Pérshéndetjé!!! (Hello in Albanian)

I Love it here mum! The first week was a bit dragged out but when I look back it went so fast! I love my district, my companion, Elder Simons, is 18, from America and he has such a strong spirit. I love him so much! I get along really well with my district and they are all wanting to do really well so I know that I will achieve great things because I am working just as hard.

My dream come true!!

Its my first P day today! I'm so glad because I can wear normal clothes haha. Mind you I love wearing a suit, I love looking down at the badge and thinking about my family, about everything back in NZ. I'm so proud of myself for being on a mission (in a non prideful way haha). I have learnt so much already in only a week. Albanian is REALLY hard but its coming! I am confident I'll be able to speak it fluently one day. The stature of my spirit has grown so much and I just cant explain how much I love this gospel. I am so happy here. For the girls I suppose its like a permanent SMYC, but ten times cooler. The missionaries here are really nice and me being me I know how to work my charm on everyone hahaha. I just thought Id say it right now that there are some super cute sister missionaries here ( that's what they say,  'cute' haha). Its really cool to see how much sisters there actually are. there are HEAPS here!! people are going to crazy places. Because I got here on Monday I got to meet alot of international missionaries so I had a head start with the social aspect of everything, I feel sorry for my companion because we always stop and talk to someone because it feels like I know heaps of people here already. I mean I do know heaps haha.

My companion Elder Simons

I love the dear elder letters! I am so grateful for them, please keep sending them as opposed to emailing!! 

But also, keep sending photos! I printed out the ones you sent me, I'll look at them every night before I sleep. I really want to send you photos of me and the snow! And me and my companion, me and all of my friends that I've made here. 

Mum I really appreciate the package. When someone gets a package everyone else knows so its like oooooooooh what did you get!! hahaha! The food was so good in the package thank you so much!  Im running out of NZ food. I miss it hard out! Can you send more? haha oh and if you could maybe a flash drive with my farewell haka on it? I would love to watch it again. Only if you can.

The beautiful Provo Temple

I just wanna let you know mum, and family, how much I love you all! I pray for you in albanian day and night. All the time. I miss you so much but its funny because I'm not homesick. Thinking about home and about my family motivates me to be a better missionary. It helps me. My testimony has grown so strong so fast in one week. This work is beautiful and I know I'm where I am supposed to be. I know you are going to be blessed as a family because of my service. I love you all. 

Which dog did you decide to keep? Say good bye to one of them for me please haha I love them too.

Mum and Dad I'm sorry for the hard times I gave you. I know we had our differences in opinions at times but I want to let you know I love you so much. You have taught me well how to lead my life. I'm grateful for the love you have for each other. This inspires me. I miss you so much mum and dad and I'm so grateful that you encouraged me to go on a mission. and live my life well.

Some of my District outside the temple grounds

To my siblings I love you! So much! Especially you nivs you've always known you are my favourite haha you are my best friend no doubt about it. Go hard in school my nivs and be an example to those around you. You are a natural born leader and everyone around you will respect you if you hold to what you know to be true -  the gospel nivs. I love it so much. I miss you so much nivs and I wish I could hug you one more time. Sorry for not letting you be clingy when I was still in NZ haha I regret that now (same with Ray and Te Aniwa). Thank you for your letter nivs.

Albanian Flag - We learn albanian for 9+ hours a day!

Raya!! Watch out for Nevah at school, don't let anyone pick on him. I love you so much raya thank you for your dear elder letters! I hope you got your restricted because I really do think you and Te Aniwa are GREAT drivers! You both deserve it. And yeah dad likes them Corolla's aye, but your lucky there are people here that don't have a license whatsoever!  Just be thankful to mum and dad for letting you drive. Go super solidly-hard in school ray! Be an example of your faith, find your friends and make them watch your back, and then focus. Tell Leyn he better be taking care of my sisters haha. I know that both of you (Te aniwa and Raya) have so much potential!!!! Be bold with everything you do. You know you can smoke ataahua in a race so do it! (And if she sees this, just tell her I love her haha) I believe in you Raya. I miss you terribly and I love you so much.

First time seeing snowfall

To my dearest Wisey.

I am so proud of you. You are an adult now! You have a car and I bet life is just coming at you so differently than it was last year. I am so proud of you my big little sister, that in a world of changing morals and values you have held to the rod and you have come out just a beautiful faithful daughter of God. I admire your courage. Not many girls are like you, you are special and you have proved it. I know your working now and even tho it may be in the family business (haha), still go hard! Save hard try not to spend too much on food, because that's where it all goes haha. I want to tell you that I really love it here. This feels like EFY at times, only better. You should seriously consider serving a mission, there are so much beautiful daughters of god here and the spirit is so strong with them (IF you know what i mean ;) you belong here. I really want you to be happy sis. Its a big year for you even tho your not at school but just give your best in every thing you do!

 I really miss surfing so if you do end up sending a package, can you send some surf wax? hahaaha i miss the smell. No biggie if you cant.

Look who I found - Elders' Turketo!

I want to bear you my testimony my beautiful family.

I know without doubt this church is true. The gospel is beautiful and I love it. Absolutely love it. I love my saviour and I'm so grateful for what he did for me. I have a strong testimony of prayer, like I said I've been praying for you's every day and I know that heavenly father is aware of this. He is watching over you. I love you guys so much. I cant express it enough. I am so happy  that we are an eternal family. Hold to the rod my whanau, there is safety, power and peace in this gospel! We can do so much in it.

I love you.

Arohanui

Elder Waters

After I received this email - while he was uploading the photos I was able to email chat with Elder Waters and he added this:

Im having the time of my life here mum. 

Can you please tell my extended family that I love them! And im praying for them! Thats aunty nomz, quade, jhan and the boys, Aunty leigh anne uncle lolol and Keoni! Tell him I love him heaps and that I miss him. Tell the boys the mission is the go! I love it here, it is an amazing experience. They will never regret it I can promise them that. 

Please tell all my friends I love them, I could only reply to some but when you see them tell them I love them.

Please tell Tiana Walker congratulations on her call and going through the temple! She is gonna love it in the MTC! I hope she gets to see her brother.

And if you see my boys around tell them to dear elder me! hahaha.

Dear elder is one of the most effective things, because I get the letter that night and I can think about what I'm gonna say back! cause I only normally get 1 hour on the computer.

Also tell the whanau I love them!! Nan pop aunty kara, uncle Q, ezzy & the girls, aunty sharon jaja cinda, rhe-skux ( haha ) tell them I love them all! and I'll get back to aunty as soon as I can. Time is tight here and so full on. time for a nap I think haha -  i gtg! Talk to you later :)

Love much, 

Elder Waters

xx