My Last Email

So this week was good. We got another baptismal date, but both of them fell through this Sunday. They didn't come to church. This week will be really busy which is good. This last week we worked a ton with a non-member, and we built a fence. I welded it. It was really fun. No one else knew how to do it, so I guess that is one of the reasons the Lord has blessed me with these two extra weeks and many more reasons.  Yesterday it hit me hard that I was coming home. It was a hard day. I wasn't expecting that. But during the sacrament, I calmed down. I am nervous and excited about everything. 

This week should be good. I think it will fly by. I don't know what time I will have to be on the bus Sunday to go to the mission home in Vina.  I have been calling people to go visit in Vina on Monday, so it will be good. Today we played soccer as a zone. Then we ate. I can't remember what they are called,  but it's like a hot dog, but better and like smaller. It was really fun. Then with the service project this week, it wore me out. I was dead on Sunday. I know this week will be the same. I  can't believe this is the last time I will be writhing home. It's really weird for me to think about that, but it will be so nice to see everyone. My mind is going a hundred miles an hour and it always goes blank when I sit down to write. I really don't know what else to say, but I hope you all have a good week. 

i want to thank everyone for your support and love during these two years of my mission and during my life I am grateful for everyone and what all they have done for me. I will always be in debt to the Lord for this experience. I will work hard to keep having these experiences. I couldn't have asked for a better family, friends and people who I can really say have molded my life and helped me no matter what. I know this church is true and that it is the only true church over the face of the earth. I am so grateful for the doctrine that families can be together forever, and for all the things of the church. I have loved my mission, this country, and the people. There has been ups and downs, but this is the greatest thing I could have done for these two years. I know the Lord has called me here for a reason, and I have enjoyed my experience that I will have for eternity. I thank each of you and love you all for everything. Have a good week. I will see you next week.

Love,

Elder Gillies 

May 23, 2016

Permission to meet up with Lance Johnson!

That is not cool that I didn't draw out for moose! Do you know who is working with me at the town this summer? The interview with President didn't happen until midnight. They got behind with everything, but it was good. I did get permission to meet Lance at the temple on that Tuesday that I fly home. I should see him before I get on the plane.  I'm excited. This week was good. We set a baptism date for June 5th, so I won't be here but there will be an elder that will get to be there if everything goes good. Yesterday we found a new investigator. He is really cool. The other investigator invited him to get baptized. It was really funny. We will see how that goes with them. The girl is from Coquimbo, so I don't know. If she moves here, she could get baptized so we will see how it goes. We are trying to convince her to move. Yesterday we had a family home evening in the church and that was fun. Then this week it will be weird. The ward will all be in Santiago on my last day in La Serena so that will be interesting.

That is nuts that Chris Sorenson is home. This week we walked a ton. We had days with like five appointments each day. They they would all fall through. We would end of teaching someone else each day so it was still a good week. Remember next week will be the last email that I will send you.

I am glad you had a good week. Tell Easton and Trey Happy Birthday and Dad Happy Birthday on Sunday. Also tell Mark and Brandy Happy Anniversary in a few weeks. Have a good week.

Love,

Elder GIllies 

TIme is Getting Short

It was good to Skype with you guys yesterday. It was so weird saying, "I will see you in three weeks!" I am excited to see everyone. Yesterday after the call, we went to work. We didn't have any appointments, and we walked all day. When they say it is the last house on the street that you will find someone, they mean it. No one was home. We knocked on the last house before going home and we were able to give the lady a Book of Mormon and was able to teach her. So that was a good experience. On Wednesday, I should have my interview with President Diaz. it should be good. I am assuming it will be short because I will have another my final interview in a few more weeks. We had a good week.

Thanks for the updates on the playoffs. That is good about the Red Sox. I Skyped with Melissa for like five minutes. It was good to see them and new baby Tanner.  Is Grandma Showell going to come up to my homecoming or will she not be able to come?  What about Grandpa and Grandma Gillies?  I had exchanges and taught a family from Peru that has 17 people living in one house that is so tiny and only has one bathroom. I don't know how they do it. Other then that, it was just a calm week. it was good to see you guys. I will write more next week.

Love,

Elder Gillies

Baptisms Falling Through

So with the Skype call it's just whatever everyone wants to do. If they want to say hi for just a second that's fine. If they want to wait, that is fine too. I will let you guys decide what you want to do. I will call you guys around eleven your time before you go to church and not after church.  

This week with the baptisms, two dates fell through. With Gloria, we got to the tithing and she had a hard time with that. She wants to be baptized still, but I don't know if I will be here for it. So I don't know about trying to find people that could get baptized. I will have interviews with President Diaz next week. I don't know what I will really tell him. I will see him in a few weeks right before I go home. WIth the ward, there are a ton of people that are going through a lot of trials. So we are trying to help. 

I will try to get the pictures you asked for last week sent this week. Sounds like you had a lot of work with the dirt for the planter boxes. Curry has to stay healthy for the Olympics this year. 

We had a family home evening yesterday so there was a bunch of return missionaries that came and told experiences and all that. It was good. It was pretty fun. Everyone gave me a lot of crap for being close to finishing my mission.  This week will be lot of running with service projects. I am just trying to get my comp so that he knows the sector really well before I leave. We had a good week. It was mostly spent just looking for people to teach. Not much really happened, but I will try to remember more for the Skype call. Have a good week.

Love,

Elder Gillies