Letter #28- Feliz Natal!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!! YAHOO!!!!!!

I hope everyone´s season of Christmas is just going fantastic! Mission life is so wonderful this time of year! Talking to everyone about the Savior´s birth... and more importantly the REASON why he was born. Its incredible! We had MISSION CONFERENCE! Woot woot! Conferência de Natal!!!!! It was great to see ALL the missionaries in one place... so powerful! Saw old companions... other elders I used to work with in our area... Sister and President Ferrin! It was fantastic! Had a fabulous training.... 

President Ferrin talked about the Christmas hymns and called 5 missionaries to pick their favorite, why its their favorite, and bear their testimony.  We all sange the hymn after the missionaries explained... and guess who was the first sister he called... Yup. Twas I... after the big pit in my stomach relaxed, I bore my testimoy about music and the arts. And how the spirit can testify only through music and the arts in a way that words cant explain. I chose o little town of bethlehem, but really I wanted away in a manger, the elder in front of me chose it. But it was an AMAZING experience. I LOVE MUSIC! I LOVE CHRISMTAS! I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!! 

We did a talent show, and I organized a little skit for my area/zone. ´Os Doze Dias de Natal Durante a Missão`... twelve days of christmas with different words about the mission... it was a hit! I´m proud of the missionaries in my area... they all were fantastic! Each companionship sang each day... everyone laughed.

During the testimony meeting, something an Elder spoke about really get me thinking..... Lights, Stars, and Angels- everyone things of these things around Christmas time... and how true is that WE are the light, WE are the star as a guide for people, and WE are the angels that bring the great news.... Not just as missionaries. But ALL of us... we have the most precious gift we could give someone... our LIGHT and our testimony. I LOVE Christmas time and the Savior. I am so grateful to have this time to serve him with all my heart and time... its amazing to witness the miracles of his atonement. I love it!

I love you all so much! Have a FANTASTIC Christmas!!!!

Sister Waite

THANK YOU FOR THE MAIL!!!!!!!

Sister Asay! LOVED the christmas card and cute pictures! Keep going Sister! February is coming fast!

Tyler Nicosia! LOVED your letter and christmas card! thank you so much for the support! have a WONDERFUL Christmas!

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!

Letter #27- Change is good!

FAMILY!!!!!!

Oh man... so much happened this week! But my birthday was fantastic! Im training now! I got a new cute bright missionary to train in Morumbi. So I´m in the same area with a greenie... oh man. its so weird! I cant believe this! six months has flown... and the inadequacies were piling up this week for me, but also, MIRACLES! It was an incredible week! everyday was an adventure!

Sis Reis, MY trainer, left for another area, she was AMAZING to work with, i am so grateful for her. When we went to Sao Paulo, on my birhtday - big city on my birhtday! it was fantastic! it just made me realize how grateful i am to be a missionary, and that whatever the Lord asigns me, I can do it. I CAN do it... and oh man I am doing it. haha I can see how He is providing the way for me, its fabulous.

Sis Bruno!!!! Shes from south carolina and is excited to be in the field. She wants to keep the rules and work hard and it really is great to see the enthusiasm she has a missionary. Her portuguese is really great! Which I am grateful for, she is understanding a lot which helps. But I have never witnessed the gift of tounges as much as this week... seriously. we were in a few taxis this week and each one was a teaching opportunity. To be honest, my first lessons that I did ALL by myself... It was incredible to just talk... seriously. Just talk. The sensation of the Holy Ghost using my mouth to say what needed to be said.... I know that each time was special... when the missionaries feel the Holy Ghost, the investigators do. 

Another miracle- we are safe! two americans walking around sao paulo and sao jose dos campos... we are definitely getting more looks, more opportunities to talk to people! :D We traveld twice to sao paulo last week, and once this week for the mission conference! wohoo so excited! Yay! I love Christmas, its going to be fantastic!

Just know Im safe and we are working hard within our means. :D I love you all and hope the season is just full of red and green and stars! I love you all!

Com amor,

Sister Waite

fotos!

-Birthday Cake! Sister Reis made it for me... Galinha Pintadinha!!!! oh yea! we ate it at a family night in one of the members house monday night, it was fantastic!

-Sister Bruno! my Birthday gift to me! my ´daughter´in the mission.... I became a mom. But really... I feel protective of her and take care of her and show her how to do things where to go... Its great! Welcome to what being a mom is like.... teaching her how to talk... hahha its really funny. always thought it was ridiculous the whole mom/dad as your trainer. but now i know why people say it. :D

-LOVE THIS FAMILY!!!!!!!! they are so amazing! have such potential and want to do the right things. Love being a missionary!

-papae noel! came to the ward christmas party! it was fantastic!

Letter #26-The Christmas Tree That Wasn't

Boa Tarde Tudo Mundo!!!! Amo vocês! Demais! :D

Storytime! Oh I love Christmas... here it goes.

We were at the house of a recent convert... with our District Leaders. She wanted to meet ´the sisters of morumbi´ (oh yea... we´re cool. haha) Nah, so we were teaching her how to make Cookies!!!! Chocolate chip, the best! So we were waiting for them to bake and talking in the front room, when I noticed a little christmas tree in the book case... kindof toward the back... kinda hidden. `wow Irmã, I like your christmas tree, its so cute!` .... silence.... ok. maybe she didnt hear me and no one wanted to comment on how cute the tree was. So again, ´wow! Cute little christmas tree, I love it!` I noticed sis reis was giving me an eye (what are you talking about sort of look) and Elder Rios said, `what are you talking about? This?` he points to the tree. Yeah! `this is a statue Sis Waite´.... no.. no way! He pulled it out of the bookcase and sure enough, there was a face and all! Que vergonha! Its a statue of a Catholic Saint... She has a big crown on her head, and her robe is a big triangle, seriously, decorated with shiny glimmering decoration.... oh man. how embarassing... EVERYONE WAS LAUGHING so hard.... I apologized to the cute new member and through her laughs she said she needs to find someone who would want it, she doesnt need it anymore... oh man... it was REALLY funny. So now, when we walk throuh the streets Sis Reis and when we see the elders in meeting... `THIS is a christmas tree Sis Waite.` oh man... HILARIOUS!

I sure hope everyone is getting into the Christmas Spirit! isnt it fabulous! I love it! Full of love and magic! Love is seriously the reason for the season, the love the Savior and Heavenly Father has for us in incredible! They love us. ALL of us... every bit of our being. I am so grateful to share the love they have as a missionary. Its the greatest feeling in the world to help people understand the love of the Savior is real... and its the REASON he was born, and the REASON he taught the gospel, and the REASON he endured and accomplished the atonement. In the Garden, on the cross, and his resurrection. His love is powerful... and is real. I am so grateful for him and the love he has for me, and for all of us! 

I love you! Transfers are tomorrow... what a great birthday gift right? its exciting, but really.... I dont want to leave Morumbi. I LOVE the people here... and Sis Reis... oh man. Wish me luck! Thank you for all of your love and support! Have a fantastic week!

Com Carinho,

Sister Waite!

p.s. Pictures! Sister Reis and me! woot woot! in our house. haha feliz natal!

Baptism! Adriano is HILARIOUS... he is really a great kid. wants to do the right thing and he wants to serve a mission! thats the power of the gospel... to see someones life change 180 degrees! He has dreams and desires now that weren~t there before... it has been amazing working with him and his family. I LOVE being a missionary!

Letter #25- It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Hello!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.... oh yea. Not with snow... but with LIGHTS!! love this time of year! walking through Morumbi, when we return to our house for the night, the lights are wonderful! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! I hope everyone is getting into the wonderful feeling of the season!

This week was wonderful. One thing I LOVE about missionary life, is meeting new friends. Really, everyone we meet to share the gospel is an imediate friend. Remember the friends you have, and how you can help lift them up! Tis the season of service, and what better service then to help someone have a great day... better yet, a great new life to live by testifying of the things that matter most. I love you so much! 

Its definitly warming up! the sun is intense! loving it! 

This is our Christmas tree! we made it with the relief society... isnt it cute! Happy decorating everyone!

Love,

Sis Waite

Letter #24- Miracles Happen

Boa Tarde Tudo Mundo!!!!! Opa!

I love you so much! What a week! Its great to be a missionary... learn so much about yourself when you focus on others. Its a great and mysterious work how you can see the difference in YOUR life... LOVE being a missionary!

Its amazing to see the hand of the Lord in HIS work. The baptism yesterday was so special. The ward was there supporting him and it was a great meeting. I lead the music and couldnt help but think as I looked around the room... ´wow...  I am so grateful for everysingle member here... and the newest member of the church too... how grateful I am to see their examples and see them sacrifice for the things that matter most.` I dont want to leave Morumbi! Transfers are on my birthday, DONT WANT TO LEAVE! I love love LOVE being here... I know that missionary work is a WHOLE church affair. Not just with those who wear nametags. without support of members, without the templework that goes on, the purpose of the gospel wouldnt function without everyone´s example.  I love being a missionary! Families are forever!

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving! I did too! It was fun to explain the traditions of the american culture to Sis Reis and what Black Friday is... its so fun to be in a different culture! We get to share so many wonderful experiences! LOVE Brazil. Hope everyone is doing well! Know that I love you and am grateful for your support!

Com Carinho,

Sister Waite

p.s. MAIL!!!!!!!! YAHOO!!!!!!!!!

-OH MY GOODNESS.... Ashlee Head and Brandon Poulter... I LOVE YOU TWO! Parabens! Congratulations on your wedding!!!!!! ahhhhhh! wish I could have been there, just know that I was jumping up and down and squeeling when I got your announcement. Thank you SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU!

-Joy! Oh man... sorry about your first car experience... isnt it great to have big brothers to help stand up for you! I love you cutie!

-Glad you enjoyed Alaska Sam! thank you for the support!

-Grandma! thank you for the letter! and WOW! Congratulations Uncle Alan with the new office in SLC! thats so neat! So proud of you! LOVE you!

-Austin! LOVED the letter! thanks for all the mission experiences!

-Elder Charles! Great to get a christmas letter!

-NO WAY!!!!! Congratulations BayLee Pulhem and Branden Knehar! So happy for you! LOVED the announcement! EEEEEEP! so excited for you two!!!!! love you BayLee!

picture: Happy thanksgiving! mashed potatoes, farofa, and rice! mmmmm da hora!

Letter #23- Happy Thanksgiving!!!

BOM DIA!!!!! Opa!!!

This week... witnessed a miracle. Holy cow! We just left a members house, and a young man stopped us and said, `I know you...` (my reaction at first... uhh.. ok..) But we got talking and set up a time to talk with him more. He had a family member get married in the temple, and his aunt who attened the civil wedding told him how much she liked what the Bishop said and he went to the site to see what it was all about. He had been searching for the truth... he is searching for the truth. This week we met with him and his aunt and he told us about a dream he had... two persons with a light so bright, he couldnt make out faces, but he recognized us as servants of the Lord... WOW!!! The Lord definitley puts us in the paths we need to be to help build his Kingdom. This happens to missionariers and members! ALL of us, Heavenly Father puts us in the families we are, the work situations, the friends we have, to help share the gospel one wary or another. I love seeing his Hand in his work.

I love being a missionary! I love this Gospel! I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that it is evidence for us that EVERYTHING we learn in the Church is true. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

Com amor,

Sister Waite

Letter #22- The Church is Perfect

Bom Dia!!!!!

Sou MUITO grata por esse oportunidad servir uma missão!!!!! nossa! Estou aprendendo bastante! É maravilhosa ser um parte desse trabalho! Amo ser uma missionaria!!!! Opa!!!!

I love you all so much and hope everything is going well for you! Morumbi is fantastic! Love this ward, love the members, and love learning more about the gospel. This week was tough... spiritually, emotionally, physically draining. But through the trials miracles happen! Prayer is powerful! And fasting is a tool that REALLY works. After many prayers and fasting for our investigators, miracles happen in the form of answers to prayers. Pillar was baptised yesterday! it was a great experience! she is a HUGE example to me. She is very smart and wants to do the right things. She studies and works at her job every day and is VERY studious! She didnt have a lot of time for us to teach her, so she took our pamphlets and came every week for about 3 months now... she studied and searched for the truth, and found it. Because the Church IS true! Miracles happen! Its amazing to witness them!

Well, Brazil is hot, and rainy! LOVE the rain! The thunder is roaring and the lightning is fantastic! As we get into summer it will get a bit more dangerous, so I~m told, so on with the adventure! :D

I love you all so much and hope that everyone is getting into the Thanksgiving mood! I´m getting into the Christmas mood! The stores are filled with stockings and trees, the houses are beginning to be decorated! Yay Christmas!!!! It will be a great season! 

I love you all so much!

Com carinho,

Sister Waite

MAIL!!!!

-Sister Hirst!!!! LOVE reading your letters! Fabulous!

-Elder Jensen, my district leader in the CTM, doing fabulous! Great to hear from friends!

-Rebecca Waite, you are incredible! thanks for the letter!!!!!! you are fantastic!

Letter #21- So Good!

Boa Tarde Família! Amigos! Woot woot!

Missão é bom! Bom de mais! Sou MUITO grata por esse oportunidade servir... aqui em MORUMBI! Yep! I stayed with Sister Reis! We are working with a family, planning their wedding date, and after, their baptsim! this family is incredible! Its so fantastic to see the change of heart and the ultimate change in the people as they accept the gospel in their lives. EVERYTHING changes for the better... its so wonderful! such a miracle to see this transformation!

Friday was the ´Fariado de Finados´... their memorial day... and our Bishop held an activity with us, some other elders in the other area, and some members to go to the cemetery and pass out the pamphlet ´the plan of salvation´.... This experience I will never ever forget... there are two huge cemeteries right next to each other on the border of my area. The street was PACKED with people... we started passing out and telling people about the plan that Heavenly Father has for each one of us... it was fantastic! Fantastic to share the hope that the gospel brings, the sense of peace that the plan of happiness brings to people... but as our pamphlets ran out, we walked through the cemetery... still... SO MANY people! So many people suffering... this is when I became sad... so SAD for the people who don´t have the gospel in their lives, who dont KNOW where their loved ones who have passed on are... I felt this urge to talk to EVERYONE! I wanted to talk and teach EVERYONE that was there... it was a feeling so overwhelming. I will never forget that moment, just looking at all the people in the cemetery, and wanting nothing more than to share the truth with them. I know that Heavenly Father loves us, I know that he has given us a plan that brings Happiness in THIS life, and the life after! Families are FOREVER if we do our part and follow the Savior´s example. I am so grateful for the restored gospel in my life. I am grateful for the family that I have! We are sealed for eternity! We will be together forever! We have a Savior that paid the price and made it possible for this endless happiness! I am so grateful for family and everything that Heavenly Father has given me.

With this experience and that feeling I felt, now I look at the people in the streets of my area and imagine them if they were at the cemetery that day... Each one of us passes through times of hardship and difficulty, but we dont have to suffer... Remember the blessings in your life! Remeber the family that you have! Remember how LOVED you are... I love you!

Brazil is fantastic! the weather reminds me of Utah... one day HOT HOT HOT, the next... harldy any sun and pretty breezy... oh man. Hope halloween was a blast! We sure had fun! I love you all so much and am so grateful for you in my life!

Com muito MUITO Amor,

Sister Waite

p.s. wohoo!!!! Recieved Mail because of Transfers!

-GRANDMA! Loved your letter! I am so glad that Aunt Betty had a great time visiting! I love you so much Grandma and Grandpa! I hope and pray you two are doing fantastic!

-Oh Yeah! Sister Asay is doing fantastic! Loved the Halloween card Sister Asay! You are a doll!

-Sister Hirst... oh my goodness. I LOVE hearing from you! It is so fun to hear about your family and the ward, thank you thank you thank you SO MUCH!!!!!! You are wonderful!

-Austin! Yay! Got your letter! Thank you so much! Its fantastic!

-CONGRATULATIONS ELISE AND GABE LEE!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!! I jumped up and down when I recieved your invitation.... oh man... SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!!! Yay!!!! I´m sure it was a fantastic day for you two, thank you for the invitation! Wish I could have gone to the reception. I am so happy for you two!

Letter #20- SPOOKY!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!! Yahoo! I hope everyone has fun and will be safe! We had a few pumpkins on our table to celebrate! Eat lots of candy for us!

I cant believe it... we have transfers tomorrow! AH! We´ll find out later today where we go, if we stay, what to do. Wow, transfer 2, tchau! Crazy crazy crazy how time flies. But... this also means my ´12 week in field training´ is done... weird. It makes me realize that everything really does have an end... I dont want the mission to end! Its too fantastic! I´m happy that I have the time I do to serve! Its amazing! Grateful that I have this opportunity to serve... its amazing!

Witnessed more miracles this week! They happen everyday in our lives! We just have to look out for them, whether its bumping into someone who you haven~t seen for a long time and had a chance to catch up, to seeing the miracle of a testimony being planted in someones heart... miracles happen! One of them this week was defending Joseph Smith. I LOVE defending and testifying of Joseph Smith, that he REALLY saw Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and that he REALLY was called of God to restore the Gospel and establish the Church of Jesus Christ back on the earth... especially to study the bible and see all the prophesies about the latter days come true... the prophesies are happening!!!! Because God really truly exists, he has called living Prophets, and we are witnessing the signs of the second coming of our Savior... I LOVE defending truth! Because truth is truth... there is no ifs, ands or buts... it is what it is!

I love you all so much and hope you have a SPOOKILISHESS Halloween! Do send pictures of all the fun Costumes!!!

Com MUITO Amor,

Sister Waite

Pictures:

Pumpkin! And in the background, Manjaca!!!! Mmmmm one of my favorite Brazilian food. Its a root!!!! So good!

Letter #19- Have To Be Fast

HI FAMILY! HI FRIENDS!

 

Sorry the email didnt go through last week! I sent it again...

 

This week was great! The days are getting hotter, and with each hot day, comes RAIN!!!!!! a lot of it too! its fantastic! Today is Sis Reis Birthday and it was fun! surprised her with French Toast, and syrup! Mmmm... foi muito mutio bom! Gostoso!

 

Thought a lot about the challenges we go through, and how it relates to obedience. In Hebrews... (forgot the reference, i think 12...) Theres a great scripture that says `God chastens those he loves, that they can learn obedience and diligence.´ I definitly paraphrased, but remember... every choice has a consequence. and when tough times come... we have the ability to choose HOW we will react... and from there, we can build our obiedience and diligence, or let the adversary get us down.

 

I love you all so much! have a fantastic week!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE!!!!! YOU ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST SISTERS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Letter #18- October 15, 2012

Hi Family!!!! Hi Friends!!!

Wow! We had a baptism in our Area! we are working with this family, they are elite! Its fantastic! Yesterday, Jefferson was baptized, and his Mom and Step-dad are preparing to be baptized too! It was a great experience... he´s a bright kid! Its was such a neat experience to sit and just look at this family... and really see the potential each member has... Especially picutring them going to the temple all together to be sealed... it was a FANTASTIC experience! Families are FOREVER!!!! :D So amazing! we sang `Quando Eu For Batizado´... (I like to look for rainbows, whenever there is rain.... That one) oh primary songs, LOVE them! Love working with the kids!

Oh Brazil! Love love LOVE Brazil!

This week we had a training with President Ferrin, and last night a devotional with him too... they were great! All about working with the members! During the training he was telling a story from his mission, when he was in Rio, and he had a companion with a lot of energy, always  talking to everyone and smiling... then he said ´I think we have one of these type of missionaries here too... Energy like Sister Waite´ oh man... embarassing... haha but funny. I learned a lot during this training... He said that words are important, words can help build, or break down. This was just a phrase he said as part of the training but it really made me think... Once you say something, you cant take back your words... the stone is cast... and are our words building each other? Words can make such a difference! A simple `Bom Dia!´ down the street, a kind compliment... Small and Simple things.

Then, in the devotional, he had all the missionaries that were there come to the front, introduce themselves, where they´re from and where they are serving right now. This devotional was to help the work through the members grow... a question/answer type devotional.  Well, he was talking about preparing future missionaries, what they need to do financially, physically, this type of thing. He brought up emotional preparedness and asked, `What do missionaries need to be like emotionally on the mission?´ silence... Then he said ´Happy!´ then some of the missionaries with me whispered ´like sister waite.. yea sister waite´ then President had me come to the podium with him and he explained that enthusiasm is important in missionary work, and its important that missionaries smile! Haha it was really funny! I was nervous he was going to ask me to say something... luckily... nope!
But this devotional was really great! to hear the questions from the members and hear President Respond. He has 3 months brazil right now, trying to remember portuguese, and is SO humble about it! For example, he asked, ´what do missionaries need to do to help the work progress in your ward, what are some characteristics they need to have?´ and one of the coments was `like the people´ and he responded `impossível! gosta de gente!´ (Impossible! Like the People!) But what he meant to say was ´Incrível! Gosta de gente!´ (Incredible! Like the people!) hahaha everyone laughed... and he was SO incredibly humble about it... he is amazing! Love President Ferrin! It made me realize that we are really called of God, at times we dont feel qualified in the callings that we are in, but ALWAYS Heavenly Father prepares a way for us to accomplish the work we´ve been asked to do... I know he hears and answers our prayers and wants us to be happy! Always! Every single day... so be happy!

Mission is Great!

Hope all is well back at home! Have a FANTASTIC week!!!!

Com Amor,

Sister Waite

p.s. Recieved lots of mail last week and at the training! Yahoo! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

-Joy Prior, you have a way with words! Always have! LOVED reading about your Timp adventure! Thank you!
-Brother Bliss... wow... SO amazing to hear your advice! thank you SO MUCH!
-Sis Soulberg! LOVED the card! Thank you! Hope family is doing well!
-SIS HIRST!!!!! You are incredible Sis Hirst. I love you, Love your family, and it was fun hearing about the peaches! Love you!
-Wow Austin! Thanks for the Package!!!! All fantastic American goodies... thank you thank you thank you!!!
-Jenny Lowe Woolley... you are a babe! Loved your letter! thanks for the update! I love you!

Thank you so much for your love and support!


1. Me and Jefferson

2. MCDONALDS!!!!!! haha last week we went to a park for P-Day, and woah... there was a McDonalds! Haha so I got a `McLanche Feliz´ haha... but HOLY COW!!!!! McDonalds here is EXPENSIVE!!!! a double mac was R$ 21.00!!!!!! holy cow! Its gold here, EVERYONE likes McDonalds.. haha SO funny. I had my nuggets, fries, and toy... it was fun! With Maracujá! Mmmmm Passionfruit Juice. Oh yea!

Letter #17-De Boa na Lagoa!

Oi Família!!!! Oi Amigos!!!!

I hope everyone is doing well! Happy October! Brazil doesn~t celebrate Halloween like we do... not at all actually... so enjoy the festivities up north! all the decorations and such... next P-day, WE are going to celebrate halloween! and carve pumpkins! or watermelons... we´ll see! this week, I think Friday, is `Dia de Crianças`... oh yea... kids day! Like mothers day, fathers day... theyhave a kids day where all the kids get gifts. how cool is that?! I think United States should adopt this day too! haha

Well, everyone voted yesterday, polotics are done! Phew! everyday, in the streets there was loud music to vote for this person, vote for that person, flags, papers, people marching for the candidates... now... the streets are quiet... kinda weird. Oh Brazil, Love it here!

Yesterday watched the inbetween session of conference about `Sweet Beginnings`.... man, I hope you all get a chance to watch this clip about this company a woman in Chicago started... so amazing! Try looking it up... its a great story! I want to have honey bees some day... `sweet beginnings´ about helping ex-convicts enter into society again and this company of producing HONEY helps them get hired into other jobs... transition company... man... SO inspiring! This company helps people have a ´sweet beginning´ for a new life.

Wasnt Conference fantastic! Here, the sessions started at 1-3 and then 5-7 we watched both of Sunday´s sessions. it was fantastic! LOVED Elder Holland´s talk... It really made me think... How do we show our love for the Savior? If he were to ask us individually that question he asked Peder... `Peter, do you love me?` how would we respond? I know that the Savior lives, and that he loves us UNCONDITIONALY! And how do we show our love for Him? Love others unconditionally too! I absolutely LOVE being a missionary! Its amazing to sit and talk about the Love the Savior has for every single one of us, and helping people understand that... WOW! I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of my Savior... He loves me, and died for me, and wants me to be happy! His gospel has been restored to the Earth and is here to help US be happy!

I love you! Have a fantastic week!!!! :D

Sister Waite

Picture Time!

HI family!

 

Pictures!!!

 

1-the invitation for our activity last saturday, I designed it, colored it, and we made copies to give to our investigators!

 

2- missionaries, and next to sis reis is one of our investigators! he is AWESOME! and next to him, is a recent convert, Alex, i thought he was always a member when I came to morumbi, nope, he was baptized 3 weeks before i got here... he is incredible!

 

3- BISPO!!!! this is our bishop, and i am SO grateful for him! he is HILARIOUS!!!! as you can see in the pic, its so fantastic to work with this ward, AMAZING people!

more pictures!

 

1- President Ferrin and Sister Ferrin came, they talked about eternal families and it was perfect! Investigators, less actives, and recent converts were there. The activity was all about family! ate some food, and played games as one big family! :D

 

2- of course we had water games, and some of the members and missionaries ganged up on me... it was quite comical! (President and sister Ferrin were right behind me though... haha they laughed!) it was great! -the kid to the right, his name is Jefferson, and we are working with his family! they accepted the invitation to get married, and be baptaized! its INCREDIBLE seeing the changes in this family, i am so grateful that for the Holy Ghost, and the Book of Mormon really CHANGES the heart... I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!)

 

3- Oh some members in the ward! SO FANTASTIC! we all had a great time!

more pictures!

 

1- this is transfer day few weeks ago! we dropped sis faustino off... sad day. But exciting too! hello COMPLETE portuguese! :D This picutre is at the secritorio (spelling:?) the mission office! yay!

 

2- me and joyce! her parents got married about a month ago... remeber those pics:? we were dancing to to the music, and had a blast! she has sass, its so fun! she says ´sis waite´ with this attitude and snaps her fingers in a z-formation! its hilarious!

 

3- Bispo joined in the group! just before, everyone soaked him with water! we had a lot of fun!

 

love you!

I Love You-Letter #16

Boa Tarde Família!!!!! E Amigos!!!!

 Espero que TUDO estejam bem com vocês! :D

        I love you! This past week was great! Guess what... it SNOWED in Brazil! Not in my area... ;( sadly... but in Rio Grande do Sul! Wednesday! I believe it, becase tuesday-thursday was FREEZING here!!!! oh my goodness!!! So cold! But, today is bright and sunny again! Hello Primevera!!! Love the spring... I think Utah is changing colors! Luckies! Here is changing colors too... more bright flowers and greener green! Its great!                                               

We had two VERY successful activites this week! one with Sociedade Socorro! Relief society, we learned how to make, and decorate cupcakes! Everyone was fascinated on how to make cupcakes... funny huh! muffin pans dont exist down here, and where you can get them its really expensive! But the sisters in the ward had other great ideas! Tin foil and such to make the forms... clever clever! There were SO many people at both the cupcake and family activities! it was a success! the picutres explain more!

 THIS WEEKEND IS GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!! oh yeah! I am so excited! Working with a family right now, and when we told them that they could hear and listen to the prophet they got so excited... `What?! We get to see and hear them!?` Its amazing to see the excitement the gospel brings into our lives! Really! We get to SEE and HEAR from a living prophet! that is SO NEAT! Its great explaing this to people... Wow! theres a prophet in our days?! YES YES YES!!! the hymn... come listen to a prophets voice! is in my head.

 I LOVE you all so much! I am so happy to be here in Brazil! the food is great, the culture is so warm and welcoming... and the language is beautiful. Beautifully difficult.... BUT! I have faith and hope that one day, CLICK!

I love you so so SO SO SO SO SO MUCH! Have a fantastic week! And don´t forget, what an AMAZING opportunity General Conference is. Because we can recieve personal revelation! Yes, we can read it in the Liahona and ensign later... but there is somehting about LISTENING to the words, the Spirit communicates to our hearts differently... I love you so much and am SO grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I love testifying of my Savior in each lesson, He LIVES! and he guides this church! I am so grateful for this opportunity to be here!

I love you all so much!

Morumbi-Letter #15

Oi!!!!

I stayed in Morumbi!!!! Yahoo!!!! Sis Faustino left though, to train a new campanion, in a NEW area too!!!! Oh man... thats hard. Me and Sister Reis are still hear, now there is NO ONE to speak enlish too and WOW! What a difference it has made! Drowning at times, but for the most of it... just trucking a long. Making up songs to help me remeber words, Sis Reis gets a kick when I say things wrong... so do I. Oh its fun! 

This week we have been teaching a family, buddist and catholic back ground... but they are REALLY searching for themselves. Its great working with investigators who REALLY are trying to find the truth. :D oh the work is fabulous!

This weekend we have planned a HUGE activity for the ward, two other areas, investigators, members everyone is invited! and President Ferrin is coming too!!!!! Its really like a big FHE... President Ferrin and Sister Ferrin will share the spiritual thought and we have games and food planned out... a Grande Família! All about family! We´re really excited!

Got mail too! Thank you thank you!

Mom! I love you so much, your card is so cute! thank you!

Jenny Woolley!!!!!!!! I love you cute girl! Man... last year at the Y... crazy!

GREG!!!! I mean Elder Waite... YAY!!!!! LOVE the letter

Thanks Austin! Heard from you too! Love the letter! Hope your head is feeling better

Grandma!!!!!! I love you so much Grandma! Love hearing from you!

Sister Hirst, you are fabulous! thanks for the letters! they mean so much!

Time was short this week.... thank you for your support! The work is coming along... Talking to everyone!

Love you So much! Remember the work is for everyone! Not just those with tags... :D I love you all!

Com amor,

Sister Waite

Transfer Over-WHAT?!?!- Letter #14

Bom Dia tudo mundo!!!! :D I love you!

WOW! Where did these past 6 weeks go?! That was fast... tonight we find out where we go, if we stay... the pressure! Both of my companions have been in Morumbi for 3+ months... they both could go, one could go, I could go... bah! Who knows? Exciting.

The Temple was FANTASTIC!!!!! Wow! Its HUGE!!!!! Especially angel Moroni... its so amazing! It was another testimony to me, that its the EXACT same... differen language... but EXACT SAME! Because there is ONE God, ONE Savior of the World, ONE Gospel.... ONE doctrine. I get so excited everytime we explain this to people... There is ONE God, and He is power and wonderful and just, and he loves you SO much! Each one of us... individually. Reminds me of Pres Ucthdorf´s talk last conference or so... in it he explains that the most MAGNIFICANT being in the UNIVERSE knows you and loves you... Its fantastic to think about, because it´s true! I love the temple, and I~m so grateful for the blessings that come from it, like an eternal family! I LOVE YOU FAMILY! So much! -Jessica, I hope you had a fantastic day yesterday! Feliz Anniversario! Wahoo!!! Sounds like everyone had fun at Grandma~s last night, that makes me happy! I love you Jessica! I love you Family! :D

MIRACLE OF THE WEEK!

We have been teaching José Leonardo... hes abotu 50+ years old... he smoked 44 cigarettes a DAY when we met him. He had the desire to quit, so last sunday we set some goals with him, decreasing the amount he smoked. We suggested decreasing the number by 5 or ten... thats when he said ´oh no, tomorrow I will only smoke 5!´ OK! benig a little skeptic of this... I shouldn~t have... he DDI IT! 5, then 4 then 3 then 2.... then one on Friday... and poof! He isn~t smoking! Yesterday in sunday school he shared a litlte testimonly of faith! ´i did it! i stopped smoking, with faith you can do anytyhing!´ Oh it was fabulous!!! seriously fantastic!

I love you all so much! I know that the EXACT same church that Christ established on the Earth when he was here, exists... today! rigth now! the principles, the doctrines, all of it! Its fantastic!

Have a great week!

Com Amor,

Sister Waite!

Bom Dia!!!-Letter #13

BOM DIA FAMILIA!!!!! E AMIGOS!!!! Woot woot!

I love you! This was a great week!

I GET TO GO TO THE TEMPLE ON WEDNESDAY!!!!! AHHH!!!!! Temple in Campinas! I am so excited! WOOT WOOT! So today, is not PDay... :( thats alright! work work work! But I am so excited for the temple! My companion Sis Reis, this is HER temple that she attends and she says its so pretty... oh I~m stoked! Will take picutres, don~t worry! :D 

I feel so blessed that we have so many temples SO close to us... (in Utah). The sacrifice families make to attend the temple is incredible. they have so much FAITH! Their testimonies are so strong! A family in the ward was sealed last Saturday. It was fantastic to hear how they felt... THATS the reason I~m here, THATS the reason that missionary work is so important! I love the temple! I love the gospel! Oh man.... if you can, PLEASE go to the temple this week! We are so blessed in Utah! I love you!

Hey hey hey... did you know that the cashew nuts we eat, yup the yummy ones, come from a FRUIT! One nut per fruit! Did not know that before the mission... and I tried the fruit for the first time... different, with time I think it would grow on me. Good though! But isn~t that neat?! Interesting fact for the day.

Funny moment of the week, walking to a lesson and POOF! An avacado fell right in front of us! YAY! Fruit from heaven! It was great! (Avacado, milk, and sugar... blend it! So YUMMY!) funny because I had never had sugar with avacado, and Sis Reis has never had it with salt before... I love cultures! Everyone is so different and unique, but we are all really the same! All children of our Heavenly Father who loves us! :D SO MUCH!

Com Muito Amor,

Sister Waite

p.s. made cheesecake this week! Oh yeah... had to use lime instead of lemon (lemon doesnt exist down here) But it reminded me of the family! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH FAMILY!!!!!

Sorry there~s no pictures this week... the computers in this internet house don~t like downloading picutres... bah! Next week!

-A few weeks ago I recieved mail!!! yay!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

-Mom, you are the best! Loved the Pooh Bear dry erase! Oh Pooh! Thank you so much!

-Dad I got your letters! Thank you thank you thank you!

-Grandma! I~m so glad you got my card ON your birthday! :D I love you too! Thanks for the letters!

-JOY PRIOR!!!! I got your Dear Elder! Good luck with school honey! I love you! Go make some adventures!

-Rebecca Waite! I got your Dear Elder! Thanks for the story! It was fabulous! Great to hear from you! Hows temple prep?! So excited for you!

-Sister Hirst... you are AMAZING! thanks for keeping me updated with the ward... and my Mom. It means so much to me! thank you for sharing your experiences too! WOW! Just what I need to hear, every time, thank you so  much!

-YA SISTER ASAY!!!! Oh its great to hear about the work in Tenesse!

-Elder Northcott! Peru is looking great! Man... missions are incredible!

-KATIA HUDSON!!!!! Thank you thank you for your letter! Muito Obrigada! Eu entendei TUDO!!!! Estou animada por quando eu vou voltar! Podemos falar e entender um ao outro! Woot woot!

Letter #12 (Here is the letter)

So many wonderful things happened this week! 

Today was fantastic! the pictures are from our field trip today! Campos do Jordão! Please look it up on google! This town is so amazing!

I am so grateful to be a missionary right now! This week I witnessed a miracle! We had a reference and tried to get a hold of her for 4 or 5 times... 5 no shows... no one home. Then this week she was... and boom! She is incredible! She has so much faith! She is ready to hear about the gospel and the blessings that come from living it! Hearing her story and what she has been through this last month I know she would not have been as receptive! It's amazing to see the work unfold! I absolutely love being a missionary! Yay! I am so grateful to be here in Brazil... it is so beautiful! The gospel is perfect! I bore my testimony yesterday, and gave a talk last week! It was great to see some of the faces in the congregation when I stumbled over sentences... but that's alright! It's the message, not the grammar that counts! haha

I love all of you so much! Had interviews with President this week and got letters!,,promise I will write more next week! Have to zip to noite familiar!

Até Proxima Semana!

Com Amor,

Sister Waite

Letter coming soon!!!-Letter #12

OH MAN!

So many wonderful things happened this week! 

Today was fantastic! the pictures are from our field trip today! Campos do Jordão! please look it up on google! this town is so amazing!

I am so grateful to be a missionary right now! this week i witnessed a miracle! We had a reference and tried to get a hold of her for 4 or 5 times... 5 no shows... no one home. then this week she was... and boom! she is incredible! she has so much faith! she is ready to hear about the gospel and the blessings that come from living it! hearing her story and what she has been through this last month i now she would not have been as receptive! Its amazing to see the work unfold! I absolutely love being a missionary! Yay! I am so grateful to be here in brazil... it is so beautiful! The gospel is perfect! i bore my testimony yesterday, and gave a talk last week! it was great to see some of the faces in the congregation when i stumbled over sentences... but thats alright! its the message, not the grammar that counts! haha

I love all of you so much! Had interviews with president this week and got letters! and your package mom! pooh bear is amazing, and the cooling towel is cool! I love you so much!

promise i will write more next week! have to zip to noite familiar!

I LOVE YOU MOM! I LOVE YOU DAD! I LOVE YOU JESSICA AND DEREK! I LOVE YOU NATALIE AND RHETT! I LOVE YOU ELDER WAITE!!!!! 

Até Proxima Semana!

Com Amor,

Sister Waite!