April 23, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

Thanks for all the pictures!! I love getting pictures and this time, everyone sent me some. Perfect. It sounds like everyone is doing great.

Congratulations Steph for graduating from BYU! I am super proud and happy.

Elder Calarco and I had a fantastic week. We have been working super hard and are seeing miracles. The Llaupi family got baptized yesterday and they are super happy about it!! We finished teaching them the rest of the lessons this week and they had their baptismal interviews with Elder Hoyos. The oldest daughters still didn't want to get baptized yet but we´re now thinking that they will want to. I'm sending pictures of the family´s baptism as well as pictures of José Luís Acosta who got baptized last week.

José Luís was confirmed yesterday and then immediately received the Aaronic Priesthood. He came in shirt and tie and everything!! He will start blessing the Sacrament next week and his brother and father and a neighborhood friend, who came to church with him yesterday, are getting baptized in two weeks.

I am unsure but I think that more than 80 people were in church yesterday which is AWESOME. Especially awesome because remember María Llanquilef? She is the little old lady we baptized right when I got to Viedma. She introduced us to a family of 5 that lives in a little city

28 kilometers away called San Javier. They come from San Javier to come to church! We had been teaching them periodically and they finally came and loved it!

I have learned a lot this transfer and learned many valuable lessons about diligence and obedience. I have also learned much about my own weaknesses and flaws and how, if we seek His divine help, the Lord can bless us and help us in spite of our mistakes. I am really grateful for the experiences I am having here in Viedma and for the blessing of the gospel in my life. I have seen many changes in the lives of people as they have changed their lives and come to know the teachings of Jesus Christ, our Savior. I am grateful to be His servant and bear His name. The Church of Jesus Christ has always been a missionary church and I am so happy to be one of His missionaries because I love Him.

I come to know Him as I read the scriptures. Each day I learn more and more about His gospel, His teachings, and His perfect example of humility.

Thank you for your letters, your support, and for your prayers! I love you all.

Elder Garrison