How Great Reason I have to Rejoice!

Dear all, 

I could say that nothing spectacular happened this week, but that wouldn't be true! Something spectacular happens every hour of every day!

Rain! All day Saturday it rained - Thanks hurricane Patricia!
(Abbie said it was so fun and she loved it!)

The life of a missionary is an incredible one. The work in this area of the field is booming. We are working with members like I never have before and seeing the fruits of it. We are working harder than ever to use our time effectively and make the most of the time we have to work here. The love that I have come to feel for the people here is without measure. People are coming out of the woodwork, just waiting for the restored gospel to bless their lives. 

I can't write of everything that happened this week, but I have some bullet points: 

• An investigator's teenage son who had never joined us for a lesson finally sat in with us and expressed so much interest! He asked about youth groups that are available, and accepted his own copy of the Book of Mormon. With him joining us, we now have the entire family on track for baptism! ¡Que milagro!
• We had a special sisters' study this week and it was incredible. The things that you can learn from the Spirit if you are prepared are endless! 
• An investigator we haven't been able to see for a couple of weeks accepted our invitation to the ward Trunk or Treat and showed up just in time to eat a potato and help clean up... but HE CAME! 
• It rained ALL DAY on Saturday and that made for quite the adventure! I just love the rain! And traffic was basically nonexistent, which was pretty nice. ;) 
• We gave a church tour to a new investigator and he agreed to be baptized next month! November 21! 
• I learned so much on an exchange with Sister Snyder! Some people just know how to lead. I just love her! 

No list of bullet points can adequately describe this week, but I hope that gives you a good taste. 

This week, I fell in love with the Book of Mormon all over again. As I've had the opportunity to really study and teach from it, I have learned SO MUCH. The Book of Mormon truly is an evidence of our Heavenly Father's love for us, and I can feel that love every time I open its pages. 

I don't know if I've already done this, and if I have, you'll have to excuse me. I re-read my favorite chapter of the Book of Mormon this morning, and I'd like to paraphrase it for you. Give you a little look into the mind of Sister Waite: 

Alma 26: 

1: My brothers and sisters, behold I say unto you, how great reason have I to rejoice; for could I have supposed when I started from the land of Arizona that God would have granted unto me such great blessings?

2 And now, I ask, what great blessings has He bestowed upon me? Can ye tell?

3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon me, that I have been made an instrument in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

4 Behold they do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God...

8 Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to His praise, yea, let us give thanks to His holy name, for He doth work righteousness forever.

9 For if I had not come up out of the land of Arizona, these our dearly beloved brethren, who have so dearly beloved me, would still have been strangers to God...

 11 I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise His name forever.

 13 Behold, how many of our brethren has He loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of His word which is in me, therefore have I not great reason to rejoice?

 14 Yea, I have reason to praise him forever, for He is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

 15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, He has brought them into His everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of His love; yea, and I have been an instrument in His hands of doing this great and marvelous work.

 16 Therefore, let me glory, yea, I will glory in the Lord; yea, I will rejoice, for my joy is full; yea, I will praise my God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of His great power, and of His mercy, and of His long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel...

 27 Now when my heart was depressed, and I was about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted me, and said: Go amongst thy brethren and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

 31 Now behold, I can look forth and see the fruits of my labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us...

 35 Now have I not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never was anyone that had so great reason to rejoice as I, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for He has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; He comprehendeth all things, and He is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on His name.

 36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people...

 37 Now my brothers and sisters, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, He numbereth His people, and His bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. 

May we all realize the great reason have we to rejoice! 

Love, 

Sister Waite

Where are you Camping?

Dear all,

This week has been incredible. I feel like it's been 1000 weeks pressed into one. I don't have a whole lot to say, but my heart is so full of joy!

Brother Walker was baptized and confirmed this week and it was incredible. His testimony was so sweet: "This is real. This is true. This is just. This is right." I can't believe the change I've seen in Brother Walker. The atonement and love of God are so real!

Brother Walker's baptism

This week, I learned that sometimes the Spirit prompts us to do or say something and we may not know the reason why. We encountered a very vocal atheist man yesterday. The contention he was trying to stir up was almost tangible, especially after he found out that we were the "Mormon missionaries". All I could think was "DIFFUSE! DIFFUSE! DIFFUSE!" and then a strange second thought "Salt!" I tried to think of some way that we could politely leave the situation, but the only thing I could think was "Ask him if he's ever tasted salt." I didn't think that would do much to diffuse the contention, so I ignored it. But I felt as though someone was shouting it at me. So I did it. I asked him to describe the taste of salt. And it was much like President Packer's experience (January 1983 Ensign, The Candle of the Lord) when he asked an atheist to describe the taste of salt. He couldn't do it... and that made him even more angry. He kept spouting words at us and then finally got so fed up that he said "It's been charming," and walked away. The only reason that I can think of that I would be prompted to ask something that made the anger worse was that he wouldn't have let us leave; it had to be him. I may never really know. But I've learned that it's okay to never know. (As a result of this experience, I also learned that it is indeed possible for me to be still when someone ridicules the gospel that is near and dear to me, instead of crying or wanting to shout at them. Just to be still. Which is hard to believe, really. But really neat, too!)

I surely love the Texas San Antonio Mission. I know that this is where I am supposed to be. I love Texas so much. It's much like the Waters of Mormon to the people of Alma (Mosiah 18:30).

Bishop Aldridge said something yesterday that really struck me. He was telling a story about taking scouts camping. He told us that their usual place was the soft, level grass of a baseball field, but they didn't feel like they were helping the scouts learn what they needed to, so they decided that instead of going back to the baseball field, they'd go camping in the woods, without even a car in sight. He told us that it was definitely harder, and not nearly as comfortable, but the scouts learned skills and leadership qualities that they wouldn't have learned otherwise. He said "What if we had only camped on the soft grass of the baseball field?" He went on: "What are you doing to make your life extraordinary? Are there goals? Are there plans?" Are you learning the things that you need to, or are you camping on the soft grass of the baseball field? There's no growth in a comfort zone, and there's no comfort in a growth zone.

May we all decide to stop camping on the baseball field! (That's not what they're for anyway!)
Love,
Sister Waite

He Knows

Dear all, 

To quote my journal: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH." 

I feel like that adequately summarizes the week. But in a good way! :D 

That quote happens to be from Tuesday... the day that a man we've been working with for almost four months, Brother Walker, texted us and said that he loved conference... and felt like he needed to be baptized!! ... Which was incredible because he was always super noncommittal about it. And he wanted to be baptized on Saturday!! ... Which couldn't happen because there were some things we needed to go over... He's changed and grown so much!!! And I'm just so excited for him! :) So this Saturday is the day! :D

We had Panda Express on Wednesday (my hump day) because that's how you celebrate things! :)

I continue to love this work. And I love my companion. And I love the people. There's just a lot of love in my heart! I can hardly imagine how much more there will be in another nine months! I don't know that it'll all fit! 

*****************************************

The miracle of the Atonement is real! Christ lives, and He knows how to succor us! The Lord knows what we need! 

This week, we visited with a woman we'd been teaching for as long as I've been in this area, but hadn't heard from in a while. We knocked on her door when we were in her area, and she answered with her arm in a sling and a tired look in her eye. She invited us in, but I wasn't entirely sure what we were going to say. Nothing we had planned seemed to be what she needed. I prayed that I would be able to recognize promptings and help Heavenly Father lift His daughter. She sat down and began to tell us all that had been going on in her life. I listened, still not knowing where to go. But then a video that I hadn't seen in a while popped into my head. So I pulled it up, and we watched it. About halfway through, she said, through tears, "I feel the Holy Spirit so strong right now!" It was all I could do not to cry! 

Heavenly Father knew what He wanted His daughter to hear; He knows all of His children. He knows exactly what you and I need and He will give it to us! We just need to be willing to accept it. 

Our Father knows all of us. He loves us all individually. Remember that. 

Love, 

Sister Waite

Not Another Conference Email From a Missionary

Dear all, 

Yet another incredible week here in Texas! Transfer week is always full of miracles! Since Thursday, we've taught 10 lessons, set two people with baptism dates, and met so many other wonderfully prepared people! 

Of course, with transfers comes change. I am still here in the Miracletown area, but dear Sister Risenmay was transferred to San Antonio. Sad day! But I've received a new companion! ... Okay, a mostly new companion! Sister Harrison! The same Sister Harrison who was my companion in the MTC! She's incredible and I look to her so much! I can already tell that this is going to be an incredible transfer! 

Also, I may have lied a little. This is definitely another conference email from a missionary. I'm sure you've received so many emails, seen so many posts, and had many, many discussions about General Conference already, so one more won't hurt! Haha! My heart is full to the brim with joy! All my prayers and questions were answered and I can hardly keep from singing! 

Here are some of my 'highlights' taken straight from my notes:

* "Exaltation is the goal, discipleship is the journey."

* "We don't need to be more of anything to become who God will make us."

* "Hold tight and sail on."

* "It will all work out."

* "Will I love Christ more than I love myself?"

* "Shipshape and Bristol fashion"

* "Never deliberately fly into a thunderstorm."

* "Only your resolve to be obedient can change your life."

* "As you come to yourself, Heavenly Father will come to you."

* "Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are."

* "Rely on the Savior."

* "We will stand out because we are different."

* "Nothing we can do will change His love."

* "The Atonement is central to everything."

* "The Lord has called you for what He needs to do through you, and it will only happen if you do it His way."

* "We need you to speak up and speak out... Step forward, take your place, fulfill prophecy."

* "Only through the Holy Ghost can we see people and events as God sees them."

* "God's ultimate purpose is our progress."

* "Don't be too critical of the barrier, it's the only thing keeping you from being devoured."

* "You want me to wear my seatbelt because you love me!"

* "Truly these men are called of God by prophecy."

I testify that the Lord Jesus Christ leads and guides us today through living prophets and apostles. As I listened to and saw these men bear witness of the Savior and of the Father's great gospel and Plan, the Spirit bore witness to me that our leaders are indeed called of God. 

It was especially affirmed as I watched the President of the Church and Prophet of God stand and speak to us, despite the difficulty of his age. I felt the love our Father has for President Monson as I watched him courageously struggle and all I wanted to do was leap through the screen and support him as he addressed us. 

Elder David B. Haight said:

"When we sustain the President of the Church by our uplifted hand, it not only signifies that we acknowledge before God that he is the rightful possessor of all the priesthood keys; it also means that we covenant with God that we will abide by the direction and the counsel that come through His prophet. It is a solemn covenant."

I have sustained President Thomas S. Monson with all my heart. I have covenanted to heed his counsel, to love, and to support him. He is a man chosen by God to lead and love us today. 

"President Monson has taught us the way to live our lives with his wonderful and inspiring messages at general conference. He has taught us how to be followers of Jesus Christ by his remarkable and wonderful personal example. Truly the Lord has given us a pattern in all things, and one of the patterns we should seek to follow is that of our beloved prophet.

I testify that there is a God in heaven who knows us and loves us. He has given us a prophet--to guide us, to teach us, and to lead us in these latter days. I believe the Lord expects us to love the prophet, to sustain him, and to follow his example.

I count it a great blessing to live in the day when Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet. As we follow him and try to be more like him, we will inevitably succeed in being more faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ."

-Elder William R. Walker

How blessed we truly are! May we all remember and apply the things we learned this conference! 

Love,

Sister Waite

Conference Time!

Dear all, 

I want you to know that I love being a missionary. There are things I've learned, seen, felt, and heard that have changed me forever. I've met so many wonderful people and I've been able to feel Heavenly Father's love for them. I can imagine nothing greater than being a missionary of the Lord. 

Our Heavenly Father loves us. He sent His Son to suffer and die and live again all for us so that we may return to Him. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We have a living prophet today who receives living revelation for our time. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and was written for US. As we live according to the gospel, we will be comforted in our afflictions here and one day receive a fulness of joy in the kingdom of heaven. I know this with every fiber of my being, to use a common phrase.

It's my favorite time of year again! General Conference time! 

President Howard W. Hunter said:

"Conference time is a season of spiritual revival when knowledge and testimony are increased and solidified that God lives and blesses those who are faithful. It is a time when an understanding that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, is burned into the hearts of those who have the determination to serve him and keep his commandments. Conference is the time when our leaders give us inspired direction in the conduct of our lives—a time when souls are stirred and resolutions are made to be better husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, more obedient sons and daughters, better friends and neighbors...

"We know that our Father in Heaven loves us and is concerned about our spiritual and temporal welfare. We know that His Son, Jesus Christ, our Elder Brother, has provided a way for us to return to the presence of God; that there is a divine purpose for our being here on earth; that we have a work to do which is an important part of his plan. In addition, we know many details of that plan and have received specific direction about our responsibilities...

"We who are met here today claim a special, unique knowledge of the Savior’s gospel. Most striking of all, to those who first become acquainted with us, is our declaration to the world that we are guided by a living prophet of God—one who communicates with, is inspired by, and receives revelation from the Lord...

"We have found, and know, that the only way to gain spiritual knowledge is to approach our Father in Heaven through the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. When we do this, and if we are spiritually prepared, we see things our eyes have not previously seen, and we hear things we may not have previously heard—“the things which God hath prepared,” using Paul’s words. (1 Cor. 2:9.) These things we receive through the Spirit.

We believe, and testify to the world, that communication with our Father in Heaven and direction from the Lord are available today. We testify that God speaks to man as he did in the days of the Savior and in Old Testament times. We would say to the world: “Listen to and weigh the words of this conference; consider the direction and counsel that come from those who speak. Then, after prayerful pondering, that sweet warm conviction that comes from the Holy Spirit will testify to you of its truthfulness."

We have a promise from a prophet of God that if we will go to conference spiritually prepared to receive revelation, we will receive it... and more! You will receive answers to questions, comfort, and a witness of prophetic callings. 

President Boyd K. Packer cautioned: 

"In a few days there opens another general conference of the Church. The servants of the Lord will counsel us. You may listen with anxious ears and hearts, or you may turn that counsel aside. … What you shall gain will depend not so much upon their preparation of the messages as upon your preparation for them.”

We can prepare for General Conference by praying in faith for guidance, coming with the questions of our soul, setting aside time to really listen to the sessions, and committing to follow the counsel we receive from the pulpit and from the Spirit. 

I echo the words of Elder Paul V. Johnson: 

"Decide now to make general conference a priority in your life. Decide to listen carefully and follow the teachings that are given. Listen to or read the talks more than once to better understand and follow the counsel. By doing these things, the gates of hell will not prevail against you, the powers of darkness will be dispersed from before you, and the heavens will shake for your good."

I have tried and tested this challenge in my own life. This weekend we will listen to a Prophet's voice and receive guidance and counsel from on high. How wonderful is the gospel?!

May we all prepare ourselves to receive the revelation Heavenly Father is just waiting to pour upon us! 

Love, 

Sister Waite

Are You Grumpy in the Donut Shop?

Dear all (or Hey y'all, what ever suits you best),

This week was absolutely incredible. There are just so many things to be grateful for in this great work. There are miracles everywhere. You need only to open your eyes and see. 

We found a family this week... with 7 kids. Yeah. We were pretty excited. The mom let us right in! They are so great! I can't even describe it! I'll keep you posted on how they progress. Ah! :) 

I am ever grateful that the Lord saw fit to call me to invite others to come unto Him. The opportunity to serve others in this way has been the most remarkable thing that I could have ever hoped to do in this phase of my life. I have seen the gospel bless other people in ways that I never thought imaginable. This is truly the greatest work in all the earth! 

We have an investigator who works in a donut shop, and she loves to tell stories about people who come into the shop and are just so happy because they're getting donuts. She loves making people's days! But she also sometimes tells us stories about people who aren't so happy. "How can they be grumpy in a donut shop?" she is always lamenting. I ask that same question: How could someone be grumpy in a donut shop? (Because, really... It's a donut shop.) But I also ask another question: how can someone be grumpy in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

"Now, 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; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy (D&C 128:19)."

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy (2 Nephi 2:25)."

What do we hear in the gospel? A voice of gladness! We know that men are that they might have joy!

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33) ."

Christ himself has told us to be of good cheer! He has overcome the world and is the Way to help us overcome it, too!

When He visited the Nephites, Christ knelt and uttered a prayer so sacred that it could not be recorded:

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.

And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.

And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full (3 Nephi 17:18-20)."

These Nephites caused Christ great joy because of their faith, and we can as well. And because of our faith, we can receive a fulness of joy in the kingdom of our Father!

"And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy... (3 Nephi 28:10)"

"Behold, canst thou read this without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness? (D&C 19:39)"

This gospel is a gospel of joy! Because the fulness of the gospel has been restored to the earth, we know the true purpose of life. Because a young boy retired to a grove of trees and knelt in prayer in the spring of 1820, we know the true nature of God. Because God loves and speaks to all of His children through prophets-living and ancient-we have been given the Book of Mormon to help us understand who Jesus Christ truly is. Because of Jesus Christ, we know the way to return to our Heavenly Father. Because we can return to our Heavenly Father, we will receive a fulness of JOY. 

"Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing (D&C 128:22)"

May we always remember the joy that is found in the gospel and continually find joy in the journey.

Love, 

Sister Waite

Hastening

Hello all! 

I want you to know that the work is incredible. I love these people and I love the mission, but most importantly: I love the Lord!

We're running short on time this week (I know, right? I'm sure y'all were expecting yet another long winded email, haha!) A family in the stake invited our entire zone to P-day at their home, and we're about to head that way. 

I just have one question for you: 

Do you have your running shoes on? 

The work of salvation (in all capacities, including temple and family history work) is hastening faster than anything ever has. And the Lord expects us to run with it. I don't know about you, but I'd rather run in tennis shoes than flip flops. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on that! 

Love,

Sister Waite