Phone Call Home: Monday, November 8, 2021

B with a quick thumbs up before she heads out the door to school today

Elder Garcia

Today started EARLY here at home. We had to turn our clocks back an hour yesterday for Daylight Savings which now means that Elder Garcia is 7 hours ahead of us here at home instead of just 6. I didn't think just one extra hour would make such a difference but it sure did! I was up at 4am which made it 11am for Elder Garcia. So crazy!

Elder Garcia is loving his new companion and he is so happy in his new area. His new area covers 2 sectors, Anfame and Adakpame. It is quite far between the two so they have to take a taxi to go from one to the other. They have 2 baptisms planned for now on the 20th and have an invitation extended to another ami they are working with and are just waiting to hear from her if the date is something she feels good about. 

Some things he has to say about his new companion, Elder Kikwati, are that he is wonderful and so great. He is loving this change and he is grateful for the transfer that took place. He says they laugh a lot and that Elder Kikwati is helping him learn the language even more every single day. Elder Kikwati speaks French as his native language but has taken it upon himself to learn English and he is totally killing it. Elder Garcia is impressed with the work he sees Elder Kikwati putting in and I think it is encouraging him to work harder on the French language himself. Elder Kikwati is also super encouraging of Elder Garcia day in and day out. As a Mom I cannot tell you how much this makes my heart happy! His first companionship was hard and it was something my prayers were often heavy with. I wanted something to change there but instead it all played out instead in a new companion and I will forever be grateful for who Elder Kikwati is and the example he is for Elder Garcia.

Something I learned today is that in the area that Elder Garcia is in is that there are lots of Muslims. I do not know much of anything when it comes to that religion but Elder Garcia shared that it is against their religion to even take a pamphlet from the LDS Missionaries. They can talk to them all they want but any kind of anything document wise, no way. And definitely not going to consider talking to them and learning something different than what their current religion is so I am sure this adds a new twist to missionary work. But they are working through it and keep their attitudes positive which hopefully will help them as they move forward.

Elder Garcia shared a meeting with a legit 'voodoo man' this week as well. He compared him the voodoo man in the Disney movie "Princess and a Frog". He said it was super weird but described the man to me...he shaved everything but his face and his head. He literally had no hair anywhere and that was wild to Elder Garcia. I cannot fathom the things he is experiencing day in and day out in Africa. We live in such a bubble almost here in Utah that to see things like this in a regular day is mind blowing to me. I love it for him. 

Some other key things Elder Garcia shared with me are the following:
- Lome (where he is now) has more creature comforts available to him than when he was in Kpalime. For example he recently purchased ice cream! He also bought frozen french fries and some ketchup and mayo to make fry sauce, which by the way, his companion did not like fry sauce at all. So funny that Utah showed up in Africa right?!
- Elder Kikwati cooks and Elder Garcia cleans up. Elder Garcia enjoys this agreement a whole lot
- Elder Kikwati does make it a point to teach new recipes to Elder Garcia and Elder Garcia is looking forward to coming home and sharing some of these that he is learning
- Chicken is the most attainable when it comes to 'meat' to add to dinner. He says fish is another one that he can get rather easy but for the most part they stick with chicken (I say good call!)
- Covid is not really much of a thing that weighs heavy where he is. There are some that will ask that the missionaries wear a mask but other than that it does not seem to be much of a concern
- Elder Garcia is looking forward to this week. They are getting together as a multi zone which means Elder Garcia will be able to reconnect with some of the Elders he has made friends with in the period of time he has been in Africa.
- Elder Garcia is also loving the change of being able to wear his Keen sandals each day instead of his church shoes. He says he does have to wear socks but he says it is such a nice change
- Lome is HOT. Way hotter than Kpalime for sure

In all, this week was the BEST week when it comes to our conversation. Elder Garcia appears so happy and appears to be thriving each day. He was giggling and laughing our whole time on the call and he could not quit smiling. I am so thrilled to see this and will continue to pray for this sweet boy of mine that life will continue to bring new experiences to his life that he will recognize the hand of the Lord in. I am so proud of Elder Garcia and the road he is traveling each day. I am grateful for his smile and laughter today and for the joy and happy I could see today in him. 

I love you for forever and for always,
Mom