Brass monkey

Pictures of where we slung rocks last week with the senior couple. Gorgeous 😍

One week more out here in the canary islands! Had some more cool
experiences so I'll get down to it. Today we went to a monkey Park and
had a super good time and I fed some monkeys and it was just a blast,
but that's a different note.

Tuesday we were getting ready for English class and we got a phone
call from a guy who was waiting for us. So we got there and met
Alexander, this Cuban whom we never had seen before. He was wearing a
Cincinnati Reds hat so we got talking baseball, and he was a semi
professional player back in the day. He knows a bunch of pros and we
hit it off real quick. He asked some questions about the church and so
we taught him the restoration and he ATE IT UP like it was a change up
right down the middle. It was seriously such an awesome lesson. He was
so intrigued and offered the last prayer. We've been working so hard
to find people to teach and this one just fell out of the sky. Such a
big miracle and I'm so grateful for it and made sure God knew I was
haha.

Thursday our bishop and his wife invited us over for a family home
evening with an investigator of ours. We went and taught the
restoration and it was AWESOME as well! The bishop here is incredible,
an atheist converted to a beast, and the lesson was just amazing. His
girlfriend was there and she's a less active so it was a two for one
and just a solid lesson. THAT is missionary work right there ladies
and gentlemen. I felt almost useless being there because we showed up,
taught, and left haha. But the Spirit did it's job!

Saturday morning we met a new investigator in a park and right when
she got there this man who was running asked us to call him an
ambulance, then proceeds to pass out. He was a larger guy (hence the
exercise and asking an ambulance) and luckily I got my hand under his
head before it slapped the rocks. I had my hands on his head already
so I did what a priesthood holder does. A few seconds later he came to
and we got him to sit down. Minutes later he started dropping again so
I put my arm around him and he passed out on my shoulder haha.
Eventually the ambulance came and we had a good lesson with our new
investigator. It was a huge testimony to me of God putting us in the
right place at the right time! He was atheist so hopefully it had an
impact on him.

So conference is coming this week and we all need to prepare! The
woman's conference was amazing! All my questions were answered in 4
talks so I need to think of some new ones haha. I challenge you all to
ponder this week of questions you have, or what you need help with,
and have the faith that God will answer ALL of it through His living
prophets. It'll happen!


Monkey feeding,
Elder Gearig

Where's the coverage?

Hello everybody! We've has quite the week out here and I wish I had
more time to tell you about it so let's see what I horse together
here.

Anybody remember Bruno, the guy who had the pillar of light penitrated
his heart? Well we met with him again! And it was terrible. He said
his mother, doesn't want him to meet with us anymore. She thinks were
a cult and are racist and bad things happen and there's secretism and
nonsense. He said that and my heart cracked, but I didn't skip a beat
and we had a good talk actually. The spirit was quite strong and I
could tell he wanted to stay with us. I have no doubt he'll join the
church in a few years down the road. He's a great kid. I remember my
dad telling me before the mission that I'd cry more because of people
who KNOW it's all true, and walk away. I testify of that. It hurt real
bad. But my companion took it really hard and I had to act tough which
was really hard haha. So we left and started chasing people around the
streets trying to find a replacement. Got 7 numbers in an hour of kids
our age, it was incredible. If you lose one, God gives you 2.

Saul is doing good! Still being skeptical, but progressing and
learning! Had a super intense lesson with him about the BoM and
prayer. The new first vision video is super powerful and was a stellar
way to start the lesson. We'll see him Saturday (:

We had stake conference this weekend and it was great! Elder Johnson
of the area presidency came and visited us. I loved what our stake
president shared with us. He talked about cell phones. Many people
depend on their cell phones for information. But cell phones have a
battery that can die, and you have to have coverage. Not always
reliable eh? God is always there, best coverage of any company and its
free! Who wouldn't want that? Sadly, too many people. We need to take
advantage and turn to God for information!

Os quiero,
Elder Gearig

Went to some pyramids last week.

He has sent me here AND The Pancake Man

Pix from last pday. Catch the wave!

Almost forgot to send a group email today haha whoops. But with that
said I don't have much time left, but happy birthday to my mom and
sister this week! You guys are the best!

So this past week was pretty good! Had some cool experiences and I'll
narrow it down to some I remember the most of.

Saul, our Lithuanian investigator, is progressing and going great! Had
a stellar lesson with him on Friday. He read the restoration pamphlet
and had a ton of questions. He thinks super deeply about religion and
things like this which is awesome! He's still "atheist" but I asked
him what he'd lose by trying to pray and he said "absolutely nothing.
I'll give it a shot." He said it'll take some time but he's gonna do
everything we ask him. He's such a boss! Love this guy.

Gabriel is also progressing and read and prayed and everything! Still
hasn't accepted a baptismal date but hopefully we can get him one this
week! Super cool kid and he's got a a bright future. Right after the
lesson he met the bishop and some other members so that was perfect
timing haha.

I just want to invite you all to go read the first chapter of the book
of Moses in the pearl of great price. Put your name in place of Moses
and feel the power behind this chapter! What do we do when Satan
tempts us? We need to respond like Moses did by saying "who art this?
For I am a son of God!" Satan can't TOUCH us if we don't let him.
Don't give him an inch because he'll take a whole yard. Show him who's
in charge and don't let him get to you. You are a child of God!

Sweating,
Elder Gearig


LAST WEEK ---  6 March 2017  THE PANCAKE MAN

Hello everybody! Hope everyone is doing well and that life is treating
them fabulous. This past week was pretty insane but we'll cover that
in due time. Shoutout to Bingham for winning state basketball again!
Football and basketball in the same year, pretty legit.
Also early birthday shootouts to the best sister four years older than
me and best mother in the world next week!

So in Latino countries they celebrate a thing called Carnival. This
past week was the biggest week of it. Santa Cruz has the 2nd biggest
carnival party in the world behind Rio de Janeiro. Basically this past
week has been shut down for missionary work. I don't even know how to
explain to you guys the wickedness I witnessed. Felt like I was
serving in Sodom and Gomorrah. Just don't look back! Or forward...or
up...or sideways...because people without clothes are everywhere. It
was rough 😐

But we managed to pick up a new investigator. His names Bruno and he's
19 and from Spain! Met with him in a park and it was INCREDIBLE. After
the first vision he was like "it's so true." And I was like why? So
two years ago he was preached to by a Catholic priest and he was
trying really hard to learn something. After, he went back to class
which was philosophy. He said what the priest taught didn't correspond
to the professors teachings. He started feeling nauseous and went to
the bathroom. He started pondering and explained what happened next
saying "a pillar of light penitrated my heart and it felt as if angels
were hugging me." And I was like "umm okay that's the best thing I've
ever heard.." Needless to say it was a solid lesson and this guy is
legit!

Down side is tight after we saw him walking with his philosophy
professor and said hi to him and his professor did not look happy...
But I've got the faith! This kids got a good future in the church. It
was solid.

I also made pancakes a ton this week. Made like 40 for missionary
correlation and they turned out perfect. Thanks Elder Reese for the
recipe 😎 call me the pancake man

That's the only lesson we taught and didn't really have any other
crazy experiences. Just a whole lot of iniquity. My poor companion. I
hope to have more stories next week! Have a good one!

Flap jack Flippin,
Elder Gearig