Sister Katie Garff

Sister Katie Garff
Bolivia Cochabamba Mission

Friday, August 26, 2016

Why We Have Caterpillars Today

Yes, that is a snail crawling up this Elders's face.
Glad we are taking this seriously...
Hello Everybody:)

This week has flown by so fast! 200 new missionaries entered the MTC on Tuesday and it was so great to greet them during a huge rainstorm! Rain is very common here, and I have come to absolutely love it, because Hermana Masina and I always end up running barefoot through the river of a street to get to class:D

Funny moments: This week we were able to teach in TRC (which is where we teach "real members" because they come from "outside of the wall." They were all very nice, but their Spanish was so fast that I could hardly understand them. I tried to tell them that their family was very kind and warm, but I ended up telling them that I was very hot in their presence. Whoops! Also, the other night, our house decided that it would be a good idea to do Bible charades in order to get to know the stories better. One particular night, our room was in charge, and chose to reenact Noah´s arc, so naturally, Hermana Masina and I decided to act as caterpillars. It was SO funny, and now, our house will never forget that Noah gathered caterpillars to be on the boat too!
Katie, Jas and Alyssa Free at the CCM
Cultural moment: There are lots of phrases in Spanish that aren´t used in English. One of these great words includes "SuperWow!" This means exactly as it intends, but it is so funny to use! I challenge all of you to try using it in your sentences/classes/work this week;)
Katie and Sister Jas Masina.  Katie's outfit comes from a bet made during a tennis match with the Pugsley Sisters.
 As one might have guessed, they lost.
Spiritual moment: The gift of tongues is a great blessing. Some days I am helped so much by this great power, but other days it is harder to recognize. Teaching in TRC this week was one of these moments where I was really struggling to recognize this gift. In moments like this, I have learned that when the gift of tongues isn't as present it is a good time to pray, because God loves us so much and wants to help us with our challenges. We are so loved! Prayer is such a great gift!

I love you all so much! Thanks for your great examples to me:)

Love, Hermana Garff

Katie also writes us a separate letter.  I have decided to include a little of that letter for all of the "Piano/Choir- Pushing Parents" - or current piano students that may read this. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT.:

"I am glad that you encouraged me to take piano lessons. I have played in every meeting here, and I can sight read just about everything. Thank you for this wonderful gift!! Also, thank you so much for pushing me to do choir. I am not EVER afraid to sing. In fact, Jas and I always wake up singing Mary Poppins and we keep singing throughout the day, because it makes us smile. Today, we actually sang Happy Birthday to a worker and gave him some chocolate. His face lit up, and it totally made my day!"

Friday, August 19, 2016

The CCM (That's MTC in Spanish) Thanks Katie.

Katie and Jaslyn Masina
The title of this post was inspired by every missionary who has ever written from this training center. The first mention of its name, CCM, is always followed by "That's MTC in Spanish". Katie has taken great pains to repeat this frequently throughout her letters.
Hey Everyone:)

This was another great week! I met lots of new people and learned a ton. One of the major highlights this week was that I actually learned some martial art kicks and moves from one of the Elders-break the wrist and walk away!

Funny moment: Our classes are all taught in Spanish so sometimes the translations get a bit fuzzy... one day we were talking about stress management and what happens to our bodies when we get stressed. A sweet Elder from our district immediately answered "our pee turns brown!" The teacher paused for a minute and responded "Well, maybe for you…" Later the Elder explained that he thought the question was about what happens when we aren´t hydrated. I have not been able to stop laughing about this!!!
Katie and Jas Masina with friends form the CCM
Cultural moment: Latinos are the absolute GREATEST! I love these people SO much! I was thinking about them one night, when I realized that they actually remind me of minions from despicable me:D They are always so kind, loving and patient (even when they listen to my rough Spanish, haha)

Spiritual moment: I was assigned to teach a Book of Mormon class in all Spanish, so naturally I was a bit panicked as I don´t exactly speak the language. Regardless, I prepared the best I could and prayed diligently for help. The lesson was, in fact, a bit choppy due to language, but the spirit was so strong and I didn´t die so that´s a major plus!

Lastly, I met these super cute Latinas who Jas and I were really great friends with. They had to leave a few days ago, but they were super kind and they gave us these cute friendship bracelets that I wear every day!

The love, prayers and support of people is such an amazing thing!! I know that a major reason I am not homesick is because of all of the support from everyone.


Know that I love you all and am praying for you. Have a good one!

Hermana Garff



Friday, August 12, 2016

Complimenting the "Dress of Sin"

Katie and Jas Masina at the Mexico MTC
This picture was graciously shared by the Masina family!

Katie arrvied at the CCM to find out that her companion was to be Jaslyn Masina, an amazing girl that she served with in Student Government at Skyline High School. Jas is someone that everyone loves, simply because she loves everyone. We consider this a tender mercy. Knowing that she is in good hands helps us a lot back home.
Hello Everyone!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers! I felt so uplifted and comforted during the first two weeks! The CCM (that´s MTC in Spanish;)) is absolutely beautiful and the spirit is incredible here. The best part about the CCM is that everyone is so nice here (especially the natives that are putting up with my struggling Spanish, haha)! Please know that you are all included in my prayers right along with my desire to obtain the gift of tongues...)
At the Mexico Temple.  Jas and Katie are the only sisters in their district.
Thanks for the photo Jas!
Funny moments: "Me gusta su vestido de pecado." I intended to compliment a sister on her dress with fishes on it, but I ended up complimenting her "dress of sin" instead. Whoops! I made tons of gringo mistakes similar to that one this week, but hey, it definitely creates lots of laughter! Also, there are tons of large green circles with arrows on them so my companion and I make it a point to jump directly in the center whenever we see one...which is about every hundred yards, haha!
Katie and Jas in one of the many green circles
Thanks for the photo Jas!
Cultural: Mom, I love your cooking, but it was pretty shocking to enter the CCM to find out that we get fed three hot meals every single day. It´s great!;)
Thanks (once again) for the photo Jas!
Spiritual Moments: Last week was Fast Sunday and it was incredible to listen to everyone's testimonies in Spanish. Although we all struggled to speak in Spanish, the spirit was incredibly strong! Also, we all had the privilege to go to the Mexico City temple. It was absolutely beautiful and the peace it allowed was incredible!

I love you all, have the best darn week of your life!;)

Love,

Hermana Garff



Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Hit By A Mack Truck

Hi Mom and Dad!

I feel like I got hit by a Mack truck, but other than that I am doing really well, our plane arrived safely and things are great. Talk to you soon! My P-days are on Friday.