25 June 2012

Hey family!!!!!

Well this week I was sick .... I must have caught a flu bug or something! I’m doing great now.

On Tuesday I went on the Spanish exchange and I actually spoke some Spanish, it was so cool.  I was having conversations with someone in a language that I don’t even know!!!  Now I know how Matt and Karissa feel! haha

So I was talking with Elder Stratton and I asked him what his parents do for work, he told me his mom works at a pastry shop, so I asked him what one she works at.  You will never guess where she works ... Schmits!!! It was one of those small world things that are pretty cool.  And apparently his uncle owns the place. 

So we are teaching George again, apparently he is back on his meds and he still is reading the Book of Mormon!! And he has been thinking of baptism and wants to go through with it.  So his date is now July 21st!  And yesterday during our PEC meeting, some other missionaries pulled us out and said there was someone to see us, so we followed them and walked outside to the parking lot. There was George .... sitting in his wheel chair with a cast on his foot.  He didn’t tell us what happened but he said he was so determined to come to church that he wheeled all the way to the church and was two hours early so we taught him a lesson and talked to him. That was a big miracle!

Well family I love you!  I have the best family in the world and I wouldn’t trade you for anything in the world!! (except maybe a baptism!! haha jk)

Love Elder Garrett

18 June 2012

Dear Family

Well it takes some getting used to being in a tri pan, but I really like it!  It’s a lot of fun working with two other elders because you learn more than you would with just one.  Tracting is always fun now because people just give us a funny look because we all are so big but I think it makes them listen more.

Wednesday we went to see one of our investigators but he wasn’t home and our back up plan was to knock the area around him, so we went knocking and we tried to make some good contacts.  Maybe four houses later this lady was out front of her house doing yard work, we started talking and she told us she wasn’t interested but her neighbors are.  So we went and knocked the door, it turns out they are members and there is a lady there who thought she was a member, but apparently the church lost her records.  Her name is Sissy Ryan, she said that she wants to be baptized!  We are meeting with her tomorrow.  MIRACLE!!!

It was really fun talking to most of you last night and I’m glad that you all are doing so well!  I’m pretty jealous of all the golfing you've all been doing but we all would know what would happen if I was there ;) ha ha.

On the coast they have this thing called June gloom, so every June it gets all foggy and wet and dark, it only lasts until about 2 pm though.  But it always makes the morning really hard when it is dark and cold and just bad!  But it should be gone pretty soon!  June is half way over already so that’s nice! 

      

Tomorrow I’m going on a Spanish exchange ... pray for me because I don’t know any Spanish at all! So we will see how all the lessons go, but luckily the Elder I’m going to be with knows Spanish really well.  I’m sure everything will turn out great and that I’ll learn some Spanish!

I hope everyone is doing well and that you travel safely!

Love you soooooooo much,

Elder Garrett

11 June 2012

What’s up!!!

Transfers .... well I’m staying!  That will make it 6 months in Oxnard!  Pretty cool huh?  Elder McCracken is staying as well, which is cool with me because he is pretty cool, but here is the shocker -- we are getting a new companion!  We will be in a tri companionship.  His name is Elder Stratton, he is way cool.  He served in this zone a transfer ago and has been out for one less transfer than me.

Well it’s kinda like we are starting over here again.  But knocking doors is cool with me, I love talking to people and making them feel uncomfortable haha.  But every once and a while we find that person who wants to listen that makes it all worth it!  This week we really didn’t teach too many people, well at least no one who wanted to continue to learn.

Other than that nothing too crazy has happened.  I’m almost done with the Book of Mormon again! That’s pretty cool.  I love reading that book, no matter how hard my day was or how bored I am I still can find the comfort and the strength I need in the chapters I read.  There is nothing better!

So yesterday we only had 3 hours of church instead of 7!!  That was really nice, not gonna lie.  And we got new counselors in the bishopric and they happen to be some of my favorite members (but don’t let them find out about that!!!).  So it should be a very good transfer and a lot of work will be getting done!!

Sorry this letter is so lame but I have nothing else do say!!!  Sorry!

Love you all so much and have a good week!

Love Elder Garrett

4 June 2012

Hey family,

Well nothing really crazy cool has happened here this week.

Our wards did combine yesterday, it is now just the Oxnard 2nd ward.  We lost a lot of sweet members though, but oh well (new boundaries).  We also lost three of our investigators.  The one I’m really sad about is Robert, he was doing so well and was starting to see that this church is true, but he will still have missionaries come around, just not us.  It will be ok but it was just sad to say goodbye to him.

Transfers are next week!  I will most likely stay here in Oxnard but I have been here for 3 transfers so you never know!

Sorry this letter is soooo short but I don’t have much time.  It’s been a busy pday!!!

But just know that I love you and I pray for you all every day!  I hope that everything is going well with you, hope the move went well and everyone is adjusting well to the changes!

Love,

Elder Garrett