Elder Fotu OVERLOAD!

So sorry for the delay in updates.

Elder Fotu is alive and well :)

Loving every minute of the work.

First Day

Service :)

 Elder Fotu w/his buddy Ralphie :)

Elder Fotu & Elder Simons

Soakin up the sun while it lasts :)

10/31/11

Happy Halloween everyone!

How's everyone been doing? Any sweet costumes for Halloween? If so, you'll have to send me some pics. I have a few pics that I'll attach for you guys too! Hopefully I'll have some more to send soon! It's too bad to hear about Jake though :/ I hope the injury isn't too serious. Tell him to hang in there and to keep supporting his team. Great to hear that the boys' teams are still doing good though! Tell Lennon to keep it up and Jared way to go for me! Sounds like he had an awesome game winning hit!

That's awesome that Dad gets to help teach missionary prep! I'm sure he'll do a great job and have lots of awesome stories to tell everyone! What grade is Jax gonna be subbing for? That's sweet that she wants to teach! You should tell her to email me so I can talk to her about that. That will be sweet to have Mike and Kerstin back. Hopefully you'll all be able to make it down to San Diego for Christmas. Then I'll be able to talk to everyone that day when I call!

Well, not too much is happening here. We're just teaching everyone that we can and learning more and more everyday. We've found some very promising investigators and we're working to get them on date for baptism soon!

Well, I hope everyone is doing well! From Mikayla's last letter it sounds like you guys are doing great! :) She loves you guys. Have an awesome Halloween today and those that are sick I hope you feel better soon! Thanks for the addresses and I can't wait to get Jake's letter and stuff from home! I love you all and miss you much! The Church is true!

Elder Fotu

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11/7/11

Hello!

Looks like I just missed ya. I messed up on the time difference last time I sent you an email. It's really 11:30 your time when it's 10:30 here. My bad. Anyway, about Larry. Unfortunately, after we had put him on date, he basically fell off the face of the earth and haven't been able to make contact with him whatsoever :/ he's in the army, so I'm sure he's just been really busy, but he fell off date because he had to come to church at least 3 times before he can be baptized.

BUT, on a good note. We were able to put a guy named John Haley on date this last weekend for November 26th. He is LEGIT! His wife grew up and was baptized in the church, but was less-active for a long time after she left home. She started coming back to church about a week after I got here and brought John with her. John just stood up in priesthood that day and said, "Hi I'm John, and I'm investigating the church." We hadn't even taught him yet. It was awesome! So we've been talking to him and were able to start teaching him soon after. He's now on date and is ready to make that step towards following Christ. I'm so excited for him! We just need to make sure we do everything we can to keep him on date now.

To answer your question about the temple, we're about 25-30 minutes away from the temple, but we only make a trip to the temple once every other transfer. We didn't go this transfer so we'll be going next transfer for sure.

I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well. Especially to hear that Jake's knee is doing good! I've been praying for him every night. Hopefully he won't have to get any major surgery and can just heal by resting. The power of prayer, fasting, and priesthood blessings is an amazing thing.

Our weather has turned very cold here as well. The sun has been out a lot surprisingly, but it doesn't get above 56 and the humidity just makes the cold that much more intense. Can't really complain that much though. It's warmer than I expected. I'm glad you liked the pictures I sent. I should be having more coming your way soon.

It's too bad to hear about Lennon's and Jared's games. I thought both of their teams could have taken it all this year. Still an awesome season for both of them though. They still have more seasons to come! Close call for the Varsity game though. Was it a tough game or was Lone Peak a little off? That's the closest game they've had all year. Anyway, glad to hear they're still rolling. I can't believe Bingham is already out of the running though. Who beat them? Is Alta still doing good? Fremont?

Haha I was talking about Tyler at dinner last night with a family and the wife said, "He's going to be so big and different when you get back!" I'm glad he still remembers me! He's such a goofy, cute kid. Mikayla told me in her letter that he had her CTR ring in his mouth during Stake Conference. Soccer though huh? That's a new one. We need a soccer player in our family anyway though. That's something that Lone Peak needs to add to their trophy case, too! ;)

Well, I better get going. I got a lot to do today. I hope all is going good back home and I can't wait to hear back from all of you! Some words of wisdom: Always take the opportunity to bear your testimony! It will help build you up, and help build others up as well. Satan is doing everything he can to turn our hearts away from the Lord, and our sword that we can use to fight back is our testimonies. Fight the adversary! Bear your testimony! Love you guys.

Elder Fotu

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11/15/11

Hey Fam!

Guess what....My first transfer is officially in the books! 1 down, 16 to go! (In case if you were wondering, a transfer is every 6 weeks). I'm not going anywhere this transfer because I'm still training. Training lasts for 12 weeks. I'm glad I'm not leaving though because I love it here. I don't ever want to leave. Haha it's bound to happen some time though. So anyway, I'm here in Puyallup until December 27th for sure.

Mom, I'm glad to hear you got your card! I'm going to be sending a few more pictures of our zone, the scenery, Mt. Rainier, etc. in a letter pretty soon. I want to get a few more pictures gathered up before I send them.

Sad to hear Aunt Dorie passed away :( She was always really nice. You'll have to let me know how the funeral goes. I'll keep their family in my prayers.

Good to hear that Lone Peak won though! Sounds like Jordan's QB is doing good huh? I knew they'd be a tough one. Did LP come from behind? You'll have to have Jake get some pics together from all the games and send them to me after this week. I'd love to see them.

It's too bad Jake has to have surgery again :/ I hope he gets to play a little bit though this Friday. He's definitely worked hard this year. Has he thought about going anywhere after this year? That would be sweet if he could play ball somewhere. Tell Jake he needs to tell all of his team to do something spiritual before the game on Friday. Temple session, read scriptures together, anything. I think that will really help them.

Glad to hear that the kids' grades are doing good! Especially Isaac! Lennon, chin-up bud. Just work hard from here on out. You can't afford to goof off now. High school is just around the corner for you. Everyone else, keep up the good work! Can't wait to get the package from you guys! Should be getting my bike either this week or the next. Is all the money on my card? Hope so.

Well, I hope everyone is doing well and that the kids are all listening to Mom and Dad. I love you all!

Elder Fotu

~

11/21/11

Hey!

We should be getting packages this Thursday when we all get together for our Thanksgiving activity so I'll keep an eye out for it! And if I don't get it then, I'll get it soon! We get packages from our Zone Leaders whenever they're sent it, not only on Mondays.

The work is still going good! We're still working with Jon on preparing him to be baptized this weekend! Hopefully he'll feel like he's ready by Saturday because right now he's not feeling 100%, but we're praying for him. Plus, we just gotta help him understand that he's ready. He's been reading, he's been praying, and he's been keeping all the commitments. I got a good feeling about it. I'll let you know how everything goes next week. I was totally going to be sending you all a Thanksgiving letter/package but it came up on me so fast I didn't even realize it was Thanksgiving week already. I'll get a letter off soon and have some pictures with it too!

I hope you guys have an awesome Thanksgiving! I love you all and can't wait to hear more about everyone (especially Jake's championship game)! The Church is true!

Elder Fotu

*feel free to send letters to Elder Fotu his permanent mailing address for the duration of his mission is:

Elder Garrett Fotu
Washington Seattle Mission
10675 NE 20th St.
Bellevue, WA 98004