Seek the BEST Gift

Wonderful things continue to happen here in the Zilker Park area of the great TSAM! I'll just pick a few to tell y'all about because if I told them all, I wouldn't have any stories to tell later! ;) 

Michael and Matthew are getting baptized this Saturday! I'm so excited for them! They're both so smart and know so much about the gospel already! I love them both so much and it's been exciting to watch them grow and become more and more excited for the step they're taking! And their mom loves it, too! She asked us the other day if we could continue meeting after the baptism... we thought about it for a total of -.000000001 seconds and said yes! Of course we're going to continue teaching them! It's just always great when they ask you to. :) 

CESARIO! ... I don't know how much I've actually said about Cesario. He's 17 and requested a Book of Mormon from the church website in March. He called us a couple weeks ago and said he'd been reading and wanted to learn more! Music to every missionary's ears! :) He's super great! He asks great questions and practically teaches the lesson himself! He's already been "likening" the scriptures to himself... and we didn't even have to say anything! Cesario came to church yesterday and gave it a thumbs up and said he learned a lot. So we're super excited for him! 

Geoff is still super great. He's still reading in the Book of Mormon and shares his insights with us. They're all really great! Every day is a day closer to baptism! :) 

One of my favorite things about being a missionary is feeling the Spirit so much! I got to testify of forever families the other day, and felt the Spirit so strongly! It's true! It's all true! :) 

I made a St. Johns connection the other day! We had dinner with a new couple in our ward on Tuesday. They asked where I was from, and when I said "St. Johns, Arizona," Sister Clayton stopped me and told me she knew where it was! She was there playing the violin with William Joseph last July. It was super crazy! I knew I recognized her from somewhere! She said she liked St. Johns, but could only really remember that there were people lined up at the park for free food (24th Celebration) and she really liked the milkshakes at the grocery store. :)

This week was really great! I loved every minute! And this next week is looking super great as well! Especially with a mission conference on Wednesday! :)

So I was studying a couple mornings ago and came across 1 Corinthians 12:31: 

"But covet [or seek] earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."

It got me thinking about what BEST gift it really was that I need to be earnestly searching for. Then I remembered Ether 12:11:

"...in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled."

I love finding verses that connect like this! Maybe I'm just super late to the party, but I absolutely loved it! 

In giving us His Son, Heavenly Father gave us the best gift possible. And it's up to us to seek Him earnestly! As we do so, we will be able to take steps on the "more excellent way" of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I don't think I could say it any better than Moroni does, though: 

"...I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever." 

I hope y'all have a wonderful week! 

Love, 

Sister Waite

President Slaughter and Thoughts on Salvation

Missionary Selfie!

There are some weeks that I just have so much that I want to tell you that I can't even choose! ... This happens to be one of those weeks! ... There's so much! There's no way that I'll ever be able to type it all out, so I decided to send a bunch of pictures and let y'all see what kind of craziness happens here in the TSAM! :) I hope you enjoy it! 

Chasing Geoff's Runaway Dog

Having a little fun with a shopping cart we found outside Geoff's apartment.

We had zone meeting this week which is always really great, but we also had interviews with President! I love those! Because he was at the meeting, he taught us for an hour and it was glorious! I love learning from President Slaughter! He knows the scriptures so well and shared with us an insight from 2 Nephi 2:8. 

How are we saved? According to Lehi, "...there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah..." 

• Men can only be saved through the merits of Christ, or the Atonement (D&C 19:16-19). Nothing that we ever do will ever save us. On Judgment Day, Christ will act as our Advocate, but will plead our cause by His own merits (D&C 45:3-5). No matter how good we are in this life, without the merits of Christ, we are nothing! We cannot rely on our own righteousness (Romans 10:1-3). 
• Men can only be saved through the mercy of Christ. We've all come short of the glory of God and in doing so, broken His law, allowing justice to have claim over us. Without the mercy of Christ, we would never be able to escape that justice. Christ acts as the Intercessor, standing between us & justice. Because of His suffering and resurrection, Christ has satisfied the demands of justice and therefore has the power to grant mercy and save us from ourselves (Mosiah 15:8-9).
• Men can only be saved through the grace of Christ. Through this grace, or power, we can do things that we cannot do ourselves (including overcoming sin). If we see our weakness, or fallen state, and humble ourselves, we will be strengthened, or saved, by the grace of God (Ether 12:27). 

Sunrise behind our apartment

In our fallen state, we've fallen into a pit. Christ has provided us a ladder. We can't just "accept" the ladder. We cannot suppose that it is our efforts in climbing the ladder which save us. It's Christ. Christ gives us the ladder, and in so doing, saves us! 

This is so watered down and I wish I could share everything that President said with you! I'm learning so much out here, and it only serves to help me help others learn, too! 

I love you all! 

Sister Waite

Obedience

Are you sick of hearing me say that we had a week of miracles yet?

Well... We had a week of miracles! 

I don't think there's really any other way to put it! The Lord's hand is in every aspect of the work, and you have to really work hard not to see it! :) 

Armando is doing great! Michael and Matthew are as sweet as ever, and we met an amazing family yesterday while we were out attempting to contact a few referrals in their apartment complex. That's not even the beginning of the things that have happened! As we've been working hard and talking to literally EVERYONE and being so blessed for it! 

The biggest miracle of all this week was Geoff. Before I left, my best friend told me that I'd come to feel the love of the Savior for those whom I serve. I thought I knew what he was talking about then, but this week it hit a whole new level. We've been having Geoff teach us the lessons, and it has been so powerful! He bears simple testimony of what he has come to know is true. He's told us of several occasions that he bore testimony to others who were giving him a hard time for his decision to be baptized. I've been able to watch him grow from "Big Bad Motorcycle" Geoff to just a big softie and I love him so much! (...Don't tell him I called him that, I'll never hear the end of it! ;) ) 

This week in my Book of Mormon reading I came to the 2000 Stripling Warriors in the end of the Book of Alma. It's one of my favorite stories! 

It felt really appropriate to read about their mothers, what with Mother's Day coming up this week. :) I love that the sons of Helaman did not fear because their mothers had taught them that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them (Alma 56:48). And I love the next verse: "We do not doubt our mothers knew it." I'm so grateful that I can echo their testimony! I do not doubt, because I've learned from my own mother. And I do not doubt that she knows it, too! :) 

Another thing I love about the Stripling Warriors is their obedience. But I want to point something out. In Alma 57:21, we read that they obeyed with exactness, and everything was done unto them according to their faith. I think that we too often equate obedience with miracles. However, that's not the case at all. Obedience brings blessings. Blessings build faith. Faith brings miracles. (verses 26 & 27 illustrate that pretty well) :) They were certainly blessed for their obedience, but the miracles came because of their exceeding faith. I love that! :) 

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! How could it be anything else, what with today being Star Wars day and all that. ;) 

Love you all! 

Sister Waite

Testimony; Part Two

I can't even decide where to start today! There are so many great things happening in the TSAM! 

I guess some of the biggest news is a mission conference on May 20. Why is it so big? I quote President Slaughter when I say "Technology will come soon thereafter." I'll let that one sink in there for a little bit. :) 

Some exciting things happened in Zilker Park this last week! 

Michael and Matthew finally decided on a date that they will be baptized. How great is that? They're such great kids! :) 

We also met a lot of new people who are so ready and prepared! Talking to people is getting easier, especially after realizing that if you don't talk to them, they won't know what they're missing! Getting doors slammed in my face isn't quite as scary as I thought it would be. Some day they'll be ready! 

One of the people we met while preaching by the way is Armando. He's so great! He even called us to set up an appointment! We set him with a baptismal date in a couple weeks! He asks great questions and even teaches himself sometimes! One thing he said that I absolutely loved was "Why would someone write a book about Christ if it's not true? They wouldn't." It's so true! :) 

This week we had an interesting experience. I won't go into too many details, but we found ourselves in a teaching situation with someone who just didn't want to listen. They said some things that attacked what we believe and didn't leave very much room for us to say anything to defend ourselves. Anything we said was immediately contradicted. At a loss for words, I sat there awkwardly, waiting for Sister Montclair to give the word to leave gracefully. 

There's a sentence in Preach My Gospel that I have read and thought about and had repeated to me so many times I can't even count, but until that very moment, I hadn't experienced the power of it. There have been many times that I've had the opportunity to bear testimony and really felt the Spirit, but after this lesson, I felt that I really, truly understood this statement: "People may sometimes intellectually question what you teach, but it is difficult to question a sincere, heartfelt testimony." 

The woman we were talking to continued to attempt to argue, and I sat in my chair, biting my tongue, willing the Spirit to return to the room- or at the very least wanting to be able to return to a place where the Spirit was. It was then that Sister Montclair spoke up and bore a simple testimony, cutting the woman off. "Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God and did nothing but labor in behalf of the Lord." She went on to explain that we would love to serve the woman in any way that we could, but we really needed to be going. We said a prayer and left. Looking back on that, I don't think the woman said very much after that powerful testimony. Preach My Gospel has it right! There's no questioning a testimony! 

Having a testimony is so important in today's world, and sharing your testimony is one of the best ways to make your's stronger! But always remember: "Powerful testimony is not dependent on eloquence or the volume of your voice but on the conviction of your heart." (Preach My Gospel is pretty great, right?) Your testimony can just be a simple statement of truth, but it will invite the Spirit and strengthen you, as well as those around you. 

Never be afraid to share what you know is true! :) 

Love, 

Sister Waite

P.S. It's exciting to watch those I meet here in Texas take steps toward the Celestial Kingdom, but even more dear to my heart is hearing of family taking those same steps. My Grandma was baptized and confirmed this weekend! That just makes me so happy! I love her to death! :) 

Iron Rod

I have to start off by saying that I cannot believe that my third transfer is already starting. You don't get too many of those out here! It's going by WAY too fast! It's really the best time of my life! (Too cliche? ... Oh well! ;) )

So let's see... this week was full of missionary work... which means it was wonderful! Of course! It wouldn't be anything else! We're still working with everyone and meeting new people everyday!

Speaking of new people, I have a new companion! (See what I did there? ;)) It was really hard to say goodbye to my trainer, but I guess that's just how life goes. But wouldn't you know it, she's my new sister training leader! So we may get to go on exchanges together! Yay! :) 

Sister Montclair and me emailing up a storm! :)

But anyway, Sister Montclair! She's so great! She's also been speaking Spanish down in an area near the border for the past six months, and I've already picked some up. Who knows? Maybe I'll be fluent by the end of the transfer! ;) I did the math the other day, and she's been out as long as I have left, which is really cool. I've already learned so much from her, and it has only been three days! She isn't afraid to talk to people on the street, so I've been doing a lot of that. And it's getting easier. I've heard it said that the butterflies never go away, they just become your friends. I love that! Because it's definitely been true! We've definitely met a lot of people these past few days! I can tell that Sister Montclair is going to do so much good in this area! 

Oak Hills Zone before transfers.

There isn't much more to report. Geoff, Michael and Matthew, and Rosemary are all doing great. Alana and Jadon are amazing, and Brother Krueger received the priesthood yesterday! Zilker Park never ceases to be amazing! 

I learned some pretty neat things about iron yesterday. 1) Iron is malleable and tensile, which means it can stretch and bend without breaking. 2) Without iron in our blood, we would die. And 3) iron cannot be replaced in any material it is used in. Together, these three things mean that iron is STEADY, ESSENTIAL, AND IRREPLACEABLE. 

In 1 Nephi 8, the word of God is compared to an iron rod. Taking those three things from before, this means that 1) the word of God can be likened (or bent and stretched) to any need or situation. We can take ANYTHING found in the scriptures and liken it unto ourselves for our profit and learning (1 Nephi 19:23). 2) Reading the scriptures is essential to our spiritual well-being. When we don't study the scriptures, our spirits are weakened and we're more susceptible to temptation. The scriptures tell us ALL things that we should do and we have to feast upon them in order to survive spiritually (2 Nephi 32:3). 3) The scriptures are one of the most important tools that our Heavenly Father has given us to learn of Him and His son. When coupled with the Holy Ghost and the words of living prophets, there is no way that we can be led astray! 

Make sure that you are continually holding fast to the word of God (the iron rod). It is STEADY, ESSENTIAL, AND IRREPLACEABLE! :) 

Love, 

Sister Waite

Don't Mistake

Well all, the Lord's work continues to move forward with miracles happening right and left! 

For those of you who are keeping track, transfers are this week! And guess what?! I have the privilege of continuing on in Zilker Park! This area has been so great and I've truly come to love all the people I've been able to work with! Sister Gagon is moving on to a new area and becoming a sister training leader. I'm not going to lie, that's been a little tough to swallow. I'm going to miss my trainer! She's taught me so much, and I've come to really love her! 

Dyeing eggs because who doesn't love a good colored egg?! :)

We had a LOT of things happen this week. I'll summarize: Michael and Matthew are just great! We're working with their mom to get a date set for their baptism, and she's so excited, too! Michael is so smart and knows so much already! Sometimes it feels like he's teaching me! Geoff is still super great! Just great! Rosemary asked us to start coming over even more, so we're hoping to get her on track pretty soon! :) We did lots of service this week as well. That's my favorite! The time seems to fly by and it's over too soon! 

Brother Krueger's Baptism

Brother Krueger was baptized and confirmed this weekend! His testimony is so sweet! He just says he's happy! He's been coming to church with his wife pretty consistently since she was baptized about 3 years ago. When we first invited him to be baptized, he just said "Well... yes!" and I remember feeling that he would have been baptized if someone had just asked him!  It's been a wonder to me to watch him learn so much in the past three weeks and just declare "It just makes sense!!" to every question we'd ask him. I got to watch him grow more excited each time we visited with new and exciting things to learn. It's been great. I'm so excited to see the Kruegers prepare to make more covenants together in the temple a year from now! 

This week I was thinking about how I got to see Brother Krueger's testimony grow, and it left me wondering about my own. When was it that I gained a testimony of the Restored Gospel? I couldn't pin point a specific moment, and although I'd thought about and accepted that before, it started bothering me. Shouldn't I be able to remember an experience that helped me really, truly know for myself? I wasn't doubting my testimony, it just seemed odd to me that I hadn't ever had a big "A-ha!" moment. Then I read the words of Amulek to the people of Ammonihah in Alma 10. Amulek starts by giving some background on himself and his heritage, and then, almost in passing, says something that really hit home to me: "I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people." Amulek had "mistaked" and believed that he had never seen the power of God, but then realized that he had... in the little things. That's how I gained my own testimony. By doing the little things. I read the scriptures-or at least tried to-everyday. I prayed often. I went to church. I kept the commandments. I did what my parents asked me to do. And in those little moments, I had received a witness for myself from the Holy Ghost that what I was doing was right. That the Restored Gospel was true. It was sort of like building a wall, brick by brick. Not everyone will have a big, exciting "A-ha!" moment, but that doesn't mean that they don't have a testimony. Look at all the little things you've been doing! It's there! Small and simple things are what bring great things to pass! Don't mistake!

Ah!!! Another transfer has already flown by! April is already almost half over! That's crazy! 

Have a wonderful week! 

Love, 

Sister Waite

John Wayne billboard...because John Wayne. :)

A Prophet of God

As is true of every week, this week was fabulous! 

We were able to do a lot of service for a Sister in the ward who's moving. Lots of cleaning to do!

Geoff continues to be amazing. He absolutely loved General Conference. In his words: "I am touched." It's been amazing to see the Lord's hand in his life as I've gotten to know him more!

Brother Kruger is ever closer to actually becoming a Brother! This Saturday, even! He's on fire! (Not literally, though... ;) )

Sister Kruger wanted us to have a picture next to her giant bunny...
 Brother Kruger decided to join us! Haha! :)

General Conference was amazing, as always. Every single talk applied to a question that I had brought. If not by what a speaker said, by what the Spirit said to me as I listened! :) Families are forever! Christ lives! He will catch us as we fall and we do not need to be afraid! I just loved all of it! 

We may have stopped at Panda between sessions on Saturday... Best decision ever. ;) 

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Our Heavenly Father loves us so much. He knows us all personally. By name, even. He so wants us to be happy now and in eternity. His very purpose is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Everything He does is to bring more and more of His children back to Him. Of all of these ways, my favorite to think about is the path that we have been given that leads straight up to our Heavenly Father's home. This path is the gospel of Jesus Christ and it's been available to all of God's children from the beginning of everything. Including us today! We have been given great tools to learn and choose for ourselves the path that leads back to our Heavenly Father. These tools include such things as prayer, scripture study, and church attendance. We have also been given another VERY important tool to help us stay on this path: prophets.

Prophets are, simply put, the Lord's mouthpiece on the Earth. They are special witnesses of Christ. Through prophets, Heavenly Father reveals eternal truths that help us on our way back to Him. We read great words of counsel from ancient prophets as we study the scriptures. Their words apply to us in our day, but there are some things that we need extra guidance on now. While on an exchange this week, I heard my sister training leader explain it this way: "There were no iPhones, iPads, or other forms of modern technology back then. We need the words of modern prophets to guide us in the proper use of these things. We've been given these things as a gift from God to help advance His work, and we need the prophets to tell us exactly how we're supposed to use them." 

To me, prophets are some of the most convincing evidence of our Father's love. Throughout the history of the world, God has called a prophet to lead and guide His children. God did not just love His children on the earth in the days of Moses and Noah; He loves us NOW. We, too, have a prophet. This living prophet leads and guides us today. My mission president put it this way: "How does God in Heaven govern man on earth? He calls a prophet! A living, breathing, thinking, talking prophet of God. A man, albeit, an inspired man. A man of God. A man we can trust to be our teacher and our minister."

President Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet on the earth today. He has been called of God and as such holds all the authority to receive revelation to guide all of Heavenly Father's children on the earth. The other members of the First Presidency and the quorum of the Twelve Apostles are also called of God. We can always trust them (Mosiah 23:14). All that they say reflects the will of God. We cannot oppose God's chosen servants without opposing God himself (D&C 84:35-37). 

I sustain Thomas S. Monson, his counselors, and all the other apostles with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I love them, and I know that they love God. And that is enough for me. 

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I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this weekend's conference! What were your favorite things that happened/were said? What stood out to you? In the words of Elder Nelson: "How are you going to change?" 

Love, 

Sister Waite

We make silly faces sometimes. With Sister Lavetala!