Elder White has another BAPTISM THIS SATURDAY!

June 6, 2011

Week 15

Howdy,

Well man I am beat. Today we went to the ruins of Yaxha, wow! That was so amazing, such a neat experience. It is so cool just to imagine this place with the nephites and lamanites. It was so amazing to be on top of temples just looking out at jungle. Such a cool experience.

We got changes and good news I get to stay in the area. I am so excited to stay here and to keep the work going and just working hard. I think the rain might be starting so it will start getting cooler. The bugs are starting to get crazier which is really annoying.

This Saturday we have another family to baptize. Oscar and Olga they were the first people I contacted in my area cool stuff. The plan is to get them married that baptized right after it will be so amazing. Our branch is so awesome they are planning the whole thing I am so excited for this opportunity. They are such a pilas (awesome ,studly, pretty much all around amazing) people. They really have grown a lot to be able to take this amazing step in their life. They have a little girl who is just super cute, I am so excited for them.

Well I just finished my first change and it was awesome! I feel like I have grown so much and my faith has grown by leaps and bounds. I have a testimony of prayer and that the power of prayer is tremendous. I have seen miracles thanks to pray and fasting. I know that God answers our prayers.

I am so glad to have my companion Elder Sakievich he is an awesome man. He has taught me so much and I am excited to be with him for another change. We are working hard and just trying to find new investigadors who can be baptized. We are now working with the father of Marvin who got baptized two weeks ago. We are also teaching the brother of Marvin. That guy is a little tough. He has been investigating the church for years and still has yet to be baptized.

We are just praying and working to be able to help him to find the desire to be baptized. I am so excited for this coming change and to see this area grow and become strengthened. I am glad to hear Andrew got a job. Life is amazing right now. People have been telling me I have lost weight so who knows how much until I can weigh myself. I am just happy as can be just working hard and being in this area. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be on my mission in Guatemala. Thanks for all your support.

Love,

Elder White

Elder White Had A BAPTISM!

May 30, 2011

Week 14

Man last week was awesome! On Saturday we baptized Marvin and Zoila. They were the couple we got married like 3 weeks ago. I got to do the ordinance for Zoila, which was so amazing. Such a special experience and I am so glad that I have the opportunity to do this for 2 years.

The week leading up to their baptism was rough. My faith has grown so much this last week. He didn’t feel ready to be baptized until the day of his interview on Friday. We brought in the Branch President who is a super stud. I love him he just was amazing on Friday. I gave him the nickname of "The Closer". It was so awesome. We rode the whole week on faith and it was amazing to see them baptized. Such a special experience.

We have another baptism ´planned for the 11th of June for Oscar and Olga. We received special permission from the mission president to visit them at 7 in order to get them ready. The plan now is that they are going to get married and baptized the same day. That will be an awesome experience. Oscar gave the opening prayer in church on Sunday and wow it was amazing.

We are sure that that was when he got the desire to be married and baptized on the 11th. Because up till yesterday he was always dodgy about putting a date. We had Branch Council yesterday for the first time. We are really starting to get a hang of working with members. So this coming week we have a lot of members coming over to help Oscar and Olga. I got a haircut last Wednesday it feels so good in this heat.

I forgot to tell you about what I had a couple weeks ago. I got to try ceviche which was amazing! I don’t know how to describe it so look it up, but it was delicious. This first change has really blown by. Next Monday we get to go to the ruins of Yaxha for a zone activity I am excited.

I will take lots of pictures. I bought an adapter for my SD cards but the computer is freaking out right now so I cant load up pictures but you guys will get some soon. Thanks for everything and I love you all.

Elder White

Elder White Had BAPTISM ON SATURDAY!

May 25, 2011

Week 13

Hey y’all,

Well life is awesome! We had zone conference yesterday and interviews on Monday. It was awesome! My desire to serve and help people grew so much yesterday. I have a renewed desire to share the Book of Mormon with people and how it can change their lives. We talked to President Torres about our investigators who said they weren’t ready to be baptized this Saturday. He said that their problem was that they were not reading the Book of Mormon enough.

That really hit me because I know in my life while reading the Book of Mormon I feel the Spirit so much and just have a greater desire to follow the commandments. So after zone conference we had an amazing lesson with them and they are going to be ready to be baptized on Saturday. It is Marvin y Zoila who got married a couple of weeks ago beats me when it was. Time here is so weird. Our numbers for this zone sucked!

We really have a desire to further progress this work in the area. My comp and I are working hard to get stuff going in our area. The Lord really has blessed us because of our work. But there is always room for improvement, a lot of it. We got a new curfew now because of the stuff that happened in Peten. We now have to be in by 7 at night. It sucks because that is when we get really good lessons, but I know that it is for our good and am trying to accept it without complaining.

Our area isn’t really crazy so luckily we don’t get in the boonies, our little area is awesome and feels really safe. But with that said we are definitely making a conscious effort to be on the look out and stay safe. I am so excited for this Saturday, I really have grown to love Marvin y Zoila and really hope they stay strong and get sealed. It would be so awesome to go to the temple with them.

During zone conference I realized that questions are amazing! I finally realize why Dad always asked me questions and made me think through them. Why tell people when they can figure it out themselves and actually learn it. That is my goal now to just teach with questions a lot more. Get people to learn and keep what they learn.

I loved zone conference and I know that President Torres is called of God. I can’t wait to meet the new President Watts. He gets in the end of next month. I love this work and I learn so much everyday. I am growing so much and am so thankful for this opportunity to be here in Guatemala. You guys are awesome thank you for everything.

Love,

Elder White

ELDER WHITE SHINES SHOES!

May 16, 2011

Week 12

Buenas tardes,

Life is good, a little hectic but still good. President Torres gave us a goal of getting 5 baptism dates this last week. Sadly we failed. People just need to get married ugh. We have 2 who are set up for the 28th who are already married (the ones we married) Marvin y Soila. We have Oscar y Olga who need to get married and after that we can baptize them because they have been to church a ton.

We have Alexander who has a date for next month the 21st I think. But he needs to get married too. It is such a pain in the butt. This past Saturday we had a district activity where we shined shoes for free to get contacts. I learned how to do it finally haha. It’s pretty easy and surprisingly kinda relaxing.

I totally forgot to tell you guys about the mission rules, so here they are. We cant play basketball or soccer. No coke. Have to have a Book of Mormon in our hands at all times. Man not playing basketball is gonna be tough but hopefully with the new Mission president that will change. Heads up! Next week I wont have PDay till the Wednesday the 25th. So don’t freak out when I dont email on Monday. The reason why is because we have Interviews and Zone conference next week.

Haha it is so funny walking around in this part of San Jose called Nueva San Jose its to the NW of San Jose. But anyways there is an evangelico church there that is so annoying. They have speakers set up on top of it so it just blasts everywhere. So everyone can be enriched by the good word they are spreading, it is really bad. Evangelicos are the major religion here, just super annoying.

On Sunday we had a lesson with a new guy and on the corner in front of his house were a pair of Protestant missionaries. They were taking turns yelling into a megaphone haha that was funny but super annoying. Yesterday night we were teaching Marvin y Soila and they ended up giving us a bunch of mangos from their mango tree. Man they are soo good!

I love the mission, I am appreciating the small things a lot more now. That is so true about the whole faith thing and trial of faith. I see that everyday a lot. A lot of people just are really scared to pray. There are many trials of faith for our investigadors. But with enough love and help from the Lord they are able to get over their trial of faith.

It was a good week and the work is coming along. We had 15 new investigators last week so we are finding a lot, just gotta get them progressing now. Well you guys are awesome thank you for everything.

Love,

Elder White

Elder White says HOWDY FROM PETEN!

May 9, 2011

Week 11

Buenas Tardes,

Yesterday was really nice to be able to talk to you guys. Its good to hear everyone is doing good. Im not really baggy because of it, I just got back into the work. Today we went to Pizza Hut for lunch as a district, which was so fun. There was music from the states playing, man that was weird haha.

I had a sweet jalón today from San Andres. Me and my companion hopped onto a truck with a bunch of workers in the back. We were standing up the whole way haha I took a video of some of it. I borrowed a thingy from the District Leader he said he just bought it here so I will try and find something soon.

The time really seems like it is going fast. The days are kinda like weeks and the weeks are kinda like days its weird haha. Im starting to get tan. Finally getting some little blisters but oh well nothing too bad. One of the pictures is of me and the CCM President. I am so in love with it here. The investigadors here are coming along slowly but surely. We had 2 couples and a brother of the guy who got married on Saturday, they showed up to church.

Oscar and Olga is our new couple that needs to get married, they have gone to church around 7 times so after their marriage we can baptize them. The Mission Presidents goal for our companionship this week is to have 5 baptismal dates including one family. So we gotta bust our butts now. I am excited to keep on working. Next week I think we are going to the caves of Santa Elena next PDay. Everything is awesome here. It was nice to talk to yall. Thank you so much for everything you do and the support. Talk to you next week.

Love,

Elder White

ELDER WHITE IS SWEATY!

May 2, 2011

Week 10

Man it is hot and humid here. I am sweating so much everyday, the hills in San Jose are killer but oh well its making me stronger. I love the area we are still getting used to it and trying to get used to it. We have 3 couples who need to get married before we can baptize them, ugh thats gonna be a big problem my whole mission. But with the help of the Lord we can do it.

I email in the Island of Flores which is cool. From San Andres which is right next to San Jose we catch a jalon (hitchhike) to the city. Than from there we take Tuc Tucs to the Internet cafe. I love the trip into the city it is so fun just sittin in the back of a truck looking at the countryside. It really is beautiful here and the people are really friendly.

It is funny because most people wont tell you no to the message just quit paying attention after a while. Me and my companion are working hard we had some awesome success for our first days here. Hopefully we can keep it up and keep working hard. The branch here is pretty big and the church building is super nice. They have an outdoor bball court but we cant play basketball its a mission rule bla. But oh well im all for obedience.

This fast sunday was awesome its been the first sunday where I really fasted hard for purposes. I love fast sundays they are so awesome getting in tune with the Spirit. For fast sundays in Peten we get to drink water still because it is so hot and humid. Here the meal hours are killer. People take an hour to make lunch than another hour to eat it same for dinner. It sucks because when we are out contacting everyone is busy, so we just pray for lessons.

Me and my companion are getting along good, he is a really good guy and is an awesome example for me. I have learned a lot already and can’t wait to keep on learning. Man it is so weird having to buy groceries and cook for ourselves haha it is definitely strange. We cleaned the crap out of the apartment because the last missionaries left it a super mess.

It is so awesome to live right next to a lake though, it’s amazing when you get a glimpse of the lake and how clear it is. Makes me think about how much I will miss swimming. Oh well. I am so excited to be out here and working. It is super tiring though, every night we come home just super exhausted. We heard about Bin Laden today, thats pretty cool.

For Mothers Day is it cool if you guys call at 2 your time which should be 1 my time. Our number here is 4088-8318 I don’t know the whole country code and all that but that is our number for here. I wont be able to do a test call on Saturday so hopefully that number will work. I am excited to hear you guys but It will be really weird hearing yall again. I am so in love with it here with Guatemala and am excited to be a missionary. Thank you so much for everything you guys do and your support. Till next Monday.

Love,

Elder White

ELDER WHITE LOVES GUATEMALA!

April 29, 2011

Week 9 ½

WOOOOOO I am finally out in the field man I am so excited to finally be here. We got some training from the AP´s on Tuesday and met all the trainers. Than on Wednesday we finally found out where we are going and who are trainers are going to be. I was waiting for what seemed like forever during our change meeting as people were getting called. Finally they got to the last zone and it was Peten. I was so happy! I am so excited to be here in Peten out of the city. It is so awesome.

My trainer is Elder Sakievich from Phoenix Arizona. He has been out 9 months and is an awesome Elder. He is super excited for this work and this is his first time being out of the capital. So we are both in a brand new area for us so we are just trying to get ourselves established in the area. Our area is in a town called San Jose in the Peten area. We get some other towns too but we are living in San Jose. Our area is the farthest away from the capital in the mission woo!

We live in an apartment below a store owned by members. It is a nice apartment, although it is pretty dirty from the last missionaries there. So we are going to have to clean up and make it look good. If you want to find it on Google maps it is a orange building right next to a big old soccer field in the city of San Jose. I am so excited to be in this area.

Yesterday me and my companion did a bunch of contacting trying to get some new investigators. We worked our butts off but it was really good. We tought 3 lessons yesterday, one of which was to a progressing investigador that was already there. The area book which has all the info about the people and area, was not very well filled out so we are gonna have a tough time getting this area going. There are 3 progressings investigators in the book but we have only found 1 so far, we are gonna have to go searching. The people are really friendly here which is awesome.

It seems like the main problem will be with couples who arent married just together. We taught 1 of the progressing investigadors last night about this and read the proclamation to the family with them and taught them about the law of chastity. It was very straight forward and the lady is ready to be married and is an awesome investigador, but the man is just scared to pray. He already knows what he needs to do but he doesnt want to do it and get the answer to his prayers. It is frustrating but we will keep on praying and working with him. It is super hot and humid here man I sweat so much, it looks like ima lose a good amount of weight here.

The area is super hilly too, I can’t ever remember walking up hills as steep as some of the hills in the area. The hills will be the death of me haha. But I am so excited to finally be out and working. I am going to work my butt off and not have one regret I cant believe I am finally out here. It is a little overwhelming but with help from my trainer and the lord I will get through it. I am so excited to finally be working.

My PDays will be on Mondays from now on and hopefully wont change but for now my PDays will be on Mondays. As for mothers day I will be calling next Saturday just to check to make sure it will work. And than on Sunday you guys will call that number that I used. So they advise gettting a phone card. So buy a good long phone card for next Sunday. On Monday I will email you regarding when you should call because I need to work it out with my companion. Well I will email you again on Monday. I love you all so much and thank you for all the support. The reliable address for mail and packages from now on will be.

Misión Guatemala Ciudad Norte

Apartado #951-A

Guatemala, Guatemala C.A.

Love,

Elder White

Elder Whites LAST NIGHT!!!

April 25, 2011

Week 9

WOOOOOOO!! I get out of here tomorrow. I am so excited. I leave the MTC at 8 in the morning here, which is 9 in Texas. I am so excited to finally get out there and do real work. I think I will be staying at the mission home tomorrow night then Wednesday go out to the field.

I am so excited. I really feel prepared to go out and preach the gospel. My Spanish has come along so well, I feel really good about it and feel that I am prepared. I am sure once I get out there I will be super overwhelmed, but man I am ready to just work my butt off. Ready to get lost in the work and to help people be as happy as me. I can´t wait to help people change their lives and come unto Christ.

This past week was Holy Week in Guatemala, the whole country pretty much shut down. It is so cool how spiritual the people in Guatemala are, I have no doubts that the people will be extremely willing to hear the gospel. I am so thankful for the plan of salvation and the perspective it offers.

This Easter Sunday was really good, I am so glad that we know of the real sacrifice that Jesus did for us. I am so grateful for the atonement and the wonderful comfort it brings.

I have heard that in the field my PDays will be on Mondays but I don’t know for sure. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to serve the Lord; it is such an amazing blessing. In the past week I have really learned about the importance of members in the conversion of investigadors. I encourage each one of you to participate in ward missionary opportunities. I encourage each one of you to fellowship with investigadors and new converts. What they need is a friend. I can’t wait to work with ward members and have a support system for my investigadors. I dream of the wonderful day that I will have my first baptism from contact to baptism. I can’t wait to boast of my God like Ammon and the sons of Mosiah. This is a marvelous work that is going forth, the missionaries here are so strong. This is such an amazing work and such an amazing blessing. I am so excited to get out there and teach and help people. Just work, right now all I want to do is work. I can’t wait to go out there and give it my all with my trainer. I am so excited and know that I am in Guatemala for a reason.

I don’t know when the next time I will be able to email will be but I am so glad that I have the support I do. Thank you so much for everything you all do. All mail should be directed to the North Mission address now, it is in the last email I sent out. All dearelders should also be addressed to the North Mission. I love you all so much and thank you for everything,

Love

Elder White

ELDER WHITE 1 MORE WEEK!

April 19, 2011

Week 8

Hola,

Well they did it to us again and gave us a Tuesday P-Day. sigh oh well. I am so stoked to get out of the MTC haha. It has been good for me, but I really have gotten tired of teaching fake people. I am ready to do the real thing. I am thankful for the MTC experience though. I have learned so much and my testimony has been so fortified. It really is awesome. Being in a Latino district has its ups and downs. Ups- I learn so much more Spanish everyday is awesome. Downs- going over stuff I already learned. But oh well overall it has been an awesome experience.

Today was my last time going to the Temple for a while, it really is so awesome. I have attended in Spanish the last 3 times I have gone and have understood it. I really have been blessed with my Spanish I am so thankful. Next Tuesday I am out of here! I cant wait to find out what area I am in. I really am freakin out. I am so excited; it is time for the real deal. I know its gonna be overwhelming but I know that the Lord will always be there to help me.

I got to go out proselyting again yesterday which was really fun. Me and my companion got 5 contacts, none really stuck out to me but who knows. It is Holy Week here in Guatemala for Easter Sunday. The Temple was packed as a result of that haha.

I have gained some weight while in the MTC. Eating and sitting really doesnt help. But I expect to lose a bunch out in the field. I am so grateful for the support I have in y'all it really is awesome.

This past Sunday we had a fireside with the MTC Pres. Man is he awesome. Well anyway we talked about vision and having a vision for life. Man I have screwed up and wasted a lot of that, I have my work cut out for me now. I am starting to read Our Search For Happiness in Spanish now, so far it has been really good. I understand most everything, and I am learning so much from it. I have also been diving into the scriptures, they are so awesome! There is such cool stuff in the scriptures. It really is amazing. I still always go back to Alma 29:1-2 when I think about my favorites. Oh if I were and angel! That is what I am going to strive to be; I will have a voice of thunder. The people need this gospel, they will be so happy to have it. But it is up to me to bring it to them that is my job! How awesome is my calling. Thank you so much for that quote from Elder McConkie, mom! It is so awesome.

One thing I have learned while here, is that missionaries all have the authority. But it is up to us to get the power. Once we have power and authority, we will be amazing missionaries. It is our job to get the power so that we may preach with the Spirit.

Well unfortunately I don’t have a lot to say this week, It was a slow week. Once out in the field I know things will pick up I am so excited!!!!

Well I love you all so much.

Elder White

ELDER WHITE 2 MORE WEEKS!

April 13, 2011

Week 7

Howdy!!

Man I am so excited right now. Thank you all so much for your emails, they are awesome. This past weekend was so awesome!!!! We had 4 general authorities at our sacrament meeting. The entire Area Presidency and Elder Hinckley the son of President Hinckley!!! Man that was so awesome. I got to sit with him at lunch and talk with him, wow, what an amazing man and the Spirit was just emanating from him. It was so awesome. Afterwards we had a devotional from him. Man that was so awesome, we received some insight into his life and the life of his father, how special. He shared a story about his mother and her struggles before her death during conference weekend.

President Hinckley went to the hospital before conference and made her read a sign they had in their house and it was DOn´t quIT. How cool is that the caps spell out DO IT he told her she had to hold on till after conference weekend. Come Tuesday he had one more meeting and he told her she had to wait till after that than she could go. After the meeting he told her, it is ok to go now. Take a little break, but when I get up there we are gonna get back to work!

What a wonderful blessing we have because of our knowledge of the plan of salvation. Another thing he shared was in the temple. It was the occasion of President Hinckley sealing one of his grand daughters. He said "I have sealed all 5 of my children and all 24 grandchildren in the temple, I don’t think there is a finer thing I have done in my life." WOW how awesome is that. It was funny because during his talk I was thinking to myself how he sounded exactly like his father.

Another new thing is my new Latino Companion. Elder Gomez from Panama. Man he is so quiet it is rough. But he is slowly starting to talk more, I am trying to encourage him all day long. This definitely is a test. I love being in a Latino district, I learn so much more Spanish. I am immersed and I am loving it.

I really feel like am will be ready when I get out of here. 2 more weeks!!! woooo! I cant wait. Thank you so much for the easter package it is so awesome, I have been craving some candy haha. From now on my address will be 5ta ave 5-55 Zona 14 Edif. Europlaza, Torre 1 oficina 1202 B. Nivel. 12 Guatemala, Guatemala C.A. That is the address for the mission home. And all dearelders should be addressed to the guat north mission now.

Last night we watched a devotional from Jeffrey R. Holland in the MTC in Jan 11 2011. Man do I love him. His way of chastising us with love. I love it so much. He really inspires me. Well anyway he told the story about Peter after the death of Christ. In the last chapter of John I think. Well anyways he was talking about missionaries who come home and go inactive. Well Peter said I go a fishing. Long story short they meet Christ and he asks 3 times Lovest thou me? every time Peter said yes. Than Christ said feed my sheep. I will always be a missionary. I will never go back to old ways. This is my turning point, and I am called as a missionary till death. It wont always be with the title of Elder but I will always be a missionary.

I am so glad for the opportunity. I really love attending the temple every week. I have gone in Spanish the last 2 weeks which has been fun and I can understand everything. I am so excited.

Ashley!! I am so excited for your decision. Keep me informed how it turns out; I am sending a letter this week. Dad, no sign of the volcano from here. It hasn´t been very clear. I have 2 more weeks and man I am stoked. An Elder from the north mission was here yesterday and he was here for a rabies shot haha. His leg was all bit up from dogs so I am ready to kick some dogs.

Umm last thursday our mission presidents came and visited us. That was really cool to get some insight into the mission. I can´t wait!!!! I am dying here just going crazy. But I know it is for my own good. I can always use more practice.

You guys are awesome, I pray for all of you all the time. I encourage everyone to read Alma 32 I am in love with that chapter right now. Mom I will pray for you and your awesome activity good luck. You are all amazing and keep me going. Thank you so much. I know this Church is true. I know that this is the restored gospel. We have a prophet on this earth. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Testimonies will come to all those who seek it. Don’t expect it to come quick though. It will be like a sunrise. I love you all so much.

Elder White.

ELDER WHITE GETS A NEW COMPANION!

April 5, 2011

Week 6

Hola,

Man this last week flew by. Conference was the most awesome thing ever, I hope everyone watched it. It was the first time I watched all 5 sessions and stayed awake the whole time. I was praying so hard to have the Spirit and to recieve teaching relevant to me. It was so awesome, I am so grateful that my prayers were answered and I got to have personal revelation.

I noticed that I need to have more Quiet Diligence, be more like an apostle of the Lord. I really liked Elder Uchtorf´s talk in Priesthood, where he said that we need to preach the gospel by example. Another quote from there was "Preach the gospel, if necessary use words." How true is that, we need to show what sets us apart, we are lights unto the world. Should we hold our light under a bushel, or let it shine unto the world? We need to be examples of Christians in our everyday interactions.

Another thing I really noticed was about temples. I made the connection that the work I am doing is bringing unto this church so that they may one day receive their endowments. After that they can further the work for the deceased in preparation for the 2nd coming.

I love being a missionary, and I haven´t even taught real people yet. I love my calling and I know that it is the Lord´s work and I was called to Guatemala for a purpose. I love it so much. I encourage all of you to go through every conference talk, I know that as you do you will be blessed and you will have a greater Spirit.

I am on such a spiritual high right now, and I am determined to live worthy enough to mantain that Spiritual high every day. I have started praying a lot more, I am definitely changing so much right now. I am so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to change. I am definitely striving to have a greater testimony and spirit.

I forgot the scripture off the top of my head but it is in i think 2 Nephi 30 maybe. One of those later ones, but anyway it talks about praying to God in all our doings so that he may Consecrate our activity. How awesome is that? We can do anything with his consecration, all we need to do is be doing something righteous, and pray sincerely. I love the many blessings we receive.

Another thing I though about during Conference was regarding pains and trials/challenges. No matter how tough things get I promise you He will never forsake us. We only go through trials because He knows we have room to grow. Also it gives us a better appreciation for the Atonement. Remember, he suffered for all, everything we feel. He knows what we are going through, He will not forsake us. Challenges are for us! They help us appreciate the Atonement and grow as people, and our testimonies grow. How awesome are challenges!

I love this work, and it is work. I love that quote, heard it in Priesthood session, don’t remember who off the top of my head.

This Wednseday I will be getting a Latino comp full time and be in a Latino district. The MTC President gave me the opportunity and I gladly accepted. I am so excited to be fully immersed in Spanish. I will learn so much, and be so ready to teach as soon as I get out of here. I will be extremely fluent, if I work. I know this.

We got to go to the Mercado hoy and do some shopping. I got a soccer jersey of Guatemala so I can fit in. We then went to a mall and also museum. That was super awesome, had Chili’s (man American food is good). The museum there was awesome, a bunch of the history of Guatemala City. It was really awesome, I guess a bunch of people think that the Land of Nephi and city of Nephi were here in Guatemala city so that is awesome. I love Guatemala so much!!!

Only 3 more weeks before I can get out there! I am so excited. My P-Days will still be on Wed. but today just got messed up because of the Mercado. I love you all so much and look forward to hearing from you again. I challenge you all to read the Conference talks, and as you do so ask God to consecrate your activity. I promise that as you do this you will receive a greater appreciation for this gospel and your testimony will be strengthened. I love you all.

Elder David White

ELDER WHITE LOVES TEACHING

March 30, 2011

Week 5

Hola,

Man I love Guatemala. I study outside in the morning everyday with my companion. The climate is awesome. It was a good week pretty slow to start off but picked up. Sunday was testimony meeting and that was so awesome. I love the Spirit of the Latinos. Their testimonies are so strong and amazing. It really blows me away. They are so humble and really gave so much to come out here on a mission.

On Monday we got to go proselyting!!!!!!! I went with my 2 Latino companions, Elder Gonzalez from Bolivia and Elder Lue from El Salvador. We went out for 2 hours to just get references. It was sooooo fun!! I loved every minute of it and I didn´t want to come back to the MTC. We handed out 3 Book of Mormons and got 2 references. It was definitely an eye opening experience. The people here are so friendly, but in the city they are always in a hurry. I cant wait to get out of the city to teach.

After lunch we got to go out again for an hour and this time with our American companions. That was definitely a lot more difficult because my comp is still working on his Spanish. It ended so awesome though, we ended up finding a 21 yr old waiting at a bus stop and we talked to him. We told him about the BoM and that we have prophets today. His eyes lit up and he was so excited, he loved how the BoM tells of Christ´s coming to the Americas, such as Guatemala. We got his information and gave him a BoM and it was so amazing. We had a really good feeling about him, and I am glad the Spirit was able to touch him through me and my companion.

I love sharing the gospel and the happiness that it brings, I can´t wait to do it full time. I know the Lord will bless us if we are striving to be righteous and to follow all of his commandments.

We watched a MTC devo from last year with Elder Bednar and that was awesome. It talked about how the gospel can be broken up into 3 categories. 1) Doctrine, which is truth 2) Principles 3) Applications. He repeated so much how the truth is always in the Doctrine and the answer is always the doctrine. He urged us to answer application questions with principles, to teach people to be spiritually dependent. I really liked that. Another thing he mentioned was in Mosiah 24:13-15, in here it talks about people with burdens or afflictions and how God will make up the rest if we give it our all.

An interesting thing I noticed in there was about covenants and how they bless us. I really felt prompted to make a covenant with God, that if I put in all my work, he will help me to make up the rest. We have the power to make Covenants with God, but it is up to us to put in the work.

I have 4 more weeks in the MTC bla, but I know that it is a blessing because that is more time to learn for the investigators. I love this opportunity and I love the gospel. I love the people of Guatemala and I know the Lord is preparing people right now for missionaries. I know that through the Atonement we can be comforted. I know that God loves us and for this reason he wants to bless us with blessing beyond measure. All we have to do is put in a little work, and in return he gives us so much.

I hope everything is awesome up there, I pray for everyone every day. I love you guys and know that God loves every one of us. Hasta luego.

Love, Elder David White

ELDER WHITE LOVES GUATEMALA!

March 23, 2011

Week 4

Hola,

I am so excited to finally be in Guatemala! It is so amazing here. The food is so much better than in Provo, which is awesome. Here we are paired with a Norte Americano comp, mine is Elder Smith from Fredericksburg Virginia. Then I get 2 Latino comps who I am always with outside of class. It is awesome!!!! I love it so much. I love Spanish so much; it’s the greatest language in the world. The Spanish has come so fast here. The Latinos consider me fluent now. It is so fun talking to them. I noticed that Americans are just super stuck up, but Latinos are the most humble, amazing people ever. I love each one of them so much. I only talk Spanish here, and it is the most fun I have had in a long time. I have become really good friends with a lot of the Latinos.

Early this week, maybe Monday, we went to the Temple for 45 min to just talk to the people there. It was SO fun. I was on a roll talking to everyone there. It was so amazing. People here are just so friendly its awesome. There were a bunch of kids there too and they all had Future Missionary placas on, it was so cool. The members here are so strong it’s amazing.

We had the Area Seventy here last night for a devotional. His name was Elder Falavela from the 1st quorum. It was so cool listening to it without having to use a headset. I have been really blessed to be able to understand Spanish so well and to be able to speak it. There are probably around 50 Elders and Hermanas here. I am bummed I have to stay here for 5 more weeks but in 2 weeks I get to be in a Latino district and learn with them.

I am so excited to get into the field and share this wonderful blessing we have. I love talking to random strangers when we walk to and from places around the CCM. We are gonna be able to go the plaza in 2 weeks with Latinos to contact, I am so excited for it.

I think I will still be able to get Dear Elders in the field since we have a CCM here in Guatemala, so that is cool.

I am so excited to hear about the Elledges and Jordan Schmucker. Tell them that it really the greatest thing in the world right now even though I’m not in the field, I still believe it. I play soccer every morning with the Latinos, it is so fun. I am always the goalie because I’m so big.

I love the atmosphere here, and the weather is BEAUTIFUL! It is so awesome, every day me and Elder Smith study outside. It is so fun here and I love learning new stuff. I can´t wait to get into the field, but I know that I need more work. I get to go the Temple today, I am so excited to see the inside. I can´t wait. I love you all so much and will email again next week.

Love, Elder White

Elder White In Guatemala

March 16, 2011

Hola!

I made it safe, and man I am so excited. It is amazing here. I am super tired from the travel and lack of sleep, but oh well life goes on.

The MTC here is awesome, we are right next to the temple it is so beautiful. The weather is beautiful; I have fallen in love.

I was supposed to be in a North American district for all 6 weeks, but they decided to put me into a Native district after 3 weeks. I feel that my Spanish is doing awesome so I am really excited for this opportunity!

I’m so glad to finally be here. People are all amazed at my height. It is hilarious.

We speak nothing but Spanish here. It is awesome. There are 13 other Elderes y 5 Hermanas who arrived with us. They are all from beginning Spanish so their language is pretty spotty. There was one guy who I roomed with in Provo who is here also.

I am so excited in 2 weeks they will start letting us loose out into the world, haha. We will get to do contacts in plazas, I can´t wait. I am so excited and am so ready to learn more. The food here is delicious, so much better than Provo. My last American meal was a Big Mac meal from McDonalds in the LA airport. haha. Delicious.

While here we all going to have a English Companion and a Native Companion. It´s gonna be so awesome. We are gonna be learning Spanish so quick.

My MTC address here is Boulevard Vista Hermosa 23-71, zona 15 Vista Hermosa I. Guatemala, Guatemala C.A. Don´t address it to Elder David White, just my name.

I love it here and look forward to being immersed in the culture and the language. I wanna share a quote that was on the back of our bus that took us to the MTC here. It said

" Don´t tell God how tough your problems are, tell your problems how tough your God is."

I love that quote. Well, I love you all and will talk to you next Wednesday.

Love,

Elder David White.

Elder White FINAL WEEK IN PROVO MTC

March 15, 2011

Week 3

Well today I leave for Guatemala, woohoo!!

I am a little nervous about it but I know that I will be fine. Yesterday we watched a talk that Jeffrey R. Holland gave in 2000 at an MTC Devotional. It was amazing! He talked about how influential his mission was to his entire life. I really love the way Jeffrey R. Holland talks, unapologetically strong and to the point. The main message I got out of it was about how hard it is going to be.

He asked the question, ¨Why does the mission have to be hard¨ He went on to answer it saying that salvation isn´t cheap. How true is that. I have such a strong testimony of Christ´s atonement now. It´s amazing to think about the pain he suffered for us. He conquered both physical death and spiritual death for us. He felt every pain that ever was or ever will be, because he loved us.

"How dare we ask to not even feel a fraction of what Christ felt for us!" is another thing he said. How true is that! Life is hard but it is easy with the help of the Lord. We all suffer, and it is through that suffering that we can grow. I love that message.

Another quote from the talk was "Welcome to the big time, welcome to the church, welcome to the gospel, WELCOME TO THE LIFE OF THE SAVIOR" I cap that because it is true. Life will always be hard but with the help of Christ and Heavenly Father all things are possible.

Tomorrow morning I will be in Guatemala City and in Guatemala for the next 2 years. I am so excited for this opportunity and know that I will grow tremendously. I know that in the 3 weeks I have been here, I have grown by leaps and bounds. I cannot even begin to measure it.

I know that the Lord blesses his children if they work hard. The Lord won't bless those who sit on their butts and feel sorry for themselves, but if we are feeling down that is the time where we need to work the hardest. I am so thankful for the example of my family. I took it for granted, but now I realize how amazing this gospel is. It truly is the true gospel.

I love the opportunity to serve the Lord. 2 years is a long time but I know that it will fly by if we all work. I am so excited to share the Gospel and its many blessing with those in Guatemala. "We are dealing with the salvation of a human soul" -Jeffrey R. Holland.

I know that the Lord prepares a way for the gospel to be shared. We are all missionaries in this Church and I know that we don't have to be scriptorians who know the scriptures backwards and forwards. Truth is not words; truth is revelation. We don't need to know every little aspect of the church to teach. We just need to be a vessel for the Spirit. I can say whatever words I want, but if the Spirit isn't in the room nobody will be converted. I know that that is true. We teach by the Spirit, not by our knowledge. The gospel doesn't have to be big and complex, why make it? We need to be simple in the Gospel, through small and simple things great things come to pass. The Lord will make up our weaknesses I know it.

I have grown to love my companion here in the MTC. Elder Bockelman is a great man and has pushed me to become better. It is awesome, and I know it was inspired

I love each one of you, and so does the Lord. We need to trust in him and have faith that he will help us. Life is hard, but salvation isn't cheap. We must work to get blessings.

Yo se que vive mi Senor, yo se que mediante la expiacion de JesuCristo podemos regresar a nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial, se que la vida esta dificil pero si tenemos fe en la Expiacion podemos tener exito, se que Dios nos ama, y porque nos ama el quiere que nosotros tenemos exito. Si obedemos a los mandamientos y oramas toda la dia va a tener el Espiritu. Digo estas cosas en el nombre de JesuCristo, amen.

Love,

Elder White

Elder White

March 8, 2011

Week 2

Hey y'all,

Man this 2nd week flew by. There is a saying that the days go by like weeks and the weeks go by like days. Totally true. I love it here at the MTC. I am still amazed that there are two thousand missionaries here, all for the same purpose. Last Tuesday we sang "Come Thou Fount" in the MTC choir. There is something amazing about 600 Elders and Sisters singing that song. The Spirit was overwhelming! I love the Spirit. It is so amazing here at the MTC there is never a moment that goes by where the Spirit doesn't touch in you in some way or another. I have gone to the Provo Temple twice now, WOW it is amazing, and so big. I love going to the temple and the Spirit that it brings.

Soooo, me and my companion got called zone leaders, yikes. We are in charge of over 60 Elders in our Branch, haha good luck to us. I leave next Tuesday at 9:55 PM for Guatemala, head over to LA than fly down and get to Guatemala at 5:30 AM the following day. I am so excited but I will miss my companion Elder Bockelman. We are doing so good, it is awesome. It's amazing how far I have come since I got here, just thinking back over the past 2 weeks and how much I learned has blown my mind. I know that the Lord blesses his children if they are involved in righteous endeavors. The gospel is truly amazing; I can't believe that I have taken it for granted for the majority of my life.

Me and my companion did our first lesson in Spanish last Friday in the TRC (Teaching Resource Center) We felt like we dominated it, the Spirit guided us and instead of teaching a lesson, we taught a person. We ended up inviting our investigadors to church and they accepted. I hope that I can have this success with real investigadors instead of volunteers but hey, it still felt good. The Spanish is coming a long, still stressful but definitely coming along. Me and my companion are working on the 2nd lesson, the Plan of Salvation. Man that one is a doozy, really tough to teach simply to investigadors. Every day here is so busy, but the Lord is on our side and blesses us.

In the Temple today I was reading in Alma 29? I think. Alma 29:2 is the scripture, I think. But anyways, it talks about proclaiming the gospel and it describes in there that we should be as a "voice of thunder". I know I am definitely gonna try and keep that in mind. Just be confident in our beliefs and what we know. I have realized that there is nothing better than a testimony to bring the Spirit. You can never bare your testimony enough; there is always room for more. My testimony has grown so much and I am so grateful for it. I love the gospel and the peace it brings to us.

Yo se que vive mi Senor. Yo se que nuestro proposíto in este vida es que nosotros somos feliz. Yo se que mediante el Expíacion, todos personas podrían regresare a nuestro Padre Celestial. Yo se que tenemos el evangelio restaurado en la tierra hoy. Yo se que el Libro de Mormon es un otro testemante de Jesu Cristo. Se que si tiene preguntas, puede orar a Dios y Dios va a dar un respuesto. Yo se que mediante el Espiritu Santo nosotros podemos ser todas cosas que necisitan. Yo se que Dios nos ama. Dice estas cosas en el nombre de Jesu Cristo, amen.

Hopefully it’s not too bad, it's a work in progress. Tell everyone that I love them so much and that the gospel is true.

Love,

Elder David White

ELDER WHITE

March 1, 2011

Week 1

Howdy,

I am in love with the MTC! I arrived early Wednesday morning with the 2 other missionaries from the stake. We had an opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the MTC. I immediately noticed how friendly everyone here is. This place is such a good conductor of the Spirit.

My companion's name is Elder Bockelman from Virginia. He will be going to the San Salvador El Salvador West/Belize mission. He is an amazing man and we are getting along so awesome. I believe the Lord paired us up for a reason. We have such strong spiritual experiences together it is awesome.

There is an Elder in my district of nine elders who is also going to the Guatemala North mission. His name is Elder Lapray. I room with him.

We began learning Spanish immediately the first day. By the 2nd day it was starting to come back to me. I know that the Lord is helping me with the language and it is such a blessing. I have now even begun to catch myself slipping into Spanish unknowingly. Me and my companion are making an attempt to speak nothing but Spanish. We also made a goal to teach our first lesson this Friday in Spanish, even though they recommended to teach it in English. We know that if we work as hard as we can to prepare the Lord will help us with our shortcomings.

There are four elders to a room and the rooms are pretty big. The beds are long enough, and I have begun sleeping really good. The Lord has definitely blessed me with the Spirit to keep me calm and collected. I am expected to ship out March 15th so I don't think I will meet the new MP since they come in June I believe.

We are being taught by Hermano Sparks and Hermana Staib, who are both recently returned missionaries. I have been studying both the Book of Mormon and Preach my Gospel in Spanish and am starting to get a good grasp of the spiritual language in Spanish.

We had our first MTC talk on Sunday, which was awesome. The speaker talked about how the Lord gives us challenges because he knows that we have room to grow as a result of those challenges. I love that message and the peace it brings. For the closing hymn we sang the primary hymn about the "Army of Helaman" (forgot the title). They changed a couple lines to say for example "We are now the Lords missionaries". This song brought the Spirit so much. Having 2,000 Elders and Sisters singing that song at the same time was awe inspiring.

Afterwords we had the opportunity to watch the Joseph Smith movie. WOW!! In the end when Joseph is on his way to Carthage and Praise to the Man started playing, both me and my companion broke down into tears. The Spirit was so great in that room. It was a perfect moment. At that moment the Spirit testified to me without a doubt that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the Lord and that he was the vessel for the Restoration of the Gospel today.

I would like to testify in Spanish. Hopefully it comes out ok.

Yo sabe que Dios es nuestra amoroso Padre Celestial. El quiere que nosotros vamos a regrasar a El. Sabe que Jesu Cristo es nuestra Savior. Sabe que ay un profeta en la mundo hoy. Sabe que podemos regrasar a Dios despues de esta vida.

I love the Lord and I am so glad to be on a mission and to be able to serve the people of Guatemala. I want to share the blessings I have received due to the gospel. I love all of you and know that the Lord loves you. I hope that we may all one day feel this love.

I will write again next Tuesday on my P-Day.

If you would like to send me any messages while I am at the MTC, you can use DearElder.com and I will receive that immediately in letter form so i can read it.

I love you all,

Elder White