~August 29, 2011- First An Earthquake...And Then A Hurricane!~

Here is the letter that President Albright send the parents...

Dear Parents,


We are grateful to report that all of your missionaries are safe and back to work. The storm caused the second-largest power outage in Virginia history as 2.5 million people were without electricity at one point earlier today. along with several days before Hurricane Irene approached, each missionary was able to make certain their 72 hour emergency kits were up to date with nonperishable food, fresh batteries, flash lights and water bottles etc..Cell phones were charged, each car was filled with gas, and safe houses were designated by each bishop where the missionaries could go if necessary to stay with ward members. The members here love their missionaries! We hope this week to avoid any major hurricanes or earthquakes so we can have an historic baptismal month! Thank you for your continued faith and prayers.


Warm Regard,


President Mark Albright

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Elder Garcia says that Earthquakes and Hurricanes can't stop them from working! He mentioned that the earthquake humbled a lot of people and they also found some investigators. The Hurricane mainly just brought  a lot of rain and during the night it blew down lots of trees. He says that he loves tracting in the rain! Him and Elder Reeves wouldn't get too far without getting completely drenched!

Today for P day they went to D.C. with an investigator. He says that he took pictures and will send them next week when he has more time.

~August 22, 2011-Zone Conference~

2nd Day of Zone Conference. Wednesday, August 17, 2011 for the Mt. Vernon, Annandale and Old Towne  Zones.

Elder Garcia Sprained his ankle from playing soccer! He was only on crutches for a day so he is doing much better. 

~August 15, 2011- A Great Experience Overall~

Elder Garcia and Elder Reeves had quite the adventure last week. They decided to take a bus to see if they could visit an investigator. They do not have a car and Elder Reeves' bike is broken so they didn't want to walk. They ended up taking a bus not knowing how they were going to arrive to their investigators house because they didn't know the bus routes. So an hour later they were lost in Virginia! The bus driver drove until he ended his route and told them to get out. They had no idea where they were! They walked for while until they found another bus stop. They sat at the sidewalk hoping that a bus might pass. After waiting for about 30 minutes they started getting worried about how they were going to get back home. Just then, a car stops next to the street and waves them over. They walked over and started talking to the driver. The man asked them if they needed a ride. They of course said yes and they got into his car. He took them to their investigators house just in time. They learned that the man is an inactive member so they took down his name and number. Elder Garcia said that it was a great experience to see how the Lord took care and provided for them.

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Elder Garcia y Elder Reeves tuvieron una bonita experiencia esta ultima semana. Ellos decidieron tomar el autobus al ir a visitar un investigador. Como no tienen carro y la bici del Elder Reeves esta descompuest, tomaron el autobus no conociendo las rutas. Una hora despues, estaban perdidos en Virginia! El autobus los llevo hasta el fin de su ruta y los tuvo que dejar ahi. No sabiendo en donde estaban, decidieron caminar hacia otra parada del bus esperando que otro autobus pasara. Esperando cerca de 30 minutos, no sabiendo como hiban a regresar a casa, un carro se les hacerca y un hombre les pregunta que si necesitan un aventon. Ellos porsupuesto aceptaron y el hombre hasta los llevo a su sita, ala cual llegaron a tiempo. Ellos aprendieron que ese hombre es un miembro inactivo, el cual les dio su informacion para contactarlo. Elder Garcia dijo que fue una experiencia grandiosa al ver de que el Señor siempre los cuida y provee para ellos.

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The 10 new Missionaries!
Front Row: Pres and Sister Albright, Sisters Raynor, Taylor, and Patton, & Elder Johnsen Back row: Elders Phillips, Garcia, Rios, MacFarlane, Young and West 

President and Sister Albright With Elder Garcia

Breakfast at the Mission Home

Orientation Meeting  

~August 8, 2011- A Marvelous Work~

It has been been 5 days since he has arrived and he loves it! His companion, Elder Reeves, is just about finished with his mission and is a great trainer. The first few doors they knocked his companion took over, then he turned to him and said, "OK, these are all yours!"  Although they were not successful in getting in, Elder Garcia was really excited.

He mentions that every day they go tracting they come across someone who ONLY speaks Spanish. So Elder Reeves will just sit back while Elder Garcia talks to them about the gospel. One of the Spanish speaking ladies that they came across was from Honduras and she actually let them come into her home. They talked to her about the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. Elder Garcia and Elder Reeves have found 7 new investigators in the first 4 days.  He is amazed at how many people are out there that want to know what they're missing!

Elder Garcia says that God has truly called him in this mission to talk to specific people that wouldn't have been reached because of the language barrier. He is the only one in his zone that speaks fluent English and Spanish and some French. He is learning so much about different religions! Mostly everyone is Muslim, or Catholic and the rest might be Christians. He says that he's been working hard and loving the people of Northern Virginia and that a marvelous work and a wonder has truly come forth! 

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Ha sido 5 dias desde que ha llegado y le encanta! Su compañero, Elder Reeves, ya casi termina con su mision y es un entrenador muy bueno. Las primeras puertas que tocaron su compañero se encargo de hablar, pero despues, se volvio a el, y le dijo, "Ok, estas son todas tuyas!" Y aunque no tuvieron mucho exito, Elder Garcia estaba muy entusiasmado. 

El menciona que cada dia que salen a tocar, siempre encuentran a alguien que solamente habla español. Asi que Elder Reeves nadamas escucha mientras Elder Garcia les enseña hacerca del Evangelio. Una de estas personas, era una Señora de Honduras que los dejo entrar y le pudieron dar el maravilloso mensaje de la restauraccion. En esos primeros cuatro dias, ellos pudieron encontrar a 7 investigadores nuevos. El esta asombrado de cuantas personas hay que quieren conocer lo que les falta es sus vidas.

Elder Garcia escribe que Dios verdaderamente lo ha llamado a esta mision para hablar con personas especificas, quien de otra manera no se les pudiera alcansar por causa de la barrera del idioma. El es el unico misionero en su Zona que habla el Español fluido con un poco de Frances. El esta aprendiendo mucho hacerca de religions diferentes. Y la mayoria de personas ahi son Musulmanes or Catolicos y el resto quizas Cristianos. El Dice que ha estado trabajando duro y amando a las personas de Norte Virginia y que una obra maravillosa en realidad a aperecido!

~August 1, 2011- Life Is Good!~

Elder Garcia is doing wonderful! He leaves for DC is 2 days and can't wait! He says that his district is awesome, but there is lots to do and the spiritual experiences are exactly what they need. He loves the MTC and says that life is good but he can't wait to go to DC to start teaching people!

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Elder Garcia esta haciendo muy bien y se ira a DC en dos Dias! Dice que el distrito esta maravillosamente pero hay mucho que hacer y las experiencias espirituales son exactamente lo que necesitan. A el le encanta el CCM and dice que la vida esta buena pero no puede esperar para ir a DC y enseñar a las personas.

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