24 September 2012

Hey,

Well it was an interesting week filled with drops and more drops!  We got dropped a lot this week.  It was frustrating but the Lord is opening our time so we can really find the prepared person and help them come closer to Jesus Christ. haha!  Elder Bennett and I are going to be trying a different approach on the work.  PART MEMBERS!!!!  I didn't realize how many were actually in our ward, around 75.  So we are going to be visiting them with the Auxiliaries.  I’m excited to see if it works.

  

So in district meeting we had an edpep or role play on answering questions.  One of the questions that I was asked to answer was "why do bad things happen to good people."  I have always known that it happens so we can learn and grow ... but I took a different approach this time.  I read Mosiah 3:7.  And it clicked ... the reason why bad things happen to us is so we can have a chance to come closer to the Savior, because He went through the hardest situations that anyone could face ... "Even Unto Death".  It was nice to be able to find out something that will benefit myself and most importantly the people I will talk to.  I like learning through the spirit!

I get to go on an exchange with Elder Ensign, he is elder Wenz' companion.  I’m going to be staying here in Santa Maria.  I wanted to go Pismo Beach where they serve but oh well.  I’m excited!  It is this Wednesday.  Elder Ensign hasn’t been out that long, I think this is his third transfer now.  But I like being around younger missionaries, they always have energy like crazy!

Tomorrow morning we get to go to the temple!  I’m so excited!  Bro Terrazzas, our ward mission leader, is taking us down.  It’s a longish drive though, 3 hours one way.  But the view is great!  We follow the 101 all the way down so for about half of the drive it is ocean on one side!  I will take a picture for you all :)

I’m glad to hear that everyone is doing well and that the babies are still healthy!!!

I love you all and miss you tons!!

SEND ME MORE LETTERS DANG IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love Elder Garrett

17 September 2012

HEY!!!!!!!!!

So how’s everyone doing!!!!!! I’m glad to hear that the babies are doing so well!  Thank you for the pictures of them.

Also thank you for the packages!!!! The "over the hump" theme was funny! haha  The camel was funny!!!! And the cookies are the bomb!!!!

Things are going great here is Santa Maria!  We have met some people that seem sincere about learning more.  The first one that is probably the most sincere one is named Jeremy, he told us that he was raised Catholic but he doesn’t consider himself Catholic because he believes that God is a God of order and works the same way in every age!  We taught him the restoration and helped him see that God really does work the same.  We have taught him twice now and he is reading the Book of Mormon!

  

We also met Tim, he is a Christian Science member, so we talked to him about what he believes in and then we related it back to the restoration and why it needed to happen.  He was so interested and wanted to learn more.  So HE invited us back over for tomorrow and wants to read the Book of Mormon to see if it is true.  I’m excited to see what will happen with him.

I’m doing great out here, things are picking up for the most part... Sometimes being a missionary is stressful but that’s all good.  I’m learning!!! Sorry this is short running low on time!!!  Love you all so much and miss you tons!!!!!!!!!

Love Elder Garrett

10 September 2012

BABIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is so cool!!!! I'm so happy for you Ashley and Brandon!  Congratulations and I'm so glad that Jordan and Olive are doing good!

So there was no baptism... Just not the right time I guess....

Things here are OK, we have been tracting a lot again :( but we have to be doing something we just can’t sit here like a lump on a log.  But yesterday we took a member out tracting with us who went on his mission like 20 years ago.  So needless to say he was happy to go out and tract (because he forgot how awful it is sometimes).  So we were out and about and he would ask people if they wanted to learn about Jesus Christ, and most everyone said yes!  It was nice.  They all didn't want to continue to learn about Him but there was one guy who said come back I need Christ more in my life.  It was very interesting to see how excitement can change the outcome of anything!

My birthday was great!!!!!  I ended up having two birthday parties.... Oh Yeah! ha ha.  I will send you some pictures.

So yesterday we had stake conference and sister Record, bore her testimony (wife of the first counselor of our mission), she talked about a little kid who was throwing starfish into the ocean who had been beached, this old man was walking by and said "what are you doing" the kid replied "I'm saving these starfish lifes!". The old man laughed and said "there are so many starfish on the beach, throwing one back won’t make a difference at all."  The kid smiled and picked up another starfish and threw it in the water, and said "it made a difference to that one!!!!!"

I love that story about how all it takes is one small act and we can save some one’s life!!!  We can be the one to give them the truth of salvation!!!

So this Friday it will be a year out, it feels like the second wave of energy has hit!  It is really nice, now I'm not as tired as I was and I'm more excited about the work and what I need to do to make sure that I find the people I'm suppose to!

I know that this gospel is true, I know that Christ is the way that we can truly feel ALL of God’s love, Christ set the example in everything.  As I have been studying the scriptures I have recognized things in Christ’s life that are parallel to mine, He has given me the way to overcome challenges!  I love him.

I love all of you and I hope that things are going great!!!!

You are all so lucky to be able to see Jordan and Olive!!!! They are so beautiful!!

Elder Garrett

3 September 2012

HEY FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How’s it going?  So I’m going to be staying with Elder Bennett in Santa Maria!  I’m pretty excited about it, I really like this area and the people here!  So I’m still going to be doing Elder Bennett’s training, which is good because I’m learning tons from this program, it seems like I’m learning more from it the second time around than the first.

Last night we met with Alex again!  We taught him the plan of salvation and the word of wisdom! And the funny part is that he brought up the word of wisdom.  So we talked about how there is certain things we need to do in this life to earn salvation and live with God.  It was great! Teaching people about the plan of salvation is great!  For the most part this is the first time that they have heard about this great blessing, so to see the joy in their eyes when they learn about eternal families is something special.

It’s going good here in California though!  The weather is perfect, I’m sure it’s really hot there in Utah!  Thank you for all the birthday wishes and packages!  I can’t believe it’s already September.... time is flying by!  I get to go to the temple soon!  I’m very excited to go down to LA again.  That temple is something different, it is now one of my favorites!

Well family I don’t have anything else to say!!

Love you all and hope Ashley doesn’t pop to early!!!

Love Elder Garrett