Email from Mom: Sunday, April 16, 2023

From: Mom
To: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Sunday, April 16, 2023
Subject: Kansas City

Happy Sunday from Kansas City Missouri!! How are you? How was your week?

Tyler and I flew to Missouri to watch the Braves play the Royals. Friday’s game was so nice and warm with temperatures in the 80’s. Last night was FREEZING cold and it appears today is going to be the same. Tyler ended up paying like $50 for a royals fleece blanket and upgraded our seats to make it so we could sit inside and not out in the rain and wind. The Braves have owned the Royals and it has been a good series to watch. I am ready to head home though where surprisingly enough it is warmer! Ha ha. Who would have thought?!

We took yesterday morning to go and tour Liberty Jail and then over to Independence as well. Liberty Jail was eye opening and humbling. The first temple site dedicated in Independence was too. This is where Christ will rule from and even though the spot that is owned by the church is small in comparison to other temple sites, you can feel that when the time comes, whatever it is that the Lord will need will be available and provided. At the end of our tour at Independence we were watching a video of how the church grows and how the Gospel is shared all over the world. I got a little teary eyed thinking of the good both you and Kaitlyn have done in being a small part of that. I couldn’t have been more proud as pictures of missionaries filled the screen.

This last week I ran over to Lees (grocery store) to get some donuts for B to take to seminary and the gentleman who checked us out had a heavy accent so Tyler asked where he was from. He said The Ivory Coast. So Tyler asked where at and he said Abidjan. For some reason I feel like you have had a companion from there? It was fun to visit with him for a quick minute and share that you were in Benin.

One of the Sister missionaries who was working at Liberty Jail has a brother in law who served in the Benin/Togo mission. She said he loved it and still speaks so highly of the humility of the people there. It has been such a week of connection to Africa and to you being there that it makes my heart long to have you home more than ever. I know there is work still yet to do and that you need to be there to finish strong but I also recognize the Lord showing me that even in the smallest of details like meeting someone in passing, He is in the details. And I love that.

Anyways, sorry for the late email. Never easy to ‘sit’ and type when we are not at home. Just know I love you. I hope your Sunday has been good and that this week you might have been able to see Him in the details of your life and the work you are doing each day. I love you for forever and for always. To the moon and back.

Mom