Haircutting, Lawn Mower Mishap, and...STRAIT and narrow path....

I missed the free slushie day at 7-11 last week (on 7/11).  That was disheartening.

Whatever.  :)

This week I my attitude may be full of what appears to be dry humor.  Don't worry.  It's just a coping mechanism.

This week was awesome. (dry?)

I will start out with something that I forgot to mention last week.

I did the unthinkable. 

I cut my own hair.

Gasps everyone?

Good news: it looks about the same, just a little shorter. 

In fact, after all those years of observing hairstylists, I did such a passably good job that I cut 3 inches off Hermana Haywood's hair too.  (she was a year over due)  She even got a compliment on it Sunday.  It also looks about the same, but a little shorter, and a straighter.

Funny for this week:

Actually it was just awkward. 

I ran over a pair of boxer shorts with a lawn mower.  They jammed the lawn mower.  Sister Petrie pulled the remnants of said shorts out of the mower.  Then she threw them away.  I then started the mower up again, and it worked like a gem.

So that's super funny.  

Suddenly, I am super awkward all the time.  My excuse it that it makes it more comfortable for everyone else, but really I think it's just me.

Anyway.

I promised a spiritual thought right?

Here is something that Sister Petrie pointed out to me this week, and you have to be a little philosophical about it okay?

So in the scriptures is talks about the "strait and narrow path" not the "straight and narrow path". Notice the spelling differences.

Well according to the dictionary definition of strait and straight it puts a different perspective on the "strait and narrow".

(these are revised definition's according to Sister Garvin because I left my dictionary at home)

Straight: a direction without angles, bends, curves.  Without obstacle.

Strait: a narrow way, usually angled an dangerous between two destinations.

So thus we learn that the scriptures do indeed talk about the "straight and narrow" path because there is only one way. We must stay on the one path, and there really isn't wiggle room.  But it is NOT without obstacles.

2 Ne. 31:17-20  

 
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-cost-and-blessings-of-discipleship?lang=eng&cid=HPTH071014317

The path is truly "strait".  It is narrow.  There are obstacles, any "convenient God" as talked about in Elder Hollands most recent conference address would not walk the strait path with us.

The journey of disciple ship is paved with difficulties.  But for every pothole in the path and each obstacle that we face the healing power of the Atonement is there to fill the potholes, and the guiding light of the Savior is there to lead us home.

Go forth with strength!  The Atonement is for sinners and saints!  It's for the world, it's for the one, and it is for every single moment for the span of eternity.

What a magnificent gift.  What a waste if we don't take the time to understand it's influence in our lives, and what a waste if we do not try our very best to take advantage of it's enabling power each day that we walk the "strait" path.

 
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/04/the-atonement-and-the-journey-of-mortality?lang=eng 

I say that in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

If I love you as much as I feel it in my heart, Heavenly Father loves you ALL the more.

Love Forever,

Sister Amber Garvin

We Slept Through the Hurricane :)

"I'm Seester Garvin, I'm a missionary, I love to plan things (that's new huh?), I'm a hurricane Arthur survivor, and I'm a Mormon...."

Do you think that would be a winner status for mormon.org?  I put a lot of effort into that one.

Well, here's the story that I know you are all anxious to hear, and know, and share....

On Tuesday we talked to a member, and they said (in more words) P.S. there is a hurricane coming, are you going to be evacuated?

Us: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........ Well, we dont know.

Then we hung up the phone and called the zone leaders.  Why were we only hearing about this 2 days before a natural disatster hit?  I don't know.... We were just forgotten I guess.....

Well, we were told that if it got too bad we'd be taken care of.

So we went throughout the rest of our day. (AND FOUND A NEW INVESTIGATOR!!!!  Woo!)

Fast forward to Wednesday during lunch while I was enjoying a delicious free sandwich. (that's another story altogether.)

President Baker calls and says "Sisters, I'm going to ask you to evacuate to Elizabeth City tonight for the storm. "

Then he said that he hadn't had time to get in touch with the Hermanas or the Elizabeth City Hermanas, and he asked us to and then to report back.

So we did.  Obviously, otherwise we'd be destroyed by gale force winds, and that seems like it would be a very unpleasant experience.  So we didn't do that.

The Elizabeth City Hermanas were SOOOOOOOOOO excited to have us come, and screamed on the phone.

We evacuated after taking down our recent converts trampoline. 

Thursday: The Elizabeth City Elders gave us some names to see in their area, and we were given permission to work there.  Also, I ate a self-pity shake from Cook-Out to calm my nerves.  Also, a Southern BBQ Sandwich.

Thursday night: We slept in the kitchen to avoid windows being blown out. 

Then......

The hurricane hit. 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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and I slept right through it.... along with the rest of the household.

Wasn't that an exciting story?

Thought you might like it.

We had zone meeting as planned on Friday morning (which was great, because we were already in El. City) and then we ate another shake, and waited for President Baker to call and tell us to go home.

Then we went home, and we assessed the scene, found no damage, ate dinner, made my last two planners (before I come home), almost cried because of that, and ate smores around a campfire with our friend Brother Kelly.

It was great.

I'm not going to take the rest of my 30 minutes on the computer today, because there is a long line, and some contentions.....

Also, we are going to a funeral today. 

Preparation Days are not so relaxing anymore.  But it's okay.

We have interviews with the mission President Tomorrow.

I am going to focus on spiritually uplifting things next week. 

Here's an entertaining story though that you can share with your friends...

And, I didn't die.

anxiety eased.

I love you!

Love,
Sister Amber

Baptism, Miracles, Forgive, Stay in your own Ward! :)

Happy Birthday Dear Sister Ashley-kins!

This week I wanted to start of my just saying that: We had a baptism.  Yay.  Except that it was in Washington State. So I didn't get to go to it.  But, for the first time in 11 planners, I was able to record that we had a baptism and confirmation.  Go Miracle!

Christ baptized by John

Really though.  I didn't know if that would ever happen. :)

We've been teaching a young woman who wanted to be baptized by her grandfather who is a member of the church in WA state, and so we coordinated her baptism there with the bishop and missionaries of the ward there. 

 

We were so thrilled for her.

She gave us permission to quote what she said to us yesterday after church.

We texted her to ask what she had learned at church that day (in WA). She responded back: "We learned about staying in your ward (congregation) and if there are people you don't like -- just endure and it will end up good."

That made us laugh, but there is also a very true principle contained therein.

I'm pretty sure that no matter what ward anyone ever goes to - there will probably be someone that says something that hurts your feelings, or offends you.  Sometimes, sadly, we are the person that offends or hurts another.  Don't let that get in the way of your salvation.  Frankly, if you do you are not repenting.  If we don't forgive - we are not showing signs of repentance.

This lesson will be learned over and over again for the rest of our lives.  I testify of this principle, because I continue to learn it.  So, here are some wise words of wisdom.... Forgive people. 

Nephi bound by his brothers

Remember in Nephi  (I don't have my scriptures, but I believe it was either when they went back to get the plates of brass, or when he was tied up on the boat.  Maybe I'm wrong about both, but I promise that it is in Nephi)..... Laman and Lemuel were being mean, and then they were chastised, and Nephi "did frankly forgive them".  Here we learn wise words of wisdom from the scriptures.  It's great. (see also 1 Nephi 18:9-16)

 

So that's what I wanted to share today.

Also, we had an excellent zone conference this week, and a 17-hour day.  We had to get up at 5 to make it to zone conference on time.  It was early.  I've spent all week suffering after-effects.

Also, last night in an effort to be home on time we biked about 4 miles in 20 minutes.

I'm being booted off the computer at the library now.

Read this EXCELLENT talk by Elder Bednar.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/04/the-atonement-and-the-journey-of-mortality?lang=eng

I spoke on it in Sacrament Meeting yesterday.

Be an Agent to act this week.

Kay I love you!

byeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Love,

Sister Garvin

Happy Belated Father's Day and....SO MANY MIRACLES!!!

I PROMISE THAT I DIDN'T FORGET FATHER'S DAY!  I JUST FORGOT TO WRITE ABOUT IT, AND I'M REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SORRY.   --  HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO BROCK,STEVE, ANDREW, GRANDPA'S, UNCLES, COUSINS, FRIENDS, GOOD INFLUENCES, BISHOPS, AND ALL OTHER FATHER FIGURES THAT HAVE INFLUENCED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO, AND ARE!  FATHER'S ARE A GIFT AND MIRACLE FROM A LOVING FATHER IN HEAVEN. 

LOVE, SISTER AMBER

Now to this week:

This week we saw SO MANY MIRACLES!!!!!

It was miraculous, really.

 

But first I forgot to tell you something last week.

At Stake Conference we had to go up early, and we worked with President Baker so that we wouldn't have to be at the Stake Center (church) with nothing to do-- because that is not purposeful, and we would be bored.  So this great answer to my prayer happened.....

We got to work with the Portsmouth Sisters, and guess who the Portsmouth sisters are?!?!?!  SISTER NEWBOLD!!!!!!!!!! (and she just was called to be a trainer again.  We only had one Sister Missionary enter the mission this transfer-- Sister Smart (who is now famous because she is the 'one') and Sister Newbold is her trainer)

It was an answer to my prayers because I have wanted so badly to see her growth since we parted ways as companions.  I felt the transfers that we were together I didn't teach her the things that she needed to know that that I basically ruined her, but the good news is that she is doing phenomonally well.  I'm so pleased to know and have witnessed her growth as a missionary.

Also miracle #2 and another answered prayer.  WE GOT TO EAT WITH A SENIOR MISSIONARY COUPLE.... My dreams came true.  It was so much fun, and I just love being around the senior couples.  We ate with the Simmons who work in the office.  Elder Simmons blessed me with the lovely car that we drove in Rocky Mount. 

They are great, and so funny!  I learned.

Also, I'm not weird, because we had burritos and Elder Simmons brought out the pickles.  I found a kindred spirit! :)

Okay, so to the miracles of this week.

On Saturday we were rushing to an appointment and we walked outside, and there was a baby bird on the ground.  We weren't able to pick him up because we had to go.  But there had been a huge storm and I think he'd fallen out of his nest.  We prayed that maybe somehow his mom would come back and save his little life.

We came home about 6 hours later and didn't see him, but then we did.  He was under a bush just exhausted.

We called everyone we knew.  And talked to a vet in the ward, and then we got the baby bird some food, and fed it.  And then we gave it to a young man in the ward who works with wildlife birds... He's been taking care of it, and the bird has lived!!!!!!  I'm so happy because if it hadn't lived I probably would have been devastated....  But I'm not, so MIRACLE!

We also went to Chesapeake to go on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders.  It went well.  It was far away.  We had to drive about 2 hours to get there.  But there were many miracles there as well.  We found a new investigator, and tracted using family history-- but it was really hot, and no one was outside, so we didn't do that long, and mostly 'planted seeds'.

I'm so grateful that I continue to learn things.  Go missions!

This has been more substantial than some of my previous letters home.  For awhile there I just had completely run dry of ideas to write home about.  But I think I got it again.  I just have to keep looking for inspiration that will keep my momentum up.

Summer is here, it's hot.  We almost reached 100 degrees last week, and I had heard that with the humidity there was a heat index of 112 degrees.  But that's just a random fact that I don't really understand.  I only did a semester of college.  ;)

Just know of my love for each of you, and your importance to me.  I remind you each week, but I hope that you feel my love each week.

This sacred time has seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, but the effects of it will influence me and last for eternity.  I hope you will still like me in October. :)

Love forever,

Sister Amber Garvin

What do we do all day?

I received a letter from my Mom with these questions that some of you have had - 

and now I will answer them as my letter home today.

1) What do you do each day?

 6:30 AM: Jolt awake, roll off my bed onto the floor.  Walk downstairs to wake me up so I don't fall asleep again.  Climb back up the stairs.  Pray.  Do some sort of physical activity. 

7:00 AM  Eat some food.  Choose an outfit.  Try it on.  Choose another outfit.  Put clothes away.  Write in my journal more.  Make my bed.  Etc.

7:30 Shower, put my face on, do my hair.

8:00 Study for one hour.  Right now we are reading the Book of Mormon so that takes about an hour 

to read about 7 pages.

9:00 Companion study.  Sing a hymn. Pray.  Read 3 pages in the missionary handbook (I've read it almost 18 times now... I counted this morning.) Talk about the way we felt during our personal study about how to help the people we will teach that day.  Make lesson plans.

10:00 Begin proselyting.  Usually we make phone calls.

Somewhere between 11:00-12:00 we take an hour for lunch break, and additional study (and do the dishes....)

12-5  Teach, find, teach, talk with people, go to lessons, contact people that previous missionaries found, do service, and other nice things for everyone.

We try to have dinner at 5:00 PM so that we can proselyte after 6.  That's the best time because people are home. :)  We often eat with members of the ward, and then have an experience after the meal when we discuss missionary work, principles from chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel, and ...we've begun to role-play with our members more.

9:00-9:30 PM  Talk about what we accomplished that day and set goals for tomorrow, make plans for tomorrow.

9:30-10:30 Get ready for bed, and go to bed.  This usually includes writing in my journal and praying.  Also sometimes eating a snack. :)

10:31 Dream about missionary work in a state of REM.  (or whatever that sleep business is called.)

2) What is the Area like?

We do indeed live on a sandbar.  The widest part is about 5 miles wide.  Usually I am acutely aware of where the ocean is. We also have lots of tourists.

Everyone's house is built on stilts in case there are floods--- so I get lot's of exercise climbing up many stairs.  There are lot's of pets.

Our church is about 15 minutes away.

There is a highway that goes from top to bottom of our area.  You cannot make left turns in the summer because of traffic unless you are at a turn signal light.  So we leave extra time for traveling.

There are wild horses in Corolla that live on the beach, and you can't touch.  There are lot's of mini-golf courses with pirate ships, volcanoes, and fountains, and one with a dinosaur.

There is a fancy outlet mall that I will probably never shop at.

We drive past the Wright Brother's memorial every day on the way home to our house. 

We have 4 out of 5 lighthouses in North Carolina in our area.

Also lots of wildlife. 

Last week I accidentally ran over a frog on my bike.

I also rode about 3 miles without using the handlebars. It was awesome.

Our first day on bikes....

3) What's the ward like?

Small, but wonderful.  We have a pretty small ward building, and are about 8 people short of an expansion.  So we're working on that, but we don't have a ward.  We have incredible recent converts, and not so recent converts, and life-long members.  They love the gospel. :)

4) Your Companion?

Sister Petrie is great!  She's from Boise, Idaho, and came out with Sister Felt.  We are now in her 4th transfer.  She's been in the OBX about 6 months.  She is the youngest of 9 children, loves musical theater, music, cats, Dr. Who, writing books, and Alice in Wonderland. 

We are currently in the library (writing to you), and there is some sort of kids-event going on where all I hear is about a duck that quacks.

I'm being kicked off the computer now, and have to go.  It's not really worth it to save this message just to write something for 20 more minutes.  I'll write paper letters.

I love you so much!  Thank you for all that you do!

Love,

Sister Garvin

Goose Egg, Time Travel, Dreams and Brother Kelly!

Haha!  I almost dated this email as April, 9th.  Guess it's not caught up with me how quickly time has passed.  I would just like to say  "THIS IS NOT OKAY!!!"  It's going too fast!  I only have 4 months left?!  What?  NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Go back!

Hurry, someone invent a time-travel machine.

Last week I had a dream that I decided I needed to serve another mission, and I got a mission call while I was on my mission.  I left to the MTC 3 days after I got home from this mission and it was crazy because I went from the VA Chesapeake Mission back to the VA Richmond Mission.

You know you're a missionary when..... You dream about being a missionary.

Life is so weird!

That's the status update.

Also, this week I fell out of my chair during studies, and hit my head on the solid wood windowsill and probably the floor. I had a goose-egg and a headache.  Then I called Sister Baker, she wanted me to go to the Urgent Care to see if I had a concussion.  But Urgent Care was closed.  So She called the mission Dr. and he told me to just take ibuprofen.  I don't have a concussion.   Go me!  The Dr. said I'm a lucky girl.  So go hard head (i probably get it from my dad ;)

We went on exchanges, which were great.  I wasn't even stressed even though I don't really know what's going on yet.  We talked with many people.

We also had transfer calls, and everyone in our zone received one except us. 

Not trying to predict the future or anything, but probably we're going to be the only ones that receive one next transfer. Which is only in a month.  And Sister Jasperson goes home.  Again I repeat "THIS IS NOT OKAY!!!"  It's going too fast!  I only have 4 months left?!  What?  NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Go back!
But it's okay.

We finished the Book of Mosiah today.

And I'm really sorry, but I accidentally left home the list of questions that Mom and Ash sent me in the mail this week.  So I'll have to answer them next week.

I feel like I've gotten worse at giving information to you about what I'm doing because it's just normal missionary life, and I don't remember what it's like to not be living this way.  That fact alone really terrifies me about no longer living this life.... I need an adjusting to nametag-less life plan.  Otherwise I will have no purpose, and I will grow fat on the couch.  That's not really an okay thing to do, and I don't want to live that way.  So I'll work on that plan, and y'all can research ways to stay busy for free on google.  Good plan?  I think yes.

Great.  Go forth! :)

This is rambling.  Is that okay?

I'm sorry really!!!!  I've just sort of run out of things to write about, and to say.  I don't know what's wrong.  This has never happened before, but the last few weeks, I've just not had a lot left to say.  Maybe I've reached an all new level of succinctness, where I just don't say anything.  This email is not a good example.

Thank you for all that you do, and all of your support!  You are wonderful, and I love you, and pray for you often.

Love Always and Forever,

Sister Amber Garvin

Shout out to Brother Kelly: If you ever find this blog online, and read through it, make note of the fact that I'm mentioning you, and your haircut looks great!

(Brother Kelly is basically the dad of the missionaries here in The OBX.  He'd love to see a post of him online. :)  So you have approval to put it online. :)

HELLO Brother Kelly!!!!   

map of the area...... (posted by my mom)

Urgent Care, 21 Photos and...Our Area boundaries! :)

with my cute sister Ashley  :)

Tada!  Sister Garvin is on a rollllll!!!!  So that one time when I realized that I've been to the Urgent care with all of my companions.... It's continued.  I must be bad luck for other people, or I just take really good care of me. :)  On Saturday, Sister Petrie fell down the stairs and fractured her finger.  We spent the afternoon in the Urgent Care yesterday because we could see that the swelling was right at her knuckle, and we had a medic look at it and he said that we should check it out, so we did.  We met a nurse from California, and from Idaho.  It was pretty neat.

 

We also found out that our area is probably 4 hours long (from top to bottom) and at the most 10 minutes wide.  Pretty crazy.  We had a few extra miles, and drove to the bottom of our area (almost)  Hatteras.  We saw the lighthouse, and we took a picture.  We were going to go to Ocracoke which is the very bottom, but it required that we wait in line for an hour to take a 40 minute long ferry.  And we were hungry and out of time.  So we didn't go all the way out there.

 

Pretty amazing though.  There were points where it looked like a sandbank on one side, and water on the other side of the road.  That's when it was about 100 feet wide. :)  That's probably an exaggeration... Just kidding.

 

I have to write letters now.  Today we are really busy.

 

I will send you off with a little short message.

 

Mosiah chapters 3 & 4.

Bodie Island Light Station

 

We read them today, and it all testifies of the Atonement.

 

I'm seeing more and more the patterns of repentance in missionary service, and what I need to continue to strive to become.

  

Also I love you.

 

Sorry.  I forgot what I was going to say today, so this is really short. 

 

Sorry, mom.... I was going to try to be more informative.  Will you and the kids just compile a list of questions?  then I can send you a list of responses of things that you want to know.

 

I love you!

 

Bye!

 

Love,

Sister Garvin

 

 

Sister Petrie and Sister Garvin at the Beach

 

Sister Missionaries - at the beach....

Bird Formation

The beach

Bodie Island Light Station

Ashley's photo at the light house

Bike Riding...

Sister Garvin and Sister Petrie

 

Service Project - something was funny.....

Cleaning the pool we found a turtle and named him 'Tiger'

Service Project with Hermana Hayward

The Spanish Sisters:  Pugman and Valdez

Little goslings..... (is that what they're called?)

Tuesday, May 26, 2014 - Nag's Head, North Carolina

This morning I was looking through some old study notes; some quotes that I wrote down in my quote journal.  I wanted to share them with you today.  I love them. :)
 

"You are doing the best that you can, and that best results in good to yourself and to others. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do. Then leave the matter in the hands of the Lord. You will discover that you have accomplished something beyond price." -Gordon B. Hinckley (To the Women of the Church)

 

"...he stood upon his feet and received his strength..." (Alma 22:22)

 

This really hit me today because I went to bed with a terrible headache, then I woke up with a terrible headache, therefore I woke up late.  Well, I was up... I just didn't get out of bed.  Then I felt really bad about it.  And I needed to repent, and thus the story unfolds.  I read these things that uplifted my soul.

 

I believe that I have said before that, often, the smallest things are really big to us.  That is what this week has been full of: Small things.  Some good small things, and some less good small things that have accumulated into some big good things, and some big less good things. 

 

Ahhh.... a mission.

 

People are already talking about transfer calls again - because they are next week.  I can't even figure out how time has flown by so fast.  I want it to stop!  Whew.  It's exhausting.

 

I told Sister Petrie the other day that I feel like I'm living one, really long, continuous day.  I just take an 8-hour nap in the middle.  But I am so asleep at night that I don't even have dreams.  (Except last week I had a dream that Grandpa Allen decided to serve a mission, and he was in the mission office, and I didn't even know that he was there until I saw him there when we had to go do something for our car. I thought it was a funny dream. :)  Anyway... The days are long, but the weeks, and months are short.  Time is going fast/slow.  It's SO WEIRD!  One day, when I'm all knowing, and wise I will understand this time business...

 

So. Yeah.

 

Oh!!!!!!!  We did something fun this week!  We went to Manteo ( the birth place of the first English child, Virginia Dare, born on this continent) a city in our area, and we rode bikes.  I know you never thought that I'd be excited about that, but it was actually really fun.  I enjoyed the entire day!  And I have a GREAT tan-line on my arm from my watch. :)  It was really, fun!

 

That's basically this week.  Still pluggin along "inch by inch, row by row, [helping the Lord's vineyard] grow." (from a jingle I heard on a garden radio show one time in the car....)

 

I love you all,

Sister Amber Garvin

 

P.S.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY MOST DEAREST MOTHER!  (I NEVER FORGET! :)  YOU ARE THE MOST SPECIALIST, WONDERFULLEST MOTHER I'VE EVER HAD!  I LOVE YOU A MILLION TRILLION ZILLION!

 

Bugs and Mice…..and very large church meeting next week…...

I have limited time left today.  But that's alright, because I feel like being brief…..

So I can't email Monday next week because of the holiday.  We are going to email Tuesday instead.  Probably at the usual time.

There isn't a ton to report on this week.  We are still working on our bug problem....and now our mouse problem.

We set out a trap with peanut butter on it.  The next morning we heard the garage open like usual-- when the owner comes to work. (we live on an attachment to a business.) we went out later and couldn't find the trap anywhere.... We asked the member later if he had moved it, and he said no.  So we went searching again.  We found the trap-- not in it's original location.  It had been set off, but there was nothing caught in it.  Also, all the peanut butter was licked off.  So we have a genius mouse... And I don't really know how to resolve that problem.  So I think that we are just going to leave it alone. 

"Everyone does what they can, and what they can't do, they leave alone."

That's that story.

We are having Sacrament in a local Middle School next week because of the holiday.  Our regular ward building cannot accommodate the people that come for Memorial Day weekend.  Because of a YSA activity they do down here we are expecting about 800 people to be at our sacrament meeting.  That's a lot.  Go deacons!!!! ;)

It might overwhelm me.  But I don't have to speak, so that's good.  I'll let you know how it goes next week.

Nags Head is warming up!  We are getting some humidity.  I might melt into a little puddle.  I'll let you know that next week too.

This might be the most boringest email I've ever sent home.... Sorry.

Oh!  I don't know it I mentioned: we are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission with an emphasis on the Atonement, and a Christlike attribute of our choice.  I'm learning so much!  It's great!  I'll expound.... next week. :)

OJ. I love you.  Bye!

Love,

Sister Garvin

Monday, May 12, 2014 - Nag's Head, North Carolina

This week we mostly cleaned.  I understand why I was sent State side on a mission now more that I ever have understood before.  I truly loathe living in uncleanliness and clutter.  I must be my mother's daughter.  :)

I feel so much better when I can just throw stuff away and everything is clean, and it has a place, and then I know exactly where I need to look if bugs get in the house.  And I can get them out.

That's the moral of that story.

We've been killing cockroaches, wasps, and spiders, (and some weird bug that looked like a land shrimp) every day this week.  The member that owns our house set off bug-bombs, and so that was great, but there are still some untouched places, as well as I think that as soon as the bombs went off the little critters tried to run for it, and they all died on our kitchen floor.... Many times.  So the good news is that they are not LIVING in our house, and the bad news is that they are still IN our house, and we continue to live an adventurous life.

We've begun to see miracles though.  Sister Petrie and I are becoming a very unified team.  I feel so honored to serve with missionaries that are still "fresh".  They have so much energy and excitement.  It gives me strength to try something new, and inspires me to continuously be bold.

We went to the beach for the first time since I've been here-- we had to get out of the house for the remainder of our weekly planning.... and it was Sister Petrie's suggestion.  As we were ready to leave we ended up talking with an amazing person about our purpose, and the Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel.  It was a testimony to me that we are all impressed upon by the Spirit in small ways each day.  We knew that was why we Sister Petrie thought to go to the beach.  We are guided in such small ways each day, but those small ways are incredible significant to the course of our eternal destinies.

That was just on of the many small, and simple things that gave me a reassurance this week that no matter where you are sent-- if you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, and relying on the enabling power of Christ you will be used for a great amount of good. :)

It was wonderful to talk with all my family too!  Happy Mother's Day!

It never seems like enough time, but I don't think that it ever would be--- even if we didn't have a time limit.  My heart with always ache to be with my family when I am away from them.  I just know that I don't have to be distracted or dwell on it.  Plus, the time limit just makes the time we have more meaningful.  I was thinking about it this morning, and the time we have to talk with our families is just the same as the time we are supposed to keep our lessons.  40 minutes (45 for lessons).  I have to continue to ponder that, but I think there is great significance there.  I know the times that lessons have gone over 45 minutes for me I start to zone out and feel anxious.  The time is not as meaningful anymore.  We have 45 minutes to teach with great power, and after that its' REALLY hard to maintain focus, and direction.

That's probably not that important to any of you.  But I'm going to try to talk about my missionary life more instead of just assuming that you all know what is going on.  Sometimes I forget that this isn't the same way everyone else in the world is living, and I forget to share details, and important things I'm learning.

Just FYI:  I do really well with a list of questions.  So if you have any burning questions of the soul to ask, you can email those to me, and I'll just send a response of Q&A/FAQ.  The blog probably needs that segment too. ;)

Missionary life is the life.  I'm grateful that I've stuck to it for so long.  It's probably taken longer for me to mentally adjust than most people, but I'm finally to the point where I am thriving.  I know that this is my life right now, and I'm not worried about things afterward anymore--as I was in the beginning.  Man alive!  Wish I'd have known that little piece of wisdom sooner.

Sister Petrie said that I was a fountain of knowledge yesterday.  It was awesome.  

Sometimes I'm a know-it-all, and I think that's okay.  I use it for the benefit and well-being of all man kind.

Kay, Peace out till next Monday.


Also, isn't it funny that missionaries favorite day is Sunday and Monday?  That's so different than high school life when Mondays were dreaded. :)  Things change so quickly.  Life is weird.  The end.

Love,

Sister Amber Garvin

P.S.  I would like to put in a little plug about this substantial letter.  Go me!  (you can send me a gold star and an ice cream cone in the mail.  Thanks.)

Nag's Head, NC, Monday, May 5, 2014

So I finally understand what Cinco de Mayo is!  It's today!  The fifth of May!  I understand this because we serve with Hermanas in Nags Head.  They are great, and I  already feel a little bit more fluent in Spanish.  :)  Maybe I'll end my mission as an Hermana.  Just kidding... Not that fluent.

This really great thing happened this week. 

Elder Bednar came and we had a combined mission meeting with the Richmond, VA mission.  It was wonderful!  I got to drive through Richmond again, for probably the last time, and I saw almost everyone from the MTC there.  Sister Vance gave me a great big smile!  She just has the most beautiful spirit!  I love her!

We were asked not to discuss Elder Bednar coming outside of missionaries, so that's why I'm telling you after it already happened.

It made me scream and cry when I found out he was coming.

It was the best. day. ever!

We were given 3 talks to diligently study

Ask in Faith

Converted Unto the Lord

Seek Learning by Faith 

We spent 2 hours discussing the things that we had learned and  and asking him questions. He was so open and frank with us, which I really appreciated, I learned so much from listening for the patterns in his teaching, and I hope to be able to apply it better in my own proselyting here in Nags Head with Sister Petrie.

He gave 2 guidelines for asking him questions. 1) Don't write down everything he said.  We don't receive revelation for copying down his talk.  He compared it to writing on small plates, and writing on large plates.  We have to write down what the spirit teaches us on small plates. 2) don't show off.

I thought those were great.  I wish I could say it the same what that he did, but I have limited time, and didn't write on large plates. ;)

I don't really know that much about how the work is in Nags Head yet.  We spent my first 3 days driving a lot.  It took 8 hours on transfer day, and we got home well, after dark.  Friday we had District Mtg. an hour away, and then we drove to New Kent to stay the night which took 3.5 hours so that we could stay the night with the Sisters and Hermanas there and carpool to Richmond Saturday.  Then we drove back home..... So I'm tired of driving a little bit. :)

All I know is that there was a spider in my purse the first night here, and I had to squish it's guts on the inside of my purse so it didn't get on my scriptures.  It was terrible.  Is there anyway that I can make sure that I sleep with my mouth closed?  I'm petrified of swallowing "...a spider who wriggled, and jiggled and tickled insider her...."  literally.....

Good news!  I've received a letter from President Baker, and he says that there is a hurricane plan in place, and that I wont have to die on Nags Head the sandbar. So that's reassuring.  I think the work here will be good after all. :)

That's all I got for today!

Sister Garvin

Rocky Mount Farewells......

Sister Garvin and Sister Felt - With Armstrongs!  Family we LOVE!

Sad farewell's but with MUCH love and joy for wonderful friends!

Beautiful Greenery!

Elders and Sister Garvin

So long, farewell......