October 10, 2011

Dear everyone,

Thanks for all the letters! I like hearing what's going on at home. Sometimes I forget that there is life besides missionary work. Speaking of missionary work, I don't think I was ever under the impression that it would be easy, but now that I am actually doing it, it turns out to be sort of hard. We get laughed at a lot. And yelled at. And people don't treat us like human beings. Half because they hate the United States and half because they don't want to talk to us about religion. But it reminds me of a talk that we watched in the MTC one day. Hermano Gneiting, my MTC teacher, was explaining a point he reached in his mission in Buenos Aires West when he was doing everything possible to be obedient, work hard, and seek the guidance of the Spirit. He explained that he was so down, kids were chucking rocks at them, it was raining, and he just felt like crap. But as all that happened, he thought of this very talk. It was a talk that Elder Holland gave in the MTC. He told the missionaries to never dare even think about going home. To not even dare complain before thinking about what Christ had to do for each one of us.

We had interviews with President Detlefsen this week (the man is amazing), and he said something similar to me. That even the Son of God was rejected. He was perfect, did everything He possibly could have, and they killed Him for it. I am very grateful to be able to even relate to Christ in the very smallest way possible. He really did everything for us and all because He loves us.

Lately I've noticed how aimless and lost the people here look. Their life goal is literally (and I am honestly not joking here) to build their house. Everyone builds their own house here and they are ALWAYS doing construction. They work their whole lives to feed their family and buy supplies, which are then used to continue building or expanding their house. Then they die. That's pointless!!! I want to help them so bad but they just shut out the chance of being happy! It's unfortunate because I really have seen the Book of Mormon change people's lives in every way possible.

But I know there are people out there waiting. I just have to reach them. God's test for us is whether we will open up and be humble. We have to understand that we don't know everything! He does. Like it says in Mosiah 4:9.

That's all I've got. The week flew by! And now the transfer is about over! I am stoked for all the newbie missionaries to come in. And I get to see all the old ones leaving before they go. I need to meet more missionaries here. Everyone I know keeps leaving!

Well, bye!

-Elder Ryan Garrison