The Line

Dear all, 

I hope y'all had a wonderful Easter! He is risen! Truly, HALLELUJAH! Words cannot express my gratitude for this, the most important truth we have ever been taught. Because of Jesus Christ, all will live again. All have the opportunity to find new life in Him and return to God's presence. I find comfort in Christ. I know that my Redeemer lives! 

There is only one thing I love more than being a servant of the Lord, and that is being a busy servant of the Lord. This week flew by like a tornado of appointments, contacts, meetings, and wonderful-ness! 

Ice Cream at the mission home. The perfect way to end the first day in the field!

This week, I had the wonderful opportunity of welcoming the new missionaries to the Mighty TSAM. Each one has a unique personality and I love each and every one of them. They may not see it now, but they are truly powerful servants of the Lord. 

Minivan selfie with the new missionaries

My experience with the new missionaries left me pondering, and I'd like to share a few thoughts. 

Three days before the fall of the Alamo, Colonel William B. Travis lined up his men and said: "My brave companions... our fate is sealed... our business is not to make a fruitless effort to save our lives, but to choose the manner of our death... Should any man prefer to surrender, or to attempt an escape, he is at liberty to do so. My own choice is to stay in the fort and die for my country, fighting as long as breath shall remain in my body." He then drew his sword and used it to draw a line in front of his men. As he finished, Colonel Travis turned to his men and offered them a choice: "I now want every man who is determined to stay here and die with me to come across this line. Who will be first?" Every man instantly crossed the line, determined to give his life for his country, which every single one of them did. 

In the TSAM, we take new missionaries to the Alamo within hours of their arrival. As a lead sister training leader, I had the opportunity to be with the new missionaries at the Alamo this last Wednesday. We lined up all 16 of the missionaries front and center, right in the middle of all the tourists. Sister Johnson read the story of the Alamo, and people stopped to listen. I watched the missionaries' faces as she read, and it was interesting to see their different levels. Some were uncomfortable with the attention and had a hard time focusing, while others knew exactly what was about to happen. When Sister Johnson finished, she looked all the missionaries in the eye and asked: "ARE YOU READY TO CROSS THE LINE AND COMMIT YOURSELF DURING THE NEXT 18 TO 24 MONTHS TO THE LORD AND TO HIS WORK IN THE TEXAS SAN ANTONIO MISSION?" Each and every missionary crossed the line without hesitation. It was incredible to see. 

With the new missionaries at The Alamo.
A member family happened to be there and wanted to take a photo with us after we had handed out
 a box of  copies of The Book of Mormon.

I still remember the day that I crossed that line. I remember watching Elder Pew read the story to us, and hearing Elder Hatch invite us to cross the line. Of course I did, along with the rest of my group, but it wasn't until much later that I recognized the significance of that event. I physically crossed the line on January 21, 2015, but it wasn't until much later that I recognized the need to cross the line with all my heart, might, mind, and soul. It wasn't until that day that I became a true disciple of Christ. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: there are no neutrals. Elder George A. Smith said it best when he said: "There is a line of demarcation well defined between the Lord’s territory and the devil’s territory. If you will stay on the Lord’s side of the line you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil’s side of that line one inch you are in the tempter’s power and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly because you will have lost the Spirit of the Lord."

The scriptures teach us again and again that there is no gray area in which we can cowardly sit, content with not taking a stand. You are either with the Lord, or you are not. 

In the words of Sister Hannah Cornaby:

"Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?

Now is the time to show.

We ask it fearlessly:

Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?

We wage no common war,

Cope with no common foe.

The enemy’s awake;

Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?"

(Hymns, 260)

Brothers and Sisters, the enemy is awake. He will do everything he can to get you to cross to his side, and he will not give up. We are waging a war, every day a battle for the cause of righteousness. But we have an advantage: 

We know who will win the war.

What is left to us is to decide whose side we will be on when the curtain closes on this epic between good and evil. 

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" (2 Nephi 2:27). 

"Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your father's served that were on the other side of the flood, or the Gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). 

The choice is left to you. 

"My decision has been made. I've put my hand to the plow. I've crossed the line. So as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ" (TSAM Purpose Statement). 

Sister Johnson and me with President and Sister Slaughter at the temple.

As for Sister Waite, I will serve the Lord.

Love, 

Sister Waite

Hallelujah!

There have been a few times in my life when I have felt to shout "Hallelujah!" Some have been as silly and simple as doing well in a volleyball tournament, and some are sacred and I hold them near and dear to my heart. But there is one reason to praise the Lord that I will forever shout from the rooftops. 

I stand with those who followed Christ as He entered Jerusalem for the last time, shouting, "Hosanna in the highest!" 

I stand with the Nephites when our resurrected Savior visited them, saying: "Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God!" 

I stand with every follower of Christ who has ever felt to shout "Hallelujah!" as they pondered the sacrifice of their Lord. 

Hallelujah! 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

How great the love of Heavenly Father that He would send His Only Begotten Son to suffer and die for the rest of His children! 

How great the love of the Savior, to submit to the will of the Father, saying "Not my will, but thine, be done." 

Hallelujah! 

To think that the Father's Only Begotten, the only one to ever walk this earth and live a perfect life, would descend below all things, "suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind," taking upon Him our infirmities, "that He may know according to the flesh how to succor his people," fills me with such joy, and love, and gratitude that I cannot express in words. 

There is no sin, no fear, no heartache, no loss, no sadness, no challenge, no weakness that we cannot overcome with Christ. 

Brothers and Sisters, Hallelujah! 

In the beginning of His earthly ministry, our Savior said to His disciples: "Follow me." With unwavering faith, they "straightway" left their lives behind and followed their Master. 

That invitation still stands and is open to us. 

Follow Him and find new life. 

I have found new life in my Savior. Because of Jesus Christ, I have been made clean. I have been made whole. I will live again. 

You can, and will, too!

Hallelujah! 

Before entering into Gethsemane, our Redeemer said to His disciples: "Watch with me." Because of the lateness of the hour and the weakness of the flesh, they were unable to do so, and fell asleep. The Lord suffered alone. 

In this our day, our Savior invites us still to watch with Him. We are to love, follow, and obey. 

I will never leave my Savior alone. I will ever love Him. I will follow Him. I will obey. I will stand beside my Savior forever. 

I am wide awake. And ever will be.

May we all take the time to love and appreciate the Savior. May we all continually follow Him. May we all keep our eyes from drooping in sleep. 

The Monte Vista District

Hallelujah!

I love you all! 

Sister Waite

Don't Put Away The Map!

Dear all,

"What do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth... Shall we not go on in so great a cause? (D&C 128:19,22)"

I love the Lord and I love His work! This week has been incredible. So full of miracles and excitement! I have learned much and felt much. There is no greater work in this world!

I'd love to share one experience from this week that taught me more than I had bargained for.

The other day, President Slaughter asked us to come by the mission office, which is about 12 minutes away by the freeway. We hadn't planned on heading that direction, but when President calls you go! Two of the major freeways in San Antonio cross in the middle of our area, and unless you really know where you're going, you will probably
get on the wrong freeway. We got in the car and I checked the map to make sure I knew where I was going, and then got overconfident and put away the map. We got going on the freeway, and pretty soon I didn't recognize where we were. Suddenly, downtown San Antonio was much closer than normal. I exited the freeway and could not recognize where I was. My companion, bless her heart, could not figure out how to get the GPS to work, despite my panicked instructions. I was finally able to pull off the frontage road into a nice neighborhood. I was scared and had no idea where I was. I took a few moments to breathe before taking the GPS from Sister Paul in order to get directions. It took a few seconds to find us, every second making my heart beat faster. FINALLY, it found us and told us how to get to the mission office. We eventually made our way there. An hour out of the way, but we made it.

There are so many things I learned from this experience, but I'll share one:

DON'T PUT AWAY THE MAP.

Heavenly Father has given us so many "maps" to help us get back to Him (and avoid downtown San Antonio). We have the scriptures. We have living prophets. We have our parents. We have our other leaders. SO MANY MAPS.

They all help us stay on the right road. If we ignore our map and put it away, even when we think we know what we are doing, we are going to get lost.

In a couple weeks, we have the opportunity to receive guidance from our living prophets! In the past, I have listened to what they have said, picked a few favorite one-liners, and soon forgot the rest. But this time, I will not put away my map.

I'm sure there are many other things you can learn from my mistake. I would love to hear some of them!

Have an incredible week and know that I love y'all!

Love,
Sister Waite

In The Service of My Fellow Beings

My frizzy hair and pruny fingers after my service.

I guess orange juice deserves a photo. Sister Paul and me.

Dear all,

This week was absolutely incredible! We saw so many miracles!

* We were walking through an apartment complex, and some children yelled out "Hey Mormons!" We waved and said hello. The kids were so excited to see us! It turns out that missionaries used to visit their family, but stopped going by. They told us that they've been reading the Book of Mormon and wondering where the missionaries went!
*  We had an investigator tell us that she wants to give her friend a Book of Mormon! We offered to practice with her and she loved it! 
*  There have been several times we've knocked on someone's door and they've answered and told us that they're not usually home at that time. We've been able to set appointments and it's been great!
*  We've received several promising referrals and they just keep coming!
*  I didn't burn my grilled cheese sandwich just now! (Which was really great because I love grilled cheese!)

I also had the opportunity to attend Mission Leadership Council, where President Slaughter asked us all what made our missions great. My mind immediately jumped to every single one of my companions! I still marvel at the inspiration that goes into assigning companions and proselyting areas. I have learned something unique and different from every single one of my companions in the field. Sister Gagon, Sister Montclair, Sister Risenmay, Sister Harrison, Sister Johnson, Sister Kirkman, and now Sister Paul! They all hold a special place in my heart!

I recently reached a point in my mission where I felt I was doing all that I could to serve God, but knew that I had more to give. I searched and searched for ways to improve and increase my service.

I talked a little bit louder, walked a little bit faster, and pushed myself a little longer, but I still felt like I had more to give.

"... when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God," and whosoever will lose his life in the service of God shall find it."

I love what President Kimball said about service: "We become more substantive as we serve others-indeed, it is easier to 'find' ourselves because there is so much of us to find!"

It wasn't until I read in Mosiah 2:17 that I realized that I could do all I wanted to serve God, but until I was serving my fellow men, I wasn't truly serving my God. I decided this week to experiment and do all that I could to serve those around me. My life has been forever changed.

The sweetest experience happened less than 24 hours ago. We walked into the home of one of the strongest women I have ever known. We could tell she was a little frazzled and frustrated, and all I wanted to know was how to help her. I noticed a giant pile of dirty dishes in the sink and immediately asked if we could wash them for her (which was probably a little bit selfish of me because I absolutely love doing the dishes!) This sweet sister accepted our offer, and we began to wash. It took a lot longer than I had anticipated, and by the end my hair was frizzy and poofy and my hands were red and pruny. But they got done, and I could see the countenance of this sweet sister lift.

That night as I wrote in my journal, I  was pondering the day and what I had learned, when an image of our Savior standing at a kitchen sink, washing dishes flashed into my mind. The question "If Christ had my opportunities, what would He do?" followed quickly after. As I thought about that, I could almost see my Savior walking even faster than I had been, speaking with more power, and pushing even longer. I could hardly finish my journal entry for the tears.

The scripture "How knoweth a man the master whom he has not served?" (Mosiah 5:13) has taken on new meaning for me.

When we serve God, we come to know Him because we draw closer to Him, yes. But I now know that we come to know Him even better because we are walking the paths that He has walked before us. As we serve others, we are filled with the love of God for all men and begin to understand more about how He feels about us!

The Lord loves us so much and in His infinite wisdom has allowed us to feel an inkling of that love as we serve others.

What an incredible week it has been!

Love,
Sister Waite