Week 24

Hello Friends and Family! 

What a wonderful time of year it is. People are happy, work/school has slowed down, and the New Year is just ahead.

These last few days have been chilly, but today we have a high of 68, so we are enjoying the good weather in short sleeves! In fact, this whole next week should be in the low 70s, so we are very excited.

This week was one of the more chaotic and wonderful weeks I have had. In a rush to get all of our stockings done, we drove all over our area Tuesday-Thursday trying to get all of the stockings delivered. Thursday was very rainy and cold. We bundled up and drove way out into the outer-realms of our area to talk to members who hadn't gone to church in a while. It is so fun to meet people. They come from all walks of life, and their experiences are often very different from Elder Clove and mine. There is so much to learn from them, and they are so loving and welcoming. 

Our Christmas was wonderful. We spent our time talking and eating with families in the area. While the holidays have provided a slight lull in our normal teaching routine, we have enjoyed getting to know our friends on a more personal level. One guy we are teaching showed us pictures of the alligators he has caught. The biggest one was 12.5 ft long. It took a forklift to get it out of the boat!

We have zone conference tomorrow. It was originally set for the week before Christmas, but because our mission president was exposed to COVID, we postponed it until he was out of quarantine. Excitement is ramping up as we prepare for the 2021 mission vision. 

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish". Each year the mission president and some of the more seasoned missionaries set a vision for the mission and set specific goals to achieve that vision. We are encouraged to follow this same pattern and set a personal vision and specific goals to achieve that personal vision. I believe that this pattern is a correct one to follow. While I am by no means an expert goal setter/achiever, I have found that when I do set a goal I am passionate about and diligently try to improve daily so that I may achieve it, I feel rewarded. 

I hope that each of you will set goals for this new year, and I hope that some of them will be spiritual in nature. As we set spiritual goals, we should pray to know what God would have us improve on. It is my testimony that ideas will pop into our minds, and Christ will help us achieve them through His grace. Our goals can be as simple as praying daily, reading the scriptures more often, etc., but know that as we write them down and strive to improve daily, we will feel the influence of divine help to achieve them.

I hope that you have a wonderful week, and know that I love you!

Love,

Elder Garff

Attached is a photo of the appalachicola river - where our friend caught the 12.5 ft alligator!

Week 23

 Dear Friends and Family!

Thank you for the birthday wishes! I feel so lucky to be acquainted with each and every one of you.

This week has been filled with stocking drop offs! We have had so many marvelous experiences as we meet less active members and try to reactivate them. Our adventures have taken us into the far reaches of the deep south, and we have explored little roads off the highway that google maps doesn't even know exist. All of this being said, I am continually in awe with the spirit of love and friendship that everyone (even strangers) act in.

During this season of giving, I have had the opportunity to reflect on why we give. I have taken a moment to recognize how many wonderful examples of charity I am/have been surrounded with: both here in Bristol and also at home.

I want to share an example from Bristol.

There is an older couple in my local church congregation who live in the outskirts of Hosford. Billy Joe and Laree are in their 70s. They have lived here their whole life, and you can tell that they never had excess. They live in a small wood house that looks as though it was damaged by hurricane Michael. You can tell it is poorly insulated: there are holes in it, and it isn't clean. They didn't have the opportunity to obtain very much education. Their English is difficult to understand and they are not very progressive or culturally aware. They drive an old truck that sounds funny when it runs, and I imagine it breaks down often and he fixes it himself.

Despite not having much in the world's eyes, they have untold spiritual wealth.

They give all that they can. They drive to Tallahassee, Clarksville, and other far places multiple times a week to pick up free food at the local food drives. They don't pick up this food for themselves, but they do it for others. They have a route that they drive and they drop food off to people who would go hungry without it. They often give us gift cards to the local grocery store, and they are so willing to take us to Subway.

Perhaps the best part about it all is that they do it silently. No one asks them to do this, and very few people know that they do it. They are older, and as they move all of this food, I can't imagine their bodies handle it well. They receive no temporal benefit out of it, but they do it so willingly.

If everyone was a little bit more like BJ and Laree, the world would be a much better place. They truly understand charity, and they are so willing to sacrifice for the Savior. This is what the Christmas season is about: recognizing God's gift of his only begotten Son to all of us: even Jesus Christ. Christ then set a perfect example of giving and service for us to seek to emulate.

Christ didn't only serve those who were well kempt, and self-sufficient, he served everyone.

I am reminded of Matthew 25:40 where it says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Mosiah 2:17 echoes this when it reads, "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

I hope that during this season of giving, we will be in the service of God. I hope that we will serve those that need it most. BJ and Laree's example is one that I hope to emulate, and I hope you will remember it.

You are wonderful examples to me, and I love you all.

Love,
Elder Garff

Here are some pictures from our expedition to Pamama City Beach today!!!

Week 22

 Hi Friends and Family!

I spent most of my preparation day preparing a flute/clarinet duet for an upcoming zone conference, so this email will be shorter than most, but know that things are going well! 

We helped a lady named Sue stop using tobacco this week! Little things like this make me so grateful to be a missionary. We used the 15 step program I mentioned a couple months ago to help her, and as of last Thursday she is officially tobacco free! 

This week has been saturated with service. We dug out a gardenia bush from our friend Terri's house, put up drywall at the Smith's, and fixed two broken pipes from an artesian well at a member's house. 

With that being said, our teaching pool is growing quickly. We are currently teaching 11 people, and it is such a joy to see their progression. Even if they choose not to be baptized, I have hope that the principles we teach will help them be happier and feel more peace in their lives. 

There are some fun stories from this week, but for the sake of time, I'll plan on sending them next week! Stay tuned!

I love you all, and I hope you have a wonderful week. For my friends at UCLA, I think this is finals week? If so, good luck and say your prayers! Actually say your prayers always!

Love,

Elder Garff

Week 21

 Dear Friends and Family,

What a week! With holidays right around the corner and plenty of new people we are working with, Elder Clove and I have been outstandingly busy. 

For the last month and a half or so, Elder Clove and I have been planning a stocking drive. We have planned to give all inactive members of the Bristol Ward a stocking to wish them a merry Christmas and a happy new year. As we have been doing this, it has been a joy to meet so many new people from all walks of life. During our visits, we drop off a stocking and see how they are doing. Usually our conversation turns to religion, and we extend an invitation to them to come back to church. 

All of this is predicated upon us finding the right address. While it seems like a rather simple thing, in Bristol (where google maps is finicky and there are poorly marked dirt roads everywhere) this has become quite a challenge. In fact, because everyone knows everyone in Bristol, addresses are rather obsolete. People use landmarks to orient themselves rather than numbers and street names. When we ask people for directions it often goes as follows: "head down yonder 'til you see three yellow mailboxes. Once you done hit the third, make a sharp left down the dirt road, then you'll about hit 2 big oak trees. Now after them oak trees you'll see a fence, take a left at the fence and you'll see a blue house. That's where so-and-so lives'". Despite getting these types of directions often, I still seem to not be able to get to the destination. We always wind up totally lost and even have had to drive across people's yards to get back to the main road.  

There are about 100 inactive households in the Bristol ward, so our detective skills are being honed as we travel from road to road looking for any sort of clues that might expose where these addresses could be.

Detective work aside, we have had a very exciting week. We met Michael this week! Through our church's website, people can refer themselves if they would be interested in meeting with missionaries. We had a referral from someone named Michael, but we weren't able to make contact with him. We went to have a discussion with another friend named Nicole (who had also referred herself), when she suddenly asked if we knew Michael. We told her that we had briefly talked to him on the phone but hadn't been able to sit down with him yet. She went to pick him up and we were able to teach both of them. It was amazing to be able to sit down with both of them and talk about the Gospel! Definitely a miracle!

Michael is one of the most interesting people I have met. He is very interested in spiritual things and already believes in the Book of Mormon. I will keep you updated as we get to know him better!

We received our transfer news, and Elder Clove and I will stay in Bristol and Hosford for the next month and a half. I feel very lucky to serve here. Even though I have been here for 4.5 months, I am still amazed with the wonderful people of Bristol and Hosford. They are so kind and always are willing to serve.

Happy Holidays, and I hope you are doing well!

Love you all!

Elder Garff

I attached a photo of some frost on the ground! It has been chilly here!

Week 20

Hello Friends and Family!

I believe it is now appropriate to say Happy Holidays!!! I hope you all have had wonderful thanksgivings and are embracing this season of service and giving!

Bristol is beginning to cool down! Today the weather is quite chilly: high of 55 and low of 30. While I am well acquainted with humidity in the heat, cold humidity will take some getting used to. It seems as though the moisture cuts through any layers, so 55 feels much colder than it does in Los Angeles. 

Thanksgiving is a big holiday in Bristol. In fact for the last few weeks, people have found a reason to loop Thanksgiving into just about any conversation we had. Like any normal person from outside of Bristol, I figured that they were excited for the food, the good times with family, and having a few days off of work. I now realize that I missed a crucial element of a southern thanksgiving. In Liberty County, Thanksgiving marks the beginning of rifle season for hunting.

We had a wonderful thanksgiving. We were invited to eat outside with a few families in our ward. Southern thanksgiving food is a little bit different than the food I am used to. We had multiple feasts full of fried turkey, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and pecan pie. On thanksgiving day, lunch is a rather short lived meal. I was surprised to see how quickly people left because I am used to seeing people chat after meals, especially on Thanksgiving. I realized that in Bristol, the thanksgiving meal is a means to an end. It is fuel so you can go hunting. As we finished our meal, most of the family had left and were preparing their guns for the hunt that afternoon. By the time we were onto dessert, our conversations were accompanied by a chorus of gun shots in the woods behind us.

Hunting and football seem to be the two major talking points around town. Being the previous vegetarian/classical musician that I am, I am by no means a hunting or football aficionado. In fact, I often find myself chuckling at the absurdity of serving a mission here. I come into peoples' homes, listen to them talk about hunting, share a message about Christ and leave. Even though I don't fit in perfectly, I can't help but love the kindness and generosity of people here. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to serve the wonderful people of Bristol. 

Because of thanksgiving and the beginning of hunting season, we have had a rather slow week. Despite not having many lessons, we were still able to have meaningful lessons. We had an especially meaningful discussion with our friend Jacobi. He is growing to love the Book of Mormon, and he is eager for covid to dissipate so he can be baptized. 

 

One of the arts of being a missionary is crafting a good dinner message. When a family has you over for dinner, before you leave it is expected to share a short but sweet message that is uplifting and brings the spirit. I have been thinking a lot about our intentions and how we can make them more righteous. What I have been sharing as of late comes from Galatians 5. In this chapter, Paul talks about faith amongst other things. He explains that we should have "faith which worketh through love". In other words, we need to have faith that motivates us to do good things, and we should do those things out of love rather than other motivators. I think we often get caught up in doing things for the sake of duty, reward, or praise. If we are following Christ's example, we should do everything out of love for God and love for our neighbor. If we do this, we can't go wrong. 

I love you all, and once again, happy holidays!!!  

Love,

Elder Garff

 

Week 19

Hi Friends and Family!

On Tuesday I was able to go to the Orlando temple with my parents! The temple is an amazing place. There is a quiet spirit about it that fills your soul with peace, love, and joy. 

In the temple, you make promises to God and receive blessings for keeping those covenants. You also learn about God's plan for us.

For my friends in Los Angeles, I would encourage you to take a socially distanced walk around the temple grounds in Westwood! I have done this many times, and I always feel a sense of peace and love for God when I am there. I don't believe the Temple visitors center is open yet, but when it opens, I would definitely check it out. There are missionaries there that can explain more about the temple!

After my parents and I went through the temple, we got lunch and walked around a nature preserve in Orlando. As we walked on a bridge overlooking swampland, we saw two baby alligators and a ton of interesting plants, trees, and insects.

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to speak with them in person! Most missionaries go without seeing their parents on their mission, but the church encourages your family to be with you during your first visit through the temple. The LA Temple was shut down (due to covid) when I would have gone through, so I got lucky and was able to see my parents during my mission! See photos below!

On Thursday we had the opportunity to hear from the Prophet of our church. He talked about the healing power of gratitude. If you haven't seen his video, check it out. He is an amazing man. As a man of science, he is a world renowned heart surgeon, and he was a major part of the development of the heart and lung machine. As a man of God, he leads the church that I feel so grateful to be a part of. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i51gcWCs-Ho

As the holidays are quickly approaching, Elder Clove and I are busy at work preparing for different holiday themed activities. We have been dropping Thanksgiving boxes of food to members in need, and we are busy at work planning a stocking drive for less active families in our ward. 

WEEK 18

Hello Friends and Family!

Bristol is beginning to feel like home. I am getting used to the endless trees, the little dirt roads, and the people missing fingers and teeth. When I drove to Jacksonville to pick up Elder Clove a couple weeks ago, I found it funny as I realized that seeing buildings taller than one story, highways wider than two lanes, and the hustle and bustle of a city felt somewhat foreign to me.

I am excited to go back to "the scary big city of Jacksonville" (as it is known around here), as I leave for a temple trip! I am preparing to drive to Jacksonville tonight and will head to Orlando tomorrow morning. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to go through the Orlando temple tomorrow! Part of this blessing includes being able to visit with my parents briefly! I imagine my next email will have more to say on this.

This week has been wonderful. We had a tradeoff (a one-day swap with other missionaries) on Tuesday, and we had a zone conference on Friday. It was fun to have the chance to visit with other missionaries. I always find zone conferences to be marvelous. A zone conference is a day long meeting that talks about how we can become better missionaries. I always come away from these meetings feeling enthused and excited about the opportunity I have to serve the people of Bristol.   

While this week has been a fairly standard week of missionary work, I recognize that I have neglected to mention some of the fun routine things that we do each week. 

We have been helping out at a local food bank, and it has helped us establish good relationships with the members of the community. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, we help package and distribute food to people in need. It is amazing to see how much good this program does. Every week there are cars lined up for as far as the eye can see, and in a small town, this is especially impressive. We hand out food for anywhere between 120-180 households at every drive.  

Historically, there have been some hard feelings between our church and the other churches in the area. We have sought to remedy this by meeting with a local Baptist preacher. We discuss differences in our doctrine, but we also discuss how we can unite the community. He wrote an article titled Why I Love my Mormon Neighbors, which was a real honor, and also push towards a spirit of unity in the town of Bristol. We are working on filming an interview that shows how we can discuss the differences in our beliefs in a spirit of love and friendship rather than contention.  See the link below. 

https://brocodywatson.wixsite.com/myblog/post/why-i-love-my-mormon-neighbors?fbclid=IwAR0hnWEXg4WS8faiKZk3iqJjX0gBJFaGy-3R7yMrWgRMg9sz63hM8stfozM

I hope you are doing well! Please don't hesitate to reach out!

Love you all,

Elder Garff