Crabs, Bugs, Spirit and Bus Hut

So this week was fantastic! There so many fun, exciting and great spiritual moments. I will write the fun new things I love about Virginia. We saw our first Maryland Blue Crab!!! It was in the gutter and all the neighborhood kids were screaming and poking at it, so we offered to help save it. We went to our trunk and got out box that held our Book of Mormons and helped the crab inside it and the kids carried it down to the Potomac. We're not sure if that was really good for it, but we feel like we saved it. Haha. And I saw my first firefly! Sister Le Sueur calls them lightning bugs. They are the most exciting thing, were going to catch them when more come out and make a video, so stay posted! :)

This week miracles happened in the Colonial 2nd Singles Ward. We had 4 member referrals for boyfriends/girl friends/good friends, and as sister missionaries we are so grateful! We are already teaching 4 other people, but just knowing that they trust us with the people they love and care about is so humbling. We have such a busy week lined up, and we even taught this morning on our p-day. The man is a minister for a Korean Methodist church and is dating the sweetest girl in our congregation. The spirit was so strong in our lesson and they said are going to study the Book of Mormon together.

The Sunday that we got the referrals, we were heading home from a lesson and were so filled with the Spirit. We had only a half hour left and planned on going to a metro that was a little further than one that was near by our home. We could have gone to the one closer but we felt impressed to follow our original plans. There are great blessing in following plans because the Lord knows were we will be and He can send the people that are prepared. That was the case for this evening. We met 7 new people who wanted to be taught. Since we're in a singles ward, we have to pass a lot of these people to family ward missionaries, but we met one young man that we can teach and felt the Spirit so strong.

He was waiting in the bus stop outside of the metro, we started teaching him about Joseph Smith and recited the First Vision. The spirit immediately filled the little bus hut...I'm not sure what it's called, but we proceeded to read the Moroni 8:3-5 Moronis promise. He read it out loud than re-read it. He said he has recognized this in his life while learning about other religions and not feeling like it was truth, but when he has learned about Christ that he felt truth. He said that the scripture sound true and he wanted to learn more. We have an appointment set up with him and we're so excited to teach him more. But this is the most amazing part: as we were teaching him, the Spirit was so strong that people were drawn to listen to us teach him. Three other people walked in and joined the lesson. It's like flies to the light. When the Spirit is strong, people can recognize it with the light of Christ they have. In preach my gospel it teaches that when they are taught the gospel they will literally remember the truth because they knew it before. I figure that they already made the choice to come down here and they just need to choose it again. I love missions and I love being able to teach. The church is true; it's such a blessing to be the person that witnesses this change and the discovery and enlightment that the spirit gives.

DC South

So it official, I am a sister missionary. I had my first awkward moment with touch. It was after a lesson and one of the members who was joining us was walking out and I forgot his name so I touched his arm to talk to him. He looked at me with a crazy look and I looked back in shock!!! It felt so wrong. Haha. I will never do it again. But if that wasn't enough, the investigator tried giving me a hug goodbye, I avoided it and stuck out my hand for a hand shake. Haha. I never thought it would happen!

A few other typical missionary experiences started happening this week: first door slam. It's okay, I took it like a champ. You just laugh it off and move on. It was also my first week without any mail. So I know before I left I said that I really didn't care if anyone wrote me and its no big deal. I was totally wrong. Haha Letters are like the found 5 dollar bill in your pocket of the mission. When you look in the mail box and its something for you, you feel like you can take it and use it. So letters are welcomed, and it's no good when your trainer who is been out for over a year and is not suppose to get more than the greenie who in the first transfer is overwhelmed by letters. So help a sister out, haha! Total love though. I love all who support me and I know you all care.

Anyways, the work has been good. The times are hard for people. A lot of them have lost jobs and have personal struggles. We help when we can, but it's not the same. We give light and relief through the gospel, even though sometimes we could just go out and help job search with them. Haha.

We had a great Sunday! We invited two people to come to church and none of them came, but 3 people who told us they weren't available or busy on Sunday came instead!! It was the best surprise. When each new investigator walked in, me and Sister Le Sueur's faith grew. It gave us the faith to continue inviting people. If you just offer the gospel, people always come around because it's truth. And really, who wouldn't want a little more truth in this world?

Love Sister Garbrick

Mother's Day Was Great!

So it was yet another great week. There were some great highlights, including talking to my family on Mothers Day. It was the best Sunday just to remember families and how great they are. I was also a part of the first baptism of my mission. Patrick is so fantastic; he will be such a strong member of the church. He is already planning on transferring to BYU and is thinking about going on a mission. We support it of course! Haha.

The baptism was a great service, but it was what happened behind the scenes that really made it great. Me and Sister Le Sueur had to get there early to drain and re-fill the font because there was a baptism earlier that day. Well, the chain that connected to the cork broke off. So here we are, using the end of our broom stick and standing knee high in water trying to get it out. Finally we got it draining. But when it was time to start filling it, the cork wouldn't stay in! After some great strength, we finally got it in and filled the font before the people started arriving. Nothing like a little pressure!

This week was meeting filled. We had District and Zone Conference and since I am the greenie to the area, I was asked to speak at both!! I was a bit taken back and really nervous. For District Conference I talked about attitude, which wasn't so bad. It's always fun to talk about being happy! Then at Zone conference (a large meeting with the mission president and leaders) I had to talk about the purpose: to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. That seems like a lot, but it's in everything we do, so I could speak on anything really. I was overwhelmed, but thankfully the Spirit lead me and my thoughts and it tied really well into the topic of teaching with the Spirit. It's so great, when you put faith in the Lord he always pulls through.

The work is going great and we are constantly meeting people from all over: El Salvador (a ton Lonny you would love it), Ethiopia, Ghana, China, Burma, Scotland, the list goes on and on. It's amazing! I love to hear the different accents even though sometimes I can't understand at all. Buts it's okay, it usually leaves them with a good laugh.

Some of my favorite stories from this week come in the form of notes. The first note was from a lady who had an appointment and wasn't going to make it. This is how the note went: "Dear mormon.org, I wont be making it. Please come again tonight at 6." Haha, Mormon.org is the website we tell everyone to visit and is on every card we give. She must have forgotten what to call us; it was great. The other note came from the sweetest old lady. We were at a complex right before another appointment when we noticed her taking in bags of laundry. We offered to help her and she denied us. But when we got out of the appointment there was a note from her on our car saying that she just saw our tags and realized who we are and wanted to talk. She gave us her apartment number and invited us in. She was great and we're going to talk to her again. So always offer service! It may take a second, but they will soon realize you are a servant of god. Missionary Tip of the Week: Sister Garbrick. Haha.

Well, it's not too long this week but there are always great things to come. I seriously never know what each day will bring, but that is what is so exciting. I'm searching and teaching the elect and the ones who are prepared and ready. The Spirit is so strong and makes it easier to press forward. The best are the children. When adults are too hard to feel the Spirit, the kids always do. They make our days so much better. They literally run to us, smiling and laughing. There was one who told us he loved us and another who blew us kisses. So cute. The Lord really loves all of His kids.

Love Sister Garbrick

First Week in the Field

So the plane ride was nerve wracking. The whole time I was thinking, "What am I doing? Am I crazy for doing this?" I guess being released from the MTC bubble is a humbling experience. As you walk around the airport as a group dressed all up with tags, you receive all sorts of looks. The realization occurs that you are no longer just preparing to be a missionary, but you really are one. I still stood out being the only sister with 6 elders.

We went to the luggage pickup where we were greeted by the president and the assistants. They soon informed us that we would hand our luggage to the president to take, for we would ride the metro home contacting! I think they saw my shock. My eyes were huge and my mouth was opened wide. I wish I could lie, but i was terrified. We soon had pass along cards in hand and were sitting next to complete strangers telling them about the gospel. It was a rough go at it. When we met with the president again, I thought we would be heading back to the mission home... But, nope it was time to go to George Mason, a local university, to street contact some more. I did much better speaking with kids my own age. I met with two girls who wanted to learn more!! The next night and morning were spent getting to know each other and being taught about the mission.

Next was transfer meeting, I was introduced to my trainer, Sister Le Sueur, who is from Idaho Falls. She is fantastic; I really like her. She went to school at BYU and studied Physics. She is quirky and funny and we get along really well. Sometimes we talk too much, but it's nice. We are serving in the Colonial 2nd ward in Alexandria, Virginia, which is the largest singles ward in the mission. Yay! I love it! It's exactly what I wanted.

It is amazing the success they are having in the ward. The members are all so willing to come to lessons and give us referrals. So many of the sisters in the ward served missions and are such assets in the lessons. It helps me to see two people who know what they are doing. We have a baptism this Saturday. His name is Patrick, and he is amazing. He loves church and the Book of Mormon. I am speaking at his baptism about the Holy Ghost. I'm so surprised he asked me, being that he had been taught by 3 other sisters who will be attending. I hope to do well.

We also have 3 other dates lined up, it's amazing. I'll share more about them later. We have a big push in our mission to invite, invite, invite. We are taught to always be inviting to baptism and setting dates at our first lesson. Its sounds bold, and it is, but people need to know what we're offering. In fact it is tradition in the mission that when you first arrive, you must invite your first contact to baptism. It was scary, but i did it. It was at the metro on my first day. I was talking to a really nice girl named Lauren from Michigan. She just graduated and moved her a week ago for an internship. I told her a little bit about the church and how we help others to come unto Christ and be baptized and then asked if she would want to be baptized... she said YES!!! I was shocked and immediately looked at my trainer. She graciously picked up and finished the conversation! We got her info, and have visited her once and will teach her the first lesson later today. I am so excited. It is what my greenie calls "greenie faith that leads to greenie miracle." So Lauren is my miracle. Thank goodness for the Spirit that teaches, because I know what I said to her wasn't very eloquent, but she felt something.

There have been several miracles that i have already seen within this short week. On Monday me and my companion had planned to go street contacting in a particular neighborhood but instead felt prompted that we didn't have time to drive that far before our next appointment, so we instead went to a near by shopping center. We met all sorts of people, but one lady was great. She was Jewish, but had great Mormon friends. She had actually heard a lot about our humanitarian services through the church and thought that we might be able to help her friend in New Mexico who just lost her job and was having to move the following week and needed some help. She asked if we could do something. We told her we would get the missionaries in her area to go help her. She was so gracious. But also mentioned that we were in her dream the night before. She said she dreamed that she was having a problem and there was men that she thought were bad so so she called 911 for help and they sent two women. And she wondered why they would send girls instead of guys to help her. She said it all made sense. I cant believe someone had dreamed of us, it was amazing that she would even recognize it and shared it with us it was great.

There was also so many other neat things that happen throughout the day that helps me realize the Lord is really leading the way for his work to go forth. I really love Virginia; it is beautiful. We're in city, but because of the trees you feel secluded. It's hard to explain. I had my first day with humidity and I love it. My companion thinks its always hot, but I love it. It's like a warm blanket. Although, I must admit that when it was 90 degrees and humid it was a bit rough, but still not as bad as everyone warms you of. They also say to just wait till July and August if it was this bad in the spring.

There have been some funny things that have happened too. At church I accidentally introduced myself as Brittney instead of Sister Garbrick in our ward council. After church, someone called me by my first name and I was shocked when I turned around it and was a friend of mine from my freshman year at BYU-I. He soon noticed the tag and was also shocked. He didn't know I was going on a mission. It was a little weird, but also nice to see a familiar face.

My favorite story of the week, comes from a mother - daughter pair we are teaching. They are the most kind, sweet ladies. They have had a hard life, and are on welfare so they really like the government. It was my first time visiting and so the mom, who is pretty old, showed me the wall of pictures of her family. I was admiring them saying that it's great to remember family. She agreed, but said that the people she look at most were Obama and Jesus. When looking at the wall it was easy to see Obama since he had the largest picture in the center of the wall. Her picture of Jesus was much more difficult to find. It was a 1 inch by 2 inch picture of Christ that she had stuck in the corner of the Obama frame. Hilarious. She just kept saying... "That's right. Obama and Jesus, Obama and Jesus. Love them."

Another great story is about Dorothy. She is unfortunately having some health problems, so we arranged for the elders to come and give a priesthood blessing. After the elders had fully explained what a blessing is, that there are two parts she would need to pick two out of the three gentlemen that were there to help. She took a moment thought, than said, "I want the new girl" as she pointed to me. I couldn't help but giggle. They re-explained and went on with the blessing. At the end she said it was too bad I couldn't give the blessing to her, she just really likes my smile. I took it as a compliment. Haha! Well this is probably way too much, but I just had so much to say. I love it!!!

I love you,

Sister Garbrick