First Names, Old and New Friends AND... Adjusting to Post-Mission Life

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.")

August 5, 2013 - Williamsburg, Virginia - Missionary Work

I have a really cool story to tell.

First of all it was a long and dreary night.....

Just kidding, it was a really wonderful Fast Sunday.

We taught Primary.  Which is sometimes hard to do as missionaries because you can't touch kids, and you always have to be within sight and sound of your companion.  But we made it work.

That's not the story.

The story is that all of the missionaries in our zone are having a really hard time finding new people to teach-- especially the Spanish Speaking sisters that just opened new areas. So we had a zone fast to help us find people to teach. (more specific than that, but you get the gist. )

Also, we were trying a new thing that our Mission President wants us to work on with asking members of the ward for referrals.  

So we went to our dinner appointment, and for our dinner message we asked the members to be open to recieving revelation for one of their friends who could use the message that we shared with them in their own lives. We then taught parts of the Restoration with a focus on families, and Prophets.

At the end we asked them who they had thought about that could be blessed with the peace and joy and power that we feel through the gospel.

Our member immediately said this name.  We were so grateful!!!! And I sort of started to cry. Then she said that this woman lived in a different area.  (Which is still great, but didn't really help us find someone to teach. ) But the area IS in our zone, and we have wonderful elders serving out there.  So we were all excited, and I cried a little bit.

Then our member went to get her friends contact info, and she realized that she only had a PO box, and a phone number. So, she just called her friend, sort of explained the situation, and asked her if it would be okay if the missionaries came over to her house.  Her friend said "You know what?  I would not have any problem with meeting with those young men."

Wow.  Really. Can you feel the power of member missionary work?! It's incredible!  And it works!  That is how it is supposed to work!  And it is a miracle!  (and I really cried.)

Principles that I have learned from this miracle.

There is a power in friendship.

There is IMMENSE power in fasting, and prayer.

God is watching out for every single one of us.

He knows us.

He loves us.

And He doesn't ever want anyone to fall between the cracks unnoticed.  Every person is significant in the kingdom of our Savior.

So that is the story.  It happened.  It was amazing to witness. I loved it.

I hope that this brings strength to your lives to know that things like this do happen, and that it truly is "by small and simple means [that] great things are brought to pass."

I love you forever and eternity!

Love,

Sister Garvin

P.S. We ate at the Soderholm's and their son served his mission in Nebraska when the Galland's were the Mission Presidents.  So he told me to say 'Hi'. :)

Have a wonderful week!