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!