FIRST Phone Call Home: Monday, August 9, 2021

I woke up today not sure if it was even a Pday in Africa let alone if it was if I would have a chance to talk to Elder Garcia at all. I have heard such little in regards to his arrival that today felt super unknown the moment I opened my eyes for the day.

Togo is 6 hours ahead of us so when I woke up just after 7am it was already 1pm there for Elder Garcia. I was busy chatting with Sister Garcia and checking in on her when I got am email from Elder Garcia saying basically that he was unsure if he would be able to make a video call, he hopes to get his sim card today, and that if it all doesn't work out he wanted me to know that he loves me. <3 I conceded that this was going to be it for me for today and carried on.

As I was sitting at the desk in the office my phone rang and I totally assumed it would be Sister Garcia but it was not. It was Elder Garcia!!! He was able to make a call afterall. :) It was great to just see his face and to hear his voice period. The service is sketchy and it was hard to stay connected long enough without buffering going on after every 3rd sentence but he was able to take me along on a tour of his new apartment. It is good size and for the most part clean. He did mention that he spent a good amount of time this morning on his hands and knees cleaning floors. He moved furniture to dust (and said it was so super gross and inches of dust underneath them) and got his new companion involved as well. He was doing laundry when our call connected and when I say doing laundry I mean he was taking his garments off of a clothesline outside in their 'backyard'. Which really is just like a concrete alley from what I could see.

We talked about his day of travel. He doesn't love flying at the moment and I think it will take the full 2 years for him to be ready to get on a plane to come back home knowing just how long that looks like. He said when he got to Paris they had to go through security again and his arm got flagged. He said they took the metal detecting wand to it 3 different times to ensure there was no threat to be concerned about. He said he did not love airplane food. He chose pasta and cheese to eat on the flight from LA to Paris and then he chose the chicken on the way from Paris to Togo. He did however say that the apple juice on the plane was super delicious. I giggled only because I am sure that he loved it because it is so sugary. Elder Garcia has always loved the sugary stuff.

Once he arrived in Togo he said it was a nightmare! One, it was late. Like after 10pm late. He had been on a plane for what felt like forever and he was just ready to be done. When they arrived they had to take another Covid test. There were 3 lines to stand in, 2 testing stations, and only 1 person working each station. He said he knew at that point that it was going to be some time before he processed through. He said that him and the 2 other Elders he traveled with watched as their luggage came out but there was literally nothing he could do to ensure that nobody walked off with it but say a prayer because they had to pass a Covid test before they could head out of the airport terminal to go to baggage claim. Thankfully, they got it all squared away and he was safely in the hands of Elder and Sister Coe, the Senior Couple of the mission. From here they were taken to an apartment in Togo to sleep and call it a day. Elder Garcia said they were given the option to take 1 of their 2 bags so he chose 1 and felt good about it. He said once they arrived at the apartment they soon learned they would not have a mosquito net for their beds so he got in his suitcase and thankfully this one had his bug spray! All 3 Elders lathered up and got ready for bed. Here's the funny, not so funny...Elder Garcia's pajamas were in his other suitcase so he figured he would just sleep in the clothes he had been traveling in for the last 24+ hours. He pretty much said it wouldn't matter anyways because what was one more day in them? I love that he already is out of his comfort zone and making it happen.

The next morning (this would be Saturday now) they went back to the Coe's home and met their new Mission President and wife, President and Sister Proudfoot. Elder Garcia says they are from England and they have heavy accents. I secretly think that would be totally cool! They had an interview and some instruction given and then they met their training companion. Elder Garcia's companion is Elder Obeya. He is 24 if he has not yet had his birthday this year or 25 if he has. He is from the Congo and he speaks ZERO English. Only French. (I am 1000% certain Elder Garcia wishes he had spent more time in the Home MTC on his language than on the Facebook or email with a girl). He mentioned that Elder Obeya told him he needs to learn the language quickly so he wasn't the only one carrying conversations and teachings (which I totally agree with) and sadly, Elder Garcia snipped back and asked him if he was learning English and if not then he needed to. I had to have a conversation and remind Elder Garcia to be the bigger person in all situations and to understand his place. I pray this companionship can be good.

Elder Garcia's first area is Kpalime Togo (pal-i-may). It is roughly 2.5 hours from where he was picked up from so he had another day of driving. They hire a taxi though because they do not have cars. When he got to his apartment he had a bicycle waiting for him and I am pleased to report that it is actually a pretty decent one at that. He said that most Africans have manual cars and they have to always be in 5th gear...especially when turning corners! He said it was crazy scary to watch others around him while he was experiencing a ride on his own in the taxi. There are some ami's (friends) that are in the area who are currently taking discussions and Elder Garcia was able to meet them at church yesterday. He said church was an experience all by itself. But he did say that he was inclined to share his testimony with one of them about repentance and he felt sorta good about the French when he was speaking it. He said he recognizes that he has a LOT of work to do when it comes to the language. I hope that as he engulfs himself in the culture and tries to learn from Elder Obeya that he will ask for the Lords help and that he will be able to learn the things he needs to in order to apply himself as a missionary.

For now, Elder Garcia will be in Togo. The borders to Benin have been closed due to Covid. He has been told that if the borders to Togo get closed he will be sent back to the states and reassigned to finish his mission. I will for sure have in my prayers that he will have the opportunity to finish his mission in Africa and that he will have many experiences and lessons that will mold him for the rest of his life while being there.

Elder Garcia did say that yesterday after church he began to think about home and what we would be doing after church. He said that he started to get a little homesick so he decided to focus on something else and wrote in his journal. I think that was wise for him to recognize that his focus needed to be on where he was and not here at home. Our call had to come to an end because 1. he was using his companions sim card (he is hoping to get his own sometime this next week) and 2. he is 6 hours ahead of us and he has to be done by 5:30pm there which is 11:30am here. Seriously so crazy! As I was getting ready to say goodbye my emotions got the better of me. I had tears falling and my voice was all crackly. I was merely trying to let Elder Garcia know how proud I am of him and how I had longed to see his face and hear his voice. I wanted him to know how much I love him and that I am grateful for his choice to serve. And the emotions won. And I felt horrible when I watched as Elder Garcia swiped tears out of his eyes too. I knew then I needed to bring it back to upbeat and happy so I made a joke that I worry that he will love it there too much and not want to stay home. I reminded him of my friend Josh who served in Germany, came home and was released, and then 2 days later was back in Germany and has lived there ever since. It helped. And I was able to hang up the call with smiles on both of our faces. But it was HARD.

Time differences, internet coverage to keep a call connected, and the availability of technology options will prove to be tricky for us over the course of the next couple of years as Elder Garcia is serving. But we will make the best of it and I am sure the stories I hear will be worth the wait of when those calls connect. I am sure grateful for the chance that fell into place today and for the opportunity to talk to Elder Garcia. I am so happy to report that he seems happy and he looks good. He said he was expecting a much harder culture shock than what he was met with but was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't as awful as he had prepped his mind for. He recognizes that there is much work to be done and that he has a lot of that on his shoulders alone. I know as long as he puts his faith in the Lord and his time and efforts where they should be and chooses the right on all of his doings throughout the day he will be successful and this will be the best two years of his life.

Until next week...I love you,

Mom