Week 35 Email: Exhanges and Such

From: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Monday, February 14, 2022
Subject: Exhanges and Such

Bonjour tout le monde! Ça va?

This week was a very interesting one to say the least. So let's jump right into it. 

Tuesday we had an awesome District Council as usual. Elder Meline and I went out and talked to amis and Fr. Raymond helped us contact even more people. He's basically the best. 

Wednesday we got the call that my new kid, Elder Teko, was coming so we waited at the apartment and then got him settled in and then headed out to sector. With his help we found some new amis too! He speaks Ewe because he's from Togo so it helps quite a bit when people are interested. Wednesday night I headed up to Tsieve to do an exchange with the Zone Leaders. 

Thursday I worked with Elder Ngoma and let's just say that he's pretty freaking awesome. I learned so much from him and I am going to try and apply that to my missionary work everyday until the end of my mission because we had some pretty sweet lessons. We worked in a sector called Tabligbo which is an hour away from the apartment so that was interesting for me. Normally I step outside and I'm in the sector, but then again I really only have had 2 sectors. 

Friday my companions and I had a really great companionship study. Probably.my most favorites of my mission so far. We talked about how to start lessons and begin to help our amis (friends) to trust us enough to begin teaching about Christ. We then did some role-playing and practiced what we had learned. Elder Meline did great with his French and it was really awesome for me to see his hard work paying off. Elser Teko did it in English too and he did great! They both taught with the spirit and I am so glad that they are my companions right now. Throughout the rest of the day in our lessons we each took a turn starting teaching (Elder Teko translated from English to French so people could understand haha) and it was really great. We finished the day by heading to Adakpame to do our missionary meeting and talk about our amis. It's crazy to me that I forget just how many people we talk to daily until I look at that at the end of the week when we talk about it with the ward.

Saturday was actually kind of eventful. We started off with a rendez-vous in Anfame. Curtesy of Elder Anderson when they did the exchange this week. He took my companions to an old amis place and set up a day to pass by. But then when we got there we called him and he said he was at work... kinda typical so we invited him to church and he said he would be there. We then walked around and talked to quite a few people en route and it was pretty great actually. Elder Meline got to practice French and Elder Teko go to translate Ewe to English for me haha. We then did some runaround to the apartment then to the church and then back and forth for a second and then I got to teach EnglishConnect. Very interesting to see that at the beginning but hey, it worked out by the end. And then we got a ride, in and Air Conditioned car, from the Jeffcoats to our rendez-vous in Adakpame. Sr Esther wasn't there but it's alright because we got to talk to the members instead. 

Sunday we had a lot of amis at church. It was pretty great!! We also fixed a rendez-vous with new amis and old to talk about this restored gospel. We taught a lessons after church too and my companions rock to say the least. We taught 2 new amis too and the lessons were great. I seriously feel in sync with the companions. I was worried that adding a 3rd member would throw off everything but Elder Teko just adds even more spirit and live into each lesson and I don't even know how to explain my happiness that he's here with me and Elder Meline. We did some member visits and then headed back to our apartment and had some pretty dang good food prepared American style and then we had a noice companion study and got even more in sync! (If that's even possible) 

In a talk that was given by Keith B. McMullin in a general conference talk in 2001 of April titled An Invitation with Promise he says "As the Redeemer of the world gave all that we might be saved, these covenants allow us to give our all in the accomplishment of Heavenly Father’s purposes for His children." Lately I have been thinking about my life as a missionary and what that really means to me. And I kept thinking back to the missionary purpose to invite others to come unto Christ and to make covenants with Him and endure to the end by an exercise of their faith. And it's so cool because its not only me who can do that but it's you too! Even if you aren't set apart or you've just finished or are getting ready to just start, you have the ability to go and do. And it's not just a little thing here and there it's to give our ALL to Him and to His work. I know that this gospel is a blessing we have in où lives and I know that we can all feel the benefits of it if we give our ALL to our Heavenly Father. My invitation this week is to give your ALL to Him. And let Him guide you in His time and His way. 

I love you all very much! 

Elder Garcia 

P.S. sorry for no photos, I tried uploading them buuuut this phone is actually dumb so I can't. I will keep trying this week though so you can see them hahah.