March 4th Letter from Elder Garry, here are some highlights:

Hey guys! This week has actually gone by pretty fast! I am so glad to hear from you and read so many emails!

Mom are you going to send the pictures I wanted off the computer? I forgot to say last week I am so glad Dad lended me his tags because they had a crappy one for me they hand wrote it.  Everyone can tell the ones I am wearing are old school its pretty funny.

Do I get a spanish preach my gospel in the MTC? Or do I need one before? I think they might give me it there.

I also forgot last week to tell you I placed my first book of Mormon to some dude at the bus stop who claims he is "3 months sober" from meth. He was a bit freaky but the Zone leader said to do it because he was interested.

Anyways this week we have been working with alot of less active members.  We dont have any batismal dates or new invesigators, it kind of sucks.  We played Hockey last PDay and everyone was asking why I was so good haha, I guess because I am canadian. It was super fun though.  We also went down to the border "boonie tracting" I took some pictures there.  The road is litteraly on the boarder and there is a fence in the trees.  Every house there has huge dogs.  There is alot of acreages in my area as well as houses and appartments so its nice to get a mix when tracting.

When we plan each night sometimes we get way off topic for a while and it turns into a nerf gun war or bugging elder Hawkinson, I guess becasue we are in a tri.  But we are still working hard.

Today so far has been cool, we got to move a bunch of ply wood into the celesial room at the temple! They are fixing the ceiling or something.  We are going to play hockey after this too, should be sick.  It has been raining all week untill yesterday and today.  it is so nice today, clear skies and sunny.  You could see Mt. Baker in the US.  It feels like summer.  Its green and we aren't wearing suit jackets.  I cant wait for that in California!

I was suppose to go to out with the spanish Elders on splits yestersday but they got sick.  I think it would be a bit scary, I dont know any spanish!

The members have been so good to us, we have been fed every night and I havent had one bad meal or a meal I didn't like.  I have forced myself to like salad.  In the mornings I have egos, bacon, pancakes or egg mcmuffins.  Lunch we have chicken nuggests or burgers or burritos.  The members give us so much food. 

My spelling probably sucks in this letter but it is because I am typing so fast.  This hour goes so fast.  I still need to email my mission president.

My testimony is growing alot.  I am so grateful  for my knowledge of the plan of salvation.  And this week  I am becoming so much more greatful for the Atonement.  It's crazy I am going to do this in spanish soon!

This week I probably could improve on practicing spanish more and making less fun of my companion Elder Hawkinson.  He is 24 its crazy. He graduated in 2007 but I still feel like he is my age.

I work out each morning with Elder Hawkinson and skip rope because we do not want to get fat.  There is too many missionaries I have seen that are fat. Anyways I am looking forward to the package Mom!

I like email but I think it is also nice to get hand written letters sometimes.  That way I can write more too!

Love you guys! Talk to you next week!

The Visa has Arrived!

We found out yesterday that Josh's visa has arrived.  Travel arrangements have been made and he's heading to the MTC in Provo on Apr 3.  I know he is hoping to run into Spencer before he's shipped out.

We also received a postcard - the one he was supposed to send the day he arrived.  Photo below.  He mentions on the back, having been in the Vancouver area for a whole week, that Vancouver looks nothing like the picture.  "It rains all the time here. . ."

His "P-day" is Monday and he usually has about an hour to read our email messages and respond.  Not a lot of time it seems.  He's rushed trying to reply to everyone.  I think written letters and snail mail have some advantage here.

Anyway, it sounds like he's enjoying himself.  He placed his first Book of Mormon while street contacting.  He gave it to a guy who said he was 3 weeks clean (off meth) . . . You never know.

Email from Josh

We received our first official email from Josh Feb 25, 2013.  Excerpts below:

Hey guys! I am so glad you all wrote me I loved reading all of them I miss all of you!!

 

I read over the stories Grandma and Mam gave me, they're so awesome. My seat on the plane was weird it had no seat in front of mine so I wasn't tempted to watch TV because I couldnt. 

 

So I land in Vancouver and I walk out and two AP's pick me up (assistants to president) and thats when I went to the mission home and met the Tilleman's.  They are super nice and he is such an outgoing guy, loving what he is doing. They gave me a packet of stuff like candy and a card that I havent got the chance to send you yet.  I will today. So right after that we drove down the street, the assisants and I , and I said are we home? And they lauged and said no we're tracting.  So I knocked on my first door that night!! So that night I stayed with them and studied with them in the morning. We woke up at 6 and played basketball with the chinese elders, it was actually pretty sweet.

I met my new compaions in Langely! Brookswood specifially. I walked in and the elders were like can you give Elder Hawkinson a blessing and I was like uhhh i've never done that before and they were like come on. So I did, It was kind of crazy but he feels better now!

 

My companions are Elder Henery from Ventura California and Elder Hawkinson from Provo of course. They have both been out for a while but they're super nice and sweet.   We live in a basement suite. Its actually pretty nice.  I got a bed, the other elder likes the couch so I am good with it.  I got lots of closet space.  We share a washer and dryer with the owners and we have tons of food! The members are super good here.

 

Its sweet here you dont have to wear a suit that much just a white shirt and rain coat because it is always raining and cloudy.  Seriously, and a bit depressing.  I heard about the skatepark, I havent seen it yet. But it sucks because the field next to our place has a giant dirt jump course with like drops and jumps, gaps and features its super sick. I'll try and get a picture by it. I havent even taken any, I was going to send you one but the computer I am using sucks, I am at the local library.

 

Mission life is actually going really well though I have taught Less actives and members all the dinner appointments are really good.  Ive already met alot of people and missioanrys because of exchanges.  Almost all of them are from the states.  Studies in the morning are actually good and go by so fast, I am loving it my testimony is growing so much already.  Everyday is better and gets faster and faster.  First couple of days were really slow but it doesn't feel really weird still.

 

I haven't met anyone with similar hobbies  which kind of sucks, but i will.  Sunday was a bit weird I don't think I have said the word visa so many times, I have to explain it to everyone. I did meet people who know the colemans and beltrans through!! I think sis colemans brother in law maybe, small world. 

 

I wonder how Spencers doing and if I will see him.  I might get transfered in a week and a half but who knows.  I am curious about my visa too. It feels weird to be called Elder and call everyone elder and you always have to be by each other I, not use to it haha. Im sure spence will love it ahah. I get to go on the copmputer every monday for an hour so I guess its good.  Dad you did a good job on the blog!  My companions and I are going to play Hockey today with other elders in the gym so it should be sweet> Oh the temple is by me! I need to take some pictures by it.

 

I also went street contacting which was a bit scary, you just have to talk to everyone, Ive met some odd balls by the bus stop.  Wow I have alot to say I wish I could talk to you on the phone or more time but this is still good. I miss you guys alot I try not to think about it, the Church is true!! Hopefully this week isn't as weird.

Love Josh!

 

Ps. Ill write some letters!