October 15, 2012

 I am doing great here.  We have Daniel Zopfi's baptism this Saturday.  I AM SO EXCITED!  He is also really excited.  It will be my companion's and also my first baptism.  We can't wait!  On this recent sunday, we had the baptismal interview with him.  He is so ready to be baptizied.  It's a little bit sad though, because after Daniel, we don't have anyone else close to being baptized.  We are having a hard time finding deaf people to teach.  We only have 1 person that is deaf that we are teaching, but he is not progressing in the gospel.  He pretty much refuses to go to church.  We've tried so many times to get him to go.  He's only been to church one time out of the whole year and a half he's been taught.  Other missionaries have been teaching him since about April last year.  We've prayed and fasted for him, but there is still no progress.  We will probably have to drop him pretty soon.

 

Anyways, I've taken lots of pictures, and I will send them really soon.  It's really hard because there's no time to do the things that I want to do.  We're so busy! 

 

From Elder Giles.

October 23, 2012

HOORAY.  On October 20, Daniel got baptized!  I have some pictures that I printed for myself, but the memory card will be sent coming monday.  I promise!  I filled it up the memory anyways.  The baptism went great.  His mom was there.  She's not a member, but she cried a little bit.  Hopefully we will get to teach her soon.  Now we don't have anyone else close to baptism. :(   We have some hope for some people though.  Our goal is to get 3 by the end of the year, and we alreay have 1. 

 

By the way, yes, I do talk with Elder Lesser and Elder Woodhouse.  We email each other.  Elder Lesser has some very interesting stories. 

 

Yes, send us candies.  On halloween, we're not allowed to go outside.  So we'll be stuck inside our apartments.  We would love some candy.

 

From Elder Giles.

October 8, 2012 

We watched General conference at our church building.  It was a wonderful experience.  Normally it's hard to pay attention, but not this time.  I think it has something to do with being a missionary.  I didn't fall asleep or wiggle around.  I paid attention.  I thought it was CRAZY when they announced the change in age for missionaries.  WOW, 18 year old for elders and 19 for sisters.  I wonder what I would've done if they had changed it to 18 before I left on my mission.  If I had the chance, I think I would've gone when I was 18 and then join the Marines Later.  Maybe I wouldn't have joined at all?  Who knows?  Well, I'm happy with where I'm at right now. 

 

I think it was yesterday, or the day before, but I've officially been away from home for 6 months!  WOW time is going by really fast!  Does it feel like a long time to you?  I'll be home in no time. 

 

We have a baptisim coming up on October 20.  Daniel Zopfi is getting baptized!  We are so excited.  It will be our first baptism for my companion and I!  He's been on his mission for about 8 months now.  The work is really slow right now.  We don't have many people to teach, and the people that we can teach, they are really hard to catch.  They're going to work or school or caring for their families or going on vacation or whatever.  We just need need to keep trying.

 

And I'm doing a good job with my journal writing.  I'm writing moslty everyday.  There are a few times where I had misssed a week or so, but never longer than that.  It's really hard to write everyday.  There's not much time at the end of the day to write.  We have to go to bed at 10:30.  It's really good though.

 

I will send pictures today!  YAY! I'm sending the memory card.  It will get to you soon?

 

Love Elder Giles

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

WOAH!  So much news!  That's crazy! 

Today I'm emailing on wednesday because that was the day P-Day got moved to.  We went to the Oakland Temple today, it was really cool.  We finally got to go inside.  It was really neat.  There's not as many people as there are in Utah.  That's ok.  The Celestial Room is really beautiful.  We took some pictures outside, you'll get to see them soon.

 

I don't need any stamps, I still have enough.  I think you can send me some in December?  Not too many.  I've almost been here for 6 months.  Time has gone by so fast!  I'll see you all again in no time. 

 

Anyway, short email today because I have no time left.  I will send pictures soon!  And send me some more pictures of the Family!

Love, Elder Giles.

(His mom writes: Sure, we will do that to send you some in December.)