July 28 Email!

Kinfolk,

Everything is going great here. Elder Kunz and I are getting a long great. haha he is a really funny guy, and we have a lot of fun together. I think I told you last time that he was a vegetarian. I was pretty nervous because of that people would feed us no meat, and so I would just become a vegetarian too. Thankfully, that's not the case. Instead, people make him a vegetarian meal... and still make a giant carnivorous meal, but now they expect me to eat all of it by myself. I'm now eating meals intended for 2 large missionaries.

Hahaha ya'll probably think I am just going pounds left and right. I wish. I've only gained like 10 pounds since I started my mission, and it's pure muscle... so don't worry.

This week was intensely busy. District Meeting, exchange with one of the AP's, 4 baptismal interviews, stewardship's, and one giant Pioneer Day party.

The baptismal interviews were so incredible! They were each so different, but at the same time pretty similar. They all had totally different stories and backgrounds. Each of them had a different trials, and questions. Even though they were so different, they all had one thing in common: they all now believed in Jesus Christ. They believed in His Church, and believed that it was restored through Joseph Smith, the prophet. 

There were two brothers who I interviewed, both teenagers. They were born and grew up in China. They found out about the church, and studied all about it while they were there. They knew it was true, but were too scared to be baptized in China. Miraculously, they moved to Austin. The boys looked up the nearest church building and three weeks later were meeting with me.

It was so powerful to hear these Chinese teenagers testify in their broken English about Jesus Christ, and how they know it is all true. When I asked the oldest brother about Joseph Smith he said something similar to, "It is because God loves us. We really are His children, and he is showing us by calling a prophet in our lifetime"

It will never cease to amaze me how people can be so different, live absolutely unique lives, seemingly have nothing in common. But there is always one thing that links us together; Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is true. Jesus is the Christ, and Joseph is His prophet. These are true whether you are in Utah, or China. Whether you speak English or Mandarin. As long as you have some faith, you can know it. And as long as you have some intelligence, you can always know it.

Bitter-Sweet Experience:

We had a person we were teaching a few months ago. We stopped teaching them and told them to call us if they wanted us to come back.. well, they hadn't called. Every once in a while I would see their name, or be by their house, but I never went by because I knew they weren't really interested right then.

Well, yesterday I felt like we should just go by anyways. So, we did.

We showed up and she was just looking like a mess, and she started to tell us how her husband left her and the family a few days ago. She has really been dealing with a lot, and is very overwhelmed. She told us how she had been praying a lot, and then started to cry and said, " I knew you guys would come..... I knew you guys would come"

We were able to talk with her and help her, but most importantly we were just able to show up and help her realize that God cares about her, and is listening to her prayers.

I love feeling that God used me, to answer someones prayer. It's one of the greatest things you could ever feel.

Well... I could go on and on, but I should probably stop this E-mail so I can go catch a fish and go golfing. I love you all and pray for you. There's a few people I am pretty sure don't even read my E-mails that I pray for frequently. 

Thank you for everyone who has been sending me letters! Lisa Castleberry has been awesome with writing me and sending me stuff! So, shout-out to Lisa Lou.

All my family and friends, thank you for the examples you have been and are to me. I love YA'LL

ALSO: This Sunday is transfer calls again. So, there will be news this next P-day for ya'll!

Stay cool

-Elder Giles

(pictures: a sweet little girl who wants to be a missionary, so I let her wear my badge

& me standing in front of a sweet Dinosaur thing I found...)