Week 62 Email: Transfers and Such

From: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Monday, August 22, 2022
Subject: Transfers and Such

Bonjour tout le monde! I hope that you have had a great week and that you have learned something! I know that I have and that we are vibing over here in Togo. 

So this last week I got a new companion from the Congo. His name is Elder Kamata (kah-mah-tah) and he is a freaking legend! He was up in this sector called Tabligbo where there were so many people looking for the gospel. Here in Africa there is always a lot but up there it's like "the promised land." Anyways, when he got here the first thing that we did was an inventory of our amis and then made the decision to go out and do some finding. So we went to the lessons, with the bikes, and then we went and tried to find lots of people to just talk to. We ended up talking to some cool people and had a really awesome lesson yesterday (more on that later). 

I also had to say goodbye to Elder Proffit, he's up in Kpalime right now though so we are still in the same ounry at least. But we got another american in the apartment to replace him. His name is Elder Brunt and he came over from Benin. Super cool because I have been askin him the differences that he sees and it's actually kind of a lot, but not at the same time. He is also teaching me a lot about cooking! We have made some pretty good food so far and we are thinking about making some no-bake cookies here soon so stay tuned for those pics. The apartment atmosphere changed and we are all joking around and are trying to write songs, if we do end up doing an album I will add that to an email soon. 

So something that I really think is funny that happened this week was that we were talking as an apartment and we decided that we wanted to play some ames. I got sent Uno so that's what we played at it is so fun. The African elders get really into it too! We could be playing a game and they could be going and playing lots of +2 or +4 cards and then get to one card and then the color changes and they just start grabbing and grabbing cards until they have a lot and someone else wins. It's either that or they will set it up good and when they win they do a victory dance to celebrate and keep reminding you that they won. This is going to be a really fun transfer to say the least ahah.

So this week when my companion and I were talking to a family we went through and taught them about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And one of the coolest things ever hapened. As we were talking they started making connections to what we were saying with what was written in the brochure that we left with them, THEY ACTUALLY READ IT!! That is a first for me on my mission. But then at the end of the lesson we talked about prayer and we invited the husband to pray and he wasn't really thining about it, but then his wife started encouraging him to so he did and I seriously felt the Spirit so strongly. The pwoer of prayer is something that is so simpleto gte into a habit of doing and saying the same things all of the time, and we can take it for granted. But rayer is actually talking with our Heavenly Father, and He will listen to you. No matter what you say or how you say it. He understands everything ad listens to you I promise. I have felt the joy and happiness of the Lord through prayer and I can promise you that if you pray with a "real intent, a sincere heart and having faith in Christ" (Moroni 10:4) then you will be able to feel the Spirit in your own way.

Thank you guys for all of your prayers and emails! keep them coming. You also made it through another email so that's cool. I hope all of y'all have a great week! Eyzande looo

-Elder Garcia

Photos: 

Elder Kamata and I (x4)

A bomb spaghetti with cheesy garlic bread 

Fou fou congolais

Elde Brunt and I had a fire the first night he was here haha