Malaria??

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

Happy 20th Gentry!

9 Months Down!

10/26/09--- Ok, I have had this email in draft as I did not finish it and was unable to, but the info to you, a "week or so ago" is still true.

SORRY... I have not been slack in updating you on Gentry's life in the mission field, just busy! Gentry is doing SO well and has grown SO much in the Gospel. I continue to be AMAZED at his growth and insight when it comes to himself and what he is learning and has learned about his faith. He has even given me encouragement and advice that has caused me to laugh. Not, that I think that what he has said is funny or "out there" but that he is right and that he is actually counseling his Mother. I am so grateful that he is my son and how Heavenly Father is working in his life to help him, me and those that he serves.

He told me that he KNOWS serving a mission was the right thing for him to do. He feels that he is getting older in the mission field. He says that it is a good feeling but "scary" as one day he will look around and it will all be over. In one of his emails, he wrote,"I keep saying what I would be doing if I were home but I cannot see myself not here doing this at this moment in time. It's crazy. You have to rely on the Lord soooo much as a missionary more than at home. You have no sense of real comfort other than Him. Your apartment is unsafe to you, your companion may not be the best, you don't know what to eat, you feel like you don't know what you are doing at times but through it all, I know that I could never imagine myself anywhere else." Ok, now if you know me, you know that I cry VERY easily when it comes to "matters of the heart," Gentry and spritual feelings. When I read this, I LOST IT!!!!! He is seeing first hand how Our Father in Heaven is there and if he trusts Him, He will help!!!! Over the months he can see in himself how he has grown and that things have gotten easier. He says that they just got a new Missionary in their apartment and he is having a hard time. He and Gentry talked and he asked, "will I get use to this and was it hard for you?" Gentry was able to give him encouragement as he too, along with SO many other missionaries have been where this "greenie" is.. Baptisms are going well for Gentry and his companion. Speaking of companion, Gentry's new companion is a branch missionary and is Ghananian. He says that he is only 18 years old and is serving currently with Gentry because another missionary got sent home. Alot of things have been going on with other missionaries which Gentry says, "missions are NOT for the light hearted."

Gentry reports that he LOVES reading the Liahona and wishes that he had read the Ensign and other Church publications when he was home. He realizes now just how connected we all are around the world. I told him that while he wishes that he did read more, the important thing is that he is reading NOW!!!

It is really hot there in Ghana. There is something called the "rainy season," where it rains ALOT and so much that at times, people have lost their lives. Now mind you, though it rains this much, it is STILL HOT!!! It may be a little cooler but not much.

I laughed in one of Gentry's emails where he talked about how while out tracting they will walk past "missionaries" of other faiths that are talking to people and passing out literature. Gentry says that they "eye" one another as at times it is the same people that maybe they have just talked to. Gentry says that the thing to it is that OUR literature is FREE!!!

It is ALMOST 9 months that "Elder Son" has been in the mission field. He is learning alot and misses EVERYONE here in the US! I KNOW that Heavenly Father is pleased with his efforts and that he is and will continue to be blessed!

~Mama White

Direct From Elder White Himself!

Akwaaba!

Thank you all so much for checking this blog! Its amazing to hear how many of you actually look at this thing! HAHA But I just wanted to say hello and thanks for the support and prayers given to me. I cant tell you enough how much it helps to get an encouraging email from a friend or family member. No one will ever quite realize the mental and physical challenges that we as missionarys face here in Ghana, but let me tell you "It aint easy!" However I love it so much! Its crazy, some days I will wake up and be like i cant do this everyday for 2 years but somehow I get out of my room and out the door and as soon as I sit with someone and share "The Gospel of Jesus Christ" I KNOW that this was totally worth it! I gave up a lot to be here as many of we missionaries have, but its still the best decision i could have made at this point in my life. I can't believe i've been here as long as I have but it's flown by for me, what about you guys? hahaha
My friends have really come through with the support and you know EXACTLY who you are, so thanks again.
This work I am doing for The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a tremendous stress but if the outcome of stress are the blessings i've recieved thus far in my soon to be 20 years of life, THEN BRING ON THE GRAY HAIR!
Never Fear Elder White Fans! Im coming back sooner that you think, but the question is. . . Are you ready for the new "Gentry White?" A question for the class.

Temple and My "Sons"

Here are some [pics] that i just took

One is the Ghana Accra temple. Just months ago this was just a pic on the internet but i took this myself tonight.

SO this last one is of me and my "Sons" I know you'll love it. I love these boys (Mama White tells me that these boys sit with Gentry every Sunday at Church)

Elder White