Trunkie? (see below) I won't get to do this when I go home!

22 Dec 10 - 29 Dec 10

11:59 AM

Heyro everyone

So my Christmas was pretty fun... I guess. I got to stay in my grubs practically all day. I hung out with the Bowman Family. We went over at one and ate ribs. Then we played the What If game. After that we made gifts for other missionaries. I made a dumb thing for my ZL just to be stupid but he really liked it for some reason. Later that night our mission got together for a party. That was pretty much it.

Lately we've been getting a lot of referrals for people who want the missionary lessons. I like it cause I hate tracting. Course, walking around in the cold with no coat on as a missionary is a good idea.

That's pretty much all I have for this week. I'm pretty trunky and I go home in four months.

Later everyone.

15 Dec 10 - 22 Dec 10

So the other day I was stuck in Big O Tires all afternoon waiting on them to give us new tires, fix the alignment, and change the oil. As I was waiting I picked up an LDSLiving Magazine on Dads. While reading it I came across an article by a Christamae Zimpel. I was like, "Zimpel... Zimpel... Why does that name sound familiar?" Turns out I went to seminary with her. Wish things were better for her and her family.

Hmm... thats's about it. Don't really remember what else happened this past week.
Later

Elder Garcia

08 Dec 10 - 15 Dec 10

1:47 PM

Okay, so today is transfer day and we got some new rules.

Our mission is going from 11 zones to 8 zones. Toole Zone, Wyoming Zone, North Zone, East Zone, West Zone, South Zone, Central Zone, and Salt Lake Zone. Each Zone will now consist of 18 - 24 missionaries.

There are no more Zone Meetings. There will only be District Meetings. Those will take place Friday mornings. Friday afternoons will be devoted to Weekly Planning.

Instead of meeting as Zones, we will only be meeting as Districts for Meetings and Weekly Planning.

We can only go to the Temple once a month on a week specified by which Zone you're in.

Effective January 1st: Preparation Day will be moved to Monday.

Let's see... I think that's it.

My comments: I go home in April.

Don't really have much to say. Christmas is coming up. That'll be sweet. I think. Things are going good with Elder Wright.

Catch ya'll later
Elder Garcia

--
Mark 9: 23

3 Dec 10 - 8 Dec 10

1:01 PM

Hey everyone. How ya doing? This week I got an amazing three emails. Sad day for me. I did however get a Christmas present and a letter from my mom. That was shweet.

As far as things are going with Elder Wright, things are going good. I don't know what I was on last Friday but he's from Baltimore, Maryland. Dun dun dun. We're having a lot of success. Most likely, we'll be together next transfer as well.

So... don't really know what else to say in these. Check out my facebook for more pics
Later

--
Mark 9: 23

25 Nov 10 - 3 Dec 10

12:45 PM

My emails are slowly getting smaller and smaller as I near the end of my mission. Go figure.

So anyways, yesterday Elder Healey had an Emergency Transfer outta here and my new companion is Elder Wright. At first I didn't know if I would like him due to past transfers of serving around him. But he's pretty chill. He's from Baltimore, PA and been out one transfer more than me. He was actually Elder Mitchell's companion in the MTC.

So I guess you're all wondering why I'm emailing on Friday. Well, on Wednesday our leaders had a meeting so for the rest of the mission, P-Day was on Thursday. But on Thursday, our zone had interviews with the mission president. So we have P-Day today. Right now I'm emailing at the public library. I only got 15 more minutes and I had to pay a dollor for it. Bummer. I coulda used that for a McDouble. But it's not so bad. I don't have much to write anyways. I'll just go look at books.

Later everyone
Elder Garcia

First Good Snow!

17 Nov 10 - 24 Nov 10

10:57 AM

Hey everyone.

I'm better this week. I've spent a lot of time learning to not care. Everyone's gone through that point in there life where they're tired of feeling so they shut their emotions off to not hurt any more. Well, I've once again gone onto that stage. I just keep thinking that since I'm not in a companionship, whatever happens won't fall on my head. It's worked so far. I'm a lot happier now. We show up late to everything because my companion has no sense of time and believes that the world revolves around him, but with my new carefree attitude, whatever happens, I won't get blamed! Because at least I was on time.

So, I'm sorry I was negative last week. I don't really have any way of venting and I don't want to repress emotions. It's not good for you. Since I came out on a mission, I can't believe I ever saw missionaries as anything more or less than human. How could I think that? They're... we're just twenty something year olds trying to do what's right. We make mistakes, we goof around, we have personalities. To expect perfection from someone like that is to expect disappointment. Which is why, a lot of members don't like the missionaries. Because we fall short of their standards.

And it feels like this mission is trying to create a perfect missionary. One who serves 24/7, no breaks, no fun, no thinking outside of what you're told to do. I can't handle that. I think too much. I like fun too much. I like sleep too much to work 24/7. I'm not a robot. I'm not a zombie. I'm not a sheep or a parrot or any of those things. I'm real. And people can't handle that.

But all in all, I'm thankful that I came out on a mission even though it's really hard. It's seems like the only way I can progress is through trials. If someone would have asked me two years ago how I thought I'd grow on the mission, I never would have told them what I know now. Course I can't really say what I know now because of how much I've grown. Spiritually most of all. And if I had the option to go back and change things I'd refuse. I like who I am right now. I don't necessarily like what I'm going through though.

It's like Jesus Christ. He was perfect, but he did not have a perfect life. If you could imagine how your life would be like if it were perfect, just remember, God has imagined it better than you. If you want that life, sometimes you have to wade across a river of mud to get there. If I want to reach the top of the mountain, I'm first going to have to climb those steep slopes.

As Alphonse Elric puts it: Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.

Does this apply here?

Later,
Elder Garcia

--
Mark 9: 23

10 Nov 10 - 17 Nov 10

1:42 PM

So here's the latest news from the Utah, Salt Lake City Mission. Next week we don't really get a P-Day and we don't really get Thanksgiving. It's the same day! So if you don't hear from me for two weeks, that'll be because everyone is with their families NOT doing family history work for us to use the library. Our mission is so efficient. So far we've cut out all fun and strictly focused on numbers. It's all about baptizing out here. Then, because P-Day ends at 6 on Thanksgiving, we have to go out and try to find investigators who are home who want to be bothered and wish them a happy thanksgiving! If we wish an investigator a happy thanksgiving, we get 1 point! If we get a referral from a member (if we so chose to stop by one), we get 3 points! Whoever gets the most points get a prize of... a training to become a better missionary from our mission president!!! YAY!!!

So, if you haven't picked up on the HEAVY sarcasm yet. I'm mad. 10 April 2011 will be the most happiest day of my life thus far. I know we're not supposed to talk about the negativity in our mission, but I'm going to explode and/or do something stupid. Things are just wrong here. Our mission has a goal of 2500 baptisms this year and we're going to miss the mark by a couple hundred or so. The good (worse) news is that next year we're going for a goal of 3000 baptisms!!! If someone isn't ready for baptism, drop them and find somebody new. The Lord will give us numbers. He doesn't care about conversion as long as someone is baptized. No matter what we're told out here, they can say it's for their salvation all they want, it's really all about baptizing people.

I want to cry. The way we do things is all wrong. I NEVER came out on a mission to baptize people. Baptism was the farthest thing from my mind. I came out on a mission because it's what Heavenly Father told me to do and I want to do what Heavenly Father wants me to do. I just want to bring people closer to God. If I spent my ENTIRE mission reactivating people, I would be the happiest missionary ever because that's one more person who won't be condemned because of what they know. Remember what Doctrine and Covenants 18: 15-16 says;

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!


16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

No where in there does it mention the word baptism. If in bringing a soul unto God has baptism in the process then good for that soul. I'm just tired of all the politics.

And speaking of politics, I really wish I won't be called to any position of leadership including trainer. I don't want to be anything more than a senior companion. I've got enough to deal with already without having to lie through my teeth about mission things.

Sorry for the depressing letter everyone but Elder Garcia is not a happy camper right now. All work and no play turns Elder Garcia into Elder Grumpy.

Later
--
Mark 9: 23

3 Nov 10 - 10 Nov 10

11:29 AM

There's a funny quote in a Family History Library. "Those who say Family History work is fun has either never done Family History work or never had fun." I want to liken that unto myself. "Whoever said a Mission is like a marriage must have never gone on a Mission or has never been married."

Other than that I don't really have much to say. And from that you can figure out how this next transfer is going to go. In the meantime, I just have to try and not care and think of D&C 122.

I love lamp.

Later
Elder G

[Note from Mom ~ That must be a misquote, because Family History work IS a lot of fun!]

28 Oct 10 - 3 Nov 10

11:34 AM

Okay, so here's the news. I'm staying in my area. It'll be my third transfer here. It's pretty sweet. I like it.

Elder Mitchell is gone. He got a call on Sunday from the Mission Prez telling him he's now District Leader. And surprise surprise, the power and authority went to his head. He turned on me in a way that I never fully expected but didn't pass it off entirely. I still like him somewhat. But after what he did, it's hard to talk to him. Of course I called him a hypocrite for what he did and he said that he knew I'd say that. He tried telling me that that's what repentance is for. I wanted to tell him that you can't procrastinate the day of your repentance.

Elder Carter is gone as well. I really didn't like him to begin with. Sorry to all of you out there who are of a similar type as he is but all he really did was throw his weight around. He's the jock stereotype. Everyone respects him while everyone shuns me, the wimpy kid. He's only been out five months and yet he owned the place. Oh, what power does to a person.

Long ago though I had some personal revelation given to me on the meaning of a leader. And now that I think of it, I can actually add on to it. "A leader isn't someone who holds power. A leader is someone whom others follow willingly. A leader isn't measured by the quantity of his followers, but by the quality of his supporters."

It's kind of sad that I've never really been in any kind of anything on the mission. Then again, I really don't have anything to complain about. I've never trained. I've never greenie broke someone. I've never killed anyone. And I've never been in any kind of leadership position. The only thing I've really been is a DLC: District Leader's Companion, which basically means I'm a junior companion with less authority than a regular junior companion.

The only reason I'd want to be in any kind of leadership is to show everyone how they're doing it wrong. But I guess that's why I'm not in leadership. Instead I can just worry about my area, the work, and everything else God sees fit to bless me with.

My new companion is Elder Healy. Last time I served around him, he was a ADHD newbie. He's from Missouri. Don't know much else about him.

So we'll see how this transfer goes. I just hope it's not like the rest of my mission

Elder Garcia

20 Oct 10 - 28 Oct 10

12:07 PM

Due to popular demand, people want to know what I'm going to be doing for Halloween. And the answer is.......

Absolutely nothing.

Yep. That's right. The mission is sucking the fun out of everything. No movies. No games. No nothing. My brilliant Zone Leaders think it'll be fun to carve pumpkins. I just want to light a fire and tell stories. Or watch a movie. But sadly, no.

So, other than that, things aren't so good for me over here. Seems like everyone is out to get me. I've been hounded on all sides from people who want me to change. No matter what I do, there will be those who don't like me. And if I change for them, I won't like me. I seem to find myself in lose/lose situations all the time. Morale is getting low.

Sorry I don't have much to tell on the good news side of things. Satan is really mad at me right now.

Hope everyone is doing good. Transfers are next Wednesday.

Later
Elder Garcia

13 Oct 10 - 20 Oct 10

3:24 PM

Okay, so get this: two days ago I had to go on splits. Elder Carter and I went to teach two appointments while Elder Mitchell went with one of our ward mission leaders to teach some Swahilli lady the gospel. In the first lesson, there was this punk 13/14 year old who just recently got baptized and his eight year old cousin. During the lesson I was moved to chastize the punk kid for not caring. I told him that the reason why we pray, read the scriptures, and go to church is so that God can help us with our lives. I told him that God does care about us and wants us to be happy (which the kid was not). I said, that if we don't care about God, God cannot help us (it was here I probably should have said 'will not'). Near the end I asked both the kids what missionaries do. They responded: that we share God's words with everyone. I asked: how long are we missionaries for. They responded: two years. Then I asked them what we gave up for this. They responded: video games, school, cars, sports, jobs, girls... namely girls. I then asked them, would they give that all up for two years? They didn't respond. I asked: who in their right mind would give all that up for two years? I then asked Elder Carter why he gave all that up. He said because God told him to and he wanted to do what God wanted. I then looked at the kids and asked them if they wanted to know why I gave that up. They said yes. I said I gave all that up, I gave everything up, because this was true. What I was teaching was true. I would not give up cars, school, friends, family, girls, video games, movies, music, girls, dungeons and dragons, the beach, and girls up for two years to tell people lies. It's not worth it. Unless it were true. Elder Carter looked at me as realization sank in as to why he was out and the other people in the room grew silent. We said a closing prayer and as we were leaving, the grandpa told me that I hit the nail on the head.

I had a similar lesson for our last lesson of the night. I would teach with short simple truths that hit home. It was a Less Active couple who just had a baby. The mother asked me about how could a family be seperated if they didn't make it into the Celestial Kingdom. Instead of telling her everything I knew on the subject I simply asked: Does God love you? She of course said yes. I asked: Does God want you to be happy? With more hesitation she said yes. I then asked her: What would make you happy most of all? She responded: To be with my family forever. I then told her: That's all I need to know. The Spirit was super strong and you could see the comfort in her eyes.

But of course there must needs be opposition in all things. We were late. We got home at around 9:40 pm and Elder Mitchell was furious at Elder Carter for making us late. Of course I talked way more than Elder Carter then but Elder Mitchell only had daggers for one person. When we got home, he blew up. He was yelling, Elder Carter was yelling, and I tried to make myself as small a target as possible.

What came next is a bit of a suprise to me. Where there was a break in the yelling, I asked Elder Carter to go down stairs. He gladly accepted. I then talked to Elder Mitchell on what was going on. I told him that both he and Elder Carter were right and yet we were all wrong together. The mission has broken us. It has broken us again and again and again and we're the only ones who could have glued ourselves together until we became what we are. Elder Carter wasn't broken. He still believes in the ideals that I used to have in a mission. So the question was were we the ones who were going to break him or was the mission going to. Of course I prefer it if nothing broke him but if it came down to the two, which could I stand. After talking with Elder Mitchell some more, he had this sad look in his eyes and he understood. He understood Elder Carter's point of view. He understood what he just did. So I told him that I was going to go down and talk with Elder Carter and then afterwards we would come to a mutual agreement. He said he was fine with that.

I then went down to Elder Carter and I told him about the same thing and the same thing happend to him. His eyes were sad because he understood. So we went up and I was suprised to see that Elder Mitchell had gotten him a glass of water. We then sat down and I began to tell them what I liked about them and what I needed help on. Then Elder Mitchell did the same thing followed by Elder Carter. After we were all done I told them that there were several things we needed to understand. First was that we were a companionship and that took precidence over everything. The second thing is that we all have our own beliefs and that we shouldn't shun anyone for their beliefs or try and force our own onto them. We just needed to accept that we're different and like each other for our differences. The last thing I told them is that we have a golden opportunity ahead of us. We're the only companionship in the mission who is a threesome and covering four stakes. It's almost as if our leaders gave us too much work to see us fail. Well... I didn't come this far to fail now. If we worked together, we could have a ton of work and eventually say to our leaders "ha ha! You tried to break us but we overcame this."

I did this because I'm tired of the worlds ideals. I still have this stupid notion that the strong protect the weak and defend the defenseless. I hate how it seems like the comic book way should only stay in the comics. Most of my life I've been beaten down by those who should have been my friends. So I'm going to be the change I want to see in the world. I'm going to change the world. And if any trial comes in my way that's too hard for me to handle, I'll just remember the phrase that I came up with for this: How do you know when you're doing what's right? When life sucks.

Later everyone.
Me

06 Oct 10 - 13 Oct 10

2:08 PM

So I guess everyone wants to know more about Elder Carter. He's like six foot something and has the bully complex not too unlike others that I've met. What he thinks is harmless fun, I take as a preemptive strike. Course the football jock stereotype will always out power the nerd. He's from Arizona and has been out for four months. I think that's all I have to say about him.

Yesterday we had Zone Conference and I'm still trying to recover from it. It made me question a lot of things that I'm doing. I'm confused and I don't know what to do now other than follow my gut which is still telling me to do what I've already been doing. My Mission President started off by playing as "Elder Mediocre" and a lot of what he was doing hit home. Sad to say though that I have never been nor will I ever be mediocre. So what do I do? He then went into Matthew on hypocrisy and Nephi on murmuring. This confused me greatly because I don't believe and I've ever been hypocritical on anything on the mission. I've always done what I said I was going to do. It seemed to me like the hyporcrites were coming from the leadership. You know how power goes to your head? So, sad to say I'm not in the best of moods right now.

As far as the work goes, with two new stakes to cover, we're being hard pressed for time. Elder Mitchell doesn't care about the new areas because he'll be leaving the area in three weeks. I care but I'm being squeezed from every side with everything I have to deal with, which is a lot. I'm starting to strain and crack again and that's not good. It seems that the long awaited break that I've recieved with Elder Mitchell is over with no chance of recovery time.

But for good news, the mission is going to read the BoM starting on 16 Oct til 13 Dec. This'll be great. I'm really looking forward to it. I hope everyone is doing well. I can't wait to come back because it seems like whatever I'll be coming back to, there'll be chaos.

Take care
Elder Garcia

29 Sep 10 - 6 Oct 10

1:26 PM

So here's something new that's happened to me. My District Lord Elder Burkhardt went home early beause his galbladder stopped working on him. He had only four more weeks left so he didn't want to get surgery done and then be out of commision for three weeks. So now Elder Mitchell and I have a new companion named Elder Carter. We also picked up his two stakes so now we're covering four stakes and 30 something wards.

Well, that's all for now.

Later everyone

23 Sep 10 - 29 Sep 10

1:04 PM

Well, as promised, attached is a picture of my glory and sexiness.

Not much has gone on this week except for me getting over a cold. I just had a baptism this past Saturday. His name is Dan G. He's had a lot of trials in his life but he knew that the church is true. He was born into a polygamist family but renounced the wicked traditions of his fathers. He's struggled with brittle bones and other diseases and it's taken him four months to be baptized. He's been goin to church for four months straight without being baptized. What does he know that it takes most of us years to figure out?

I don't remember if I told you about this girl named Riley P who is going through a similar situation. Her mother hates the church (having been a member before) and absolutely refuses to let her daughter be baptized. Riley in the meantime refuses to give into her mother and continues to honor her heavenly parents by going to church and young women activities and whatnot.

Last but not least, there's a fifteen year old named Ben C whose parents told him that he had to live as a member for a year before he could get baptized. Ben's time is nearly up and since his parents gave him that challenge he's been carrying it out thoroughly except till recently. Now that he's so close to his year mark, his parents are starting to sabatoge(sp?) him by buying motorcycles and only riding on Sunday.

So what do all these stories have in common? These three people know that the church is true and will do whatever they can to become a member of God's kingdom. So why do we struggle with just the basics having already become members ourselves? I sometimes wonder how different I'd be if I had the fire of a convert.

I know that I have a pretty sweet life compared to most. Born and raised in the church. Eagle scout. Seminary graduate. Soon to be RM... I can't let the fire die. And I certainly can't give up on anyone who's on the verge of giving up. This life is so short and the rewards are eternal. Remember, never give up! Never surrender!

Elder Garcia

15 Sep 10 - 22 Sep 10

Thursday, September 23, 2010 11:59 AM

So yesterday was mah birfday. Things were pretty good. Some sister missionaries out here bothered to remember and wished me a happy birthday. The office staff sang to me twice because they didn't last year. I went to Iceberg and got a free shake cause it was my birthday. I stayed in for most of the day because I was sick. All in all it was good.

Yesterday at transfers I asked the Mission President's wife if she could fix me a birthday breakfast this morning and instead of responding, she just took off. Then I called her last night to tell her that I was sick and she just told me to drink plenty of liquids, chicken noodle soup, Tylenol, and rest. Then she called ten minutes later and asked how she was doing on being the worst mission mom ever. I told her that she was failing at that but she cried out that she was succeeding. She talked to me twice already and not once wished me a happy birthday. Then she played happy birthday on a music box and hung up.

Other than that, things are pretty dull around here. I'll keep everyone posted though.
Later
Elder Me

08 Sep 10 - 15 Sep 10

12:12 PM

One more week until I'll be singing 24 by Switchfoot. Then I'll only have about 6 more months left til I can come home. I can already see all the parties that I'm going to be throwing. Just like old times. But until then, I'm stuck on a mission in the wonderful land of Salt Lake City. Sigh...

Things are really slow for me here. If it weren't for Elder Mitchell, I'd go crazy. I cover two stakes/sixteen wards. One stake refuses to do any missionary work at all and then blames us because there is no work. The other stake is pretty good. We can still use a lot more work though since we can't tract out here. Everyone is either Active, Less Active, or Anti.

So I was talking with a Ward Mission Leader yesterday about the work in his ward. He's got two missionaries split up between sixteen wards so there's very little work going on right now. But, if every member fellowshipped just one person whether they be less active or nonmember, the work would increase a hundred times over. So much so that we would actually have no time to work in the other wards (unless it's in our dead time which consists of all morning and all afternoon).

What does fellowshipping consist of? Well, all it really involves is being a friend and encouraging their friend that the gospel will help their life. People are scared to do missionary work because in their minds there are only two things: 1. Be all gung ho and call everyone out to repentance and commit them to be baptized, or 2. Don't do anything at all and just leave it for someone else to do. People are lazy so they'll generally go with the second choice. Then there are the crazy ones who choose number one and drive people away from the church. All we need to do is tell people that God loves them and he asks them to follow Him.

When a missionary invites someone to go to church, we don't do it on the premonition [premise]that we're going to totally ignore them. We'll sit with them and explain what's going on and walk them through things. One reason people don't come to church is because everyone ignores them and they feel unwanted. Would you like to feel like that? When a missionary invites someone to pray, they'll pray first to show them how it's done and then help them to say their own prayer. One reason people don't pray is because they hear all these elaborate prayers to God and feel inadequate to talk to God with their basic understanding. With anything, we need help. God does not help those who help themselves.

Back home, I helped out as much as I could because for some odd reason or another, others needed my help. How many lives did I touch with my acts of kindness and my selflessness? No say. Course I had my problems, but that was always put on the back burner when it came to others. Shouldn't we do the same with those who fell away or those who don't need the Gospel? Don't they need help even more so than us? If it's a true principle that when we put God first, everything else falls into place, then shouldn't we let God take care of our problems and instead focus on helping people without God in their lives?

I know this church is true. I hope I've shown that by my words and deeds. Trust and Faith. Place those two things in God and we'll never be led astray or fall from the path that we've been placed on. Remember, the first and great commandmant is Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Later ya'll
Elder Garcia

1 Sep 10 - 8 Sep 10

1:24 PM

Okay everyone, as you may well know, General Conference is just right around the corner. It'll be my third one and once again I'll still be on the west side of the reflecting pool most likely hanging out with some of my missionary friends and being loud and obnoxious as possible. So if you want to come and say hi and maybe take me out to lunch or stick 20$ in my hand to compensate forgetting about my birthday (Sept 22) I wouldn't mind. If anyone would tell me when their birthday was I would gladly send you the best present in the entire world: a picture of me!

I remember for Felicia's birthday I gave her pictures of me and she absolutely loved it. And then for my birthday she gave me pictures of myself and I absolutely loved it! Everyone loves pictures of me! Even me!

So if you can't tell by my words on this screen, I'm still happy with Elder Mitchell. I had interviews with my mission president yesterday and he asked if I want to stay another transfer with him. I said yes and President Winn said okay on two conditions: 1. I get rid of all my "worldly" things and 2. We get rid of the negativity in our companionship. Well, it looks like I'll be saying goodbye to Munchkin... and D&D... and Magic: The Gathering... and King's Blood... and Quiddler... and everything else that takes the stress away from missionary work. But that's okay. I still have my sence of humor and my nearly endless supply of movie quotes and songs. But as for the negativity, I have no clue what P Winn is talking about. We're not negative to each other at all! Only to members who are less than easy to work with and with missionaries who like kissing butt. Can't please everyone though. Guess they'll just have to get used to our shenanigens. Who wants a pic of me and my comp with parted hair, suspenders, our pants hiked up past our navels and really short ties?

Nobody understands us.

As far as the work goes, we nearly dropped all of our investigators who weren't progressing. So our time is mainly spent towards finding people. Which is going slow and we're basically wasting the day, BUT... I got nothing to that.

Talk to ya'll later (hopefully)
Elder Garcia


25 Aug 10 - 01 Sep 10

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 1:09 PM

Hello everyone.

Nothing new to report here. I'm just having to deal with the idiocy of members in one of my stakes. I've never met anyone who hated missionaries as much as these people do. So, my companion and I are either going to do one of two things. First is to drop a couple wards altogether and do no missionary work there whatsoever, or to make a lot of people mad by continuing to do what we've been called to do. Either way, we're in a lose-lose situation and our moral has gone down a tiny bit. Of course in our lose-lose situation, we also win. If we don't work in those areas that don't want work to be done in, we no longer take damage to our moral or to our integrity. Also, if we choose to tick everyone off by continuing to do what we've been called to do, we provide a bit of entertainment on our behalf.

Other than that, life is still good. I have some help with keeping my sanity and Elder Mitchell is still fun to be around. Now I find myself not wanting to go on District/Zone leader exchanges because my leaders are Tools.

So far with the P90X I've lost one pound (huzzah!) and this time, I'll keep it off. I hurt and I'm hungry (because all I'm eating is yogurt and oats for breakfast and lunch). But, my skin feels tight on my body which means that I'm getting stronger. So now my Strength score has gone from a whopping 11 to 12 giving me a +1 to all my skills involving strength. It's too bad my Dexterity is still at 8. Although, I'll settle for an 8 Dexterity with a 15 Charisma any day. If you factor in my new work out, I think my Charisma might have even gone up to 16! HUZZAH!

Okay, so I'm still the same geek I ever was. I find myself thinking at the most random situations WWCBD. What Would Chuck Bartowski Do?

Later everyone
Elder Garcia

18 Aug 10 - 25 Aug 10

11:49 AM

Hi everyone! Not much to report here. Still been having a great week.

My brain is fried cause I'm soo tired. I think it's mostly due to P90X in the morning. I'm sore and my skin feels tight on my body.

Hope everyone is doing good.
Later

Elder Garcia

12 Aug 10 - 18 Aug 10 (Pictures at bottom of Post)

12:48 PM

Okay, so I guess I forgot to mention stuff about my comp. Elder Timothy Joseph Mitchell is from Anchorage, Alaska. He's 21 and been out one transfer longer than I have (17 months thus far). He has two older brothers and one younger brother. He likes to play games with me. He talks in his sleep. We debate a lot about super powers, comic books, music, and video games a lot (mostly when we're walking around trying to kill time). And he's a pessimist. But that's okay cause most missionaries are so I'm used to it.

As far as the work goes, it's slow. Mornings and afternoons are dead times since no one is home and evenings are booked. It's hard to meet with members as well. Everyone is just... gone.

In other news, my companion and I are now exercising! We're doing the P90X with a member who lives around the block from us. I keep finding all these families who like to take us in as their own. Anyways, this is what we (missionaries) like to call "Six weeks til sexy." Usually, this routine is reserved for those on their last transfer and don't want to go home fat. Unfortunately, I have a long ways to go and plenty of time to get fat again. I'm only 7 pounds past my MBI (Mass Body Index) count. So... hopefully I'll get into habit and keep going the rest of my mission. Yeah right...

I'll be giving a talk these next two Sundays. I love talking cause I have a sexy voice. Plus I'm partially funny. So it'll go well. I'll give the talk that I always give and it'll never get old cause every time I read it, the Spirit hits hard. It's too bad the members seem to be hard of hearing (hint hint).

Got a letter from my mom. Included was a letter from sisters in my home ward. I want to say thanks (even though it's hard for me to read some handwriting). I shoulda learned that edjimacation back when I was doin that skoolin. I really appreciate it. I've even got responses from people I don't even know! Woo Hoo! Popularity increase! My Charisma score is now one billion.

Other than that, things are going good. I'm sore. I'm tired. My companion is cranky. I'm hungry. And the gospel is still true.

"It has to get worse before it gets better"

"How can you tell when you're doing what's right? When life sucks"

"Out of every winner, there are a dozen losers. Odds are you're one of them"

"Statistically speaking, you'll miss 99% of the shots you make and 100% of the shots you don't"

Hope these cheer ya up.
Elder Garcia

P.S. I was looking at my skin the other day when it was really hot and I just noticed that I have yellow pigmentation. This whole time I thought I was just a White Philippine. But now I can't see myself other than a Yellow Asian.

Oh yeah, last Sunday a couple other missionaries and I got to sing our Mission Alma Mater "Up, Awake Ye Defenders of Zion" for President Monson. He booked it though before any of us could get off the stand.

Alex Boye & The Pruess Family
The third daughter (standing next to me)
looks like Star Manning from One Life to Live

Elder Keim & Elder Mitchell

The Watchman Family & My score when I got a Turkey

4 Aug 10 - 12 Aug 10

11:31 AM

Wow... I didn't get a single email from what I said last week. That is really shocking to me. I figured I'd get chewed out in some way because maybe I offended someone or was too chastising or something else along those lines. The first time I've written something like that in ages and I get nothing. Well... I guess there's nothing to complain about then.

So first things first. New transfers. I'm now in Millcreek (or as the Utahans pronounce it, Millcrick) Zone covering the Winder and Winder West Stakes. I can now go to the Tie Lady every Wednesday if I wanted to and there is also free bowling at Fatcats for missionaries. My new companion is Elder Mitchell and he is SWEET!!! I'm talking Elder Doucette sweet. No more Elder Gonzalas or Elder Portugal or Elder Shriver or Elder Keim! No more fake missionaries who don't get the gospel or missionary work in general. Finally, I'm around people I actually like and are liked by. It's only been a day since I've been with him and I've already been laughing up a storm. I had breakfast this morning with President and Sister Winn and they were shocked at how much I've changed. I haven't been this happy in a long time.

So anyways, I don't have anything prepared to say this week. I'll come up with stuff next week.

Hope everyone is doing great.
Elder Garcia

28 July 10 - 04 August 10

12:40 PM

Hey everyone,

So, I've been thinking about what to say for today and the one thing that keeps coming into my mind is Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" and 2 Nephi 31:21 "And now, behold, my beloved brethern, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen."

Now, what do these two scriptures have to do with each other?

Back before my mission, sad to say I never really did any missionary work. I never shared the gospel with any of my friends and my mom can testify that almost all if not all of my friends were "dry" Mormons. So why didn't I share the gospel with them? Because I was ashamed of it. Sure I was an example. But being an example wasn't good enough. Years later, I still regret not speaking up. I knew that after this life, my friends would come up to me and ask, "why didn't you ever tell us about the joy of the gospel?" I fear that day. But an opportunity presented itself when I went to the temple. Instead of doing baptisms for the dead with everyone else, I decided to watch the Joseph Smith movie. Lo and behold, those crafty sister missionaries used their feminine wiles on me and sucked two of my friends names out of my soul. After I left, I regretted giving them those names. Even though I never spoke to my friends about my religion, they knew who I was and I was sure that they would know who sent the missionaries over to their house. A couple weeks later as I was sleeping at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, I get a phone call from an unknown number. It was a sister missionary from the Oakland Temple Visiter's Center saying that one of my friends accepted to have the missionary discussions. That was the first time ever I felt the joy of doing missionary work.

Since then I've pondered about this experience and I've asked the question to several people, "Why are we ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?" A lot of you out there will probably right off shout out "I am not!" But we are. I've been told that we're the number one religion who is most hesitant about sharing our beliefs and frankly, it's not suprising. I've talked with a lot of members out here who "don't want to ruin their friendships." Ever hear this before? Why is it that our friendships are more important than their salvation? Our friendships can't save our friends! There is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God! Am I so greedy as to spend the rest of eternity in the Celestial Kingdom, alone, without my spiritual brothers and sisters (figurativly speaking).

That's what they are. They're our brothers and sisters. These people are our family. Don't we love our family? Don't we want to spend the rest of ever with our family? That can only be done by the gospel of Jesus Christ. That can only happen when we lose our fear and open our mouths. I would rather look at my friends with my head held high knowing that I did everything that I could to help them into the Celestial Kingdom than to hang my head in shame because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. True friendship, true love, is the gospel.

I hate to sound like I'm chastizing everybody but in a way I am. It's because we can do so much better, myself included. Does everyone realize that if we did everything that we could, people would be knocking on missionaries doors? This subject really touches me. I really care about the salvation of souls. Not for any personal gain on my behalf. It's because I love my Heavenly Father and I'm willing to do all that I can to not make him hurt like He did before. I want to serve God to the very end. I didn't come on a mission to pay tithing on my life. I came on a mission to prepare myself to give the rest of my life to God. Can I ask anything less of anyone else.

I know this is the only true church on the earth. I know that through the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way anyone can be saved. Let us do our part for God, and share His gospel with those that we care about.

Elder Garcia

21 Jul 10 - 28 Jul 10

So, nothing new for this week. I'm just hanging in there until transfers come along. As for the Pioneer Day Parade, I actually spent a lot of time talking to people so I didn't get to see much of it. I did see President Uchtdorf though. At the end of the parade, all the missionaries followed the last... act? Which was this polonesian marching band. It was pretty crazy.

Anyways, sorry I don't write much. Later

Elder Garcia

14 Jul 10 - 21 Jul 10

11:50 AM

I had a slew of things that I wanted to write about but now my brain has shut down again. I'm not required to think on P-Day so I don't. Unfortunately, it takes my brain about 8 hours to reboot.

There's this 12 year old girl who we've found through this neat program called the "Master Member Referral Maker" (that one of my Zone Leaders and his previous companion came up with) who will hopefully get baptized this weekend. She's been going to church for a long time now with her grandparents but her parents have been holding her back from getting baptized. Her mom is Inactive and her dad isn't a member. We've been trying to get the parents to come to the lessons but they refuse to. So, me and my comp talked about it and she's been ready for baptism so if her parents don't care there's no reason we should wait around any longer.

The Master Member Referral Maker works like this.

Each Axillary (HPGL, EQP, RSP, YWP, and YMP) passes out a 3x5 card to each member in their class at the beginning of the lesson. The member then puts down their name and phone number. The Axillary leader gives the members 3 to 5 minutes to let the spirit work on them. The member will only put down a name of someone they want to have the gospel in their lives (whether they be a member or nonmember). This forces the missionary to work through the member.

After the 3 to 5 minutes, the Axillary leader then teaches a lesson on the "pure doctrine of Christ." This will get the members fired up about sharing the gospel. The pure doctrine of Christ can include (but is not limited to) Christlike Attributes, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or things Jesus Christ did to share the gospel. As long as the lesson is centered on Christ, you can't go wrong. At the end of the lesson, the members hand in their cards to the Axillary leader who then hands it in to the Ward Mission Leader. The WML compiles a list and gives a copy to the missionaries.

The missionaries cannot contact the referral on the card without the member's help. What they'll do is call the member and ask how it's going sharing the gospel with the name they wrote down and if there's anything that they (the missionaries) can do to help whether it be giving the member supplies to give to the name or stopping by the member to share a quick lesson on ways to share the gospel. This gets the members focused on missionary work and puts the progression of their name in their hands. Also, it establishes a fellowshipper from the get go.

One thing you must realize if you want to implement this is that it HAS to be done this way. There have been times when people want to change how this is done and they'll get few to no names compared to 15 or 20. I've already received over 50 names from this. I know this works! And right now I probably sound like a pyramid sales man...

Hope this fires up the missionary work in your areas!
Later
Elder Garcia

7 Jul 10 - 14 Jul 10

12:23 PM

Uh... more than last week...

I guess I haven't mentioned Red Moose.

Red Moose is a cafe/coffee shop or something like that. The owner, Theresa, has two sons out on missions but she is In-active. Because she has two sons on missions though, she loves the missionaries (as long as their lovable) and gives us free food. We told her once that on occasion we'll go to McDonalds or something like that and she got mad at us because we weren't eating at her place every single day. We told her that we didn't want to take advantage of her and that we were just fine eating there once a week. She also works for Reale(sp?) soccer and is a huge fan of the sport so for the past while, we've gotten to watch the World Cup on tv at the Red Moose.

There's also this family called the Watchmen's. There's six boys and the younger ones are crazy. We've been using the older ones to go on splits so we've been over there a lot. I find it funny because whatever I do, they copy it. It's funny how much influence I have on people. They were telling me that when they lived in South Salt Lake City, there was this nest of spiders out in front of their house. These spiders were so huge that they were eating the birds in the tree. The baby ones would get into the house and one even chased Sister Watchmen down. They had called all the pest control people they could until finally the pest control people called animal control to take care of the problem.

Uh... I think that's it for this week. Later.
Elder Garcia

30 Jun 10 - 7 Jul 10

7th July 2010 / 11:18 AM

Just wanted to say that it's my brother Tyler's birthday as he's serving in the Georgia Atlanta North Mission. He'll be 20.

I'm not dead.

Later.
Elder Garcia

(Note from Mom: If anyone reads this it really sounds like he could use a letter from anyone/everyone! Even if it's just a short one [or a postcard] letting him know you are thinking about him. You can find his address elsewhere on this blog and his birthdate. Thank you.)

25 Jun 10 - 30 Jun 10

10:36 AM

Hey everyone,

So once again I write mine epistle about nothing.

On Monday I went to the dentist guy to get a crown on my tooth but it never happened. They spent an hour trying to fit in the crown but in the end they just took an impression and told me to come back in two weeks. It was a good thing I ate In-N-Out beforehand or else my jaw would have been killing me.

As far as the work goes, it's beginning to pick up again. Yesterday we taught this lady for the first time, named Tana. She's half Native American. It's kind of hard to teach her because of the beliefs and wicked traditions of her fathers. Yesterday she said that she would like to meet Jesus Christ because he's a human God, but she also wants to meet all the other Gods as well. She asked why can't God be a woman, and said a lot of other weird stuff about how they worship the sun, the moon, and the earth and that we evolved from the animal Gods and what not. She of course was most likely doped up because she was sick and coughed so hard that she seperated a muscle from her ribs or something like that. It's either that or she'd been smoking peote. Or burning too much insense.

We also met with this 20 year old kid named Colton who had gone less active because he'd been thinking without the Spirit and his questions drove him away from the gospel. After our lesson with him, he realized his life sucked and he wanted to change. He confessed that he had a desire to serve a mission, so now, we're going to help him acheive his desire.

So, hope this quenches everyone's thirst.

Later
Elder Garcia

16 Jun 10 - 25 Jun 10

June 25, 2010 8:12 AM

Hello from the land of Mordor!

I mean Salt Lake City!

So, transfers was Wednesday and I'm in the Sugarhouse area once again with the same companion. (this transfer is 7 weeks long).

Yesterday was supposed to be our P-Day but we did some temple service from 1-4. So P-Day got moved to today. In the temple we were throwing away concrete. One thing I love about manual labor is that no one ever asks the short skinny kid to do any of the heavy lifting. So I got to sit pretty and just sweep up all the dust and junk.

I'm on the compy right now because today I'll be doing some more service for one of our investigators who's being evicted from her place. I'll be doing that from 10 till whenever. Yesterday, I gave her a blessing and something happened for the first time: she pulled away. Of course the words were not my own and I was prompted to say a lot of things I would never have said. I believe she pulled away because she felt something that she never felt before and I think it scared her. She also looked exhausted. So we placed our hands back on her head and finished the blessing.

Other than that, most of our investigators have either been falling off date or dropping us. Our teaching pool is once again really low. And the thing is that we were told not to tract here since there's so many gay people. So we rely solely on member referrals, and if the members aren't doing their part where does that leave us? We can always always always use more work. Work work work. Something I've never really done till I came on a mission. Now I can't sit around and do nothing. Well... I still can. I just prefer not to now.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Later

Elder Garcia

These were sent back in April 2010

Digital slideshow created with Smilebox

Captions for the slideshow.

#1 Elders: Atanasio, Torres, Johnson, Avery, Morgan, Cammie, Grace, Slesk, Garcia, Dyer, Burkhardt, Doucette.
Sisters: Azzaya, Turner, Morris, Hagemann.
#2 This is Alex Campos. He used to live in the Ceres Spanish Branch. He asked me to tell Bro. Stone, Bro. Mills, & Bro. Brooke about him and ask if they still remember him.
#3 Alex Campos & Sister Campos.
#4 This was taken on April 1st - guess it was for April Fool's Day - there was hair on my chin (can't call it a beard!).
#5 This was actually taken late on 4/2/10. I must have been really tired.
#6 Elder Benadict is now an RM (4/4/10). He was my first DL (District Leader).
#7 Here we were playing with nerf guns.
#8 Elders: Torres, Portugal, Cammie, Morris, Flores, Link, Koepsell, Menke, Houck, Fifita, Bills, Keim, Garcia, Matthews, Muamoholeva.
#9 I surrender! Never!
#10 The Meraz Family. Joseph, the two boys, Rachael (I think), and Rita. Joseph & Rita were baptized. (Rita wanted me to baptize her 'cause I was "funny."

09 Jun 2010 - 16 Jun 2010

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 11:31 AM

So, yeah...

Uh...

The gospel is true...

I have no clue what to write.

Oh, here's something. There's a member in my area who owns like a blacksmithing/metalwork shop and today he's letting me and my companion make a sword. I shall call her Justice! Maybe I'll make a twin and call her Truth! Then I'll be armed with the sword of Justice and the sword of Truth! I'm not going to be keeping her here though. I'll send her home asap or else I might just snap and start chopping away at bad comps.

My teaching pool is okay. I'm starting to get the feeling that Satan doesn't like me very much. In fact, I feel like he doesn't like me at all... almost as if he wants me to be as miserable as he is... Is it just me or does anyone feel like this as well? Just kidding. Satan's a jerk who doesn't want any of my investigators to come unto God. It's a good thing I'll have the sword of Justice and Truth! But no armor... not yet anyways.

So if none of you can figure it out, right now I'm lost in my own little world full of things that don't exist in real life. Don't know why. Maybe because it's more interesting than right now. As far as missionary work goes, it's the same old same old. I wake up. I teach. I go to bed. And somewhere in the middle of that there's eating and the bathroom. How much can I talk about missionary work while still making everything interesting?

There's a 13 year old kid named Riley who was on date to be baptized but Satan put that on hiatus for right now. We still go by and teach him and play games with him though.

We were teaching four people named Sam, Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Jessy Lopez, but Sam and Tyler split. So I pray that Jen and Jessy will stay strong and continue to have us over and seek to have God in their lives.

So... yeah, that's about it. My focus is kinda... croakis...

Later
Elder Garcia

02 Jun 10 - 09 Jun 10

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 2:13 PM

So, I'm getting chewed out by an RM for not giving enough details on my life. As far as details go, there's this 13 year old kid who doesn't want to get baptized anymore. I think it's because of the negative influences in his life. There are several other people that I'm teaching who are really awesome, but I won't give more detail than that.

Interviews with my mission president are next Friday at 10:30. I don't have anything to ask him though. It's funny cause I usually spend 30 - 45 mins just talking about simple stuff like how can I become a better missionary or what can I do to further the work in my area. Everytime I come out, everyone always asks me what deep doctrine questions I asked him. I don't know why this happens...

I go to the dentist again tomorrow at 11:45 am and it's near an IN-N-OUT!!! YYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, I'm excited to eat In-N-Out right before going to get my teeth worked on. I can just hear the dentist say, "Hey, why does your breath smell like grilled onions?

So, that's about it.

Yeah.

Later

26 May 10 - 02 June 10

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 12:08 PM

So... I don't really have anything new. I'm just working out here. Basically the same thing every day. So... yeah...

I don't really know what to say anymore.

Elder Garcia

Note from his Mom:
This is what he had to say about his tooth -

"My tooth is better. Two or so weeks ago they knocked me out and sliced into my gum to remove some puss and then they put me on anti-inflamatory medication and penicilin to fight the disease."

20 May 10 - 26 May 10

Hey everyone!

This is probably going to be one of those boring emails because I don't really have anything to say. So... I'll just send some pics. We went hiking today and did personal study up Emigration Canyon somewhere.

Later

5 May 10 - 20 May 10

Thursday, May 20, 2010 12:27 PM

Hey everyone! Sorry I wasn't able to write last week. Suprisingly, letters are more convienient for me now than email! Go figure. Anyways, I'm now rid of my prideful, puffed-up companion and I have a new companion in a new area where I don't think any of my 13 yr old girl potential investigators are making out with any girls.

So my new companion's name is Elder Keim (K-eye-M). He's only been out about eight months. He's from Colorado... I think. I served around him two transfers ago. He snorted a bunch of sugar from the Sour Patch Kids candy and I gave him some cologne that was in my appartment. He's pretty cool and this transfer is looking to be as good (but not quite as good) as the transfer I had with Elder Doucette. I'm pretty stoked about it. The only problem is that this is a five week transfer instead of a six week. Next transfer is going to be a seven week transfer to balance things out. If I'm with a bad comp next transfer, I don't know what I'll do.

Why is this a five week transfer you ask? Because come July 1st we'll be getting a new mission president and everyone wants things to be smoothe when he get's here. His name is President Winn. Don't know much about him other than he's very competetive.

As for where I'm at. I'm in the Sugarhouse and Hillside stakes over again on the east side. Westminster College is in my area. Other than that, I have no clue what's going on.

As far as everything else is going, I have an Absessed Tooth! Don't know how I got it. I took a picture of my right cheek filled with puss. It's a good thing I'm not self concious about how I look or ashamed that my breath now smells like Death or else I'd never go outside. I only wish someone video taped me inbetween when I was knocked out and when I woke up at 4:30 in the morning. Nobody played any pranks on me! I did some pretty weird things though... I think.

So... I don't know what else to say. Other than my tooth, nothing really has been going on.

Later
Elder G

28 Apr 10 - 5 May 10

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 11:53 AM

Hey everyone. Not much for this week.

Happy Mother's Day

Elder G

21 Apr 10 - 28 Apr 10

11:59 AM

From the Book of Virtures

Perseverance

"The noblest question in the world," observed Benjamin Franklin in Poor Richard, "is What good may I do in it?" "Hang in there!" is more than an expression of encouragement to someone experiencing hardship or difficulty; it is sound advice for anyone intent on doing good in the world. Whether by leading or prodding others, or improving oneself, or contributing in the thick of things to some larger cause, perseverance is often crucial to success.

Drawing on an ancient Chinese proverb, Harry Truman recounted in his Memoirs that being president "is like riding a tiger. A man has to keep on riding or be swallowed." He went on to explain that "a President either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him. I never felt that I could let up for a single moment." Perseverance is an essential quality of character in high-level leadership. Much good that might have been achieved in the world is lost through hesitation, faltering, wavering, vacillating, or just not sticking with it.

Perseverance is also essential to the watchdog's and gadfly's approaches to working for good in the world. Socrates, self-acknowledged gadfly of ancient Athens, was absolutely serious in proclaiming at his trial (as recounted in Plato's Apology) that "as long as I draw breath and am able, I shall not cease to practice philosophy, to exhort you and in my usual way to point out to any one of you whom I happen to meet: Good Sir, you are an Athenian, a citizen of the greatest city with the greatest reputation for both wisdom and power; are you not ashamed of your eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation, and honors as possible, while you do not care for or give thought to wisdom or truth, or the best possible state of your soul?" Socrates' persistent exhortations proved too much for many Thenians, however, and he was condemned. But there are worse fates, as Socrates himself pointed out: while he had merely been condemned to death, his accusers had by that same act been condemned to wickedness!

"Slow and steady wins the race," runs the moral of Aesop's familiar fable of the tortoise and the hare. Plutarch in his Life of Sertorius recounts how this great Roman soldier, while serving as praetor in Spain in the first century B.C., contrived a demonstration for his troops to the same effect, following which he addressed them in this manner: "You see, fellow soldiers, that perseverance is more prevailing than violence, and that many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little. Assiduity and persistence are irresistible, and in time overthrow and destroy the greatest powers whatever, time being the favorable friend and assistant of those who use their judgment to await his occasions, and the destructive enemy of those who are unreasonably urging and pressing forward."

Like most other virtues, persistence and perseverance cannot operate for good in the world in isolation from practical intelligence. A person who is merely persistent may be a carping, pestering, irksome annoyance, having no salutary effect whatsoever. But given the right context, occurring in the right combination with other virtues, perseverance is an essential ingredient in human progress. Sam Adams saw it thus in the gestation period prior to our birth as a nation. "The necessity of the times,"he proclaimed in 1771, "more than ever, calls for our utmost circumspection, deliberation, fortitude, and perseverance." And the same holds true today.

How do we encourage our children to persevere, to persist in thier efforts to improve themselves, their own lot, and the lot of others? By standing by them, and with them and behind them; by being coaches and cheerleaders, and by the witness of our own example. Modern technology has made some of this much easier for us. Video and tape recordings are convincing evidence of the long-term progress that is sometimes hard to see in the short term.

Elder Garcia

14 Apr 10 - 21 Apr 10

April 21, 2010 11:53 AM

From the Book of Virtues

"We become brave by doing brave acts," observed Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics. Dispositions of character, virtues and vices, are progressively fixed in us through practice. Thus "by being habituated to despise things that are terrible and to stand our ground against them we become brave, and it is when we have become so that we shall be most able to stand our ground against them."

Standing ground against threatening things is not to be confused with fearlessness, however. Being afraid is a perfectly appropriate emotion when confronted with fearful things. The great American novelist Herman Melville makes the Aristotelian point beautifully in a telling passage in Moby Dick, where Starbuck, the chief mate of the Pequod, first addresses the crew. " 'I will have no man in my boat,' said Starbuck, 'who is not afraid of a whale.' By this, he seemed to mean, not only that the most reliable and useful courage was that which arises from the fair estimation of the encountered peril, but that an utterly fearless man is a far more dangerous comrade than a coward."

The brave person is not one who is never afraid. That is rather the description of a rash or reckless person, someone who may be more harm than help in a n emergency. It is hard to "educate " such a person on the spot. The coward, on the other hand, the one who characteristically lacks confidence and is disposed to be overly fearful, may yet be susceptible to the encouragement of example.

The infectious nature of strikingly courageous behavior on the part of one person can inspire-and also in part can shame-a whole group. That was one key to the kind of courage inspired by Horatius at the bridge in ancient Rome and by Henry V at Agincourt. It was one key to the kind of courage displayed by those who silently suffered abuse when they joined ranks with Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., in acts of nonviolent protest directed at rousing the public conscience against injustice. Another key to their success, of course, was reason: practical reason delivered with the kind of eloquence that is informed by a real command of one's cultural heritage and that steels the will to take intelligent action. The mere inclination to do the right thing is not in itself enough. We have to know what the right thing to do is. We need wisdom-often the wisdom of a wise leader-to give our courage determinate form, to give it intelligent direction. And we need the will, the motivating power that inspiring leaders can sometimes help us discover within ourselves even when we are unable to find it readily on our own.

If Aristotle is right-and I think that he is-then courage is a settled disposition to feel appropriate degrees of fear and confidence in challenging situation (what is "appropriate" varying a good deal with the particular circumstances). It is also a settled disposition to stand one's ground, to advance or to retreat as wisdom dictates. Before such dispositions become settled, however, they need to be established in the first place. And that means practice, which in turn means facing fears and taking stands in advance of any settled disposition to do so: acting bravely when we don't really feel brave.

Fear of the dark is almost universal among young children, and it provides relatively safe opportunities for first lessons in courage. In families, older siblings are greatly assisted in cultivating their own dispositions in this respect by putting up a brave front before their younger brothers or sisters. "You see? There's really nothing to be afraid of." This is excellent practice, and a fine place to begin. Occasions for being brave on behalf of others-for standing by them in challenging circumstances-are occasions for becoming brave ourselves; that is, for learning how to handle our own confidence and fear, for figuring out the right thing to do, and for mustering the will to do it.

Elder Garcia

08 Apr 10 - 14 Apr 10

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 12:04 PM

I don't have much to say again. Things have been kind of crazy lately. I just want everyone to know that I'll be writing letters more. If you write me one, I will write you back. That way I can have more time on P-Day to write my weekly report. Anyways, my address is:

Elder Artemio Leon Garcia
Utah Salt Lake City Mission
3487 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84106

if you lost it.

Also, just to let you know, if you want me to email some pics to you, pics cost money, and I'm poor enough as it is. Hint hint, wink wink, nod nod.

Later.
Elder Garcia

31 Mar 10 - 08 Apr 10

Thursday, April 8, 2010 11:26 AM

Okay everyone, this week is going to be a little different. I'm
writing this first so that I can spend as much time writing to my
friend's mom as possible. This lady seems to think that I am a plague
on this earth that should be disposed of. She thinks that I am a
threat to everything that is good and decent and pure and righteous
about her daughter and that I should go back to Hell from whence I
spawned from.

This is something I need to settle. I did not start this war but I
sure as Heaven am going to try and finish it.

I've met and befriended hundreds of individuals over the course of my
lifetime. I've been adopted into so many families that I've long since
stopped counting (cause the list keeps growing, even out here in the
mission) because I just become one of the family. I've been there for
anyone who's ever needed me and I've put my love into everyone as
though they were my blood family. I don't play with people's lives. I
don't seek to destroy anyone's soul. If I can, I try to embrace
everyone as if I haven't seen them for a really long time, like how I
think Heavenly Father gives hugs.

This is who I am. If anyone out there can call me out on this, please
do so. Because if I am the kind of man this lady makes me out to be,
then why am I even on a mission?

I don't think there is anyone out there who knows me like a brother,
son, or friend who can do so. Not from what I've seen. Not from who I
know.

If I may ask for those who believe this as I do to email me, I would
much appreciate it. Anyone whom I've affected or touched, or helped,
or impressed, or influenced in any way. I get the feeling I may need
the testimonies of others in the near future if after my mission this
woman decides to press charges (and yes, I'm serious).

On a lighter note, I would like to take some time to thank some people
who hardly ever hear it from me starting with my mom.

Mommy, I know that a lot of times it was difficult to raise a child
as... stubborn as I was. I know many times you wanted to just slap me
around if only to knock some sense into me. I know you worried more
often than not about where my actions would put me in the future. I
know you tried so hard to be strong in front of me and tried to never
let me see you cry. I'm sorry I disappointed you on occasion.

But thank you. Thank you for raising me to the best of your ability.
Thank you for raising me in the gospel. Thank you for trying to give
me what I needed most. You've influenced me for the better. You taught
me correct principles. Without you, I wouldn't have so many people who
support me, and care for me, and can't wait for me to come home.
Without you, I wouldn't have even been born!

To sum it all up...

Proud of your boy
I'll make you proud of your boy
Believe me, bad as I've been
Ma you're in for a pleasent surprise
I've wasted time
I've wasted me
So say I'm slow for my age
A late bloomer, okay, I agree
That I've been one rotten kid,
Some son, some pride, and some joy
But I'll get over these lousin' up
Messin' up, screwin' up times
You'll se, Ma, now comes the better part
Someone's gonna make good
Cross his stupid heart
Make good and finally make you
Proud of your boy
Tell me that I've been a louse and a loafer
You won't get a fight here, no ma'am
Say I'm a goldbrick, a goof-off, no good
But that couldn't be all that I am
Water flows under the bridge
Let it pass, let it go
There's no good reason that you should believe me
Not yet, I know, but
Someday and soon
I'll make you proud of your boy
Though I can't make myself taller
Or smarter or handsome or wise
I'll do my best, what else can I do?
Since I wasn't born perfect like Dad or you
Mom, I will try to
Try hard to make you
Proud of your boy

Clay Aiken - Proud of Your Boy

Daddy, I know you've never trusted me to do anything right. I don't
mean that in a negative way. After all, I've never really shown you
that I could do anything right. I've never applied myself like you
wanted me to. I've never shown responsibility of any sort. I don't
blame you for not trusting me.

I know that you've had a different childhood growing up and that
you've always tried to give me what you've never had (sometimes at the
expense of Mommy's anger). I know that you didn't really know how to
talk to me. More often than not, when we tried we would always yell.
So we learned not to talk at all.

I want to tell you that I'm sorry I didn't have enough patience to try
and understand you. I'm sorry I never took the time to get to know
you. I always took, took, took and you always gave, gave, gave. I was
selfish and inconsiderate and I'm sorry.

I look up to you though. I've watched you even when you never thought
I would. I've seen people mock you behind your back and lie to your
face but none of that mattered as long as someone noticed and
complimented you on your talents. You seemed to live for these moments
and I could see you glow when it happened.

Daddy, you've taught me how even though the world tries to bring us
down, we can just ignore it. You were the one who taught me to do
what's right when no one else will. You showed me that as long as we
do the best that we can, we've done more than those that just sit back
and do nothing.

To all those that mock my parents, pardon my language but screw you.
They are some of the greatest people I will EVER know. Without them, I
would not be me or who I am. I know that there are those out there who
will never read this but I state this anyways: if I hear anyone mock
or talk bad about those that I love I will straight up punch you in
the face. I've learned how to do that. NO ONE talks bad about anyone I
care about in front of me. So learn to "Nay Speak No Ill" cause if you
harm me for doing what's right, I've got hundreds of others who will
back me up.

I make this promise: when I get home, I'm going to do a solo for my
dad for my homecoming talk. I also make this promise: when it's in my
means, I'm going to buy a place where my WHOLE family can live and I
will support them if they can't do so themselves (friends included).

Like Gandhi said, "be the change you want to see in the world." Like
it or not, I'm going to change the world, even if it's only one
person's world. I'm tired of waiting for everyone else to change
things. That means I've got to change.

As far as my mission goes, I'm once again in a different area called
the Cannon Stake (don't know where it is cause I'm brand new to the
area). I'm once again back in the English Program (glory hallelujah!)
and my new comp is Elder Shriver. He's my District Leader (I'm DLC or
DLA or whatever you call it. Just not DLB... District Leader's B.....)
He was my DL in the MTC so this'll be an interesting transfer.

I love everyone out there (some of you more than others). Take care,
don't die, live well, eat [healthy delicious foods that will provide
you with energy to last throughout the day]!

Elder Garcia

P.S. Ask my mom if you want my myldsmail (although it shouldn't be too
hard to figure it out since it's also my yahoo and gmail name as
well...)

P.S.S. This is a fish -> >*{{{v===€
I ate him and now I'm sad :*(

(Note from Mom: Son, I could never be disappointed in you. I'm so proud of you and all you have accomplished in your life! I love you for Eternity!)

25 Mar 10 - 31 Mar 10

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:42 AM

Hey everybody. I don't have much to say today. Transfers is April 7th and I can't wait to get out of the Spanish Program. I haven't taught the gospel in so long that I forgot how to teach. When I try to teach now, it's completely random and I do it without the Spirit. My companion thinks I'm going to stay in the Spanish Program and he claims it's "revelation." But I've long since learned that what he thinks doesn't really mean much.

Just to let you know if anyone asks, "Why don't you just have comp inventory?" Comp inventory only works if the other party is willing to listen. I've had three and nothing's changed except for me.

Anyways, Conference! I only got tickets to see Priesthood Session and I'm not trying too hard to see the other ones. I can see why a lot of people here just don't care to watch it in person. Me, I have certain goals in my life. One of them was to watch Conference. Last October, I saw every single session (except for the Relief Society one). Now I'm thinking, "Been there, done that, what's next."

So far, I still need to eat a Krabby Patty and sit on a golden toilet. I'm a high dreamer, eh?

Here's my list:
See Heavenly Father
Write a best seller
Get married
Get a license
Get a college degree
See conference
Go on a mission
Go to EFY
Get my Eagle Scout
Do stand up comedy
Eat a Krabby Patty
Sit on a golden toilet
Go through every single temple
See the seven wonders of the world
Touch every single continent
Solve world hunger (tell no one)
And various other things

Of course some of them I can't do or aren't actually possible, but that mean I won't try.

Other than that, I have no idea what to talk about. There's only about a handful of people who ever ask me anything and I just reply to them in emails. But seeing as my hump day is April 14th, it's no surprise that the letters and the emails have started to wind down. That means I get more time to not write to everybody, which is fine with me.

So hope everyone takes care of themselves. I can actually make any threats if you don't because I can't back up anything I say. The church is true. It's snowing outside. God bless.

17 Mar 10 - 25 Mar 10

Thursday, March 25, 2010 11:38 a.m.

So I know last week I was rambling a lot. That might be expected every now and then since outside influences tend to cloud my judgement. One good thing to rejoice about is that transfers isn't too far away and I'll be free from... those outside influences.

There's a lot of things that I've realized lately that I most likely wouldn't have had I not been in the Spanish Program. There's this lady named Nuvia who likes to mock me a lot. Last time I was over at her house, I refused to be mocked anymore. I knew that she wasn't doing it to be rude, but it wasn't good all the same. So my companion chastizes me and tells me that that's just how spanish people are. Well last night I had a talk with him and I told him that I don't care if that's how spanish people are. I was being made fun of and I wasn't just going to sit there and take it. I was told that by never having stood up for myself before, I was in part hurting my Savior because others were hurting me. Jesus Christ not only took upon Himself all my sins, He took upon Himself all my pains and hurts as well. I don't want to hurt my Savior so I'm going to stand up for what's right. Even if no one else will. People can mock me all they want. I'm just not going to be around them when they do.

One thing that's been getting to me a lot lately is hypocrites. I seem to have become a firm believer in "lead by example." Even though I don't want others following me, I seem to get people following me anyways. I know I've told several people what I think a leader is. A leader isn't someone who has power. A leader is someone who others will follow. A leader is also someone who does what's right when no one else will. So if I'm a leader of men (which I don't think I am) then what kind of example am I setting when I don't always "play by the rules" or only when it's convenient for me? Why do others follow me when I wouldn't even follow myself? So sadly I've had to realize that I can't deny certain things... like I'm a stereotypical hero-type personality. So what do I do? I need to ch... cha... ... ... ... ... ... ... change...

Poopy.

So even though it stinks to high Heaven, I need to be more obedient. But on the bright side, "There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world upon which all blessings are predicated. And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is upon that law upon which it was predicated."

I should be high rolling from here on out.

Later everyone.

Elder Garcia

10 Mar 10 - 17 Mar 10

11:25 AM

When All Is Said And Done - The Standards

When the music fades into the past
When my days of life are through
What will be remembered of where I've come
When all is said and done

Will they say I loved my family
That I was a faithful friend
That I lived to tell of God's own son
When all is said and done


Time That's Left - Mark Schultz

What will you do with the time that’s left
Will you live it all with no regret?
Will they say that you loved till your final breath?
What will you do with the time that’s left?

Oh, Hallelujah!
Oh, Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Amen

What will you do with the time that’s past?
Oh and all the pain that seems to last?
Can you give it to Jesus and not look back?
What will you do with the time that’s past?

Oh, Hallelujah!
Oh, Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Amen

What will He say when your time has come?
When He takes you into His arms of love?
With tears in His eyes will He say well done?
What will He say when your time has come?

Oh, Hallelujah!
Oh, Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
(Lord be present in all my ways,
help me follow You all my days oh Father God)
Amen

What will you do with the time that’s left?
Will you live it all with no regret
Will they say that you loved till your final breath?
What will you do with the time?

I love these two songs cause it makes me think of who I am and who I want to become. For the longest time, I couldn't figure out who I was. I think I'm still trying to figure that part but for the most part I think I've got it figured out...

I think I'm the stereotypical Hero type. It's never been in my nature to pick on the weak or afflicted or peculiar person (and if I have done that I've done away with it). I was never one to give up on someone. It's not in me to betray anyone and I can't seem to not stand up for what is right.

I see a lot of problems with the world or society. We all want to be like those superheroes in comics who do just that. But it's hard. We're imperfect. We criticize and demean and bring others down. As that Reel Big Fish album says, "We're not happy till you're not happy." It seems like this is the world that we've created.

I don't want to live in that world. I want to live in that comic book world where there ARE heroes out there waiting to rescue us and save the day. Unfortunately for me, I seem to have stepped up and taken that position. I'm socially awkward and unaccepted because of the way I choose to act (can you believe it?). Yet I keep running into people who needed me to come into their lives and save them.
Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." It's going to be a long hard road but that seems to be a goal of mine. To change the world for the better even if it's one person at a time.

I bet a lot of you are wondering, "what is he going on about?" In truth, I don't know. I just like to reflect on things that are WAY beyond me. If I only have milk, I'd starve. Meat's so much more tastier anyways. And the funny thing is that I understand.

So I'm going to ask what I've been asked a lot in the past, if Jesus came tomorrow would you be prepared to meet Him. If not, what do you need to do in order to look Him straight in the eyes? What would you give up just to hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." For me, right now, I gave up two years of my life to prepare the way for His coming. But like I say, this won't be the end for me.

"Never give up. Never surrender."

Elder Garcia