A Sad Farewell to Gaarde

Transfer day

Good day everyone!

Well it is transfer day and things have been changed a bit. Sister A and I already knew for a week or so now that we were losing Gaarde ward and we are so sad. After the last lesson with one of our investigators last week, we promptly got in the car and started crying. But we know that this is for the best. We started preparing for only one ward and it just felt like a huge weight was taken off our shoulders. We never even realized that we were so overwhelmed until this moment. People were getting lost in the cracks. President must have trusted us a lot because we are both so fresh and we were given the amazing and rare opportunity to cover two wards in this mission. 

We had interviews with President Ballard last Wednesday and he has been challenging all the missionaries to write home "small plates" instead of "large plates." He is all about making sure our personal studies are beneficial because that is what starts a good missionary for the day. He asked us to ask a question going into studies and seek to not just understand them, but really know why it is important and how to teach it (gain the intelligence). This week I didn't have a set question but I did want to study more about Joseph Smith and his life as he translated the Book of Mormon. It shouldn't come as a surprise that many people out here have read anti material and I really wanted to build that extra shield to protect myself against it and just gain a stronger testimony of Joseph Smith. 

As I read a lot of great material, including the Testimony of Joseph Smith at the beginning of the Book of Mormon, I came to realize more and more what I already knew. Joseph Smith was simply a human; a human that went through more trials than I can even imagine. Sure, he had thoughts that weren't exactly in line with God's will, but he overcame them. Joshoph Smith History even states that he had "frequently [fallen] into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature." However, he was conscious of his shortcomings and pleaded for forgiveness, doing his best to remain pure. He never said he was a perfect man. Doesn't that sound just like us? "Saints are sinners who keep on trying."

 In the article "The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon" by Matthew S. Holland it talks all about the lose of the 116 pages and how after that point, the plates were taken from Joseph and he was very sorrowful for what he did. That was what changed everything. Sure he made mistakes, HUGE mistakes. But the Lord did forgive him and from that moment, Joseph "began a pace of religious contribution the likes of which the world had not seen since the personal ministry of Jesus Christ." Joseph and Oliver Cowdery then translated 588 pages of the Book of Mormon in 65 working days. I encourage you all to read this article if you haven't already because it goes on to talk about how correct every bit of information is historically and how no mere man could have done that alone. 

What strengthened my testimony the most was in Doctrine and Covenants 135:3:

"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!"

This church is the true and living church upon this earth. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and he did come upon this earth and perfected His Gospel. Joseph Smith did restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ once again and the Book of Mormon does contain the fulness of it. It is another testament of Jesus Christ and should be read "EVERYDAY, EVERYDAY, EVERYDAY." I know these things with a surety in my heart. 

Have a grand week and I can't wait to hear from all of you! Love each and every one of you!

-Sister Waite 

Picture:  Saying goodbye to the Grimmius family.

When missionaries and balloons unite

A Phone Call from God

Hello!

On Tuesday we went and saw M. It had been a pretty terrible day and Sister A and I were just not enjoying it. But we walked into their house and the first thing that M and her mom said to us was that they had been reading and praying together. They just lit up when they said that and were practically dancing in their kitchen. It was so great to see how happy they were! It immediately lifted our spirits and brightened our day! Her brother even stayed and talked with us a bit which is something that M said he has never done with missionaries. After our lesson, we took M to stake volleyball and it was a blast!

Wednesday we took some time to call some part member families and see if we could come by. In the middle of these phone calls, we got a call from a number we didn't recognize. I answered and it was silent on the other side. So Sister A looked the number up in our area book and we found out it was from an investigator who hadn't been interested. We called back and it said there was an error and the number hadn't been in use for a while. There was literally no way that someone could have called us from that number, yet it did. We hadn't even been looking at this lady and definitely hadn't called her. So what happened? Well it was our Heavenly Father giving us a phone call, obviously! We went to her house but she wasn't home and the man told us would we come come back in a few days. Heavenly Father was just putting her in our sights for right now!

There is a family in one of our wards that we had a harder time connecting with (members). We had an MRL (member referral lesson, where they set up a date to do missionary work) with them and so we decided that we would tract their neighborhood and show them that we were putting in work, so they could too. That really opened them up and they were so on board. The father gave us some names of a member family that no one could find and so we went out to tract their apartment complex. We found out that they don't live there anymore but we had time and decided to keep tracting there. We were running out of time and almost didn't finish with the last two doors. Then the saying that Elder Jacobson, District Leader, said came up, "If you love them, you will knock. Do you not love them enough to knock? or knock again?" So we knocked and found this family who was so prepared! They were Spanish speakers and we didn't want to be poachers, so we reluctantly gave this family up to the Spanish Elders. It was a little sad, but we know that we will be blessed for finding that family and that we will receive someone who is prepared for us!

This is what the Spanish Elder's later told us:

They had decided to do a miracle find (pray that there will be a miracle amongst their tracting a really rich neighborhood) but by the end, they hadn't really found anyone. A few minutes later, we called them and gave them this great prepared family! We were their miracle! The Elders went and met the family and they are doing so great!

Thursday was our one month anniversary of being a companionship! Friday we didn't have anyone feeding us (a rare occasion) so we went out to eat at a Mexican Restaurant and it was a great celebration. Anniversary dinner for the win!

MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING PEOPLE! We got out of a lesson and were driving to do some finding when I look out the window and see Karleen, a lady we have never met but the Spirit told us who she was when we see her walking all over this town. I saw her walk into McDonalds and did my Drew thing were I yelled her name and Sister A quickly pulled over. We had no clue what we were going to say, but knew we needed to talk to her. We walked in and Sister A looked in her bag to find anything that would help. I just walked up to her, towards the restrooms, she turned around and not knowing what else to do, I just said "Hi, how are you? What is your name?" Awkward right? But it had to be done! She said her name and then Sister A and I did the worst surprised expressions ever and explained that we were the missionaries who had been leaving her notes! She was so nice and open to us and hopefully we can actually see her soon! Then a man came up and gave us a gift card and said he was paying for our lunch! But we weren't there for food, so we slipped out when he wasn't looking.. We still appreciate it!

Something that has been on my mind is the Grace of God. Grace is the "divine assistance and endowment of strength from God. He pours out blessings of power and strength, enabling us to achieve things that otherwise would be far beyond our reach. It bestows temporal blessings and spiritual gifts that magnify our abilities and enrich our lives. His grace refines us. His grace helps us become our best selves." -President Uchtorf

Keep being member missionaries and know that God loves you! He really does.

And I do too!

-Sister Waite

Meri's brother let us try on his super awesome
 Storm Trooper helmets!

A Friendly Reminder:  Do your Family History!

Another Day, Another Dawn

our awesome trip with the Elders.
Waiting in line at Voodoo Donuts

Hello Beautiful People!

So update on Downtown Portland:

It is so fun! But there are definitely A TON of homeless people! and it kind of smells everywhere... We got permission to drive our car down there and met up with some great Elder's who showed us around. Our mission only goes half-way through the bridges towards Vancouver so we walked half-way on the bridge which was really fun. Then we walked over to Voodoo Donuts. I definitely got a super yummy and filling doughnut with Oreo and peanut butter on top. Let's just say, there was no way we could get any food truck food that day! We will leave that for the next adventure in Downtown. We also went by a homeless camp and as we were walking, I saw Elder Willie (funniest person ever) flinch and then look at me with a smile on his face. I was so confused until I looked down and saw a real life human turd on the sidewalk next to me! All the Elders laughed so hard as I frantically ran away laughing. Powell's bookstore was our next stop and it is HUGE. We saw some other great sights and funny people! Great P-day to say the least!

It ain't downtown without some Voodoo

This week was really weird. We did some service every morning for a non-member couple in Gaarde ward. We walked their dogs at 7:30 and then they fed us breakfast, which meant our studies were pushed back and it just was such an off week. It was a great week though! We were fortunate to provide a lot of service. Including when Elder Jacobson, our District Leader, totally tricked us into cleaning a house for a Jewish couple who use missionaries for service. But it was all good and we did it gladly. We also cleaned out the garage of this old man and then our new favorite less-active sister, P, pulled up and ended up helping us too! She had just gone to the farmers market and bought us flowers! She is the kindest lady and we really love her.

Speaking of P, she has been our little miracle. We have been trying for a long time to get a hold of her and a couple weeks ago we finally did! She had us come over and it was just perfect timing. She has had a hard year and things were finally going better THAT VERY DAY we visited. She has two cats who don't ever come out to see anyone, but they did for us and she was just so amazed and kept saying that we were "special young ladies." The next time we went to her house, she said she was quitting smoking the next day. We definitely have seen so many amazing miracles with her and get to have dinner with her this Wednesday which we are SUPER excited about!!

Sister A and I got to sit in during a Patriarchal Blessing for a lady named Rose who we love. She has come back to church and is just the most amazing person. It was the coolest experience!

Saturday night at around 8 I was asked to give a talk in Sacrament at 9 the next morning. Well, I was one of TWO speakers. I ended up talking for 20 minutes and I prepared for 30! The Lord definitely helps you when you need it because some how that was probably one of the best talks I have ever given in church.

I loved what our Zone Leader, Elder Wilkinson, said in District meeting this week. He gave some really long and seemingly pointless story about his childhood but then related it back to joy and it was great! He talked about how "men are that they might have joy." This life is not a steady stream of sorrow with little intervals of joy, it is a joyful path with bits of trials and sorrow. There will always be happiness right around the corner. ENJOY the path, don't just endure it.

Love you all!

-Sister Waite

One Month Down

Hello people!

What a quick week. There is so much to say, but I already forgot half of it. 

First off, Sister A and I study in the park every morning. One day, a lady was walking by us and this was our conversation:

"Hi guys! How are you today?"- lady 

"We are good! How are you?"- us

"Good! So what school do you guys go to?" -her

"Oh, we are actually missionaries and we are just studying here!" -us

"Oh okay, I just see you here everyday and I wanted to make you aren't homeless"- lady 

*she walks away*

"uhh, thanks?"- us

I guess that is what we get when we have blankets wrapped around us and we look half asleep still. haha

A church that is on the same street as our church building has some of the best quotes on their church board every week and I thought I would share them with you every week. I forgot the last few times so here are a few:

"worry is the darkroom where negatives develop"

"God answers kneemail"

"avoid truth decay, brush up on the bible"

"little is much when God is in it"

"love is its own reward, bitterness its own punishment"

AND THE BEST ONE:

"hipster Jesus loved you before you were cool" -such a Portland Oregon thing to say

On a more spiritual note, this week has been so great! Our investigators are progressing so much and we have been doing quite a bit of finding lately. We hope to see some fruit from our labors. The Lord's timing is impeccable. We went to teach Juliette and had something planned for the lesson. As we were sitting there talking to her, she asked some questions about temples and right then she received a call from her son who she hasn't talked to in quite a while. It gave us just the perfect amount of time to change what we felt prompted to teach her. We just looked at each other and knew that talking about the temple was what was needed at this time and it was such a great lesson!

Drew, previously known as "Skinny Santa," has been making leaps and bounds! He came to church before we had even finished teaching The Restoration and it has been so amazing to see the way this Gospel has changed him. His personality has even become different in a very good way. He has a hard time with sacrament because of the noise from the children (Bull Mountain ward is pretty large and has A TON of children) but he still says he likes coming for "Bible Study." 

The other day we were supposed to have a lesson with him and we had some members go to his apartment to pick him up so we could have the lesson at their house. They called and said he wasn't home! We were so disappointed. Before this lesson, we had some time so we thought  we would go "inspiration door knocking." Sister A told me to tell her where to go with my "greenie fire" so I said to turn right and go on Bull Mountain Road. I just said whatever popped in my head first. I told her to make some turns and then I picked a house. We continued to do this for awhile with really no luck. We never said anything, but I think we both hoped we would have some cool story about it. We went to go drive to Drew's apartment and as we were turning onto the main road, I screamed' "DREWWW!!" and frantically pointed out the window. Drew was sitting at the bus station and Sister A quickly pulled over. We figured out a ride for him to the members house and all was right in the world again. We might not have found any new investigators, but we found Drew! Had we not gone on that road, we never would have had the lesson we had that night. Talk about miracles right there!

Life is so great and I am so happy to be here as a missionary!! 

I want to quote what my dad wrote me this week. He is so inspired!

"The first month is in the history books and you have only seventeen to go.  I say that not in means of a count down of you returning home but as a time limit to your potential successes.  I am sure you felt that first month came and went like a thief in the night.  With as much as you accomplished, that was just a warm up.  It is now time to pick up the pace and start jogging."

I am going to continue to give my 100% and am so thankful for the love and prayers and letters I receive from all of you. Keep doing your best to be member missionaries because you will be able to help out in His work far much quicker than we can at times. I am headed off to Downtown Portland in a bit so tune in next week for a fun summary of the adventures that lie ahead!! (:

Love you all,

Sister Waite

Pictures:

While on splits in Cedar Creek this week,
we found the ghost busters car!

We made a fort last night because our room was
too hot to sleep in last night

-Stepping in faith one large foot at a time...

Small and Simple Miracles

-Sister A and I got some rad face paintings

Hello!

Is it seriously already Monday?? Where did the week go!

Let's see if I can be orderly in this email.. It's so hard to remember everything! Well for starters, I LOVE MY COMPANION. Sister A is seriously so fun and quirky and I love it! She is the best trainer I could have asked for! And we totally jam out to spiritual music. Our current favorite is "Hark the Herald, Angels Sing" by Pentatonics. Life is never boring, that's for sure. My favorite thing about her is her prayers. This is an example: "Thanks for allowing us to have zone meeting.. even though I don't like meetings. It was good..Probably what I needed." and "oh and so and so, HOLY MOLY that kid!! Please help us to know what to do with him." 

-Studying at the park on P-day

When I first got out here, Elder and Sister Joy said that I looked just like their daughter so I told Sister A that I might get that a lot. I didn't know how much! Last week, about 5 people said I looked like someone they know. I must just have one of those faces? It is definitely a blessing because then people feel comfortable around me and open up to us!

So there is a guy out here, his name is MS and TC is really good friends with him and his wife. We decided one day to visit him because our area book said he hadn't been contacted in awhile. We knocked on the door and he immediately let us in. He was so kind and basically told us he is a dry Mormon. It seems that his wife isn't too interested which could be why he hasn't joined the church. But he knows it is true and told us that himself. A few days later, after a hard but good lesson, we arrived home and had a text from Sister Ballard telling us to call her. We instantly were wondering what we could have possibly done wrong. We called and she said that MS had texted her (he knows them well too). He said that we were great representatives of the church and mentioned a few other nice things. He also told her that we had forgotten a sweater at his house and he could bring it to the ward or we could pick it up (Good Job Sister A!! She didn't even do it on purpose). We had her text him back and say that we would be at church at 2 and he could bring it then. He never did show up but we went to his house after and assume he is on a trip with his wife. When we had visited, he kept saying that we should come back to visit. I think he really does want to join the church but just doesn't know how to go about it with his wife. Sister Ballard told us how proud she was of us which was such a great thing to hear after such a difficult night. 

Sister A and I had a less busy day on Thursday so we went to visit M and her mom, both less-active. We were a little later then we had planned but that ended up being perfect because M pulled up right then. Had we been any earlier, we would have missed the opportunity to visit them. They are the sweetest people and we read a chapter in the scriptures with them. While reading, her mom got a phone call. When she came back, we had finished and were talking about the chapter. She looked like she was going to cry but was almost glowing. It turns out that she had been worried about her job because she just had surgery and is taking some time off. She had been waiting for a phone call about her job and they told her that she could take as much time as she needed and they would find her a spot when she came back. Then M received a phone call from her job and was told some wonderful news also. They both knew that these miracles had come because of reading the scriptures. The Lord works in such miraculous ways.

D, our "skinny Santa," has changed so much. I love seeing the way the Gospel of Jesus Christ can uplift, strengthen, and humble those that we are teaching. D came to church yesterday and stayed for all 3 hours!! We have only taught him the Restoration too! He was in Sunday School answer all of these questions about the Atonement and Sister A and I were literally left with our jaws dropped. What an amazing man! Not only did D come to church, but M did also! We had so many of our less-actives and investigators come and it was the best thing. I can understand now why people always say that missions are "the hardest but best decision you ever make." The change I see in others, and the change I see in myself are just incredible.

Yesterday, Sister A commented, "We are fasting for the Salvation of [his] soul." That just hit me so hard because here I am, 19 years old and I have been given this ridiculously hard but great job to bring others unto Christ through the Spirit. Nothing I have done in my life has been as great as what I have set before me.

This whole week was so spiritually uplifting and amazing, but Saturday we got to have some spiritual fun! We did service all day. In the morning we started our day by helping the achievement day girls. They were having a 3 mile walk to the Portland Temple from our church building and there were some fun stations along the way to help teach them about Temples. We got to be Station 5 and so we just sat on the sidewalk waiting for them to come. It was the first rainy day here and so everyone was out walking in the nice weather. The Temple matron even walked by and talked with us for a bit. Later that day, we went to Party in the Park in Beaverton. It was like a smaller scaled Logandale Fair but it was such a blast! Sister A and I got to do face painting again for a few hours and it was just so fun with all of our Elders from our zone as well as from other zones. 

I am having such a great time here in Oregon and am so grateful for the sweet letters I receive from you! I love you all and miss you!! Have another great weekend and Endure to the End because greater happiness than you can possibly comprehend is in store. 

-Sister Waite

Pictures:

-This is our view at all times: pretty trees and our ducks in a row

Sister Cuenca and Hermana Mercado and I all matched at Zone Conference

A Week in Oregon

Good Morning!

(Names are removed at times to respect privacy)

It has been a crazy but good week! Transitioning into a Missionary actually out in the field is hard work! There are days where you just think, "what am I doing here?" and then you really think about it and you just say to yourself, "well I felt that this is where I need to be so I am gonna enjoy each and every second! It will get better, just gotta be patient and lose myself in the work!" So that is what I am trying to do. 

Sometime last week (the days literally fuse together), we went to go visit a less active lady named K. When we parked, Sister A realized that this was the wrong place and we actually came to L's instead. L is also less-active. Sister A asked if I would back her out but I just said that we should go knock on her door because this couldn't just be a coincidence. So we went and knocked but she had left like minutes before we came. My hope kinda fell.. then her daughter said that she would be home the next day at 2 and we could come back then. We did come back and she was there and she talked to us for a solid hour with us barely fitting in words here and there. Sister A and I just kept praying in our heads that we would know what to say but we both felt like we just needed to listen. So we did. Well, she felt so comfortable with us that she ended up having us set up an appointment to meet with her tommorrow! Follow the promptings!

We also had dinner with the McG's who are not members but are really kind and wanted to feed us. They had one son serve a mission and one that is out serving in Salt Lake!! Golden investigators. We taught them the Restoration and when we were done they said that we were the best missionaries that they have had over so that made us feel pretty good. We invited them to read the BOM and they said that they had never read a page. We are hoping that when we visit with them again, they either will have read or we can get them to. 

We also taught a man named C. Back story: he is apparently a hard person to teach. He always gets off track and asks weird questions. I was really worried to teach him, especially with it being the Plan of Salvation. To make matters worse, we think Sister A must of had food poisoning that night and so I was basically left by myself to teach this man. He did try to get off track, but I kept him on the right track with most questions. At one point, we talked about mormon funerals and he wanted to watch one, so I was reminded by the Spirit of Elder Packer's funeral! I invited him to watch that and he seemed happy to do so. A little while later, while talking about trials, he turned to me, and as if prompted, he said that he felt like I had gone through hard times. It was so weird because I was happy as could be and was just thinking about the lesson but when he said that I was so overwhelmed by the Spirit that I started to tear up and said that yes, of course I had gone through trials and hard times in my life and then I bore my testimony. He told me after the lesson that because I shared with him some personal things, he felt more human and could more easily learn what we were teaching. Sister A said that it was like Spirit was talking to Spirit. Pretty cool experience. 

We got to do some service as a Zone at a community prepardness fair. It was really fun and had face painting, a band, and free food. Sister A and I got to do some face painting and then of course, a member asked to send a picture to my mom. Sheesh, my mom gets so many pictures! Which reminds me, in church yesterday, Sister Agnesse turns and says, "do you know Erika and Dennis Whitmore??" I said yes! and she ended up sending a picture to her but pretended like she didn't.. but that is so cool because she is in our ward and we teach her husband sometimes!! :-)

As far as church, we have two wards and go to church all day. When you have 6 hours of just church plus hours at meetings, 3 hours of church is nothing! And it truly was the best day! I loved going to church that long because I was just so full of the spirit the whole time. There is a great push to keep your ENTIRE Sabbath Day holy. I would like to challenge all of you to put a little more effort in doing your best to keep the Sabbath a day of sacrifice to the Lord. I loved what a return missionary said yesterday in Sacrament Meeting: "Most of us charge our phones @ night because we want to use it the next day. If we don't have it, we feel weird and lost. Same should be with our spiritual batteries. We charge them every Sunday and use it through the week. Without it, we are lost." Don't let it become a burden, but rather a day full of preparing for the week ahead. 

On Friday, we were blessed to have had Elder Ballard speak to us missionaries. All 200 of us were in this little chapel and we got to spend 2 hours with him. I SHOOK AN APOSTLES HAND. I didn't really feel any different, but it is still a cool thing! I loved that he said, "When Christ needs you the most, don't fear the world. He needs you." Sometimes we forget that we can do all things through Him and we don't need to be afraid. Just do your best and keep pushing through. I know that I need to do the same thing out here. "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."

I appreciate all of you! I know that your confidence in me pushes me forward everyday. Love you all!

Sister Waite

First Days in Portland

Ok, so I know that last week was a little short and didn't have too many details so I wrote a list of funny things (to me) that were said or happened at the MTC:

• The first day we were there, Sister Berrett and her comp Sister Logsdon were in our room when we got there. Sister Berrett's mattress had huge yellow spots on it and so she was kinda freaking out. Before the other two Sister's (that we didn't know yet) came up, we quickly switched the mattresses! We didn't tell Sister Forsgren and Sister Burns until the night before Sister Burge and I left!
• We all called each other "Seeesteerrss"
• We ate plums off a tree during kickball with half our zone and we talked about how the fruit was from "the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil." Elder Smith took a bite and said, "Am I going home now?"
• Sunday morning we were using two different plugs to blow dry hair and blew a fuse for our room and the two rooms next to us.. We were already running late for meetings so that was fun!
• The first morning the alarm went off and, half asleep, I rolled over to pray. Sister Berrett announced that it went off an hour early so I instantly fell on my pillow and silently said, "I'll finish my prayer later Heavenly Father, I promise." 
• Everyone ALWAYS had pen marks all over themselves and tide pens were always in use. 
• Being on the top bunk without a ladder and trying to make my bed as I was laying in it. I almost fell off the bed so many times. 
• Saturday, we cleaned showers for service. You could hear my room of Sisters harmonizing to hymns while we scrubbed mold off the walls with toothbrushes. Best service project to date. (and yes, we sounded awesome)
• As we were studying outside one day, a baby bird fell out of the nest in the tree next to us and our teacher laughed so hard when we described the slight thud we heard. 

The night before I left the MTC, we had some devotionals that really talked about being legendary missionaries and inviting others to come unto Christ at all opportunities. I prayed that night that I would have an opportunity to do so at the airport or on the plane. Well, no such luck. I got seated in between Elder Petterson (Kyler Leavitt look alike) and Elder Willie. I love them, but they aren't really investigators. I felt a little disappointed but then the flight attendant came by with coffee. She glanced at us and then turned her back to offer some to the people sitting across from us. We all started laughing because it was obvious she knew who we are. She turned to us and joined our laughter and then asked," why can't you drink coffee but you can drink coke?" I instantly started talking about the Word of Wisdom and invited her to pray about it if she still had questions. She then asked how Sisters stay safe on our missions and I told her that we are on the Lord's errand so we believe that He will protect us if that is His will. I looked directly at her and simply said, "I have faith." She looked at me and said, "I believe you do. I can see it in your eyes. You Elders BETTER take care of her." and then walked away only to rejoin us a few minutes later to reiterate what she had already said. When we walked off the plane, she told me that I was going to do great as a missionary and wished me luck. I would say my prayers were answered. 

 The MTC ended up being so great and I really didn't want to leave my companion, district, zone or room buddies. I miss them all so much! BUT I am here in Oregon now! We woke up at 2:50 in the am and got here at 9:30. Our mission president and family took us to the temple and then we had a little training at the stake center. I was so nervous to find out who my companion was and knowing I would immediately go out to work made me real nervous. My companions name is Sister Abplanalp (Sister A) and she is AWESOME! She has only been out for 3 months and is already training which is so cool. She is so sweet and I instantly felt so much better, even though Sister Burge and I finally had to say goodbye to each other. So, I am in Tigard, Oregon right now and we are in charge of 2 wards and they already have 4 investigators with baptismal dates! She said that they get so many referrals and rarely go tracting because they are so busy teaching!

This morning, as we were studying, we got a knock on the door from Drew (skinny santa) and he was bringing us a "care package." Apparently he is the neighbor downstairs who the Sisters were always just nice to but never taught. He calls us "Sisters of the Faith" and he knocked like two more times after dropping of the package to give us more stuff. The last time he came, he looked at us and said," Can you teach me about Jesus?" I almost fell to the floor! Sister A said that he was never interested and that she never did anything different but he just needed someone to be nice to him I guess. Of course we said," Yes, we would LOVE to teach you." Little does he know that those are the words every missionary wants to hear. So that was pretty amazing.

Today is my p-day and next week it will be on Monday. Sister Eddy, the ward mission leader's wife, and her little boys took us to a berry farm today where we picked blueberries and raspberries and it was SO FUN! The fruit was amazing and we ate so much of it! I already got some Oregon experience done. She fed us lunch and we went on our way. I have already been treated so well and have had such cool experiences already! The members here are great and feed us every night and do so much missionary work themselves. I love it!

ELDER BALLARD is coming to speak to us on Friday! It really is so cool to have his son as our Mission President and his daughters kept saying," yeah, my grandpa, Elder Ballard, the apostle...." which was just so weird to think about. I am so excited to be here in Oregon and can tell that I will want to move back here when I got off my mission. IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

 

I love and miss you all and am so grateful for the support. Keeping doing amazing things and amazing things will happen to you!

Love,

Sister Waite

P.S. everyone lied. It has been so sunny here and Sister A says that it has been this way this whole time she has been here.