Following Up

Dear Family and Friends,

This week I have had So many things going on, and I am so amazed at the little things that I have learned. First we had two exchanges this week, and I realized during the first one how much more important it is to use time wisely and to have a plan. Our day was planned out and we had a really productive day, but I, being forgetful as I am sometimes, forgot to plan how to build a better relationship with my companion for a day. I felt bad afterward looking at how many different opportunities I would have had to support, encourage and compliment my companion for a day. I have decided that I need to be very much better at acting in the moment that I am needed no matter what the circumstance may be. I also heard a brief story of a young man of 15 who is a recent convert to the church. He was on a stake trek activity when in his tent a bunch of boys started talking about things that were not the most fit for any conversation. He was the only one who stood up and said anything about it. That was an inspiring and thought provoking instance of acting in the moment that he was needed. Usually we have only a few seconds to act on a prompting, and if we hesitate, or doubt the source or our own ability to complete it then it will be gone and the spirit will withdraw to allow us our agency. 

Also I would speak a little about humility. I felt like a failure for a little while this week. I admittedly felt that I did not know why I was here. That night and through the next morning as I prayed and listened to the spirit, I realized that there was one simple thing that I have neglected far too much and far too often in my life. It is especially important in missionary work. It wasn't because I was not doing the things that I should have been doing that I felt like a failure. I have been putting every ounce of my energy into this work. It was simply that I was not showing my care and concern to people by following up and asking what had come from the lessons or commitments extended. I have been expecting results in a manner best illustrated by an example. If you needed your car to be fixed, would you drop it off at the mechanic and tell him what needs to be fixed? Obviously. What would then happen if you never went back to check on your car or to ask if the fixing had been completed? Well quite simply you would not have your car. (Unless of course they were really good at following up and had the car delivered, but let's be honest how often does that happen?) So I am trying again, to learn the basics of missionary work. And also remembering how merciful and full of love and grace our Father and His Son Jesus Christ are and have been to me and all creation. 

I love you all so very much! Thanks for your letters, support, love and encouragement. 

Elder McGarry

​P1- The Zone at the Top of Mt. Franklin

P2- The Zone at the trail head for Mammoth Rock​

Hasten and Lengthen

Dear Family and Friends,

Yesterday was an interesting day. Apparently, when you hit nine months remaining on your mission in the NMAM you're considered mission pregnant. It seems a little backwards to me, but My companion is convinced.. I guess it does really hit home thinking about the duration of the reminder of my mission being the same as that of the conception, development and creation of a newborn child. But I'm not going to talk about that anymore! I've got better things to do right now (not to say at all that that is a not good thing.) :) 

This week we have talked a lot about the hastening of the work in our visits with people. Our investigators are doing well. Most prominently this week I was reminded of how few people fully understand or even know about the identity of one's self as a divine son or daughter of God. We taught someone that was thoroughly convinced that they would not be able to return to heaven because to the things that they had done. We were lead to teach the Plan of Salvation and emphasize the one simple point that each of us is a child of God, and as such he loves us eternally and infinitely. There is evidence of this in everything we see/touch/taste/feel/hear. All things are and were created for the benefit and use of man, and for the gladdening of the heart and the pleasing of the eye. It's the thick mists of temptation, sin and distraction from our true purpose that keep people from this pure truth.

As I said, the Emphasis lately has been on the hastening of the work. How missionaries in the area, even with our efforts full time cannot begin to touch the efforts of members. The thing is if members would talk to just three people a week about the gospel and invite them to learn about it, new investigators would double. The baptism rates would be much better also because there is a friend and a person that is going to be a constant reminder rather than just a here and gone missionary. No matter how profound an influence a missionary may have it is still only for a time and then comes the temptations and the trials and the seed can easily be choked out just as it has sprung up. That's why members are so crucial in the effort of missionary work. This work cannot go forth as it has to unless each who has covenanted to stand as a representative of Christ through baptism, is truly going to do so in all times and in all things and in all places. The light of Christ in each person can recognize other light, but the path between may be too dark to walk alone. People around us All need to borrow a little bit of our light in their direction which is only given when we Invite them and Help them see. It is our imperative duty so to do. So many are kept from the truth simply because they know not where to find it. We then are only kept from sharing it because either we ourselves are too distracted, or we are too scared, because of our own selfish worries and concerns. 

My advice to anyone that thinks that their life is in a little of a rut is to re-discover what the Gospel really means to you, and then pray for an opportunity to share that with someone who is worse of than yourself. Then when (Not IF) that opportunity presents itself, (here is the IF) if you have been doing the things you need to, reading, praying and attending church, Then spirit will put the words in your mouth and you will Not be able to stop it. That is what the Love of Christ does. That is what it means to hasten the work of Salvation and to lengthen our stride to do what is right to me. The Gospel works. I works beautifully! I know it :)

I love you all, and I hope that you have a great week finding those who are around you that are truly searching for the Gospel. 

Elder McGarry

​I'll have to send pictures next time. Sorry, I forgot my card reader :/​

Passion

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been one of learning and running around like my pants are on fire. I don't think I've been so busy in my entire life. I can't say that it's a bad thing though. I love serving the missionaries of the Mt. Franklin area. We had a crazy week leaving on Wed. to go up for MLC in Albuquerque. We stayed there most of the day Thursday in training and then had a four hour drive back home and a little bit of time to prepare for Zone Training on Friday morning.

We taught a few of our investigators in between our other meeting demands. That was probably the main highlight. We have some solid investigators! I have been able to street contact and tract a few times and that has required some Spanish on occasion. My companion hasn't learned much yet and neither have I, but I've been able to get enough across in Spanish to be able to get referrals for the Spanish missionaries in our area. That is pretty fun :)

I really had a cool moment in church this week! It's a brand new ward, and everyone is amazing. I was asked to give the invocation for sacrament meeting, that was good. But as I was sitting and listening to the testimonies, I was urged to pull out my "small plates" or my little spiritual thoughts and inspirations journal. I opened up and read about a time when I had realized that my life has been so fulfilling, but I had realized at the time that I had never really sought after anything with a full Passion. With the desire comparable to the need for air. My life has been so blessed and I feel that we all take so many things for granted. So at that moment I was reminded that I have passions. I am able to strive and push for my goals, rather than to passively wait for them to be fulfilled over time. I am realizing that more and more people these days aren't very passionate about anything that they do. And then there is the level of perspective, someone's degree of passion might be interpreted in another light entirely from different people's views. There is one thing for sure though, I am passionate about missionary work! I can't imagine my life without the blessings of the gospel and sharing that with others.

This adage can be one simple way to sum up my feelings on this topic, "What e'er thou art act well thy part." -David O. Mckay 

I hope that each of you have a great week! My invitation this week would be to find what you love and strive for it. Be fully engaged and active in pursuing the things that God has allowed you to pursue because of your circumstances or your unique personality. Want it as much as you want to breathe! Moroni tells us to lay hold upon every good gift. Let's do it :) I Love you all!

Elder McGarry

​P1- At Sparky's a national best burger joint in Hatch NM. A member bought us all dinner there out of the kindness of his heart.

P2-​ At the Outlets of El Paso. (el companioero wanted to get some new recreational clothing.)

New Life

Dear Family and Friends,

I am gone again! This Transfer came and went in a whirlwind! The past seven weeks have been so wonderful with finding new investigators and preparing people for Baptism. One of the Many miracles was with Martin who told us his testimony and how he has changed so much in the past month. Rewind a second, we found him on January 1 from the area book, we just had a feeling we needed to stop by. As we talked to He and Yvette they told us that they were just thinking about going back to church. Now at the end of the month Martin has been through a transformation and He has been witness of it himself. He shared his love and appreciation for the savior whom he has never really known before because of the obscurity of the many religions he has been surrounded by. He has come to know the savior and that was such a touching moment for me. 

Now I'm in the El Paso 5th ward with sits right on the western border of El Paso Texas and overlaps into New Mexico.My New Companion is Elder Mackay from West Jordan Utah. He is a stud! There will be a picture at the end of the E-mail. We are covering the Mount Franklin West Zone and I'm super stoked to be here! It has been pretty cold lately, probably nothing compared to back home. It was raining yesterday morning and snowing in the middle of the day, while the sun came out... Not sure how that works but it's fairly common lately. 

As for the area, I don't know much about it yet. I did meet a member of the ward today, Grandpa he's called and Brother Arroyo by some. He is so awesome. He showed me pieces of stone from nearly every temple you could think of. He let me hold a piece of stone from the very original temple of Herod which he procured during one of his visits to Jerusalem. You can still see the stone cutting marks and the perfectly angled corner of the marble chip. As for the missionary work, there are four people on Date for Baptism and I'll have more info on them next week I'm sure. 

I'll take this chance to share a thought. From my reading this morning in Jesus the Christ I found it very poignant that Christ says we will give an account of every idle word we speak. In response to the accusatory Jews stabbing cunning doubts that he would cast out the devils by the power of beelzebub He makes it clear that a kingdom divided against itself Cannot and Will not stand. We know that the kingdom of the devil will not prevail. We must simply and devotedly serve the Lord in any and every way that we can. In word and in dead, preach the gospel and testify of truth. I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder McGarry

​P1 - New Comp

P2- Previous comp +2 :) Just before loading on the transfer van. ​