Lots of Changes

Wow, what a day. What a week. Last week I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with my hijo Elder Lawyer in Campana, and with Elder Lanas in Zárate 2. It was a really great experience to be with and work with them and especially learn from them. What I love most about being a zone leader is getting to work with more missionaries and learn from them. It's the best. It was especially fun to be with my hijo again and see the progress that he has had since I took him back to Pacheco with me on his first day in the mission field. I spent a lot of time away from my area this week, so I'm excited to get to know the people that Elder Fabila met last week. 

On Friday we (Hermana Hemi, Hermana Carter, Elder Sanchez, Elder Lanas, Elder Fabila, and I) made tacos with the Ramirez family and Brenda for a family home evening because it was Elder Sanchez's last week in the mission, and he is from Mexico, so he just had to make us tacos. It was a lot of fun. The Ramirez family has progressed so much. On Sunday Julio gave the opening prayer in sacrament meeting and Laura gave a talk. It was really special. 

Saturday was a really special day as we did two service projects in the morning. We helped a sister in the ward put up a roof, and we helped another family shovel out a lot of gravel that they had behind their house. It was fun, but I got a little sore the next day. That night the Sisters had a baptism and, like always here in Zárate, us missionaries did a special musical number. It was a really great baptismal service.

On Sunday we went to the Missionary Farewell in San Fernando. Hermana Hemi signed herself, Hermana Carter, Elder Fabila and I up to sing a musical number. We had to sing in front of about 1000 people. I was pretty nervous. It's been a long time since I've sung in front of so many people. It was fun though and I felt like we did a really good job. After it was over a few people that I didn't know came up to me and asked for autographs and fotos... it was weird. This transfer 27 missionaries went home, and I knew almost all of them. It was bitter-sweet as a lot of my friends went home. Elder Cruz (my Mexican trainer), Elder Popoca (my Mexican friend from Constitución), Elder Sanchez (my Mexican friend from Zárate), and Hermana Hemi (my Australian friend from Chacabuco/Zárate) all went home. It made me cry when Elder Cruz hugged me and gave me one of his name badges so that I'll remember him. He was a great trainer and a great friend throughout my whole mission. This Farewell I was able to see a lot of members and converts from my old areas that I hadn't seen in a long time. It was so great to see them and know that they are still active in the church.

Yesterday morning we got a call from President Ayre asking Elder Fabila to be his new Asistant, so he left at about 11 o'clock and I spent the rest of the day with Elder Sanchez and Elder Lanas. Last night I had a really special opportunity. Hermana Hemi, who finished her mission today, asked me to give her a blessing before going home. I was her District Leader in Chacabuco and her Zone Leader here in Zárate.  It was one of those really really special blessings for me where I felt like a tool in the Lord's hands.

Today was transfers. I'm staying in Zárate as a Zone Leader with Elder Núñez. He is from Houston, Texas, and I've known him for a long time. We were in the MTC at the same time, we were companions on the airplane, and we've been in a couple zones together. It's going to be a lot of fun to work together and I'm excited for this transfer. This transfer half the zone was transferred out, and in every area someone was called to train or to be a zone leader in another area or to be a sister training leader. I'm really happy for the zone and the time that we were together. We're excited for another great transfer! I love you all!

Love,

Elder John William Garrett