Monday, March 26th Email

Everything is alright. I'm just trying to make it by these next ten weeks...well at least 4 more weeks. Nothing happened this past week. Our top two investigators, it's the couple, the husband wasn't feeling well so we never saw them this week. We tried seeing less-actives this week but no one is home. We've tried to see people in the afternoon and in the evening but no one is home. Everybody's sick, everybody needs a ride to church, everyone is on probabtion, the members don't really help in anything, over half the ward are older members, this area is just pretty tough.

Elder Campbell is from West Jordan, UT. It's not really going ok, well, we get along but I'm going insane. I don't think I will survive if I stay with him another transfer. He's been out 13 months. He's by the rules probably like 95% of the time. I don't get how to teach these missionaries how to go by the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law. A lot of missionaries who are by the rules ruin areas and people don't like them. I liken it unto the Pharisees and the Sadducces. You see, the Pharisees and the Sadducces were ALL about the rules and they totally over looked Jesus Christ. Everybody else went by the spirit and they recognized Jesus Christ when He came.

(Um, I don't think that should go in the blog.) (Sorry, Tyler, I like your analogy. Missionaries should ALWAYS go by the Spirit!)

So, I have thought about what to do in California. I really don't know. We should let the people of facebook decide. I bet a couple of people would "like" the status and I bet Tessie would comment haha.

Our investigator has some $$ left to pay off. Once he's done he can be baptized.

I guess that's it for now. We're saving miles for this last week because we have to go all the way up past Lilburn for a meeting, they won't let us write them off so it doesn't count against us. Well, I'm glad I'm leaving in 10 weeks, I feel sorry for some of the missionaries left who have to deal with some of the stuff that is happening in the mission.

-Elder Garcia

Emails Mar 5, 12, & 19

5th

Not much has happened this last week. We met with our investigators, the couple. They're practically the only ones haha. The other guy is still on probation so we still can't really do anything. So when we met with them we went over 1 Nephi 8. It went pretty well, the husband is still enjoying everything. Before we taught he asked us a lot of questions, it was getting intense. Nothing anti or bashing just more questions to get to know us, stuff about missionaries, etc. he was fascinated about everything. They didn't make it to church yesterday, the wife had to work and the husbands feet were swollen and hurting. We also had a barbecue cook out Saturday evening by the best cooks in the ward and it was a huge feast. Both the senior couple missionaries were there, plus the bishop, elders quorum president and wife, relief society & young men's president and son, one other couple and a less active, so 15 people were there in a tiny house. It was pretty crowded. Also at church there's a Filipino couple in our ward and their feeding us at the end of the month and I told him that my brother just had balut on his mission. Now the husband wants to make me one. So I might challenge Daniel now haha. That's pretty disgusting but then again I've had chicken feet, ox tail, pig tail and who knows what else Jamaicans and Nigerians put in their food. That was my week.

Well Daniel called his Filipino side. So I figured I might give it a try haha

I'm glad I don't have a Filipino side! Take the challenge in GA then.... you won't find Balut in this house! I'm setting down my foot on that one! ha ha

I don't know how I'll make it through two more tranfers. There's absolutely nothing to do down here unless I go out of the mission or go see recent converts or other members. We practically only have two investigators, I'm never going to tract again. Our district keeps to themselves now. I hope I get a cool companion next week that will keep me sane haha.

13 weeks, 2 transfers, 3 months, 1 general conference and 1 mothers day left to go.

12th

So Daniel is pretty sure he's getting transferred north (not necessarily Santa Fe).

That's cool that Daniel is finally getting transferred.

So yeah, my companion is going home and I'm pretty depressed. I'm really hoping that these 12 weeks will go by super fast. My new companion is Elder Campbell. I don't know where he's from. He was a Portuguese speaking missionary up in Roswell got switched to English and sent to me. I don't think he's as cool as a few of my last companions so that's why I'm depressed. I'll be getting a little bit of help so hopefully that will keep me somewhat sane.

Daniel asked if I had my bags packed...yep, I packed last night. Well, mostly everything, my proselyting clothes and scripture stuff is all that I use anymore. I have so much room left, especially if I send home a box or two. I bought those space bag things in my last area and they save a ton of room.

Also, do we have relatives down here? There's a park in Rex, GA called "Walter Estes park" and I found a street on our map that says "Estes street"

(They are....probably descendants from our first ancestor who came to Virginia in the 1600"s.  He had around 13 children and many of them moved further south.)

Oh ok, that's what I thought because the Estes trucking company is also in our area.

19th

(Got your Travel Itenerary for coming home.  Flying Delta, coming into SLC at 2:11 p.m. on June 7th.)

I'm glad it's Delta and a one way trip.

How did your week go?  Do you think this will be your last comp? How is he?

We're supposed to have another snow storm come in today and then it will gradually get warmer through the week and it should be in the 60's by Thursday, so I'll get to take Scotty outside. If I have enough energy I might walk him to the park, he'll love that! I saw that it's been in the 70's there. Are you feeling the humidity yet?

Daniel got moved a little further north, up to Las Cruces.  It's around 45 miles from El Paso.... at least it's away from the border!  He says he's covering two wards.

It's been in the 80's all week. I thought the same thing about the summer. I think it's going to be pretty bad. Good thing I won't be a missionary anymore haha. The humidity hasn't really hit yet but it's getting there.

But first a joke! What do you get when every car is yellow?...

I hope this isn't my last companion. He's not bad, he's a good missionary but....

Anyways, it wasn't too bad. We saw our investigators again. None came to church yesterday. I'm pretty trunky...it's inevitable. After ward council my companion and I went and sat down in the foyer. A couple minutes later this lady shows up at around 8:30. She asked where does everyone meet, what time it starts, etc. Anyways, we told her how everything went and then she told us that it was her day off. She said that she always passes the church building on the way to work. She then said to us that everytime she passed the church something inside her told her that she needs to go. She told us she always follows her feelings and came to church to follow that feeling. ELECT OR WHAT?!?! But guess what the best part is! SHE'S NOT IN OUR AREA!!! she's in Jonesboro's ward....gosh darn it.

I can't wait to see Scotty. 11 more weeks...but who's counting?...I AM! =D

Well...at least Daniel is out of El Paso right? So, I remember Daniel saying that there's 3% of members in New Mexico. A couple weeks ago I found out what the percentage of members are in Georgia. Guess what it is! It's like 1%!...give or take a couple tenths of a point. Anyways, I'm pretty trunky, and my companion makes it better...to be more trunky.

The answer to the joke: "POLLEN!"                    Pollen...because it's spring time.                                  Snow? Hopefully it'll all be gone when I get home haha. I'll try and bring some of this weather.

Just don't bring the humidity!