Thursday, June 15, 2017
When it began. Letter Home
I'm not really sure how to start this letter. It is P-Day and I finished emailing you like 3 hours ago or something. Who's counting? I just told you guys to send me a letter so it only seems appropriate that I send you one too, You guys don't even comprehend how much I miss you all! I'm just a boy going off into the big scary world by myself with people I don't know for 2 years. I'm so scared. We had a devotional and a doctor came and gave a 2 hour lesson on how to stay safe and not die from a random disease. There's basically a 100% chance that I will be sick for over a month with some crazy disease from just drinking water, eating food, or from the bugs. Why the heck am I here?! People leave every week. Every week I think to myself, is this my week? Should I go home? and then I remember why I am here. People need ME. They don't need a different missionary, they need Jonothon Richard Garry. I cannot leave and I will not leave. This is going to be the hardest thing I will ever do, but it will also be the best thing I ever do and the thing that makes me the happiest. If I didn't absolutely know that this was the true church of Jesus Christ, I wouldn't be here at all. I love you and miss you but unfortunately you will have to wait the full 2 years to come and see me again. By then, I will no longer be a boy I will be a man. I will be an adult and a leader. I will be fluent in Spanish and able to answer doctrinal questions thrown at me in 2 languages. I am excited for my mission. 2 years is a long time but I'm in it for the long haul. 2 years will end eventually and when it does I won't want to leave at all. I'm excited to get to that point because that is when I will become the best missionary possible. I love you all very much. I pray for you every night. Keep me in your prayers and seriously pray that I can learn this language! It's tough but I can do it. Hasta Luego!!
Monday, June 12, 2017
Week 101 Best 2 Years
Alright, so I guess this is it, and I don't really know how to take it. For the last 2 years this has been my life and now I have to go and change my whole life in a second. It's weird but I know that I did my part for the Lord, and I know that He will do his part for me. It is all about faith.
So I guess I will just say the main thing that I have learned in my mission. And I mean there are so many different things to say, I could talk about how the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith really was a prophet, I could even mention that this is the True Church. all of which are true, but I think what I want to say more than anything, is that I know that my Redeemer really does Live. And I have had the privilege to walk side by side with Him. I realized that every time I was happy, excited, scared, sad, frustrated, or exhausted, there was the Lord with me helping me out. Every night, I would go to bed, my feet would hurt, my back would hurt, I would be so exhausted, so frustrated from the names that people screamed at me through the day, so sad because people didn't want to hear our message, and when I just didn't want to go anymore, I would try to think of the poem that Elder Duncan of the 70 read to us in the MTC saying that Jesus` hands and feet hurt too when he was crucified, that his back hurt too when he had to carry the cross up Calvary. He also heard bad things being yelled at him. and He was also rejected. I would just try to remember that I was in good company and that if He could do it, I could too. I know that He was there for me in the hardest of times. Even Christ didn't want to keep going in the Atonement as his whole body ached as he was suffering for our sins. I would remember that and think, if He can do it, I can do it. He has been my biggest example and my best friend during this crazy mission.
I testify that He lives. and because He lives, we can too. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us, and cares for us. He hears our prayers. I love this gospel. If we let the gospel change us, we will become the people that our Heavenly Father wishes we become.
Thank you all for being apart of my crazy Honduran adventure. Listening to me complain and praying for me when I needed it most.
I love you all and I will see you in a little bit.
For the last time,
Elder Garry
So I guess I will just say the main thing that I have learned in my mission. And I mean there are so many different things to say, I could talk about how the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith really was a prophet, I could even mention that this is the True Church. all of which are true, but I think what I want to say more than anything, is that I know that my Redeemer really does Live. And I have had the privilege to walk side by side with Him. I realized that every time I was happy, excited, scared, sad, frustrated, or exhausted, there was the Lord with me helping me out. Every night, I would go to bed, my feet would hurt, my back would hurt, I would be so exhausted, so frustrated from the names that people screamed at me through the day, so sad because people didn't want to hear our message, and when I just didn't want to go anymore, I would try to think of the poem that Elder Duncan of the 70 read to us in the MTC saying that Jesus` hands and feet hurt too when he was crucified, that his back hurt too when he had to carry the cross up Calvary. He also heard bad things being yelled at him. and He was also rejected. I would just try to remember that I was in good company and that if He could do it, I could too. I know that He was there for me in the hardest of times. Even Christ didn't want to keep going in the Atonement as his whole body ached as he was suffering for our sins. I would remember that and think, if He can do it, I can do it. He has been my biggest example and my best friend during this crazy mission.
I testify that He lives. and because He lives, we can too. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us, and cares for us. He hears our prayers. I love this gospel. If we let the gospel change us, we will become the people that our Heavenly Father wishes we become.
Thank you all for being apart of my crazy Honduran adventure. Listening to me complain and praying for me when I needed it most.
I love you all and I will see you in a little bit.
For the last time,
Elder Garry
Monday, June 5, 2017
Week 100
Alright, this week was a big tough but it went by so quick!! I am hoping that this week goes by even quicker,
So this week we received news that Elder Renlund of the 12 Apostles will be coming to our mission on Wednesday! I'm super excited!!! He will be my 3rd apostle in the mission!!!! I will leave ready and edified to go home! hahaha
Also I had my last interview with President Bowler, that was really sad. I almost started crying when he just talked about how much he loves me. I have always had the question of "Was I a good missionary" and president told me that he was proud of the things that I accomplished in my mission and really answered my question and through the Spirit, I felt a confirmation that Heavenly Father is also happy and proud of me. I was so happy and content. in my interview, Pres. told me that I have to get married and start looking for a wife......crazy.
But this week should be fun, I'm excited. We will have a few days to work, then I will only have 3 more days until I am home! I love you all
Elder Garry
Monday, May 29, 2017
Week 99
This week was tough. Not gunna lie. It wasn't tough because I was sick or tired or busy, it was tough because now I just don't want to do anything. I know I need to and that is what makes it tough. Luckily I have the best companion ever and he really helps me out with just motivating myself to go and work. We work everyday and we are obedient to the rules, but we just aren't working as hard as we should and staying more time in lessons and in meals. But this week I will be better and work harder!! That is the goal.
We did have a baptism this week!! It was so awesome. His name is Osmar and he turned 9 on the 15 of May. His family are members and I don't know why he never got baptized but I am not asking why because we got the baptism for that. It was stressful, like always. because the person who was assigned to baptize Osmar, never showed up..... and he was the Branch President. Never showed up. We had called and called and called and nothing. so me and my comp just ran home and grabbed my white pants and I baptized him. It was so funny because after the baptism the kid just starts screaming "I'M CLEAN I'M CLEAN" and wouldn't get out of the font. So I picked him up and carried him up the steps hahaha crazy kids.
This week we have a lot of stuff planned and I'm excited!! Pray for me that I might be able to not focus on the time and just focus on the work.
But I will see you all so soon!
Love
Elder Garry
We did have a baptism this week!! It was so awesome. His name is Osmar and he turned 9 on the 15 of May. His family are members and I don't know why he never got baptized but I am not asking why because we got the baptism for that. It was stressful, like always. because the person who was assigned to baptize Osmar, never showed up..... and he was the Branch President. Never showed up. We had called and called and called and nothing. so me and my comp just ran home and grabbed my white pants and I baptized him. It was so funny because after the baptism the kid just starts screaming "I'M CLEAN I'M CLEAN" and wouldn't get out of the font. So I picked him up and carried him up the steps hahaha crazy kids.
This week we have a lot of stuff planned and I'm excited!! Pray for me that I might be able to not focus on the time and just focus on the work.
But I will see you all so soon!
Love
Elder Garry
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Week 98
This week was a bit frustrating because we had so many great plans but no time to do it at all. I had to run around all day on Thursday to do a bunch of interviews for baptism in an island called Amapala. It's super cool because we have to go in a boat! fun. Then on Friday in the morning I wasn't feeling well. took a nap and woke up with a 104 fever. and then my mission pres called me and told me that i wasn't allowed to work Friday nor Saturday. So we had like 3 days in the week where we did nothing.. then Sunday comes along and it just decides to rain allllll the live long day. That was frustrating. and the ground gets so hot from the sun that when it rains it like steams!! Then it just gets hotter and more humid! I don't know that San Lorenzo did to receive such a punishment from God but they need to repent and then maybe they wont be burning of heat haha
We were going to have a baptism but the girls parents are expecting like a 100% change in her but the parents don't care about her so they just yell and abuse her with words. our last lesson ther she started to cry from the things her parents were saying. and me and Pineda just called the parents out and told them that they need to stop. we could tell they got bothered but we spoke not with our words but with the spirit so it was a lot better and they didn't get to mad. But it makes me so sad how they treat this girl. and she is trying to make changes but the changes that her parents are expecting are just to make her a slave. Saying that people who serve God are servicial so she needs to do everything in the house.... and me and my comp said that they are also loving! And look at the parents with the angry eyes. its a tough case!!
This next week we are planning on her baptism and the baptism of this kid who just turned 9 and never got baptized.... it counts for the mission so its exciting for us! We have a bunch planned out and I'm excited and ready to work hard in these last 3 weeks so we can have a bunch of success!!
I love you all!!! See you in 24 days!
Elder Garry
We were going to have a baptism but the girls parents are expecting like a 100% change in her but the parents don't care about her so they just yell and abuse her with words. our last lesson ther she started to cry from the things her parents were saying. and me and Pineda just called the parents out and told them that they need to stop. we could tell they got bothered but we spoke not with our words but with the spirit so it was a lot better and they didn't get to mad. But it makes me so sad how they treat this girl. and she is trying to make changes but the changes that her parents are expecting are just to make her a slave. Saying that people who serve God are servicial so she needs to do everything in the house.... and me and my comp said that they are also loving! And look at the parents with the angry eyes. its a tough case!!
This next week we are planning on her baptism and the baptism of this kid who just turned 9 and never got baptized.... it counts for the mission so its exciting for us! We have a bunch planned out and I'm excited and ready to work hard in these last 3 weeks so we can have a bunch of success!!
I love you all!!! See you in 24 days!
Elder Garry
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Monday, May 1, 2017
Week 95 Don't Want to Come Home!
This week was awesome! Today, I have news..... starting today, I can now say that next month I will be going home!!!! Isn't that just so crazy! I think I only have like 45 days or something crazy like that!!!
This week was honestly so great because I had a lot of time to reflect on how my mission has been. I got to go up in front of about half of the mission and give my "last testimony" it is for the people who are in there last transfers. and as I sat there thinking about what I was going to say, I received a confirmation that the Lord is truly proud of me and happy with what i was able to accomplish I'm my short time in the mission. I stood up with tears already in my eyes as I was going to say my testimony and advice to the mission. I made a bunch of people cry as I told the story about the young man in Danli who died in the car accident and I never contacted him. Then I talked about the importance of following the promptings of the Holy Ghost and to finish the mission with no regrets. I cried. I don't want to go home. It scares me to think that I might not have such great spiritual experiences like I do now. It makes me sad. my whole mission I have just thought about going home and now that I am on the point of going home, I just sit and think, I don't want to leave. I am happy with my mission and how it went. I know I could have been better but I know that what I am doing now, is what the Lord wants me to do.
And another cool thing is that we had interviews with Pres. Bowler, I love that guy so much. he is just so great. Well in my interview he told me that I now have permission to start thinking about things in my house. Like where to work, where to go to school, what to study, and who to marry. It was weird but I have started to pray about these things and i can really see some progress. I know that Heavenly Father wants the best for me so I know that he will guide me in the right path.
And he told us that if our zone gets 21 baptisms in the month of May, he and sister Bowler will make a great lunch and invite us to eat and buy us coca cola!! It's a big deal because this is one of the harder zones to baptize but Sister Bowler saw how many baptismal dates we have in the zone so she made this bet. and in the first week our zone only has two, us and another area but after that week we will start to just baptize like crazy in this zone!!!! I'm so excited!! I love when we have success!!
I love you so much!
Elder Garry
This week was honestly so great because I had a lot of time to reflect on how my mission has been. I got to go up in front of about half of the mission and give my "last testimony" it is for the people who are in there last transfers. and as I sat there thinking about what I was going to say, I received a confirmation that the Lord is truly proud of me and happy with what i was able to accomplish I'm my short time in the mission. I stood up with tears already in my eyes as I was going to say my testimony and advice to the mission. I made a bunch of people cry as I told the story about the young man in Danli who died in the car accident and I never contacted him. Then I talked about the importance of following the promptings of the Holy Ghost and to finish the mission with no regrets. I cried. I don't want to go home. It scares me to think that I might not have such great spiritual experiences like I do now. It makes me sad. my whole mission I have just thought about going home and now that I am on the point of going home, I just sit and think, I don't want to leave. I am happy with my mission and how it went. I know I could have been better but I know that what I am doing now, is what the Lord wants me to do.
And another cool thing is that we had interviews with Pres. Bowler, I love that guy so much. he is just so great. Well in my interview he told me that I now have permission to start thinking about things in my house. Like where to work, where to go to school, what to study, and who to marry. It was weird but I have started to pray about these things and i can really see some progress. I know that Heavenly Father wants the best for me so I know that he will guide me in the right path.
And he told us that if our zone gets 21 baptisms in the month of May, he and sister Bowler will make a great lunch and invite us to eat and buy us coca cola!! It's a big deal because this is one of the harder zones to baptize but Sister Bowler saw how many baptismal dates we have in the zone so she made this bet. and in the first week our zone only has two, us and another area but after that week we will start to just baptize like crazy in this zone!!!! I'm so excited!! I love when we have success!!
I love you so much!
Elder Garry
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