~October 31, 2011- Pictures!~

Elder Garcia did not have too much time to write today, so I don't have any updates on him. However, he did send pictures! :)

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Pumpkin Carving!

Elder Garcia's apartment! 

They passed their apartment inspection! 

Trip to the temple!

~October, 24 2011- Temple Trip and Pumpkin Carving!~

Last week there was another baptism! Elder Garcia's zone is working very hard to get to a number goal by the end of the year. The mission in total wants to get to 511 baptisms for the year and they are counting on his zone to pull through since they are the highest baptizing zone in the mission. They are all working so hard to find and teach people! He says that these last three weeks of October his zone baptized 13 investigators in total, and they still have one more week for the month. 

Elder Garcia mentions that he is reading so much and always thinking of different things to learn from. This week, him and Elder Jensen and another companionship are going to the temple! They are so excited! Also, since this is transfer week, and the other companionship have been together for 3 transfers they are bound to be transferred. So they wanted to go to one last activity together before that happens. So since today is preparation day, they are all going to carve pumpkins with a non-member! 

~October 10, 2011- Life is Amazing, but God is even more Amazing~

This week Elder Garcia and his companion had 4 baptisms! He mentioned that it feels as if he has been on his mission for such a long time! He says he has never worked so much, and so hard in his life, but he loves it! So, for about a week Elder Garcia and Elder Jensen have been helping an Indian lady with service at her home. The bishop referred them to her because her husband is dying and she needs help. Even though she is not interested in the church because she is Catholic, they are still happy to help her. Elder Garcia says that she is the nicest lady, and always gives them orange juice after they work at her house. Lately she has been opening up to them and asking questions. Such as, why do men go on missions? What about the girls!? Do you they go to?? They have talked to her about a lot of things. They gave her a brief intro to the Book of Mormon and told her what its all about. She thought it was interesting.

He says that the greatest thing happened to them last week. As they came over to help her again they sat down first before starting their chores, and spoke to her a little. Their conversation led to her opening up about her feelings and about Christ. She cried a few times as she told them how she is sometimes scared that her husband will die any day now. They didn't really know what to say! Elder Garcia felt almost like he was too young and inexperienced to give words of wisdom to an elderly lady. They simply told her what keeps them happy. Elder Garcia told her that having a knowledge of what's after this life and knowing that he will see his family again gives him strength and peace. Just as he said that one of his favorite scriptures popped into his head. He told her what Jesus said to us all. He read in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." She cried a little more after that. He says it was a tender moment. Her husband passed away yesterday morning, peacefully, just like she wanted. She has invited them to come back and read more of the bible to her, and have what she calls, a "bible study." She said that in the Catholic church, you're not allowed to read the bible until you're older. So they are going back this week to read the scriptures with her! --He says that life is amazing, but God is even more amazing.

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~October 3, 2011- Conference~

Elder Garcia loved hearing the conference talks this weekend! He loved the talks on missionary work because they were so powerful! -- He mentions that nothing is new and everything is still the same, but in a good way- there is still hard times, amazing times, miracles happening, tender mercies showing, experiences unfolding, and he continues to learn so much. 

Elder Garcia has been studying the scriptures and learning more and more each day. he says that the windows of heaven open as he uses the standard works as one. This week him and Elder Jensen are preparing for a father and his two younger children for baptism. They are looking forward to it! He has ran into so many people for all around the world. Such as, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and all over Central and South America. He says that his mission is pretty much as diverse as going to a different country! He loves being a missionary!

~September 26, 2011- Mormon Helping Hands~

Elder Garcia is doing very well. A few days ago Elder Jensen took a picture of Elder Garcia with some of the little kids the are teaching. One of the kids took off his tag and Elder Garcia helped him clip it on to his shirt. He says they are so cute and he loves kids! They told them that they want to be missionaries some day. The kids and their dad will be getting baptized on October 8. The family is from Sierra Leone.

Elder Garcia mentions that many people around his area are from Africa. He says that Africans are the most humble, meek and loving people he has ever met! He has met alot of Ghanaians and Muslims too! He says Muslims are super nice too. They welcome you into their homes, but they are really devoted to their faith.  One of the Muslims is teaching Elder Garcia some Arabic. He can say "hello", "thank you", and "goodbye". He says that Muslims are their hardest investigators, but he still tries to talk to them whenever he sees them, and speaking in their language helps a lot. 

On Saturday it was a Day of Service and him and his companion and the other Elders went to the Arlington National Cemetery! They helped clean the area and cut down a lot of wild plants that were growing there. He says it was a great experience to be at a memorial that is so well known, and so majestic. There was a lady from the church news who came to them, and took pictures for the 'Mormon Helping Hands' community.

Elder Garcia just loves the different cultures in his mission, and is amazed to see so many of God's children with such different lifestyles and beliefs.

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Arlington National Cemetery

~September 19,2011- Life In Our Saviors Shoes~

Elder Garcia is doing great! He has a new companion now. His name is Elder Jensen. He is sad that his trainer Elder Reeves will be going home soon because they got really close toward the end of transfers, but he says that Elder Jensen is really nice and smart and they are doing a lot of work. He is now finding new people and tracting in new areas since they are on bikes now. They had a baptism that went really well. He confirmed a guy named Pisal yesterday. Pisal asked Elder Garcia if he could give him the priesthood when he is able to! -- He says that Life as a missionary is life in our Saviors shoes. He loves his brothers and sisters of Virginia and loves being a missionary and helping others.

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The Missionaries and Pisal at his Baptism

 Elder Garcia and Pisal

~September 12, 2011- Site Seeing In DC~

Elder Garcia at his desk