27 May 2013

Dear family,

HELLO!

So this week was a really busy one ... but for some reason at the end of the week looking back it felt like we did nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very frustrating but I’m glad that we were busy and had stuff to be doing.

The theme of doing service continued this week.  We did fencing for this lady that had tons of dogs ...  but I got to use a water drill!!!!!!!!!  It was so much fun!  Then we did some more yard work for some members in our ward who haven't been to church in a while.  It was really nice to spend some time with them and get to know them better, for some reason it seems to be so much easier to connect with someone when you are serving them.  The Savior is on to something when He says have charity towards all!!  Haha  As much as I don't like weeding I really am grateful for the time that I have had to serve and grow my charity towards the people I have been serving the last few weeks.  It has been amazing!!!!!!!

So Ii think it was Thursday afternoon we were going to see a potential investigator, after knocking on his door for about 5 min it seemed ... we decided to leave, as we were walking away we saw this guy who looked like he was stoned out of his mind!  So of course we stopped to talk to him!  I guess ever since he was 12 he had been studying religion and he kinda started to bash with us ... So I asked him if he ever studied our religion, he of course said no.  So I asked him how he knew that the LDS church was wrong and every one in it was a big liar.  He replied he didn't, so we taught him the restoration and set up an appointment with him!!!  Of course he wasn't there but I think he was at his friend’s house so we are going to try by again!  I just thought the whole thing was really funny!

Yesterday Elder Bready and I taught the gospel principles class!!  I love teaching that class!!  Our lesson was on faith.  A nonmember who has been coming to church for a long time was there ... he was the only one there!  So it was like Elder Bready and I had the opportunity to teach him!  It was special because I had been praying that we would be able to teach this man for a long time and we finally got the opportunity!!!!  Now I think he trusts us more and hopefully we will be able to start teaching him in his home!! 

Tonight we are going to this BBQ with the bishop’s family!  I’m really excited about it!  I have really come to enjoy this ward and love the people here!  I have been able to come really close to a few of them because I have been here so long which is a good thing! 

Oh yeah we got my bike fixed and it is working better than ever!!

Well family I hope that all of you are doing well and that you have a great memorial day :)

I love you sooo much!

Elder Blake Garrett

20 May 2013

Hi family!!!!!!!!!!! 

How are you???

It was a long week.  We are still doing a lot of service ... Mostly yard work!  But it’s all good I like it :)

We ended up digging a 3 foot by 3 foot trench with a pick ax for a recent convert ... That was a long 3 hours!!  But after we were through the lady came out and was so excited about it, it made it all worth it!  I have really enjoyed service lately, it has made me a different person and more loving towards people.

We finally talked to Reed (the one who came to church two weeks ago with his family). He was really excited to see us and asked us if we would came back again later in the week so we could meet with him and his wife.  That was a good feeling!!!  But then we went to his house on Saturday for the appointment, they were just heading out for LA ... I was a little sad but it was ok because they were still excited to meet with us and were happy to see us.  So we are going by sometime in the week during the day when we know they will be home!!

Also with this former investigator named Jim.  I meet with him when I first got here but soon after that we stopped meeting with him cause he wasn’t progressing.  Well on Wednesday we stopped by his house to see him and guess what ... He was there meeting with the JW's ... It was really funny to see all their jaws drop when he opened the door ...  Then they tried to offer us some info on their church but we told them we would do a trade with them ... they said no!   So Jim asked us if we would be ok coming by on Tuesday, we said of course!!!!! It should be fun!

Hearing from Elder Robbins of the seventy was amazing!  I learned so much!!  He talked about setting goals and action and thought!  I’m glad that I was there for it because it seems to have helped me a small bit!!  He also left it up to some questions at the end.  I was amazed on how well he knows the scriptures and how well he knows the doctrine!  One day I hope to be half as  knowledgeable about the gospel as him!! haha

So over all it was a good week ... It had its ups and its downs but it was ok!!!

I hope that you all are doing great and that you know that I love you!!!!

Elder Blake Garrett

Side Note:
Kath's brother Mike was in Fresno for the weekend and when she realized he would be driving through Tehachapi on his way home to Henderson she let him know that Blake was serving in Tehachapi.  Mike and Tanner got to stop and say hi.  Below is a picture he sent to Kath.

Sorry, the picture was portrait but I can't get it to go that way here.
 

13 May 2013

Hi  :)

I talked to you yesterday ... 

Things here really haven’t changed in the past 15 hours or so ... SORRY!! haha

Like I told you, tomorrow we have a general authority coming to visit the mission his name is Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy.  I’m excited to learn from him, last time when we had a Seventy come out and visit I really learned a lot from him! 

I went on an exchange with this elder from Lindon, his name is Elder Walker, I really like him!  He knows a lot of the same people that I know!  He was able to give me updates on people and what they are up to!  I found out that a lot of them are on their missions!!!  It was really nice to hear other people have decided to serve the Lord because there really isn’t anything better we could be doing at this point in our lives!!

I have learned so much about charity towards the people we talk to this week!!  For some reason I have just been filled with love towards every one we have been talking to!!!!  It has been a great feeling and I’m glad that I’m able to actually feel this way to random strangers!  It’s weird ... 

Elder Bready is cool ... I’m learning a lot from him!  He is from AF, so not too far from home.

I’m not really sure what else to say ... we talked yesterday after all.

Well family I love you all and miss you sooooo much!!!! 

Love, 

Elder Garrett

6 May 2013

Hey ...

How are you doing???????????

Me, I’m doing great!!!!  Loving life!  But my companion is getting transferred and I’m staying in Tehachapi!  I’m kinda sad about it because we have been together for sooo long but I think a change will be good and a fresh start will be really good!  My new companion is named Elder Bready (brady), he is from AF and has been out for almost 8 months.

So we went to contact the family that went to church last week ... They didn't answer ... I was really bummed out about it and was down from it all week ... Sunday rolled around and I was praying that they would show up to church and still be interested ... BUT nope!!!  So I pushed it aside.  Then in Elders Quorum Bro. Thomas came up and told us that they took them to LA for the weekend! And that they still wanted the missionaries to come by and talk to them!!!  It was amazing to hear that, my heart was full!!!  haha  Tender mercies of the Lord!  So this week we will be meeting with them and we are going to be teaching them in a members home!

We did a lot of service this week!!!  A LOT!!!  We did yard work at this recent convert older ladies house 3 times, and then we went and worked in this members garden and helped plant for them.  It was amazing!  I love doing service and seeing the joy that it brings to the people.  This upcoming week we are doing a lot of service as well.  MORE YARD WORK!!!  haha

I have been learning a lot this past week, it hasn't been the easiest of weeks but it was a rewarding one.  All week I was really down about things and didn't really want to do much, but then the miracle of Sunday came and made me understand that this work is more important than me feeling bad about certain situations.  I’m really excited to see what is going to happen this transfer and I’m stoked to stay here in Tehachapi!!!!!!

I love you all and miss you tons!!!!!

Elder Garrett

p.s. I LOVE YOU KATE!!!!!!!! :)