Phone Call Home: Monday, January 31, 2022

Laughing at Sister Garica's tan lines on her feet

Another week of a combined call

This week's call was a WILD one. I thought being home in Utah and waking up at 4am was early but this week I was in Kauai so I was up at 2am since the time zone change thing put Elder Garcia 10 hours ahead of us and Sister Garcia was now 7 hours ahead. :/ I actually was late to the party so I jumped in on their phone call as they were talking. 

Elder Garcia is loving his companion/son, Elder Meline. He is from Idaho and it sounds like a total rockstar. He is wanting to jump in and embrace all things Africa and is doing really well with the language. Elder Garcia said that he got some sound advice from Sister Garcia in how to address the English/French barrier so that they are comfortable but that he is doing all he can to teach too. 

Elder Garcia is thrilled to be back in Anfame and is loving being able to share his love of this sector with Elder Meline. Elder Garcia and Sister Garcia continued their chatting with one another and I sat back and listened. They both love being missionaries and are loving their day to days. As I was slowly drifting off to sleep (I tell ya....Hawaii time and losing 3 hours of normal for me just about killed me!) I told them both that I loved them and was going to sign off for the week. Elder Garcia threw in one quick question in reference to my email I sent him and that was simply "when did I write that I know exactly how many transfers I have and when I will come home?" It was a good moment to remind him that it wasn't something he had written but rather it is a comment he talks about almost weekly in our calls. And not that it is a bad thing by any means, I just don't want him to get caught up in when he is done. I would love for his heart and mind to be there in the present loving the moments he has and the short time period he will get as a missionary to make the long term changes for those around him. 

Elder Garcia as it stands right now in this very moment is a fantastic missionary. He is making differences in lives around him and also making strides and differences in his own life that will help him mold into an adult I cannot wait to see unfold. I know that the Lord sees him as someone who will do even bigger things than both he and I can even imagine. I feel that in my heart and soul SO deep. And I won't lie, it scares me a little. I am so not the Mom who is a spiritual giant or who knows the Gospel and all the things like these kids who go out and serve missions do. I am not perfect and am far from the best example. So what scares me most is that the Lord would entrust one of His best into my care on this mortal journey. Elder Garcia teaches me weekly and I love watching him from the sidelines as his testimony and as his faith grows. I cannot believe we are 7 months already with him as a missionary. So thrilled and excited to see what is next for him. 

So proud of you. Keep up the good work. I love you for forever and for always,
Mom