2015.05.25 Cienega de Flores

Dear mom,

Wooooooahhh I´ve been on a mission for about 9 months now. Time flies. Well we have transfers today, but we don´t know if anyone goes or stays or any of that until the night, hmm.

This was a good week, a lot of things happened. A prepared this whole week to get baptized, we finished all of the lessons and all. He was super prepared and had built up his testimony. There was only one thing that impided him to get baptized...work on sunday.. We prayed every day of the whole week that his boss would give him work of that day. He was many lessons where the power of the spirit of the Lord was so strong you could not deny it. arturo was ready, he was praying too. He had to make his decision saturday night and we would find out by him coming to church or not. We did not doubt that he would come. We had built up our faith like a great walll.

well! he didn´t come, he went to work, because it´s a new job and the boss still won´t give him that day off yet because he´s new. But we had such great faith! all of us! was it all in vain? Of course not! Maybe A used his agency to go to work and something radical didn´t happen to allow him to come to church and be baptized, but he is not lost, his testimony is not crushed. Our development of faith is not wiped away. I still felt great yesterday, even though arturo didn´t get baptized. We watched a video in the gospel principals class, of a convert who recieved the blessing in his confirmation that his example would help his family accept the gospel. Well, when he is baptized, the family gets more uptight about the gospel, because he won´t work on sundays. It bothers his father and they mock him that he is taking religion more important than his family. The convert gets stressed and asks his bishop "why is my family less receptive now, I thought they would be more receptive?" the bishop told him "Well sometimes we don´t recieve blessing right away, sometimes we have to have raith, keep being obedient, and just wait. Trust that the Lord will complete his promises," In the video, the family does not become more receptive to the gospel, but that´s just the video, Arturo did not get baptized this week..but that´s just the week! I can keep strengthening this great faith that I have been building up, for the benefit of A and all others!

Davis' selfie with his whole zone.

Also, the Water in the whole town of Cienega de Flores went out, It was awesome that we couldn´t brush our teeth or anything! Everyone said it wouldn´t come back until thursday...oh goodness! But guess what?! It came back this morning so we could shower in cold water and brush our teeth! A MIRACLE!! That was pretty awesome. 

right now there is a medium sized spider crawling on my computer screen...

"look out! Terrible joke INCOMING!"

...guess it´s just hanging out on the net...

Nathaniel looks super goofy as always, and more preppy. Horchata wasn´t a really big thing here during the holiday season, but there is something called i don´t remember, but it´s something like hot chocolate but it isn´t and it´s made with corn and (i dont like it yuck) but that´s alright!

Te amo mama!

Elder Garner

2015-05-18 Cienega de Flores

Dear mom,

El Autobús Mágico was probably the best idea ever. I´ll read them when I have the time in my language study and then when I have a companion or anyone who is american, I can start giving them away. [We gave Davis a bunch of "Magic School Bus" childrens' science books in Spanish because he wanted to learn science vocabulary in Spanish.]

This week was super good! and super hard! I´ve realized that Cienega de Flores is just a tough area, more than Nicolas Bravo at least. With less members, more area, less english, more faith required, sometimes it makes me tired, but i just put my shoulder to the wheel,push along, and do my duty with a heart full of song, it works! Goodess gracious I´m sweaty.

We have an investigator that is preparing to get baptized this week, his name is A, as I´ve told you. He has a great testimony in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and does things such as reading and praying, because he wants to! not because he feels like he´s obligated to. He has a bit of oposición right now, which is that his boss is having him work on sundays, so until he gets that day off for rest, he can´t get baptized. He really thinks that he can get it off, and he´s been praying so that he may get sunday to rest. right now he has monday off (so close!) But he´s a great guy, he works in a company that makes juice so he said he´s going to bring us some next time, and he´s super funny. It´s really fun to teach him, and have him ask questions and see him reach an understanding of the principles. We had a powerful lesson with him about the word of wisdom, where two convert members expressed their testimonies about not drinking or smoking anymore and receiving great blessings. He isn´t addicted to anything, but he said that once in a while he´d smoke a cigarette or take a drink. He prayed, at the end of the lesson, to receive the strength to live the word of wisdom and to know that it is true. Bien con ganas Arturo es.

Well, I´m still putting on my sunscreen, and it´s hard to eat healthy here I don´t really know what to do about that but hope that the members feed me something healthy. I´m still feeling great! Elder H and I are working awesome!!

I love you mom,

Davis   

2015-05-12 Cienega de Flores and Davis' 19th Birthday

Happy Birthday Davis, May 14, 1996.

2015-05-12 Cienega de Flores

Hey Mom,

It was really nice to talk to you guys this past weekend. Too bad thanny wasn´t there. Anyway, between then and sunday, not much happened. I´ve been thinking a lot about the book of mormon, and how important it is. I told you guys the story about the lady who gained a testimony of the restoration through the book of mormon, and I told my mission president in my letter as well, and I think it´d be a good experience to share with everyone:

I have learned a lot more about trusting in the spirit, and the power of the book of mormon. Last sunday we had an exerience where we found a lady and we taught her about the restoration and about the book of mormon, inviting her to be baptized. When we came back that saturday, she declared to us that she had read the book and she had prayed...and she had recieved an answer that it was all true. Wow! how incredible. I could never do anything such as that. It´s like what Elder Anderson metioned in his talk this general conference talking to pres. monson years ago: We do all we can to hasten the work of the Lord, but this is the Lord´s work, and he opens doors, and works miracles that we can scarcely imagine. I found myself in the priesthood class this sunday learning about what Pres. Benson said about the book of mormon, it´s holy promise, and how we must concentrate everything on the book and its promise. Then later in the night I re-read "The Challenging and Testifying Missionary" another time. That night, I think I might of had some mixed dream or something, where I was talking at the pulpit, or someone else I don´t know, about the importance of teaching with the spirit, and letting the spirit teach through the power of the Book of Mormon. The person talking said "If we aren´t allowing the spirit to teach through us, and throught the book of mormon, then what are we doing?!" Well I woke up thinking "Well if I didn´t already know how important it is to do everything with the spirit and the book of mormon...I do now!"

Elder H and Davis at the Monterrey Temple

Something else that I have learned about this week has been sacrifice. The mission is a sacrifice, but there are so many opportunities to sacrifice even more mom. To sacrifice all of our efforts, our talents, our smiles. To sacrifice our man-like characteristics by ridding ourselves of pride, disobedience, fear, complaints, and all else. It is not an easy task, but what Elder Ringwood reminds me is that the good news of the gospel is that the desires of our hearts can be transformed. I´ll be honest sometimes you think "have I even made any progress at all in my mission?" but then again, when we see how much we still have to go to make it to the peak of the mountain, we often forget how much we have done to get to the point that we are. As long as we are progressing up that mountain towards perfection, through the gospel and love of Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father is happy with us.

It wasn´t that had to end the call THIS time, but it was still pretty hard mom. It´s also super hard to not open my [birthday] presents yet hahahhaa. In the next package you send me, can you send a packet of college ruled paper(100 sheets) and hi chew of course. And US stamps. That´s about it.

Way to go Nathaniel!! Now do school and get good at spanish!

"¡Andele Thanny!¡ Ya pónte en tus estudios y mejórate en español!"

I love you all so much, thanks for everything,

Elder Davis Garner

2015-05-06 Cienega de Flores

Dear mom,

I feel awesome spiritually but like poop physically. Cienega de flores is SUPPPER far from the temple, we woke up at 3 am to get there, yeeesh ahahahaha. But it is very nice to go to the temple. this temple is small but very pretty inside and outside.

anyway, skype call. Since the internet here is super balogna here, so president swapp gave us permission to go to a ciber with skype on saturday. but, I will be going with Elder S [Davis’ trainer] not my companion elder H, because Elder H is going to do it another way by going to a different ward with some other missionaries on sunday to use the bishop´s tablet and long story short, I won´t be able to introduce Elder H to you and I´ll just be with Elder S. His comp is from bolivia and so his mother´s day isn´t until the 29th, but yea...

anyway...on SATURDAY, we plan to arrive at the ciber at 5ish(3pm for you) and elder s will go first probably and then me, but to be sure, be ready at 3pm this saturday, and i´ll call at 3pm or 4 (your time) does that sound ok? I hope so honestly these video calls make me so nervous I would much rather do a call but I don´t have the time to find where or anything. This frustrated me at the plane and at christmas because I don´t want you guys to be disappointed. but be ready at 3pm on saturday ok?

Hey but if it doesn´t work on saturday I will find a way to call by phone on sunday! :)

Anyway, besides that little frustrating thingy, I´m doing super well. I´m super happy and my testimony is ever growing. When we have terrible day where no one wants to listen, I don´t feel depressed of anything, I still feel cheerfurl. I´m learning more and more about how I can strengthen my faith, even with a plate full of trials. My companion and I are doing great, I don´t feel lonely at all speaking spanish. We make a lot of jokes, get a long really well, were good buddies now.

Right now I am super tired, I have a headache so I´m just going to leave you with this right now. Don´t worry I´m just physically tired, but spiritually I am rock and roll!!!!! I love you very much, I´ll see you on saturday.

Davis

p.s. Elder H says I should just open the tie [from Davis’ birthday package] up so I can wear it for skype so I think I will, but the rest I will wait.

April 27 Cienega de Flores

Dear mom,

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. I´ve been doing a lot better this week. It´s still been pretty rough. Here we have a lot of investigators come and go really fast, they love to listen, but don´t want to act. We did have two people in church this sunday however, which was exciting. There was one wonderful experience that I had this week, but it´s more personal and I don´t want to share it publically. In Preach my gospel, It says that we shouldn´t share spiritual experiences as if they are pokemon cards. Ok it doesn´t say THAT, but similar. They´re sacred moments that we have had and we should only be shared for the benefit of others, to help build their testimonies and feel the spirit, not to brag or anything. One thing that I have talked about a couple of times is the economic difficulties that our familty has had in the past, in general, and how as a kid I really didn´t feel afraid because my parents were faithful and strong in the church. Everything turned out better than before and now they can spend all of their time breaking our house (hahaha.) But, I´ve been trying to be really sensitive to the spirit to know what I should share and what I should hold onto, especially because I have never been asked to give a talk in church...with more than a five minutes notice. ahahahah it really is a dandy thing though, I feel that I´m always prepared to share something and give the members some cheer and uplifted spirit through what I say. I think my spanish is best behind the pulpit.

Anyway, I got my birthday package, that book from grandma, the blanket too. I got the journals and the book and the hymn book out, and the hi-chews too(everyone enjoyed those) Remember I won´t write you next monday, but wednesday. We don´t know what we will be doing for mother´s day because there is no good place(or member´s house) with good enough internet, so we might have to get permission to go all the way to san nicolas(sweet) to go to a special cyber cafe to do it, and it might be on the monday right after mother´s day. We´ll figure it out this week and let you know next wednesday.

Birds birds birds. Lots of birds here in Cienega. I FINALLY SAW A CRESTED CARACARA! I saw a bunch actually in some field, it was awesome. I also saw a painted bunting. I was never too eager to see one before because in the illustrations they always have the red eye-ring and they look evil, but this one was seen on top of a bush singing, super gorgeous. There are also many Pyrroluxia here, the "Desert Cardinals" a couple northern Cardinals, Some cool Common Nighthawks, and many other birds.

Ok here is a cool experience I had (to share with everyone) I was on divisions in a different area with Elder W. We were walking down a  road and passed by two people hacking at some giant log (actually one of them was a lazy 25yr old and the other was like a 50 yr old lady) I asked, "Hey can we help you?" Sure! We started cutting the giant log, sweating a bunch, getting blisters and all, super awesome. We cut that one and moved on to the next. as we rotated in cutting it, we taught them about the gospel of jesus christ, and introduced the book of mormon, they were really receptive. We got nearly done with the log, and then stopped and I said "You know, cutting this log is a lot like the gospel, you guys can watch us finish this log and feel good because the job is done, or you could finish it yourself and feel even more accomplished. With the Gospel, we can listen to the word of god and feel the spirit, but even better is to follow said teachings and recieve unexplainable joy." Elder W set an appointment, and we left about 1/4 of the log to finish. It was pretty awesome, but then we had sore backs hahahaha.

Sounds, and looks like nathnaiel is doing great. tell him that starting the first lap by telling a joke to someone is fun(hahaha i don´t know if he should do it or not, I did it a couple of times, but i don´t know if it affects the race.) Anyway, I´m doing great again, still.

I love you all,

Elder Garner

This is a photo from the National Wildlife Refuge to show what Crested Caracara look like.  Davis didn't take this pic.

2015-04-20 Cienega de Flores

Hey Mom!

(this week was a hard week)

I got transferred to the little branch of Cienega de Flores, It´s about 2 hours north of San Nicolas by bus, and it´s a pueblicito (small town). It´s actually still in the stake of San Nicolas (not in the same zone though), even though it´s still super far(my branch isn´t even the farthest one away). They whitewashed Elder J and I, so He´s not in Nicolas Bravo either, he went to be a zone leader in a different zone, which is cool.

My companion is Elder H. He´s from the stake of Pachucha Hidalgo in Mexico. He knows as much english as I know the names of cars (barely any...ferrari?)

Well the first day when I arrived here, we found a giant freakin’ spider in the corner of the shower Shooot! The next day I killed a black widow that was hanging around the folletos [pamphlets] and then after that we found a small tarantula stuck between the window and the screen, about the size of a regular sports watch...it´s still there. so...LOTS OF SPIDERS! Bleh, I´m not really fond of them, but at least it´s not like Ron Weasely and Aragog. 

oh here´s another thing...We´re on Bikes. We´re one of the very few areas in our mission with bikes, our area is super big too. This saturday that past, we were waiting for the zone leaders to show us where we were going to eat (Our branch consists of 2 areas, cienega de flores and real de sol, the zone leaders are in the other one and we eat with them sometimes.) and all of a sudden my tire explodes! The tube blew through and ripped the tire! Sheesh, I had to go buy another one of both. Let´s just say mom that this area has been pretty...crazy I guess in this first week.

I have seen some new birds though (for my mission list) I saw a hooded Oriole, the ones that live in our palm trees, I have seen a lot of scissor-tailed flycatchers, that one bird that nested in san paula last summer, and I found a zone tailed Hawk, never seen one before. Yea.

The branch is very nice though, Even though it is small all of the members are super loving and awesome. They really want to build up the branch spiritually and phsyically, so We´re going to help them do that.

It is pretty green here though, a pretty place. Oh, so one of the zone leaders (Elder S actually [Davis’ trainer], he´s my zone leader now how strange huh) told me that i got a package. It´s probably at the offices still so I´ll probably get it when we have zone interviews or something, but it got here! And, this cyber isn´t bad, so maybe I´ll send some pictures next week. I´m going to the Temple on the sixth of May, so I won´t email you on the 4th, but the 6th, and that´s when We´ll get everything figured out on how we are going to talk for mother´s day. We are going to figure that out.

Well, I´m growing mom, I´ll tell you that, I´m giving it all I got, it´s tough sometimes but I know that the Lord can help me do it. I know that I couldn´t do this myself. Everyday I find myself more and more dependant on the Saviour. When I get discouraged I think of the talk "The good news about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that our desires can be transformed." I read Alma chapter 38 often. [https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/38?lang=eng]

I love you so much

Tell Nathaniel that I say keep going, you´re doing great! (No!!! Second place, really close second place!! -Mr. Incredible hahahah)

Elder Garner

San Nicolas, April 13, 2015

Hey Mom!

This week has been super awesome! so much happened and yet it went by so fast!

firstly, no it was the other toe, thank goodness, and it is a ok. [Ingrown toenail report.]

The mural stayed around for about 4 days before rain washed it away, it was awesome. We would see people walking super slowly by it, and then they´d stop to read hahahah. I can send you all of the steps of it so you can post the whole thing. The time lapse should be really cool.

So I will probably get transferred tomorrow, I´ll find out where I´m going and with who tonight (but you´ll have to wait till next Monday)  but I´ll be able to write letters to O and Sister F and K. E literally disappeared, kind of upset about that, but it´s good that I´m leaving this area because if I found him again I would probably yell at him(no not really)

I just got an email from CS and from RW [high school running buddies]. CT writes me now and then, I get emails from JB, SE and MB, CN writes me, I talk to Elder KS [serving in a different part of Mexico] and Cousin Garner [serving in Germany]. Elder GK [serving in Lyon, France] is too happy-go-lucky in his mass emails so I haven´t gotten a reply from him yet. hahaha.

Thanks mom, I´m actually going to go get a haircut right after this, so I´ll get something nice. I think I have a pretty modest haircut as a missionary, but I use gel now so it doesn´t bother me, should I go without? [Mom says yes.]

Anyway, K GOT BAPTIZED FINALLY. And let me say it was a LOVELY baptism. Let me give you the story:

So in the morning there was a youth conference for 2 stakes, and it was a missionary activity that we participated in. We did little workshops about Preach My Gospel and Elder J and I taught about chapter 5: The Book of Mormon. We did a fun little activity and the youth got super excited about the book of Mormon. I also saw Elder L [MTC companion] at the conference too! After it finished at about 12pm. We prepared for the baptism. Since all of the youth was still there, all of the youth from our ward stayed and then some for the baptism. I played some prelude music on the piano and it was super reverent! When we moved from the chapel to the baptismal room for him to get baptized, everyone was very quiet. Once K came out of the water, we was beaming and super happy. Everyone moved back to the chapel and to keep the reverence, Elder J played an arrangement of hymns on his guitar. Then, O gave a super awesome talk and shared his baptism experience! When it ended and people were eating cupcakes, K´s mom, M, came up to us with tears in her eyes, she was so happy to see K get baptized and that everyone in the ward loved him. The spirit truly touched her heart. Now she wants us to teach her. It was such a wonderful experience for me.

K's baptism

Davis, Happy and wet K, Elder J

 Anyway, that same day around 8:15pm, we were buying crepes and a lighting storm strikes! Raining super hard, lightning struck super close and the power went out for a minute hahahah. We finished our crepes and booked it for the house, WE WERE DRENCHED! The roads were almost 9 inches full of water! And then the next day it cleared up and was sunny and bright...until 8 o clock, It was an even bigger storm! Lighting was super strong and the thunder was way loud, the power went out in our area for about 2 hours, probably because it actually struck a electricity box this time, super windy. It was super cool. It´s sunny right now...but who knows what it will be tonight. We were safe thought because we were in our house and we said a prayer. 

Soaked by a thunderstorm.

 I have had such amazing experiences here in Nicolas Bravo, and with Elder J, but we´ll see what happens tomorrow! hahahah when I told the bishop´s wife that I was probably going to get changed, she said "¡No se vaya!" (Don´t Go!) and invited us over for lunch for today hahahah. It´ll be a little sad to leave the people in this ward.

I´ll try to write my grandmas and grandpa. Do you think you could ask grandpa if he could find me a "New Testament" alone in spanish, as in it´s just the new testament nothing else. [I thought he had the whole bible in Spanish; not sure why he’d need just the New Testament”]

I love you guys!

Elder Garner

sorry, I shouldn´t be sending so many pictures, But I´m not sure if I´ll have a safe ciber in my next area, so if I don´t I won´t send pictures to you ok.  love you,