Phone Call Home: Monday, March 6, 2023

I wonder if Monday's will ever hold value when Elder Garcia returns home? I wonder if I will get up with happy anticipation or if they will become the standard 'mundane' start of the week like it is for so many others?  I don't care I guess right now because for now, I still get to look forward to a conversation with Elder Garcia either on an actual face to face call or messages in the Facebook Messenger.

This week was good! Elder Garcia is happy and a couple of times during our call he was laughing at some of the antics of the other Elders in the apartment. I don't obviously understand what is being said when they talk to one another if it isn't in English but the laughter is easy to understand. 

- Elder Garcia had exchanges this last week with the Zone Leaders. He really enjoys going on transfers and learning from the other Elders. There are so many ways to teach and so many ways to connect with people that being able to draw from the strengths of others has been so great for Elder Garcia. 

- They spent some time this week in Bohicon and even got to, you guessed it, play some more soccer. I am almost certain that once Elder Garcia is back home, a soccer ball and/or game will not be something you will find him doing anytime soon

- They are working with a new ami who they found through a recent convert. She is partially paralyzed and Elder Garcia is excited to work with her

- They have another new ami, a gentleman. He has agreed to let the missionaries come by and do some Family Home Evenings and even suggested that he would want to invite some of his friends to join in on those as well. This is all so great but the one drawback on this is that he is a polygamist! What?! I can't wait to see if this ami progresses and also to see how the missionaries work through this. 

- They have a fixed baptismal date for an 'amazing man'. He has been Catholic his whole life and in fact, during almost all the lessons with the missionaries he was always reminding them that he 'was Catholic'. :) He was in the area at home because he needed a mental break from college and ended up running into the missionaries and now here we are with a baptismal date fixed! I love how this Gospel works and I love that these kids continue to be willing to go and serve missions in order for people like this to hear the message of hope and happiness

- There were 32 people at church. 13 of them were ami's!

- Transfers are coming up next week and Elder Garcia has mixed feelings on them. Rumor has it that there will be four (4) Elders sent to Parakou to open up that area and there will be four (4) Elders who will stay in Dassa. He really loves being in Dassa and has come to love the people there but he has a feeling that he has another sector to serve in before the end of his time in Africa. He also says he would really love to go to Parakou and open that up. I reminded him that is all up to the Lord and that no matter what transfer news he gets, he needs to go in with an open mind and heart and just go to work. 

- Elder Garcia said interviews went well and that President Proudfoot is slowly starting to set the stage for the next chapter of life as he readies to head home. This is good. Hard I am sure but good. I cannot imagine being out of normal life for two years and then all of a sudden everything you know comes to a screeching halt. I am sure grateful for good Mission Presidents who help guide and direct missionaries while they are out serving as well as trying to get them ready to come back to real life.

Elder Garcia needs extra prayers this week as he processes feelings of what is yet to come and where he would like to be next. I can do that. :) I am happy to do that. He is out working and doing his best to get the Gospel shared to as many as he can and I pray that he will be able to see and feel the tender mercies of the Lord play out in front of him as he goes through this week. I know the desire is there in the people of Africa and I know that missionaries make a difference. I am so glad we got a phone call this week and that we were able to connect, even just briefly. I love being able to see Elder Garcia's smile and to hear his voice. It  makes all the difference in the world.

I love you for forever and for always,

Mom