Elder Sawyer Garrity

He's Coming Home

2011-11-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

No e-mail from Sawyer today. I'm sure he's at the mission home getting ready to fly out in the morning. He arrives at PDX Tuesday at 7:10 pm.

2011-10-31T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess this is it. I am officially in the last week of my
mission. It feels weird. I didn't think this week would come, not that
it is here, I cant believe its true. I am
glad to hear you have been preparing everything for me to move back
in. I don't know if I will be taking up a lot of space.
Yesterday was like the 4th Stake Conference I went to in Villa Mella,
almost that whole stake knows me I have spent like half of my mission
in that stake. Hmmm. Haha that is
a great costume idea to dress up like a safety cone. I think that rule
is so lame about holiday celebrations. Lets be real. I wish people
were a little different sometimes. Who would get offended by that? It
just makes me think of the law of Moses, and the letter of the law,
and the spirit of the law. There are always people who have to ruin
things for others. I don't have a lot to talk about. We have a few
families we are teaching. We will probably invite one of the couples
to get married this week, and the other or we will probably invite the
wife to get baptized. We will see how it goes. I guess I will be
seeing you soon. I am going to try and work hard up until its over.
oh and also. If you could I would love for you to set like as many
doctor and dentist appointments as you can, and as soon as you can.
Because I haven't seen a legit doctor or dentist for about 2 years,
and I am sure there is something that needs to be fixed.

2011-10-30T21:36:00.000-07:00

Soooo, am I going to fly on the plane also? I am guessing
see. . .because when you mentioned that I have to learn stick, I was
thinking I might have to drive down there. That's good the fam is
excited to see me. I am excited also. It has been so long. You always
get some pictures, but it's just not the same as seeing someone in
person. Why do you say that you and dad will seem old to me. Maybe you
will think I look old also. I am glad to hear that dad won't have any
cancer issues, that's a relief.
One thing I have learned in the mission is to have good communication.
There is definitely a right way to
be bold, criticizing, pointing fingers, taking away free agency,and
impressing is not the way Jesus Christ taught people to be bold.
Rather what you said, speaking clearly, frankly, openly with love, and
with the spirit. I am a little bummed to hear that Zach isn't going
to make it out on the mission. Satan won the battle that time.....but
I am sure he hasn't won the war, or maybe I don't know anything and
that's what God wanted. I got my Halloween package today, and one of
your letters from October 10th. Thanks for keeping me in touch with
everything, and taking care of me.

2011-10-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

Where to start. A lot of the stress I felt last week has gone away. I
was expecting to come into the area baptize, convert and be the next
Aaron or Amulek, but I wasn't able to convert every person I talked
to....I know reality hit me, then I calmed down. It didn't help that
my companion got sick, and we had to stay inside for 2 days this week!
I made sure to keep myself very busy so that I wouldn't think of home.
I am now midway through Jesus the Christ. Trying to go for number 3
before I finish. That was probably really annoying having to help
Claudia, she was probably super grateful, I guess that's part of the
whole carry each others burdens. I am sorry all of that happened in
the relief society. Sometimes I wonder about that. Why is it that when
we are trying to do our best, and do whats right, everything comes
crashing down on top of us. Why is it, that when we try to help
someone they get offended, etc. Sounds like Dad had a pretty intense
surgery. I know he just loves that how doctor IV, getting put to sleep
type of thing =p- What a great blessing that everything was taken care
of before it got worse. My companion keeps bugging me about the fact
that I have nothing planned for when I return home. I really cannot
think of any plans. I would be more then happy to go visit the family.
I know I probably wont see my friends until Thanksgiving break, but I
am fine kind of just settling in those first few days, and then taking
the weekend to go visit family. Things are going well. I still have a
lot to learn, and a lot to change before my mission is over.

2011-10-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

I am glad to hear that you have had success with the visits. Hopefully
the members have gained testimonies of the importance of visits, and
that some of the inactives/menos activos have come back to church. So
your putting up the Halloween decorations. Looks like I will be just
in time to miss the Halloween movies. That's pretty cool Keegan and
Martha bought their house. That's pretty exciting. I might be home in
time before they finish moving. Maybe I could help them a little.
Well, as for me. I am stuck in a groove I cant get out of. In the back
of my mind is the thought of home. Its not that I am trunky. It is
kind of weird. I couldn't figure out what was going on with me. Then it
came to me. My mind is slowly realizing that I will not be a
missionary anymore pretty soon. Instead of being excited to go back to
real life. I feel depressed that I have to leave mission life, and
figure out my real one. I feel completely lost. I really have no idea
what I want to do when I get back. I continue working, because that is
the only thing I know how to do, it's what I have trained myself to do.
I feel uncomfortable when I waste time, or if I am not preaching
diligently. I am going to try and set some goals, to see if that will
help me.

2011-10-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

Conference was really good. I enjoyed Elder Uchtdorf's talk on Saturday,
and also the talk of Elder Jeffery R Holland in the priesthood
session.
I can't believe you know how to Skype. You seem to be keeping yourself pretty
updated with technology. I like being back in Villa Mella. I practically know all of
the member's faces. I know so many people from the Stake. It's also
nice seeing some of my converts who are still active. I am kind of
training. I thought I was going to have a brand new missionary, but I
got a missionary in his second transfer. Apparently with the new
training program introduced by the church I am still training him
until the end of the transfer. Training now goes on for 2 transfers,
and we leave an hour later to work, because we have to study an hour
extra. My companion is Elder Young he is and I quote"a descedent of
Brigham Young and his 23rd wife". He is from Washington, he likes
tennis, he will be a good companion to end the mission with. I can
still read English, but actually at the stake center they
had conference both in English and in Spanish,and Sunday session I
preferred watching it in Spanish, it felt more natural. Anyways,
everything is good. I got my suit today. I am looking forward to
trying it on and what not.

2011-09-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Alright a busy week, how great! I am glad the Lord is keeping you busy
with your calling. I think you're right about the world wide lack of
enthusiasm to do visiting teaching. I have a feeling we will be
hearing a lot about that in General Conference next week. I like your idea of making a list
of all the things that have changed since I have been on the mission.
It will be interesting to see everything that has changed, and what
has stayed the same. The other month granny wrote me about some road
work that was done by her house. I remember when Keegan came home, and
he didn't recognize a few things because they had changed, like the
new Arbor Ridge neighborhoods.
his has been my hardest transfer without a doubt, not because of the
people, or the members, simply my companion who was holding me back
from reaching my potential. I only have 2 years out here, and I felt
like he was wasting 6 weeks of it for me. Even through all the trials
and clashing we were able to prepare someone for baptism, and find
someone else who is going to get baptized next month. Well, now I won't
have to deal with it anymore. I got the transfer call early from
President Hernandez, he called to tell me I will be finishing my
mission in Villa Mella. I am really excited for that. Villa
Mella has grown on me, and I will be back in the Zone for the 3rd
time. I am really excited to just leave it all on the field. I can't
believe I will be starting my last transfer tomorrow. I am really
excited for conference next week. It will give me the motivation and
revelation I need to be able to give it my very best. Nothing is
that new with me. I am just trying to get everything
in order, and trying to do whats right. I
think I will try and read Jesus The Christ one last time before I
leave the mission. We will see what happens. My suit is in the
process of getting made starting today.

2011-09-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hmm interesting that Hayes mentioned me in a letter to
Granny. Granny has been such a great writer. She writes me all the
time. I am sending her my last letter this week.
I am glad to hear you continue praying for me more
then once a day. Haha I know that those prayers are reaching heaven,
because I feel like I have been receiving some divine help here as I
carry some burdens on my shoulders. The service project that you did
sounds pretty cool. This weekend we did a service also. We went to the
cleaning of the coast. We got to clean up the garbage from the beach.
I was surprised at how much trash was laying on the beach. I am really proud of
you and dad for setting a goal
like that to read the Book of Mormon every night together. What an
excellent goal. If only every couple in the church set goals like
that. I cant believe I made it to the last week of
the transfer. This has definitely been a trial transfer.

2011-09-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

I am realized here in the mission, that even though people have testimonies, and
^understand^ the doctrine,they don't know how to act with the knowledge
that they have. Or in better words, their actions don't follow their
beliefs. Many are called few are chosen.
Things are getting better. We are definitely progressing, we are
far from where I want to be, but we are slowly getting there. I
figured out that complaining does nothing haha. Do I need anything?
YES. I am glad you asked. Since my shoes are pretty trashed I would
like you to send me the black pair of shoes I left at home. Also I
would like it if you could send me a kit of Crest white-strips,
powerbars, and whiting gum. I want to come back looking pretty you
know ;)

love,

2011-09-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

I am glad to hear that the baby blessing was a spiritual experience,
what a great opportunity to be able to give a baby divine blessings.
Thank you for getting me all of the information I needed. I appreciate
it, now the office can get my flight plans arranged....weird. I
hope you really take advantage of the time you have to spend with the
family. It has been sooo long since I have been around you all. It
will be weird to see the twins. Of course Dad wanted to go the Golden
Corral, that place is amazing I love those home made rolls. I still
remember that dinner at the church, it doesn't seem like it that was
that long ago. I finished Jesus the Christ this week. As I was
reading in my personal study a thought
came to me to do a semester of my generals at PCC when I get home when
ever the semester starts in like January or w/e. I can't believe how
many people I talked to this week in my area who either come and go to
the U.S. or are in the process of getting a visa to move to the U.S.
the people here believe there is no life in the DR and feel they need
to go to other countries like U.S., Canada, Spain, and Switzerland.
Well, that's all I have for this week.

2011-08-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

Where do I start.....Well, why a transfer I am not sure. I am no
longer zone leader. I am back to district leader. My companion is very
very very difficult. He is the first disobedient companion I have ever
had on the mission. I came to the area with so many desires to just
leave it all on the field my last two transfers, but with my companion
I feel like I have a weight tied to me pulling me in the other
direction. He is Dominican and he is like 26. He reminds me of an
Italian mobster. He just has the thug type of attitude. Wants to
settle everything physically instead of verbally. I just don't let
anything get too serious. I feel kind of sad that he is kind of holding
me back with out realizing it. It has been a frustrating week.
Especially because a lot of the members are on his side for
disobedience...As far as the area, its one of the most dangerous parts
in Santo Domingo. Its where all the thugs and delinquents hang out.
There was an issue between some thugs, and an American missionary like
2 or more years ago. It got pretty serious so they closed down the
area. When they re-opened it they didn't allow American missionaries
in the area until last transfer. I haven't really seen the difference
between the area and other ones as far as violence and delinquency.
The ward isn't to bad though. They give us references and we have a
good bishop who was in the West Mission with Corey Mooney. I do enjoy
being in the city. There are street roads everywhere, and things are a
little more modern. Its definitely is different in that aspect
compared to my other areas. I have met a lot more people that lived in
other countries like U.S., Spain, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, etc. The
city is nice also because all of the p-day stuff is close to the city,
and all the stuff I need to buy before I come back to the states is
here in the city. We suffered a little of the effects of the hurricane
that came by. It has been really windy and cloudy the past few days.
It hasn't been hot at all this August. There was a little rain here in
the city, but nothing out of the normal. The effects of the hurricane
were seen and felt, but there was no damage or anything serious. I got
the popcorn factory package...I gave my comp the jelly beans in there,
and we found out that one of the ingredients in the jelly beans was
coffee...thanks for trying to make us break the word of wisdom =p. I
didn't write you until today because we went to the temple today. It
was nice to go. I love going to the temple, even though we only get to
go like every 4-6 months. There is just a lot of trials ahead of me
in this transfer. I am frustrated, but I know God has me where I am
for a reason, and I will grow in some way out of it.

love,

Elder Garrity

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

We did not receive and e-mail from Sawyer yesterday. He is on the southern coast of the Dominican which is the opposite end of the country from where Irene hit. We are positive that they asked the missionaries to stay inside. It is also likely that the electricity, which is not that great anyway,is out.

2011-08-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

I kind of had a boring week. The most surprising thing that happened was yesterday, when we
got the transfer call, and what I least expected happened. I am
leaving my area, and will be headed for the capital. I have a Dominican Companion.

Sawyer has been transferred to Capatillo. Check it out on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LafCAUEo5MU

2011-08-08T09:02:00.001-07:00

Yea...that tropical storm kind of hit us. Our mission President
overreacted, and was making all of these big preparations to protect
us, but all it was,was bunch of rain for like 5 days straight. There
wasn't a lot of wind or anything. So we just got really wet, and it
was cold all week...that's about it.
As for me and my week. Not much has been changing. Elder Anderson and
I are always thinking of ways to do things better, and be more
successful and wise with our time. The other week we did a few cool
services. One we used a pick to knock down dirt from a cliff side, and
shoveled the dirt we picked into a wheel barrel, and dumped it on a
street that needed more dirt. It needed to be raised and packed a
little, so that the rain wouldn't come of the street and filter into
the houses near by. That was a pretty physical service. It was kind of
annoying because there were a few young men that came by and starting
watching us as if we were animals in the zoo, and starting making
comments, but I just let it go. You just feel good when you do
service. The people we did the service for were very surprised, and
very grateful. I think we left an impact on them. Also we did another
service for a member whose house is falling apart. House here are made
out of cinder block. So we spent the whole morning moving 30lb cinder
blocks to a site where they could fix the house more easily. That was
hard work. I enjoyed it though. We got some pictures of it. there are
a lot of pictures I have taken in the mission that you haven't seen.
Oh by the way. I got the camera thank you! Life is going good.

2011-08-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

Wow, it seems that there is always something to do as Relief Society
President. That's good you have plenty of calling to magnify. Thanks
for doing all of that stuff for the camera. Maybe I will get the
camera this week if it was in Florida on Friday. Haha Steve,, of
course it wasn't hard saying good bye to Hayes, my guess is it will
settle in here pretty quick. He will start missing him more and more
like a cancer. I am looking forward to receiving the first letter from
Hayes as a missionary. Thank you for praying for me everyday. It is
true what you say. In Preach My Gospel there is an
attributes of Christ activity like a self evaluation that I did, and I
am working on developing the attributes I am struggling in. I am not
perfect, but I am trying to be. It is true what you say about what
other people think isn't important. That is what makes the relationship
that we have with Heavenly Father so great only he and I understand
the situation completely.

How was my week? Well, I don't have a lot to say this week. It has
been super hot in the morning everyday, and then the rain comes
pouring down in the evening. Our zone hasn't been doing so hot, and
Elder Anderson and I have been going soft on them. So we picked up the
intensity this week, and we are hoping to help the missionaries a
little more by pushing them. We met a cool man and his wife. His name
is Felix and he is like 60 years old. All but one of his kids live in
the U.S. he just lives alone with his wife. Anyways he went to church
last week, and read in a pamphlet about the Restoration, and he
believed it, and no he is really excited to learn more. Elder Anderson
and I have been experimenting a little more with food. After so much
time in the mission we kind have gotten bored of the same stuff. Rice
beans, cereal, top Ramon, etc. So we will see what we can invent.
Other then that things are pretty normal. I am trying to overcome
weaknesses day by day, trying to work out, trying to find people who
are ready, preach and teach and love like missionaries do.

2011-07-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

FORE I FORGET TO WRITE IT, THE CAMERA STOPPED WORKING AND I NEED
ANOTHER ONE ASAP. Kess finally wrote me an e-mail I am pretty happy
about that. He seems to be doing good, and seems to be enjoying
college. I feel pretty bad I have neglected everyone and their birthdays.
I forget about everything out here, birthdays, 4th of July, Easter, fathers day, etc. Its too
easy. The only reason I kind of remembered pioneer day is because in
church they announces a fireside that included a short video about the
pioneers or something like that. Of course they announced the time an
hour later then when it really started. So no one really saw
anything...haha....the church here still has a few organization
problems they could clean up. Alright I cant wait to get the first
e-mail from Hayes in the MTC. It should be a good one. We had
a good week. We did a few companionship exchanges, and got to share
with a missionary from Hawaii. He was pretty cool. Lived in a way
Mormon populated area right next to BYU Hawaii. More than that we are
in the process of dropping all of the investigators who aren't
progressing, and helping two families get married, and baptized. We
will see what happens. I know you already do this, but pray for the
best in my missionary efforts.

2011-07-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

Wow, that's `pretty cool that you got to go to Vegas and everything
was free. That doesn't surprise me that dad got elected by his peers,
he seems to get a long with everyone pretty well. So your habits
include chillin' at the pool, catching sun, and reading books, that
sounds like quite the life. Haha, I am sure it would be a huge culture shock-
Vegas to the DR. I am going to have a hard enough time just adjusting
to regular life in the U.S: let alone a vacation in Las Vegas.
I still get a sunburn occasionally. I probably should take
care of my skin better. I am pretty red now after being in the sun
everyday for 20 months. I probably get sun burnt every 2-3 months. The
sun and weather is very different here. A very different hot, and a
very different sunny. Yea, the lightening here is awesome it always sets
off car alarms. There isn't a lot going on this week. We have been
receiving a ton of references from members so we are in the process of
finding them, teaching them, and filtering out those who are ready to
accept the gospel. Elder Anderson and I get a long very well. We have
had the same type of mission so far. We are trying to do everything we
can to help people accept the gospel here. I am in the process of
reading Jesus the Christ for the 2nd time. I also have been reviewing
the conference talks from April. The leaders of the church always give
such great and inspired counsels. The bishop of our ward asked us to
help a family out. The husband is a return missionary that got
excommunicated, but is in the process of repentance. I am learning a
lot from the visits we have with them. Life is good. Everyone I talk
to who has known me for a long time say I look really thin. Oh well.

2011-07-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

Mom wrote me, and it sounds like you guys had a lot of fun in
Utah. I have a feeling that Keegan's kids will be big by the time I get
back. They won't even recognize me. That's good that Oregon has been
having a little bit of sun. Hopefully dinner at Grannies house was
good. I sure miss her orange rolls. So the new situation. So I am in a
zone about half the size of my other zones that I have had in the
mission. Its really nice because everyone knows each other, and its
easier to be on top of the zone. I am with Elder Anderson, we were
roommates in Provo. Its really funny being companions, because it is
possible that we finish the mission together here in this area. So
this house is probably the 2nd best house I have had in the mission.
It always has water, and the water pressure in the house is pretty
strong. It is in a spot well protected, and the rain doesn't have any
affect on the house. It would be a great spot to finish the mission
at. We go to the stake center, our ward is the first ward of the
stake, a very old ward. Our area is big and there are a lot of
members. We have already received a lot of help from the members, and
we have a good return missionary bishop. Our ward mission leader came
off the mission 5 months ago. Just everything is setup to go well. I
didn't have to do anything at church, the ward is big enough that I
don't have to worry about anything. The one and only Temple is near
the border of the West mission. Its about 1 hour away from our area.
Thanks for writing me, and I hope you can enjoy your week, even though
you wont be with the kids.

2011-07-03T23:34:00.000-07:00

Everything is going well. President Antivilo finishes his mission as
president tomorrow, and President Hernandez is coming from Puerto
Rico. Pressure got to me, but now I don't really care. I got stressed
out, because I was trying my hardest and instead of progressing the
zone was getting worse. So I just have to be satisfied with the work I
put in, and not worry about the things I can't control. We got the
transfer call last night. I will be moving to Los Restauradores I will
probably finish there. I am pretty excited because I will be with one
of my roommates from the MTC, we became pretty good friends there.
Since we are from the same group, we might finish the mission together
in the same area. In church we had our ward conference. The theme
of the conference was family standards. There were some pretty sad
talks, in the first 3 talks 2 scriptures were quoted. Then when it was
the Stake Presidents turn to talk he shared a bunch of scriptures and
gave a really good talk. It is really funny because our ward worked
super hard this week to bring people to church, less-actives,
investigators, etc. As I saw the hard work that the put forth for the
Ward conference, I thought to myself why cant they act like this every
week? Why do they have to wait until the stake president comes, or an
event like ward conference to magnify their callings and work hard,
Why cant they just do that every week like they should. I kind of
already know the answer....I just don't want to accept it.
Granddad always sends me great letters, and he helps
me out a lot with his motivation, and the stuff he sends. Tell him not
to worry, and that he is helping me a bunch. I will look forward to
the box you are sending me. I will probably get it in a week or two. I
can read, write, and talk Spanish as if it was English. If I had to
write an essay in Spanish I could. That farthest area in the mission
is Higue. At the very end of the Country. You get there using a Bus,
and it takes aout 6 hours to get there from the mission office. It
takes that long to get there because there aren't a lot of developed
streets out there so the buses have to drive pretty slow. My favorite
meal last week was a pineapple milkshake with rice, beans, and meat.

2011-07-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

Ok I couldn't really think of anything to write to you about last
week. So this week I wrote down all the different things that have
happened the past 2 weeks.

So our mission president gave us a challenge to read the book of
Mormon is a specific way, and I just finished reading it. One of the
things he wanted us to do was mark every time there is a reference to Jesus Christ.
I am in the process of counting up all the times it refers to him.
I am in Mosiah and I have counted about 2000 times it has mentioned
his name.

There is a blind member here in my area, Right now we are teaching her
grandsons, and while we were in her house waiting for someone one day
she taught us a little bit about how to read Braile. So it was cool to
see her read braile and teach us a little.

A lot of times when we contact someone in the street, I am at the
point were my accent is good enough that it doesn't sound American,
but it isn't good enough to sound Dominican. Plus my color doesn't
help. So a lot of people ask me if I am from Spain, France, Russia,
and Puerto Rico.

The other day we were teaching a pretty poor family, and as I was
sitting in a chair teaching 2 random chickens entered the house and
jumped on my lap. hint: There are a lot of chickens that just roam
around in the street that belong to people. People here usually kill
and eat the chicken on the same day.

I met a 117 year old lady the other day. She was in a wheelchair, and
her daughter was taking her for a walk.

We have an investigator named Jose who has a lot of asthma problems.
Something interesting is that honey helps calm asthma. So in his
backyard he has his mini bee orchard. He makes homemade boxes that
trap the bees, and make them produce the honey. He explained the whole
process he knows a lot about bees. It was interesting to see him work
with the bees, and hear him explain the things he had to do.

2011-06-13T22:52:00.000-07:00

It feels weird being the last 4th of the mission. I don't want
to go home. Mission life just seems so much better. Well, the rain stopped, and we have had extreme heat this week. I had a companion exchange this week with a missionary that was in the
CCM (MTC of the DR) with me. He is from El Salvador, and it was cool
talking to him to compare life in the U.S. to life in El Salvador, to
life in the D.R. Having a set schedule everyday is good for me, but sometimes I feel
like I am going to go crazy. There isn't a lot going on this week. We are pretty low on
investigators so we will be spending a lot of time in the sun going
door to door finding people to teach. We have a few people that we are
preparing for baptism at the end of the month. We will see if they
want it bad enough, and if they will keep the commitments. My last
p-day we didn't do a lot. My companion and I spent the day cleaning
the house and doing laundry, we had denied cleaning for a few weeks,
and it got bad. So we took advantage of p.day especially because there
was power, and we washed clothes and made the house nice and clean. We
bought our groceries, and just hung out. We have been pretty worn out
lately. Well, that's all I have for now. Thanks for writing me, enjoy your week.

2011-05-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

Wow so the new baby is coming in 5 weeks, the next transfer ends and
President Antivilo finishes his mission .
Ahhhhh dont tell me about the Nike outlet store. I
miss shopping with you there just as much as you do. Although I don't
think I will be wearing as many basketball shorts and stuff like that
after the mission like I was before. That's a bargain $10.00 Nike shoes.
You can get those here but they are fake and fall apart fast. Wow
that is crazy about the tornadoes. It is really true - I have seen a
lot of prophecies of the scriptures being fulfilled in these past 2
years. As far as my week went, it was good. We only had one investigator in
church, but we met a lot more people this week and set a few more
baptismal dates with people. It is just a matter of getting them to
church, they really convert themselves there. All of the investigators
we have right now are single men that live alone. They are kind of
poor and are about 40-60 years old. Although there is a reference we
received, a young man that is 20-21. He is pretty cool. It is just a
matter of convincing him that the gospel offers more then the worldly
and teenage stuff. Yea my comp is good. He works really hard, and he
knows how to work with the people since he is from here. Sometimes he
gets carried away talking a lot, but he is a really good companion and
he is trying to do his best. He talked to his mom on Sunday because
that is mothers day here. It was funny to listen to his conversation.
It was very similar to ours, even with his parents not being members.
HE was really excited because his Dad said he would start to read The
Book of Mormon and he has a cousin that lives in his house that is
going to get baptized. I am pretty excited for the new mission
president. Even though President Antivilo has done a great job and I
really have enjoyed his counsels, service, work, and just his example
in general. Everyone tells me that I am almost going home, but I don't
believe it, there is still a lot of time.

love,

2011-05-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

Things are pretty busy here. It is starting to get into that
season of really hot weather, then down pour thunderstorms. Also we
are in mating season for cats and dogs. Since there are a lot of wild
cats and dogs, you don't go a day without seeing that kind of stuff.
Sometimes you find two dogs stuck together and little kids are
throwing rocks at them...pleasant right? Any ways, everything is going
well. We just finished another transfer. Elder Gutierrez and I are
staying the same, but there are a lot of changes in the zone. This
transfer will be shortened by a week. President is going home in the
last week of June. Pretty crazy.
I am doing really well. Things are going well here. At church we
talked about the church of Jesus Christ in the old times. We have
church from 9-12, and at 10 the Branch president called me into his
office, and asked if I could give a talk. We have sacrament meeting
last. So I prepared a quick 10-12 minute talk about Abinadi, and the
importance of sharing the truth with out fear, and with courage. I
wonder what the army would be doing in the DR. The DR army is kind of
weak. I talk to a bunch of people that belong to the military. I am
not impressed. Yes we have adult missionaries. They aren't to hard to
deal with. We just changed the office senior missionaries. They deal
more with the assistants, and the elders in charge of finance, and
housing. It would be a good couples mission I think. It is very hot
here, but majority of the time the couples are in an air conditioned
house, or building. You should think about it.

2011-05-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

2 good things that happened. 1.
Isabel and her son Jenardo, a reference from a member, passed their
baptismal interviews, went to church, and are going to get baptized
this Saturday. So that will save me from a 2nd transfer with no
baptisms, plus we get to see someone enjoy the blessings of the
gospel. 2. between 2 things I did an intercambio companion exchange
and got to talk to another elder from Georgia, Elder Yates. We share a
lot of common experiences in the mission, and a lot ideas about what
will happen after its over. Also we got another reference from a
member. The reference is a mom and her 6 kids. from 21 years old to
11. So we are excited to work with them this week. A lot lot lot lot
of work to do this week. This whole transfer has been like the week
you had this week.

2011-04-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

I am glad you still count all of your blessings. It
truly is a blessing to have a car to drive, and a job.
Speaking of getting a horse in shape to sell, about
the whole horse thing, I want to get an everything check up right
after the mission. Doctor, dentist, eye, etc. I have a feeling I'll
have carried some friends home with me in my stomach, or blood or
something when the mission ends. Well, as far as the packages goes, I
might have an Easter just fulllll of love, and get the 2 packages at
the same time. Candy sounds really good. I don't know what the church
welfare program is. I am pretty sure there isn't welfare in the
DR, because if there was everyone would
be on it. I do know that usually the bishop deals locally with the
fast offering to fit the needs of people within the ward boundaries,
be it a member, or no. In La Caleta the bishop gave a few people part
of the fast offering funds to help them pay for an operation, I don't
remember of what type. There is a bishops storehouse, but there is
only one in the whole country, and it is located by the temple. Our
branch did a service activity there last week. My bishop was telling
me about what all was there. Sounds like a pretty normal bishops
storehouse. So we have transfers this week, and I am heading back to
Las Americas, except this time I will be a zone leader, instead of a
district leader. Once again I am about 10-15 minutes away from my old
area. It will be weird. I might see Ivalisse again. That would be
cool. Have you guys kept in touch? Anyways, love you, thanks for that
you do.

2011-04-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Thankfully I got to listen to conference in English. I only watched
the Sunday session. I have really grown to love general conference
here in the mission. Even though a lot of stuff didn't have to do with
missionary work. Like you mentioned, marriage, parenting, and stuff
like that, but I still got a lot out of it. I put some goals for some
habits I would like to establish both in the mission and after. I
really enjoyed the talk about being and not just doing. I saw that
theme about getting married quick also. I am looking forward to
reading the Saturday session in a month. Oh you guys had the typical
Oregon weather, rain, sun, rain, sun. It rained on us last night from
about 7-10. Conference got out at about 6. It was nice, it had been
about a month. Wow, you still have scrapbooking to do. I think that
might be an never ending job, unless you out live your kids. I am
happy you enjoyed Kessler's presence for the weekend. I am sorry I have
been writing little lame e-mails. I just don't know what to talk about
anymore. I am probably really boring. Sorry I will try to look for more
things to write about in the future. We are entering the last week of
the transfer. I don't think I will be staying in La Javilla, and I hope
I don't. We will see what happens.

2011-03-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

That is great you guys go to baptisms. That makes me really happy. The
missionaries really appreciate those types of members. That is a
pretty cool story. I haven't had any baptisms like that. Everyone
of the people I have taught have been new to the gospel. Ok, so the
town I am in is called La Javilla. It is kind of like the ghetto of
Villa Mella. Just thrown off in the side in a little entry way. I
couldn't tell you the population because it is so disorganized, but I
would say around 10 thousand people. The living conditions are as
follows. . . People either live in a house made of cinder block(the more
rich people), or in houses of wood or sheet metal(poor people) The
wood or sheet metal houses are about as big as the hallway, kitchen
and the living room in the house we grew up in. Sometimes a little
bigger and sometimes a little smaller. Then the floors are just like
glazed cement like a garage floor. Tin roofs, power that comes on off
and on during the day, a lot of people have to store their water in
big barrels like the ones we have in our food storage. They use that
to clean, shower, and stuff like that. Then trucks come by with clean
drinking water that you buy from the big blue bottles you see in
offices. They are usually around 4 or 5 kids in a family. Sometimes up
to 12 sometimes down to 1 or 2. Everyone eats rice beans and chicken
just about everyday. Lunch is the biggest meal, and sometimes the only
meal for people. A decent paying full time job that someone can get
will pay you about 700 dollars a month. I am about 45 minutes out from
Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo is so much nicer then Villa Mella. The
farther you get out from the capital, the less education and paved
roads you see. People wear Nikes, but they are usually fake. Well, I
know they are fakes. No one can really afford the real ones, but they
still are happy sporting the fake ones. It is hard to explain how
people dress. Basically everyone wears jeans. The women a lot of time,
wear practically nothing. Super tight jeans, and a tube top, or tank
top, or shirt. Guys wears jeans and a t-shirt, or wife beater. A real
treat in the DR would be pizza, Mcdonalds, and some nice ice cream
place like Baskin Robins. Yes, people are mean to me everyday, but
there are also a lot of nice people too. It just all depends. I get to
teach about 6 lessons a day. Almost everyone invites you in. Thanks
for giving the sports updates. Sounds like March has been crazy or mad
just like it says. Thanks for writing me, and asking the questions.

2011-03-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

I hope that the trip went well, and that it was nice seeing the kids.
That is great the Keegan and Nolan have that hobbie to share, and that
they are good at it. Nolan seems like he would be an aggressive
skater. Wow, you surprised me when you said its good to be home.
I am sorry you are getting rained on.
We haven't had rain in so long. The only thing that has been raining
on me is my own sweat. Keegan, Martha, Amber and Nolan seem to be
pretty busy people. Wow, I cant believe the twins already are getting
tricycles. They seem to be growing up really fast. It seems like the
U.S. is in the same situation as the DR. The prices are rising for
everything. I don't understand why. That's too bad gas is so
expensive. I might have to avoid cars when I come back. So spring
break is only 1 week? That's too bad. Have you seen any of my friends
lately. I know you are kind of far away from that part of the town,
but I thought I'd ask. Well, time is flying, I am doing well.

2011-03-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Well, to finish the letter, a lot of funny things have happened over
the past two weeks. For example, we we were in this street contacting a
guy, and this random chubby lady came up to me and wanted a kiss.
Well, she didn't really ask she just came up to me and started to grab
me, so I just shoved her away, and all of the neighbors were laughing.
It was weird. My companion was cracking up. Also we are teaching this
guy, and his sister is a member. They remind me so much of Fran and
Grandad. They always get in these little arguments. HE always loves to
tell us about back in his day. or when he was a young man, just a
classic grandpa. He always buys us a soda and crackers every time we
come by and visit him. Oh also our branch president had the brilliant
idea to try out a new sacrament hymn that the members could learn. We
sing the same two Jesus Once of Humble Birth, and There is a Green Hill Far
Away, and we can't even get those perfectly.
It was the most painful experience of my
life. I would have been fine doing a solo, which basically it was.
Though, it turned out to be me trying to sing a solo, and everyone
else trying to throw me off key and make me laugh. Which, they
succeeded with both. I made it till the 3rd verse, then from behind
me, I hear a dying cow belting a note out= and I lost
it. I started laughing. Sooooo painful. There are always funny things
that go by, sometimes I just can't remember them. This week was
alright, we have been working pretty hard. It hasn't rained in so
long. So I inhale a lot of dust everyday from the street. Its hard to
keep my shoes clean. We have had a lot of people with baptismal dates
bail, but we always keep finding new people. This month has gone by
pretty fast. It is almost time for conference. I am excited for that.
This time we will have it in English, thank goodness.

2011-03-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

One stellar thing that happened this week......ummmmm.....A family we didn't think
was going to go to church this week, went last minute. Then the other
thing was that I did an intercambio with other elders and that was
fun. I finish the letter next time.
I heardall about Japan, that's too bad. A lot of stuff has happened while I
have been on the mission. I heard none of the missionaries in the area
of the destruction were hurt. Works fine, moms fine, weathers fine,
health is fine, cars are fine, house is fine, church is fine.
Something just doesn't add up. You guys don't have any problems going
on right now? Everything is good? Mom is a good Mom. Relief Society
president is a big responsibility. When are you going to have one of
those callings? I am fantastic. I will be very sad to leave this
lifestyle. I need to take advantage of every minute I have as a
missionary. So far I am failing a little. We had a good turn out to
church. More then 50. I am kind of bummed, our baptism moved to
another ward in Villa Mella, and he goes there now. We could have used
him,, we need more priesthood holders. Actually they gave me a break
this week, and the only thing I did was teach the New Testament class.
It is so hard to live Jesus's talk - the sermon on the mount. Why
is that? it bugs me. I wish I could just be that good of a person. I
am glad to hear all is going well. It sounds like you are being
blessed, I try and keep you and mom in my prayers.

2011-03-01T20:30:00.000-08:00

That's cool that it snowed. Once again I will say
it, Oregon weather is so random. Sounds like a semi exciting week.
Why did you decide to write more in letters and less in e-mail? My
backpack. I am glad you ask. That backpack was just too black, and too
big for a mission on a tropical island. So I still use it occasionally
when I have to carry a lot of stuff, but I actually got very lucky. I
got a generational backpack from my old district leader. I will have
to take a picture of it. The backpack is a camelback brand backpack. It
is green and it has about 3 years in the mission. So it has all kinds
of stains, rips, sewings, just a lot of history and heritage.
Nevertheless it works great, its comfortable, and I love it. I don't
think I am going to make a suit. I really have lost a desire to spend
any more money then I need to. I put on my other suit for the visit
from Elder Nelson. It fit great. So I am going to come home in that
one. Plus if I get a suit fitted to me. It wont fit me in like 3
months after the mission. Anyways, thanks for writing me, and asking
me questions.

2011-02-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

I am looking forward to the letters you are sending. I got your patriarchal
blessing. It was interesting. I saw some differences and some
similarities between yours and mine. As far as the Elder Nelson visit,
it was awesome. I felt the spirit pretty strong. He was accompanied by
Elder Coleman and Elder Anderson from the area presidency. Also Elder
Snow came from the Presidency of the quorum of the 70. It was a nice
experience. They talked a lot about premortal life, and the things we
promised to do here on earth while we were in premortal life. They
also talked about how blessed our families will be while we are on the
mission serving faithfully. To answer your questions from last week.

How do you get bathing water into your place?

So in front of the house there is a thing called a sesterna. It is
like a water well, just a big pool of water. Then at the top of the
house on the roof, there is something called a Tinaco. Located under
our house, there is a bomba, or in other words pump. When we have
power we turn the pump on, the pump pumps water up from the sesterna
to the Tinaco on the roof. When the Ticano has water, all the water
gets filtered through the pipes, and we have normal running water. The
problem is that the shower doesn't work very well. So we just use a
different faucet to fill a big bucket, and carry the bucket into the
shower, and use a smaller bottle to scoop the water out of the bucket,
and pour it on ourselves. Oh and the water that goes to the sesterna
just comes from the street and the local water sources like lakes,
rivers, etc.

Well thanks for writing me

love,

Elder Garrity

2011-02-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

Another fine week has gone by. It is funny that you ask what I did in
church. I had an extra special Sunday. I got to lead the music, give a
talk (about mission work of course), and I taught the Sunday school
class. Sometimes I , well basically always, I don't like to give talks
or teach the class. I like to sit in church and meditate. The 1st
counselor of the stake presidency came and gave a talk. He talked
about courage, and that the men in La Javilla aren't courageous enough.
The point of the talk was to inform our branch, that we don't have
enough Melchizedek Priesthood holders that are active and pay a full
tithe, and if it doesn't change La Javilla has to go back to Villa
Mella (another ward) and be together with them again. LA Javilla is
struggling. No matter where you go, there are always super strong
people in church. Actually there are a few. For example the relief
society president has been active for 11 years, and does what she can
to magnify her calling, has a lot of gospel knowledge. The branch
president also has a lot of years in the gospel. He reminds me of
Steve, and he is very direct. I feel bad for him, because he tries to
handle all of the young men who are always irreverent, and don't act
like priesthood holders, but I hold a lot of respect for him. Let's
see.....favorite food? Probably empanadas we haven't been able to eat
anything off the street since the cholera thing, but I love
empanadas. There are a few songs I like, the genre Salsa has grown on
me, and I like a few Salsa songs. I don't see a lot of volleyball
being played, but I know their Olympic team is good. The woman, they
have a very natural beauty, but just the living conditions, and just
culture stuff I have seen can be the biggest turn off in the world. My
shoes are good, socks are good. I kind of did a self inventory this
week. I don't have any needs. I have plenty of garments, shirts,
pants, shoes, ties, hygiene, food, money, etc. I am set for the rest
of my mission I am pretty sure. So don't worry about sending anything.
Hmmmm 50 bucks anything cool.....Not really basically anything around
that price or higher can be bought in the U.S. although they sell
hammocks for like 20 bucks. I might have to get one of those. Maybe a
super nice set of Dominoes, or a Dominoes table. I really like that
game now, Dominicans got me into Dominoes. Other then that, I am not a
big souvenir fan. Well, hopefully I answered your questions well.

2011-02-16T18:28:00.000-08:00

I appreciate you responding to my e-mails with letters. It frees up my
time on the internet a little more, and it makes me look forward to
letters a little more. Slowly people have stopped talking to me. I
have like 10 faithful e-mailers and letter writers.
As for me, all is well. I continue to learn about myself. I thought I
knew myself better then I did before the mission. The mission really
just breaks you down to your soul...then you see who you really are,
and what you want to be. I am satisfied, I am excited to continue on.
It scares me how fast the mission is going by, although it has slowed
down this transfer. There aren't Iguanas, but yes little geckos and
stuff, just like Prineville. I see an occasional rat smashed on the road,
that aren't as common in Villa Mella, and they are smaller too. There is
always room for cockroaches. I will finish answering your questions
the next time. Which will be Wednesday, because we are going to the
temple. Also Elder Nelson of the 12 is coming Saturday so I will
write all about that.

2011-01-31T20:31:00.000-08:00

I am sorry your not feeling too well. I haven't heard about you
getting sick that much since I have been on the mission. I bet it is a
bummer because your goal this year is about the Word of Wisdom, and
being sick doesn't help a lot. I hate getting sick on the mission, it
throws me off from my good habits, and my routine. Recently I started
working out better, but my bed kills my back, and I had to stop
because my back kept tightening up. We had a really hard week. All of
our investigators weren't at the appointments we set, every contact we
did were people that live in other parts of the country, hard core
members of other Church's, or people I had already talked to before
who I didn't recognize. I will have to start working in other parts of
our area now, which I don't want to do, because it is farther away
from the church. Although there is a bright beam of hope, a family
that we have been teaching since last transfer, there were going to
get married this Friday, but we found out the price of weddings went
up this year, so we have to wait until they have money. Which means
probably the 12th of February. I still think they will get baptized
before the transfer is over. I was thinking about the
Nielson twins, and I remembered that they had to be close to 2 years.
Blake also! Yikes Kessler will be excited about that. Oh to add to the
stress of the week, it also felt like summer. I don't know what is
going on, but it is hot hot hot. OH well, life is good. Its fine if
the package comes later, don't worry about it. I am not going anywhere
for awhile. I love you, feel better, thank you for everything you and
dad have done, and are doing.

2011-01-24T21:37:00.000-08:00

Thank you for answering my questions about the biggest loser, and
mormon.org. Dad and his snakes, I wonder why he likes them so much,
maybe because they are quiet like him. So about my companion. His name is Elder
Turner, he is from Highland, Utah, he is a red head, likes to run, and
he is the oldest in his family. He is quiet. He reminds me of my first 2
companions. Also we are in Villa Mella, and so his eyes are being a
little more opened then what it was like in Las Americas. To have a
greenie is tough. I have to initiate all the contacts. I feel kinda
stressed, because the area is kind of hard, I have to set the example
being the district leader, and I almost have to everything alone. I am
learning though, and I am doing what I can I feel good. Hmmm Package
ideas....well, I am pretty much sick of all candy from Christmas. So
stuff like yogurt Natural Valley bars, or peanut butter nature valley
bars, and stuff like that would be appreciated, maybe a pack of black
Nike socks, lower then what I usually get, like to mid ankle if they
have those kind, other then that just the pictures, and yep. Life's
good, we are looking to marry a couple this week. The dad and 2
daughters are on board for baptism, so we are trying to help the wife.
Thanks for the questions it makes it easier to write.

2011-01-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

Mom, that is great you went to a baptismal service, you don't know
what that means to the missionaries, and the new convert. That is kind
of disappointing you have to go so far to assist the church meetings.
I am sorry Kessler doesn't want to stick around in the house.
He didn't stay very long did he. Keep working hard on your weight loss
goals. Does the winner of the biggest loser get a prize? What do you
think of Mormon.org I have never gone there before. Lets see as more
me. Law of chastity slash marriage has been the theme for this week.
We had been teaching that lesson to a lot of people this week, and
also we had a stake conference thing. Elder Utchdorf and Elder Oaks
spoke via satellite and they both talked about the sacred bonds of
marriage, and warned against the dangers of pornography. It was cool
because I got to see everyone from Villa Mella in my first area.
Including a few of the people I helped get baptized. So that was a
treat. Oh, also transfers came, and I am staying here as district
leader. Elder Holt is leaving and I will be training again. I am
excited, because I have felt myself slipping, and I think training and
everything will help me out. Elder Holt was an awesome companion. We
got along easily, we talked about just about everything, he was a hard
worker, very selfless, obedient, I am have been really blessed with
the companions I have had. Well, other things hmm... I finished Jesus
the Christ about a month ago, and now I am refocusing in the Book of
Mormon. I am reading very fast for the first time. I just have a lot
of goals and habits that I want to establish in the mission that can
help me after the mission. Like diligent study, obedience, patience,
etc. A lot, anyway I will keep you updates, I don't know if I will be
training a native or an American, I want to train a Dominican, but we
will see.

2011-01-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

Lets see what to talk about this week. There is not a lot this week.
People here are funny about new years. A lottttt of drunk people,
dancing, a little bit of fire works, a lot of music that kept me up
until like 1:30, and gun shots at midnight. I celebrated the new year
making fun of the drunk people in the street with my companion. We
have a nice spy spot in our house. I have been eating to much candy
lately. Elder Holt and I get along to well. We will start studying
Spanish at lunch, and then one of us just ends up striking up a
conversation. We can talk about just about anything. I don't know if we
will go 2 transfers though. I cant believe there are only 2 weeks left
in the transfer. So as far as sleeping conditions in general. You have
to sleep in the same room as your companion. We sleep on twin size
beds, and in most houses the bed frames are to small for the mattress.
There is usually electricity at night so we usually have a fan at
night. Sleeping is usually pretty easy. I am usually pretty tired by
the end of the day. I am excited to receive the photos from you. I
haven't seen you or kess in soooo long. Nolan and Amber, and Keegan
and Martha have sent pictures fairly recently. News years BBQ sounds
pretty good. Wow and I thought like 60 degrees was cold. You guys are
sitting at 30. I have been really cold at night walking around and its
like around 60 degrees. Ok so as a district leader. First I should set
an example to the other missionaries how they should act and work.
Second I do the interviews for the people they are preparing to get
baptized. Third I give talks every week at district meeting what ever
subject President Antivilo decides. Then just other stuff includes
motivating the district, reporting numbers and goals from my district
to the zone leaders, making sure my district is working and not doing
anything stupid, doing companion exchanges with the other elders in my
district, and stuff like that. Some times I have to sacrifice personal
time, and stuff in my area to help another area. Its ok though, not a
big deal.

2010-12-20T11:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here. I will be looking forward to calling you
guys. I don't know what hour I will be calling. My guess is that I will
call you at like 11:15ish our time so 8 o´clock in the morning your
time. So be up more or less early. I have heard about the new church
manuals, and I am interested in reading them. I have a huge testimony
about Preach My Gospel, it is an inspired manual for missionaries.
That is awesome that the family will be together. Hopefully we will
get to speak to everyone via speakerphone. I dont have much to say because we will
be talking in a few days any ways.

Thanks for the sports updates. Man the Browns lost again, oh
well...Eagles sounded like an exciting game. When do NFL playoffs
start? Hayes told me he is one of the top scorers in his conference.
Yea the kids here get a break for Christmas just like in the US. They
have their big tests right before the break also. Everyone works a lot
in December though. People work so much here. I'd say the most common
jobs are mechanic, construction, bus, taxi, or motorcycle driver, and
personal business. Finding work is pretty hard in this country.
Everyone that isn't a boss gets treated pretty poorly, like work 6
days a week, early morning sometimes to late at night and little pay
checks. The majority of the people are poor. No matter where you go
almost all people are poor. I'd say there are the same amount of poor
and rich people as my other areas. There aren't a lot of mosquitoes
right now. I think it has maybe rained twice in the past month or so,
and they only show up when there is rain and water. So I haven't had a
problem. Also my blood is Dominican now, so they don't even bite me
that much. I still have a bath and shower head and all that, they just
don't work. So it is just like home, except you put a bucket in the tub
with you, instead of turning the shower head on. Right now because it
is winter it starts getting dark about 6:30, in the summer it is
closer to 7:30 and in the morning it is about 7:30.

This Week's E-mail

2010-12-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

To Mom:
Sorry about the email last week. I will be excited to see the U of O
Sports Illustrated. I got transferred. I am in LA JAvilla which is
in Villa Mella again ha. I don't see myself staying a long time here
though. OH nooo it rained a bunch in Oregon, good ol winter in Oregon.
Ya....I'm not really missing that. So I have a new comp. His name is
Elder Holt. He is from Utah. He reminds me of Kessler. I know a lot of
my comps have, but he likes to draw, and is just a good missionary. I
have been really blessed with obedient missionaries. I feel bad
but I haven't been writing anyone lately. My p-days
have been so busy lately. I have a feeling
Christmas will be pretty lame. I hear everyone just gets drunk and
there is music blasting during the night on Christmas eve. We didn't
get to watch the Christmas devotional because it started too late, but
the mission is doing something on the 21st. I am kinda excited for
that. Oh speaking of church conditions. I no longer have church in a
chapel. The fist time in my life. We meet in a two story house. Not
much more too say. I am anticipating opening packages, and talking to
you guys on Christmas. This should be an interesting transfer. The
mission is just going by really fast.

To Dad:
I am here in Villa Mella again. This time I am in a more poor area. It
is not as nice as the first time I was there. I finally don't have a
ward. It is a small branch probably like 30 active members more or
less. There is an active branch presidency, elders quorum president,
and relief society president, but other then that there isn't much. It
is a big change. It has been a little hard. The work is a little
harder because of the size of the branch. I have to lead the music and
teach gospel doctrine. There aren't separate classes for investigators
and members. So we teach like 15 people. I am district leader now. So
I will do baptismal interviews for the elders in my district. I am
kind of nervous about that. It is a little more responsibility I don't
have as much time at night to do what I want because I am dealing
with numbers. Also we don't always have running water so everything
takes longer. Bucket showers, washing hands, cleaning dishes flushing
toilet. We have the pump fixed so every time there is light we have
strong running water, but the light schedule is different....so it has
taken some adjusting, but I will get used to it. The time will pass
faster that way anyway.

Last Week's E-mail

2010-12-13T20:14:00.000-08:00

Wow, sounds like you are really looking forward to the call on
Christmas. As far as transfers go I am headed back
to the Villa Mella zone. I will be in a
different district though. It will be my first time as a district
leader. That means I will be doing baptismal interviews. This is a big
responsibility. I am kind of nervous. That is great that the family
will be together for Christmas. I actually thought about that this
week. I think it would be hard for me to sacrifice my family Christmas
to hang out with my wife's family for Christmas. Just wouldn't be the
same. Weather here is awesome. Sunny blue
skies, nice breeze, not too hot, not too cold, not too rainy. Just
right. I could live here in the winter time. So, Dominican culture,
they start putting up Christmas decorations near the end of October.
They are less about Santa Claus and Christmas day. This was
last weeks e-mail. The internet ran out in one place, and the light
ran out in another so I didn't get to send it off.

No E-mail

2010-12-08T15:10:00.001-08:00

There was no e-mail from Sawyer this week

2010-11-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

Wow, your sending another package. I have a question about the one
with the stocking in it. Will I know that it is the one with the
stocking? and should I open it before Christmas or something like as
if it has decorations and stuff, or do I just wait till Christmas for
everything? If you could tell me that would be great. I sure miss
her orange rolls. I am sure either
way man or woman, the food was good, and Thanksgiving was great. Haha
very interesting that the doorbuster deals on the TV was still there
in he night. Funny how that it. I would love to see a stereotypical
Walmart in a small town like Scappoose. Kess wrote me,
maybe you encouraged him or something, but thanks. You don't
have to bug him about it anymore if you were. I was
just thinking about board games. We played Risk for p-day today as a
district. I love that game, I find it to be very fun.
I would be very interested to hear both sides, having the
perspective of a 3rd world country. Singing Christmas tree sighhhhhh. I
am excited I can almost listen to Christmas music, I stay faithful to
dads rule. I accept it. Wow a calling to the Relief Society presidency. You really should talk to Ivalise. She is amazing. She has to work all day to support her
kid, and doesn't get home until 6 she has to be both parents, and
still manages to devote almost all of her time to serving the other
members of the ward. I am really impressed with her work. I am glad to
hear you and Carol are getting along well. I bet her spirit is
receiving nourishment. As for me, I have reinforced my shoes. I
put construction boot bottoms on the shoes I got with Granny. That set
me back like 15 dollars and will last like 10 years. Then I bargained
a guy down almost another 15 dollars for another pair of shoes that
will last a long time too. So I spent about 60 bucks for at least the
end of my mission. So my investigators 5 were supposed to get baptized
on Saturday. We ended up having a service of 3 people. 2 were just
super prepared. They were a reference from a baptism that I had
earlier in the same area, and they just progressed super fast. We just
found a family of 9, and the dad had been reading The Book of Mormon
before we even talked to him. So I am sure they will be a golden
family to teach. It is too bad I might leave after this week because
of transfers, but I don't know, I am kind of getting tired of the area
at the same time. You know I really try to say something new in my
prayers, but a lot of the times I don't need to. In other words, I
find myself at a ceiling, and I keep trying to progress as a human,
but I am stuck on Christ-like attributes I need to develop more. Maybe
it is just I am not looking hard enough to repent, because I know I
have a lot of things I need to get better at, but I am having a hard
time finding ways to get over the hump and continue progressing. My
companion hmmm, all of my companions have had strengths, a lot of them
I didn't realize until I left. One may be his simplicity when
teaching. All of my companions have been a lot closer to their
families then I have. They all seem to talk about their families a
lot. I don't really have much to say about my family. I wish I could
say more, but I don't know. I don't think we know each other as much
as we could. That's because I am not a very open person with my
parents sometimes ha. What will change in my life because of my
mission. I think every thing. I wont listen to the same music, watch the same movies, carry myself the same way, it will change my priorities, help me keep my temple
covenants better, ummm put my family first. I don't know I can't really
explain it all. What I find as being necessary and what is a blessing,
or what is a luxury. Well, that's all for now. Hopefully it was what
you were looking for.

love,

Elder Garrity

2010-11-16T19:40:00.000-08:00

I am glad to hear you are busy sending off the packages. I look
forward to receiving them. Also I did receive the package for
Halloween. I had never heard of that company the Popcorn Factory.
Where did you learn about it? The popcorn was pretty good. I enjoyed
the package. That comment about Dads work makes me feel
pretty good. I really do enjoy getting those sports updates, and I
know he is faithfully checking scores constantly. Hopefully I haven't
turned him into a sports maniac like myself. Thanksgiving sounds like
it will be very interesting. Which men will be cooking? I look forward
to hearing the details about it. Well, since Kess isn't writing me,
would you give me his e-mail please. That way he can explain to me
whats going on in his life. My investigators are doing alright. There
is a reference we received from one of the people I helped get
baptized, who hasn't missed church since she was invited. We are
giving her this week to finish off her addiction with smoking, and she
will get baptized on the 27th with her daughter. The funniest story I
can tell about my companion hmmmm. Well, nothing too funny. There was
one lesson we were teaching, and he was just distracted by everything.
He was stuttering trying to speak the language, a fly kept flying on
his face while he was speaking, and a bunch of loud motorcycles went
by the house where we were teaching, so that kind of startled him
also. I was trying not to laugh, but he just looked so uncomfortable, scared,
and nervous. It reminded me of a few of my first days. What
makes it so funny is that he is like like 6'5'' 250lb guy. So it felt
so weird to see someone of that size get so thrown off balance. It was
like King Kong on top of the empire state building. The prettiest
thing besides the women, well, that is hard to think of something just
as, or more prettier then the women. Maybe the blue blue blue skies,
or all the green natural plants and stuff that are around you where
ever you go. I think the strangest thing I have eaten was a chicharon.
Which is fried and breaded pig skin. That's all it is. It tastes like
a tougher far greasier fatty version of fried chicken skin. For the
most part I try and stay away from things that would damage my body.
There are always the fried fish that looks like the were caught from
the water, breaded, seasoned, and thrown on the grill. With the head,
eyes, and everything. I don't need shoes. Yea, I have gone through a few
pairs, but don't worry about it. Shoes are way cheaper to buy here anyways.
So don't worry about shoes.

love,

Elder Garrity

2010-11-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

There is one thing I havelearned in the mission. Big days are only big days if you let them be
big days. In other words, Christmas is awesome for me because of the
traditions and stuff we do on that day, not because it is December
25th. My birthday is only as special as I want to make it. My year
mark is only as big of a deal as I want to make it. I have been a
pretty big party pooper when it comes to big days in the mission. I
want to change that, and make things more important or a bigger deal.
I got the letters that you and dad wrote. It is interesting no matter
how long we have been in the world we continue to learn lessons and
progress. I will make sure not to open my packages until Christmas.
That way I can make Christmas a more special day.
Christmas is so far away. It isn't until the next transfer. We got a
lot of lame weather and rain this week because of the Hurricane, but
its nice to have cooler rainy weather every once and a while. My infection was an ingrown
hair that I got on my face. I didn't say anything because I didn't
want you to worry about something stupid, but since you found out, oh
well. Maybe I can send some pictures. Basically my cheek was really
swollen and I was walking around like hmmmm how would I describe it
like............like I had a jaw breaker on one side of my mouth. It
was the same thing that happened to my knee that one time. The ingrown
hair. Sooo I got that all taken care of. I was still able to work I
just looked like a freak. So the comp who wrote the letter (I am not
with him anymore) we were only together a transfer. Anyways, the most
exciting thing that happened this week was......me and my companion
ate at the others elders house before we started our fast, our areas
are right next to each other. So we ate steak and burgers. Then me and
another elder taught are sons (we are both training) how to play
Dominoes so we played a little. My investigators. . . .There are these
three young adults we are teaching a brother sister, and their
neighbor. They want to get baptized before this big tri stake activity
so we are trying to prepare them before the activity which is in 2
weeks. There are a few kids of a family that we were teaching who want
to get baptized, the mom was already baptized, so that should be this
week. Then there is a 23 year old guy named Orlando who is having a
rough time. His little girl is sick, he lost his job. He used to smoke
and drink and sleep around, but now he has calmed down and wants
something more in his life. He actually put his own baptismal date for
2 weeks. So we are trying to prepare these people. There are always
more people that we teach that come and go. I think it is harder for
men to accept the gospel because it requires commitment, and the
culture here is no commitment. So when they actually have to commit to
something or being someone, they give up, or don't even try because
it requires work. It is really sad how lame guys are here. I try to
work with them though. There are always a few who are prepared, and
are different from the other guys here. anyways that's all I have for
now. Love you. Keep supporting me and asking me questions.

2010-11-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry my e-mails have been super lame lately. Sounds like you guys
had a great Halloween. My Halloween was really lame. I didn't even get
any candy, and no one celebrates the holiday here. Oh well, I will just
have to make the next one more special. As far as the work goes, I am
enjoying it. As a trainer I am a little more open to do things the way
I want, because new missionaries simply just don't know yet. So we are
trying to prepare a few families for baptism by the end of this
transfer. It is sooo frustrating because the fathers are lame. They
either leave, work Sundays, drink and don't want to stop, among other
things. All I want is to baptize a complete family. So we will see
what we can do in this transfer. My companion's name is Elder Ficklin.
He is a big guy from Mesa, Arizona. He played left tackle in high school and
we like talking about football. He is adjusting to the mission very
well. I find myself mentioning him in my journal a lot, as if it were
like a baby book. I really do treat him like my kid, but at the same
time like a 19 year old responsible young man, if that makes sense.
Well I have no idea about these hurricanes you keep speaking of.
I have never heard anything about them. The ocean was a little more
wavy, but there wasn't a lot of rain this week. The nights have been
great. I have been able to sleep with a blanket. I have been sleeping
like a baby. I have been thinking about my year mark a lot.
With my new companion I get the question how
much time we have in the country a lot. I have gotten a lot of
compliments about how well I speak Spanish. Anyways, the mission has
been great. I face adversity everyday, but I just work through it. I
am just happy all the time when I work my hardest and when I am
obedient. I hope you know I love you guys. I don't want you to worry
too much about me, because I am just fine. I love pop out of glass
bottles.

2010-10-25T09:24:00.000-07:00

Wow so Kess is home. That is crazy! Sounds like he is off to the races
already, already having sleepovers. That's cool he is still close
with his friends. So transfers have come and gone. Elder Winter is
leaving and I will be training this transfer. I don't know what to
think. I should be more excited then I am. I feel myself getting numb
sometimes in the mission. As if I just did things to do things. I know
I am really out here for the love of the people, love of the gospel,
and the love of God. I am just trying to figure it all out. I am
really looking forward to this transfer. I will have a lot of
responsibility as a trainer, and it will be a good time to kind
of....hmm how would I explain it. This transfer will be a big defining
point in my mission. Oh, I have seen a few things about the sickness going
down in Haiti. Hopefully it wont become a problem here. I forwarded
the package and letter sending e-mail about how to do it correctly.
Anyways life is good, I am learning a lot. We are kind of starting
over with investigators. There are a few families, we will see what
happens. Oh, one thing dad will appreciate, there are already
Christmas trees up in my area. I lot of Americans started celebrating
Christmas early. This country is ridiculous. There are lights and
trees up already.

Kessler Comes Home - Me Next?

2010-10-18T19:31:00.000-07:00

Wow! This Wednesday. That is incredible. I bet you guys are very proud
of him. That is funny he wants to go to Chang's, because I was
thinking about the very same thing. What I want to eat when I get
back, and I was thinking Chang's also haha, but that is a long way
away. This week went well. This will be my first transfer without a
baptism, and probably the hardest I have worked in a transfer, so I
am not sweating it. I learn new stuff every day. One thing I will
always appreciate from home is my health, and the food. Here it seems
almost everybody has some type of sickness, defect, problem, etc. Also
there are people who don't always eat a lot everyday, or only get to eat what is
there, not until they are full and can't finish what is on their plate.
La Caleta is definitely a less structured, and more poor area compared
to Villa Mella. I have seen a lot more suffering, I have really become more
grateful for what I have everyday. On Sunday this member who is 19 got
kicked out of his house by his aunt. So, he slept on the street
Saturday night. Even though it's against the rules (I think) We took him
to our house and made some lunch for him. We had stake conference this
week, and it was terrible. The ward tried to do it via computer or
some thing. Everything came out choppy, unclear, and you couldn't
understand anything. I was really disappointed. First,
Elder Anderson of the 70 was there, and I love his talks, also
President Antivilo was there. Second, Stake Presidents here are at a much
higher level of intelligence about life and the gospel
compared to most bishops and other auxillary leaders from the ward.
Third, our investigators showed up to 2 hours of muffled speaking, and
couldn't understand anything. So I wouldn't blame them if they don't show
up next week haha. Ohhhh welll life goes on. Elder Winter and I have
had a great transfer and we are entering the final week. I always
struggle the final week when I have been in an area for more then 2
transfer, but I know we will work hard, and time will go by fast. Not
much new is going on. We are just trying to focus on teaching
families. I am really trying to grow my love for the people and my
charity, I just have the hardest time. I don't know why. I can be
obedient, thirst for knowledge, be diligent, a bunch of Christ- like
attributes, but I struggle with Charity. What is your suggestion on
how I can build the pure love of Christ into my heart? Ok, X-mas List:
Small durable umbrella
Gillette Fusion Razor with extra razors
Barbasol shaving cream
Plastic pocket protector(s)
2-3 white shirts short sleeve
Flashlight that runs either by cranking or by 2a battery
A Sports Illustrated Magazine (only one as a special treat, no more)
Rubbing alcohol

What ever you can do would be great, if that isn't enough you are
creative enough to think of more.

2010-10-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

I did not have the chance to hear Elder Holland's talk. We have a
very embarrassing unprepared ward. We didn't see any conference until
about 45 minutes in. Then on top of that it was only in Spanish. I
still enjoyed conference, nevertheless, it was not the same. I enjoyed
President Monson's talk also. For me I found a theme in conference this
year. The theme would be 1. Personal Revelation/The holy ghost
2. The importance and power of our moral agency 3. The importance of
prophets, especially living prophets.

I am looking forward to reading conference in English in a month. What
else? Oh so the plan of the mission has changed a little bit. We have
a new plan for the mission. First, every lesson we will mention the
doctrine of Christ in every principle: faith, repentance, baptism, holy
ghost, and endure to the end. Second, we will invite everyone to get
baptized during the first lesson with a specific baptismal date, and
third, we will end every lesson kneeling in prayer. I like it more. It
will help the people truly prepared and it will invite the spirit
more during the lessons. I haven't has as much ¨success¨ this
transfer as I have had in other transfers. I think God wants me to
learn a lesson. This is probably one of the transfers I have worked
the hardest, but I just haven't seen the fruit of my labors. I am
content though, because I know what I am doing is right, and I feel
ok. Obviously I am sad that no one has been very receptive, but I can't
get mad about things I can't control. I have to say the mission really opens your eyes to the real world. I still live in too much ignorance, and selfishness. There is a lot of room to
improve, but I have changed a lot, and I will not be surprised if
I am a weirdo when I get back. Sorry I haven't sent pictures lately,
there just isn't a lot of new stuff going on. It was my companions
birthday today. I think that is the 3rd companion I have had who had a
birthday while I was with him. The other one that didn't have a birthday,
was the one I was with when I did ha ha. In other words there has been a
birthday with every companion. That's cool that you and dad are
becoming a little more exploratory. I see farm animals all the time.
This country and the people here are just so funny. I am really trying
to serve them. I have no reason not to, but sometimes I have pride in
my heart. I have no idea how much it would mean to a Dominican to see
an American humble before them and serve them. Anyways, not much more
going on. The weather has cooled down a little.

2010-09-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, so that is were the Jetta came from. I am kind of happy that the
car is stick shift. I want to learn manual anyways. I don't know if I
am forgetting to drive, because I haven't driven in so long. Just
saying that might give me and you the answer that ya.....I probably
forgot. It seems that dad is still juggling cars. Are you guys ever
going to settle with 2 cars like Grannie? '' '
'Haitians are actually really good with
languages. That is like their main focus in the schools in Haiti a lot
of students come out knowing Spanish, French, and English. I have been
really impressed with Haitians compared to Dominicans. I hope the
Haitian kids at school can take advantage of the opportunity that they
have. I know a few people that would love to be in their spot right
now.Thanks for doing all of that with the e-mails, and pictures and scrap stuff. I
know I will appreciate it when I get home. I am glad to hear you guys
feel more comfortable in the house. The owl story seems nice. Did you
complete with the challenge the missionaries left you with yet? I don't
know why it doesn't seem to me that we live in Scappoose right now. I
feel like the mission was a big separation of stuff I wanted to leave,
and the move only supports the experience more. I
don't have much to talk about this week. Elder Winter and I are working
very hard. We have a good time too. He is a little less Mormy Mormon.
Even though he is from Utah, his dad isn't a member, so he is more of a
real, " I know what life is, I am not trapped in the perfect mormon
bubble guy. We enjoy ourselves. I am excited for conference this week.
I have never been excited like this to hear from the prophet and the
12 apostles. Usually before the mission I was excited for conference
because it meant sleeping in, staying in comfortable clothes, and
watching more football. Well.....you have already seen what missions
do to your sons. So I will just say things have changed. I know I will
be weird when I get back. I hope everyone in your ward is quiet during
the sacrament. These past few months I have had trouble focusing on
the Savior during the sacrament because the congregation was being too
loud. Little chitter chatter, babies crying, phones ringing, etc. It
is very annoying, frustrating, and disrespectful, but there isn't a lot
I can do about it. Well other then that life's good. I really enjoy the
mission. Thanks for letting me be out here. The weather has cooled
down a little bit.

2010-09-20T17:46:00.000-07:00

My new companion is Elder Winter. He is this 6' 2" guy from
Utah. He played football and lacrosse before the mission. He comes
from a family of 4; him, his brother and his parents. His dad isn't a
member. He is a very intelleient guy, wants to work hard, the most
obedient and hardest working companion I have had so far. He is very
straight forward, which I like, and until now we are getting along. We
are very similar and very different at the same time. Weather just
continues to be hot. Everyday we are dripping sweat. It sounds to me
like the weather in Oregon has just been terrible this year. Late
summer, a lot of rain in September, etc. Here it is pretty constant. The
weather has cooled down a little, but not much. That is interesting to
me you think my mission is going by fast, because to me it is too. It
is weird to think that Kessler is coming back soon. There are so many nasty
sick wild dogs here. I will be immune to everything in the U.S.
So church is interesting. Good, maybe you can make a difference. Maybe
you can bring some techniques from an active ward, to a weaker work.
That is great the missionaries came over. I hope you can accept the
challenge. Missionaries really appreciate the member help, and it
makes all the difference in the work. Keep doing what your doing.
Every new convert needs a friend in the church. I say they need
friendsss plural, but keep fellowshipping the new member you will be
blessed for that. Sad to hear about the leaky roof in your chapel . We only have to
deal with when there isn't enough water to flush the toilets, and nasty
poop stays in the church bathroom for a few days. Stuff like that.
Ummm the only thing I need is like 2 new shirts, the sweat doesn't
really stain if you clean your shirts right, but I have had a few
shirts stain from blood, or dirty children jumping and playing on me,
other then that I am fine.
As far as the week and stuff goes...all of our baptismal dates have
fallen with investigators. We had 8 and they all fell, but there are
always more people who are prepared that we need to find. We have had
interesting lessons lately. One was pretty spiritual, our new mission
leader is from Haiti. HE moved here after the earthquake. His
parents, and engaged girl friend died during the disaster. I know I
spelled that wrong. Anyway, now he is trying to go on a mission before
he turns 26, because he lost just about everything and that is his new
plan. So there are sections in every area where a bunch of Haitian
people live. We received a reference from one lady who is Haitian and
her friend is Haitian. So we ended up teaching the lesson in Spanish,
well multiple lessons in Spanish to our Ward mission leader, and then
he would translate it from Spanish to Creole, then she would respond in
Creole, and he would tell us in Spanish. It was a neat experience.
What else? you asked me in a letter I received recently a few
questions. So I will answer them. Most days I eat cereal for
breakfast, Beans and rice or spaghetti for lunch (like 2 dollar meals),
and PB and J, ramen noodles, ham and cheese sandwhiches, or something to
that effect for Dinner at like 9 right before bed. My favorite food
from the DR is either the Chimmi, The Emphanadas, or what they call a
moro de gandules, which is coconut peas in rice with a bunch of other
like vegetables and stuff, and that's about it. I am doing good. Time
is flying by. Love you guys. I got your books for Ivelisse.

2010-09-08T16:47:00.000-07:00

I don't have much to say this week. I just keep on chugging along. We
have had some of our baptismal dates fall. They just don't want to
progress. I often think about how different an American mission would
be. I continue learning everyday, more about the gospel, and just life
in general. I got a lot of happy birthday wishes. The weather has
cooled down a little bit. To answer dad's question, just about no one
skateboards here. Every once in awhile I see people with roller blades,
but the streets are so bad that unless you were in the middle of the
capital you would not be able to skateboard. There are no smooth
paths.
Oh another funny story that happened last transfer, we
were teaching this lady, she was a reference. Any way,
she is a 26 year old girl with 6 kids, and no husband. Her house
is always crazy, there is always a crying baby. Anyways, she was
holding her baby who was like 5 months old. The baby was sick. In the
middle of the lesson the baby pooped all over her. She was too poor
to afford diapers so the clothes the baby was wearing didn't stop any
of the poop. So she went and changed, and cleaned
the baby up. A little while later during the lesson. The same baby
decided to pee, and it got all over her. By then the spirit was killed
half her kids were crying and it was just a mess. Well, I don't think
Elder Warren and I will stay together for another transfer, but you
never know. Hope you enjoy moving and the new house.

2010-09-01T15:37:00.000-07:00

You know how I am about my birthday. I never really have enjoyed
celebrating it in any special way. In fact I tried to keep it as big of
a secret as I could. Well, some how Ivelisse found out. I told her not
to say a word. So what happens? In church Sunday she just puts my
birthday on blast. Every time she was close to me in church, she
pointed at me and was telling everyone it was my birthday. Then it
didn't stop there, in sacrament meeting she told the bishop to
announce that it was my birthday (they don't announce any one's birthday
in sacrament meeting). So I had to stand up and get recognized by the
whole congregation. I got a bunch of random hugs from little member
kids. Then when I got home I opened all of the presents you gave me. I
wolfed down the hostess cupcake which was delicious. I took some
pictures. I have a lot of pictures to send. You will have to wait
another week. Part of the family that got married were baptized. The
other half should get baptized next week. It is the 5th week of the
transfer. There is still one more week, but just a heads up transfers
are more or less close.
Sounds like Larry's baptism was awesome. That is great. I always enjoy
baptismal services. I hope he can continue on the path. Wow I can't
believe it is official we are moving. Cool Cool. The hurricane was
nothing. We barley felt the effects. It was just a little cooler than
usual, and there was a super nice breeze. Nothing extreme.

What is my ward like? My ward is alright. There isn't the organization
that exists in home wards, but for a Dominican ward it is great. The
bishop works very hard, and makes a lot of visits to less-actives.
Also a lot of the members bring friends to church, and so we are
always receiving references. Our ward is getting pretty full, the past
few weeks there have been a few people that have had to sit outside of
the chapel. The problem is that there isn't a lot of priesthood, or
the priesthood isn't very strong. Our mission president has made a
focus on finding families and people that can hold the priesthood,
because there have been too many young women and single moms being
baptized. All the members are very friendly and supportive.
The funniest thing that has happened? Well there is this blind guy in
our area that is a little weird. Some times he gets enthusiastic about
the gospel. So we were visiting his house one day, because his son was
investigating the church. Well, the blind guy,
wanted to do a kneeling prayer. Now he lived in the states before, and
he knows a little English. So he offered this weird prayer in English
and the word gospel in Spanish is Evangelio. The g is silent. He
thought Gospel in English was evangelio pronounced with the G. So the
prayer was just really funny because he was doing Spanglish. There
have been other weird funny moments to, but that is one that comes to
my head. P-day? Well there is a baseball field in my area so sometimes
we play baseball as a zone. We have gone to the aquarium. We shop at this store called Ole to get our groceries. It is
the closest thing to America we have. What else? Use Internet, clean
the house, sometimes we go to this place called the Conde. There is a
pizza hut there, its were everyone goes to buy material for pants and suits.
They also sell a lot of souvenirs. There are always European tourists
there. Its alright, other then that not really anything. Write letters
and chill. There is not a lot of down time at all. The things that
pull my heart. Well poor people. There are people who aren't baptized
simply because they don't have money to get married. They want so bad
to get baptized. That's sad. Seeing little kids get beat by a belt
tears me apart. The lack of education, and the hope of people to grow
and receive a decent education. A lot of things like that tear me
apart. When husbands don't want to go to church. I hate baptizing part
families. Also seeing a baptism go inactive. Hopefully that helps
answer your questions.

2010-08-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I am sure after this week you will have a lot to talk about. I
don't have a lot to talk about. We married another couple today. Sorry
I don't have the pictures with me. I might be sending a lot here
pretty soon. A lot of pictures have been taken in the past month that
I haven't been able to upload. The mission is becoming more and more
normal for me. I have really gotten used to the life style and
culture. I figure it will take me about a year to get used to
everything. Then it will take a year more to become regular American
citizen again. I am expecting some letters and stuff for my birthday.
We will see what happens. I already got a sweet mini package thing
from Timmy Coons. I have been kind of keeping my birthday on the
download. I think only my comp. and Ivelisse knows what day my
birthday is. I am just grateful that I have had obedient companions,
and that my mission president is awesome. We will be having I think 5
baptisms this weekend. Part of the family we married this week will
get baptized, and the other part will be baptized in September. I
don't have a lot more to say. The transfer is going by quick. We are
working hard, there is always something to do on P-day. La Caleta is
an awesome. Although president has talked to me about sending me out
to the campo because he trusts me. Oh well, I will worry about that
when transfers are a little closer. I made my glow hat the other day.
It was confusing, but cool. Just a bunch of random stuff, I am in
Helamen right now, I started The Book of Mormon in the MTC I am hoping
to finish by my year mark. I try and do a pretty deep study, and I
check almost every foot note. Not much else, I am happy, healthy, and
just good. Ask me some questions if you think I am boring.

2010-08-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

That is awesome that uncle Larry is getting baptized. What a great
story. When I heard that he was going to church by himself I felt that
this day might come soon. I bet Karen is so happy. I told dad congrats
on the house. That is awesome. I will be excited to come back to
Scappoose. Oh, it turns out that Ivelisse did want the book,
and she was kinda excited to receive it,
so I hope you sent it in the package ha ha. My feet aren't the way they
are because of rain. My feet are how they are because they are never
dry from sweat. I just let it go. I don't have time really to soak
them in vinegar(which is what has been suggested to me) and I refuse
to use cream. I got those boots like 2 weeks ago or maybe 3, but
thanks. That is cool that Huda talked to you on facebook. I am excited
for my birthday package. Oh yea, Hoop Camp still hasn't come yet. Wow
I will miss that. I love hoop camp. Well I am doing good. My companion
got a little sick this week. We have been working with a big family
forever trying to prepare them for baptism. Some weird things that
happened, Sunday a lady came to church with her little dog, and just
kind of had her dog in church all 3 hours, as if a mom with her baby.
It kinda annoyed me. Also this big white lady came to Church. Turns
out she served her mission here 7 years ago. The bishop gave her the
chance to share her testimony. Not a lot of members knew her, but it
was kinda cool to see. I got to play football today, which I love. You
miss football a lot when you only get to play every 6 weeks. We also
had to pass by the CCM today, because the hospital is really close. I
happened to see 2 of my teachers from there. We talked in Spanish and
it was really cool, because I could barely talk in the CCM, but now I
am fine. Lets see. Oh as I read my patriarchal blessing I see some
prophesies being fulfilled. It is really cool. This area is a little
more poor then my last area. So I am counting my blessing and seeing
little blessing as a little bit bigger now. We will have plenty of
time to talk about all of this when I return. For now that is all I
have got. Ivelisse should be sending a few pictures here pretty soon.

2010-08-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

I am glad that you love your grandchildren. I still cant believe you
and dad are grandparents. You guys went to the beach? It must have
been pretty warm in Oregon if you went to the beach. I was trying to
explain Saturday market to my last companion, but you really cant.
There is something similar here in the city. Sounds like you had fun
though that's good. I am sure the visit was a lot of fun. I know
about your little pen pal experience. Ivelisse was super excited when
you wrote back. She printed all of the e-mails and she was showing
them to my companion and I. I hope that can continue. She has a
few English to Spanish books. You can send what you want, but she is
a pretty well off Dominican that can afford what ever book she needs.
A very independent woman. Ronald is a bright kid too.

Lets see some people e-mail me and some people write letters. A lot of
people have already stopped writing me, but for right now, I get an
email from Kamel about once a month, well everyone writes me about once
a month because that's about as fast as I can respond. Tim has written
me faithfully, Kamel, Jon-Erick, Huda, Maureen, and I think that is
it. The rest of the lettersI get are from family members. Hayes, Steve,
Granny, Grandma, AuntJean, Keegan, Nolan, Kess, and the Coons family, and you
guys. Not much is new, transfers came and went and nothing happened.
Still working with the same investigators from last transfer. Oh if
you could, tell folks to go easy on the candy. I get sent like
6lb boxes of candy that I can never eat and I just end up spending a
lot of money paying for a package of candy that I cant really eat.
I am very grateful for the candy, but ease up on the amount.

2010-07-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

It rains a fair amount. I don't know home some of the houses hold up
in the rain. Rain here is ridiculous. Usually though I don´t get too
wet. I have heard a little bit about the oil spill, but not a lot. I wanted to hear more
though. I heard it was pretty serious. I have been thinking a lot
about America. The U.S. is truly a special country. There are a lot of
opportunities when you look at the country from the perspective of a
person who lives in a 3rd world country. Education, living conditions,
freedom, money one can earn. Most Dominicans don´t have any dreams
because they don't know where to start one. They just complain about
how other people have already made it in life. Its hard to
explain, but living in a 3rd world country and reading in the Book of
Mormon about North America, it truly is a choice land.
Lets see, my adventures? This week I haven´t really had any. This week
is boring sorry. The lady that called, her name is Ibelise, and she is
awesome. She was baptized like 7 months ago, a super strong member.
She was recently made President of Relief Society. She is like 29 has
one kid, just a very sweet woman. She is trying to learn English, and
she wanted to call our parents, or you. So my comp and I were like
alright, and yea she called you. I hope you could understand her. She
is one of those very outgoing, spunky, easy to get along with kind of
person. The Ward that I serve in is a little smaller than
my last ward. The area I cover is a little bigger, but the active
members there are less. I think there are about 115. My last ward was
like 130. Every time we baptize someone another member falls. Ha so,
we are trying to have the ward grow, but sometimes it is hard for the
ward to retain people because of disorganization. What did
dad do for fathers day? They celebrated it yesterday here. I totally
forgot about that. I am pretty sure I have forgotten everyone's
birthday, mothers day, fathers day etc.

2010-07-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

First, we had a rat problem in our house. At first we thought that
we had a mouse problem so we bought some sticky pads to stick the mice.
Well, we would wake up the next morning, and there would
be big poops on the counter and hair on
the sticky pads. We decided that mice don't pooh that big, and that
rats are hairier. So last night we came home, and the rat just
happened to be in the house. So with the guidance of the spirit(not
really, it was actually kind of brutal). We killed the pest, and to
top it off there are pictures =).
Story two, we had a baptism this weekend. A father got
to baptize his son. He is 29 and his dad is, I don't know how old.
Anyways his dad baptized him, it only took one time. Not bad for a
blind old guy if you ask me. He even got the chance to bear his
testimony at the end, and it was a tear jerker. All of the baptismal
services are so spiritual its awesome. Lets see, I don't think I have
a third story, but I will say this, I have talked to a lot of Haitians
since I've been here. I am so fascinated by them. Majority of them
can speak Spanish Creole, and a little bit of English. Yet they come
here to the DR, and live in discrimination and poverty. I always like
rooting for the underdogs. I would love to visit Haiti some day. The
people just seem so much more normal, polite, humble, educated, and
just a lot of things. I like Haitians. We are teaching one that more
or less speaks English. It will be interesting to see how it goes. His
house is as big as my room back home, and there is nothing but a bed,
and rope to hang his clothes. I hope I get to stay another transfer
here in La Caleta. The members can really make a big difference about
your attitude and the mission work. I am excited
to receive a package. I am definitely still craving Twinkies. I
know, sad. Oh, these past few weeks it has been super hot and super
rainy. I have taken advantage of the weather, and I have taken some
natural showers. Sometimes a cold shower with low water pressure in
the house doesn't satisfy me. So I like going out in the pouring down
rain with my soap and shampoo. Its awesome. The DR is growing on me.
Mission presidents are awesome. I had a great interview with President
this week. He said since he trusts me, he might send me out in the middle
of nowhere. So I might be going to the boondocks here soon,
or maybe Aruba (ABC islands) that are now part of our mission.

2010-07-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

My companion loves talking about home. With my other comps we would talk about like
movies, sports, music, etc,. but wow Elder Warren just loves talking
about home. I can't blame him he only has 5 months, and he is from a
small town.
Thanks for doing my scrap book. I really regret not writing
some things down. I wish I would have written in a journal the day
after prom, and the day after graduation. There was a lot of stuff. I
see the importance of a journal, but a little too late. I write in
mine everyday. Birthday wishes? I really don't need anything. I really
am fine. There is nothing I need, nothing I want, maybe a nice card,
maybe if some more of my friends wrote me. I think I am good with
packages for awhile. I will tell you if I need anything. Companionship
is going good. We get along, we work hard, we talk a lot, and we
haven't had any arguments, or anything. I have been really blessed
with good companions. My investigators are great. There is a family of
6 the moms name is Cookie. The dad went to church this week.
Super awesome I think they will get baptized. Also there is another
family of 4, they were a reference. Super great family. They should
get baptized too coming up in the next month, or two. We have a few
other investigators also. We will have a baptism this week. A great
story. He was a reference from his dad. His dad has been a member
forever. He is blind, his son had a problem with drugs, but has done a
complete turn around. So the blind dad is going to baptize his son
this week. I am super excited. Oh, so funny story. We stayed too long
in a lesson last Monday. So we got out at like 9:40 and started
walking home. On the way home there was a prostitute across the
street. When didn't think anything of it, but she started walking
toward us. So we started walking faster. Then she started walking
faster. So we started walking even faster. She started to jog after
us! We didn't look back, but we heard her heals clicking. Then we
turned the corner to head to a members house, and she stopped
following us. My comp and I laughed about it, we were a little freaked
out, but it was a funny story.

2010-07-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

Ya, your right. The 4th of July was pretty lame. I didn't even
remember that it was the 4th of July until some elder called our
number and was like happy birthday America. It was pretty depressing.
Oh well I miss fireworks, but it was more lighting off the fireworks
with the people I was hanging out with, not the actual lighting of the
fire work. Yea I think the beach is banned =( oh well. Today as a zone we
played baseball at a local field. A bunch of Dominicans stayed around
to watch, it was pretty cool. To be honest there really isn't that
much of a difference. You are focused on the work in the middle of the
city and towns and stuff, you don't really get affected by Beach's and
tourists. My area is amazing. I have been blessed with 2 awesome
wards. We received 6 references this week. We had 10 investigators in
church. Like 17 members showed up to our baptism this Saturday. Our
bishop really supports the missionaries, just a really friendly ward.
I don't think I have worms. I am better now. We have a nice grocery
store near by, so I am eating well. We have a mission doctor. He is
awesome his name is Doctor Killgore. Very great man, strong testimony,
and takes our health very seriously. We are in good hands here. The
rain has gone and past. We have had nothing but 90+ degree days here
with nothing but sunshine. It is super nice, my type of weather, and
the ocean breeze feels so nice on a sweaty back. Please don't by new
stuff. The Gatorade is perfect how it is, its just powder. Don't worry
about that. Also if you haven't sent it yet, could you include
Twinkies. I am in the mood for Twinkies. Other then that, my
companion and I are getting along. We are working hard.

2010-06-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

SDQ 4102
2250 NW 114th Av. Unit 1A
Miami, FL 33172
U.S.A

That is the new address

Any ways, yea I have a new companion. I lied I am not in La Victoria,
I am in Las Americas. I am sure if you looked up Boca Chica on google
you would see a lot of vacation links. Las Americas is right next to
Boca Chica. We are right by the Airport, and also we are next to the
beach. We seriously can cross the highway and we are at the beach.
There are some resorts nearby, not in eye site, but close by. So there
are a lot of European tourists. Man, I hope they don´t get mistaken
for Americans, because if so, Dominicans will probably think Americans
don´t shave and love having greasy hair. Any way, being next to the
airport is weird. There are always planes flying over our heads, so
close that you can read the letters on the tires of the plane. Super
cool. My companion, his name is Elder Warren, is from a small town
in Idaho, his Dad works for like some Potato factory. He has 3 sisters
and 1 brother. He is a really nice guy. I have been blessed with
really good companions. They are all obedient, they all work hard,
they all want the best for their investigators. Every first P'day
after transfers all the missionaries that are near the capital go to
this park, and hang out and play football, etc. So I always talk to
missionaries in my group, and other elders. When I hear about their
struggles, their areas, and their companions, it makes me count my
blessings. Also my wards have been super good. Our bishop owns a bus.
A small bus. Every Sunday in the morning he goes and picks up members,
and investigators that live far away. We also have a ward mission
leader who plans with us, and goes out with us on occasion. Just
awesome stuff that really helps the mission work, that not every area
has. My house compared to Villa Mella stinks, but it is still a really
good house. It is super small, but everything works. The toilet
flushes, there is running water. Usually there is light at night. So I
like it. I don´t need a house. In the mission a perfect house has a
bed, a place to study, a place to go to the bathroom and shower, and a
place to cook. A spot to hang your clothes is a nice luxury, but not
something necessary. Lets see what else. I am really enjoying the
mission, being a senior companion is not much different. No matter
what title you have the mission work is the same. There is just a
little bit more responsibility. That usually falls under the district
leader and zone leader though. Basically it is just a sign that
president trusts you. My Spanish is awesome. I think i was given a special
blessing when speaking and understanding Spanish when I became senior
companion, because Elder Warren can barley talk Spanish. SO it is
vital that I can talk and understand. Which I can do perfectly. So I
am really grateful for that.
Man, it rained even worse this week, and my new area doesn´t have a
lot of good streets. So my first Day here, we were walking in water up
to my shins almost up to my knees. The rain here is incredible. Then
the heat dries it up in like a day. The DR is just full of beautiful
colors everyday. I appreciate being here. I just feel so sad every time
an investigator stops progressing, when someone doesn´t want to hear
our message, and when missionaries are disobedient. It hurts me deep,
but that is part of the mission work. Got to work hard for only 2
years! to bring as many people as I can to the truth and to a happy
life.

2010-06-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

It is transfers this week. I survived Villa Mella I thought I was going to go one more. I am sooo happy. I seriously was starting to feel more like an active member and less like a missionaries. Now, I am heading to a different area in La Victoria, I believe. I will be senior companion to an Elder who has 2 transfers under his belt. It will be a great experience. I am really glad president trusts me. I will try and work my butt off. Let´s see what else? Oh, it is starting to get into annoying season. One week of unbearable heat, then the next week of nonstop heavy rain. It will be interesting. I really enjoyed my time here in Villa Mella. I am not sure how many other wards I will have like Villa Mella. The bishopric is awesome. The ward mission leader is awesome. The stake president is awesome. The members support me. I will miss it, but it is time to move on. I will be saying my goodbyes today and taking some more pictures. The house I was in was one of the few with hot water. So I will probably have to say goodbye to the hot showers for the rest of my mission. We got the light problem fixed, right before I left, of course. Ha, oh I bought my companion's Ipod and speakers/charger for 20 bucks. So I am set on music. Life's good, mission is good, I have been preparing for this next transfer. Every transfer is like a fresh start. So I want to be even more obedient, work even harder, love my comp even more, be an example, etc. me Oh finally, the pictures at the end, the picture with the hommies is basically all of the elders quorum, the big guy Juancarlos being president of the Elders Quorum. There are a few more, but those are the most active. The the cockroach, is like a weekly thing that we have to deal with haha.

Elder Garrity

2010-06-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

I had a super good Interview with my mission president this week. The mission is such an emotional roller coaster. I don´t know what it is, maybe it is just that I have been in one area so long. I could see myself going one more transfer here. Who knows. I just get so stressed out sometimes. I just want to be the perfect missionary, the perfect example, and I am just not patient with myself. I want to be able to speak perfect Spanish. I think I have been depending too much on myself, and not doing my best and then leaving the rest to the Lord. I had a really hard time this Sunday, we worked so hard inviting people to go to church, and not one of the people we talked to went. Even though 5 people promised us they´d be there. Oh well, it was a good lesson about how not to do things. It hurt, but at least I know that way isn´t effective. I am just super happy that my baptisms are still going to church, depending on where you are at its a struggle because they think the covenant they made was with us, not God. The mission is awesome. I am super happy, we all have rough weeks. I spent the whole week studying about the atonement. I have learned a lot. My testimony of the atonement has lead me to share the Gospel with a great desire. We got our light back again, it is a super long story not worth explaining through e-mail. I don´t know if I already told you, but here they sell coca cola in glass bottles and I love it. I swear it tastes better out of a glass bottle. I learned how to make empanadas this week with one of my recent converts, they are super easy to make and super good. I got some super solid letters last week from Hayes and Huda, they made my week. I am so grateful to have the friends I do who always support me, and care about me. The pictures I am sending are of an awesome couple Saul and Andriena. Saul is so cool, he reminds me so much of Dad. He always walks around in his jeans with his keys and stuff hooked on the side. He is super patient and he even fixed our light! He reminds me a lot of Dad for a lot of other reasons too. I see a lot of potential for that family.Other then that, it continues to be hot. I am sweating to death and I am working my butt off, and I love every minute of it.

2010-06-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

Man this week was a long week. In the month of May my companion and I had a baptism every weekend. Now we have nothing, we have been contacting and walking, then contacting and walking. It is only week 5 in the transfer we still have 2 left. I feel like there is no one left here in Villa Mella that I haven´t already met. I still try to find new people, because God is always preparing people. It is just hard. It is super hot this week. Really rewarding though, I feel like a missionary. I go to bed just dead. Any ways, I would send you some pictures, but my thingy to send pictures isn´t working. I feel like everyone here knows English. Well, everyone here can say "Hey how are you?", "Whats your name?", and "I'm fine" and "my name is". Other than that they know nothing. So walking in the street everyone just yells those two phrases at you. It is the weirdest thing. For the first time I feel discriminated against, but it doesn't really bother me. Its just you would never see a Mexican in the street and see a bunch of American teenager just yelling Spanish phrases they learned in school at that Mexican. There is this annoying new song that came out were the cores says ¨Quiero un Americano¨ So just about every single girl I pass by yells that to me. Which means I want an American. It is really weird, some are just joking, but others are pretty serious. It has just been a hard week. The electric company cut our electricity again, so I continue to wash by hand. The thing is, I have been dealing with this my whole mission It wasn´t until this week that I have been bothered by the combination of things. I think I have worms in my stomach, everyday is soo hot, no one seems interested in our message, we don´t have light, all these things usually wouldn´t bother me, but taking a physical mental and spiritual beating is hard to endure. Its really not that bad, its just easy to complain about. What elseee? Saul and Andreina are awesome. Such a cool couple. They got baptized and the ward loves them. I am really hoping to go through the temple with them. I asked all of the people I baptized this week, why they decided to get baptized. It was just awesome to hear their testimonies. The mission is awesome. I can´t believe how quick these 7 months have gone by. All my friends are talking about how the first year of college is almost over. So weird.

2010-05-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

It poured this week my goodness. Three days in a row it poured. Worse then any Oregon rain. When it rains like this all of the people just go out and bath in the rain. Not fully naked, but like shorts and no shirt or swimsuit. The rain feels really nice, because it has been really hot. The only problem is you get super soaked and don´t want to sit down on anyone's couch. Other than that it is nice. This week was hard for our investigators. Sunday was election day so half the ward was missing to vote. So it´s hard to expect investigators to come when the members don´t really. We are working hard here, I feel like I am running out of new people to meet I have been here so long, but there are always more people. For my personal study I was reading Jesus the Christ, The Book of Mormon, and Preach My Gospel all in English. Well, the past two weeks I feel like my Spanish has been slipping. So I decided to switch my study to Spanish only this week. It is a sacrifice for me, but, here is the thing, I didn´t come out here to strengthen my testimony. I came to give others their own. So if I can´t speak their language, it doesn´t matter how great my testimony in English is, I can´t do much with it. Life is good. There is always someone who has it a little harder. Always be grateful for what you have. I am trying to be as humble and meek as I can to people so they will be receptive. It is sometimes hard when they see white.

2010-05-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

So turns out I am staying one more transfer here in Villa Mella. I am not super excited or super bummed. I don´t know why. I think missionary work is missionary work. No matter where you're at you have the same goals and teach the same concepts. I hope you enjoyed talking with me. I think I might spend a little more time at Christmas. I have been talking to more and more people who are getting recruited to play baseball. I want to play football at the next level so bad. That would be amazing if I could play college football. I don´t know though. Its still a long ways a way. Wow, it was weird and nice to talk to Hayes. Other then that, everything is pretty much the same. Same district, same zone give or take 2 elders, same comp, same house.

2010-05-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

This week the weather has started to change. It gets hot, then just pours super hard, and it cools down. We got our light back for sure, that was nice. So Sunday when I call, we will also be getting our calls for transfers. I don´t know if I will stay or not. Only one person is leaving, and only 3 new missionaries are coming in. I probably won´t get changed, but we will see. I´ll try to send more pictures now. Let´s see what else......Everything is good not much has changed. Our bishop is amazing. I am really lucky to be in the ward I am in. I will be sad to leave, but if I do I will be happy too. Plus there is a "Villa Mellla" curse, where if you go to Villa Mella once in your mission, you go back at some point. Hope all is well, I have really adjusted. Doing good, we will see what happens.

2010-04-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

Tropical paradise, eh? The problem is that the resorts only show the pretty sides of the DR, haha I really hope I get to show you around some day. The first thing I thought of when you said Caribbean was Jack Sparrow. Yo ho Yo ho Jack Sparrow. Oh they cut our light again. The light came for like 5 days and now it is gone. Which means more washing by hand. You can see from the pictures. This week I started reading the Book of Mormon only in Spanish. I will see how that goes. I read it really slow in English when I study anyway so, so far it´s not that bad. Ha Granny and Karen think I am an amazing writer eh? I don´t know about that. I only have so much time to write. I more kind of squeeze what I can into a letter then ship it out. I really don´t have a lot of time on P-days to write and stuff, washing by hand takes some time. It has been raining a lot and since only half the streets are paved you get kinda muddy. Wow this transfer has gone by really fast. It is coming near the end and I think I might be leaving my area soon. There are about 5 or 6 people I am teaching that are preparing to get baptized I hope I can help them get baptized this week. I really play such a small role. As a missionary I can´t really convince that many people to get baptized, but when a member or friend is there. Its soo much easier. Anything unusual happen this week? hmmm, well I did a companion exchange and I got to go in someone else's area that was cool. Ummm, I got my first couple married in the mission. That was kinda of weak, marriages aren't very special here. Do I get sick? The first 2 transfers in the mission I was sick off and on like every week, but my health is really good now. It is really easy to eat fruit here because it is so good and natural. Fresh tropical fruit is really good. The bananas, pineapples, what else mango, all good. These past 5 weeks though, no I haven't been sick at all. Scared? Nah, I haven´t got scared. I don´t know what to get scared of. The only thing I have been afraid of is an investigator deciding not to get baptized. There comes a point after teaching someone where basically they get baptized that week, or you have to stop teaching them. I can´t say I had just one spiritual experience. I love watching baptisms though. There is something about them that I just really enjoy. I don´t really have any big spiritual experiences anymore. Yesterday, we were going to go out and work with my Ward mission leader, but his back was really bad and he could barely walk. So I gave him a blessing of health. Other than that, I am consistently feeling the spirit and learning from it.

2010-04-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

We had zone conference this week. A member of the 70 came because he has been called to be a mission president. I believe his name is Elder Alverado he will be a mission president in Puerto Rico or something. We also had our ward conference. I got to bless the sacrament, it doesn´t happen very often. At first I kinda had the eye roll attitude, but I thought about it and really was grateful for the opportunity to exercise my priesthood and bless the sacrament for the congregation. There is a quote by Elder Oaks about how much we should rely on the spirit. I think we should use our best judgment on things, then receive a confirmation of the spirit. My bishop always asks us if the recent converts we baptize have an talent, or some calling they would do good in. Of course he offers a prayer to see if it is right, but he first examines the person and where they could fit. Any ways, it has been pretty cool this week, some rain, still very Oregon like. Thanks for the pictures of the twins wow they are growing fast.
Yes church is for 3 hours, in other wards they only have 2 hours depending on the size, and also some wards do sacrament meeting last. I didn´t have to do anything this week, but we usher (maybe first time in DR church history) and I blessed the bread. Our President, president Antivillo decided to come to our ward conference. He also came to interview us. Sometimes its hard to interview everyone all at once, so he visits peoples areas and gives them more personal interviews. So he did that with me, we had a nice chat. The rest of the day Sunday I go out and preach. Usually our ward mission leader comes with us Sundays. He is awesome his name is Hermano(brother) Colon. He always goes out with the missionaries. Funny guy, has a great testimony. Still don't have electricity. That's kind of getting annoying, because we can't store anything. Makes breakfast a little difficult. Then there are the cold showers in the dark, and washing by hand. I am just grateful I have running water, some missionaries don´t have that.

2010-04-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

Ok well where to start? First off the light company came to our house and ¨accidently¨cut the light. So we haven't had light in the house for about a week and a half. I have been substituting my exercise time to wash my clothes by hand. I had my comp Elder Sheridan take some pictures. So about my comp. Elder Sheridan is from Utah of course. From a little town, but went to a 5A school. He as taught me a lot . He really loves the people he teaches. Something I have been trying to work on. Its hard for me. We go through investigators so fast. So I have really been trying to look at the people I teach as Children of God and not a number. Man it's hard, because President Antivillo looks at numbers a lot. We will see what happens. I have been getting great advice from other missionaries. I now live with a missionary who was assistant to the president for almost a year. Great guy, I am learning a lot from him. I am using the members more and inviting them to come with us to appointments. It has really payed off. The investigators have more friends. The members love the missionary experience, and the missionary strengthens the ward and the investigator.
So the reason i am writing today, not on Monday, is because we changed our P-day to go to the temple, which was great. The only problem was well.....the session was in Spanish. I still enjoyed it because I have been through enough times to know what is being said. I have really learned a lot this week about the true requirements to be baptized. As I thought about all the covenants we make, and the type of feelings we need to be baptized. There isn't a whole lot we need to do to be prepared. That's why an 8 year old can get baptized in the church. I continue to drink a lot of natural juices. They are really good. I like pineapple juice. There are a lot of natural juices you get offered here. You can definitely tell the difference between a concentrate and freshly squeezed.
Sometimes I feel like I always have something going on in my mind, or I am always moving and never rest. Then I realized, "Well, if I rest too much my brain and mind cant expand, or my muscles and durability." I know there is a line between proper rest and beating yourself up, but I also think we should use the little amount of time we have everyday to the fullest. Other than that things are good here. I am having some success. It is starting to rain a lot. The other day was exactly like a day in Oregon it was crazy. The pavement smelled the same. The rain was the same. The temperature was the same. It took me back a little.

Tribute to Families

2010-04-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

"Easter in the Dominican was really good, because it was conference.General Conference, broadcast from Salt Lake, was awesome. I sat through the whole thing with out watching football, amazing! I didn´t sleep through any talks and I actually payed attention the whole time! I didn't have a favorite speaker, they were all really good. I seemed to have found a pattern, maybe it was just me. They sure talked a lot about the family, the importance of the role of mothers and fathers, and the importance of teaching at a young age. That rang so true. As I sat there in conference, I had a lot of time to ponder and meditate on my childhood. I kind of went through a check list of all the things they said to do. Mom.....I couldn´t have asked for a better example. God blessed me with this wonderful mother. If there was one thing growing up that I knew, It was that my mom had a testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ and The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yea, I didn´t pray daily, or read my scriptures every night, but you provided me with an environment to learn and gain a testimony for myself. I remember as a child having spiritually filled family home evening. You and dad struggling to get us to read out of the Book of Mormon together, or pray together. I would always fight against it. I realize the importance of teaching your children at a young age and setting the goal to send your sons on a mission, because if they make it the rest of their life will completely change. I am so grateful for the chance to be out here, and I recognize the sacrifices you and Dad make everyday to keep me out here. Our Father In Heaven will pour out his blessing upon you because of what you're helping me become. I have learned so much, and a mission prepares young men and women to endure in life, receive temple marriage, and eternal life. I have such a strong testimony of that. I would write more, but I can´t even express a particle of the gratitude I have for you and Dad and the family I was raised in.
As for what I learned its not anything complicated. Love like Jesus Christ and develop other attributes that he possessed, obey the commandments, study the scriptures, and pray."

Transfers

2010-03-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so they made a switch with LDS mail now and I have a new e-mail account, but anything that gets sent to my old one gets sent to my new one anyways, so no big deal. So transfers, it was weird today. We got the call last night. I am still in the same house, but there are going to be 3 new missionaries with me. Elder Currie and Elder Twitchell left today for the U.S. and Canada, that was really weird. I have such a long way to go ha. The good news is, well everything they didn't take home I got. Which was like a pair of pants, socks, a bunch of stamps, study material, candy, and a lot more. It was like Christmas all over again.Man, Dad is so lucky, he gets to fill out a bracket. We went to our ward mission leaders house this Sunday to have a goodbye dinner with Elder Currie and Elder Twitchell. He had a newspaper with NBA scores and NCAA standing, but they were from before the tournament. Its hard not having sports in my life.
We had an investigator who we were going to visit.....as we walked by he was hitting his kid with his belt...sooooo we just kept going. I cant wait to be as busy as Nolan and Amber. At least in the mission it is rewarding work. School and work, well its pretty much just school and work. I got your letter. I never thought of my self as a good writer, but if people enjoy the way I do it, I might as well continue. Wow the babies are getting a full head of hair. They are going to be so old by the time I get back. You might need some help from Keegan with the pictures. Some of the pictures were transfered from Elder Twitchell's camera, and others were videos. I hope it can get figured out. If not you can just send it back, or can you? Anyways I am going to be living with a former Assistant to the President, and my companion is going to be an Elder with the last name of Sherden. I will meet him tomorrow. He will be the district leader too. So my house will be stacked. Its really nice living with Zone leaders. I learn a lot from them, just by observing. Any ways. I'm stuck in Villa Mella.

Thanks Maureen and Kerren

2010-03-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

“I get so much stuff from people every week. I got a package from Kerren and
from Maureen Fitzgerald. Apparently a bunch of people read my blog cause
she sent me fig newtons. I have lost 15 pounds on the mission (dad asked me
to tell him) so I am about 175. I think I'm going to slowly forget how to write
in English while I am here. I can see my spelling getting worse, and I keep
forgetting words.
It's hard for me to exercise sometimes, I don´t always want
to get super sweaty because I have to be cautious how many clothes and
garments I go through. The washer is kinda broken and there are 4 of us, plus
sometimes we don't have electricity when we are home. So sometimes I go easy, and
also sometimes no one does the dishes so I have to spend the morning doing them.
Oh well, I pretty much just stretch, do sit ups, push ups, and depending on how
much I will be walking that day I use the jump rope.
I agree with Kessler I can´t believe how fast the time goes, its almost spring
break for you guys. Its weird my process of thinking. That after conference is
mothers day, after mothers day is summer, summer then becomes my birthday, and
then I will already be at a year. I never feel like I have enough time, enough
time to study, learn the doctrine, learn the language. I get super stressed out,
and then I start to write in my journal, my journal is my chill pill, and as I
write I realize how much I complicate things when the mission, and the gospel,
is very simple. To answer your questions though:
My week? How was it? First off it was hot, dad mentioned that we are entering
rainy season..I haven't seen that yet, though it is starting to get way more
humid, the past few days I´ve pretty much been sweating a consistent 24 hours
We had interviews with president this week. Basically he asks you how your
doing, then its up to you to ask questions. The problem is I really don´t have any questions,
So my interviews are basically President telling me that my companion
thinks I'm a good missionary, and we talk for 2 minutes about how we are doing.
The part I really look forward to in interviews, well they are other things.
Since it is multi-zone I get to see and chat with other Elders in my group with
the same time like Elder Ely who I was with in Provo. Or the fact that we all
get some type of treat from Sister Antivillo, like a brownie or home made
cookie. Something you don´t see in the Dominican.
Hmmm what do I find the most interesting. People in the Evangelico church, I don´t get how they go so far way from the church, yet believe its true. There are so many evangelicos that are so lost and misled doctrine wise and It hurts me, because I know they won´t be receiving all the blessing of the new and everlasting covenant. Those also sometimes are the most annoying. Because those guys just talk and talk and talk and misquote scriptures and don´t understand how to find the true path. They all l think that the church that your in doesn't matter just as long as your "trying to find God" that's frustrating, but I don't really deal with them past a contact. Also another thing interesting I find is the simplicity yet complexity of the mission. Simply have faith be obedient work hard and follow the spirit, but at the same time. You have each investigator and its hard to find out their doubts and why they are keeping commitments.”

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-03-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

"Well, where to start. I guess i'll start with this. MERRY CHRISTMAS! So I got 3
of my packages. The shoes and two of the Christmas packages. As I opened them
this morning I was humbled to dirt. The presents were awesome. The reason I was
humbled was the fact that I received letters from Grandad, Keegan,Grandma, and
you Mom. I got money from Grandad, Grandma, presents from you, and Keegan told
me that Dad payed for the mustang. I was humbled by how much my family is in my
life. How I am nothing. They give me so much. I never show enough appreciation.
The gifts were sweeet, I am trying to hold back from scarfing all my candy at
once, its a little hard when there isn't a lot of food in the house. But thank
you thank you thank you thank you. The shoes are perfect. I hope Dads toe is
better. I cut my nail too short and it starting giving me an ingrown nail on my
big toe, but its healing and I'm good now. My area is great. Today I weighed
myself. I'm down to a tiny like 175ish. Crazy I don't look that small or feel that
small. My pants still fit. Who knows what happened. This is the first time in my
life where I have been excited to study the scriptures everyday. I have so much
I need and want to learn about the gospel and the lessons, yet I have so little
time. Only an hour a day for two years, then things are going to be difficult. I
am in the middle of the Book of Mormon right now trying to figure out the whole
story of Abinidi, Alma, Limhi, Mosiah, etc. That parts a little confusing
because they skip time periods.
Its cool to see that we are doing the same things in the same
weeks in church, that are going on in America. You mentioned the weather and
scenery. I don't know if its really getting rainy yet, but it is warming up. The
humidity is going to kill me, I don't mind dry heat, but humid heat, I just pour.
Some part of the area is city, and other is "campo" or more national geographic
shack poor people area. The scenes are pretty amazing. Now that I have a memory
card I will send the first one home. "

2010-02-22T19:49:00.000-08:00

I think the Gospel Principles book is awesome. Because we just
taught priesthood, but they took the most complicated things of
the gospel and put them in such a simple way. In my opinion you don´t
need a bunch of material to have an effective lesson at church. You could have a
great lesson using one verse in the Book of Mormon, if the spirit is felt, and
if the right questions are asked. Well, as a missionary I don't feel new anymore.
I'm pretty much used to the diarreah, smelly dirty air, heat, crazy people, etc.
That's cool Maureen made a page, glad to know I'm missed. I wrote her last week, I
hope my letter gets to her soon. Its hard to forget about home when I have so
many good friends that write me.
To answer your questions:
The goofiest thing I've seen. .. .Well, there was a bum today walking around in a home
made thong thing, that was kind of weird kinda reminded me of a dirty lamanite.
Also the whole families on motorcycles. Kids make these toys or kites made of
sticks and garbage bags, or the toy cars made out of orange juice jugs and 4
bottle caps. Occasionally I see a crazy guy walking through the neighborhood, or
15-20 people in the back of a truck bed. Oh also these fake pink leather snake
skin shoes. The stand out experience of the week I guess might be our baptism,
it was actually kind of sad. No one showed up to watch. It made me kind of sad I
am watching someone receiving salvation, but at the same time I´m sad because no
members showed up to support or watch.

2010-02-21T09:29:00.000-08:00

“I really dont miss anything like showers,orcarpet,orflushing my tiolet paper
down the tiolet. It's the things that bring me peace. The things that affect my
emotion like music, video games, family, friends. Hygiene is all physical
so I don't get bugged by that. I am looking forward to this second transfer
here in Villa Mella with Elder Twitchell. I'm his last companion. Since my
companion only has one transfer left, I'm missing a lot of things. First, movies.
I miss just watching movies, I love movies. Second family, you don´t know what
you miss till its gone. I was talking to the missionaries about American food,
How if I was given Fig Nutens I would be so happy, and eat them up. Then I
continued by saying I don't even like Fig Nutens, just the fact that they are
only in America and wouldn't be able to eat them for 2 years, getting them would
make me so happy. I miss sports and my friends a lot. I still try to
write my friends a lot. I'm really trying to put that
away and focus my attention on missionary work.

I figured that I”d get transfered this weekand it didnt happen. Elder Twitchell
teachs one way and I like teaching another. I realized as a missionary thats the beauty of having a companion, to see what he does well, and what he does bad. That it isn´t
your job to babysit(not that I need to with him) he is good, but just
missionaries in general. Worry about feeling the spirit for yourself, make sure
your obedient, loving your companion. If your doing what's right and set an
example you can only pray and ask for Gods help that everything will work out
between a companionship. Some Elders just dont get it. I don´t get it fully
either. The mission is a wonderful place to grow as a person and learn how to
help others with their problems while overcoming your own.

Ok, first off, a tip for sending a packages: use the Florida address - always use
the Florida address for letters and packages. Second, to ensure nothing gets
stolen put a bunch of catholic pictures on the package. No one will rob a
package with Mary or a cross on it because first they think the package is full
of church stuff andd second most people here are catholic, so it's like a curse
if they stole stuff.”

2010-02-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

" I wrote you guys a huge letter and it timed out. I really don't feel like
writing the whole thing over again. It wasn´t that great anyways. I don´t have
much to write about this week. Temperature is heating up.  I´m in good hands, I'm
healthy, I'm happy. We stopped to eat in a
Pica Pollo and a wrestling match was on, made me think of Dad.
I don´t like really explaining my investigators. That's just something I
don´t really like to share. For the past few weeks we´ve had a member lady cook
for us. She makes some good food. I'm kind of excited for transfers.
Thanks for sending packages, I have faith that I'm getting one this week. I´ve
been getting the most random letters. One was from the Coons family back from
December 11th. All the way up to one of yours from January 21. So that's kind of
funny.
We had fast and Testimony meeting. Wherever you go a testimony is a
testimony. They are all the same across the world. Even in the Dominican
Republic.  You´ve got the little kids who go up and give theirs. There are the
storymonies.  Everything the same as back home, except not a lot of criers. The
ward is really funny, they are starting to be like an American ward. This week
they gave everyone little paper fliers with chocolate on the back inviting
people to church. The relief society has a table with a cloth over the top. Then
the priesthood has one guy that loves music and needs to lead and belt the hymns
every time.  Its pretty funny."

2010-02-02T18:06:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

You would have so much appreciation for the having a temple close if you lived here.
Most people only get to go once in their lifetime. I would never be able to
understand and learn everything I should by only being able to go through once.
I can't wait to be able to go as often as I can. Its a real blessing.
My companion, let's see. He is from Las Vegas, has a family of 7( two older
siblings 2 younger).  He is a very hard worker and wants the best for me.
He likes rock, he has lost 40 or more pounds in the mission, and is a pretty good
missionary,  knows his scriptures.  We have had a humbling experience
lately.  We tried doing a bunch of contacts and not as
many lessons, inviting everyone to church, then whoever showed up would be new
investigators. That didn´t work so well. So we are going to start teaching more
lessons again. Also,  two of our investigators with baptismal dates are a little
nervous. One doesn't want to get baptized at all. Her name is Noris, she has a
testimony and a desire, but her husband has no interest. She is afraid she will
go inactive right after she is baptized. Its a messy situation. In this
Country a lot of women have their babies with a guy they don´t really love but
they will live with them just because the man will work and provide for her and
her baby. So we wanted to get them married so she could get baptized, but at the
same time, if he is not interested in the church, and they don't really love
each other?  I think it is a situation I will run into a lot here. The other
is the sister of Noris Carini. She just needs to figure everything out. She is
really smart and when she reads the Book of Mormon she understands. She goes to
church, just the whole baptism is necessary thing hasn't clicked yet. It will be
an interesting week. Also there is Carlos, an inactive Jehovah's Witness. He has
shown a lot of interest. We taught him, but then because of work we weren't
able to visit him for about a week. He has been going to church, but had a lot
of doubts about baptism. Then we invited hm to our baptismal service last
Saturday (which I did all the baptisms. IN SPANISH. Aye aye aye.) He watched,
loved it, wants to get baptized. So that's where I am at right now.  Last Sunday,
yesterday, I gave a talk. The bishopric just decided that me...the new guy
needed to give a talk. It was good though because I had some stuff to share.  The members
told me they enjoyed it and understood what I was saying which is good. Work
here is good. Weather is nice, calm, not too hot. I don't really have any good
tracting stories. There are a bunch of crazy Evangelico people that go off about
stuff they don´t know. Its really sad. You want to share the truth but their
hearts are so hard. One pulled out an article he found about a family with
26 kids and 5 wives. We had to explain it wasn't our church. It was bad. Then of
course there are the contacts where a mom decides she wants to start breast
feeding.
I'm doing good, I got another like 5 letters from December and January.
I'm  doing really well though. Oh we found out this week the first presidency is adding
Aruba to our mission.  So I might be able to go there and I might speak English.

2010-01-25T17:42:00.000-08:00



I´ve made a promise to myself not to mention any baptism numbers anymore.
First,  they aren´t "my baptisms"  because everything
is done through the spirit and the will of God. Second I need to be humble
about it and sharing a number does nothing.
Sometimes I have dreams about home and stuff, and think about all of the
 friends and people I was blessed to know. Then I realize
where I am and what my job is. Elder Bednar was awesome. He is such a smart guy,
both spiritually and in his knowledge of how to interact in the world.
He talked about Haiti and the church's help with that. Its crazy how much the
church does without needing or  wanting or seeking attention. Its pure love and
service. One thing that hit me about the visit with Elder Bednar was this; first
off he didn´t give us a talk, he decided to do a Q and A with the missionaries.
So one missionary asked, " how do I know and how can I make my prayers more
sincere"  Of course,  Elder Bednar said avoid repetition, but something else he
said hit me pretty hard. He said you will know when your prayer is sincere if
you get rebuked by the spirit. Other stuff he talked about was great.  It all had
to do with missionary work. He said something funny too. Making fun of traditions
of our father and not of the gospel. It was writing intense notes during a
talk, because no one ever actually reviews the notes and they never have
significant meaning. Instead,  he said write down the feelings and thoughts that
come to you from the spirit,  not Elder Bednar's mouth.
My place is on the 2nd story of a 3 story building. There are
5 rooms. Two big open spaces right after the door, following the big space is a
kitchen(like a normal apartment). Then,  there are two rooms in the back; each
companionship has one. We have one more room to put random stuff and hang our
clothes to dry. Also their are two bathrooms with tub/shower a sink mirror, and
toilet. Behind the kitchen is a really small area for the clothes washer. You´ll
have to google search  Dominican washer/dryer. The rooms are decent sized
probably as big as our family room. I don´t have a bed frame so I just sleep on
a twin mattress on the ground which I enjoy. I come home so tired everyday I
just crash and fall asleep easily. I would use the fan if I needed to, but the
nights are pretty cold. I was told that won´t last long. Plus,  usually the
electricity isn´t on till after I go to sleep. So sometimes the fan scares me to
death because I wake up in the middle of the night with the noise of the fan
right in my ear. Lets see, there isn´t carpet anywhere in the DR because its so
humid and dusty it would be impossible to keep clean. So basically the whole
house is tile. There are a bunch of windows and open spaces. So there is always
a nice breeze. We don't have a lot of furniture. My companion Elder  Twitchel and
I have a table, and Elder Sherwood and Curry have two separate desks for
themselves. Other then that we have lawn chairs. So pretty basic, its all I need.
There is a nice closet to hang my clothes in my room, and also right next to the
bathroom there is a walk in closet to hang other stuff. So Its actually pretty
nice. I heard we have one of the nicest houses in the Mission.  Since
there isn't really a garbage company, we left two bags of garbage just sitting in
our apartment. We had a lot of maggots and ants chilling on the ground. Elder
Sherwood and Elder Curry decided to film the ants riding the maggots, and made
it a little rodeo. I know pretty sad. Anyways works good, Spanish is good,
life's good, I figured how to balance my budget. So I should be good.  I got a
bunch of letters from around Christmas.  I got one
from Aunt  Jean, Granny and a few more from friends. Some were dated
 back from like December 10th and others were as
close as Jan. 13th. Well I don't know what else to say. I'm trying to take
pictures, but I'm pretty busy with the work. Saying blessings in Spanish is
weird. We gave a pretty cool one in a camodo, basically a little 7/11 type store
except smaller,  with like a crowd of 12 people around. We gave the blessing to a
young lady with a brain tumor.

-

2010-01-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

"When I did contacts this week I found out about Haiti. A lot of Dominicans have
family there. So a lot of them were pretty worried, when we´d ask how they are
doing.  As for me and my area. We didn't  feel a thing, I didn't even know there
was an earthquake till days later. It sounds pretty bad and serious though. So
what do I eat? There are places called pica pollo which are more common here
then Starbucks and McDonalds in America. Its basically a cheap sit down place
eat chicken and fries, or beans , or fried platano(banana thingies). My
companions name is Elder Twitchel. He is kind of like Kessler.
We usually cook our food together. Usually we only eat breakfast and
lunch. For breakfast I've made french toast once. We have a gas stove and candles
so I still do fine. Cooking isn't much different with out electricity. Usually it is
just a banana or a PBJ though.  Actually we live with two other elders and one of
them usually makes us oatmeal. Its pretty good, its the first time I ever tried
oatmeal. For lunch I make rice and beans, or we just go to the main shopping
place and get something to eat there.  Oh,  we also make fried and scrambled eggs.
Fruit is expensive  = (.  My Spanish is progressing. It helps that I've already
taught the first lesson to investigators like 60 times.
We have a great ward with a ward mission goal. So all the members are on our
side. It really helps.  You'd be surprised how much effect a member can have if
they are present in a lesson. We already have 4 baptismal dates set up, if we
are lucky I could have 6 baptisms by the end of the month. It all depends
though.
Yes! there is specific food I want in my packages. A big bag of tootsie rolls,
like huge bag, because those never go bad and are great to snack on at the
house. Also laffy taffy, those don't go bad, don't really melt. Good to snack on
plus the crummy jokes lift your spirits. Other then that nothing really, maybe
jerky.
I'm really excited Elder Bednar is coming to talk to us on Wednesday. Yes, theee
Elder Bednar. It should be interesting to see what he has to say.
The weather here as been weird. It has rained everyday this past week. Also the
sun has barely been shining. The other day it was basically Oregon, 62 degrees with
barely any humidity,with a nice sprinkle/drizzle. Kind of funky.  I don't expect
it to last much longer. Its going to get hot pretty soon.
Any ways things are going good, My comp and I could work Harder.  There is a
missionary out right now who is over a 100 baptisms for the mission. That's my
goal. I need to work hard. Thank you for having confidence in me, I know you
know I'm good. Sometimes though when I do a contact and there is just like a
teenager chillin on the couch with no shirt on, I get  little home sick. It goes
away pretty soon though.
Oh! the power went on for a little and I had my first hot shower. It felt sooo
nice. I really do take stuff for granted back home. "

2010-01-11T15:09:00.000-08:00


"I barley get any letters. Besides for the 5 I got all at
once all the way from November and your letter with the calling card
So I'm finally here. Finally in the field. I've got my trainer just like Kess
He does most of the talking during lessons and member visits because he is
fluent in Spanish and well......I'm not ha. I always try to throw in my 2 cents
actually usually its closer to like 30,  I'm not thaaat bad, but its hard to
under stand what everyone says.  Here everyone drops their s´s and sometimes d's
so you have to pick apart words and sentences, plus DR Spanish is one of if not theee
fastest Spanish in the world, but I'm excited.  My trainer said I'm way ahead in
Spanish than he was when he started, so I'm hoping I'll be able to be fully
functional in the language within 6 months. Having a native comp would help. Oh
well my companion is from Las Vegas and he has 2 transfers left on his mission.
Sorry if my email is a little weird the key boards are a little different and
well-used so I hope you can tell what I'm writing. We don't get much money here
and I'm trying to stay away from street vendors. So mostly I've been eating bread
and cheese that I bought  and also rice and beans from a little restaurant in the super
market and tortilla chips. Lots of water! Any weird bugs? They have big
cockroaches and i saw a fire fly.  Other than that, just decent sized millipedes
and small annoying little ants and lots of mosquitoes. I'm in a pretty nice place
called Villa Mella.  It has a rich side and a pretty poor side, but the whole area
is pretty big, probably like 30 minutes walking distance both north and south
from our house. We have a really nice ward with lots of people and even a pianist,
which is really rare. The pianist is also the ward missionary which 
apparently is really rare in this mission to.  But whatever he helps out and
and teaches with us. It's really nice here , hot even
though at night it gets pretty cold.  I still use the quilt.  We live with the zone
leaders who are pretty nice. Lots of dirt roads and lots of loud music. Everyone
here is pretty friendly.  When you teach it is usually on the front porch.
You don't actually go inside like 50 percent of the time. On p-days all the
missionaries go and play football at the park which is pretty fun.  I get to see
people from the CCM .  Driving is crazy and they pack people into
cars, like 7 people in a 1990 Honda civic. Cars run off propane.
I don't have electricity so it makes eating hard,
and all my showers are cold. It makes me appreciate a shower that much more, one
night the water wasn't working and we didn't get to shower or anything. I have to
hand wash my clothes, its a great experience.  My companion and I set a goal for 6
baptisms this month.  I hope we can make it.  My president is awesome.  I go to bed dead
tired every night which is great.  I sleep
like a rock even though wild dogs are barking and music is blasting until  like 3
in the morning. All is well.  I'm just soaking it in. Trying to bring people to
Christ, figuring out the language and how to be effective. I hope that package
with the shoes shows up ha.  If I'm obedient, have faith,  and work
hard God will provide."

2010-01-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

"For Christmas Day we got KFC and Pappa Johns Pizza. It was awesome, oh and
for breakfast Elder Coleman of the seventy came and other senior missionaries
made us breakfast. Plus, we got gifts. I got those sugar cookies that come in the
tin cases, which I love, and also a native tie. It was a good Christmas.
Everyone here is getting antsy to leave. I've really been trying to prepare
myself for the field. I want to be able to teach a full lesson on the first day
I'm out, and I feel like I'm going to accomplish my goal. I'm not really nervous
I've received so much counsel between talks, teachers, devotionals, Preach My
Gospel, patriarchal blessing, etc. I know if I follow it I'll be a great missionary. I finally got
one of the packages, looked like a DAD made one. The package had a hole in it, I
don't know if you sent that MP3 players in that one, but if you did it definitely
got stolen. I can't wait to eat the candy and those ties were nice. Well, I
don't have much else to say. My companion and I are laughing about how his my
and you are chatting away and sharing pictures and what not, because she is
talking about it also in his e-mail. Sounds like you had a fun Christmas,
hopefully you enjoyed Elder Garrity's call home. 
I've learned a lot in these 9 weeks here, and I'm grateful that missionaries get this
time to prepare. I just got like 5 letters today that were sent to Provo back
from November 28-30th  I pray for you all the time and have
faith that you will be blessed for me being on a mission.
 Well, I have a bunch of updates from sports thanks to Jon Erick, and I
stole the Sports section of the DR news today from the kitchen, so I'm set and
happy and ready to go."

2009-12-27T17:55:00.000-08:00

I want to start off by saying the Diarreah pills work.  Sounds
like Christmas has transformed with out anyone being home. I´m glad the
attention has been shifted now to the twins.  All I can say is good luck to
them. That is great they are speaking and smiling a lot. To answer your
questions, no it´s Christmas eve and I haven´t received a package yet, but its
really not that big of a deal. I almost lied and told you I did just so you
wouldn´t worry or anything. Christmas day is weak here. Everyone celebrates
Christmas eve the most. The first thing everyone says when you ask about what
Christmas eve is like in the DR is Mucho Comida.  A lot of food. They feast and
feast and feast in the night. These elders across from me made a fake tree, fire
place, and wrapped thier pens or soap or something just so they had something to
open on Christmas. The tree and fireplace is made of cardboard and paper. Oh
they also hung their socks on the cardboard chimney taped against the wall. Sad
I know. We watched an Elder Holland talk which was amazing. We have some email
time, free time, a big dinner, and a Christmas devotional thing with songs and
nativity, Grampa and Grandma Manaton style with all of the people in the CCM
building.  I´m way looking forward to that. I don´t think we can party, nor have
a real opportunity too. Christmas day is basically a regular day though, with
teachers and all. This whole week though, we´ve been talking about the birth of
Christ and Christmas.
I hope we will still be able to have Christmas all together when I
get back. Jesus the Christ is awesome. I´ve only read the first about 30 pages
its eye opening. I´m just reflecting on why there is a reason faith in Jesus
Christ is the first principle. Today Elder Holland said our church isn´t
Burgerking.  You can't have it your way. ¨Besides for making me feel hungry for
Burgerking, its showed me how right he is, this isn't our church, its the church
of Christ. I'm not a missionary, I'm a representative of Christ, a disciple of
Christ.  Anway that's my 2 cents. 
Merry Christmas, I'm so grateful for the greatest gift ever, the son of God. I'm
doing really good, always, I will never have a bad day, don't worry about it. I
pray for you and bless you every night.

-

Life At The CCM

2009-12-17T08:36:00.000-08:00

It rains every once in awhile here, except when it
rains it pours. So its like a shower if you are out for more than
10 seconds. I love the Westview choir concert.  I remember
they did demos for everyone. I'd find a spot in the theater,
where I could be alone, and just enjoy the Christmas songs,
I always felt the spirit then, I remember telling dad about
it.  I haven't received my packages yet, but everyone is
starting to get theirs. Karen sent a nice package
that I enjoyed. I need to write her, tell her to be patient with me
I won't be calling from the CCM, or at all for that matter,
but thanks for the card. So the CCM lets see, there are
about 60 elders. The building is pretty nice, nicer than
a church, but not as nice as the temple, like a nice hotel,it is one.
People have to travel from all over to go to the temple,
so they provide a hotel service, in the first few floors.
We are on the top floor. The instructors are great.
They all have their different talents, and ways of teaching.
Hermano Ramirez comes in at night, and is really passionate,
he always brings the spirit to class and won't teach with out it.
Great example for me, he is a great man. Hermano Ruiz
reminds me of Keegan. He is a little funny, and likes video
games.  He is the  teacher that makes us do push ups
for speaking English and cracks jokes on me and fellow
elders. Then in the morning its Hermana Loriahna, and Pechardo,
it depends on the day which  on is the teacher.
They both are really spunky and very animated in what they do.
They exaggerate everything and are needy. They get offended very easy,
or lecture us pretty quickly,  its pretty funny actually. They also like to teach
about what we need to do, and right after lecturing us, they tell us how
great we are, pretty funny.  For breakfast we always have cereal with
powdered milk. I eat corn flakes.They have corn flakes, fruit loops, and
raisin bran. Breakfast also has bananas and sometimes the cook will
make oatmeal, pancakes, french toast, or regular toast. For every meal
you can count on, this roll bread, reminds me of  what
Aladdin steals near the beginning of Aladdin. Then there is
always this juice, like an orange mango one, and a red fruit punch type.
I just drink the water. For lunch, we get pineapple and papaya then always
a plate of beans and rice, and meat.  It's marinated different everyday.
The chicken is always wings and legs, never has crispy skin or anything.
With the rice you can choose from regular  white
or a little more seasoned yellow. Some days I get bored of it and just get
bread, fruit and salad.  All they have is cucumbers cut up, lettuce,
tomatoes, and ranch. Its really nice cause its all fresh. Dinner varies
some days it's sandwiches with Oscar Meyer ham. Some times
this nasty spaghetti that's spicy because they don't use marinara sauce.
Sometimes tacos, steak fajitas. So, that's about it. Some stuff over and
over. Occasionally for birthdays we get cake. Or sometimes someone
makes cookies, which are good. My district is alright, not as good as my
old one. They talk crap a lot behind each other's back.
They are just easy to forget stuff sometimes. Its frustrating.
But I try and lead by example and I think they look up to me and my companion.

2009-12-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

"I taught my first first vision at the university this week, for
like 20 minutes, all in Spanish. Then I talked to some other guy about the plan
of salvation and the atonement for another 15ish minutes. One guy asked a
question, but I couldn't understand what he was asking. It sucked because I
wanted to answer really bad. Other than that it's been the same old same old.
 My district is way more rowdy then my last one. That gets frustrating, but I have
some really good teachers. One of my teachers everyone says I flirt with, I
don't think I do. They also say she flirts with me, I don't think that either,
but, oh well. That's not why I'm here.

Well, I have some snickers to hold me off awhile. We
went to the super market this week,
It was like the bigger version of WalMart. The store was two stories. Bottom
had basic stuff like, groceries, hygiene, well basically a Target, toys, food,
cleaning supplies etc. Up top were clothes. They had some pretty expensive ties.
One was really cool, but it was too expensive.
I know Christ is important. He is everything in my life. I have really been trying to
feel his love this past few weeks."

December 3, 2009

2009-12-03T15:24:00.000-08:00

Well here I am, we had turkey and ham for Thanksgiving. It was a really good
meal. Other than that it's been pretty much rice and beans. It's cool here though.
I got to bless the sacrament last Sunday. I was trying not to laugh during it.
Let me explain: we have a group of kids from the MTC  trying to speak Spanish.  A
group from Guyana that speak "English" most of them are terrible. Then there is
a group of black elders that speak creole* and french.  All three of the groups
sing the Hymns in their own language.  On top of that the pianist could not hit a
note to save his life. So our hymns sounded terrible!  I made it through that,
but when my companion tried to bless the bread in Spanish and was struggling I
had to bite my tongue not to laugh. My companion reminds me of old school Nolan.
He is about 6' 2",  290.  Just big.  He always uses the references like, "How about I
punch your face,"  He is alright though, not as good as my old companion, but he tries.
 I miss brownies, We don't get a lot of sugar here. I got to go to the temple
 today. They do it in english,  thank goodness. It's so hot and humid here,
 worse then Florida. I love it. The only time I'm freezing is in the morning 
cause our A/C is down at like 40 degrees.  We
get to go to the local university each week to contact people. It is awesome.
There are a lot of mommasitas here, I might get in trouble =P. Other than that
same old same old.  Same schedule. The only difference is our teachers don't
speak a lot of English, they try to do the whole class in Spanish. We
got our money converted to Pesos, so i have like 3000 pesos. W

I Made It

2009-11-30T16:56:00.000-08:00

"Hey I'm at the DR MTC or CCM, I still don't know why it's called that. This place
is awesome, I'm gonnna love the DR. The temple is beautiful I can't wait to go in.
The MTC is sooo nice too, It's just as nice if not better then Provo's, well gotta
go."

Love,
Elder Garrity

Note from mom - CCM stand for Currently Crying Mothers

Back Trouble?

2009-11-17T18:54:00.000-08:00

"I'm so busy I lose track of which day it is. My lower back tightened up on the first night, so I haven't been able to exercise much. I actually had to go to the MTC doctor because my hip and back alignment was off. I couldn't even stand straight or fake decent size strides. So, I stretched my back, did some strengthening exercises and took a lot of ibuprofin and muscle relaxer. I'm pretty much back to normal now. My companion is Elder Stephens (pronounced Stevens). He is a red head, just a little shorter than me. He grew up in highland Utah. My zone is huge, but my district is like 12 people, actually 11 now that one went home because he was homesick.

My schedule is basically wake up eat breakfast. Go to class, learning preach 
my gospel stuff and Spanish. Then, lunch at 11:30,  back to class for studying.  Dinner 
4:30,  back to personal study, companion study, and language study each for an 
hour.  Sometimes the personal, companion and language switch with the class time. 
Also we have gym for an hour a day. Sometimes we have fireside, and p-days and 
Sundays are different.


Note from mom:
Sawyer had a few questions for us . . .
Is my blogspot website the most visited website in America? 
How are my Blazers doing?
Who do you nag now that no one is home?
Did you rename the iguana Mr.?

mtc e-mail

2009-11-10T17:18:00.000-08:00

"There is so much food here I'm having like five course
meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am really impressed by the way the MTC
is set up. They make it easy to learn the language, and feel the spirit. At the
same time they leave you very accountable for yourself, and make you use your
agency to decide when you want to work, and what you get out of it.
An elder that I sit close to almost went home because he was feeling too home sick,
I'm really glad I am  not having that problem (not that I did in the first place). I
don't know if I already told you, but when I was set apart, the mission president
said in the blessing that I would read Jesus the Christ three times while on my
mission. I didn't think that was a big deal until I saw HOW BIG IT WAS!. The
book is good so far though. I don't have much else to say, I guess the weather
is getting colder, but my heart is getting warmer. I strive for perfection every
day trying to follow the footsteps of Christ'.

First Letter Home

2009-11-10T07:07:00.000-08:00

Even though he said he would never write home, we received the first letter on Monday. He says, "Well, I am here. It's a weird feeling, but a great one. You will probably be sad to hear I'm not homesick at all. Just in the first two days I have come to realize what a great tool Preach My Gospel is. They gave me a set of Spanish scriptures and a Spanish Preach My Gospel. Right after the MTC ripped me from your arms it was a fast paced uniformed schedule and I didn't get a chance to really soak in where I was at all until I was about to fall asleep"

2009-11-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

On November 5, 2009, Elder Sawyer Garrity entered the MTC. So far, we only have his address but we're hoping to have some news soon.