this week was a week of a lot of COMIDA (food)!!! so many people had us over for my
favorite meals and people took us out as well.
Jose is doing so well. He went to a family night activity
with a bunch of members and his wife went too!! we weren't invited (which is
good) haha but we heard it went really well and Jose's wife really liked it. We
went over to teach Jose the lessons again and we focused the Restoration lesson
on the priesthood because he will be receiving it soon! We told them that if
his wife wants to get baptized, he would be able to baptize her. The look on
his wife's face was priceless. She just lit up and looked so amazed. She will
get baptized soon too, we are sure of it. But after the lesson, Jose invited us
over to eat that Thursday! SO nice! but later that night he calls and says,
"GARNER! We decided that we want to do a despedida (goodbye party) for
you, so invite anyone you want to my house at 7!" love him. so I called
all of Jose's friends and my favorite members and we had a cute goodbye party
that night for me. It was so cute, Jose welcomed everyone to his house, said how
grateful he was for having me as his missionary, said the prayer on the amazing
food he grilled and we ate! it was amazing and I felt so loved! after the
party, we were talking to one of Jose's sons and he said "thank you so
much" to us. and we said "it wasn't us! we didn't do anything!"
and he said, "No really, my dad has changed so much. He used to snap at
all of the family members for little things, but now he is more calm and he
doesn't fight. He has changed so much, thanks to you guys. thank you so much
for that"
On Saturday we had a Relief Society activity where we
learned how to make empanadas from Argentina and Honduras...we have a really
diverse little branch :) so we made them and then we had a little spiritual
program. afterwards, the Relief Society president stands up and says "and
this is Hermana Garner's last weekend here with us, so could everyone go around
and say something to her?" so all of the hermanas in the branch said the
sweetest things to me. hermana regalado got up and just bawled and so did many
others. it was the saddest thing, they are like my family!! But I promised all
of them that I will stay in touch and that they still have to be a part of my
life. I will never forget these people!
At Catholic Charities, the service center, I said all of my
goodbyes to my favorite people and they gave me so many cute gifts that they
handmade for me. it was amazing!!
I don't want this letter to be only about saying goodbye,
but that was a lot of this week. But a lot of this week was realizing what a
difference these people have made for me in my life and how I will never forget
them and the love I have for them. The mission is a perfect place to learn how
to love people with Christ-like love. Never before in my life have I seen
people the way I do here in the mission. It isn't a talent or anything I have,
it is a gift and a gift that is definitely given to missionaries. Missionary
work is impossible without loving those who we teach. It is completely
impossible. Leaving all of these people and this mission life is the saddest
thing and hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but it is also the most
rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. I have never been closer to my
Savior, Jesus Christ or my Heavenly Father. I have never had this type of
relationship with them, I have had to learn how to rely on them for everything.
I have learned how to rely on the Atonement like never before. I have learned
how to be patient with others, myself, and the Lord's timing. I have learned
how to work hard and be diligent in hard times. I have learned how to teach
with the Spirit and to recognize promptings. Sooooooo many things I have
learned during this short time and I will always be soo grateful for that.
During this week, when I have said my goodbyes to everyone, I made them all
pinky promise me that I would still be part of their life and they would still
be part of mine. Building these incredible relationships with them--that can't
go to waste! Everything that I learned from them, I will never forget. Sitting
here at the computer my last day as a missionary, so many thoughts are running
through my head, but the one that sticks out to me the most is how powerful the
love of Heavenly Father is. He knew I had to go to Mexico to fall in love with
the Hispanic culture so I could love the people here. He knew I had to be in
Kemah and Brazos for certain families that He knew I would connect with! I am
just so grateful for Him and His timing and love. I know He lives and I know
His Son Jesus Christ is my Brother and Savior. I know He died for us, but He
always lived for us. He showed us the way to live and the only way back to Him
and the Father is what He teaches us in the scriptures. I love Him and I have
loved representing him these past 18 months. I will miss being a missionary
more than anything, but I am excited to put everything I learned into practice
and into my life.
this email title is what i have had to keep in mind this
whole week. thankfully I am coming back in 2 short months to visit and my family
here in my mission will always be in and a part of my life!
thank you for all of the support and love throughout this
time. I will forever be grateful to you all!! see you soon!!
Hermana Garner
Hna. Aguilar!
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mom.
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yoga in english class! Hno. Lopez is awesome and like in his 60s! hahahah |
Irma and Clarissa!!
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Miss mary from catholic charities!! |
Relief Society activity! |
Relief Society president----sweetest lady.
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