December 26, 2011

Dear Everyone,

I pretty much loved talking to everyone :D :D :D It was the best! I love you all.

But after I got off the phone, Elder Arias and I watched a church video to get back focused and went out to WORK.

To recap this week:

We didn't work too much to be honest. My district leader failed and didn't tell us we were supposed to work last Monday because of the activity on Thursday. So we took a day off. Then Wednesday, we traveled to Olavarría. Thursday we arrived in Mar del Plata after leaving Olavarría at 4:30 in the morning and spent the day in an in-door gym playing sports and eating ARGENTINE ASADO. Which is steak. And delicious. Afterwards, Elder Arias and I caught a ride to the house of some other missionaries (from Argentina and Guatemala) where we showered and changed into suits, and then we went out to grab ARGENTINE ICE CREAM. From this place called Grido. Which is also delicious. After, we went to the HUGE Stake Center to have a talent show and listen to President Detlefsen give a spiritual Christmas message.

My district leader had lied to the zone leaders, telling them I was going to sing and play in the talent show but I had told him no because I don't know a single church song! So they were expecting me to perform. And all of the missionaries in charge (who I know very well) just laughed and nudged me telling me I'd "figure something out." So I did. Elder Costanzi from Buenos Aires (he speaks English), helped me rewrite my lyrics to one of my songs and I performed it.

At 9 o clock, we hopped on that tiny bus we took from Olavarría and returned, arriving at 12:30 am!! I was exhausted and literally ready to fall asleep standing there. We finally got back to tiny Pehuajó on Friday at 5:00. Which was a striking contrast with HUGE Mar del Plata.

But we are SUPER PUMPED to work this week! Talking to the family motivated me a ton because I want to share what I have with everyone! People here live such hard lives and need the restored gospel and a fuller knowledge of their Savior. I know God lives and His Son is Jesus Christ. His church has been restored in its fullness through a modern prophet, Joseph Smith, who was called of God just like Moses or Abraham in the Bible. He received Priesthood Keys and Authority from Peter, James, and John, three of Christ's original Apostles. And today, that church stands, never to fall again, and is led by a living prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson, under the direction of Christ Himself. It has Apostles, Seventies, Temples, and all the principles and ordinances that were to be found in the Church that Christ established almost 2000 years ago. As well as the authority to perform such ordinances. I know it.

Thank you for all of your love, prayers, and support. And letters. I like those a lot.

-Elder Ryan Garrison