A quick update from Elder White...

One is me and Jane the Lady That recieved the glasses from Brother Catchatoorian when he visited Ghana

 

One is Me opening my moms easter card i recieved last month but was told not to open it till easter! lol

 

ONe is me with a sparkler! lol We found them when we were cleaning.

 

So yea thats that! Oh we have a baptism next week! Yes!

Hey guys, just got this email from Gentry's mom, and after I was done drying my eyes, I knew I had to share it...

Now that I know that his emails come on Mondays and is there when I get to work it makes me look forward to getting up now!  I love hearing about his happenings and the teachings of Our Father in Heaven and of His Son,  Jesus Christ.  He sent me some pictures of his nasty kitchen and I was so upset with the condition of how the other Elders are keeping it.  He says that they will not wash their dishes and one of them just washes a dish as he needs it. DISGUSTING!!!! I want to call the Mission President and complain but I will wait to see what Gentry wants me to do... if anything.  We are just not accustomed to that. The saying goes... cleanliness is next to Godliness right????!!!!! Not in this case.  

I must share with you how I know that Our Father in Heaven's hand is in our lives and others.  In Gentry's second email, he told of a lady that he and his companion were teaching.  He said that they had asked her to read a verse from the scriptures and when she pulled out her  glasses, he said that they broke.  Gentry said that she looked so helpless because she had just been saying how she sometimes looks at others who are doing "bad" things in life and they seem to get blessings anyway.  Gentry said he wanted to cry.  He told  her not to compare herself to others as she does not know what these people have to contend with once they go into their homes at night and what sufferings they have "behind closed doors." 

After getting this email, Stake  Conference was about 3 weeks later in Charlotte. My family and I got there fairly early and was summoned by Allison Lucas to sit with them and some others from the Monroe Ward. Not knowing that the 2-3 rows in front of us were reserved for investigators and new converts,  a  member of the church, Sarit Catchatoorian who is an eye Dr. in Charlotte sat in front of us with his mother who recently had joined the church.  He knows Gentry and his daughter and Gentry are friends.  He turned around and wanted to know about Gentry's mission and said that he and some other Drs. would be going to Ghana  to do some volunteer work at an eye clinic and if I wanted him to take something to Gentry then he would ... if he could find Gentry.  I never got from Gentry what his physical address was but prayed that they would make the connection.  I told Brother Catchatoorian about this woman and what had happened  when Gentry was teaching her.  He said that he was taking 300 pair of reading glasses and maybe he could give her a pair.

Gentry says that he was at church and Brother Catchatoorian comes in with the package and he could not stop smiling!  He said that Brother Catchatoorian hugged him and handed him the package and a letter from his daughter, Latisha.   He said that it felt like "a piece of home!!!!" He said that the best part was when Brother Catchatoorian asked where was the lady whose glasses broke?  Gentry was like huh? Brother Catchatoorian told him that I had told him about a lady whose glasses had broke while she was being taught. Gentry said that he thought she was there at church that day and Brother Catchatoorian told him that he had brought her a pair of glasses.  Gentry said he could have cried!!!!!! They found the woman, I believe her name is Jane and she tried on a few pair of glasses and was able to wear the second ones.  Gentry said that they had not seen her in a week and "just think if she had not come to church that day she would not have received the glasses." Gentry said that after church she asked about being baptized.  Gentry said that he and his companion  want to teach her more before she is baptized as he did not want her to join the church based on a pair of glasses but hopefully with her seeing the blessings that come from Heavenly Father it will lead her into the waters of baptism.

Gentry thanked me for everything and said that I was all the way in America but was able to help bless this woman.  I do not feel that it was me that did anything... it was Our Father in Heaven's hand that...

1. Lead Gentry and his companion to Jane
2. Gentry emailed me to tell me Jane's situation
3. Brother Catchatoorian just happened to pick Ghana to go to to volunteer as he told me he had 2 other
    other choices but chose Ghana
4.  Brother Catchatoorian is an eye Dr.
5.  After searching for the church and going out of the way... (the church was only a mile from the hotel
     where Brother Catchatoorian was staying), he found Gentry
6. Jane just happened to be at church that day as she had not been in week

Look at Heavenly Father's hand!!!!! I am sure that this is just the beginning of how Gentry will be a part of touching and blessings other lives and helping them to come to know Our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ.  To my friend and brother, Sarit Catchatoorian, I thank him and am grateful for his efforts, for finding my son, delivering my package and blessing the life of Jane with what might seem "small" to many but was truly a blessing in her life.  WOW!!!!!!!! 

Gentry continues to adjust to the food and feels that he has lost some weight.  He says that of the 4 of them that share an apartment, he is the only one that has not gotten sick from eating the food.  Brother Catchatoorian says that he took Gentry and his companion to dinner along with the other Docs that were volunteering.  He said that they needed a cab to get to the restaurant and to get a good price, you negotiate with the driver.  Brother Catchatoorian said that Gentry put on his Ghanain accent as was able to get them a good fare.  I found this to be funny as I saw Gentry's personality and acting ablility come out.  Gentry says that  because he is African they don't cheat him. Gentry continues to try to "light a fire" under his companion.  He feels that their companionship has gotten better. Gentry says that the people of Ghana are friendly and he loves them.  

He is reading now in the book of Alma and is impressed with himself as scripture reading was not, let's say his first love!!!!!  I can see the growth in Gentry and am so proud of him and the choice and choices that he has made in life.  He says that because of different experiences that he has had in life, he feels that he is able to share that with the people he teaches.  I love my Elder Son and do miss him greatly!  I thank ALL of his friends, church members and my family for helping me to help him "be the best that he can be!!!!" He is a child of God and is truly a blessing in the life of me... his mother!

***FINALLY!!!***

Elder White has finally found some time to send along an update YAYYYYYYY!!!! Here is what he had to say...

What ...........A WHIRLWIND! This is definatly an experience that nothing in the states could prepare you for. I just got out of the MTC a week ago and I was not expecting what I had coming next. I moved into this, what they call, apartment. its more like a cement floor flat. Oh but it comes with 2 bedrooms a bathroom and kitchen. Let me tell you the perks of each! lol The building itself is A/C-less so we have fans, the bathroom is so filthy when i walked in for the first time I couldnt stop gagging from the sight. The kitchen is the best, it come equipt with little creepy crawlers of every kind! Rotches, spiders, everything. THe thing is is that it could be a

lot better in the kitchen but my roommates allow for it to be so, and you said they would have a problem with my tidyness,yea right! other than robbie hicks, the guy that sent me the email, im the cleanest person there. It is so hard for me alot of times that I normally feel like crying at least once in the day. But dispite all that I am ajusting and i love it here! The ppl are so receptive and wonderful. They love to laugh at my last name = ) I have had fun for the most part. There is so much to say that i cant think of what all to write.

I miss Grandma and Aunt Margie so much! I love them so much, hug each other for me, for real. I dont get to hug ppl here, not that i'd want to, all that must and sweat lol

People here have it hard. there are so many unique and beautiful children here, you know i want them all to come

model for target in america. I love it the best when the girls have short cut hair like mine. It looks good on them. I have pics but ive forgotten my camera cord so i'll have to do it next week.

I have made good friends with Elders Robbie Hicks and Brad Beeston. Hicks Is a student at University of Utah, and Beeston is a Football player at BYU.

oh and its so funny at the MTC everyone thought you (Mom) were either my sister or girlfriend in that black and white picture, even my roommates now! lol

ok well my hands are hurting from hand washing all my clothes this morning (Grandma would be proud)!

(In another letter..) I am ok. My tranior/companion is ok, very lazy and we haven't been as effective as we should but I am gonna speak to him about that. I was actually just talking about you (Cara) last night to someone in our apt, about how we had that text convo about it not being fair that kathrine heigal was so famous and is not following the teaching and commandments she knows and how upset i was but then i taught a lady and she had a similar problem and i knew how to answer it because of the things you said to me. = ) WHAT......a good example you are!

Mission home is ok, the brief time i saw it. My mission president smith is a beast a little but he's cool. Africans are something else! I want to be skinny like the guys here though! lol ppl here think im starving myself but i am like no! Betty never cooked so my bodys has just adjusted lol

Yea I did make it seem like this place would be alot nicer than it is! WOW! Our apt could be better but my companion is a slob so yea. I have to "endure to the end!" well, there is so much to do! Love you guys!!!

The first pic with the missionarys was taken at the airport in NY. After almost9 hours alone they showed up. They were all leaving to go back home to Utah and one to Las vegas, they all served in londan. the two standing beside me are ( from the left to right Beeston and Elder Hicks) they were coming with me to ghana.

The Second pic is of us at my first baptism as a missionary. We had a total of 6 baptisms between all the missionarys in my apt.

The next pic is of me and my district (abinidi district) on the temple steps as they were all endowed that day! I was actually the district leader! Be sure to tell my mom that i forgot and im running out of time.

Doctrine and Covenats 6:34 my favorite Scripture

He has Arrived!!

Heya ya'll this is Cara.  Gentry has asked me to keep his blog up to date while he is away for the next 2 years.  He will send me updates and I will make sure they get posted for your viewing pleasure.

Obviously he hasn't sent anything yet since he just left (duh huh), but the fabulous Betty White, aka "Mom", called me to let me know that the mission presidents wife called to ease those Mommy nerves and inform her that Gentry has arrived and is well.  She said he was all smiles and oozing excitement...that's the Gentch we all know and lurve!!  As soon as I get more info I will pass it on.  Happy Reading!!  Oh, and I told Gentry that I would pass along some of the comments he gets, sooooo... leave one for him!!!

Here are some pics I took of "Elder White"  only hours before heading to the airport 

(at 3 am... OUCH!!)

Finding Elysium

Waiting to go on a mission is actually a lot more difficult than I could have ever imagined.
For those of you who don't know I decided not to go to school for the for the the one semester alotted before going on my mission. I knew that there was a chance to leave for my mission before the first sememster of my freshman year in college would have ended, so I opted out of going to school for that one semester (the sooner to leave the sooner to get back.) Then the hard stuff began. I temporarly moved to Florida for about 2 months in hopes to get some work with an agency out there, unfortunatly I left early of a couple different reasons. I loved it there though. So I came back to NC and I was at square one, working at T.J. Maxx -still part time- and if I wasn't at work i'd be at home slowly becoming OBESE! With time, my mind began to wonder about life, I started having doubts on if this mission to Africa was really the right thing for me? I mean i gave up a contact with an agency in LA, LA being the top of the food chain in the acting world, I gave up school for 2 years just to come back as a 21 year old freshman, friends, life! Or so it would seem. I continued to get nervous began to mentally and spiritually rebel. I was having a really hard time and felt like no one could help me with it. I was so emotional about everything, I lost trust in everyone. I felt like no one could really side with me or know what i was going through. Soon I started going out on teams with the missionarys. This helped. Just to know that there were guys out on there missions that had, somewhat, felt and/or feel the way I did really helped. I suggest it to all. They are so young and smart that that too made me nevous. How could I become as high up on the spiritual totum poll as they are?
Recently I had went to a bon-fire to hang out with some friends while they were home from Christmas break. It was actually a bit hard. Some of them seemed so immuture to me. not saying that I am so above them, but it seems like they were more interested in worldly things and temporary pleasures than anything else. (And for those reading who are not members of my church, don't think I hold you any lower than any of my church friends because I have high expectations for you as well)
Sometimes i feel like no matter where I go I will never find elysium (a place or condition of ideal happiness)

I know this sound so depressing but I know in my heart this is the right thing to do. I am so excited to help the people of Ghana really know the power of our Heavenly Father. I have a hard time truly epressing how I feel when people ask so writing it helps alot. Even still im not being as complete as I would like to be but its important to me that I have this to look back on. Who knows maybe someone feels the same way...