August 6, 2010

**I asked Ryan how his shoes, clothes and suitcases were holding up….

Dear Everyone,

So my shoes and clothes?

The shoes I have on right now have huge gaping holes in the bottom of the heal. Like I described, the dirt roads just beat them up and they get destroyed. Viedma was right next to a river, El Río Negro, so all the streets were pebbles that just killed my shoes. So these ones just opened up on the bottom and slowly are wearing away hahaha. I'll be fine for a few months though, and I have my other pair of shoes to use too. I'll make it. My suitcases are fine. I take care of them. They just sit in my house and when I travel, the buses store them underneath the bus. And my clothes, yeah my shirts are old and my pants all sewn up for many rips but it's all fine.

This week we got transfers. I don't know if I mentioned that in my last email. So I was really feeling that I was going to leave. I spent so little time in all of my other areas (just 2 transfers each time) so I felt like my time was up. I was actually thinking I might get transferred to be Zone Leader in Necochea with a missionary named Elder Clegg. But I was wrong! Hahaha turns out Elder Clegg was made Assistant to President. And I just stayed where I am. So I will be here in Santa Rosa at least one more transfer with good old Elder Howard. But being Zone Leader, we have to be in the bus station to make sure all is well so Elder Howard and I were up almost all night sending off and receiving missionaries. Ten missionaries from my zone left and ten came in to replace them! It is going to be interesting getting everyone on the same page. But I am excited to be here still. I may have felt like my time was up but there is still so much work to do here. The ward seems to be changing now because the 4 of us missionaries are bringing new people to church every week and everyone is getting excited. Plus, we set up this activity on Saturday of Lehi´s Dream in the church. We blindfolded everyone and sent them on their way through the hallways to be tempted as they wandered along holding onto the chord we ran all through the church until they got to the huge tree Elder Howard made that was in front of the pulpit in the Sacrament room. It was awesome. We even used the stage as a great and spacious building.

So on Sunday, everyone saw us differently. The bishop even mentioned it in his testimony and spoke of his conversion story, inviting all those in the meeting that had not yet been baptized to do so and inviting all those that have already been baptized to endure to the end. Ivone, our investigator is going to be baptized this Saturday and her siblings Mariano and Nicolle are getting there. Mariano is closer and the Bishop agreed to baptize him with his sister this week if we can get him to accept. He has desires to change and continue forward faithfully but part of him allows the devil to make him doubt and think he isn't ready yet and that he doesn't know enough to make the right decision.

The other missionaries are going to baptize an older couple the following week as well. So with so many new people and success, the members are seeing us differently and starting to get excited about working with us. Elder Howard and I are doing our best to invite a member to go with us to a lesson every day. That way, the people that show up at church for the first time already know people and feel for comfortable.

This week we're in a different internet cafe so I will send pictures. Please pray for Ivone, Mariano and Nicolle! I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. He lives and loves us and invites each one of us to follow His example, starting with baptism by the proper authority in His church, so that we can be cleansed of our sins and return to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father once more. That is what Ivone and her brother and sister are going to do and the happiness that can be felt and the Spirit that testifies of truth allow me to contently see the changes in them day by day as they follow Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your letters and support!

Chau, nos vemos,

Elder Garrison