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Faith, Hope, and Charity

I felt a few weeks ago like I had no faith and then I feel like I have a hold on things when poof it's another thing to work on. As a missionary I think missions are hard because you realize how sacred this is and how important  this is. I would be awful if, because of me, someone wasn't progressing. As we talked (Sister Garcia and Sister Fragoso) I had D&C chapter 4 come to mind. This work really does require faith and hope and charity. I realized that it's just part of missionary work and that sooner or later I was going to have to learn this. I realized how charity goes far more than just loving someone. It was because I loved Adriana so much that I realized I was so hurt, so frustrated with her. I realized because I love her I was allowing myself act this way. And then i realized that Jesus Christ himself isn't mad at her choices. he loves her regardless and is just concerned if she is repenting which she is. 

I know that we can do all things through Christ, Philippians 4:13 because he strengthen me. This morning as I began my personal study I prayed that I could be directed to know what to do know that I could know what I need to change, what do I need to do now? I was directed to Alma 31:31. I invite you look at it! and finish to the end of the chapter. I think it's only like 5 more verses. I just knew that all those missionaries in the scriptures also went through the same thing I go through. Thank goodness I'm not the first and thank goodness I studied faith for 2 weeks since patience is part faith. And that's what Alma does at the very end, because he prayed in faith. 

I am so grateful for the things I am learning. Funny thing is I don't realize how much I am until I write to you all or when I write in my journal. I love you all so much and I just want to let you know that I now it's through Jesus Christ that we can better. I can have better faith and more patience though him and I now God will allow me to grow and give me opportunity to do so. 

P.S we get to meet and shake Elder Cooks hand this Saturday! He's coming to the mission :) 

-Patricio got baptized! his entire family except his dad is a member . he is 8 but his family hadn't been living the gospel for much of his life and so we were asked to teach him and special prep him for his baptism and so we did and now he got baptized on saturday! so much and little. we love Patricio 

-And a Charlotte sign...haha

This week's photos

Past photos and this week's email!

This week I had an experience in putting faith to the test since I realized how much I lacked it...Late Monday we had a miracle brought to pass due to the faith of my companion. I wanted to be of more help to her and I was so grateful that she had been faithful but I realized how much I needed it to. I prayed that night for the gift of faith so that I could be of more use. 

We pulled up to an apartment complex at 3pm on a Thursday where the sun was hot and just a lazy time of the day. I park the car and and Sister Fragoso and i both pull our seats back and close our eyes and just say how tired we are and laugh at our misery. She looks at me and says, "let's knock this entire complex. 4th floor last door?" (in reference to uchdorfs Talk.) I look at her and say, "I'm trying out this new Faith thing, they said it works..." So we did it. 

I realized I couldn't just knock to get the doors done. If I wanted this to work I would have  to mentally have the faith that things WOULD work out and that there WOULD be good come from it. The apartment had 3 floors, and each floor had 4 doors. 12 total. the bottom floor had 3 doors open but they weren't interested. the last one the floor opened up and it was a 15 year old girl. she talked to us and we had a wonderful discussion about regions and about our purpose on the earth. She gave us a return appointment. 

Things like this happened all week. Things like new investigators and referrals and individuals keeping their commitments. It was wonderful and it was a learning lesson for me. Had it not been me realizing how much I lacked and how much I needed Christ in my equation, I don't think this week wouldn't have been such a happy one.

On Sunday as I turn to face the congregation after playing the opening hymn (yes I still play haha) I saw my companions face beaming and smiling as she hinted for me to look left. I saw 3 of our investigators seated by her. My heart about popped our of my chest. I then look over and there's 2 more on the other side of the chapel. We had 5 investigators come. My heart filled with overwhelming joy as I realized how much faith works. The funny thing is, it was always there for me to choose. I'm sure this miracles wouldn't have been given had we not proved to God that we were serious about his work. That we knew it would be hard but what he could trust us with this individuals to teach. Faith was always an option but it wasn't until I was as compelled to be humble that things happened. God didn't just give me faith though. I had to choose it. I had to choose to work a little harder. have a better attitude and try to have more faith. I learned of this equation in a zone meeting and it loved it. 

you + Christ=more

It's so true. It's not us doing more prayers or more study that makes us be better, it when we put Christ first that things start happening. I wanted more faith and so I had to choose to have faith in Christ would give me more energy and would lead me. Interesting how that works...

May we always include the savior more in our daily lives and CHOOSE to be better as he will allow us to grow.

Much love!

-Hermana Garcia 

Joy

This week i studied the defintion of joy. It was so intersting to learn more about it. I learned that joy is only possible when spirit and flesh are one.  Which would explain 2 Nephi 2:25 "Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy."

I just really realized how important it is to have a body and how as members we have the capacity to be truly  JOYOUS. Not just happy, but really joyous. 

This afternoon at Walmart we saw an interesting advertisement for eye contacts :) They said something along the following, "buy these contacts and have shinier eyes that glow!" something like that. Basically having light in your eyes. My comp and I looked at each other and she said what i was thinking, "Join the Mormon church and be baptized! Its free!."

The scriptures teach that joy is a gift to the righteous. Happiness is a regard when we do what is right and when we live a life that is according to the will of God or when we follow His commandments. I realized how much the world is yearning for it and hope to attain it by monetary means. 

I left the light on of our car on Friday night and so Saturday afternoon we discovered the car battery dead. This all happening while it was raining baaaddd. Well we called for our help and it was just so fun. We were outside while it was raining and cold and wet yet...we were happy. I thought of what Elder Nelson said, "Only saints could be happy in any circumstance." I love this and know this. I know we can be happy in any trail or circumstance that we live in. We can suffer with joy and put our trust in God and know that he will do the rest.

I love my mission. I see miracles every day and i see the hand of the Lord in all things. It makes me wonder of all the miracles i missed or didn't take notice while i was home. I encourage you all to count the daily miracles and be overcome with love when you realize how much God helps you and is mindful of you. 

CTR!

-Hermana Garcia

 (we also sitcky note our recent converts...life of a sis missionary haha)