'The Why'

To: Mom
From: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Sunday, March 13, 2022
Subject: The Why

Last week you asked me to be 100% honest with you for the reason why I am serving my mission, so here you go. 

When I was first doing my papers I was doing them because I felt like there could be a pressure to do them and for me to go on a mission because Kaitlyn had already gotten her call and was getting ready for the MTC. But as I started to do my papers that changed. I was reading my scriptures more and I even got out my patriarchal blessing and started focusing on the section that talks about a mission and I just had this strong feeling like I needed to go on a mission. And then I got my call and all of a sudden I was unsure, especially because when I talked with you and Tyler it was like a "you won't survive" kinda thing. Tyler even admitted that he wouldn't have accepted to go to this mission. So then my reason changed to "I'll prove everyone wrong and show them that I'm not this person they have in their minds who can't go to Africa and do this." But as MTC started my reason changed again. I had been asked by Rodney and President Johnson why I wanted to serve and I gave some primary answers, and that's true, but I wanted to know the real why. And then in MTC when we shared who we are I talked about bugging you all the time asking to help and I realised my reason for truly wanting to come on a mission. I came here and I am still here because I love helping people. I'm not here because I get a badge or a plaque or anything like that. None of that really matters to me. I don't want the flaunt or the look at me kind of thing. I just want to help others even if it's nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I just want to help these people and serve them in the way that Christ served others. 

I don't know if you know this but when I was 12 I had a meeting with the Bishop in in herriman, I forget who it was at the time, and he had a wall in his office that was full of Christ-like attributes and he told me to pick 2 of them to work on. I chose patience and charity. I don't know why but we decoded that those were the ones I was going to work on. So that's what I did and frankly it's something that I am still doing to this day. I work on patience with myself and others and all around, and I try to have charity. It's also why I chose the mission scripture that I did. Moroni 7:45-47 talks about how Charity is the pure Love of Christ. And in my patriarchal blessing it says that I will be able to 1) help people and 2) learn to love those that I work with. Those were 2 big reasons as to why I came out on my mission. I want to help these people and I have learned to love them quite a bit. And I know I am going to continue to learn to love them and help them and grow as a person as I do that. 

I don't know of this is what it is that you were expecting when you told me to write this to you but this is what I have. I know that it's probably hard to belive that I chose to give 2 years of my life just to help people but that's why. There are many ways to do that and serving the Lord and being like Christ was is the one way I know I can truly help those around me. 

I love you mom and I am thankful that you asked me the reason why. It helped me reflect yet again as to why I chose this.

I hope you have agreat rest of your vacation in Mexico!

Love, 

Elder Garcia