"I felt a love I have never felt before"

Puerto Rico life in the Ponce letters

Elder Fox, Elder Wilcox and me

Hello Everyone!

"Chaaachooocha" ...  that is the word of the week, that means, “mannnnnn”! Ha. We went to a lesson with a young couple from the church and they were laughing so hard because me and my companion say it so much they are like “these gringos are Boricua” (Puerto Rican).  I love Puerto Rico. I have found out that I am not being transferred! Yay! I am so happy. I love Ponce, even though it is hot everyday and I drench all of my shirts in sweat.  The people here are wonderful and I am grateful to serve here for at least another 6 weeks. Elder Wilcox is still my companion and we are excited. He is now the Big Disctict Leader and he in nervous, but he will do so good! Elder Fox is getting transferred, so it is sad. It will be weird because he has been in the same house with me for like 5 months! I am grateful for him and all that he has taught me. I am truly a better missionary because of him!

Picture of our district

This week was a fun and super successful week. We have a family investigating the church and they are the most positive people I know. This is the family we found a few weeks ago after we had knocked the door and we walked all the way down the street and a man pulled up in a car so we walked all the way back. We have taught them a lot now and they came to church! It was so wonderful, and it was the first time they have brought their kids to a church! Man seeing their smiling faces, brings the greatest joy. I imagine that is how our Heavenly Father feels about us when we find truth and make good decisions in our lives! I was in a lesson and just observing what was going on while my companion was teaching and it hit me how much I love helping bring others unto Christ. When people receive the gospel and understand… something changes inside them. You see it in their eyes and in their smile and in their testimony. I know with all my heart that this is the true church and doctrine of God, because anyone can change, oh how wonderful it is.

Puerto Rico is beautiful!

The wife offered the closing prayer and pleaded her heart out to God, to receive health for her, and her family and to know if these things are true. Tears filled her eyes and the Spirit was so powerful. I was pondering on what had happened and I felt a love that I have never had before….A love that God could only have for his children. I know God gives that love so we can help His children feel it here as we bring it into their house everyday. God loves his children, He knows them by name, and He will never leave them comfortless. I know that through the Spirit we can always be comforted. I love you all!

Love, Elder Waidmann

La guancha with Elder Fox

La guancha last preparation day

Abasail and Jessie. I love them!

Ponce letters

Yo soy boriqua pa que tu lo sepa

"We are all missionaries"

Having fun!

Chef Waidmann 

Hello Everyone!

I don’t know how many times I have heard that, I was able to see really how true that "Every member a missionary" is! Thank you all for all the wonderful love and support. I am so grateful for everything! Life is so beautiful. So last week we were contacting an area and a lady said behind her door ''No, I don't believe 'Mormon'." (or something like that) and we were like… “what?” Haha.  So we continued to contact and didn't find anyone else that day. So we got a call last Saturday from a member who lives over there and he told us to go with him to meet someone.  He had an appointment to go talk to them on Sunday.  We thought that was pretty sweet. So we drive up to the house and BAM… its the house that denied us earlier that week and were like “no way!”.  So it  turns out this member out of the kindness of his heart helped this family out with their car and after talked to them about the church.   The woman said that she thought that "Mormon's" did not believe in Jesus Christ... which is not true.  We taught here that our name is the Church ofJesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and that we indeed believe in Jesus Christ.  We had another great visit and they are interested in learning more and being baptized.  

Members really are missionaries and it was a such a testimony to me that anyone can help in this great cause. All we have to do is open our mouth and share the gospel!   The worst thing that they can do is say no and the best thing they can do is come unto Christ… so open your mouth.  

We had zone conference and the Mission presidents wife talked about the power of hymns.  It was so amazing because we realized the hymns teach us and bring the spirit so strong.  After being retaught this, me and my companion sang to our investigator and after she was crying and the Holy Spirit was unforgettably strong. She has committed to baptism as well. I am so grateful for all the simple truths of this gospel.  Every time I share them, the Spirit witnesses to me they are true. God is our Father, and he gave His perfect son for us so that we might live with Him again. Oh what joy this sentence gives… I know that my Redeemer Lives. Smile as much as you can and pray often, and you will be happy! I send love from Puerto Rico!

Les Quiero,

Elder Waidmann

"Buenas Permisooo..."

The view from an investigators house

Hello Everyone! 

I feel like I have said that (Buenas Permisoo) a million times this week to get people to come out of their house to talk to us. I love it. Thank you for all your constant love care support and prayers. Wow… I have felt the prayers so strongly this week. We have been so blessed with new investigators, and my Spanish skills have grown so much and for that I know the gift of tongues is real. I woke up the other morning and my companion said “man, you were totally talking Spanish out loud during your dream”. It is pretty crazy… so thank you guys for the prayers. We contacted a lot this week and it was another full week of learning. I have really come to know how teaching according to the people’s needs is the only way to help them progress. As we look to the Savior and His teachings, He always taught to the needs and to the understanding of the people He was teaching.  It really is amazing. Share what you know to be true you never know your best friend or neighbor could be ready to listen and accept the Gospel Of Jesus Christ into their lives.

Shelter from the rain! It was a crazy rain storm!

I was able to reflect a lot on how much I have learned on my mission when I was asked to talk in District meetings about experiences with the Spirit. I learned and testified that if we do three things we will find people, feel the Spirit, and see miracles here on our mission and even in daily lives!

1.Trust in the Power Of God

2. Talk with everyone

3. Do everything we can  

We will feel the Spirit and find people prepared to hear the gospel.  I know this is so true. As we share the light and truth that we have, our testimonies will be strengthened and we will be happy. I promise you all that. I testify that God is our father, we are literally His children and His love for us is perfect.

Me and Carlos. I love him!

We were contacting way up in the mountains? We contacted a house and nobody answered and we walked all the way down the street and we turned around and a truck pulled in and were thinking should we walk all the way back.  I was like “Lets just do it!” We went back and talked to him and then taught him and his wife the Restoration, it was so powerful.  It was such a miracle and a testimony to me that God loves His children. That He would send us there at that exact moment to share eternal truths with them that will change their loves forever. As we share the Restoration almost daily I have gained such a strong testimony of the truthfulness of it. I know the first vision happened and I know Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ and that through him Jesus Christ restored his true church back to the earth.  I love these people with all my heart. I love Puerto Rico. I couldn’t be more blessed and happy. Serve others and everything will work out

Much Love,

Elder Waidmann

"We are here on this earth to serve and help others"

Me and Jose (Carlos' friend). He was just baptized!

Family and friends,

I can say one thing about the missionary work and life.. it is that there are always going to be good days and bad days. God gives us the challenges, struggles and joys for our learning an benefit. The way we handle it, all comes down to the question, “What would Jesus do in this moment?”. I know it sounds classic or cheesy, but its so true. If we always act how the Savior would, there would be no time to be sad or trodden down. We would always be about His service. I am convinced that if we are focused on helping others, our thoughts will be outward and positive. I know these things are true because of this week. It was a hard one for sure and nobody wanted to talk to us day after day. I got down on myself and it got me nowhere, but I have come to the knowledge that we are here on this earth to serve and help others. I know this is true. We must endure to the end and how great shall be our reward in the end!

Me and The Feitos Family. I miss them!

I love this great scripture in the Book of Mormon- Mosiah 2:41

“And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”

I love you all so much!

Elder Waidmann

"We decided that we wouldn't let this get us down"

Hello Everyone!

We love NY!

Me and my companion

I love you all and am so grateful for you love and support. Okay so here it is! This week has been full of lesson learning. I have grown spiritually from the week’s event, and it has drawn me closer to the Lord. Our investigator, that was going to get baptized soon, decided she no longer wanted to be taught (dropped us). We tried visiting her, but she sent her daughter out to close the door on us. That was really hard on us. Then later that day her cousin dropped us too. Then that evening, our other instigator dropped us too. It has been tough. But, we have become closer as a companionship and have learned a lot together. I have learned so much this week. I am more humble and submissive to the Lord's will.

Our little pup

Puppy love

We decided that we wouldn't let this get us down, and we have been working really hard. I'm glad to have a companion who wants to work hard too.  He is the man! We have been working well together! We found a stranded baby puppy in a park and our neighbor found a person to take it in. It was pretty great.  I have been so blessed out here on the mission and I know that if we do the Lord's will, we will learn everything we need to, and we be blessed from on high continually. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, as it has carried me.  It carries anyone who comes unto Him. I am not perfect and missionaries are not perfect, but I can testify from what I have seen on this mission… that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change anyone. Share the gospel, we have what everyone needs, whether they know it or not! Be bold and testify of what you know. I love you all and may the Lord continue to watch over and bless you all.

Elder Waidmann