Letter from 10/15/2012

Thanks for the (ward) updates!! That is exciting. However, I am really going to miss Dodge. That makes me sad. But we had a wonderful week.... We have been teaching two young women in our area, Bev and her little sister Fara. Both were in church this past Sunday and will be, if all goes according to plan, baptized on the 27 of the month. I am so excited for them. And it has been a wonderful opportunity teaching someone my age. It makes things a little bit easier. We can connect easier because we are in their boat.

Suriname is going to have an interesting future. All eight of the future missionaries are waiting in the MTC to come to Suriname. And we have no idea when they are going to come. So when they do we are going to be flooded with fresh meat. We only have 8 eligible elders to train because Elder Fernandes is currently training Elder Bechan. S every single elder is going to be training pretty soon... I am excited.

I can not wait to meet Elder Moon.... And no I have not been able to keep in touch with Elder Jenkins, he has not written me back. So I do not know what is going on but I am so excited to have them in SU!!!

We had a very sad weekend here in Suriname. Our district presidents wife died this past weekend and we attended her funeral and burial. What is worse is that he has a 4 yr old daughter. Seeing her so unaware, so innocent broke my heart. But the Lord knows him and will see him through. Pres. Mehr was in town this weekend and gave a wonderful talk in which he stated, I know that Pres. L promised his beloved with in the premortal life that he would suffer this trail in her life, with her." And I know that to be true. It is simply the hand of the Lord polishing his servants. Pres. Mehr also stated, " God anxiously awaits the death of the righteous." And I know that Pres. L's wife was welcomed home with open arms. A little girl has gone home. Death is not so scary anymore. It is actually a beautiful thing.

I love this gospel. I hope you have a wonderful week!! Love life. Cherish time. And be obedient to the commandments of the Lord. Obedience is the principle of happiness..

Elder Garcia

Pictures!

I can't believe how much he's grown up on his mission! He'll be 21 in a few short weeks (Dec. 4) and then he'll be home not too long after. Crazy how time flies!



Getting ready for transfers

Letter from 10/1/2012

The DL duties stretch me everyday but I love the learning process. I love getting to know the Elders and building lasting friendships with them, giving trainings is still weird. But I love it. I will be talking tomorrow about the Book of Mormon. My back is doing OK. Still hurts but I cannot do much about it. I just try to use it better and really make sure that I have good posture and doing the things that are going to make it easier to go through out the day. I have really learned to love my mission. I do not know. as the time ticks by, I get more and more anxious. More and more sad. I do not want to leave. There is nothing better. This is how life ought to be. Selfless, teaching and doing all that we can to bring others to come unto Christ. Do not get me wrong when the time comes to go home, I will be excited to see you, to see my lovely sisters, dad, and my little brothers. But I want nothing more than the time to take easy and not leave so fast. I will be 21 in 2 months....what the heck. It is sickening. I still have so much to learn and so much refining to do. There are still so many people that I need to find. I love this gospel. I love it with all my heart. More than anything I love it. I want to know it, live it, and help others live it too!! It is perfect, led by the perfect head, and brings perfect peace. I can never thank my God enough for giving me the chance to have it in my life. Never.

 

Love,

Elder Garcia

Letter from 9/24/2012

This week has been a roller coaster. Stress headache, courage, defeat, confidence, insecurity. But I have loved it. I love being District Leader I love serving the Elders that I am responsible for. I love getting to know them more and really allowing them to feel my love for them. This calling has brought me out of my comfort zone. And I am so grateful for that. I am so grateful that you made contact with Laurna. She is one of my favorite people in Suriname. She will be serving in Provo!! I am so glad that you talked to her.

So no further news concerning Elder M. has come through. He is going to be like me I assume, just flown in when the visa goes through. So we are anxiously awaiting his arrival but in the mean time it has been wonderful to be with Elder Q. He is a stud. I love him a lot. But my new area is HUGE and I am still not sure how I want to it. It gives me a headaches sometimes. But it has humbled me and driven me to my knees. And I know with a surety of hope that we can improve the circumstances. We just have to get out there and work hard. Revive the members and give them hope again. I love my mission!! I love these people. And I want to help them. I want to give them peace in Christ and help them to see themselves the way He does. And that is what we are trying to do. I have never been more challenged in my life but I have also seldom been more grateful.

 

Elder Garcia