January 17, 2011

We had a multizone this week and I finally got that last package that you sent. The caramel corn was so good...I think you need to send more...NOW!! Haha...but seriously, it was/is awesome. E. Hardman, my comp in the MTC, gave me a Hershey thing at the multizone and it was honestly one of the greatest things ever!

And I got the letter with all the cards that people wrote to me at the wedding. That was pretty fun to see. Tell the Khaters that I'm learning Spanish, not Arabic.

Last P-day we were playing volleyball outside at the church. And one time I hit it over the fence...like the highest part too...It was pretty funny. Here I thought I was getting weaker and losing muscle...but that might have been my hardest hit ever without trying.

And now, an uplifting story. I haven't really told many of here. I have them. I just don't tell them. And I was reminded of it yesterday at church. This happened the first couple weeks I was in Occidental, so it was back in Nov., I think. Anyways, we were doing divisions with the members and E. Cordero tells me I'm going to visit Hno. Gil (like Hill in English). I'm like...Who is that? He responds...less active, he's having some health trouble. So as we are walking to his house, I'm thinking what can I share with him, and suddenly I know what to do. So we get there, and we start talking with him, and we invite him to church, and he's like idk...i'm having these problems, etc. So then I share the message. I went to D and C 122 where Joseph Smith is in jail, and the Lord says whatever happens, it's for your benefit. And I was like yeah, it's a trial what you're going through, but it's for your benefit. Then I read the verse that says that the Lord has descended below all, are you better than him? And told him that the Lord knows of his pain and that if he truly wants it, he needs to pray for the strength to attend church. He was like...yeah, that makes sense, but he still wasn't sure about going. So we finish and leave. Sunday rolls around, and to my surprise, here come Hno. Gil...and he lives a good distance from the church. And he hasn't missed a Sunday since then. Yesterday in church we talked about sacrifice. He answered how he sacrifices by coming to church, and how he is always praying to receive strength so that he can make the journey to church. I was soooooooo happy after that.

So that's my story. Fun huh?

This week the whole mission is going to San Salvador to hear Elder Jensen of the 70 talk. Should be interesting. We´ll be getting up real early.

Love you guys...and miss you

Elder Gilreath

just a picture of me and my homies...and the medal thing I got at Christmas....