Santo vaca! This week has gone by so fast! I can't wait to leave on Monday morning!
The weather this week was a lot better than previously. It is still pretty cold in the mornings and throughout the day, but it is getting warmer so that's good. It was also super windy for some reason on Wednesday so that was the only day that was bad.
On Wednesday we got a new district in our zone: 4 Elders and 4 Sisters. I'm glad we got more elders this week because our zone was going to be lacking severely in elders once we leave. It is truly amazing to see the increase of sister missionaries, but we still need more elders to step up because we are getting out numbered!
The devotional on Sunday this past week was really cool! President Matthew Holland was there along with his father Elder Holland and Sister Holland (it was her birthday that day too). Elder Holland introduced his son at the beginning and then President Holland (who is the president of UVU) gave a very nice talk on some of the smaller details of Joseph Smith's trials early in life and later and also talked a lot about what trials his family faced before he was born. My favorite parts were when the UVU Institute choir came and sang an arrangement of "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" then a soloist sang the first four verses of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" and then at the end the institute choir combined with the MTC choir and sang "Praise to the Man." The life the Smith family was very difficult and they struggled and moved all over the east coast and surrounding areas to find work and ways to sustain themselves and even after Joseph Smith was born the trials kept coming for the family. It was very hard for Joseph in his early years because of his leg surgery and the constant moving around the country. However, there was always some stranger there to take care of Joseph in his times of dire need just like in the story of the good Samaritan. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and I know that because he had many trials in his life that he would be a humble and faithful leader of the Church.
Yesterday (Friday) we had an In-Field Orientation all day. It was alright. The beginning was kinda of boring but as the day progressed it got a little better and a little more interesting. It basically was a summary of all the things we have been learning in the MTC and then mainly focused on three things: to baptize, plan and set goals everyday/week, and the importance of the missionaries working with the members in order to teach and fellowship. Then that night we taught our last lesson with a less active and then taught each other about the Gospel of Jesus Christ with one chapter of the Book of Mormon. I was paired with Elder Jacobson and Elder Penaia and Elder Udall were paired together ( Elder Anderson was feeling sick so he went back early). I taught from 3 Nephi 37: 13-22 and Elder Jacobson taught from Mosiah chapter 3. I just want to bear my testimony that the Gospel blesses families and that because of the love of our Savior and Heavenly Father we can grow closer together. I know that Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us and even though we cannot feel his love directly we can feel it through those we have love for such as our family. I am so thankful that I was raised in the Gospel because it is such a great blessing and I can't wait to share it with those in Argentina!
Love,
Elder Giles
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| Elder Giles with Elder Penaia, Prove Temple |
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