April 4, 2011

Darin with tamales--which he usually doesn't like--but he liked these!

Conference was good. I watched mostly in English. But some in Spanish...all good man....all good. And we get the Liahona...but some are in English...not that it really matters. I read it in Spanish too...so that's not really important.

We had some gators at conference, but not as many as we had hoped. And this time our cook just brought us food and we ate in the church. Cause we were at the Church in our area.

Yes...that's our house. Two rooms. Four pictures. each room twice from different angles. And yes, those were coconuts. Weird looking ones I know. And honestly...we don't do much. Like there are a ton of mountains and volcanoes that you can see. But I haven't visited any. And most of the rivers have a bunch of garbage in them. I like going to different areas because I see more of the country. Which is super chill.

Why did Annie go to Ecuador? Just helping out there or what? That's cool though. Apparently Ecuador is amazing. Course I heard that from an Ecuadorian...so of course he'll talk good about his own country. Haha. But no we don't have mosquito nets. We just have fans. If you don't use the fan out here in the oriente, you wake up sweating a ton, and it sucks a lot. So always have your fan on at night. But I have gotten attacked quite a bit by bugs. In my first area, it wasn't bad. In San Miguel yeah. I got a lot of little bites on my legs...but they don't itch...so everything is all good. I think I'm pretty lucky I didn't get some super crazy disease actually now that I think about it.

Anyways....so not a lot happened this week.

On Tuesday, we fixed a roof for some members. It's not as hard as it sounds. Their roofs are metal sheets, then you add tile. And we only did part of it. But we pulled off all the old metal sheets and put on new ones. Then some roof tiles. It was honestly pretty fun. The roofs are super easy to fix here. Haha. Especially with 8 missionaries.

Then one day some crazy drunk guy was talking to me in English. He insulted me and said I couldn't speak English because I wasn't from England, but he can because he lived in L.A. for 33 years. When you figure out how that works, let me know. I'm still trying to figure out how that works. But it was sad...when I was talking to him English...I kept mixing my Spanish and English together...haha. It was bad. Super Spanglish going on.

And then Saturday night...so we are sitting, waiting for the priesthood session to start, and the District President comes in at like 6 and is like...uhh...I got an announcement. We can't watch the priesthood session here. Apparently he forgot to do something, so we couldn't get the signal. So we were like...ok, what are gonna do...and then the District Pres was like...Who wants to go to Jucuapa? Us missionaries were like...uh...yeah...we do. How many are you? 10. Alright, Lets go. So 8 of us piled into the back of his truck, and 2 smart ones actually in the truck. And off we went. In the back of his truck, going down the highways of Usulatan to Jucuapa. Like a good 30-40 minutes away. Going like 50-60 kph. I have no idea what that is in miles...but those were the speed limit signs I saw. Funnest thing ever. Mom might want to kill me. But man, it was fun. Yes, I was in the bed of the truck. In my defense, I was one of the last ones to hop in...so the inside was already taken. So we got there at like 6 45 or something like that. Watched conference. And came back. Haha...super fun.

(Elder Hardman--he was in the MTC with Darin)

Anyways...that was my week. Hope you all have a good week. Love you guys, and miss you.

Elder Gilreath

March 28, 2011

I had like 13 emails today...it was kind of fun...not gonna lie. Haha..

Oh yeah...question...and my contacts?

Anyways...the weather was nice...its hot here...but not as hot as San Miguel...so its actually an upgrade. haha...I can see a difference. My first couple days I was dying for some reason, but now...no. Like my comp has been like...man the sun is real strong right now...I'm just like...no..not really. It feels pretty nice. SO I have been blessed from my stay in San Miguel.

Speaking of San Miguel...I went back on Wednesday. We had a special training thing with Pres. Perez. It was really fun to see everyone that I had just left a week earlier...haha... But yeah...apparently one family we were working with in San Miguel is getting married and baptized...so that was fun to hear too...mostly cause it would complete a huge turn around for them...honestly...its a miracle. But i haven't been able to confirm if it happened last Saturday...or will happen this Saturday.

So with the training...it wasn't anything big...we just practiced some basic stuff...like how to plan lessons...so yeah...real basic. But President told us something interesting. This next change that starts like the 27th...we will add the departamento de La Libertad (where my comp is from) and either right before the new mission pres comes or right after the rest of San Salvador. So the temple will belong solely to us. After all this happens we will just be El Salvador San Salvador and the other mission will be Santa Ana/Belize mission. And with the addition of La Libertad President will send some missionaries from our mission there a week early to learn from the missionaries in the other mission about the investigators...the routes...etc. so that it's a smoother transition. Apparently La Libertad is a cool place...so now its where I want to go. Haha...

And after the training we rode in President's car to our area and worked with the assistants for a little bit. We went and taught people and they were with us on divisions. I was kind of freaking out a little bit...but both are super chill...so it was all good. Haha.

Anyways...I attached some pics of some mission buds...

Hope you have a good week. Love you all and miss you...

Love,

Elder Gilreath

small house huh...but cool garden

March 21, 2011

Lets see. So what happened this week.

Well, on Monday I got hit on by a gay, possible drunk, guy. That was definitely the most interesting thing that has ever happened. Luckily I was in a building and he wasn't or it could have been worse. We were with other missionaries to get a hair cut, and I don't even know how it started. But someone told this dude my name so he started to say Gilreath! Gilreath! in a high pitched voice. Well I think it was his normal voice. He hit on other missionaries as well, but I was the first, so mine was the funniest. Probably the scariest thing is the fact that he actually was saying my name right.

Also on last Monday, we had a super chill P-day. We played soccer but also played a water game that was basically charades. Someone was acting out something in front and we took turns guessing. With a giant water balloon filling up over your head. If you didn't guess it fast enough, you got soaked. Probably the funniest one I saw was an elder did a turtle walking then got flipped over, and couldn't flip back over. The missionary guessing didn't get it and got soaked...and it was just funny. Later we watched the Work and the Glory and ate pizza. Super chill.

We also got a zone shirt. We did Manchester United. I have already sent some pics of the shirt. It's pretty sweet. It's not a perfect replica, but it also wasn't super expensive.

So Wednesday I got changed out of Occidental and got put into Usulatán. I moved just a little to the West. I'm slowly working my way back to the capital. But my area is Usulatan 1 and is around the city. We have a huge chapel that's really sweet. It was built like 2-3 years ago and looks really nice. It's the biggest chapel I have seen in my mission. Which is funny because it only has a branch that goes to it. Another cool thing is our area and another area go to the same ward. The other area has Elder Hardman, one of my comps in the MTC. We have already done divisions together once, so it's super chill. It's fun to see him.

Anyways, my comp is Elder Merino from El Salvador. He's from the departamento de La Libertad. He's a chill dude. He has like 15 months in the mission. Or something like that. More or less that. But he's a real nice guy, so this should be a good change.

Also, we had a baptism this last weekend in my new area. Gloria Susana Quintanilla Machada. She's 19 years old and apparently was only investigating for like 2-3 weeks. So she got baptized really fast. Obviously I didn't work with her a lot. I only went to her house one time, but that one time we firmed her up for baptism, so I guess that's something, right?

Anyways, that was my week. I'm sad I left my old area, but I like my new one. It should be fun. I still haven't escaped the heat, but I guess I'm used to it from San Miguel

Hope you all have a good week. Love you and miss you.

Elder Gilreath

Elder Gilreath in San Miguel

Elder Gilreath, Gloria Susana Quintanilla Machada, Elder Merino

March 14, 2011

Glad everything is going good. Ask Bro. Hernandez if he remembers a Mauricio Guevara. Gracias.

Anyways, this week we had the baptisms of Luis (dad) and Ashlin (daughter) Benavidas. There isn't a mom (separated) so we baptized everyone we could. =)

Anyways...this baptism could be my favorite honestly. I remember the first time we found them they were watching Saw 5...and I remember thinking they won't do anything. But we went back the next day, still thinking they wouldn't do anything. Then we left after the first visit thinking...that was better then we thought it would be. Then they just continued to progress. We actually thought that Ashlin was a member because she told us she was baptized once. But she didn't have a record, so we were able to baptize her. It was really fun to watch them progress. They went from not knowing how to pray and not wanting to, and then they were excited to pray every time we called on them. They really have experienced a huge change. It was so fun to watch. and still is.

And we went to Gotera (near San Francisco) on Thursday. It's like an hour in bus to go there. it's not anything real special...I'm just glad I'm not there. But I like riding on the bus and seeing more of El Salvador... it's always fun honestly.

And last week I scored a goal...and did the "Black Falcon" as I understand how to do it. It was honestly fun.

Those were the most exciting moments of my week. Fun week huh?

Anyways...love you all and miss you.

Elder Gilreath

P.S. Idk for presents. Drink packets, cookies, caramel corn...uhh...a tie...idk. This is so hard. Honestly I'll be happy with what ever.

P.S.S. In the pics it's my comp, Hno. Moroni who did the baptisms, Luis, Ashlin, and then me obviously.

March 7, 2011

On to my week...I already know that yours was really good.

This is kind of old news...(more than a week ago)...but we had another earthquake here. It was really small...the only reason I noticed was that my chair started moving by itself...its always a weird experience...but kind of fun at the same time. As long as it doesn"t get too big

And I got my hair cut. The guy did not use scissors at all. He just used the buzz cut thing with a comb...I was a little worried about how it would turn out...but it was good honestly. I'd go back to him but I'll probably leave here before I get the chance to go back.

AND IT RAINED HERE:..it was wild. And it rained for like 15 to 20 minutes. pretty hard. It felt pretty good. And it was at night too...

And I have started to teach an English class here at the Casa de la Cultura. That place is really small...as well as my class. But I have started to teach them basics of English. I'm not sure if they really understand everything. I know one person does. But the rest like refuse to participate...so I can't tell. They are doing what I did when I was in class.

And I gave a blessing to a member. I'm not gonna say more than it was a neat experience that I'll have with me for the rest of my life. Maybe when I get home I can tell about it.

That's about it. We worked hard this week...I think we are about to have the payoff...I hope I see some of it before I leave...I do.

That's about it.

Love you guys...

Elder Gilreath

February 28, 2011

What happened this week...

We had our interviews with President last week and I got my package...That was pretty exciting. My interview was chill. I got him to laugh...so I think that's good.

We also took water out of a well this week; that was a good work out. I'm not gonna lie...I was joking with the family (they are investigators) that we would pass by every day and take out water for them so that we can get in a work out.

Also...last P-day we also went to La Union. It was like an hour or so on bus to get there. It was actually kind of fun to go and just see what it was like there. It's supposed to be the hottest place in all of the mission, but the weather wasn't too bad when we went. And it's right by the beach apparently. We didn't go, but I saw from a distance the water. It was kind of exciting. And I'm really grateful that I don't live there right now. It's kind of out there. Haha.

I can't really remember what else happened this week. Haha...so I'll just stop it right there.

Oh, I think they have them in the US...but frozen chocolate bananas are really awesome. I'm not gonna lie. It's one of the things that I really like here. They do have those in the states, right?

Oh well...got to go. Today is 7 months in the mission. Crazy.

Love you all,

Elder Gilreath

P.S. Question for dad, erik, will and devin. How many baptisms did they have? We kind of talked about that this week...and I had no idea. Just wondering.

February 21, 2011

The investigators are doing their thing. Frustrating me to no end =) Just kidding. We have good investigators. Right now our problem is catching up with them for the 2nd time. or just catching up with them. Like they are awesome people...but man, they can be frustrating to find.

And I have not gotten my package yet. Maybe tomorrow when we have interviews with President Perez. If not then...then I guess during changes. I'm really hoping to get it tomorrow. As for the other package...those chocolate cookies that you don't bake. I don't have a clue what they are called. A comp in the MTC got them and called them no bakes...so idk really.

Anyways...this week...what did we do...

First we painted la casa de la cultura. It's really small. It's where they learn things, and also has a really small library there. I think we might start teaching English there...I'm not sure about that though. Anyways...the paint here is really crappy. I've said that once, and I'll probably say it again. It's super watery here. And we couldn't finish the job because some of the paint was super old and was like cement on the bottom of the bucket.

Next...really has nothing to do with me...but the Salvadoreños had a telethon to raise money. And they got some people to come up with a super catchy song. You'll have to see if it's on youtube. Its ¨No Hay Imposibles¨ for la teleton 2011 in El Salvador.

Haha...anyways...so one day we are walking by this house and we hear this awful screaming...like super awful. We were like what in the world. Like it was kind of creepy they should put it in a scary movie. So it turns out it was pig...I think they were killing it. We finish walking by the house and we see another big pig, and they are getting ready to put it on the truck. And it starts going nuts and squealing. Really is a super freaky sound. So we sit there and watch them do this with ropes and stuff and they get the pig on. And these people are super nice and tell us they'll give a ride to where we need to go. (we were pretty high up in the colonia) so we jump in the back of the truck with the said pig, and some other guy. The pig freaked out a little while we were in the back of the truck...but my comp was closer =) So I rode in the back of a truck with a pig.

I had a melon too. I'm not sure what type. They just call it a melon. It's green and has like a part in the middle you don't eat. It's pretty good. Sometimes they eat it with salt to help with the taste. But mine was good without it. Not the greatest thing...but it was good.

That's about it really. We had a really boring week with a lot of walking. Hope you guys have a funner (more fun) week than me normally. Just a bunch of walking normally. No me gusta para nada.

Love you guys and miss you,

Elder Gilreath