Dear Mission Friends,
(I'm
not trying to be stingy by sending a group email... I just feel like
this is a way that leaves it open for you to not feel obligated to
respond to an email if it's sent to everyone...make sense?)
Well, you can officially call me by my first name now. But it's
sort of awkward, so it would be okay to just call me Sister Garvin still.
Over
the course of the last almost 2 weeks of being home I've seen several
mission friends, and I kind of choke over first names. So taking the
advice of Sister Jasperson, just avoid first names. :)
I
hope that your weeks are going
well, and that you are gearing up for the Social Media exchange. I
really want to do something from here that will help with spreading the
word on all the good deeds that y'all are doing. If you have any
suggestions on how I can be a proactive supporter I'm open! :)
I
gave my homecoming reports yesterday. I would have invited you all,
but it's a pretty long flight, and probably not exactly obedient. Plus,
President and Sister Baker would have missed your valiant selves in the
mission. :)
Anyway,
I will send copies of what I talked on generally; for your reading
pleasure. Not that you have much time for that since it is Monday, and
there is limited computer time, and sometimes if costs money to print
pages. Well, you at least have the opportunity to be a part of it. :)
I
still feel like I'm living one giant preparation day. So I'll probably
miss the mission more the longer I am away from it. I wasn't super
torn up about it until reality hit, and I was asked to remove my name
tag.
Here are some miracles that have happened since I returned home:
-During
my interview with the Stake President asked if he could invite my
family in and then offer me a Priesthood blessing. I was pretty happy
about that because I had wanted a blessing for several weeks. My
brother was there, and had just been ordained an elder the week before.
The Stake President asked him to give me the blessing and instructed
him in the ways of proper structure, etc... It was a powerful experience
for my family and I. It confirmed to us that my brother is prepared to
serve a mission.
-The day after I returned, my brother received his mission call.... (Wait What?!?! How is this
already happening?!)
He's
going to the best mission in the world.... Nampa Idaho! It will be the
best for him, and we are all super excited. Blessedly, he is as well.
(Tender Mercy!)
-I've seen all 3 of the new temple movies, and was able to do some family names for Sister Jasperson's family. That was neat.
-Had
my deferment over-ridden for
BYU-Idaho, and will be utilizing the "Returning Missionary Program" to
start school on my off-track.... Meaning that I'll be going back in
January (Yeah, I know that I said I didn't think that I'd go back, but
President Baker told me that if it made me happy then I should
re-consider, and then it was the only thing that I was excited about
since being home, and I found out that one of my favorite High School
teachers transferred there, and it teaching in my currently selected
major, and it felt pretty right, so I decided to go back.... That
happened quick...)
-After
a week long procrastination, I finally wrote in my journal about
all the things that had happened over the course of the returning home
situation, and I realized that I actually had done some things with my
unplanned life.
It's an interesting experience to not have a plan for every minute of the day.
I
thought that I was really converted, and had an unshakable resolve to
commit to specific things I would do. I really have to work hard to
make sure that I have morning and evening prayers, and that I have
daily, meaningful personal scripture
study. It's a lot more difficult then it was on the mission because
there are a lot more distractions. So that's been a struggle of my
life. I have a lot more understanding of why it really is hard for
members. Not that it's an excuse to be busy, but there are a lot more
things that are pulling for your attention as a member. As a missionary
there is one purpose. So when you teach members about having daily
personal scripture study, make it a firm commitment, and teach them that
what you choose to fill your life with is what will consume your
thoughts. To have a life centered on Christ we have to be thinking of
him. So you can fill you life with the words of the prophets contained
in the scriptures, or you can fill it with facebook, pinterest, Frozen,
cool apps, and music. It's a pretty clear choice that we have to make.
And we have to make it every single day.
Now you know my life.
I
hope that as you each willingly serve in your current capacities you
feel the presence of the Holy Ghost in your lives. I know that your
actions when guided by the Spirit are recorded in Heaven. Although they
may be "small and simple" the contribute to
greatness.
You are each GREAT!
Love,
Sister Amber Garvin
(I
can still call myself Sister Garvin because p.176 of PMG in 'How To
Begin Teaching' states that "we are all brothers and sisters, therefore,
we would like to refer to you as brothers and sisters.")
