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
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
12 Aug 10 - 18 Aug 10 (Pictures at bottom of Post)
12:48 PM
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
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.
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 FamilyThe third daughter (standing next to me)
looks like Star Manning from One Life to Live
Elder Keim & Elder Mitchell
Thursday, August 12, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
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
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
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