Hey everybody,
I am not going to write much today, but I will tell you all that I was very happy yesterday. But here is why. There is this lady named Gioconda and she was always depressed and so sad because she didn´t have work and never wanted to come to church because she was scared and had to find work and was very depressed. My comp and I when I first got here found her and it´s been about like 4 months and never made much progress. We went over there the other night and she told us that she found work and she was smiling and happy and just a different person. We taught her a quick lesson but it was really good and invited her to church. Ill admit she was really scared but knew she had to at least go and try it. We told her we would come pick her up in a taxi in the morning and she agreed. So we came there the next morning and she was up and ready to go. I was so happy I just felt just complete joy. Also NORA came to church with a member who went and got her and she stayed for all 3 hours and loved it. Gioconda could only stay for the first hour but she told us she would stay longer the next week. She really liked it.
I know that miracles exist and that they are real and that this is Gods church and he leads and guides it through the prophet who is on the earth because God is the same yesterday today and forever and never changes. Nora is really excited for her baptism for the 26th so hopefully that all goes through according to plan. I love this gospel and I know it´s true and I know that God has his plan for us and the only way we can return to live with him is if we do exactly what he says and we cant have our own beliefs on how to do things in this life and say God accepts me for who I am and my choices even if it is in contrary to what he said. If that is how our thinking is then it´s wrong, because what was the point of God sending his son? Anways I love you all and hope and pray that you all can make good choices and follow Christ in your life and listen to the prophets because they are Gods mouth piece.
Love Garrett
Monday, September 13, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
September 6, 2010
You know those days when you wake up and your really happy and in a good mood just because it´s so nice outside? Well thats how I feel, also because I am staying here for one more transfer. I felt that I still had not completed everything here that I needed to, so I am going to work really hard this last 6 weeks while I am here. Also we are getting a new zone leader here and he was my comp in Dichato when the earthquake happened so I am way excited to see him again. hmm what else well I am doing good, I almost hate how much food they give us here because I can see the effects haha. Sometimes we will go into somebodys house and they want to give you something to eat but you don't want anything but some water. You can´t deny it and they will give you bread with some cheese or butter and some stuff that taste like coffee but it´s not, it´s called ecco it´s actually pretty good but anywho it´s impossible to deny it especially to the old sweet lady's who are just so nice and you just cant tell them no. sorry I am kinda rambling but this is just some things that are kinda funny that happen here.
O and on friday and saturday I ate liver from a chicken. On saturday we had some salad with it with mashed potatoes and lets just say I ate a lot of salad with the liver hahaha.
Last week I talked about that guy Jore and sadly we didn't get to teach him last monday but we went back another day and he was sick and he still let us in and that never happens , not even members do that, it was pretty cool. And then with Nora we only taught her once this week because we could not find her in her house this week. But we did get to teach Juan this week so that was really cool. We read Alma 5 it´s basically a personal interview. I Invite all of you to read it and think about the questions that it asks in it. It was very good for Juan to read this with us. at the very end it says this verse ¨´I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life. Now that hit him pretty good. At the end of the lesson I told him so now you know about what your parents think does that change what you feel? He said no and he told us that he had a huge test to get into the air force and I promised him that he would pass it if he got baptized. He said he was thinking about that before I had asked him. But it never did happen but he does have a date for this sunday so I hope and pray that he can find in his heart to do it and receive the guidance from the spirit to do it.
This week we went by this inactive member who is living in a tiny room with his friend. This guys name is Cesar and is about 34 and has had a rough life and has cancer and was baptized like a year ago. We has no contact with his family and his cancer is pretty serious and he has been drinking and smoking and just trying to make himself feel better. We have been visiting him for a while now and has only came to church once. It was extremely sad. I have just been learning that life is real and that people can decide their path they want. This guy had the gospel in his life and was doing good and then just started going down hill again after he had found the truth. When we went over there the other day I had no idea what to say or do. My comp was teaching the word of wisdom and it was really good and then it was my turn to talk and it was rough because I had no idea what to say. I listened to the spirit and just talked. Afterwards I was just thinking about that for a long time and his situation and how people are without the gospel in there lives and what happens when we stop trying to progress as members and stop learning and stop reading our scriptures and stop going to church, things like that happen. SATAN has FULL power over US. Just like is says in 3Nephi 18: "And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock. 13 But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell are ready open to receive them." This is exactly what will happen, and I am saying this because I don't want this to happen to any of you. And if it has you can always get back on the rock of Christ. I know this is true I love you all and hope all is well for you this week.
Take care
Love Garrett
O and on friday and saturday I ate liver from a chicken. On saturday we had some salad with it with mashed potatoes and lets just say I ate a lot of salad with the liver hahaha.
Last week I talked about that guy Jore and sadly we didn't get to teach him last monday but we went back another day and he was sick and he still let us in and that never happens , not even members do that, it was pretty cool. And then with Nora we only taught her once this week because we could not find her in her house this week. But we did get to teach Juan this week so that was really cool. We read Alma 5 it´s basically a personal interview. I Invite all of you to read it and think about the questions that it asks in it. It was very good for Juan to read this with us. at the very end it says this verse ¨´I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life. Now that hit him pretty good. At the end of the lesson I told him so now you know about what your parents think does that change what you feel? He said no and he told us that he had a huge test to get into the air force and I promised him that he would pass it if he got baptized. He said he was thinking about that before I had asked him. But it never did happen but he does have a date for this sunday so I hope and pray that he can find in his heart to do it and receive the guidance from the spirit to do it.
This week we went by this inactive member who is living in a tiny room with his friend. This guys name is Cesar and is about 34 and has had a rough life and has cancer and was baptized like a year ago. We has no contact with his family and his cancer is pretty serious and he has been drinking and smoking and just trying to make himself feel better. We have been visiting him for a while now and has only came to church once. It was extremely sad. I have just been learning that life is real and that people can decide their path they want. This guy had the gospel in his life and was doing good and then just started going down hill again after he had found the truth. When we went over there the other day I had no idea what to say or do. My comp was teaching the word of wisdom and it was really good and then it was my turn to talk and it was rough because I had no idea what to say. I listened to the spirit and just talked. Afterwards I was just thinking about that for a long time and his situation and how people are without the gospel in there lives and what happens when we stop trying to progress as members and stop learning and stop reading our scriptures and stop going to church, things like that happen. SATAN has FULL power over US. Just like is says in 3Nephi 18: "And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock. 13 But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell are ready open to receive them." This is exactly what will happen, and I am saying this because I don't want this to happen to any of you. And if it has you can always get back on the rock of Christ. I know this is true I love you all and hope all is well for you this week.
Take care
Love Garrett
August 30, 2010
Hey Everybody,
Wow today was wet. this morning we all went and played volleyball in the rain in the back of the church with the poles we have. We played in a soccer court. But wow it was wet and especially since it didn't start raining until after we left the house so we didn't bring any rain gear. but hey it´s all good it was pretty fun anyways. Then we went and bought some food to make lunch because we didn't have much money so we bought some rice and little sausages and some bread and some eggs and cooked that all up. The elder from Columbia cooked the rice and he kinda screwed it up a little bit but it was still an interesting meal to say the least but in the end it was good because I was hungry.
So this week was pretty good. When the Lord puts trials in front of us he always has to bless us after. We were doing contacts on wednesday and we yelled from the gate, because thats what you do here, and the lady opened her window and I started to talk to her and buses kept driving by so I asked if she could come to the gate to talk to us. She let us in to her house and we started talking with her and getting to know her a little and she said she was catholic, but really didn't know what she believed in, almost like most catholics. Anywho she is very humble and very sweet and it was cool because she said asked us what she needed to do to go to church and how could she feel better. It was amazing and she doesn't know to much about who God is or Jesus Christ. So we have gone back twice now and we gave her a Book of Mormon and I hope she will read it. Her name is Nora. The next day we were doing contacts in this area and knocked on the door and a man came out and he said that he was busy but we could come back the next day around the same time and tons of people say that so I really didn't think much of it. So the next day my comp and I started walking somewhere after an appt and I was like, where we going, and he said to Jores house and I had no clue who he was. So we get there and we go into his house which was way cool. We start talking and he tells us he is catholic. So we ended up teaching him about the restoration and he was understanding so well. Better than almost anyone I have ever taught. After we got done talking about the apostasy he asked us,´¨ so when is God going to restore the power and his church¨ . That question was AWESOME so I went right into telling him about Joseph Smith and the story and he liked it a lot. He believes it is true and so we put a date with him to be baptized. He has an 8 year old daughter and a wife and so I am way excited. And he seemed so real about it. So we asked him when we could come back and he walks over to his calender and was going through his schedule out loud and said that monday would work. So thats today we taught him on friday. So I am really excited to teach him and he said his wife will be home also.
Well I gotta go so we can to the the appt on time but I love you all and hope you like the pictures. Some are just random and others are from an activity where we made a Chilean hot dogs they are called completos. And another day we ordered pizza and that is the sub from last week I was talking about. One of the pics with me and my comp and a Columbian is the celebration of my 1 YEAR mark.
Love Garrett
Monday, August 23, 2010
August 23, 2010
Hey everyone
One of the hardest things to do in the mission is to let go of people you are teaching. It´s hard because you care about them and you want to see them progress because you know that this is what they need. But people have their agency and you can't force anything on anyone because that is not in Gods plan. That has happened to a lot of the people we are teaching and so we are finding new people but then when we go back and they don't want to listen anymore. If people could just open their heart and be open minded and listen with true intent it would make the world of difference. sorry for venting a little, it´s just really frustrating sometimes. Don't get me wrong I love being here and teaching people but sometimes it´s just kinda hard because people like to follow Jesus in their own way not in the way that he wants us to follow him.
Well this week my comp was sick and had a bad cough and a little fever. He asked me to give him a blessing of health, the other elder did the first part and I gave the blessing. For those of you who have never given a blessing it is really special, it truly is. My comp asked me if I wanted to do it in english and I said no because i don't know how to start it in english. Anyways I want to bear witness that the power of the priesthood is real and that it´not something that we just talk about but that it truly has power. The spirit truly does guide it, and the words just come.
I was a little sick this week but I'm ok nothing too bad just a runny nose. The weather here is really nice lately so that has been really great. One of the elders we live with is from Columbia so he had to go to Santiago last monday for his visa. So he went to subway for us and bought us some. I have a pictures of it that I want to send next week they are really sweet haha. Well Juan still needs to get baptized so if you could all keep `praying for him that would be great. Take care everyone.
Love Garrett
One of the hardest things to do in the mission is to let go of people you are teaching. It´s hard because you care about them and you want to see them progress because you know that this is what they need. But people have their agency and you can't force anything on anyone because that is not in Gods plan. That has happened to a lot of the people we are teaching and so we are finding new people but then when we go back and they don't want to listen anymore. If people could just open their heart and be open minded and listen with true intent it would make the world of difference. sorry for venting a little, it´s just really frustrating sometimes. Don't get me wrong I love being here and teaching people but sometimes it´s just kinda hard because people like to follow Jesus in their own way not in the way that he wants us to follow him.
Well this week my comp was sick and had a bad cough and a little fever. He asked me to give him a blessing of health, the other elder did the first part and I gave the blessing. For those of you who have never given a blessing it is really special, it truly is. My comp asked me if I wanted to do it in english and I said no because i don't know how to start it in english. Anyways I want to bear witness that the power of the priesthood is real and that it´not something that we just talk about but that it truly has power. The spirit truly does guide it, and the words just come.
I was a little sick this week but I'm ok nothing too bad just a runny nose. The weather here is really nice lately so that has been really great. One of the elders we live with is from Columbia so he had to go to Santiago last monday for his visa. So he went to subway for us and bought us some. I have a pictures of it that I want to send next week they are really sweet haha. Well Juan still needs to get baptized so if you could all keep `praying for him that would be great. Take care everyone.
Love Garrett
August 16, 2010
So does everyone remember Jose the one who had problems about, who is Jehovah and Joseph Smith and who had tons of doubts and it always just made me frustrated a lot? Well we had not taught him in a while because he had been busy with work but not last week but the week before we had activities in the church and he came to all of them and we watched a video about Joseph Smith and another night somebody from the temple presidency came and talk about temples. So this past Wednesday we went and visited him. He told us that he had been having dreams about his brother and his dad who are dead and he never has dreams about them. He told us that he started having dreams with them in it and with water and the water was very clear and he went into the water and his brother and dad did also. So after he told us that the spirit was telling us to invite him to baptism so I did it and he said YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was AMAZING I could not believe it, i was almost in shock haha. It was so good to hear him say yes. I have been teaching him for about almost 4 months and it has been so much fun to see him change and how different he is now. When we first started teaching him he was very quiet and did not say much in a lesson and it was really hard. It was hard to get a conversation going with him about something. It was so hard for me. But in time he started feeling more comfortable with us could joke around with us. He has kinda a dry sense of humor but hey he has come a long way from where we started and thats whats important. My companion did the baptism but hey I don't care just as long as he did it thats all that I cared about.
It Truly is amazing what this gospel can do and how people can change and be happier by hearing this message. this is why Í am here to help people come unto Christ and to receive their salvation because there is no other way that they can get it. this week was nuts because we had 2 full days of training from out assistants of this new way of teaching that will change my mission and every other mission and will help this work sky rocket. I don't have much time but hope all is well with everybody and take care and it´s good to hear from you.
Love Garrett
August 9, 2010
Well It was another interesting week, it had it´s up´s and downs and some things happened that were really hard to see, with some things that people said and did but I am learning so much about myself and the kind of person that I am. So Juan the 22 year old that we are teaching had an interview with one of our assistants and that was really good for him but his only problem his his FEAR. His fear of his family with his parents because they are HUGE catholics his dad is studying to be a monk or something. This week we fasted for him and I was praying like all week and he was always on my mind. He needs the confidence to tell his parents. He knows everything is true and has no doubts so that is really good and he really wants to get baptized. So if EVERYBODY could PRAY FOR JUAN PLEASE that would be great. Also had another cool experience with this new convert, of the other missionaries when i was on splits with the other 2 that we live with. This lady always thought that I was kinda a jerk or just that I had bad feelings towards here or something but I didn't at all. That day when we went and visited her I shared this scripture with her in mosiah 23 about when we have trials but it was really powerful and she started crying and now she totally changed her feelings about me. It was a really cool experience because she was having a really hard day that day and I was able to help her and it made me feel so good.
I gotta go but I hope all is well and love you all.
Ps PRAY FOR JUAN TO Have Confidence.
Love Elder Nichols
August 2, 2010
Hey everybody this week was pretty rough because we lost a lot of our investigators so I don't have much to say. But if every one could pray for Juan Baptist he is ready for baptism but just is lacking the courage with his parents and family because they are all catholic. He is 22 so he can make the choice but he is an awesome guy he knows it true every time we share with him he feels so different but a good different I hope he can get the courage that he needs to do it.
Hey for all of you who emailed me this week thanks and sorry for not getting back to you but i will next week. I am going good just now in the process of looking for new people. I hope all is well with everyone. I love being missionary a and all the great experiences that I get to have. Even though it´s tough at times it will be worth it in the end, that's what I keep telling myself at least.
ps I hit one year on thursday!!!!
Love Garrett
Hey for all of you who emailed me this week thanks and sorry for not getting back to you but i will next week. I am going good just now in the process of looking for new people. I hope all is well with everyone. I love being missionary a and all the great experiences that I get to have. Even though it´s tough at times it will be worth it in the end, that's what I keep telling myself at least.
ps I hit one year on thursday!!!!
Love Garrett
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