12-12-12 That's kind of cool...

Hey everyone!

I'm still super safe.  The Typhoon totally missed us in Toledo.  There were lots of people who died though on other islands.  From what I've heard though 0 members died.  Fast and testimony meeting was all thanks and praises to God for His mercy.  It was great.

I'll talk to President about applying for school.  I think what we'll have to do is you'll do everything for me that you can, and then I'll fill out the essay questions and what not.

So here is the final news on me coming home.  Due to all the changes and new missionaries coming in, all return dates have been pushed up 2 weeks.  This means I am now officially finishing my mission June 5, 2013.  Mom and Dad, you can buy the plane tickets.  Just come in on that day and we'll meet up at the temple complex here.  I'm thinking 5 days will be just right, so see about getting our flight home Monday night on the 10th or Tuesday morning on the 11th.  I can't believe I have less than 6 months left...  So scary :(

The work has been super fun this past week.  Elder Fudge and I got to work a day or two in our area, and we got to trek the bukid!  We hiked through mountains all day and found a good number of less active members as well as tons of potential new investigators.  I love the mountainous wilderness so much out here.  It is one of the funnest parts of missionary work for me; hiking through the jungle talking to every person you meet, and sharing the gospel.  It's such an adventure.  

ZLC and Zone Conference got rescheduled so we attended those this Monday and Tuesday here in Cebu.  Both were awesome.  President Schmutz and the APs gave more great workshops, and we even got to watch President Schmutz wrestle Elder Irvin.  Both are such big guys.  President is so funny.

Tell Crystal I'm praying for her, and she has her name in the prayer roll here.  Tell her I love her.

I love you all!

Elder Garver

Pictures are of all the Zone Leaders at ZLC and President Schmutz taking on Grizzly Bear Elder Irvin afterwards.

12-5-12

Good Morning!

Thanks for the update dad on your trip to New York.  Are we going to get to do that when I get back?  I hope you can find ways to enjoy your trip to Germany.  Keep me updated on all the crazy fun you have while you're over there!

The beginning of this week was great.  Elder Fudge and I got a lot of work done in our area from Thursday until Saturday, and we found 8 new investigators and a few new Less Active members as well.  We then had a great district conference on Sunday.

We had a zone conference in Cebu scheduled this last Monday, and ZLC scheduled for Tuesday, so we had all the elders gather together in Balamban Sunday night and we were all going to travel to Cebu together the next morning.  Right after we all got to Balamban for the night we got called by the APs informing us of a Super Tropical Hurricane that was hurtling towards Cebu with winds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour.  We we told all meetings were cancelled, and we had to make sure everyone in our zone had food and water provisions for 3 days as well as 72 hour kits all ready.  We then went back to our areas to wait out the storm.  We were all really excited, and were looking forward to being able to do a lot of service after the storm, but after hiding in our house for 48 hours, we were informed that the hurricane had changed course and pounded Bohol and Dumeguete, but completely missed us.  We got a couple drips of rain.  That's it.  So that was a huge disappointment.  On the plus side, we were lucky and had 6 elders in our apartment for the hide out, so we spent the 48 hours playing monopoly, chess, checkers, scum, and other card games while eating chips and oreos and lots of soda,  If I had had to spend another day in that house I think I would have literally gone crazy.  Now we are out again though and I am very excited to get some missionary work done tonight.

I love you!
Elder Garver

ps.  Here are a couple pictures.  I'm borrowing Elder Fudges memory card adapter thing.  1st is of the Dela Cruz family who we reactivated last transfer.  They are now enrolled in the temple prep class and are preparing to be sealed to their 6 children.  2nd is of Nanay Epifania at her baptism.

11-28-12

What?!  That's so weird that both Thaden girls got engaged...  That's just really weird.  There goes my plan to take Amanda Thaden out to the American Idol auditions when I got home.  That's super awesome though!

I will definitely join you in the family fast.  Let Crystal know the other half of the world is supporting her as well.

Thanks for putting up my Christmas stocking!  I'm still a part of the family!  Hooray!  Are you going to fill it? ;)  Maybe you can use it for CJ or something.  I completely forgot about Thanksgiving this year.  You see the occasional turkey here but it's far and few between, and it definitely is not a popular meal here.  Christmas time has been raging for quite a while now, but it's awesome to here your real "white Christmas" stories.

Transfers went well.  My companion is awesome.  Seriously.  This past week has been so much fun.  It has also been super crazy. Poor Elder Fudge hasn't been able to work in our area even once.  Actually, since we technically live outside our area, he has yet to even step foot into our area.  We have been grabbed every single day by the zone, our house mates, or the sisters for some reason, and have yet to work together at all in our area.  Still, we have been getting really good work done in the zone, and in other areas.

We had quite the experience this week with the sisters.  They came into this branch and immediately went about doing what they were used to doing.  Taking over and taking control of everything.  Sisters are very good at what they do, and typically, there is nobody above them in the mission area that they need to answer to or sustain. They had never had to work together with Elders in a single branch before, and without meaning to, way over-stepped their bounds.  There was some definite clashing that went on that first Sunday, but Elder Fudge and I went home and drew up an inspired plan that is and will continue to make everything run smoothly.  Because we are the priesthood leadership in the area and zone, Elder Fudge and I are in charge of the Priesthood Leadership in the branch like PEC, Home Teaching etc, while the Sisters will handle the auxiliaries, such as Relief Society, Visiting Teaching and Primary.  Each companionship can bring advice or ideas to the table each week in our area coordination meeting, but must always sustain the other companionship's authority and realize the ultimate decision resides with them.  We are presenting this plan we drew up to President Schmutz this weekend, and hopefully it is going to be able to be used mission-wide when all the new sisters get here to help the work flow.  How exciting!

Mom, I'm sorry.  I have another excuse.  My memory card reader exploded this week.  I'm going to need to pull out a little more money to buy a new one so I can send you pictures next week.  Have patience with your poor, faceless son.

I love you all!  Thanks for the update Rachel :)  You're awesome.

Love,
Elder Garver

11-21-12

This computer is really testing my patience today.  Goodness gracious.

I had no idea that the hurricane was actually that bad over there!  That is ridiculous to hear.  I'm so grateful that you are all ok and that you were all protected from the really bad stuff.  Good choice of house, Mom and Dad.  I'm always praying for you all.

How is Crystal doing?  I don't know exactly what the chemo process is, but I know it's really tough.  Please keep me updated on how she is doing as well.

This week is transfer week, and Elder Olojan and I spent the entire week getting things ready for the new sister missionaries coming into our zone.  We split our area and rearranged area boundaries in the zone, bought a ton of furnishings for the new apartment, drove down to Cebu a couple times for money and a truck to move all the stuff into the house, worked out the rent and advance payment with the landlord of the new apartment, and signed contracts and tax forms.  We now need to go organize the apartment and get it all nice and fancy for the sisters before they come in on Friday.  It was sure fun driving that pick up truck through the mountains getting to and from Cebu.  The drive is amazing, and I'm taking you on it when you come out Mom and Dad.

This brings me to some big news.  Well, kind of big I guess,  Because of the new change in the mission and the huge surge of missionaries coming to our mission, I most likely going to be extending about 4 weeks to help everything transfer in smoothly.  I don't know for sure yet since it really depends on President Schmutz.  If I do though, I'll be coming home in July some time.

This transfer is pretty exciting for me.  Elder Olojan is transferring out after just 6 weeks and I am training a new ZL in Toledo named Elder Fudge.  He is my junior batch and I was with him in the MTC.  I'm excited to be companions with him.  There are a lot of other cool happenings in the mission due to the age change.  There is another zone being opened up, as well as more mission leaders being called to fill that zone.  It is a pretty exciting time out here.

This computer is being belligerent  so I'm going to just have to send you pictures next week.  And no, I really don't remember what that adjective means.  I just threw that in there because it popped into my head.  Hopefully it kinda makes sense a little bit sorta.

I love you all!  Stay safe.

Elder Garver

p.s.  our phones there don't have SIM cards do they?  If so, you can buy REALLY nice phones out here for really cheap.

11-14-12

Noooooooooo!!!!  I had the worst realization ever this week!  The first-fruits of true conversion is a desire to share the gospel.  Right at the time I'm getting home, every truly converted young woman, between 19-21 is going to be either on, or just about to leave on a mission.  There is going to be nobody to marry when I get home...  I'm going to have to wait an extra year before all the women get back from their missions.  Oh man...  That's sad.  President Schmutz said that his son who got back from his mission 7 months ago is all of a sudden finding it very hard to find women to date.  They're all on missions!  His 7 month window has just about closed, and now he has to wait until the first batch of sister missionaries get home in a year.  Then he, I, and the rest of the RM world will have to fight it out over the few returning home that month.  Then the losers have to wait.  Marriage just got really complicated.

Other than that, this week was good!  We had a really good zone training meeting after ZLC, and blew everyone's minds with the doctrine we learned.  Then we were informed by President Schmutz that we needed to find a new apartment for the sister missionaries who will probably be transferring into our area next week, so that's what we have been doing this week.  Walking ALL OVER (or occasionally driving when the senior couple can spare their car) looking for appropriate apartments.  We also are in charge of realigning the area boundaries in our Zone to fit in the new companionship, so we have been doing a lot of civil engineering and land mapping this week as well.  We have now created a pretty beautiful layout of all the new area boundaries and everything is all set for the sisters to move in, besides the apartment.  We have a few more meetings lined up tomorrow with landlords and apartment owners, then after we make a final decision, it's off the the big department stores to buy furnishings for the apartment.  You never know as a Zone Leader when your life might explode with busyness at any moment.  It's great that we are getting sisters in the Zone again though.  With this new influx of sisters, we are projected to be at around 135 Elders and 120ish Sisters within 1 year, so we are going to have our hands FULL, probably for the rest of my mission as we are doing all this for another 100 new sisters that will be coming into the mission in that time.

We just got out of the temple.  I love the temple.  Now we are going back up to Toledo as a Zone to finish up our P-Day by washing clothes!  Super Exciting.  I just downloaded all the conference talks from LDS.org though so that should make washing a lot better as we listen to those again.

Tell Crystal I'm praying for her, and I love her.  I love you all!

Elder Garver

P.S. These pictures are from last transfer with Elder Barcellano.  I'll start trying to send them more frequently now.  I just haven't taken many pictures this transfer for some reason, so I forget to send them when I do.

11-7-12

Hello!

It's good to hear you are all safe!  I can't imagine what it would feel like to be somewhere below freezing.  The Philippines is so awesome because it's just hot all the time.  Power outages happen on a very regular basis, but all it really effects are the tvs and electric fans.  Hardly anyone here even uses electric fans so it's not even that big of a deal.  I can imagine how much harder it would be in the winter...

I'm going to apologize now for not sending pictures again.  I forgot my camera at the apartment.  Sorry!  I actually haven't had much to take pictures of lately, but I'll get a few to you next week.  I took a cool video though this week.  We were standing on the beach waiting for our Branch Missionary, and as we looked out across the sea we saw a wall of rain in the distance.  As we watched, we could see the wall coming closer and closer with the sea all choppy underneath where the rain was hitting it.  It was really cool to see how fast rain clouds actually move.  Then we worked in the pounding rain for a while.  Fun!

Good news from our area.  Nanay Epifania is getting baptized on Saturday.  The miracles the Lord has worked in her life are amazing.  When we found her, she couldn't sit up, much less come to church, yet after a blessing and a few promises in the name of the Lord, she is walking to church 2 hours early each Sunday, and has become completely active again in her life.  She is cleaning, washing clothes, shopping and doing all the things she hasn't been able to do for so long.  She  isn't even taking her medicine anymore.  The Lord just healed her.  I testify of the power of Christ's Priesthood, and I testify as well that through obedience this power comes into our lives.  You don't have to be special or do anything crazy to have miracles happen in your life.  All you need to do is obey.  Respect your Redeemer enough to follow his commandments, and He will work miracles in your life.  The only reason why miracles ever cease, is because of the unbelief of man.  This mission has taught me of the truthfulness of my Savior and I could never deny that He lives, and is active in our lives, as much as we allow Him.

Keep warm!
Love,
Elder Garver

P.S.  I got your package!  I also opened it.  Thanks for the pictures!  I love you guys.  I also love nutella.

10-31-12

Well shoot.  I guess stories are bound to get around sooner or later.  This is why so many criminals get caught you know.  They just can't help bragging a little bit about the awesome job they pulled off, or crazy stunt they pulled in a car, and then poof.  The whole world knows sooner or later and then the authorities come and get you.  At least I was smart enough to flee the country before news spread too far.  You can't get me out here!  All the Elders like hearing my car stories too though ;)  Oh man...  What a stupid kid I was.

Well I'm sure glad you guys are surviving out there.  Our branch missionary leader told us there was a huge hurricane over there, but when he said that the water rose to neck height and there where lots of dead people and Virginia, New Jersey, Colorado, and California all lost power I didn't believe him.  He exaggerated a bit, but he was telling the truth!  I totally forgot it gets cold in the winter there.  How cold is it?  Do you have any good sledding hills at the house?

This computer isn't letting me send any pictures so you'll have to wait until next week.  Sorry I've been so rushed for time lately, I've forgotten.

This week was awesome because of Zone Interviews. We have Preach My Gospel DVDs here in the mission where the mission lives of a district in CA is recorded and used for training purposes.  I am very very grateful that President Schmutz is my mission president.  The way he teaches is just amazing.  We go way beyond the basics and discuss the doctrinal background for why people are the way they are, and how we need to address their spiritual problems.  President Schmutz radiates intelligence and light, and it is a blessing to be around him.  He taught an amazing workshop to our zone, and then began interviewing each elder individually.  I love how personal President Schmutz is with each missionary in this mission.  He was conducting interviews from around 10am until he finished up mine at around 6pm.  I lost track of time but my companion told me I was in my interview for at least 30 minutes.  We talked about life, the mission, and doctrine.  It was awesome.

One thing that President and I have discussed recently however, is the omniscience of God.  I have learned a lot the last few days about the omniscience of God in my studies.  He knows all things through His spirit which is in and around and part of all things.  I wonder in amazement at the spectacular magnificence of such a Being. How wonderful and splendid is our God! His power and majesty are in all things, and there is nothing not known unto Him.  It is so clear how present He is in just my life alone, and the works He does in my life are greater than I have ability to express.  How terrible it is to witness so many who don't have this same vision as we do. So many of Father's precious children that don't know Him!  John and the 3 Nephites were promised to never feel sorrow save it be for the sins of the world.  I am beginning to realize just how much pain these men of God still feel. 

We missionaries have a heavy responsibility to make sure each person we teach gains a firm testimony of this gospel.  There is no other way in which exaltation can be obtained, save it be through the doctrine of Christ and obedience to the laws therein.  We had an amazing experience with an investigator of ours this week, which I will tell quite briefly before we have to run.  We had taught Bro. Pweblos a couple lessons before this week, but he was still having trouble getting an answer to his prayers about whether or not this was the true church.  We reviewed again the restoration with him and then we committed him to pray again.  He expressed his past experiences of unanswered prayers, but promised to continue trying.  I know that when God says He will answer prayers, He will, and I promised Bro. Pweblos that if he would kneel with us right there, God would answer his prayer if we waited in faith on our knees.  He agreed, and we kneeled on the nailed in bamboo slats that made up the floor of his hut.  He offered up his faithful prayer and asked God if this was the true church.  We waited.  He continued telling God how much he needed an answer.  We still waited.  He again expressed how confused he was and how he needed to know the truth.  Still no answer.  We had been kneeling for 10 minutes and I was begging God just as hard as Bro. Pweblos was that he would answer this prayer.  "Father," I prayed, "I promised this man an answer.  He is doing everything Thou hast asked him to do.  Why art Thou still silent?"  15 minutes had now passed by.  The thin strips of bamboo were digging into our knees extremely painfully.  Bro. Pweblos was crying for an answer yet there was none to be heard.  I began to wonder if he would just give up.  I told God that I had made a promise, and I was not going to be the one to interrupt this prayer and make excuses for Him.  I was just amazed it was taking this long.  20 minutes now had gone by.  Bro. Pweblos let out an exasperated gasp and fell, rubbing his knees in pain.  My knees to were screaming in pain, yet Elder Olojan and I stayed kneeling.  I wondered if this would be the end, but after a couple minutes of silence, Bro. Pweblos got back up!  He kneeled again, wincing a bit in pain, and continued his prayer.  Then, all of a sudden, he gasped, and fell again, this time not from pain.  He cried out "Mao gyud kini!" or "This is it!  It's true!"  He lept up and about tackled Elder Olojan and I.  He cried on our shoulders for a couple of minutes and then told us of his answer.  He had grown frustrated having given so much and and prayed so much with no answer, but really needed an answer.  After so long, frustrated, he threw his head up and looked into heaven.  It was then that he saw from heaven a bright flash of white light, and his whole soul was filled with peace.  He knew without a doubt that God had answered his prayer and he knew this was Christ's church.  We had been kneeling for 30 minutes.  I testify that God answers prayers.  So many prayers go unanswered because we don't have the faith to wait for the answer.  Would you have the faith to wait for 30 minutes in silence for an answer to prayer?  I had never had to wait that long, but I know that that experience for Bro. Pweblos is not going to be forgotten anytime soon.

I really have to go now!  I love you all.  Emily, Shaelyn, Jessie, thank you so much for the letters and dear elders.  I love them!

Love,
Elder Garver

10-24-12

Hahaha I have no idea why but Sydney's ability to speak English really took be by surprise in her email.  I don't know what I was thinking...  I think I was picturing her as my little baby sister still.  Haha Syd you need to email me more!

Dad, there are pluses and minuses to college before a mission.  College is less strict, and more fun, and Alicia will be able to find good friends and learn to be more independent. On the other hand, Alicia is already quite independent, and would do fantastic jumping straight into the mission.  She can definitely handle herself, and will be a blessing to every companion she is with.  The mission will teach her things she can't learn at college.  She would do well with the spiritual training before getting into that game.  1 year of college before the mission would be a lot more benefit for the independence aspect, which she already is going to be fine with.  I suggest that she go on a mission first, and then do her schooling afterwards with a greater vision of what Father in Heaven has in store for her.

Mom!  I still eat tons of rice.  I have just started getting into omelets though, and that is now what I eat with my rice every day.  Super delicious.  We also eat out a lot here.  My favorites are siomi (little noodle pocket things filled with pork and spices) and foot long hotdogs from Angels (a fast food thing... not really a restaurant, more like a little stand).  I can't really remember what would be weird for an American to eat anymore, Dad.  I just eat whatever is given to me.  Goat is nothing weird right?

Work is going great, and we should have a baptism coming up shortly.  Sister Epifania is doing great. We witnessed a miracle this week. She came to conference but had to return after just one session because of pain. She cannot sit or stand for any length of time without unbearable pain in her back. She must lay on a pillow on her stomach in order to gain relief. We visited her last week and she expressed to us concern that she would not be able to endure church for 3 hours the following week. I promised her that if she had faith and trusted the Lord by coming to church, He would take away her pain for the whole time she was at church. She was so excited to come to church that week, that she walked to church at 10:30am to be early for our 12:00 sacrament. She then joined the Relief Society of the earlier branch while she waited for us to get there, attended all 3 hours of our branch, and then went home. She told us her pain vanished and she was cured for 4 1/2 hours. She expressed her joy and gratefulness for the Savior and knows it was He who is working miracles in her life. So amazing.

Lots of great work in my Zone as well.  It is seriously so much fun being a zone leader.  There is a whole lot more freedom, because the entire zone is your area, and we spend a lot of time in other Elder's areas as well helping them out or conducting exchanges and stuff.  I also get to drive now so that is sweet.

I love you all!  Keep up the missionary work back home.  I'll be home eventually to help as well.

Love,
Elder Garver

10-17-12

Hey everyone!

Well transfers are over and nobody got lost.  Great news.  My new comp is really cool.  He is quiet, but awesome.  We now have 3 Americans in the house, so that's pretty crazy.

Conference was awesome, and I gained so much from it.  I loved Elder Holland's talk and Elder Oak's.  I also really liked Elder Gay's talk, and the first few sentences of Pres. Uchtdorf's talk sounded awesome too.  Satan was working hard this weekend.  More of that in a second.

Last week we taught a great group of college students.  The Spirit was powerful.  We testified of the restoration and every investigator was silenced.  They could only sit and feel the truth of Christ's message.  We then promised them if they came to conference with a prayerful heart, the Lord would confirm to them the truthfulness of this church, and they would know, upon seeing the face of President Monson, that he was called of God.  They all promised to come.  When Saturday morning arrived, they all showed up.  They sat down and I prayed for the Spirit to be upon us.  Then, the power went out.  There was nothing for 20 minutes, and then someone finally got the generator turned on.  This only powered the sound however, and we listened to part of a talk in the sweltering heat (all fans and air conditioning down), before the sound broke and cut out again.  We finally got some picture and sound going just in time to hear President Uchtdorf start what sounded like an amazing talk, before it all crashed again.  We ended up getting to hear the last speakers remarks, and then all our investigators had an exam to take at school and left.  What a great first impression!  I knew however, that we had done all we could, the investigators had shown forth their faith, and that no matter how hard the devil worked, he could not affect a promise of the Lord.  I prayed hard during the hour break, and when it came time for the next session, all our investigators came back!  They attended all 4 sessions, and all got testimonies of the truthfulness of Christ's church.  It was such a great miracle to see true seekers of light feeling the Spirit despite all the worldly things that failed them.

I'm drenched in sweat right now by the way.  Just thought I'd throw that out there.

I've got to run, but I love you all.  Keep on doing FHE and family scripture study and prayer!

Love,
Elder Garver

9-26-12

Hey all!

Time is flying by at such a scary pace...  It actually scares me.  I'm not kidding.  I don't like how fast it is going.  Anyway...

Yep, I withdrew money dad, and I am hoping that will be the last time I ever need to do so.  I am still, however, trying to fit time into my schedule to actually get to buying the things that I need.  Even P-Days are now filled with things that need to be done, and I really don't ever have even a little "me-time" anymore.  I was able to buy some pant material and send it into the tailor shop.  The plan is to have enough time to swing by and pick them up after we eat lunch.  Making pants is pretty fun.  You go to this huge mall called SM and pick our whatever kind of fabric you want, then take it to some guy who sews and he measures you up then asks if you want anything special done.  You can have them put in secret pockets or whatever, and then you pick them up after a few days.  It's pretty cool.  Too bad a lot of sweet fabric wouldn't make appropriate missionary slacks.  I still haven't gotten to get shirts yet.  Maybe I'll have time next week...

The biggest Fiesta they have here is Sinolog, which is done once a year in Cebu city.  I missed it, being off-island last year, but I might be there for it this year.  I hear it is nuts.  Each little town also throws individual smaller fiestas all the time (That sounded like bad English... Oh well), and I get to see those all the time.  They are always thrown for mamy mary or some other saint figure.  They feature native dances and really good food.  Unfortunately a lot of the dances consist of men and women dancing while holding false idols above their heads and singing prayers to them.  Never-the-less, there are others which are just cool, and don't involve any idol-worshipping. No matter poor or rich, everyone gets into the party.  There are spit roast pigs lining the road and everyone you walk past shoves a plate of food in your face.  That part is nice.  Roast pig is sooooo gooood.

Mom, you definitely need to save some money to go shopping when you get here.  There is so much to buy it's ridiculous.  It's all crazy cheap too, if you can speak the language, so I've got your back there.  

This week was another crazy one (go figure).  We are dropping in for surprise visits to each companionship in our zone this week to evaluate their morning studies.  We are then bringing this back to ZLC where we will discuss what needs are and such.  We also moved out all the furniture are things from the Sister's old apartment and closed it out, and now are going to begin looking for a new house for other sisters in a different area in the zone.  The senior missionaries are lending us their car, and I will finally be able to drive again in the coming weeks.  So. Awesome.  I'm pumped.  This is a dream come true!  No speed limits in the Philippines.  Maybe I shouldn't have reminded you of that, but you all know all be responsible!  Then ZLC again this tuesday and Zone training on Thursday.  It never ends.

We had a great last Sunday.  Amidst many more meetings with branch and district leaders, we got to attend and teach a gospel principles class with 3 of our investigators.  We showed them the Restoration dvd and then discussed it afterwords.  The spirit was really strong and they all expressed how good it felt.  I'm sending a couple pictures of our Plan of Salvation lesson we taught to George this week.  He wants to be baptized really bad, but we are working on getting him married first.

I love you all!
Elder Garver

10-10-12

Uhhh... Yeah. So.  I haven't seen conference yet.  I always forget to tell you.  We watch the rebroadcast out here a week late.  We'll see it this weekend.  ALCIA IS SERVING A MISSION?!  All of a sudden huh?  Just like that!  Well.  She is going to kick some booty I tell you.  Wow.  I don't really know what to say.

I did hear the news of the mission age change last Sunday.  There was a viral text going around the Philippines as soon that was announced.  It never even crossed my mind, however, that Alicia was a part of that.  Holy Moly.  Then Mom just kind of casually throws that out there, "yeah, so Alicia is super excited and is getting ready to go."  What!?!  I don't know what to think, but I know that Alicia is going to be a killer missionary.   She won't be gone when I get home though will she?  I don't know what to tell you about the college thing.  I would sure like to spend a semester with her in college before she heads out, but it is really up to her, and the Lord.

So this are my thoughts on the new changes.  Boys will go younger, and less matured, but they will be able to get out the door with a little less temptation, which is great.  They will also be able to mature on their missions and then come back ready to build up the church from an earlier age, get married sooner, and do better in life because of it.  For the Sisters, this will eliminate the "I turned 21 and still wasn't married so I thought, 'eh, why not?  I'll serve a mission," thought.  Many more sisters will be serving out of a pure desire to serve God, and due to the influx of sisters, spirituality of the mission field will soar, and work will increase greatly.  They will also be able to return sooner, smarter, and more ready to lead a family into exaltation.  This is sorely needed.  A mission teaches both men and women what kind of eternal companion they need, and thus, the quality of marriages inside the church will become much better because of this.  I think this is great!

About the Muslims, there are no foreign missionaries presently assigned in Mindanao due to the fact that they seem to mysteriously disappear.  A few years ago a couple baptist missionaries where kidnapped and held for ransom before being killed.  White skin is associated with dollar signs in the Philippines, and the southern, more Muslim populated areas make it a lot more dangerous.  So there are no Americans in Mindanao now, and there aren't many Muslims in Region 7 where I am at so that news doesn't effect us at all here.  I hadn't heard about it until now.  There are a lot of rebels down south though.

This week was good.  But super fast paced.  We didn't get to work much in our area, but we were able to check up on Nany Efepania.  She is doing well, and is always ecstatic to see us come over.  She didn't come to church last week because she was in another part of Cebu doing some family business, but promised that she is coming this week, and that she understands the terms of her blessing depend greatly on her diligence to fulfill her part of the deal to be baptized in a timely manner.  ZLC was again, absolutely amazing, but I mentioned that last week.  Maybe the prophet will come out next session and announce that Sister missionaries will also be able to become Zone Leaders so that Alicia can experience how amazing ZLC is.  Zone Training went well and Elder Barcellano were able to rearrange our area a little bit.  We are focusing now on finding those chosen from before the foundation of the world, due to their faithfulness, to receive this gospel on the earth.  Most people we visit don't and will not accept what we tell them, and it is our job now to focus on those who are ready and will.  We have seen great success as well have dropped the natural, and found the elect this week.

We also found out about transfers this morning.  Elder Barcellano is leaving for City Zone, and I am getting Elder Olojan as my new companion who is coming from Negros.  We now have a bust day ahead of us as Elder Barcellano and I have to organize how all the transferring Elders are going to make it to their new areas and how the new ones will make it here.  This is completely the zone leaders responsibility, so we'll be making a lot of phone calls today to make sure everyone knows what to do, what buses to ride, where to get off, and who to meet and when.

We're off!  I love you all!  I want an email from the girls next week telling me what they think of this new mission age thing.  Especially Alicia.

Love,
Elder Garver

10-3-12

Oh man...  Alicia is 18...  What the heck.

Well.  Happy birthday Alicia :)  You are so old!  You're and adult!  Stay careful!  Filipinos think you are super gwapa, and I hate to think of what New Jersians think of you.  Have fun though being 18!  Where are you wanting to go to school?  Do you have a car that you can drive everywhere like I had my truck, or do we still only have 2?  I got you and all the girls some awesome gifts that I think you are going to really like, and I'm sure we'll get more  when Mom and Dad come out here.

My (custom-made) pants are awesome.  They did a super good job on them.  The material is also cool, but not overbearing at all.  I honestly don't know what I would do with crazy pants back home.  I'm not really going for crazy in my wardrobe when I get home either.  "Let thy garments be plain..."  That's what I'm going for.  I've acquired some pretty sweet ties though on the mission that I'll probably be giving out when I go home.  Anybody want any?

This week is "crazy week."  Every week is crazy, but the first week of every month, I wake up on Monday, and think, well it's time for next week.  Time hits light speed on these weeks.  We have District Meeting on Monday, and go into Cebu, then ZLC all Tuesday, P-Day on Wednesday, Zone Training on Thursday, Weekly Planning on Friday, Zone Business/Splits on Saturday, and Church with full day meetings on Sunday.  Then after you blink, it's Monday again!  Oh man.  ZLC was awesome yesterday though.  It always is.  It is my favorite meeting in the world.  We have an extraordinary Mission President that opens the windows of heaven and pours out knowledge upon us.  Yesterday we learned about the Plan of Salvation and Satan's plot to rob us of exaltation, as well as how obedience and full dedication to Father in Heaven brings freedom.

Christ taught a truth when He said "the path is straight and few there be which enter there-in," and when he revealed to Joseph Smith in Doctrine & Covenants: 76 that those who inherit the Telestial Kingdom are numbered as all the sands of the sea and stars in the heavens.  We need to pick up our slack, and we need to completely dedicate and consecrate all we have and all we are to Christ, if we are to be found worthy of His Father's Kingdom.  It is not easy, and we need to straighten ourselves out, and then help every one we possibly can to do the same.  I am so blessed to have been born into such a solid, faithful family.  I love you Mom and Dad.  I love you Alicia, Rachel and Sydney.  Even you CJ, though you're quite a bit different than the rest of us in terms of obedience and salvation... and fur.  Keep up the missionary work back home, and continue consecrating everything you have to Christ.  Covenants are so wonderful.

I had a great lesson/experience I want to share before logging off.  Last Sunday we had time for 1 lesson after we got out of Church and all our meetings.  My companion suggested that we go visit an older woman whom we had contacted the week previous, as she hadn't come to church.  When we got to her house, all the windows and doors were shut.  We shouted, and we heard her exclaim, "Oh!  It's you!  You came back!"  The door was then flung open and we were welcomed in.  We talked to her a bit before teaching and found out why she hadn't come to church earlier.  She had been admitted to the hospital for some serious problems.  She then got choked up while telling this to us and explained how her life was hopeless and she had no idea what to do.  She was told she had cysts in both her kidneys, her lungs were deteriorating, and her heart, which should be beating at 80 beats per minute, is only beating between 38-40.  She can't have anything fixed without both other things completely failing.  She is dying, and has nothing she can do to stop it.  We taught her about the Plan of Salvation and the restoration of the Authority to make this plan come into effect in our lives.  She knew that the church was true, and committed to be baptized that same lesson.  She expressed a concern however, that she feared she would not live long enough to be baptized.  We shared with her that with the restoration of Priesthood authority, blessings and miracles were also restored, and offered to give her a priesthood blessing.  She gratefully accepted, and in the blessing, she was promised that she would live long enough to fulfill the measure of her creation, and that she would be baptized a member of the true church of Jesus Christ.  After the blessing, she looked up at us with an amazed smile, and said through teary eyes, "It's...like I'm not even sick anymore!"  It was a great experience, and we are looking forward to her baptism this Nov. 3.

It's time for me to go!  I want to express my gratitude for you all, and especially for the ward.  I got your love package!  Thank you so much!  I am touched to know that I am thought off and cared for by even those who have never met me.  You are all the best.

I love you all!
Elder Garver

9-19-12

Good... oh.  It's not morning anymore.  Good afternoon!

We just got back from a pancake brunch that the senior couple here had for all the missionaries in the zone.  It was so good!

We get to go to the temple once a month here on island.  The service is in English, but they also have translating headset things for those who request them.  I, of course, listen in English.  The temple here is beautiful, and I'm really excited to go with you Mom and Dad!

This week was pretty crazy again.  More meetings, and now, President Schmutz wants to find a way to put sister missionaries in our zone again so we are trying to find an area for them.  We also still need to close out the contract on the previous house the sisters moved out of and find them a new one, so that, combined with more companion exchanges means another week of travel.  Time is flying by faster than I can keep track of here.  It's almost time for us to be planning week 4 this transfer.  We are already more than halfway done!  I just barely got here!  It is scary, in a very real sense, to think of how little time I have left here in the Lord's Vineyard.  At the same time though, the work doesn't stop once I get home.  We read from the red handbook of instruction for the church the other day in Comp Study, and I am super excited to be a home teacher again.

I got to go on splits this week with an Elder who doesn't have the social skills that most do.  I was really looking forward to my time with him because I could see right off the bat how special and pure his spirit was.  I was nearly overwhelmed with the Spirit as I stayed with, and taught with him for a couple days.  The pure goodness of his spirit is amazing, and I felt the Lord's love for this Elder more powerful than I have felt of any other missionary I have met.  It was a fantastic spiritual experience to help guide him and teach him how to overcome his personal weaknesses and do the work of the Lord.  I testify of Christ's love for all us, and that He is always there with assistance when we come to Him for it.

I have been learning a lot as a Zone Leader about just about everything.  I did not expect this, but as I have grown more and more on my mission, and have acquired more and more skills and talents, my weaknesses have become more and more apparent.  I learn something new every day because of mistakes that I make, and It causes me to wonder at the glory and grandness of our Father's plan for us.  We are all so weak, yet the Father sent His Son so that we could learn and grow from these weaknesses.  Mom is seeing this change and shape her as she realizes some weaknesses with public speaking, takes it to the Lord coupled with her diligent effort to overcome, and is now seeing her talents and ability flourish.  Ether 12:27 is known to just about everyone, but the truthfulness, and perfection of it is often missed, and many don't grow as much as they could, because they aren't taking the initiative.  Weaknesses are awesome.

Thanks for your emails, I love every one.

Love,
Elder Garver

9-12-12

Merry Christmas everyone!

The long awaited Christmas season has finally arrived!  There are references to Christmas now in church, they are celebrating on the TVs and there is Christmas music playing on the radio and in the malls.  Oh what a joyous, and insanely early, Christmas season it is!  This will last until February.

Note about the Christmas package.  I was made aware this week that I actually am in need of quite a few new things.  My shirts are becoming see-through due to rigorous hand washing and bleach, my pants are in need of replacements, and I am out of space on the memory card for my camera.  All these things can easily be bought here, and so as to not waste money on postage, the most practical and helpful gift would be to just put some money on my card.  I know that this isn't as much fun for you guys, but I would very very much appreciate it.  I would be very very happy even just to get a personal letter from each of you on Christmas.  Letters and Pictures sound awesome.  I'm actually going to need to pull out some money pretty soon to that I have some clothes to wear.  I also need to get my shoes resoled...

This was another crazy week.  We had an emergency transfer in our zone and we moved one companionship out into a different zone and are welcoming in their replacements tommorrow.  We had more meetings and exchanges with Elders in our zone and we have Leadership Training this Friday.  We are so busy!  In the midst of it all, however, Elder Barcellano and are were able to pull of mission standards (25 lessons and 100 contacts in a week), finishing up the week with 27 lessons and 105 contacts.  So Mom, we do a ton of working with the missionaries and teaching workshops and attending meetings and such, but we do as much missionary work as we can as well.  We have a great zone.

To answer your questions, Yes, we have sisters in our mission, No, we don't have a car.  We still ride buses and PUB.  We have a senior couple in our zone who get to use the car.  If they weren't here, we would get to drive, but it's all good because senior missionaries are miracle workers.  We need miracles more than cars to drive.  Again, I am out of time...

I love you guys all so much.  Mom, just a last piece of advice.  I have found that listening to conference talks at the apartment as opposed even to hymns brings such a great spirit into the house.  If you are feeling stressed, try listening to Conference talks during a day and see if that helps you at all.  It has helped with stress in the mission.  I'm pretty sure you can download them off lds.org.

You guys are all amazing.  Make sure you keep on reading and praying as a family every day.  Satan is super kugihan. (ask Alicia what that means)  We all need all the heavenly help we can get to stay above all this junk in the world.

I'm praying for you all!

Love,
Elder Garver

ps. Dad, how are your knees?

9-5-12

Hey Everyone!

Great question, Mom, about the Christmas package.  My pants are going to need replacing soon so I could use some money for that, as well as a new towel and a couple other things.  Other than that...  Chocolate is always a favorite of Filipinos since there is not any good chocolate here.  It's always a blast to share that with them.  I definitely want some more pictures of you guys, and maybe a stick or 2 of Old Spice: Swagger deodorant.  There are some more cool souvenir things here in my new area too so a little spending money would be awesome so I can get all of you some Christmas presents too!

We baptized Mike Acero last week, right before I transferred.  It was a great service.  Lots of people showed up and showed support.  We combined it with a couple of children of record.  (Children that are getting baptized whose parents are already members of the church.)  I'm attaching some pictures.  Mike is the younger man and the older man is Bro. Sandoval, who baptized the children.  It's funny here because every single person who puts on the baptism jumpsuit comes out of the bathroom making ninja noises.  Filipinos are such children at heart, and even the older ones crack a joke or too about being promoted to black belt at the next baptism.  So that is the reason for the ninja picture.

SO!  Toledo Zone!  First, being a Zone Leader is awesome.  This is my favorite calling by far.  Our zone is great.  It is filled with really good missionaries who are all doing amazing work.  We are seeing tons of success in this Zone.  We got to interview a couple of the District Leader's baptismal candidates on Saturday, who were then baptized later that day.  We also went to ZLC (Zone Leader Council) yesterday in Cebu City.  All the Zone Leaders from the mission meet once a month with President Schmutz to receive instruction, and discuss the zones and needs of the mission.  We also get fed a home cooked meal from Sister Schmutz, which was real Italian spaghetti, garlic bread, and cake and ice cream.  SO AMAZING...  You don't know how blessed you are to eat real food every day over there in America.  I had forgotten how good real food tastes!  Tomorrow we are holding Zone Training where we will relay information and teach our zone the things we learned and discussed in ZLC.  I love teaching workshops so I'm very much looking forward to that tomorrow.  We also have Leadership training in the CIty again next Friday.  Elder Barcellano and I are also in charge of keeping everyone safe and happy in our zone, which means we buy them new household utilities when they need them, reimburse expenses, and travel to different areas to conduct exchanges and interviews when they are needed.  The life of a Zone Leader is super busy, but it is such a great satisfaction to get to work with and help so many missionaries.

So like I said, my companion is Elder Barcellano, from Bicol, Philippines.  He is in my batch to go home so we are at the same point in our mission.  We were in the same district back in Pilar, so it is cool to be with him again.  We are assigned in Toledo 1 which is bukid again, but it is more city-ish than any other area I've been assigned in before, so that's cool.  We have a mall near us and we always have rides to our appointments whenever we need them.  We also live literally 4 steps away from a carenaria (eatery) so we never have to cook.  We just open the front door, sit down, and eat, then go back in for studies or head of to work again.  No cooking is awesome, because it opens up more free time in the mornings to study.  Our house is also AMAZING.  We live with two other Elders, Elder Verano and Elder Rose.  We have an air conditioner, and hot water.  What?  Yeah, you heard right.  So awesome.

I'll have more news on the work here next week.  It's been a pretty busy last week, full of meetings and whatnot.  Good luck to all the girls in school!

I love you!
Elder Garver