January 28, 2013

Dear everyone,

This week was great. Our investigators Marcelo and Daniela gave us some referrals, telling us to pass by Daniela's sister because she had been asking a bunch of questions about the church that they didn't know how to respond.

So we went searching for this house and ended up finding these two guys named Cristian and Federico. We went in and taught them really fast about how God is our Loving Heavenly Father and that the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ blesses us. Seeing as we didn't have time to teach more, we tied that into baptism and invited them to get baptized in the true church of Jesus Christ. They accepted.

After the closing prayer which was offered by Cristian, Federico gave us his address and his phone number and started going on about how he and his girlfriend want to get married and how they needed to decide if they'd get married in his church or hers. He said for that reason it was good we came by. So the following day we passed by his house and found out that "her church" is really OUR church. She had been telling him about the temple! AND they want to get married there. Her whole family are members of the church but no longer attend. So we started visiting them each day, teaching the two of them with her mom, and on Sunday, they went to church!

Also, we found this family of three who are named Gabriel, Dina and Luz. The cool thing is that their last name is Dedios (of God). They are progressing super well too. Other missionaries had visited them a year ago but didn't do a very good job at keeping the appropriate distance so when we got there all they wanted to hear about was America, our lives, tell jokes, etc., etc. So we talked a little but then subtly and slowly got onto the subject of religion and taught them. The lesson was fantastic. The mom doesn't believe in God because she has had a hard time since her parents died and none of their older children from past marriages visit them, etc. But as we taught them, they understood well. So well in fact that Gabriel asked us if the other religions get mad at us for saying that the Church of Jesus Christ is the only true church on the earth (most people have SUCH a difficult time understanding that...). Anyway, they read and prayed together that night and when we went by again, the mom had changed COMPLETELY. They were waiting for us with jello, got super excited and interested in the lesson, and at the end, she did the prayer.

Last, we found this group of kids, ages 18 to 22 years old that all live together and play the guitar. They are super awesome. They all listen to us and participate. One of them is already reading in chapter 14 of 1 Nephi. He read from the first page of the book to chapter 13 in one night. They all have profound needs and doubts so it isn't the easiest thing to teach all four or five of them at once but my companion and I are excited to help them get to church and everything. They were going to go but all slept in.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here serving a mission. I don't think we'll ever understand the magnitude of how important it is to obey the commandments of our Heavenly Father until we actually return to His presence. But I am positive that if we keep them, as much as we may not fully understand the importance, our hearts will change and our lives will be blessed as Heavenly Father cares for us and blesses us for our obedience. I have seen it again and again in my life and in the lives of others. I am confident that if we obey with a willing heart, He will bless us.

I'm as sure of that as I am that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It's the only church that has a living prophet and twelve apostles endowed with the power and authority of the Holy Priesthood and called of God to teach and guide us on the earth today. That is how Christ established His church before. Why would it change today? It's that simple.

Thank you for your letters and prayers of support!

Love,

Elder Garrison