So well. Satan has been torturing me since like day one in the mish. I think this is the worst of the worst that happened so far. SOMEONE STOLE MY SD CARD LAST MONDAY WHEN I WAS IN THE CYBER PLACE! I have been such a debbie downer the whole week because all of my photos so far in the mish was in that SD card. ALL OF THEM! I have been sooooo careful with my belongings. And some of you know that I freak out when something is missing. Even if its my pen! But anyway, I gotta put my big girl pants on and and stop whining. Satan wants me to be distracted and feel bad. But you know what Satan!? Jokes on you! I am happy because the person who stole my SD card probably needs it more than I do. So its cool. And maybe that person will look through my photos and wonder why I am so happy, why I am with so many different people, and why do I have a name tag that says Hermana Garcia La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias! S/he will be so curious and search about the church and one day will get baptized! SO HA! You got nothing on me!
I learned so many things about this experience. It was hard to get over it- knowing that I am super particular and OCD with my belongings. But prayer works wonders. I was comforted that everything will be alright. Its not the end of the world, you know? And I can make more memories here in the mission field. So all is well in Zion. Plus, my friends in the MTC and my past compañeras pretty much have the same photos that I do, so I didn't lose too much pictures :) I am just grateful that I am able to overcome this challenge once again. Satan just works hard to put me down. But jokes on him!
Anyway, on the good note. We have been working a lot of members here in our barrio. We don't have a bishop right now because he have to move for his job. So right now we are looking for another worthy priesthood who can replace him. It looks like it might take a while. But its okay! We are patient and diligent to work as a barrio to help the people in this area to come closer unto Christ! We have amigos fields here. They're awesome! His name is Oscar and he accompany us like 3 times a week and early in the morning too! Then we have Alan too. Hes preparing to go on a mission and has been a mighty mini missionary! So grateful for all of these people who are so excited to do missionary work!
The Holy ghost is the bomb to (sorry for the lack of vocabulary). We met 3 families. THREE! The greatest thing about it is that, we didn't even plan to visit their street or knock on their door. My compañera and I just had this feeling that, "oh we have to knock on this door" or "lets walk on this street instead of our usual route". Its just such a great feeling when you listen to the spirit and sees how the Lord helps us find his children who are ready to listen to the gospel. Being a missionary is the best thing ever!
My invitation for all of you out there who are reading this entry is to write in your journal or think about one or two good things that happened to you today. Sure there are a good amount of trials that we face everyday, but there are always some blessings that Heavenly Father gives us every single day. So turn that frown upside down!
With all the love that I can give,
Hermana Garcia
Monday, September 7, 2015
Baby, its..... SUPER HOT OUTSIDE!
In comes the heat of the sun and goodbye to the cold winter days.
Anyway, when the members were been talking about how lucky I am that I am here during the winter season, I was like, "Whats the big fuss about?" But man oh man! Now I know why! The heat of the sun here is suuuuuper hot! Talk about 112 degrees on a normal day. NORMAL DAY. Like what? They said It can be higher than that too. And to think that were still in the spring season. Whew! Santiago, you never fail to amaze me.
Anyway, this here in the side of the continent, other than being hot, its super cool as well (spiritual wise haha). We recently just had out satellite broadcast multi-stake conference with Uruguay and Paraguay. Elder Cook, Hales, and Rodriguez (of the Seventy) were present and gave their testimony about the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy, missionary work, and matrimony (EEEEK!). The church has really been emphasizing a lot with these three topics
I love Elder Cook´s talk when he said that we should focus on the list that we can do during Sunday and not the list of what we cannot do. He also talked about not judging people who do not have the same lists that we do. We are here to love one another, right? For Elder Hales, I loved when he said the importance of prayers. There are 3 different kinds of prayers that we should do everyday. 1- Personal prayers.2- Companionship Prayers (AKA pray with your husband and wives). and lastly 3- Family Prayers. So I am inviting all of you (whoever is reading this) to focus on the list of what you can do every Sunday (ie. read your scriptures, spend time with your family, etc.) and to not just do your personal prayers but also pray as a couple and as a family! I promise that as you do these things you family will be stronger and will be built in a firm foundation of the gospel :)
Keep stay cool on that side of the continent.
With tons of love,
Hermana Garcia
PS: I super dark right now its not even real. My tan lines are also super funny. I have a watch tan and a ring tan. They call it missionary tan over here hahaha! Also, I have tons of bug bites on my leg. The mosquitoes here are immune to BUG SPRAY!
Anyway, when the members were been talking about how lucky I am that I am here during the winter season, I was like, "Whats the big fuss about?" But man oh man! Now I know why! The heat of the sun here is suuuuuper hot! Talk about 112 degrees on a normal day. NORMAL DAY. Like what? They said It can be higher than that too. And to think that were still in the spring season. Whew! Santiago, you never fail to amaze me.
Anyway, this here in the side of the continent, other than being hot, its super cool as well (spiritual wise haha). We recently just had out satellite broadcast multi-stake conference with Uruguay and Paraguay. Elder Cook, Hales, and Rodriguez (of the Seventy) were present and gave their testimony about the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy, missionary work, and matrimony (EEEEK!). The church has really been emphasizing a lot with these three topics
I love Elder Cook´s talk when he said that we should focus on the list that we can do during Sunday and not the list of what we cannot do. He also talked about not judging people who do not have the same lists that we do. We are here to love one another, right? For Elder Hales, I loved when he said the importance of prayers. There are 3 different kinds of prayers that we should do everyday. 1- Personal prayers.2- Companionship Prayers (AKA pray with your husband and wives). and lastly 3- Family Prayers. So I am inviting all of you (whoever is reading this) to focus on the list of what you can do every Sunday (ie. read your scriptures, spend time with your family, etc.) and to not just do your personal prayers but also pray as a couple and as a family! I promise that as you do these things you family will be stronger and will be built in a firm foundation of the gospel :)
Keep stay cool on that side of the continent.
With tons of love,
Hermana Garcia
PS: I super dark right now its not even real. My tan lines are also super funny. I have a watch tan and a ring tan. They call it missionary tan over here hahaha! Also, I have tons of bug bites on my leg. The mosquitoes here are immune to BUG SPRAY!
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Soy un poco "Trunky"
OH NOOOO. Yes. I admit. I'm a little homesick. Its because Argentina feels and looks so much like the Philippines! The weather right now is like summer days in Philly, but the place looks like the Philippines so I'm missing two places at once! I also sprayed sunscreen protection and it made me think of the beach! Man oh man, the battle is real.
But on the good side, I love this week. We worked a lot to the point where we just want to sleep on the floor because we couldn't reach our bed to sleep! Buts its all good because we met a lot of great people that are excited to learn about the gospel. Our members here are also the bomb so I'm super excited to keep pumping them with excitement to do missionary work!
The highlight of the week would be the power of the Holy Ghost. Super grateful for this gift because it helps me understand and know the needs of my investigators. At times, I share things that I didn't even know my investigator needs. Also at times I contact people on the street who needs the gospel. Its just to great to have this gift to help me serve the people around me. I can honestly say that this is the time where I am so much in tune with the Spirit. It feels so great! Man, I love being a missionary!
Also! We met a member here in our barrio who lives in Ogden Utah! Like whaaaaat?! Shes visiting family here in Santiago for a week. Its so crazy, right? What are the chances! Her family is not a member so she gave us references. De diez!! Hahahaha!
Keep staying fresh my favorite people!
With lots of love,
Hermana García
But on the good side, I love this week. We worked a lot to the point where we just want to sleep on the floor because we couldn't reach our bed to sleep! Buts its all good because we met a lot of great people that are excited to learn about the gospel. Our members here are also the bomb so I'm super excited to keep pumping them with excitement to do missionary work!
The highlight of the week would be the power of the Holy Ghost. Super grateful for this gift because it helps me understand and know the needs of my investigators. At times, I share things that I didn't even know my investigator needs. Also at times I contact people on the street who needs the gospel. Its just to great to have this gift to help me serve the people around me. I can honestly say that this is the time where I am so much in tune with the Spirit. It feels so great! Man, I love being a missionary!
Also! We met a member here in our barrio who lives in Ogden Utah! Like whaaaaat?! Shes visiting family here in Santiago for a week. Its so crazy, right? What are the chances! Her family is not a member so she gave us references. De diez!! Hahahaha!
Keep staying fresh my favorite people!
With lots of love,
Hermana García
An Answered Prayer
So my training session is over and this is like the real deal now. I'm sort of like the senior companion now- since I know the place more than my compañera. I'm in charge of planning where were going to go and what lesson were going to teach. At first it was pretty overwhelming because I got used to relying to my mami in the mish (bless her soul for keeping up with me for the past 3 months!) But all is well in Zion because my trainer raised me well. Im glad to say that we didn't get lost at all! It was a bit odd being with a new compañera at first because I have been with Hna. Maciel for, like, forever. We've been such great best friends and its was so sad to be apart. However, it has been great as well to be with my new compañera, Hermana Stewart. Man oh man, shes super awesome! I'm learning so many great things from her. She a walking testimony. En serio!
This week has been a bit tough on finding new people to teach because it has been raining a lot. Entonces, this means we cant street contact as much as we would love to. Some of our investigators also haven't been progressing so we've been working hard to figure out how we can help these people come closer to Padre Celestial. It has been a down week but were looking forward on working more this week!
One of the greatest thing that I learned this for the past few days was working with the people of my area. Not just finding more people to teach but also helping the members to gain and strengthen their testimony about the teachings of Jesus Christ. Like our purpose as missionaries is to help people to come unto Christ. It doesn't mean to only work with new people who doesn't know the gospel- but to also help the members in the church. I love this so much because its true. All of us have more things to improve on and new things to learn everyday. I also love this idea because it helps us, missionaries and members, to work together and invite more people to come unto Christ and learn the plan of happiness!
The highlight of my week would be meeting this less active family. We visited this barrio that we almost never visit when I was in training. But we wanted to go ever though we know nothing about this barrio. To be honest, we really don't have any plans to do in this barrio. Our plan was to only street contact and find new people that we can teach. We asked a member, Hermano Torres, to accompany us since he live in this barrio and know the people here more than we do. When one of our plans failed, I asked him if he have any people in mind that we can visit. So we stopped by this house, he couldn't remember the name of the family and it looked like no ones home. But then these two little hermanas walked behind us and asked whats wrong. They taught that someone robbed their house and were bystanders looking in hahaha! Then she saw my tag and with a super joyous voice, "HERMANAAA!!!" It was our first time meeting each other but she welcomed and hugged me like we were old friends. I love it!
She invited us in and offered to cook for us. She even made her daughter buy more things to feed us. Then she spoke to us saying that shes been praying and praying to God to help her through her difficult times. She doesn't have a job and have been struggling to find ways to have food on the table. But she have so much faith in God that shell be able to find ways to support her family. We have been crying during the lesson! It was such a touching moment for all of us. Its just so hard to explain. She said that were the answer shes been waiting for. That were the blessing that shes been waiting for. Oh man, who wouldn't cry when someone say that to you?
This family is so special to me. I could just feel the love that Heavenly Father have for this family. They have been through a lot but here they are so strong and still fighting! Man, I love being a missionera!
This is my new compañera! Her name is Hermana Stewart. Shes super cool and such a great missionary! Man I'm super blessed to have her as my new companion. I'm learning so much from her!
I have so much more that I would love to say but I don't have so much time. But I just wanted to say that 'Im so grateful for this experience!
May the force be with all of you,
Hermana Garcia
This week has been a bit tough on finding new people to teach because it has been raining a lot. Entonces, this means we cant street contact as much as we would love to. Some of our investigators also haven't been progressing so we've been working hard to figure out how we can help these people come closer to Padre Celestial. It has been a down week but were looking forward on working more this week!
One of the greatest thing that I learned this for the past few days was working with the people of my area. Not just finding more people to teach but also helping the members to gain and strengthen their testimony about the teachings of Jesus Christ. Like our purpose as missionaries is to help people to come unto Christ. It doesn't mean to only work with new people who doesn't know the gospel- but to also help the members in the church. I love this so much because its true. All of us have more things to improve on and new things to learn everyday. I also love this idea because it helps us, missionaries and members, to work together and invite more people to come unto Christ and learn the plan of happiness!
The highlight of my week would be meeting this less active family. We visited this barrio that we almost never visit when I was in training. But we wanted to go ever though we know nothing about this barrio. To be honest, we really don't have any plans to do in this barrio. Our plan was to only street contact and find new people that we can teach. We asked a member, Hermano Torres, to accompany us since he live in this barrio and know the people here more than we do. When one of our plans failed, I asked him if he have any people in mind that we can visit. So we stopped by this house, he couldn't remember the name of the family and it looked like no ones home. But then these two little hermanas walked behind us and asked whats wrong. They taught that someone robbed their house and were bystanders looking in hahaha! Then she saw my tag and with a super joyous voice, "HERMANAAA!!!" It was our first time meeting each other but she welcomed and hugged me like we were old friends. I love it!
She invited us in and offered to cook for us. She even made her daughter buy more things to feed us. Then she spoke to us saying that shes been praying and praying to God to help her through her difficult times. She doesn't have a job and have been struggling to find ways to have food on the table. But she have so much faith in God that shell be able to find ways to support her family. We have been crying during the lesson! It was such a touching moment for all of us. Its just so hard to explain. She said that were the answer shes been waiting for. That were the blessing that shes been waiting for. Oh man, who wouldn't cry when someone say that to you?
This family is so special to me. I could just feel the love that Heavenly Father have for this family. They have been through a lot but here they are so strong and still fighting! Man, I love being a missionera!
This is my new compañera! Her name is Hermana Stewart. Shes super cool and such a great missionary! Man I'm super blessed to have her as my new companion. I'm learning so much from her!
May the force be with all of you,
Hermana Garcia
Monday, August 17, 2015
Sorry for the late email! Im alive! No need to fret!
I was at the bus terminal yesterday for 14 hours! FOURTEEN! I was waiting for my new compañera. We didn't know when they were going to arrive because the bus schedules were a little bit off- since it has been raining a lot in here. But anyway, Hermana Steward arrived in Santiago safely :) Shes from....wanna guess where? Shes from Utah! Or as the people here say, "La fabrica de los Mormones" Shes super awesome. I lalalove her already. My first compañera that is not Latina. I want to be like her because shes super awesome!
Hna. Maciel left me for another compañera. jajaja! Shes in another province right now. Time flew by super fast! I miss her so much but I know that a lot of people are waiting for her in her new area. I learned so many things with Hna. Maciel and I know that I will learn more things with Hna. Stewart.
Im a little bit nervous because now I'm handling the area. I dont know if I can handle it well but I know that I am not alone :) Anyway, I'm super excited for this new companionship. Were going to work diligently and see a lot of miracles in the area!
Hna. Maciel left me for another compañera. jajaja! Shes in another province right now. Time flew by super fast! I miss her so much but I know that a lot of people are waiting for her in her new area. I learned so many things with Hna. Maciel and I know that I will learn more things with Hna. Stewart.
Im a little bit nervous because now I'm handling the area. I dont know if I can handle it well but I know that I am not alone :) Anyway, I'm super excited for this new companionship. Were going to work diligently and see a lot of miracles in the area!
Crazy thing that happened
My debit card stopped working like right when I got here so most of the time I have no money to survive hahaha *laughing with tears* But anyway I had to rely to my compañeras debit card. Then one day her card also stopped working so we were like pobresitas for the week. We prayed and prayed to have money and for our cards to start working. Then when we tried again to see if we can withdrawl money, we have like 8 thousand in the card! Like thats too much for the both of us combined! So anyway, we called our pensionista and he said he doesn't know how it got there and why we have so much. But man oh man, God loves us and sent so much blessings for us to survive. Its kind of like how he sends us blessings you know? When you ask diligently and is super obedient, he will bless you more than you think you deserve. He will open the windows of heaven and bless you sooooooo much!
Monday, July 27, 2015
This email is going to stink a little, literally
Anyway, we changed apartment otra vez porque nuestra pencion tiene popo! Like literally. The building was made poorly so when people flush the toilet above us, the poo poo travels in the tube and for some reason ends up in our apartment. Anyway, right when we finished proselyting for the day, we got home and WABAAAM! POPO EVERYWHERE! No worries, I didnt cry. Dora is super valiente! So we called our people to fix our things and to help us move. So we changed our apartment and now were in the first floor. Its way cleaner and a bit bigger than the old one. But hold your horses! We dont have gas! For 3 days now. So its safe to say that I havent showered for 3 days. Soy una pecadora. No gas means no agua caliente! Pero I had enough so I showered today. COLD SHOWERS FOR THE WIN! Its cool, the cold never bothered me anyway *HAIR FLIP*
Its a bit sad in this side of the continent. We have like tons of investigators to teach but one of them have the desire to attend church! So a lot of baptismal dates pero no puede porque necesitan asistencias!!! Pero esta bien porque nosotras trabajamos muy diligente. My spanish is still horrible like grammar wise pero! Muchas personas dicen mi castellano es mejor! Era muy chistosa porque cuando es mi turno para hablar en el telefono los personas no saben si es mi compañera o yo :)
Its a bit sad in this side of the continent. We have like tons of investigators to teach but one of them have the desire to attend church! So a lot of baptismal dates pero no puede porque necesitan asistencias!!! Pero esta bien porque nosotras trabajamos muy diligente. My spanish is still horrible like grammar wise pero! Muchas personas dicen mi castellano es mejor! Era muy chistosa porque cuando es mi turno para hablar en el telefono los personas no saben si es mi compañera o yo :)
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