Monday, April 14, 2014

Hello family!

Wow.  I will be coming home in a couple days.  These 2 years have gone by so fast.  I can't believe it.  I am excited to come home.  I'm sad to leave.  We've been working super hard this last week.  A lot of wonderful things are going to happen after I leave.  I can't stay forever, but the missionary work still keeps going forward.

I'm not sure what else to say.  I guess I'll see you on Wednesday.

Love, Elder Giles

Monday, April 7, 2014

Hello family!

Earl is doing great!  He now has a family in the ward.  His family at home isn't the best.  He lives with his grandma and grandpa. His mom is in jail and his dad is gone.  No one knows where he is.  All his brothers and sisters have different fathers.  We told Earl that life isn't always fair, but that he could have his own family someday that would be a loving, strong family.  He's so great.

Wow, I have to prepare for my homecoming talk already?  Oh man.  I'm nervous now.  I"ll be ready.  It's so weird to think that I won't be here next week.  I'm going to be in Utah.  I'm excited to see the family again.

I'm working as hard as I can.  It's a bit hard sometimes because I know I'm not going to be here soon.

I love you all.  I'll see you next week.
Elder Giles

Monday, March 31, 2014

Hello family!

Things are going fantastic. Earl Narramore got baptized this past Saturday. It was great.  All the young men were there. Earl wasn't too nervous. Everything went according to plan. The only funny thing was the baptism. Earl and the person baptizing him, Bro Loveless, practiced before the real thing.  But I guess Earl forgot that he was supposed to bend his knees when he was getting baptized.  When Bro Loveless tried to baptize Earl, Earl was as stiff as a board.  He fell over kind of funny, but he went all the way under. It worked out great.

A funny thing happened to us yesterday. Last night, my companion and I were waiting at a bus stop. We were waiting for the other missionaries to pick us up and bring us home. While we were waiting, we met 2 young guys that were walking home. They came and talked to us.  We started teaching them. During our teaching, the other Elders showed up and parked on the side of the street. Then, out of nowhwere, a cop pulls up behind the other elders and flashed his police lights.  A cop jumped out of the car and yelled at us to stay put.  Then he talked to the driver of our car.  2 more cop cars showed up and 2 more cops arrived. They started asking us questions. They thought we were criminals. We gave them our IDs and they ran background checks. They let us go eventually, but I think they might've arrested the 2 guys we taught.  I hope not because we set up an appointment with them.

Ok, I'll email you next week.
I love you all.
Elder Giles

Monday, March 24, 2014

Hello Family!

Things are turning out better.  Earl is still good to go for his baptism this Saturday.  It will be at 1:00.  He is accepting everything we are sharing with him.  He's such a great guy.  We visited the Crouse Family and they said we could come back to visit them and teach them.  We hope things will start to progress with them.  They're also a great family.  Zach H is doing better now.  He's still working on smoking, but this past Sunday, he taught Gospel Principles class.  He's a great teacher.  Maybe he'll teach every week?

It's getting closer and closer to when I need to go home.  It's going to be really weird to not be a missionary anymore.  We're still working hard.  There are a lot of families that the members are trying to invite to meet with us.  We're getting really close to teaching some non member families.

I guess I'll be seeing you in 3 weeks.  I hope the family is doing well.  I'm excited to see you all again, but sad to leave.

Love, Elder Giles

Monday, March 17, 2014

Hello Family!

Elder Fisher and I are doing well here in Seaside.  The weather has definitely warmed up.  I think I might get a sunburn soon. We're working hard and talking to everyone we meet.

The Crouse family isn't interested anymore.  They are choosing to go to a different church.  It's really sad. We'll still stop by and see how they're doing, but they aren't coming to church anymore.  Earl is doing great. He's going to be baptized on March 26.  He just loves everything.  All the Young Men in the Ward are helping him out and being his friend.  It's great to see. Earl's mom is in jail.  His dad is gone, no one knows where he is.  Earl lives with his Grandpa and Grandma.  Zach H is doing well too.  Now he has friends in the Ward, people he can do things with.  It will be a good influence for Zach.  He's still struggling with smoking, but he still comes to church and learns the gospel.

We got some sad news from one of our recent converts.  Logan Gadbury.  He won't come to church anymore.  It's because of his wife.  His wife works everyday except sundays and she doesn't want Logan to go to church.  She wants him to spend time with her.  It's really hard for him to choose between the church and his wife.  He has a little boy to take care of too. He's stuck.  We're trying to figure out how to help him, but it's hard.

I think that's it for my email today.  I'll see you all soon.

Elder Giles

Monday, March 10, 2014

Hello family!

Everything is going great!  We met a new person who will be getting baptized on 26 March!  His name is Earl Narramore. He's 15 years old.  We met him while we were biking to dinner. He was just walking all alone.  We biked to him and talked to him.  We didn't say anything too special, but he gave us his address and phone number.  We stopped by Earl's house the next day.  He was home.  We started teaching him. Yesterday, he came to church and now he's friends with all the young men. He understands everything we teach him, he's so smart.  I'm so excited to meet him.  When we met him the first time, he was walking back to the high school because he forgot his bag.  I think the Spirit made him forget so we could meet him.

Zach Herr is doing better now.  We've been trying to find a good friend for Zach, but it's been hard.  He's a single guy and everyone else in the ward is married with little kids.  Zach isn't busy with family, only work. That's why he's been struggling. He didn't have any friends.  But now he does.  He's a lot happier now.  He has a good influence to hang around.

This morning, I was writing in my journal and I realized, I only have 5 weeks left.  It's amazing how fast time is.

Ok, I'll talk you next week.  I love you all.

Elder Giles

P.S. I forgot to tell you, my new companion is Elder Fisher.  He is a chinese speaking missionary.  I'm really excited because now I can practice speaking chinese.  There are no chinese people here, but Elder Fisher is still here.  He's a great guy, he smiles a lot.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Hello family!

We're still working hard here.  My companion, Elder Fakava, is getting transferred.  He was great!  I love Tongan people.  I don't think I'm going to get another Tongan companion.  I think the mission president is going to take the missionaries from the Tongan Branch because there is no work there.  It was great while it lasted.  

Zach Herr is still struggling with smoking.  The Bishop was talking about how Zach will get the Priesthood, but I don't know if he will get it now.  We're trying to help him find friends in the ward.  If we get transferred away, I think Zach will stop coming to church.  It's a tough situation.  

Yep, Elder Horlacher is going home.  It's going to be sad to see him leave.  We've been together for most of our mission.  A long time in Fremont and for a few months here in Monterey.  Now I only have 1 month and 1/2.  You're right, time is too quick.

I'm really happy to be here.  I'm pretty sure this is the best place in the world.  There is no other place like Monterey. 

Ok, I love you all so much.

I'll talk to you next week.

Love, Elder Giles

February 24, 2014

Hello family!

Everything is going great.  A lot of families here in the Fort Ord Ward are starting to invite their friends and families to meet with us.  Today, we're going to a family home evening with some members and they've invited their nonmember neighbors.  We're so excited.

Zach Herr, our recent convert is still doing well.  He's coming to church, but now he's smoking again.  Addictions can be tough.  He really wants to stop, but it's hard for him.  He stopped before, he can do it again.  

The Crouse family is doing great.  We taught them the Sabbath day and Tithing, and they said they will obey.  They were already obeying the Law of Thithing before we taught them.  We haven't set up a baptismal date with them yet, but they're so close.

Elder Horlacher is almost done.  He was my companion for 10 months in The Fremont Deaf Branch.  He has about 1 week left.  Time is so quick.  I feel like I need more time to work here.

I'll see you all soon.

Elder Giles

February 17, 2014

Hello

Everything is going great.  At least it's stopped raining, but I guess we still need more water.  We're still in a drought.

The Crouse family is doing great.  They won't be baptized on the Feb 22, but they're really close.  We taught them the Law of Tithing and Keep the Sabbath day Holy.  They are accepting everything we are teaching them.  They're so great.

We met a woman named Mary at a less active's home.  Mary was the neighbor.  We went inside and Mary sat down with us.  We started teaching her.  She had a lot of questions and we kept testifying to her.  At first she didn't want us to visit her, but the more we taught her, the more questions she asked.  Now we have a new investigator.  She said she would read the Book of Mormon.

Yes, we got to shake his hand.  He only talked for a short time.  I've been able to see Elders Perry, Christoferson, Holland, and Cook.

Yes, we interpeted for deaf people.  Only one deaf person:  Elder Domingo.  I miss Elder Domingo.

We're working hard and wonderful things are happening.

Love, Elder Giles

Mission President L. Watkins and Elder J. Giles

February 10, 2014

Hello!

Everything is going great here!  A lot of things have happened.  California has been in a drought for a while and so the General Authorities wanted everyone to fast.  Well, on fast Sunday, it started to rain.  Now it hasn't stopped raining.  Pretty much it's been raining everyday since fast Sunday.  Elder Fakava and I got caught in the rain and we got home soaked.  There was no dry spot on our bodies.  It's wonderful to see our prayers get answered.

The Crouse family is doing great.  They won't be able to be baptized on the 15th because we don't have enough time to teach them everything they need to know.  They're going to be baptized very soon though.  They're so great.

That's exciting.  We're working hard and it's raining hard here.  So many wonderful things are happening.

Love, 

Elder Giles

February 3, 2014

Hello!

Everything is going fantastic!  The Crouse family is getting ready to be baptized.  They can't decide if they want to be baptized on Feb 15 or 22.  They're doing great.  They have a lot of friends at church.  The Lord truly has prepared them to listen to us and accept our message.

Elder Fakava and I are praying to find more people like the Crouse family to teach.  We're so excited to meet them and teach them.

I'm still learning Tongan and how to play the Ukelele and how to eat a lot of food.  How is the rest of the family doing?   It's weird to think I'll be home in 10 weeks.  It still feels like I have 1 year left.  There's too much work to do here.

Keep praying for us.  I know the prayers really help.  So many of our prayers have been answered.

Love you all, Elder Giles.

27 January 2014

Hello family!

This past week was fantastic!  Zack finally got baptized!  It was great.  Elder Fakava baptized Zack.  Everything went smoothly.  It was one of the most powerful baptisms I've been to.  When powerful things like that happen, it just helps me to know everything I've learned and taught is true.  It was a cool experience.

The Crouse family is doing great too!  They all came to church yesterday.  They really enjoyed it.  They saw a lot of people they knew, but didn't know were members of the church.  We hope they will be baptized on Feb 22.  Right now, they're on track.  It's great.

Now I am companions with Elder Fakava.  He's Tongan speaking.  Now we both cover the Fort Ord Ward and Tongan branch.  Now I am learning Tongan. It's very exciting.  Tongan people definitely love to eat!  I'm probably going to gain a whole bunch of weight.  

Elder Horlacher is my roommate.  Elder Fakava and I live with Elder Horlacher and his companion, Elder Melot.

The work is going great here.  Wow, I only have 11 more weeks.  Time is too quick.  Elder Horlacher goes home in 5 weeks.

Well,  I'll see you soon.  I'll talk to you next week.

Love

Elder Giles

January 20, 2014

Hello family.

Everything is going great.  We had to move Zack's baptism because he got in trouble with the Army and couldn't leave his house.  So now his baptism is on the 25th.  We're still working with him and praying for him.  He's come a long way already.  He's still excited for his baptism.

My companion is being transferred.  Elder Harper will be gone.  But I think I know who my new companion will be.  Elder Fakava.  He's from Tonga.  His english is ok, not the best in the world, but good enough.  I think I can learn some Tongan from him.  I think I will now work with the Tongan Branch.  Fort Ord Ward and Tongan Branch.  It will be a lot of work.  I'm afraid of the Tongan dinners.  They make a ton of food.  too much food!  

Jordan will be going home next week.  I'll be home in 12 weeks.  Time is so fast.  I'll be sad when I leave.

Yeah, I got your package.  I have new socks!  It's great!  I also have the bottles.  I got the letter from you too.  Thank you so much.  

We've been working super hard and now we're having success.  There was a family that moved here 2 weeks ago, non members.  One of our members was selling baby toys and the non member wanted it.  So the member went to the non member's home to drop of the toys and then they started talking.  They talked for 1 hour and now the non member wants to learn more.  We went over and visited this family, the crouse family.  They are ready to be baptized.  The wife's best friend is a member and the father wants to learn about the church for his little daughter.  We've definatly been blessed.  We've set up a day for them to be baptized in our first lesson.  February 22.

Love, Elder Giles

January 13, 2014

Hello

Everything is going great!  We had Zack's baptismal interview yesterday.  He is ready to get baptized this Saturday!  We're so excited.  So is he.  He's made a lot of changes.  Before, he used to drink and smoke and all sorts of not so good things.  It's crazy to see how much people can change.  He loves the church so much.  It will be at 10:00 in the morning.  He's good to go.

We're trying to teach the deaf guy, Taylor.  We saw him again and talked with him.  We set up an appointment for Tuesday, so we hope that he won't cancel again.  In Seaside, there are not many deaf people.  I've only met 1, this guy.  In Fremont, they're everywhere.

My breath is good.  I have great health.  Everything is fine with my body.

I love you all.  I will see you soon.  Time is going by so fast.  Elder J Lesser gets home in 2 weeks.  I don't know how many weeks I have left, but it's not a lot.

Elder Giles

Elder Giles sat on Santa's lap.  He seems happy.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Wow, a lot of things have been going on.  

Everything is going great.  We have some new people that we're teaching now.  Zack's baptism will be on the 18. He wants to walk into the font.  Right now he's on crutches.  He had surgery on his ankle.  He's excited for his baptism, and so are we!  We're working closely with him.

Nothing too crazy is happening here in California.  We met some deaf people here in Seaside.  At first, when we talked with them, they were excited to meet us and learn.  We got their phone number and we set up an appointment.  Later, we got a text from the deaf person saying that they don't want to meet with us ever again. We were really confused.  We tried to talk with him, but nothing is working out.  I think he heard something not true about The Church.  There are other deaf people here in the area that we are trying to meet.  We're really excited.

Love Elder Giles