Week - 16 - Triple Layer Socks and Warm Water Fonts

Hey everybody! So this week was pretty crazy! All I can say is Christmas miracles do exist! 

WE HAD ANOTHER BAPTISM!! The best part was we planned it in 24 hours ahah. Angel Puga is one of the most inspiring men you will ever meet. He is the example of how the atonement can change your life and bless your life as well! I always knew Angel would be baptized, and so did he, but we had to wait for special approval! We got that approval on Thursday and then learned we had to do it this Saturday so some of the special individuals in Angels conversion could also be there! It was a beautiful service and the spirit was definitely there! I was able to give Angel the Gift of the Holy Ghost in church and that was quite the experience.. there is nothing quite like that moment where you start performing a blessing, or ordination.. I always notice how the chatter of the little children and cries of the babies always grow to an absolute silent in those moments. I love what Elder Uceda of the Seventy told us in the MTC that," GOD SPEAKS IN SILENCE" Those blessings are guided by Him and the Spirit and its a blessing and a sacred privilege to be able to exercise my priesthood responsibilities.  

The week as a whole was really successful! Elder Shoemaker wasn't feeling to well on Saturday so we had to stay in the whole day until Angels Baptism but even amid that we still had a great week!  

Besides the white stuff that falls from the sky there isn't anything that can stop us from working hard! I learned some very valuable lessons this week such as: 

1.  Don't bike on ice..

2.  Don't try and turn while on your bike on the ice

3.  If you don't ware three pairs of socks you wont have feet to put socks on after your done for the day.

I really love and enjoy the blessing it is to be a missionary! One of my favorite things about coming on a mission is that we commit ourselves to give our whole selves to the Lord, which means all of us so even amid all the snow and cold there is always a warmth you feel while your talking to someone about the gospel and it simply doesn't matter about your afflictions! I mean in all reality i would teach the gospel in shorts and a t-shirt in subzero weather if it means one family can have the joy of the gospel in their life! This week I have been testifying using the name of the Savior as the first thing that comes out of my mouth and testifying all things in his name and its amazing how powerful it becomes.. This gospel is a gospel where you are bold we Teach repentance and Baptize Converts. I know that as we testify those that hear will come and feel of the glorious message I hope you all know home much i appreciate each and everyone of you.. God loves you soo much.. Let us all get on our knees and give a prayer of thanks for all that we have!

Angel Puga and Elder Gerrard

Angel Puga Baptism
The Mission Crew

Elder Gerrard /Angel Puga/ Elder Candland

Elder Shoemaker / Angel Puga/ Elder Gerrard

Merry Christmas 2016

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

Week 15 - We Greenie's

Hey everyone! 

I hope the first days of December have treated you warmly:)

This week was pretty crazy since I was called to train a new missionary on Monday night.  I went to President Sorensen's home and participated in a new trainer meeting that they hold, which was great! it really comes down to being a great example no mater the circumstances or conditions! 

My new companion is Elder Shoemaker! He is from San Diego, California he loves to skateboard, surf, and just enjoy the warm weather! I just asked him if he could describe himself in one word what would it be and he said, "Gnarly" I think we will get along just fine haha!

The first day we were togeather it snowed on us so if you can imagine.. two Elders one from California and one from Las Vegas Nevada.. We were just having a grand ol time laugh about how funny this is that the two Elders from some of the warmest places you can go are stuck in Idaho biking in snow! We enjoyed it and had smilies on our faces so thats all that matters the work goes on!

So if you remember Jaden from last email we set a baptism date for January 7th with him so that's gonna be awesome to see his progression for that day to enter into that sacred covenant! This was huge and amazing news! Its a testimony that God places people that are prepared and ready! We just have to find them! For the Christmas Initiative we did all day of service on Thursday where we went to a store similar to a goodwill or DI and just helped them sort through things and do whatever they needed! they were soo thankful and impressed to see all these missionaries come and help them out! And today we are going to visit some sick members of the ward and just visit with them! What amazes me is that we don't need to wait for a specific day to do any of these things! All we need to do is simply look for Christlike opportunities to serve others around us!

The thought I would like to share items from the training I gave to other missionaries in my zone based on the talk this past General Confrenece entitled "You Are Enough" by Elder Cornish.   To demonstrate the principle that I wanted to teach I proceeded to tell the zone that I have worked out every day since I got into the mission so I'm feeling pretty strong and felt like I could beat someone in an arm wrestle compition... well I have three videos all proving that I lost all three times the last one being to a sister missionary! So clearly my confidence in my abilities and streghthes were shot.. the point I extended to the zone is we shouldn't compare oursleves with anyone because we will allways come away disappointed in our selves and our abilities, since thats all we do as human beings! So I suggest we simply look back at ourselves and set goals and work towards them and thats where true happiness lies! Not in the lives of others, but in our own lives! 

We also got to make a youtube video with some members talking about the Christmas initiative! There channel is called "Judkins Journey" and the link is supposedly https://youtu.be/oOZKt78zGs4    

I also played in the Christmas ward party this last Saturday so it was fun being able to play "O Holy Night" for them! I sure do miss playing the cello for people! I encourage us all to look for those opportunities to participate in the light the world!!

Keep Smiling

Love Elder Gerrard

Elder Candland - (North Carolina)  and Elder Gerrard - Transfer Time - Elder Candland transfered to Star Idaho

New Companion..  Elder Shoemaker ( San Diego) - Elder Gerrard (Las Vegas)

Ward Christmas Party  Elder Shoemaker, Santa  and Elder Gerrard

Let's Eat!  Panini Sandwiches! 

Week 14 - Fonts Fill Faster Than You Think

Hello Everyone!

This week has been yet another testimony builder to me.. what an amazing thing to see how God works! We knew that this past week was going to be hard, since school was out for the week and Thanksgiving so most of the lessons we would have usually taught were not going to happen, which only meant that we had to find new people to teach:) And sure enough when you are looking and praying with a prayer of faith you will find those God has prepared. 

Last Monday night we were about to go home and we biked past this kid on the way home who was standing on the corner wearing shorts (it was pretty darn cold that night) after we passed him we felt like we needed to go back and talk to the person on the corner. His name was Jaden and he said that he was waiting on the corner for someone, but when we finished talking with him he ended up just going home so we are not sure what happened with that.  We talked to him about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration and invited him to church but because he is14 we wanted him to go see if his parents would let us teach him.  He said he would get back to us about whether his mom would let him or not. We actually have talked to his mom before but she wasn't interested. Well we went a week without hearing from him and this past Sunday Elder Candland and I fasted for our investigators and our Area and out of no where guess who shows up and stays for all three hours of church by himself!? You guessed it.. Jaden! It was super sweet and a tender mercy for sure! 

The other cool finding experience came from going and knocking on some doors on a street of a neighborhood that we haven't done much on.. So we got started and the first door was a members home, which is always slightly awkward, since we probably should know they are members but yet we knocked on their door and at that point you dont know what to say besides just act like your were coming for a visit the whole time haha! We knocked on Sister Dowleys home and shared a message with her and asked for any referrals and she didnt have anything for us but then she mentioned something about a family that recently had a grandpa pass that was living with them.   She wasn't sure if it was true or not or if it was the right house but we knocked on that door two different times that day and no one was home so kinda too bad.. but right before we left the street we were knocking I decided eh lets knock one more! So we knocked on one more house, which turned out to be a new investigator that were able to teach the first lesson to! ( Even though he dropped us middle of the week we gave him his chance to hear the first lesson! and he said he would keep reading the Book of Mormon so I know that the book alone can work mighty miracles!)

After knocking doors in that area we moved to a different area to knock some homes we haven't visited before, but after the second house our eyes were drawn to a kid walking by but he was too far away so we basically speed walked after him to catch up to him, but when that wasn't working I started running up a different road to intercept him "casually" after these attempts we weren't successful and we had to give up so we walked back to our dinner appointment,but went the long way to hopefully catch someone outside when BAM there was a new car in the driveway of the house with the family that had a death recently.. So we knocked on the door and they were home and we are planning on teaching them the Plan of Salvation!! WOOHOO! super awesome stuff so our stalkerish running paid off in the long run! 

The other cool experience this week of course was Oredi's Baptism! Word to wise the font fills alot faster than you think it would haha we were super close to over filling it haha but we didn't so you know I learned haha.  Unfortunately we wanted his dad to baptize him but he said he wasn't ready.. so I was chosen to baptize Oredi, which was pretty amazing.. its very true that Gods power is manifested when his priesthood is exercised worthily and I really felt that when I was baptizing Oredi it was really really cool. Im grateful for the knowledge of the Priesthood and what a sacred, sacred privilege to hold that mantel for the blessing of others. Oredi said that during the confirmation he couldn't stop smiling and that he felt pretty good after the baptism too so its awesome to see that step that he took especially since he dropped us last transfer!

So as far as transfers go Elder Candland will be moving to Star, Idaho and I got a call from President informing me that ill be training! sooo thats gonna be way cool! Everyone including myself is really surprised that im training considering i just finished my training yesterday! But i know the Lord needs me to train so of course 

I'll do it! its super exciting and gonna be pretty fun! There is no better way to change a mission than to train a mission!

My thought I would like to share comes from the Christmas Initiative! I encourage everyone to watch it and participate, because its truly inspired and i know that its one of the best ways we can shine our light it makes me soo happy to have a testimony of what the Light of Christ is! we read from the bible dictionary that its a feeling of enlightenment, knowledge, and a ennobling persevering influence. As I have been reading the book of Mormon with this in mind I realize that Nephi's light brought more knowledge to himself and his family closer to the gospel and we too can receive that same blessing as we let our light shine towards others! I love you all and appreciate your prayers for myself and for those not of our faith!

Keep Smiling

Love Elder Gerrard

Order and I at his Baptism

Elder Candland, Oredi, and Elder Gerrard

Order's family minus  younger sister's

Idaho Beauty

Beautiful Idaho

Idaho Beauty