Monday, October 31, 2011

October 31, 2011

Halloween does not translate at all. Haha. I miss it. A lot.

Heather is going on a mission huh?...When does she leave?...If she and Mike will be there together for about 6 months...that means I'll be down to about 4 and a half months...so it would be like midway through march that she leaves...am I close? Haha.

Transfers aren't for like 3 more weeks...haha. Just a little off, mom. Just a little.

This week was good. No rain at all. We taught like 17 lessons this week. It was a decent week. We also helped some Elders move. They had to switch their house. So we spent Saturday afternoon helping them out.

And Saturday morning we had a soccer tournament...kind of successful. Not everyone showed up that had told me they would...but we still got 4 good teams and 16 people who aren't members were there. It was a good experience as they got to enter the church and check it out. They were all great people. And I got to play a little with them. I think my team won every game. Despite some mistakes I made...but hey...it was the first time in months that I had played...

Also, there is a store here that sells American clothing...it has a bunch of college teams...so yes...that includes UNC...I walked in and found quite a few UNC shirts among the bunch...it was pretty fun actually.

And the most exciting news of the day...Nov 17...we are going to the Temple...it's gonna be great. Right at the end of the change.

My comp is doing good. I think he was like me...a little shy to talk in lessons. But he does good with talking to people and seeing if they are interested...so it's all good. He's a good guy. He's funny.

That's about it on this end.

Love you guys

Monday, October 24, 2011

October 24, 2011

The rain has stopped. It didn't get too bad in my area. The highway
leading to Zaragoza had mudslides and they had to close down parts for
awhile. But everything is good now. Some areas got super flooded. But
nothing here.

I think it's an idea President has to help the new guys learn Spanish
faster. We can explain everything they don't get in a faster way. And
we can watch training videos in English so that they understand them.
I think that's the idea. But idk. And the training plan is only with
new people.

We had Stake Conference as well. Elder Falabella was there. He was so
funny. My comp was like...I wish I could understand it all...everyone
is laughing. Haha. But Elder Falabella gave a good talk about keeping
ourselves clean. Or making sure we have our priorities in line. He
talked about making strawberry smoothies with his family and how at
the end he threw in just a little of mud and mixed it in. He then
offered the smoothies to the family but no one wanted them because of the
mud. The smoothie still looked good...but you just knew that it was a
little dirty; that a bad choice had happened.

I want PopTarts. Send me poptarts in the box

Hmm....Nothing else.

Love you guys

Monday, October 17, 2011

October 17, 2011

It's the end of the world as we know it! It's the end of the world as we know it! Its the end of the world as we know it! And I feel fine... (I'll explain that in a bit)

ANnyways...I'm still in Zaragoza...but Elder Martinez peaced out. My new comp is Elder Martin from Sandy, Utah...fresh from the MTC. Yup, I'm training. But he's lucky...he got to go to the MTC in Guatemala...it's a new thing apparently.

LATE NITE....I'm so there next year....at like 2 in the afternoon...with Chik-fil-a...(Devin...tell Burt to come along...we can have a chik-fil-a party!!!)

Anyways....

Sis O....not as Sis O?...hmm...that's weird. She will always be Sister O to me.

Well...on to the week.

Monday...immigration

And Monday night at 11:20pm I get a call from one of the assistants. He's like...are you ready to train? Haha...I was just like...huh? yeah...w/e. Cool he says...be in layco at 7:45 tomorrow...what? That was bad man. Anyways...so on the way to Layco...we get on a sick coaster. Why is it sick? Because it puts the cars in "Need for Speed" and "Fast and Furious" to shame. This guy was nuts. I was scared at first...but then I was just laughing. This guy would roll into oncoming traffic just to get ahead of our line of non-moving traffic. And cut in randomly and everything...thanks to him...I totally got to the next stop early. It was sweet.

So the other thing has to do with the song I put at first.

Maybe El Sal is too small to make it to the US...but El Sal is in a National Emergency...don't worry. Nothing crazy. It's just that its been raining everyday for the last week at like all hours. So...flooding...lots of flooding. Here isn't too bad....just when it starts pouring...rivers start forming...And I think there have been some land slides and stuff....I can't work right now. On orders from Pres. I didn't work yesterday (we only went to Sacrament meeting...no one was there). Today we can write and buy stuff we need then back to the house...and tomorrow...we leave only with an important appointment. SO...it's been weird. But everything is cool. I'm just tired of rain.

I thought of stuff to send me..CDs!!!! of music obviously. I got a way to listen to them. we have ways to watch training videos in the house and I can use it to listen to music...so music por favor. EFY...w/e. Though A More Excellent Way is good. and some girl sings Healing Waters...that's a bomb song.

I will also send off letters today...a miracle I know. Haha...

Thats' about it...and some photos!!!

Love you guys

Monday, October 10, 2011

October 10, 2011

First off...I'm writing so late because I had to go to immigration today. I had to be at Layco at 9 and then we took a mission rented coaster to immigration. I was getting close to being illegal...but not anymore...we're good to go until I bounce.

It was a good week. Last Monday I made nachos...they were good. I got pictures...but this computer where I'm at is dumb...and won't load them...so you just have to wait for that. We have also had rain...and a fair here...it will be here a couple more days. And the most exciting thing for this week was that they fixed the hot water. Haha. Cool stuff, huh?

The investigators are progressing. Despite problems. We are getting close with some of them. We are looking for a new place...it's alright where we are because of hot water...but we are keeping our eyes and ears open to move if we can. Changes are this week. I think I'm staying with my comp one more change....but then again...one never knows. So we'll see.

Seminary...I kind of miss it.

Teach with the Spirit...just ask good questions. It just comes. That's all I can say.

I actually had some cool experiences this week...but nothing for you guys :) Not yet anyways.

Haha...

Love you guys and miss you

Adiós

Some forwarded pics from the Multizone with Elder Martino

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

El Salvador Temple Dedicatory Prayer

O God, our Beloved Father in Heaven, Thou great Elohim, we come humbly unto Thee in the name of Thy Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to dedicate Thy holy house. Acting in the authority of Thine eternal priesthood, and in the name of Jesus Christ, we dedicate this the San Salvador El Salvador Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unto Thee and unto Thy divine Son. Wilt Thou accept of it as the offering of Thy sons and daughters who love Thee and who seek to accomplish Thy purposes. Our hearts reach to Thee in gratitude for Thy wonderful blessings upon us. With the completion of this house Thou hast given to the Saints of El Salvador every blessing of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are grateful for the restoration of Thy Holy Priesthood through Thy Prophet Joseph Smith, which will be exercised in this, Thy house. We thank thee that the prophet Elijah was sent to restore the keys of salvation and exaltation for both the living and the dead.

We thank Thee for the inspiration given Thy servant in selecting this property on which to construct this sacred building. We thank Thee for all who have worked so diligently to obtain the permits authorizing the construction of this house, and for all who have labored to bring about its completion.

Now we dedicate unto Thee and Thy Son this beautiful temple with all of its facilities and furnishings. We dedicate the grounds with the vegetation growing thereon which add beauty to this structure. We dedicate the temple from the foundation to the figure of Moroni which crowns its steeple. We dedicate the baptistry, the initiatory ordinance facilities, the endowment rooms, the celestial room, the sealing rooms with their altars, and every other part of this sacred house.

Wilt Thou watch over it and by Thy divine power preserve it from the elements of nature and any evil hand that might be inclined to deface it or defile it in any way. We ask that no unclean thing shall enter the portals of this Thy holy house. May it be sanctified to all who come, and may there be no inclination on the part of evil men or women to violate the sanctity of this temple.

Bless those who will preside here, the temple president and the matron, together with their counselors and assistants, and all those who serve here in administering the ordinances of Thy house. We pray that Thy Saints may gather here to carry forward the work of receiving their own ordinances, and offering these ordinances to those beyond the veil of death that Thine eternal purposes may be accomplished.

As we dedicate this temple we also dedicate the chapel nearby, its grounds, and all of its facilities. May all who use it recognize that building as a house of worship, a house of learning, and a house of sociality. May they keep it clean and attractive as a structure dedicated to the accomplishment of Thy work and the fruition of Thy purposes.

We likewise dedicate the ancillary structure with all of its facilities and furnishings.

We pray for Thy blessings to rest upon this nation of El Salvador. Touch the hearts of those who govern, that the people may be blessed with freedom and opportunity. May peace reign in the land.

Prosper Thy work in this land. May the gospel message touch the hearts of people throughout the nation. May they come into the waters of baptism, and remain faithful and true unto Thee. Bless Thy servants, the missionaries, and preserve them from harm and evil.

Bless Thy faithful Saints throughout the world whose consecrated offerings have made possible this holy house. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon them.

Now, with grateful hearts, we dedicate and consecrate this hallowed structure and its surroundings to the accomplishment of Thy will and the fulfillment of Thine eternal work. We pray that its influence may be felt throughout the land as a light upon a hill. We ask it all in the name of Him whose redemption has blessed the human family and opened the way for Thy sons and daughters to go forward in eternity, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Monday, October 3, 2011

October 3, 2011

I listened to everything in English...it's better. (I had asked him if he listened to General Conference in English or Spanish.) I would understand in Spanish...but if the speakers say something not in the talk...especially the funny stuff...the translators don't pick it up.

I had a few talks I liked a lot. I liked the one about the Book of Mormon by Elder McAllister...I think that's his name. I just remember it was a bomb talk. Really good. It stuck out to me a lot.

It's a reminder to everyone. I remember that line...it was a good quote. (I told him that one line I really liked was: "be loyal to the royal".)

We did have investigators in Conference and we were all at the building in Santa Tecla. We went to China Wok in between the 1st and 2nd...and just bought little stuff in between the 2nd and priesthood. On Sunday, the cooks brought stuff. One sister felt bad because she brought food...(a lot btw) but thought it wasn't enough because there were more missionaries then she thought. So she brought more before the 2nd on Sunday...we got some good people here.

Here, we knock a lot. Some referrals but not a lot. So we knock. We got some good investigators...just we have to get the majority of them married. Haha...so it's a little longer process with them. But we are working on it. The house is really small...smallest I have had. But it's alright. I can't see San Salvador from where I'm at...but I can see a lot of my area...it's pretty cool to see. I might send a pic one day. The branch is small like 60...it's a mix...it think there are more kids from the primary than anything else. The Relief Society is one of the smallest I have seen. So...imagine that.

Anyways...other then Conference, we had interviews with Pres. Glazier. Sister Glazier talked with us about Family History while we waiting and shared a cool story. It was her grandpa...maybe dad...i don't remember. But he moved to D.C. I think to study more and had 2 small kids and a wife to support as well. After 2 weeks, he was called to be Bishop. He was like...what...I need to study, work, take care of my family, I won't have time to sleep...and you want me to be Bishop?...I guess they let him think about it because she told us that he was walking around outside or driving home...and a voice came to his mind and told him, "If you won't work for God, He won't work for you¨....and she told us that he quickly accepted the calling. ...but it's a good quote, right.? It's for everyone really. Remember it.

Well...that's it. All I got. Love you guys

Elder Gilreath

September 26, 2011

Lets see...yup...today is exactly one year since I left the MTC...weird that it lined up as exactly a year. But...I think at this time I was in Dallas...chillin. Eating McDs like you said. Haha...
I honestly have no clue who Jeff is. (Pickard--who had just visited us) I think I remember Brad. He was the velociraptor guy, right? Haha
We had the primary program in Zaragoza yesterday as well...It was alright. Haha...all the kids forgot the words to a song, sooo it was just the primary president singing. It was kind of long as well...but it was good...but I'm pumped for next year's Primary Program in R1!
Oh, general conference...how under appreciated it was before the mission...it's like the best time ever. Haha...it's just fun now. Why....who knows. But that's all there is to it. It's fun.
It's a small town really...like when you enter, it's got the main road with the stores and then it branches off to the houses and all that. It's not big at all. The house is small....we are actually looking for one a little bigger. Yeah we got a cook. But we just use her for lunch and that's it. And the gators are good...we actually got a lot...but they got a bunch of problems ...positive...but problems...The branch is interesting...there are about like 60...
So...I actually wrote some letters to people...I haven't sent them yet...but I wrote them...that's the first time in months...
If you want to know...we kick rocks to have fun...whoever gets it through the legs more times wins. Haha...we wait for buses and rides a lot if you didn't know.
Well...that's about it.
Adiós
Elder Gilreath