Week 2 Zoom All Day

Buenos Días!

Before I begin, these emails are from me, Daniel Wait. Because my first name is Scott, my missionary email is scott.wait@missionary.org. I know you are all sad this isn't my dad but if you respond to this email, it goes straight to me. Thanks for all the thoughts and messages I have received from each of you! Feel free to email me whenever and as often as you want but know I will usually respond once a week. 

I've been a missionary for over a week now! It's been a full week. We have about 8 hours of zoom classes and meeting a day in addition to our personal language study. I am in a group or a district as they call it, with 4 other Elders. We have got to know each other pretty well because we spend so much time together. 

Elder Pitts - my companion for the MTC, from oHIo, going to Everett, Washington 

Elder Crossman- from Nevada, going to Denver, Colorado (north?)

Elder Tenney- from California, going to Houston, Texas

Elder Hull - from Utah and whatnot, going to Richmond, Virginia 

On Wednesday, right as we were about to start class, the power went out for a second. That meant the wifi cut out too and I was kicked out of my zoom class. It took about 10 minutes for it to start working so I missed the beginning of class. How sad. My perfect attendance streak has ended probably because some squirrel thought the transformer box would be a good place to hide. Natural selection at work. 

I have been getting smoked in ping pong. My touch is gone. 14-25. I need all the tips you can send me. 

Next week we transition to only speaking Spanish for the next month. 1 Nephi 3:7 says "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." I know that if the Lord has called me to speak Spanish, he will provide a way for me to do so. If I put in my all, he will help with the rest. 

I'm having some camera ~troubles~ so I only have pictures from my phone this week. lo siento!

Adios!

Elder Wait

1. Me obliterating Elder Despain in a game of Risk

2. My district learning how to use the zoom whiteboard

3. Letting out the chickens in the morning

4. Learning Spanish outside with the moon

Week 1 The First Week

Hello all!

I am finally a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! Missionaries, once they start their missions, are referred to as Elder if they are a guy or Sister if they are a girl. 

Wednesday, I started the MTC! That stands for the missionary training center. Because of COVID-19, our 6-week training course is online. I am staying at home during this time instead of going to the Utah MTC. I have two 3 hour classes with my district, which consists of 4 other Elders who are going to the United States speaking Spanish. Unlike the classes in school, these classes have been engaging and I have been learning so much from them. Its a lot to learn and practice but its been great. 

My friend Elder Despain also started his MTC this week too! To find somewhere I could study and take my classes, we decided to go to his house and practice being companions and learning to get along with each other. So far so good!

We play ping-pong during our breaks in-between classes. Currently, I'm down 11-9. 

Here is a scripture of peace that has helped me when I feel overwhelmed. 

John 14:27 "27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." All peace comes from the Lord and as we grow closer to him, we can feel this peace. 

It has only been 3 days but I'm already getting excited to go to Maryland!

Feel free to email me with any questions! I want to answer them. 

Hasta luego,

Elder Wait

Here are a few pictures

1. my family after I became a missionary

2. elder despain cooking some dinner for us

3. ben and mitra came to say hi

4. my MTC on the ping pong table while in class and zooming my district