10/20/14 Halloween has hit!

Oh. My. Goodness. But do people go crazy over Halloween. Every house has a wreath. Every house has cobwebs (some fake and some real :P) Every other house has lights. Every street has at least one house completely decked out with giant spiders, inflatables, lights, cobwebs, caution tape, skeletons, pumpkins, the works. It's a bit insane and a bit extremely awesome. I'm loving it! I admit we always aim for the fun houses to tract act :) Sister Stout says everyone goes all out because it won't snow, and the coldest it'll get in December is maybe 40? Too bad on Halloween we have to be home by 5. But I guess it makes sense.

Fall has come as well. The leaves and starting to change and everywhere we go, we crunch through leaves. And there are so many acorns! Seriously. At times it almost seems like it's hailing acorns. I have been counting my blessings because I have not yet been hit, but I've had some close calls, and it scares me every time. They sound painful. The mornings are always super cold, but it warms up during the day. Sometimes warm enough to go in short sleeves,  but I always keep a jacket in the car. But the weather really has been nice. Just not in the mornings. I would die without leggings and boots. I don't know what I would do in a place like Russia, having to deal with snow and freezing temperatures in a skirt.

We have a baptism this week! The missionaries have been working with him for over a year and he's been wanting to be baptized for months, but he's a minor and his dad wouldn't let him. But he finally gave permission! I admit I did a little bit of a happy dance :) Our other family that we've been working with for a while, we set tentative dates, but hope to solidify those tomorrow as well. The family, especially the kids, are so amazing. They love the church and are just eating up the lessons. They come to activities and are reading the Book of Mormon, and making friends. They are so excited about everything, and they love us as well. It really melts your heart to have a bunch of kids race up to you yelling, and giving hugs. And oh my goodness, when an 8 year old gives you a hug around the knees and holds your hand as you introduce them to new friends. I LOVE that family! I wish all of you could meet them too! I just wish we could help them mom keep her commitments...

I love you all so much and love hearing from you!

Sister Garver

PS I forgot to mention, I'm officially a month old now! But everyone thinks I'm much older. I had one elder ask me if I'm going home soon! It makes me happy that I don't look like a greenie :)

10/14/14 Happiness Times 4

So I have a few things to report this week. 

One: apparently the cold snap was just a cold snap, and it's gotten pretty warm again. But it's pouring at the moment, so that cools things down. But I still love boots, so I'm wearing them anyway. Two: I cut my bangs. Myself. In the bathroom. With tiny sewing scissors. That was fun. But I think it looks pretty good, so I'm not complaining. Just bragging :) Three: I bought a skirt at a thrift store for $1.25 that's adorable and has pockets. Success! Aaannnddd, four: WE COMMITTED ARACELI AND HER FAMILY TO BAPTISM!!!

No way, right?! She set the date herself and committed to bringing to kids to mutual and having a tour of the church. They also committed to family prayer and reading every night. The youngest girl didn't want to be baptized yet, well she does but she's scared of water. So we are working on that. And the boy, Charlie, has never really sat in on any of the lessons. He's too busy playing video games and seems to think this is a girl thing. But hopefully YMs and meeting the elders on Sunday will spark some curiosity. But still, YAY! The ward here hasn't seen a convert baptism in over a year. Can you believe we tracted into her, and have only been teaching them for three weeks? So excited! We had brought a member with us (Grandma Sally, a rather interesting and passionate woman, but good with kids) who's a covert. I think when she told her conversion story, that's what really did it. The Spirit was strong and it really touched all of us. The power of members. For all you non-missionaries, you really need to go out with us missionaries sometimes. We know you're busy, but the Spirit and fellowship you guys bring is astounding.

My ward here is great! I love everyone in it! It's a bit small, but everyone is so kind and loving and willing to help in anyway they can. I just wish we could get more investigators to the building. Once there, they wouldn't be able to escape the love and Spirit all the members bring.

Love you all sooooo much!

Sister Garver

P.S. Sorry we didn't write yesterday. Pday was moved to today because of Columbus Day.

10/6/14 Goodbye, Summer!

One day it's 75-80 outside, and literally over night, the temperature drops. 

We stepped outside Thursday to find that all the sudden, its cold! It was only 49 degrees! Its gone up a bit, but not much, since then, but at least that means the bugs are going away. Plus, I need not despair, for with the cold, came General Conference, and with General Conference, came permission to break out the boots! Yes! With leggings and boots, I am happy and warm :)

This week has been awesome! Last week was a tough one, but this week we got 5 new investigators, and had some really strong lessons. It's tough to find investigators here. We find the majority through tracting, but even that won't do anything if no one opens their doors! When they do though, Georgians tend to be very willing to talk about Christ and listen to what we have to say, but then very politely tell us they already belong to a church, but bless us for our efforts. But this week we had so many good contacts on the last doors we knocked! We met this woman named Araceli and her four children and had been trying to get in with her all week, but she was always busy with work. But we persisted and decided to drop by we were in the neighborhood. She had just pulled in and let us in to talk to her. We planned on a short visit, maybe 15 minutes. We ended up staying for an hour and a half. We taught the entire first lesson, the entire family sat around and listened (even the extremely active 9 year old) and the kids all asked really good questions. The 11 year old asked how we could know God was talking to us. When we explained about the Holy Ghost, Araceli turned to us and said "I've felt that way before. But no one ever explained it to me like that." They asked us to come back the next day. We taught the kids about faith, using stories from the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and by the end, they all could recite back to us the stories, sing the primary song about faith and kept asking for more! It was soooo cool!

We also were able to teach a Korean woman named Pokson that the missionaries have been working with for ages, but never really progressed. But while we were talking I figured out that she thought that because of all the bad things going on in the world, she really thought that God had abandoned us. We talked to her about it for a while, but she didn't seem convinced. So I told her that the only way she would gain that hope was to pray. So after a bit of prodding, we all got down on our knees and asked her to pray. After about 8 minutes of silence, I heard something. I looked up and Pokson had tears streaming down her face. God had answered her prayer. It was an amazing experience for not only Pokson, but Sister Stout and I as well.

This week was also General Conference and my 20th birthday! I got a box from home and a surprise party from the other Sisters in my district. Plus the lesson with Pokson. Conference was perfect. It went by so fast and every question I had written down was answered. I LOVED IT! I did notice that all the talks were very direct and kinda a throw down to straighten up. But I know I needed it. I now have a list of things I need to work on.

I love you all so much!

Sister Garver

9/29/14 Barbeque and Fried Pickles

It's hard to believe I've only been here for 2 weeks! It feels like I've been here forever! I already have a bunch of odd tracting stories and strange lessons stories, have eaten food I never would have normally (but still tasted good) and seen so many little miracles. This week summed up: Jehovah Witnesses, youth ministers, the creation and dinosaurs, being asked about Kolob (or Kolenbob as he pronounced it), fried pickles, lots of barbeque, the General Woman's Broadcast, and a less active finally coming to church after years of inactivity.

Sister Stout and I met a ton of potential investigators this past week! So many people seemed interested and were willing to have us back and we had so many lessons lined up, so I was really excited for this week. Then it seemed like every appointment fell through, and those we did have didn't progress very well (with concerns like dinosaurs, Kolob, blacks and the priesthood, science vs religion). I was so pumped for Sunday because 5 investigators and 2 less actives had said they would come to church. Guess what? No investigators showed. So its been a bit of a downer this week. But Saturday, we really prayed about it before we started tracting, and then it seemed that every house we went to opened their doors, listened and then invited us back. We met so many awesome people and were able to get so many return appointments! This week will be busy, and that's exactly what we love :)

Another miracle happened this week. The sisters have been working with this less active woman and her daughter for years, and they love having the sisters over, but are never interested in coming to church. But this week we invited them to come to the Woman's Broadcast and they came! And then afterwards, this sister turns to me and says "What time is church again?" So I told her and she came to church the next day! Yay! She even promised to come to at least one session of conference with her daughter next week. *happy dance*

Sister Stout and I really work well together. She loves calling people and hates tracting, while I don't really like calling people but love tracting, so we push each other and become better teachers. Sister Stout is from Wyoming and has been out 10 months. I'm her first daughter! She knows a ton  about the gospel and the doctrine that I don't so I'm learning a lot from her. She's pretty quiet most of the time, but once she starts teaching, she knows what they need to hear and can be really powerful. Its cool. 

I love you all! God bless!

Sister Garver

9/22/14 Where Are You From? Uhhh....

Sorry I didn't write last week! We flew in on what was my P-Day at the MTC and missed the one out here. 

Georgia is fantastic! Its warm and sunny and everyone is so nice! We actually still tract a ton out here, because people are so friendly and listen. We plan on tracting at least 2 hours every day. And I love it. The only problem with tracting is the mosquitoes. At the moment I have around 37 bites, mostly on my legs :(

My first day was exhausting. It was like the first day at the MTC all over again. I was tired, didn't know what I was doing, and didn't know what was going to happen next. But it was so cool at the same time.

We got off the plane, met  President Bennion and his wife, who handed us a Book of Mormon and pushed us on a train called the Marta. We had about a half hour to talk to people and teach them about the gospel. By ourselves. No companions.

But it was awesome! I was surprised to find I wasn't really scared at all. It was fun! I talked to two people (the first man was a real talker) and the second woman was really interested and said she wanted to learn more, so I got her in contact with the missionaries in that zone. So cool. We then got off the train and drove to President Bennion's house where we had food waiting for us. After eating, I think half of us dozed through the meeting where we got our assignments and companions. I'm now serving in Kennesaw, Georgia, with Sister Stout.

I love it here! We don't have as many investigators as I'd like, but we're going to work hard and make the Lord's church grow! We've already ran into some potentials this past week and we hope to get in contact with them again this week. I have high hopes. Sister Stout and I are going to make Kennesaw bloom!

As for the actual work out here, I have been blessed to be serving a car mission. It can be pretty hot and humid down here. Everything is still green and wet, but the heat can get pretty bad in the middle of the day. And still Sister Stout and I go running every other morning.  :P  I love air conditioning! I do have a bike though, so if we're ever short on miles, we will have to use them.

I went to my ward for the first time yesterday. We taught two classes! I'm working on everyone's names, but I think I'm getting along alright. And yes, the hardest question is "where are you from?" Um....America? I've been telling most people that I'm from New Jersey. Sort of. And then if they ask further, well its a long story. It began in 1994, in the small state of Utah...

I love you all!

Sister Garver 

9/16/14 I Made It!

Hey everyone!

I made it to Georgia safe and sound! The flight was nice and almost everyone fell asleep. Getting up at 2:40 a.m. does that to a person. I can't fall asleep sitting up though, so I read and wrote in my journal. I called Nuna and Papa, and Rachel, before I got on the plane, but no one picked up, so I left messages just saying I love you!

When we got off the plane, the mission president and his wife, the Bennions, were waiting for us. They took our luggage, handed us a Book of Mormon, and pushed us on a train to begin. And we had to work by ourselves. No Sister Hanks. It was actually really cool! I didn't feel nervous at all! The first guy I talked to was convinced there was no God and that He was just a figment of less educated and sharp minds. But he also loved to talk, so I listened and got in a few words and gave him a mormon.org card.

The woman I talked to was amazing! She knew and loved God and Christ and actually asked me questions and was interested in what I had to say. I told her about prophets, about Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon, and she told me she wanted to know more! It was awesome!

We ate at President Bennion's house and are just starting to nod off (even though we still have 3 hours before bed). We meet our new companions and get our new bikes tomorrow. I'm so excited!

I love you all tons!

Sister Garver

9/14/14 Today Was Amazing!

Hello again!

Today was amazing! Sister Hanks and I taught our district during district meeting, about the Atonement. For an hour. I was rather worried about it as you can imagine, especially as Sister Hanks doesn't really believe in planning, and she's senior companion this week. But she was amazing! And I was amazing! The Spirit was so strong and my own testimony was reaffirmed and strengthened. I admit my voice was trembling the entire time and my throat still hurts 6 hours later from the strain of trying not to cry. 

It was a miracle! I had only planned for 15 minutes, but ended up with a half hour. But for some reason, I wasn't nervous at all once I began teaching. I guess I just knew what to say, what stories to tell, and what scriptures to share. I wasn't the only one sniffing during the closing prayer. If that's how I'm going to teach in Georgia, I can't wait to go! I want others to know the same truth I know, to feel the joy that comes from the gospel, or, as we have been taught, from faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I can't wait to go. I know the Lord needs me to help bring His children back to Him.

I've come to love everyone here, and I'm going to miss them all a lot. Especially Elder Lowman, Elder Hodson, and Sister Hanks. We've all become really close and I'll miss the Elders most because I won't really be able to see them again after tomorrow. But I got everyone's emails, so I can email them once I get home.

Please don't be mad at me. I'm allowed to call right after we land in Georgia, but I don't have your numbers memorized, so I'm going to call Nuna and Papa. If they pick up. They sent their number with the cinnamon rolls. Sorry! I'm going to call Rachel's cell (because I remember that one) and leave a message. Just remember I love all of you so much and I think of you guys every day.

I'll email everyone on my next P-day and send pictures, but I'm not sure when that will be. But I'd love emails back, so write anyway, so I can look forward to opening my mail.

I love you all sooooo much!

Love,

Sister Garver