Hey Everyone!
We had another great week out here. I spent only 1
day in my area though! We had splits last Monday, so I was in Duero
with Elder Rabie Monday and Tuesday. Then we had a zone activity in
Pilar on Wednesday, and I left for Cebu for Leadership Training on
Thursday. Training was on Friday, then I found out that Raniel
Sanchez's family (the brother of Randy) was being sealed on Saturday,
and because I had worked so much with them while Elder Shelley and I
were still in Bogo, I got to stay and witness that. Then I got back to
Tagbilaran and slept there Saturday night, woke up at 5am to travel and
make it back to my area by 9 so we could be at church. Then we did
splits with the Branch leaders and worked all day Sunday. It was a
crazy week, but awesome.
Transfer calls came in today and I get to stay in Valencia with
Elder Plandiano for another transfer. This is a great area and I'm
excited to get to spend another 6 weeks here.
Due to all the
travel I don't have a ton of new things about my area to write about,
but it was great to hear a little about your trips and stuff as well!
Tell everyone hi for me at the reunion. Have Alicia tell Sam goodbye
for me if she can.
I love you all!
Elder Garver
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
7-11-12
Aww thanks Rachel. I love you.
That's a bummer about no fireworks! you would think the people would be a little more patriotic in Jew Jersey of all places. At least you got to be all together as a family! I didn't even notice 4th of July here. I was on splits though when I remembered during planning and my companion was American so I got to say, "oh... happy 4th of July by the way..." It was quite the event. Weather is the same as it always is. Holidays aren't as fun here as back home, but that's ok because the work is always good.
I was surprised at how much you are all doing back home! You are vacationing like crazy! I got tired just reading about all your adventures. I would love to go to the Pageant with you all. I only remember bits and pieces from when we last went. Also, tell everyone in UT I say hi.
About District Meetings, I usually take a day or two during the week to study the needs of my district, and then teach accordingly. I also have leadership training once a month where President Schmutz shares a workshop and we then bring that information to our individual districts. It is a really awesome calling, and I love teaching. I find so often that I learn just as much from my district as they hopefully do from me. Doing splits is also a blast, and a great opportunity every week to learn from a new companion for a day or two.
Dad, you are right about The Miracle of Forgiveness. It really opened my eyes about true repentance and how straight and narrow the way back to Christ really is. It is true that it is difficult, in fact, it is impossible, if we don't do our part to qualify for the atoning grace of Jesus Christ. The true gospel of Jesus Christ is not one of easiness. It requires full, complete, devotion. But it is after all we can do, that we are saved by Grace. just like Mom referenced in her email last week. we are required to give all we can, and then we can stand still, with the utmost assurance to see the arm of the Lord revealed (D&C 123: 17). Life is like a basketball game. If we play the whole game, constantly dropping the ball, missing every shot, and passing it to the wrong team, and at the end, our team's score is higher than the opponents, we still win! We are part of the team, and therefore it is a team effort which brings us success. Lucky for us, if we choose right, we have Jesus Christ as our team MVP. He never drops a ball, and hits 3 pointers all day without fail. We need to commit ourselves to Him, and he will always pull through for us. We aren't perfect alone, but through Christ, we are.
Joceryl is doing great. She was true to her word and came to church and obeyed the Sabbath day. She still has a job and is still going to school. She has also become a referral machine, and is pumping them out at a ridiculous pace as she shares the gospel with everyone she comes in contact with. Besides her, work is going well. We have a number of other baptismal dates coming up as well. We are working with each of them to overcome individual challenges, but they are all amazing people.
I really appreciate your emails every week. (Thanks Rachel!) I love you all!
Elder Garver
That's a bummer about no fireworks! you would think the people would be a little more patriotic in Jew Jersey of all places. At least you got to be all together as a family! I didn't even notice 4th of July here. I was on splits though when I remembered during planning and my companion was American so I got to say, "oh... happy 4th of July by the way..." It was quite the event. Weather is the same as it always is. Holidays aren't as fun here as back home, but that's ok because the work is always good.
I was surprised at how much you are all doing back home! You are vacationing like crazy! I got tired just reading about all your adventures. I would love to go to the Pageant with you all. I only remember bits and pieces from when we last went. Also, tell everyone in UT I say hi.
About District Meetings, I usually take a day or two during the week to study the needs of my district, and then teach accordingly. I also have leadership training once a month where President Schmutz shares a workshop and we then bring that information to our individual districts. It is a really awesome calling, and I love teaching. I find so often that I learn just as much from my district as they hopefully do from me. Doing splits is also a blast, and a great opportunity every week to learn from a new companion for a day or two.
Dad, you are right about The Miracle of Forgiveness. It really opened my eyes about true repentance and how straight and narrow the way back to Christ really is. It is true that it is difficult, in fact, it is impossible, if we don't do our part to qualify for the atoning grace of Jesus Christ. The true gospel of Jesus Christ is not one of easiness. It requires full, complete, devotion. But it is after all we can do, that we are saved by Grace. just like Mom referenced in her email last week. we are required to give all we can, and then we can stand still, with the utmost assurance to see the arm of the Lord revealed (D&C 123: 17). Life is like a basketball game. If we play the whole game, constantly dropping the ball, missing every shot, and passing it to the wrong team, and at the end, our team's score is higher than the opponents, we still win! We are part of the team, and therefore it is a team effort which brings us success. Lucky for us, if we choose right, we have Jesus Christ as our team MVP. He never drops a ball, and hits 3 pointers all day without fail. We need to commit ourselves to Him, and he will always pull through for us. We aren't perfect alone, but through Christ, we are.
Joceryl is doing great. She was true to her word and came to church and obeyed the Sabbath day. She still has a job and is still going to school. She has also become a referral machine, and is pumping them out at a ridiculous pace as she shares the gospel with everyone she comes in contact with. Besides her, work is going well. We have a number of other baptismal dates coming up as well. We are working with each of them to overcome individual challenges, but they are all amazing people.
I really appreciate your emails every week. (Thanks Rachel!) I love you all!
Elder Garver
Saturday, July 7, 2012
7-4-12
Rachel is wearing high heals?!!?!??! Oh man..... Life is going by so fast.
Hello Everyone!
Joceryl was baptized this week. Her date was originally scheduled for the 7th but due to us having zone interviews this 7th it got moved forward a week. The baptism was great. I'll send some pictures next week because I forgot my flash drive/USB converter thingy this week. After her baptism, Joceryl bore the most solid testimony I have ever heard, and in our next visit she told us that her boss at work found out she was baptized, was furious and threatened to fire her and take away her sponsorship for college if she continue coming to church (super Christ-like... How can someone feel so much hatred and still think they are "following Christ?"). Joceryl told us that this Sunday she is coming to church regardless, and is even praying that her boss follows through on her threats so that she can show the Lord her commitment and focus all her time on working with the relief society and preparing for her mission 1 year from now. Joceryl is awesome.
I have a book to suggest to you all. I want to extend a commitment to all of you who read this; Mom, Dad, Nuna, Papa, Grandma, Grandpa, siblings, cousins, friends. Will you read "The Miracle of Forgiveness" by President Spencer W. Kimball? I promise you it will change the way you think about forgiveness and righteous, happy living. I promise you that it will enlighten your mind and guide you to true activity in the church. I'd love to hear your thoughts in your future emails as you read it. It taught me a ton, that's for sure.
I'm low on time, but I love you all. Good work on the Girls Camp, knee healing, testimony bearing, McDo working, and high heals wearing. I'm always praying for you.
Love,
Elder Garver
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
6-27-12
Happy Birthday Dad! Also, happy belated father's day. I have absolutely no concept of time out here. There are no seasons, no weekends, no vacation. Just work work work, so I apologize for missing holidays and stuff.
I've been praying a lot for you all. You are all going through challenging times, and I want to give my support as best I can. I'm grateful you made it back ok Dad!
We had another good week out here in Valencia. There were some really good talks given in sacrament meeting on Sunday, and then I did splits with Elder Manglicmot. I'm really excited for next week because I'm doing splits with Elder Parkinson in Pilar. I'm going back to my roots, and I'm super excited to see all the members again from my first area.
Joceryl is being baptized this Saturday. That is very exciting.
It has been awesome this past couple weeks to write in my journal. I have passed my 1 year mark now, which means that every night I write in my journal, I can look back at that date 1 year previous and see how much has changed. It is fun to see how terrible I was at Cebuano and how my thought process worked back then. I have really gained a testimony of being a record keeping people and of keeping journals out here on my mission. Missionary work has become a true love of mine. This has become the most fulfilling time in my life. I wake up every morning excited to get out of the house and go to work, and I come back at night filled with happiness. It is amazing to think of how many people in the world, many our neighbors and friends, who don't have the true gospel in their life, and a lot of times, don't even know what they are missing. Thinking about missionary work, I recall the story of Aaron preaching unto King Lamoni's father. In their conversation, before any teaching takes place, the king inquires as to the whereabouts of Ammon, the brother of Aaron. Aaron could have said, "oh, he is in Middoni right now," or "he is staying with your son," but what he said was "Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way; he has gone to the land of Ishmael, to teach the people of Lamoni." This response is a testimony in and of itself. It is filled with the Spirit, and it prompted thought in the king and those around him. I don't think that this sentence was anything out of the ordinary to Aaron, and I don't think that he thought really hard to word it right. I believe that the Lord was such a part of his life, and who he was, that instead of stating a simple fact, in was in his nature to reference, and acknowledge God in his life and the life of his brother. His normal everyday conversation testified of Christ, and missionary work was simply second nature, it just flowed out of him to whomever he spoke with. I know that missionary life is different from "normal life," but does it really have to be? What if we became as Aaron, and our conversations naturally always flowed towards and around Christ? I have found that it really is not very difficult at all to sit down next to someone on a bus, and instead of saying, "I'm going to Pilar," to say" We are visiting a member of our church in Pilar to share a message about the restoration of the true church of Christ." If we are constantly thinking of Christ, like we promise to every Sunday in Sacrament meeting, He seems to flow naturally into conversations because He is always on our mind. I know this church is true, and our neighbors and loved ones around us every day don't know it yet! They NEED this truth, and we can help them find it by simply allowing Christ into our conversations.
I love you all more than you know. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family, and amazing friends.
Stay healthy, and stay safe!
Love,
Elder Garver
I've been praying a lot for you all. You are all going through challenging times, and I want to give my support as best I can. I'm grateful you made it back ok Dad!
We had another good week out here in Valencia. There were some really good talks given in sacrament meeting on Sunday, and then I did splits with Elder Manglicmot. I'm really excited for next week because I'm doing splits with Elder Parkinson in Pilar. I'm going back to my roots, and I'm super excited to see all the members again from my first area.
Joceryl is being baptized this Saturday. That is very exciting.
It has been awesome this past couple weeks to write in my journal. I have passed my 1 year mark now, which means that every night I write in my journal, I can look back at that date 1 year previous and see how much has changed. It is fun to see how terrible I was at Cebuano and how my thought process worked back then. I have really gained a testimony of being a record keeping people and of keeping journals out here on my mission. Missionary work has become a true love of mine. This has become the most fulfilling time in my life. I wake up every morning excited to get out of the house and go to work, and I come back at night filled with happiness. It is amazing to think of how many people in the world, many our neighbors and friends, who don't have the true gospel in their life, and a lot of times, don't even know what they are missing. Thinking about missionary work, I recall the story of Aaron preaching unto King Lamoni's father. In their conversation, before any teaching takes place, the king inquires as to the whereabouts of Ammon, the brother of Aaron. Aaron could have said, "oh, he is in Middoni right now," or "he is staying with your son," but what he said was "Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way; he has gone to the land of Ishmael, to teach the people of Lamoni." This response is a testimony in and of itself. It is filled with the Spirit, and it prompted thought in the king and those around him. I don't think that this sentence was anything out of the ordinary to Aaron, and I don't think that he thought really hard to word it right. I believe that the Lord was such a part of his life, and who he was, that instead of stating a simple fact, in was in his nature to reference, and acknowledge God in his life and the life of his brother. His normal everyday conversation testified of Christ, and missionary work was simply second nature, it just flowed out of him to whomever he spoke with. I know that missionary life is different from "normal life," but does it really have to be? What if we became as Aaron, and our conversations naturally always flowed towards and around Christ? I have found that it really is not very difficult at all to sit down next to someone on a bus, and instead of saying, "I'm going to Pilar," to say" We are visiting a member of our church in Pilar to share a message about the restoration of the true church of Christ." If we are constantly thinking of Christ, like we promise to every Sunday in Sacrament meeting, He seems to flow naturally into conversations because He is always on our mind. I know this church is true, and our neighbors and loved ones around us every day don't know it yet! They NEED this truth, and we can help them find it by simply allowing Christ into our conversations.
I love you all more than you know. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family, and amazing friends.
Stay healthy, and stay safe!
Love,
Elder Garver
6-20-12
Hey everyone!
No way! Dad got an iPad? That's awesome. Those are really cool... (hint hint) Just kidding! That's awesome though. Now he is in the "in crowd" of all the old people haha jokes! You're not THAT old.
This is a big sports season in the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao just fought his big match against Bradley, and lost, so the Philippines is in an uproar about that. Now it's the NBA finals and Filipinos everywhere are glued to the TV 24/7. It's hard to walk anywhere now without hearing American Commentators and crowds cheering. Last I heard Miami was up 2-1.
Work continues to go great here. My whole district is doing really well, with upcoming baptisms in every area. Being a DL in Bohol is a challenge due to the distance between each area here. Jagna and Duero are both a little over an hour bus ride away from Valencia, and Pilar is over 3. So success in the District means a lot of travel for Elder Plandiano and me, but it is great to interview these people who are so ready to receive the gospel and it's blessings into their lives. Being a DL is a blast. Weekly workshops are also really great. I learn so much preparing them and from the feedback from my District. I have a very very obedient, spiritual district, and the Spirit is always present and active in our district meetings.
I have been inspired this past couple of weeks by the faith of Joceryl, our golden investigator that the Lord just handed to us one day. She is the one we struck up a conversation with while waiting for public transport and she told us she wanted to be baptized. In the recent weeks that followed, she continued to amaze us with her readiness for baptism, and Satan continued to amaze us with how much he does not want Joceryl to be baptized. Joceryl's family is extremely against her getting baptized, and has told her if she is baptized she will not have a home to come home to. Her boss at work is a die hard Catholic, and has told Joceryl that she will be fired if she joins the Mormon church. Joceryl's sponsor for college is also Catholic and will cut off her support if Joceryl is baptized. Nevertheless, Joceryl remains completely faithful. She attends church every week and frequently bears testimony in our lessons. She writes us notes about challenges in her life and ways the Lord is carrying her through them all. She is sharing the gospel like a mad-woman. We have to give her new pamphlets every time we visit her because she keeps giving them away to friends and acquaintances! She is already preparing to serve a mission. Her baptismal date is July 7, and I and the Lord are so proud of her. Joceryl's faith begs the question in all of us, "what would we be willing to sacrifice for the Savior?" Would we put our family, career, and schooling on the line if Christ asked us to? Joceryl is. The Lord has promised us, that if we seek first His kingdom, all else will be added unto us. Why worry about tomorrow? Do what Christ commands, and you will always be taken care of. Faith precedes the miracle, and I cannot wait to see the miracles the Lord has in store for Joceryl because of her faithfulness.
Keep us all in your prayers, as you are all in mine! I love you!
Love,
Elder Garver
No way! Dad got an iPad? That's awesome. Those are really cool... (hint hint) Just kidding! That's awesome though. Now he is in the "in crowd" of all the old people haha jokes! You're not THAT old.
This is a big sports season in the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao just fought his big match against Bradley, and lost, so the Philippines is in an uproar about that. Now it's the NBA finals and Filipinos everywhere are glued to the TV 24/7. It's hard to walk anywhere now without hearing American Commentators and crowds cheering. Last I heard Miami was up 2-1.
Work continues to go great here. My whole district is doing really well, with upcoming baptisms in every area. Being a DL in Bohol is a challenge due to the distance between each area here. Jagna and Duero are both a little over an hour bus ride away from Valencia, and Pilar is over 3. So success in the District means a lot of travel for Elder Plandiano and me, but it is great to interview these people who are so ready to receive the gospel and it's blessings into their lives. Being a DL is a blast. Weekly workshops are also really great. I learn so much preparing them and from the feedback from my District. I have a very very obedient, spiritual district, and the Spirit is always present and active in our district meetings.
I have been inspired this past couple of weeks by the faith of Joceryl, our golden investigator that the Lord just handed to us one day. She is the one we struck up a conversation with while waiting for public transport and she told us she wanted to be baptized. In the recent weeks that followed, she continued to amaze us with her readiness for baptism, and Satan continued to amaze us with how much he does not want Joceryl to be baptized. Joceryl's family is extremely against her getting baptized, and has told her if she is baptized she will not have a home to come home to. Her boss at work is a die hard Catholic, and has told Joceryl that she will be fired if she joins the Mormon church. Joceryl's sponsor for college is also Catholic and will cut off her support if Joceryl is baptized. Nevertheless, Joceryl remains completely faithful. She attends church every week and frequently bears testimony in our lessons. She writes us notes about challenges in her life and ways the Lord is carrying her through them all. She is sharing the gospel like a mad-woman. We have to give her new pamphlets every time we visit her because she keeps giving them away to friends and acquaintances! She is already preparing to serve a mission. Her baptismal date is July 7, and I and the Lord are so proud of her. Joceryl's faith begs the question in all of us, "what would we be willing to sacrifice for the Savior?" Would we put our family, career, and schooling on the line if Christ asked us to? Joceryl is. The Lord has promised us, that if we seek first His kingdom, all else will be added unto us. Why worry about tomorrow? Do what Christ commands, and you will always be taken care of. Faith precedes the miracle, and I cannot wait to see the miracles the Lord has in store for Joceryl because of her faithfulness.
Keep us all in your prayers, as you are all in mine! I love you!
Love,
Elder Garver
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