sister garbett

I Can Now Go Home

2010-12-07T00:38:00.000-08:00

December 2, 2010

Mommy & Daddy,

Well, today is my last preparation day (p-day)! Can you believe that? I haven't emailed you yet. We have morning p-day, so I'm writing you and it's like 1145am. We had a zone pot-luck breakfast this morning. It was really good. I made papas-con-hueves to bring. We had a lot of food from other countries. I'm super full now!

This week has been a really good one. We have three new investigators! DJ from MO, we are passing him of to the local missionaries. We are teaching a guy named Adnano, he is from Mexico and is progressing now! He said he'll go to church this week. We also have Jessica #4! That's right, another Jessica. She is golden. She is from Alberta Canada. She is going to church on Sunday. It's a two-hour drive and she is totally fine with traveling that distance to go to church. I love when people are prepared to hear the gospel! They're willing to do anything to know the truth. It just amazes me how much as members of the church we take for granted. We have investigators who travel hours just to get to church. While we members only live 15 minutes away from our chapel and sometimes we would rather sleep in than go to church.

My mission has changed me so much. I now have realized what things are important. I'm so grateful that I've had this year-and-a-half to strengthen my testimony and change. I really feel like I'm different and I understand Heavenly Father's divine plan for his children. As few transfers ago in district meeting (actually it was probably more like a year ago) they talked to us about a scripture in 1 Cor. 13:11, it says "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

So for district meeting we changed the scripture so it applied directly to us. Mine said: "When I was Aubree, I spake as Aubree, I understood as Aubree, I thought as Aubree: but when I became a missionary, I put away Aubree-ish things." I want to continue to put away Aubree-ish things as I continue to grow and mature. I'm not quite sure how I can master that without being totally weird, but I'll work on that.

My testimony has been strengthened so much on my mission. I'm grateful that I've learned so much that I can teach my future family. I never would have learned all of this the same way had I not served a mission.

Thank you for all of your help, prayers and support throughout my mission. I could not have served without your help. I am so grateful that we can be together forever. I love you so much!

I know that God loves us. I know that Jesus Christ lives; He is our Savior and Redeemer. I know both God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to the young boy Joseph Smith and he restored Christ's church.

I love you both so much! Thank you for being the BEST!

Love,

Sister Garbett

P.S. I'll be home for Christmas!

P.S.S. The other morning our zone had to wash the vans at 6am. While we were down there guess who we saw! Elder Dallin H. Oaks! He came and shook all of our hands! It was really neat! He came up to us and talked with us for a few minutes. He told us to tell all of our parents hi. The night before Elder Christopherson was at our choir performance, but I didn't get to talk to him. I can now go home. Heavenly Father knew that I wanted to meet an apostle before I went home!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-12-06T21:47:00.000-08:00

Nov 26, 2010

Mom & Dad,

Happy thanksgiving! I hope you had a fun one at grandma and grandpa's house. Did you eat a lot? My Thanksgiving was good. We went to the same place as last year. We got to watch Toy Story 3. The food was catered by the same place and I'm not sure if we ate ham or turkey this year again. I am really looking forward to a real Thanksgiving dinner.

We had three weird days this week. On Tuesday, there was supposed to be a huge blizzard coming our way, so we were all sent home at 1pm. We went to our friend's house (Sister Gilbert and Sister Williams) and hung out with them. The first thing we did was put a pizza in the oven and then we built a fort. While the pizza baked, Sis Williams made smoothies and then we drank the smoothies and ate the pizza inside the fort. We all told stories in the fort and listened to music. After a couple of hours of eating and talking we were all tired, so we took an hour nap in our fort. When we woke up everything outside was white! It reminded us of Christmas, so we turned the lights on the little Christmas tree and played Christmas music while we made cookies and hot chocolate. After that we bundled up and went outside to play in the snow for a few minutes. When we were too cold we went back inside dried off and got back inside the fort. We told more stories and played a couple games. We were the most envied room on the 2nd floor. :) Lots of sisters kept stopping by to come in our fort. We were home by 8pm to plan for the next day and then the fun was over for the night.

Thursday was Thanksgiving, so we were off the Square by noon. President ordered a charter bus to drive us so he wouldn't worry about us getting into an accident. There were a lot of fun things to do. We had karaoke, pool, ping-pong, wally-ball, arcade games, movies, more games and lots of fun! We all had a great time and loved watching Toy Story 3. We were home by 8pm and so tired, we went to bed at 9pm.

Friday was preparation day (p-day). We now have morning p-days, so it's a little weird. We had a meeting at 8am and then choir rehearsal at 9. Afterwards we went to Denny’s with our "fort-buddies" around 10am. I ordered biscuits and gravy, hash-browns and bacon. Yum! Then we braved Wal-Mart on BLACK FRIDAY! It actually wasn’t that bad. We only had to get a couple of things, so it was ok. The Temple Square lights come on tonight! It should be crazier than Wal-Mart! Tomorrow we have our first choir performance, wish me luck! Sunday I'm singing with Sister Despain in church. We are singing "In Humility Our Savior". We couldn't find an accompanist, so it will be acappella. Again, wish me luck! Then on Monday I will be singing a special musical number on the Square. I'm singing "Winter Wonderland" and Sister Gilbert is accompanying me on guitar. We'll see how it goes.

This week has been good. The work has been slow, for oblivious reasons. I love my mission. The church is true! I love you so much! See you in a couple of weeks!

Love,
Sister Garbett

"Blessed for her service"

2010-12-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS

November 24, 2010

UTAH SALT LAKE CITY TEMPLE SQUARE MISSION
Salt lake City, Utah 84250

Dear Parents,

Your daughter Aubree Garbett, will complete her mission here on Temple Square on December 8, 2010. We have enjoyed serving with her. She has worked hard and in doing so has become a powerful spiritual missionary. In addition, she has served very effectively for a season in the Maryland Baltimore Mission for her "outbound experience".

It has been wonderful to see her accept these leadership responsibilities and perform her duties. She is an amazing sister missionary and has made a notable contribution to this very important work.

She has had many choice experiences, which I am sure she will share with you upon her return. We will miss her, but she goes home with our love and appreciation for all that she has accomplished here.

We are grateful to have served with her, and know that she will be blessed for her service. May the Lord continue to bless her and your family.

Sincerely, yours,

=signed=

Michael H. Holmes, President
Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission

Attitude!

2010-11-20T22:37:00.000-08:00

November 11, 2010

Mom and Dad,

This week has been great! Jessica (1) was baptized, so we are majorly trying to find investigators who want to learn more about the gospel. All of our present investigators either got baptized or stopped progressing, so we’ve been striving to find more.

Whenever we schedule a first appointment with someone we call them potentials then after our first appointment if we schedule another one they become new investigators. So a couple days ago we were working super hard and found five potential investigators! One of them was a student who we took on a tour at Temple Square. His name is Joon. He is from Korea, but is living in Wyoming. We have our first phone appointment with him tomorrow. The other four potential were found through the Referral Center. My companion, Sister Despain, found two and I found two, also.

One of the potential’s contact was amazing! This potential was a referral by a member of the church. We had talked to the member at conference. At first, he was pretty resistant about giving us his friend’s phone number, but he followed the promptings of the spirit and gave us the number. When I called the potential (Garrett) he was really chill. I just talked to him personally and shared my testimony without any reserves. The spirit was there and I invited him to receive the missionaries. He said, “Yes!” I was so excited. I began to testify of how happy the gospel makes me and will make him, then *click*. The phone went dead like he hung up! Oh-No! I called back and the answering machine picked up. I called again and nothing. I called once more and still nothing. I was so sad. I immediately started praying. I knew that he only agreed to see the missionaries because he was feeling the spirit. I didn’t know if I would ever get another chance to speak with him again. I walked into the other room and told some of the sisters what happened and how sad I felt. I walked back into my room and heard my phone ring! It was him!!!! He said the battery in his phone died as he was driving so he had to wait until he got home to call back. I got his address and he still wanted the missionaries to come to visit. We are calling him this Sunday to follow-up with how the missionary visit went! Hopefully he’ll turn into a new investigator.

I called the member who had referred and he was so excited to hear that Garrett has agreed to have the missionaries visit with him. He said he had just finished talking to his local missionaries in Provo and was trying to figure out how to get the missionaries to Garrett. He said it was so crazy because I got his referral over a month ago and finally got in contact with Garrett on the same day he met with his missionaries trying to find a way to introduce the gospel to Garrett.

Having the faith to find new investigators makes all the difference on the mission. That day Sister Despain and I really focused our efforts and attitudes on finding the people who are prepared to hear our message and Heavenly Father blessed us!

Our Mission President, President Holmes, always says he’d pick attitude over experience any day. It’s so true. I’ve been able to see that through my companion’s example. Even though I’ve been out six-times longer than Sister Dispain has, whenever she has the right attitude she is more powerful at teaching than I am. The Spirit works through the humble and diligent. I’ve seen miracles through her and I have learned so much from her!

One of the other potentials is a girl named Regina who we also met on Temple Square. She was here for a Chemical Engineering conference. We showed her around Temple Square and she was so prepared to hear what we had to say. She had lots of questions and was so eager to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. She agreed to meet with the missionaries and was willing to have us call her. She has been reading in the Book of Mormon and praying and was committed to going to church. She is now a progressing investigator!

Heavenly Father is preparing those who come to Temple Square. We are so blessed to be part of this work! The returned missionary I talked to on the phone was a great example to me. I want to be the kind of return missionary he is. He said the last two-weeks of his mission was the best and I’ve set a goal for the last four-weeks of my mission to be the best!

This church is Christ’s church! I love you so much!

Love,
Sister Aubree Garbett

P.S. The pictures of the High School is the same school where the "High School Musical" was filmed. We had a lot of fun on our P-day just being silly and taking lots of pictures!

"Daughter of God"

2010-11-08T17:50:00.000-08:00

November 4, 2010

Mom and Dad,

I’ve had a great week. Jessica (2) was baptized on Halloween! She was the exact definition of “golden”. I’m so grateful Heavenly Father allowed me to be a part of her life at such a special time.

Jessica (1) is still on date for this weekend to get baptized. She is ready. She doesn’t fully understand everything right now, but she doesn’t have to. She knows that she is a daughter of god and desires to follow Jesus Christ. She told us that the elders don’t really teach her anything and we are the only one who teaches her. I hope that’s not true, but I think we teach simply enough for her to understand. I’m grateful that I will have so many people to keep in contact with after my mission

I’m getting a cold and not feeling fantastic. We we’re talking to a man in the tabernacle. He was in his 70‘s. He was a member of the church but he asked a lot of random questions. After we had been talking for about ten minutes he asked me what was I doing about my cough. I told him I’m taking Dayquil. He said that treats the symptoms and asked what I was going to get rid of it. I told him I thought I probably had a virus so that’s all I could do for my cough. He then asked if he could smell my breath (Yes! Random!) I asked him what was his schooling and reasoning for wanting to do that. I have to admit, he caught me off guard. He told me he is in research medicine and if I had a bacteria infection it would have a certain smell. Well. I didn’t feel comfortable with him smelling my breath, but he said he works for the church. He told me if I don’t feel better in two weeks when the doctor visits the mission to be sure to make an appointment with him. He said he was going to call his boss to make sure that I am seen by the doctor. I told him I didn’t want my mission president to get mad at me for coughing around the guests. He said he would make sure I don’t get in trouble. So it was quite an interesting conversation.

The work is eventful; needless to say I’m loving it and having fun. Heavenly Father is wonderful for keeping it exciting. It keeps me working hard and staying focused! I’m excited to see you soon! I love you so much!

Love,
Sister Garbett

Farewell Talk

2010-11-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

October 28, 2010

Dear Mom and Dad,

This week has been really good! I’m so happy I’m staying with my trainee, Sister Despain in the Chat Zone. This is the first time I’ve had the same companion for more than one transfer my whole mission! We did have to move into a new apartment, but it was only like two doors down the hall. When we first moved in, we rearranged all the furniture so it’s set up just like our last apartment. Our room looks so much the same that I fool myself in the mornings. :)

Our investigator, Jessica (2) is getting baptized this Sunday, October 31. I am so excited for her. She is really changing her life for the good. She accepts everything we teach her about the church and she knows it’s all true. Through reading the Book of Mormon, saying her prayers and sincerely asking God and going to church, she has received personal revelation and knows the truth. She is my first baptism that I found, taught and saw baptized. When we found Aksel from Norway he had already met with the sister missionaries in Chat. We just had to commit him to call the missionaries in his area. When Jessica (2) came online, I was the one mainly chatting with her because my companion was setting an appointment with someone else at the same time.

Our other investigator, Jessica (1), is still on date for November 6, for her baptism. Her local missionaries don’t teach her like they should. They haven’t taught her lesson two or three or gone over the interview questions. They only met with her once a week and her baptism is a week a way. Sometimes 19 year-old boys bother me. They didn’t even teach her the restoration thoroughly. They just had her watch the movie, so she doesn’t understand the apostasy or anything about it. Oh well, I guess it’s a good thing we keep teaching her. We were supposed to just pass her off, but that was not going to fly with me. She needs us to teach her simply because the Elders don’t.

Our new investigator, Jessica (yes that would make her Jessica 3) and her husband seem very golden. They live with her uncle who is a member along with his wife and daughter. They went to church last week and are eager to go this week. They want to be baptized on November 13. That means we should have three weeks in a row of baptisms. They were reading the Book of Mormon before we even had our first lesson! I’m really excited about them.

Our other investigator, Lisa, REALLY wants to go to church, but her husband won’t let her. We are trying to help with that, but we don’t really know what to do. She reads the Book of Mormon and prays and she says she knows the church is true, but her husband doesn’t want her to go to church. She says she thinks he doesn’t want her to leave the house at all. Although, she is able to go to her family and she has talked to them about it. Her super catholic dad even thinks she should go to our church if it’s what she wants to do. I’m going to keep praying for her.

We have a few more investigators, but they aren’t really progressing. Efrem is in Ethiopia. He has read the Book of Mormon five times, but can’t get baptized till he goes to church eight times. He’s only been three times because he lives 14-hours away from the nearest church. He has applied for a few jobs near the church, but hasn’t heard back from them yet. I’m praying for him, too.

We haven’t gotten hold of Yvonne, our investigator in Ghana, for some time now. We’ve been calling her, but she never answers. She hasn’t emailed us back in a while either. Hopefully we can get in contact with her soon. She seemed eager to learn about the church when we first contacted her.

Sister Despain and I are doing great. Lately, it seems harder and harder for us to get out of bed and exercise in the mornings. We started a new routine. In the morning we get up, make our beds, get on our knees and have companionship prayer. It’s been really great because we start off our day already focused. We pray for our investigators and the work. My mind is set on the day and I’m more focused as I exercise and study. We have personal prayer later, which is also great because I am more awake and my prayers make more sense. :)

I’m giving my missionary “farewell” talk on Sunday. I’m not really ready for it yet, but it will be good. I’m so happy that I get to speak the same day Jessica (2) is getting baptized. My talk is on forgiveness/atonement, which I think is very fitting because Jessica (2) has experienced forgiveness through the atonement, which gave her the desire to be baptized.

I am so grateful I have this chance to share the gospel with others. I know that I was sent here to help specific people. I’m grateful I get to stay in chat with Sister Despain. This work is incredible!

I love you both so much! I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks. I can’t believe it’s almost time to come home!

You’re always in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,
Sister Aubree Garbett

13th Transfer

2010-10-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

October 21, 2010

Mom and Dad,

Hey, how is everything going? Did you get the car you were thinking about getting? P-day was fun today but it was busy. We went shopping after emailing. I got two sweaters and food from Wal-Mart. Then we came home and changed really quickly then went to the haunted village at Heritage Park. It was really fun. But I wasn’t scared. I just kept talking to the “actors” who were trying to scare us. I told one of them he needed to make some noise when he jumped out at us because it would be scarier and he tried two more times to scare us without making any noise and I said, “You’re just as not scary now as you were the first two times. Really, you should try making noise.” I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get scared, but at least it didn’t give me nightmares.

This week has been really good. Jessica (1) is still on date for November 6 for her baptism. She is working on living the law of chastity and repentance. She says she feels like the Elders don’t really listen to her and she loves it when we teach her. 19 year-old boys just don’t get it sometimes. :) But we are only teaching her about every five days now, so pray that her Elders will step it up.

Jessica (2) went to church on Sunday! She did what we told her to do. She went up to the Elders and introduced herself. That night we called her for our appointment and she was meeting with the Elders. We called her back thirty minutes later. She was so happy! She is getting baptized on Halloween. She is ready to “live her life for God,” as she puts it. She asked us if she should only have one pair of earrings. We told her that is what the prophet counsels us to do and she was fine with it. She said she is going to take out her other set. I love how Heavenly Father prepares his children and how the Holy Ghost works on them. We barely have to do anything!

We have another investigator named Lisa. She is 24 and has two little children. She is married, but she isn’t happy. She said her husband is an alcoholic. We promised her the gospel can bring her so much happiness and peace in her home. I felt the spirit so strong as I told her that and I knew it was true. She is slowly starting to open up to us. She is planning to go to church on Sunday.

We are teaching Yvonne in Ghana. That is an interesting situation. She says she has to get baptized before she goes to Oregon to marry someone she met on the internet. We think she may be a mail order bride. We are going to make sure she meets with the missionaries in Ghana so they can better help and teach her.

The work is going great! I am loving my companion! We get along so well and we have so much fun! I am really praying I stay with her in Chat next transfer! We’ll find out my fate for my last transfer on Monday! I’ll let you know what happens!

Speaking of my last transfer, I speak in Sacrament on Halloween. I can’t believe I’m going to be giving my “farewell” talk already! I feel like it was just last transfer when my trainer spoke! Time truly flies by!

I love my mission! I’m sad it’s ending, but also excited to see what happens next for the rest of my life. Ha ha! Sister Despain calls it my 13th transfer! I think that makes it sound scary. She quoted WHB and said, “Go directly to your new area when you are transferred and meet your ‘new companion’ without delay.” Ha ha! I guess her teachers told her that in the MTC and she felt like it was valuable information that I needed before I go home (my 13th transfer).

I know I was sent to this mission for a reason! I am so grateful to serve the Lord here. I love you both so much!

Love,

Sister Aubree Garbett

Never Too Late To Repent

2010-10-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

October 21, 2010

So, I just wanted to let you all know that the mailbox with the "G" on it has been quite empty (Except for letters to Sister Gilbert, because she is in her first transfer.) I have been trying to pretend to be ok with it, but I can't do it anymore! I only have 7 weeks left (no, I'm not counting) and this is a great time for you all to show me how much you love me. Otherwise, why would I want to go home to people who don't care enough about me to drop a post card in the mailbox? SO, I have made up a list of the last time I received a letter from everyone in the family.

• Steven: Today 10-21-10 (you can see who loves me the most)
• Stacy:8-8-10 (you may notice the gap here... yes, I went that long before getting another letter :( granted, she was prego, so she gets a little leeway
• Mom:9-15-10 (I might add that I did get a package from mom today with stamps in it and my skirt that I have been waiting for for 4 months, but there was no letter or note or anything inside.)
• Rachel: 8-24-10 (Rachel is great at writing detailed letters and decorating the envelope with stickers when she does write me)
• Angleina: Sometime while I was outbound (Shocking, right? I couldn't believe she had forgotten about me for so long!)
• Dad: Sometime before I went outbound (Also shocking, might I add that I went outbound in February and we are in the end of October right now)
• Emily: Also sometime before outbound (But I think it was even before dad wrote me)
• Joe: Either my first transfer or in the MTC (Both were over a year ago. unacceptable.)
• Keith & Brian: I have yet to receive a letter from either of them my entire mission.... I've been out for almost 16 months... sad

I hope you all take this time, not to get offended because I called you out, but to contemplate how I must feel. Look at the last time you have written me, and change your slacker ways. It's never too late to repent; well actually in this case you only have 7 weeks to show me... so hurry up! I will await your correspondence.

Cordially,
Sister Garbett

More pictures:

1. My other coat I got a few weeks ago. Also very cute, but as you can
probably see, not very warm.
2. These were my tracting shoes. They are my favorite. I still wear them. They
are my "holey" shoes!
2. Jerilyn loves me! She brought this to me, but I didn't see her. She
left it with a senior missionary couple.
3. This is the coat I bought last week! $40! What a steal! It is really
warm too and I can wear it when I get home!
4. In the Assemby hall it has been very slow lately, but will pick up after Thanksgiving.

First Baptisim

2010-10-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

October 14, 2010

Mom & Dad

Well... just a quickly overview. We have a new investigator, Jessica (2). She knows the church is true and wants to be baptized. We found her two days ago. Jessica (1) is meeting with the missionaries and has a baptismal date for November 6. I had my first BAPTISM last weekend! Aksel from Norway was baptized! The work is going great! I love being in Chat. I’m praying that I get to stay in chat with my companion next transfer. These are some pictures we took.

1. My and my baby again
2. Some of my district again at Heritage park for service
3. Yeah, I'm cute
4. Lookin all telemarketer-like

I love you both!!! I can’t believe how fast time is passing!!! This church is true!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Conference Weekend

2010-10-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

October 10, 2010

Mom & Dad,

Wasn’t conference great! Our mission goal was to get 2000 referrals and we got over 2,500! It was super busy and we were so tired afterwards! We got to sleep in till nine on Monday and Tuesday! It was great seeing Steven and Angelina and the kids. The kids are getting so big! I couldn’t believe how tall Rowan is. I didn’t get to spend much time with them because we were only allowed to spend no more than ten minutes on each contact, but it was so great seeing family! I saw them as they were coming to the tabernacle to watch conference.

There are always so many people at conference. My companion and I contacted lots of people and we received 46 referrals. My companion is doing really well. She is so much fun and we have a great time together. She is coming along great and is working hard.

Ok, really cool story. I talked to a few Return Missionaries on conference weekend. They were so cool and they helped me a lot. I asked how their adjustment back to "normal" life was and they gave me a lot of advice. The main thing they said was to have a plan and to stay busy. One of the guys gave me a referral. It was funny, because originally he said he didn't have anyone. Then he looked through his phone and gave me an old friend from high school. He said that it might be kind of weird because he never really knew this girl and she probably wouldn't even remember him. But I told him I would love to call her anyway.

So I called her yesterday and a man answered. I asked for Alexia and he said, "No, there's no Alexia here. Maybe this was her old number." So I just started talking to him and he was SO open. He asked if I was in Colorado (because that's where he is) and I told him I was in Utah and I was serving a mission. I asked if he had ever seen missionaries and he said he usually saw them wearing suits and riding bikes. I laughed and said, "Yep that's them!" He told me he was in the army and I said, "Thanks for your service, man!" (My companion got a kick out of that) Anyway we talked and I found out he is from Sacramento! Small world! He has been in the army for eight years and is married and has a three-year-old son. So we just kept talking about the army, missionaries, church, and I invited him to have missionaries visit him and teach him more and he said yes! Then I asked if I could call him another day and teach him more until the missionaries in his area contact him, and he said yes! We have a Chat appointment with him tomorrow night!

Man! It was seriously one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me! Heavenly Father gives the best tender mercies!

I love you both! This church is true! I love this work!!!

You’re in my prayers always!

Love,

Sister Garbett

I Love This Work!

2010-10-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

September 30, 2010

Mom and Dad,

This week has been a lot of fun! My companion and I are having a wonderful time. There isn't a day that goes by that at least one or more persons ask if we are sisters. You can imagine how confusing that gets. We have to explain we are "sister missionaries" but we are not related. Seriously everyday! But it's ok. I think my companion is super cute, so if people think I look like her I must be super cute too!!! :)

This week I had my President interview. My mission president greeted me as I walked into his office. We shook hands and he asked me how I was doing. I smiled and told him I'm doing wonderful! I walked into his office and stood by the chair until he motioned for me to have a seat. Then he told me he was impressed with how well-mannered and lady-like I was. He said he wished all of the sisters were like me. He asked if I learned it from my mother. I told him I must have. I said although I have never been formally taught in manners I have seen my mother act that way. He told me that example is the best way to teach. He then shared the scripture John 5:19 "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Veryly, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do; for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the son likewise." He told me that my mother lived that scripture and I learned from her. He continued to comment on how very polite and genteel I appeared. I agreed with him that I had a great example to learn from.

The work is going great. My trainee is really coming out of her shell. I feel very comfortable with her teaching our contacts. The other day I had to push her out of her shell to do the acoustic demonstration in the tabernacle, but she did it and she was great! She is a lot like me, so I know how to help her to grow. I am grateful for that. I know that Heavenly Father hears us and answers our prayers. I am always praying for you!

The other morning I had a difficult time waking up. I just kind of rolled out of bed and dropped onto my knees for morning prayer. As I was about to pray the thought came to me, “You only have ten more weeks left to do this.” I felt really sad. I love this work!

Love,
Sister Garbett

Happy to Serve

2010-09-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

September 16, 2010

Hello Family,

Thursday is still my p-day!

We had transfers this week and I am still in Chat. I also have a new companion. She's great! She is my second companion from North Carolina and she is fresh from the Mission Training Center. Her name is Sister Despain. Right now we’ve been doing a lot of stuff for the new sisters. But once we get settle we will get even busier in Chat! I can't believe they are having a 1st transfer serve in Chat! Even more, I can't believe that they trust me to train her after I have only been in Chat one transfer!

There are some changes in Chat. We are on the square for half days now when it used to be that we were only on the Square for two-hours a day. The biggest change is whenever we get a referral on the Square we can offer to teach them over the phone until they meet with their local missionaries! So, we take someone on a tour, they say they want to learn more, we have them fill out a card, then we offer to teach them over the phone until the local missionaries arrive. So we are preparing them even more. Just like we do in Chat, speaking of, Steven in England dropped us. I'm pretty upset about it, but there is nothing we can do. He was meeting with local missionaries, planning to go to church, and then just told us and the local missionaries he does not want anything to do with our church and not to contact him again. Of course we e-mailed him anyway! He responded and said it is not the anti-Mormon information that he has heard, he knows the church is true, but he is not ready to change. We think he may have a Word of Wisdom problem. We have tried to call him many times and e-mailed him lots, but he won't contact us. So we will just wait and see what happens. I know, it’s sad, but I truly believe he will come around. I just know it.

Mom, I got your package! Thank you! Although right after I wrote you on email last week I searched through a box that I packed before I went outbound and found seven new pairs of dress socks, but thank you anyway! I’m also excited you found my white skirt! I can hardly wait till you send it to me.

I’m excited that Steven and Angelina are coming to visit, but let them know I can't take them on any tours. During conference time we do not offer tours. It is all members and we are too busy. Also, there’s a new policy that the mission President has implemented. He is not approving any family tours. It would be better for them to just come the day after or before conference and I can just say hello to them. We don't spend more than ten-minutes with each contact. It's also the same at Christmas time. But every day I am on the Square for half the day and in Chat the other half. They just have to tell me ahead of time what day they will be there and I’ll let them know what time I will be on the Square.

It’s hard to believe that I only have three months left. I drove some sisters to the airport that were flying home yesterday, and I CAN definitely wait to be in their shoes. This past transfer lots of sisters went outbound including Sister Cheng and Sister Schwager. It’s sad to think I won't see any of them again while I’m still a missionary. They will be home by conference time next April so I may never see them again, unless we do make a trip back to Temple Square in February. It's weird because people are starting to talk about Christmas at the Square and I won't be here. But I am happy that I am here now and I get to continue to serve. I think this past transfer has been the happiest transfer of my whole mission.

Well, I have to get going now! I love you! I will write you at the same time next week!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Pure Joy!

2010-09-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad,

This week has been very good and it just flew by! I cannot believe it's already Preparation-day. This week we taught Steven who lives in England five discussions. He searched online for four hours and found the number for the Ward Mission Leader. The Mission Leader gave him the Bishop's phone number and then he got the missionaries number and called them. They taught him once and then set up a return appointment with him. He is going to church on Sunday and they arranged a ride for him. We get to call him on Sunday so I'm excited to see how church went for him. I'm a little sad we don't get to call him as often as we used to now that his local missionaries are teaching him. I can't wait to add him as a friend on facebook when I get home. :)

Overall, the work is going wonderfully! I love CHAT so much! I am really praying that I can stay in Chat with my companion next transfer. I love how everything is going. I honestly think this may be my favorite transfer out of my whole mission! The Lord really knows me!!!

I love you so much! This church brings me so much pure joy. I know that it is only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that I get to experience all this wonderful joy!

I love you! You're always in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,

Sister Aubree Garbett

P.S. I'm using my last stamp on this letter! That's how much I truly love you! But can you please send me more stamps? :)

An Incredible Week!

2010-09-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

September 2, 2010

Hey Family,

This week has been incredible!

During CHAT, we were teaching someone in Norway and he agreed to meet with the missionaries in his area. Now he has a baptismal date for October!!!! We only taught him twice! He was so prepared!

Then someone came on to CHAT with the name "Batman" He started by asking if I knew where Robin was. I told him, "Sorry, I don't, but is there anything we can help you with on this website?" He said, "How do I tell your superior you are totally awesome?" I said, "Well, God is my superior." Then he said, "How do I tell him?" I said, "Well, you can pray. He always listens." Then he said, "Can't I just e-mail him?" Ha! Ha! Ha! Man it was funny. Anyway I continued to talk to him and taught him about the Book of Mormon. We asked if we could teach him some more on another day. He said yes. Then he asked us, "Why am I here talking to you about God?" We told him that it was the spirit and he feels it while we are teaching him. He denied it, but he showed up to his appointment the next day. He doesn't really believe in God, but we are opening him up. By the end of that CHAT he was excited to pray and wants to receive answers. After explaining to him about God and how we lived with him and how we can become like him, he said. "If what you're saying is true, this God guy doesn't sound that bad." We have an appointment with him tomorrow! By the way, he is in Portugal!

Also, we just started teaching a man in England named Steven. HE IS GOLDEN!!!!! We taught him the restoration and everything clicked. When we told him about the vision Joseph Smith saw he said, "Wait, I thought God and Jesus Christ were the same person." We explained how Joseph Smith’s first vision clarified who God the Father and Jesus Christ are. They are one in purpose but two separate beings. Then he said, "I always thought that's how it should be. It never made sense to me that they were one." We gave him 1 Nephi chapter one to read and told him he could read more if he wanted. We talked to him this morning and he told us he read the whole book of 1Nephi plus all of the testimonies! We asked if he had prayed and he said yes and he received an answer and he KNOWS it is true! We taught him the plan of salvation up to our life on earth and everything clicked. We also taught him about the Word of Wisdom. He said he never knew it was bad to drink, but if God told Joseph Smith, then it is right, He committed to obey the Word of Wisdom. We have an appointment with him tomorrow and he can't wait! SO GOLDEN!!!

I absolutely love my companion. We get along so great and work so hard. I am praying that I will stay with her in CHAT next transfer. Keep that in your prayers too! We are having so much success. I told my companion today, I never want to go home, with all the success we are having!

I love everything about my mission right now! Heavenly father just loves me! But really, I think this is my favorite transfer so far. But I have less than 2 weeks left before transfers are here again and I’ve never served in the same area for two transfers. I'm not ready for a change! In my setting apart I was told I would see the results of my efforts! I have been waiting almost 15 months for that blessing to come to pass! It is so exciting!

I have to get off line now. We are going to a candy factory to see how candy is made! It will be fun! I will take lots of pictures! I love you all so much! I wish I could talk to you all day...in time I will. Weird! I love you! BYE!!!

Love,
Sister Garbett

Bringing Souls to Christ

2010-08-28T21:31:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad,

This will be short since I got to email both of you today. I'm really glad I got to visit with you guys via email. This transfer is going by really slow. That's a bitter sweet thing for me. It's good because I know I'm running out of time as a missionary. But it's really hard because it feels like forever in between my preparation days (p-day). I am so exhausted every p-day! I love starting my p-days off with emailing you though. :)

The work is going good. I'm still getting used to being in Chat. I've adjusted to the the calls we get from the insincere people who come onto Mormon.org. I am also being blessed with the gift of discernment. I can now tell pretty early during the "chat" if someone is seriously seeking the true or not. We have had quite a bit of success lately. A few times we have had three out of six people refer in chat. So, it is fun. Although, many of the people don't keep their appointments. :( We are still finding lots and lots of people to share the gospel with.

I'm loving my mission so much. I'm sad my time is running short. I know that I really am bringing souls unto Christ even if it is through Chat. I know this is Christ's church and He leads it and calls men here on earth to guide us today.

I love you so much. I'm happy mom is doing so much better. You're in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,
Sister Garbett

"The Best Thing I Have Ever Done In My Life!!!"

2010-08-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

Aug 19, 2010

Hi Family!

I can't believe how quickly time is passing! Yesterday I got my "trunky papers." :( Anyone who served a mission know what those are (departure papers). Personally, I think it is way too soon for that! I still have three more months left!!!! The mission is seriously the best thing I have ever done in my life! I know without a doubt that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord's church on the earth today! I am so happy that I can be here spreading this wonderful news with the whole world! Literally. We are teaching people right now from India, Zimbawe, California, New York, Ohio, Florida, Liberia, and South Africa... just to name a few. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings so much happiness into my life and many others. I am grateful to share this message with others!

I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Garbett

p.s.I found this on mormon.org and I love it!

Imagine you found a cure for cancer. How urgently would you spread the news of your discovery? Who would you tell? The gospel of Jesus Christ is the cure for so many of life’s ills that Mormons want to share the good news of eternal life with the same urgency.

The Lord’s Church has always been a missionary church. Jesus Christ’s life was the perfect example of missionary work. During His ministry on earth, he taught the gospel at all times, in all places, and to all kinds of people. Jesus taught the educated men in the temple, the sinners, the faithful and the unbelieving. He also called apostles and other disciples to preach the gospel so more people could hear about the blessings of righteous living. Most of their preaching during Christ’s life was to their own people, the Jews. After Jesus was resurrected, He visited His apostles and sent them to preach to the gentiles. He commanded them, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

Most of the Church’s missionaries are around twenty years old, though many members also volunteer to serve after they’ve retired. All prospective missionaries turn in applications to Church headquarters and one of the Twelve Apostles calls them to a specific mission around the world. They spend a few weeks in a training center where some of them learn a new language and all of them rigorously study and practice teaching the gospel. Then they set off to their assigned locations and begin their service. Missionaries’ lives are completely dedicated to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. They pay their own way and put off school, dating and work for two years in order to focus entirely on doing the Lord’s work.

A common morning for a missionary might consist of waking up at 6:30 a.m., studying the scriptures, and meeting new people to share the gospel with. The afternoon might include discussing gospel lessons with people they meet and volunteering for service in the community. A good night has them teaching the gospel to interested individuals and helping them learn and keep God’s commandments or attending a baptismal service for someone who’s decided to join the Church. They return home around 9:30 p.m. and fall into bed, usually exhausted and happy.

52,000 missionaries are currently serving in 350 missions around the world. They proselytize in every country where the government and political climate allow it. Many missionaries grow to love the areas in which they serve so much that they find it harder to come home after their missions are over than it was for them to leave in the first place.

So true!!!!

"Thine Afflictions Will Be But A Small Moment..."

2010-08-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

Aug 5, 2010

Hello Family,

Well, we had transfers! My new companion is in her 2nd transfer. She is from Orlando Florida! We are in the "Chat Zone" and I am not the happiest camper. We have a lot of people get online just to waste our time and say crude things to us. I am working on the delete button in my brain so I can stop replaying the terrible words I read. Mom, you should teach me how to do that I bet you have to do that all the time with things you hear at work. I am trying very hard to stay positive, but so far it is difficult. I'm also a little sad because I won't be on the square very often, just a couple of hours a day.

Heavenly Father has a plan for me, I'm not sure what I need to learn, or who I need to meet, but I am really working on faith and trust in His plan. Today we were taking a couple on a tour through “God's Plan,” but I think I needed the tour more than they did. I have seen that same presentation probably a hundred times, but this time something really stood out to me. The last video clip is all about the restoration. It is so basic and goes through all of the points in the restoration in only six minutes! It's incredible. Anyway, as I was watching it this time some of the crude things I was told during one of my chats yesterday came into my mind. I felt very yucky and thought "Heavenly Father, why would you put me through this?" Just then I refocused on the video and the narrator said, "Incredibly, even the Savior was persecuted and rejected." It was a very humbling, yet comforting thing to hear. I felt a little like I had just experiences a very small fraction of how Joseph Smith felt in Liberty jail as he received the revelation "...thine afflictions will be but a small moment…"

I know I need to trust more in Heavenly Father's plan for me as His daughter. I know there are people online waiting to hear my testimony. I think this may be the place where the promise in my setting apart blessing will come to pass. The mission is always hard, but it is definitely worth it!

I love you so much! I'm learning a lot and always striving to become better. You're always in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,
Sister Garbett

"A Successful Week!"

2010-08-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

July 31, 2010

Mommy and Daddy,

Hello! This week has been fun! Monday we got to go to Cotton Wood Canyon. It was kind of weird because I went last year in my first transfer. I wore the same sweater that I did the year before. It was a lot of fun and I got a little bit of a tan. :~) Later that day we got back to the Square in perfect timing. We met a young couple at the stop light who were on a date. We showed them the new Temple Display in the South Visitor Center. We talked to them and invited them to refer a friend and we ended up getting seven potentials!!! It was great!

We got to work at Welfare Square the rest of the week except for Thursday because we went to the Humanitarian Center. We got at least one potential a day. There aren’t very many non-members who go to those venues. So we get to work a lot with the members, which I really like.

There weren’t very many super memorable experiences this week, but it was overall a successful week. I really love the work. We have transfer calls on Monday. It’s weird because if any sisters go outbound for three transfers I will be gone by the time they return. I’m feeling like my companion and I may be together this next transfer. That would be interesting, since I’ve never been with a companion for two transfers! I will wait to send this letter until after transfer calls and I will let you know what’s happening.

Anyway, the work is going well! I’m loving it here. I’m still learning and growing. I hope all is well at home. I love you!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Happy Pioneer's Day

2010-08-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

July 24, 2010

Mom and Dad,

Happy Pioneer's Day! This day 163 years ago the pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley and Brigham Young said, “This is the place.” Crazy that now I’m a missionary here, right!? We’ve had a lot of good experiences this past week. It will be hard to hand write them all, but I love you enough to do it!

Thursday we were planning to contact at the North Visitor Center at the Jerusalem map at 11:00am, but for some reason it felt weird. So my companion and I decided to take our 10mp study at that time because we forgot to schedule that in for the day. We were on our way to the South Visitor Center when we met a woman. She wanted to know where the Joseph Smith building was. We told her we were going that way and would walk her there. As we did we taught her a little and she was so prepared. The spirit was so strong and I barely had to invite her to receive the missionaries. She was so ready to have the missionaries visit with her and deliver her a Book of Mormon.

After that we got our bags and headed home. We barely made it out of the gate when an older gentleman stopped us. He introduced us to his recently returned missionary, grandson. We talked to them and had a great conversation. The grandson shared with us that while on his mission he had had great experiences with Temple Square referrals, so he was willing to give us another name. He gave us a name of a friend from high school. My companion called his friend the next day and he was so prepared to hear the gospel. The friend, of course, received our invitation to have the missionaries visit with him. When my companion called the grandson who had referred the friend back to let him know what happen, the returned missionary almost cried with joy. He said he felt bad that he had waited so long to share the gospel with him.

On Friday we met a few really prepared people as well. A couple with their son, who was probably 27 years-old, was visiting. They came up to us and started asking questions. They were from New Mexico and said they have friends who are members of the church. The couple shared that they had been to our church and had even met before with the missionaries. They were very willing to meet with the missionaries again and their son was excited to meet with them as well. We got two referrals and a potential from them, also. They wanted us to call their other son. The woman kept talking about how peaceful she felt on Temple Square. At the end she told us, “I knew there was a reason we met you!”

When Heavenly Father prepares people, they can feel the spirit and they are so eager to refer. This church is true!

I love you so much!

Love,
Sister Garbett

4, 500 & Still Counting!

2010-07-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

July 17, 2010

Mom & Dad,

This week was really good. Our mission has a goal of getting 7,000 referrals and potentials this transfer. I honestly didn't think it was possible, but our mission is at 4,500 right now and we still have two-weeks left. I think we will reach our goal!

Did I tell you about how my companion and I got a bunch of potentials? The other day we planned to meet two members in the Tabernacle. So we went there and saw two men sitting down, they looked like they were probably in their 30's. One had served a mission and the other had not. You could tell that they probably weren't fully active in the church. We asked the member who was a return missionary if he would share an experience from his mission with us. When he began to speak the spirit was so strong. We talked to them for about twenty minutes. We invited them to refer a friend so we could contact them through the referral center, but they "couldn't think of anyone." When that happens I then explain how our referral center works. I shared with them how our conversations in the referral center go and after that visitors usually think of someone we could call. The member who didn't serve a mission pulled out his cell phone and started writing numbers down. The member who served a mission even wrote down his parent's name and phone number. When we finished talking with them we looked at the list of potentials they gave us and we counted nine! My companion and I were both amazed by how many referrals we received. We already had a couple potentials from earlier that day and got another one later that night, for a total of 12 potentials in one day!

It is amazing how Heavenly Father blesses us when we plan and how he uses us to be instruments in his hands. I've been reading in chapter 17 of Alma in the Book of Mormon and it talks about the sons of Mosiah being instruments of the Lord. I love verse 11 "And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls." This work isn't easy, but it is definitely worth it! And with the Lord's help it is possible!

I love you both so much! I can't believe how quickly time is passing. Everyday seems so long, but as I'm on my knees at night praying, I can' believe the day is already over. I love being a missionary and I love serving at Temple Square!

You're in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,

Sister Garbett

God's Tender Mercies!

2010-07-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

July 17, 2010

Hey Family.

Last Sunday my companion and I sang “How Great Thou Art” in Sacrament Meeting. It was beautiful! I prayed to invite the spirit with me and it definitely was there! I even saw a few people crying. :) The next day I had my President’s interview with my Mission President. For about five minutes he kept telling me how amazing the song was and to never let my talent go unused. I don't think anyone knew I could sing because almost every sister complimented me afterwards! It was a great experience.

So this week hasn't been full of a ton of miracles like last week, but we had one really good contact just the other day. We met a couple right outside the South Visitor Center (SVC) and asked them if we could show them around. They were from Iowa and had been traveling around the west for the past couple of weeks, because apparently that's what you do when you retire. They also reminded me that I have a LONG time to go before I could ever do that. :) So we took them through the SVC and showed them the new temple display and talked about family and how the temple was built.

We then took them to the Assembly Hall and for some reason I couldn't think of any of the facts that I usually tell during the tour. I was about to freak out when my companion looked at me and started signaling to me that it was my turn to speak. So I just started talking. For some reason, I explained what a typical Sunday service is like for members of the church. I taught about how members of the church are asked in advance to share a talked with the congregation and I explained the three different meetings that take place during the all three-hour block. I don't really know why I started talking about that, but it worked. They asked us a lot of questions, especially about why we are here and what we do.

Then we took them into the Tabernacle. When we got inside there was an International Children’s Choir practicing singing. We got there just in time to hear them sing "The Prayer" It was so beautiful. We didn't really share any facts about the Tabernacle inside. Then we remembered the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was rehearsing that night and invited them to attend their rehearsal. They both said they wanted to go to see the Choir practice. So we walked them over to the Conference Center. Right before we reached the door, I explained to them how as missionaries we have the opportunity to invite others to learn more about our church. I told them that missionaries in their area would love to visit them and teach them more about what we believed. I asked if this is something they would be interested in hearing more about. The woman responded, "It could be." I was actually really surprised because this had not been a typical tour. So we explained what the missionaries do and re-invited and they said they wanted to learn more! I pulled out the referral card and they filled it out. We told them like two more times that the missionaries would contact them, because we were still in shock that they referred. We wanted to make sure they understood. But they definitely understood. We testified of the blessings that will come to them and took them into the Conference Center to watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice.

After my companion and I left them, we were still in shock. It was such a tender mercy of the Lord to place them in our path. We were so grateful for the opportunity to find that prepared couple. It just goes to show when people are prepared all you have to do is invite the spirit, and then invite them!

Things are going great! Thanks mom for keeping my blog current for me! Let everyone know I’m really being obedient and it’s you keeping my blog and checking my facebook.

I love you so much! You’re in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,

Sister Garbett

So Many Miracles!

2010-07-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

July 10, 2010

Hey Family,

I just wanted to take a few minutes and tell you about some of the miracles that have happened this week!

Yesterday, my companion had a doctor’s appointment, so our Zone Leaders told us that we couldn't go to Welfare Square after the appointment. She said we would have to be at Temple Square all day. My companion and I were not very excited about that because we love Welfare Square. We both thought that it didn't make very much sense for us to stay, but we obeyed anyway. We went to the doctor’s appointment and it went well. We were back on the square by 11:00am and we started working right away. We were trying to talk to people and invite them on a tour, but no one was receptive to our attempts. Then I had the thought to walk around the tabernacle, which we usually don’t do. So we went there and met some members and talked with them for a bit, but they didn't have any referrals for us. Then we kept walking and two men approached us and asked us if we were taking a tour. We told them we were looking for someone to take around Temple Square and they would be perfect! So we started taking them on a tour and found out they are here for a YMCA conference from Minnesota!! We were going to take them into the North Visitor Center, but they asked if they could go in the Conference Center (cc). We said of course and we took them there. We went to the hall of the prophets and showed them statues of past prophets and pictures of the apostles. The spirit was so strong! We went into the auditorium which seats 21,000 and they were in awe. We invited them to receive missionaries and a Book of Mormon and one of the guys, Tim, was unsure about accepting it. So then my companion said, “Well, while you think about that offer, I will read a scripture from it.” I don't remember what scripture she read, but it was perfect and the spirit was strong. After that the other guy, Pat, said he wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon. Then I re-invited Tim and he said yes. They both filled out the referral cards and were excited to receive the missionaries. I promised them the blessings of peace and happiness as they read the Book of Mormon and that they could have that same peace and happiness in their homes, with their families, as they read and study it together.

It's amazing! We weren't even planning to be at that spot where we met them, but every night when my companion and I plan our next day, and every morning before we leave our apartment, we ask Heavenly Father to lead us to where we need to go even if our plans aren't His will. He definitely put us exactly where we needed to be!

After that encounter we met a couple from Maryland! We took them on a tour around the Square. Unfortunately, they weren’t from any of the areas I served in during my outbound assignment. They were from another Sister’s area. They were very nice and we had a great tour, but they didn't refer. While on that tour we were on our way into the tabernacle and it got SO windy! A tree branch fell 20 feet from from us. It was so crazy, everyone started to come into the tabernacle so my companion got stuck holding the door for everyone. I continued on the tour and started talking about the history of tabernacle and in the process discovered a lot about them. My companion, Sister Schwager, got stopped by a couple of members and they wanted her to talk to their non-member friend. So I continued teaching the couple from Maryland and then it was time to go outside again. Sister Schwager met up with us just before we went outside and we continued the tour and it went well. After that tour Sister Schwager told me that the man she talked with was so “golden” that he referred in five minutes! She said he was definitely prepared to hear the message she shared with him. When she asked him what he thought about a living prophet on the earth today he said, "That's wonderful! I always wondered why there weren't any!"

Later, that day we took another family around Temple Square. They were from Montana and the dad was agnostic and the wife was a non-active Christian. They had a 12 year-old daughter and an 11 year-old son. At first I thought they were members of the church by the way they were dressed. During the tour, we found out that the man's mother was baptized when she was pregnant with him, but obviously not active. We took them around the South Visitor's Center and showed them the new temple display. It is amazing! It is a replica of the Salt Lake Temple and it actually shows the rooms inside. You should look it up on the Church News. The family thought it was really cool. We taught them about the Book of Mormon and the angel Moroni. While I was explaining about the Book of Mormon it felt like my words were just coming out of my mouth without any effort on my part. Afterward, my companion asked them what they thought about what I had just said. The husband and wife didn't have too, much to say then the 11 year-old boy said, "I think I want a copy of that book!" He had so much excitement in his voice and really was interested. We showed them a couple of video clips from President Monson and they really appreciated the counsel that he has the youth. We invited them to receive the missionaries and a Book of Mormon and the dad said, "What do you think kids, do you want that?" They both very eagerly said, "Yes!" The dad said, “Well I can't say no to them." I re-explained that the missionaries would be bringing the Book of Mormon to them and would also share a message about Jesus Christ that would bless their family. They agreed to have the missionaries come to them! Seriously, I love kids! They are so close to the spirit!

We got another referral today from an 18 year-old young man, Brian and his mother, Sherry. Brian has a fascination with studying religion even though he claims to be an atheist. Weird, right? He knew a lot about our religion and told us he has three Book of Mormons already. They were both very interested in the message we were sharing with them and they agreed to have the missionaries come and teach them more. I think Brian may have a little more difficulty in coming unto Christ, but I know it is possible. His mother was definitely prepared and I think she needed his interest in religion to get her here.

Anyway, those are some of the great experiences this week! I am running out of time, but I know this church is the only true and living church of Jesus Christ on the earth! I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and I have felt the spirit more abundantly in my life as I make it a priority! I love you all!

Don't forget about me! I still have five months left and I love letters and packages! :)

Love,
Sister Garbett

Charity--The Pure Love Of God

2010-07-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

July 3, 2010

Mommy,

This week has been great! I love Temple Square! We are serving at Welfare Square and it is such a humbling experience. I have learned so much about the Church's Welfare Program. I had no idea where our fast offerings go. I never realized how important it is to pay fast offerings. My testimony has strengthened so much in this past week and I have so much more of a desire to pay fast offerings! I am excited to pay it tomorrow! We take people around Welfare Square and teach them about the Bishop’s storehouse and we show them where everything is made. When it is really slow we get to do some hosting. That is when we take people around to fill their food order that the bishop has approved. It is such an amazing experience to do that. The spirit is so strong and I feel filled with charity towards these people that I just met. The other day I took a woman probably about 35 and her mother. The woman's husband had lost his job and they had to move in with her parents. They had four children, so it was a very full house. They are very active and had been to the temple. You could tell that it was a very unhappy, humbling experience for them, and it wasn't their first time. The spirit was so strong, and I was able to relate so well with her and her mother. I was very cheerful and upbeat with them and I think it helped a lot. I told them that even though it is humbling, the food is amazing so it makes it all ok. :) They laughed and agreed with me. I also shared a scripture with them in Ether 12:27 how we are shown our weaknesses so we can become humble and grow. I testified that Heavenly Father sometimes lets us go through hard times so that we can become stronger.

When we were almost done shopping the head manager at the Bishop’s Storehouse, walked by and said hello to them and called them by name. I found out that they used to be neighbors. The women told me that they were hoping they wouldn't see him. I laughed and said that the only time I like running into people I know is in the temple. They agreed and laughed. After they left Larry came up to me and thanked me. He said he was so happy that I had helped them because he knew that I would take good care of them. He told me how they used to be neighbors and how her husband lost his job. He continued to tell me how much he appreciated me taking care of them. Then later I saw him and again he thanked me and told me that I really saved him. I don't quite know what he meant by that, but I took it as I was a good example of how much we love and care for the people who come in. It was such a wonderful thing to hear that I am doing well. Especially since that was only my 3rd time filling an order.

We have had success on Temple Square as well, even though we are only on the Square for a couple of hours each day. Although not every one refers, I can feel the spirit so strong while I am teaching and I know I am helping others to come unto Christ. We have seen so many miracles already! My second day here I met someone who lives in the area as my last district leader (DL). But she wouldn't really talk to us, so I didn't get her to refer.

My companion and I get along great and we work very hard. Our DL told us today how proud she is of us for the potentials (referrals) that we have received at Welfare Square. I didn't know this, but apparently it is not a very effective area for sisters. In outbound we would say it is a “dead area” because nothing really happens there. The Mission President has even considered not having sisters there anymore, but we have seen a lot of success. Just yesterday we got four potentials! When my DL told us about that today I felt the spirit testify that it was inspiration for my companion and I to be called to serve at Welfare Square. My companion is so excited about Welfare Square, I think she likes it even more than I do. :)

My companion and I are both very excited to work out in the mornings. We were talking about it when one of the security guards was in the room and he told us about this great workout that he did in the army ROTC. So he printed the workout sheet for us and we have been working out every other day and running on the other days. I am SO sore, and I love it! I have also been eating better lately. At welfare square we eat in the cafeteria, so I just eat a salad and it fills me up. For dinner I usually eat a turkey sandwich on wheat and we eat dinner no later than 5pm every day. So hopefully I will drop some pounds!

Anyway, if you can't read the excitement in this letter, I love it here! I hope the success continues! I am so happy to be back at Temple Square! I love you so much! I hope everything is going great for you, and I hope you are enjoying your vacation!

I love you!

Sister Garbett

p.s. I am going to get my hair cut today by Kaysi!!!!! I am so excited!

Back At Temple Square!

2010-06-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

June 23, 2010

I'm here!

I am back at Temple Square, working in the extended zone so my p-day is Saturday! I am covering welfare square every day except for the weekends! It is really fun so far and we get to eat the bread, cheese, jam and chocolate milk. Yum! I am adjusting better than I thought I would. My comp is from Southern California. I know, right? Two California girls! We are going to have way too much fun! She is super sweet so far and I think we will get along great. Things are going well so far! Keep in touch! I only have like 6 months left, so everyone better start writing me more!

This is a picture of all of us sisters who just returned from our outbound assignments!

I love you all!

Sister Garbett

Farewell Maryland!

2010-06-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

Thirty-four Doors!

2010-06-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

June 14, 2010

Mom and Dad,

Hey! How's everything going? The mission is good. We've been doing a lot of knocking. The other day we knocked on 34 houses in a row. It was very hot and humid and then out of no where it started to down pour. The rain was definitely heaven sent, even though it messed up my hair. :~) We didn't have any luck, but I did meet a couple men from Mexico. They didn't speak English and of couse I don't speak Spanish, but somehow I managed to ask if the Spanish speaking missionaries could call on them. I actually said all that in broken Spanish. They said yes, but I'm not quite sure if they understood. We'll see what happens when the Elders call. I told the Elders if they baptized the two men they have to send me a picture to Temple Square.

I'm still doing great and I'm excited to go back to Temple Square. I only have nine more days here, so I kind of feel like I'm already at Temple Square, since I won't see any result of anyone I find, but I do have hight hopes for everyone I meet.

The church is true! I'm loving the work. I'm geting more and more tired by the day. I can't believe I'be been living the mission schedule for almost a year. I don't know how I'm still alive. :~)

I love you so much! Keep in touch, aka send me mail!

Love,

Sister Garbett

P.S.
Mommy, I have recently realized that I don't know anything about your conversion story. I would love for you to write it all out and send it to me.

Grateful to Serve

2010-06-13T14:33:00.000-07:00

June 7, 2010

Mom and Dad,

Hello! I’m so glad I got to e-mail Mom today. That was fun, even though my computer froze up when I still had 10 minutes left. Things are going well here.

There are lots of fire flies here in Maryland and it is amazing! Have you seen fire flies? They look like glitter against the night sky or tiny little Christmas lights flashing on and off. There are different kinds of fire flies, too. I used to think they were all just orange but here the fire flies are orange, yellow, green and blue! I catch them all the time. I have a video of me catching one. I’ll have to figure out how to send it to you, because they are so cool!

We’ve been doing a lot of knocking on doors lately. We find a lot of people, but none of them are progressing by keeping commitments. We have one lady we’re teaching who is reading the Book of Mormon and she said she loves it, but she won’t commit to coming to church. We’ll keep working on her. She’s very nice and always invites us in. We found her from knocking.

We’ve been trying to pick up former investigators, too. We found a family in our area book, left by previous missionaries. We also discovered they were actually a Temple Square referral from last year. We stopped by and the daughter answered the door. She is 19 years-old and was very nice to us. She told us we could come back, but they are real busy. We’ll see what happens. We're hoping they’ll make time to see us again.

We had zone conference last week and Elder Kenneth Johnson from the Seventies came to speak to us. He gave a very powerful talk and I learned a lot from him. He offered us new ideas and ways to teach the gospel. He was very uplifting and inspiring.

Well, I gotta get going to dinner. I love you! The church is true! I know that Heavenly Father knows us all individually. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to serve here in Maryland for the past four months, and I am excited to get back to Temple Square soon (June 23).

You’re in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Time Passes Too Fast!

2010-06-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

May 31, 2010

Mom and Dad,

Hey! How's everything going? How was your Memorial Day weekend? Did you all go to the cabin?

We played soccer this moring (when I say "we" I mean everyone in our Zone except me). I don't play soccer. I'm really bad at the game and the Elders get super intense, so I just watch them play. After the game we went grocery shopping and washed our car. We then went to the Ward BBQ for about a half-hour and after that we went back to knocking on doors.

We've been doing a lot of knocking lately. We've found a lot of potential investigators, but none are progressing yet. We aren't having as much luck as I would like to see. Especially since we haven't had any invetigators to church these past couple of weeks. We only have two more Sundays before we can have a baptism before I leave to go back to Temple Square. So I won't be seeing a baptism on my mission. I guess I was only meant to be a finding missionary.

I'm kind of excited to go back to Temple Square. I can't believe my four-month, outbound assigment is almost up. It seriously feels like I just got here! When I arrived here in Maryland last March there was six feet of snow on the ground and it was freezing! Now everything is green and it's 95 degrees and super humid! Time just goes by way too fast. Did you know my one year mark is in three weeks? Can you believe it's been almost a whole year since you last saw me? It's so crazy!

We're working really hard out here in the mission. We aren't seeing as many results as I would like, but it's not my will. We are continually finding new people and trying to get them to progress. We have a couple of girls we will be teaching. They are the daughters of a recently activated member, but I'll be gone before the daughters move into the ward. But I did get to teach them one discussion. I believe they will definitely get baptized.

I love this ward and the members are great. They feed us well and they are so willing to assist in the work. When I get home I hope I can be as good to the Ward Missionarys as they have been to me. The church is true!

I love you! Thanks for the help and support and especially the prayers! You're always in mine!

Love,
Sister Garbett

Strengthening Faith

2010-06-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

May 24, 2010

Hey mom,

Things have been pretty good this week. We have been keeping busy and working a lot. We have found a lot of people, but they aren't too promising. But we will continue to work. We went on exchanges this week and it helped me to really appreciate my companion that I have now. I am so glad I have a good hard working companion who isn't so strict and doesn't tell me what to do.

While I was on exchanges we had a funny thing happen. We went to a member’s home and they have a 17yr old son who just graduated from high school. He pretty much proposed to me. Not literally, but he did say he wants to marry me in the Salt Lake Temple! Hahaha! It's a good thing he isn't in my ward.

We have been teaching a lot of people, but they are not really progressing. We are trying to find more people and go knocking a lot more, but that is not the most motivating thing to do in this area. We did have a lot of success knocking on doors this past week, but they were all about as solid as water.

I had a pretty cool experience this past week where my faith was tried. I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers. It's just sometimes I don't recognize, or sometimes I am too nervous to act on the answer I get. Last transfer my previous companion had contacted someone and she told my new companion what housing area she lived in, but didn't give us an address or a phone number. So we were going to just knock on doors throughout the whole neighborhood to try to find her. But there were about 40 houses we had to try. So we knocked on the door of one house and no one was there. I had the idea that we should put our faith into action and pray that we will be able to find where this person lived. But I just ignored that thought and knocked on another door. Then the thought came to me again. So I told my companion and she said that it was a good idea. I asked if she wanted to say the prayer because I am too faithless and she said no, I needed to strengthen my faith. So I offered a very humble prayer pleading for help from the lord. Then a woman walked by and I had the thought to ask if she knew the person we were looking for. But guess what, I didn't ask. I'm telling you, I need to strengthen my faith. So we knocked on a couple more doors and talk to those people and tried to share a message of the restoration with them, but they were not interested. Then we were just standing outside looking at all the houses and wondering what to do next? There were two women outside their homes talking to each other. The thought came to me to ask one of them if they knew the person we were looking for. I had an inner struggle for some reason then after a minute or so, I finally followed the prompting. I asked the women if they knew who we were looking for. They told us they had lived in that house for 15 years and knew all of the neighbors. They definitely knew who we were looking for and where she lived. When I prayed to know which house to go to I was expecting that one house would just stand out, or to have the feeling to go left or right, but I didn't have any of those feelings. However, Heavenly Father did put people in my path who could help me. I never really realized how faithless I was until this month, but man has my faith been strengthened.

I still love my mission. All is going well.

I love you! You're in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-08T23:47:00.001-07:00

May 9, 2010

I love you so much!

I really wanted to give you a good Mother's Day gift this year, but I don't have very much money. However I am very missionary minded. I was thinking about all the things I'm grateful for and the main thing is that my "Family is Forever"!

I must have done something right in the pre-earth life to be so blessed that I was placed in your family. I'm sorry my gift isn't perfectly straight and professional, I was a little limited on tools and time (Gift was a framed "The Family--A Proclamation to the World" with the border covered in pictures of each family member).

I love you so much. I always talk about you. I tell people how in tune with the spirit you are and how you always recongize promptings. The families usually reply by telling me how lucky I am to have a mom like you. They are absolutely right!

I love you! Thank you for all that you have done to strengthen my testimony so that now I can share it with every one I meet!

Love,

Sister Garbett

"Goodly Parents"

2010-05-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

April 19, 2010

Mom,

Well, this week has been good. We have been spending a lot of time getting to know the members in our ward. Our progressing investigators have all dropped us, so we are working on finding people to teach. So we figure the members will be our best help. We have been receiving a lot of referrals from them, too! So it is going well.

We went to a baptism this weekend for two children in our Ward. They are in the Elder’s area though. It was all in Spanish and my companion taught the restoration in Spanish while the children were changing after their baptism. There were a lot of non/less-active members there, but they are all in the Elder’s area.

Today for preparation-day we went to the mall, but I didn't have very much money. So I just spent money on lunch at Red Robin and I got my hair cut! I only cut off about 3 inches, but I got some layers as well. It's not that much shorter, but it's a nice change.

How are all of the grand babies doing? Did Rachel have her baby yet? I really miss the kids. I think I'm finally starting to hit my trunky phase. I miss all the Birthdays and BBQs that we had in the summer, but I guess since Steven and Angelina aren't there it doesn't matter any way that I'm not there.

I started reading the Book of Mormon again, but I am doing it way slower than last time. I started a few days ago and I am only on pg 30. But as I was reading I realized how many of us always bash Laman and Lemuel for being so faithless and murmuring, then I realized how many of us are just like that. I was thinking how they didn't want to go get the plates, but they did it anyway because Nephi was so obedient that they had to go just so they wouldn't look so bad. Then they tried to get the plates and they couldn't so they were ready to go home.

How many times do we relentlessly go to church or pay our tithing then don't see automatic blessing so we don't want to do it again? Then Nephi made them go get their silver and precious things and go back and try again. And again they were thrown out and almost killed! Of course Lamam and Lemuel would murmur! I know we all need to try to be more like Nephi and be as obedient as possible, but the truth is we are all "natural men." The difference between us and Laman and Lemuel is that we need to realize what we are doing and use the atonement in our lives to become better and stop the cycle so we don't lead out posterity astray... That was my most recent spiritual thought...

So I am super excited about your new calling! Have fun with the 14-15 year-old Sunday School class. I think you probably teach Celine White! I love her! So I was thinking about some of my favorite teachers when I was a youth and some of the stuff that they did and I thought you might like some advice. One of my teachers would teach us outside sometimes when the weather was nice. She would bring Cinnamon rolls (or something like that) and a blanket and we would sit out on the institute lawn. I remember that it was a very spiritual lesson as well, because nature always seems to set the mood and make the lesson better. That teacher was Sister Cardon actually. Another teacher that I enjoyed told us that if we paid attention and participated and stayed focus through the entire lesson then the last 10 minutes of class was our time to just talk and laugh and have fun. I remember I always stayed focused because I wanted to socialize at the end of class with all of my friends. And of course, you can always bring snacks and visual aids. I know that this calling was inspired! You will do great!

I love you so much! A lot of the converts make a remark about how they are more laid back than members who were born in the church. Maybe you agree because you are a convert. But I think I am way more blessed. I was so lucky to be placed in a home with such "goodly parents" who brought me up righteously! Thank you so much for your faith and diligence in following the Lord! I love you and daddy so much! You are ALWAYS in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,
Sister Garbett

No Coincidences

2010-05-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

April 5, 2010

Hey Mommy and Daddy,

How are things going? Everything is going good here! Didn't you just love conference!? It was so amazing, it always is. I took a ton of notes. I loved how so many talks were about the youth and the children. It confirmed my thoughts that I definitely need to major in some kind of child development/child care subject when I get home. I really felt like every talk given applied directly to me! Don't you love when that happens?

This week we have been teaching a man named Stu. He lives in our apartment complex and he is amazing! We tracked him out our first week and he is continuing to progress. He is a recovering alcoholic for the past 14 years! It is amazing how Heavenly Father has been preparing him. He has so much faith and continues to say "there are no coincidences and God wanted him to meet us for a reason." He came to the afternoon session of conference yesterday! He commented on one of the talks and seemed like he really enjoyed it. We have an appointment with him on Wednesday (which is also my birthday!) We are hoping to commit him to baptism that day! Wouldn't that be the most amazing birthday present!?

Today we are going fishing with a family in our ward! I am super excited! I will catch a big one for you and dad and take lots of pictures! Tomorrow is Zone Conference! I am excited for that too, because it is always a super spiritual high! This week has been full of those.

We are still in a finding mode and continually seeking those who are being prepared! My companion and I get along great and have a blast together. She is hilarious! I wouldn't be surprised if I lost weight just from laughing so much! We get the work done too! She gives me so much confidence to help me teach and open my mouth. She is never critical or anything, she always lifts me up. Whenever she gives me advice I can feel that it is out of love. She has been a member for almost 2 years! She is a powerhouse!

So a couple of funny things happened, yesterday. We were going inside the church and there was a sister from the Ward there who greeted us. Although, I have never even met her before, she was kind of blunt. My companion asked if she was a convert and the sister said yes. My companion told her that she was also a convert. Then this sister turned to me and stated, "You were born in the church weren't you?" I said yes, I was and then she said, "I can tell. Converts are way more laid back and down to earth." :O I could not believe she said that to me! She had never met me before! I was a little offended. Then not even 5 minutes later a very active member of the Ward came up to us and said hi. He greeted my companion (who has only been here for 2 weeks) and shook her hand. Then he shook my hand and asked, "Are you new?" I said no, I've been here for 6 weeks! I have seen him every week and met him before! Then as my companion and I were walking away I said to her "What is this, unimportant day!?" Hahahaha! Then later that night we were at dinner with the Ward Mission Leader. I ate the dinner, which was really good. Then they had dessert. I was pretty full so I asked for a very small piece. The piece he gave me was larger than I wanted or could fit into my stomach so I ate half of it. Later when they were giving us some Easter candy and oranges to take home the Mission Leader said "Now, Sister Garbett, I put a chocolate egg in here for both of you. You can cut it into pieces and eat a little bit of it every day so you don't get too full." Hahaha! It was a Cadbury crème egg, so it wasn't even big! I thought it was pretty funny being teased by the previous Stake President.

Well, this week has been good and lots of fun! I love you both so much! You're in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,
Sister Garbett

Susquehanna River

2010-05-03T14:22:00.001-07:00

March 22, 2010

Mom and Dad,

This week has been really good. We got to take an investigator to the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor’s Center. That was interesting, but it was great to feel the Spirit again that is at the Visitor’s Centers. The sad part is the person we took isn’t super interested in learning more about the church.

After we got back my companion and I decided to contact outside of our apartment. It was a beautiful day, so lots of people were out. We met a couple of people who wanted to learn more, but both of them are out our area. One is actually from Puerto Rico. I really wish I knew Spanish.

This week we got a lot of referrals (on the Square we called them potentials) from people. It’s weird because most of the people who give us referrals aren’t member of the church. It almost seems like as members we are too selfish to share the gospel. I remember being like that when I was younger and before I really gained my own testimony.

The next day we worked just as hard and talked to so many people. We went to a park at a light house on the dock of the Susquehanna River. So many people were there because it was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Nobody was super interested, but we passed out a few Book of Mormons and we had some really great conversations.

Here a lesson. When you teach two or more people a lesson, first say a prayer. So in two days we taught 11 lessons! The entire previous week we only had 14 lessons. We really worked hard that day.

Well preparation day is over in three minutes. So I gotta go. The work is going great. This Church is true. I love you so much.

Love,

Sister Garbett

It's Totally Worth It!

2010-05-03T14:12:00.001-07:00

March 15, 2010

Mom & Dad,

Hey. Today is P-day again and I’m sad because I didn’t get to email back and forth with you very much today. This week has been interesting. We moved into a new apartment so I’ll wait until transfers, which is next week to give you my physical address. So continue to write to my mission address. Except for packages, if you send packages that would get here after next Wednesday just wait to send them until I give you my new address.

Right now, we don’t have very many investigators. The ones we thought were progressing all got “busy” so we aren’t teaching them any more. We had an appointment with this guy named Ron, but he has rescheduled twice. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with him. He says he has been reading the Book of Mormon, but it’s difficult for him because he grew up Catholic. I explained to him how we are just adding more truths to the things he already knows. I told him it was like he graduated high school and now he is going to college to learn more and to gain a better understanding. I encouraged him to continue to pray before he reads. I also told him not to get discouraged.

It’s really hard getting people to come to church, especially the ones who live up in Pennsylvania, because it takes them 45 minutes to get to church. We’ve been teaching a lot of less-actives. We taught a woman and her 20 year-old daughter. I honestly don’t know how they were ever baptized. We have been teaching them the missionary lessons and it’ like teaching investigators. We are trying to get them to gain a testimony. They have so much potential, but the daughter needs to increase her self-esteem. The gospel is where her self-esteem can really grow. I told her how she is a daughter of God and has so much potential. I hope she will start to read the Book of Mormon and gain a testimony so she’ll have a desire to come back to church.

This gospel is true. I wish everyone would read the Book of Mormon and then get on their knees and pray to know if these things are true. If they did the Holy Ghost would confirm the truth to them that it is right. This church is the only place to find true happiness.

My companion and I are still in a finding mode, but it’s going good. I can’t believe I’ve already been her for a whole transfer. Only two more transfers and then I’ll be back at Temple Square. I really try to make the most of everyday here.

Keep me in your prayers. This work is hard, but it’s totally worth it! I love you both so much! You’re always in my prayers!

Love,
Sister Garbett

KARMA

2010-05-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

March 1, 2010

Mom & Dad,

Hello! How’s everything going? Maryland is freezing! It has snowed half the time I’ve been here. But it doesn’t stick. The other half of the time it’s too cold to snow I’m so excited for spring to arrive.

The Mission is going well. I’m still adjusting. My companion is Sister Walker. She is from Massachusetts. She is 29 yrs old and a convert of four years. She has been in this area (the Susquehanna) for 6 and a half months. She knows the area well. Although when I got here we didn’t have any progressing investigators and no appointments, but we’re working on changing that.

It’s such a huge transition from Temple Square to Maryland, but I’m trying to adjust. I’m trying to work with the members and gain their trust. Members are so important. I never understood that so much until I got here. Please help the missionaries in your Ward. Offer to have lessons taught in your home, give the names of people you know when you feed them. Make sure they share a spiritual thought and give them names of friends and co-workers for them to share the gospel with. You know so many non-members! Co-workers, people who do your nails, people who helped built the cabin, people who worked with you on your loan. Pray about it! What about your co-worker who lost her husband. If you feel more comfortable, use my name, tell the missionaries to tell your friends that I want them to see what I’m doing and why I left home for 18 months. If you want me to be blessed, be member missionaries. If you help the missionaries the members here will help me. It’s Karma!

We are in a major finding time. “Nothing happens in Missionary work until you find someone to teach (preach my gospel).” Tracking is not super successful. Although my second day here we found five new investigators tracking, but so far none of them have kept their return appointments. Members are the best finders!

I can’t wait until we get some golden investigators. We have one investigator now. She is 23 yrs old, divorced and has three children and lives with her mother. She seems interested, but she isn’t keeping commitments and hasn’t come to church. She has a baptismal date, but she needs to quit smoking. She still needs to pray about Joseph Smith, then it will be easier for her to quit because the Holy Ghost will testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet and the Word of Wisdom was a commandment from God.

We have a couple of men we are trying to teach, but they live in a boarding house so we need a Melchizedek priesthood holder to go with us. We haven’t found anyone who is willing to come to an appointment with us. So we haven’t been able to teach them. Members are so important to missionary work!

We see a lot of less-actives here. Most of the time the story is the same, a member marries a non-member. The non-member doesn’t go to church and won’t let the children go. The member goes by themselves, feels alone and stops attending church. Then they are no longer keeping their covenants so they feel bad about going to church. What the heck were they thinking!?! I have decided that I am going to marry someone who will put the Lord first! So many marriages would last and be happier if everyone would put the Lord first.

There should never be an option to going to church. You make time to go to the temple at least once a month and you do home/visiting teaching every month. Do you know how many more people would be active if everyone did their home/visiting teaching? The Lord instituted this program for a reason. It was inspired. I don’t mean to lecture, but I wish the members could work harder, including me. As we do the little things; read our scriptures, say our prayers, go to church etc. Then the bigger picture will make so much more sense and our testimonies will grow. I so badly want everyone to come unto Christ and be baptized. I feel like the sons of Mosiah “…for they could not bear that any human soul should perish, yea, even the very thought that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.” (Mosiah 28:3)

The other day we taught a less-active member of the church, the plan of salvation. After we taught the differences between the three degress of glory we told her that Heavenly father dwells in the Celestial Kingdom, so which kingdom would she want to go to. She said the second one. I could not believe she could be content not living up to her full potential. I can’t imagine the pain and sorrow our Heavenly Father feels knowing his children don’t want to return home to him.

I know I can live with my Father in Heaven again. It takes a lot of work and commitment to do what’s right, but it is worth it. I know we can be together as a family forever. I hope that I can at least touch one person through my testimony. This church is the true gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the Earth! I know we have a living prophet to lead and guide us today. I know that through the atonement we can live with our Heavenly Father again.

I love you both so much. Thank you for your support. Thanks for letting me vent. Please strive to be a better member-missionary everyday.

Love,

Sister Garbett

"Peace In This Life"

2010-02-22T08:30:00.001-08:00

February 12, 2010

Mom & Dad,

Hey, I’m so happy I got to talk to you today online. I’m really anxious about transfers this week. I’m curious how outbound calls are going to be. I can’t believe this transfer is almost over already! Time flies by. I’ve had such a great time with my current companion. I’m sad it’s already transfers again.

I will probably find out if and where I’m going before I sent this letter out. When I find out I’ll write the new address on back of the envelope. But it kind of sounds like you already know where I’m going. You should have told me if I’m going to be warm or cold.

This week has been really good. We took a tour with one member, his very less active daughter, and her non-member friend. The spirit was very strong during the whole tour. When we invited the non-member to receive more information about the church. She referred for a Book of Mormon and all three visitors gave us two potential referrals (names of friends to contact). So far two of those six potentials referred, meaning they agreed to accept a Book of Mormon or receive a church video. I called the member to let him know his friend referred and he told me his daughter was very impressed by her visit to Temple Square and she seemed more open to the church.

Sister Cheng took her first “Motor Coach” tour on Wednesday. A Motor Coach is a tour with twenty or more people who come to Temple Square to walk around the grounds. This tour had 43 Mandarin speakers from Mainland China. If they refer we gave them a copy of the Book of Mormon in Chinese right then and there. We also save their information for when the mission opens there. On this Motor Coach tour 24 of the visitors received a Book of Mormon! China really is being prepared to receive the gospel in its country.

This church is true and it is for everyone! In the missionary manual “Preach My Gospel” it says, “You are surrounded by people…They want peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, but they are ‘kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.’ The gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the prophet Joseph Smith will bless their families, meet their spiritual needs, and help them fulfil their deepest desires.” Before we came to earth everyone chose to follow the Savior. My role as a missionary is to remind people of this and to help them find peace in this life. I love being a missionary. This is Christ’s church on the earth today.

I’m so happy that through our Savior we can live with our Heavenly Father again. I’m grateful for the priesthood authority that binds our family together forever. I love you so much! Thank you for everything you do!

Love,

Sister Aubree Garbett

PS My new address is:
Sister Aubree Garbett
Baltimore Maryland Mission
4785 Dorsey Hall Drive Suite 105
Ellicott City, MD 21042

"A Window To His Love"

2010-02-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

February 12, 2010

Hey Family,

The Mission President called me into his office the other day to make sure everything was going good with me health wise. I really thought that meant I was going Outbound to another mission in the States for 3 to 4 transfers (4-6 months). But then he called in a bunch of other sisters, too. Some of them have already been Outbound, so I don't know what that means, or if it means anything.

I am actually feeling like I am going Outbound this transfer, but I'm not sure. I was in the celestial room of the temple and I felt the answer to my question was that I am going... but I don't know for sure. I don't want to get ready then not go and feel really stupid. I don't know if it's the Spirit or if it's just me wanting to go Outbound. If I do go I really hope I go for 3 transfers because then I will only come back for 4. That's less than how long I've been out already. I really hope I go somewhere warm, too!

Monday I will find out if and where I'm going. But if I go this week I will call from the airport on Wednesday. I am hoping for a layover so I have a lot of time to talk. It's pretty stressful with all this anxiety wondering if I'm going or not. I wish I knew when I was going and if I am, because it would be really nice to be able to pack everything today on my p-day.

But if I don't go I can't tell you until I have my next p-day, which could be a while. Well, actually I can just write it on the back of the envelope on the letter I’ll send out when I write you. But if I DO go outbound, I will call you from the airport. Can you put some money into my account in case I go Outbound and need to pay extra for my luggage or get food at the airport? I have a little money left from the gift card, but if I'm going Outbound I really want to go buy that cute coat that I wanted a couple of transfers ago. :)

Hey, tell Stacy to tell Keith that UC Santa Barbara is NOT a place to have a family. I went there one time for cheer camp and that is the LARGEST party school in California and WELL known for its drugs! Seriously, the beach is cold and ugly and the whole town is a hippie drug town. While we were there they were having tons of parties with drugs and alcohol and it is NOT a place to raise a sweet LDS family. Tell them I am serious. I love Keith so much and all he has to do is go to that school and realize that the spirit is nowhere near it. I thought about going there because they have a really good all girls cheer squad. But as soon as I was there I realized I would NEVER want to go to that school every day. And I’m sure he won’t either, especially since he will be spending so much time there at labs and doing other stuff. And I'm not only saying this because I don't want Stacy to move. I would have no problem visiting her wherever she moves to and it would be a lot of fun if it were in Southern California. But UCSB is not a place I would want to spend a weekend.

You asked about my health and I have discovered that I don't get as many stomach aches if I am constantly snacking on crackers or fruit snacks and stuff. But I don't think it's keeping me very skinny.

Yesterday, I sang for an event at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. I sang “A Window to His Love.” I think that's what Stacy sang at her missionary farewell. I was pretty much part of the lunch entertainment. But it was pretty cool. It was all of the international people who do the lds.org websites from all over the world. Plus we got free food. There were three musical numbers and one of the sisters who is incredibly talented with voice and piano was in charge of picking the sisters to perform at the event and she picked me! I felt so special. My musical number when ok, but I discovered this beautiful arrangement of “Consider The Lilies” that another sister performed. I decided I really want Stacy to sing that for Easter. I will try to get her a copy.

Since there are too many sisters on the Square and not enough guests, we have been doing something new here. We get to attend two sessions in a row a couple times a week in the Salt Lake Temple. It is amazing to be in the temple for four hours at a time! Also, I don’t think I told you that I got to do service in the Temple a couple of weeks ago, I assisted in the cleaning of the Temple. It was amazing!

Please, tell Stacy I LOVED her Valentine’s Day package!!! She is so sweet. I am making a tape for her and I will record a lot so I will send it out soon. Her homemade caramel is fantastic!!!!! I have been sharing it with my companion and other sisters because it is sooo good and if I don't share it I will get fat. I’m eating one right now. It tastes just like the Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm caramel apples they sell in Wheatland. Now, I just need an apple.

I’ll close for now but will upload some new pictures right now. I have to figure out how to get the videos onto a CD because I am almost out of room on my memory card. If I go Outbound I am allowed to call from the airport, but sometimes we leave really early. I could call as early as 4am so keep the phone nearby.

Love,

Sister Garbett

I'm SERIOUS

2010-02-08T18:10:00.000-08:00

February 5, 2010

OK Family,

You’re really starting to slack! (except for Steven, he sends me Dear Elder every week). But everyone else is forgetting about me. I haven’t even hit my half way mark, yet. This is way too soon to forget about me. I’m feeling really unloved right now. No letters from anyone in my family(except Steven) this week. I have to go the whole weekend without mail. I’m not even working on patience this week.

So the first step in repentance is to admit you did something wrong. I took care of that step for you. Next is to feel sorry… You will definitely feel sorry when you don’t get a letter from me this week. The third step is you need to correct the mistake. You can make it up to me with packages. Then you need to ask for forgiveness. I’ll forgive you after I get some Kookaburra licorice. Finally, you DON’T DO IT AGAIN!!!! I’m serious, this is two weeks in a row!

But on a serious note, last night I was having a really bad feeling like something bad happened. I couldn’t fall asleep and I was praying for comfort to know that everything was ok, but it didn’t really help. I was really hoping someone would be online to day to tell me everything is ok and nothing bad has happened. So hurry up and send me a letter to tell me how much you love me and that nothing bad happened and I’m freaking out about nothing!

I still love you.

Love,

Sister Garbett

Steadfastness In Christ

2010-02-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

January 29, 2010

Mommy & Daddy,

This week has been pretty good. We’ve had more success. We have also been taking Mandarin and Cantonese tours. I haven’t really learned any Chinese yet. It’s pretty hard.

My companion and I are still getting along great. Her birthday is tomorrow and I planned to have a surprise breakfast for her. A few other sisters are blowing up balloons tonight and tomorrow I’m going to wake up early and make German pancakes and eggs. I home my companion will like it.

I was really surprised when I heard dad was released from being the organist after 27 years! But I was also excited. It’s about time they get dad out of the calling so he can get a new one. The Lord is preparing you, daddy, for a responsibility to show your potential. Continue going to church and build your testimony. I want to come home to parents who are more righteous than me. The Lord is testing both of you now. You don’t have a calling or any reason why people would need you to go to church (so it seems) but this is your time to grow and to prove to the Lord that you really do honor the covenants you made.

I think of Nephi and his family in the wilderness. One of the first things the Lord commanded Nephi to do was to kill Laban. Sometimes I think Nephi could have just took Laban’s clothes, got the brass plates and ran for it. But more than getting the brass plates, Nephi needed to be tested to show his obedience to the Lord. Even when his brothers tied him up , or murmured, or tried to kill him. Nephi was always faithful to the Lord. Because Nephi showed his faithfulness to the Lord, the Lord continued to give him more commandments and blessings because he knew Nephi was a good and faithful servant.

This is your test. Mom and Dad, you may think that you are not needed at church anymore, but that is not true. People there need your testimony, the Lord needs you to be His servant and I need you. I need the comfort of knowing I was born of goodly parents who love the Lord. When I testify to people of the temple, I want to know that I will be with my family forever and that my parents go to the temple often and keep the covenants they made there. We have always been holding onto the iron rod, but sometime we forget to move forward. We need to make sure we are pressing forward with steadfastness in Christ as we can so we can reach the tree of life and see our potential. Then we will be able to help others (family) come too.

I love you both so much. If it weren’t for your sweet testimonies, I wouldn’t be here. I am so grateful you are my parents and that I was born into the covenant. I know this church is true with all my hart. I know the book of Mormon is the word of God. I encourage you to read it together. I know you are both so busy, but if you find the time to read it for at least 15 minutes a day together. I promise you, you will grow closer together and closer to the Lord and you will have a better understanding of His divine will for you. I know this is the Lord’s church. I am so grateful to be a literal representative of Jesus Christ. I love you so much!

You’re in my prayers.

Love Sister Garbett

Outbound???

2010-01-30T17:37:00.000-08:00

Jan 22, 2010

Hey Mom,

Today is my P-day so I’m hoping I can connect with you via email. The mission is going well. I went to Wal-mart today to buy more tapes and they didn't have any! I'm completely out! They said they no longer carry them! Arrrrgggg! Can you ask Stacy to send me some?

The work has been so slow! I have had some good contacts, but people aren't referring. But I had contact with an amazing member referral that referred last night while I was working in the Referral Center. I write you a nice long letter about it tonight.

I found out that sometimes when sisters are going outbound the mission that they are going to sends a letter to the parents. It's happened before that the parents find out where their daughter is going before she knows and they tell her and ruin the surprise. Soooo... just in case that were to happen (it doesn't happen often), but if it does, don't tell me. I won't find out if or where I'm going until Feb 15 and I want to be surprised. So just so you know!

My companion is a delight. She is little and silly and English is definitely her second language. She tried to say beaches the other day, but said something else. Ha-ha! She said it like 3 times too! We get along really well. I am pretty laid back with her. She said all of her other companions had made her cry in their first week together, and I haven't made her cry at all! And she is really sensitive. We have fun together and we try to work hard. It's hard because there is nobody here though.

Well, got to go. I hope we can email next week! I love you!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Moroni's Promise

2010-01-27T19:27:00.000-08:00

January 22, 2010

Mommy & Daddy,

I was so happy to talk to both of you online today. You seriously are the best parents ever! I love e-mailing when you guys are on.

This week has been ok. We really haven’t been seeing too much success. We have had a few really good tours, but for some reason, they’re not referring.

Monday we were in the South Visitor’s Center and a man came in to visit. He was probably in his 40s, very clean cut and here for business. His name was Andrew. He walked right up to us and asked for a tour. We took him through the Construction of the Temple, Assembly Hall, Tabernacle, the Christus and to the Book of Mormon display. We taught him about eternal families, prophets, restoration, Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was super strong. We found out he has two children, but wasn’t married. When we were at the Book of Mormon display we taught him about how the Book of Mormon and the Bible both testify of Jesus Christ. I testified of how much it has blessed me in my life. I invited him to receive a Book of Mormon and have the missionaries visit him and teach him. He respectfully declined. I was so sad. I was sure he would want a Book of Mormon. He was picking one up and looking at it and everything. I re-testified and told him he had nothing to lose and told him about Moroni’s promise. Then I re-invited and he said no again. I couldn’t believe it! Why wouldn’t someone want a free book to learn even more about their Savior? I asked if he was staying here in Salt Lake City and he said yes. So, I encouraged him to look at the Book of Mormon in his hotel room. He said he would.

The next day I was telling one of the sisters here at Temple Square what happened and I was on the verge of tears. Ever since I’ve been re-reading the Book of Mormon, my testimony has grown so much! I can’t understand why people won’t just pick up this book and read it for themselves!

On a little happier note, I did see some success in the Referral Center (RC). I don’t know if I told you but the member who came to Temple Square a couple of weeks ago. His name is Landon. He just got off his mission a few weeks prior to visiting the Square. He was really missing his mission. I realized that’s how I want to be when I get home. He gave me two of his friend’s names to call. The other day I called his friend, Jeff. I was a little nervous to call him for some reason and I had put if off for a while. When I finally called Jeff I told him my name and that I was calling on behalf of his friend Landon. I heard a lot of people in the background so I asked if there was a better time to call back and he told me to call him back in a half-a-hour.

I called him back about 45 minutes later and he answered! I’m not gonna lie, I was surprised. I told him who I was and that I met Landon a couple weeks ago and that he wanted me to send him a free DVD. Jeff said “Yeah, why not?” I was so happy! I continued to talk to him and told him we had missionaries just like me and like Landon, who had just finished serving a mission. I explained how they would come and share a message that means so much to me. I asked if that would be ok. He said “Yeah that’s fine.” And then added, “I actually just ran into the Elders on my way home.” He didn’t get to talk to them but talk about being prepare! I was so happy that he accepted the missionaries! Another good thing was when I followed up with a call to Landon he, too, was so happy. Sometime the members who refer don’t even seem happy when I call back and tell them their friend accepted the missionaries! I know, they’re crazy!

I really felt like that whole call was guided by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost on both ends. I felt comfortable and built a relationship, which made it easier for me to invite. It also makes them more likely to refer.

This gospel is true! I know with all my heart that the Book of Mormon is true and that it was translated by the power of God though Joseph Smith. I know that through temples families can and will be together forever! I am so grateful that the sealing power that binds families here on earth seals them together in Heaven for all eternity! I know my Savior lives! I know that through Him we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again.

You are the greatest parents in the whole world! I love you so Much!!!

Love,

Sister Garbett

100% Obedient

2010-01-13T19:50:00.000-08:00

January 8, 2010

Mom & Dad,

I’m happy transfers came. So far I like my new companion. Her name is Sister Cheng and she is from Hong Kong. She is really little and cute and a lot of fun.

This transfer I am trying to be extra, 100%, obedient. This includes working out in the morning. My companion doesn’t like to work out. So it looks like I’ll have to workout inside. Today I went to Wal-Mart and bought a “Step” to do step aerobics. It cost me $30.00! Thank you Kaysi for the gift card! Hopefully I’ll get skinny this transfer just in time to go outbound in February. I really don’t want to go until March, but I’m thinking I’ll probably go out next transfer. Sister Heath and Sister Pommell were sent outbound this transfer and we were companions together in the Mission Training Center last June. If I do go out this next time around, pray for me to be out for only three transfers!

Another goal I have for this transfer is to read the Book of Mormon in three weeks or less. So far it is completely possible. I have read almost 100 pages in three days. I love the Book of Mormon! As I’m reading, I’m highlighting every time Jesus Christ is mentioned. There are so many different names for Him. Did you know the name “Christ” isn’t used in the Book of Mormon until page 78 (excluding the introduction and cover of course)? But every page testifies of Him!

I had a really great experience the other day. Three Young Single Adult (ages 18-30) came into the south Visitor’s Center and I was able to tell them about the Temple. They are working at Park City but they were originally from South and Central America. I was very bold with them and testified that through the Temple they can be with their families forever. I invited them to receive the missionaries so they could learn more about eternal families and all three accepted! It was an incredible testimony to me that the spirit is the dividing factor which separates being bold from being pushy.

This church is so true! I love you so much! Thanks for your love and prayers!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

December 29, 2009

Mommy & Daddy

Happy New Year!!!

How was your Christmas and Daddy’s birthday? I’m sorry I wasn’t on line when you emailed. We change the time we e-mail every P-day. Next week will be my last morning P-day. Transfers are next week! So crazy! Tuesday I will tell you what’s going to happen during next transfer.

So I ended up having to do that solo on Christmas. It went surprisingly well. It wasn’t amazing because I only practiced once, but it was ok. Some of the missionary sisters came up to me and told me they had no idea that I could sing. They told me there is a music concert scheduled in March and they asked me to sing in it. So that means I won’t go outbound till March 31st! But I have to figure out what to sing by Thursday. I’m trying to figure that out soon.

This week has been good. I can’t wait until the lights go off and it’s not as busy anymore. It will be nice to be able to breathe again without all the people. There are thousands of people visiting the Square everyday.

Thanks so much for all the presents. I absolutely love the new camera! I’ll take lots of pictures and send them to you so you can put them on my blog!

It’s almost bed time, so I gotta go!. The church is true! I love you so much!

Love,
Sister Garbett

2010-01-03T14:34:00.000-08:00

December 22, 2009

Mom and Dad,

Hello, by the time you get this letter it will be after Christmas and I will have already talked to you. So, it was so good to talk to you!

Thanks so much for all of the Christmas presents! My tree looks so nice with all the present under it. I feel like I never left home because I still have a ton of presents on Christmas.

The Mission really is going better. It’s hard but that’s how Missions are supposed to be, right? I’m getting more sleep now and I think that’s helping me feel much better during the day. There’s still a lot of stress, but I think that sleeping at night is helping me cope better with all the stressors.

The work is going well. I’m still seeing success especially when I’m working in the Referral Center (RC), calling people and talking to them about the church. That’s one of my favorite things to do on the mission. It’s nice that I get to teach and I don’t have to worry about anyone judging me on how well I’m teaching.

Something that I’ve noticed lately is when I’m being myself I have so much more success on the mission compared to when others are telling me I need to be more like them. Lately, I really got all stressed out trying to be someone I’m not. I was starting to be afraid of just being me. Then I realized that’s how Satan really works. He uses others to create doubt in yourself and your abilities. I’m slowly learning how to stop caring about what people are saying and just do what works best for me and the work. That’s the hardest part, trusting in God and using the talents He has given me to bless the lives of others, regardless of what some critical person thinks or says.

So, I’m feeling better now and learning more as I read from the scriptures everyday. I’ve been reading the Old Testament because there are so many awesome stories in there. I particularly like to read before I go to bed and it seems to help me sleep better.

Well, this letter is going to be short, but I love you! I know this Church is true and I know there are people who need MY testimony. That’s why I am still here even when it’s hard. Thank you for your prayers. I love you so much!

Love,
Sister Garbett

"Someday"

2009-12-01T19:20:00.000-08:00

December 1, 2009

Hey Mom,

My new companion, Sister Rodriguez, is from Mexico and she is such a good missionary. She’s way more lay back than my other companions, but she goes home in February. We get along great. She is funny and she likes to shop too! She is so cute! Every morning she wakes up and says "Someday Sister, I won’t have to wake up so early." The other night as we lay in bed we started naming off all the "some days" that we will get to do when we are not missionaries anymore. We both hate waking up early in the morning. But we do it anyway and say "someday." The other night she said "Sister, someday when we get home we’ll be so tired from dancing all night!" I was really excited to think about that!

But it’s true. I am SO tired after working all day that when I get home I can barely get undressed before I fall asleep! I am getting so many referrals! My companion said the other night I was talking in my sleep and I was asking someone for a potential referral and I said I just need their phone number!

We both are working hard! It is extremely busy now at Temple Square especially at night with the Christmas lights display taking place. Our mission goal is to get 4 potential referrals a day. On our first day my companion and I got 54 referrals together! We are so good and our Mission President knows it! He keeps moving us where the people are even though our schedule says to be at other places.

But I have to admit, I think some of the other sisters may be a little jealous of our success because one of the sisters accused me of flirting to get potentials! But don't even get me started on that! I am working really hard to get those referrals and it seems that whenever I am doing what is right Satan always tries to interfere. I don't know who it was that said it and to be honest I don’t want to know. But I do know that my Mission President watches over me and if I was doing anything wrong he would be the first to tell me.

Just the other day, I didn’t know it but my Mission President was watching me as I was getting potential referrals from some football players who attend the U. Now, to be honest, if I was ever going to flirt with anyone it would have been with those guys. But I didn't and President was right there and saw me get those potential referrals through hard work. The next day he told me how great I'm doing and how our companionship is leading the mission.

It makes me feel so sad whenever I hear people say hurtful things about me, like I can't go on a mission because I will distract the elders! I was sent on a mission for my personality so I am not going to change that and obviously its working!

Thanksgiving at Temple Square was fun. We went to this place with a big cultural hall where dinner was served. But it wasn't like the Thanksgiving dinners I remember at home. I think the turkey was like some kind of processed turkey because I really thought it was ham! After dinner we got to do karaoke and sing “apostate” songs. We also got to watch the movie “UP” it was good! Then on Saturday, at Temple Square, I got to see Uncle Scott, Aunt Judy, Michael, Donna, Cheryl, Denavon and their babies! It was fun seeing family at Temple Square.

Thanks so much for the heater blanket! I’m sleeping so much better since I got it. For the past few weeks, I was having such a hard time sleeping, but the first night I put it on, I slept better than I had in a long time.

That is so cool about you cutting down your 20 foot Christmas tree for the cabin! I am jealous! At the Thanksgiving Dinner they also played the movie “White Christmas” but I couldn’t watch it. It made me trunky for home!!! As for calling home on Christmas day, there are six of us in one apartment, but three of them have to call home to Europe. I’m hoping they will go to the RC for their calls. I will probably call home in the evening because the Square is open until 6pm on Christmas Day. So I’m thinking we’ll have to call after then.

Well, I got to go! I love you lots, you’re always in my prayers!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Talents

2009-12-01T19:13:00.000-08:00

November 21, 2009

Mom and Dad,

Hello! How are you doing? How’s work going? Today could be my last Saturday P-day for a while. Transfer calls are this Monday. I’ll find out what my fate is for the next six weeks. I’m excited/nervous. I wonder what’s going to happen.

Everything is going good right now. I was telling mom how I’m using my personality when I teach to avoid becoming a “robot”. This week we took a member family through God’s plan. They had three children CJ 7yrs-old, Katie 5yrs-old and Angie 3yrs-old. We finished the movie and I got up to testify. I started talking then Angie interrupted me. She said something then I said, “Oh, really?” then I continued and she interrupted me again. She showed me her new mini Book of Mormon. Her dad told her to be quiet and I realized I needed to focus on teaching the children. So I stopped trying to testify and started to talk with her. I asked what her name was and how old was she? Then I asked if she saw the temple. I told her that because of the temple she can be with her mommy and daddy and brother and sister forever. My companion kind of gave me a weird look because of the way I was talking to Angie, but Angie understood what I was saying. I was able to talk to the children and got down to their level so I could get to know them better. While I was building the relationship with the children I was also forming one with the parents. They were surprised that I remembered their children’s names when we said good bye.

I used my talents and built the relationship of trust. The parents referred a friend for us to call. I love how Heavenly Father knows us and loves us so much. He sent me to this mission for people who specifically need my personality. This church is true. It is Christ’s church and ran by revelation from God. I am so blessed to be a part of it!

I love you all so much! You’re in my prayers always!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Family Search: A Wonderful Missionary Tool!

2009-11-22T17:05:00.001-08:00

November 21, 2009

Hey Mom & Dad,

Well this week and a half has been good. I had a blast last week at Park City, serving at the Family Tree Center. When I got there the director told us that when people come to the Family Tree Center they are so prepared and that they almost always refer. I have such a testimony of Family Search. The Spirit is so strong when they find their ancestors. This is such a wonderful missionary tool.

While I was there, one of the sisters that I served with was not feeling well and thought she should have her diabetes checked. After I left, she went to the doctor and they found a lump on one of her glands. She had to go home to have her doctor look at it. She left a couple days after I came back to the square. Also, when I got back to Temple Square I saw my companion from my last transfer and she had cast on her foot! She broke her foot while I was serving in Park City. So lots of drama.

The past week on the square has been a good one. We’ve been working hard and seeing lots of success. I am so much more comfortable in Family Search than ever before. I am getting better at teaching and inviting. I have yet to have any referrals in Family Search this whole transfer though. My companion gets one like every day! Sometimes I get a little discouraged, but I am realizing we all have our own strengths. My companion is good at getting referrals, but I feel I’m great at getting potentials. They usually ending up referring, which takes even more work! But I love it! I am also great with people my age. Yesterday we took two guys on a tour. They were both 20. They were pretty immature, but I know how to relate to them. So I would laugh at their jokes then talk about the gospel and apply it to them. I am very real with them. They ended up not referring, but I built a great relationship with them and feel they will referral one day.

Today my companion and I went to the Jordan River Temple! It was so nice not to have to attend a live session. I felt like I was at home again, in the Sacramento Temple. It made me a little homesick. I love the temple so much.

I love sharing the gospel it’s so cool to have so much variety when I do it. I love serving in the Temple Square Mission, it is such an amazing opportunity. When I get home I will be able to bridge anything to the gospel. This church is really the Church of Jesus Christ. Everything testifies of him and Heavenly father. I am so grateful to be part of this marvelous work!

Thank you for your wonderful example you have been to me! I’m always praying for you!

Love,

Sister Garbett

More Pictures

2009-11-22T17:00:00.001-08:00

So Happy!

2009-11-12T18:03:00.000-08:00

November 10, 2009

Dad,

I'm so happy! The spider man came yesterday :) Now I can sleep at night.

My p-day is today. I will be on at about 10am your time! So if you are on at that time, we can talk. I am in park city all week working in the Family Tree Center. It is so pretty here, but it is cold. We are downtown on mainstreet and there are a lot of cute shops and a place that has amazing carmel apples(so I hear).

I will be on in an hour or so! I love you! Thanks for your letter! I was
laughing out loud when I read about the nija girl inviting you to go to war with her and you guys could "eat fish guts for dinner!"

I love you,

Sister garbett

Happy Halloween

2009-11-12T17:55:00.000-08:00

October 31, 2009

Dear Stacy,

Hey Happy Halloween!

I’m at our Halloween “party”. We just finished watching Emma. Have you seen that movie? You really need to see it. It has the same actors from the Joseph Smith movie we play here. It is so good. But it’s pretty depressing. I really recommend you see it, but it made me cry because it was so good.

I haven’t had much of a P-day to day. We had zone conference this morning. Then I printed off pictures, did my laundry and then I came here to the party. We ate pizza and watched the movie. Now we are going to watch a movie about Gordon B. Hinckley.

I hope your Halloween is more fun than mine. I heard you’re going to Michael and Donna’s house. You’ll have lots of fun there! This time next year I’ll only have a couple months left of my mission. I can’t believe how quickly time is going bye. Halloween is already over. November is tomorrow. Happy 1st Birthday, Lucas! Thanksgiving is just around the corner and next is Christmas.

I can’t believe how fast time is flying. Sometime I happy that time is going by quickly. But other times I’m sad. Sometimes I feel like a mission is something I have to do before I can move on with my life. Kind of like high school, I didn’t’ want to always be there but I knew I would learn and grow so much from it if I went. Plus, I couldn’t do anything with my life if I didn’t go. When I’m freezing and I don’t want to get out of bed, I sometimes think I just have to do this for a year-and-a-half and then I can move on with my life. Did you ever feel that way when you were on your mission?

But then there are lots of days when I just love being a missionary. It’s usually on the days when I see lots of success (and days when there aren’t spiders all over my apartment). We have spiders EVERYWHERE in our apartment. They are ugly and scary. I pray every night that the spiders won’t crawl on me. So when you pray for me you might want to mention the spiders and ask God to keep them off of me.

The other day I saw Joseph W. Sitati, from the seventy. He is the one from Africa who spoke during the Sunday afternoon session. Speaking of conference, my picture is not in the Ensign, but my Mission President is!

This church is so true! I know Joseph Smith was called of God to bring back Christ’s church on the earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson is called of God today to lead and direct us. We are so lucky to have that guidance given to us from God through his prophets. We really are God’s children and He really loves us all. I love it when I tell people this and they understand and want to learn more. This is why I’m here.

I love you! Take care, write me!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Photo shoot on P-day

2009-11-12T17:50:00.000-08:00

Lots of Spiders

2009-11-12T17:30:00.001-08:00

24 Oct 2009

Mom & Dad,

Hello! I’m so happy I got to talk to mom online today! My companion and I had a photo-shoot today for our p-day. It was a lot of fun, but we were in p-day clothes. Next time we’ll have to do it before we change.

We had a really good wek. We worked really hard and we’ve seen a lot of success so far. Sister Basurto still teaches me Spanish. I’m learning the days of the week now. She is super nice. Today sand said she really likes me being her companion. She always makes me food and gives me little notes. She is so cute.

There are lots of spiders in my house. They are really icky! I pray that they won’t crawl on me when I sleep. We have sticky traps for them all over the house.

I still love being a missionary. I’m working really hard with my companion I love when I go home exhausted from working so hard. Although lately I can’t fall right to sleep at night, I’m super tired, but I lay in bed for like a half-hour before I actually fall asleep. Our room is really dark. I wonder if it’s too dark for me. Especially since there are probably spiders crawling on me. Maybe it’s a good thing I can’t see. I would feel like Peter Brady, in the Hawaii episode, when he opened his eyes and saw a huge spider crawling on him! Man, I miss watching the Brady Bunch on DVD. When I get home we need to have a Brady Bunch Marathon. But I have about 14 months till I’ll get to do that.

I can’t believe how quickly time is going by I love sharing the gospel. It’s cool to learn new ways to teach people, especially since I’ve been in family search. Speaking of, I want to do some of our family history. I’m getting birthdates and places so we can get their temple work going. I’m sharing the gospel with people from all over the world, but my family hasn’t even heard it yet. I’ll send you a pamphlet on temples so you can share it with your siblings who aren’t members, yet.

This church is so true something my Mission President always says is if we don’t invite we are taking away their agency. That was Satan’s plan. I love this church. I am so grateful for the faith of the pioneers who came here so we can worship in freedom.

I love you so much you’re always in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,

Sister Garbett

A Fever of 102.6!

2009-10-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

October 12, 2009

Mom and Dad,

I'm sorry I didn't get a long letter out to you this week. Thank you for the package! We had tranfers today. I'm moving into a different apartment in the same house. However, I'll be in the basement. It's suppose to be the worst apartment, everyone says it's always freezing and there are lots of spiders! Pray for me! I'm still in the extended zone and I'll be working in Family Search.

Here are the answers to your email questions...

How was the VIP tour?
It went well. It wasn't actually people who are deciding right now if they want missionaries or not. They are like lawyers and stuff who have an influence on those types of decisions. The tour couldn't be religious in any way so it was a very historical tour, which actually made it a little less stressful. But it was pretty cool to see all the people from different countries.

How was conference?
Conference was busy! We got 2,421 potential referrals from members! I'm still calling people on my list. I actually talked to three people on the phone today whose friends I met at conference and they referred them. Those three people accepted to have the missionaries over! I'm waiting for the Ensign to come out so I can see if my picture is in it. :) Tell Steven thanks so much for making cd copies of the conference talks for me. I've been listening to them all week. And I loved the package you had Christina deliver to me!!! Thank you!

What was the best experience at conference?
I actually really loved seeing people that I know. For some wierd reason it doesn't distract me, it motivates me! But also, the next day we got to sleep in till 9:00am!!!!

Did the boots fit?
Yes they do! They are really comfortable, too! Thank you so much!

How's your new companion?
Good, Sister Basurto is from Texas/Mexico. She and I are in the same class, which means we came out together. We are both in our 3rd transfer. I am supposed to be the senior companion, but this week I have been really sick. The flu/cold is going around! I've had to stayed home for two days this week with a fever of 102.6! I am getting better now, but I sound like a man. Sister Basurto has made me breakfast every morning since I've been sick. She is very kind. I think we'll get along well.

How's the weather?
Beautiful!! Today and yesterday has been clear and just a little chilly! It feels like fall! I am warm enough with just a light sweater, but it is supposed to be getting much colder very soon.

I've been feeling a little sad that I won't be home for Halloween! Please go to the pumpkin farm for me! I would absolutely love it if you would buy me some pumpkin cake or muffins from the Bishop's Pumkin Farm and send them to me! I'm have to admit that I've been feeling very homesick this week because I was so ill. I am going to send a tape to Stacy soon, and it is kind of depressing. There is like 20 min of me complaining about how sick I was and how I felt nobody cared! I wanted to call home so bad! I've decided I hate being sick on the mission cause it just makes me want to go home!

Well, I love you! Hopefully I will hear from you soon! I didn't get your letter this week. Hopefully, I'll get it on Monday. I love you so much! You're always in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,
Sister Garbett

V.I.P Tour

2009-10-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

30 Sept 2009

Mommy,

I was so happy to email with you online today! I miss you! You made my day so much better! It was so cold today. We were walking home and it started snowing! It didn't stick or anything but still, it was cold!

Thank you so much for putting money into my account. It is so nice to have that extra little security. I bought a nice sweater that will keep me warm, but I didn't find any snow boots that I liked enough to spend $70.00 on! So I will keep looking. My companion said I can borrow a pair of her boots for conference this weekend if I need them.

The work has been good. We are always working but we aren't always seeing success. But we continue to work. I love being a missionary. It's amazing to testify of the truthfulness of this gospel and to have the spirit confirm it every time I do. I love being part of this work.

Sister Green and I are taking part in a V.I.P. tour next Wednesday. Basically, a bunch of people are coming from a country that doesn't allow missionaries to proselyte in their land. They're here to decide if that will change! So my companion and I were asked to take a group of them on a tour. The organizers said that Sis Green and I were one of the first chosen by the office sisters (they are the ones who make our schedules). So this is a pretty big responsibility. I will need your prayers.

This weekend is conference! I only get to go to one session, Sunday afternoon. During the other sessions I will be working on Temple Square. You will have to let me know how it is. I asked Steven to copy the talks onto a CD for me so I don't have to wait to read them in the November Ensign. Speaking of conference, wouldn't that be cool if I was in the Ensign!?! I think that's what all the Temple Square sisters hope for.

Well, I should get ready for bed. It's late. I love you so much! Thank you for everything you do for me. You are an amazing mom. You really are such a strong, spiritual woman. You are an amazing example to me. If it weren't for your incredible testimony. I wouldn't be here today. This church is absolutely true! Keep up the good work. Go to the temple often. I'm going tomorrow. I love you so much!

Love,

Sister Garbett

"Is It A Thong?"

2009-09-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

Sept 19, 2009

Mommy,

I love you! I was so glad that I got some e-mails today. It sounds like things are going pretty well for you all. I heard you and daddy got to be the witness couple at the Temple last week. That is so special. I miss going to the temple with you. We have had a lot of schedule conflicts, so I haven’t gone to the temple in about a month. I am having withdrawals.

How is the cabin? I heard about you sleeping all day at the cabin and I got really jealous. I miss sleep. I never feel fully rested. I never wake up in a good mood either. I feel sorry for my companion. I have to remind myself every morning that obedience is better than sleep.

We had a really funny experience this past week. We were on a tour in the Beehive house. We were in a very small room with about 15 people. One of the group members was a woman who was probably over 60 years-old. She asked us why the men in the church wear special underwear. My companion, Sister Green, explained that not only men but women, too, who have gone through the temple wear special under garments. She added that we wear them to remind us of the promises we made to God. All of the people were asking lots of questions about the garments. They asked what do they look like and Sister Green answered they are white. They then asked why the underclothing was white. Sister Green said to symbolize purity. Then the older woman asked in complete sincerity, “Is it a thong!?” HA, HA, HA!!! Both Sister Green and I couldn’t help but laugh. If they weren’t so genuinely curious, I would have probably gotten very upset. But Sister Green handled the situation very well.

We definitely get every question you could possibly think of. A mission is a very interesting experience, but I love it. Going on a mission really was the best choice I’ve ever made. I have grown so much already.

I’ve really been learning how much Heavenly Father loves us. He really does want to bless us and answer our prayers, but we need to have faith enough to act. Just like Nephi, the brother of Jared and even Joseph Smith. We need to have faith, but faith is an action word. That’s what separates the prepared and those who are not yet ready to receive the gospel. If they are not going to act, why should they receive that knowledge? I think that’s why sometimes our prayers aren’t answered.

Heavenly Father’s plan is absolutely perfect. I am so happy to know about His plan. Sometimes as I testify that we lived with Heavenly Father before we came to earth and that we can live with him again after this life, I feel so close to the veil. Thank you so much for raising me with this knowledge and understanding of who I am. We really are all children of God. This is why I’m here, to help everyone find their way back home.

I admire you so much for your ability to find the church and your willingness to act and to stay strong in the gospel. You are my rock. You have such an incredible testimony. Thank you for your example and support. You and dad are the BEST parents in the whole world!

I LOVE YOU!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Three Months Out!

2009-09-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

Sept 19, 2009

Daddy,

Thanks so much for your e-mails. I printed them off and then read them when I got home. You are so funny! You made me laugh especially when you wrote about the huge spider you found at the cabin. I also thought it was pretty funny when you wrote about how, Allie, our pug, “talks” about me all the time. I have to admit that when I read about you watching the Brady Bunch DVDs I got trunky for a minute. I do miss eating ice cream and watching the Brady Bunch with you in the evenings. That activity is high on my to-do list when I get home.

Can you believe I’ve been out for three months! Did time fly for you, too? In three months I’ll be calling home at Christmas. Did you hear I get to call home on Father’s Day, too? I also get to call from the airport when I go outbound. That will probably be in February or March. Plus I’ll probably get to call at the airport when I go back to Temple Square after my outbound assignment. So, I get to call home like five times! My mission is so cool!

I love reading your e-mails about your missionary experiences. I bet it was hard learning to speak and read Spanish. It’s so cool that you know what I’m going through. It’s nice to hear from people who have been where I am.
As a spiritual thought a couple of weeks ago, I heard about an article from the Church News “Music Warms and Lights”
( http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/57778/Music-warms-and-lights.html) It really touched me and I thought of you and all the years you have played the organ in church as I was growing up. The article was true. Because I know how important music in the church really is. So I went to the distribution center and bought the church News so I could send you the article. Your calling as the Ward Organist really is so important. You’re so lucky to have such a wonderful talent and so faithful to share it every Sunday with the members of our church.

I love this church so much! I love being a missionary on Temple Square and that I get to testify about eternal families. I’m so happy to know that my family will be together forever!

I love you so much! Keep up the good work. Keep going to the temple often.

Love,

Sister Garbett

A Simple Act Of Kindness

2009-09-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

Sept 12, 2009

Mom & Dad,

Another week gone by… It was a great week. I love my companion. We get along great. Today we went to the Mall! I felt like I was in heaven. But I wish I had more money. Groceries are so expensive. But I did buy a pair of shoes. They were cheap, cute and comfortable. I couldn’t pass them up. We also got ice cream cones at Ben & Jerry’s and a girl gave us $20.00 to buy it. She was a really cute return missionary. It was such a small, simple act of kindness, but it was such a big deal to a couple of poor missionaries. It shows that when you are doing God’s will, you are always blessed. I’m sure that girl will be so blessed for her sacrifice.

How is the cabin coming a long? Something really random, my house I live in sometimes smells like the old cabin. It’s weird to wake up to that smell. I think it’s because it’s so old.

My companion and I get along so well. We talk about everything. We just sit on our beds at night and talk about scriptures and the miracles we’ve had. Today we were both so happy for no particular reason. We realized it was because we had the spirit with us all the time. Today at the mall we could literally feel how we were set apart from the world. It almost felt like we were in a bubble that kept the world away from us. It was the first time I’ve really felt my mantel. Everyone always told me about it, but I never noticed it before. I’m so lucky to serve everyday on dedicated grounds. As I walked back to the Square I could feel the difference as I passed through the gate onto Temple Square. I love my mission. I am so lucky to be a missionary and to represent Jesus Christ. This is his church. I love being able to tell people about it. Heavenly father loves us so much. We really are His children. Isn’t that amazing? And as His children we are all heirs to His Kingdom!

This church is so true!

I love you!

Love,

Sister Garbett

So Many Miracles

2009-09-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

Hey Daddy!

How are you? The mission is going so good! I love my new companion! We get along great and we both work really hard! I have seen so many miracles so far this transfer.

We were contacting on the square and my companion thought we should go to the East gate. So we did. We were there just a couple of minutes and a couple walked by with bikes. They looked in the gate and asked if they could come in dressed in jeans. They were so cute! They saw so many people dressed up, so they wanted to make sure it was ok. We talked to them and they had a new baby and a toddler. They had a lot of questions. We answered them and talked to them for like 15 minutes. They were very curious about our beliefs. The man was Jewish (not practicing) and the wife was Catholic. They were very nice people and you could tell their family was very important to them. We offered to send them a DVD about families and to have missionaries deliver it to them and answer more of their questions. They were a little apprehensive, but you could tell they were interested. They said they did want the missionaries to come. So they filled out a referral card! They are so golden! I could definitely see them getting baptized and sealed together. Wouldn’t that be amazing!? Then their whole family would be together forever!

The gospel is so amazing! I love that I am able to take a year and a half out of my life to do this! I have learned so much already! I continue to grow everyday in so many different aspects. This really is the best thing I have ever done in my life! Thank you so much for being an example to me by serving a mission! Thank you for always being a worthy Priesthood holder to show me that there are still good people in this world with the power of God.

I love this church so much! I know it really is the exact church that Jesus Christ established while he was on this Earth! I love you! I am so happy that we can be together as a family forever! Thank you for all of your support!

Love,

Sister Garbett

"I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus"

2009-09-15T19:56:00.000-07:00

Sept 12, 2009

Mommy,

Well, I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little sad that you're not online and that I didn’t get an e-mail from ANYONE this week... Saturday we don't get mail so I love e-mails.. but this week I didn’t get anything. Oh well, I guess I'm not in my 1st transfer anymore so people start to forget about me.

This week has been good. My new companion, Sister Green, and I get along great. We talk about lots of things and we laugh all the time. We work hard together too. She is such a great example to me and I am learning a lot from her. We have seen lots of miracles this week. We give tours in the Beehive house and that’s where we talk about plural marriage. I was really nervous to talk about that, but I have really gained a testimony of why it was necessary. It is pretty neat to give a tour in such an old house with so many antiques.

I like giving tours at the humanitarian center too. We mainly give tours to members. Last Tuesday we gave a tour to a YM/YW group from a Ward in Provo. It was a lot of fun. I love the youth. The Bishop also asked us to bear our testimony of why we are on missions. It was so great, because there were so many YW there. I hope some of them decide to serve a mission because of us.

Another thing we do a lot is present and contact at the Joseph Smith movie. That is interesting. We're still trying to figure out the most effective way to do that. But last night there were missionaries from the Salt Lake Mission who brought a part member family. We were getting ready to go home and one of the Elders asked us to bear our testimony on baptism to the two children who are preparing for baptism. I told them that one thing I remember about my baptism was the song we sang "I'm trying to be like Jesus." I told them that was my favorite song and how when I was baptized I felt like I was being just like Jesus and how happy I felt for doing that. The spirit was really strong when I told this story. I know I was prompted to say what I said, because I had no idea what I was going to say until I opened my mouth.

I love being a missionary! I love sharing my happiness with so many people. People come up to us all the time and say how much they admire what we do. The other day we had a couple that came on a tour and said they hope that more young women will be more like us. They also said that we don’t have to say anything, but when we walk outside people know who we are and they know what we represent. They weren't even members!

I know I am doing exactly what the Lord wants me to be doing! I love it here! This is such an amazing mission! I love you so much! Keep writing me! I haven’t heard from you all week :(

I love you

Love,
Sister Garbett

First Transfer!

2009-09-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

31 Aug 2009

Mommy & Daddy,

Today we had transfer conference. We found out who is going outbound (transferred to another State-side mission) and what our transfers are. But we don’t actually transfer until Wednesday. I am going to be in the extended zone and my main assignment is the Humanitarian Center. So I will be giving tours there. I don’t exactly know how that will work. My new companion is Sister Green. I don’t know her very well, but I hear she likes to shop! I am so excited for that because I haven’t been shopping in 10 weeks. My companion now told me on my first day that I would have to wait till my 2nd transfer to go shopping. So I have earned a companion who wants to go shopping.

We had a really great experience this week. I was on exchanges with Sister Rafi. She is from France. She is so cute and has lots of energy. She is an amazing missionary. We contacted into two young men, probably my age. One of them was having a really difficult time. He was driving on a suspended license and got pulled over. So he got his car impounded and was stranded without any money in Salt Lake. Little did he know how lucky he was. He talked to a senior couple and they arranged for him to meet with a Bishop at the Welfare Square. He needed to get home to his girlfriend and his three-year-old son. So while he was waiting of his appointment we took him on a tour. The other guy he was with was just a random guy, neither had met each other before. However, they both had had hard lives and grew up without family.

We gave them a tour and talked about temples and prophets. We told them there was a prophet on the earth today and they believed us. We took them into the Tabernacle and there we taught them the restoration. Both of them were taking in everything we said. When we were leaving the Tabernacle one of them said he felt so good. He said there is a feeling here that’s different! They both felt the spirit so strong. We took them to see the Christus at the Visitor Center and it was amazing. I testified how the atonement helps us in our lives with any trials we are going through. We taught about the Book of Mormon and shared with them how we have another scripture to help us in our lives. I was guided by the spirit perfectly when I invited them to have the missionaries bring them a Book of Mormon. They both referred! They were so happy that they got to take the tour. At the end of the tour the young man who was stranded said how he felt that he was stranded here for a reason. The Lord works in mysterious way!

I love being a missionary. The work is hard, but it is so worth it! Those moments when I see someone feel the spirit makes all my hard work worth it. This church is true! This really is the Church of Jesus Christ! The same church that was on the earth in the Bible is on the earth today!

Thanks so much for everything you do for me. I love you! Keep me in the loop.

Love,
Sister Garbett

The Days Are Long But The Weeks are Short!

2009-09-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

Aug 24, 2009

Mommy & Daddy,

How was your week. Mine has been really good. The days are so long, but the weeks are incredibly short.

Yesterday was one of the greatest days so far on my mission. I got to attend the Music & Spoken Word at the Conference Center. It was amazing. I get to go again next week because it is my companions last week in the mission field. But next week it will be in the Tabernacle. After that we had an Italian speaking tour and a French speaking tour and both families referred. Then we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication. It was so good! It was such a spiritual experience. It made me want to go to the temple every week for the rest of my life. Then we had another Italian speaking tour with 13 people an four referred! It was such an amazing day! Oh, and on top of that, I saw my best-friend Kaysi! This week was so hard. But yesterday was good, it really was filled with many tender mercies from God.

The mission is going so great! Thanks so much for all the support you give me. I pray for you all the time. Oh, that was one thing that was super cool. During the Oquirrh Temple dedicatory prayer, they blessed all the missionaries and their families and while they were praying I felt the spirit so strong. I seriously felt like they were individually blessing me .

I love being a missionary. Although, sometime I get trunky for cute jeans and high heels, I know there is no better place for me to be right now than here on my mission. And I know that this mission is going to bless me and my posterity more than I can imagine. Not to mention all of the random people I meet from all over the world.

This church is so true I love this gospel so much. Thank you for raising me in a righteous environment where I was always able to feel the spirit. I love you so much keep me in the loop!

Love,
Sister Garbett
P.S.

Today was my 2 month mark!
Only 15 and a half months to go! Crazy, huh?

Working Hard

2009-09-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

Aug 17, 2009

Mom & Dad

Hey! How is life going? How is the cabin?. Thank you so much for the package. I was actually just thinking about making trail mix. You can always tell mom is in tune with the spirit because she always knows exactly what to say and do.

I love you so much. I had a good P-day today I went to the mall, but I didn’t buy anything. But is was so nice to be in the mall. I got a little trunky. I was looking at the cute stuff then I realized it would be pointless to buy anything cause I can’t wear it anyway. So my companion got her haircut and I sat in the salon writing letters.

I love the mission. Sometime I forget I’m a missionary. Then random people come up and tell me how great I am, and how much they love the missionaries. It’s pretty nice. It’s still pretty weird that I’m really a missionary though.

How is the missionary work going there? You need to help the missionaries out. Any baptisms in the ward lately? How are the ward members? I got a few cards from the Relief Society. It was so nice. I’m glad to know the Ward supports me.

I’m having fun on the mission. Working hard and trying my best to be obedient. I’m mainly taking language tours. Which is pretty nice cause all I do is stand there and look cute. :) The only problem is it gives me lots of time to think and get distracted. Pray for me to have the ability to focus, especially during language ours. But other than that everything is great! I love you so much. Thanks for your support. Thank you for being so wonderful. I love you so much!

Love,

Sister Garbett

August 10, 2009

2009-08-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

Mommy and Daddy,

This week was busy. Even my P-Day was busy I had to go to Wal-Mart and I went with a couple of companionships to a park. Then we came back and played Scattergories. It was fun but not as relaxing as I would have liked.

So the mission is work. I’ve had some good experiences because of it, though. Today my companion and I were evaluated by our zone leaders (ZL). They said I did really well. They asked me if I’ve ever taught kids before, because I teach very animated and simply. On that same tour where I was being evaluated by my ZLs, we got a comment card back that said, “Sister Garbett was wonderful” (or something like that). Also on that tour, a woman came up and told me that she used to think that Mormons were racist. But I was so friendly and had such a love for God that she said, it couldn’t be true. She referred. J It’s amazing how being personal really pays off.

Sorry this is going to be a short letter. But it’s late and my hand hurts. Remember to be the person Heavenly Father knows you can be. I love you!

Love,
Sister Garbett

P.S. Here is a list of things you can send me whenever you make a package for me :)
Wal-Mart gift card
Subway gift card
Mascara (pin tube, mom knows which one)
Stamps
Licorice
Stationary
Trolli candy
Fruit snacks
Clothes (I can wear button up shirts with small patterns --strips/polka-dots)
Jewelry
I love you!

Aug 3, 2009

2009-08-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

Mommy and Daddy,

Well today is my P-day. It’s about 830pm so I only have about a half-hour left to finish writing my letters. I’ve done lots of laundry and I’ve written almost 10 letters. It’s been a pretty no stress day. Well after noon, because on P-day we work from 10-1pm. But today we got called in early so we worked from 9-12. I’ve been in my apartment on my bed for most of the day.
Thank you so much for the licorice. I ate one bag in like three days. I haven’t opened the second one yet. I’m saving it for an emergency.

The mission is so good. I really feel like I am good at giving tours. Because even though I may not know all the facts, I’m a people person, so people seem to like me. The other day (I don’t remember which one, because they all run together) we had a tour with a middle age couple. I try to learn everyone’s name on the tour and I try to talk to everyone. This tour we gave had 20 plus people in it! So after the tour we handed out the referral cards for people to leave comments and to refer. This same middle age couple left all of their information and comments, but didn’t refer. So I re-invited them and asked if they wanted a Book of Mormon. The husband said he had been reading it in the hotel. So I offered him one for himself. He said yes and checked the box to receive the Book of Mormon and missionaries. I found out they are Quakers! Later I looked at the comments and it said, “Sister Garbett did an excellent job.” They even wrote this before I re-invited them. It’s amazing how talking to people and building that relationship makes such a difference. Every day I remind myself, “We teach people, not lessons.”

I know I’m here for a reason. Being able to talk to people is a gift from the spirit that I have be given. It has blessed me so much already and I know it will help me throughout my whole mission. This church is so true!

I love you so much!

Love,
Sister Garbett

More Missionary Pictures

2009-08-17T18:41:00.001-07:00

Pictures from the Mission

2009-08-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

Aubree at Temple Square

2009-08-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

P-Day at Temple Square

2009-08-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

July 27, 2009

Mommy & Daddy,

I love you! Today is my first preparation day (p-day) at Temple Square! It was great! Busy, and yet relaxing. We worked on the Square from 10-1 then our p-day is from 1-9pm. So after working on the Square we went to Wal-Mart. I spent a lot of money because it is my first p-day and I had to stock up on everything.

This evening, I was making fried chicken strips for me to eat throughout the week and some of the sisters came over and wanted some. So I ended up making enough for them, too. One of the sisters made smoothies and my companion made rice. We all sat at the table and had dinner. It was pretty fun! But I ate too much and I feel kind of sick. There are a bunch of sisters in my living room right now, singing and talking. It’s fun at Temple Square. The sisters are real fun! I never thought I would have this much fun hanging out with a bunch of girls, but sometime they’re a blast!

Tomorrow we have this special outing where we get to go to Cotton Wood Canyon, which is where the pioneers went to get the granite to build the Salt Lake Temple. We were told to wear p-day clothes and that we might be getting wet…. So I’ll let you know what happened in my next letter.

So, I emailed you a bunch of pictures today. I hope you got them. I can upload pictures straight from my camera. So you’ll get all the pictures first.

I don’t know if you’ll get my letter before Brian and Rachel leave this weekend for Utah, but if you do, tell Brian if he wants a tour with me he needs to call mission services to find out which tours I’m scheduled to be on.

Well, I love you! I love being here. It’s amazing when you have a tour of seven people and you feel the sprit so strong as you’re giving the tour and afterward two people want the missionaries to visit them!!! That’s what happened yesterday! That kind of experience reminds me of why I’m here, to invite others to come unto Christ. It’s even better when they accept the invitation!

I know I’ve been the happiest on my mission when I’ve worked my butt off during the day and at night I fall right to sleep. The next morning I wake up renewed with the needed energy to do it all over again! I love this church! I love you! Thank you so much for the package! You’re the best!!!

Love,

Sister Garbett

The Best Day Of My Mission!

2009-07-24T23:55:00.001-07:00

July 18, 2009

Dear Mom & Dad,

I had the best day of my mission, so far today! I went to Temple Square! We left the MTC at 3pm and got to Temple Square at 4pm. We all went to the “underground laired.” We met in a conference room and sang “Called to Serve.” The mission has added a third verse about Temple Square. Then we met our companions for the day. My companion was Sister Higgenbotham from Virginia. She was amazing! We talked to lots of people and got lots of member referrals.
As Sister “H” was talking to a member family and getting a referral from them, I saw a family walk by us. They looked like middle age parents with a young toddler. I later found out they were the grandparents to this two-year-old boy. Right when I saw them I knew I needed to talk to them. The spirit was prompting me very strongly. My stomach was churning and my heart was racing, like right before you bear your testimony on Fast Sunday.

When Sister “H” was finished talking with the first family she asked me if I wanted to go contacting somewhere else. I said no, we needed to talk to these people (the grandparents of the 2 year-old). She didn’t object, so I walked over to them and started talking. I introduced myself and got their names. Oh, right when I started to approach them the two-year-old looked up at me. He smiled and ran straight towards me and gave my legs a huge hug! I almost started crying because, Mom, I remembered our talk just before I left on my mission. You said you felt prompted to tell me that as non-member families come to Temple Square, the parents may not be receptive to the gospel message but their little children will seek me out. You said, years from now when I’m off my mission, the children who will then be adults may not remember my name or what I said to them when they visited Temple Square as a child, but they will always remember the spirit they felt as I testified to them of Jesus Christ and his great love for them. When that little boy sought me out and gave me a hug, it was as if the spirit had just witnessed to me that what you had said was true!

As I began to talked to this couple, I discovered that I had no problem talking with them. I felt so calm and we connected very quickly. We offered to take them on a tour and they accepted. We took them to God’s plan for families. Although, the two-year-old was a little rowdy most of the time, the spirit was still there. After the tour we asked if we could send missionaries to visit them. They rejected. Sister “H” talked to them about the Book of Mormon and testified of the truthfulness of that sacred book. I don’t know how she did it, but they accepted the missionaries!

I had an amazing time! I am so excited to be able to serve at Temple Square every day of my mission! I wish Sister ”H” would be my trainer! She’s awesome. Oh, so we were contacting people and we started talking with a man and woman who were very nice and appeared kind of “hippish.” The man asked why all the Sister missionaries at Temple Square were so pretty. I explained that it’s a proven fact that confidence makes people more attractive and that all of the sisters at Temple Square were confident because we know who we are and we know Jesus Christ is our savior and we know God has a plan for us. The woman with him then said she notice how Mormons seem to have a “glow” about them. My companion then explained about the Holy Ghost. But in the end, they said they weren’t really interested in hearing more about the church (yet :~)).

I know Temple Square is the mission where I am supposed to be. I can’t believe I ever doubted Heavenly Father. I can’t wait until next Wednesday (22 July), that's when I can come to Temple Square as full time missionary and to do God’s work. I am in a better mood right now than I was on my first day at the MTC, and that’s saying a lot because you know how excited I was when you dropped me off in Provo!

I love you both so much! THIS CHURCH IS TRUE! I have such an amazing testimony! Thank you for raising me in the true Church of Jesus Christ! I love you!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Remember Who You Are!

2009-07-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

July 16, 2009

Mom & Dad,

Hey how are you? How’s life without me? I started the Visitor Center (VC) training yesterday! It’s a lot of fun. Basically we take everything we’ve learned in the last three weeks and learn how to apply it to Temple Square. We have a practice tonight where we give a mock tour. On Saturday we go to Temple Square and give tours with other sister missionaries already there. We officially go to Temple Square on Wednesday, 22 July. I’m so excited! It really is fun here, and I’ve learned so much.

I’m able to call people who have been referred to me, while I’m at the MTC and at Temple Square. We can ask other missionaries if they have any referrals and we can call them just like we do here in the Referral Center. So if you have any friends or co-workers you can give me their number and name and I can call them and send them a Book of Mormon or a church DVD. I’m so excited!

I wake up about 5:45am on the days when I wash my hair. If I don’t have to do my hair, I sleep till 6:15ish. But I am out of bed everyday by 6:30am and I am so exhausted by the end of the day that sometimes I write in my journal as fast as I can just to be in bed 15 minutes early. I sleep through the entire night, every night.

M stomachaches are only a couple times a week. I don’t know if I’m just stressed or what. But usually if I feel sick I just skip a meal and I better by the next one. The food is good. It’s a lot of carbs, but I like carbs, so I don’t mind. But I’m probably gaining lots of weight!

It’s still really weird that I’m on a mission. In eight days I can say I only have 17 months left! It’s so crazy. Time has flown by. People weren’t kidding when they said the days are long, but the weeks are short. I can’t believe I’ve been here for almost three weeks. Every Wednesday, when the new missionaries arrive at the MTC, I remember when you dropped me off. It wasn’t sad at all. I’m glad I was ready.

Mom and Dad, I know this church is true. I know that Heavenly Father loves me. That’s why he blessed me to come to you. I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers. I know that he answered Joseph Smith’s prayer. I know that God and Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him the true gospel of Jesus Christ was no longer on the earth. I know Joseph Smith was the tool God used to restore His church. I am so grateful to live on the earth when the true gospel is here, in it’s fullness. I am grateful that the Priesthood keys have been restored and that Dad has the power and authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ! I’m grateful that Dad gave me a father’s blessing before I came out on the mission field. I forgot to tell you, one of the MTC Branch Presidency was interviewing me and he said he felt prompted to tell me that I would see the results of my efforts while I was still on my mission. Didn’t the Stake President say the same thing when he set me apart as a missionary? I am so grateful for worthy Priesthood holders who have influenced my life!

I love you so much! I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your great examples and testimonies. Thank you for everything you do. REMEMBER who you are. Live up to the potential you have been pre-ordained to become. Something I have learned is we expect too little! We can all work harder, be better, and expect more of ourselves! I love you so much!

Love,

Sister Garbett

MTC Referral Center (RC)

2009-07-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

July 13, 2009

Hi Family,

I' m doing great at the MTC! I love it here and I have learned so much already. I can't believe I've been here for three weeks. I have had so many great experiences!

I went to the Referral Center (RC) today. That's where we call people who ordered movies and copies of the Book of Mormon from the church commercials. I called to confirm if a guy who had requested his Bible received it. He wasn't home, but I talked to his nanny. I told her I used to be a nanny and we ended up talking a lot. I asked her about her religion and she said she is christian. I asked if she had heard of the LDS church. She said she had but she didn't know very much about it. So I started talking to her about how God loves us and blesses us. I told her we believe in the Book of Mormon. I asked if we could send her a copy and she said yes! I also told her we had some representatives (missionaries) who could bring the book to her and share a message with her. I asked if I could send them, too, and she said yes!

I was so happy! I bore my testimony and told her how happy I was that she was going to meet with the missionaries. I know that the Lord needed me to make that phone call at that time. I know I'm suppose to be here! I don't know if I'll ever see the fruits of my labors while on my mission, but just planting a seed is satisfaction enough for me.

I know this is the only true gospel on the earth. I know that Jesus Christ atoned for us, not only for our sins. but also for our pains and afflictions. Because of this, we can turn to him for anything!

I love this church so much!

Please write and keep me updated on everything!

Love,

Sister Garbett

Pictures from the MTC!

2009-07-13T17:02:00.001-07:00

I can’t believe I’ve been here for 2 weeks! It actually kind of feels like forever ago, and at the same time it feels like yesterday! It’s so weird!

I know that I’m supposed to be here, and my mission is going to help me so much! I know this is the only true church! I love being here, and I know I’m going to love Temple Square. I love you all so much! Write me!

Oh! So my ecclesiastical certificate says it expires December 8, 2010. See you then!

Love,

Sister Garbett

HELLO FAMILY

2009-07-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

6-30-09

I have been in the MTC for 6 days today. It is so much fun! I have 2 companions, one from Jamaica (Sis Pommells) and one from North Carolina (Sis Heath). They are both great! Today we had a teaching appointment (TA), which is when someone comes to the MTC and pretends to be an investigator. We taught her the 1st lesson. It went so well. It was such a spiritual experience. I testified to her about how we can pray and receive answers through the Holy Ghost. Then she asked how we know it’s the Holy Ghost, and the scripture in Galatians 5 popped into my head and I turned right to it. I hadn’t even planned to use that scripture. But the spirit prompted me to do so. I’ve learned that we teach people not lessons. It took me a little while to understand that, but now I really understand. It’s not really what we teach them, as much as it is how well we meet their needs. When we teach them, to help them and meet their needs, I feel the love Heavenly father has for them.

Yesterday I went to the referral center (RC), which is where we call and receive calls from potential investigators. I was really nervous. My first call I just go an answering machine. Then the computer stopped working right so we had to call a different group of people. We had to call people who were supposed to have had the missionaries visited them.

I looked at the name I had. It was a women from Michigan. So I picked up the phone and called her. She answered and I began talking. She said she had met with the elders and received a Book of Mormon. She also said she referred one of her friends with a young daughter to the missionaries and they had been to church twice. I found out this woman had just been diagnosed with diabetes and lived alone. She said she felt like no one care for her. Then she saw the church commercial on T.V., so she called. She was so grateful for the love the missionaries gave her. I testified of Heavenly fathers love and told her that I sincerely cared for her, for I truly felt God’s love for her. She said just when life was getting hard “Jesus called her phone and came knocking o her door.” That’s who we are, representatives of Jesus Christ. I committed her to read the Book of Mormon and to meet with the missionaries this week.

This is why I’m here! I absolutely love the MTC. It’s hard and stressful but it’s worth it. I had my first hard day yesterday, but I already feel better. I know I just need to continue to rely on the Lord. I have a feeling I’m going to lose weight in the MTC. I am overwhelmed and stressed and I get stomachaches at least once a day, which prevents me from eating very much. But that’s ok with me. J I’m in bed by 10:30 almost every and up by 5:30 almost every morning. It’s a good thing I’m so vain. It’s such a great motivator to get me out of bed. I iron my clothes every night all by myself. :)

I’m super happy and outgoing everyday. It may get a little annoying to my companions, but they deal with it real well. I say hi to everyone I see and tell jokes to all the districts in my zone.
Why do melon always have big weddings? --because they cantaloupe!
Why couldn’t the missionaries eat dinner? --because Moroni hid the plates!

Yeah, they all think I’m pretty silly.

A bunch of elders in my zone left the MTC today. They’re serving in Sacramento! I told them it was 108 yesterday and they weren’t too happy to hear about Northern California summers.
I really am having a blast! I love you all! Write me! I got 6 letters yesterday and I felt so loved! Keep it up!

Love,

Sister Garbett

My First P-Day

2009-07-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Mommy!

So today is my first P-day! I seriously love it here. I am doing laundry right now. I am learning so much already. I know the first lesson and I have taught it to an "investigator" already. My companions and I get along great. It gets kind of old not being able to be alone, but it's for the best. I am trying really hard to be obedient. I wake up earlier than I need to every day! I have written you a few letters and you should be getting them in the next few days, if you haven’t already.

I get a stomach ache every day. I can barely eat anything or else I get really sick. I have a stomach ache right now because I think I ate too much for lunch. I am actually trying to eat healthy and get all of my fruits and vegetables and protein. I really hope my stomach aches stop. So please pray for me.

How is the family? I am not even homesick yet. Are the kids getting bigger already? I need everyone's e-mail address. And can you please forward these to everyone, unless it is personal and I ask you not to. I love you all so much. This is seriously the best, most spiritual time I've ever had!

Tell Stacy hi, and thanks for the letters and pictures! I haven't received any real mail from anyone else, so tell them to get on that! I know this is where I'm supposed to be. I love this church so much. I love you! Thank you for being such a great example to me and for supporting me on my mission.

My stomach hurts, so I'm gonna go! I love you so much!

Love,

Sister garbett

First Day At The MTC

2009-06-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

24 June 2009

Dear Mom & Dad,

Today was one of the most amazing days of my life! I've learned so much already. I've been to a lot of orientations and met my district and part of my zone. I am in a three-some and both of my companions are amazing! One of them is the girl I met on facebook from Jamaica! How crazy is that!?!

So apparently I am the senior companion. I had no idea, but that is what my companion said today in our district meeting. We had interviews with the Branch President. His name is President Hacking. He is amazing. The Lord continues to bless me with awesome leaders.

In the district meeting they called one of the elders to be the District Leader then they called one of the sisters to be the Coordinating Sister, which is one sister in the district to go to special sister meetings and branch presidency meetings. Can you guess who the called? That's right, Sister Garbett! I'm already in a leadership position on my first day!

All of the sisters here are amazing! I have really been thinking about the blessing Dad gave me, and the blessing I received from the Stake President when I was set apart. In both blessings they counseled me to be optimistic and full of energy. So, that's how I was today. A little annoying probably, but full of energy! All of the sisters say they love my happy personality.

I'm not homesick yet. But it still seems weird that I'm here in the mission field for 18 months. This is a long-term relationship!

This week at the MTC is different than normal. They are training new Mission Presidents, so the schedule is changed. I've heard there is going to be a lot of General Authorities visiting the MTC. We are also having a special devotional on Friday by one of the General Authorities. We don't know who it's going to be but whoever it is is going to be amazing.

I am really having a blast! I love you both! Thank you so much for the wonderful example you've been to me. Thanks for the advice you've given me. I feel the spirit so strong here and I know this is where I'm supposed to be!

I love you so much!

Write back!

Love,

Sister Garbett

2009-06-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Brent, Stacy, Aiden and I just got back from dropping Aubree off at the MTC. She was so excited. As she departed there was definitely a joyful bounce in her every step. The host who met her at the car had a challenge trying to get Aubree’s two, very heavy suitcases organized so they could transport them to her room. It’s a good thing she is only going 40 miles down the road to the Temple Square Mission. Otherwise, she would have had to pay extra airfare for “over the weight” limit on each of her suitcases. I know her large suitcase was at least 75lbs and the small one was easily over 50lbs with all of her books and grooming products crammed inside. Although, she complained of butterflies in her stomach, she was ready to go and serve the Lord. There wasn’t a tear in her eye, only a huge smile on her face as she said goodbye.

I must admit, I’ll miss Aubree’s dynamic personality for the next 18 months. But I am so proud of her decision to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a full-time missionary. I know a great adventure awaits her at Temple Square. She has asked me (her mom) to keep everyone updated on her progress, which I will try to do. I want to thank everyone for their part in Aubree’s decision to serve a mission. She wouldn’t be where she is today if it wasn’t for great priesthood leaders, wonderful Young Women and Relief Society leaders, loving family members and good friends. To all, who’ve set such positive examples in directing Aubree’s footsteps on the faithful path she is trekking this day, thank YOU!

My pre mission weekend!

2009-06-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been so much fun! I love my family so much. We drove to Utah on Saturday and have been staying in a hotel all week. We stayed in Salt Lake the first couple days then we stayed in Provo. We've been to the zoo, Rodizio(Brazilian restaurant), the Salt Lake Temple, and Red Lobster. I also hung out with one of my friends and we made foil dinners and roasted marshmallows! It was such a blast. I am definitely going to miss everyone, but I am ready to go serve the Lord.

My mom, sister, Lucas, and me at the zoo!

My last singles ward for the next 18 months!

Officially a missionary!!!

I was set apart as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints today. At first we went to the wrong building, but luckily we are in Utah, so the right one was just across the parking lot. I have the most amazing stake president and bishop. They said such great things about me and gave me wonderful advice. I am so grateful for their support and love. It was so amazing to be set apart. Its hasn't completely set in yet, but it will soon enough. I report to the MTC tomorrow June 24, 2009. I am so excited!

This was the best pre-misison weekend ever! I cant wait to go into the MTC tomorrow! I love my family and everyone who has shown their love and support. Please keep in touch with me! My mom will keep this updated while I am gone!

See you in 18 months!!!

Farewell!

2009-06-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday I gave my farewell talk. My topic was chapter 4 from Preach My Gospel "How do I recognize and understand the Spirit." I was asked to prepare a 10-12min talk. I was so worried that I would have too much to say and not enough time, or that I would go over my allotted time. I prayerfully prepared and I felt ready. I practiced it a few times and it was about 13min long. I was ready.

The morning of, I did some last minute preparations and made sure everything was in order. I prayed to have the Spirit and to do well. I got to church and they didn't have programs, so I had no idea when I was speaking. There were two other guys speaking with me and we were trying to guess who would go last. The guy beside me jokingly said if he went second, I would have LOTS of time to talk. The conducting counselor announced the program and said I would be the concluding speaker. I was kind of happy about that. After all, it was my farewell.

So the first speaker got up and gave his talk in about 3 minutes! Then the second speaker got up and gave his in about 7! I looked at the clock and started laughing and tried not to freak out! I had prepared a 13min talk and now had over 25min of time to fill. Luckily, the choir sang and took up almost 5 min.

I got up to the pulpit and began my talk. I made sure to talk slowly and to take my time. I felt confident and comfortable in front of everyone. I felt the Spirit guiding me in what I should say. I added a couple extra stories to help me fill the time and finished my talk in about 22min. I was very pleased with how I presented my talk and by the responses I was getting from the congregation. I received lots of compliments including being told I "sounded like a missionary," which is what I was hoping for. I am very grateful that I was able to know the things that I should say.

It was a bitter-sweet day. I am very happy that I am going on a mission in just a few days, but It was a little sad to say goodbye to my family ward. After, church we had a small family get together at my parents house. We ate nachos for dinner, and cake that my sister made in the shape of the Salt Lake Temple for dessert. It was nice to spend time with my family and friends for the last time before I leave. I had a great "last Sunday supper" With my family. I am so excited to go on my mission and to share the Gospel with the people on Temple Square!

9 more days till I'm in the MTC!

My Call!

2009-06-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

I went to work on Wednesday, April 8 and it was a pretty normal day. On my way home my mom called me and she said she wanted to be on the phone with me in case I got my call. So I went to my mail box and opened it. I saw a big white envelope with the return address from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! I was so excited! I was yelling on the phone to my mom and I ran inside! I yelled up at my roommates and told them I got my call. Then I went down to my room. I got off the phone with my mom and called everyone else in my family.
After I was done calling everyone I just stared at it wondering where I would be going. It was pretty thin, so I assumed it would be in the states. but I texted one of my friends who was going to Argentina and his postage was less than mine. So now I was officially confused. I got on facebook and told everyone I received my call and started taking guesses. My most popular guess was Temple Square, which was the only place that I didn't want to go to.
After I was done staring at my call and wondering where I would go, I got dressed and went out to dinner with one of my friends.
That weekend was Easter weekend and I already had a plane ticket to go home, so I waited until I got home to open my call. I got home on Friday, but I had to wait until Saturday to open it. That was the hardest part. I really had no desire to open it without my family, but once I was home I didn't want to wait another day. But of course, I did.
Saturday morning I woke up and started to get ready. Somehow I knew it was Temple Square. Maybe I was being prepared so that I wouldn't be disappointed. I couldn't think of anywhere else, and I just knew in my gut that I would be sent to the one place I didn't want to go. While I was getting ready I just kept saying "I know it's Temple Square." My family kept trying to convince me that it wasn't, or that if it was, it's the place I need to be. My whole family was at my house, and I was still in the bathroom doing my hair and make up.
When I was done, I grabbed my call and sat down on the coffee table. I looked at everyone staring at me. This was it. The contents in this envelope would decide where I would be for the next 18 months of my life. I was so nervous I almost didn't want to open it. I tore open the envelope and wasn't sure how to take my call out without spoiling where I was going. When I got it out I read that it was dated on my Birthday! I was so excited that the Prophet had signed my call on my birthday! I continued to read it with excitement, " You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission." A roar of laughter filled the room and disappointment hit me. I finished reading it and my family tried to comfort me by saying it is where the Lord needs me.

It took me a little while to overcome the disappointment. I felt so ungrateful and selfish. I couldn't believe my lack of faith. I got down on my knees and thanked Heavenly Father for the call, apologized for my disappointment, and asked for comfort and faith. I'm not gonna lie, it took a few days for me to start to feel more excitement than disappointment. But now, I know it's where I'm supposed to be. I still have some hard days, especially since I'm leaving in 2 weeks, but when I do I remember the feeling I had when I received my confirmation.
I am so excited to serve the Lord for 18 months. I cannot wait to share the gospel with millions of people at Temple Square! I know that Heavenly Father will bless me and those that I teach because of my sacrifice.
Temple Square, here I come!

I've finally done it!

2009-06-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I finally decided to create a blog! I am going on my mission to Utah Salt Lake Temple Square so I figured I should create this to keep everyone informed while I am gone. My plan is to have my mom maintain this and post recent pictures so everyone can stalk me easily. :D I report to the MTC on June 24 and I will be there for 4 weeks. Then I'm off to Temple Square!