Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Serving in the Kingdom of God

Dear Family and Friends,
 
This week has been quite a roller coaster of emotions for me. It has been crazy to come to realize that I am coming home soon, but exciting to have time to serve the Lord.  It has been interesting to be at the end of this chapter of my life and realize how fast time flies. It feels like just yesterday I entered the MTC, but yet my time is almost at the end.
 
I have learned a lot about myself this week. I learned things this week that have helped me realize that the Atonement of Jesus Christ it real and that some how we all must apply it to our lives. We may think that for some reason it doesn't, but it does. We have to realize, for some it may be easier to see why they need the Atonement of Jesus Christ for others it takes more time to see it. This week I have learned  how to apply it this week as I have struggled to give up the pride that I have. I have been able to feel that Savior loves surrounding me and helping me.  
 
This week we also went on exchanges. We had fun. We went to Westminster, I was able to go with Sister Allen. She is really cool, she is from Rexburg Idaho. 
I have loved the time that I have been able to serve in the Lord.  I have been able to see so much happen in this time. I have watched many lives changes and in the process my life have also changed for  the better. I love you all and hope that you have a great week!
 
Sister McGarry III
 
 


 
Zone picture with the Actor of John the Beloved from the Bible videos
 
 
 Exchanges with Sister Allen

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Change and repentance

Dear Family and Friends,
 
This week has been Great! I have continued to work in Both the Mid-single adult ward and also the Seapoint ward. I have been able to many things happen this week! We had Caeden come back after 5 weeks of not coming to church. We hope to be able to meet with soon. 
 
This week I have done a lot of reflecting on my life and on the experience that I have had thus far on my mission and look back I can see how much the Lord have been there to help me get through the hard times. I was thinking one of the most life changing experiences and one of the biggest turning points of my mission was the death of my Dearest Grandma Ruth. To give a little bit of background on the story. Toward the end of Grandma Ruth's life she went in and out of the Hospital and I the opportunities to call and speak with her right before Mother's day last year. Where I was able to hear her voice and hear her say these words which will stay with me forever til I see her again, as they were the last words I heard her speak before returning to her Heavenly Home. She said to me "I am so proud of what you are doing on  your mission and the for things that you are learning there. I wish that I could stay her til you get home, but I just don't think that will happen. Don't cry. I will be okay. I love you and keep working hard, having fun Remember that I will be with you when you need me." I remember then hearing over the next several months news of her health going up and done, she would be doing good then not so good. Then one day, She was taken home the see those who had gone before her. She happened to return home shortly after President Patterson came to be our mission President. 
 
In December of last year I was able to talk to President Patterson about things that had happened in the life of my grandma that didn't make sense to me at the time, and he was able to give me a new perspective on the situation that had happened. and with that new perspective that I have gained a strong testimony of the Plan of Happiness that our loving Heavenly Father has given to us.  I love this Gospel so much and I am so grateful for those who sacrificed to allow me to be born into a wonderful family that had the gospel. I have been able to see the Lord's hand as I have trying to overcome the weaknesses that I have. I have been able to see the Atonement of Jesus Christ work in the lives of other people and also in my our life. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he knows our pains and our sorrows. He came to this earth so that we could have the opportunity to return to live with our loving heavenly father and so that we could live with our family forever. I know that Joseph Smith was a man called of God to restored the same church that existed at the same time that Christ was here on the earth. I know that the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ and that by reading it we can gain a better understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that God is there for us all. I know that God knows and loves us so much! He is there for us! He will be there to help and strengthen us. Love you all and hope that you have a great week.
 
Love,

Sister McGarry III

 Zone activity we went bowling
 Sunset of Cali

Monday, February 13, 2017

Huntington Beach for Life!!!

Dearest Family and Friends,

Transfers have come up once again. I will be staying in Huntington Beach for the last transfer of my mission. By the end of this transfer it will be 15 months here in the beautiful stake of Huntington Beach California. I look forward to working with the members of the Seapoint ward and of the Mid single Adult ward. I am also excited to work with Sister Dimmick this transfer. She is absolutely amazing and I are looking forward to serving with her for the remainder of my mission. I love the people here so much I am looking forward to serving with the and helping them to receive the Gospel in their lives. 
 
I have been able to see miracles as I have begun to work with the members of the ward in Seapoint. The members are so fired up about missionary work and they are beginning to see that they too can participate in missionary work. They are very excited to help us with the work and I am so grateful that heavenly father had let me be a part of it. I am excited to be here in Huntington Beach. 
Yesterday I had a member for my first area come to the Single Adult ward. It was very cool to see her and to talk to her about her family. Her son was baptized  some time ago and I got to see pictures of it.  I was able to rejoice with her for a short time and remember the fun times that we have while we were there.
 
I know that God has us where we are for a reason! He places us in the place where he needs us and places people in our lives that will help us the most to become what he wants us to become he loves us so much. He will also place us in the lives of other people to help them too. He is very mindful of us. He knows us and he loves us. Never Forget that he  will answer our prayers and that he will help us become what he sees that we can become. Love you all and Hope that you have a great week. Happy Valentines Day Tomorrow!!!
 
Love,

Sister McGarry III

 Three investigators who we are teaching along with Sister Lockhart and her daughter Kendall and Sister Perkins.
HB sunsets
 Ruth, Ken me and my Comp. Ruth is a very sweet women who lives in assisted living home
Angela from my first area at the Single Adult ward

Monday, February 6, 2017

Why HB for 13 to 14 Months?

Dear Family and Friends,
 
This was great! We invited our investigators Brianna and Sophie to invite their family to the next lesson that we have with them and they have agreed to invite them. We are looking forward to meeting Evan Brianna and Sophie little brother and their mom.
 
As many of you have seen most of my mission I have spend in the Huntington Beach Stake. I have been in the Pleasant View ward where i spent 4 1/5 months, then moved to Cordata Park for 5 Months, spend two weeks in the Young Single Adult Ward, Then was emergency transferred to the Seapoint ward where I am currently serving. This transfer I am was assigned to the Single Adult Ward which includes singles from 30-45. While I was serving in the Pleasant View ward I had the opportunity to teach a man named Kyle. He mentioned to me that he felt something missing in his life and he wanted to find it. He was baptized in March of 2016, I was able watch him bless the Sacrament for the first time after his baptism. The joy on his face as he could feel the Spirit in his life once again as amazing. In April, I moved out of the ward and hadn't heard from him until.... I moved to the Single Adult ward, the 1st day that were when there that mentioned that a man named Kyle said that we were free to go out with the elders if they needed someone to come out with them. The elders who were serving in that ward then passed the information on to us because they were no longer serving in his ward. Upon hearing his name I thought and thought about how familiar it sounded to me. Then I realized that He was this same man that I met while I was serving in Pleasant so many months ago. This sunday I have to wonderful opportunity to sit in when he received the Melchizedek Priesthood. After this I came to realize that everything that has happened while I was here in the Huntington Beach has been for not only my good but for the good of those around me. I have been able to see the hand of the Lord in the work here in Huntington Beach. I have learned to love the people here so much and to see the blessings of the Lord here. 
 
This week we also went on Exchanges. I got to go with Sister Oickle. She is super sweet. I learned a lot from her. She  really knows how to work hard and how to love the people. 
I know that God has placed me where I have needed to be and at the time that I have need to be there. He knows us so will and he loves us so much he will bless us and help us. Remember that we are where we are to bless the lives of those around us to help us. There is someone in our circle of Friends that only we can help. Hope that you all have a great week and strive to find why God has called to you be where you are currently at in your live. I love you all.
Love,

Sister McGarry III