I'm All In!

I'm not going to lie to you, the transition from the MTC to the mission field is super tough. Aw man! I miss that place! With the food and the "study" time and my district. I'm pretty sure the hardest thing was being away from the other missionaries. Especially my MTC district. Who said they could leave me?! Geez. Where did the time go?! I honestly felt sorry for myself for a couple days. But then I realized that I'm not here for me! Not at all! I'm here to help other people! And that realization really helped. When we're out doing and teaching and helping, I really can't think of any place I'd rather be! 

When we first arrived in Texas, we were taken to the Alamo and told to go out and hand out Books of Mormon. Oh dear. That was just great! Sister Harrison and I were feeling pretty good about the 3 that we got! It's super hard to talk to people, but I'm learning! 

The next morning I found out that I'm actually serving in Austin for this transfer! I'm not going to admit to how long it took me to realize that this is Longhorn territory... It's actually literally in our area. And it took me a while to realize why there were so many Longhorn symbols everywhere! Haha! :) 

That night I met my new companion, Sister Gagon, and got right to work. We even taught a first lesson and it was really great. When I was telling about the First Vision, I really felt the Spirit and it was amazing. I'm not going to forget that. 

I didn't think I'd get too much interesting food here, but I totally ate some kalimari the other day. And that was an adventure. I actually liked it. And then they gave us these huge bowls of soup and it was all I could to to eat all of it. For real! Haha! :) 

We have two little families that we're teaching and helping prepare for baptism in a couple weeks. I haven't actually contacted anyone yet, but I'm working on it! Sister Gagon is really good and hasn't made me stand there awkwardly, which is something I'm really grateful for. I promise I'm working on it, though! :) 

One scripture that has really helped me in this transition is D&C 50:41. "Fear not, Abbie, for you are mine..." is what I feel when I read it and it has really helped. On the plane after I didn't get to call my family, walking the streets at the Alamo, trying to make it through 4 hours of nothing but planning... It just helps with it all. I'm just so grateful to be out here and experience this and help people! 

I love you all! 

Sister Waite

Hailey Overson, Abbie, and Dayton Waite - yay for St. Johns' kids! (at the MTC)

MTC district

MTC district

MTC district at the Provo Temple with their Branch President, David Boone.

Sister Waite with her two companions in the MTC at the Provo temple. 

Sister Rachel Harrison, Abbie, and Sister Maria Budke.

A Welcome Email From President Slaughter

Dear Parents:

We are so excited to have met your missionaries at the airport just a few hours ago.  We immediately took them to the beautiful San Antonio Temple, to help them "begin with the end in mind." 

After a quick and light meal, we put them in the car and took them to the Alamo, where they are at this very moment. They are doing two things:  First, they are learning a little about Texas and why Texans love Texas.  Second, they are talking to people on the street, sharing the gospel and giving out a Book of Mormon.

They will soon return to the mission home for a wonderful and traditional Texas BBQ.  After dinner we will have a little orientation and interviews. Yes, they may be a little tired this evening. 

Tomorrow they will find out where, and to whom, they will be assigned.  We will let you know more later, but just wanted you to know they are here and safe.

Thank you for sending us such wonderful missionaries,

Sincerely,

James E.  Slaughter
President, Texas San Antonio Mission

Greetings From The MTC!

But really. Go cheesy or go home, right? ;) 

Oh my gosh. I can't believe it's been a week since I got here! It's seriously weird. I heard a sister say that the days are long, but the weeks are short... that is so true. It's been so slow, but so fast. But it's great! 

I got to celebrate my birthday in the best way possible: being set apart as a missionary! This is seriously the best gift I've ever been given. Even if it IS super stressful and crazy! 

I can't even decide what all I want to share with you! There have been so many wonderful experiences and things I've learned here. I really should have just taken pictures of my journal and sent those! ;) 

 

We actually got to teach the first night, but it wasn't a normal lesson. They put about 60 new missionaries in the same room with an investigator, and then pretty much let us loose. I don't know what they were thinking. ;) That was probably the moment I really realized that I love missionary work. We were teaching a man named Carlo who had lost his wife and an infant son, Flavio. He kept saying how he had heard about the Church through hearing about President Eyring's address in Rome and that he wanted to sign up for the "Happy Plan", but he thought he had broken it. We asked him why and he told us about Flavio. My mind immediately jumped to Moroni 8, where it talks about how all little children are alive in Christ, but I figured some other missionary would know what to do and it would work out and I would be able to just sit back and watch. But as time went on... no one did it. I was so frustrated! So I finally spoke up. And the look on Carlo's face when he read that his son is just fine and he didn't break the "Happy Plan" really solidified in my mind why I'm here. He was so happy. I cried. I did. I'll admit it. Haha! 

We have also been able to teach an investigator in the TRC. Her name was Yesol and I wish I had time to tell you about all the miracles we experienced with her... but we ended up committing her to baptism in the second lesson. Because we're just that cool. ;) But really. It was another time that I really felt that I'm supposed to be here, because I'm not going to lie... it's not always so clear. But I just felt the Spirit so strongly with Yesol and she agreed to say the closing prayer in the first lesson and it was the most beautiful prayer I've ever heard. My companion and I both cried. Because we're cry babies. 

My companion! Her name was Sister Aagard and she was seriously amazing, but she was having some health issues... so she had to go home this morning to work it out. Which was really hard. But now I'm in a trio with the other two sisters in my district, Sister Budke and Sister Harrison. They're seriously amazing, too. My district is definitely the best district in the entire world. We have us four sisters and then four elders: Elder Webb, Elder Cochran, Elder Lund, and Elder Orton. I may have had my doubts the first day, but they've become some of the best friends I've ever had very quickly. It may be the 8-10 hours we spend together in a day, but that's just a guess. ;) We always have so much fun! And also feel the Spirit! I've learned so much from them! 

I was also called to be the Sister Training Leader for my zone, so I get to help take care of all the sisters in my district, and the 3 that we're getting today! It's been really stressful, just because it's a big responsibility, but the Lord called me to it, so I will go and do! :) 

So, I had a list of questions that my mom sent for me to answer... but I totally left it in my residence hall because that's a thing that I do. And this computer hates me and won't let me attach pictures... Which is lame. 

Obviously today is my P-day, so it's also Temple Day! Yay! :D I promise to try to get the pictures sent at some point. We fly out next Wednesday, which means this is my first and only P-day here at the MTC! Ahhhh! But it's so exciting and I love the work! :) 

Love, 

Sister Waite

Just some cool bullet points: 

• We watched Music and the Spoken Word on Sunday, and the choir sang a song that we sang for regional choir! So it's been stuck in my head since then! Haha! 
• We were moved to the front row for the Sunday devotional. That was super cool. 
• EVERYONE sings here and the power of that is just amazing. 1200 missionaries singing "Hope of Israel" is really powerful. 
• I ran into Trent Patterson! Jacob Patterson's little brother! He's going to serve in Idaho! 
• Speaking of running into people: Randall Raban. I kid you not. That was actually a funny story. :) 
• I also saw Elder Waite quite a bit before he left yesterday. That was really cool. 
• I could swear that Sister Overson is following me around. For real though. We see each other everywhere. It's really the best. :)