August 29, 2011

To Donald:

This week was good. I can't complain. We had a decent week finding people...about 14. And they are mostly positive. One guy is really sweet, but has a lot of health problems. So that is unfortunate and might hold him back. But yeah...normal routine this week now. Unfortunately...haha..,j/k

I heard about the quake...we went to a member's house and they had it on CNN...and they were like hey Elder there was an earthquake on the east coast...I was like...huh?...is that possible?...but then I saw the news and all the explanations. I was like...haha...weird.

And I was also well aware of the hurricane. It was a big one. I saw some pics of it radar-wise. It was a big storm. Good thing everything is all good there. That's unfortunate for Aunt Kelly and Uncle George. but it could be worse. I also heard it caused a bunch of flood and wind damage. When members were watching news about the hurricane, I would point to NC and Raleigh...and they were like Elder! it's going right for where you live. I was just like...yeah...but it will probably just be a bunch of wind and rain. It won't be too bad. Haha...was it close for Raleigh?

To the family:

I kind of wish I was there for the earthquake. We have had tremors here in El Sal...but nothing like that. And the hurricane too. All the interesting stuff is happening when I'm not there to experience it. Haha. I'm kind of mad. Just a little.

As for the broadcast.... They had the problems with the satellite. And honestly the branch president's were giving bad info like the people had to be in that chapel to see it. So we started talking as missionaries and we were like...what? you should be able to use the ticket where ever. It doesn't matter. So we told the people that. So then they were like...lets go to Jucuapa....but how? Some dude hooked us up with a bus and boom...off we went...yes pooling money for a good cause. ...it was interesting. To say the least.

As for changes..Idk yet...but I feel like I'm gone. I'll be on the move, I'm sure. So I'll probably have some interesting stuff next week. Not this week though. Sorry.

And how did you see inside the El Sal temple. I have a pamphlet I was gonna send so you could see the inside. But I guess I don't have to now. But yeah...its bomb inside the temple. Amazing inside.

Anyways, hope there is a break in weird weather. Haha..

Love you guys...

Elder Gilreath

San Salvador El Salvador Temple news release

The San Salvador El Salvador Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) was dedicated Sunday by President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the Church’s First Presidency. This is the Church’s fourth temple in Central America and 135th operating temple worldwide.

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Prior to the dedication, President Eyring sealed the temple cornerstone, a tradition marking the end of construction and the beginning of the sacred work inside the temple.

May 1949 marked the beginning of the Church’s presence in El Salvador, when the first missionaries were sent there to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ among the people of Santa Ana in the western region of the country.

In 1952 Elder Spencer W. Kimball, then a senior Church leader and later the worldwide leader of the Church, visited El Salvador and offered a prayer of peace and prosperity upon the nation. By 1986 Church membership had grown to more than 15,000. Today there are more than 110,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 161 congregations throughout El Salvador.

"Attending"
Also attending the cornerstone and dedicatory services were Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elders William R. Walker, Enrique R. Falabella, James B. Martino and Carlos H. Amado of the Seventy; and Sister Silvia H. Allred, first counselor in the Relief Society presidency and El Salvador native.

Sixteen thousand people attended two cultural celebrations Saturday that retold the rich cultural history of the area through song and dance.

Visitors walk grounds of the San Salvador El Salvador Temple after taking a tour during the open house June 28-July 23. More than 165,000 toured the temple interior and the grounds.

Prior to this weekend’s events, more than 162,000 people from many faiths were given a guided tour of the temple during a two-week open house.

Ground was broken for the San Salvador El Salvador Temple 20 September 2008. Before this temple’s completion, Latter-day Saints in El Salvador traveled to Arizona to attend a temple — an eight-day journey that required early El Salvadorian Latter-day Saints to make great sacrifices, often selling belongings and even homes to cover the travel costs.

Images of the San Salvador - El Salvador Temple