January 23, 2012

Dear Everyone,

Jake. Your car makes me super jealous. Write me letters.

Mom. I almost got lost reading your email about all the new technology coming out in America. People here get surprised when they see an Apple iPod from 5 years ago. And the cars here are ALL little and the majority are older than the 2001 Nissan Sentra I was driving at home. i have already forgetton how big the Sentra was but I feel HUGE when I get into a car here. I hardly fit most times. And the truth is, half the people have motorcycles or some sort of electric bike, anyway. They are SUPER loud. We talk with people in the street and I can never hear them. Yet they are so accustomed to it, they never raise their voice to speak over the noise! So I usually end up staring blankly at them and it all ends awkwardly. Oh and I'm pretty sure emissions laws don't exist here because it's quite common to see some nasty old truck pumping out black fumes.

On the other hand, this week was great because the unmarried couple we are teaching got married today! We went by each day this week and continued reviewing all the lessons with them and we also helped them with all the paperwork and medical exams they had to schedule, etc. The problem with their baptism is the husband. He had never been to church before we came. And he smokes! He is 77 and smokes! And Rosa, his wife, has serious health issues and sits there all day breathing in second hand smoke. But we convinced him to quit smoking for 3 days and so far he is doing it. Only he didn't come to church yesterday so he can't get baptized this weekend. Even if he keeps up with not smoking. So we are going to baptize Rosa, who is 70, this weekend and work with her husband to help him progress and get baptized in the future!

I am learning a lot here. About the gospel, about how to work, and about how to learn and grow in general. This week was really hard because it's so hot, it just destroys me. But each day when I wake up, I know that what I am doing is right. I know that God lives and loves us. Jesus Christ is His Son, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. They appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 in response to his humble prayer and through him was restored the true church of God. If we obey God's will, we will be happy not only in this life, but in the life to come as well. It takes some effort, but it's worth it.

Love,

Elder Garrison