My Waters of Mormon!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

This week has been wonderful! I have learned so much this past week. My mission has been a wonderful experience and I have been able to learn so much! Many of you may be asking why I have title this email My waters of Mormon... This is the reason... When President Patterson can in he asked us to find our place where we can draw closer to Christ. Where we can feel the Blessings of His Atonement.... Huntington Beach in that place for me. At first I was mad a God for keeping me here for so long...but I soon realized that God places us where he needs us! I have been able to become better while I have watch the lives of others changes. I have realized that I need to change also. I have drawn so much closer to the Savior throughout these last 18 months! I have learned that the Atonement is for everyone! No matter what happens in our lives we can change and we can use the Atonement in our lives! God have given us weakness so that we can change! I feel so through my mission have just begun... but my time has come to return home where I will continue to share the Gospel with others and continue to have the same purpose that I have had as a full time missionary, which is to Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receiving the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. The only difference is that I will have people all a round me to share the gospel with, whither is be a friend, family member, my neighbors or whoever is around me who is in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't know everything and I will not claim to. 

 

But I willl say that I know that the Book of Mormon is True. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that he has felt our pains and sorrows. He knows us better than anyone else know us. He know exactly how we feel no matter what we feel He knows. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restored His gospel to earth once again, in prepartion to the second coming of the Savior. Of these things I testify in the name of our loving Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Love you all. 

Love,

 

Sister McGarry III

 

 

 The District

 The Goytias (a Part member Family)

 

When Life gets to hard to stand, kneel!

Dearest Family and Friends,


This week has been a very tough week! My companion got sick this week, we moves out of our apartment and moved in with a member. It was a good thing too though! I have been able to learn so much. I have seen that God is there for us! He waits patiently for us to turn to him. I have had a lot of different feelings this week. I have felt that I have not done all that I can to help the Lord in his work. I have felt as though I have somehow failed...But that is the adversary telling all of this to me. He doesn't want me feel successful in the Lord works! The Lord definition of success is Effort+Desire=Success. That is the definition that I have come to see this week.I have learned that He loves us and that he will be there for us daily! We must get on our knees to pray and beg for forgiveness of our sins and ask for strength to overcome weaknesses. In Ether 12:27 the Lord tells us why he gives us weaknesses and it reads: 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Our weaknesses are there to strengthen us, to help us become stronger. The Lord knows us so well! I have now come to see that the Lord is proud of the work I have done in his vineyard! He sees my desire and efforts! He is pleased with it! I love this work and I know it to be true. There is nothing that can convince me otherwise. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know through his infinite Atonement that we can repent and be better people! I know the Plan of Salvation to be God's plan of Happiness for all of His children! He loves us more than anyone else does! He is proud of us if we try! That is all he asks of us is to try and do our best. If you have a desire and you make an effort, he will bless you! We will not repay him for what he has done, bu the doesn't care about that. He only cares about the process that happens as we strive to become more like His son Jesus Christ. If you are doing that, and help others along the way to find the Joy and Happiness we find then you will make it back to him. We will be able to look our loving Heavenly Father in the eyes and tell Him that we did everything we could to make it there. We tried and tried. We got back on our feet when we fell down, and we tried again and again. 

I testify that God loves each of us and that he will do all he can to help ud come back into His loving arms one day! The only thing he will not do is take away our agency or our ability to choose. He will not do that, but he will do what he can to help us see the changes that we need to make in our lives to become what he sees us becoming! I love the gospel so much! It has given me direction in my life and has helped me see who I am and what I can become.  If any of you would like to know this please ask. Also visit mormon.org which can help you find answers to the life questions we all have. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I know that he is there for me each day as I strive to become more like him. He will always be there to comfort and strengthen us, no matter what happens to us! Love oyu all and look forward to seeing you soon! 

Love, 

Sister McGarry III (aka sister McGarry the third)

 Our Former neighbors Dog: Tricksy  and us

 #Californiasunsets

 

 Mariellen and Kara from the MSA ward two people that I have learned to love here on my mission!!

 Sunset again: I look at the Sunset and think about how beautiful they are and how much Heavenly Father loves us to create such beautiful things for us to enjoy and then I am reminded that he did the same for us... He created each of us so differently and have made us each unique. We will never find anyone who is just like us!

The Gospel of the Lord!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

This week has been a great one. We had zone conference where we were able to learn so much about our work. One of the many things that was mentioned in Zone Conference was that the best age group to work with is Mid-teens to Mid-twenties. This group of people are the best to work with because they are the one who are looking for direction in their lives and they are the one who are more likely to go on missions to be married in the temple and to raise their families in the Gospel. This is not  to say that other people are not ready to receive his gospel. He is always preparing people to receive His gospel, old or young, male or female. They will find the truth in their own time, when they need it the most.  

 

It has been a very good week. On Saturday we got to drive up to Whittier where Sister Dimmick was able to attend a baptism of a family whom she had worked with while she was up there. It was very exciting to go up there for a short time.  I had the opportunity to testify of the blessings of the temple and about doing Family History.

 

I have gained a strong testimony this week of the Gospel. I have come to know that the Lord is in the very little details of our lives. Sometimes in our lives we feel small and insignificant, but no matter how small or insignificant we may feel the Lord is there for us. He knows what we are going through and he knows how to help us get through it. I love the Gospel. 

 

These last 18 months that I have had to opportunity to share the Gospel have been so far the greatest time of my life. I have learned so much about myself and about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I have truly come to know with out a doubt that God love each and every one of us. That we a truly sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father who loves us. We have no need to fear God, He will allow us to repent of our sins so that we can return to him. He is a loving Father in Heaven, who wants all His children to return to Him one day. But because He is loving He will not take away our agency or our ability to chose right or wrong. He will give everyone the opportunity to hear to gospel, but he will not force them to accept it. He will only give them the opportunity to hear and accept it, they just will not be forced to accept it. I know that we are able to return to live with a loving Father in Heaven, but we must choose to follow His commandments. He is very mindful of us. He loves us and he will be there to help us. Love you all!

 

Love,

Sister McGarry III

 Me and the Birthday Cake!!

 Sister Castleberry and I. I saw her on Saturday

 Whittier Trees and greenery

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

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

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

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

New mission life!!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

A lot has been happening in the missionary world lately. We have had a change in our schedule. We plan in the morning instead of at night when we get home to allow us to get more sleep if we need it. Preparation day starts at 8 now instead of 10 giving us more time to get down what we need to so that we can spend the rest of the week to serving the Lord. It is really amazing! Companionship study is anytime during the day that we can find the time to do it.  

 

We have seen a  lot happen this week. We have seen a lot of miracles this week. We saw a new member in the MSA ward who was needing a bit of support. She met us at the church, where we meet. She is very sweet. We also have seen some less active members. It has been a very good week.  I look forward to a new week full of fun and hard work. I am super excited for another great week in Sunny California! I love you all and hope that you have  a great week!!!

Sister McGarry III

 Afters Ice Cream Shop is da Bomb

Well.... El Nino has finally hit!!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

So this week has been fun in the rain!! We have had so much rain!!!!   We have had to be careful about where we park the car so that we don't open the door and get rain in the car or step in a puddle the size of a Lake! 

 

Sister Dimmick and I have been able to see the Lord work in mysterious ways.  We have seen a lot of less active members this week. We have been also trying to clean out the area books that we have.  We had ward Conference this week also which means that the Bishop and Stake President speak during Sacrament meeting. 

 

I know that everything happens for a reason! I know that God is mindful of us all! I know that he is truly looking out for us and helping us along this journey we are on. He knows each one of us he loves us and he will help us to accomplish what we need to accomplish. I am so grateful for this Gospel in my life! I am grateful for the knowledge that it gives me!  I love you all and I hope that you have a great week!!

Sister McGarry III

Go to their level!!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

This week we have seen many miracles. We had a mission Conference with Elder Jeffery R. Holland. We also had a few members of the 70 come with Elder Holland. He is truly amazing. I learned so much about the Gospel during the mission conference. We also got the shake his hand!! 

One of the biggest things that I learned is the importance of going to the level of the investigators, less active members and contacts and lift them up rather than trying to drag them to your level. We should do as the Savior did with Nicodemus and the Samarian woman.If we can find out where they are at then we can better help them to  understand what they are missing. We also had Stake Conference with Elder Holland too. That was very cool!

 

I am very excited for this upcoming week where I can work on going to the level of the people we are teaching.  I am so excited to work with the people of the Mid-single adult area and the Seapoint area. 

There are many miracles that we saw this week.  We had two our our investigators come and hear Elder Holland speak on Sunday at Stake Conference. They both were not sure it the would be able to make it when we talked to them about it but they came!!! God knows us and he loves us. He is willing to bless us! I am so very excited to have the wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord here is the wonderful wards of Huntington Beach. Miracle number 2 is that we were in a particular part of our area where we had planned to visit an member,when we got to the members home the lights were out. Neither of us (My companion and I) felt good about knocking on the door with the lights out. So we started walking away unsure what to do so we prayed and right after the pray. We looked around still unsure what to do. When across the Street we saw some one walking down the street we walked over to contact them. He told us that he was looking for God! We told him that we were there to help people come unto Christ!!!!  My testimony was strengthened at this moment that God will put us into the path of those who are prepared to receive the Gospel or he will place them into our path!! 

 

God knows his children! He loves them so much and he is able to help us all come to the Gospel. I know that God loves each and every one of us! He is willing to help and strengthen us. The Gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith is true! The Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ! It is by read the Book of Mormon and by abiding by its precepts that we can draw closer to our loving Heavenly Father and our loving Savior Jesus Christ. They love us more than we know and there for us every step of the way.Love you all and hope that you have a great week!!

Sister McGarry III

 

 

 

 

 

Seapoint and MSA Ward

Dear Family and Friends,

 

This week has been one full of work in the one area I am familiar with and another area I am somewhat familiar with. I say that because I know a very small parts. It has been very fun to work in both areas. We have been trying to meet the members of the MSA ward and also work in the other ward we have been assigned too! We went to Cypress this week to visit a member in the MSA ward there. It was cool!! 

Sister Dimmick is from Indiana. She is very sweet. We are getting along very well. She is the greatest. She is as amazing. 

 

We have two investigators who have told us that they believe that Book of Mormon is true.  We have another investigators who would like to get baptized in February. 

 

We also had ten hours of church yesterday. We went church when the sun was rising and came out of church when the sun was down. It was very cool. We cover two wards and so we got to both of the Ward meetings. It is fantastic!! I got to learn some much about church. I am so excited to be able to cover both wards. We also have Elder Holland coming to our Stake and mission this week! I will send an update about that next week!!

 

So update on the Weather (mom was asking about it): Everything is good. We have had a lot of rain lately!!! But it have been very good for Cali.  I have enjoyed walking in the rain and also enjoying a little bit on sunshine in between the rain storms!!!

Love you all and hope that you have a great week!!!

Sister McGarry III 

 

 Traveling down Beach Boulevard to see an member in Cypress in the MSA ward.

 Raining in Cali!!!

Transfers are here again

Dear Family and Friends,

So....You will never guess where I am going to be next transfer!!! Okay maybe you can... If you guessed Huntington Beach you guessed right. I will be staying in Seapoint and ALSO covering the Mid-single Adult ward which covers three stakes in mission, Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach North and Cypress it also covers one stake outside of the mission Garden Grove. My companion will be Sister Dimmick.  She has been out for nine months.

 

This week was a week of miracles and  answered prayers. I had been praying to gain a testimony about Weekends and Holiday are the best times to find.  So yesterday was a holiday and sunday, I really wanted to find yesterday. We had dinner with a non-member whose daughter is serving a mission in Salt Lake City West mission. She has another daughter who is still living with her. So we picked up her daughter as a new investigator. She is being taught be the Spanish elders. God answers prayers. He loves us and he know us.  Caeden our investigator had told us that his mom has given him permission to be baptized!!!! He wants to get Baptized in February!!!!  

 

We have had a lot of rain lately. It has been really cold. It had has been bi-polar, one minute it is raining and the next it is sunny. 

 

I know that the power of the Atonement is real. I know that God loves us. I know that he loves us. I know that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. I know that  everything happens for a reason. I know that we are blessed everyday. I love the gospel. Love you all.

Sister McGarry III

Huntington Beach Love!!!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Well It was great to see all those of you that I saw yesterday. I am glad to hear that you all are doing well. I love you all. 

 

We had a wonderful week full of less active lessons. We were able to see some elderly women who were in assisted living homes. They are super amazing. I love this time of year where we can see the spirit of Christmas in the hearts of many. We also got to visit with a part-member Family. The husband who is the member want us to teach his wife who is not a member. We have not met her yet but we are looking to meeting her in the near future.

 

I know that God loves us all. I know that He aware of our struggles and our trails. He loves us so much. He will help us when we need help. He will be our guides to guide our lives to accomplish his purposes through us. We must always remember that he is there for us. He knows us and he loves us. I know that the Lord is there to help us every step  of the way. He loves us tons and tons. He is mindful of us all. He answers our prayers.
 

This week we also had an amazing Zone Conference where we got  hear amazing training about how we can give back to Christ and our Father in Heaven. It was amazing. I learned that there is really only one thing that we can to God is our will. We read from Mosiah 2, where King Benjamin was talking to his people and telling them that they were indebted to Him, then he turned in towards the Savior to where we are indebted to the Savior. God has given us so much. He gives us breath and support. He has and continues to give us so much. We only have 1 thing that we can give to Him and that is our will. I feel that I have truly learned what that means to give our will to the Father while I have been serving my mission. It is amazing to see the blessings that God gives us. He knows us and he loves us. He wants us to give ourselves to him. I love you all.

Sister McGarry III