Una semana de lluvia

This Tuesday I had the priviledge of going on exchanges with Elder Hankins, one of my zone leaders. I went to his area in Vucetich, and when we left his pension it wasn't raining, so we didn't bring an umbrella. Then it started pouring and pouring and rained all day. We left with just sweaters on and before long we were freezing. It was one of those really really cold rains. Luckily, we visited a recent convert who had an awesome heater in her house, so we were able to take off the sweaters, dry off a bit, and as we left, she lent us some of her husband's work coats. The funny thing was... her husband works for Bimbo, a bread company, and the coats she lent us were huge white marshmallow coats. They kept us warm enough alright. However, what calls more attention than two giant Yankees in brilliantly white marshmallow coats? Not much. We had a blast. Overall, we were pretty much freezing all day and all night because his pension is really cold, but it was probably one of the funnest days of my mission. I learned a lot from Elder Hankins about staying positive no matter what and giving the mission all we've got. Even when we give it all we've got, it may not be enough, but we should do it anyway, as it really is between us and the Lord and no one else. It was a miserable day, but I really enjoyed it and gained another new best mission friend in Elder Hankins.

This week we worked really hard to find and teach investigators. Unfortunately, Olga was working all week so we couldn't teach her, and then on Saturday when we finally found her she told us she wouldn't be able to go to church. Fortunately, a hermana in our ward brought a friend to church, and we were able to set up an appointment to start teaching her, so we're excited about that.

I had a pretty spiritual end of the week. On Wednesday my companion and I dropped by the church and while we were there we ran into the Bishop. I got slammed with a 20 minute talk for church yesterday. My subject was "Love thy neighbor as thyself." I prepared a pretty great outline with a lot of material including the atonement and a lot of great stuff, but in the end, the youth speaker and my companion each spoke for 15 minutes and I only had 10 minutes to talk. I ended up hardly even looking at my notes, and I don't remember what I said. When I sat down, my companion turned to me and asked, "did you get the feeling that when you were speaking it wasn't you, but was really the Holy Ghost?" It was a truly incredible experience, and one that I will not forget. 

Today we went to the Temple with the whole mission. Wooo!!!! Our zone had to be there at 8:10, and all the members told us we should leave at 5:00. We woke up at 4:00 and left at 5:00... and got there at 7:00 and had to wait an hour for the rest of our zone. Even though I'm exhausted, it was a really awesome experience again.
 

Next week I will be having transfers, so P-day will be Tuesday. Don't get worried when I don't write on Monday, I'm not dead.

Love,

Elder John William Garrett

Muchísimas empanadas

This week was a really great week. On Wednesday we had our zone conference/interviews with Presidente Ayre and it was really great. I really do have the best Mission President in the world, and I'm blessed to be in the best Mission in the world as well... so... sorry to all those who aren't a part of "La Gran Misión Buenos Aires Norte" haha. My Mission President is also really young, so I wouldn't be surprised if we all see him on TV some day during General Conference. One thing we talked about is that a successful missionary: 1- is exactly obedient, 2- is full of energy, 3- loves the people whom he/she serves, and 4- is a Christ-like teacher. My goal is to keep working on developing my teaching skills because I have the firm testimony that it is not only a talent that will serve me well in the mission field, but the rest of my life.

After the interviews, I had the opportunity to go on a companionship exchange and go to José C. Paz with Elder Núñez from Texas, a good friend of mine. We learned a lot together and had a lot of fun. He had a package from home stuffed with American candies, so that was awesome. One of the best parts of the exchange was the power of the Book of Mormon. It was really cool, because usually it takes a while to have chemistry as a companionship while teaching, but Elder Núñez and I in our first day together taught completely united. As we were helping the members in the ward participate in missionary work, it was incredible to feel the Spirit iluminate my mind with scriptures that touched me years ago, and see the affect that the Book of Mormon has on people. It truly is the word of God, and was revealed to a prophet of God.

Something funny on Friday was we ate lunch with a member and she made us empanadas. Your average person eats about 5 or 6. I ate 8... and my companion ate 16. Afterwards we were stuffed, and that night we had set up a Family Home Evening with the Montoya family, and she had prepared some food for us. Being stuffed already, we walk in and what had she made? Empanadas. We could only eat one more each and ended up taking quite a few home for breakfast the next day. It was hilarious.

Saturday night Hermana Montoya gave us 5 referrals. Unfortunately we weren't able to contact them before Sunday, but on Sunday we were able to contact one named Olga, who has had a lot of problems in her life. She accepted everything we taught her and accepted a baptismal date, and said that she felt a lot of peace in the Montoya home. About an hour after the lesson we went back to the Montoya house to go to the bathroom, and Olga was still there! She didn't want to leave because she felt so good!

Things are looking up in Pablo Nogués.

"Que la fuerza les acompañe."

Elder John William Garrett

Happy Mother's Day!

It was really great to see my family yesterday! One of the funniest moments for me was when Hannah asked me about a bike and a car haha... we walk all day everyday... and we walk A LOT. The craziest thing was seeing how big all of my nieces and nephews are! I was very impressed with all the words and animal sounds that Josie knows, and that Jackson is learning to walk. Liesel... well... doesn't do much yet... but she was born in November... so I guess it's okay that she's just cute for now. It was fun talking with you all! It was actually really hard to speak in English, and I found myself thinking in Spanish and translating it in my head to English haha. It was rough. My Hondureñan companion made fun of me afterwards because he could tell I was struggling. I've been teaching him some English and he was really excited to talk with you all, but when the moment to shine came... he froze... and had to ask me what you said haha.

This past week was a bit difficult. We're doing a lot of walking and having trouble finding people. We had a lot of people who weren't home when we had appointments. However, we're staying positive and we know that the Lord needs us in Pablo Nogués. Today in Companionship Study we read a scripture in D&C 95 that says something like the Lord chastens and gives challenges to those He loves, and I decided, "If I've been in Pablo Nogués 4 months, the Lord must love me a lot!" We're staying positive and working hard. Something interesting is that we are not only faced with the challenge of finding more investigators, but more inactive members, because most of the inactive members we were working with are now active.

There's a hymn that's been impacting me a lot lately, and I like to put it in terms of in my mission and life in general. The hymn is "O My Father":

1. O my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtured near thy side?

2. For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something
Whispered, "You're a stranger here,"
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.

3. I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav'ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I've a mother there.

4. When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I've completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.

In the spirit of Mother's Day, I testify that just as we've a Father awaiting us as we pass on from this life, we've also a Mother. I'm so grateful for them. I'm so grateful for my earthly parents and all they've done for me. I know that they were meant just for me.

Love,

Elder John William Garrett

Esta semana

It was a really spiritual week for me and I learned a lot. It's amazing to think how much taking notes as you study the Book of Mormon helps you learn more. I started reading it two weeks ago and I'm only up to the middle of 1 Nephi 8. It's been incredible the things I've been able to learn, and I am convinced that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

We had an interesting experience this week with a brother from the ward who was going to accompany us in a few lessons, who called us and said he wouldn't be able to come because he was sick and wanted a priesthood blessing. We went to his house and gave him the blessing. I'm pretty sure I had one of the most spiritual learning experiences of my life. I know that the Priesthood power I hold is the power of God. I know that the Lord works according to the faith of men. How many times do we see people ask for priesthood blessings saying they have faith that they will be healed, receive the blessing, and retire back to bed saying "I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow." "How is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him (1 Nephi 7:12)?" I have a firm testimony that if we have faith enough to be healed tomorrow, we will be healed tomorrow. If we have faith enough to be healed in an instant, we will be healed in an instant. When the Master healed, we read in the Bible that He often commanded someone to be healed, and then extended His hand to raise them up. Do we have faith to take His hand? "Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works (James 2:18)." I came to some very important conclusions from this experience and my scripture study, but I'll let you all come to your own.

Yesterday was a great day because Beto (Hermano Escobar) received the priesthood and was ordained a Priest. The Bishop invited Elder Lopez and I to participate in the ordination, and it was a really great experience. It is so incredible to see how the Gospel completely changes lives.

Yesterday was also Fast and Testimony Meeting, so I'd like to share my testimony. I know that God loves each and every one of us, because I pray to Him. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, because I read it. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore His church, because I have read and do read the Book of Mormon and I pray and ask Him if it is true. I know that we have a prophet in this day because I have listened to him. I know that missionary work is important because I'm doing it. I know that the Gospel is true because I am doing my best to live it. The Lord in the scriptures often asks us to test Him to know the truth of all things. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself (John 7:17)." I testify that if we test Him, we can gain our own spiritual witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel and the reality that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church. However, don't take my word for it, I challenge each of you to find out for yourselves, and I know that "by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things (Moroni 10:3-5)." 

Love,

Elder John William Garrett