Feliz Ano Nuevo

Hey guys! Whats up? I have way too much excitement from my e-mails this week and I'm going nuts right now. That and the crazy ADHD I already have are going to make this e-mail crazy. But anyways this week was good.
Monday our Zone all came and had dinner with us at this house in our area. It was way fun. We threw my new football, thanks fam, and we had some great fun. Here on Christmas at 12 everyone does fireworks. I wish I had a video, but I don't. Maybe I'll take one tonight. So we were in the street with a family watching them. The streets were filled with smoke and it looked like a legit war zone. Guate. kind of already looks like that usually. But the smoke added to it. It was the only time in my life I didn't want to stay out anymore. Weird right?

Tuesday-Tuesday was awful. Everyone was sleeping in their houses all day and we could only go visit members and it was the trunkiest worst day ever. But that's how it happens here the week of Christmas.

Wednesday-Wednesday was pretty sweet. We went to the Stakes Apartamietno. It's when all the missionaries leaving get set apart. It's in the Stake Center and everyone goes. It's nuts how they do it here. But a member of the 70 Elder Lopez talked at it and he told a story about a missionary in Chile that was in a crowd and a man was preaching against the Book of Mormon. And the man said, if any of you don't deny this book, I'll shoot you. Everyone didn't say anything obviously cause they weren't members and didn't want to die. But this missionary said, sir that book is true and I wont deny it. The man was true to his word and shot him in the head. This story really touched me because, it shows how we should be as Elders. Don't worry Mom I don't think it'll happen here!

Friday-Friday we had divisions for half the day while Montenegro did our baptismal interview. I was in Mixco with Brown and Galindo. It was pretty fun.

Saturday-Saturday We had the baptism of Lusmar! It was awesome. There was a really strong spirit there. We also had a birthday celebration for Elder Ramirez and I cause it was his birthday and mine is next month. We had cake and lasagna. And like Guate. tradition I had to get my face shoved in the cake. It sucked... But it was a good time.

Sunday-Sunday we had the usual meetings and then we did divisions with Melvin. He came with us to a lesson. The family of the guy we baptized is interested in hearing the lessons after they came to Church a few times! It's sweet.

It was a good week! Congrats to all my friends on their calls! A Train! I know some peeps in your mish! E mail me and I'll tell you about them! Also Mike congrats on Houston! Colby! Yes! I have some friends in Paraguay too! E mail me bro! Z Rod, my boy.... Freaking Guatemala. That's all I got to say to you! I love Guate. I cant wait until you know it too. I might see you in the Temple or something who knows. Best friends all speaking Spanish. Except Beck. But we forgive him. Love you guys.

Happy new year everybody!

 

Love Elder White

 

 

Lusmar's Baptism

December 29, 2012

 

 

 

Elder White with birthday cake on his face

 

Christmas 2012

Elder White was able to Skype with his family for 45 minutes on Christmas Eve.  He e-mailed that morning and let his family know that he would be able to Skype at 2:30 PM.  2:30 came and went, and Elder White wasn't on Skype!  Around 2:45, he called his brother Russell to let him know that he wouldn't be able to Skype until later that day because he wasn't done with his appointments yet. 
Elder White's family anxiously waited and he finally called his around 5:45.The family met Elder Mejia and Elder White said that he had received all of his Christmas presents and he was very grateful for them.  He then spoke about an investigator he has grown close to and he has been working with since he first got into the field.  Elder White got teary as he told us that he really loved this investigator and that he is planning on asking him if he will be baptized this week!  So exciting!
Elder White also said that Guatemala is very different and he is still getting used to it. He really loves his companion and the people.  He is not able to go out after 5:30 PM without a member because of the recent kidnapping, but that hasn't slowed him down!  He is a hard worker and even has a hand-written sign above his desk that says "Don't waste the Lord's time". 
Elder White then got to see his niece Lilly for the first time (except for pictures) since she was about 30 hours old.  He said "She's so big!"  and he again got teary as Lilly stared at him as he spoke. 
Elder White said that all of the Missionaries in his district were going to dinner at a member's house and it sounded like they were having a fun day.  While Elder White was talking, his family could hear a "booming" noise in the background.  His brother Ryan asked him "what is that noise?  Is there a racket ball court in the Church?"  Elder White said that those were fireworks and they happen almost every night in Guatemala.
Elder White then recorded video messages for his friends and family and he asked his two older brothers, Russell & Jordan for advice about his mission.  They both told him to keep working hard and to love the people (even if it is hard sometimes).  Elder White then said goodbye - his family told him how much they love him and how proud they are of him.  He is such a great example to his family and friends and they are grateful for the sacrifice he is making by choosing to serve his Heavenly Father. 

Los Cremas

Hey everyone!!! Whats up? This week was a weird week. That's the best word to describe it I think!

Monday - we went to this huge mall here called Mirra Flores with the District! It was way fun. We ate at I-Hop and got Blizzards at Dairy Queen. It was like being in the states. It was weird. All the white people were at I-Hop and our comps somewhere else. Ha ha typical.

Tuesday - Tuesday we found out that they were adding two new missionaries to our ward because, the mission is getting so many missionaries right now. I was not excited cause, our area is tiny already. So we had to find a new house for them and everything. We also had a lesson with our investigator who we'd only met with once and he'd just come to Church with us. He told us he'd read all first Nephi from when we met with him Friday before Church Sunday and prayed about it and in Church he received his answer that the Church is true. It was sweet. He's getting baptized Saturday! It was awesome!

Wednesday - We helped the new missionaries move in and showed them the area a little bit. It was fun, but its weird having 4.

Thursday - Thursday we had a reunion with my group in the house of President Stay! It was way fun seeing all of my friends in the group. We were all sharing stories about all the crazy stuff in Guate. It was way fun. They were all telling me about their Comps and stuff and I'm so glad that I have the one that I do. He's awesome. He's taught me so much in such little time. I've never seen someone who has so much love for all other people that he knows. It's incredible. Our investigator right now he told me that he is his biggest concern in the whole mission and he was crying talking about when we can baptize him. He's giving him his suit coat for his baptism. What a guy. My prayers for my two months in the MTC for a good companion were for sure answered.

Friday - Friday was "El 13 B'aktun" when the world was supposed to end. We were helping the new missionaries in another area move and we got a call that said we couldn't go anywhere without a member all day. So we were stuck in their area for all day in the Church! It was nuts. Really boring. But there was an activity that night so we spent all day setting it up.

Saturday - We had a little girl in our Ward get baptized. I wish I took a picture, but I didn't! She's the cutest little girl ever! Except for Lilly. It was awesome. We also had an appointment with our investigator that I've taught the most. From the second day here! He told us if he could he'd get baptized tomorrow. But he has to go to Church again. So hopefully this week we'll get a date for him to get baptized!

Sunday - Sunday was weird. I was sick all day and we only went to sacrament and after had to go back and rest. It was rough, but I'm all better now. We think it was something I ate, but we don't know what. It made me feel really good that members and investigators were calling all day to see how I was feeling. That makes me feel like they know I love them cause, they were showing love for me.

Merry Christmas everyone!!! I love you all!

 

Love Elder White

 

 

 

Elder White & Elder McMillan

with their Machete's

 

 

Elder White as "Batman"

 

 

Called To Serve

 

 

Elder Mejia

 

 

Elder White & Elder Hanson

 

 

Elder White & Elder Mejia

Cheers!

 

 

Elder White & Elder McMillan

 

 

Elder White & Elder Steed

 

 

Elder White kissing a lizard

 

 

Elder White loves pineapples!!

 

 

No eres tu cuando tienes hambre

This week was nuts. Last Monday we went to Sera Luz which is a huge park thing with swings and everything. It was cool. I have some sweet videos I'll send.

Wednesday-I hit 3 months! It was crazy! But it's whatever. This Hermana in the other ward hit my hands with this stick she does it to every new elder in the zone then, we have to sign it. It was fun.

Thursday-We had the Christmas Devotional with President Stay and Hermana Stay. It was really good. I got to see Elder Bean so that was fun!

Friday-I got a package. I got two Monday too. But it was all broken. I was like... that's so "guate" of them to break my package. And it was way "guate" of them. But thanks for it! It had the tree and everything! . We also contacted our reference we got from the church headquarters and he's great! He cam to church yesterday too!

Saturday-We sang as a district in the Parque de Mixco Saturday! It was sweet. Lots of people came and watched us. And after we had a lesson with one investigator that we had a lesson with my second day here and he was not receptive at all. And Saturday night we were talking and he told us they started an account to save money for his one year old daughter to go on a mission!!! We just need to get him to church twice more before we can baptize him. In Guate. you have to go to church three times before baptism. Unlike those Africa and state sides missions where you just go once... (Easy stuff for them). I also heard a pitbull song in the street and I understand the Spanish part and I was like, what? That's cool. So that's also a blessing of another language... Or a curse.

Sunday-Sunday our Stake had the presentation of the Stake Choirs and we all sang with our wards. It was awesome! There was a really strong Spirit there and I loved it. Love you guys! Hey my boy Ry Price, I'll drop you an email maybe if I have time so you'll have it next week! But if not write me when you get in the MTC! On email of course cause, I wont get your letter before you leave the MTC. I'm stoked to add you to my missionaries I email every week!

For my thought I just want to send my new favorite scriptures! Doctrine and Covenants 130: 20 and 21. It's great. Love you all. I hope you all have a great Christmas! I probably will just call cause we dont' have webcams in the church and that's where we have to skype from! But love you all.

 

Love,

 

Elder White

 

 

 

3 Months!!!

 

 

Elder White & Mama Chapina

 

 

Eating fried plantinos and drinking bagged water

 

 

Elder White, Elder Dickson & Elder Brown

at Sera Luz

 

 

Elder Dickson kissing a lizard that we caught

at Sera Luz

 

 

Elder White & Elder Mejia

Fireworks and People Burning Satan

This week was nuts! Guatemala is freaking weird! Monday we had lunch with our ward mission leaders family for p day. It was sweet Had some great flan. Then we accidentally knocked on another churches door cause churches here don't always look like churches.

Wednesday-Wednesday we had divisions and a bat tried to attack us when we were contacting. It followed us for 10 minutes and I was scared. But there were fireworks that we watched after we got home for the night. There are like every day for no reason here.

Thursday-We helped deliver a wreath to this Sister in our ward and it was great. She loved it!

Friday-Friday was a holiday they have here where they burn piñatas of the devil. It was weird, but sweet. There were just piles of fire everywhere in the streets. We didn't do it, but everywhere people were doing it. It was nuts!

Sunday-We had stake conference and it was awesome,. They Stake President spoke as well as two members of the temple presidency of the temple and president and hermana stay too! It was really goo. As well as a member of the 70!

This week was pretty good. I love seeing all these calls every week. Its sweet! Make sure to get ready everyone. Every missionary in the world will say they wish they were more prepared.

But I'd also like to say Happy Birthday this week to Grandpa, TY Harris, Whitey, Ryan Price, and Anthony Salazaar!!! Love you guys! Have a great week! Love you guys all. The Church is true!

 

Love, Elder White

 Elder White making quesdadilla's in his house

 

 

 

 

 The City of Mixco

 

 

 

 

 Doing the laundry

Who Said Guate City Ain't Hip Hop?

This week was sweet! This Monday we had FHE with the ward and it was awesome. Then Tuesday we had divisions and I was with the ZL Elder Tracy. We had a good time. We had a ward movie night, but we couldn't watch it obviously so we made the refreshments with our Ward Mission Leader and his wife. The Ward is way awesome. Then we walked one of the older ladies in the Ward home because, it was late and she didn't want to walk alone. We also had choir practice with the district cause, were singing in Mixco Parque on the 15th. It will be cool.

Wednesday we had our interviews with the President. It was awesome and he told us what we need to do with the FHE´s and such.

Thursday Elder Mejia and I were tracting and waiting at this door and this girl walked by, but we were waiting so we didn't want to start trying to teach her while waiting for other people to come to the door so we didn't say anything. And she was like, "Hola buenas tardes" and pushed back her hair and winked at us. And we were like "Buenas" and then in my head I though, "snake". And no lie 5 seconds later Elder Mejia just goes, "snake". It was really funny.

Friday we helped our boy Melvin move. But he still lives in the ward so that's good! We also met a guy while tracting named Moses. We were at this door and he walked up and started talking to us. He was like, I don't go to church, but Ive been studying a bunch of religions cause, I'm just looking for the truth. And when we heard that we freaked out cause, were like, we have the truth! We had a good 40 minute conversation with him and we have an appointment with him tomorrow night. He said he wants to learn everything about the Church. He is sweet. Saturday our ward had a party with sports and everything. We played basketball and ping pong with the ward. It was awesome.

Sunday we had testimony meeting and it was sweet. We then had the Christmas devotional in the night and our investigator that we've been trying to get to go to Church came to it! And he loved it! It was awesome. Sorry emailing is hard because, there's so much to do and our computers aren't very good. But I just want everyone to know I love you all and I love hearing from you. I also want you all to know that we have an orange tree at our chapel that I eat oranges off of every Sunday. I forgot that. But I've been trying to send pictures. I'll get some printed and send them in a package hopefully. 

Everyone I want you all to know that I love you. And that it was a good week! 

 

Con amor, from Guate.

 

Elder Nicholas White       

Para siempre dios este con vos