Phone Call Home: Monday, October 17, 2022

Ha ha ha...

Pday calls are my favorite calls

This was a quick week of a call with Elder Garcia because we had a couple of things this morning at home that didn't allow for too long of a call while he had the phone. I told him I was just happy with whatever time we did get. :) 

This last week was a big week for Elder Garcia and his companion with extending baptism to seven (7) ami's and then working with them and in the sector throughout the week. A few highlights from our call this week are:

- They got bicycles fixed! Well sorta. :) They had them remedied they thought but then while out on them the tubes needed to be replaced so they stopped into a local bicycle repair shop. The gentleman there said he would be happy to help, took their bikes, but then started helping others who came in after the missionaries did. Finally Elder Garcia approached him and asked if he was going to be able to help and within 10 minutes they were back out on their newly fixed bicycles and headed to work. While they waited though, a grown gentleman showed up on a bike that had Elder Garcia laughing pretty hard. I guess it was rather small and definitely did NOT fit him at all but he was there to get it fixed. Anyways, this guy started asking the missionaries some questions that were questions of someone who might already have some sort of testimony. Elder Garcia was happy to have a little deeper conversation and they have arranged to go and meet up with him again

- Most of the people at church yesterday were ami's they are working with! Elder Garcia continues to be reminded just how fresh and new the church is there and how much of an opportunity he has to be a key part of bringing the Gospel to this part of the world. 

- Elder Garcia is no longer a District Leader but for some reason or another he has exchanges this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. He isn't 100% sure why he is being asked to do exchanges and all he gets from his District Leader is that he had 'inspired revelation' that Elder Garcia should be on them. Elder Garcia will go and do what he is being asked to do but he is also going to talk with President Proudfoot next week when they have interviews if this is something that he should be doing or not. It will be interesting to find out what takes place moving forward on this. Saturday's exchange is with a District Leader that is asking him to do them so maybe he will be able to find out and see for himself why he is being asked to be a part of them for now.

- One thing that Elder Garcia brought up from this week that he is struggling with is being in an apartment with three (3) 'locals'. They all speak French but these three Elders also speak a form of tribal language too. When they are in the apartment Elder Garcia will find himself almost excluded in some of their conversations or they will all go into the other bedroom and hang out together. When Elder Garcia knocks to see if he can join them, they will invite him in but they will all stop talking and he feels like he is interrupting so he excuses himself and will go and do some personal study instead. They also have decided to quit eating on the nights Elder Garcia will cook for the apartment, even though he is cooking meals that they have taught him how to cook. He is having some hurt feelings I can tell but he won't admit it right out. I reminded him to keep loving and to do his best to not ever let anyone feel excluded when he is surrounded by others, not just these companions and other Elders. He assures me with a smile that all is well and that he is more aware of being loving and kind now more than ever before. 

As we got ready to end our call today Elder Garcia asked for continued prayers for those ami's he has on baptism date as well as his sector to be open and ready to learn from the missionaries and accepting too. He can see a branch forming sooner than later and he just wants to do all he can to be a part of this. He seems happy and there is always plenty of laughter when we get a chance to talk. Hoping for another really great week and one that can find plenty of smiles for Elder Garcia.

Until next week, I sure love you!

Mom