Week 82 Email: You can drive all night

From: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Monday, January 9, 2022
Subject: You can drive all night

Bonjour y'all!!! 

Wow how have you guys been?? Its been a hot second. Last week I was mentally preparing myself and slept rather than write an email haha. This week I'm hoping to make up for it.

So 2 weeks ago was the end of the year whoooo!!! Welcome 2023. Its super crazy and weird to me to be in 2023 now. I rambert starting my mission and being like "wow that's so far away" but it feels like I just started my mission. And that's kinda sad. The people here are absolutely amazing and I feel so lucky and so blessed to be here to get to know them and their culture. 

On the 31 we had a baptism for Sœur Audrey!!! It was amazing. Minus the fact that the river we use to baptise here was all dried up so we had to drive down to Bohicon to do the baptism in thier new font. The drive was long and we had an awesome detour going cross-country because there was this massive semi accident. Imagine 2 semis lying on their sides and smoke with lots of Africans taking selfies and videos on a half-built road and I think you can get the picture haha. When we got to Bohicon I used some of my African life skills and carried water on my head to help fill the font!! It had been a while but I really enjoyed it. Especially because it didn't feel as heavy this time around haha.

Church on the 31 was interesting because none of the leaders were there so my companion and I were leading everything. I got to lead the group for the week and I can only say that I am so grateful for the Spirit. Without that I do not think I would have been able to lead haha. But we got it done and we confirmed Sœur Audrey, and it was amazing. The spirit there really was powerful.

This week was a lot of driving. Thankfully none at night for us but our chauffeur... yeah he definitely had to haha. Hence the subjectline. We had Zone Conference in Cotonou this week and so we spent 5 ish hours Tuesday afternoon driving to Arconville to stay with Elder Proffit and Elder Deafon. Super awesome Elders, it'll be sad when they leave :'( And then Wednesday we spent most of the day in Zone Conference. President Proudfoot talked a lot about hope and how we can apply that to ourselves in everything that we do. And how through hope we really use our faith in the Lord and show Him we are willing and ready to accept whatever is thrown at us. Sister Proudfoot talked about our vision. Not how we see but plans for the future and we talked a lot about the mission and how each of us missionaries contribute to that. And it got me thinking about my own vision for the next 5 months and what I want to accomplish before I have to say eyizandé to Africa. After Conferemce we ended up spending the night in Cotonou again because of how far away we live and then Thursday morning we ended up leaving and taking yet another 4 ½ hour taxi ride to Dassa. I do not envy those that have to do a daily commute in a car. I am sorry that you have to sit in rush hour most days of the week haha.

Thursday evening and Firday we did a lot of contacting and trying to teach amis that are progressing but because school is back in schedule a lot of our amis are preoccupied with that. So we were working out schedules a little bit as well. We did that most of the day Saturday too, with the exception of going and cleaning the church building! We have an amazing building and the few members that are here came and helped too!!! It was really great to see everyone willing to help. 

Sunday we had a visit from one of the mission President's counselors. He's a very cool guy. He talked a lot about tithing and the importance of tithing for eve small groups like Dassa and that touched so many peoples hearts. To the point even when Epder Kyungu and I went to teach some amis yesterday afternoon they were asking about it and how they might be able to start paying. 

That about wraps up these past 2 weeks. Honestly they haven't been the easiest work wise but I couldn't ask for anything else. Dassa is amazing and so are all the people here. I wish I had more time and words to describe exactly what it means to me to be here, alas it doesn't work haha. Thanks for reading another email y'all!! 

Love you lots!!

~Elder Garcia

Photos: 

J'aurais a collage of the past 2 weeks haha. Enjoy!!