Montana: I'm going home.

My mission has been amazing.

I cant describe the effect it has had on me. I cant begin to fathom the influence of the many people that I have met here. I will be eternally grateful for this experience of a mission.

I want to share with you a portion of these experiences that I hold so dear to my heart. I've had 5 areas since I've been out, each one special to my heart. I hope you too will feel the spirit that comes from the lessons I learned, sometimes the hard way.

Great Falls:

I started my mission here in 3rd and 7th ward. Boy, was I scared. President Gardner decided to put me with Elder Sims, who had only been in the field for 4 1/2 months! Two Greenies together!

Here we are! I look like a kid!

I learned so much from Elder Sims and this area. I learned that the Lord helps us do hard things. I can do hard things, you can do hard things! 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

-Romans 8:35&37-39

         

I was terrified of trying to help others to come unto Christ, But I'm a living testament that the Lord makes weak things strong.

Shep, from Fort Benton!

Poplar:

  Poplar was my refiners fire. 

Refiner-A man who separates the precious metals from the dross with which in nature they are usually found mixed. Part of the process consists in the application of great heat, in order to bring the mass into a fluid state, hence the term “refiner’s fire.” Christ is the great Refiner

-Bible Dictionary

Adelle! "Book of Mormen"

I have never so intensely loved a people and then seen so little progress come from it. Its from this area that I learned that the challenges I've been given in my life are very much for my own good. 

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he 
whom the father chasteneth not?

-Hebrews 12:7

I am so very grateful for those I met up there and the experiences I had. These people will have a special place in my heart forever.

My amazing little branch!

Butte

Good ole Butte, America!! I was doubled into this area, which is when two missionaries who haven't been in the area before are thrown into it without knowing anyone. It was quite an experience learning the streets, meeting so many people and just tracting like crazy!

I will never forget the day we ran into a very anti-Mormon. Well, I think he was mainly anti-organized religion. At his door step he was very cordial, but after being in his home for a short time, his demeanor changed drastically. He wanted us to argue with him, so we just left.


 Walking home from that I remember feeling drained of energy and discouraged. I thought,"Why couldn't we just find someone who would sincerely listen?". An amazing family in our ward housed us, so they were there to greet us when we got back home. The Spirit flooded over me when I entered the house. Their home had a "warm" feeling about it and was very different from the house we just left. It was at this time that the Spirit testified to me of just what kind of future home/family I wanted in my life.

8 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, 

a house of order, a house of God;

-D&C 109:8

I want my home to be a refuge from the world and its craziness. I want the Spirit to be so strong in it that anyone could feel his influence just as they walked in.

 Worland

Bro. Ramos!

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, 

in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

-1 Timothy 4:12

I only spent a short time here in Worland (6 weeks). Its my shortest area, but I am grateful for the time I did spend their. This scripture from Paul perfectly describes the great members of Wyoming. They are quite examples of true Christians. Have you ever heard of  the saying "All hat, no cattle."? It means that someone is all show but they have nothing to show for it. Well, Spiritually speaking, Wyoming has no hat and all cattle.

 Billings

Greenie breakfast at the start of the transfer!

This is my office.

This was my last area. I sure do love it! I was blessed to see alot of amazing things and work with some amazing people. Billings is the biggest city in my mission, so I was excited when I found out that I would serve there.

6.....for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

-Hebrews 11:6

Thank you Montana for everything you have blessed me with. I love each one of you that I've had the opportunity to meet and grow in the Gospel with. This is not good-bye, but see you later!
Much Love, 
Elder Garcia