Enduring

HELLO!! I LOVE YOU.

This week has been all over the place. Literally. Don't know if I've mentioned it to y'all, but my body has been struggling lately. It's literally that scripture that says the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I was doing really good all week long, and then all of a sudden my body crashed and burned. And then I did okay and I died again. It was awful. So I got a priesthood blessing and ever since then, I've been just fine. I feel normal again. And I know that it's only by the grace of God that I can think clearly and move my limbs without feeling like I'm going to fall over. So guess what, the priesthood is for realz!! It works and I'm so grateful for it, because I don't know how I'd be able to keep enduring without that simple blessing I received. It's amazing. God is helping me, but only because I asked for it and had faith that He would help me.

This week we did A LOT of service. And like all on one day, too. But it was super fun. We scooped muck out of a pond and played with kittens and did their dishes and made dinner for some less actives (and then they shared the dinner message with us :) win win, we get to practice cooking and learn their cooking secrets and then they get to teach the missionaries and learn from themselves!) and digging holes. It was great :) I love doing service, not just because I sometimes get to wear my jeans but because you can just feel the Spirit that that really is something that Christ would do for that person. I love it!!

I got my death papers this week. That was a terrifying experience. Open the mailbox and the only thing in it are the papers that tell you your travel itinerary. And I did something trunky this week....I wrote on the dinner calendar that it was my last week as a missionary in a couple weeks so that more people would sign up to feed us. Hasn't worked quite yet, but one less active that never feeds us signed up!! So that's good :)

Also this week, well actually just yesterday, I had food adventures. Again. So remember how last week I told you that I got sick off of chicken? (Did I tell you that?) Well we went back to the same family for dinner last night, and they fed us salmon. Yeah. And they were like, don't worry it doesn't taste fishy! LIES. It was so fishy. They had like this mango pineapple kiwi bell pepper cilantro thing that you put on it, and man I ate so much of that stuff to try and help myself not gag. And the whole time they were like, oh isn't it good? NO. I'M DYING HERE!! And then Sis. Johnson and I both got pretty sick from it, and it was NOT GOOD. We're still feeling the tummy aches this morning.

But anyways. Patrick is doing great!! He's retaining everything and he's really opening up to us a ton, which is great. He is so stoked. He's getting all ready for baptism, and your continued prayers for him are much appreciated!! We are hoping that he's going to be able to house sit for a guy who's going to Mexico for a couple months, so please pray RIGHT NOW that that will happen because we find out tonight if it's going to work or not!!

Your challenge this week is to look for all the answers to your prayers. I promise they are there, so look for them!

And your scripture is Moroni 7:31-32 because I stumbled across it and really REALLY like it :)

I love you all tons :) Don't forget it!!
Sister Gah'yii'sii

Go Go Go Go Go

Hey all you lovely people :) How's it going? It's another new week to do amazing things!

But man has this last week been exhausting. I mean, more than usual. I can't remember if I told you last week (I think I did) but in case I didn't, here's what happened.

Monday. After email, we drove all the way to Farmington. Well, we went to Aztec Ruins first, and it was awesome. We took some awesome pictures (see below) and it was just really fun. Plus, I think I got a little more tan. AND I don't think I told you, but with all the tourists that come through Pagosa, we decided to try and get all fifty states in one transfer, so we're at like 42 now, and we saw a Hawaii when we went to the Ruins. We were so stoked!! My planner is thoroughly covered in states stickers in the back to prove that we saw all of them :) But yeah the ruins were great. But by the time we finished and went to Farmington on exchanges, I was feeling sick and we were both exhausted from the drive and being in the sun. So we went to the Family Home Evening in YSA and just were little zombies. It's kind of funny now, but it wasn't then.


I found out, too, that one of my favorite elders (Elder Quijano, he came out with me) went home this week because of a back injury he had before his mission. He went home this week for surgery, but it was fun to see him before he left! He was so proud to be able to even have just finished a sister's mission :)

Tuesday. Exchanges all day in Farmington, and then that night we drove to Cortez. It was fun cuz we went through Kirtland, and Shiprock, which I haven't seen in a while. It was great! And we had blow up air mattresses this time so we didn't have to sleep on the floor or awful couch cushions in Cortez! It was great :) We had fun with Sis. Panoussi and Sis. Brennan.

Wednesday. Zone conference round two. It was CRAZY. We got there early so I could practice singing with the other sister, and it turns out that one of the elders (we made him play the piano) that I served with in St. Michael's is the one who asked me to sing because he remembered that we all had to sing for ward choir. Sigh. But it went really well, according to Sis. Johnson! I sat down and one of the elders that goes home with me told me I did a good job and I was like thanks, I'm freaking out and then I held out my hands and they were shaking, hard core. It was crazy! But it went well. Then, I was the first one to give my departing testimony. I started strong, cried a little in the middle, and by the time I finished, I wasn't crying anymore. It was great. And then of course Sis. Panoussi got up and didn't shed a tear. But some of the elders did, and it was cool because I knew all the elders that I was going home with and it just felt right. There was definitely a sweeter spirit there than usual from those departing testimonies, but maybe it's cuz I had to give mine, too.

And then we drove home. That seemed to take forever, but we made it just a little late for dinner with this couple we hadn't met before. But we made it, and then went home and died, pretty much. We were so tired.

Thursday. We met Brandie. SHE'S AWESOME. She's a friend of one of the members in our ward, and she came to lunch with us and the member. She started asking questions about where we were from and stuff and then the member explained what missionaries do, and Brandie said well I want to do that! How can I do that? And the member said just get baptized and we'll go! And Brandie said okay, how do I do that? Let's do it! So we told her that we teach people and prepare them for baptism and she was like sweet and instantly set up regular times for us to meet twice a week and promised to come to church all three hours (she did!). And then one of her friends walked into the restaurant and her friend asked what she was doing and she said "oh, just joining a new church!" She's amazing :) I love her to death. Pray for her! We're going to start officially teaching her tomorrow :D

Friday. We saw Patrick! He's doing great. I think I mentioned before that he's living with one of the less active ladies in the ward, and this week, we taught the Law of Chastity. Oh man we were so afraid this less active lady was going to explode on us and get angry, but she didn't. It was great! They have a mother-son relationship, because she's 70 and he's 50, and they act like a son and mother relationship, too. But they said they were looking for a place for him, and the doctor was looking for a place for him, but they were working on it. And then the less active lady pipes up and says "And if worse comes to worst, then I'll marry him." HA! And then we looked at Patrick and he looked terrified. It was so funny!! So please pray that Patrick will find a place!!

Saturday. Went to an art show downtown to talk to people and share the gospel with them. Met this guy who sold "gittars" made out of cigar boxes. So he made them and they had between one and four strings, and they were so cool!! He kindly took a picture of us jamming out with these. But in reality, my fingers are incapable of playing the chords and stuff. The guy tried to explain how and my fingers wouldn't do it, haha! But he was fun, and he seems like he'd want to learn more!

Sunday. Our ward mission leader's son gave his farewell talk. He leaves on the 29th for his mission, and it was awesome. He's gonna do great. There's so many good things happening in Pagosa, and it's awesome to see and be apart of all of this progress! It's already changed a lot in the time that I've been here, and I'm so excited for all the changes I'll continue to see, in the ward and in myself, too.

SO your challenge this week is to write somebody a thoughtful note. I'm not saying it has to be me, but to someone that you just want to have a little pep in their step for that day.

And your scripture is 3 Nephi 27:20-21

I love you all tons and hope everything goes well for you this week!!

Keep being awesome!
Sister Garcia

Loooooong Week!

Hello family and friends!!!

So this week has been a long one. And this one coming is going to be pretty long too.

Ahead we've got exchanges in Farmington tonight and tomorrow, then driving all the way to Cortez (passing through Kirtland, my old area, and Shiprock, Sis. Johnson's old area!) Tuesday night and spending the night with the sisters there, and then going to zone conference Wednesday morning.

Pray for me. They asked me to sing for zone conference. I ABOUT DIED. Ask Sis. Johnson. The elders called and were like "sooooo the Utah zone leaders called us and asked if we could ask you a favor....can you sing on Wednesday for zone conference with one of the sisters in the Utah zone?" Me: ".......HOW DID THEY FIND OUT!?!?! I'm gonna kill Sister Brady if she ratted me out. Are you kidding me?? Are you serious??" Elders: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA yes we're serious! I don't know how they found out!" So I proceeded to freak out on the phone while Sis. Johnson and the elders all laughed at me. I'm legitimately freaking out though!! Nobody knows that I can sing, cuz I only sang like the one time with Sis. Valdez (but all those missionaries are home) and then one other time in front of missionaries when we had that Christmas party and I sang with Sis. Waite. There are only a few culprits that it could be.....

So yeah. This transfer, I've already trained twice in district meeting (the two that we've had this transfer) and now I'm singing, on top of giving my departing testimony. It's like God's making up for all the times He let me go "under the radar" before.

In other news, I got scratched by a kitten! Hence the picture of me pointing at my arm. I was holding it and it decided it no longer wanted to be in my arms...

We went exploring with our ward list this week out in the boonies on our way home from district meeting. We found a less active guy named Wyatt who's super funny, and then we took this long road that connected this one part of the boonies to the other part....it's like a one lane dirt road where it looks like tigers and bears and mountain lions are going to pop out of nowhere and eat you. It was crazy. But, it was super fun and we got some good pictures! Haha but yeah it was cool.

In other news, Patrick is doing great! He came to church this week, and got invited to a family home evening with a bunch of the old people in the ward and loved it! The less active lady he's living with (we're going to talk about it this week, don't worry) goes SUPER deep doctrine, and he's so good at tuning it out!! It's a miracle. But, it's awesome because we committed the less active lady to quit smoking and she promised that she would be free of cigarettes for 30 days before Patrick's baptism. Well, it's like less than 30 days away now, and she's doing great!! I'm so proud of her :) And Patrick is doing really good, he's really progressing and opening up to us a lot and accepting everything :) it's so fantastic!!

We picked up another person this week too! Her name is Allie and she's great :) She asked what the Book of Mormon was and we said well lets read the introduction! So we did and she was like this makes so much sense!! And then we finished those last two paragraphs and invited her to be baptized and she said YES!! First lesson :) It was so exciting and such a testimony builder to me!! We invited her to be baptized on August 15th, so pray that she'll make it there!

Well out of time! Your challenge this week is to have more meaningful family prayers and family scripture studies. And if you don't have a family yet, then individual ones :)

And your scripture is Doctrine and Covenants 88:22, and Ether 12:4 :)

Love you tons!!

Sister Garcia

Flash Floods, the Fourth, and Fried Skin

It's a Monday again!

Flash Flood!

That means you get the privilege of listening to me get up on my soap box again :) The good kind of soap box. At least I think it's alright...

First of all, we met with the new mission president, President Adams this week! We drove alllllllllll the way to Cortez and spent the night with Sis. Panoussi and her trainee, Sis. Brennan. They were fun :) It was weird to be back in Cortez again. I missed Pagosa, haha! We had a zone conference where President and Sister Adams introduced themselves and we got to meet them and have an interview....it was kind of awkward, my interview with President. He asked how long I'd been out and I had to tell him 17 months and he was sad with me! He was like oh man, that means I don't get to know you very well before you go. Yeah, talk about sad! But then it was okay because he asked me what some of the things I'd learned were and I got to share some of my experiences with him and it was really cool. The Spirit was strong, and I definitely know he's my mission president for a reason :)

Also, I had the biggest tender mercy from Heavenly Father this week :) The zone conference was for all the missionaries in the Utah and Durango zones, so basically all the missionaries in UT and CO. So, Sis. Johnson spilled some of her granola from her parfait on the kitchen floor in the Cortez church, and we were on our way to get a broom and I hear someone say "Hey Sis. Garcia, the goat man in La Sal says hello!" I turned around and it was this elder who was serving in La Sal, Paradox, and Monticello. So I about died and we started talking about La Sal and he told me all about the people I was asking about and I was able to give him some information on some people I knew in La Sal....ahhhh it was so nice. I haven't heard how all these people I love have been doing for a while, and it was just so sweet to be able to get that update on some of them :) It made me so happy.

Now for a sad but kind of funny story. We got a referral for a part member family this week, and we went to go see them. Normal missionary thing to do. So we saw lights on when we were driving home at like 8:30 one night and we thought well lets go see them! So we did and they let us in and the husband (the nonmember) said "which one of you is Sister Garcia?" I'd never met him before, so I said it's me! And he said "Thank you for making me some money!" And I just looked at him confused and he laughed and said "I own Walters Auto Body Shop. The lady that you backed into came to me to get the dent in her car fixed! So thanks!" Well that just made me feel super small. I wanted to shrivel up and die right then and there! How embarrassing!! And then his wife proceeded to tell stories about how here brother totaled her car when he didn't have his license yet and all this stuff and I felt a little better. Also, we found out from the Cortez sisters that Sis. Johnson's last companion also backed into something last week, so I don't feel AS bad, but I still feel bad!!!

And something else funny.....we walked around all day on the 4th talking to all the tourists because Pagosa goes ALL OUT for the 4th. So we just explored all the fairs and the farmers markets and stuff that were going on and that night, someone looked at Sis. Johnson and said "oh my goodness your glowing!" She got SUPER sunburnt. And guess who didn't!? That's right, yours truly! She's standing next to me, bright red, and I'm standing next to her, at least two shades darker than when I started! It was great :) Well, not great that her sunburn is still hurting, but great that I got a tan!!

This week we've made a lot of progress with some of the members we had lessons with this week :) For example, last night we had dinner with that member that didn't want to change her seat in the chapel, and the Spirit was SO STRONG. We were able to testify that God is preparing people for them to share their testimonies with, and we committed each of them individually to come to a lesson with us :) So the son who's a junior is coming to a lesson with one of the recent converts in the ward, and the mom and daughter are coming to a lesson with a less active who just lost her mother-in-law, and we'll snag the dad for something when we set up something in the evenings :) Or on a Sunday. PERFECT. I just love being able to remind the members that they do have the power to change lives, just as much as we do.

AND GUESS WHAT!?!?!? Your prayers have been working :) We picked up a new investigator this week!! YEAH! So excited :) His name is Patrick and he has a crazy history. He's taken lessons from the missionaries like 2 times before and he's been almost baptized before, and he hasn't been able to because he has to have surgery and then gets addicted to the pain medicine. He has a looooong history of drug abuse, and he just got out of detox a while ago. But we met him at a less active's house and he told us he wanted to take the lessons! So we started teaching him this week and he's just fantastic. Everyone who knows Patrick is saying that he seems different than any of the other times he's taken the lessons. It's so great :) You can just feel how strong his desire to learn is, and I'm so excited to be able to teach him!! We put him on date for August 8th, so that's when he should be baptized. I just have this incredible feeling that he's going to make it :) It's that hope in the Atonement that I feel for him!! It's the best feeling in the WHOLE WORLD.

And I wanted to talk about that feeling, that power for a second, too. So bear with my scattered thoughts. We ran into a lady this week that I hadn't seen since like my first week in Pagosa, and we asked her if she wanted to take the lessons, and she basically told us no because she was comfortable where she was and didn't want to change. Well, that got me and Sis. Johnson, and it really made me think about how this life, and this gospel, is all about change, that it's VITAL to change and grow. Because if you're not growing....your being idle, and if you're idle, then it's no bueno. It means you're digressing and not progressing. So change. Do it! Change is what makes the difference in you, is the difference between celestial and terrestrial, is the difference between becoming like your Savior and not using His Atoning sacrifice. So just remember that as you go about your week this week.

Your challenge this week is to pick something that you want to work on, and change it. So, like have more meaningful prayers or choose to feast rather than read your scriptures, or participate more in Sunday School. Something. Work on it :) Get better!!

And your scriptures are 1 John 1:7-10 and Moses 1:39 and Doctrine and Covenants 88:22

Has It Really Been A Week?

Hello my lovely friends and family :) I missed you :) Mondays are always so fun to open my email and remember that you all exist and that I have people out there that love me despite the fact that we're all so far away and that you still love me :) Haha is that prideful?

This week has been a tough one. Real tough. Everyone that I planned to take Sis. Johnson to....well....we saw them but they talked so much we couldn't have a lesson, or they were about ready to leave and couldn't have a lesson, or they weren't home, or something else. It was hard! I was like man I'm sorry Sis. Johnson, this isn't normal! But part of me felt like it is different to now and that we've got some work to do. By which I mean A LOT of work to do. Like, it's gonna be a rough transfer. God's not letting me have it easy, that's for sure.

So Sis. Johnson and I are starting from ground zero. We have no investigators, and maybe like 6 less actives that we occasionally get in with. So please, please, please pray that we'll find some people! I know they're out there and I know if I just keep working hard that we'll find them, but I need some help, too. I'm doing everything I can to have more faith and hope and patience so that God will bless us with those investigators, and we're working really hard. But we also have a whole lot of work to do with the ward, which is also making it hard to find new people.

Also, I slacked on pictures this week. Sorry. At least you have a cute one of me and Sis. Johnson :) we attempted to get the rainbow in the background, but no guarantees. AND, I somehow managed to forget my planner at home, so I forgot everything that I was going to tell you about. So bear with my scattered brain today.

Observations of Sis. Johnson, my new companion! She's fantastic. I love her to death. She's an absolute HOOT and is SUPER opinionated. But so am I, and usually it's the other way. Like she hates tourists, for example, and makes sure to tell me everyday, but I love them because they're fun to people watch. They're the best kind to people watch, and they are WAY more willing to talk about the gospel than most people are. Okay maybe that's an exaggeration, but they do tend to like talking to us more :)

So let me tell you a story. Two weeks ago, our stake president came to the ward and challenged everyone to sit in a different pew every Sunday. So last week, Sis. F and I put up a sign to remind everyone, and a good portion of the ward moved benches! We sat in the very back row on the very far side and took someone's spot and it was HILARIOUS. They were like whoa it's a whole new view, but they just sat one bench in front of us. Haha. Then this week, we re-vamped our sign and posted it again right before ward council. Well, one of the ward members walked by and said, wasn't that just for last week? And we told her no, it was an every week thing, and she said "Oh, well, I'm still going to sit in my same bench." And then laughed and walked away! It was the mom of the family whose bench we took last week, and she wasn't even there to change benches! And there were a lot of people who went back to how it was.

So that means it's time for another rant. PEOPLE. Our priesthood leaders are inspired. They are literally called of God to say the things that they do, and whether you're comfortable with the things they ask you to change or not, it's like God asking you to change. And then when you don't heed their counsel....well, then you aren't heeding God. It's plain and simple. It's black and white, you either follow God or you don't, through His leaders. It doesn't matter if you don't like them, and it doesn't matter if they don't like you, we're all trying (see Latter Day Saints Keep on Trying from this last conference....SO GOOD) to get back to Heavenly Father, and they are imperfect, but they are doing their best to convey to you what God needs you to hear. So listen and act. That's revelation from God that you are denying the blessings of, otherwise.

Pagosa is teaching me so much....it's like a cramming study session that God is giving me in the last stretch of my mission, and He's hard core teaching me these things that I KNOW will bless me for the rest of my life, if I listen and act. That's the key, though. Cuz if I just listen and think oh well that's a good nugget of information, that's no bueno. I'll lose that lesson so fast and then I won't be able to progress when those challenges come. It's easier to fall. God gives us these lessons from everyone so that we'll change, we'll keep growing, we'll keep progressing to be like our Savior, and eventually we WILL get to Him. But, we have to act.

Family and friends, I love you. I hope you know how much I'm changing, and how much I'm still striving to change. And I want you to do the same, and that's why I tell you all these rants! Haha I feel like they're coming more frequently, but it's because I'm learning a lot and I just can't help but share my little insights!!

Your challenge this week is to sit somewhere new in church. Put a reminder in your phone, write yourself a sticky note, do something, but change seats. Make others do that too, and then get to know the people you sit by!

And your scripture is Doctrine and Covenants 1:37-38. It was something else, but I can't remember what it was and that goes along with my rant. So yeah.

God is teaching you. He loves you. He's doing what He can to get you back to stay with Him.

Be good! Choose the right!

Love ya!
Sister Garcia

It's Time For A Rant!

Hello my friends and family!!!

I love you all a whole lot, and I hope you know that!

I'm staying in Pagosa Springs for my last transfer :) My new companion is Sis. Johnson, and I'm stoked! I pick her up tonight and we'll start working hard tomorrow! Sis. Fisi'italia is going to be with her trainer, Sis. Huch, in Gallup for Sis. Huch's last transfer. CRAZY!! She and I have defied all odds in companionships :)

NOTE: I was informed that Pagosa Springs is notorious for losing mail....sooooo if I don't write you back soon that's why. Okay? Okay.

So I got bit by 20 mosquitos this week. Yeah. In 5 minutes, on the Riverwalk, talking to a lady who was walking across the continental divide, whatever that is. She said it was like this cross-America hike basically. She was crazy, but yeah I got bit by a billion bugs and Sis. F just watched it happen. Sigh, still recovering.

Had my last interview with President Batt!! He leaves on Monday, next Monday, when the new mission president comes. I'm excited to meet President Adams, but I'm sad to see the Batts go!

We sang I Am a Child of God in English, Tongan, and Navajo this week! Yep, I felt pretty cool. We sang it for the Batts before they left, and then for a couple of the members before Sis. F leaves.

Now that I got that all covered, I'm going to rant about two things.

FIRST. I ACCIDENTALLY backed into an 80 year old lady's car this week. Yeah. How does that happen??? Well, this may sound dumb, but I feel like it was supposed to happen based on the way that everything worked out. We were meeting a member in the Subway parking lot, and she called and told us she had fallen asleep and was going to be about 15 minutes late. So, we decided to go check the mail. Well, I started backing up, and mis-judged the distance between me and this cute little lady's parked car, and I looked at the front of the car to make sure I didn't hit the car that was parked next to me. It just so happened that I looked right when Sis. F told me to stop. So yeah. It happened. Not sure of what happened after that, other than THREE members showed up in the parking lot right after it happened, and Sis. F went and told them what happened as I was filling out the paper stuff with the lady (who, by the way, walked out of the nail salon 2 minutes after the accident so I knew what to do then). And then, I had a breakdown because I just felt so bad and then we had to cancel with the member who was running late because we had another appointment and when we got there, the member who brought the recent convert to the lesson brought us lemonades. Yeah. Let me tell you, God knows me. He knows that I needed that sweet little act of a nasty (it was accidentally carbonated) lemonade to reassure me that it was okay. And then the next day I had to tell the mission president in interviews.

SECOND. I've been studying judging lately because it seems like that's a really big issue with the members here in Pagosa. They get mad because other people judge and then judge others. It's horrible to watch. And, they jump to conclusions based on false doctrine, or sources that are not from our Heavenly Father. It's crazy. I don't even know how to rant about it because it just gets me so flustered. But here's what I want you to know. Stick to the scriptures. Rely on God to help you make those good and righteous judgments about others. Keep your nose in your business, unless it's your calling from an inspired priesthood leader to know what goes on with others. Don't think negatively of others. Remember you don't know the whole situation. Trust that the Spirit guides you and those around you. Don't forget that others are prompted to be bold, too. Humility is vital to salvation. Focus on Christ, not on the finer details of the stories that He told. Find the meaning, not the details.

Basically, just be positive. Be happy! Don't let others drag you down. You have the power to be happy. You know what's right. You know that God knows the thoughts and the hearts and the reasons behind other people and their actions/words/thoughts. And if you don't know, find out. Because I know that God doesn't want there to be contention between people. But I also know that God needs you and me to be bold and, when prompted by the Spirit, to help them change.

So your challenge this week is to judge righteously. To focus on Christ and pray for that gift of discernment so that you can make decisions based on the Spirit.

And to help ya out, your scriptures are James 3:9-10, James 4:12, and Moroni 7:13. And James is a super good book in the Bible that you all should study :)

I love you tons!! Be good this week!
Sister Garcia

Malo E Lelei

That's Tongan :) For hello. I'm learning a little bit! Sis. Fisi'italia taught me I Am a Child of God in Tongan, and now I'm trying to teach it to her in Navajo. Look at all these fun language skills coming into play! It's super fun.

So this week has been really really good. The work is slowly starting to pick up, and it's getting me SO stoked to keep going and to keep working hard. It's still slow, and it's still hard to find things to do, but things are going.

Also, by the way, in case you didn't remember, this is a short transfer....so this is the last week of the transfer! Which means it's time to send me mail as fast as you can :P Just kidding, not really. You don't have to. But, yes, last week of the transfer. Next week starts the beginning of the end, and so you don't ask me and make me more trunky, here are the details that I know so far. I get home August 12th, I'll go back to school August 31st, and I have to go to the doctor and dentist and all that stuff in between those days. Sure, I'm excited, but I want to keep focused and keep working as hard as I can because this is all the time I have to work hard. Please, please, please don't talk about how long I have left, unless it's absolutely necessary! You all have been doing such a wonderful job so far, and I'm so proud of you :) So keep it up!

So back to this week. We had two flash flood warnings, one on exchanges, and the other during district lunch. So that was intense cuuuuuz it really did happen. But it was a fun adventure and we all need the water! So that was good. Except on exchanges I had to run across the church parking lot while it was dumping and my shoes got soaked through and were soaked the rest of the day. But it was actually kind of fun.

Also, they've started counting how many service hours we do and for who. So this week, we had a grand total of 10 hours of service! That's a whole value project! It was qutie fun. We did service for a potential and for a less active and for our ward mission leader and all this stuff. It was great. We picked up bags of manure and mushroom.....something about mushroom manure, I don't really know what it was. We cleaned a garage, helped people move, helped put some dresses together for Africa, and all this other awesome stuff. It's awesome :)

So I'm going to follow up!! How has being bold been going?? Any fun stories? I told a man that praying for his kids wasn't enough, that he needed to be the example and come to church and act on his prayers. He got really quiet. Haha it was kind of funny, but I was serious and I think he knew it. So he came to church...just sacrament but he came. It was great!

We had exchanges this week. Double working is so stressful. But they were fun and we had an awesome training on the Atonement from our lovely sister training leader. And then Sis. F trained about it in district meeting the next day. It was great! You can never study the Atonement too much.

Also, we got a miraculous referral! ONe of the members came running up to us after relief society and said SISTERS I have someone you can teach!! So of course we got super stoked. Basically, her friend saw a little bit of her garments and started asking questions and just ended by saying I want to learn more. So, the member is going to set up this picnic thing where we'll get to meet her and teach her the gospel! I'm so stoked. Sis. F and I have been working so hard at bei ng more obedient and working hard to know what we should do to find more investigators, and right after making that resolve, voila! Referral that seems to be SUPER ELECT.

Your challenge this week is to study the scriptures and really really FEAST on them. According to your needs, which means that you need it everyday (in case you forgot).

And your scripture is Job 1-3 and Mosiah 2:41. I'm on a Job kick, so you should study his story with me.

Love you!!
Sister Garcia

Dare To Stand Alone

Again, not a lot of time. BUT, I will tell you all the things I've learned this week!

But first, let me just say congratulations to my BRO!! I've been waiting all week to say that. I'm so proud of him :) Going to the Baltimore Maryland mission and leaving right after I get home :) It's going to be so nice to get to see him, and guys, GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. That's why I get to see him :) Well and probably because he needs to touch people's lives only at that time and stuff, too, but ya  know. Everyone is so excited for you! All the elders and the members that I've told are so stoked :) But especially me.

Also, we found graffiti on the church this week. Yeah. APPALLING, right?? WE couldn't believe it. SO we took pictures by it (because that's probably the only time that you'll ever see graffiti on the church).

Sis. Fisi'italia has had a lot of firsts this week! She had her first Sonic slushie at happy hour (and she's been out only a transfer less than me...it's crazy!!) and she loved it. She also tried rhubarb in a sauce form on her ice cream and loved it, and she saw her very first beaver and muskrat. Yep. I have pictures of that too. Also, my favorite quote from her this week was in reference to the first of the 10 commandments: "It's like if you went up to the king and said 'HEY KING WHAT'S UP' then the soldiers would shoot you in the forehead, and you would not be alive." Thank goodness it was a role-play.

We did a lot of service this week too. I've been outside working in the dust and pollen and all that goodness that I had to wear my glasses yesterday, and our ward mission leader's wife thought I had pink eye. But it was just allergies. Don't worry I'm better today and I don't have pink eye!!! I promise mom!! But yeah, we've been helping old ladies bag pine needles from the massive pine tress in her yard, grilling hot dogs for the old singles FHE, sewing dresses for little girls in Africa, cleaning people's houses, gardening....all of that. But it's been fun and good and helped us gain the trust of a lot of members.

Which leads me to what I've learned this week. I've learned hard core to stick to the basics of the gospel. Like, the way basics. I don't care how old I get or how many times I have the same Sunday School lesson or how many times I read the standard works all the way through. I WANT TO STAY TO THE DIVINE TRUTHS. Those are the simple things, and there's no deep stuff. It's simple. We had a lady this week in her visiting teaching message say that the woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8 was on her period for 12 years, and that was her issue of blood. There's no way to know that, and there's no reason we should jump to such conclusions, in my opinion. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, either way, we don't know, so we can't assume. Personal opinion.

But, that's not the only thing. This week has been pretty rough because Sis. Fisi'italia and I are slowly beginning to realize that the less actives we teach aren't progressing and are getting pretty stubborn. And I got this impression that I can't condone sin. I can't tolerate it anymore. I mean I couldn't before, but now I really can't. So, when they say things like "well I asked you to ask Brother so and so because Bishop doesn't know the ward as well," I have to stand up for my Savior's chosen servants! I can't allow them to rag on the organization of my Savior's church, because I represent Him> I can't allow them to teach false or deep doctrine in lessons because Christ wouldn't allow it. AND, I have to do it with a lot of love so as to not offend the easily offended. I have a lot of work to do in Pagosa, and I'm realizing that God isn't letting me off the hook or have it easy for the last stretch of my mission. So I'm gonna work hard, I promise!

Challenge: Don't be complacent or okay with where you are. Progress.
Scriptures: Luke 8 and James 1

I love you all mucho!!! Be diligent please :)
Sister Courtney Gah'yii'sii

It's Because I'm Not Brown, Isn't It?

Hello, hello! Happy Monday! Happy June!

So yeah, pretty much every person we meet that speaks Spanish looks at me funny when I introduce myself as Sis. Garcia. One of the members here is from Mexico and he won't let it go. He keeps saying stuff like "well, if Sis. Garcia spoke Spanish," or "well SIs. Garcia is part Mexican," and all that good stuff. It's hilarious. And our ward mission leader is like full blooded Mexican, but he doesn't speak any Spanish, but he also makes fun of me. It's great. Now I've been going around telling people to look at how great my tan is and then they laugh. But then I show them how white I am underneath my watch and they're kind of like oh, maybe she really is part Mexican!

This week we got a new truck. The old one had a dent in it, so they replaced it. But, I don't like it as much. I'M TOO SHORT for the dang Tacomas! I can't see as well over the hood or out the back, and Sis. F can't hardly get in the car without using the hand thing! It's crazy. I miss the Nissan. But, we will survive.

Also, I got to split more woods. It was one of the happiest moments for me :) I was so stoked to be able to split woods and get to feel that victory ricochet through my arms as the woods split beneath me. Yep. It was awesome. And I received the nickname of Paul Bunyan from one of the members....not sure how to take that one, but I'm rolling with it! We have tons of service opportunities scheduled for this week, now that it's getting warmer and not raining. I'm so stoked to help people while wearing jeans!!

The famous words of Sis. Fisi'italia this week:
1. She can never remember the word divorced: "what's it called when two people don't like each other and don't live with each other anymore?"
2. She says tissue cute. The Jacquez's (our ward mission leader's family) made fun of her yesterday for it.
3. "I miss mangoes and pineapples and bananas, straight from the tree! They're so much better than this American fruit. That's all I talked to my family about when I skyped."

She's adorable. I love her.

And David! So David is an investigator. He was supposed to get baptized last week, but things got crazy and he got sick and all these other things and he didn't get baptized. He actually disappeared and like wouldn't answer his phone and stuff. Oh, and by the way he was homeless, and he only has a place to live because he's working for the motel and his payment is his room. So. Yeah it's complicated. But, we found him last Monday and were able to talk to him about coming back and taking the lessons and getting baptized. He agreed to meet with us again on Wednesday, and he told us everything that's been going on and then said that he wants to get baptized as soon as possible. So that's a relief! He's so solid and he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met. I've never wanted to hug anyone so much on my mission because he just looked lost and confused but you could see how bad he wants to be baptized and how much he knows it's true! It's the greatest. No, I didn't hug him, I resisted that. But, he is set for baptism on June 20th, so please pray that he will make it there!! He's doing awesome so far, and it's just a matter of his health allowing him to be baptized.

He's the only person that's really progressing. It's driving me insane, meeting with other people that we have in our teaching pool. A lot of them aren't doing a whole lot, they just like the missionaries coming. So, Pagosa needs a pick me up! We're working on speeding up the work and finding more people to teach so that they can keep moving forward. So pray for that, too.

Your challenge is to have more meaningful prayers! Cuz that's always something we can work on. I've kind of been slacking on them, so I'm going to work on them too.

And your scriptures are Jacob 1:8 and Jacob 7:25


I love you!! Have a great week!!
Sister Garcia

Sulfur and Chaos

So Pagosa. Smells like sulfur downtown, which we have to drive through to get to and from where most people live. Covers a HUGE area and we have not a lot of miles, so that is stressful. I've met some of the people that Sis. Bowler put on her list of people I needed to see and talk to and man have they all been so nice...but so crazy. People in Pagosa are awesome, though. I love them already and they are just so awesome to missionaries.

Found out that I am approximately 5 hours away from Christian. Pretty sweet.

I ate buffalo yesterday. Yep. In the form of a delicious burger. I really like buffalo. It's better than beef. We went "hiking" with one of our investigators (it turned out to just be a drive cuz the place she wanted to take us to was out of the mission boundaries) and she took us to lunch and she dared me to try it and it was fantastic. I highly recommend it.

It seems like I got transferred out of Cortez just in time!! I saw the sisters on Thursday at zone training (which we were late to due to construction...awkward) and they told me that there was a tornado warning in Cortez....and that they had biked to this super far road and wondered why the clouds were so dark. Thank goodness the elders had enough consideration to call and make sure they were okay, and thank goodness they were in a lesson. But still that's terrifying.

Sis. Fisi'italia is amazing!! She appreciated the letters you sent, so thanks for doing that!! She is also hilarious. She had some pretty good quotes from this week, so I think I'm going to make a list of funny things she says every week for you. Here's this week.

"What's the word I can never remember for people who don't work anymore?"
"HI-YA!" (That's like at least 15 times a day, and it's the cutest thing in the world)
"You have to help me with English. I can't speak English!"
"What are toes?"....OH, I thought you said toast!"

She's so funny. Maybe that's something you have to be there for and hear her accent for...but either way it's so cute.

Now I want to tell you about Dan . My first full day in Pagosa (so Wednesday). Our last appointment is with this potential named Dan . We had some members come out with us and the dad who came said I know a Dan, he was a Baptist preacher once. Well, we pull up and I look through the window and I said he's bald! And the dad said "that's the ex-Baptist preacher." Sooooo yeah. The lesson went really well, and the Spirit was so strong. But then, at the end, we asked if he had any questions, and he unleashed the Bible-bashing kraken. Yep, it happened. So we went home late that night because he thought we were making up excuses just to get out of the "daggers" he was trying to throw at us. But no, we were like 20 minutes late getting home.

Well, that's about all I have time for today!

Your challenge this week is to invite a stranger to church. YEAH. It's exciting. Do it, I dare you! And pray lots and I promise that God will help you know who to invite and how to invite them. I promise you will see amazing things happen!!

And your scriptures are all of John 11, and Hebrews 6:15.



I love you tons, and I hope you all will continue to be awesome!
Sister Garcia

Rain. Lots of Rain.

Why hello again!! 'Tis Monday, which means you get an email from me! Yep.

I hope you have had a fantastic week! Mine's been up and down and all around. I've been feeling like I was going to get transferred all week, but then I'd psych myself out and convince myself that I was going to stay, and so that was all back and forth. I got sick, SIs. Bowler got sick, then I got better and then just got exhausted. If this is how the rest of my mission is going to go....I don't know what I'm going to do with myself.

But, the conclusion is that I'm getting transferred :) I'm going to Pagosa Springs, CO, home to a brand new Walmart, some hot springs that smell like sulfur, and lots and lots of tourists. What they come for, I don't know, I'll find out. Elevation of 7300 feet, which I'm stoked for because that mean it won't be as hot as...say...California, or Arizona, or New Mexico. So I'm really excited about that one.

My companion is Sis. Fis'iitalia (I'm not sure on spelling....but it's pronounced like fee-see-ih-tal-eea). She's from Tonga :) Sis. Huch, one of my MTC companions, trained her, and she's spent the last three transfers with Sis. Fackrell (whose spot I am taking in Pagosa). I'm so excited. Sis. Bowler and Sis. Panoussi (who are staying in Cortez, by the way) told me that I'm going to corrupt her with my "valley girl"/southern/gangsta lingo. Who knows what that means.....

I'm in the same zone, so I'll see my companions on Thursday for zone training. So.....they're going to bring me my pizza rolls because they won't survive all the way to Farmington and then back up to Pagosa. Also, the assistants to the president thought it would be a good idea for me to spend the night with Sis. Clark in Aztec tonight and work with her and her new companion until 2 tomorrow afternoon, when I will go and meet up with Sis. Fis'iitalia and SIs. Fackrell, and drop Sis. Fackrell off at the mission home. WHAT!? What do you mean I have to go tell Sis. Wilson, Sis. Valdez, AND Sis. Fackrell goodbye, at the mission home, which is a missionary's final resting place?? Not stoked for that. I know I'm gonna cry. But, I shall survive!

It's been raining all week. Pretty much. On and off, except for today and yesterday. We had to sit on our bishop's porch on Thursday cuz it started raining really hard and there was lightning and thunder and stuff. We thought that it probably wouldn't be the smartest thing to keep biking, one because we didn't want to catch a cold, two, no one would want to particularly let in three girls in skirts on bikes who are soaking wet, and three, we didn't wanna get struck by lightning. Don't know if that can happen....so we played it safe. We also out-biked the rain this week, barely. We saw the storm coming (and heard the thunder) so we biked as fast as we could across town to our apartment and made it! And then we watched as literally 15 seconds later it started raining....and then 2 minutes later it started pouring and we had to shut the door. It's been crazy. Sometimes I think God thinks He's funny when He sends this rain that everyone but the sister missionaries on bikes are praying for.

Aaaaaaand this week I biffed it on my bike, again. Yeah. I know right. There's a reason I'm getting transferred to an area that is too big to walk around. I was biking and we were running late, so I was biking fast, and then the zone leaders called so I tried to be efficient and answer the phone while I biked....but it was a bad idea cuz then chaos happened and I biffed it. I got another good scar on my leg to prove it, too. So, yep, that happened.

Also this week, one of the members invited a lady to dinner :)  She is one of the ladies we help when we go to the Methodist Thrift Store. She came to dinner and we were able to share a message with her, and get her hooked at least a little bit on the gospel :) She was very open to learning, so that was super awesome.

We also picked up a new investigator! Two actually :) The first is a lady, that we've been doing service for for about a month now, and she isn't a member. We went over to help her move from one place to another, so we did and now she's all settled into her new house. So when she was finally all settled, we invited her to take the lessons and she agreed! We went back for a lesson and were able to resolve some concerns she had about the Book of Mormon and things like that, so it was awesome. It's been really cool to see her change, because she went from being this closed off, angry woman, to being this cute little old lady who smiles at us everytime she sees us :) It's the best, to see how service really does soften hearts!!

The other is a guy who was a potential investigator in our phone, so we texted him and asked if we could come meet him and he was the only one who texted back. We texted a lot of potentials, but he was the one who wanted us to come over. So we went and met him, and he was a little drunk when we met him. But, he allowed us to have a lesson and we were able to teach him how to pray and about what the Book of Mormon is and about coming to church, and HE CAME!! Yeah!! He came to church yesterday, just for sacrament, but it was awesome :) There was a lady there who he knew, and she sat by him and everything. It was awesome! I'm so stoked for Si
s. Bowler and Sis. Panoussi to go back and keep teaching him. He even told us during our lesson that he was feeling the Spirit. Well, he pretty much described it like a spiritual sledgehammer that kept hitting him when we spoke, but yeah, the Spirit :)

In food adventures this week, I ate some super good Korean beef....made by a white lady. Yep. But it was absolutely delicious. She said the recipe was from the Six Sisters or something like that (I think I've heard of them, but I could be accidentally messing up the name or something). So if you get a chance....it's a good recipe.

Well......I think that's about all I got! Today will be a day of packing and such, so it'll be a weird p-day for me cuz I'm leaving tonight and my companions are staying. And yet I'll see them again like twice this transfer.

Oh, and this transfer is a 5 week transfer, due to the transition of mission presidents at the end of it. So yep :) Just fyi.

Your challenge! Write Sis. Fis'iitalia a letter :) She doesn't get very many at all, so it would be very sweet of you. And, if you feel so inclined, you can also write me a letter :) But I'll leave all that up to y'all.

And your scripture is 3 Nephi 1, because that whole chapter is Sis. Panoussi's favorite.

Love you all!! Go about doing good and endure to the end!!
Sister Gah'yii'sii

Some Sickness and Some Skype

Hello all of you lovely people!

We went to Mesa Verde National Park today and did the tour of Balcony House. SO COOL. We had to climb up this huge ladder that was kind of terrifying (by huge I mean it was like 60 feet, then another one that was like 30 feet) and then had to crawl through this tiny little tunnel thing that I almost had to squeeze through (don't worry, I fit pretty easily!!) and sidle through this little crevice...and that's how the Pueblos did it, but without the ladders. It was awesome. I want to go back some day and do more stuff there because there was WAY too much to do, and not enough time to do it!! We barely have time for groceries today....oops....

So this week I got to talk to my lovely family via skype! So fun. I love them so much, and my favorite part was when my brother sang to me :) I almost cried like everytime I thought about it for the rest of the day. So sweet bro!! And, congrats to him for his mission papers being sent in today!!! That's SO exciting!! I'm going to be anxiously checking my email the next couple of weeks!!

Last Monday, after email, we also did super fun things :) We went to all these cool trading posts in town and I got some pretty sweet things! I found these super cool earrings, and woven baskets (for SUPER cheap, and they're for reals), and a way cool pot....it was a very successful p-day :)

Tuesday, it rained. On and off allllll day. I never appreciated a car until I didn't have one, especially on rainy days. We biked in the rain. And it was cold and windy. I blame Tuesday for the problems the rest of the week! But, it was somehow fun because it almost makes me more of a real biking sister missionary :) Adventure!

Wednesday we took a member out with us who was AWESOME! She took us to two lessons and she bore super powerful testimony both times. It was exactly what the people we visited needed, too so it was great!! I just love the testimonies of members!! Also on Wednesday, Sis. Bowler and Sis. Panoussi were down and out for a couple hours. But, we made it to mutual, and they had these giant hamster ball things. Yeah. It was cool. We took pics in them :)

Then on Thursday, I trained in district meeting about testimony, and it went really well! I had this whole big list of scriptures that we looked at where the prophets bore testimony, and it was pretty sweet, according to the district leader :) Then Sis. Panoussi went to urgent care cuz she crushed her finger in the car in her last area, and we found out it got infected.

Then Friday it stormed again and I went down and out. That was miserable and I had no idea why! But yeah I crashed for like 3 hours, which is not normal for me, or any other missionary for that reason! But, don't worry I've fully recovered!! But, we did have to bike in the hail on the way to the senior center. When we got there, they all clapped for us and said they didn't think we were going to make it. But we did!! We were super out of breath from biking like mad, but we made it with little wetness and injury! But a branch did land and get stuck on my handlebars and my knees kept hitting it while I was trying to ride....


Then on Saturday, it SNOWED. Yeah, SNOW. And, Sis. Panoussi got the stomach flu. She's still kind of recovering (but we made her go to Mesa Verde anyways). It was just ridiculous how this week played out. But yet, there were still miracles!

Sunday we skyped and spent lunch with the little old ladies at the senior center. It was super fun. Also, we all had to speak in sacrament meeting. I loved every minute of it, and the members thought I was funny and entertaining, which was nice!!

Lucinda, one of our investigators, told us she knows the Book of Mormon is true!! It was awesome. i love those moments when things just click :) It was so great!! Basil, our investigator, asked if we can move things a little slower for his baptism. Which is fine, a little sad, but he's still going to make it :)

So, that's about all I got for you this week! I really do love you all, and I'm grateful for all you do for me!! Your challenge is to simply share your testimony somehow this week :)

And your scripture is one from my list, Jacob 7:10-12

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!! Oh, and PS I find out transfer news this weekend!

The Whole Bike Thing

First off, I love you. Yep. Just throwin that out there.

This week has been CRAZY. Lots of internal things we've had to work on as a companionship.  It's been an interesting week with various forms of break downs and conversations of whys and how to's and what now's. But don't worry! I'm okay I promise!

So what I've been struggling with (so you don't worry too much, mom!) is mostly just barriers that I'm facing that I've never faced before. Like, I'm having a really hard time connecting with people or remembering where people live or remembering their names or who they're friends with and when they bring people up in conversations I have no idea who they're talking about until about 5 minutes later, and by then I've missed why they brought them up. So....that was a run on, but yeah. I've talked these things over with my companions a lot and I've realized that I just need to rely on my Heavenly Father more. So I started giving these feelings to my Heavenly Father in prayer and I've felt so much better and so much more at ease. It's so nice to not feel as stressed. Part of me wonders if I'm feeling this way because I can sense that I'm going to be transferred, but the other part of me is really terrified that I'll stay another transfer and still have to struggle with these feelings. But, I've stopped worrying about it.

So I found out that there are 18 missionaries going home this transfer, and only 8 coming out. That's 5 areas that have to close, and there's already been so many that have closed! I'm living proof of that, considering that 3/5 now have elders in their wards. Crazy. But, it's all in God's will, and I'm so stoked to see all the changes with the influx of missionaries after graduation and semester. So excited!!

I slept talked this week. Yep, I'm at it again. Well, okay, I'm always sleep talking, but this week was one that I actually remembered. I asked Sis. Bowler if she understood my thought process (that was when I woke up, I don't remember what my thought process was about), and she responded "Yeah I think so...but I'm really tired." And then another time this week I jumped up in my bed, quickly got into kneeling position and said, 'I NEED TO PRAY." That made Sis. Panoussi laugh in the middle of the night, and I realized after I had woken myself up with the loud volume of my voice that it was still super dark in the room and so I rolled over and went back to bed. No wonder I'm so exhausted all the time.

I held a bladder stone this week. Yep. It was about the size of a golf ball. We met this new less active lady and her non member husband, and they are the cutest old couple. Bro. Sharp, the husband, has this way cool marble collection, and he said "let me show you my two favorites." So he handed me this large chipped marble first, and then handed me this thing that looked like coral. I was like this is a really crazy marble and he said "that's my most expensive one. It cost about $50,000! They took it out of my bladder; that's a bladder stone." It took everything in me not to throw it out of my hand....or puke...or something. So I quickly passed it to Sis. Panoussi :)

So a miracle that we saw over and over this week was the power of the members :) We had this member invite Brittny, a less active we found at the beginning of the transfer, to her house for dinner. They have girls that are the same age, so the girls all went and played and we had dinner and got to talk to Brittny. We found out a lot more about her that we hadn't known, because the member was asking questions, and we were able to show Brittny that missionaries are normal. That we are humans too and not just these teaching machines. It was so cool. And then we had a member come out with us and we stopped to talk to this guy and it turned out that the member and this guy had a friend in common, and he had moved to Utah! Crazy. It was a perfect way for us to get in and talk to him. Then we also had a member come out with us who drove us around and took us to these less active's houses all over town to try and none of them were home. But she had such a positive attitude and we were able to just help her see that missionary work can be fun, even if you don't have set lessons with people :)

Also this week, I ate crepes and homemade hummus. Yep. SO GOOD. We had dinner with Sis. Johnson, a less active lady in our ward, and she is a FANTASTIC cook. I was so excited to eat crepes again, and they were actually really good. Plus, when I was looking at her cookbooks I saw a Mediterranean one and thought about that one Mediterranean restaurant in Fresno that has SUPER good hummus. So I started talking about it and she said "you like hummus? Do you like red peppers?" And she got up and made me hummus to take home. It's seriously like the best stuff I've ever had. I love homemade anything. I'm so spoiled!

Okay, well, time's just about up! But your challenge for this week is to show your joy. I know the gospel makes you happy, don't deny it. But, I want you to make an extra effort to show it this week :)

And your scriptures are 3 Nephi 27:16 and Alma 42:23 :)

I love you all very much! I hope you know that!! And family, I will see you on Sunday to wish momma a happy mother's day! And all you other lovely ladies that I love so much, I hope you have a happy mother's day too :)

Sister Courtney Garcia

Pictures!
Me in front of a church that is now a school

Biffed It

Sigh. Yes. I biffed it on my bike this week. It was bound to happen sometime, right!? But yep. I did the thing. But hey, I look good on my bike....when the wind doesn't pick up and my skirt doesn't fly everywhere. I'm working on it, I promise!

So yes, hello! First off, I love you all. Don't you forget it.

I survived my biff with just a scraped knee and a sore ankle. That was no bueno, but I recovered and all is well. But, my ankle does pop a little more than it used to. I'm not worried though. So don't worry mom and grandma!! I'm okay :) They took away our car at zone conference this week, so we are officially only on bikes. Which is hard because we don't really know how we're going to take our laundry to the Laundromat and how we're going to get groceries....so for today we're using the elder's truck, per permission from President Batt. But man they aren't happy about it! Neither are we. But, we're making the most of the situation!!

The elders bought us Happy Hour this week. We have a great district leader :)

Quote of the week: "I don't want to shake your hand, I want to hug your body!" Yep. An old man told me that when we went on exchanges and I was with my sister training leader. I wasn't weirded out at all.....

So yes, we had an awesome zone conference this week! It was weird though, because Sis. Fackrell bore her departing testimony and it made me realize how short of time I really have left. And then Elder Tingey (from St. Mike's) was there too and he had to bear his testimony, too. SO WEIRD that all these awesome missionaries I know are going home! But I got to tell Elder Tingey about some of the cool things that happened while he was gone with some of the people that I miss so much. But the zone conference was all about hope and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and it was so cool to have that reminder. I definitely needed it! I've been lacking in the hope department, and so has the whole mission. But, I've improved a little bit since Friday, and I'm still going to improve so that I have an endless supply of the gospel sense of hope, meaning that my hopes are more certain and more of an expectation than a guess at the future. Which comes from relying more on the Atonement of my Savior.

Now I want to tell you my favorite miracle from this week! We met with our investigator this week, and we brought a cute old lady member in the ward who had never been out with missionaries before. We committed her last Sunday to come out with us on Wednesday, and she kept calling us and asking us questions: "Do I need to wear a skirt?" "Am I picking you up?" "Do I need to bring my scriptures?" It was so cute. Then Wednesday rolled around and she picked us up and we walked in to our investigator's house, and she started talking to our investigator like she'd known her forever! And she bore her testimony without us asking questions and taught simply....it was like she was a missionary straight from Preach My Gospel! It was awesome. She told us after wards "well that wasn't bad at all!" Haha nope! Missionary work isn't as scary as you think it is! She told us that she had prayed all week to make sure that she would have the Spirit and that she would say helpful things, and it worked! Prayer works! It's like God intended prayer to be useful or something!

And another miracle I wanted to share with you is also from when we were on exchanges. Sis. Bowler and I were out with Sis. Browning (Sis. Panoussi was with Sis. Rubinol in another part of Cortez) and we were tracting this random road and found this cute less active couple, the Owens. Sis. Owens is bed ridden and can't come to church, and Bro. Owens has to stay with her 24/7 in case she needs something. It's a really sad situation, but they were SO happy when we came to visit and so excited to have the missionaries over. It made me realize that we really do have a special spirit about us, and that others can feel it when we're doing what's right.

So your challenge this week is to have more meaningful prayers! Have prayers like the member before our lesson, where you really desire the things that you're asking for!

And you're scripture is the classic Doctrine and Covenants 10:5. And I think there's one in Doctrine and Covenants 19:38, but that's off the top of my head, and I could be wrong about the verse. But yes, go look them up!

I love you so much!! Y'all rock and keep being stellar!
Sister Garcia

Sickness and Miracles

Hello my lovely friends and family!

This week, I got sick. Yep, it was gross. But I got better....and then Sis. Bowler stubbed her toe so hard that it's purple. We're all better for the most part.

Despite all the sicknesses and the stress and all the crazy hectic stuff that is missionary work, we saw miracles. Tons and tons of miracles :) I love it when the Lord blesses us for our efforts, even though they don't always seem like a whole lot. But when it's your all, it's enough. Don't forget that.

Have I told you that we do service at the senior center? It's like my favorite thing to do. We get to go call bingo for all the old folk, and they love it. I love it! It's not as lively as the senior center in La Sal, but it's super fun and super relaxing. We get to just help the old people have something fun to do that's different from the rest of their lives, and it's awesome. We actually do a lot of service here, and it's the best. Like last week, we volunteered at the Home and Garden Show, and then this week we got to go to the Teen Maze. It was a thing that all the 8th graders did in the area that promoted drug and domestic violence awareness. It was so cool, and everyone we and the elders talked to said that it was worth our time and that they were definitely more likely to let missionaries into their homes after seeing how we interacted with everyone. It was awesome.

And we had a super inspired zone training this week! Sis. Fackrell was there, and she trained on hope. Which is exactly what I needed to hear, and what this whole ward needs to hear. So we're sharing hope with the members, and faith in the hastening of the work. But I think I'm going to be quoted for the rest of my mission, because I said something like "you just gotta reach in and grab that inkling of hope that those in despair have and make them see that they have hope!" And I used my hands to show how you grab out that hope, and my companions have been making fun of me for it ever since. Sigh. But that's what companions are for!

So we met with this less active lady, Sis. Bahe. She is awesome! She's also one of the only Navajos in Cortez, which means I want to visit her like everyday because I miss St. Mikes so much. But anyways. She's been working on coming to church and going to the temple, and last week (and yesterday) she didn't come to church. But we met with her last week and read in Mosiah 24 about prayer and how the people of Alma prayed that they would be released from their burdens and stuff, and we asked her how she felt after reading it. And she said, "I know I need to go to church." What!? How does that correlate to prayer in this story? THE SPIRIT. That's how. The Spirit was so strong in that lesson, and you could just feel the urgency that the Spirit was conveying to her that you need to go to church! It was awesome.

And the best for last: Julie and Basil. They are the coolest! We just met them yesterday. Julie is a less active member, and Basil is a new investigator as of yesterday. But, Julie's been teaching Basil a little about the gospel, and he's read almost the whole Book of Mormon already. Yeah! Talk about elect! He even has a quad. So we put him on date for baptism, because the whole time they both just talked about how much they wanted to be sealed in the temple and to her son that had passed away when he was little. So he's on date, and we committed them to get married and to stop chewing/smoking. So, they have some work to do, but they will be able to do it through our Savior's Atonement! I'm so excited to keep you up to date on them  and their progress :)

The thing I wanted to conclude with is something I've been thinking about for the last couple of days. I've been struggling with remembering people's names and remembering where people live and I feel like I can't figure out the city. But it's the city, and it's on a grid system....so it should be easy. But I'm having a hard time. And I've been thinking about why that is, especially since Sis. Panoussi is remembering everything and knows people and I'm like uh..... Am I lacking charity? Am I not going to stay in Cortez very long? Am I slacking off? Am I still stuck in St. Michael's? Am I not doing my best? And I'm not sure exactly the answers to those questions. I'm not stuck in St. Michael's, because I am focused on the work in Cortez. But, I'm still having a hard time. And I don't know if it's the Spirit telling me I won't be here long, or if it's me just being used to moving around so much that I want to move again or what. But this is what I do know: my mission in Cortez is to be bold. Mostly with the members. We all need to step up our game, and that's what I'm here to convey, whether I'm here for just this transfer or whether I'm here to finish my mission, I'm here to be bold and give Cortez some tough love. That's what I've learned how to do, and I know that that's what this area needs.

Why is that what it needs? Because this is the hastening of God's work. His work is moving forward, and whether or not we are on board, it's going to keep going faster and faster. This is it. This is the time for you and for me to step it up and do our part, in whatever part of the Lord's vineyard we're in. Do His will. Do His work. I know that God is preparing people specifically for each of you to share your testimonies with. He NEEDS you. And He needs you NOW. So that is your challenge for this week, is to hasten the work of our Father in Heaven.

Your scriptures are 2 Nephi 5:31 and Moroni 10:23.

I love you all so much! I appreciate everything you've done for me and for all the prayers and the love and the work that you do, for me and for our Heavenly Father :)

Sister Gah'yii'sii

What the "Big" City?!?

So yes. Cortez. Way up der in Colorado. Where there is a Walmart. WALMART. Do y'all realize that I haven't served anywhere this big before?? Kirtland didn't even have a grocery store, Bloomfield was kind of big but we had Rez and it was spread out and there were trailer parks and stuff, La Sal and Paradox....yeah that was itty bitty and super spread out, and St. Mikes I'm used to dirt roads and run down sheds for houses and hogans and trailers that are falling apart.....and then God thinks it's funny to send me to a place with a Walmart. I can't remember the last time I've seen so many neighborhoods and nice houses. It's crazy. I've been overwhelmed all week. But on the plus side, we get free Coldstone and free Dairy Queen once a week :) Perks of city life.

But, this week has been so good!! It's been a week full of miracles and setting goals and getting the vision for Cortez 1st ward. My companions are GREAT! It's so weird to be with these folk from the MTC, but it's so awesome too. We've been able to see the changes that we've made in the last 14 months in each other, which has been reassuring to see that I actually have changed, and so have they. So that's been something we've been talking about. Our bikes are broken, so we're on foot, but it's been so good to just get re-aquainted and tell all of our crazy and exciting stories that we've missed out on :)

So this week we went to the Home and Garden show. It was so fun! We met tons of people. Like this guy from Guatemala (I think) named Acupano who was selling CDs that he and his brother made (he plays the pan pipes....Sis. Bowler got his CD), and this awesome hand made jewlery, so I got myself some earrings. But yeah, it was an awesome opportunity for us to find more service opportunities, and also to talk to people about the Because He Lives video. It was so cool! And tons of fun.

We started a tradition of Frosty Friday for weekly planning at Wendys. SO FUN. We just go and talk to people and make sure they hear about the gospel, and then we get a frosty and fries to go. Actually I got chicken nuggets last time but still, so good. It reminds me of me and Sis. Wilson, back in the good ol' days, when we went to Happy Hour on Fridays :)

So I want to tell you about Brittny. We met her walking around, and she was getting out of her car when we were in her apartments. We stopped to talk to her, and she told us that she had been baptized, but hadn't been to church for years and years, but had started thinking about getting into it again. So we had a lesson with her and helped her download the gospel library app (thank you technology!) and she's doing awesome! She didn't come to church this week, but we have another lesson with her this week, so I'll keep you posted on her.

And the Talleys were at church! They are a really cool husband and wife (well....common law....that'll be changed though don' t worry...) who have a one year old daughter and one on the way. There's a man in our ward who is a super good fellowshipper, and he brought them to church with him! So that was really exciting. AND, they stayed all three hours, which was awesome. Bro. Talley was asking questions and trying to understand things during gospel principles, and Sis. Talley had a huge smile on her face after Relief Society. It was awesome. They're doing wonderful things! The next step is to get them on date for baptism!!

Well, your challenge this week is to develop charity. That's something I'm working on, being in a new area and all. So that's what I want you to work on, too, so we can all be more Christ-like together :)

And your scripture is 1 Thessalonians 5. The whole chapter, but especially verses 2, 10, and 16-18. I love it all.

I love you!! Have a great week!! You're the greatest!!

Therefore, What?

Hello friends and family!!

Wasn't conference just fantastic?? I absolutely loved it. It's seriously one of my favorite times of year. I'm kind of sad that I won't get to watch it as a missionary again, because there's definitely a different spirit as a missionary, but it's still just as good! Did y'all catch the shout out to the Navajo Nation in Elder Andersen's talk about music and dance! Yep, we all got really excited. And, the shout out in women's conference to Chinle stake! I've heard about Sis. Yellowhair a lot. Sooo yeah that was great!

So I'm getting transferred! I'm headed up to Cortez, CO, and I promise I will get my address to you soon....I kind of forgot to write it down before I left....but I'll get it to you all. I'm going to be in a trio with Sis. Panoussi and Sis. Bowler, who were with me in the MTC!! Isn't that crazy!? I'm so excited. It's gonna be a lot of fun. Trios are always interesting, too. But it's going to be great! We're going to be on bikes, so that'll be crazy, and we cover the city part (I've heard). Some of the elders around here, and Sis. Wilson, have served there, and they all loved it. Plus, we get free Coldstone :)

This week we've had some crazy weather. CRAZY. The beginning of the week it was pretty warm and nice, and then all of a sudden BOOM. Wind hit. It was like 30 miles an hour, one of the members told us, and 50 mile gusts. Sooooo yep we walked in it. It was crazy. My hair looked so good on Thursday, and then after like an hour of tolerating it blowing all over the place, I gave up and put it in a bun. It was ridiculous. But it was also a lot of fun :) Everyone gave us the crazy look.

One of our less active families came to conference! It was awesome because we showed them the Because He Lives video taht the church put out, and the Spirit was strong in the lesson. We invited them to conference at the end and they came! For probably about the last month they've been pretty drunk when we stop by to visit, so I was really happy to see them mostly sober when they came to our lesson and to conference. I really hope that they keep progressing. They've had a rough life, this dad and son, and it's just crazy how much you can feel that God loves them, even when they're wasted and not doing the greatest things.

Random fun thing I did this week: I held a pig at dinner last night. Yep. A baby pig. I'll send a picture when Sis. Waite sends it to me.

Now I want to tell you about Brandon. So, goodbyes are like the dumbest thing about getting transferred. It's just hard cuz you love these people and you don't really want to go, but at the same time you're so stoked to get transferred. But, the members and the people you teach all want you to stay, and it's hard. But it must be done! So it was super hard to tell Brandon goodbye, cuz I've seen him change so much! But he called and told me a lot of really nice things that made me just realize that this is God's work! That He is real and that He is so mindful of each of His children. I know that Heavenly Father cares about each of us, and that I'm out here touching the lives of those He's asking me to. So that's what I'll do in Cortez, I promise!

I can't remember if I told y'all or not, but Brandon went to the temple about two weeks ago, and he has blessed the sacrament. He's come so far since when I first met him, and it's amazing to see the Atonement at work every single day!!

So the title of this email is Therefore, What, courtesy of Elder Griener (who is no longer Elder) and his wonderful training in district meeting a while back. But anyways, it's basically meaning that yes, we've heard all these great things from Conference and from the prophets and apostles....therefore, what? What are you going to do? That's your challenge is to take what you learned in conference and ACT.

And you're scripture is Alma 38, all about Shiblon :)

I love you!! Have a great week!
Sister Garcia

It's Allergy Season!

Yep. They're gross. I don't remember the last time allergies were this bad. They hit me pretty hard this week, and I am still recuperating. But I promise I'm still working hard and that I'll get better...sometime...

Hello!

This week we saw A LOT of miracles. The week was super busy, too, which made the miracles that much more important! We started off with exchanges on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, which means Sis. Waite and I weren't companions from Monday afternoon until Wednesday night. That was weird. Thursday we had district meeting and our correlation meeting, Friday there was a movie night, Saturday was the Women’s Broadcast and the Relief Society activity, and Sunday was church and then poof I'm emailing you again. What!? Yeah, it's been busy.

This coming week is week 6, which means the last week of the transfer! So we'll see what happens. I want to stay in St. Michael's, but we'll see what God's got in store for me.

Exchanges means that I got to see Sis. Wilson!! It was so fun to be her companion again. Apparently her parents were super stoked last Monday when she told them that she was going on exchanges with me, and they were asking why we had such a short amount of time together. Well...I don't know the answer, but I know that everything I learned from her has made me who I am! Maybe we would killed each other if we had been together longer than 5 weeks, who knows! But, regardless of why it was super fun to be her companion for a day :)

So remember Lindsey, the lady I taught in Kirtland who died and whose sister is in my ward? Yeah? Good. Well, Lindsey's daughter, Rhianna, came to visit Lindsey's sister (so Rhianna's aunt) and she called me last Monday and asked if I could go visit her. So we worked it out with the senior couple, and we got to go see her. It was CRAZY. We shared a lesson with them so that we had a missionary purpose in being there, and we talked about temples. Rhianna is going to turn 12 this week, so we talked about things she can do to go to the temple. It was really cool. Then she asked for a priesthood blessing, and it was so sweet. Rhianna is a special daughter of our Heavenly Father, and she wants the gospel so bad! I just hope that she recognizes the refiner's fire she's going through, and how if she will be faithful, she will see all of the blessings that will come from our Father in Heaven. That's true of all of us!! And don't you forget it!

Something amazing happened yesterday!! Matthew's (the little 8 year old boy who got baptized on New Years Eve) dad got the Melchizedek priesthood yesterday!! It was the coolest. Plus, he went last (there was Scott, a guy getting ready to go on his mission, Bro. Dejolie, the Relief Society president's wife, and Bro. Billiman, a less active guy that the elders have been teaching, all got the Melchizedek priesthood yesterday too). So Matthew's dad went last, and he had all the newly ordained elders help in giving him the priesthood. SO COOL!

SO my time is about up! I didn't give myself a lot of time today to send all the miracles. But I saw a lot, and I know that miracles are happening everyday! So look for them.

Your challenge is to go watch the Because He Lives video that the church put out this weekend! And then to share it somehow with someone. I haven't seen it yet, but I know it's going to be just as awesome as the Because of Him and He is the Gift videos :)

Your scriptures are Alma 26:37 and 1 Nephi 11:17 so you can always remember the most basic truth, that God is Your Loving Heavenly Father.

Love you all!! Happy Conference, and Happy Easter! I want to hear what you're favorite talks were from this weekend when I get on next week!

Sister Gah'yii'sii