Happy to Serve

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