July 17, 2017 The last melon

HEY HEY HEY.
Is this really happening?
Yes. This is real. Although it doesn't feel like it and probably won't
until I'm in Walmart alone and turn around to find my companion only
to realize I no longer have one...
But yeah! This week has been extremely insane!

We had zone conference in gran canaria so we flew over Thursday night
and had conference Saturday! Gave my "dying testimony" and heard 9
other fellow missionaries give theirs. It was quite emotional and
didn't feel real. Life is weird.

There's a quote from President Pack that I loved, he said "we are all
baby gods." Haha it was hilarious, but so true. We all have the
potential to literally become God's someday and what are we doing know
to prepare for that? We should act according to the potential we have.

Also had the last exchange of my mission. WITH WHOM? YALLREADY KNOW IT
WAS WITH ELDER REESE. It was epic. We didn't teach any planned lessons
but we had some epic contacts in the street. We found this lady named
Anabel and taught her for about 30 minutes there in the street and
left her with a BoM. It was epic and the chemistry was flowing strong.
We've got flow and that'll be useful in 3 weeks 🏈
But we had a good chat reflecting on our missions. Since day 1 we've
been in every zone together so we've basically had the same mission
and it was really special to reflect on the sweet moments we've had
serving these Spaniards, even though they're a tough bunch.
Had my last interview with President Pack and that was a bittersweet
moment. We talked about my last 2 years and how I felt and he extended
some invitations and we had a good chat.

My thoughts are super scattered right now and I don't know how to
properly write an email like this, and I'd be surprised if anyone
other than my parents and squad is reading this. I just want you all
to know that I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith is the Prophet
of this restoration which continues taking place. Thomas Monson is
God's man on this earth. The book of Mormon is true. IT'S SO TRUE. And
there's no other church upon the face of this earth that completes the
requirements the Bible has set for the true church. But I know these
things are true. I believed all of this before, but know they are
facts. I've grown so much and I'm ready for this next chapter in my
life and to apply these things I've learned! Have a great week and
we'll see you the next one!

Signing out for the last time,
Elder Gearig


Said bye to elder Brock. Lifelong friend and it was tough.

July 10, 2017 -- Week stuntin'

Not sure if I'll have time later so I'm throwing together something
quick right now!
Hope you've had a great week because ours has been stellar!

Last Monday we had a lesson set up with a less active and he showed up
with a friend so we were pretty stoked. It was an alright lesson but
we had another lesson later in the week with them again and the guy
brought his wife! So by the end of Monday we had two new investigators
for the week, with this 13 year old kid again as well. Another play
lesson, it's hard teaching in the middle of a round about basically to
a kid with the attention span of a fruit fly but hey, slow and steady
wins the race...or something like that.

We finally got another lesson with David! He's come 5 times to church
and does everything with the young men and young women and prays
better than them as well haha, basically a beast member already. But
we taught him and he was leading us right into baptism so we took it
by the reigns and went for it! He's been thinking about being baptized
even though we've only taught him twice and it was awesome! He'll be
baptized in August or September because he's leaving for a month, so I
won't be here but it'll be cool to see those pictures! He's such a
beast. Never met a 16 year old like him ever. He'll be a beast
missionary and hopefully he gets called to Utah 😶
Also his mom took the book of Mormon with her on vacation so we'll
need to do some follow up soon with her, another huge miracle.

Also something cool happened when we met with that 13 year old kid
Monday. In the middle of the lesson this other dude walks over and
interrupts us and says "you remember me?!" And I was like lol NOPE. I
contacted him 5 months ago and he gave us a number but never had time.
He said school ended and work did too so he had time! I called him the
next day and we met Thursday and it was a cool lesson! He's atheist
but we talked about everything from astronomy to the resurrection and
it was super solid, he really liked it! So 5 months later the guy was
ready to meet haha it was awesome!

I have a ton of pictures so hopefully I have time later to send them.
That's all I have time for, hopefully I can get around to some
personal emails before the end of the day but if not we can talk in
two weeks anyways. Love you all! Read the book of Mormon!


Do work,
Elder Gearig

---

July 3, 2017 -- Merica. Baseball. Hotdogs

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AKA BEST HOLIDAY EVER AND SUCKS TO NOT BE IN THE US.
Went up to the mountains with the Hermanas and the senior couple, ate
hotdogs and the senior couple brought baseball gloves and an Hermana
here plays college softball so her and I tossed the ball around for
awhile and it WAS THE BEST DAY EVER. We flew Old Glory on top of the
Spanish mountains. Viva América.

Seriously that's all I can think of right now.

Last Monday we were hosting back to the Chapel to send emails and a
lady said "are you jehovas witnesses?" And we said "no. Can we talk
tomorrow?" And she said "tomorrow. 4 o'clock. Here." So we showed up
and she was there! Quickest lesson I've ever set up. She's kind of
crazy, and it wasn't a good lesson, but it was still cool haha.

The next day we decided to sit on a bench and make some calls. After a
few minutes this lady passes by and says "are you jehovas witnesses?"
Lol here we again. We said "no we're Mormons" and she sat down and we
taught her right there and gave her a BoM. It was a super cool
miracle! She's had a tough life full of drugs and abuse and it was so
sad listening but the atonement is so real! God definitely put us in
her path. 3 more weeks to go hard.

Our ward mission leaders friend has been feeding him antimormon stuff
and has sent him on the borderline of going inactive. Saturday we sat
him down and talked with him and it was such a powerful experience. We
cleared up his doubts and taught the plan of salvation and then
testified of Joseph Smith. He said "everything you just said is what
Pineda (member) told me as well..." And we just sat in silence as the
spirit hit him. He continued to bear a strong testimony about
missionary work and had me in tears. 3 more weeks to go hard.

Yesterday Juan bore his testimony for the first time in sacrament
meeting and did such a good job! He said some things I didn't know
about, like how hard his life was searching for the truth and right
when he wanted to give up, we found him in the street. I knew he was
looking at me and didn't dare look at him because I knew I'd lose it.
So I stared at my shoes and cried instead. 3 more weeks to go hard.

Those are some things that happened! Super grateful for this gospel in
my life and all the little details that have helped shape me.
Seriously there are so many things that have happened that have turned
into huge blessings. Look for the details! Love you all!

Next week we have another excursion so I shouldn't have any time again, sorry!


Detail searchin,
Elder Gearig


Pictures from our hike last week