100% Obedient

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!

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

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"

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

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!

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

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