Temple week!

Hola Madre y familia!!!

That's sad to hear about Chance tienman and Andi but everything will be ok.

Everything here is mas o menos the same here in Mexico. People don't want to progress but love having us teach them because they feel the spirit. We found a family that we are teaching that have an eighteen year old handicapped son. We taught the Plan of Salvation to the mom and daughter and the mom was bawling alot. The spirit was so strong. But we haven't been able to pass with them again. 

My asthma and hiking up and down a mountain every day is rough and i've had a terrible time breathing and coughing for the past 5 days. But, the work goes on. 

That's fun to hear that my friends got to sing a musical number for the women's conference. We got to go to the temple today and it felt so nice to be in the Lords house again. I love going to the temple and feeling the spirit so strongly. I always put your names on the prayer role when I go so there are people praying for you in Spanish :) 

My typical Sunday is waking up at 625 like every other day, shower, shave, and then we leave at 8 to try to pick up investigators. We go around and they tell us that they're busy, their kid is sick, or just plain don't answer the door. All terrible excuses. After that we go to church, after church the food appointment, and then teach for 5 or 6 hours. Thats about it.

I gave a talk on Sunday about testimonies and how as members of the church we can always have Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost with us to fill our mouths with words if we open our mouths and share the gospel and\or our testimony. Always be looking for opportunities to share and grow in the gospel. Afterwards several hermanas that call me elder baby because they say that I have a baby face told we that I did good. Then the bishops daughter told someone in the ward that she liked me. I don't know why they told me that, but know I have to be careful when we go to bishops house and its really weird...... So ya, that's my report for the week :) I love you all soooo much and know that we are doing great things.

Adios!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight!!! 

::in response to my own letter to Joe::

Its fun to hear about your pregnancy stories :) 

The work down here is way different than up there. The members every now and then will give us a reference but not very often, and they wont go with us to teach lessons. This is another reason that the tribe of Ephraim that is in charge of the gathering of Israel is mainly Americans. But I persevere (probably didn't spell that right) :)

I hope and pray that Jace can get a promotion and that everything will be fine with you and little Nashy :) thanks for the weather reports tambien!

ADios!

Con Amor,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

Working hard in the bi-polar weather

Hola madre y familia!!!!

Everything is going well here in Mexico. Im glad to hear that everything is going well back there and that things are normal.  

Yesterday we were at 90 degrees and today we are at 40 with rain. Its miserable.

Im worn out everyday and my knees are weak after hiking the mountain every day. But I know there is a reason Im here although I dont know what it is. 

So on Friday we were walking to an appointment when some chavo stole this ladies purse. I took off after him. after about half a mile, i tripped on something that was sticking out of the ground. but because I was going fast, it looked more like I dove and tackled the person. The lady was very thankful and the guy ran away and got away. It was pretty cool. But my knees really hurt because they hit the ground hard. 

Thanks for getting my pants ready to send to me. I asked you to  read D&C121 beacuse there are alot of good things that you can learn and remember there. THis change is flying by super fast and I already have 5 months in the mission. Crazy!!!!!!! 

we had a crazy encounter with a Catholic who started bible bashing with us and thinks that the Catholic church was established by God after he said that men formed many churches. I told him that God established One faith One Doctrine and One Baptism Ephessians 4 something. I then told him that god established this church and that we carry his name on our chest as missionaries and on our churches. He didnt know what to say after that and stormed off upset. Our testimonies our the strongest things that we have. Share them with all the people you can!!!! Much love and cold from Mexico!!!!! Hopefully next week I have more to write about! :)

Con mucho amor,

Elder JOseph Harold Wight

Transferred!

I did get transferred and my trainer stayed in Linclon. I got moved to an area called La Fama A. I literally live on a mountain and have to climb up and down all day every day. My new companion is from Nicuragua and his name is Elder Estrada. It was pretty rough on my knees the first couple of days but now Im used to it. 

The weather has been super hot and having to climb a mountain makes it worse. Im constantly sweating. I thought it was going to be super hard getting used to members and investigators that are new but it hasn't really been super hard. 

That's awesome to hear about the Gilbert Temple, Dave's baby, and now Brother Curtis!!! Thats sad to hear that the Haws are leaving. Im glad to hear that Andi had support from her ward and that her shower went well. Im grateful to hear that Randy is progressing poco a poco.

 I actually found the letter that Bro. Kartchner gave to me and I can already translate it! the same size for the suit pants please. The length and how the fit are fine. I dont have an address here so they will have to go through the office. :( 

We pay by the half hour for the computers here in Mexico. I would love to read Sally's emails. 

There was a hit and run yesterday in my area. We were with a member when we heard the crash. We ran and I was the first one there. IT was an 18 year old kid who was delivering beer to the local Tecate Shop when someone hit him. He started going into shock but i called him down, told him my name and that I was his friend. I asked him if he would let me evaluate him. I checked his hands, neck, chest, and ribs. Nothing was broken. Then when i was checking his legs and hips, he starting yelling alot. So when the ambulance got there, I had to tell them that I checked him and that everything seemed to be fine except for his legs and hip. They asked me to help them hold him still while they cut his jeans to check hjis leg. Sure enough it was broken. Then I helped them get him on a stretcher and then the cops and medical talked to me for a little bit and then we went back with the member. I also told the police and medical that there was a possibility that he did Cocaine because his pinky nail was super long and the rest were cut short. They thanked me for all of the information and said that they were glad I was there to help. Scouts and my anatomy class really helped me alot. 

Also, i know that I was supposed to be there because we were going to go with another family when me and my companion had the impression that we needed to visit a different member. The spirit talks to you. Listen to it.

 Im so grateful for the opportunity I have to be here to help the poeple of Mexico acercarse mas a Dios. Yo se que La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es verdadera. I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and the only true church on the Earth. I nkow that we are guided by a living prophet. I love you all and encourage you all to talk to one person this week that you don't nkow about the gospel and share your testimony. Its the most powerful weapon you have. I love you all sooooo much and will write you more next week. Keep strong in the Faith!!!!

Adios!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

Feeling Confident

Hola madre y familia!!!!!!

Everything is going ok. This past Friday, Elder Campos got short changed to another area in our zone and I received the Senior Companion from there. The senior companion baptized a joven who literally fell in love and when they didnt visit her like every three days, she would make herself throw up or cut herself with glass. She then told him on Valentines Day that she was in love with him. He called Presidente Swapp and was short changed into my area. So for the past five days Ive been the senior companion having to report the dats to the DL, talk to the Sisters that feed us and answer the calls that come on the phone and report to ward council. 

I feel alot more confident in my Spanish and my ability to be a leader in very short time. President Swapp said that out of my generation of the mission, the people I came with, that I speak the most fluently and there is a chance that I will be training this next transfer. Im kind of freaking out about ransfers jajaja. Linclon will be divided into three areas, A B yC. We receive Hermanas tomorrow who will be in Lincoln B. I dont know if im going or staying.

 Im glad to hear that everything is still being ok there at home. Im super happy to hear that dad is adjusting well to his calling. The garfield strips were very funny and Elder Campos couldnt understand why it was so funny. He said, must be a gringo thing. It is jajaja. My black suit is starting to fall apart because I had to wearit at the MTC everyday and I used the pants when it rained so i didnt appear wet everywhere. BOth pairs of pants are starting to rip and the suit ripped on the underlining, I think thats what its called jaja. BUt other than that yes everything is doing ok. Im glad to hear that the work is still progressing in the ward. 

We didnt have a baptism this change, but I look at it as we planted a ton of seeds for future missionaries who come to the area. I starting to miss American food and Im missing the olympics. But helping people gain eternal life in the presence of God and their families is more important :) We had a Ward mission activity that we taught the miembros como contact their neighbors and friends and teach principles. Are ward isnt very supportive but they are becoming more supportive. If I dont get changed then I will have a specific address. But if i get changed no..... So next week we will find out.

 My health is better  and I have lost ten or fifteen pounds since coming here. It was 90 yesterday and close to 100 the day before. Today it eels like 93. Feels just like home. But I will be losing a ton more weight during these months. IM so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve this mission and to bless the people of Mexico. There is nothing better! Algo that I want to share is that Home Teaching is almost the same thing as missionary work. You go two by two and teach the principles of the gospel, keep people active or reactivate others. Home teaching is a big help to the missionaries. I love you all and will talk to you next week!!!!

Adios!!!!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

Mesa AZ investigators!

Hola madre y familia!!!

This week was pretty good. We are having trouble turning people we contact into investigators but this week we managed to get two. Their family is from Mesa, Arizona. Our investigator is 14 and speaks English. His family got deported from Mesa because their visitors visa expired and they continued living there. But they are very receptive and I hope they progress.

 We visited alot of members and less actives this week and everyone keeps asking when transfers are and that they will be sad. One of us is leaving and the other is staying but being divided into another area. My comp went on divisions with our DL and they visited a family. They asked where I was and they told them that I had been transferred. After that the daughter told my convert. The next day when we visited both, they started crying when they saw me and said, "You didnt leave!!!!" I felt very loved. Then one of them said that they hated Elder Campos and were pretty serious. 

It is going to hurt when I leave this area. i was "born" here, the members are super cool and like me, and I like them. The weather has been hot hot and more hot. But Im losing weight so thats good. 

Elder Dallin H Oaks comes and is going to talk to us!!!!!!! I think Elder Craig C Cristiensen too!!!! Im so excited. Changes are in a week from today in then night so next week you will not know if I have been transferred or not but in two weeks yes. 

We are always trying to find new people to teach and it is not very easy. That is part of the learning, growing, and maturing process. I Love it here ut am starting to miss American food. I eat so many tortillas, but I LOVE flour tortillas but almost all of the people use corn.

 Im happy that everyone is doing well and that dad is adjusting to his new calling. He will do great and be a great leader. Grandpa sent me and Andi a very touching email that made me cry. I hope he sends it to you as well. I miss all of you sooo much and am grateful that Jane is seeing my pictures and remembering who I am. II love you all and will talk to you later!!! Im going to send pictures :)

Adios!!!

Con muchisimo amor,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

Mail, Investigators, and the gift of Tongues.

Hola Madre y familia!!!!

THings are going well here. I just got your Christmas card, a christmas card from the Carrolls and a package from Diane!

 

Normally I email about anywhere from 4 or 5. But that could change on the next transfer. That happens two weeks from yesterday.

 

The weather here is so bipolar. It can be 90 degrees at 2 in the afternoon and at 7 its 45 or 50 degrees. It makes it hard for me because I will get sick because of the quick changes and not have time to recover before getting sick again. But oh well.

 

 We had our zone activity today. We played basketball and ate Little Caesars, which tasted fantstic and I miss alot of American food.

 

Thats awesome that dad gets to be so involved in church stuff! It will bless him and our family alot! Tell him not to have fears and trust in the Lord to help him. Its always nice to hear that everything is normal and calm at home and that nothing bad is happening haha.

 

Thats so awesome that you get to go to the Gilbert Open house. I want to go there when I get back. We went to the temple today. its always nice to go there and do a session. I always look forward to the temple. I things are hard i think to myself, "I just need to get to the temple and everything will be fine." What a blessing it is that we have temples and that we can partake of the ordenanzas inside.

 

We have appointments this week with a Jehovahs Witness that hopefully is a potential investigator. She seems interested. Elder Campos and my DL went on divisions in our area and contacted a reference who is from Mesa, speaks English, and I think lived close to where we do or in the general area. So hopefully we can connect when we go on Saturday and he and his family turn into investigators.

 

Ryder, Matt Davis, Wesley, Zach Kircher, Hunter, and my district from the MTC are all doing very well. We talk almost every week and support each other and give each other advice.

 

The Lord has been blessing me bastante with the Gift of tongues because I can understand almost everything and Im geting to the point to where I dont have to translate it translates naturally. I can speak and feel comfortable starting a conversation with almost anybody and not worry about my Spanish. Its so awesome seeing the different ways that the Lord blesses me each and every day. I know that the Lord has things prepared for me and for you all as well if we keep the commandments, attend church, and always have family home evening and family prayer.

 

There is a section in the Doctrina y Convenios section 121 that I would like you all to read, study, and discuss how this could help each and every one of us in our day to day lives. This scripture and muchos muchos mas have helped me in my mission thus far and It pains me to put the scriptures down for our companionship study. I wish personal study was two hours and companionship was one hour. But always study the scriptures and never lose the faith. Dios les ama and quiere que estudiemos las escrituras.

Adios!

Con Muchor Amor,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

2 letters! Banner day!

Hola madre, familia, y amigos!!!

We have a progressing family that we found through contacting that we are excited about. We also have a progressing investigator that is in a union libre. That ones tricky. A union libre is when someone is married but not living together and they have permission to have kids and be with another person. If she wants to get baptized, she has to get divorced and then marry her "partner". Ya.....

 

We wont move apartments until the next change but we are for sure moving. We are either living next to the other elders or moving to a gated community called Mitras Poiniente. Either way I'm bummed because my only convert and most of the few families we have in our are in the ward are in the part that the sisters will get because its safer. And, there is the possibility that I will be transferred. But oh well.

 

 I have literally eaten all types of food. Pizza, Pasta, Tacos, Flautas, Fried pig intestine and lung (ew ew ew) fish, mole, types of soy meats that i actually like that I didn't think I would, and tons of other stuff.

 

Our ward has about 90-100 people on a good day and most of them come in after the sacrament because people are always super late down here. The work down here is interesting. People want to change their life, be baptized, and o good things, but they wont keep their commitments, come to church, or obey the Word of Wisdom or Law of Chastity. It breaks my heart because I love them so much and want to help them but they wont help themselves and we are doing all that we can.

 

I'm glad to hear that there our opportunities for both jace and Jeff and I pray very hard for you all every day.

 

Ive almost finished the BOM in three months and have finished Our Heritage and Our Search For Happiness and I am working on Jesus the Christ and the Bible. I love everything about this gospel. When I come home, There are things that I used to do that I have plans to change and better my life and the things at home. I love you all so verrrrrrryyyyy much and will see you all in a very short 18-19 months. The time is just lying flying by down here.

Also i have been getting Andrea's emails.

 

Well i have to go and try to reunite a broken family in a Family Home Evening. I hope all goes well. We had investigators tell us that they want us to baptize them and not anybody else so they are going to do all that they can to be prepared. The people love me and I love them. They really are MY people Remember that the Lord is always there for you and has blessings in store for us if we are obedient and study the scriptures a lot.

Con mucho mucho amor y sabiduria,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight
_______________________________________________________

Dear Andrea,

 

Dang girl your belly is huge! hahahaha jk. Little Nashy is getting antsy to come into this world but has to wait to see his favorite uncle. such a bummer haha.

 

I'm glad things are going well for you jace and Nash and I pray alot for the family and especially that Jace will have opportunities to advance in the workforce of Wells Fargo. The Lord has things in store for your family that are bigger than you can imagine.

 

You will be a wonderful mother and little nashy will learn how to play football and baseball from Uncle Joe in 19 months.

The time is just flying by here. Its super crazy. i get your photos and emails but like Ive been telling mom, my companion is terrible with time management and literally almost throws a tantrum if we don't do tings his way. soooooo ya.

 

Well I love you and wish you all the best.

Con Amor,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

Always the favorite

Bi-polar Weather

Hola Madre y Familia!!!

The reason my letter was short last week was because my companion has no sense of time management and tries to take the cheap route to everything. We were drying our clothes with a member and it got to be 430. I told him that we needed to go to the internet cafe to write. For one hour it costs ten pesos. He said, "No we can write here" So with one computer we took turns. But he took more time because he feels like because he is senior companion hes the king of the world. We have been kind of butting heads lately because he wants to do things that arent effective and take up time. Its kind of difficult.

 

So anyways, this week was pretty good. The standard number of contacts for the misison is 35 but because our zone is lo mejor en the mission, we sdt the goal of 45. This is the first week that we accomplished that goal of 35 and 45.

 

My spanish is coming along pretty well and I feel comfortable here. The people here are kind and loving. It feels like home here in my first area. It will be hard for me to leave when the time comes. My knees are doing ok. They get pretty beat up and hurt alot at the end of each day but its worth it.

 

Thats so awesome for dad (getting called to the high council) and its a bummer that Spencer got released from young mens but he will do great as secretary. Who is the new young Mens Presidnet? Whats going on in college football and the NFL? Some drunk people invited me and Elder Campos for a taco and watch a liitle of the Colts vs Patriots game hahaha.

 

Hows everybody doing? Hows Andi and Nash doing? Hows Jeffs work? Hows randy doing?

 

Im starting to dream in Spanglish. It is really weird.

 

All of the less actives that promised to come to church didnt come. It breaks my heart to see a light in their eyes when we teach them and then to have Satan make it so that they dont come to church. Its hard to see poeple progress so far and then fall. We pray so hard for them.

 

The weather here is so bipolar. It was 40 drgrees and rainy one day and the next four days were 80 degrees with nothing but sun.

 

Well I sure love you all and am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve this mission and this people.

We got a new DL and ZL and both are super cool and I felt super motivated after our Junta on Wednesday. Well I love you all SOOOOO much and I will talk to you later!

Adios!!

Con Amor,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

1st baptism!!!

Im doing really well!!!

Sorry that I forgot to tell you that when we get to go to the temple, whatever day we go on is our PDAY. We normally go on Monday's but because it was the 1st it was closed so we went on Thursday instead. It was AWESOME!!!! but very small. haha

We also had our first baptism of which I will be sending photos. That was super awesome. I felt the spirit flowing right through me as I raised myhand to the square and performed the ordinance. She did as well because she looked at me right ater and started crying. I was on such a spiritual High yesterday.

(the girl i baptized!)

(most of the young women in the ward and my comapion!)

DAD IS ON THE HIGH COUNCIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That means that he is one step closer to being bishop! hahahahahahaha Thats crazy!!!!

I find out tonight if i get transfered or not, but probably not. Well Im going to send pictures now!!! Adios!!!

With lots of Love,

Elder Joseph Harold Wight

 

 

SIDE NOTE FROM ANDREA:

 

We got to talk to Joe at Christmas and he looked so good!!! He's doing very well and LOVING his area. His Spanish is coming along quite well and he actually was having a hard time remembering different words in ENGLISH. Who knew?

 

When we got to Skype with him, I had to friend a member in their ward. She just posted pictures on facebook and so i'm going to steal them and put them on here. So proud of our missionary!!!

 

 

 

 

 

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