Lord was happy with us or what we were doing wrong. I had prayed about it and there were prayers in my heart. yesterday the Lord blessed me to see other ways that we are helping people and the progress that we are able to help bring about. We had 3 menos activos at church that we have been trying to work with, some of which we have been passing by to visit but haven't actually visited in like 3 weeks. Also we had 2 investigators at church. Our church attendance is usually in the 80s or 90s, but yesterday it was over 100!!! We also were blessed to find an investigator that has 15 brothers and sisters, one of which we talked with yesterday too, not counting her kids and her parents. The Lord blesses us according to His perfect knowledge and time. :) we just have to keep enduring in faith, being happy, being obedient, and  trying our best. I hope you like the report for the week. I love you Daddy!!!! anything I can do for you guys, you just let me know. Thank you for your love and your support!!! I love you so much and am so very thankful to have you in my life as my dad.

love,

Hermana Waite

News from July 8, 2014

Here is a letter from Chalea today.  She is sure working hard and doing well.

Hey Papa!!!

Every week I love the pictures and the coordinating captions! haha! you always know how to put a smile on my face.:) One of the zone leaders was looking at the pictures with me and he likes Moroni's new sword. ;) haha! The quotes are funny too! I told Corbs some hints that will help his cookies to turn out next time.:) We had fireworks too! Well, we always have fireworks here in Chosica. It is farther away from the city, so they have a little more freedom than they do in Lima. Chosica reminds me of when you say that you are happy your classroom is far away from the office because no one comes to bother you. haha! I seriously love it! We met our new president this week and his family. THey are so great!!! I know they were meant to be here, and they are already becoming a part of the big mission family. We had a huge learning experience this week. We had our zone meeting and it was going good until some people who think they are big shots started burning the zone leaders in front of everyone. Let's just say that we all learned a lot. I have so much respect, especially after the meeting, for our zone leaders. They taught us so much about humility, charity, and true strength through their examples. 

Let me tell you about one of our investigators. His name is Julian Brown. He is the brother of the stake president. He has talked with the missionaries many times. He is such a good person!!! but he wants a sure sure answer from the Lord. We are not exactly sure what that is because he was given an earthquake during a prayer with some of the other sisters. I felt impressed the other day that we should read the Book of Mormon with him, because he doesn't have a testimony of it yet. He reminds me a lot of me. he also needs to realize who he really is as a son of God. So we are working with that too. I have been praying a lot for him lately. 

Things are going really well here! There are only 4 hermanas here in this zone. They say only los valientes get sent to Chosica. I love it here! My companion is really great! and we live with the other 2 hermanas in the zone, so every day we are laughing. Well, that's about it from my end. I hope you guys are doing well and continue to enjoy the summer! I love you so much Papa! keep helping the missionaries.

I LOVE YOUª!!!

Love,

Hermana Waite

Update and a lot of photos from Chalea.

Chalea has been doing great.  She doesn't send super long emails home, but she is doing well and sent us quite a few pictures.  Here you are.  Enjoy.

No Pictures, But Updates From the Past Few Weeks

June 2

THis week we had divisions with the sister leaders. Wow! What an awesome experience! My companion and I were both able to recieve help on how we can better our companionship and the work we are doing in the area, so we are putting it into action.:) Things like how to better distribute timing, telling people what I really think, working together. We found a lady the other day named Deysi. She is so prepared to hear the gospel! Within about 15 minutes she had a baptismal date and asked us questions about the first three lessons. :) so we are super happy about that! I am learning a lot too about myself. I realized that I can really do what I want where I want. I am seriously thinking about what I want to do about the mission. Some things it isn't time to decide yet, but thinking about it. Next week is my middle and I hear the other half goes fast. Yikes! But I am super happy. I love the obra misional! I love love love it.:) 

Dad, I hope that you know that I love you sooooo much! Your example helps me all the time, as does your advice and belief in me.:) I love you and hope you have the most wonderful week! You mean the world to me:)

Love,

Chalea


May 26

My new companion is named Hermana Hernandez. She is from Honduras tambien and she is AWESOME!!! I am sure I am going next transfer, but I feel totally confident leaving the area with her. I feel like she is doing a lot better job with it than I am.:) 

May 19

This week at the temple was AWESOME! We got to go through a session with President Ardila and his wife before they finish the mission next month. He shared with us some interesting things that I'll have to share in another opportunity. Afterwards we went to the chapel and ate lasagna. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as Mom's. Then I played volleyball for like 2 hours, which was really fun, and we talked with President. It was a super enjoyable day! I feel less stressed and am learning a lot. I love where I am at now in my life. I feel more confident and I truly am happy. 

Today are cambios so we will see what happens. I think I will stay here for the next cambio and have a new compañera. We have some really good investigators. We are working with two families in particular and are going to be working with some more. There is a litle girl that I really want to help, but we have to help her parents become active again. Last night we had a training for ward missionaries. We taught a little bit of the class and I felt like Captain Moroni laying out the game plan (take that Satan!) It was super cool! The Second Coming is so close, but I love being able to be fighting in this battle. I know we are going to win.:)

Well, that is about it for this week. I love you so much!!! Talk to you soon! Let me know if I can do anything for you guys!

Love,

Hermana Waite

Still doing great in Peru

Well, Chalea is in a new area now.  Surco, on the coast.  She is doing great and we are looking forward to speaking to her in a couple of weeks.  Here are some pictures she sent this week.

This is Chalea's Compañera from Ecuador.   Hermana Leon, and a family they were teaching.







"so the weird fruit is called granadilla. It looks weird, but it is yummy! My companion is Hermana Romero from Honduras!"

Letter from last week! She is doing great!

Hola!

First, a big HAPPY 21st ANNIVERSARY to my Mommy and Daddy!!! I am so grateful that you both decided to be sealed in the temple and raise our family in the manner that you did. You will never know the difference it has made, is making, and will continue to make in the lives of Corbs and I and our future families. Thank you both!:)

So basically I am super happy. Our area is progressing SO MUCH!!! I know that the Lord is pouring out blessings upon us and that as we continue in obedience and continue to give our all, He will continue to bless Mayorazgo. Next week we have 3 baptisms!!!! :D I am so excited. This week the Elders are going to have a baptism too! We are having more and more people at church and they are progressing. This past week we taught 8 lessons to investigators and had four investigators at church and some less actives, not counting those that the Elders are visiting. This has never happened in the past 5 months I have been here! I love seeing people progress and the light that begins to shine in their eyes when they experience conversion and realize that God and Jesus Christ love them. That through the Atonement and the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, that they can change. It awakens in them the things they have forgotten and brings new life to them. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.:)

 I would like to remind you all to keep the covenants you have made. They are SOOO important! Keep your faith strong and always rely on the Savior. He loves you and will always be there to help you. 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day and hope that you all have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Waite

Still doing great!!! Letter from March 3, 2014

Hi Daddy! You know what? I stayed in my area! Heavenly Father must be trying to teach me something or He has something for me to do. A third of my mission in one area. The MTC is just on the outskirts of the area too, so for my whole mission I have been in Mayorazgo. We have a soccer stadium of the Univerisity of Lima in our area, so the next time there is a game, I want to buy a jersey of the team. Mayorazgo is my home base. haha! I love it though.We are in a trio now, at least for a little bit. My new compañera, Hermana Tigre, es de Ecuador. She is super great!

  I was super stoked the other night because the two investigators that we have that have baptismal dates asked us the other night ´´So what do I need to do to get baptized?´´ The Golden question!!!!! It was really great and I just felt so joyful. Yesterday too we had a lesson about tithing with a family of 6 (all of them are investigators!!!) I never thought I would cry in a lesson about tithing, but we could really feel the Spirit. The dad likes to try and discuss things logically, and I was trying to think about what I was going to say, but then I began to pray in my heart that Heavenly Father would lead me to know what to do. I began to bear my testimony, as did my compañeras, and we all could really feel the Spirit. Usually when the hermano is explaining his ideas he says ´´you guys explained it like this, but.... I think like this.´´ After we bore our testimonies, he began talking, and I was listening for the ´pero´, but it never came. :) The other day I was thinking about how can the little things like faith, and testimony, and prayer really help us solve these big problems? but Heavenly Father showed me yesterday that it is possible. 

Thank you for paying for the meal of the sister missionaries! Really, it means a lot to me. And don't worry about people doing nice things for me. :) The ward members and other people that we visit are ALWAYS giving us food and sweets and we have had various invitations, from investigators, members, to let them know if we ever need anything. We are like daughters to some of them and they really take care of us.:) Don't miss me too much. I will be home soon! I cannot believe it is almost a third of the way done! I was thinking about it yesterday, and I wanted to cry. I could not be happier than I am here. I want to be with you guys, but I don't want to have to jump back into the world. And I am scared. Lately people have been telling us about bad examples of returned missionaries, how they fall and the bad examples they are. I am so scared of not becoming the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be, so scared! I am trying to have so firmly fixed in my mind the idea of what I want when I come back, of who He and I want me to be, so that nothing is going to deter me from it. I want to be someone direct, but loving, confident, with an unshakeable testimony. I want so badly to be sealed in the temple and raise an eternal family. I know that for myself now and I feel it so strongly sometimes. I am very grateful that you and Mom are going to the temple. :) I am jealous. We get to see the temple every day,and it helps to strenghthen me, but I wouldn't mind being able to enter more often. We get to go every 3 months, but I am grateful for the opportunity:).  

Thanks for listening to me. These are some of the things that have been going on in my mind and heart. I love each and every one of you sooooooo much! Thank you for all you do for me! :) I love you Daddy.

Love,

your little two shoed Bluebird, Hermana Waite


Woah! Super sweet weekend!!! Before I forget, Elder Grow sends hugs to Grandma and Grandpa Waite and to you Dad.:) He was visiting our ward yesterday and I recognized him, so I went to introduce myself to him and send greetings from Boise. When he found out who I was, he was just tickled.:) He even announced it to the whole ward. So that was really neat to talk with him!

This weekend was the best! We had lessons with two investigators who have baptismal dates and the both of them asked us 'And what do I need to do to get baptized?' One of them was practically demanding that we tell her what else she needs to do. :) I was and still am super happy. There is something so beautiful about seeing a brother or sister, someone very important to you, come to gain a testimony of the truth and experience the process of conversion and to know that you have been able to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. Yesterday we also had a super duper sweet lesson about tithing with a family. The Spirit was SO STRONG and I learned that even though it appears simple, the power of a sincere testimony has the ability to work miracles and it has power.

 

Today we are going to el Centro de Lima por P day. Look up plaza de las armas, I think that is where we will be. NExt week, pictures of Cathedrals and stuff. Anywhoots, love you!!!

Love,

Hermana Waite

POST FOR 1 MILLION WEEKS

IT'S NOT CHALEA.  IT'S ME WHO HAS BEEN NEGLECTFUL IN POSTING.  SORRY.  HERE ARE A FEW WEEKS OF MAKE UP WORK.



Feb. 10
Hey everyone! 

How is everyone doing? Things are going well in Peru! super hot, but strangely enough, I haven't burned yet (knock on wood). haha! I am just getting really tan. I am almost as tan as my Mexican companion. haha!

First off, Merry Christmas to me! Thank you for all the love especially. The things are nice, but more than anything I felt the love of my family, and that means more to me than anything else you could have given me. 

As always, I have learned a lot this week. I have learned a little bit more about just how perfect the love of our Father in Heaven is. Here on the earth we get frustrated, impatient, tired, and angry at people, but our Father in Heaven never feels any of these things towards us. He is always patient, loving, and merciful. His love is pure and infinite. It is beautiful!

Well, I hope you are all doing well. Take care!

Love,

Hermana Waite

Feb 17

Hello!

It is already time for transfers again! What?! Things are going well in Mayorazgo. We are going to have a baptism here soon! It is programmed for March 1. Her name is Flavia. She is 20 years old and beautiful inside and out. Her parents are coming back to the church after a long time of inactivity and the family is working together so that they can go to the temple and be sealed!!!! It is so beautiful to work with them! They realize that whatever sacrifices they have to make, they are worth it. They understand very well what it means to work together as a family to achieve something. When we plan appointments with them, they always make sure to plan a day when all of them will be there. They go to church together, and read the Book of Mormon together. I know that we have all heard, probably a million times, that we need to read the scriptures  and pray daily, as indiviudals and as families, and that we need to go to church every week, but it is SO TRUE!!! Just listen! It takes faith, but when we have faith that the little things will make a difference, and then act upon that faith, we will see great blessings in our lives. 

We have another family that we are working with, the Castillo family. They are teaching me that every person has there own needs and that we need to focus on the needs of each invidual, as the Savior did. There are 6 in the family. They have awesome questions and we are really grateful to have the opportunity to teach them. To answer about Valentine's Day, we worked normal. A member gave us some chocolates and others sent us text messages wishing us a happy day, but we worked normal. They celebrate pretty much the same as the States here. I wish all of you well and leave my testimony that I know that this Gospel and this church are true. 

Love,

Hermana Waite

Feb 24

Transfers tomorrow! I am not sure what is going to happen. I will know soon enough.

This week I learned more about goals. When we set goals, it is important to not only put the goals, but also make plans to accomplish the goals. Something that was said in one of our district meetings was that we need to be converted to our goals. For example, this week my companion and I set a goal of a certain amount of contacts we wanted to do. We were converted to the goal, and we set plans so that we could reach the goal. A lot of times, when we have good, righteous goals, Satan will try to put up distractions and rocks in our path to make us fall or divert our path. We CANNOT lose sight of our goals! We must remember that one day we are all going to have to stand before our Father in Heaven and be judged. In that day, I want to be able to have lived my life in a manner that I will be able to look Him in the face because I will know that I did my best and have lived the life He wanted me to. 

Keep going what is right. The little decisions we make every day make the biggest impacts in our lives, either way. As President Monson said, our decisions determine our destiny. Make goals with a spirit of prayer and according to what the Lord would have you do, and then have it fixed firmly in your mind so that no matter what happens, you will make it to your destination. And remember, you don't ever have to do it alone because the Savior is on your side.

Have a fantastic week!

Love,

Hermana Waite

Notes from Peru. 1/20/14

Hey! How is it going?  

So yes, the answer to the million dollar question is yes, I am training. My new compañera, Hermana Chavez, is from Mexico. She is a sweet girl and is going to be a great missionary. I am still here in Mayorazgo. I am going to be here for almost a fourth of my mission. Can you believe it? I am going to be completing a fourth of my mission at the end of this month. Crazy! We had two more hermanas move in to our apartment, and so now we have 6! It is like BYU I all over again. haha! no, usually we are so tired at the end of the day that we all crash into our beds and our out sound asleep by 10:45. But that's good because it means we worked hard. 

Yes, I am a trainer now. It is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. haha! My new compañera is from Mexico. She is sweet and has a beautiful testimony. Thanks for saying I looked good in the photos. The night before we got locked out of our apartment and had to sleep in a different area and we only got 4 hours of sleep and then had to go straight to the meeting, so I am glad that I looked good even on my crazy days. haha! I am trying to not get fat too, but it is hard because the members give us so much food! and the way they show their appreciation is by giving us food. So yeah, I've been working on fighting the fat. haha. 

This week has been a humbling and learning week for me. It really hit me this week that the Lord has entrusted me, not only with training and helping build the foundation for my new companion, but also that He has entrusted me with all the people in Mayorazgo. It is really humbling that He trusts me that much, but I am learning that I really cannot do anything without His help. I have been praying a lot this week and rely on the Atonement every single day. Something that I learned in personal study was about how repentance is a blessing. It is a chance to better ourselves and use the gift of the Atonement every single day. This week I have been learning about the side of the Atonement that is talked about in Ether 12:26-27. When we seek for His help and are truly humble, relying on Him, and doing our best, in His mercy, the Lord covers our weaknesses with His power. 

I want to share with you all my testimony that this church is true. I love my Savior so much and know without a doubt that the power of the Atonement is real. I have a testimony that Joseph Smith was a propeht of God and that the First Vision, in which he saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, is real. 

I hope you all have a great week. Know that I pray for each of you, and I love you so much!!!!

Love,

Hermana Waite

Email from January 13th

Holy smokes! Another transfer (6 weeks) has flown by! I think that I will be transfered tomorrow, but we will see. I finished my training this past week, and Hermana Gifford keeps telling me that she thinks I am going to train this transfer. Guess we will find out tomorrow. 

This week was miraculous! I know I always talk about miracles every week, but that is because miracles are all around us, we just need to take the time to look for them. This week we have 10 new investigators!!! That is a lot for our area, and some of them are a family!!!!! We were in the church teaching English the other night when a lady walked in and asked us if we were the missionaries. We replied yes and told her that we were from the Mayorazgo ward. She told us that was good because she had a friend in the church who had just moved with her four kids and husband and they were not members and wanted to introduce us to her. I just about fell over! We had one lesson with them, and it was super great! 

Sorry, not much time, but I want to share my testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that He is the Savior of the world. I know that when we feel like we just cannot do it any more, if we just plead for His help, He will be right there by our side. I know that when we feel inadequate, like we just cannot do all He has asked us to do, we can pray for His support, and He will lift us to be places we never thought we'd be. I know that we can use the Atonement every single day as we turn our hearts and thoughts to Him and re commit ourselves to do His will every day. This is repentance. I am so grateful to be here, and for the message that I have to share. I know that when we put the Lord first in our lives, everything works out for the best. 

Thank you for all your support and love. I love you bunches and tons!!!!

Love,

Hermana Waite

Christmas, New Years, and Beyond.

From Dec. 23, 2013

¡Feliz Navidad! Sorry, this one is going to be short. This past week was great! We had a multi zone conference that was really fun and we went to a place called Parque de las Aguas. There are HUGE fountains all over the park with lights and lots of trees and flowers. It was really pretty! We also had a baptism yesterday for a girl named Deborah! She has such a sweet spirit and we are really happy that she had the courage to make this decision in her life. We also had some super powerful lessons earlier on in the week. We could feel the Spirit super strongly. We have another investigator that is going to get baptized in January too! 

I wanted to share something that I found very interesting from church yesterday. This sister who was giving the talk made the point about how Christmas is not about the worldly things and how it is about celebrating Christ. yes, this is true, but then she said something that caught my attention. She said that in our birthdays, it wouldn't make sense is we celebrated without the person who's birthday it is. It is the same for Christ. This is His birthday, and I think that we should not only celebrate His birth, but also His life. Where would we be if Jesus Christ had not lived His life in the manner that He did? He is our perfect Example, our Savior, our Friend and Brother. I am so thankful beyond the means to describe for His sacrifice and His love. We need to let His love work in us so that we may become the people He wants us to be. I love you all and hope you enjoy this great season!

Love,

Hermana Waite

more pictures of el parque de las aguas! It was way sweet! I wish you guys could have been there. They also had a water show where they projected pictures and videos onto walls of water, but it was 3 D!!!!! Needless to say I was stoked. It was super chevere! Also, I know you guys are going to have jokes about bezos de moza. (kisses of youth) yeah, yeah I know, I am prepared for the jokes. haha! they are chocolates with marshmallow and graham cracker stuff inside. Kind of like smores.

DADDY!!!!! are you sure you are not going to be the one to cry first? I am stoked to be able to talk to you guys!!! Ok, so I said no to the dog, but I do have to admit, she is pretty cute. :) I like her name too. Where did you get her at? Oh! How sad about Jhonny! Thank you for being willing to help his family. I am sure that this will be a great missionary opportunity. How is the other neighbor? Guess who else is asking ?s about the Gospel.. Laurel Anne! I am super happy about it. :) Thank you for the $ too. That was nice of you. :) I am eagerly awaiting my package as well. You guys are the best! I brag about how great you are! Nbd. haha! Do I get a kings for eating guniea pig? I think that deserves a big fat kings to me. Just sayin. haha! So vacations huh? That's got to be nice! What plans do you all have for the break? Until when is the break? The mission activity was GREAT! the baptism ended up being yesterday, but it went super great too! Sorry this is short, but I am excited to hear from you in the next few days! Mañana I am going to first tell you when we can skype and then I have a few extra minutes to talk to you. We have 5minutes total. 

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Hermana Waite

From Dec. 30, 2013

HAPPY 2014 TO ALL!!!! I cannot believe that this year has already passed by so fast! For New Year here there are a TON of fireworks, the people wear yellow, and they also burn dolls representing someone and the old year. For Christmas, there were SO MANY fireworks!!!! I couldn't even believe how many there were! and I hear that there are even more for New Year! :O Our house was surrounded by fireworks! (don't worry, it wasn't super close). Only a few were lit off on our street. I do not think that I have seen so many fireworks in my life. If I accumulated all the fireworks I have ever seen, I do not think the total would exceed the amount I saw on Christmas. It was way sweet! We visited members and on Christmas day, I got the very best present of talking to my family! You guys seriously are the best!!!! I love you sooooooooooo much! and I am glad you are doing well. The past week we have pretty much been fed on Paneton, so now I am sick of it. haha! I understand why the people here only eat it during one time of the year. Even though it was the week of Christmas, we actually had a productive week! I know that when we try our very best, the Lord will provide a way and means for us to do His work, just like he provided a ram for Abraham. 

Spiritual thought for this week. Today I was studying in 3 Nephi 10:1-5. I learned that perhaps it is not so bad to stand alone. Before my mission, I was thinking that if I stood alone in doing what is right, that I would recieve the blessing of never having to stand alone again, but that is not necessarily so. In reality, it is a blessing to stand apart from the world. We as missionaries cannot read the news or watch the television, but even walking around we hear and see things that are super ugly. I know for myself that I do not ever want to be a part of that, and so I know that I must stand up and be different. Sometimes we may feel like we are rejected or outcasts because we choose not to follow the popular opinons  of the time, but this is a great privilege and a blessing. If we are choosing to stand apart from the world then we are choosing to stand with the Savior, and that to me is such an honor and a blessing that should be worth any sacrifice. I was thinking about the examples of people who have done this, and I am so grateful for their courage and example to me (Corbin, Mom, Dad- you guys are at the top of my list). Thank you three so much for the examples you set for me! I think about you often throughout my days and the weeks and I draw strength from your faith and examples. I love you all so much! 

Remember, look for opportunities to share the gospel every day, even if it is in simple ways. It is desperately needed. I love you all! Be safe, enjoy your new year!

Until next week!

Love, 

Hermana Waite

From Jan 6, 2014

MI FAMILIA!!!!!

I hope you are enjoying your time with Katia and her dad! Happy late Birthday Sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess who else has a birthday coming up..... :) ( and no Dad, it isn't canceled. I talked to Obama, and he is going to make it a national holiday). haha!!!!!!

How's the week been? Everyone's health good? So Año Nuevo aqui. Some of the traditions here are way cool! I am going to do them when I get home. For example, there are a lot of yellow things, yellow flowers, yellow balloons, yellow clothes. It is all to welcome in a happy and prosperous new year. Some people also eat 12 grapes, one for each month, and as they are eating the uvas (grapes- new vocab for the week), they make 12 wishes that they want for the year.  There was also fireworks, and we even burned a muñeca ( a doll- or in our case an old picture- representing burning the old things of the past year). really though, it was pretty tame, nothing too wild. Even the ward party was past curfew, so we didn't go. I missed dancing a  lot :(, but that's alright. 

This week, it being new year, we have been sharing a lot about a story in the Bible. It is found in Genesis 19. This is the story about Lot. The Lord was going to destroy some wicked cities, but he warned Lot and his family to leave, but to not look behind them. Lot's wife decided to look back, and she turned to a pillar of salt. A few lessons we can get from this story. One, we shouldn't live in the past. What's done is done, and although we should learn from the past, we should not live there, as one of the apostles so wisely said.(I think it was Elder Holland). Second lesson, where was the heart of Lot's wife? It was in her worldly possesions and not in following the Lord. I want to challenge you all to not only follow the Lord, but to do it cheerfully and willingly. I am learning that it is not only important the things that we do, but also how we do them. When we are willing to give our hearts, souls,minds, our very lives and selves to the Lord, that is when we change and draw closer to Him and become the people that He not only wants,but also knows that we can be. 

This weekend we have been blessed with lots of miracles. I don't have time to write about all of them, but I will share them in more detail later. I had the opportunity to share my testimony of the reality of God and His Son, the plan of salvation, and the knowledge that families can be together forever through sacred covenants of the temple. I am SOOOOO grateful to you Mom and Dad, for the righteous lives you live, and for teaching Corbin and I about how to live the way the Lord wants us to. I cannot even begin to give my thanks to the both of you. Keep it up family! because I know that one day, we are going to live together forever with our Father in Heaven. I am so excited that I get to be with each of you forever. 

I hope you continue to be happy, obedient, and to enjoy life. Always remember to give thanks and to recognize the Lord's hand in your life. I love you each sooooo much!!!

Love,

Hermana Waite