Email for July 5, 2010

ALOHA!!

Hello from the great state of Hawaii where the sun is always shinning and it never gets above 85 degrees! Haha I'm just kidding I miss Utah as much as I love Hawaii, each place has its ups and downs. Be grateful to live in such a great state, we really don't come to appreciate Utah until we move out of it. It is so humid here and you just sweat all day long! Right when you step out of the shower you are sweating again, and no AC so that is just awesome haha its good though thats missionary work.

So this week has been kinda a rough one. Tuesday I had my first (and last) zone conference with President Petersen. Boy it was very touching and its very hard for them to leave the islands. They have come to love the people so much its amazing! I have only known them for a couple weeks and I was crying when we started to sing God Be With You! That song is a killer I cry everytime I hear that one or sing it haha. But his talk wasn't a normal zone conference with training and such, he just gave us information that he gives all the elders the night before they leave the mission and go home. So it didn't really pertain to me but it was good! We got to meet the new President Dalton and his wife Saturday and they are awesome! Holy cow they are so nice man, very personable. He just holds you like 2 feet from your face and talks to you like he has all day. I am way excited to be able to work with him for these next two years, he is going to do great things for this mission. I can't wait!

Things in our area are going kinda slow we have yet to find a new investigator since I have been here. Although we have a baptism for Jona and Kiata on Saturday so that is going to be amazing! I am very excited for that. Other than that we are just trying to find new investigators and such, its tough work.

I have really learned to really on the Lord through faith and prayer! Holy cats guys the Lord works in mysterious ways man. I can't tell you how many times out here he has answered my prayers just at the right time in the way I wasn't expecting. Stay close and pray always. You can never pray too much I promise you that, that is something I have learned out here. Have the faith that he will answer you prayers and guide you to what you should do. It doesn't matter what it is, the gospel, sports, friends, pray about everything and he will answer. He wants to listen you just have to put forth that effort.

Time is short but all is well here and I hope you are all doing well. I love hearing from you all in letters so keep writing. I love the members here in Hawaii, the people of Hawaii are amazing guys! The gospel is so true, stay strong!

Until next time, Ofa atu!

Love Elder Garritson

Monday June 28th, 2010

Boy hows it all going back in the good old 801? I sure do miss that place I am gonna be honest with you guys. Hawaii is a much different place than Utah as you all probably know already haha but I just want to say be grateful for living in such an amazing state. You never really appreciate Utah until you move out of it. Even though I am serving in the richest part of Hawaii, you see so much poverty. Its sad to see. But the members that are pretty well off are so nice and humble, they help out so much and are really there to help anyone. They have the strongest spirits and I have come to love them so much in these past 2 weeks. I hope I get to stay in this area for a little while because I am getting so close to some of the members. I will be here for at least 10 more weeks because my companion will be leaving so I will be staying. So that definitely brings comfort!

So Sunday is awesome I love seeing the members they are all so welcoming. I am definitely having a hard time remembering names and even pronouncing some of them haha but its getting better. Yesterday was President and Sister Petersens last Sunday. Oh man I am pretty bummed they are already leaving and I only got to know them for a couple weeks. They are amazing people and so loving! They live in Draper. They will be leaving here on Friday and our new mission President comes in on Thursday. His name is John Dalton and he was an area 70 before he got this calling. I have heard nothing but great things from him. I can't wait to meet him. And I am way stoked because I will be one of the few missionaries that gets to know him well because the Presidents home is in our area so we see him every Sunday.

This week has been pretty great! Missionary work is hard man. We are in a very tough area too! Its hard to find new investigators here because most people are pretty settled and don't want anything more. Occasionally we find some people that will listen but we haven't found anyone new to teach since I've been here. This has really been a test of my faith because its so discouraging day in and day out as you get denied and doors slammed in your face, but you just have to be humble. Hard work pays off and I know that to be true.

Jona and Kiata are still on for baptism on the 10th so I pray that can keep that date! These kids are amazing and their testimonies are growing so much! I can't wait to experience their baptism. We have taught them a couple times and they really enjoy the lessons. Another lady named Haley finally got back from Turkey and Elder Walker and I are going to baptize her before he leaves on the 27th! She comes to church every week, has great knowledge. She just doesn't want to jump into the church and than find out something about the church she doesn't like. We have a lesson with her tomorrow so we are gonna get her a date set I can feel it!

So here's some pretty crazy Hawaii things. We put our cereal in the freezer haha! Thats keeps the ants and bugs out. Its kinda weird but now its normal to me haha. Everyone here leaves there houses open and unlocked. Its so hot so thats what you have to do. BK you would die because you would lock up all the windows and doors and your Pad would be blazing hot. I thought about that when I first got here and just laughed. Sure do miss you kid hope all is well with work and baseball. We had a dinner friday in a condo 30 stories up looking over the Ocean. Probably the coolest view I have seen for the time i've been here. We ate out on the patio and watched fireworks after! It was so cool! Hawaii definitely has its benefits!

Other than that things are pretty slow. A lot of tracting with no success, which is pretty common tracting doens't bring much success. But as long as you do you part, do what the Lord asks you will be blessed. My testimony on obedience has grown so much out here. Saturday we tracted for almost 3 hours and had no success at all, no one was home and we taught no lessons. We were so discouraged but than we came home and got 2 calls within 5 minutes for referals from members! Its amazing how happy things like that make you. That peace and comfort comes over you and I know that this referrals came from our hard work that day.

Stay strong in the gospel everyone! You don't have to be a walking missionary like me everyday but just do what the Lord wants. We are so blessed to have the Gospel in our lives. It is such a blessing to us all. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Hope all is well back home. Stay in touch I love hearing from you all.

Ofa atu!
Love Elder Garritson

My first companion out here is Elder Walker! This is his last transfer, my first!

Here's Hawaii on the map (just in case you forgot where it was!)

Aloha! Behind me is Honolulu. This pic was taken from Diamond Head.

MTC pictures

This is me with Elder Sa'u. He is from Samoa and he has an amazing voice!