June 17, 2013

Hey family! 

So this week we set 2 more baptism dates! Its crazy! So we have 4 now. We are teaching a lot. Saturday and Sunday night kinda sucked because every block had a party and there was drunk Mexicans everywhere asking us to say prayers with them. Pretty classic but we couldn’t find anyone that wanted to talk. Too many parties with jumpers its crazy like every street, blasting Mexican music. I guess for Dia de el Padre. (Father’s day)

So on Tuesday I went to North El Monte on exchanges and in the morning we did Zumba with the west elders. If you don’t know what zumba is look it up, it was soo funny. We were dancing with a bunch of fat Mexican moms and old Asian ladies. It was a "finding activity" I guess but we were dancing and working out. We were the only boys and white people. It was like Mexican music and that gangnam style song and stuff. It Felt super weird but pretty fun I guess. I wish I filmed it, you'd cry laughing. North El Monte is nicer, alot of Asians. It is harder to find Spanish people so we drove around alot looking. I am glad my area is all Spanish, its sweet.

Wednesday we went to this burger place called Bills just off Santa Anita I think or valley maybe on maxon. It was super good only dollar burgers and they’re huge. I wonder If Rich knows it?

My Spanish is slowly improving still and I am starting to be able to have normal conversations with people instead of just gospel stuff, its hard though. Especially because I am not just thrown into it. We teach in English sometimes and with other elders. Its not completely Mexico.

We are really focusing on getting our investigators to do 3 things: pray, read the book of Mormon and come to church. That’s what you need to do to gain and strengthen your testimony. If you don’t do that then you can lose your testimony so easy, it is scary, it has happened to lots of less actives we teach. We taught one guy the plan of salvation yesterday and he started crying after a bit because he had forgotten everything and felt so bad but was so happy we came by for him. I couldn't tell if he was sad or happy? 

We played soccer on Saturday for a ward activity it was super fun, the locals are so good at it. It was hot, I soaked myself in the water fountain. 

Yesterday we had lots of investigators come to church so we were very happy about that.

Thanks for the pictures! Looks like Gav is loving my shirts. He has some sick vans on and those stance socks. The Mexican kids wear them here too. Everyday we get a comment about how nice our bikes are or if we want to trade. I did a 180 on my rode bike, probably a bad idea because it could break, I am not gonna do it again. 

I got the 2 packages! Thank you so much, the basketball hoop is sweet and I have soo much candy now! I am never hungry because we have so many beans and tortillas. 

Anyways I hope you get my memory card soon! I sent it last Monday.

Love Elder Garry!

Monday June 10, 2013

Hey family! Good to hear from you! Sounds like Aidan is killing it in Basketball, I remember the tournaments I had in Lethbridge, they were soo fun, don’t worry we lost too I think. The only big tournament we won was provincials in Saskatchewan a long time ago. 

This week was crazy. Super good, we set 2 baptismal dates, taught 17 lessons and got 7 new investigators! That’s super good, the standard of excellence here is 3 new investigators a week. We are always teaching, rarely do we tract, its awesome. I counted the lessons I taught, so far its 70.  It doesn’t feel like that but it is. That’s including less actives. Yesterday was my first stake conference in Spanish, this mission has 2 Spanish stakes its crazy! I think we are the only mission that does. My Spanish is getting better too.  Each week gets a bit easier and not as frustrating. 

My funny story for the week:  all the pipes in our complex backed up and so crap and junk came up through the tub and toilet all over the floor and even a bit on the carpet, it was so gross, we came home for language study and lunch at 1:00 and it smelt so bad. It’s all good now, our place is pretty old and ghetto. I took a video of it that I will send today, my memory card. Yeah so there was crap all in the tub and floor, classic El Monte. But don’t worry nothing got wrecked. 

I went on exchanges with my district leader to El Monte north, their place is so nice, they have a pool. We taught a part member family the restoration and it was an incredible lesson. I new exactly what to say and bore testimony of it and we committed him to a baptismal date in July. He said yes and offered the closing prayer and started bawling. The spirit was so strong and he knew what he was doing was right, that family will be so blessed. I wish I could share the full story but the point is it wasn’t me it was all the spirit and I don’t know what we said, but I felt the spirit soo strong in the closing prayer. 

We are also teaching a few guys my age, they are super fun to teach. I didn’t get to do that in Vancouver because it was for the singles ward. I am so blessed in this mission to be teaching so many people, I guess I am in one of the best areas for Spanish. 

Sounds like the rain stopped there maybe? I saw a picture of gav on our mini ramp, looks like its fun. When do Aidan and Aaron finish school? 

Well I think that’s all I have to say, it is sweet how I am more happy then frustrated, the language is hard its only been 4 weeks, with time I will get it and speak my mind. 

Love Elder Garry!

June 3, 2013

Hola Familia!

It was great to read all your emails! Sounds like its raining alot in Calgary! I was glad you finally got my letter, I don’t know why it takes so long, I sent that like a month ago. This week went by so fast, I don’t even know what to say.

Saturday we had a soccer game with the ward and some of our investigators, it was super fun but so hot its ridiculous. All the Latinos are soo good at soccer its crazy! Except they can’t play basketball. I feel so tall here, tall for the Latinos are like 5:6 it’s so weird. My companion says you get use to it, then one day you look at pictures and feel like a giant. There is also alot of ice-cream trucks here, I see at least 5 different ones a day. 

We taught alot of lessons this week though, I think 18! But no baptismal dates. Our biggest struggle is getting them to come to church because they work or have other things.  No one is married because they want to save money. I think I will be a bit shocked when I come back home, people here live way differently, not very much money or education.  I can read the book of Mormon in Spanish better than some and I suck pretty bad.  This week I understood alot more and I am really starting to grow alot with the language. 

Thursday we had Zone conference which was was super good! Pres. Becerra is amazing, he always just blows our minds with stuff. At the end people had tons of questions and all he said in return is scriptures and quotes.  For example,  "Elder Bednar said this” and just quotes it perfectly. He also has the most powerful testimony I have ever heard.  He talked about the savior and our work here and being chosen to come here. He was telling us that we need to read our patriatical blessings because now is the beginning of something huge, the Lord is hastening the work. I guess that D&C scripture about the lord hastening the work is the most quoted by the apostles during the last 6 months. I was hit with the spirit so hard as he said we were specifically needed here for certain people, its crazy. 

Each day my love for the savior grows and I realize I am nothing without him. I’ve never thought about him so much before, I feel like it was selfish of me because I didn’t think of the Savior all the time.

It’s been really hot here, especially on a bike, I guess I just have to get use to it. It is even hotter in peoples houses, no AC. It’s so funny to hear what Latinos say about Canada, “you live in ice? or does it snow all year round? Do you see the sun often?” Classic. 

Anyways love you guys hope you have a good week!

I am excited to get the package you sent.  

Got to go, love you, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mom, hopefully you get my bday card in time too!

Love Elder Garry

Monday May 28, 2013

Hey guys! I didn’t even realize you are in NY with Aaron. Are you still there? Sounds fun. I got your package last Monday, thank you! I already ate all the candy. I love the pants too and thanks for all the letters! The brown pants are the sickest! So I am on Maxson street off Magnolia 2837 I think. Mom, aunt Nancy said you were going to send me pen refills, do you know anything about that? 

Anyways I forgot to write in my last e-mail, I had my first baptism just this last Sunday! I would send pictures but I forgot my cord. Her name is Jennifer Lopez, J-Lo (no joke) she’s 9, from a returning less active member family. My companion baptized her. Spanish wards still feel weird, its alot different then white wards. The singing is horrible and everyone always hugs each other, I love it. 

So last week we were teaching an investigator with the English elders, passing him off, on his front lawn. The lesson went really well and during the closing prayer one of the English elders (the fat one) stood up and puked 3 times all over the lawn. Then turns around and says I am so sorry, than pukes all over his shoes and pants. It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. Then the dog started licking it all up as he was puking. He is brand new so I felt bad but the investigator didn't really care, it was more of a dirt and weed lawn. It was so funny, me and Elder Morell were laughing so hard. 

I also had my first bike wipeout, ripped my pants a bit, I was being dumb riding no hands and stuck my foot out on the tire to stop and feel. I still have my bad BMX habits of thinking I have no brakes. I am all good, it wasn’t that bad. 

I think I have taught like 35 lessons so far, it is awesome how much we teach here. If I humble myself enough I can see God help me speak Spanish in lessons it kinda freaks me out!

I am slowly getting better, still some frustrating days. Some people are so hard to understand. The food is so good, so many tortillas, beans rice and meet or pig feet. My companion eats so much and always makes me look bad. 

I love it here, we play bball in the mornings outside sometimes for workouts, the weather is super nice! I got 3 ties yesterday, these sick old school ones I bet Gav would like, 1$ each. Everything is so cheap! I never see white people either, we have a really populated Mexican area, it is pretty much Mexico, there is always parties and Mexican music and jumpers for the kids, its so funny. 

I love how close I am with to the spirit, each day my love for Christ grows. I wish I had more time to explain how much happiness it brings. All the Mexicans always ask why the white people with ties and bikes are so happy. 

Sounds like everything is going well at home, summer is soon. Mom, hopefully you will get my letter for your birthday in time! Have you got any other letters I sent from the MTC? 

Talk to you soon, Love you all!!

Love Elder Garry!