"My Brain Itches"

Hello Everybody!

This week we were a little stressed, haha. It was nothing too major, but there were definitely a few things that happened that were beyond what the MTC and Preach My Gospel can prepare you for. We had a lot of problems to solve, so during multiple points of the week, both of us ended up with big headaches. During one of those points, I was tired and also driving, so I wasn't thinking very straight anyway, so I accidentally told Sister Jarvis that my brain was itchy. Looking back at it now, it actually might have been a pretty true statement! We were just thinking too hard, I guess. ; ) The week really was good though. We saw a lot of miracles, that's for sure. I also want to just say that I am so grateful for the Word of Wisdom! I can promise you that I know it comes from God. There are a lot of people we're working with who are really struggling with the Word of Wisdom right now, and it just hurts my heart to see how hard it is for them to overcome. But what a great blessing it has been to see how much stronger they become when they trust in the Lord and He is able to step in. It's amazing to see how the Spirit can change people's hearts.

Favorite Scripture:

3 Nephi 22: 4, 7, and 10 "Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame... For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. ...For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."

Favorite Spiritual Moment:

At the end of our district council meeting this week, we met together as a zone for a few minutes. Our zone leaders asked us to look around the room at the missionaries we get to serve with. We then were told to pick one of them, not our companion, and pray for them. We all got down on our knees and prayed. It was really cool to feel the unity and support that we have for each other. We all felt the Spirit during that prayer.

Favorite Miracle:

We went to the Temple Visitor's Center with Bianca on Saturday. We found out about a few obstacles she's dealing with in the past week or so, and we really hoped that going would help her to resolve those things. The Visitor's Center Sisters did a great job knowing what to talk about with her, and she even got a little teary-eyed during the tour. But the coolest part was right after. We went to go walk around the temple, and then we decided to get really close and show her the steps that lead up to the front doors. There are five steps there, and we compared those five stairs to the five points of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. We moved up one step at a time and talked about the importance of each part. When we moved from repentance to baptism, she got really emotional and walked back down the first couple of stairs. She had realized the importance of truly repenting before she is baptized, and knew that she needed to do it. It was really cool to see how the Spirit that is just naturally there at the temple helped her to realize the things she needs to change so that she can go inside someday. The tour ended happily, with us helping her to recognize that she can do those things, and that Jesus Christ is there to help her to do so. I love the temple!

Favorite Funny Thing:

In California, the insect life is very different than what I'm used to in Utah. There are these beetles we see all the time that are like two inches long, an inch wide, and colored like the soap you use to blow bubbles had been spilled all over asphalt in deep puddles. So basically, they are rainbow beetles. These bugs also happen to be blind. We had a lesson at a Taco Bell this week, also with Bianca, where we were sitting outside. While we were walking up to Bianca to say hello, one of those giant, rainbow beetles flew right at me. I spun around and waved my hands a couple of times, thinking I shooed it away, but apparently it actually landed in my hair! Bianca was brave enough to get it out for me, but then the thing just flew in a circle and landed in my hair again. ; ) It happened a couple of times until we moved far enough away that it finally landed somewhere else, but it was just super random because it kept running into me. I'm grateful that Bianca saw it!

I hope you all have such a great week! Don't forget to always trust in the Lord!

Love,

Sister Garfield

ALSO.....

This week is transfers. Sister Jarvis will be going back to being a ASL missionary, and Jessica will be getting a new companion who's name she doesn't know yet. Jessica will be staying in West Hills and being released as a STL, however, she is now serving as a trainer, even more opportunities for her to learn and grow!

Our awesome friend Ramin. He's a recent convert in the YSA ward.

Happy Birthday Hermana Giles!

Us with our copies of the Book of Mormon in different languages. Can you guess what language Ramin's is?... It's in Farsi.

Sister Wood, Sister Pinter, me, Sister Jarvis, Hermana Proteau, and Hermana Giles. Being weird ;-)

The Canoga Park Zone posse

The Elders. Also being weird. We just all fit in quite nicely. ;-)

Top: Elders Oswald, Shin, Burt, Yorgesen, Costello, and Hiatt. Bottom: Sister Wood, Sister Pinter, me, Hermana Giles, Sister Jarvis, Hermana Proteau, Elder Jung, and Elder Hill