February 2, 2015

Loved ones,

This has been a week that has changed my life.

Many incredible things happened this week, but I will focus on the most prominent 

Elder Russell M. Nelson, of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited our mission this week.

The entire mission met together at a Stake Center in northern San Antonio, there we sat in reverence waiting for the Apostle to come in. As President Slaughter and his wife walked in, they were followed by Elder Nelson and two members of the Seventy (Elder Foster and Elder Wright). As they entered the entire mission arose, and the Spirit FILLED the room. Tears came to my eyes as I personally saw an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He ushered for all of us to be seated, and then wished to shake everyone's hands.

As missionary's went up, one by one, he would read their name tag and call them by name.

When I approached that Apostle, shook his hand, and heard him say my name.. I could feel the power of God in him. His entire body radiated light and love. 

There are billions of people on earth right now, there are 15,082,028 members of the Church, and only Twelve apostles. One of them was with me a couple of days ago. So incredible!

Elder Nelson is 90 years old. It was so spectacular to see someone completely filled with the grace of God. He was energetic, healthy, extremely witty and by far the most intelligent person in that entire building. Many 90 year-old people are losing memory, losing strength and losing knowledge. However, Elder Nelson was quoting and citing scriptures from all the Standard Works. He knows many languages (which he used to further explain definitions and answer questions).

Above all, however, is the authority that he holds. A true apostle of Jesus Christ.

He said many things that were so powerful, tears came to my eyes. He said one thing in specific, that has already changed my life and will be something that will continue to shape the choices I make. 

As a full-time missionary I have already had the greatest privilege to shake hands and exchange words with Two of the Lord's Apostles, Elder Bednar a year ago and Elder Nelson on Saturday. Both experiences have left a very profound mark on me.

These are the days! These are the days when there are LIVING prophets and apostles that walk the earth! 

If this work is not true, then they are just good men. But if this work is true, they hold the very same authority that Peter, James, John and other help anciently. They communicate with God, and direct His Kingdom on the earth today. They were and are chosen by God, and given His authority to speak in His name and do any and all things He demands.

I thank God, that I have that knowledge and am not ignorant of the most important thing on earth. 

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We were also very humbled just yesterday. As everyone was watching the Super Bowl, and enjoying that time with their families, Elder Nebeker and I were talking of Super Bowl memories and reminiscing while we were on our way to visit a family. Many people didn't answer the door, or have time for us because of the game. We planned to visit a family who fairly recently moved from Sri Lanka. Their names are ridiculously long, so we just call him "Chris". They let us right in. Their ability to speak English is still improving, but they can understand fairly well. Their apartment looked vacant; all we could see were their two little children, and a couch. They are living on food stamps. It looked as if their children didn't have any toys, all we had on us where pass-along cards, so we gave them to the children and they loved them.

I asked if they could read English, and would like a Book of Mormon in English, the mother nodded her head. I grabbed it out of my bag and handed it to her. She grabbed the book and hugged it against her chest.

We asked what they needed, or wanted (so the ward came help out, the Bishop wanted us to find out) and they just mentioned a few small things, all of which were for their children.

On our way out, we had a prayer and Chris said it. He started out "Dear Heavenly Father," and then spoke in his native language. I obviously didn't understand anything he said, but I know that God was listening and understood Chris perfectly. That was a powerful moment.

While the rest of the nation was enjoying the Super Bowl commercials and pounding down guacamole, this young family had no TV, or food. Their children had no toys. The only furniture they had was a couch. But they were so happy to see the missionaries, to get another Book of Mormon and to say a prayer.

I am grateful for the experiences that a loving Heavenly Father is giving me to learn and improve.

I love each of you, and pray that you will be safe this week!

Love,

Elder Giles

January 26, 2015

Loved Ones,

SO many changes. If this wasn't the work of the Lord, I would be way too stressed out hahaha, I will get to those in a minute.

Goodbye Round Rock:

Oh, Round Rock was so much fun! I was only there for 2 transfers, but we had two amazing baptisms and there are two more getting baptized next week! The work was really picking up in that area, and I was so glad to see that. I had some really great experiences there, but it's left in good hands. The missionary who replaced me was Elder Condie haha my 2nd companion in the mission and one of my best friends.

It was fun saying goodbye to all of the great friends I have made in Round Rock, and taking some pictures.

I'll send a picture of the Cuevas family, which is a family that we are teaching. I will also send a picture of me and the Elders I was living with in Round Rock, we were all such good friends!!

Companion # 9:

My companion's name is Elder Nebeker. He is from Arizona. We got "doubled in" which means that we are both brand new to the area. We have only been together for a few days now (like 3), but we have gotten along so great! haha we are already super good friends.

It's been a little stressful, with all the new changes, but we have been having so much fun together! And we both LOVE it here.

From Riches to Rags: 

In the last 6 transfers, I have had 6 companions and 4 areas.... that's quite a bit of change haha.

My last two areas were both pretty wealthy and higher class. They were classy neighborhoods, and few or no slummy areas. Which has been fun, but isn't necessarily my style......

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN.... I am now in the "North Zone" of San Antonio city. We cover the southern most part of the North Zone, or in other words, Downtown.

The named of the ward is 'Castle Hills'

The area is HUGE, it covers such a large chunk of San Antonio city, there are thousands of people in just our area.

I love everything about this area. OH MAN, I love the feel of the city and now it's my area!!! A few nights ago, we were stopping by and introducing ourselves to some people the previous missionaries were teaching and we were literally in the downtown. The skyscrapers and huge building were right behind me. I didn't take any pictures, but I will this week!!

*****************************************

NEW ADDRESS Y'ALL:

1700 Jackson-Keller Road #3302,

San Antonio, Texas, 78213

******************************************

There is so much to say, but I don't know what... haha we've kind been running around like chickens with our heads cut off...

I know the Lord is with us, and helping us and protecting us.

**HOWEVER, feel free to send letters and packages with goodies inside this week :) **

Next week's E-mail will be a lot better than this. Let me just say that I know The Lord knows me perfectly, and that has been shown to me over and over again on my mission. I love doing His work, and having His spirit with me. I have a sure faith in Christ and his prophets. This is the Lord's Church, and it's where I will always be

Love, Elder Giles

January 19, 2015

Kinfolk,

**DO NOT SEND ANYTHING TO MY ROUND ROCK ADDRESS**

I'm getting transferred, again. My last day in this apartment will be Wednesday, so if you send anything after today I probably won't get it. I'll give y'all my new address next week :)

I'm getting "doubled-in" again haha which means that my new companion and I will be go the the area at the same time, neither of us will know anything about the area or the people haha that's the same thing that happened when I went to Hill Country Zone. So, that will be fun!!

This will already by my 3rd zone as a Zone Leader, that's crazy to think about! I love it though.

I will definitely miss the Round Rock zone and Elder Loveridge. Elder Loveridge and I were only companions for 6 weeks, which is a bummer because we got along so great and are really good friends. He is such a fantastic missionary though,and he will do great in Round Rock and with all the investigators who we have right now. He has only been on his mission for about the same time as me, so we will be able to hang out a lot when we go home. He just lives in Ogden area. It's going to be sad to leave him.

This area has been a really important area to me. I have grown an incredible amount in the 3 months that I spent here. I will always remember the miracle, and faith building experiences I had with Malik Abdul, and the great friendship that we have formed. He was such a miraculous story. I will always thank the Lord that I was able to be a part of it.

Hunter Henson's was another incredible story from this area. His family has been through a lot, and he has wanted to be baptized for a while now. The divorce just happened to be finalized while I was here. So, we were able to teach him and baptize him. I confirmed Hunter a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and gave him the Gift of the Holy Ghost. His family is incredible, and his future it so promising. I love the Henson family, and plan on keeping in contact with them for the rest of my life.

The Walsh Ranch ward has been filled with exemplary, faithful, covenant-keeping members of the Lord's Church. I have learned a lot from serving them and loving them. I am always amazed at how the Lord can send me to any seemingly random place, and there I will meet people who will have such an impact on me that it will change the rest of my life.

The Chisholm Trail ward has some of the most Christ-like people I have ever met. The faith of the the young single adults has absolutely strengthened mine. I have listened to them, and learned from them. I have made friendships that will last for years, and experiences that will last forever.

I have sad to leave Round Rock behind, but genuinely STOKED for what awaits!!

As I read and re-read the Book of Mormon, my faith becomes unshaken. Intellectually, there is no way that book came from man. Spiritually, it has changed my very nature and all my desires.

I love the Lord, and all of you!

-Elder Giles

January 12, 2015

Family and Kinfolk,

The Book of Mormon was truly written by God's children who lived in the ancient America's. God loved them, and they knew who He was. They had the gospel of Christ, and prophets to show them the correct path. When Jesus Christ had fulfilled His Father's will, and successfully accomplished the Atonement, he visited these people. "And it came the pass that the Lord spake unto them saying: Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet...and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of surety...that it was he..." (3 Nephi 11:13-15)

The Book of Mormon is evidence that Jesus truly is the Christ and the Savior of the whole earth.

I thought I would start off with my testimony today, switch it up a little bit.

 Now, this is important, 100% of the time we don't understand all that God does. It may appear to some that he doesn't always "protect His children", but that is because we are "children" and don't understand. If one remains faithful throughout their life, no matter what comes their way, they will look back and see the hand of God protecting, leading, and carrying them to protection.

Conference and Exchange:

This past Tuesday, we had a conference with the Round Rock, Round Rock East, and Austin Zones. President Slaughter talked to us a lot about faith, and having faith in the Lord promises. I love how President teaches, because it is never things that only apply to the mission, it always applies to life after the mission as well. I always feel so inspired after speaking with him, he's such a great Mission President!

After the Conference, I went on another Exchange with Elder Thorn. I went on an exchange with Elder Thorn a few months ago, and we were so excited to be able to go on another one. He came out with Elder Loveridge and I both, so we were in a trio for the day.

It was a very inspiring exchange, we talked to many people and it was great to see how natural Elder Thorn was with talking and teaching others. Elder Loveridge and I both learned a lot. 

I spent my first night in Texas with Elder Thorn, and now he goes home next week. Sure going to miss him

The Recent-Convert:

We had a great lesson with Hunter Henson this week. It was incredible to go over and see how much he was glowing. We were talking about the Holy Ghost with him, and he told us how he has felt a difference since he got baptized. He said that he hears the small voice a lot more now, and he always wants to do nice things. It was very great to hear him say that. It's amazing to be able to see the change that happens in people's lives when they get baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Hunter Henson is so great!

Teaching:

Elder Loveridge and I had many opportunities to teach some very great people this week.

At one lesson we had, there were two college kids there named Michael and Callie , who we were not expecting. As we started teaching about prayer and the Holy Ghost, you could see Callie's eyes light up. At a few different times, it appeared that she was holding back tears. So I turned to her and asked her what's been sticking out to her. She explained how through prayer we can know truth, and that she really wants to have more truth in her life. She started crying and the Spirit just filled the room instantly. It was so powerful. Everyone there could feel it.

It's amazing to be able to be a part of the Holy Ghost teaching someone.

We also had a great first lesson with a YSA named Richard. He reached out to us saying that he really wants a Church with people his own age, who still worship. Well... he found us. We had a lesson with him at the Church on Saturday night. We taught him the Restoration in the Chapel, everything was making sense to him and he was really interested in more. He came to Church the next day and seemed to really enjoy it! We are teaching him again this Wednesday!

 

Please pray for Malik, Richard, and Ozzy

I love y'all so much!

Love, Elder Giles

January 5, 2015

Kinfolk,

~HAPPY 2015~

I hope y'all had a great New Year's Eve! 

Y'all went on a snow covered trail in 12 degree weather? That's nuts. I can't even imagine that. It's probably like 55 degrees today and I amfreezing!  That does sound like a lot of fun though. We are so lucky to live right next to the mountains, and we can just go hiking whenever we would like. That's really nice.

Friday Fun-Day:

Remember those long road trips I take frequently to San Antonio. WELL, this past Friday we had to meet at the Temple at 7:30 am.... it's over a 2 hour drive.....

We woke up dangerously early to shower, and get prepared, and then we made it to the Temple on time. All the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders were able to do a session together with President Slaughter and his wife. 

It was so amazing. The peace and Spirit that we feel in the Temple is so unparalleled to anything else on this earth. It was amazing to look around and see all my best friends, these amazing missionaries, all there with me. It felt so good!

Usually, missionaries only go through with President right before they go home. It was very rare that we are able to go as well. I realized that the next time I was in there with President would be in 8 months, my last day in the mission.

I saw how much I have grown, and how much more I want to become in the next 8 months.

We then met at a Stake Center to have a huge lunch, and then have our Mission Leadership Council. It was a great meeting, and a lot was accomplished. 

Unfortunately, that is also where I said goodbye to Elder Nichols. He was flying home the next day, and was going to spend the night in San Antonio. It was so much fun to be his companion, I learned a lot from him. He's going to continue to be such a good example to others in Utah.

Hunter Henson's Baptism:

Hunter Henson is such a fantastic kid! He was finally baptized this Saturday at 2pm. 

SOO many people showed up to support him and his family! It was insane!! Everyone kept talking about how they have never seen so many people at a baptism before hahaha it was so good! The baptismal service was very powerful. Afterwards, there was a big get-together and a lot of people brought snack foods. So much of it was eaten, and whatever wasn't eaten was given to us ahahah (that's the other picture I sent)

Hunter also asked for me to confirm him and give him the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I was very humbled and grateful that he asked me to do that. It is always so powerful and such a spiritual experience every time I give someone a blessing. I always feel so much joy afterwards, and that is so much more true when giving someone the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It was a great experience, and I'm glad that I was abel to do that for him.

Hunter Henson is now officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!!!

I love you all so much! I am so proud of each of you and the testimonies that you have. You are very inspiring to me!

**Please keep in your prayers this week Malik Abdul, and Ozzy Gastineau**

Love-Elder Giles

December 29, 2014

Kinfolk,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

I was showered and so blessed with many gifts and letters this season! I want to give a great big thank you to everyone who sent me something or wished me a Merry Christmas! From new watches and sweaters, to spam singles..I got it all. Thank y'all!

So it's finally snowing in Utah, huh? I'm glad to hear that. I's weird for me to now see pictures of snow haha it seems like such a weird thing to me. Texas has changed me a lot. I'm used to the heat and humidity now, I get cold if it's around 80 degrees....I don't know if i'm going to make it in Utah haha. 

Exchange:

I went on an exchange with Elder Henderson and Elder Montgomery this week. (Elder Montgomery and I had lived together in my first apartment, so we have already been friends for a while). Elder Henderson is from Nevada and we also have known each other for a few months and get a long extremely well..

The first part of the day, we were doing service for a family that lived in their area. The family was trying to break up there rock patio in the backyard, so they could replace it with a wood patio. We spent some time trying to break up the rocks and toss them in a big pile haha it was a lot of fun! The man then took us to Jack In The Box for lunch (boo-yah!)

Dinner that night made us an endless supply of Texas shaped waffles, and had us eat as many as we could. I came in second place with 6 1/2, and somehow Elder Henderson ate 10 1/2 waffles!! It was very impressive.

When we didn't have rides places, we walked around because their car is in the shop. We had some great lessons, and were able to teach their investigator named Brian, who is getting baptized on Thursday (New Year's Day). Brian is so awesome! He found the missionaries because he wanted to get closer to God, and now he is getting baptized!

Christmas Day:

To start off Christmas day, our whole zone met together at the Church (with all of their presents) and we opened our presents together. We went around 1 at a time and did that until all the presents were opened. It was so much fun to be there with a group of missionaries, and celebrate Christmas together.

We ate a lot of food that day. We had huge meals at the Vaupel's, Henson's, and Woodward's homes.

On Christmas day, we spent as much time as we could finding and teaching. We were able to have a great lesson with an investigator family, the Ramos'. We also met many new people who invites us back another time. It was definitely a much more productive Christmas than last year.

Christmas on the mission is certainly much different than Christmas back home. I feel like this Christmas will be on the ones I remember the longest. It was the most spiritual one I had, and even though I wasn't home I still felt everyone's love from all the letters and packages I have received. I can say that this has been my favorite Christmas so far.

Hunter Henson:

Hunter Henson is 11 years old. His mother is a member of the Church, and his father is very much against the Church. The parents have just recently finalized a long divorce. Hunter has been wanting to be baptized for so long! Now that the divorce is finalized he can be baptized, and he will be baptized this Saturday, the 3rd.

Hunter is such a good, intelligent kid. He is one of the sweetest people and has such a pure heart. He is also really funny and witty, haha Hunter and I have become good friends. The whole ward is super excited for him to be baptized!

Please keep Hunter in your prayers this week.

News:

This is Elder Nichols last week. He is flying home to Utah on Saturday (the day of the baptism). He is such a fantastic missionary, and I learned a lot from him. He will continue to make an impact back home in Fruit Heights. Tell him "hi" for me at his homecoming.

That means that Elder Loveridge and I will be in just a regular companionship now (just the two of us). Elder Loveridge, is such a spiritual power-house, he's a great companion.

My testimony is that the Grand Creator of the universe loves us with an incomprehensible Fatherly love, because He is our Father. That love was best shown by Him sending His Son. His Son is the Christ. He is the Great I Am, Jehovah, The God Of Israel and the only way back to the Father.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite. There is nothing that it can not cover. The deepest root of a person can be completely changed by the Atonement. That is where Agency comes into action. Agency isn't having the ability to do whatever you want, it's how much you want the Atonement to affect you.

The gospel is undeniably true. It draws any honest thinker to their knees, and any competent thinker to consider. The Holy Ghost convinces all who sincerely ask.

I love y'all, have a Happy New Year!

Love, Elder Giles

December 22, 2014

Merry Christmas, y'all!

I want to start off by thanking everyone who has sent me Christmas letters or packages, all my family and friends and the Grove Creek 10th ward as well. It's been a lot of fun receiving a letter in the mail each day for the "12 days of Christmas". Even this morning, we got a knock at the door and it was "Cami", my mom's cousin, who lives in the area. She came by with her family and gave me a huge Round Rock donut! haha it was so nice!  It has been such a great Christmas time so far! With all the gifts we have been receiving, and we even got a Christmas tree for our apartment from a family in the ward. hahaha even without any snow, Texas sure has the Christmas spirit.... (I have a picture I will send of a sign that says "Merry Tex-mas y'all"....

SKYPE: We aren't exactly sure what time I will Skype y'all. It will be in the early afternoon though. I'll call early that day and tell you, so we can get it all figured out. I'm really excited to see all of your pretty faces again haha I can't believe it was so long ago that I Skype-d with y'all last. It feels like it was just a few weeks ago. It will be fun :)

Christmas Conference: On December 17th, we had our Mission-wide Christmas Conference, it's the only annual time that the whole mission meets together. It was so much fun! I was able to see missionaries that I haven't seen for a long time. I also took a picture with the missionaries that I came to Texas with. They are all doing so good!

In addition to taking a lot of pictures. President Slaughter talked to us a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ... oh man, he blew all of our minds.

They also do a Talent Show every Christmas Conference. Elder Shorts, Hilario, Tovar, and I were in a Mariachi band! hahaha we each made our own matching Mariachi jackets and played separate instruments. Mine was the maraca's. It was so much fun haha besides Elder Shorts, the two other Elders are both native from Mexico and they were singing in very strong accents haha I'll also send a picture of our outfits.

At Christmas Conference, they feed us the best barbecue ever! It was so much food!

On the way home we stopped at Gourdough's, in Austin. It is a burger restaurant, but instead of buns..... they use donuts.... hahahaah it was soooo good!

January 3rd: We have been teaching an 11 year-old named Hunter that really wants to be baptized. His mom is a great person, and is a member of the church, his dad is not. His parents have been going through a very long divorce for a long time now, and the father wouldn't let Hunter get baptized. As soon as the divorce as final, the mom would have full custody, so the dad was just try to prolong it as long as he can. Well, just recently the divorce was made completely final, and Hunter is so excited to get baptized! 

He will be getting baptized on January 3rd. He already has a very strong testimony, and for an eleven year-old he has a phenomenal understanding of the gospel. It was such a miracle that he is able to be baptized, and he is just so excited! Please continue to keep him in y'alls prayers and pray that everything will roll on smoothly towards his baptism.

My boy, Malik: Malik is still doing fantastic! He has such a strong testimony. He recently moved out of his friends house, and back with his mother, he told us yesterday that he knows he is supposed to share the gospel with her and the rest of his family. So cool!

He also taught the Sunday School class yesterday,and he did an incredible job! We are all so proud of Malik, he is just an incredible saint. There is a lot going on in his life right now though, so please keep him in y'alls prayers. He told me to tell you (my family) thank you for all the prayers on his behalf.

Christmas Gift:

Everyone loves to give presents around Christmas time. It's a great way to show that you care and love someone. Many people try to remember the true meaning of Christmas, and often think about what they can give Christ. That is a great question to ponder... however, He has already given us the answer. "And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offering shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit..." (3 Nephi 9:19-20)

If we really want to give some to Christ "...offer your whole souls as an offering unto him..." (Omni 1:26)

Obviously, offering our "whole souls", might seem like a big commitment, but the more we give to Christ the more we want to give.

Weekly Assignment: Spread Christmas cheer.

I love you all, more than I can explain in words. I wish that you all have a very happy, merry Christmas. Everything is going well with me, I am happy and the Lord is watching over me.

Talk to you soon :)

Love, Elder Giles