Let's see, let's see.... well, Elder White is hitting the double digits as it is going on 10 months since he has been in the mission field. Time is flying by! At times he even thinks so. Others have told me that when the one year mark hits, the second one will go even faster. Elder Son (aka Elder White) is doing well for the most part. He does have his "ups and downs" but tries to stay positive as he says, "It's (mission) always been great for the most part. Challenges are great to overcome and look back on. It's just at the time they are rough. For those that can look at the benefit of the outcome, those are the true winners!!!" Spoken like a true winner huh!!!!!!!??????
He is having some wonderful missionary experiences and just said recently that they have four baptisms coming up. He truly loves the people and doing the work of Our Father in Heaven. He had gone back to an area where he had served and saw the lady Jane that he baptized... remember her? CHECK OUT THE BLOG ENTRY FROM APRIL 2, 2009. He stated that she was so happy to see him and that he was even happier to know that she was still attending church and that her daughter had even been BAPTIZED!!!!! Look at the hand of Our Father in Heaven!!!! Gentry says that he was able to hear a little of General Conference and states that "those guys are right on it." He says that a lot of the talks seemed like they were just for him. I am happy to hear this as I must admit that Elder Son would take naps during some of the talks when he was home. He says that he loves Dieter Ucthdoff (o.k. I KNOW it is not spelled right but you know who I'm talking about!!!!).
Gentry turned 20 on November 17th and I must admit this was hard for me not having him here and being to hug and wish him a Happy Birthday and EVEN HARDER not having him here for Thanksgiving. I KNOW I will be a "basket case" come Christmas morning and I don't have him in the house. I know that he is serving Our Father in Heaven by serving others on his mission but I still MISS my son "something terrible" sometimes!!! He too missed the family for Thanksgiving. My brother emailed pictures to him and he stated that he "teared up" when he saw the family all together as this was only the second time in years that ALL of his Aunts and Uncles have been at home at one time. He wished that he were there but said that for now, he was in the right place... serving his mission. Gentry did not get a birthday package as it is SO expensive to send anything to Africa. With Christmas being only a month away, he will get his package then. Instead, he got MALARIA!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! I was going crazy but he immediately told me that it was caught in time and he got medication and was better after about two days. He said it was such an AWFUL feeling!!!!!!!! He said his head hurt, he had diarrhea and body aches. He said that from this experience, he got a "little taste" of how his Aunt Margie probably feels on a daily basis (she is on dialysis and has alot of other serious health problems). Elder Son says to tell everyone that he is STILL healthy and strong!!!!! He sent me pictures to let me see that he was doing well... WHEW!!!!!!!! He has befriended a lady named "Aunt Aggie" who he says is his "Mama" in Ghana. She has some kind of a shop (not sure what) but says that she gave him spiced cider and cake on his birthday. THANK YOU AUNTIE AGGIE FOR TAKING CARE OF MY ELDER SON!!!!!
Elder Son has a really great companion named Elder Nielsen that he says he likes alot. He is from N.Y. Gentry says that they get along well and this makes SUCH a difference!!! Recently, Gentry got an email from a friend that he graduated with who is now in college. She is taking a religion class in college and as an assignment, had to have some questions answered about someone elses faith/religious beliefs and church. She immediatley thought of Gentry and requested to have 12 questions answered. Well, what does he do but send her email to me... a Ward Missionary!!!!! At first I was so pleased that she would ask him and to see that she still remembers from high school that he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and is serving a full time mission. The next thing was... oh my goodness, now I have to answer these questions. Along with my own knowledge, that of the full time missionaries in the Monroe Ward and with Allison Lucas' input, Chelsea Reed (that's her name), got her questions answered and was offered to have brought to her home, a personal copy of the Book of Mormon. I have yet to hear from her but at least she now knows more of what Gentry and what we as Latter Day Saints believe THANK YOU ELDER SON FOR THE MISSIONARY OPPORTUNITY!!!!!!
I continue to see the change (s) in my son in that he knows even more so, the love of Our Father in Heaven for himself and His children. He is serving our brothers and sisters of Ghana and leading them into the waters of baptism and if not to baptism yet, is "planting the seed." I am so proud of him and of his sacrifices.We as his family love him, are proud of him and miss him. Him serving his mission continues to bless him and our family and we are so grateful to him for this. He wants me to let you all know that he misses you, asks that you continue to do missionary work, pray for him and all missionaries and for his family.
~ Mama White
