La Vie D'Ivee

Well, it's official, winter has commenced here in Canada. This week we will have temperatures as low as -26 C (about -15 F)...please keep poor missionary Sister Garcia in your prayers, hopefully the spirit can keep me warm, thats how it works right?

This past week was actually really wonderful! I was able to go on 2 different exchanges. The first exchange was last Tuesday and I was able to serve with Sister Barton in Dow's Lake YSA. It was really fun because I got to not only teach people my age, but I taught in English, and we rode on the buses all day which allowed for lots of contacting opportunities! There was a definite miracle that we witnessed on the exchange, and it was probably one of the coolest I've seen on my mission. We had a lesson with a media referral named Melissa. She's only 20 years old, and actually referred herself. She has been studying religion for a long time, and grew up with a pastor as a father and Pagan as a mother. She never truly agreed with either of them, and when she found the LDS church, she just knew it was true. When we met with her, she was beaming, you would have thought she just won a million dollars. She's already reading the book of mormon, said she was willing to get all her tattoos removed (which isn't required), and one day wants to be a missionary! She works the overnight shift on Saturday from 11pm-11 am Sunday and was so excited that church starts at 1 on Sunday so she has time to go. Sister Barton and I just sat there in unbelief to see someone who was so eager and so excited about the gospel. She has a baptismal date set for January 7 and can't wait to have all of her friends and family go! She is so solid. Someone told her that mormons can't hug boys or eat chocolate and she was willing to give it all up!

My 2nd  exchange was this past Saturday with Sister Saintus in Gatineau. Sister Saintus had been telling her companion that she really wanted to start working with some Africans, and her wish was granted. We were able to have 4 lessons all with people from different African countries. We had 2 women from the Congo, 1 from Cote D'Ivoire and 1 from Rwanda, and it was so much fun! 1 of the women we taught is named Regena. She has been impossible to get a hold of, and we were finally able to set up a time to pass by her and share the Christmas initiative. She loved it, and even invited us to stay for dinner! Another was with our new investigator, Nadia. Nadia is so awesome, and has a strong desire to learn more about the gospel. She loved the Christmas initiative, and loves the idea of trying to be more like Christ. She wants to start coming to church, but it is a little difficult since she is working 2 jobs in order to bring her husband here from Congo.

Sister Paine and I have had a lot of miracles happening. We were able to find 3 new investigators which is always wonderful! 1 of them is Valerie, and she is amazing We taught her the restoration and she loves the book of Mormon. She was getting so excited saying "wait, we have another testament of Jesus Christ?" The spirit was so strong. However, at the end she told us that she has a strong desire to come to church, and to read from the book of mormon. However, in Haiti it is very traditional to follow your husbands guidance and he does not want her associating with the church. However, she said she was going to read and make a decision for herself, so please keep her in your prayers!

Thats about it for the week!

Stay warm for me!

Love,

Sœur Garcia 

Scripture of the week:

Luke 2:10-11

And the angel said unto them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

Quote of the week:

"I hate you more than Satan hates when you go to church"

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