Loving the MTC!

MTC (week 2)

Well friends, it sounds cliche, but i dont have much time to write haha. Ill just share one of my favorite things that happened this week. While we were in the referral center, i was scrolling through the people that need to be contact and one name intrigued me. I clicked on her and she was requesting a Bible in english but didn't provide her mailing address. i called her and she answered!!

This is how the conversation basically went. I told her i was from mormon.org and how she had requested a bible and i was just going to call and ask for her mailing address. She gives it to me and i ask why she felt she wanted to get a bible and she told me the following, "i need to be closer to Jesus. I just found out i have cancer (her voice starts to crack) and i want to be close to jesus. I dont know why certain things in my life are happening and i just want help.."

I felt my missionary purpose ring loud and clear!

"Monike, would it be arlight if Mormom missionaires dropped the book off and share a short message of jesus christ? Their message is just for you. its for you. It's centered on your need right now." She begins crying and pleads yes. She then asked something that made my heart ache for her. She said, "i want them to come. I want somone to pray with me. Im scared Mrs. Esther. i was thinking about what to do with my life and then you called. And youre telling me a message of hope and of joy. Thank you for calling me and thank you for saying those things." 

The conversation continued, i sent the refferal to the missionaries in that area. Those Houston Texas missionaries are lucky. She is golden and is so ready.

i love being here and having this blessing, this opportunity to tell people this message that is for them. i realized really how much people need this and want this, they just dont know it. It made me sad for monike, that she felt so helpless and didn't know what to do, but somewhere she knew that a bible would help her. I feel so privledged and so excited! Monike is being helped her loving HeavenlyFather because he really and truely loves her. I love her! I wanted to go through the phone and help her and hug her. She was crying and i wouldn't be surprised if the conversation we had was of the most hope. 

My friends, be nice. Everyone you meet is going through hard times. Smile when youre out, be the light that people need. You are god's child and he loves you :)

-Sister Garcia 

MTC with Sister Laney

 

 
 

MTC (week 1)

Well hello friends and loved ones! Its been exactly one week since i got here and i can't believe how fast the week went, yet how slow some days were. The first day was chaos and the second day was hard to also because there was so much information and so much to know and get used to. But it was really fun. It all got better on sunday, ill explain that in a sec. 

My companion is from Turner Oregon and she will be serving with me aswell. The rest of the girls from my distict will be serving in LA. 

The beginning days i had a hard time because i felt like i needed to show others that i have prepared for this. I felt like everyone around me had the same story and that frustrated me and so i felt the need to show how i was different. i Learned how wrong this was. The biggest lesson i learned this week was about humility and pride. I emailed my family when i first arrived to let them know i had made it safe, but then i got extra time the following evening and i told them of my frustration. My brother david told me some words of advice that really made me understand the need to look outward rather that inward. He said, "the spirit not only works through you, but through others."  I wouln't be able to learn the things i needed to if was constanly feeling frustrated by the girls who would talk about their boyfriends, or the girls who would cry at how they missed home. I need to learn compassion and learn that everyone has come to the MTC with different backgrounds. 

The Reno Nevada Stake's Mission prep classes really prepared me so much. I think thats why i felt like i was so ahead of everyone becuase i began my mission prep and learning long ago. They really made you learn about what missionary work is and how to begin NOW. So shout you to you guys! I feel very prepared and so grateful to have attended. 

We had Elder Nelson speak to us during the Tuesday Devotional. No one knows who the speaker is until they arrive (the missionaries don't know.) I was in the choir and seated doing some stuff on my tablet when all of a sudden everyone stood up. before i could see who it was i felt a strong power in the room fill up. I felt it in my heart and knew that whoever it was had power of god. The true and real power of god. As i looked up it was Elder Nelson and his wife. My heart pounded and i started crying. The room was filled with over 2,000 missionaires set apart with the rights and privledges of preaching the gospel. And in walks an Apostle of the Lord. My heart was full and i couldn't help but cry tears of joy. ME! i was involved in this. I was taking part in this amazing change that the world will know. 

i dont have much time so thats basically it. But i would encourage all of you to think of things that you might be doing that would impede you from feeling the spirit and would allow you to receive revelation. This week i will be working on humiliy. i would encourage you to pick something to work on and see how much the lord wants to help you be better.

i know this work is true and there is a prophet on the earth. he speaks to god and heads this church. 

CTR!

-Sister Garcia

ps, we got to go to the referral center where people from all over the world requested A Book of Mormon or bible on mormon.org and we get to call them and make sure the address is ok. we also share our testimony or favorite scirputre and it was soooooo fun!

(sorry for the typos, im on little time hah)

She's off!

Sister Garcia left as excited as ever and has safely arrived at the MTC, ready to begin a new chapter of her life!