Phone Call Home: February 14, 2022

Happy happy Valentines Day! This is just the way I would want my day to start. :) Sister Garcia called super early today and that meant that Brooklyn was still home and got to get in on the call for a little bit too. 

Sister Garcia has officially landed in Recife and is an STL!! She says she has lots of mixed emotions on being there but that she is willing to do what it is President Nordfelt has asked her to do. She does miss the members in Carpina pretty heavily however and you can hear as she speaks about them just how much she loves them and just how much they have played such a pivotal role in her life as a missionary.

Sister Garcia has a new companion, Sister Scioli, who is from Sao Paulo. She speaks only Portuguese and not one bit of English. Sister Garcia says that maybe she will teach her some but maybe not. Depends on what kind of time is allowed really. As an STL she has access to all the area books for the Sister Missionaries they are in charge of and she says that is going to be a lot of work and take up a lot of time. I can't even begin to imagine.

Sister Garcia got emergency transferred because Sister Canha needed to get home for medical reasons. She shared that Sister Canha actually grew up in Recife and not too long before she submitted her mission papers moved with her family to Sao Paulo. To say she was thrilled to get a call to serve in Recife would be an understatement! Sister Canha had relationships with many in this area and was a key reason that people would answer their doors when she knocked. She truly was a stepping stone for missionaries in Recife. Sister Garcia said they are currently working with and teaching one of Sister Canha's cousins right now. I just love how the world works and how the Lord has His hand in literally everything. 

Sister Garcia's new ward absolutely loves loves the missionaries! She says it is a young ward and not very many children. She says it is mostly made up of YSA's and that the current Bishop is barely 26 himself. I'd say that that is indeed an incredibly young ward! 

Some other key things shared this week from Sister Garcia:

- There are lots of cars in Recife. She said they are literally everywhere as opposed to Carpina where there were very few
- People live close to one another so there is a lot of in person stuff rather than on the phone. Sister Garcia is very much excited about this!
- Sister Garcia is close to the mission home. Like maybe 20 minutes is all.
- Sister Garcia shares the ward she is in with the AP's.
- Sister Garcia had interviews this last week with President Nordfelt. He pretty much told her that unless the Lord has other plans she will die on her mission in Recife as an STL. Sister Garcia is not entirely sure she wants that but again, has a great attitude and will do whatever it is that she is asked.
- Currently they have 26 that they are teaching with an additional 24 referrals
- Sister Garcia will go on two (2) exchanges this week. She is apprehensive in that she will be the one asked to lead the companionship but I have zero doubt that she won't crush it and that the Sister she is paired with will absolutely love the time she gets with Sister Garcia
- Sister Garcia apparently looks like she was born and raised in Sao Paulo. From her skin tone to her hair and eye color, and let's face it...she speaks Portuguese like she belongs as well. This past week she has pretty much had to sell herself and hold firm that she is indeed from the United States. Many have questioned her and are she says that there are still some that seem unsure like maybe she is lying but it won't change the fact that she really is from the good old USA. 

An interesting story that Sister Garcia shared this week was that on their way to get lunch at a restaurant they had to walk past a gentleman who had clearly been in an altercation with either his wife or his domestic partner. He had a huge gash on his arm and had a bloody sheet on his arm as well. Well, Sister Garcia and Sister Scioli watched as he tossed the sheet into the trash and then as he showered in the shower building, heard him as he was in discomfort from washing it off. From there they watched as he found himself next to another fellow and seemed content enough to enjoy himself a cigarette. Wow! This area is essentially like the ghetto of her new area and already she has quite the stories to tell. Sister Garcia said that she told Sister Scioli "I've never seen anyone stabbed before on my mission" to which Sister Scioli said "yeah, it's a first for me too". Let's hope this just stays a one time experience huh? 

I am excited to get to catch up next week and see how the two exchanges went for Sister Garcia and if she was able to get comfortable enough to just do her thing and lead the way she does. I love the new adventure that has been thrown into her mission for her and know that the Lord and President Nordfelt are THRILLED she is in Recife as an STL. 

Until next week...I love you to the moon and back,
Mom