From his mother: My apologies, also. I really didn't want to post this last letter. I thought a long time about it. So, I'm posting it only because, if I don't, everyone will ask where it is. Here it is for what it's worth.
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 1:51 PM
I'd just like to formally apologize to everyone in this letter, especially [to those who have worked on my blog]. Thank you for all that you have done for me. I'm sorry to anyone who became offended at anything I said.
Elder Garcia
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
10 June 2009 thru 18 June 2009 (2nd Letter)
First and foremost, I'd like to appologize to everyone for having to put up with my emails for the past couple weeks. I realize the error of my ways and I have repented of them. No more will I seek to do what should not be done. When I came out on my mission, there were a lot of things that I felt... wrong about. It is my conclusion that there is a lot of Pride or The Silent Sin out here. We HAD the privalege(sp?) of the highest baptizing english mission in the world but now we CLAIM the title of third highest coming in behind Provo and Ogden. Now we (as a mission) seek to reclaim the title of number one.
WHO CARES!?
I was asked not to disclose any information that wasn't uplifting or fun-fun happy times. I think lying would be the greater sin. I'm telling everyone this so as not to get caught up in what I had for my first transfer. I was weak. I was new. I was a fool. Numbers mean nothing. Baptizing means nothing except as a means of coming closer to Christ. (Forgive me anyone if I say something false.) If a man is baptized and he falls away from the church, it would have been better if he had not been baptized at all. It even says in the first paragraph in Preach My Gospel, "Our purpose as a missionary is to INVITE OTHERS TO COME UNTO CHRIST by helping them receive the restored gospel THROUGH faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. "Our purpose as a missionary isn't to bring people to the waters of baptism AND THEN help them come unto Christ. That's all we focus on is baptism, baptism, baptism. Aren't the lost souls JUST as important as those who've never known? Why don't we focus on Less Actives just as much?Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16 talks about the worth of souls. "How great shall be your joy in my Father's kingdom if you bring many souls unto me!" Souls! Not baptisms! Numbers, numbers, numbers! I'm sorry if I rant. If you understand what I mean then good. If I'm not very clear then maybe someone else could explain it better than I.
As far as the week went, I got over the flu. I was transferred yesterday to the Parley Zone and I have a new companion named Elder Dyer. I don't want to talk bad about him so I won't.
The mission life is hard. Tracting, street contacting, teaching, the schedule, all that is easy. It's doing what you're told and following the Spirit that's hard. It seems like I'm being pulled by opposite ends. When following the Spirit is the same as what I'm told then everything is all fine and dandy. But otherwise, the screaming voices in my head never seem to cease.
I hope this email finds everyone well and congrats to my youngest brother Tyler for becoming an Elder. I just hope that he as well as everyone else who has accepted the authority knows of the oaths and covenants that they've made. Don't take them lightly. The Lord will not be mocked.
Anyways, hope to hear from everyone. If you don't have my address, get it and use it. Later!
Elder Garcia
WHO CARES!?
I was asked not to disclose any information that wasn't uplifting or fun-fun happy times. I think lying would be the greater sin. I'm telling everyone this so as not to get caught up in what I had for my first transfer. I was weak. I was new. I was a fool. Numbers mean nothing. Baptizing means nothing except as a means of coming closer to Christ. (Forgive me anyone if I say something false.) If a man is baptized and he falls away from the church, it would have been better if he had not been baptized at all. It even says in the first paragraph in Preach My Gospel, "Our purpose as a missionary is to INVITE OTHERS TO COME UNTO CHRIST by helping them receive the restored gospel THROUGH faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. "Our purpose as a missionary isn't to bring people to the waters of baptism AND THEN help them come unto Christ. That's all we focus on is baptism, baptism, baptism. Aren't the lost souls JUST as important as those who've never known? Why don't we focus on Less Actives just as much?Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16 talks about the worth of souls. "How great shall be your joy in my Father's kingdom if you bring many souls unto me!" Souls! Not baptisms! Numbers, numbers, numbers! I'm sorry if I rant. If you understand what I mean then good. If I'm not very clear then maybe someone else could explain it better than I.
As far as the week went, I got over the flu. I was transferred yesterday to the Parley Zone and I have a new companion named Elder Dyer. I don't want to talk bad about him so I won't.
The mission life is hard. Tracting, street contacting, teaching, the schedule, all that is easy. It's doing what you're told and following the Spirit that's hard. It seems like I'm being pulled by opposite ends. When following the Spirit is the same as what I'm told then everything is all fine and dandy. But otherwise, the screaming voices in my head never seem to cease.
I hope this email finds everyone well and congrats to my youngest brother Tyler for becoming an Elder. I just hope that he as well as everyone else who has accepted the authority knows of the oaths and covenants that they've made. Don't take them lightly. The Lord will not be mocked.
Anyways, hope to hear from everyone. If you don't have my address, get it and use it. Later!
Elder Garcia
18 June 2009 (1st letter) Mistaken Case of...Humility
I know that a lot of people are going to be reading my emails.
That's why I say what I say.
Plus I won't be sending pictures individually.
I'm going to send an album when it's full.
That's 600 pics. So be sure to keep a decent amount in my bank account.
I won't be printing pictures until the memory card is full.
I don't know how many will fit on a 2 gig.
I will also be printing doubles.
Also, I have no clue what you're talking about in your last letter.
In what aspect am I supposed to be humble?
Or was that just a joke?
I'm not really concited you know.
Also, I'd like to know Daddy's history.
I've tried to ask him a couple times but I don't really remember anything.
All I really know about him was that he may have been an alter boy (for the Catholic church?) and that he smoked(?) before he became a member.
Elder Garcia
That's why I say what I say.
Plus I won't be sending pictures individually.
I'm going to send an album when it's full.
That's 600 pics. So be sure to keep a decent amount in my bank account.
I won't be printing pictures until the memory card is full.
I don't know how many will fit on a 2 gig.
I will also be printing doubles.
Also, I have no clue what you're talking about in your last letter.
In what aspect am I supposed to be humble?
Or was that just a joke?
I'm not really concited you know.
Also, I'd like to know Daddy's history.
I've tried to ask him a couple times but I don't really remember anything.
All I really know about him was that he may have been an alter boy (for the Catholic church?) and that he smoked(?) before he became a member.
Elder Garcia
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Last week of the 1st transfer!
10 June 2009
Uh... from last Wednesday to now
So I'm sick and everyone is making a big deal out of it. Last night, my companion prayed and thanked the Lord that I wasn't dead. As if the flu could kill me.
I'm wearing a face mask in the public library as I'm writing this too. I feel so stupid.
Anyways, I just found out that apparently I have a blog which I can't check. If anyone so feels inclined to check it out, here's the link. http://elderartemiogarcia.blogspot.com/
I know it's probably not as good as if I were to do it myself, but I'm sure it's good nonetheless because it's about me. And as we have read from the scriptures, whatever is good is of God. And since I am good, I am of God.
So on Saturday, I had four more baptisms with me personally baptizing two of them. It was the Maestas family. My companion, Elder Elbert, baptized Michael (the father) and Armando (the nine year old son) while I baptized Lisa (the mother) and Alize (the oldest son). Lisa was kinda heavy (as in like 2 to 3 times my weight) but with the power of God, I was able to dunk her once. Alize was a breeze after that.
On Sunday they were confirmed and I personally did the confirmation of Lisa. Other things that are noteworthy that happened on Sunday, I can't say because I would be thoroughly chastized by a certain someone *cough Rae Toale cough* if I said it.
Yesterday was my first day as "senior companion". For the last week of my first transfer, I get to be senior companion.
During the day, we were able to committ 5 people (two of them accepted) and we added 4 new investigators. It was a pretty successful day up until I got sick. Yesterday I did nothing. Today, I'm oot and aboot (even though I shouldn't be for some reason or another). So that's basically it.
The weather here sucks and the bums are crazy.
Oh yeah, on Thursday I had 24's with my Zone Leader Elder Satterfield (24's are when you spend the whole day with another missionary). While we were street contacting, John Bytheway passed us and I didn't even know it.
Till next week...
Elder Garcia
Uh... from last Wednesday to now
So I'm sick and everyone is making a big deal out of it. Last night, my companion prayed and thanked the Lord that I wasn't dead. As if the flu could kill me.
I'm wearing a face mask in the public library as I'm writing this too. I feel so stupid.
Anyways, I just found out that apparently I have a blog which I can't check. If anyone so feels inclined to check it out, here's the link. http://elderartemiogarcia.blogspot.com/
I know it's probably not as good as if I were to do it myself, but I'm sure it's good nonetheless because it's about me. And as we have read from the scriptures, whatever is good is of God. And since I am good, I am of God.
So on Saturday, I had four more baptisms with me personally baptizing two of them. It was the Maestas family. My companion, Elder Elbert, baptized Michael (the father) and Armando (the nine year old son) while I baptized Lisa (the mother) and Alize (the oldest son). Lisa was kinda heavy (as in like 2 to 3 times my weight) but with the power of God, I was able to dunk her once. Alize was a breeze after that.
On Sunday they were confirmed and I personally did the confirmation of Lisa. Other things that are noteworthy that happened on Sunday, I can't say because I would be thoroughly chastized by a certain someone *cough Rae Toale cough* if I said it.
Yesterday was my first day as "senior companion". For the last week of my first transfer, I get to be senior companion.
During the day, we were able to committ 5 people (two of them accepted) and we added 4 new investigators. It was a pretty successful day up until I got sick. Yesterday I did nothing. Today, I'm oot and aboot (even though I shouldn't be for some reason or another). So that's basically it.
The weather here sucks and the bums are crazy.
Oh yeah, on Thursday I had 24's with my Zone Leader Elder Satterfield (24's are when you spend the whole day with another missionary). While we were street contacting, John Bytheway passed us and I didn't even know it.
Till next week...
Elder Garcia
10 June 2009
Uh... from last Wednesday to now
So I'm sick and everyone is making a big deal out of it. Last night, my companion prayed and thanked the Lord that I wasn't dead. As if the flu could kill me.
I'm wearing a face mask in the public library as I'm writing this too. I feel so stupid.
Anyways, I just found out that apparently I have a blog which I can't check. If anyone so feels inclined to check it out, here's the link. http://elderartemiogarcia.blogspot.com/
I know it's probably not as good as if I were to do it myself, but I'm sure it's good nonetheless because it's about me. And as we have read from the scriptures, whatever is good is of God. And since I am good, I am of God.
So on Saturday, I had four more baptisms with me personally baptizing two of them. It was the Maestas family. My companion, Elder Elbert, baptized Michael (the father) and Armando (the nine year old son) while I baptized Lisa (the mother) and Alize (the oldest son). Lisa was kinda heavy (as in like 2 to 3 times my weight) but with the power of God, I was able to dunk her once. Alize was a breeze after that.
On Sunday they were confirmed and I personally did the confirmation of Lisa.
Other things that are noteworthy that happened on Sunday, I can't say because I would be thoroughly chastized by a certain someone *cough Rae Toale cough* if I said it.
Yesterday was my first day as "senior companion". For the last week of my first transfer, I get to be senior companion.
During the day, we were able to committ 5 people (two of them accepted) and we added 4 new investigators. It was a pretty successful day up until I got sick. Yesterday I did nothing. Today, I'm oot and aboot (even though I shouldn't be for some reason or another). So that's basically it.
The weather here sucks and the bums are crazy.
Oh yeah, on Thursday I had 24's with my Zone Leader Elder Satterfield (24's are when you spend the whole day with another missionary). While we were street contacting, John Bytheway passed us and I didn't even know it. Till next week...
Elder Garcia
Uh... from last Wednesday to now
So I'm sick and everyone is making a big deal out of it. Last night, my companion prayed and thanked the Lord that I wasn't dead. As if the flu could kill me.
I'm wearing a face mask in the public library as I'm writing this too. I feel so stupid.
Anyways, I just found out that apparently I have a blog which I can't check. If anyone so feels inclined to check it out, here's the link. http://elderartemiogarcia.blogspot.com/
I know it's probably not as good as if I were to do it myself, but I'm sure it's good nonetheless because it's about me. And as we have read from the scriptures, whatever is good is of God. And since I am good, I am of God.
So on Saturday, I had four more baptisms with me personally baptizing two of them. It was the Maestas family. My companion, Elder Elbert, baptized Michael (the father) and Armando (the nine year old son) while I baptized Lisa (the mother) and Alize (the oldest son). Lisa was kinda heavy (as in like 2 to 3 times my weight) but with the power of God, I was able to dunk her once. Alize was a breeze after that.
On Sunday they were confirmed and I personally did the confirmation of Lisa.
Other things that are noteworthy that happened on Sunday, I can't say because I would be thoroughly chastized by a certain someone *cough Rae Toale cough* if I said it.
Yesterday was my first day as "senior companion". For the last week of my first transfer, I get to be senior companion.
During the day, we were able to committ 5 people (two of them accepted) and we added 4 new investigators. It was a pretty successful day up until I got sick. Yesterday I did nothing. Today, I'm oot and aboot (even though I shouldn't be for some reason or another). So that's basically it.
The weather here sucks and the bums are crazy.
Oh yeah, on Thursday I had 24's with my Zone Leader Elder Satterfield (24's are when you spend the whole day with another missionary). While we were street contacting, John Bytheway passed us and I didn't even know it. Till next week...
Elder Garcia
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Things so far
June 3, 2009
Okay, things that have happened since last time I wrote. This past Saturday, I had two more baptisms. The first one was a nine year old girl named Hannah Hendry. She was baptized by her older brother. The second one was a woman in her 40's named Tammy Gallegos. She was like... over 200 pounds and she wanted me to baptize her (cause it would be my first).
So I did.
She was freaking out because she was sure that something would go wrong, either I would mess up the prayer, or I would drop her, or I wouldn't get her under all the way, etc etc. But I said it right and she went under all the way and I didn't drop her. When she came back out she looked at me with a suprised look on her face.
"You did it!" she said to me.
I smiled at her and said, "Of course I did it. I had faith that everything was going to go well. Where was yours?"
I wasn't scared at all. I think it was one of those things where I would rather jump in feet first that wade in.
That was practically the highlight of my week. I was also able to teach a nine year old and a six year old with short attention spans. All I needed was the right incentive (Candy).
We took two families to see the Joseph Smith Movie. There were mostly kids in them so we had to split where we were sitting. After the movie we walked outside and it was raining. I had to walk uphill in that.
As for everything else, things are pretty slow. We're asked to Hard Committ practically everyone, which means that if we run into someone on the street, we teach them a couple principles and ask them if they want to be baptized. Salt Lake City mission is unusual in that respect. We're not sowing seeds. We're harvesting.
We should have four more baptisms this Saturday.
Okay, things that have happened since last time I wrote. This past Saturday, I had two more baptisms. The first one was a nine year old girl named Hannah Hendry. She was baptized by her older brother. The second one was a woman in her 40's named Tammy Gallegos. She was like... over 200 pounds and she wanted me to baptize her (cause it would be my first).
So I did.
She was freaking out because she was sure that something would go wrong, either I would mess up the prayer, or I would drop her, or I wouldn't get her under all the way, etc etc. But I said it right and she went under all the way and I didn't drop her. When she came back out she looked at me with a suprised look on her face.
"You did it!" she said to me.
I smiled at her and said, "Of course I did it. I had faith that everything was going to go well. Where was yours?"
I wasn't scared at all. I think it was one of those things where I would rather jump in feet first that wade in.
That was practically the highlight of my week. I was also able to teach a nine year old and a six year old with short attention spans. All I needed was the right incentive (Candy).
We took two families to see the Joseph Smith Movie. There were mostly kids in them so we had to split where we were sitting. After the movie we walked outside and it was raining. I had to walk uphill in that.
As for everything else, things are pretty slow. We're asked to Hard Committ practically everyone, which means that if we run into someone on the street, we teach them a couple principles and ask them if they want to be baptized. Salt Lake City mission is unusual in that respect. We're not sowing seeds. We're harvesting.
We should have four more baptisms this Saturday.
So Far
May 27, 2009
Things have been going pretty slow, I must say. Besides those people who are on date for baptism, all we do is tract and street contact. During those times, we have found nobody to teach and nobody who wants to hear the gospel.
I have seriously met more homosexuals here than I ever did in California. It's them and those "Spiritual" people. Those are the ones who don't need to follow God's commandments because of how spiritual they are. And because of how spiritual they are, they will be saved in the last days.
Also, the Less Actives and "Christians" get to me in a funny way. Apparently, the Less Actives follow all of God's commandments but they don't need to go to church. And the other day, I ran into a Christian who said that LDS members aren't Christian because we don't worship the same God. Christians believe in the Trinity. They believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God but is God himself. So Jesus Christ is his own father. That makes so much sense!
If you can't tell... that was sarcasm.
I laugh (even though I know I shouldn't) because I keep thinking that in the Spirit World, all these people that I meet will come up to me and say, "Why didn't you tell me I was wrong? Why didn't you stop me from making a fool of myself?" And I will say to them, "I did. You just didn't listen."
So other than things being slow and all the nut jobs, I do manage to find those who are somewhat receptive to the gospel. There's this guy named Paul who is a drug addict. Me and my comp are slowly getting him to become clean so that he can get baptized on the 13th.
Uh... I don't know what else to say.
Things have been going pretty slow, I must say. Besides those people who are on date for baptism, all we do is tract and street contact. During those times, we have found nobody to teach and nobody who wants to hear the gospel.
I have seriously met more homosexuals here than I ever did in California. It's them and those "Spiritual" people. Those are the ones who don't need to follow God's commandments because of how spiritual they are. And because of how spiritual they are, they will be saved in the last days.
Also, the Less Actives and "Christians" get to me in a funny way. Apparently, the Less Actives follow all of God's commandments but they don't need to go to church. And the other day, I ran into a Christian who said that LDS members aren't Christian because we don't worship the same God. Christians believe in the Trinity. They believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God but is God himself. So Jesus Christ is his own father. That makes so much sense!
If you can't tell... that was sarcasm.
I laugh (even though I know I shouldn't) because I keep thinking that in the Spirit World, all these people that I meet will come up to me and say, "Why didn't you tell me I was wrong? Why didn't you stop me from making a fool of myself?" And I will say to them, "I did. You just didn't listen."
So other than things being slow and all the nut jobs, I do manage to find those who are somewhat receptive to the gospel. There's this guy named Paul who is a drug addict. Me and my comp are slowly getting him to become clean so that he can get baptized on the 13th.
Uh... I don't know what else to say.
Second letter home
May 21, 2009
Hey,
Things are going good here in SLC. Within a month I will have baptized seven people. The work isn't as hard as walking these hills. I don't have a car but I have a bike.
Other than that, I filled up that 256mb card with photos. I don't want to send the card just in case it get's lost but I could print out the pictures and send those. The only problem is that I have no money. So if I could get an email with the amount of money that's on my bank card, I could use that to print out the pictures.Other than that, I'll have to email when I need more meds. The thing out here is dumb.
Also, anyone can use DearElder.com to write to me. We get letters monday night/tuesday morning.
Later
Hey,
Things are going good here in SLC. Within a month I will have baptized seven people. The work isn't as hard as walking these hills. I don't have a car but I have a bike.
Other than that, I filled up that 256mb card with photos. I don't want to send the card just in case it get's lost but I could print out the pictures and send those. The only problem is that I have no money. So if I could get an email with the amount of money that's on my bank card, I could use that to print out the pictures.Other than that, I'll have to email when I need more meds. The thing out here is dumb.
Also, anyone can use DearElder.com to write to me. We get letters monday night/tuesday morning.
Later
Hey
April 24, 2009
Okay, so I finally have my MyLDSMail account and I'm typing home. It's hard for me to write letters out here in the MTC because I have no time to do it. I'm actually going to bed around eleven or so instead of ten-thirty because I've been writing in my journal. Everything is going good over here. When I have time out in the field, I'll try and send some stories of what I have been going through. So you got my letter right? I got yours and Kaleen's. Tell the family that I won't have time to write them either so if they want to hear from me, they'll be getting an email. I'm not opposed to getting letters though. I'll need the emails of those who want me to email them though. But as for the MTC, it's been going great. I gained three pounds because I'm now eating three square meals a day. I also have bad gas, but that's to be expected. Most of those in my district actually look up to me as the most knowledgeable in our group. I never got called to be District Leader though. I'm just a lowly peon Senior Companion. That title means diddly squat. I am learning a lot more. My teachers are fun and Elder Stone's not as bad as I thought he would be. I also met Sister Howell. She seems to be transitioning well. But then again, I've only talked with her twice. Well, I'm in the middle of doing laundry and then it's back to class. Hope to hear more from everyone soon. Later.
- Elder Garcia
Okay, so I finally have my MyLDSMail account and I'm typing home. It's hard for me to write letters out here in the MTC because I have no time to do it. I'm actually going to bed around eleven or so instead of ten-thirty because I've been writing in my journal. Everything is going good over here. When I have time out in the field, I'll try and send some stories of what I have been going through. So you got my letter right? I got yours and Kaleen's. Tell the family that I won't have time to write them either so if they want to hear from me, they'll be getting an email. I'm not opposed to getting letters though. I'll need the emails of those who want me to email them though. But as for the MTC, it's been going great. I gained three pounds because I'm now eating three square meals a day. I also have bad gas, but that's to be expected. Most of those in my district actually look up to me as the most knowledgeable in our group. I never got called to be District Leader though. I'm just a lowly peon Senior Companion. That title means diddly squat. I am learning a lot more. My teachers are fun and Elder Stone's not as bad as I thought he would be. I also met Sister Howell. She seems to be transitioning well. But then again, I've only talked with her twice. Well, I'm in the middle of doing laundry and then it's back to class. Hope to hear more from everyone soon. Later.
- Elder Garcia
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