Email from Mom

To: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
From: Mom
Date: Sunday, August 29, 2021
Subject: Hey!

Hey!

How are you? How was your last week? How was the lasagna lesson and how did it taste in the end? Something you would make again at home when you get back?

Talk to me about this past week with your companion? How did this week look? Could you see some changes in him at all? Were you able to find ways to serve him and maybe see you in a different light?

Life here is moving right along and sometimes much quicker than I would like. I was scrolling through my phone to see if I had any fun pictures to send and I literally sent you the only one I took all week long!!! It was the day I had the drinks on the kitchen counter. :/

I was going to start weight lifting training with Lisa Van Rooyen but then I finally got to where I needed to go to the chiropractor because I couldn't really turn my  head left or right anymore. Well, turns out the curve in my neck is pretty much gone and that is why it kills to move my head from side to side. So...I will put weight training on the back burner for now. I get to see the chiropractor 3 times a week and get a massage every 10 days. We are hoping to get the nerves and tissues back in alignment enough that they will at least buffer the blow of the bones in my neck sitting on top of each other. What I guess I am saying in all of this is.....NEVER take for granted that you can turn your head from side to side. :)

Things in the world are a mess. I don't know how much you hear or don't hear. Biden has made it a goal of his to pull out all US Troops from Afghanistan. We have been there since just after 9/11 so imagine the uproar that has caused. There are such sad images being shown of Afghans who are terrified of the Taliban killing them for no reason, clinging to a US Hangar plane before it takes off on the runway. There were 2 suicide bombers who killed 13 American troops and many Afghans this last week. The US Citizens are more than frustrated with the President and many are calling for him to step down. One of the 13 was from Utah. A young man, just 20 I believe. They are doing a candlelight vigil at the capital downtown tonight on his behalf. It is just so so sad. And never should have happened. Biden of course is blaming Trump, pushing it off to someone else you know? Anyways, this has taken a lot this week. I drove past flags at 1/2 mast on Wednesday and just started crying. Our country is in trouble.

The big news of the week really is that Kaitlyn's visa for Brazil has been approved. :) I ended up getting all of her final things she had here sent off to her. Nothing will come through our house for her. Her passport will go directly to her Mission President along with her travel plans. I have so many feelings. One kiddo (you) out of the country is hard. I don't want to wonder about two. But I am thrilled she will be able to get to her original assignment and I know she will have great success.

I am happy to see you have water again and that you got everything repaired. Did you watch to see how that all works so that when it happens again (seems to be common) you know what to do so you don't have to go days without water? I imagine you are learning all kinds of life skills every single day. You are going to be set in life to manage and work through some things I am sure. How is the Sim card coming along?

I'd love to know if you have addressed the Alaina problem? Have you had a chance to type up an email and let her know that your focus needs to be on your mission and serving the Lord instead of worrying about her? How did you approach that? I have lots around here asking about you all the time. They are all thrilled with where you are and that you chose to go despite it being Covid and Africa. (both of those are hard!!!)

Please know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of so many. We are all cheering you on and asking the Lord daily to keep you in His arms and in His care. I miss you oodles and yet I can't imagine you not being right where you are at this moment. I am sure you will be happy to meet with your Mission President this next week, the 1st right? What kind of things will you discuss with him? What are some of your concerns/goals/desires? Anything I can help with? I love you more than you will ever know.

To the moon and back, forever.

Mom