Weekly Letter March 26, 2012

Hola,

Well, another week passes in Argentina. Sorry for getting to you guys so late. I am almost completely broke, so we didn´t have money for internet, so we´re in the chapel right now, writing our families.

Finally, the weather is getting cold! Yeah! Aleluya! Today was quite a cold day, we had to wear coats. I love this time of year.

First off, Dad, you may have to call the High School to ask them what my GPA was. I´m not sure what the final GPA was, I think around 3.75 or something like that. I did take an Honors Chemistry Class and I took part in DECA and two years of Choir as extracurricular activities. Also soccer. I did not take institute because I was working. Thank you so much for doing that for me dad, I really appreciate it.

Mom, is it Elder Jeffrey Abarca from Chile who you´re friends with? If so, he´s home right now, getting a medical problem taken care of. He should be back in a short time, I hope. He was a really cool companion, tell him hi for me and tell him to write me. He speaks English. And yes, I taught him well.

Well, kind of bad news this week. Remember my companion from the MTC, Elder Alkema? So, about a month or two ago, he suddenly had a problem in his knees. He was walking one day and his arches went flat on his feet and he was in incredible pain. He calls me today and fills me in on whats happening. He went to the doctor last week and the x-rays came back. The cartlage (sp?) in his knee is almost completely destroyed, along with the tendon. They´re saying that he needs a surgery really bad. The thing is, is that Elder Alkema almost has 18 months in the mission like me. So, there is a rule in the church that if a missionary has to go home for an injury at or after the 18 month mark, he stays home and doesn´t come back. So, it is very probable that Elder Alkema goes home in about ten days. It makes me so incredibly sad to see him go home early. Of course he goes home with honors but when I talked to him, he was feeling really bad about the whole thing. Its weird, we were a trio when we came from the MTC. Elder Jones went home a long time ago, and now Elder Alkema goes home. I´m going to be the only one who finishes the mission on time from our group. I´m going to be the only American on the plane. Aftter he goes home, if you could find him on facebook and make him feel better, that would be awesome. His name is Nathan Alkema from California.

We had quite an experience this week. So, all of a sudden we have this kid, who is 9, that wants to get baptized that the missionaries had taught before and knew pretty much everything. So, we´re like, "you want to get baptized this Saturday?" and he says yes. Cool. We go to his house and talk with him and his brother who is 10, remember that. We do the pre-interview with them both to see if they have any problems with anything, which is highly doubtful, given their age. We get to the questions about the commandments i.e. Law of Chastity, Tithing, Word of Wisdom. We get to the law of Chastity and the child of 10 years asks if he would be able to do...it...with his girlfriend in the future without being married to her. We say no, and he then decides not to get baptized because he doesn´t agree with that. We talk to him and try to convince him that its not a big deal and that he really shouldn´t really worrying about that right now, given that he´s ten. So, we try to focus on the other kid, who´s nine, and he´s okay with the whole thing. So, we go to the soccer activity the next day and the 10 year old kid is there. He asks if his brother is getting baptized and we say yes. He decides to be a jerk and says "yeah, well I´m not going..", yeah little s---. We call the family the next day to tell them when the nine year old needs to be at the chapel to get his clothes. The Mom tells us that he now doesn´t want to get baptized. What? My companion talks to him on the phone and I can hear both sides of the conversation. A nine year old child is saying that he doesn´t want to get baptized because he doesn´t want to get married in order to have kids in the future. ... WHAT?... Come to find out later that the older brother of ten talked to him and said that the church was going to make him get married before he had kids. Seriously, we just cut the conversation when my companion started to try to reason with a nine year old that he doesn´t need to be worrying about marriage at the delicate age of nine. Seriously the stupidest thing I had every heard. Funny experience though. One for the ages. President called me this morning asking why our baptismal date fell and I told him the whole story. He was probably just at surprised as I was when I found out why he wasn´t getting baptized. He let us off the hook for that one and said that there was nothing that we could possibly do about that.

I think a congratulations is in order for Gavin. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR EAGLE!!!! Now we are both Eagles Mom. You proud of us? And now our kids in the future have no excuse. To be honest Gavin, I know where I got my tux, but I totally forgot how to get there. I think its just on your side of the river. On one of the roads by the Lyons Hotel. You may have to do some driving, but its around there for sure. Its easy to miss. It has a gravel parking lot. The guy there is really cool and will help you out a lot. Good luck! Thanks Gav, but for now, I don´t need anything. Maybe, you could send me a few emails with some music from gear of war 2 music on it. I can only receive 12MB for your information, so it would have to be a couple of emails. But, that would be so awesome. If not, I´ll just have to patient.

We have been getting rained on like crazy the past few weeks. I sent two pictures of our street after one of the rain storms. Crazy. The street was under a good six inches of water. Good thing we´re on bikes!

Well, I have to let you go. I love you guys so much and have a great week. Don´t worry too much about the job. Somebody can only be out of work for so long until something comes along. I would suggest to bump up the scripture study and really form a personal relationship with the savior through personal scripture study. You´ll find that your worry level will go down and your trust in the Lord will go up. Just a thought, but seriously, you should do it. That goes for all of you. Love you guys!!!!!

Chau!

Élder Garrett Brighton Rook

Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Oeste

"La mejor misión de todo el mundo...."

Weekly Letter March 1, 2012

Hola!

Well, I can see, by reading your letters, that there was a misunderstanding in my last letter on Wednesday. I think I said and I quote, "Once every six weeks...P-Day will be on Wednesday...". Haha, but its okay. It happens. But, yeah all of my P-Days are still mondays, minus the one every six weeks, which is a wednesday. Thank you to those who sent me a letter last night, because it gave me something to read.

The weather here is driving me crazy. First, it rains in the morning and it gets relatively cool, so obviously we´re in jackets. Then, it stops raining and the sun explodes through the clouds and the heat hits you like a ton of bricks, and you´re in a jacket. I hate in-between seasons here. It just needs to be autumn now and cut it out with this indecisive weather. I just want winter already!

Have you found out anything about my BYU application? When is the deadline for winter semester? Are my grades good enough to get in? Please keep my updated on everything thats going on conerning that. Oh and also call them about the Music School and how I would work out that application. Please... I think I´ve decided not to do ROTC, given that I wouldn´t be able to fully devote myself to a music composition major while being in the service. I still need to pray about it, but I think that´s the road I´m going to take. I think I´m going to do a bachelors in music composition at BYU, that is if I get into the music school. I think it would a really cool major. We´ll see of course what happens.

Its interesting, Paige told me nothing of the conference that both Mom and Dad talked about. Nor did she express her interest in going on a mission to me. She told me, "Well............................... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING happened this week.". Hmm, oh well...

Good luck Mom with your surgery on Wednesday. I´ll definitely praying for you. You´ll be okay. Clint is an amazing surgeon and I would feel 100% safe with him. Trust me, I´ve seen many from him haha...

Thats way cool Dad that Ty is serving in one of your old areas. Send a letter to him and he could maybe find some of your converts over there. Or at least somebody who knows them. Thats way awesome. Maybe Gavin will serve his mission here and I´ll give him a list of people to find.

Thats way awesome that Paige is interested in going on a mission. I hope that interest stays alive until she goes. Paige, do it, it is truly something that you´ll never regret for doing, and something that you´ll always regret for not doing.

Spencer is engaged to Tony? Yeah, I kow Tony. We worked together in Hollywood Video for a little bit until he quit. He´s a good kid, but I don´t think I could see him joining the church, given that he´s a little on the evangelist side. But, who knows?

Nothing much is going on here. My convert´s Mom was made Young Women´s President yesterday, so that was really cool. That family is just rocketing through the Gospel, its so awesome.

Nothing much else to write I´m afraid. Just working hard and getting things done here. When something interesting happens here, I´ll let you know. I love you guys and I always look forward to reading your letters. Have a great week and I´ll write you on Monday!

Mosiah 2:41

Chau!

Weekly Letter March 14, 2012

Hola otra vez...

Well first...apology for the late letter. Once every six weeks, from now on; p-day will be on wednesday, because changes are on wednesday and the mission doesn´t want the missionaries to lose two days of work, p-day and going to the offices on wednesday, so just to let you know.

First up, Gavin. CONGRATULATIONS ON GOING TO STATE!!!!! I knew you would make it, cause you´re a Rook. Mr. Mendez is a total boss. He´s so cool. He didn´t judge me because I´m not a bass or baritone, but I played for a lot of basses and baritones and got to hear him judge. Way sick dude. I´m looking forward to when we can play and sing together. Prepare somthing for the ward Christmas Party haha. I want to play for Kracht next year because I loved doing solo and ensemble. I am proud of you for learning a song on the piano. When did your intrest spike into piano all of a sudden?

I´m glad you had fun Paige at the caucus. I´m really looking forward to voting for Romney after the mission. He´s totally going to win. His Dad was Marion G. Romney right? I thought he was.

Send my congratulations to Lauren and Joey for me. Given that I can´t send an email to anyone besides family. I need to send a letter to Daniel´s family here pretty soon. Where are Lauren and Joey living by the way?

Okay, from Argentina...

Well, word on the street is that the Buenos Aires Temple is supposed to open in August after almost three years of being closed. Hopefully it opens when it´s supposed to, because I want to be able to go through the temple here.

The branch here is defnitely improving. The members are more willing to help us, given that they are seeing a growth in weekly attendance and baptisms. They are finally starting to get on board with us when it comes to the missionary efforts here in Chacabuco.

My companion and I are doing well. Today, we start another six weeks together. The time is flying by so fast! Stewie completes 18 months in the mission tomorrow! Before you know it, he´ll be home! No te puedo creer (I can´t believe it).

Yes Mom, I wear my orthodics everyday since the beginning of my mission. They help a lot. I´m glad that you´ll get that bunion problem taken care of. How long have you had that same problem? I really long time!

Finally, its starting to cool down a little bit. It´s still hot, but its nothing compared to the 100-104 degree range that it was about a month ago. Today, its a comfortable 27 degrees celsius. Nice day.

Thank you so much for the money for the pants. I´m going to buy some today. Woo! New pants after a year and a half!

I don´t think I´m going to extend my mission. President is asking a lot of missionaries to extend, but they´re all Zone Leaders. I don´t think I´ll make it to Zone Leader, I think President is going to have me train for the rest of my mission. Ugh...

We had something rally cool happen this week. On Sunday, the Dad of my first baptism here received the Melchezidek Priesthood after three years of inactivity. He is now an elder in the branch and on Sunday, he´s going to have a calling. I love that family so much and I have been privileged to see the change the gospel has made to them over these past few months. The Mom, who didn´t want anything to do with the church, is now teaching in Relief Society and making visits to the sisters in the branch. She gives talks in Sacrament meeting often and is probably going to be in Young Womens here pretty soon. Every time we go to their house, the kids are reading from the Book of Mormon and they always tell us what they´re learning. They do family home evening every week without fail and have now become one of the strongest families in the branch here. I love the Gospel and I have a testimony that its true. The Gospel changes lives and brings the Spirit of God to all that receive it.

I love you guys and I always look forward to your letters. I look forward to the day when we can all, once again, be reunited...

Chau!

Élder Garrett Brighton Rook

Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Oeste

"La mejor misión de todo el mundo...."

Weekly Letter March 5, 2012

Hola todos!

Well, we have had quite the week. And I hear that you guys have too. First, I´ll take care of a little bit of housekeeping:

First, sorry about your job, Paige. I guess that´s how we learn sometimes. You know what they say, "nobody learns from success...". Just make this a learning experience. Learn from it and move on. Apply what you´ve learned in future opportunities and make it better. In the meanwhile, even though you don´t have a job...WORK on finding a job. That is your job until you find one. Go to this seminar with Pres. Nichols, it will be awesome. Paige, I think you need to go on a mission, not because of what happened or whats happening, but its the learning experience of a lifetime. I don´t think you guys are going to know me when I get home. Its our opportunity to completely put our lives in the Lord´s hands and let us mold us into what he wants us to be. I highly encourage you to pray about it and do some major, prayerful, self-evaluation on what you need to do to change. I love you and am always here to support you.

I miss going to the temple often. Thats something I want to do when I get home, is go to the temple on a regular basis. I love the Thurgood family. I miss them a ton and say Hi to them for me. We need to have a giant barbeque when I get home. Yeah, Adam´s bed is awesome. I spent many a night there. Haha

Just keep going with the job search. Its hard for everybody right now I´m sure. You could always come to Argentina to work. There is always something to do haha. Or, we could move to Canada. I was talking to an Elder about three months ago who is from Canada and he was telling me that there is too much work and not enough workers. How would that be? Just keep swimmin´.

Well, we have definitely seen the hand of the Lord in our area this week. We had a soccer activity on friday and a ton of investigators came. Then, on sunday, they all came to church and we now have eight people preparing for baptism. We´ll see what happens this week. I´m not getting my hopes up, but I´m having faith that the Lord will bless us. Hopefully everything will work out okay.

My companion is adjusting well. He´s always tired and he pretty much dies at night when bedtime comes around. But, he´ll get used to it soon enough. He´s a cool guy and kes to work hard, which is what this area needs.

Bummer Gavin about prom dude. But, whatever...it happens. I hope you have fun, and I want to see pictures afterward. "Now remember, no late night parties trying to get lucky, because tomorrow...we rock. As is the words of ACDC...´we roll tonight, to the guitar bite, and for those of you about to rock...we salute you...´". -School of Rock

I am still thinking about the ROTC and I don´t know what to do still. I was looking at the music program that the Army has, but I noticed that all of the musicians are enlisted men, not officers and there is no way I am going to go into the Army as an enlisted. I´m sure that they use the officers for something a little more productive than music. I´ll pray about it and see what I get.

Sorry for no pictures. I forgot my cable for my camera and my comp´s adapter for USB doesn´t work with my memory card, so yeah...next week for sure, I promise. Also a favor please. Mom...Dad...I don´t know if it would be possible if you could put like fifty bucks in my account for a new pair of pants. My work pants are all torn up and I´ve fixed the crotch area like five times, it just keeps breaking. If not, its okay, I can survive. But, if you could, it would be amazing.

I love you guys so much and I pray for you daily. Thanks for all you do for me and I look forward to seeing you in the near future. Have a great week and we´ll talk to you later!