Weekly email # 12

Hey! Things are going good over here in Canal.

This last week has been way fun and exciting! Over these past few days, we had the opportunity to go on exchanges within our District. Some of the Elders live in a neighboring town called Circleville.
Which gave me the opportunity to go to Circleville with the Elders that lived there. There, they had the "Pumpkin Festival". I probably haven't talked about this in an email before but at least once or
twice a month, Columbus has a festival. So far I've been to the apple butter fest, the honey fest, and now the pumpkin fest.

They made everything and anything, pumpkin. There was pumpkin burgers, pumpkin fries, pumpkin soda, pumpkin popcorn, pumpkin cornbread, and more! I was able to try the pumpkin doughnuts and those were freaking heavenly.

Oh and I should also mention that this festival is comparable to Mardi Gra in terms of attendance and craziness! There isn't people that get drunk as much compared to Mardi Gra, but the people come from all over Ohio to this event. I've never seen more carny games in my life and how crazy people got over them.

I've been thinking about how much of a change I've gone through over these past two and a half months. It's crazy how time flies sometimes. When I first got out here, I never would've thought time would go by so fast. I continue to learn about everything I need to work on and things I need to improve. I'm nowhere close to the missionary I want to be, but I know these kind of things come over time. It takes patience in dealing with growth. For example, I have a hard time memorizing street names and being directionally challenged sucks. But I've gotten to know so much of the area and since I'm outside exploring new areas every day, it helps me out a lot.

Transfers are in a couple weeks and I've gotten to know this area and the people around it so much. I don't wanna leave! Haha! The ward is absolutely fantastic and they care for missionaries so much.

Man, I wish I had more time to give you guys a more thorough email. Being a missionary makes you appreciate the time that you have out here and you want to do the best you can with it. I'll slowly make it around to all of your emails. I will do it. Eventually.

Love you all! Have a good week!

Elder Lil G

Sent from my iPad

Love this little booger!

Mom I just had Chipotle for the first time ever. It was better than Cafe Rio.

It rained on us but that can't stop me from enjoying a nice cold beer.
Root Beer that is.

Pumpkin Fest

Pumpkin Fest

Week 11 - The Aftermath of Turning 19!

Hey guys and gals!

Where do I begin? So much has happened this week and it'll interesting trying to cram it all into a single email. I'll think I'll branch it out over these next few weeks. One things for sure. The mission HAS NOT been boring.

Let's talk about turning 19 first! Thanks again for all the birthday wishes and gifts you all gave to me. It's so comforting to know I have people at home that care about me and what I'm doing here in Columbus,Ohio. You all push me to be better. To "wake up and do something more", to desire to inspire, to be the best representative of Jesus Christ I can be. I can't express enough thanksgiving for all your love and support.

And on the topic of birthdays, my mommas is this Saturday! Make sure you all tell her happy birthday for me, I wouldn't be the person I am today without my motherly companion. Love you mom, hopefully dad does something to embarrass you. I look forward to the pictures!

Because of the many emails I received, it'll take me a little while to respond to everyone but know that I try and email back more than just simple emails to everyone so it takes me a little longer. These
Filipino fingers can only move so fast :)

Hope you are all doing well back at home. Over here, things are starting to get a little chilly. Yesterday morning was the first time it was below freezing. I guess I better start preparing for the -30 degree weather then. With wind chill and all. Yippee.

These past couple of weeks there's been quite a bit of rain out here. And apparently, it's all gonna turn to snow in the up and coming weeks. We don't get much snow here compared to Utah, but I guess there is always a thin sheet of white every time you go outside. You'll definitely be getting pictures of this in the near future.

My companion hit his one year mark this week and we got to burn one of his white shirts. I'll send some pictures because it created quite the fire. I'm still getting used to all the crazy missionary traditions we have. My daed told me this before I left but I guess you burn a tie 6 months into your mission, 12 months you burn a white shirt, 18 months you burn a pair of slacks, and before you leave you burn your suit coat. I'm going to the D. I. getting a $10 suit for that one occasion.
I refuse to burn a $350 dollar suit.

We did this a couple days after my birthday. It's going to be so weird

when this happens to me.

19th birthday! Celebrated it with Buckeyes! It's pretty much just peanut butter and Rice Krispies inside a chocolate ball and it's DELICIOUS!

This is some of the Arnold family. They are very nice to us!

We just got back from my second Zone Activity and I'm blessed to be put with such a great group of missionaries. My district is so sweet too. I'm loving life out here!

Although my companion and I have had our differences, that's not gonna stop me from serving with
all my "heart, might, mind and strength". Love you all! Hope you have a fantastic week!

Elder G

Sent from my iPad

Weekly Update # 10

Sorry everyone this is a really short update so I'll send a bunch of
pictures to make up for it. Thank you all for the many birthday wishes
and gifts! My birthday was awesome and it's weird to think I'm 19 now.
I'll talk to you all soon! Love you!

Elder G

Sent from my iPad

These are just a few scenery pics I think you'll like. I'm the families next professional photographer.

Guess which one is ours? It's not hard.

Ipad selfie

a birthday to remember

I opened Granny Goose's present first. It consisted of tons of candy and chocolate.
She knows my weakness.

That Plan of Salvation thing is really freaking cool! 

It'll help teaching families with kids and stuff.

I knew you would find the Payson temple thingy.
Thanks momma!

The context with this picture. My companion hates BYU because everyone loves them.
So I had to rub it in a little bit. The cheesy smile says it all.

The aftermath of said birthday presents.

Weekly Email # 9 - My conference experience

Merry Conference, everyone! I hope you all were able to get some spiritual insight from this weekend, I know I definitely did! Being a missionary, you look forward to these experiences because they help you be better and it helps when you are actually awake and not dreaming about dinner (cough *cough me last conference cough cough). I want to share a couple of insights I got.

First off, I want to salute President Monson. Through his trouble of getting and holding on to the podium, he did it confidently and proudly, and most importantly, with his great big smile that we all have come to know and love. President Daines, my mission president, had some interesting thoughts on this topic. 

     "Watching President Monson struggle to deliver his message and being helped to his seat I was reminded of the account of Moses, when he needed sustaining help from some of his brethren.

“But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put itunder him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

(Exodus 17:12)

I also thought that if President Monson can give all his strength to this work, what is stopping me?  What is stopping you?  Are we giving our all?  President Monson has devoted his life for over 50 years as an Apostle, can we not sustain our effort for these few short months that we have been called to serve?"

He really puts it into perspective.

I want to know what your favorite talk was. I'm thinking mine will fit the popular opinion, but Elder Hollands talk really resonated with me. Elder Holland has been my favorite apostle for a while now and it seems like every sermon he gives has personal significance in my life.

Going along with his talk, every mother deserves her moment in the spotlight, especially my mom. She put up with a lot of my nonsense and I love her to death because of it. Elder Holland really made me look at myself and inspired me to be a better son to my mom. She's been in my corner cheering me on and pushed me to be the best missionary and best child of God I can be. I can't wait to give her the best hug when I come back from Columbus, but for now, I'm gonna make her proud by giving the best service I could ever give.

Let me know how your conference went! I'm grateful that we have the blessing of listening to our beloved apostles and prophet twice a year. I'm already counting down the days to next April. You all have a wonderful week!

Elder G

Sent from my iPad