Hola!

 

     I was thrilled to recieve letters from all of you this week. My week was really interesting but I`ll tell it later in the letter. First, i wanted to address some things.

     Primero, sorry for the missing capitilization on some letters, because the shift key on the left hand side of the computer i`m using is broken, so its a real pain to reach over with my left hand to use the shift key on the other side.

     Segundo, i was aware that gavin and paige weren`t going to send me money for me. I knew that i was going to get them something. Silly! I wouldn`t use their money on me! Haha. Anyway...

     Tercero, my tooth precedure went just fine. Now, if one looks in my mouth, you can`t tell that a procedure was even performed. They got rid of all the cement that they put in last week and filled it with some gummy stuff and porceline. Then, the dentist shined a light on it and it hardened up. She filed it down a little bit and boom, it wa done. I can eat on it and it doesn`t hurt anymore. Finally, after about three months, I can eat comfortably. Needless to say, I am doing just fine, so don`t worry Mom.

     Cuarto, the baptisms did not happen this week because of interview troubles. But they are going to get baptized on the 11th of this month. So, we`re still pretty excited.

     Quinto, I`m glad that you had fun at the wedding and tell them that I said hi. Please say hi to Shayler and Rebecca for me too. I love those guys. Shayler is a stud.

     Sexto, I thought it was funny that Paige spelled the activity they did "Boredwalk" as if it was kind of a dungy activity. Haha, I thought it was pretty funny, Paige. Don`t take offense, it was just a joke 

     Sèptimo, did you guys get my flight plans yet? If not, you should be getting them any day I would think. Kind of weird that they haven`t come yet. But, my release day from here is the 12th of Octubre.

     Octavo, I wanted ask for some recipes from you for some members in the ward. They follow:

          -Sloppy Joes

          -Pulled Pork Sandwiches

          -Pepsi Pork

     I always talk about these things to some members, so they want to know how to make them. The recipes would be awesome if you could send them by next week. I love you! 

     Noveno, my shoes are falling apart! they are getting completely destroyed! So, i`m going to try to wear them until the end of my mission. They`ll look pretty cool by then. haha...

     Dècimo, Dad, would you be willing to look up the Navy ROTC information at University of Idaho for me? I would really appreciate it. I don`t know if i`ll do it, but it would be nice to have it as an option. Maybe i`ll start it next septiembre, who knows? They would pay for my schooling and they would be one less thing to worry about.

     Dècimo Primero, sorry I don`t have any pictures this week because the computer I`m using does not have a USB port, go figure. But you will have a good number of pictures next week. BTW, i am now living with one of my old companions, Elder Harriott from Panamà. He`s way cool and now I`ll live with him until I die here. Crazy, I would have been with him for four transfers or six months. He`s in the other area that lives with us.

     I`m afraid that`s all I have to write this week. Thanks for sending letters every week without fail for my entire mission. I love you guys and i look forward to seeing you real soon. 

 

And that`s all I have to say about that.... 

Élder Garrett Brighton Rook

 Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Oeste

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

 

Well, another week passes...

     Hey guys! How are you? It seems to me that you had a pretty good week. So did I, and I look forward to telling it...

     Well, first of all, they did leave my tooth exposed, but I haven`t chewed on it since the operation. On Thursday, they put the new tooth on top. They did fill it with some sort of cement, but it wore off pretty quickly. It doesn`t hurt at all, but it is a little sensitive. But, Mom there is no problems wit my tooth, I`m feeling just fine. 

     This week, Elder Silva left and I got my new companion that will probably be my last. His name is Elder Abàn and he`s from Mendoza Argentina. He`s a way cool guy and I look forward to working with him. 

     On Saturday, we are going to have two baptisms! We are so excited and I will send pictures on Monday. They are so ready to be baptized and the ward is really ready to receive some new members.

     The weather is really weird right now. It doesn`t want to decide whether its going to be cold or not. Somedays, I just work with a long sleeve shirt and other days with my coat and a sweater underneath. But, at least its not hot. 

     I have officially started my second to last transfer here in the mission. I now have less than three months left and its making me sad to think that I will be leaving this country in about two and a half months. I would like to return to visit as just a regular joe, but I don`t know when or how I would do it. I`ll think about that a little further down the road. Thats what kind of stinks about serving a foreign country, is its so incredibly hard to go back and visit after you finish. With money these days, its nearly impossible. So, I`ll just have to make the best of it while I`m here I guess. 

     Gonzalo is a great guy and he helps us out a lot. He speaks wicked good english and he teaches a way better class than me. Yeah, I know english, but knowing it and teaching it are two different things. I don`t know how fast I should teach or how fast the student will learn. So, that`s where Gonzalo came in and helped out a ton. Plus, he likes it so its a win/win. We are doing it in an attempt to find new investigators and bring them to church. 

     I am doing well concerning my health and well-being. I haven`t gotten sick in a while and as soon as I have a new tooth in my mouth, I`ll be good-as-new. 

     Thanks for offering to send me some money. I really appreciate it. To tell you the truth, there are not many more things that I want to buy, just a few. I could probably get everything I wanted for about two hundred or so. Not too much, well yeah but not TOO much. All I want is a knife, a few more mates, a soccer jersey and a few smaller things that I`ll see later when I go to capital at the end of my mission. 

     Gavin, your pictures are legit! You need to take some pictures for me when I get home. I`ll even pay you! They look sweet...

     Paige, I`m glad that you`re glad at Taco Bell. I miss Taco Bell a lot but I don`t think I`ll eat it more than once after getting home. I want to keep this weight off and lose even more. Keep going with your sweet grades in school and don`t let up!

     Well, I`ve gotta go. I`ll write next week and I look forward to hearing from you again. Stay strong and don`t get too trunky. Tell Dad to write me next week by the way. I missed his letter...haha

Élder Garrett Brighton Rook

 Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Oeste

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

 

Weekly Letter July 18th, 2012

Hey Guys!

     Well, another week passes by and I start my second to last transfer in the Buenos Aires West Mission, unfortunately. It makes me sad that I can actually see the end of the road. But, I`ve just gotta work even harder so I can stay focused. Its so great to hear from you guys every week and I look forward to talking about my experiences with you in person. But, anyway...on with the letter.

     Dad, I`m glad you`re okay after the incident with the car. And Richard too. Send him my greetings by the way. Dad, I have a feeling that the company will call you this week. Somethings gotta give sometime. But, just have faith and something will come through.

     Mom, sorry about the hospital job, I hope something else will come through. I`m sure it will. Thanks for the picture of the argentine license plate. Thats how they look down here. I wonder how it got up there though...

     Please please please send my love to Ty. I miss that guy and tell him that I look forward to seeing him.

     Today is transfers and my companion is leaving. I`m going to miss him a lot. He was a great companion and we had fun together. But, I am also excited for a new companion and he will probably be my last companion on the mission. Scary right? Anyway, so thats happening.

     Last thursday, I went to the dentist and they told me that I had an infection in my molar number 7. I guess when I got that little cavity filled before my mission, the dentist (won`t say who) didn`t clean out all the infection, so it continued down to my root. So, on thursday, I went to the dentist and they drilled out almost the entire inside of my molar and this coming thursday, they`re going to recontruct what they took out. They put like a gallon of novacain in my face because I had no feeling on the right side of my face until I went to bed that night. I got a whole new understanding of Bill Cosby Himself after that day. I did see and smell smoke, my face did slide off of my skull, I spilled water all down the front of me, and I did have a line of spit from my mouth to the sink that the doctor did call (no joke) an "arco iris" or rainbow. The dentist said that there was nothing I could have done to prevent that, given that it was below the filling and my toothbrush doesn`t reach there. I don`t have any other cavity by the way. So, that was the highlight of my week. Getting my molar destroyed in a third world country. Haha...good story for my grandkids.

     Its interesting whats happening with some of the modern day youth in the church. People who we think are the chosen somehow find their way off the path and fall. When we read Lehi`s dream in 1 Nephi 8, we find that the black mist fall upon everybody, but its our decision to hold fast to the rod of iron and continue on to the tree of life, which is the love of God. But, we also find that some of those who partook of the fruit still fell and yielded themselves to the tireless taunts of those who had already fallen into darkness. I hope that some of these youth, not going to name names, will find there way back to the tree of life and partake of the fruit thereof, that is, the love of God throught the miracle of forgiveness. God always gives us the opportunity to come back and partake of the fruit. They`ll have that opportunity someday, and we can only hope that they take it.

     Well, I have to go to the transfer meeting so I will write you all on Monday. I love you and hope to see you soon.

Chau!

Élder Garrett Brighton Rook

 Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Oeste

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

July 13, 2012

We received an email from a gentleman in Garrett's mission, and here is what it said.

HI GARRET'S MOTHER!!!
I'm Gonzalo Viola, A friend of elder rook from buenos aires, he has just left home after having tea with his companion. I've been a member of the church for two years and I really enjoy Elder Rook's company. He's very kind and he helps me with my English. I listen to his CD quite often as well, he's quite talente. I took some pictures of us and wanted to share them with you,maybe you can post them in his Facebook! In the pictures you'll see Garret, his companion Elder Silva and Me (Gonzalo Viola).
Hope you post them and let me know if you like them! Oh, there's a picture of a drawing he made specially for you,it says "Greetings from Argentina" (Saludos de Argentina)!
 
Sorry if I made some mistakes in your language! My english is good but not perfect!

July 9, 2012

Hola!

     Well, sounds to me that you guys had a pretty good week. Not much to write here as things are pretty slow in the winter time in Argentina. Today is the 9th of July which is Independence Day here in Argentina. So, everything`s closed and the streets are empty. On holidays, the argentine people takes advantage of just drinking and not working. So, there`s not much of parties on the city level. But, its pretty chill anyway. 

     I`ll be doing a fast for you guys on Wednesday since Dad has his interview that day. And I also have a request for you. Be praying for me because on Thursday, I have a dentist appointment because I have been having some pain in my two back molars and I hope its just because they`re sensitive and that they have deep pits. I doubt I have a cavitiy since I take fairly good care of my teeth. But, we`ll see. It hurts whenever I eat or drink something really hot or really cold. The change in temperature from hot to cold bothers them a little bit. 

     Man, everyone`s getting married! Crazy that Zaks getting married already. Send him my love and congratulations. 

     Mike Murphy did not write me back yet, but he probably will soon. He`s probably a little busy, but I`ll probably hear from him in a few days if not a week. 

     Remember next week, I won`t write until Wednesday because thats the end of transfer. Just thought I`d let you know. 

     My birthday was really good. The elders in my house got back from working about a half hour early and they had a cake waiting for me when we got back. They`re awesome. I`ll send pictures next week, since I forgot my camera cable today. I also had an asado with a family in our ward. I`ll have them give me pictures so I can send them to you guys. 

     The weather is finally getting cooler out. Winter is definitly coming and I`m loving it. But, its getting harder to work because now everybody`s inside and not answering doors. But, we still keep working and we are finding people to teach slowly but surely. 

     The ward is good, they help us a lot and are willing to help us with the missionary work that we`re doing here. We leave with members and they help us teach a lot. 

     Well, there is really nothing else to write so I love you guys and I pray everyday that God will watch over you always. Good luck on Wednesday and you`ll be getting my letter next wednesday.

Chau! 

July 2nd, 2012

Hey Guys!

     Well, I don`t have much time to write today because we have a district activity here in about a half an hour. I`m doing fine here. Just plugging along and working hard. I`m not trunky, I promise. My week was somewhat boring given that my companion and I were in bed for two days with horrible colds and headaches. The weather is changing and my body doesn`t like it very much. I have experienced the most humid conditions of my entire life here in these past two weeks. It is so humid that its no longer cold outside and you can´t help but sweat after walkign and walking. You come home at night and your bed and pillow are wet but you have to sleep anyway. Its terrible. But today is the first day in two weeks where its not too humid. Thank goodness that cold is coming back. 

     Gavin, your photos were bomb. The Time Traveler one was sweet. Maybe you could redo the photo now with all the clocks with different times on them. That would be way sweet too. But, awesome job. I could never get Photoshop down really well when I was in Blair`s class. But it was a lot of fun. You are totally designing my new CD cover bro. I`ll even pay you. Haha

     Paige, I`m glad you`re liking your job and I hope it goes well for you. Brother Polluck is a good man and I would love to work for him too. Work hard, 110 percent of your effort 110 percent of the time. 

     I will be praying really hard for you guys this week as Dad goes into interviews. Something has got to come through eventually. Remember that God is never ignorant of any of his children. Mathew 10 talks about that a bird never falls to the ground without the Father knowing. Keep praying, keep looking and know that you will always be guided in all things. 

     The photo I sent is when we got caught in rainstorm without any rain coat. I got soaked to the bone. Sorry for the sort letter but I`ll make it up to you next week. Well, off to eat some American style Fried Chicken made by yours truly with the District. Love you guys and we`ll talk to you later! 

Élder Garrett Brighton Rook

 Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Oeste

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