My Last Week

I guess this is the last email I will send you as a full time missionary in Chile.

I'll take advantage of this opportunity to share a last testimony to you as a missionary. It's basically the same thing I shared when I shared my testimony to say goodbye last Thursday in Zone Conference. 

As my time is coming to an end, I've been getting a little nervous about coming home. But during the mission I've learned to trust in God and I know that everything will turn out just right, as long as I cling to the iron rod, cling to what I know is right. I think the best decision I made was not the decision to go on a mission, but the decision I had to make several times to keep moving forward, not give up, even when it's been incredibly and unimagineably hard. Those were the decisions that made the difference. 

When we step forward with faith, God paves the way. Even when the mist of darkness is so thick that we can't see the path ahead. 

I want to share what I've come to know on my mission. I know of a surety that Jesus Christ lives. I have come to know Him. He has always been there when nobody else could be, when I was terribly alone. He has changed me in ways I never imagined possible, and with that, my priorities and my destiny have changed. 

I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I have drunk deeply from it and found relief in it. I felt a burning fire in my chest that gave me the answer I sought to know if it was true.

I learned to apply the gospel and the Atonement in my life. I tried it out and it works. We always have the power to change for the better. 

I know that the church is true and that God has called prophets and Apostles to show us the way to be truly happy in this life, and the life to come. 

I know that obedience to God's commandments leads to happiness, and disobedience to them does not, even as enticing as it may seem. I have seen too many evidences of this in the lives of the people I've met.

This is my testimony, simply and perhaps poorly stated, but it's mine.

Elder Joseph Garrett 

TWO WEEKS!!

I've only got two weeks left!!

Today we went on a little trip to see the Andes mountains. It was really cool.... they're a little different from the Rockies. We only went as far as Portillo, a ski resort, and the Laguna del Inca. If you look it up on a map or on the Internet, you'll see that we were actually really close to Argentina. I think with mom and dad we'll go a little further. I've heard that there's a giant statue of Christ a little higher up. I'm also thinking about maybe crossing the border to see Argentina. 

La Laguna del Inca .... Portillo

I sent pictures, so you can see a little bit what it's like. We're still in Fall, so there isn't a whole lot of snow yet, but my companions from Peru, Colombia, and Costa Rica wanted to see snow for the first time in their lives. The funny part is that we got there, got out of the van, and when we stepped onto the first snow we saw, I said "This isn't snow, this is ice." That part was man made, and rock solid... haha. 

They played in the snow that wasn't man made and said that it almost reached their knees. I think they were exaggerating....  haha. It snowed about two weeks ago, so the snow wasn't exactly fresh. But they got to play in the snow, and that was what mattered. While they tried and failed to do a snow man, we ate lunch. Haha.  

 

In the man made snow

I'm looking forward to getting home and seeing you all.

Nos vemos pronto!!

Elder Joseph Garrett

3 Weeks

Well I've only got three weeks left. It's a little crazy, but I'm getting excited. It's going to end whether I'm happy or sad about it, so why should I be sad? 

On Friday I ran into an old investigator that we visited about 5 months ago, but in that time she just didn't have time to meet with us. I set up an appointment with her for Tuesday. Yesterday we were trying to contact some other people in that street. She was outside and she invited us in because everyone had rejected us. She is golden! She mentioned that she notices a difference in her life. A year and a half ago she was about to get baptized and was always participating in church activities and meetings. In those times, she said that everything worked out right. She started to cry and said that in the year that she's been away from the church everything has changed. She feels really bad about things she's done and wants to repent and be baptized. We talked about repentance and baptism and in her prayer she asked for strength to get back to the church and get baptized! We are so happy for her! 

She learned that something Elder Perry said is true, "Obedience to the law is liberty." We are free when we obey God's laws. And when we do not, we suffer the consequences. 

See you in three weeks!

Elder Garrett

 

Changes

Today we had changes, but it looks like I'll be staying here in Los Andes until the end! I think these last four weeks are going to fly. I can't really believe my mission is rapidly coming to an end. 

The other day I felt like we should pass by and see a sister from the ward. When we went by, she said she wasn't doing very well. We asked if there was something we could do for her. She asked for a blessing so we went and picked up one of her neighbors who is member to help us. After the blessing she asked me "How did you find out I was sick and needed a blessing? Who told you?" The truth is that the only person who'd told us was the Holy Ghost. 

This week we moved into a new apartment that is much smaller, costs much less, and is much closer to our sector. Last week we fasted for an investigator and at the same time fasted that we could get into a new apartment so we could stop losing time traveling. There was a hang up that day. The owner wanted President to be there to sign the contract, which is something unusual. He usually signs it in his office in Santiago and then the owner signs it later. We hadn't known that he'd wanted that. But that day President happened to be in Los Andes doing interviews, so the owner met him and they signed the contract right away. Everything worked out perfectly and this week we got into the apartment, which is right in front of the chapel. 

Anyway hope all is well. 

Chao

elder Garrett

Mother's Day

Today we went to Santiago and did a little souvenir shopping. We'll be going there with mom and dad too, I'm sure. Lots of great things.

I'm happy, and doing well. Hope everyone's doing well. Tell Marc congratulations for me, I'm excited that he'll be getting married in the temple.

Yesterday was mothers day, and I wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to Sister Aburto, because she has always taken care of me like mom would and always writes me letters of encouragement. We're not allowed to make phone calls to people from our past areas, so I just said a little prayer, asking for a chance to talk to her, and at about 9:00 we ran into her in the street. I hadn't seen her in over a month, even though we're living in the same city. It's incredible how God answers prayers, even when it seems like something that would be insignificant to Him.

Elder Garrett

The Spirit

That investigator that I told you about last week that met with the sister missionaries in her parents home got back this week and told us the story. The missionaries just kind of showed up, and remembering us, she let them in. She went to church with them and was very impressed. She said she'd been to many other churches, and had ended up becoming an atheist. But she said she felt something in our church that she'd never felt in any other church. She felt the Spirit. She told me that when I'd explained to her that God talks to us through the Spirit and makes us have peaceful feelings in our heart, she didn't understand, and was skeptical. But when she felt that in our church, she understood what I was talking about. She said "I'm not sure how to explain what I felt. Maybe that's why I didn't understand when you explained it, but now I understand, and I want my whole family to feel it, too."

She came back much more talkative, all the skepticism is gone! I noticed that she was much more cheerful now. 

Anyone can feel the Spirit.

Elder Garrett. 

I just wrote on Wednesday, so I'm not really sure what more to say.... I'm afraid this will be short...

Some investigators got married this week in the ward, and they asked the missionaries to do a musical number. I played the piano, and three of the elders sang. It turned out... mas o menos, haha. But they told me that the piano sounded good, haha. 

On Sunday some of the other elders had a baptism. They asked me to sing... but nobody else knows how to play the piano.... so I recorded it on the piano and Elder Florez faked that he was playing while I was singing, which caused a little bit of laughter. 

I had an experience in which I was a little disappointed with the way some people treated us. I thought to myself "God is trying my faith to see what my reaction will be." So I just kept moving forward with patience and felt a spiritual confirmation afterwards, that everything will be alright. 

Have a great week.

Elder Joseph Garrett

 

 

P Day on Wednesday

Well I guess you probably already realized that I didn't have Preparation Day on Monday... We went to the temple today, so our P Day was changed to Wednesday for this week. We have the chance to go to the temple once every year, and again the week before going home.... which is right around the corner.

Today as I sat in the temple and was pondering a couple of things, a verse of scripture popped into my head. I hadn't read that chapter of the Old Testament in a long time, and I realized that there just happened to be a Bible on the table next to me.  So I picked it up and started looking for that scripture. I found it, and started reading the whole chapter. To my amazement, the chapter was just what I needed in that moment. It was like God had inspired that chapter for me and for that moment and for those very circumstances.  God truly works in mysterious ways to answer our prayers. He inspired me to look up that verse, and as I read that chapter, I found the response to my prayers. 

We are teaching a younger married couple that we found about 3 or 4 weeks ago. We lost contact with them for a week, and when we found them again, the wife had gone out of town to visit her parents. She's been gone for 2 weeks now. When we talked to the husband, who is a member of the church, he said that she had called him recently. She asked if we were still visiting him. He said that we were, and she said that the sister missionaries in that distant city were also visiting her in the home of her parents, who are not members.  My companion and I almost started singing Hallelujah in the street because were so excited. They said that when she gets back, they want to go to church together. God truly does know how to do His own work. We arrived at a crucial time in their lives, and when she went away for a few weeks, God went looking for her, and sent the sister missionaries so that she would keep progressing. There was never any communication between us and the sister missionaries. They just showed up out of nowhere. 

There are always tough things that happen in our lives and God lets our faith be tried, but if we remember our faith and the things we've experienced, and we keep moving forward, God is always there with His tender mercies to remind us that we were right to trust in our faith, and He will strengthen us.

Brother Quezada shared a really great parable in a talk this Sunday. He said a man once was late for an appointment in a big city, and was looking for a place to park his car. He prayed to God, pleading him for a parking spot. He said "If you bless me with a parking spot now, I promise I will never again miss going to church on Sunday." The minutes were passing by, when suddenly he noticed that a car was pulling out of a parking spot. As he pulled in to that parking spot, and got out of the car, the man looked up at the sky and said: "Thanks anyway, I already found one."  Sometimes we act like that man, but we should always try to remember and recognize the things that God does for us. 

One night, as we planned for the next day, I felt like we should knock some doors in a certain part of town. But when we got there the next day, my companion and I looked at each other, and we both said, "No, let's go somewhere else, this is lame." So off we went on our bikes.

I saw a man walking down the street. I'm pretty sure he was the only person in the street. As I got closer to him I felt like I should talk to him. I stopped and said something like "Hi, how's it going neighbor?" He said "I'm doing good how are you, Elder?" I told him I was doing well. His next question was a little weird. He said "How old are you?" That's not the normal sequence of questions when we contact people, but I responded anyway. He asked me "Elder, why did you stop to talk to me?" I said, "I don't know, I just felt like I should talk to you." He then said "I know the Holy Ghost told you to talk to me. I served a mission in Colombia when you were just a baby. I've wanted to come back to the church for a long time. I've always seen the missionaries, but I never went out of my way to talk to them."  He recently had found out that his girlfriend was also an inactive return missionary who had also served in Colombia and who also wanted to come back to the church. He said that they'd been talking and had set a goal to be sealed in the temple. He told me he knew that God is looking for him. 

God doesn't forget about us. 

Chao.
Elder Joseph Garrett

Semana Santa

On Monday night I worked with Elder Florez and we stayed in his house. Then Tuesday morning we went to Santiago. We ate in a Columbian restaurant. It was a little expensive.... Elder Florez didn't mention that beforehand. At least it was good food.

Then we went to the office and met my new trainee. His name is Elder Vizcarra. He is from Lima, Peru and has been living in Chile for 4 years, in Iquique. He is my third companion from Lima...

Since this week we will be celebrating the atonement and resurrection of Christ, I wanted to share my testimony of Him. As I've spent almost two years away from home preaching His gospel, I feel I have come to know Him. I have felt the Holy Ghost testify of Him and of His divine mission. I feel sure of His reality because of the things I've felt.

For example, one night I found myself a little discouraged, stressed out, and I would even say a little depressed. I couldn't sleep well that night. I sat at my desk pondering about a lot of things. As I was reflecting, I received a spiritual prompting. It was like hearing a voice that said "Los que me buscan me hallarán," which I translate to mean "Those who seek me shall find me."

This phrase had nothing to do with anything I was thinking about. It simply dropped into my mind and heart. "Plop". I then felt a desire to get on my knees and pray. I asked my Father in Heaven to be close to me and strengthen me.

That night, I sought the Lord, at His invitation, and I found Him, as I'm sure that anyone can. I felt peace in my heart. I knew that He truly lives and is working in our midst. Even though we can never know what the future holds, I know that everything will turn out alright.

God is too wise to let us learn everything at once. (I think in our imperfection, we'd be condemning ourselves.) He lets us learn line upon line, precept upon precept. We progress in our knowledge and testimony until our faith turns into perfect knowledge.

However, if we don't seek Him, it will be hard to find Him. I like Nephi's simple but profound question to Laman and Lemuel: "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" They hadn't, they never did, and they never would receive the blessed heaven sent knowledge that Nephi received.

I have found peace, hope, and security for my life through Him. I know He lives, and I know He suffered our every sin and pain, and for that reason He knows how best to help us so that everything turns out well. Time after time, He has shown me that He is there for me when there is no one else to help me. I cannot deny that that help and support is heaven sent. I have felt His love.

I encourage you to seek Him, I echo the words of Moroni: "And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen." 

May we all receive the blessings that come from His atonement and resurrection, and always remember Him.

Elder Joseph Garrett

Terremotos!!!

There have been lots of earthquakes these past weeks. The big one was in Antofogosta, which is very far away from me.  I didn't even feel it.  We found out about it the next day. But there've been lots of other earthquakes in Chile this past week. One morning I woke up and everything was moving.... that was kind of a weird feeling. I said "Elder..." and my companion said "I'm awake," and then everything stopped moving and it was over.

Then one night a little before 11:30 the earth shook again. It was the biggest earthquake I've felt yet and everything in the house was shaking.... The worst part was that women and children in the neighborhood started screaming. That was a little creepy. I mean, it really wasn't that big. But, after what happened in Antofogasta, I think we all thought it was going to be a lot worse. The epicenter was about 45 minutes away from Los Andes in Quillota. 

It reminded me of a mormon message by Russell M. Nelson. I had always thought I would freak out if there was an earthquake... but I noticed that while other people were screaming, I was actually really calm. I'm sure it has to do with my faith and hope that everything is going to be okay, thanks to my knowledge of the gospel. 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1289877050001

I guess the big news is that we had changes today. Elder Ortiz went back to Santiago, and I'll be with Elder Florez (Colombia) for the day. I'm staying here in Los Andes! This will be my fourth transfer in this ward, which will be six months. I think it's likely I'll end my mission here.... since I have 10 weeks left. Tomorrow we'll be going to Santiago to pick up our new trainees, and I'll be district leader for the first time.  

General Conference was really great this weekend. I really enjoyed it and it was very spiritually uplifting. 

I have 10 weeks left now, and mom and dad will be with me here in Chile. I'm getting excited, and at the same time, sad. 

Que Dios los bendiga

Elder Garrett

I don't have time to write much! This week we had two funerals here in the ward. I was able to do a musical number in one of them. I chose to play "Oh My Father."  It was very nice, and it was nice to hear about the lives of these really faithful members, who were both pioneers here in Los Andes.

Sorry that it's so short. I'll write more next week. 

Elder Garrett

Strep

I guess the big news this week is that all weekend I suffered from strep throat.... I'm still a little bad, but I'm doing much better. I had the privilege of receiving a priesthood blessing from Lalo, so that was really awesome. He asked if he was going to do the anointing and I told him "No, I want you to give me the blessing." It was really awesome and he told me that everything depended on my faith.

Oh wait, the big news is really that the Aburto family was baptized on Saturday! Unfortunately I couldn't be there but I was very, very happy to hear about it and see the pictures. 

Things are going really well, other than that I spent some time being sick. But I'm sure this week will be better. I know that God answers my prayers because He has done it time and time again. 

Take care,

Elder Garrett

Three More Months

I realized that I have three more months in the mission from yesterday. Wow, it seems like it's going by really fast. I guess you could say I'm starting to get a little nervous about going back to the university.... but I'm sure God's going to help me.

This week we had some great experiences. Maybe the best part is that I've been making Mexican food for my Mexican companion. Haha. Yes, I'm the one cooking the food. Haha. I've made tacos several times and guacamole and things like that. 

The other day, I felt prompted to go visit an investigator. We never made it to her house, because we ran into an investigator we'd taught three months ago. In the end I felt like God had sent us that way to find this old man, and that it wasn't really to find the woman I thought we were looking for. 

We went to visit another lady, and her mom came out and said she wouldn't be able to meet with us that day. She couldn't either, because someone was coming to pick her up to take her to a doctor's appointment. As we were talking to her, her mother (our investigator's grandmother), who is 88 years old, came over, and said "If nobody's going to let you in, I will, because your visits do me good." I was really impressed by this 88 year old woman. She said "I can hardly see you, and almost can't hear you, but your visits do me good, because I know you're called of God, and He comes with you."

Anyway, those are just some of the great experiences we had. Have fun.

Elder Garrett

I found out today that an investigator we found a year ago in Centenario was baptized. It's interesting, because, about three months ago, I was riding my bike, and I felt a prompting (TURN RIGHT!!)... I did so, not knowing why, but I felt the Spirit. I ran into this girl and talked to her a little bit. This happened again about two weeks later (TURN LEFT!!) .... I ran into the same girl. I found out a little afterwards, that she got back in contact with the missionaries and had accepted a baptismal date (When we'd taught her, she had not received permission from her parents, so she hadn't continued with the lessons.) And yesterday she was baptized. It's amazing how the Lord works! When I'd called the elders to give them the reference, they'd already made contact with her.

We've been experiencing a lot of earthquakes lately. The other day I woke up in the night and everything was shaking. It was the strongest one I've felt in my life, but it really wasn't that bad. Everyone thought it was going be worse, and started freaking out, but I was fine. I didn't even get out of bed... ha ha. 

I guess that's about it. See you in June.......

Elder Garrett

 

 

 

Evidences of God

Family and Friends,

Greetings from Chile (Paradise).

I thought that this week I would just relate a short story that shows me that God really exists and is a part of our lives.

The daughter of an investigator we are teaching (Lalo's niece) was in the hospital because she was having problems with one of her kidneys. The mom asked us to come give her a blessing yesterday. 

Lalo took us to the clinic and we waited for his sister to show up. Because it was Sunday, the clinic was pretty much empty. In fact there were only three cars in the parking lot. 

As we waited, a familiar car pulled in and parked. It was Laura Aburto and her son. It was kind of a surprise to me that they showed up out of nowhere. Her son was having a problem with his allergies. 

She was a little worried, thinking that I was sick, but we explained to her we were there to give a blessing. Lalo's sister also showed up and Laura mentioned two miraculous instances in which priesthood blessings had healed two of her family members. (One of which I had given a year ago.) She said the doctors were surprised at how miraculously fast they had recuperated. 

Anyway, the point is that right in the moment when I would need a lot of faith to be able to give this priesthood blessing, God sent me someone from the past to us to remind us of the power of priesthood blessings and the miracles she's seen.

I know that God lives and I cannot deny it, and I can't shut up about it. I've seen too many evidences of his existence, some too sacred to share in an email that will be posted on the internet. I also know that Jesus Christ lives and that His atonement truly works in our lives. That is my witness to the world, that I know it without a doubt.

Elder Joseph Garrett

Change Day

Today we had changes. I'm going to write fast, because it's three o'clock and I'm STARVING. We went to Santiago, because I've had a change. I'm still in Los Andes, but now I'm with Elder Ortiz, from Mexico City. Elder Ortega was a little sad that he had to leave, but the mission is full of changes.

We had some great experiences this week. We taught Sergio (I think I talked about him before) the Word of Wisdom this week. At first, he said he was going to finish off his coffee and then he'd leave it first. But then yesterday he decided to give me the coffee that he had and he also committed to stop drinking alcohol. We gave him a blessing to help him out. It's incredible to see his faith. I am convinced that without the gospel, he wouldn´t be able to stop drinking.

Anyway, I'll try to write a little more next week. I was given three birthday cakes again this year, so it was a good birthday. 

 

Until next week,

Elder Garrett

Stake Conference

We had a lot of great experiences this week but I don't have time to write them. I had the privilege of ordaining Lalo an Elder and giving him the Melchizedek Priesthood yesterday.

We had an awesome Stake Conference, the Spirit was so strong. It was awesome because I knew about half the people there, since I've served in almost half of the wards of this stake. 

The Stake President gave a really powerful talk. Among other things, he gave us an analogy. We shouldn't just put our feet in the swimming pool, we should jump in and enjoy it. An investigator I was teaching a long time ago was present and felt the Spirit during the talk, and announced just after the meeting that he wants to get baptized with his family. 

I also loved something else he said. He said "If I was baptized, it was forever. If I received the priesthood, it was forever. If I went to the temple and made covenants, it was forever. If I was sealed in the temple, it was forever. If I served a mission and taught the gospel and baptized people, it was forever. We can't go back. Those things were meant to have changed us forever. We can't go back to who we were before."

I know that this church is led by Jesus Christ. We live in dangerous times, but we should have hope for a bright future. 

Elder Garrett

My turn to have a bike accident

This week it was my turn to have a bike accident. I kind of accidentally used the front brakes (just remember that in 13 months of riding a bike in my mission, I've never had an accident) and I flew over the handlebars. It was right in front of the church that I fell, in front of all the young men, who were going to play soccer. So they all laughed at me. The funny part was that the bike landed and stayed standing up, as if we were going to change a flat tire or somehting. Anyway I had a couple bruises and scratches and my shoulder hurt so I've been wearing a sling whenever I feel like it.

This week me and my companion got hit by a bug and we were stuck inside all day on Thursday. We tried to get out and work but we always had to go running back. But now everything's under control. Don't worry. 

We have seen lots of little miracles and we are having good success. Yesterday, Lalo had his first baptism. He baptized his niece, Daniela. I think he was a little nervous but he did a great job and was very happy. I was asked to sing again, and ended up singing the same song as last week. I sent you the picture.

On Saturday, we ran into Sergio, an older man. He called out to us "Hey, why don't you say a prayer for me?" We stopped and started talking to him, he invited us to his house, and we started talking. He said that four years ago he'd read the Bible of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price. He said that one time an Elder gave him a blessing and healed his arm. He said he wants to get baptized for the remission of sins, the way Christ was baptized. We extended a baptismal date and explained that we're going to be teaching him some things to help him prepare.  He came to church, met the bishop, made some friends, and then came to Daniela's baptism. It was a miracle for us. And we are super excited to work with him. 

Anyway. Thanks for the birthday wishes! I'll send you fotos next week if I can. 21................ woah.

Elder Garrett

I don't have a lot of time. We climbed a hill on our bikes and took pictures, and now we're going to go eat with all of the elders in the ward.

Yesterday was Paty's baptism. It was very awesome. She had asked me to sing for her, so I sang "Cuando Me Bautice" in the baptismal service.... I can't remember the name of the song in English.... it's from the Primary... and they sang it in my baptism, I remember. 

 

Paty's baptism!!!! her son Diego baptized her! (He's wearing on of the
other elders' name tags).  Elder Ortega's first baptism... and his eyes
are closed in all of the pictures..... 

We're having lots of experiences that are building our faith.... haha.  When I get home in a couple of months, I'll share some more details from all the things we've gone through. 

Anyway that's about it. I'll try to write more next week...

Elder Garrett

A couple of weeks ago we taught a less active member a lesson. We sang two hymns and talked about her baptism and her experiences in the church. I felt prompted to share a scripture about our baptismal covenants and the promise of having the Holy Ghost with us. She cried and said she wanted to come back, because she needs the Spirit. One time her husband almost died of a heart attack, but the Spirit alerted her about what was happening, so she was able to save him. This week we talked to her again, and she said she'd gone to church with her daughter in Santiago, because she wants to move there. She also asked the bishop for an interview, because she wants to come back.

As I studied for an investigator, certain words from a scripture popped into my head. I couldn't find them anywhere. It would've been nice to have had an electronic device to be able to look them up.... I prayed for help to find them, and the next day in an exchange, Elder Osborne opened his scriptures right up to that scripture with those words. Wow. I felt strongly the Spirit as I shared that scripture with the investigator. 

I can't remember if I told you about an alcoholic that we'd been helping out... but the other day I saw him again and he looked completely different. He gave me a huge hug and said he's almost alcohol free and he's going to start working again. 

I hope all is well.

Oh está todo bien.

Elder Garrett

Why is it that when I get here on Monday I forget everything that happened in the last week? I think on Monday my mind just goes blank....

Oh... we had a nice experience this week. We left our house and we were on our way out of our neighborhood when someone waved to us. I waved back, but we just went on. Then I started feeling guilty for not talking to her, and felt like I should contact her, so I turned around and we went back to her.

She was weeding the garden in front of her house and I offered to help. We went and changed clothes and came back in about five minutes. For about an hour we helped her out. She explained to us that she'd had 3 strokes and several other health problems and that just recently she'd felt good enough to get out and work in her garden. She was very grateful for the help.

She basically said that she felt the Spirit when we were with her... although she described it like good vibes.... good energy. She was so happy, she invited us to eat lunch with her this week and said that normally she didn't speak to the missionaries, but that we could even share a message with her. It turns out she was baptized about ten years ago, although she's been inactive ever since. She also mentioned she'd gone to see President Hinckley in Santiago one time.

We've had several experiences like that this week where we've felt prompted to do something, and we've been able to be instruments in the Lord's hands.

Oh sorry guys, I forgot that last week I didn't know who my companion was yet... haha. Yeah, so on Tuesday we went to the office to pick up our new companions. My new companion is Elder Ortega, from Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He's learning Spanish very fast, thanks to his great teacher.

I'd send you fotos, but the other place where we do internet was full, so we're in a different place and the computers are so lame they don't even recognize my memory card.

Anyway, that's about it.

Chao (de verdad)

Elder Garrett

 

This week was really good... although I feel kind of exhausted. Today I'm with Elder Willoughby, I was with him in the MTC, so that will be awesome. Then tomorrow I will be picking up a new trainee and I'll head back to Los Andes.

Last night as Elder Preciado said goodbye to Lalo and Verito, they had some very nice things to say about us. They said they'd waited for quite some time for a companionship that would baptize him. They said we were just like a perfect pair of missionaries and we helped them to feel the Spirit, and that helped him to get baptized. So we felt really good about that. It's funny how God puts us in the right place at the right time to help the right people, because Elder Preciado would've been in Argentina if his visa had come through.

They also told me I'm very patient, and very persistent.....

We are really happy with Lalo's progress. He received his first callings yesterday... ward missionary with his wife, and also asistant ward mission leader. They are so happy and progressing so well. We are super excited to work with them.

Anyway... until next week.

Chao

Elder Garrett

2014

What a way to start out 2014... sick. Ha. And I'm still kind of a little sick. I feel even worse when we head outside, because the heat makes me feel worse. On New Year's Eve I thought I was going to pass out in the street... But I didn't, don't worry. I survived.

I feel really good about this year. I hope that these will be the best six months of my mission. I've learned so much and grown so much in the last year and a half. 

I'm really tired because we had a zone activity today in San Felipe... and all I want to do his sleep a bit. So I'll jut say that we had some good experiences this week.

It was a tough week, but it's always worth it. Lalo is doing so well. He blessed the sacrament this week in church, and he also took it to his mother-in-law, because she's sick and can't come to church. This week we are going to go do some family history work with him to help him get ready for the temple. It's been really exciting watching his progress. 

Elder Garrett