Sweet Baptism!!!

January 28, 2013

WE HAD A BAPTISM YESTERDAY! YAY! And right after, the Bishop took him in to have his interview for his priesthood. Talk about FAST! It was AWESOME! Our only slight setback was that the morning of, we couldn't find him! We literally stalked his house and all his friends’ houses. But then, at 12:30, we stopped by again (church starts at 1) and he had just gotten home from work. YAY! Well, we had another setback too. We have a new ward mission leader and our old one was a senior missionary couple who just went home last week. They took their computer with them and on that precious computer of theirs is the template for the baptismal program. SOOOOO we had to make a new one, but the program on the English ward’s computer wasn't working so we found Elder C, our constant lifesaver, and he tried to figure it out. It was crazy so we just went to the Spanish ward’s computer and tried to do it there which resulted in an hour of laughing hysterically as Elder C and I tried to figure out how to do it. Funny thing about missionaries is that we don't remember squat about technology! hahaha! The four of us just settled on a very interesting looking program. THEN it was funny because the new ward mission leader laid into Elder C, but in a totally funny way so we were just basically all laughing the whole time. I think that as a missionary your humor completely changes because we think things are funny that in real life just aren't that funny. HAHAHA.

In other WONDERFUL news, I, for the first time ever, finished the rubiks cube this week! Yay! Shout out to Elder C.

For those of you that don't know, Elder C is our District Leader and loves to be involved in EVERYONE's business, hence the reason he is in ALL the stories.

We also had interviews with President this week. I LOVE THAT MAN! Seriously, I just love him to death because he is just the best ever! He says exactly what we need to hear to support us and keep us going. One thing he told me is that I should tell everyone to stop telling me about when I go home. HAHAHAHA! Now it's not coming from me; it's coming from him. :) Love that man! He also was very supportive of me and the things that I have had to go through and he said, Sister Giles, you have had some very unique challenges that you have had to go through the last few transfers and I can tell you that that is not how you are going to finish your mission. He said that people never remember how a missionary starts, but they remember how they finish. FINISH STRONG! I am planning on doing that, so stop talking about that! hahaha.

The work here in Brownsville is AMAZING! I love everything about the work and the mission and life. I wish that I could just stay as a missionary forever. Want to know a cool thing? We never have to stop being a missionary! I plan on never stopping. Ever. Yay! I plan on being a 100% visiting teacher for the rest of my life, and give out BOMs like candy and hmm, I don't know what else but everything! haha!

Well, I used up time. I love you!

Hermana Giles

Look what came in the home e-mail today!!

(From Kate's Mom and Dad)

Look what came in the e-mail today. Time is getting short for Kate. Exciting for us, but I think not so much for Kate. 

April 24, 2013  Woot! Woot!

*** This is a NON-REFUNDABLE TICKET; cancellation or change fees may apply.  We have 24 hours to cancel or make any changes at no additional charge. Please review the itinerary.

 

*** ELECTRONIC TICKETS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND ARE READY FOR TRAVEL, SEE ETKT INFORMATION BELOW. PLEASE CHECK IN WITH A GOVERNMENT ISSUED PHOTO ID TO RECEIVE YOUR BOARDING PASS.

 

*** CHECKED BAGGAGE FEES MAY APPLY PLEASE BE PREPARED TO PAY - Please request your bags to be checked to your final destination

 

CHURCH TRAVEL CWT                          DATE 25JANUARY13

50 EAST NORTH TEMPLE ST                    AGENT VH/RS BOOKING REF 2IVW2W

SALT LAKE CITY UT 84150

TELEPHONE:  801 240-5111                   GILES/KATHERINE

FAX      : 801-240-5115                    

                                           

  MISSIONARY TRAVEL

  TEXAS MC ALLEN MISSION

 

SERVICE               DATE  FROM           TO             DEPART  ARRIVE

_____________________ _____ ______________ ______________ _______ ______

AMERICAN AIRLINES     24APR MCALLEN TX     DALLAS TX      1035A   1215P

AA 2058           WEDNESDAY MILLER INTL    DALLAS FT WORT

Q ECONOMY

           NON SMOKING                                    NON STOP

                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         1:40 DURATION

                  AIRCRAFT: BOEING (DOUGLAS) MD-80 ALL SERIES

                            SEATS 26D/26E/26F NO SMOKING CONFIRMED

 

AMERICAN AIRLINES     24APR DALLAS TX      SALT LAKE C UT 430P    620P

AA 2295           WEDNESDAY DALLAS FT WORT SALT LAKE CITY    

Q ECONOMY                                  TERMINAL 1

           NON SMOKING      FOOD FOR PURCHASE             NON STOP

                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         2:50 DURATION

                  AIRCRAFT: BOEING (DOUGLAS) MD-80 ALL SERIES

                            SEATS 27D/27E/27F NO SMOKING CONFIRMED

 

Holy e-mails

January 22, 2013

It's always fun to open up your emails and see 20 emails then you realize they are all from your mom.....hahaha, Mom, I love you! Family, I love you too. Friends, you too.

I have been reflecting a lot on my time here as a missionary and the lessons I have learned. I thought about writing down a few but then I realized that I really have no idea how to explain it. I literally can't think of how to describe my mission. Dad said in an email that David and I got sent to each other's missions because I have down and dirty and he has hoity-toity vineyards (don't know what that says about me). I just reflected on that and from the bottom of my heart, I can honestly say that I wouldn't choose any mission in the world over my mission. The Texas McAllen Mission has my heart. I will forever and always be a Texas McAllen Missionary. There are so many things that have changed my life here and I think that I will never be able to repay God back for all He has given me here. Man, I never want to leave.

On that note, I never am going to leave. I called up God this morning and He said that I can stay here as a missionary forever so.........

We are having a baptism on Sunday! Yay! JJ is doing great! He has his interview tonight with Elder C. He actually said these exact words, "I'm going to blow Elder C's mind." HAHA! There is a reason that God keeps giving us these kinds of investigators. :) In our ward we should be having 4 other baptisms too so we should be having quite the full house. :)

Sad day in the Zone of Brownsville. :( They are making our beloved friend Elder W go home to get back surgery. They actually told him in the MTC that he had to go home but he didn't listen. :) He was supposed to go home with me so with that little of time left, he probably won't come back out. But he did great work here as our Zone Leader. Hats off to him!

In other news, Dad has to stop praying for me to get transferred! Transfers are the first week in February and who knows what will happen but I love Resaca Pointe and I would love to stay or go anywhere the Lord wants me to. He has a vision much greater than I.

We have interviews with President in about an hour and for our interviews, we had to rate ourselves on all the Christlike attributes; then set goals to improve each of them. I think that has helped me to reflect on my mission and how I can be better. I am so excited to improve!

Perfect love casteth out all fear, so fear not and love perfectly!

Sister Giles

Only in Brownsville

January 14, 2013

We have so many experiences that end in "Only in Brownsville." The newest story we have is that yesterday the bishoprics in the Spanish AND English wards got changed. Spanish is in the morning so we got the new bishopric there first. We all thought it was interesting because the bishop had only been in for about a year and a half but we all know that God has his reasons. Then we go to the English ward and we know they are getting a new bishopric too because the bishop is moving and the stake presidency is still all there. But here is the Brownsville-ness of the story. Meeting starts and Bishop Mendez’s (former bishop of the Spanish ward) records get read in. Then they reform the bishopric and Bishop Mendez gets recalled as the bishop, just of the English ward...ONLY IN BROWNSVILLE! WE laughed for awhile, but it will be cool.

As for the rest of the week, it was good. We have been cold down here too but apparently not as cool as you all. I showed Sister R the pictures of the snow and she laughed. She was in shock really. Then we read mom's email that said it could almost bury Sister R and we just laughed because we had just talked about that. She loves you guys.

As far as other news, JJ is still progressing nicely. He came to church again and he is super excited for his baptism on 1/27. He has given up coffee and smoking and has read up to Ch 11 in the BOM. He is doing GREAT!

We have gone through a cleansing process lately and so we quit teaching all our investigators that weren't progressing. There are different types of missions and ours in a baptizing mission. That means that we have so many prepared people here that sometimes we have to stop teaching the ones that aren't progressing so we can find the prepared people. Basically, in a first lesson, we invite them to be baptized and if they aren't willing to come to church, we don't keep teaching them. It sounds rough to people but that is how the mission is. We have to find the people ready to listen and change their lives.

I am so happy you guys got to talk to the Sanchii! Seriously, I love them so much! I can't wait to come back down over Mother's Day to see them get sealed! And how do you feel about that? Do you want to spend Mother's Day in south Texas? I hope you do! :)

I love you all and I have to go! I'm eavesdropping on a conversation the Elders are having with a guy. :) Some things never change... :)

Kate

Goodbye Texas Winter, hello summer!

January 7, 2013

So it has been cold everywhere I think because we have been freezing here, although it never got below 48. :) But it was that type of rain that is just a constant drizzle for days and bites your skin and is SUPER windy. Yes I may or may not have worn my running pants, then my tights, then running shorts, THEN my skirt and I may or may not have worn TWO skirts to church yesterday. I will neither confirm nor deny the previous statements. But it was funny because yesterday Elder Cullen just looks at me with a face of disgust and says Sister Giles, are you really wearing two skirts? LAY OFF ME I'M FREEZING! But today is a balmy 60 so I'm back to just a skirt and shirt. Goodbye Texas Winter, hello summer!

Yesterday we had a great day at church. The English and Spanish wards switched so that was weird to get use to but it was great because we had an awesome guy at church yesterday named JJ. He wore a suit and slippers. It was AWESOME! He is a really cool guy we met on Saturday and he is super interested. Apparently in priesthood meeting yesterday he got up and said how much he liked our church and that he knew the BOM is true and that the church he was going to just made him confused but here he felt like he got all his answers. SUPER COOL!

Sorry my email is going to be short today because I emailed David. I'm still figuring it out how to do both because if I say I am going to handwrite either one of you, we all know things come up and I never get around to it. But today I will because I know I won't have time to write everything I want to.

Mom-Thanks for your quotes and scriptures, I love them and they provide a lot of really great support for me. Times have been a little rough lately but we’re working on it. I'll write you more in a letter.

I love you all so much and I want you to know that I know this church is true. Some many missionaries spend their days trying to convince people that the church is true and that the Book of Mormon is true. The truth is, we don't have to do that. The Book of Mormon testifies of itself. It proves itself every single time. All we have to do is read it and declare of its truth and let the Spirit testify. What a powerful tool we have!

Hermana Giles

It Is Officially 2013!!

January 2, 2013

It is now officially 2013. Super weird right?!?! I can't really even believe it.

This year, New Years was AWESOME! New Years Eve was on P-day so we had p-day until 1:30 then Harlingen came down and we played soccer and hung out at the park until 4:30 when we went to the church and ate pizza and messed around until watching “Forever Strong”. It was awesome but it made me mountain trunky and made me realize how sheltered we are as missionaries. There was a part where there was a girl in a bikini and all the Elders giggled. I was like you have got to be kidding me. :) But it was super funny and I truly love everyone in the Texas McAllen Mission. We are all so united and I love that we can get together with another zone and we all know everyone and love everyone and it is just all so great! AH! I love it! I was having a sentimental moment about not having that for the whole year this year but the good thing is that once a Texas McAllen Missionary, ALWAYS a Texas McAllen Missionary and we are still just as united at home. At least that is what President Trayner says, I have no idea what goes on in the outside world.

We have been working super hard and God has been blessing us with some awesome families that are preparing for baptism the end of January and beginning of February. We are still in the very beginning stages but we know that God will touch their hearts. We went on splits on Sunday night with two sisters from the ward and me and A____ found a potential that has read the entire Book of Mormon and said you know, it's not a book you can just put down, you have to refer to it often. You are right there Mister! We are going back to teach him and his family tonight.

We also have some BIG plans for 2013. I know that God will bless us more than we can even imagine if we do what He wants. It is not our will that matters but His.

Okay mom--more mission stories....It is hard to just think of some. Well Sister R accidentally turned on her alarm on New Years for 12:00 and so I woke up to that and ALL the fireworks and gunshots and couldn't go back to sleep for awhile. I think I have become an even lighter sleeper than before the mission.

We had coordination meeting with the ward mission leaders today (English and Spanish at the same time, we just go on splits.) Then we all decided to come over and email right now so I was racing the other two cars of elders here. The other sisters didn't play. NO SPEEDLIMITS WERE BROKEN IN THE MAKING OF THIS MEMORY.

I am a bad sister missionary and forgot the S____'s info. :( I promise you that I will give in to you on Monday. PROMISE!

We were walking up the street on Saturday and a car drove past and it was one of our favorite members back here from California cleaning up her house to rent it out. That was a happy surprise! We helped her clean mom, don't worry.

We have interviews coming up at the end of the month but other than that, I don't think we have anything going on as far at the mission goes.

Brownsville is great. I love it! I love everything about this place. I love the valley. I love the mission. I love being a missionary. I wish I could just freeze time right here right now. Being a missionary is amazing.

Please forward me David's emails every week. I would like that.

Well, gotta get back to work. Email not on p-days is weird. No me gusta.

K-dawg