Phone Call Home: Monday, October 31, 2022

Happy Halloween

Happiest of Halloween from Utah to Africa. Only in Africa they don't really celebrate so well...anyways. :) It was fun to have Brooklyn jump on and say hello before she headed off to school today.

This week was a full week for Elder Garcia and so much good! Here are some highlights:

- The group of people in the small village that Elder Garcia is in has officially become a branch! President Proudfoot was out on Sunday and was able to create this branch and all I can think about is how incredibly cool that must have been to witness and be a part of!

- Elder Garcia said he really loved the Spirit that was felt on Sunday as people were extended callings. President Proudfoot had to teach them about sustaining those callings and Elder Garcia said it was just a really cool experience to see how excited and happy they were to be able to support one another

- The Elders were able to take care of the confirmation of the new ami's that were just baptized as well

Having such a small village but yet having enough members to finally be called a branch is such a cool thing to learn about. We take so for granted the Gospel and the sheer availability of it here at home and yet in places like where Elder Garcia is right now, the Church is in such an infant stage that it is fun to witness as the influence grows. It is easy to get caught up in the redundancy of being a member and taking for granted the opportunity we have when we are extended a calling. To just be learning about these things and what it means to 'sustain' and support those other members that are willing to serve YOU...I can't even imagine. It makes me take a step back and think to remind myself that the next time I am in the position to raise my hand to sustain, that I do it with my eyes wide open and accept what it is that I am agreeing to by doing so. 

What a special time to be in Africa and how grateful I am to be a side line viewer as all of this unfolds. I pray this time will never be forgotten and that moments like these will help structure Elder Garcia's testimony throughout his lifetime.

I love you,

Mom