2.5 down

 

Everything is great down here in Monterrey!

 

Yesterday we had an investigator bring her famil to church and the daughter wants to be baptized right away! As soon as we have a lesson with her i get the opportunity to invite her to baptsm!!!! That would make three investigators that accepted baptism including her mom. We also had two less active families that we visited come to church and seemed to really enjoy it again.

 

I¨m glad to hear that everyone is doing well and nothing is bad up there.

 

Time is really flying by. Today marks a month here in Monterrey and two and a half months of my mission!! That´s crazy that Sally leaves in a few weeks!

 

I´m going to ask a family in the ward if they will let me use their skype and I´m about 98 percent sure the will let me. If that´s the case, next monday I will give you information about the time and everything. I can´t wait!

 

Walking 5-7 miles a day is pretty brutal on my knees but I keep praying for strength to keep chugging along. My Spanish is doing very well. I fully participate in conversations now and am able to communicate very well. People comment on my accent and how well I can speak and then when they ask how much time I have in the mission and I say three weeks you should see the look on their face. It makes me feel good. Also when they ask me how old I am and i tell them I´m 18 they think I´m lying. I ask them , "well how old do i look?" They answer twenty five at least. Im so much bigger than most of the people here.

 

Also after this I will be sending many pictures for you all to enjoy :) I love the Lord, I love the opportunity I have to serve the wonderful people of This great city, and I love missionary work. I love and miss all of you and cant wait to talk on christmas! Tata for now!!

 

Adios!

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

I thought I signed up for Mexico, not Alaska!

Everything is going pretty great!!!

WE have ten investigators at the moment and are working on getting eight more by the end of this week. My Spanish I guess is coming along really well because members and investigators keep telling me how good my Spanish is especially for two weeks.

We mostly go to little stores that are in the nieghborhoods to buy snacks and paper stuff for church. WE have access to Soriana or HEB which are like walmart.

WE just got hot water in our house today so im super excited to shower tomorrow. Its actually super cold down here. The past four days have all been in the thirties and low forties. I thought I signed up for MEXICO not Alaska!!!! hahaha jk I love the cold! i get to use my big coat and gloves!

I love our ward and the members. WE had four encounters with drunk people in Alianza, the poor area that we have. They were interesting. But ya everyting is going great!!!

Thats so cool that Whit gets to go to Lithuania!!! Thats crazy!!!

Im sad to hear that about Randy dand but I know that everything will turn out the way that its supposed to. I see the Lords hand in all the things that i do down here.

My knees are doing pretty bad with this cold weather and the fact that we walk about 5-7 miles everyday and uneven rocky terrain. But I love it down here and wouldnt trade it for anything in the world!!!

I love you all SOOOOO much and miss you like crazy!!!

Adios!!!

Elder Joseph Harold Wight :)

 

P.S. YAY I GET TO HAVE A NEPHEW WHEN I COME HOME!!!!! YAY NASH!! :)

 

In Mexico, Finally!!

Hola Familia!!!

Its great here in Mexico!! My companion is Elder Campos. He is a small Mexican who speaks ok english and is from Guerrero Mexico. I arrived on Monday and spent the day in meetings with the office staff and an interview from Presidente Swapp. Then we spent the night with the front office at their apartment around the corner and woke up the next morning for more meetings. We then found out who our trainers were, got some materials and then headed for our house. we took a taxi to a station where all of the new missionaries and their traniers were and then took another taxi for 30 minutes to our house.

Our area is Lincoln A. Elder Hassard is with his trainer in Lincoln B. So i see him quite a bit. He still really struggles but his spanish will come along sometime. We are trying to help him. As for me, the Spanish is coming along. I can understand almost everything that people say but I get scared that I cant conjugate the word correctly so that they understand me so i either say very little or nothing at all. But I am learning quite a bit and opening my mouth more.

Our week started off great. My first day we got three new investigators. But the past three days, all of our appointments have fallen through (20) and we have had very minmal contacts. But I konw things will get better if we keep working hard.

We cover an area called Barrio Estrella which is middle class, Alianza which is lower class and some houses made from garbage and others have no roof, and mitras poinientes which is super nice and rich. Nobody here has carpet. it is either concrete or tile. our apartmernt was super dirty but we have cleaned it up pretty good.

I love my companion and we get along really well. Church was awesome. We have a big branch or a super small ward. 100 people if we are lucky. But one of our investigators came to church so we were super stoked!!!!! Missions are amazing whether good or bad things happen.

Oh and we had two drunk mexicans start yelling at us and saying , how can you e messengers of God if you dont have the Bible memorized. They started moving really close to Elder Campos and I moved inbetween them. Because Im so much bigger than everyone here, they stopped, looked at me, apologized and walked away. That was interesting.

Well anyways my time is about to run out here at the corner store. I love you all soooooo much and miss you all soooooo much and cant wait to talk to you again.

I think andi and jace are going to have a boy because i want a nephew for when i get back.

I will pray for israel and I hope all continues to go well for everybody!

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH

Elder Joseph Wight

I'm leaving on a Jet Plane!

I'm so jealous that whenever I'm not in Arizona it rains!!! But that's cool to hear that it is raining there but not that Randy is struggling with seizures. That's a major bummer.

 

Tell Jane I said Happy Birthday I love her and miss her and give her a hug and a kiss for me please! :)

 

I got the package and love it!!! So does my district haha.

 

My knee is doing really well and I know that the Lord is constantly blessing me. I think that I am going to call on the payphone and talk. Thanks for putting money in my account. I got to fly to Boise Idaho for my Visa at 4:30 in the morning on Friday. I spent all day in Boise and stayed overnight with the missionaries in the mission. i woke up the same time Saturday and came back to Provo. It was a LONG day.

 

Aftere we arrived at Boise, We went to lunch at Wendys and it tasted soooooo good. After that we went to Boise State, saw that Blue and orange Field and took pictures, then we went to the consolate, took our picture and fingerprints and then gave us our passports and visas. Then we went to the Boise temple which is really small but very beautiful, took pictures and the four of us decided to do a session. it was amazing! Then we went to a place similar to Golden Corral and then to the missionaries apartments. I will respond to your other email now and send pictures. Love You sooo much!!!

Adios!

Elder Wight

 

 

After the surgery

**Sidenote:
Joe had his knee scoped in Utah and the surgeon found that his ripped meniscus from 2 years ago never fully healed from that surgery. Joe had been running, and exercising on a half torn meniscus for 2 years! Yikes. So the surgeon repaired that and trimmed the rest up, and he believes that Joe will be better than ever and feel so much better. Best news is that Joe still gets to leave the MTC on time!! Hooray!**

Hola Madre!! It's going ok right now. Today was the day that I was able to take off all my bandages and finally take a shower without duct taping plastic bags to my leg. YAY! It still hurts pretty bad. It was weird. When they wheeled me into surgery they didn't knock me out until after I got myself on the operating table.It was a different experience than when Sharpe did surgery on me.

They gave me a wheelchair that I've been using for the weekend and it's been really nice. although last night coming back from devotional my companion wasn't paying attention and ran me into a ditch. After we finally got me out, the wheel had bent and the wheelchair wasn't workable. So I asked a ployonesian and a big white elder if they could help me walk to Wyview to get another wheelchair. That was a LONG walk back. So I got another wheelchair and went and chilled with the the district that left today that we were all really close to for an hour and they gave us a TON of food, another nerf hoop and other things that have been passed down from districts for a year and now we are in charge of making sure it gets passed down.

I've been walking on my knee so it's hurting but i'm tired of being stuck on crutches and in a wheelchair. The doctor said that I'm fine to leave with my district two weeks from today!!!!! I'm so excited to get out of here and go to MEXICO! Things are slowly getting better with my companion. I'm learning alot of spanish and am able to use it. We converted one of our investigators to baptism and get two new ones this week. We also get to host and show new missionaries around on Wednesday. I also get to hear L TOM PERRY tomorrow for our Tuesday devotional!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm super excited.

Oh by the way, one of my teachers Kendrick Turner sent you a friend request because I told him to because he asked me about all the trials that our family has gone through and after I told him everything he said he wanted to talk to my family so I told him to facebook you. My teachers are awesome and i'm so excited to get out into the field!

 I'm sorry to hear about Andi and what she's going through. Tell her that I think that it is going to be a boy and that as soon as she knows, I want to know. I'm also very sad that Randy got pneumonia and had to go back to the hospital. The poor guy has gone through so much over the past month and a half and it's not getting easier. I'm praying for him and for all of you every night and every prayer that I say during the day which is like close to ten times a day. I love you all sooooooo much and can't wait to Skype at Christmas! I love you!!!

Adios!!!!

Elder Wight

PS i'm sending some things home that I would like you to keep for me until I get back from my mission. Thanks!!

Half Way through the MTC!

**side note**

Joe was working out last week and his knee gave out. Its the knee that he had torn his ACL and meniscus and so we were very worried. He had to have an MRI on it...the doctor there couldnt see anything, so they were sending him to an orthopedic surgeon. Its now been almost a week since we have heard ANYTHING--happy for the update!

Joe's letter:

I go in on Thursday to my orthopedic surgeon again. I sprained my MCL tore my meniscus and stretched my ACL. So I will probably have to have my knee scoped to repair my meniscus but that means that I don't have to come home for surgery and they are trying to still get me out on time. I hate crutches with a passion and I have to take them everywhere I go. They gave me an MCL brace that I've been wearing and that makes it so that I can walk but I'm still in pain.

On the upside my Spanish is coming along quite nicely. I'm learning alot and am speaking more fluent and better in our lessons and just talking to people in general. I don't have to talk in Spanish all the time but one of our teachers wants us to only speak English at the apartment, gym time, and at lunch. So from breakfast to lunch is spanish. we get a 45 minute break and then from 12- 9 it is all Spanish. Of course at the moment we don't do very well because we know enough but not tons. I'm the most fluent and know the most Spanish in my District. I translate for my companion during lessons, help him come up with words, and during class when the teacher asks a question and they don't respond within a minute or two, I help them understand what he is asking. This is my last week as District Leader. It's a good and bad thing. It's good because know I have some burdens lifted off of my shoulders and I don't have to go to so many meetings It's bad because now I'm not going to have all the information about what is going on in the zone and ways that I can help make it better because that is what we go over in my meetings on Sunday.

I'm glad to hear that Randy is doing better and that Phoebe is showing him some love and thinking about me.  I hope Jace can get a promotion and that Jeff can get the job/ buy in.

It snowed on us yesterday when we were walking home from church which is across from the football stadium. I slipped on some snow and fell on my face. It was really embarrassing. And it is snowing right now as well. It's weird having snow outside but i like it.

I'm loving it here at el CCM (the MTC). I have only two and a half more weeks to go and I'm in MEXICO!!!!! I go to get my Visa on Friday and am super stoked about that. I think I might get to go to Vegas to get it but I'm not sure. I find out tomorrow.

Well I sure LOVE you all and MISS you all so very much. But I'm so happy learning to do the Lord's work. Love you ALL!!!!!

Adios!!

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

 

 

Happy Monday! (Indeed!)

¡Hola Madre y mi familia! Things here are going pretty well.

Yes i did forget my shampoo but i bought some as soon as i got here. Oops haaha. I¨m glad to know your talks went well and it´s cool that we got a shout out in sacrament! Tell KJ that I say hello and look forward to seeing him in two years please.

 I do get your letters but not always the same day. I´m still working on those brownies and they are DELICIOUS! my roommates enjoy them as well.

 i´m feeling pretty good, I've been sick a couple days but i am doing better know.

They keep us so busy up here during the week that my brain is so fried that when we return to our apartments i write in my journal and go to bed. I think about you guys alot but mainly when I'm at devotionals on Tuesday and Sunday and then i cry a little bit because i miss you all so much!!! I don't know anything about my visa yet, but three elders in my district have gotten theirs so i should get mine soon, hopefully. I don't think there will be any delay or problem getting it. It is amazing how much the Lord blesses us everyday in so many simple little things and also some big things as well. For instance, just before we came to email, we put our laundry in the washer. I know for a fact that i only brought one bag of detergent and I realized that as we got to the laundry room. Just before we were going to go back to the apartment to grab another one, I felt a prompting to check my bag. Sure enough there we two pods for both my whites and my darks. I almost cried because i knew it was a small tender mercy from the Lord.

 i had the opportunity yesterday to bless the sacrament in Spanish and pronounced everything correctly and our branch Pres. Wilkins was impressed with how fluently I said it. We have gotten to be real friends because I write him twice a week to tell him how the district is doing and what's going on. We also had the opportunity to preside over one of the films that we watch after devotional on Sundays. I felt so in charge ha ha. Today, we went to the temple and did initiatories. That is my favorite ordinance.

After we did that we went to our apartment cleaned up ( i made two of the Elders' beds because i hope it will motivate them and we failed our room inspection last week with the only two positive things being that me and Elder Emmett made our beds. After that Elder Emmett and I had Personal and Companion study in our classroom and then cleaned that as well. I'm striving to do my best as a missionary and as a District Leader but sometimes it is really hard. But i have learned to turn to the Lord so much that he helps me get through everyday.

Tomorrow we start teaching to new investigators ( both of which are our teachers). I'm so excited. We are going to teach parts of the Restoration and teach them how to Pray. i LOVE praying in Spanish. It's alot of fun and I'm pretty good at it. I've been emailing some of my missionary buddies and it's fun to hear their experiences.

Today for lunch we went to this place called Burger Supreme in Brigham's Landing. IT WAS SO GOOD. Although I was really disappointed that their guacamole was nowhere close to yours. I got a small order of onion rings and they gave me ten! i would love to see how many come in their large! It was nice because the food here is pretty terrible and it's a variation of the same thing EVERYDAY. It gets old. But, nevertheless I LOVE it here and would not trade this experience that I'm having for anything in the world!!! I love you all SO much!!! Tell the rest of the family and especially Jane that uncle Joe says hi and that I love her so much!

¡Adios!

Lots of Love

Elder Wight

 

((in a short email to Andrea:

That's so awesome to hear about everything that's going on. i can't wait to have another niece or nephew when i come home! I miss you all and especially Jane so much! Love you tons!!! can't wait for your letter :)

Adios!

Elder Wight))

 

Our first picture from Joe since he's left us and its of his companion! What a boy.

Elder Emmett.

 

Hello Everyone!!!

Hola Madre y mi familia! its way different than what i thought it would be here at the MTC. You should be getting a letter soon (i dropped it off today) from the past four days so it between this email and that letter that should cover everything.

I live on West Campus at the Raintree apartments. My first companion is Elder Emmett. He's 6 foot 5 and a solid 270. He's from St. George and is really interesting. He's kind of a shy guy with an interesting sense of humor. We share an apartment with another district so there is ten of us in total. In my district there is me, Elder Emmett, Elder Hassard, Elder Lewis, Elder Holmes, and Elder Brower. I know the most Spanish out of everybody in my district. The other district that lives with us is Elder Hodge, Elder Deyoung, Elder Russo, Elder Brush. Elder Hassard, Lewis, Emmett, Deyoung, and Brower are from Utah. Elder Russo and Elder Brush are from California. Elder Hodge is from Georgia and Elder Holmes is from Pocatello, Idaho. We are all very different but very close to each other.

I was put in as District Leader the second day i was here! So i have alot of responsibility and lots of meetings on Sunday. Now i know what you and dad feel like. The third day we were here, we taught our first lesson to our investigator from Chile. His name is Rodrigo (He's really a teacher from Main campus). It was definitely a different and very exhilarating and tiring at the same time. I was so nervous! We took thirty minutes for our first discussion which is unheard of. We went in with a plan and Rodrigo was all over the place. So the plan we had was useless. So For our second discussion we decided to not go in with a plan and let the spirit guide. He only asked one question. We were disappointed and confused at the same time. We were only in there for twenty three minutes. Yesterday was Sunday obviously. We went to church at 730 and had sacrament meeting and priesthood in Spanish. That was very different for me. Then I had lots of meetings until our 7PM devotional by Elder Stephan B Allen. IT WAS AMAZING!!!! after that we watched Elder Bednar's Christmas devotional from the MTC two years ago. That was really good as well.

 My brain hurts from all the learning and remembering that i have to do. My Spanish is coming along pretty well. i can't believe it's almost been a week since i got here. Time seems to exist and not exist when you want it to. I feel almost like I'm in a dream. I never feel rested when i wake up and it feels like I've been asleep for like ten minutes. Then the day flies by. I LOVE it here and can not wait to get down to Mexico. I leave on Monday November 25th early in the morning.

I miss you guys like crazy and whenever i think about the fact that i won't see you all for two years i start crying. How's everybody doing? Is Jane missing me yet? I'm sorry to hear about Randy. But i know that the Lord is looking out for you all and that Randy will be healed when the time is right. I love you all so much and can't wait to email you again. feel free to write letters because i get the mail everyday for our district and would love to hear from all of you. I don't really get that much time to write letters at night. P.S. could you check my soccer cleats and the rest of the shoes in my room please for the shoe fresheners. I thought i grabbed them but apparently i didn't and my shoe's smell. At the moment i am using dryer sheets to keep them fresh. Love you! Adios!

Elder Wight