Week 37

Hey all!!

So changes happened and I am no longer in my ghetto of Colon! Sometimes I say things here and people just laugh because I say it as if I were in Colon and it is very very VERY diferent there than the rest of Panama.... Whoda thunk?! 

My new area is El 24 de diciembre in Tocumen, Panamá. Not only did I get changed to a new area no no no that would be to easy my first change in the mission but I get to pink wash the area too! Man oh man is that stressful! My new companion is Hermana Boyd from Farmington Utah! She is really great full of energy and always has a smile! We may not have a lot in common but I have already learned so much from her and I know that this will be a great transferre! 

SO this week has basically been the longest week of my entire life! First I said gooodbye to a good friend who went home and then the next day was my first thanksgiving away from home and we got changes! I then had to say goodbye to my comp who has become my best friend but also to my converts and new family... man was that rough! Then I got a super eneregic companion when I was not energetic and super stressed out to remember everywhere we were going so that we wouldn't get lost or anything! a tad frustrating but still good for me! SO friday we got to the area and cleaned the house because the Elders left it very dirty and then we unpacked! 

Saturday we woke up and did our studies and were at a complete loss because we had no Idea where to start or what to do! So we called to see if we had Lunch and we didn't so then we decided to just study opur area book to know what investigators lived in what area and then the map of our area to know where these parts were! After about an hour of that the Relief Society President called us said she would be picking us up and taking us to lunch. From that lunch we met one of the progressing investigators and the low down on the ward! 

Sunday church starts at 8 in the morning so we were rushing out the door so we weren't late and we made and man was it awesome! MY bishop is a good ol gringo from utah who served his mission here in Panama and married a cute little panamanian and have a cute little family. The ward here is really amazing they even had printed programs! WHAT?! Craziness. After Secon hour we were organizin with everyone our meals for the weeek (They roatate every week kind of like the states) and then also for which member would leave with us each day this week to show where other member and where our investigators live! It was so crazy and over whelming and such a blessing!! After that we went back to the house study the area book even more and then went to lunch. After lunch the RS President took us with her presidency to show us every single house for our meals this week! It was super helpful! 

Today was P-day so we shall see how this week goes! Thank you so much for all the prayers and support! I am sop grateful for you all! I love you and miss you all! I know that the Lord knows our doubt and fears but He works with exactly what we need to get over them! I know that though it may not be what we want it is what the Lord knows we need and we can always learn and grow! THIS CHURCH IS TRUE!! 

Les quiero mucho!
Hermana Garcia

Week 34

BUUEENNAASSS!!! 

Sorry everyone thesepast couple of week have been busy! One week we had immigrations and then the next day Elder Snow from the 70 and Elder Duncan the area President and Brother Turley the church historian came nd did a little conference for us!! It was really so great! I learned so much! It also was in English so that was really nice too! hahaha

 I learned that no matter what we can be a part of the avalanche. Everything we do as missionaries is a rock rolling down the mountain and as I roll down the mountain I hit other rocks and they begin to roll and Hit more rocks until it is a great big avalanche. At times I may not get the rocks to move. Sometimes it may be just a little nudge but that nudge can lead to loosen up that rock so that the next rock to hit it knocks it loose. He started this analogy (Brother Turley) Because he said that his father served in the Panama mission back in 1950.. Ya that was when the mission was al of central america hahaha He said that his father served in mainly GUetmala and Costa Rica and there wasn't hardly any members there. He was serving in the Brach Presidency and where there were these tiny branches are now Temples in those two areas... He is still alive and was able to see such a great change in his areas... It may not seem like we are doing very much but over time we can that our little job we did could have been the start of a great avalanche. We should alos keep a record so that other may be to learn and keep on going to keep the work in motion. They encouraged us to keep a journal of all the things we have ever learned in our missions both spiritually mentally and emotionally. 

Last week as a mission we won the opportunity to watch the movie Freetown. It was so powerful and I encourage you guys to watch it. It was to me a tremendous example of Faith and trust in the Lord. It made me reflect greatly on What it is I am doing that If I was to be put in their situation I would be able to rely 100% on the Lord and know that He would protect me. I know that He love each and everyoe of us and that He is always there. It may be difficult to see it at times but with Thanksgiving coming up it is a great time to reflect on what it is we are grateful for. Say a gratitude prayer. Get down on you knees and thank the Lord for everything He has ever given you and don't get up until you can't think of anything else. You will come to find it to be a very long prayer. 

Sunday I had a really really neat experience. We had a Family History activity as a Zone and had to invite investigators and recent converts to come learn how do to family history. There was a man there that wasn't a member and my ocmpanion and I were able to talk to him (ALL IN ENGLSIH) He has manty many doubts about relgion but has faityh there is a God but wants a church that can answer his questions and not just say have Faith. As we were talking to him he kept coming up with examples from science and I loved it!! The spirit was so strong and I felt like I didn't really answer anything. All of my resposes caused him to think and take a step back. The Lord really knows what it is we need and what we can do to be strenghtened. He will answer our questions and strenghten us if we are willing to listen to the spirit and its guidance. I needed that moment of talking with him just as badly as he needed those answers.

The mission is a beautiful work! I am so grateful to be apart of it! I love you all!! Thank you for all your prayers and messages!

Les quiero mucho

Hermana Garcia