Week 23

We got to skype with Tyson for Christmas this week! It was awesome! He is doing so good and looks great!

Week 22

Alright, this one is called ¨Trucks¨

So this week has been so up and down, I have grown so much in just this month, spiritually and with my facial hair.. Just kidding, but I do have to shave everyday now. I have been so dissapointed that my Spanish is nowhere near where it should be but I am putting my trust in the Lord that he will help me! We have these 2 ¨Golden Investigators¨ that we are teaching right now and I love them so very much! Their names are Clarissa and her mother Maritza. Clarissa was a referal from one of the members. The member told us she had a friend who had a child die from Dengue and wants to know about life after death. The 2nd time we passed with her, she had read the whole Plan of Salvation pamphlet and said it answered all her questions. We decided to leave behind a Book of Mormon for her to read. We passed by 2 days later and she had read to 2 Nephi 11. I was so amazed! Everytime we pass with her, she opens up to us and she told me I cant leave this area because I have to be there for her baptism in Febuary. I love them and am so greatful we found them. But the reason this is called trucks is because we were teaching them and all of a sudden we heard a loud bang outside so we ran out and we see that this guy got his truck stuck between two houses because the road was small and his truck was big. I then heard some guy yelling English so I went to go check it out. Turns out the Driver is an 80 year old American from Texas who has been in the DR for 31 years, diggin for oil and hasnt had much success. I end up translating the things the Spanish guys are saying into English and from what the old guy is saying in English into Spanish. I ended up getting in his truck and driving from the passengers seat so I must say my driving skills havnt worsened in the last 5 months. He was so greatful and told me he thought the small street was how he got home and forgot where to go. I ended up riding with him to his house because he didnt know the streets that well. He dropped us off and headed back to end the lesson with Clarissa. Sorry for only one story but It felt so great. When he dropped us off he called us his ¨Saviors¨ so I told him if he ever needed anything, go to the church. I felt so useful! I love my mission and am so glad I am here! I love and miss you all!

Elder Garfield

Week 21

¨And I had a dream..¨

This week has been super interesting for me! I find myself at times when the worst feeling in my stomach thinking that something super bad is going to happen to you guys then I do the thing that one of the Elderly Elders taught me here... I read my scriptures. And then that horrible feeling turns to peace. Last Saturday I was having the worst thoughts about this place and my time as a missionary and all I wanted to do was go home. Then I had a dream that night. I was home, with you guys, everyone was happy, we were all laughing, smiling and enjoying ourselves. But I had come home early. And I felt horrible. As you guys were laughing, I was super sad that I didn't complete my mission. I felt I did something horrible wrong. That Dream has pushed me through this week with a ton of desire to serve! And guess what, working works! I have been teaching with the spirit so strongly and have been loving the people here and my time has been so fast!!! I love my life as a missionary. I love this life I am living for these 2 years! I love this place and I love to share the Gospel, I don't want to be anywhere else! I love you and miss you guys so much!!

Elder Garfield

 

 

*Please say extra prayers for him this week that he can stop worrying about home and not even think about coming home!

Week 20

Bueno... My weekly email is called ¨Freaking Fresca¨

So this week has been super interesting! Last Thursday was one of the hardest times in my mission. My Spanish struggled so much and I have been super hard on myself for not being perfect so I went to sleep with such a bad feeling last Thursday. When I woke up Friday, all I wanted to do was go home. I just layed in my bed and didn't say a word to my companion because I don't want him worrying about me! I read some scriptures for study and I studied the crap out of my Spanish Dictionary so I didn't have another day like Thursday! I can honestly say I had the gift of tongues on Friday. Every house we passed and every person we visited, I could testify in almost perfect Spanish, it was so amazing!! Also, we got a reference from one of the members in our Branch who had a friend who had her son die at 4 years old! The first time we visited her was Tuesday I think and She.... AND HER MOM were in church on Sunday! we visited them on Monday and placed a baptismal date for February 8th and so we have 2 baptisms in February! this week has been such a roller coaster but I have been strengthened so much on my mission!! I love it here and my time is going so fast! Well I love and miss you all!

Elder Garfield