April 28 Email!

Family,

The weather here is great. Bright and sunny. Yesterday it was in the 90's and it was in the 80's before that. Today is going to be another "hot" day, not a cloud in the sky!

I say, "hot", because I think I have become a true Texan. Yesterday as we were out, everyone was saying out hot it was and they were all like covered in sweat.. it didn't even feel hot to me. haha. Utah is going to destroy me when I get back, i'm going to freeze to death.

YES, I did get the Easter package! Thank you very much! I loved the Magic Cookie Bars.. or whatever they are called. We had so much candy though, it was ridiculous. Everyone here just gave us like bags of candy. So, we decided to dump most of it in a big basket and set it on our downstairs neighbors doorstep. haha they are a young couple just a little older than me, they are really cool, and loved the candy!

(not really sure why I told you that.... but there you go)

The week was great though!

It's summer in Texas, and it's feeling good. We did a lot of teaching this week, and we were really busy!

Charlie Sardo is getting baptized on May 9th, I'm so happy about that! The Sardo's are the best

This area is really getting busy, it's a super exciting time. Hopefully I stay here for a while longer. On Mother's Day, when we talk next, is also the day we found if we are staying for at least another 6 weeks or not.

We did a lot of walking this week, because we are running low on miles. You only have a certain amount of miles you are supposed to drive a month, which is kinda lame for us because our area is like the size of Utah.

It was fun though, we were able to met and talk with A LOT of people.

The week was great, and the days keep flying by!

Keep on doing good, and have a safe week!

I love you

Love, Elder Giles

April 21 Email!

Family,

Mom, I am doing great. I am *honestly* the happiest I have ever been. The only sad thoughts I ever think are, "rats. I can't do this forever. Only 16 more months :(  "  (today is my 1/3 mark. 8 months!!)

That's good it's almost spring there. It's already Utah's summer here in Texas. The humidity either hasn't kicked in yet, or isn't as bad up here as it is in San Antonio,  but it's not that bad yet. The heat is coming though, that's for sure.

SO, this week was more fun than you can shake a stick at!

There was some sort of carnival thing in Marble Falls this week. It was huge!! There were so many people there, it was ridiculous. So, we went.

We walked around and were talking to people and meeting people, it was just a good a time. Then, people just started coming up to us. At one point, a group of 7 people came up to us and asked, "What do you guys believe in?" haha that's an excellent question! So, we started teaching them right there, slowly other people started listening and walking over. I felt like I was an like some old-time missionary on a soapbox just preaching to a group of people. At the end of the lesson, someone asked, "If you could just like sum up what you believe, what would you say?". I said the first thing that came to my mind, "That Jesus Christ is our Savior, and He lives!".

It was so fun! Afterwards, I went around and shook everyone's hands and got their names, and my companion was handing them cards with out number on it! 

So many awesome experiences, I can't begin to explain a fraction of them. 

I want to say this: I am always sad when I see people who fall away from the truth they once cherished. Because none of them are as happy as they can be. Our true potential is only found in The Gospel, and that means the potential of our happiness as well. Whenever I share what I am thankful, it almost always is my family, you guys. It is so amazing that every person in my family is an active member of The Church! We can see how it has blessed us, I have never found another family in the world that is as close as we are. Now, the reason I am saying all of this is... I promise each of you that if any of you ever leave or begin to leave The Church, I will fight tooth and nail, from Heaven to Hell, to help you stay. And I hope you can all give me that same promise in return.

That being said, Easter was the bomb. Oh man, it was so fun! Church was great too because it was packed, people just come out of the woodwork on Easter... now if only they can come the other 51 weeks of the year...

We went to a family's house and had a Easter dinner and message with them, the Cowart's (the same one's that found out about my rapping career and know always play my raps whenever I am there) haha. It was a really fun week!

Ya'll are looking great in those pictures!

I really do love you all so much, and pray for you every night!

Love, Elder Giles

April 14 Email!

Family,

YOU'RE KIDDING. It's still cold and snow there? It was in the 80's this week. I was sweating, and got way tan. haha I love Texas, being cold is for losers.

Ya'll probably coulda guessed, another great week! We had more lessons this week then ever before, and we got a lot of new people to come to church!

One of them is Charlie sr.. So, we found a 'Sister Sardo' who, we later found out, has been inactive since she was 14. She remembered having great memories of Church though. We taught her and her son, Charlie jr., two brief lessons about the Church, before we were ever able to teach them with the Dad, because he is super busy. Well this week, we finally got the whole family together. When we began the lesson, I offered Charlie a Book Of Mormon to read and follow along when we share scriptures. He said, "no thanks, i'm not going to take that, I really won't read that.". I replied, "You can give it back at the end of the lesson, if you'd like". He cautiously accepted.

Well, it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever been a part of. Everyone felt it. Charlie not only kept the Book Of Mormon, he did most of the reading, and he was the one who wanted to come to church and bring his whole family! Sure enough, they were there Sunday morning!

I had nothing to do with it, neither did Elder Christensen. We can't pull The Spirit out of our pockets, throw it at him and convert him. We just tried to invite The Spirit into the lesson. It came, and did all of the teaching.

AWESOME!

It seems like everyday, I have an experience that I will never forget.

It's sad to think I have already been put 1/3 of my mission! It is going by too fast!

I love Texas, I love this Work, I love ya'll, and I love my Savior and Heavenly Father.

I have everything I will ever need.

I took a picture of this at a member's house, I thought it was funny. haha

But, it's true. I try to thank God everyday that I am at, where I am at.

I love you all!

Love, Elder Giles

April 7 Email!

Family,

Conference was the bomb! It was weird watching it in the small chapel here in Marble Falls, on a static-y TV because it is so close to my house and I have been there many times. It was awesome though.

 

Conference was incredible! We watched all the sessions at the Church Building, besides Saturday Afternoon at our Bishop's house and Sunday Afternoon at another member's house.

 

One of my favorite talks was given by our Prophet in the Priesthood session. He was speaking on courage, and what courage really is. One of my favorite quotes was, "courage has few witnesses". Courage to do what's right, is what we have all lacked at some point in our lives. Russell M. Nelson quoted him earlier in the day by saying, "All men have their fears, but those who face their fears with faith have courage as well". Everyone has fears, whether we are trying to work on them, or even acknowledge them, they are there. When we face our fears with faith, meaning that believing we can overcome, that we can triumph over any obstacle with God, we will have courage. Remember that real tests of courage are inner tests.

 

Let us all have the courage to become more. To smile at more people, to uplift the arms of the downtrodden, to be examples for others. "You might forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may remember them for a lifetime".

Let's have the courage to make everyone's day a little brighter.

I promise that as you do, you will find greater happiness, greater belonging and greater self-worth in yourself.

M. Russell Ballard, gave every person an invitation to get their own copy of Preach My Gospel. They are free.

That's my invitation to you as well.

I love you all! 

-Elder Giles

 

March 31 Email!

Family,

TRANSFERS:

I will be starting my 5th transfer this week, which means that I will hit my 9 month mark this transfer. Un-be-lievable.

 

I am staying in Marble Falls and Elder Christensen will be here with me! I am super stoked about that, we have been getting a lot great. Really, he is a super chill kid and he actually laughs at the jokes I make throughout the day (unlike everyone else I have ever met). We have been meeting a lot of new people and trying our best. We have another person who is getting baptized in April now, his name is Charlie. Super cool.

 

We had another really inspirational week! We were able to do a lot of service for people and we had some really meaningful lessons. I've been so excited for General Conference all week though! Get yo popcorn ready!!

 

I remember maybe just a few short years ago when it was General Conference. The family would usually all roll downstairs and most of us would have our blankets and pillows wrapped around us. This specific Conference I went a little further. I remember trying to squeeze my mattress around the corner of the stairwell, so I could be more "comfortable" while "listening" to the talks. Everyone just thought it was stupid. I still think it was funny, really, i'm laughing as I write this. The reason I bring that up is because I have gained such a respect and love for these Men of God. As I was able to meet Elder Bednar a few months ago, I truly knew that he was an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

 

Think of it! God lives! He still speaks to us today! He has again called a prophet! We have the chance to hear these men speak to us, and give us the council God would have them give us at this time. It's almost overwhelming, the people we read about in the scriptures would love to be able to read about our day. 

 

1-Prayerfully consider a question, 

2-Audibly utter it to God and write it down,
3-Let God know that you will *act* on the answer you receive,

4-Buckle up, because, God Speaks!

Love, Elder Giles