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

Friends and Baptism!!

SO here are pics of me and my apartment mates

(from left to right Elder Stout, Anokwah Donkoh, Soloia, and ME)

The other two are from my most recent baptism of two Nigerian men, John and Johnathan. At the baptism and at church the next day.

Oh yea and im going to start sending my pics home on disk so i can keep them safe and you can look at them. =)

YA BOY!

Elder White

First Accident & Mamma Hammonds

Here is a quick update from Momma White.

Let's see... Gentry has been on his mission 5 months now and says that he finally feels like he is getting the hang of this "missionary thing." He says that everyday feels like Sunday when you're on a mission and sometimes forgets the days of the week. He continues to be in the mission office but misses riding his bike as he drives a car while serving there. He wants to get back to riding the bike to maintain some form of exercise and that thinnner body that hehas gotten from all the sweating he does and NOT eating alot of the fine African cuisine. Since being given the opportunity to drive on his mission and learning to drive a "stick shift," Gentry had an accident already. He hit someone's car. He said that the man was nice about it and he did not cost the mission alot of money as it was about 60 cedis (Ghanain dollars) which in US dollars is about $75.00 dollars.

Gentry's 2nd companion, Elder Stout whom he liked got transferred. He has been on his mission for about 10 months. Gentry's new companion he says is the BOMB{dot}COM. He is from South Africa and is 24 years old. I forgot his name and probably none of us can pronouce it anyway! LOL!!!!!! Gentry says that he is really cool. He says it really weird being the Senior companion when this guy is like 5 years older than him. For those of you that get the Ensign or can get it online, the July issue has painting of Ghanain Pioneers. The lady on the front of the issue is a Sister that he knows. She feeds him every Monday. He is still awaiting the camera that we disguised to send to him. He says he will take a picture of him and her and send it. How exciting! I was at work the other day and had gotten a call on my cellphone that I did not recognize so I did not answer it. I wished that I had as there was a brother by the name of Robert Sheckle who was calling to tell me that he was in Ghana and had seen Gentry and that we was doing well and looked healthy. That REALLY made my day! I miss that young man so much!

I can just see his smile, hear his laughter and sometimes I feel his sadness in his emails and I just wish that I could see him but I KNOW that he is and will be fine. I can see amd feel the Spiritual growth in his emails as he focuses on his mission and those that he teaches and those he is preparing to teach. It continues to AMAZE me how these 19 year old "boys" transform into men of God and are able to find out about themselves and help others to do the same as they search for peace and happiness. I am SO proud that Gentry has made the choice to do what he is doing. My son is AMAZING and KNOWS that he is a child of God!

Gentry stays busy since working in the Mission Office so he does not always have alot of time to email or his emails are short. He just wants to say hello and let me know that he is all right. Gentry did say that last week when President Obama was in Ghana last week that the people there were really excited. He did not get to see him though. Gentry has not told me of any new baptisms lately. There is not alot more to say in this entry but until next time, continue to think of, pray for and read the blog of the "happenings of Elder Son.!"

Here is a pic of Gentry with Mamma Hammonds (who was on the cover of this months Ensign) She feeds Gentry every Monday night. Awwwwwe!!! Much love and thanks to Mamma Hammonds!!!! The last pic is Gentry "just happy to be up outta church" bah-hahahaha!!! Some things never change ;)