Amber in Virginia - September 30, 2013 - Transferring to North Carolina

So I didn't have a chance to respond to all the emails I wanted to this week, so here is my public apology. :)  Thank you all for writing to me though!  I love to hear from you!

I'm being transferred this week.  I don't really know where I'm going geographically, but I'm going to be opening an area where sisters have never been, and I'll be training a new missionary.  (see links at end of post for more info. on where Amber will be serving; Rocky Mount, North Carolina.) 

I'm so so excited!  I'm also so so sad!

I have grown in Jamestown, and I'm going to always have a part of my heart reserved for this place.  I wouldn't be the person I am right now if I hadn't been here.  So it is sad to be leaving, and I'm sad that I wont see any of the immediate results of some of the things that I tried to do here, but I am SO THRILLED for Sister Newbold!  She will begin the harvest, and I am so glad that she will have the opportunity to train and grow here!

Well, mixed feelings.

I was so sad to hear about the passing of my friend Adam this week.  I had a hard few days, but I prayed and said that I needed 3 days to mourn, and then asked for a blessing.

I have learned a lot.  I loved that kid, but I know that things will be okay, and I'm so glad and grateful that he can be in a place with no pain, only love joy, and beauty.  I know that he is happy there.  

There is a scripture in Nehemiah 6:3 "...I'm am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down..."

I know that he is in a better place, and he is doing a great work, and I am so happy to be connected to people that aren't here in person through this wonderful Work of Salvation.

I can stand (write) before you, and say with full conviction and testimony that I KNOW that The Plan of Salvation is Heavenly Father's plan of happiness for us, and I know that it is true, and I know that it is really more than what I know of it.

It's truth though, and I can stand by that.

I don't know everything that is in store for me in the next year, but I do know that Heavenly Father has a place for me in His plan, and that His plan includes my happiness.

I'm so grateful for the experiences that I have had here, and I know that I wouldn't be able to fully become who God designed me to be without this opportunity to serve.

Thank you to those who have helped provide it, and who have been a part of it.

I cherish you!

Sorry this is so rushed!

It's cram-everything-that-you-have-to-do-and-pack-day along with grocery shopping and appointments!

I love you for eternity!

Love,

Sister Amber in North Carolina (soon)

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

City of Rocky Mount

Photos of Rocky Mount

Map of Rocky Mount

Our 'District' - Jamestown

Amber in Virginia - Monday, Sept. 23, 2013

So apparently when I try to type really fast my brain spells the wrong version of words that I am thinking of like four instead of for.  Well, that's embarassing..... Oops!

Guess what I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited for?!

You probably will take to long to guess so I will just tell you.

General Conference is (not this weekend) NEXT WEEKEND!

Guess why this is momentous?! 

Because it will mark 1 year since the age change for missionaries (which changed many peoples worlds--including mine.)

Also, I get to spend 10 hours sitting-- which is way more than I have done in 2 days in the last 5 months. :)  So that will be great.

This week I have been thinking a lot about being successful, and becoming, and other deep thoughts like that.

I have reached a really wonderful conclusions (thanks again to my lovely mother, and also my great mission president) 

Wise words "all we have to show for this is what we have become."

So then the question is: What would have to happen for me to feel like I had served a successful mission?

Would it be 'X' number of baptisms, or 'Y' number of miracles?

You are right if your brain just thought "NO!"

Go you!

While my realizations may not be accurate for all other missionaries around the world, they are for me, and on the slight chance they may benefit somebody I am willing to share.

If (super metaphorically) I came home tomorrow, or next week, or next month, would I be satisfied with who I had become?  The answer: yes. Why you ask?  What is the point, or what do you have to show for it?

Well, my answer is simply that I have become more.

I know that it sounds weird. But it's true.  I haven't become a completely different person (I still think I'm SO funny!)  but I have become more, and maybe even more important than that is that I LOVE the people here.

I could come home tomorrow and feel like I had been successful simply because I opened my heart up again, and I learned to love the people.

I can show for all this that I loved. And that I served out of love.

That's good enough for me, and I feel that it is good enough for the Lord.

I know that He called me on a mission so that he could teach me about this really miraculous, and minor-ly comprehendable thing called love.

And that's that.

Also,

Well, not also, 

But! 

(as always)

You are in my prayers, and 

I love you forever.

Love,

Sister Amber

From:  Mission Conference in July - (Photo posted by my Mom)  

(Amber is on third row back, kneeling 5th from left, red top.  :)

Missionaries in Virginia, Chesapeake Mission, 2013

September 23, 2013. Willamsburg, Virginia. -- Starfish Story.

Muddy 'Crocs'  :)

Dearest Loved ones, whom I love,  

I don't remember what week it happened or if I sent a picture, but I made my companion walk through the mud.  It was an accident, but it happened.  This is what happened to the new Crocs that I bought at TJMaxx for $8 (stellar deal.)

We've also been working with this sweet hispanic woman named Maria - to help her with her English, and in reading the Book of Mormon. We aren't going to be meeting with her anymore because she is going to the Spanish Branch, and the Hermanas (spanish-speaking sisters) are going to be meeting with her from now on, but she is so sweet. :)

I don't know if I have many words of wisdom this week, but I can say this:

I'm 10 pages away from the end of the Book of Mormon, and it's still true.

It was true when I started it, it was true when I got half way through it, and it is still true as I approach the end.

So, it's kind of like the best thing.

Everyone should read it.  Every day.  Or more.

We had Zone Conference this week.  Our ward (church congregation) fed all the missionaries, for which we were all grateful.  I love Relief Society, and being part of something.  They were wonderful to us.  

It was great to hear from President Baker, and his wife, and to refresh and refine the vision of missionary work that they have for this mission.  I appreciated so many things that they said.

This week I'm not as fiery-sounding as I have been inprevious weeks.  It must be the weather. :)  Or the change in season. (There is an entire yellow-leaved tree by our house!) But I'm just as fiery in testimony.

To quote the words of a very wise woman-- namely mom-- who changed my life today.

"There are so many things like that that just don't seem fair and...I know that you know that and have dealt with a lot of them in your life.  And, yet, like the starfish, you have made a difference - one person at a time....
"Sometimes we don't think we are - but, we are watched and...everything we do - makes a difference.  Even if we don't know it. "

"It made a difference for that one."

Mommy, thank you for helping me be a starfish. We are a family of starfish.

Probably somehow the entire eco-system would crash without starfish.  I don't know all that scienc-y stuff, but that's just my idea.

So yeah.

It's weird, but thank you for being my starfish family.

You're basically the best-- more than anything else ever.  And you're mine, which is even better.

Love for eternity, "AND BEYOND!"

Sister Garvin AKA Amber

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The Starfish Story

A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean.

“Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?,” he asks.

“Because the sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don’t throw them further in they will die.”

“But, old man, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can’t possibly save them all, you can’t even save one-tenth of them. In fact, even if you work all day, your efforts won’t even make a difference .”

The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea. “It made a difference for that one.”

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Mormon Missionaries - Why do they do what they do?

And...here's a BEAUTIFUL message about Missionary Work.  I found it to be very touching!
(Posted by:  Amber's mom)

Williamsburg, Virginia, September 9, 2013 - Sister Amber Garvin

(Dear Readers:  Amber was a bit hesitant to share this and wanted me to look it over and see if it sounded 'too grumpy' or not.  I felt it was actually strong and powerful, and...a good reminder to the rest of us as to our personal responsibility of sharing the gospel and doing more than just being an example.  I hope you will all take it the same way.  - Sincerely, Amber's mom, Heidi Garvin)  :)

From Sister Amber Garvin; serving in Williamsburg, Va

Monday, Sept. 9, 2013

Soooo..... There is this thing called missionary work.  And we had Stake Conference this week and it was all about it.

There is something that I learned from it that I would like to share.  I only share it because it hit me with full force this week, and especially as I listened to the words of our inspired leaders who hold the keys to missionary work in this area.  I share this not to offend, but to invoke a thought.  A thought that if cultivated and pondered will lead to an action.

That's the disclaimer.  Please take the rest with a pinch of salt or a grain of salt or whatever that phrase is that will deliver the message in a way that I mean it.  I mean it out of love, and out of a hope that I will always retain in my remembrance the things that I am learning here.  I don't always remember to write them down, and one day I would like to look back and remember what lessons I learned that shaped me into the person that I am becoming.

Here's the rest:

We talk about it all the time, and I have gained a new perspective about it since I have been living it.

We talk about it frequently enough that I hope that if I just cut to the point you can piece things together.

Missionary work has changed, and is continuing to change.  

Here I will be very frank: Being an example is not enough.  It's not.

While being an example does lead to people noticing you, and it does lead to you being able to live the standards that it doesn't lead others to action.

I am not excusing myself; I have used that line before "I will just be an example." But I have asked this, and I could probably think really hard to structure this question more eloquently, but here it is.  Where did that get me? Honestly, not far.  I was able to maintain my personal standards, but that didn't share the gospel with anybody.

Being an example did not make me a missionary. 

This probably sounds harsh.  But I'm learning that beating around the bush doesn't get me very far either because I'm not being completely honest.

I'm just working on being a bit more tactful.

So anyway.

yup.

I have to head out for today, we only have an hour, but I will be here next week, and I love you, and I will write you a letter soon!  Sorry that I have fallen behind!

 

You are my reason for fighting!

Thank you for being my constants!

I hit 5 months tomorrow.  It's been a year since I started school (at BYU-I last year).  It still doesn't seem real that I have been here (in Virginia) this long, but I still think about how far away next October seems.

When I picture my most beloved family waiting for me at the airport that is when I continue to have the strength to continue one more step.  

You mean more to me than I even thought, and more than you will ever know.

Love (literally) forever,

Amber

Tuesday, September 3, 2013, Williamsburg, Virginia, LDS/Mormon Missionaries

Hello,

My name is Sister Garvin.

I'm a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sister Amber Garvin - 2013

I bear a message about "the good news" of the Gospel, which is centered around your Savior, and my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I know that the message which I share is true, and I know that no matter what stage of life you may be in it can bring strength, relief, and courage to face anything that may lie ahead.

I am not here to change your faith, only to build upon it.

I am here to teach.

I am here to testify that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

He loves you, and he knows you.

I am here to witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, I know it to be the word of God.

I am here to share this message to all who will heed it.

I am here to lead others to Christ by helping them to receive the teaching of this restored gospel, and to exercise their faith unto repentance.

I am here to love.

I am here to learn.

Most importantly, I am here to serve.

God is mighty.  Through many small and simple things I have been a witness to the power of everyday miracles this week.  I wish that I could share all of them.

Something that I learned from somebody important to me this week we were talking about chances/percentages.

I learned this: God can work with a 10% chance. In fact, He can work with a 0.00000000000001% chance.  I'm not completely sure how small a percent can get, but I KNOW with all conviction that God can work with that low of a percent chance.

"...The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)

I have probably said it before, and I know that most of my letters are probably pretty redundant, but I will continue on with stating the things that I have learned.

Ours is a God of second chances.

Do you understand how profound that is?

We have the option of a second chance no matter where we have been, where we are, or who we are.  We are only defined by the limits we set for ourselves.  Our Father truly loves us, and desires our success.  For that reason He doesn't set limits on us.  With limits all things are not possible. In the context that I am pondering limits-- they are man made.

In this context, limitless and impossible are synonymous.

Also, I really think that this pondering that is occurring in my brain ought to be published in a book or something.  In my very apparent opinion, these thoughts are not that of a not-quite-yet 20 year old woman.  Whew!

I know another thing for certain, I am grateful that grandma is saving all these letters, because if I don't have a book published, I sure am going to make a giant quote wall with my face on it along with all the profound thoughts that I forget I send home! :)

For those people that have been instruments in the Lord's hands for making my perceived limitations possible I thank you most graciously.  Thank you for encouraging and supporting me in overcoming the things that I thought were impossible, and for allowing me to experience this time of growth, and profound thought.  You will never truly know what a lasting, and infinite effect it has had on the welfare of my soul.

Sorry, no more time.

Get me published! ;)

Just kidding.

It would probably make me blush.

Love you always!

Sister Amber Garvin

P.S. Will send photos next week!

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Also --- My Mom is posting the following for all your information...and, because I didn't send any photos this week and...she thinks that people like to see photos. 

Here's the link to the article about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Performance.

Flash Mob at Tabernacle Choir Performance in Williamsburg, June 22, 2013

Monday, August 26, 2013, Williamsburg, Virginia, Sister Missionaries

Sister Garvin and Sister Newbold

Today is the first day of my 4th transfer.  Congratulations me!  I made it.

This week was really good, and sometimes pretty weird.

We went on exchanges with the sisters we live with, and I was able to serve for a day in a place other than my area.  I loved it!  Not because I don't love my area-- because I do, and I dont want to ever go anywhere else--but because it was a great experience to have one day someplace else.  Testify of truth, meet other people that like the missionaries, yeah.  It was just a really wonderful.

We went to an Assisted Living center where a member of their ward was living, and we ended up talking with this old man for a long time!  It was really powerful to feel the Spirit just testifying of simply truths.  Most especially of God's love for each individual.  I love seeing the little bits of hope that appear in people's eyes as they realize that they are cared about, and there is something more to life then just going through it.

So that was neat.

Something I learned very clearly this week:

Our purpose, my purpose, as a missionary is only to invite, and if the invitation is accepted then to gently guide.  Never to entice, cajole, manipulate, or convince anyone that the gospel is true.  Never that.  That's a bad idea.

We never ask someone to take our word for it.  Believe that the Gospel has been restored, or that the Book of Momon is true just because I say so.  That is also, a bad idea.  The promise in Moroni 10:3-5 is real!  You can ask and find out for yourself that it is true, but you have to really want to know.

Sorry... my collection of thoughts is pretty brief, and less organized than usual.  Time is running out! 

Love forever!

Thank you more than I can say for your unwavering support!

Love,

Sister Garvin

Book of Mormon Promise

August 19, 2013 - Williamsburg, Va

Soooo,

This week I don't really want to write a long letter.  I hope that is okay and not offensive. :)

Sometimes typing is annoying, and I learned that I love computers, but I don't want to spend my entire life with a keyboard.  Because my fingers get worn out!

So here is the short vesion of my week: It was good, sad, overwhelming, joyful, peaceful, busy, and other stuff.  Pretty typical week.  I feel something different almost everyday.  And I learn just as many things every day.

I know that I am related to people that aren't satisfied with just that information so I will give a short story. :) (you're welcome Grandma! :)

This week, through accidental circumstances, I got a welt on my face, and then we had church the next day, and I didn't want people to get the idea that I had been beat up or something, so I slept on a rock-hard icepack.

OH!  This is a good story!!

We were helping a member with some yard work, and there was a toad in her garden bed!  I was very brave, and I caught it!  And I held it!  (I held my first toad.  I know what you all are thinking.... None of us ever thought that this day would come... But let me tell you... Virginia has changed me.)

I think that I shared the story last week, but I'm even killing spiders now.  Of course it is with cleaning spray that shoots very far, but my aim is getting better. :)

So those are the stories for this week.

We taught an unexpected Restoration lesson, and I asked someone to be baptized for the first time.

Please don't judge that I haven't done it before.  I'm learning and that is the part that counts.  But I felt good about it, and it wasn't as scary or intimidating as some people make it out to be.  You just have to do it.

Like I think I've said previously: Heavenly Father is teaching me how important it is to feel.  I am learning more and more every week why He called me on a mission, and His purposes surpass all the understanding I had previously about why I choose to come on a mission.  

I'm reflecting on who I was 4 months ago.  I'm foundation-ally the same, but the structure is more refined, and improved than I ever thought possible.  Heavenly Father is a good Character Architect. :)

I guess this turned out longer when I realized that I had some more things to say to combat the goofy.

This letter didn't start out with a point in mind, but as I have written it I have reached on, and it is this:

God IS our LOVING Heavenly Father.

I know that this is true. And if it's true that Heavenly Father loves me, and if it's true that He loves you than every thing else about the gospel makes sense.

Now, I'm out of time. 

I love you family.  More than I can even put into words.  And that is a lot, because I have a lot of words. (See above)

Love always, and forever,

Sister Amber Garvin

August 12, 2013 - Willliamsburg, Virginia

I didn't budget my time very well this week, so I apologize I am including an exerpt from a letter I sent back to my Bishop (Bishop Nyman) about the Book of Mormon and the talk he gave a few weeks ago.

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"Our mission president has challenged us to re-read the Book of Mormon as a mission at a pace of about 7 pages per day to get through it in 12 weeks.  With this emphasis on the Book of Mormon I have learned so much pertaining to my personal growth, as well as how to help others grow.

"Abide With Me"  (AltusFineArt.com)

Since there are so many people in the "South" that are deeply religious and relate to the Bible it is sometimes difficult to talk about the Book of Mormon. I want to start with the Bible and then work towards the Book of Mormon.  But something that I am still learning, and love learning, is that the reason that I came on a mission is to share the Book of Mormon.  The world, and a vast amount of people already have the Bible, and the unique message that we share is centered on Jesus Christ and the other testament of His ministry in the Americas."

"It is amazing to see the miracles that come from the Book of Mormon, and the role that it plays in every persons' conversion.  Nobody can truly be converted without the Book of Mormon having a role in their lives."

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I know that it is (for lack of better words) dumb to quote myself, but I just did. And I am satisfied with that decision.  :)

Now my letter is longer with just a copy and paste! ;)

I've got it all figured out. :)

I learned something important this week; about one of the reasons that Heavenly Father called me on a mission.  Not about why I chose to serve. (This is one of those lessons that you had no idea you would learn until after you are already deep into an experience---such as a mission.)

Like all the lessons I learn and share, this is the run-on story:

Remeber that one time when I was a teenager, and I had no idea who I was, or what I wanted, and if God cared about me?

Well, at some point, I learned really well how to hide from things: Myself, others, the World... Etc... Then I was not a happy person.

Then I realized how important it is to make Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ a central part of my life, and I got back on the right track and found out who I was, what I wanted, and that God absolutely cared about me.

That came with a life.  Which included going to college.

Which was truly WONDERFUL.

Then I came home and forgot what I wanted to do with my life.

Then I made a choice that would forever change me called "Coming on a mission". That choice fixed the flat tire of my life and I was able to get back on the road going about 2 million miles infinity.

Then I came on a mission, and Heavenly Father taught me that although I had found happiness, and joy, and was doing all the right things before--I was still hiding.

Then He taught me that it is safe not to hide.  And that it is okay to hurt.

Then I read a quote that said "if there were no sorrow in death, there could be no joy in life." (True to the Faith; Death)

Then I cried almost at least once a week because I discovered that when you aren't hiding you get all emotional and stuff. 

And this lesson could only be learned through this experience.

That's the story.

I am so grateful that when we are called on our own personal missions that we go into it with certain expectations, or goals, but that Heavenly Father always has other lessons for us to learn that we never expected.

It's great.

Now everyone knows my life, and some of life's greatest mysteries have been solved.

This letter is sort of a ramble.  But that is what I learned this week in force. :)

Also, I learned again that I love my family, and that time is precious.  I've already been out 4 months.

Take a moment for that to sink in..... I hope your jaw dropped.

It still hasn't really hit me.... But really, wow.

Time is a precious thing.

I'm glad that I will have time forever with the people that I love the most!

Love always,

Sister Amber Bennett Garvin

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!