Email from Mom: Saturday, September 25, 2021
To: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Saturday, September 25, 2021
Subject: Happy Saturday night
Hey kiddo. How are you? How has your week been?
Things here this week have been full. Busy. I had something each day with Kaitlyn that kept us just trying to get her ready to get out of the country. From a Covid test that didn’t ship when it was supposed to to a 2 hour delay in Atlanta it has been an exciting week nonetheless. She arrived in Brazil and is already so happy. I got a brief email from her when she landed and was at the Mission home for dinner and you could just hear the pure joy in the simple email she sent. I am so thrilled that she has finally gotten to her original call. It is wild for me to think that I have 2 kids outside of the country for some time.
As I have moved through this week and have gone through both of your drives and emails and updated the blogs I am keeping for both of you, I wanted to be sure I talk to you a little about that. I know you mentioned you want me to keep one for you but I am struggling with it. Mostly because you just aren’t sharing much. I know you have a tricky time being able to load photos but it’s things like what does the outside of the home you are living in look like? What are the surroundings? Is there a local grocery or market you go to that you can get a photo of? And then when you do upload a photo I would sure love a description. You put one on this week and all it said was ‘Vibin’. I’d love to know who this gentleman is, what were you doing with him? And then let’s chat about your emails. I know again tricky to get time to get one written and sent. But when you do, rather than the subject being that another week down (because I don’t think it would be good to keep focusing on that) what about the 6 baptisms you had? What about the living environment you are in? How about how your testimony is growing? Is it growing? Are you feeling any changes taking place within you? People ask about your companion and where he is from. What is it he is teaching you? I guess overall, it is an opportunity to have a journal created of this 2 short years in your life that will one day be something you can share a wife id you choose to get married or one day your kids. Memories fade but I’d love to capture them as you experience them now so those memories don’t have to be forgotten. And in the end, if you would rather I don’t worry about it then I want you to tell me. I’m good either way. I just don’t want you to come home and see the difference between your mission blog and Kaitlyn’s mission blog. I know you are experiencing things and I just want to do what I can from home is all. I know you are keeping a journal and that is great, I don’t want that to stop at all. This is just a bonus journal that includes emails and photos. I struggle in that I know what I want your mission to look like in the end of your 2 years but it doesn’t matter what I want. It has to be what YOU want and what you want alone. Think this over and let me know if it is something you want me to keep putting time into or not. I won’t be offended if you say you don’t want it.
Tyler and I decided finally to ditch the sofa and loveseat that was upstairs in the family room and get something WAY more comfortable. It was to the point of just sitting down hurt my hips and even though they look nice and clean and put together, I was over it! So…we headed off to the local RC Willey and found the softest most comfiest set EVER! They just suck you in they are wonderful. They still look nice but they are a functional and inviting piece of furniture too. Always changing something around here I guess.
Speaking of change. Did I tell you I changed your room? I was going to get a new bed and ditch the dresser and nightstand but I decided I just couldn’t. I am not ready to close the door quite yet on ‘kids rooms’ so instead of re-doing both your room and Kaitlyn’s room I decided to just re-do bedding. I tucked yours away for when you come home but the stuff I put on for now while you are away makes it feel like the room is complete without it being complete with you in Africa. Does that make sense? It’s all bedding I will tuck away when you move out (for college or if you choose to get married instead) and you can use yours but for now…it’s still a bedroom.
Tyler is going to go hunting one last time in Wyoming this next week. It’s gongs to be cold and perhaps snow up there but he really wants to give it one last good go before his hunt closes. I love that he is so passionate about it.
The family in the ward that has the Covid is proving to be super tricky. I don’t know much about them since they are so new. They are misleading and perhaps deceitful in ways? I don’t know how best to describe it really. At first I was told the mom was in the hospital then she was in the ICU. Then she was put on a ventilator to now she isn’t?? Hard to try and help when you keep getting so many different things being tossed out. Anyways…tricky. Just wish people would be honest and we could all do what we can to help you know?
This last week I was reading in the Book of Mormon and its 2nd Nephi which is tricky because well, Isaiah
but
I love when Isaiah basically says he isn’t worthy to be in the presence
of the Lord because of his sins. It’s then said that an angel comes
down with a hot coal from the altar and touches Isaiah’s lips and his
sins are forgiven. Isaiah is so overcome by that that when he hears the
voice of the Lord say ‘whom shall I send?’ He immediately says ‘send
me!!’ How freaking cool is that? He was first unsure saying he wasn’t
worthy to then being forgiven immediately and not wanting to let the
Lord down so he said send me. I love that and I love the promises it
shows us that are available to us if we can stay true to the Lord and
what it is He wants and needs from us. I pray you remember this too as
you go through your days and moments in your mission. I know the Lord
needs you and I know He knows your capabilities. Just keep on saying
‘send me’ and you will see the same miracles Isaiah saw.
I had someone send me this cool talk too about the 4th missionary. I am on my phone watching a ballgame and typing this email to you so I will send it in a different email. It was an interesting and super good read. I would encourage you to take the time to read it and decide what missionary you are going to be. I can see where each missionary could come into play as I read this but I obviously can see what kind of missionary I know he have the ability to be. But it doesn’t matter what I want or see, this is YOUR mission. What kind of missionary you are is up to you and you alone.
I miss and love you and pray you are happy and thriving. I hope you find something each day that shows you tender mercies of the Lord and that He is helping to put a love in your heart for the country of Africa and those that live there. I pray you are choosing happy and finding joy in this journey. I pray your testimony is strengthened and you can see the hand of those who came before you in the work you are helping move along. You’ve made a choice not everyone does in serving a mission. Make the most out of it. Take these 2 short years to let your light shine and bring many to the Lord through that example. I have you always in my thoughts and prayers. You make me proud to watch as you take on this adventure.
I love you for forever,
Mom
Things here this week have been full. Busy. I had something each day with Kaitlyn that kept us just trying to get her ready to get out of the country. From a Covid test that didn’t ship when it was supposed to to a 2 hour delay in Atlanta it has been an exciting week nonetheless. She arrived in Brazil and is already so happy. I got a brief email from her when she landed and was at the Mission home for dinner and you could just hear the pure joy in the simple email she sent. I am so thrilled that she has finally gotten to her original call. It is wild for me to think that I have 2 kids outside of the country for some time.
As I have moved through this week and have gone through both of your drives and emails and updated the blogs I am keeping for both of you, I wanted to be sure I talk to you a little about that. I know you mentioned you want me to keep one for you but I am struggling with it. Mostly because you just aren’t sharing much. I know you have a tricky time being able to load photos but it’s things like what does the outside of the home you are living in look like? What are the surroundings? Is there a local grocery or market you go to that you can get a photo of? And then when you do upload a photo I would sure love a description. You put one on this week and all it said was ‘Vibin’. I’d love to know who this gentleman is, what were you doing with him? And then let’s chat about your emails. I know again tricky to get time to get one written and sent. But when you do, rather than the subject being that another week down (because I don’t think it would be good to keep focusing on that) what about the 6 baptisms you had? What about the living environment you are in? How about how your testimony is growing? Is it growing? Are you feeling any changes taking place within you? People ask about your companion and where he is from. What is it he is teaching you? I guess overall, it is an opportunity to have a journal created of this 2 short years in your life that will one day be something you can share a wife id you choose to get married or one day your kids. Memories fade but I’d love to capture them as you experience them now so those memories don’t have to be forgotten. And in the end, if you would rather I don’t worry about it then I want you to tell me. I’m good either way. I just don’t want you to come home and see the difference between your mission blog and Kaitlyn’s mission blog. I know you are experiencing things and I just want to do what I can from home is all. I know you are keeping a journal and that is great, I don’t want that to stop at all. This is just a bonus journal that includes emails and photos. I struggle in that I know what I want your mission to look like in the end of your 2 years but it doesn’t matter what I want. It has to be what YOU want and what you want alone. Think this over and let me know if it is something you want me to keep putting time into or not. I won’t be offended if you say you don’t want it.
Tyler and I decided finally to ditch the sofa and loveseat that was upstairs in the family room and get something WAY more comfortable. It was to the point of just sitting down hurt my hips and even though they look nice and clean and put together, I was over it! So…we headed off to the local RC Willey and found the softest most comfiest set EVER! They just suck you in they are wonderful. They still look nice but they are a functional and inviting piece of furniture too. Always changing something around here I guess.
Speaking of change. Did I tell you I changed your room? I was going to get a new bed and ditch the dresser and nightstand but I decided I just couldn’t. I am not ready to close the door quite yet on ‘kids rooms’ so instead of re-doing both your room and Kaitlyn’s room I decided to just re-do bedding. I tucked yours away for when you come home but the stuff I put on for now while you are away makes it feel like the room is complete without it being complete with you in Africa. Does that make sense? It’s all bedding I will tuck away when you move out (for college or if you choose to get married instead) and you can use yours but for now…it’s still a bedroom.
Tyler is going to go hunting one last time in Wyoming this next week. It’s gongs to be cold and perhaps snow up there but he really wants to give it one last good go before his hunt closes. I love that he is so passionate about it.
The family in the ward that has the Covid is proving to be super tricky. I don’t know much about them since they are so new. They are misleading and perhaps deceitful in ways? I don’t know how best to describe it really. At first I was told the mom was in the hospital then she was in the ICU. Then she was put on a ventilator to now she isn’t?? Hard to try and help when you keep getting so many different things being tossed out. Anyways…tricky. Just wish people would be honest and we could all do what we can to help you know?
This last week I was reading in the Book of Mormon and its 2nd Nephi which is tricky because well, Isaiah
but
I love when Isaiah basically says he isn’t worthy to be in the presence
of the Lord because of his sins. It’s then said that an angel comes
down with a hot coal from the altar and touches Isaiah’s lips and his
sins are forgiven. Isaiah is so overcome by that that when he hears the
voice of the Lord say ‘whom shall I send?’ He immediately says ‘send
me!!’ How freaking cool is that? He was first unsure saying he wasn’t
worthy to then being forgiven immediately and not wanting to let the
Lord down so he said send me. I love that and I love the promises it
shows us that are available to us if we can stay true to the Lord and
what it is He wants and needs from us. I pray you remember this too as
you go through your days and moments in your mission. I know the Lord
needs you and I know He knows your capabilities. Just keep on saying
‘send me’ and you will see the same miracles Isaiah saw. I had someone send me this cool talk too about the 4th missionary. I am on my phone watching a ballgame and typing this email to you so I will send it in a different email. It was an interesting and super good read. I would encourage you to take the time to read it and decide what missionary you are going to be. I can see where each missionary could come into play as I read this but I obviously can see what kind of missionary I know he have the ability to be. But it doesn’t matter what I want or see, this is YOUR mission. What kind of missionary you are is up to you and you alone.
I miss and love you and pray you are happy and thriving. I hope you find something each day that shows you tender mercies of the Lord and that He is helping to put a love in your heart for the country of Africa and those that live there. I pray you are choosing happy and finding joy in this journey. I pray your testimony is strengthened and you can see the hand of those who came before you in the work you are helping move along. You’ve made a choice not everyone does in serving a mission. Make the most out of it. Take these 2 short years to let your light shine and bring many to the Lord through that example. I have you always in my thoughts and prayers. You make me proud to watch as you take on this adventure.
I love you for forever,
Mom
 | |
I think in todays world we forget to be grateful for some of the
simplest things. Things like out health, our ability to walk or stand
tall. The ability to grow and have the Atonement strengthen us through
our weaknesses. Try to find things to be grateful for each day this next
week and then let’s talk and see what we both come up with.  |
 |
This has stood out to me so much this week. I think again, in this
world, we can easily get caught up in the worldly ways that surround us.
The Lord needs us now more than EVER to be the different kind of light
in order to gather His Israel. Don’t be afraid to be that. You have
something unique to offer and He is anxiously waiting for you to do just
that.  |
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