Phone Call Home: Monday, August 29, 2022

It is the end of August! What the heck? How did this happen and how quickly did the time go? I swear it was just the start of the year and really in the end we are heading into the end of a year and the holiday season is knocking on our doors which means it is going to fly by. That all means that the 10 months that Elder Garcia has left on his mission will be gone before we know it.

Today, Elder Garcia and I had a chance to catch up after Kaitlyn had left for work and Brooklyn headed out the door for school. Tyler was off hunting so it was just the two of us on the call today. Some highlights from today:

- Elder Garcia and another companion have built a brick oven and are hopeful that this will allow them to cook a pizza (there aren't ovens in Africa so he is pretty excited about this)

- Elder Garcia had, I think he said 18, total ties made for his friends here at home as a gift for when they return home from their missions. 

- Elder Garcia had matching ties made for the Elders in his apartment that he shares

- Elder Garcia is still enjoying this transfer. He is really enjoying his companion and even did exchanges this week with Elder Brunt

- Elder Garcia biked and biked and biked some more to meet up with a new ami but it turns out that this ami lives SO far away that even on bikes, just 1/2 way took almost an hour. This ami lives in a sector that the church isn't even in! This is crazy to think because no matter where you turn here the church is definitely a thing. Anyways, when they called to get directions after biking for almost an hour they realized time was not in their favor so they invited him to church and hopefully he will come and they can work out a better plan to be able to teach him. 

- Elder Garcia also had an opportunity to teach a gentleman who also has a daughter. This daughter is younger (like 4 or 5) and she doesn't speak French or Ewe. So, Elder Garcia was able to, with the help of the Dad translating, ask her her name and say hello. It is crazy to me how many different languages are there around him

- Elder Garcia said their District was able to meet their goals this month but only because of the Sisters. I encouraged him to write them a note expressing his appreciation and letting them know how grateful he is for them and their hard work. I hope he does that

- Elder Garcia has Zone Conference tomorrow and somehow totally spaced it so he spent a good amount of time informing his District while also profusely apologizing for the last minute reminder too

- It has been raining a lot and I guess that means that the missionaries cannot be out in the sector so Elder Garcia says he has been playing a lot of UNO, the card game. 

- This week Elder Garcia has asked that we include the entire sector of Sanguera in our prayers. Not just the ami's he is working with but the whole sector. Hoping to help them realize that they all play a part in the conversion of many and that they will be the ones to help fellowship as new members come into the fold. 

I am hopeful for a good week ahead and hope that as Elder Garcia attends Zone Conference tomorrow that he will have an open heart and mind and that he will learn something that will benefit him and carry him through the remainder of this transfer. 

I love you,

Mom