4 February 2013

Hello!!!!

This week was a fun week! 

Elder Scholes had a birthday and we were able to go down to the temple on Wednesday, I love the temple and the spirit found in it.  I learn so much every time Ii go there! I was lucky to have a companion who had a birthday this last month.  On the way back our driver fell asleep and we almost crashed ... and then 5 minutes later we got a flat tire .... so we got stuck at a Costco in Lancaster for like a hour or so ... It was an eventful day!!! haha

We also taught AJ and Alyssa, we shared the plan of salvation. We drew it out on a chalk board so they would be able to visualize it and understand it better. They started asking a lot of questions that would lead into the next points of the lesson!  It was perfect.  I love those two kids! And they came to church this week!  That is a miracle! OH ... and CHURCH happened to be a special stake conference where Na apostle of the lord spoke to us!  We were able to have elder L Tom Perry speak to us through satellite. 

Elder Perry talked about missionary work and pretty much called out the members for not giving referrals to us the missionaries. It was funny!  So I’m hoping and praying that the members will listen!!!  He also spoke about the future of missionaries. How there will be at least one set of missionaries in each ward soon!  It was pretty awesome!

This Saturday we are having the baptism of Riley, she made her own baptismal program and everything!  She is so excited to get baptized.  It’s going to be this Saturday at 12.  It’s good because one of the members that she is close to is going to baptize her, and he happens to be in the bishopric.  She will have a really strong fellowship in the ward now because of that and will be more likely to stay active!!

The other day we got asked to help someone move by the other missionaries.  So we went over and there was no one there helping this couple and her two friends move.  Everyone was busy because it was super bowl weekend ... so because they liked us and wanted to pay us back they invited us over for dinner.  It was fun!  Everyone was getting along really well and they were asking questions about the church and stuff.  One of them knew a lot about the church and seemed really excited we were over.  So later I felt the spirit tell me to ask him if he is a member, he started tearing up and whispered yes ... and that he has been less active for like 30 some odd years, he wants to come back now.  It was such a testimony builder to me on how the spirit really works!

Well family! I love you all so much and miss you tons!!!  I can’t wait to see you all in 6 months!!!!!

Love Elder Blake Garrett

28 January 2013

Hello family

Well this week was slower . . . but good things are still happening and we are still teaching really great people!

Something I have learned this week is how much Christ really can help.  I sprained my foot last Monday and wasn't able to work for most of the week.  But I was able to read the scriptures a lot and learn more.  It was interesting to read about the stories of Christ healing people and making them whole.  And I know that a sprained foot isn't that big of a deal but I was able to come closer to Christ through it. And yes through it all I smiled :) haha

Riley is doing great!  She came to church and is loving it!  I’m so grateful for her!  She has really been prepared by the Lord.

We weren't able to meet with AJ and Alyssa because they were really sick this week.  But they had done all the reading assignments we left them and they asked for more so things are still going great with them. They just need to get better!!

Well sorry this is so short family but there really isn’t anything else . . .

OH . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MAIN HOMIE WADER-TOT!

It sounds like you all had a good time celebrating his birthday and that cake looked awesome!!!

Love you all so much 

Elder Garrett

21 January 2013

Hey family

So we had a really good week!!!!

The first blessing it was warm!!  I have missed the 50 degree weather!! 

The second blessing is that we found this part member family to teach!!!  It’s a mom and her kids.  We are only teaching two of the kids because the other two are only 4 and 2.  But AJ (boy) is 13 and is more mature than me ... and Alyssa (girl) is 11.  The mom had been teaching them about the restoration and the church for a while and finally they asked her if they could actually go to church, not just hear about it from her.  So they contacted us and asked to meet with us. The lesson went so well they asked some great questions and did most of the talking which is really good!!  We asked them to get baptized on Feb 16th and they accepted it!!!!  We are going to be meeting with them twice a week which is really cool!!

Riley is doing great, we had a lesson with her last night with some members.  We taught the restoration to see if she really understood it.  She basically taught us about it!  We just showed some pictures and asked her to explain it and she did it perfectly!!  It’s cool to see that the Lord really does prepare His children and is going to make sure that they are happy!  So her baptism is the Saturday before the other two, Feb 9th. 

Things here are picking up!  I finally feel that I know what I’m doing!!  It’s nice to feel comfortable with teaching and talking to people.

Saturday we were going to an appointment and we were a little early, so we were walking around and saw some signs for a garage sale.  Garage sales are great places to meet people!  So we went over there and we didn't see any one so we started walking away.  All of the sudden we heard "Hey Mormons!!"  We didn't see any one so we kept on walking.  Then we heard "oh.... the Mormons are leaving."  So we quickly turned around and tried to find the person.  We found him he was in his house behind a big metal screen door.  He yelled at us again "can you give me one of the second testimonies of Christ" ..... We were in shock!!  But of course we gave him one and taught him more about it.  Now we have an appointment with him on Tuesday!  It was a funny moment.

Well family I love you all and hope that all is well with you!!!!

Love 

Elder Garrett

p.s. Thanks for all the pictures of the kids!!!  They are all so cute!!!

14 January 2013

HEY FAMILY!!!!!

Well Tehachapi ... FREEZING COLD AND SNOWING!!!  My first day here it snowed and was around 19 degrees around noon!!!  I usually wouldn’t be complaining about the cold but I just came from Santa Barbara where it is around 70 degrees ... BIG DIFFERENCE!!!  It was really cool to see the snow again and throw a snow ball at my companion! haha

My companion is from Broomfield!!  Kinda funny right, small world!  He is really cool and knows a lot.  He has been on the mission for about a year now.  I like him so far!

This area is really nice though, everyone is really friendly and is willing to talk to us.  We are teaching this guy named Jim who is also meeting with the kingdom hall people.  He had been going to church with them for a while, but he had never been to ours before.  So we taught him about the Book of Mormon and how through our actions of faith, God comes closer to us.  So we shared Ether 12:6 and asked him to show his faith and come to church.  HE SAID YES!!  and here is the kicker ... HE ACTUALLY CAME!!!  He loved it and is coming back next week.

We are also teaching this girl named Riley.  She has been coming to church and has wanted to get baptized for a while but just didn’t have her parents support on it.  Well yesterday her mom signed a permission slip for her to get baptized.  She is now going to be baptized on Feb 9th.  It is such a blessing! I’m excited to be a part of it and help her come closer to Christ.

Things are going really well, I really like this new area, it has a small town feel to it! 

I love you all and miss you tons!!

Elder Blake Garrett

7 January 2013

Hey family!!

So ... I'm being transferred!!  I’m heading to Tehachapi.  It’s in the mountains above Bakersfield!!  It’s gonna be really cold there!  So I will be feeling all your pain!  I’m really sad to be leaving this place and the people, but most of all I think I will miss my companion the most.  My new companion is named Elder Scholes, he has been out around a year, so we will see how that goes!!

Other than that things this week were really slow.  Amanda was sick this week and we weren't able to see her ... But she is still doing good and will be baptized soon hopefully!!  It’s going to be hard to say good bye to her and her husband ... but life goes on!!

The other night we were walking down state street and this homeless guy came up to us crying and asking for money .. I didn’t have any cash on me so I couldn't give him any.  So he asked us to pray for him, so of course we prayed with him.  During the prayer he started hugging us and saying praise the Lord!!!  It was funny.  But it was nice that he recognized us as someone who could help him with something at least.

Well family I’m sorry this is so short!!!  But I’ve got lots to do today.

I love you all and hope all is well with you!!!

Elder Garrett