See You Next Week!

Hola!

When life rains on you, you gotta open your mouth and drink it in.
This life is a wonderful blessing and we should all savor every second of every situation!

Our Christmas tree:)

Our crazy district:D I am definitely going to miss them!

Our matching dresses:)

I can't believe that this is my last p-day. I feel as if I ended my training about 2 months ago and that I am just about to start my mission again! BUT, I must say that I am so incredibly excited to see you all again! Being on a mission has made me realize just how blessed I am (especially to have so many great friends and family at home to love and support me)! Thank you so much for your prayers, emails, cards, packages and love. I love you all so much and am truly grateful for your friendship.

My companion and I went to go visit my wonderful pensionista in my first area and she was so generous!
She made her best plate-pique macho and a strawberry cake! I love her so much and will miss her TONS!

The scarf that Hna Natividad made for me. I LOVE this scarf because it has a cute, little hole where the opposite end of the scarf should go (so you don´t have to wrap it around your head multiple times) but also because it made me feel like I was from the Hufflepuff house in the Harry Potter series:D

When one is afraid of getting skin cancer...

A wonderful family whom we are teaching right now. The mother has plans to get baptized by the end of this month, and her children are close to follow:) We feel so happy and so blessed!

One day, we contacted for 10 hours straight without tons of success, so we decided to buy churros and a shake for dinner. 
It was probably one of the better decisions I have ever made in my life!

There are lots of dogs in Bolivia, but I think dogs with makeup are hard to come by...

I would love to share my testimony, but first, I need to share a brief story about an amazing woman named Soñia that really changed the end of my mission. Soñia is a sweet woman whom we are teaching (I attached a pic of us peeling potatoes together:)) that really made me reflect on how incredibly blessed I am and how important it was for us to meet. After talking to her for a few minutes, I came to find out that she didn't know who her parents were (and therefore didn't have a last name). I also came to find out that she doesn't know how old she is, nor what she likes to do to pass the time. Her life simply consists of going to work everyday to have enough money to live. She doesn't have her own family and she doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. I am pretty sure that I am one of her first real friends that prays for her and cares for her and she just made me WEEP that day!

An investigator that hates taking pictures and really didn't want to talk with me,
BUT by the end of the visit, I think we became best friends;)

I know that God loves her. I know that he has a plan for her and I know that she will have a very special place in the kingdom of God if she continues to live as she is doing, but even more so if she will learn to accept what we teach her.

My testimony:

I have learned so much on my mission, especially concerning the love of Christ and the wisdom in His Gospel. The Gospel is for EVERYONE and if we choose to accept it, we will be able to find a happiness that we have never felt before.

Personally, I have been able to see the Gospel change the lives of my investigators, converts and companions, but to me, the biggest miracle of all has been seeing the remarkable change that the Gospel has made in my own life.

I have become a much better disciple of Christ, and I understand much more clearly my purpose as a member of this great church. Truly, I know that when we can lose ourselves in the service of others, we ultimately find ourselves.

I know that this church is true and I know that exact obedience to its teachings can lead us back to the home of our Father in Heaven.

I am so grateful for the time I have had to serve as a missionary, but I also realize that my work has just started and that it is essential that I keep working in the Lord's vineyard to continually invite others to treasure its teachings.

I love you all and will see you very soon!

Con mucho amor,

Hna Garff

Merry Christmas:) The lights here are so wonderful. I love Bolivia!
But, I am also excited to see the beautiful lights of the SLC temple!

It has been a joy to post Katie's entries on this mission blog.  We have loved seeing Bolivia through her eyes.  Though many of Katie's shared experiences have highlighted the humorous side of things, it should be noted that she has worked tirelessly and has given these months all of the effort she possibly could.  She loves the people of Bolivia as well as the people with whom she has served. 

Well done Katie!  It is with open arms and grateful hearts that we welcome you home!

Katie will arrive home on December 18th.

She will be having an informal open house at our home on Friday evening, December 22nd, from 6:00pm-9:00pm.

Her mission report will be December 24th, 1:00pm at the church building on 3103 East Craig Drive.

We would love to see you should these times work into your busy holiday schedules.  Many thanks for all of your support on Katie's behalf.  You are greatly appreciated!