Photos

Thanks to her companion, Sister Carlson, we get these additional photos.  Yay.  It's SO nice to 'see', in addition to 'hearing' about, their experiences.

Zone Conference in Virginia Beach

Apparently their favorite Frozen Yogurt Place!

Fish Fry, Exchanges, Answers to Prayers, Talent Night, We Sang in Church, Gift of Tears!

(This is Sister Garvin's last full week in the 'mission field'.  She has grown to love and cherish the people she's met in North Carolina and Virginia.  As her mother I can attest to her growth and the sadness she feels as she leaves dear friends behind, but, the joy we also all feel as she returns home with honor to start a new chapter of her life.  -- Service to the Lord is the greatest blessing any of us could ever have.  It's a life-long work with varied chapters.  I'm thankful that she chose to serve the Lord as a missionary and am grateful for the wonderful people she's met and for those that, I too, have connected with through her.  We love and cherish them and pray the Lord's blessings to continue with them.  Now...to her entry.)

This week was really full of wonderful experiences.  

We went on Exchanges in Chesapeake.  I prayed the whole time that I would be able to allow the spirit to teach through me so that I'd be unified with my exchanged companion.  There were several people that we talked with that I felt that prayer was answered.  Especially with one family.  We went to visit with the mother who is a member, and her son who is sort of investigating (he's 10 I think?....) and she was flitting around from crying children to art projects, and all the other things that Mom's do.  So we had a minute to talk with her son before she sat down with us, and he really opened up.  It was sweet.  I learned that just genuinely caring about people helps us to care about what they care about.  He kept asking us questions about being " Bath-tized."  It was cute.

In addition to that experience I add a cool informative sch-peel thing:  The little boy who we talked with is in Elder Betillion's (from Rocky Mount) area as well, and I think that the Elders will be teaching him.  So I thought that was a fun little connection, go teamwork!

Our talent night ended up being a success.  We had 2 investigators that attended, as well as a few less active members.  It was really fun.

I was pretty hesitant and scared to do a ward activity because I have a little bit of anxiety about failing things-- which I think it's pretty normal.  I don't think people generally like to fail (and, when I do fail I prefer it to be in a pretty controlled environment with not a lot of people who are affected by it.)

Anyway, there were many people that came, and supported us as well as those who performed.

We ate some yummy food, and enjoyed the company of others.  We should have called it a Variety Show instead, because there was a lot of variety.  From sewing projects, musical numbers, magic tricks, jump rope, etc... It was so joyful to share with people not in a way of showing off, but just in a way of sharing something that is important to you with a community of people that have lots of love.

The ward had a Fish Fry on Saturday, and lemme tell you...... I've never had hush puppies so good in my whole life.  It's our ward mission leaders secret family recipe.  I heard that he sold it to someone, but that they had to sign a contract that they would pay $10,000 dollars or something if they ever gave the recipe out.  And the person that signed the contract keeps the recipe in a safe.

Dems is special secret hush puppies. Fo' reals.

mmmmm......

Miracle of the Fish Fry:  We met several non-members, and a less active member came with his friend and had a great time.  Yes!  I was SOOOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!

We sang in Sacrament Meeting the youth theme song from 2014... I may have included a link to that video in the past, but here's another for good measure:

http://www.mormonchannel.org/youth-theme-2013?v=3358025312001

There was a very special spirit there.  Sister Carlson started crying, and it touched so many people hearts.  They all started crying too.  Like I said at the beginning of our companionship-- she has a spiritual gift for being able to weep.  And she is not ashamed, neither should any of us be.  The Spirit speaks to us through feelings, so it's important that we let feelings in.

That's one of the greatest lessons I've learned as a missionary.

I'll send out one more email next week.  So this isn't the last yet.  I have to spend more time contemplating the things that I feel are the most important to share as I still wear the mantle of a representative of the Savior.

What I will say this week is what a privilege it has been to learn of the Savior as His representative.  I HAVE learned things that I couldn't have learned otherwise, and I am grateful to Him for carrying me through the difficulties that I have faced.  He is there!  He is good! The Gospel is wings to carry us, and it lifts us higher than we could ever reach on our own.  I love y'all!  (the y'all is dedicated to one very special Sister Jasperson.... I think that I've got the hang of it now. ;)  haha.)

Gotta Go!

 Love Forever,

Sister Garvin

Read more from her companions' blog:
http://sistercarlsoninchesapeake.blogspot.com


Thanks to Brother Kelly (a beloved ward member who has taken special care of the Missionaries) for these photos from his phone.  It's AMAZING to receive photos on the DAY of the activity and to feel more connected and part of this great work!  Thanks, Brother Kelly!!!!

The Sister Missionaries Preparing for and Helping with 'Ward Talent Night'. 

No fleas, Zone Conference, Delicious Cupcakes, Social Media Split, and... Closed on Sundays!

Here we are again, another week has come to an end.

 

So much has happened, and changed.

 

But I feel the same.

 

And I don't have fleas (which was a concern yesterday, but I think we got that one sorted out.  Showers, vacuums, bug exterminator spray= conquering of the fleas.)

 

Wednesday we drove to Virginia Beach and had zone conference.  Our mission area doctors, and LDS Family Services consultant spoke to us about missionary health, and coping with stress as well as being "present" and not living for the future or dwelling on the past.

 

There were some really incredible principles taught.  It also came with cupcakes. 

 

Which were delicious.

 

Truly.

 

I didn't find out who made them, but I hope that one day they read this blog, and then they will know that they are great, wonderful, and talented.  Also, that I'm grateful, and they made a really good decision.  People go crazy for cupcakes.... President Baker got chocolate with chocolate frosting. :)  Sister Carson got pumpkin, and I chose carrot cake.  Yuuuuummmmmyyyyyy!!!!!!!!

 

The Book Of Mormon Musical is coming to Norfolk, VA the latter part of October.  As a way of portraying accurately what missionaries really do, and who we really are all five Stakes in our mission and the Mission Presidency are working with our local Social Media representative to do what is called a "Social Media Split".  Various members will sign up to spend parts of the day with us, and take pictures and videos to share on Social Media Websites with their circle of friends.  It's really going to be amazing!

 

Sister Newbold was serving in Portsmouth, and piloted it for the mission in August.  She said it was great.

 

I'm going to miss it, but I'm dedicating myself to do something that day that will support what the missionaries are doing.  Neeeeaaaatttttt-ooooooo.

 

We've got a very busy week ahead!  Ward activities, service projects, exchanges, etc....

 

Also, we found a delicious frozen yogurt place that is closed on Sundays because the people that own it are very religious, and keep the sabbath day holy.

 

I don't know them, but I admire them.  Because they stick to their standards, and I have no doubt that they've recieved a lot of pressure to open on Sundays because it would be a great business day for them, and they are in a great location, and they are delicious. 

 

I'm making this part up in my head: they have a bumper sticker that says "I want Surfin' Spoon, but it's Sunday"  I think that is their response to all that pressure.

 

Way to be!

 

They are living what the prophets have taught us.  They are letting their religion show.  And they're being graceful about it.  

 

We each need our personal bumper stickers when it comes to our beliefs, our testimonies, and who we are.

 

We are members of the Lord's church.  We are His representatives, we are God's children.

 

As I'm writing this I've thought: If I had a personal bumper sticker, what would it look like?

 

Conclusion: Probably my mormon.org profile. (which by-the-way, you can print pass-along cards with your face on them.  BEST INVENTION EVER!)

 

And dems is mai tots for da day.

 

I love you, and will see you in 16, 15, 14, 13......... hmmmmmmm, better not continue that one.

 

Have a blessed week!

 

Love Forever,

Sister Garvin

Orange Starfish, Bella the Pig, Zone Conference in Virginia, Inspired Calls and Releases...

This week has been a zoo.  Literally.  We've been privileged to interact with many animals of many different walks of life.

We went to the Aquarium on Monday with the Sister Training Leaders, and the Hermanas.  It was great!  We befriended an otter, saw a white aligator (he wasn't albino), a sea turtle rehabilitation center (which smelled fishy, but sea turtles are HUGE!  Wow!), then I petted a stingless stingray, and get ready.... A LIVE STARFISH THAT WAS BRIGHT ORANGE!  (checked that off my bucket list.

So excited.... I almost cried.  Probably.  Not quite... But it was a joyous experience of my life.)

Also.... There were divers cleaning the shark tank, and that was pretty neat too.

Arriving at Manteo Aquarium

Neat!  an orange starfish!

Divers Cleaning the Shark Tank.  Wow. 

(Symbolic thoughts here....)

Then, I held several cats with fleas.  I thought fleas were a big deal, but no one tells me before I pet their cats that they have fleas.  You just see the little buggies crawl up the cat's ear and go back down.  Gross, but at least they don't live on people, and they are much easier to get rid of than bed bugs.

On Friday we went to our District Meeting and the member that drove us had to pick up some hay for her horse on the way home.  We pulled up to a little farm and there was a huge, chubby pig.  So we asked the farmer if we could take a picture with it, and we took turns taking 'selfies' with Bella the black pig.  Also, she smelled my leg, and her nose was wet.  That was interesting.

Sister Garvin and Sister Carlson with Sweet little Bella the Pig  :)

  

Today we had the least threatening bug on our door that we've ever had.  It was "a beautiful butterfly!" (please say that in the voice of the caterpiller from 'A Bug's Life') And a little deer family ate some of our overgrown backyard bushes.

Finally....a 'beautiful bug' on our window....

So this week is going good.

We are driving to Virginia on Wednesday to a combined Zone Conference for the zones in Virginia, and I'm so excited that I dance/wiggle every time that I think about it.

Time is so weird.  I think I've said that before, but if you just spend some time thinking about it, it becomes even more of an incomprehensible idea.

I recognize that my grammar, and punctuation, and organization of this letter is not so good.  But it's how my thoughts are coming out, so right now I'm not really feeling that I should care that much about that....

Whatever. Whatever. Whatever.

I'm going to send some pictures home now.

I only have 20 more days on Wednesday.  AHHHHHHHHHHH......

Okay. Calm yourselves.

I just keep reminding myself that release dates are inspired, just as mission calls are.

That's a wonderful thing.

Sometimes when you are a missionary it feels like you will always be a missionary.  So it's pretty difficult for me to figure out if I should be feeling or thinking differently than I do.  I've never done this before. 

Shout out to Sister Jasperson who is helping me by leading by example.

Thanks Seester. ;)

Kay, I love you, Bye!

Love,

Sister Garvin

Ode to Rain, Manteo Aquarium, Atonement of Christ, Imperfect People, Life of each ONE!

One time in Rocky Mount I wrote an "Ode to the Rain".

I don't really know what an ode is, but I know that it's related to music somehow, and also... today would be an appropriate day to sing that particular ode.

(insert from my mom)

-----------------------------------------

ode

ōd/

noun

noun: ode; plural noun: odes

1. a lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter.

   • historical

     a poem meant to be sung.

-----------------------------------------

The sky is black.  The rain is falling, and I left my good umbrella in the car.

Good news, the wind doesn't look like it's blowing too hard, so the umbrella that I do have will probably be sufficient for today.  I don't think that it will turn itself inside out.  But there is only room for one missionary.... not two.... so we'll see how that works out as a companionship. ;)

We are going to the Manteo Aquarium today.  I've been waiting for this moment FOREVER!  I'm so excited!  I hope that the dinosaur exhibit is still there..... animatronic dinosaurs.... BEST. DAY. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No spider stories this week.

There is a toad story though... several of them.

Frog story: I found one in an outdoor sink, and in an effort to save it's life I found it jumped on my  shoulder, and I was so startled that I froze, and just walked to where it would be safe so that it would jump off of me.

Toad story: It jumped into the garage that our laundry room is in, before we get into our house, and hit underneath the dryer.  I don't know if it is still there, but I prayed that the Lord would lead him out of the garage so that he wouldn't die there.

So I'm just going to assume that prayer was answered.

I learned an important lesson this morning actually.

Remember the talk given in April conference "What were you thinking?"  Well I get annoyed when people just say that line over and over again, but it's a wonderful talk. 

Yesterday in Church we were talking about being offended, and the lessons that we can learn from 

General Conference.  A sister that was visiting brought up that talk, and spoke about the different perspectives that people have. 

Mis-Judgement has seemed to be a theme this week. 

There are so many people that have left the church or are considering doing so because of some mis-judgement that has occurred.  I feel to share a couple of messages about that.

Also I'm going to finish that in another email in case the power goes out.  I want you to get something from me.....

To be continued....

Continuation.....

Well here:

"Come, Join With Us!" --Elder Deiter F. Uchtdorf

"What Are You thinking?" --(Elder Zwick)

"2 Nephi 4:16-35"

Let's have a little thought here to connect all the above named sources.

First,  "...imperfect people are all the God has ever had to work with..."(Elder Holland, "Lord, I Believe") and most often, if we looked at ourselves through the lense of judgement that we project onto other people, our eyes would be opened, and we'd be severely chastised.

Second. We never really do know what people are thinking.  What they do makes sense to them, and before saying something unkind, or giving our opinion of what we think they should do we should follow the counsel of President Monson, and try to see them through a lense of true, Christlike charity. (See: April 2014 General Conference address)

Third.  Let's just face it; Nobody is anything without the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  If that were taken away we'd each be miserable, unable to measure up to anything, and directionless.

Fourth, because each of us fails to measure up perfectly to our potential every time we are all hypocrites. ("Come, Join With Us!")

Fifth, We see each other in a mere speck of time in the wide spanse of eternity.  You just don't know what is ever in a persons heart.  But it always turns out better if you try to know what is in their heart before putting a "dot" on them (Max Lucado "You Are Special")

I know with my whole heart that each soul truly "is precious in the sight of God", and that God's glory is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)

Heavenly Father knows our hearts.  He know us by name, and he sees us for the span of eternity, and who we are becoming. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

All these things have I learned through a long thought process, doing the dishes, eating peanut butter toast, and sweeping the kitchen floor.

I hope that there is a heart in the world that reads this and feels strength from it.  Everything about the work of salvation is about reaching out to ONE, and touching the life of ONE.

It is my ONE that generations are changed whether for good or bad.

Sending my love your way, and beware!  You only have 29 days to strengthen your cores enough to handle how tightly I'm going to hug you.   So get you to some abdomen exercises!

Love Forever,

Sister Garvin

Good song: "No one knows my heart" Jessie Clark Funk

      (Read more of their missionary adventures from her wonderful companion Sister Carlson)

Dolphins at Sunrise, Overflowing Mailbox, Car Accident, Power in Unity

Whew wee!  Today marks 35 days left, and next Monday I'll be at 29.  This is going by WAY too fast!

 

This week many things happened.

 

We saw dolphins at sunrise at the beach of the Atlantic ocean.

 

A HUMONGOUS zipper spider made his home in the frame of our front door.

 

We saved the lives of various tree frogs.

 

We sang off key in the car on purpose.

 

President Baker called us on the phone.

 

We learned that at some point we will be moving, hopefully.

Hermana Haywood received a transfer call and will be going to Elizabeth City, which is                        super close to here.

 

Hermana Gray is coming here..... I don't know her.
 

Mail did not come on Monday.  So I'm expecting the mailbox to be overflowing tomorrow.....           Maybe that's too high of an expectation.......    Well...... Vision precedes goals....... So my vision is to have an overflowing mailbox, and my goal is to receive mail.
 

Good plan.

 

Oh.... And I drove into a fence.  Don't worry.  No one was hurt.  And the woman that works at the body shop used to live by the Church in Portsmouth.  So it was actually miraculous.  Now we get to talk with her about the restored gospel!  Go team Gospel!
 

Yay!

 

I think that those are the most historic/eventful/unique things that happened this week.

 

I wrote some more things in my letter to Andrew this week.

 

Our Zone set a goal to have 5 baptisms in the month of September, to teach 100 lessons in one week by the end of the month, and to invite everyone to be baptized in the first of second lesson. 

 

We had a zone fast, and by the end of the day there were 9 new people that were set with baptismal dates in the zone.

 

It's pretty incredible the power that there is in unity, and real-intent.  I know that Heavenly Father is so aware of us, and is hearing and answering our prayers.  It just all has to happen in His time.

Which is better anyway because we have a time table limited by a life span, and His time is measured by eternity--which is basically limitless-- so His way is always better.

 

I started my very last planner yesterday.  That was sad.

 

I'm sad that I have limited time left.  For such I long time I felt like it would never run out.  I know that God is preparing me for the next phase of the work, and that is my return home.  So I know that things will be okay.  I just hope that I will have lots of things to do because it's really hard to learn how to do nothing after doing the most worthwhile thing for the last 17 months.
 

Well,
 

That's my epistle for the week.

 

Also a really wonderful Mormon Message.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1789679612001

Kay... Love you.

Gotta go for the day...

Bye!

Love,
Sister Garvin

AWESOME WEEK!!! Obedience, Standards of Excellence, Playing the Piano, Spanish Branch, Lord's Kingdom on Earth

Before I forget: Since Labor Day is next weekend, I will be emailing on Tuesday.  It will probably be later in the day, so I may not be able to chat back and forth, but I'll write home.  Promise. :)

Sisters Carlson and Garvin - Nag's Head, NC - Beach

I sort of regret sending the letter home last week that I did.  I'm really sorry that it was so negative.  I was just really grumpy that day, and it showed in my interactions with everyone on email.  I just wanted you to know that grumpiness doesn't last forever, and I've done a complete 180' to who I am today.
 

This week was truly incredible!  Sister Carlson and I are feeling so blessed.

 

We were able to reach almost all of our goals this week, and even exceeded our member present lesson goal.  We taught 7!  It was so great!  This week we've had the highest numbers in this area for the whole year so far.  And our zone exceeded the number of member presents total for the zone ever.  What a wonderful thing to feel that we've contributed in small part to the work in our zone.  

 

Our vision truly has been raised as we've focused on the Standards of Excellence.  I'm so grateful for President Baker's inspiration and reliance on the Spirit of God to help increase our faith in building, not just maintaining the Lord's Kingdom on earth.

Sisters Garvin and Carlson - (In the humidity)

 

I have a relate-able experience to share with you mom....

 

The Hermanas in our area a trying SO hard to start up a Spanish branch.  There are not many Spanish speaking members, and it's very difficult for them.  We felt impressed to go to their Sacrament Meeting last night, and it was such a special experience!

Here's the relate-able part:  I got to play the piano!  Boy.... I'm sure grateful that it was one of the electric ones that had the hymns already programmed in.... All I had to do was hit one key on the keyboard and count right.  Piano lessons paid off as far as understanding counting and time signatures!  :)
 

I didn't understand most of the meeting.  Bless our dedicated members.  We had several that speak no Spanish come just to support the branch.  It was so sweet.  Our Bishop is doing an amazing job.  He conducts in Spanish and reads off a card to say things right, and he's been practicing.

 

There was an English member that was asked to give a talk, and he consulted his daughter-in-law from Mexico to prepare.

 

The Spirit was strong, and was not bound by a language  barrier.  You could feel that.

 

There was one investigator that came, and he said the same thing.

 

We had 4 investigators at Sacrament meeting!!!!  I don't think that has ever happened to me on a mission!  There was a part member family that we've been teaching as well as an investigator that we just met last week.

 

We know that Heavenly Father loves us so much.  I feel that so strongly.  There were so many things that happened, not because we did anything different-- or discovered some secret recipe for missionary work, but because we were so set on being exactly obedient (No exception!).  We know that our week was good because we were trying so hard to be diligent.  The Holy Ghost bore witness to us both of that.

 

That's all I have for this week! 

 

It's the Last week of August, and I have only 6 weeks left. AHHHHHHHHHH!

 

Love forever,

Sister Garvin

Sisters w/youth- including Whitney who was recently baptized

Sister Missionaries  :)

At park with "Big Fish".  We read the Book of Mormon there with some members.

Bodie Lighthouse!  Sisters Garvin and Carlson

Cupcakes for Someone's birthday

Hard Week, Delicious Shrimp, CTR acronymns, The Currant Bush, Be Happy

Hello there Family.

This week feels like it's been the most hardest week of my life.  I've had people yell at me, criticize me, miss appointments, yadda yadda (well that last one is not really new.) Also, today, I received my 'trunky' papers via email.

Worst day ever.  The rest of it will be good though.

There were some good things though.  We had an investigator come to Sacrament Meeting.  We found a new investigator, we ate delicious shrimp from a delicious deli owned by the Mayor.  That was good.  We also watched some really uplifting Mormon messages.  I'd like to share this one.  It's basically the story of my life the past week....

http://www.mormonchannel.org/mormon-channel-daily/213?v=1839005837001 

It's called "The Will of God" and is the story of a Currant bush that got cut down.  But the moral is that God knows who each of us need to be, and knows that we will be happy being that person.  So sometimes He cuts us down when we are trying to be something we're not intended to be so that He can shape us into the thing that will make us the most happy.

We also spent the car ride home from our district meeting making acronyms for CTR.  Here are  a few.  Some we cannot take credit for.

Christ The Redeemer

Current Temple Recommend

Choose To be Ready

Called To Repent

Cause to Rejoice

Come to Rest

Called to rescue

Curb the Rebellion (AKA Apostasy...)

Claim the Redemption

Called To Reach out

Carry the Righteous

Celebrate the Restoration

Courage to Repent

Courage to Receive

Cleansed through Repentance/righteousness

Claim the reward

Count the Reasons

Personal favorites:

Contact, Tract, Role-play

Contact the Referral

So here is wisdom for today.  CTR!!!! :)

Sometimes I complain at the beginning of my letter.  Rest assured,  I do know better.  But sometimes journaling just doesn't do it for me.  I've gotta get it out.  And by the end of my letters I'm feeling encouraged and motivated to do a little better. :)

So I feel better now I think.

I read many things this morning related to missionary work.  Alma 38, Doctrine and Covenants 12-17, some favorite talks and Preach My Gospel.  Here is a bit of revelation that I received this morning.  It's not meant to stress people out okay?  I'm just sharing something that matters to me.

Its this:

President Baker has told us that we are here to build the kingdom, not just to maintain it.

So, if we are rewarded according to our works, and all we are working here is to maintain things and "putter around", we'll be rewarded with a place that we can "putter".  A stagnant place meant for not progressing and making changes sounds like a terrible state of being if you ask me, and I'm resolved to build. 

Now, I've had only 1 baptism.  And people may say that building the kingdom of God just means that we baptize everyone.  Let me direct you to Preach My Gospel Chapter 1.  Building the Kingdom is measured by your commitment to do what the Lord has asked.

Now think of your most favorite thing in the whole wide world.  Are you committed to it? Do you practice it?  Does it absorb you?  Well, then you are committed.

Now ask yourself this.  Am I committed to the promises that I have made with God who is the almighty being of the universe?  Do you practice it?  Does it absorb you?

Or is it just for Sundays and Wednesday night activities?

This week I am going to be thinking about what it really means to me to be committed, and not to just putter in maintaining the kingdom (which I don't think I do, but can be easy to get in the mindset of).  

I will build it this week. 

Ask me if I'm serious.

(notice that that was not a question)

I will report on the success, and miracles that we see next week.  

Thank you all for being here, for responding favorably to my request for quotes, and for enduring another episode of the Garvin Soapbox.

Just wait until I get home.  It's better in person.

I have to get off the computer now.

I love you still!

Love,

Sister Garvin

Read more about Sister Garvin and Sister Carlson 

here on Sister Carlson's Blog

Quote Book, Ups and Downs, Preach My Gospel, His Grace is Sufficient

I'm trying to make a quote book and write a quote that is really good each day.  I've fallen behind, because in all honesty I don't have time to look.  So I wondered if y'all would send me 20 or so quotes in the mail?  It can be over time.... I need about 70 more. :)

I'm going to be brief this week.  I'm about out of time.

I've just learned a lot from reading several talks this week.

"Living a Life, of Peace, Joy, and Purpose" Elder Richard G Scott

"His Grace is Sufficient" Brad Wilcox

"Bear up their Burdens with Ease" Elder David A Bednar

"Preach My Gospel"

I've found myself being a downer this week.  Dumb I know.  I know I know better, but I dont always do what I know-- which has been declared before.  So.... whatever.  :)

Anyway, there have been a lot of things to laugh about this week because I have a great companion, and we have similar senses of humor.

There is a shining experience that I had this week though.  I flat out told a guy that we were there as representatives of Jesus Christ to invite him to repent, to come back to church, and to keep his covenants.  I felt good about it.  But sometimes being that bold makes me shake a little bit.  I'm not sure if it's the Spirit, or if I just get fired-up.  It was a powerful teaching moment though.

In Alma it talks about using boldness, but not overbearance.  I looked through some of my old notes from meetings, etc.... and I read something that I had written a few months ago. 

"The difference between boldness, and over-bearance is the intent behind it." 

Elder Holland states in Preach my Gospel that " if we listen with love we wont need to wonder what to say.  It will be given us by the Spirit, and by our friends."

I re-learned that to be true.

This mission has been full of ups and downs. 

I learned from some of my past companions about multiple baptisms, and great success in their areas, and I don't have all those things under my belt.  It can be easy to compare my weaknesses to their strengths.  But I do have a strength.  I've been a part of the journey of each of the amazing, incredible people that are inviting so many to come unto Christ, and I am so grateful that they are having these miraculous experiences. Because I'm willing to have the ones that I'm having.  And they are willing to have the ones that they are having.... Also, there are mighty miracles wrought every day.  They are here.  They are evident if I but have the eyes to see them.

I don't know if that makes a lot of sense in words, as it does in my head.

Well.... Hopefully someone will learn something from that.

I'm making a conscious decision this week to only compare my strengths and weaknesses to what Heavenly Father expects of me right now, where I am in life.  That is all that I need anyway.

Sending love and hugs,

Sister Garvin

Go to this website for some uplifting music.

https://www.lds.org/youth/music?cid=YS-F-musicteaser&lang=eng

And for some inspirational memes, quotes, and photos.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/images?lang=eng 

Kay, Bye!

Eggs and Donuts! :)

Eggs from a ward members' chickens.

"Duck Donuts"  a favorite of the neighborhood

Gray Sky, Alligator Meat, Relatives' Visit and...Gospel Miracles!!!

Today it is with a heavy heart, and a dark red sweater, and 70 + degrees that I tell you for the last 4 days the sky has been gray.  Literally.  With the really miserable drizzle-y rain.  Not the glorious pouring rain that I love.  So Sister Carlson and I both have been a little blue.

I didn't even realize how affected by weather I could be.  And I have very little control over this circumstance except for prayers.

Good news.  We've had amazing miracles this week.  Truly miraculous.

I haven't got much time today, but here's a brief overview.

We had a goal to have 3 investigators with a baptismal date.  We had no investigators.  We dropped all the investigators that were ignoring us.  Which meant that we had no teaching pool, but here's my thought process "If you don't want us to come teach you about the best thing in the whole world, and we keep trying with no response, then we'll move onto the next person that really does want to know...." Then The Lord provided a way for us to teach a part-member family twice this week.  We were able to set 2 of them for baptism, and almost reached our goal.  The Lord made a way for us, and it took us acknowleging the miracles for us to see the way ahead that He paved. :)

Go team gospel!

Also, today.  We are going to go eat alligator meat.  It's going to be adventurous.
#ilovebeingamissionaryinthesouth.
That's probably the only time that I've ever used a hash-tag in an email home, but it seemed appropriate for the occasion.

Also, surprise encounter from some cousins at church that I didn't know were vacationing here alll week, and were super close to our place of residence!  I'm so glad that they came to church! :)  I think it's fine because they didn't come here just to see me. :)  And I appreciated the fruit they brought!  It made my day!  Now I don't have to buy it myself!  Plus, that's expensive for me living here on the beach!

Anyway. 

We have exchanges this week-- Sister Carlson's first one!  I'm going to be in super-charged missionary mode, and that will probably require a nap at some point today.

The gospel is true, the Book is Blue, I love Souther BBQ!  (and you! :)

Also, study the Apostasy.  It's incredible!  I've learned so much about it this week from Jesus the Christ, the scriptures, and Preach My Gospel.  It's so part of God's plan!

Love forever,
Sister Garvin

With my Uncle Paul, Aunt Christy and their children (who are currently living in Falls Church, VA)

Sister Carlson, Me and...some of my vacationing cousins  :)

Monday, July 28, Nag's Head, North Carolina - "Questions of the Soul"

Neat 'Tender Mercies' 
(From Sister Garvin's Mother)
Yesterday I received a text from a family visiting Nag's Head from Utah and...they took a photo of the missionaries with their family.  It was SO kind of them and SO rewarding to receive a photo and message.  How great to know that we're all connected and 'in this together'.  It was a tender mercy for them (as their son just entered the Mexico City MTC 2 1/2 weeks ago and...they felt very blessed to see and talk with the missionaries in NC) and...a tender mercy for me to see their bright, smiling faces and..to meet Sister Garvin's new companion.

That is the Second news item and neat 'miracle'.  Apparently Sister Garvin's new companion is Sister Cami Carlson from Sandy, Utah.  I'm just waiting this morning for e-mail with more details and while I do so I'm piecing together information.  :)  Yay.  It's SO neat to be involved in this exciting work.  ('The Adventures of the Spirit' as Elder Robert E. Wells called it.) 

Well, Sister Carlson's Mother 'friended' me on G+, which I'm thrilled about (and will respond to as soon as I get Sister Garvin's email) and...her daughter's blog is:  Sister Carlson in Chesapeake, so you can read both of their perspectives and experiences.  Isn't it incredible how technology can bless our lives?   

They are SO busy and don't have much time to write home on Mondays (their 'preparation days') so....they each share what they can and....it's nice to be able to read what they both write.

It's been a glorious blessing for me to be the mother of a missionary.  All the sacrifices and 'missing' her (sometimes tremendously) is compensated for because of her growth and learning and progression and the way that she has strengthen us at home because of her service and sacrifices as her covenant part in helping to build up the Kingdom of God here upon the earth. 

I feel particularly grateful, this day, for the members in NC that I've connected with because of this mission and...the mothers of her companions - who I now feel are all dear online friends. 
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Sister Garvin's Entry:

Questions of the Soul:

Two answers to that question.... Preach My Gospel Page 107
AND....NEW Companion Information:

What's her name?  Sister Carlson
Where is she from? Sandy, UT
How's it going with her?  Wonderful!
Do you 'connect'?  Yes.  We watched the same youtube videos in the past, read the same scriptures, like to talk to people, and both have name tags/purpose in life.  So we've got a bunch in common! :)

Where did Sister Petrie go?  The pickle capital of the world!  Mt. Olive, NC in the Goldsboro Zone.  She'll love it there!

 

In other news.... (this is like a duct tape mustache that just got ripped off of my face...)

I found out at transfer meeting that the day I'm coming home got pushed to a week earlier.  So now it's officially, October 7th.

AHHHHHHHHHH.... And this week is August.  So that's outrageous.

 

Whatever.

 

I've made a countdown because Sister Jasperson told me that everyone was going to ask me about it anyway.  And they already are....

 

I've allotted myself 4 days that I can be emotional about this situation.  That is when I hit 50 days. 30 days, 10 days, and 5 days.
 

On to reports from this week:

 

Well, 

 

President Baker promised miracles as a trainer when you are trying to be obedient, and they are already starting to happen.  but I wanted to share a funny story first.
 

This is one for the journal for sure!

 

We went to contact a potential investigator.  There was a 'No Soliciting' sign on the door.  But we are not solicitors, so we knocked anyway.  They were obviously home, and obviously ignoring us.  So we said "let's just come back in a couple of days".  So we went back two days later, and there was an additional sign posted underneath the original.  Written on cardboard it said: (it was the little circle with the line through it.... No smoking sign...)

No religion,

No politics,

No magazines,

No candy

 

I don't know how else to react except to laugh.  It was funny.  Okay, we're girls in skirts, on bikes, and it's a lot less work to just say 'no' than it is to make a perfectly strait edge sign.
 

Please bless that house.  

 

Also, this morning, I saw a spider with florescent orange legs.  Weird.

 

Miracles:

We found a few new investigators that are really sincere.
We met many new families that we hadn't met before.

We met a family from Utah that took care of us at church, and were super nice.

We ate some delicious food.

We taught many lessons.

Sister Carlson gave out a Book of Mormon to the first person that she talked to.

It hasn't been deathly humid.

I received a letter every day from my dearest sister (Ashley).

We took the Sacrament.

We provided an environment for members of the ward to take care of us by "comforting those that stand in need of comfort".

 

One of Sister Carlson's (beautiful) spiritual gifts is that of being able to weep, and feeling deeply.  She's going to be wonderful for this ward, because she will allow people to love her and take care of her. 
 

I have a harder time doing that because I don't cry that much, and I have a hard time asking for help if I can do it myself (even with much difficulty....) So I'm looking forward to repenting, and learning new experiences for the next few weeks.
 

I learned a powerful truth for me yesterday during Sacrament meeting which I was grateful to learn.  "sometimes the biggest leap of faith is not accepting an answer, but in asking a question."
 

I feel that I've grown a lot in the past year, in ways that I cannot even see.  But I've still SO far to go!  And if I focus on that, all the results, and answers in the future.  I miss the joy of learning now, asking questions now, and having the peace that comes from a question.  There are many questions that I know I will probably never have the answers to, but my faith is founded.
 

The Atonement has already been made, the price was paid, and there are no take-backs.  Plus, there is no way that Christ would take it back anyway.  His gift to us is always there for us to reach out, take hold of, and to be the wings upon our backs when we haven't any strength left to walk.
 

In a very real way I am growing spiritual wings.  

 

I don't have the strength left to walk on my own, so I have to be carried.

 

That was promised to me in a blessing I received several months ago.

 

When I look back on my life and only see one set of footprints on the path-- I will know that I was not walking alone, but was being carried.

 

These are my wise words of wisdom for the day.  I feel that often they are meant more for me to vocalize than they are for you to read, but I'm appreciative of someone that listens to all my thoughts.  

 

It's therapeutic for me to write with a purpose, and is basically a purposeful journal.

 

I have to go now.

 

I love you all forever!

 

Sister Garvin

New companions:  Sister Carlson and Sister Garvin

Sister Carlson's Blog