Well another week down and things are going as great as ever!! The weather has been solid out here so I can't complain at all. Things popped up outta the blue, so work is going good for us. I think my time up here in Laie is coming to a close. I hope not but we will see. Next Sunday we find out transfers, so next week I'll know if I stay or go.
This week was just the same old same old. We had one new investigator come out of the woodworks this week! He came to Church a couple sundays ago and started to bear his testimony. His girlfriend goes to our church. So we have taught him a couple times and the last lesson was awesome. We taught him about prayer and we really helped him to understand why its important and not to pray just because others want you to. We really take praying for granted as members of the church. If you stop and think about it, what is the real purpose you are praying? Is it just because we are supposed to do it or are you really talking with God? It changes your prayers a lot when you think about what is going down, I know it really has changed mine. Unfortunately this kid may be moving to Oregon but if he does he will definitely get in touch with the church there. It was a really cool experience.
Other than that we are hitting the pavement hard, trying to get all the members fired up about missionary work. That is the hardest thing to do. Its okay though, we will get 'em. haha!
I hope all is well with ya'll, sounds like things back home are well. Keep in touch guys,
Love you all!
Elder Garritson
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
ALOOOOOHA! March 21, 2011
Marlina's baptism, what an awesome day!
Boy howzit?! Things are going just great out here for us! We had a solid week and they are just flying by! Soon as we know it March Madness is going to be over and we will be all the way into April. Sounds like all is well back home, my Cougs are doing pretty solid eh? The weather is pretty nice, its getting hotter and hotter now and it rains like mad up here in Laie!
Saturday was Marlina's baptism and it was amazing! Man she was so excited to get baptized and when they day came all went smoothly. She has a great ward that fellowships very well so she is going to have a lot of success in this church. It truly is a blessing to see these people come into the Gospel and make the changes in their lives. Its wonderful to see how they really become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and not just the people in the Church, because that is what it is all about. Her and her husband are now on the path to working towards the temple, its pretty special! I love this work, and baptisms is what makes every heart ache and struggle worth it. Thats not what it is all about, but it sure makes it easier haha.
So Thursday was a crazy day for us tho. My companion had to be rushed to the ER in Kaneohe because of a false alarm. All is well with him and he walked into the hospital as healthy as he walked out! It was a little scary, but all is good, that was a very interesting experience.
The work is moving forward, we have some more training this week. I absolutely love serving up here in Laie in case anyone was wondering. The sisters are great and have such an amazing spirit. I couldn't ask for a better place to serve and the Lord really blessed me by placing me up here to serve. I could serve here my entire mission and be completely satisfied. So yes, I love my area haha.
Love you all!
Elder G.
Thank you--I always love getting packages!
ALOOOOHA! March 14, 2011
An old pic from Jordan's first transfer meeting after arriving in Hawaii!My heart goes out to all those in Japan. What a sad day to see what can really happen. We saw some video clips of it at the visitors center on Saturday morning and its a sad deal. I was thinking a lot about that and how we overcome something like that, and really the only way is thru the Gospel. When you have the Gospel, it really comes down to faith knowing that WHATEVER happens, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. As sad as it is, its even worse to think that most those people don't have the Gospel.
For us all is well. A couple parts of Hawaii got hit with a Tsunami but nothing around us. We had to evacuate and stay up all night so it was actually a pretty fun night for us. It took me back to the good old days of staying up until 3 in the morning hahaha. But it was a blast, we were sure nothing was going to hit us because whenever there is a Tsunami warning, it rarely hits. We had a good night at the Stake Center.
Well this week was pretty hectic with all that and the baptism for M****** has been moved to this Saturday the 19th. We are stoked, she loves the Gospel and is excited to be baptized. Its amazing to think she hasn't been a member all this time. She is doing well and will be baptized this weekend for sure!
Had an awesome testimony builder last night with a recently activated man in one of our wards. 1 year ago he wasn't even going to church and now he goes to the temple everyday. But anywho, we read with him Alma 14 and just took out things from that chapter that apply to us today. He was blown away at how the scriptures can do that and it just reconfirmed my testimony. It really is amazing, all the stories in the Book of Mormon have some purpose for us today, they can all apply to us when we need them. I am grateful for them and I know they are the word of God.
Other than that, all is well. Cheer on my Cougs this week, I know it will be rough without Brandon Davies but Jimmer can pull thru for us! Thanks for everything, you are always in my prayers. Love you all!
Hey is it bad to eat a grapefruit everyday? Because I am and I love it!
Friday, March 11, 2011
As Jordan prepared to go to Hawaii last year, we hear about that tsunami, worried about him going, then thought, "oh, that won't happen again"! Well, it did--this morning, tusnami waves from Japan hit Hawaii. 
I copied the following news story from CNN's web site and pasted it here.
Honolulu (CNN) -- As the first light of dawn broke Friday in Hawaii, officials reported no significant damage from a series of tsunami waves that struck the islands after Japan's deadly earthquake.
The tsunami brought waves of about 6 feet to a harbor in Maui, authorities said, but other areas reported lower levels, including Honolulu at 2.2 feet and Hilo at 4.3.
The U.S. mainland, meanwhile, was bracing for waves to come onshore, from Washington to California.
No significant damage had been reported in Hawaii almost three hours after the first waves arrived, but officials said they would know more after sunrise and then make a decision on whether evacuees could return to their homes.
Sensors on the southern side of the island of Hawaii, sometimes called the "Big Island," were wet, indicating ocean water had come at least 100 feet ashore, officials said.
CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now broadcast images of fish that washed up by the tsunami on Maui.
Kerry Gershaneck of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard told Hawaii News Now that the operation planned to open once officials gave the "all clear."
Businessman Charlie Leonard, who lives on the 19th floor of a condo on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, said Hawaiians took this tsunami more seriously than they did last year following an earthquake in Chile.
"You could hear a pin drop in Waikiki," Leonard said.
"It came home to people," he said, referring to the devastation in Japan. "I think everybody's grateful" that damage does not appear to be major.
Honolulu is about 6,859 miles (11,038 kilometers) from the location of the February 2010 Chile earthquake. Sendai, Japan -- located near the epicenter of Friday's quake -- is 3,782 miles (6,086 kilometers) away.
Leonard and a business partner operate a waste and recycling business and had to move about 50 trucks late Thursday.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center predicted the waves, which came in about every 15 minutes, "are not going to be a major damaging event" for Hawaii, but will cause scattered damage, particularly to harbors and coastal facilities.
It appeared the state's residents had heeded calls to move away from the coast. Honolulu officials told residents to "be aware that inundation effects could continue for several hours."
"We called this one right," center geophysicist Gerard Fryer said. "This evacuation was necessary."
Waves of between 6 and 7 feet were reported at Kahului harbor in Maui, Fryer said, adding that it was difficult to tell what would happen on all the islands. "We have significant energy bouncing around the Hawaiian Islands."
Fryer said the waves are rolling in about 15 minutes apart. Forecasters said some areas may see waves of up to 9 feet.
A tsunami warning was still in effect after 8 a.m. (11 a.m. ET).
Communities along much of the U.S. West Coast were under tsunami warnings, too.
The National Weather Service said the waves would hit Oregon and California.
In California, tsunami wave heights could reach 7 feet at Port San Luis Harbor and 4 feet in Morro Bay. Santa Monica could see 2.8 feet.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee says he feels "confident we will not be hurt by this."
He expected the city to get waves 1 to 2 feet higher than normal. Extra precautions have been taken in case the situation worsens, but he said he has not had reason to call for evacuations.
"I ask the public to remain calm," Lee said.
He said he will be calling Japan's consul-general in San Francisco to offer any assistance to that country.
The first impact in Hawaii was felt shortly after 3:07 a.m. (8:07 a.m. ET), according to Hawaii State Civil Defense, which issued a tsunami warning.
Tidal gauge readings on the southern side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai were "somewhat encouraging," CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano said.
Hawaii Public Radio news director Bill Dorman told CNN some roads were closed as a precaution.
Hawaiian emergency officials reminded residents that tsunami evacuation maps can be found in front of their telephone directories.
Chief Petty Officer Kurt Fredrickson in Honolulu told CNN the U.S. Coast Guard has been working with local port authorities and harbor masters to get the word to all mariners to get out to sea.
The Coast Guard prepared for the worst-case scenario, Frederickson said. "We are moving our assets out to sea. We are moving our aircraft to more suitable locations."
The threat of a tsunami prompted the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a warning for at least 50 countries or territories around the Pacific after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Friday. The warning for Guam was later lifted.
Warnings also were in effect for coastal areas of California and Oregon from Point Concepcion, California, to the Oregon-Washington border, according to the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. An advisory was in effect for Washington.
A warning also was in effect for Alaska, from Amchitka Pass to Attu, and in Canada's British Columbia.
President Barack Obama said he instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be prepared to help Hawaii and other U.S. regions "that could be affected" by the disaster.
CNN iReporter Ken Papagno, who lives on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, recorded sirens that sounded throughout the island.
Hawaii had a tsunami scare in February 2010 after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Chile. A warning cancellation occurred nearly two hours after the first waves came ashore. Coast Guard crews said they had found no significant damage to ports or waterways as a result of the tsunami, ending a significant evacuation to higher ground.
I copied the following news story from CNN's web site and pasted it here.
Honolulu (CNN) -- As the first light of dawn broke Friday in Hawaii, officials reported no significant damage from a series of tsunami waves that struck the islands after Japan's deadly earthquake.
The tsunami brought waves of about 6 feet to a harbor in Maui, authorities said, but other areas reported lower levels, including Honolulu at 2.2 feet and Hilo at 4.3.
The U.S. mainland, meanwhile, was bracing for waves to come onshore, from Washington to California.
No significant damage had been reported in Hawaii almost three hours after the first waves arrived, but officials said they would know more after sunrise and then make a decision on whether evacuees could return to their homes.
Sensors on the southern side of the island of Hawaii, sometimes called the "Big Island," were wet, indicating ocean water had come at least 100 feet ashore, officials said.
CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now broadcast images of fish that washed up by the tsunami on Maui.
Kerry Gershaneck of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard told Hawaii News Now that the operation planned to open once officials gave the "all clear."
Businessman Charlie Leonard, who lives on the 19th floor of a condo on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, said Hawaiians took this tsunami more seriously than they did last year following an earthquake in Chile.
"You could hear a pin drop in Waikiki," Leonard said.
"It came home to people," he said, referring to the devastation in Japan. "I think everybody's grateful" that damage does not appear to be major.
Honolulu is about 6,859 miles (11,038 kilometers) from the location of the February 2010 Chile earthquake. Sendai, Japan -- located near the epicenter of Friday's quake -- is 3,782 miles (6,086 kilometers) away.
Leonard and a business partner operate a waste and recycling business and had to move about 50 trucks late Thursday.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center predicted the waves, which came in about every 15 minutes, "are not going to be a major damaging event" for Hawaii, but will cause scattered damage, particularly to harbors and coastal facilities.
It appeared the state's residents had heeded calls to move away from the coast. Honolulu officials told residents to "be aware that inundation effects could continue for several hours."
"We called this one right," center geophysicist Gerard Fryer said. "This evacuation was necessary."
Waves of between 6 and 7 feet were reported at Kahului harbor in Maui, Fryer said, adding that it was difficult to tell what would happen on all the islands. "We have significant energy bouncing around the Hawaiian Islands."
Fryer said the waves are rolling in about 15 minutes apart. Forecasters said some areas may see waves of up to 9 feet.
A tsunami warning was still in effect after 8 a.m. (11 a.m. ET).
Communities along much of the U.S. West Coast were under tsunami warnings, too.
The National Weather Service said the waves would hit Oregon and California.
In California, tsunami wave heights could reach 7 feet at Port San Luis Harbor and 4 feet in Morro Bay. Santa Monica could see 2.8 feet.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee says he feels "confident we will not be hurt by this."
He expected the city to get waves 1 to 2 feet higher than normal. Extra precautions have been taken in case the situation worsens, but he said he has not had reason to call for evacuations.
"I ask the public to remain calm," Lee said.
He said he will be calling Japan's consul-general in San Francisco to offer any assistance to that country.
The first impact in Hawaii was felt shortly after 3:07 a.m. (8:07 a.m. ET), according to Hawaii State Civil Defense, which issued a tsunami warning.
Tidal gauge readings on the southern side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai were "somewhat encouraging," CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano said.
Hawaii Public Radio news director Bill Dorman told CNN some roads were closed as a precaution.
Hawaiian emergency officials reminded residents that tsunami evacuation maps can be found in front of their telephone directories.
Chief Petty Officer Kurt Fredrickson in Honolulu told CNN the U.S. Coast Guard has been working with local port authorities and harbor masters to get the word to all mariners to get out to sea.
The Coast Guard prepared for the worst-case scenario, Frederickson said. "We are moving our assets out to sea. We are moving our aircraft to more suitable locations."
The threat of a tsunami prompted the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a warning for at least 50 countries or territories around the Pacific after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Friday. The warning for Guam was later lifted.
Warnings also were in effect for coastal areas of California and Oregon from Point Concepcion, California, to the Oregon-Washington border, according to the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. An advisory was in effect for Washington.
A warning also was in effect for Alaska, from Amchitka Pass to Attu, and in Canada's British Columbia.
President Barack Obama said he instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be prepared to help Hawaii and other U.S. regions "that could be affected" by the disaster.
CNN iReporter Ken Papagno, who lives on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, recorded sirens that sounded throughout the island.
Hawaii had a tsunami scare in February 2010 after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Chile. A warning cancellation occurred nearly two hours after the first waves came ashore. Coast Guard crews said they had found no significant damage to ports or waterways as a result of the tsunami, ending a significant evacuation to higher ground.
Monday, March 7, 2011
ALOHA! March 7, 2011
"So close, and yet so far!" haha!
Boy well a good week for us here in Hawaii! It rained like crazy this week but it definitely seems like things are going to be sunny for the next little while!
We were able to have another lesson with M***** on Sunday and she is set to be baptized on Saturday! It was kinda up in the air until Sunday, we didn't really know what was going to happen but it just so happens that she is solid and set! She is super excited to be baptized so I am super stoked, there is a lot of work up here so keep praying for the work to move forward!
We have been teaching a ton of lessons this week to active families to get them involved in missionary work. Our stake theme for this year is "inviting people to the light of the Gospel." It's a pretty solid them, I really like it. We had stake conference this week and it was amazing! All the talks were about missionary work. Jonathan B*****, the guy that we baptized on New Years Eve spoke and Erin C*****, the girl that we have been teaching spoke as well. It was a super spiritual meeting and the Stake President ended with a great talk on not being ashamed!
Other than that all is well, we continue to being people unto Christ. The work is moving forward, we are having a good old time out on the mission.
Love you all, you are all in my prayers every night.
GARY OUT!
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