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

New Companion - Elder Jensen from Canada

Thanks for putting the money in my account.  Can you ask Bishop Bradshaw what he wants me to talk on for my homecoming talk. If I can choose, I would like to talk on the Atonement of Christ. What time does everyone get out of church on Sunday on Mother's Day so that I can know how we need to do the Skype call. Tell Kylie Happy Birthday this week. I don't know if you got my flight plans yet.  However, I will leave Tuesday, May 29th at 8:40 p.m. at night and get to Georgia at 5:31 a.m. in the morning. Then I leave from there at 8:25 a.m. and get into Salt Lake at 10:29  on Wednesday, June 1. That would be good news if I drew out for moose. Hopefully you know when we Skype.

This week I gave a talk in sacrament meeting. We got a new mission leader. He should do really well so that is exciting. I did get a new companion on transfers last Wednesday. I went to Vina all that day, and we got back to our apartment at like three in the morning. I am still trying to recover!  My companion is good. He has been out 16 months. His name is Elder Jensen and he is from Canada. He is a lot like me. He likes to hunt, snowboard, and all that stuff. He is a little more quiet, but he is a good kid. It should be a good change.

So this week Gloria attended church, so that was cool. She needs two more Sundays in and she should be good to get baptized on the 8th of May. Yesterday a miracle happened. The night before a member asked if I had some goals to finish before I returned home. I said one goal was to baptize a man, because I have baptized all women. Sunday the bishop calls us into his office and says, "Elder, this man wants to be baptized, but the only thing is they need to get married." That will take some time, so I am praying that we can get them married before May ends. That would be really cool.

That is good that Melissa got the new house. That is exciting for her. I met someone related to Jarvis Koeven. I was just talking to a missionary and he asked where I was from. I am like Lyman Wyoming. He said, "Do you know Jarvis Koeven? He is my uncle." So, small world. Other them that, things are good. Have a good week.

Love,

Elder Gillies

Transfer Week - My Last One!

So with the money, I don't need a lot. Just enough for emergencies. I don't think I will buy much more, just a few little things.  About my flight plans, I will get the papers to have my goals and all that this week or next week, but with my flight plans, I think you will know before I do. You will probably get them in three more weeks to tell you the truth, but I am not sure.

This week was good. We were able to set up two baptismal dates. One fell through yesterday because the lady got sick and couldn't come to church, but hopefully she can come to church this week. If they don't start coming to church, they wouldn't be baptized in time for me to see it. I was told that two people that I was teaching in Salamanca got baptized, so that was really cool to hear that they are doing good. I have been emailing Lance. He said his mission president might give him permission to come to the temple with me my last day in Chile, but with the changes, we will know tomorrow. My companion has been here for a really long time in this area. If I had a choice, I would have him stay and just finish the mission with him, but we will find out at transfers tomorrow. So next week I will fill you in on that. We are going to get a new mission leader this week, so that bummed me out. I really liked the other one. He is one of the best people in the ward. Today I will be with my companion and another missionary. His companion is going home after one transfer. He is a convert and couldn't handle it, so he is going home which is sad.

That is cool about the Red Sox. Hopefully they do better this year. Oh yeah, I got a really good compliment yesterday. We had an activity on Friday. We had the spiritual part and a member brought a friend. The member said the things I said really touched her, and she could remember that from the activity. So that made me feel really good. The ward, if it's not careful, will be made a branch. There are no elders. The men need to start coming to church. 

Yesterday I ate one of the biggest lunches I have ever had. I started with a plate of rice, eggs and potatoes. Then they brought out a sandwich that was as big as my hand. Then dessert!  I finished it, but it was a challenge! That was my week. Have a good week. Thanks for everything.

Love,

Elder Gillies

Planning Ward Activity

Today we played basketball for about fifteen minutes after playing soccer for p-day.  The Latins don't have a clue what they are doing with basketball, so we didn't play too long. Tell Mark Happy Birthday this week.  Can you please put a little bit of money on my card. This week was good. The girl that was baptized is named Tiare. She is good, and yes it was her grandpa that baptized her. So today, like I said, we went and played soccer. It's all right. I just run and try to steal it and get some lucky goals. This week I had one of the weirdest lessons in my life. We have a member here who doesn't do anything all day but read. So we visit him a lot, but after this appointment we are never going to visit him again. He was talking about all this apostate stuff in the lesson.  The first time we met him, he wouldn't let us talk and them criticized us after the lesson. He is weird, but I don't know. I guess this isn't the first time that this has happened with other missionaries. 

This week we are going to have an activity with the ward and tonight we are having a family home evening and make sushi. Alicia, the lady we baptized finally got confirmed yesterday. Thank goodness! After like six weeks after her baptism, she finaly got confirmed. 

That is cool that North Carolina lost. Now I don't have to take crap from Travis the whole year! The Lord answers prayers. Ha ha!  This week was a good week. We were able to find a few new families to teach. This is the last week of transfers.   Next Wednesday we will go to Vina or stay here, depending on transfers. I will be in my last transfer this change. It has been really weird with this eight weeks in this transfer, instead of 6. It has been a good change with everything that has gone on. It's a big area and all that, so that is always nice. The house is basically like the same house that I lived in in Los Vilos except the stairs are in the middle of the bottom so you always have to duck your head. I don't know who was the genius that had that idea to put them there. I would never buy that house. That is cool about Mark getting the job in Baggs. That is good that he will get paid more than the Mountain view and Evanston jobs.  Good luck Mark with coaching football. I got my hair cut today. I really needed it. It was getting long. Is Jessica Kunzler pregnant? I didn't know Nathan Jaggi was getting married, so that is good for them. Does Ryan Niederer have a girlfriend? Other then that, that was my week. Have a good week.

Love you.

Elder Gillies

Baptism

O.K. so conference was good. I don't know if President Monson will be there the next time, but my favorite talk was Elder Nelson in the priesthood session. I got to watch conference in English. That was really nice. It was good. It seemed like they talked a lot about the family. The other missionaries were giving me and two other missionaries crap about that,like this one is for you and all that, but it was good. I really enjoyed the weekend of conference. 

This week was really weird. My companion got sick. One day was spent taking him to get shots. Then the baptism was the Friday with General Conference on Saturday and Sunday.  The week went by really fast. Today we went and played soccer in the stake. It was really fun. It was eight of the missionaries, so we were there for a few hours. I hope Mark gets the job in Baggs. Tell Dallas Happy Birthday this week. That is funny about Molly. So spring break is over I am assuming. When are the kids going to get out of school?  

The baptism was good. The mom basically got up in her talk and told her son-in-law that he needs to get baptized too in order to complete his family. It was really funny. I was looking at him and looking at her to see what he would do, but it was a really good experience. We went to visit one of the people that needs to get married. I don't know what they are going to do with their lives. She knows more about the church than he does, and she isn't the member. 

What cuts are you going to have to make this year at the school?  Who do you think is going to win? I hope Villanova. I  don't want to get crap from Travis with Golden State!  Ha ha!  Is anyone going to be able to stop them this year or are they just going to roll over people? Is there still snow up there or is it warming up a little bit? Here, it rains one day, then the next day is sunny, then rain again. It's really weird. We don't really know if we need to leave with a jacket or not. That is sad about Randy Hillstead's son. I was in meetings all week so not much happened. I really enjoyed the conference. Hope you have a good week.

Love,

Elder Gillies

La Serena - 3/28/16

Baptism - 4/1/16

Upcoming Baptism

So the baptism that we will have is all good. It will be this Friday, so we are excited. The other lady that we baptized still hasn't received the Holy Ghost with all the conferences and everything. So that isn't good. Yesterday we had an activity on family history. It was really fun. There were a lot of people that came out for it and everything, so that was really fun.

Tell mark sorry that he didn't get the job and sounds like you are having a good week in St. George with Melissa and Dallas.

We taught a lady that we contacted last week. She has had a really hard life, so hopefully she will progress because the gospel can really help her out. She doesn't want to go to church is the only thing. Tell Grandpa and Grandma Gillies thanks for the money. I don't know if Elder Viana ordered that stuff on Dessert Book on purpose or not, but it he did, he is going to get a lot of stuff for free. If he did, that stinks because we were companions. He couldn't even come out and tell the truth.

This week was good with Easter. We have a lot of people left to teach that just need to get married.  No one is getting married, yet I have always been better at breaking marriages up, then marrying them. But with these families, I can't do that cause they all have kids and everything. It's just their culture that they are lazy, because it's the same thing they are doing now, it's just with the Lord's blessing that could be helping them if they were married and could have the gospel in their lives.

This week I swear all the missionaries were getting sick. With President Kienlien, everyone went out to work basically no matter what and now with President Diaz, he lets us choose if we go when we are sick. It's fine, but I hope the missionaries don't abuse.

That will be nice when everything is done with the basement when everyone comes up. Yes, I am pretty sure I finally got my birthday package. I must have forgotten to tell you that I got it. I am excited for general conference this week. Hopefully I can see it in English. It's just a lot better to hear the real voices of the speakers, then to hear the interpreters. This week we have a lot of stuff to do, o it will go by really quick. I taught English to a member and the bishop. I think it was more of a comedy show, then English class, but it was fun. I hope they leaned something, but I had a good week. It sue went by really fast. Hope you have a great week.

Love,

Elder Gillies

Conference with President Diaz

So Happy Anniversary Melissa and Dallas. Hope you had a good Anniversary. Tell Grandma Gillies Happy Birthday. I hope you have a good birthday this week too, Mom. That is not good that Utah is out so fast. Oh well.

So last week I called my old companion Elder Viana about my debit card to see if he had used my card. He said no. So I honestly dont know what to think becuase the thing is the bill for $116.00 from Deseret Book has his name. So I guess he just will get all that stuff for free and I will pay the $116.00. If someone stole my card, why would they spend money on Deseret Book stuff!

I had a conference this week with President Diaz. It was really good. I learned a lot from him. We walked to the stake center from our house at 7 in the morning to get there. It was at least 4 miles or a little more. It was fun, but I don't think I will ever do that again. 

It sounds like all the little nieces and nephews are growing up really fast. It will be another surprise for me on Mother's Day when we skype.

This week was good. The girl we have the baptism date for keeps moving it back so she will get baptized the first of April now. Yesterday we went to give a blessing. The guy gave us the directions where he lives, but my comp lost the paper so we had to contact every house along the way and finally we saw a guy standing outside so we could find the house and give his mom a blessing. I thought she was going to have her son give the blessing, but she is like, "I am mad at him!" and asked me to give the blessing. It was a really good experience. I had an interchange this week with a new elder from Mexico. He told me his conversion story. It was really interesting. He basically came to the church from the information on the pass along card. So that was cool because we always pass out those cards saying to go to the page of the church and it was nice to know that they work.  Yesterday we talked to a lady. She was very interesting. She was mad and didn't really want to talk to us because her son with down syndrome had died. We continued to talk to her and saw how she changed and she ended up crying. So we have an appointment with her this weekend, so it is going to be a really interesting lesson. This week was good. There are a lot of good people to teach and members too. I have been very blessed to have
this as my last sector. 

That is cool that you got to go golfing with Grandpa. Sounds like you had a busy week. I am glad evertyhing is going good. Have a great week and a Happy Birthday Mom.

Love,

Elder Gillies

Conference with Elder Nelson

That is crazy that Melissa had baby Tanner 3 weeks early.  About the $116.00 taken out of my debit account, well that was my old companion who spent the money. I didn't know how he did or if he even realized he used my account.  I really don't know but not sure what I can do about it because he already went home.  

This week was interesting. We taught one lesson and with one of the ladies. Her mom went in the back and went to get her weed plant out and showed us. We had a fifteen minute lesson about weed. It was honestly quite interesting. I think she loves the plant more then her kids. It was kinda sad.

This week we had a multi-stake conference, and we got to see Elder Nelson and a few other people talk. He talked in Spanish. He spoke very well. He had a English ascent, but talked well, It was really good. The people of Chile were the only ones to see it, so it was pretty good. On Sunday there was a Catholic lady and man. The lady doesn't have a clue. I was talking to her for a while and it was interesting. She was saying all this stuff that doesn't have anything to do with anything. I am like, "That isn't right. Where do you learn that?"  She is like, there is a series about this, and I am like, "You can't rely on that!" and she is like, "How do you know?" and I am like, "Because I have read the bible and I know it doesn't say what you are saying." So that was about it with her. We are getting close with a baptism in the next two weeks. The lady should get baptized.

That is cool that Utah made it that far. That is too bad that they didn't win, but at least they are going to the tournament. It sounds like you had a busy week with going to St. George. Did you get a golf game in? If you did, who won? Tell Gramps when I get back, I haven't played in two years, but I am ready to beat him. 

My time is going really quick here. This week I worked a little in another sector and the two nights I was there, there was music playing all night, so we didn't get much sleep. Then when I got back to my house, it was the same thing with the music playing. So I didn't get much sleep the last three days.  That is nuts about the cheerleaders taking state.  I hope you have a good week.

Love,

Elder Gillies

Getting to Know my New Area

Ok, so something is wrong with my debit card. I bought one thing for my companion, but it was $36.00, so I don't know why it took out $116.00. That wasn't my charge. Do you think something stole my card again? I didn't take that money out.  I should still have all that money in there.  Can you try and figure it out for me? Also can you send me some pictures of the basement when it gets finished.

I have a scripture for March Madness. It's D & C 133:48. Read the first part until it says apparel. Then you have to say, "Go Utes!" It will be funny.  My companion has been out a little over six months. He is from the south of Chile. He is a good kid, and we get along pretty well,  My sector is a ward. There are about 100 to 130 members who attend. This sector is big which is nice. There's a lot of work to be done here. My mission leader is really good. I really like him.  He has a good family. The sector is like Vina, but smaller. It's good though and I really like it.  

Elder Vina stayed in Salamanca with a new missionary that doesn't speak much Spanish so he is going to learn a lot of English. There are quite a few people that are ready for baptism here, but there are little things that are stopping them. Also if we can get a few people married it would be good. I live in a house in this area. I haven't been in a house since my very first sector, so it's good. They have some weights here, so that is nice. They aren't that big, but better then nothing. 

This week we had a zone conference. I knew one missionary in my zone. I don't know very many missionaries now. All the ones I know are in the house now. So this Sunday, we will have another stake conference. This week President Diaz came up to the zone conference. Sister Diaz talked more then he did. She made all of us cupcakes. It was really nice of her to do that. 

I am just getting to know the sector and getting to know the members. Other then that, not much has happened. Sorry this email is short. I can't remember what else happened this week. Have a good week.Tell Grandma Gillies to get better. 

Love,

Elder Gillies

Transferred to La Serena & New Companion is Elder Hermosilla

So I got transferred.  Oh my goodness! I felt so relieved after all that time. I went to church Sunday and I just went as a missionary. It was so nice. Like I am not as stressed, and I like my new area and my companion, so it should be a good change.  My companion's name is Elder Hermosilla. He is from the south of Chile, so that is good that I can have another Chilean comp before I come home. I will have one more companion though, as Elder Hermosilla has been here a really long time. The members are good. It's great cause here is a bishop. Like I can just be a missionary now. It's so nice. 

So yesterday we had a baptism. Her name is Alicia. She is really funny and it was a good experience. Yesterday I was in church and asked a kid that was like ten years old why he wanted to go on a mission. He said, "So I can go to the states and eat at McDonald's!" it was funny. I told him there were better places to eat then McDonalds. It made me laugh,

So my new area is La Serena. I am back by the ocean, thank goodness! It is cloudy a lot, so I can relax from the heat. The sector is great. There is a sister missionary here named Sister Huntsman. She was actually Bailee Bluemel's roommate at college. It make me laugh, so tell Bluemel's I met her. When I met her, I said I was from Wyoming. She is like "Lyman, right?" I am like yeah, and then she explained how she knew about me. Bailee told her to watch out for me.  My district is big. I am pretty sure I am the oldest one in the zone. Never had that happen before. Tomorrow there is a conference. The members are good.

I was going to tell you not to send anything in the mail like cards or anything because I don't think it will get here in time before I leave.  That is good that you got to see everyone this week. There were three dogs in the street, like puppies, and we looked for their owner, but there was none. So we had three puppies outside our house for two nights. We finally found them a home. It was a good week. I can't really remember anything else. Have a good week.

Love,

Elder GIllies 

Alicia's Baptism w/Elder Hermosilla
2/27/16

Transfer Week

So no, don't send my drivers license. I don't need it. What I meant to ask was, am I good to go, like can I can legally drive when I get back or do I have to do anything else with my drivers license? This week I didn't get to see Elder Bednar. It wasn't a good week. I wasn't very happy what they did. So basically the way I understood it is they didn't want any missionary to go because that would look bad, because not all the missionaries were going. They basically put all the guilt on me for pushing so hard to go. It's true, I wanted to go, but I think I deserved to go after running the branch the whole time without our branch president and the things that I have had to put up with during these six months. Oh, well. I hope I will get transferred this week as I am ready for a change in companions. If I stay here, I would rather just finish my mission here because I don't want to go to one area for my last six weeks. That wouldn't be fun. So hopefully I get transferred this time. I don't know if I can handle another transfer here. 

Yesterday we had a good lesson. We felt the spirit very strong and we have scheduled a lot of baptismal dates too, so that is good. Today we played soccer. A lot of people came. This is the last time they can come, because next week school starts here. 

So that is good about Utah. How many more weeks is it going to take them to finish the basketball? It's going to be weird going down there, but it will be good too. Edna and Jonathan have been really busy, but if we could find them that would be good. This week I will get to see Elder Bednar on tv. He is doing a world wide thing for all the missionaries. The thing is, it's the same day as transfers,  so if I do get transferred, I will be on a bus at six a.m., and I will have to pack the night before, so I won't get much sleep. Other then that, I am good. Have a good week.

Love

Elder Gillies

Running LIke Crazy!

So my birthday was pretty good this year. I had two families that took care of me and even made me a cake, so that was really nice of them. We will be back on the road tomorrow going to Vina for my companion to go to the dentist. So with Elder Bendar, I still don't know if we are going or not.  We received permission and everything, but yesterday they told us that the second counselor was going,  but president said we could go too. If it's my choice, we are going, but I don't know what my comp will say. Transfers are next Wednesday. I think my companion might go, because I don't know what he is writing President Diaz about the branch, but one of us has to go. I am ready for a change. Yesterday we went to Tambo on the bikes. We made it back home like 9:45 at night. It was really fun. We were able to find a new person and find a family that lives out there. I don't know how we found them. They were the last house on the hill, but it was good. With the conference with Elder Texiera, it was interesting. There was Spanish, English, and Portuguese. He can speak like five languages. That was nuts, but it was good. There are two elders from Columbia. When they get together, it's so funny. So the bus ride was entertaining, but we had to get up at 3 a.m. Then Tuesday, I worked in Los Vilos again in my first sector. We found some people that I was teaching before I left. They were still interested. The missionaries hadn't passed by after I left and it's a big family. Their son and daughter-in-law are members and just got sealed in the temple a few months ago, so hopefully they will hear from the missionaries. This week was nuts. A lof of things happened, but this week should be a little more relaxed, maybe. I don't know. 

Today I had to do the last passport stuff, so I will have to wait for my drivers license card thing and then I am good to go, thank goodness! I don't like doing that stuff. It takes a while and you have to pay more money, but I am good to go now. 

There are two people that I am teaching English to. It's Jonathan and Edna. They are real cool. We will start teaching them this week too. So hopefully they will get baptized. Other then that, not much has happened. Have a good week. 

Love,

Elder GIllies

Turning 21!

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I can't believe that I will be twenty-one either. I would be ok if the snow was still there when i got back. I want to see some snow again! So with this week was a little harder week. I don't know what we have to do to help this branch out from where it at. I think they all think it's ok just to stay like this. So I don't know. Tomorrow we will be in Los Vilos and Wednesday we will be in La Serana so that will be good. It will be a super busy week. The only day we won't be on a bus will be Thursday and Sunday. The rest of the week we will be on a bus going somewhere. Oh, and I might get the package you sent tomorrow, but it depends if President Diaz bring it up or not. My comp is still waiting for two packages from Christmas! So thank you for the package and the money.

That is good that the basketball teams both won. That should mean that Coach Lueck is in a good mood. 

So with the Rita, I don't know, we might have to let her go because she has been really weird. Yesterday she showed us that she has so many doubts about stuff that doesn't even matter. So I don't know. We found some new people too, so that was good. The president of the branch gets here today, thank goodness! It's been over a month since he has been here and it's been a very interesting month. He gets here for a few days and hopefully on Sunday, so that will be good. I have two more weeks in this change. This week we will be traveling basically the whole time. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if i stayed here another transfer again and that my comp got transferred. I don't know what he is going to say in the interview, so I don't know if I'll stay here again. It would be a long time here again.  

I am excited to see the basement when it gets done. They should be done in like three more weeks or so, right? I don't know if you will get to use the fireplace much this year. Sounds like you had fun snow shoeing. Oh yeah, do they still have a ward assigned for the young single adults in the stake and when does that start?  Hope you have a good week. Thanks for everything.

Love,

Elder Gillies

Hoping to Baptize Rita

Hey, yesterday I had to do audits, too. It took 4 long hours! Oh my goodness. It was horrible, but we got it done. Now I know how to do everything, so it will be more organized next time, at least while I am here. After that, I don't know what will happen.  Yesterday we had some cool experiences. Jario, a young kid, just got back from EFY. He had a dream, and I think he is thinking more about a mission now. He is a good kid. It's just really tough to be his age in the church here. There isn't even a young men's leader, so we are going to try to get him going so he can leave on a mission. So Rita sewed her baptismal clothing and everything, so next Saturday we will are going to baptize her if everything goes good. All the activities that we were doing at the church has come to a stop. The members have been really lazy, so until they start cleaning the church and all that stuff, we have stopped the activities. Saturday we had an activity of rescue and no one from the branch showed up. One guy came. It was so embarrassing, but we could still do a lot of work with him. So tomorrow we have to go to Vina for my companion. Next Wednesday we are going to La Serena, so I am excited for that. I have only been up there once and it was like the third week of my mission, so I am excited to go see it again. 

No, I haven't gotten the package yet. We haven't had zone conferences or anything like that, so I don't know. It might be a while before I get it,  but it's ok. After this package, I wouldn't send any more stuff.  I might not get it before I come home.  

That is really cool about Utah.  And all that  snow, I am missing the snow right now. It will be a while before I will get to see snow again. Other then that, I can't remember much more of what we did. That is so funny about Madyn singing in Smith's.  Have a good week.

Love,

Elder Gillies

Another Busy Week

Okay, so the thing with Elder Bednar..now things have changed so I don't know if we still get to go hear him. We are going to try to go still, because the President of the branch can't go, so we are going to try to take his place. If they don't let us, we cant go, so that is super disappointing. In this sector I have had the most success, but it has been the sector that has been the most frustrating at the same time.

So that's cool that Alyssa Rasmussen and I have the same release date. I was emailing Chris Sorenson and he said he is coming home like three weeks before me. That isn't good that the Patriots lost, but I bet Kylie is happy. So who is going to win the super bowl? So will I have my license when I get back, or do I have to do anything when I get there?  That will be weird when I start driving again.

With the conferences we had this week, they were good. I learned a lot from them both. I watched a face to face thing with Elder Rasband and a girl asked, "When we are resurrected, are we going to be the same age that we died or how does that work?" I thought it was a good question. I was just wondering if you know? Tell Grandma Showell Happy Birthday this week from me. This week was not as hot as usual. It rained one day during the night and that was a surprise because it never rains during this time of year. 

With Rita, she is one of the most stubborn ladies I have ever met in my life.  Hopefully, she should get baptized this change. With the audits, we have questions for the district. They kept saying they would come and help us, but they never came. I don't know.  We might be in trouble when this guy comes to check them out.

How did Scott Dickerson get the job in Lyman coaching?  Wasn't he coaching in Mountain View? That is cool though. He should be good. I am glad i made it the four years with Coach Bradshaw. 

I don't know what they are going to do with this branch presidency, to tell you the truth, but something has to happen. Out of the mission, the zone that I am in right now is the farthest behind church wise. Before my mission, I thought I wouldn't ever mind being a bishop one day, but now it's like I don't know. I have certainly gained a ton of respect for what the bishops and everyone does. I hope you have a good week. You better enjoy all that snow, because I miss it,

Love,

Elder Gililes

Didn't Get Transferred

So who is Coach Lueck still coaching the boy's basketball and is Coach Bradshaw still coaching the JV boys with Coach Hill the freshman coach. I did not get transferred and I still have the same companion, so not much has changed. I will be here for six more weeks and then I will have to see what happens after that. I don't think I will stay here another transfer, but you never know. I will be here in Salmanca all summer. It is one of the hottest areas in the mission, but it's ok. This week I have zone conference and then a mission thing on Wednesday, so we will be on the bus traveling a lot this week. Then yesterday I gave a talk in sacrament meeting. I prepared a little on Saturday night. The first speaker I thought would talk longer, but he left me twenty minutes, but I made the twenty minutes. The second counselor conducted for the first time, until he had a little melt down and then I had to finish it up for him. However, he did a little bit, so that was nice. We have been busy with audits and all of that stuff. I can't wait to get that over with. So next month I will get my wish. I will be able to see an apostle. All of the presidency of the wards and branches get to go to a meeting in Vina on February 20th to see Elder Bednar. So that is pretty exciting! He is probably going to have to straighten us all out, but it will be cool to see him. I will be one of the few missionaries that gets to go to this, so I am pretty excited.

Is Utah ranked or not? That is good about the Patriots. They better beat Denver. Sorry Kylie!

We are finding people to teach, but it's hard getting them to come to church. We had an activity this week in the branch and it was like a singing thing. One sister came all dressed up and danced and the whole works. It was pretty funny.

So do you think that I will draw out for moose this year? Or do you think it will be one more year, because I have ten points now or is it only nine? That would be nice to draw out. Oh, yeah, I wanted to ask if you know if Laramie has guitar classes? Also could you please send me the recipe for the cinnamon rolls and frosting. Other then that, not much has happened, Have a good week.

Love, 

Elder Gillies

Transfers on Wednesday

Bishop Huntsman was in as bishop for 4 1/2 years.  It sure didn't feel like that long. They basically took almost all my young men's leaders that I had when I left and put them in the bishopric. That is cool. That will be interesting when I get home. That is cool that the Chiefs won.  That would be cool if they won a super bowl.  I hope Clemson wins too.  I don't want Alabama to win.  

I had taught Ilamilett since I got to this area. She has heard the  discussions for a year, and we were the missionaries that took our time and didn't pressure her like the missionaries had in the past. So she got baptized.  With Nicole, her mom and sister are members but her dad is not.  However Nicole's parents are separated now. I don't know how the dad is. I have never met him, but it's better that they are separated. He didn't sound like a good guy when he would start to drink. 

This week we found a lot of new people and that was really cool. I will know about transfers tomorrow. To be honest, I really don't know if I will get transferred or not. I would like to go to another sector, but take three families from here with me, but we will just have to see. This could be the last time I change sectors. I still don't like the stress of transfers after all this time. The waiting and wondering if you are staying or going is hard.

That is good about the basement getting finished. That will be nice when everyone comes home. Now you guys won't get kicked out in the garage, and I can still have a bed. We are having a lot of activities to try to get the branch going and they are working really well. Almost every day we have something going on in the church. Today we asked some people to let us use their bikes, so we are going to see what we can go find this week. I learned a lot in the scriptures and in the conference talks, so that was really cool. This month we should have a seventy come, but we will have to see. Did you go to the wedding reception of Hazen Dickerson? Did he meet her down at UW or what. You asked about the Cokeville Miracle movie that we watched on New Years. The movie was in English with subtitles in Spanish. It was a good movie. The intestines that I ate weren't that bad. They just needed a little ranch dressing! Ranch dressing makes everything better. Other then that, not much has happened. Have a great week.

Love,

Elder Gillies