Monday, January 23, 2023

I am beginning to wonder if this is what it used to feel like being in the 'olden days' when missionaries weren't able to call home each week.....I am not enjoying the 'no phone call' weeks at all. This is now week 3. I could be mad or frustrated but that would be wrong and not fair either. I have been able to message with Elder Garcia on the Facebook Messenger but I just miss seeing his face and hearing his voice.

This week his companion apparently had the phone much longer than he was supposed to so when Elder Garcia received it it was at a super low % of power so he was going to plug it in and hopefully get some juice in order to try and make a call. The tricky part in all of this besides waiting for a phone to charge and then prayers that a call would go through is that Elder Garcia is 8 hours ahead of us! That means that when it is noon here at home it is 8pm for him and he is gearing up to end his day. Just another speed bump on this missionary mom train. :) 

Elder Garcia was under the weather I guess this last week but he says he is feeling a bit better and is just dealing now with a sore throat and a weird sounding voice. He said in his email home that he was dealing with a fever so I am really glad to hear that at least that part is over with! It is scary to think of your kid in a third world country like Africa and to hear they are not well. And then to hear it is a fever, which often times just show up to fight 'something', and then your thoughts go to...how bad is it? Will he have the care he needs in time if it gets bad? As a Mom I can go zero to really bad in no time flat! This is a tender mercy of the Lord that I need to be grateful for on a more regular basis...my child is taken care of and he is 100% on the Lords watch. I can respect that but it sure doesn't stop my Mom heart from hurting when I know that Elder Garcia is hurting. 

Elder Garcia is also finishing up this current transfer this week. This is the longest transfer he has had on his mission. It is only by 1 extra week (so 7 weeks total) but he said it doesn't seem like it was long but instead it went by really quick. I cannot believe how quick all the time is going. Elder Garcia believes he will stay in Dassa but his companion, Elder Kyungu, will probably go. He has been in Dassa now for three (3) full transfers plus there seems to be some family stuff that is weighing on his heart as well. Elder Garcia is worried for him and has tried to help as much as his companion will allow. He sees Elder Kyungu as family and his heart is heavy with concern. It was an opportunity for me to 'talk' again to him about the power of prayer. We can include his companion in our prayers and I will put his name on the temple roll but maybe now is the time for Elder Garcia to add his prayers as well and to trust in the Lord. Sometimes it is harder to just hand things off when you know there are capabilities within your own person to do 'more'. But ultimately in the end, the Savior has promised to help make up the difference when all we are doing is not working or helping. It truly is about humbling ourselves and having the faith that the Lord knows and sees all. He is mindful of each one of us and hears our most silent prayers. I suggested that Elder Garcia remind his companion how grateful he is to have had the opportunity to serve alongside him and for the lessons and the memories they have been able to make. To remind him that no matter the distance between the both of them, whether it be a transfer to another sector or a return home to a whole different country, that he will always be there for him. 

I imagine the friendships that come from a mission are really indeed priceless. I never served a mission but as I have watched as Elder Garcia serves and as I listen now to experiences Kaitlyn had in Boston and Brazil, those friendships truly become parts of a family for you. You are with these people day in and day out and you spend a crap ton of time together! My heart hurts for Elder Garcia but I am so proud of him for recognizing a need and doing what he could to try and help. I am grateful he trusts me to share these moments with me as he maneuvers his way around this mission life. 

I am so proud of all that Elder Garcia is doing and for the work he puts in each day. I pray that he is mindful of our prayers from home and our good mojo juice we try and send his way as well. I miss him dearly and man alive am I so ready to have him home. But for now...I will take each Monday with stride and know that he is in good hands doing the Lords work. He is making a difference in his own life and growing stronger in his testimony each day. That alone is worth having him in Africa right now instead of at home. :) 

Until next week....I love you for forever,
Mom