Week 38 Email

From: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Monday, March 7, 2022

Bonjour Bonjour! Ça va?

This week was yet another transition because it's the 2nd transfer with Elder Meline so we went from the basic training stuff to the little harder. He's great though and is such a hard worker that it's been a piece of cake, I couldn't have asked for a better son in all honesty. Let's hop into it...

Tuesday was weird becaus either was transfers and so we didn't have District Council so the morning we went out to sector and were just walking around. We went and got our money for the next little bit and then tried to remeber what we needed to buy. (I forgot that it was a thing to go and get money oops

) After we got everything we went and it was time to go to the apartment again. It wasn't wasted though. Every time we stopped we actually talked with people and we tried to get phone numbers and had out brochures but it was as if nobody really cared about what it is that we are doing here :/ it's okay though because there are some moments like that but that just means we have to work HARDER and grind more.

Wednesday we didn't have District Council either so we went out to sector snd just talked with people and tried to contact who we could. We ended up going and talking with Sœur Dina and Frère Louis. They're the tailor and seamstress who are great! Then we went to Adakpamé after lunch break when I moved a bed into the other room again so we could be back to 2 rooms of decent space again haha. In Adakpamé the amis we all at school taking exams... so that meant that we had to either sit and wait or go snd contact. So we went and contacted and tried a little later. We ended up finding a few new amis and they came from members so I have some hopes!! We taught a group of amis that came to a family home evening a few weeks back and they have been coming to church too. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and read 2 Nephi 2. Highly recommend that for better understanding of the plan ;)

Thursday was a bit of a speed bump in the work. We tried so hard to get lessons going but then people just weren't home. And then when they were they were on a suckled and looked like a plague had swept through. We tried to help them too but like normal they figured us incapable because we're white so that didn't go over too well. We did have a productive missionary coordination in Anfame though and got to talk about baptism plans for the 12 of March. It was really cool to see the members that we there figuring things out and trying to help in any way they could.

Friday we had our normal planning meeting in the morning and this time Elder Meline lead it and I can proudly say he did a really good job. All of it was in french too soo that was even cooler to see. He has reinspired me to study harder and harder when it comes to the French language. We were also to get another ami on a baptism day for the 12th too! His older brother is Frère Raymond so we were hoping that it would work out like it has but I won't lie, I was a little skeptical at the beginning. We ended the night by visiting some members and we were able to assist at seminary too and learn more.

Saturday we had some free time in the morning so we went and looked for people to teach. Elder Meline snagged some cool pics on the way of a building that isn't necessarily done and some view pics. I'll add em down below. We contacted and invited quite a few people so now the hope is that they will come to church. We ended up teaching some really great lessons and we even had some members help us today too that haven't before! It was really great for me to work with them because they're some of my favorites from Adakpame. The last lesson of the day we also had help from the amis!! There was a new ami that had been invited and he hadn't gotten the first lesson so we decided that was what we were going to teach. I figured that because it was a minute ago that the others had heard it that they wouldn't remember all of it because 1) we did it quickly and 2) the People here have a lot more pressing things to think k about and remember. But boy was I wrong. The amis helped to teach their friend and it was so cool for me to see that. One of them even bore his testimony!! This church is definitely the true church upon the earth you guys.

Sunday was great! We went and had a really awesome testimony and fast meeting. And the beat part about here is that they don't really share stories in their testimonies it's just the raw "I know..." kinds thing so to me it's a lot more powerful. We also went and visited a bunch of members and that was really fun and they are so nice!! The people here don't have much and not very much money but if you are over they make sure that you're included in food and whatnot. They are so humble and I just love them haha. Because it was fast Sunday my companion and I politely declined food and drinks that were given to us, but they didn't want to leave us empty handed so they went and got us sodas to take back to the apartment. The people here... I can't say it enough... I LOVE THEM!!

This week and this transfer my companion and I started to struggle Christ-like Attributes and this week we focused on the first principle of the gospel "FAITH"

Something that I studied a lot and focused on this week was Helaman 5:9-12

9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

10 And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.

11 And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Especially verse 12. Something that I live about this verse is that if we build our foundations upon the rock of Christ and have faith in Him and His atoning sacrifice then when the difficult times comes into our lives "it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo..." This past week I have focused on that and seen many blessings in my life, I know without a doubt that Christ is there for us through everything!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Beaucoup d'amour,

~ Elder Garcia

I know it's been a minute but here ya go,

Photos:

The trio mangez-vous