Letter Sent on June 25, 2012

 

Dear Family,

Hey! How are you? I'm doing pretty good myself.  This week was a good one here in Battambang!  We have 3 investigators whom we are preparing to be baptized on the 7th of July.  Rhity, and a couple, Veasna and Davwii.  They are doing very good and it is very cool seeing them progress.  Rhity is extremely smart and speaks English, he was a referral from a member named Jin Viset that actually served a mission in Australia and is the 2nd Counselor in the District Presidency.  Veasna is the Elder's Quorum President's younger brother.  It really is great seeing how members who are referrals always seem to have a great amount of growth and a support system from their member friends.  It just really is strengthening my testimony of the power of member missionary work. I just want to help them better understand their baptismal covenant and the importance of developing a testimony and receiving that witness from God.

Last night was transfer calls and it turns out...I am staying in Battambang!  I was kinda nervous that I would be leaving! But I am very excited to have probably one more transfer here! I love it.(Typically you stay in an area for about 4 transfers but it's not a for )I have been growing a lot during this past transfer and I have really been being stretched.  I have been learning to get along better with Elder Jensen and I feel like we are becoming more unified and open with each other.  We are extremely different from each other like I believe I mentioned earlier but I am feel so blessed for the lessons I am learning; especially just learning to get along with others and overlook differences.  I am learning to be more Christ like.  And I am sure that he is as well:) There were sometimes where it was really tough but I feel that now things are going a lot better now and we are both striving to do our best.

I really do love Elder Jensen and am learning to love better.

I had the opportunity to go on an exchange with Elder Oleson and it went amazing.  We talked a lot about being unified and about ideas to better create unity in a companionship.  We also talked about submission a lot, submitting to the will of the Lord, and about becoming a true disciple of Christ.  I love Elder Oleson, I feel so blessed to be able to serve near him.  He is an incredible example of missionary work and of being Chris like.  He's a really funny guy too.  I sometimes really wish that I could be companions with him but I know that I have other lessons to learn and that the Lord knew I could learn what I needed from him just from serving near him.  This exchange was an answer to my prayers and exactly what I needed.  It just really lifted me up and gave me things to work on and renewed hope and purpose. 

This shows me even more that the Lord knows what He is doing.  I know that the Lord has a plan for me and it may not be according to exactly what I think I want but according to what is best for me.  I know that this is true for all of us.  And I feel so very blessed for that, to know that He knows what is best and everything that Father does for me is for my benefit. I know that this is true for all of us.  I love the Lord and I am thankful for the mountains that He gives me to climb and for the strength and support that he bestows upon me.  I know that He loves us.  May we all recognize that He knows what is best and be willing to trust in the Lord and move forward with faith and confidence?  As we do so we will be led to the Light of the World, even Jesus Christ.

I love you all and am thankful for your prayers in my behalf.  I pray that the Lord will bless you and that you might have a great week! God be with you till we meet again.

Love,

Elder Garlick

Great talks to check out!:"Mountains to Climb "Pres. Eyring "Faith: The Choice is Yours "Bishop Edgley (think I already recommended that one once already but I love it! Worth reading twice:)

Pics; We went to this Mountain named Phnom Sumphouv and its a bat mountain and there is a certain time of dusk when just millions of bats fly out of a cave for like a half hour.  Too bad we were miss informed on the time and we hiked it and by the time we got back down to watch the bats it was too late...but we are planning to go again this next transfer! So no worries:) It was super pretty! Tons of pics so plan for some more next week. 

On the tuk tuk on the way to the Bat Cave!; Phnom Sumphouv; This guy was a golden contact:); Monkeys!;;; Elder Jensen!; Elder Oleson! We are both half Korean :)