Phone Call Home: Monday, May 2, 2022

Elder Garcia is doing well this week. He seems to be getting the hang of being a District Leader and is learning new things each day. He spent a lot of time at the apartment this last week because his companion has been under the weather but he didn't seem too discouraged on that and instead made the most of the time that he did get outside.

Some bullet points from this weeks call are:

- Elder Garcia was on an exchange with Elder Hansen this past week. Elder Garcia likes him a lot and they have a lot of fun together. Elder Hansen is just from Riverton so hopefully this friendship will stay for years to come. Elder Garcia said that while on exchanges, Elder Hansen taught some really great lessons and he really enjoyed being a part of that with him.
- As a whole District, all is going along well and they continue to find and teach lots of ami's as well as help those they are working with to progress
- There is an immediate transfer taking place today in the apartment. It doesn't affect Elder Garcia and his companion but it will affect the apartment since they all live there but Elder Garcia says he is ready to just keep working.
- Elder Meline is headed to Elder Garcia's zone and he is so excited about that. He learned a LOT from Elder Meline and so this will be a joyous reunion.
- Elder Garcia will attend a big meeting on Saturday the 7th. This will include the Branch Presidents, the Bishops, the Zone Leaders, the District Leaders, and President and Sister Proudfoot. The goal is to get all of these leadership humans together to discuss the mission, make some goals, and just learn from one another in how best to serve.

One of the harder parts of this weeks call was listening to Elder Garcia talk about how culturally it is just normal to have women who have been beaten. It isn't uncommon for women to have bruises and willingly admit out loud that their husband beat them and then proceed to tell them why he beat them. Kids are no different. They too have bruises in all stages. Anyways, while Elder Garcia and Elder Hansen were at a rendezvous this last week, there was a child maybe 8 or 9 years old who was listening and paying very close attention to the missionaries. Her Grandmother came in and told her it was time to get in the bath and the little girl asked if she could instead stay and finish listening. Without thought, the Grandma came over and hit the little girl on the head with a bucket and told her no and continued to kick and abuse her right there in front of these Elders. It isn't just men who do the abusing. The seniority rules kind of thing there and so Grandma is the oldest, you respect her. Just sad. This bothered Elder Garcia pretty heavily and he said it was so hard to not want to intervene but he knows it just isn't his place to do so. It was a good reminder of how you are to treat all those around you no matter who they are or what "seniority" they hold in life. 

This week I really enjoyed hearing about Elder Garcia's mission. I think it is really the first time that we spent the time talking all things mission. I pray he has a good week and that the leadership training on Saturday is one that he learns from and can see the hand of the Lord in. 

Until next week,
Mom