One Shade Different (08/18/2014)

Throughout this week I've really felt like I've gotten to make a difference. Of course missionaries are always trying to make a difference in someone's life, or in our own life. But this week I made a conscientious effort to notice the differences around me and be of good cheer for the chance I have to adapt to current circumstances. Did I change Altus? In my dreams! The differences aren't anything huge, just a little bit here and there. 

The first difference? The way I responded to almost eating the most outlandish thing I could have eaten on my mission (so far!). We celebrated Sister Thomas' birthday on Monday. She's a sweet older lady in her 70s. We had pork chops for dinner...cooked in a panini maker. That's a recipe for disaster! And it almost was. I ate several bites into mine, and the next cut I made into it there were gut remnants and a nice shady spot of pink right in the middle! Fortunately, they had baked potatoes there as well, so I grabbed an extra one to make it look like I was enjoying the food :) For dessert we had chocolate cake. All was well with that. Luckily I didn't get sick or anything, but if I did I would have started singing "Master The Tempest is Raging!"

On Tuesday we taught Vince and Shelby! YAH! And they committed to be baptized! Then on Friday I went on exchanges in the other elders' area, so I wasn't personally there, but my companion and the elder I exchanged with conducted a church tour for Vince and Shelby, which they reported as successful. 

On Thursday we tracted in a little town called Granite that hadn't really been touched by previous missionaries. We received a less than favorable welcome from its residents. The last house we knocked on, however, was a miracle. We tracted into a member whose name isn't on the rolls. I always love it when that happens! She was so grateful and astonished that we ran into her. We gave her a Book of Mormon since she didn't have one. We're hoping to fellowship her and get her back to church. Those little differences we make in other peoples' lives... We're hoping she'll recognize that and want to make a difference in herself.

Back to the lovely Sister Thomas. We helped her box up some stuff that she wanted moved into her new house on the south side of town. After we helped her with that, we got to PAINT! I got to paint her bathroom a shade of minty green! For those that know me, you'll know that color represents me so well... 

We had ward conference on Sunday, and members from the stake came out from Lawton and Wichita Falls, Texas and spoke to the ward about hastening the work. I really think the ward needed it. It's good to know that the stake's working alongside with us trying to make a difference. 

Anyway, that's all folks! I guess what? I finally have some pictures to show y'all of God's little slice of pie in southwest Oklahoma! Have an awesome week!

Love, Elder Garner

Crossing Lines (08/11/2014)

I am thrilled to say that I now have one more state to add to my list of states traveled. This week I got to go to the bottoms of the mission in northern Texas! 

Tuesday and Wednesday were killer days for me and Elder Wilkes. We both got allergies... It completely took over us. Elder Wilkes got really bad bloodshot eyes and I got hives that looked like leprosy! A member family asked us to clear out the weeds from their alleyway, so that's what attributed to the leprosy-allergies. The member had me sniff some lavender and melaluca for about 20 minutes. I swear, I was almost high. After that I washed the the rivers of our home bathtub....once. It didn't take seven times ;)

On Friday I entered the mega-state of TEXAS! I now see what all the hype of Texas is all about. Wherever you go....it's Texas. You go down for 500 miles you're still in Texas. You go over 1,000 miles...and you're probably still in Texas! Oklahoma must feel invaded having such a massive "mini-country" below them. I got to explore Burkburnett, Texas with one of my zone leaders. We had a great exchange, and I got just a little dab of the Lone Star State.

On Thursday and Sunday we had dinner at a member's home, the Hull's. They are an awesome family that moves around from place to place due to being in the Air Force. They have a kid about six years-old that likes to do magic tricks. The poor kid... He tried doing a magic card trick with me, but when he did it wrong and he guessed the wrong card... When I told him it was the wrong card he almost started crying! I felt so awful... As if that wasn't enough, he tried redeeming himself on Sunday with another card trick, this time more elaborate. After about 20 minutes of doing the trick he predicted that I had a 3 of hearts. It was a Jack of Spades... I paused for a good five seconds trying to decide if I wanted to dash his hopes and confidence again by telling him I picked a different card, or if I should just fib a little and tell him he'd picked the right one. It wouldn't have really mattered, right? I ended up telling him it was the Jack of Spades. The same results happened. I hope me and this kid are still friends! I think we are... 

Sometimes I wonder if we are brimming over with confidence and we think we know what we're doing only to find out that we did things wrong. Sometimes as a missionary it feels that way. Enduring to the end sure is an important step in all our lives as we make mistakes and learn to pick ourselves back up and try again. And someday, with the help of the Lord, we'll know the tricks so well that our performance will be perfect in God's eyes. And we'll be able to dwell in His presence. 

One last miracle for this week: The Hoffman family. They live just north of the elder's apartment in Purcell. Me and my trainer, Elder Evans, had found them and taught them July and August of last year. After a year of being taught by missionaries, they finally got baptized!!! The seeds have finally harvested! Unfortunately, I was informed after the baptism, but had I known it was going to happen I would have been there. This is quite possibly the greatest moment on my mission of seeds being sown. It gives me a lot more reassurance that what we do as missionaries is far-reaching and impacting--we really do make a difference. I can only imagine what comes in the next nine months...

Elder Garner 

Road Trips Across Oklahoma (08/04/2014)

In the corner of southwest Oklahoma, the missionaries of Altus West are exploring the land and meeting the citizens and latter-day saints of Jackson, Greer, and Harmon county. All starting off the week with a good trip to the temple and paying a visit to my old turf: Mustang and Yukon. Our zone had our temple trip on the 29th. While there, I had lots of time to think about the recent changes that have been taking place in my life. I had lots of time to reason with myself why things have turned out the way they have. After a good session in the temple, lots of questions and prayers were answered. I'm so grateful for the temple and for the peace it brings.

Then to Mustang. The four of us payed Elder Watkins and his new companion a visit in my old apartment. The sisters got moved in to their new apartment just this past week. They all seem to be enjoying living and serving there just as I have. We got to see Wyatt get baptized. It was so sad having to turn him over to the Mustang 2nd ward missionaries, but it was all for his own good. And no matter which set of missionaries taught him, he still got baptized.

Most of the remaining week was spent meeting people, getting to know the area, and exploring our massive area. On Thursday we went to Mangum for the first time, where we met a couple members and got a map to find our way around. We had an amazing finding miracle just 15 minutes before we were supposed to turn in for the night. We were walking around just a few blocks south of our apartment when we got followed by a guy riding a motorbike. He pulled over, stopped to talk to us, and introduced himself as Rocky. He had missionary experiences before. He knew who we were and what we do. He was fascinated by the Church and the gospel. He used to live in the Middle East. He almost died (from causes we aren't aware of) and apparently he was saved by a Christian. He then came to the United States and become converted to Christianity. He'd moved out of Altus, and the missionaries, as a result, lost contact with him. And he finally ran into us just the other day! And wow, it's the best thing that's happened since I got here...

On Saturday an older couple that the other elders had been teaching got baptized, and they asked me to give the talk on the Holy Ghost. I'd never given a talk at a baptism before, but nonetheless it was a great experience to see them come to gospel and enter into the waters of baptism! 

And today--you'll never guess this--we went hiking! in Oklahoma! We hiked up the Wichita Mountains near Lawton. They're the tallest "mountains" Oklahoma has to offer. And afterwards we went to Meers, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that's been around since 1901! And I ate a Seismic Burger that was as big as my head! Hoping to gain a couples pounds from that...

My apologies for the short update, I don't have as much time as I would like. But let me just say I am incredibly antsy for good things to start happening in this area. There is so much potential that has yet to be explored. Eventually, I'll understand the reasoning for me being down here in Altus. With every area I've been that same question always gets answered. Hope all of you have a great week. The gospel is true!

Elder Garner