7:37 AM
[How was your holiday?]
It was pretty good. We had a turkey bowl in the morning and we played at Alpharetta High on their astroturf. It was pretty fun. My team had the ball and the quarter back threw it to one of our players and there was someone from the other team right behind him and both didn't catch it and I was probably 5 feet behind them and somehow it landed in my arms, I didn't make a touchdown with it but it was pretty neat how that happened. And also near the end of the game I made a touchdown. For actual Thanksgiving day a family in the ward invited us over and we went to their parents house just south of our area. There was probably 18 people there plus my companion and I. The food was alright. The family who invited us asked Elder Jordan and I what kind of pie we wanted and I asked for Lemon Merange? and it didn't taste like it at all, it didn't even look like it, except for the white stuff on top, but it was still good to eat. We played a couple games, Lagratto? it's a card game and I don't know how to explain it. Then we played Aggravation, it's like parcheesy, it was pretty fun, it's 6 players and I was the 3rd to win. I think that's it for Thanksgiving Day. I've probably had 4 thanksgivings now. The first one was at the end of October and this guy in the ward fed us what seemed like a thanksgiving dinner, he's a good cook. The second one was at the beginning of this month, though it wasn't really Thanksgiving dinner though it smelled like it and it looked like it. Actual Thanksgiving day. And the fourth just last night. There's a lot to say about this family but I don't want to get into it but basically the son wanted his mothers thanksgiving dinner. The son's married and he went to his wife's family for Thanksgiving. And it was pretty good last night.
Also, can I buy a CD player? it's pretty quiet/boring in the appartment when we've almost gone a whole transfer without listening to anything.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
8:40 AM
I'm doing pretty good.
John Bytheway came to our mission to speak to the youth. The schedule was split into two days. We went on Saturday, and before he spoke to the youth he spoke to the missionaries and before that he was talking with some. One elder I was with wanted to shake his hand and meet him, but I didn't want to, but we did anyway. He asked me where I'm from and I said "Modesto, CA" because nobody's heard of good ol' little Ceres. But anyway he was like "Oh, there's an Elder Garcia that serves in our ward" and I replied "Is he short?" (sorry, that's probably bad) and he was like "yeah, I think he's shorter" and I reacted "HE'S MY BROTHER!" (hopefully it is the right Elder Garcia). He took me into the hallway and we took pictures and he said he would show Elder Garcia the pictures of us during church.
We don't tract on major holidays, or after 8 pm. It is super not effective and people get really mad. We have dinner with a family who's going to their family in Roswell, that's pretty fun.
What's happening for thanksgiving over there?
And what happened with the Governor of California and all that? Anyways...
Hope all is well and that's cool that the cast is coming off.
-Elder Garcia
I'm doing pretty good.
John Bytheway came to our mission to speak to the youth. The schedule was split into two days. We went on Saturday, and before he spoke to the youth he spoke to the missionaries and before that he was talking with some. One elder I was with wanted to shake his hand and meet him, but I didn't want to, but we did anyway. He asked me where I'm from and I said "Modesto, CA" because nobody's heard of good ol' little Ceres. But anyway he was like "Oh, there's an Elder Garcia that serves in our ward" and I replied "Is he short?" (sorry, that's probably bad) and he was like "yeah, I think he's shorter" and I reacted "HE'S MY BROTHER!" (hopefully it is the right Elder Garcia). He took me into the hallway and we took pictures and he said he would show Elder Garcia the pictures of us during church.
We don't tract on major holidays, or after 8 pm. It is super not effective and people get really mad. We have dinner with a family who's going to their family in Roswell, that's pretty fun.
What's happening for thanksgiving over there?
And what happened with the Governor of California and all that? Anyways...
Hope all is well and that's cool that the cast is coming off.
-Elder Garcia
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
(Sent Monday, Nov. 15th)
Everything is going ok. We have four people we're teaching...well technically three. One hasn't called us back in a while. He [my companion] and I, I would say, don't really see eye to eye at all, but we do get along.
[Note from Mom: I asked about his apartment.]
Yeah it's bottom floor on the corner facing the street. We have our own mailbox and there's separate boxes for packages. UPS drops it next to the appartment door. If you're looking at Google Earth or something, the mail box station is by the club house by the pool.
One other thing I'd like to mention here in this area. Whoever said there's road kill in Georgia or a stereotype is not a lie. There's a ton of road kill, I see it everyday, most are squirrels, I've seen two snakes, two owls which was weird, one deer or doe or faun I don't know, Bambi, plenty of possums, raccoons, but mostly squirrels. I've also biked next to deers. We were riding home one night and there were a couple of deers eating next to the road but they ran off when we went by, that was cool.
-Elder Garcia
Everything is going ok. We have four people we're teaching...well technically three. One hasn't called us back in a while. He [my companion] and I, I would say, don't really see eye to eye at all, but we do get along.
[Note from Mom: I asked about his apartment.]
Yeah it's bottom floor on the corner facing the street. We have our own mailbox and there's separate boxes for packages. UPS drops it next to the appartment door. If you're looking at Google Earth or something, the mail box station is by the club house by the pool.
One other thing I'd like to mention here in this area. Whoever said there's road kill in Georgia or a stereotype is not a lie. There's a ton of road kill, I see it everyday, most are squirrels, I've seen two snakes, two owls which was weird, one deer or doe or faun I don't know, Bambi, plenty of possums, raccoons, but mostly squirrels. I've also biked next to deers. We were riding home one night and there were a couple of deers eating next to the road but they ran off when we went by, that was cool.
-Elder Garcia
Monday, November 8, 2010
8:44 AM
All I really need is a v-neck sweater. The weather cooled down a lot, unusual for this time of the year. But I still wear the short sleeve shirts, I'll wear the rain coat jacket when we bike but I get hot and sweat so I take it off when we get to a place.
My companion and I get along most times, we have our arguments but we get over them, nothing too bad. Oh, cause when he said he was from Dana Point it sounded familiar so I thought Uncle Dana was named after that place. [Uncle Dana was named after an old actor named Dana Andrews]. I know of only one other companionship that were both from California. One is from LA and he's on the UGA campus now (University of Georgia-Athens, if you didn't know), I forgot how to spell his name. and Elder Butler who is from Hollister but he's home now. There's Elder Mendon who's from somewhere up by Chico and another elder from the bay area. I think that's it for the California elders I'm not sure if there's any others.
Blog:
Being out on a mission for 5 months I guess you can say I took the church for granted. Since I've been out I've learned so much. I found new meanings in things like baptism, hymns, baby blessings, etc. I've felt the Spirit more and I've learned to appreciate it. These three songs never really hit me till my mission.
I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.
I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotentwho reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.
And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.
And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.
And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
-Mosiah 3:5-8
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
-John 15:13
I need thee every hour
Most gracious Lord.
No tender voice like thine
Can peace afford.
I need thee every hour;
Stay thou nearby.
Temptations lose their pow'r
When thou art nigh.
I need thee every hour,
In joy or pain.
Come quickly and abide,
Or Life is vain.
I need thee every hour,
Most holy One.
Oh, make me thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son!
I need thee, oh, I need thee;
Every hour I need thee!
Oh, bless me now, my Savior;
I come to thee!
Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in the righteousness.
-Psalm 143:1
Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
The day is past and gone;
The shadows of the evening fall;
The night is coming on.
Within my heart a welcome guest,
Within my home abide.
Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
Thy walk today with me
Has made my heart within me burn,
As I communed with thee.
Thy earnest words have filled my soul
And kept me near thy side.
Abide with me; 'tis eventide,
And lone will be the night
If I cannot commune with thee,
Nor find in thee my light.
The darkness of the world, I fear,
World in my home abide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
-Alma 5:44-48
3 Nephi 5:13
All I really need is a v-neck sweater. The weather cooled down a lot, unusual for this time of the year. But I still wear the short sleeve shirts, I'll wear the rain coat jacket when we bike but I get hot and sweat so I take it off when we get to a place.
My companion and I get along most times, we have our arguments but we get over them, nothing too bad. Oh, cause when he said he was from Dana Point it sounded familiar so I thought Uncle Dana was named after that place. [Uncle Dana was named after an old actor named Dana Andrews]. I know of only one other companionship that were both from California. One is from LA and he's on the UGA campus now (University of Georgia-Athens, if you didn't know), I forgot how to spell his name. and Elder Butler who is from Hollister but he's home now. There's Elder Mendon who's from somewhere up by Chico and another elder from the bay area. I think that's it for the California elders I'm not sure if there's any others.
Blog:
Being out on a mission for 5 months I guess you can say I took the church for granted. Since I've been out I've learned so much. I found new meanings in things like baptism, hymns, baby blessings, etc. I've felt the Spirit more and I've learned to appreciate it. These three songs never really hit me till my mission.
I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.
I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotentwho reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.
And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.
And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.
And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
-Mosiah 3:5-8
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
-John 15:13
I need thee every hour
Most gracious Lord.
No tender voice like thine
Can peace afford.
I need thee every hour;
Stay thou nearby.
Temptations lose their pow'r
When thou art nigh.
I need thee every hour,
In joy or pain.
Come quickly and abide,
Or Life is vain.
I need thee every hour,
Most holy One.
Oh, make me thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son!
I need thee, oh, I need thee;
Every hour I need thee!
Oh, bless me now, my Savior;
I come to thee!
Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in the righteousness.
-Psalm 143:1
Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
The day is past and gone;
The shadows of the evening fall;
The night is coming on.
Within my heart a welcome guest,
Within my home abide.
Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
Thy walk today with me
Has made my heart within me burn,
As I communed with thee.
Thy earnest words have filled my soul
And kept me near thy side.
Abide with me; 'tis eventide,
And lone will be the night
If I cannot commune with thee,
Nor find in thee my light.
The darkness of the world, I fear,
World in my home abide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
-Alma 5:44-48
3 Nephi 5:13
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
1 Nov 10
7:51 AM
Is Uncle Dana named after Dana Point, California? If so, that's where my new companion is from. Elder Jordan
One thing that happened that was an awesome experience. We went to see a lady who knows this church is true and knows the Book of Mormon is true but she wasn't home. There's a member who lives around the corner from her. We were going to see them but I wasn't feeling too good about seeing them at that moment. So we left to tract another neighborhood and we met with one person but nothing else was happening. There's also another member in that neighborhood and we stopped by to see how they were doing and to help them with missionary work. After we left we decided to go back and see that one lady. She was finally home when we went back and we talked with her for a couple of minutes and we gave her a DVD for her husband (he got a little anti about sometime after they came to church once). And the DVD is about the Book of Mormon and "proof", I guess you can say, with artifacts in Guatamala. She said she would be at church if it wasn't for her husband and hopefully the DVD will soften him. After her, we went to the members place [that we skipped before] and this time I felt really good about seeing them. We went in and talked to the wife for a bit. Her youngest daughter was sick and after a couple of minutes of us being there she started coughing weird and stuff like that. The mom asked if my companion and I could give her a blessing. So we did, my companion anointed and I sealed. But what got me wasn't the actual blessing she asked us to give. It was us being there. Her husband found work in Utah and is there six months at a time and her oldest boy is a deacon and he wasn't home yet. So it got me how we came at the right time, to be there when they needed it most, because there's no priesthood in the house. After that experience I realized that Heavenly Father really is the Master Planner (I don't really know how else to say it) and that he guides us. And that really hit me hard after that.
-Elder Garcia
Is Uncle Dana named after Dana Point, California? If so, that's where my new companion is from. Elder Jordan
One thing that happened that was an awesome experience. We went to see a lady who knows this church is true and knows the Book of Mormon is true but she wasn't home. There's a member who lives around the corner from her. We were going to see them but I wasn't feeling too good about seeing them at that moment. So we left to tract another neighborhood and we met with one person but nothing else was happening. There's also another member in that neighborhood and we stopped by to see how they were doing and to help them with missionary work. After we left we decided to go back and see that one lady. She was finally home when we went back and we talked with her for a couple of minutes and we gave her a DVD for her husband (he got a little anti about sometime after they came to church once). And the DVD is about the Book of Mormon and "proof", I guess you can say, with artifacts in Guatamala. She said she would be at church if it wasn't for her husband and hopefully the DVD will soften him. After her, we went to the members place [that we skipped before] and this time I felt really good about seeing them. We went in and talked to the wife for a bit. Her youngest daughter was sick and after a couple of minutes of us being there she started coughing weird and stuff like that. The mom asked if my companion and I could give her a blessing. So we did, my companion anointed and I sealed. But what got me wasn't the actual blessing she asked us to give. It was us being there. Her husband found work in Utah and is there six months at a time and her oldest boy is a deacon and he wasn't home yet. So it got me how we came at the right time, to be there when they needed it most, because there's no priesthood in the house. After that experience I realized that Heavenly Father really is the Master Planner (I don't really know how else to say it) and that he guides us. And that really hit me hard after that.
-Elder Garcia
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