I’ve been serving for 2 years! I mean 2 weeks.

25 JAN 2021

Ola meus queridos! This is Elder Garcia and I have left the online-MTC exactly two weeks ago. The mission field has just been so awesome and filled with many experiences already. I am serving in the Arizona Mesa mission until things start opening up for Joao Pessoa Brazil. I have had some amazing experiences already and have no doubt I am where I need to be at the moment.

So from the moment I got here we jumped straight into it the first week I had meetings and orientations and things like that and then the second week was just hard work. So Arizona isn't really as strict with the Corona Virus, we have neighborhoods in our area and we walk around to the members houses or people we are teaching, and we wear a mask the whole time. And unless it is an appointment then we have to stand outside and give a message. 

So I have been blessed with a car at the beginning of my mission hahaha I don't know if thats a good thing or bad thing because im sure im gonna need the car during the summer if im here that long. It's hot and dry here I got spoiled with nice, ocean breeze weather in good ol California. I've also been on 2 exchanges with other Elder's and I had to ride a bike both times, it was actually fun though I felt like a classic missionary. Seeing my reflection on the dirty poop water we saw while riding bikes was actually quite nice lol.

The exchanges were really cool too, one of them was a zone leader and homie slamming and knocking on the doors it was funny and its funny when you knock and you can legit hear the person right on the other side of the door. I wanted SOO bad to lean close to the door and whisper "hey".hahaha that wouldve been so great. We also met with people that enjoyed smoking, and umm, anyways they were conviced their son was the anti-christ and I kid you not they were staring daggers at me and we were in their home. The zone leader I was with is finally like "so we have a curfew." And then the wife goes "oh well call your mission president" im just thinking to my companion "DO NOT CALL THE MISSION PRESIDENT, WE ARE LEAVING NOW". So we made it out alive just so you know.

I've also had really great experieces as well, a couple weeks ago in my first lesson with someone we barely started teaching, we taught her about the Word of Wisdom. I introduced myself and was just being myself and teaching and talking to her throughout the lesson. Her name is Janet and she is addicted to cigarettes. She told us this and we both bore our testimony and she asked if I could give a priesthood blessing. I had only met her that day, but it was an amazing experience because during the prayer I felt like I knew her and I didnt stumble or stutter, and just felt the spirit so strong. We have been continuing to help her and she is planning to be baptized on February 13th. This experience was really great and just confirmed for me that this is where I need to be.

In the apartment we share, it's me and my companion Elder Tafuna'i, he is samoan and lets just say we both like to eat. And then it's Elder Nielsen and Elder Francis. They are hilarious and super christ-like and we get along well. 

Also no one told me missionaries go to church twice, I dont know why I never thought about that but it makes sense. I'm not complaining but it's funny taking the sacrament twice, hahaha I had no idea.

And speaking of church, I heard that my Bishop got released, Bishop Basua was a blessing on everyones lives and will always be my bishop. It's crazy thinking of the changes but change can be simply great. It just opens up new opportunities to grow as children of God. I've gotten to know Brother Liporada really well and have no doubt he will be an Awesome Bishop. And with Brother Rasmussen and Brother Ramos as couselor, that's the dream team right there.

Things have been really great and just filled with experiences and learning, I meet so many new people and I try my best to remember members, non-members, other Elders, street names, etc. Missionaries are very organized and im learning a lot. Also my companion served in Brazil so we practice Portuguese, so thats great because I didnt do 6 hour computer zoom classes for 6 weeks for me to just forget it.

I start a new week with new experiences, so wish me luck. TCHAU!