Elder Giles at the park

September 25, 2012

Hmmm, that's very strange.  I sent an E-Mail last week, and I am sending an E-Mail today, tuesday.  Normally it's on Monday, but we were very busy yesterday, we did not get to email.  Yesterday, the Mission President brought everyone to the same park, and we did a huge service project and then a BBQ.  It was really fun.  We just put woodchips into a playground.  It took about 2 hours.  I got to see every single missionary in the whole mission.  I think there are about 190 of us. 

Last week I did send a letter.  I think it had an attachment too?  I can't remember.  I do remember sending an email.  I don't know why you didn't get it.  When I sent it, my computer was acting funny.  Hmmm.   Well, We have a baptism coming up.  October 20th.  Daniel Zopfi is going to be baptized.  I think I told you about him or you didn't get the email.  He's 16 and lives with his mom.  His dad died when he was 2.  He's doing everything we ask him to do, it's great!  I hope his mom will become interested in learning more about the church.

I got your 37 pictures.  It's nice to see what you've been doing.  I hope you will send me more.  I will send my memory card next week.  I need it this week to print some pictures. 

Everything is going welll! 
From Elder Giles.

Monday, Sept 10, 2012

Yes, I did get your pictures.  I was so happy!  So many pictures!  I will be sending my memory card soon.  Just a few more pictures to take.  I was looking at the pictures you sent me.  Everyone looks a little bit different.  Especially Grandma from Canada.  It was a hip surgery she had, right?  I can't remember exactly.  :(  

 

Well, things are going well here.  Recently, we were talking to Brother Call.  He's a second counselor in the Branch Presidency.  He works for sorenson, so he's met pretty much all the deaf people here in Fremont.  He says there's about 3000 deaf people.  We've only met 6 Deaf People not in the branch.  WOW, there's so many people we have to find.  I'm sure we'll meet a lot of them soon.

 

I'm learning a lot.  I'm learning all the regular spritiual stuff, but also I'm learning Chinese.  Wow, it's so crazy.  I'm not learning it offically or anything like that.  But there are some chinese elders here and they've been teaching me bit by bit.  Hopefully, after 2 years, I'll be able to have conversations.

 

I'm looking forward to getting more pictures and mail from you.  I'll try to send stuff to you.

 

From Elder Giles

Sept 5, 2012

Hello family, I am doing great, I have an interesting story to share.

 

A couple days ago, we were meeting people on the streets.  We did that for a while and we were about to leave.  Before we left, we saw a man and his dog.  We decided to meet him before we left.  We walked up to him and he said  "Hey Elders!  I need to talk to you."  Elder Horlacher and I looked at each other.  "Ok, we can talk to you."  We talked with him for a bit.  His name is Edward Yoda and he is an excommunicated member.  He said he wanted to go to church again.  We told him where our chruch was and what time it started.  Then, out of nowhere, he asked us to give him a priesthood blessing.  We were in the middle of a grocery store parking lot.  We said we would, but we should try to find someplace more private.  We found an empty ally and gave him a priesthood blessing in there.  It was a very interesting experience.  The more we talked with him, the more we realized he wasn't "all there"  He was a little bit mental.  He was normal, except for a few things here and there.  He said he was going to run for president in 2016.  He's homeless.  He said he met president Obama while he was dressed as a gangster.  It was very strange.

 

Anyway, I know I am protected.  I will carry my camera with me more and take more pcitures. 

 

I love you all.  From Elder Giles