October 8, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

 

So this week was great. The First Presidency has asked us that every time we have leadership meetings with our mission president, that the following district meeting should instead be a zone meeting given by the zone leaders so that everyone could receive the same information that we receive in the meeting, applied specifically to the zone’s needs. So the whole zone got together in the stake center on Tuesday, and Elder Howard and I taught all 30 of the missionaries. It was fantastic. We taught about what President Parreño and the Assistants had taught us and applied it specifically to the zone. We used D&C 11:21 (which is also something that Elder Viñas had spoken about) and mixed that with what President Parreño had taught us. He taught us that God has given us many tools to be able to do this work. He took out of context a verse from the Book of Mormon which is Alma 60:21 and explained that we cannot "sit on our thrones" and expect the Lord to bless us if we do not make use of those tools he has given us. So using that, Elder Howard and I talked of two tools that the Lord has given us to effectively teach our investigators: the scriptures and Preach My Gospel. No one in our zone is using the scriptures well in their lessons. We invited all to study them with the purpose to help their investigators and make use of them in their lessons. Every one of them needs to be able to convince a person that our church is the true church using just the Bible. And then, with that knowledge, introduce the true and FULL doctrine found in the Book of Mormon. How can we expect them to believe us and understand the doctrine if we can't back it up with the scriptures? Preach My Gospel helps us develop necessary teaching attributes and contains the doctrines, principles and commandments that we are to study, believe, live, love, and teach. That is how we obtain the word of God. Then we spoke of obedience and companionship unity which allows the Spirit to be with us and add clarity and power to our message. If we seek first the word of God and are worthy of the guidance of the Spirit, we will then have the power to convince men (Doctrine and Covenants 11:21).

 

That was a workshop on how to achieve Doctrinal Conversion with an investigator. Then we hit Social Conversion, which has to do with working with local members and leaders so that, as Gordon B. Hinckley said, each new convert can have a friend, a responsibility, and be nourished by the good word of God. We talked about how important it is that they collaborate with the members so that the investigators can fully convert to Christ and His church and have a lasting conversion as they develop relationships with the other members of the church.

 

I really liked the meeting because as zone leader, I really don't have time to directly teach the missionaries in the zone. And I love to teach. Elder Howard and I normally only teach the district leaders so that they can convey the message properly. Unfortunately, that doesn't always happen. We taught them during the hour before the zone meeting and spoke of that using 3 Nephi 19:5,8 when the 12 Disciples of Christ among the Nephites teach the gathered multitude all that Jesus had spoken the day before without changing even one word!

 

Anyway, this week we didn't have much success teaching Sergio unfortunately. We had trouble finding him, and he has stopped progressing very much because he has just hit a wall. He has no true desire; it appears, to stop drinking even though he might say it because he does not fulfill his commitment to read the Book of Mormon. He sticks it in the cupboard and does not read it. We haven't seen him for 4 days now, and he isn't in his house ever and always seems to be busy when we call. He did not show up at church like he said he would.

 

However, last Sunday we started teaching this guy named Federico Herrero. He is awesome! We have taught him almost every day since. He just got married to this girl that works in the grocery store across the street from our apartment called La Anonima but they aren't getting along too well. He wants to up and do something extravagant like move to France or join the army or something because he truly is not happy. As we have taught him, he has come to realize that he really isn't happy but what we have helped him see is that even were he to change his surroundings and circumstances, nothing would change. He himself needs to change, and he needs to find God. Now he understands that as he repents and follows God, the guilt will go away and he will find true peace and happiness. He is reading and praying and progressing very well. Using the scriptures and verifying his understanding with questions we have helped him learn the doctrine which we then apply to him so that he can see in what way knowing all that we teach him will benefit him. He has felt really good and his prayers are improving a lot. They are sincere, and heard. He came to the last session of General Conference and didn't understand much of anything but he said he liked hearing the prophet speak. He is recognizing the Spirit and if he continues as obediently as he is doing so, he will be baptized on the 27th of this month! PRAY FOR HIM!

 

I LOVED conference. I saw some other themes as well, mom. The work is VERY urgent. Many of the talks were about missionary work and sharing the gospel, service, and protecting the family from Satan’s advancing attacks. The Prophet was very straightforward in Priesthood Session about sharing the gospel. He said, "Brethren, this is OUR responsibility." And with that, closed his talk. I read in a talk that Elder Ballard gave at BYU recently that nothing that existed in Sodom and Gomorra is not happening among us today. And then yeah, many talks were focused on becoming truly converted and changing our nature to be more like the Savior. I especially liked Elder Holland’s talk. He gave that exact talk to missionaries in the Provo MTC in January of 2011 before I entered. President Detlefsen showed us that talk my first week but it was translated, and I did not understand it. Then, Elder Arias showed it to me in Pehuajò, and it changed my mission. It is an amazing talk. This one he gave had a slightly different angle taken, seeing as it was for the whole church and not just the missionaries, but it was just as powerful.

 

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored upon the earth. His Priesthood keys are held by President Thomas S. Monson, a living prophet, and each one of his counselors and Twelve Apostles.

 

Thank you for your prayers and letters!

Love,

Elder Garrison

October 1, 2012

Este...

This week went by super fast. Elder Howard and I went to Bahía Blanca for a Zone Leader meeting and lost two days in our area because we left Monday morning and returned Tuesday night. Then on Friday, we had to travel to General Pico to do a baptismal interview. We were trying to have as much time in our area as possible so we left at 3 in the afternoon in a bus, got there at 5:30pm, Elder Howard did the interview, and then we took the 6:10pm bus back, arriving at 8:40pm. We were cutting it all super close but we needed to get back to Santa Rosa! We spent 5 hours on a bus just for the interview but regardless it was all worth it because she had an amazing testimony of the gospel and was able to get baptized the next day! It is an amazing thing to interview a person for their baptism and hear them explain the changes in their life as they came to know the restored gospel. So the stake here in La Pampa is on fire because in total, 18 people were baptized this month and that means 106 people have been baptized this year. The stake goal was 80 so everyone is super excited, seeing as we already passed that and still have three months to go! The members are excited because they have the hope of spitting the stake in two. The Church of Jesus Christ is growing here.

We worked a lot with Sergio this week even though we lost a lot of time in the area. He is progressing well. He trusts us a lot and recognizes that we are servants of God. The first time we taught him he told us, "I see a lot of light in your eyes." He has so much knowledge and love for the Bible; however, it has been hard for him to accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God. But Elder Howard and I are slowly but steadily showing him parts of it, reading it with him, and explaining the background of the book so that he can have that desire to know if it is true. He made it to church this Sunday and I think he liked it. Of course, it was nothing like he expected seeing as he is used to lots of loud singing, shouting, clapping, hallelujahs and amens, and pastors "casting out demons by the laying on of hands" as they are such fans of doing here in Evangelist churches. We explained to him beforehand the importance of the Sacrament and the importance of reverence. He felt good and everyone said hi to him and shook his hand and introduced themselves. He was caught off guard by the changes I am sure but with time, he will feel that it is true if he has not yet felt it.

We are working with him so that he can overcome his desire to drink. He is an alcoholic. And is always drunk. Of course, that would stop him from feeling the Spirit very much at all and will hinder him from really feeling that the church is true until he can sober up. We are praying constantly for him so that he can stop, inviting him to read and pray constantly. He is a little stubborn but we are bold, yet loving, so that he can understand how important the Book of Mormon is and how much it will help him to overcome his addiction.

Pray for him!! He is awesome and I truly hope that he can make it to his baptism on the 20th. This week is General Conference so he'll be able to see how big the church truly is and that there are prophets and apostles on the earth today.

This week we also found tons of other investigators that we are going to be teaching and hopefully they will make it to church on Sunday! Thanks for the letters and support!! I love you all.

Chau,

Elder Garrison

September 24, 2012

Dear Everyone,

This week was good! Like I said, Mònica Gutierrez and Mariano Romero got baptized. They were super happy. We had a big Family Home Evening on Monday with the Gutierrez family and the ward mission leader and his wife. Elder Howard and I taught them about the importance of daily prayers individually and as a family, the importance of reading the scriptures daily as well, and the need to keep the Sabbath day holy by going to church. Then they gave us a ton of pizza and soda to take home. Awesome. On Wednesday we went to teach the restoration to Marcos and Marìa again and it went super well. We did an activity to show them how the Great Apostasy happened and then they gave us two cakes to take home. Awesome.

Mariano has gotten super involved in the church too. He goes to the Young Single Adults activities and Stake choir too. He loves it. Yesterday, the bishop has his first interview with him and Mariano asked him if I could confer the Aaronic Priesthood upon him. So for the first time ever, I conferred the Priesthood upon someone. He is now a priest and will be able to serve, prepare, and bless the sacrament as well as baptize! He is on fire.

However, seeing as Elder Howard and I had no more investigators after baptizing them, we got to work this week and found a ton of people this week! The area is very small, half of it is downtown, and the Zone Leaders have been in it for years so basically no one lets us in. So I remembered what Elder Araya and I had done in Bahìa Blanca: offer free copies of the Book of Mormon at people's doorsteps. No one says no to free. We did that and tons of people let us in this week!

We found this one guy named Sergio Ramirez who basically has the Bible memorized. Good thing Elder Arias got me studying it though because we were able to take all the knowledge this man has and help him realize that the church is true. Also, he is a member of the Pentecostal church. Like the Llaupi family from Viedma. So I knew exactly what doctrines he had confused.

However, he didn't make it on Sunday!! He wasn't home before church when we dropped by so we left in the middle of church to go by his house again and this time found him. He said, "I can't go because I have to go NOW but I have to talk to you guys about your church. Today." So we met up at 6 in the church and HE asked US when he is getting baptized after we taught him the plan of salvation. He already knew it without having the restored gospel!! Most people think: Earth life, death, Heaven or Hell and that's it. But this guy knew what he was talking about.

So please pray for him!! He needs it. And will be an incredible member once baptized. And pray that Elder Howard and I can find more people waiting for the gospel. Like families.

Thank you for writing!!

Elder Garrison

PS - Carly I wrote you but today I got the letter back with a "Return to Sender" sticker. Cool.

September 17, 2012

*Julie’s note:  Ryan’s mission instructions said to wear glasses because of the possibility of serious eye infections in Argentina.  So before he left we filled a prescription for glasses.  He took the last couple pair of contacts he still had so he could use them while in the MTC.  Unfortunately, his correction is very strong and when he got to Argentina, he was having a very difficult time using the glasses while out on the street.  He had no peripheral vision and was concerned about walking around and crossing streets with crazy drivers! 

 

We buy 4 pair of contacts for one year at Costco for about $239.  Since he’s been gone a year and a half, we suggested he go to an eye doctor to get a new prescription we could fill in the U.S.  The first doctor he went to said he could not give him the prescription, but that he had to order them for him at a cost of 2 pairs for 680 pesos (over $500 U.S.).

 

Hola,

 

Mom, I went to have the contactologist (hahahaha) take my prescription and it was pretty similar. I figured he wanted to make money off me too (rich American with shirt and tie) but what happened is that I told him I had to wait to pay and when I went outside, I realized that there was another contactologist place next door! So I called the member that has been helping me and turns out I went to the wrong one. So I went in to the second one and he told me it would cost 800 PESOS for each one! Which is way more expensive. And that no matter what, all contacts are imported from the States and that due to the new import laws here that it is taking 30-40 days for them to arrive. He said he can't give me a prescription either. But when I showed him the contact boxes he got confused and asked who told me I have to wear 4 pairs a year. I said, "....uh the eye doctors?" He then explained that a lot of people in Argentina buy the exact same toric lenses that I use and that they only buy ONE PAIR for a whole year but technically, because of the special material of the lenses, it should actually last that long. So he, wanting to know if they were doing it wrong here in Argentina or if they are ripping me off in the States, invited me back into his office (which was a miracle because he was super short with me at first). He took a look at my lenses and told me it looks like I put them in yesterday. That they're in great condition. He said that if my eyes start bothering me to come back and he'll help me out but that it isn't necessary to buy more...The only thing he recommended was buying a higher quality cleaning solution. I think I'll take his word for it. I am sure to avoid lawsuits or who knows what that in the states they make me buy 4 pairs. He ended up being super nice and I doubt he'd have said that if it weren't true because he could have lied and made tons of money off me.

 

So this week Mariano Romero and Mónica Gutierrez got baptized!! We had super great lessons with them both this week before their baptisms. The both of them saw many blessings and many trials this week but they were overcome and both of them made it to their baptisms. Mariano is super excited because the whole time we taught him we prepared him for what comes after baptism. After the meeting with Elder Viñas was put a new focus on our teaching and it worked out fantastically. Mariano is already prepared to receive the Priesthood and knows that his goal someday is getting to the temple. We focused a lot on what covenants are and why we make them with the Lord and so he is ready to make more covenants and continue in the gospel. Oh and we asked Bishop Pilati to baptized him because he had never baptized anyone! He was excited and did it perfectly. Monica was so happy after her baptism that she just cried and cried upon coming out of the water. Her father baptized her. The whole family was there to support her (and Mariano) and it was super cool to see them all there. It has been a long chain of baptisms all year long up until Mónica. Her sister-in-law and two children also attended the baptism so we are going to see if we can teach them. Hopefully! The husband is definitely against it. But maybe we'll see a miracle.

 

So I thought I was leaving! I have been here as long as I was in Balcarce, my first area. Since Balcarce I had never again been in an area for three transfers. So now that I have been here for three I thought I'd be out of here. Wrong. I stayed! For at least another month and a half I will still be here in the Santa Rosa 4th Ward. And not only that, I am still with Elder Howard! Hahahahahaha. We were together in the MTC, in the office, and now here! We are loving it though. We get along super well and it has been a great learning experience for both of us. We set a lot of goals for this transfer and we are excited to find more people to bring the gospel to.

 

Anyway, thanks for the letters and support!

Elder Garrison

September 10, 2012

Hey,

THIS WEEK WAS AWESOME. We had the opportunity to see a live transmission of the Cultural Activity in Buenos Aires Capital on Saturday night in celebration of the rededication of the Buenos Aires Temple. Elder Eyring, Elder Ballard, and Elder Christofferson were there to speak and watch it. It was so great. They had thousands of youth in a huge soccer stadium doing traditional dances from Argentina with video clips of other Stakes from all over the country doing the dances as well, filmed in their own city plazas, etc. I felt a lot of pride for Argentina, I seriously love this country. We got to go because we brought Mariano, our investigator, to the activity and it was a great opportunity for him to see how big the church really is. Not only in Santa Rosa because the whole Stake went, but also in the entire country and world. He really enjoyed it and actually got pulled away to sit with some of the other young single adults! So we just let him get to know more people.

Then yesterday, we got to participate in the rededication of the temple. The church building was "turned into a temple" and we needed recommends to get in the building. It was so spiritual. I noticed the difference immediately upon entering. That it was no normal Sunday. The best part however was seeing all of my converts there! Marìa and Marcos and their children and Catalina and her siblings. It gave me such a feeling of gratitude and love to the Lord for seeing them there. It was, after all, as if they were in the temple. They told us later that they liked it so much they stayed for another session later on in the day. They will definitely be going to the temple next year. I have also heard from the Llaupi family through letters that they have the goal to go next year as well and continue actively attending church. When I get the excuse to call the Viedma Zone Leaders, I will ask them if they went to the temple rededication as well. I love them all so much. Each one of my converts. That, I think, would be the biggest blessing, were they to end up in the temple next year to get sealed for time and all eternity as families.

In the rededication, the Temple President and his wife spoke, Elder Arnold who is the Area President, and Elder Ballard and Elder Eyring. It was very spiritual and all the members were very emotional because the temple has been closed for over two years. They have not had a working temple in their country and have had to travel to Uruguay to go to the temple. However, now their temple here in Argentina is three times as big and up and running. I imagine that I will be able to go through just before leaving to the States.

Anyway. Elder Howard and I are now just anxiously preparing everything for Saturday because Mariano Romero will be getting baptized as well as Mònica Gutierrez (the sister of Marìa and the mother of Catalina) who is super excited! We already planned the baptismal interview and last night had a super spiritual lesson with her and her family in which her sister Marìa participated and added so great comments and testimonies. We taught the whole family about the Sabbath Day, the Word of Wisdom, and tithing. They are so happy now that they have the gospel in their lives. They have seen dramatic changes in their family relationships and in their relationships with our Heavenly Father. They all willingly accepted to live the commandments, those who have already been baptized and Mònica who will now be doing it.

So please pray for Mariano and Mònica so that nothing goes wrong!! And for the Santa Rosa Stake in general because Elder Howard and I are super excited. We have 11 baptisms planned for this Saturday in the Stake!! That is a ton. The Stake is working hard to push and split in two and that is what we all desire. That real growth of the Kingdom of God here in La Pampa.

Thanks for the letters and everything!

Elder Garrison

September 3, 2012

So Tanner is home already. That is unbelievable for me. Let me know how he's doing when you all see him and tell him I say hola. Hahaha. And actually I did hear about the hurricane. A member family told us about it worried that our families may have been involved. Good thing we live in the desert.

 

This week was interesting. Elder Howard and I and all the District Leaders in the zone went to Bahìa Blanca for a leader meeting. It was great. I saw Elder Arias, Elder Calarco, and several other missionaries that have become my good friends in my time here. It was crazy though because the large majority of the other Zone Leaders go home within the next two transfers! With so many new missionaries coming in my mission is changing. A good two thirds of all of them have less than a year’s time. And all those who have a lot of time are already going home. They talked to us a lot about being leaders that can be counted on with our examples and with our dedication to the work.

 

After the meeting I went out to work in Bahìa Blanca with Elder Calarco which was a blast. I love working with him. Four months may have gone by but it was super normal to work with him. When we ended up back in the office, we snatched the last ice cream bar from the freezer and while we were eating it in one of the church rooms, the BRUSTLE FAMILY walked into the church!! Remember that family that helped Elder Arias and I in Pehuajó so much? It was them! I almost tackled Brother Brustle because I was soooo happy to see them. Things got complicated with his job in Pehuajó and so they had to move back to find work. We talked for a good while.

 

Anyway, the rest of the week we basically wasted MOVING. We had to move houses and it was a disaster and took forever. We lost a ton of time since not only did we move; we had to clean the house which had been used by missionaries for the past 4 years. But Elder Howard and I still saw miracles this week!! Mariano Romero, our investigator is reading and praying every day! He has seen so many blessings of work and peace this week and is rapidly receiving his testimony. We gave him the Book of Mormon in English and he was stoked. He also put his picture of Jesus that we had given him on the wall of his tiny apartment. We have already taught him everything, even about temples and he is super excited for his baptism. In fact, we are already planning on teaching his sister who lives in our area. He went to church yesterday which was Fast and Testimony Meeting and loved hearing everyone's testimonies.

 

Also, Mònica Gutierrez, the mother of several youth converts has changed too! She is now reading and praying with her children several times a week and is also receiving many blessings. We had a fantastic lesson about what faith is and how the Lord tries our faith before blessings us. So after that, I tied it in to baptism and had her imagine just how many MORE blessings are waiting her if she could just put her faith in the Savior and follow His example. So Elder Howard said, "Mónica we have a baptismal service the 15th of September. Will you do it?" And without hesitation she said, "YES." Super awesome. We'd baptize them this week but the Buenos Aires Temple Re-dedication is being transmitted by satellite to the whole country and there is no church on Sunday. So the last weekend of the transfer (and possibly my last weekend here in La Pampa) the both of them will be baptized!!

 

The ward is on fire and everyone is super excited. With all the baptisms and the super strong testimonies that many of the converts shared from the pulpit on Sunday, there is just a new spirit in the ward and in church on Sundays. I am so happy to be here in Santa Rosa. There have been many trials for me but I know that the Lord had His reason for sending me here and I just have to trust in Him and His plan.

 

Please pray for Mariano and Mónica! And for Elder Howard and me because seeing as we lost so much time last week, this week we are giving it all. Thank you for your letters and support, I love you!

 

Elder Garrison

August 27, 2012

Dear Everyone,

 

Speaking of money, I have spent a lot of it this month though because I do not get fed in my ward. I am not in America that's for sure. We ate lunch with the bishop twice this month and he, who is awesome, is the only one who has fed us this month. Which is great because we all love him. He lived in the states for over 8 years studying in Utah for his Masters and in Ohio for his Doctorate. He and his wife feed us super well and the bishop spoils us with several recipes that he has brought to Argentina for the States. But anyway, since he's the only one, money is tight and seeing as Elder Howard and I also ran out of Zone Funds and then had to travel to General Pico, I had to dig into my wallet for personal money and now am flat broke!! I only ate rice this week. Welcome to the mission :) Don't worry though we asked for more Zone funds and I am waiting on reimbursements which will add up to 450 pesos but I think we'll hit September before I am reimbursed. I bought more rice today for 4 pesos.

 

However, this week has been great because last Sunday we found this amazing investigator named Mariano Romero. We had found this kid named Daniel a few weeks back that is studying History. He doesn't believe in God though and just listened to learn about the history of what we teach. However, last Sunday we dropped by again and after once again explaining to us that he had no interest in the whole baptism thing because he just likes history, he introduced us to his next door neighbor, Mariano, who is studying English and needed spiritual help. It was once of the best lessons Elder Howard and I have taught. We were super excited for him! I asked if he understood and believed the things we had taught him and he said, "I want to. This is what I have always been looking for." So since then we went by several times and taught him the first three lessons, introduced him to members, and he has seen changes in his life already! He had no work and then on Friday he was called for a job. He is rather shy but very humble hearted so he accepts what we teach and recognizes that it comes from God. He is also brilliant so he understands the doctrine that we teach him instantly. He went to church yesterday and loved it and is definitely on track to accept baptism and change his life.

 

I love being here because it is so worth it to see the changes in the lives of those who willing accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is willing to bless us if we doing our part. When we obey the commandments, our lives can change and be full of happiness, understanding, and peace in spite of whatever problem that we may have. I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is the light and the life of the world. If we come unto Him, He can heal us and free us from sin and all that holds us back from being truly happy. His Gospel has been restored in these latter days and now we have prophets and apostles on the earth just like before. It is so simple to understand if one just reads the scriptures that the Lord has given us.

 

Thanks for your prayers and support! Please pray a lot for Mariano.

 

Chau,

Elder Garrison