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| Gordon's baptism |
Monday, January 4, 2016
January 4, 2016
Wow this week was amazing!! We had a lot blessing happen to us this past week and had saw so many miracles! I am SO excited to start out a new year and really just serve the Lord with full energy of heart!
The best part of the week was Gordon getting baptized. He got baptized on Thursday and it was an amazing experience. Baptisms are amazingly spiritual and I love them. He looked so good with his white jumpsuit and his white hair! It was classic. After his baptism and his confirmation he just said he felt like he was floating on clouds! We didn't even have to really push Gordon at all he is a classic example of someone who floats to the font to be baptized. Yesterday for fastsunday we all went and bore our testimonies, Gordon included and it was powerful. He said that this Gospel has changed his life and he knows the Book of Mormon is true. I too have a testimony of those same things.
I was able to bare my testimony in fast Sunday both in English and in Spanish! How cool is that!! the spanish one was very brief but at least it came from the heart. I was thinking just last night about the message of the restoration and it is literally the most important message that anyone could ever share. Literally. I am glad I can share it in both english and in spanish now. I absolutely love teaching the restoration and the peace it brings to me.
We had a goal this past week that some may think would be unreachable but because we were obedient we were able to achieve that goal. We had a goal to teach 100 lessons and did everything in our power to hit that and last night we walked in the door of our apartment having taught 101 lessons. Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. It wasn't the easiest thing I have ever done but the Atonement wasn't easy so why should missionary work be easy! Jesus Christ was rejected, He was spit upon, He was cast out, He was called every bad word you could imagine and He did it all for us. We prayed like it all depended on the Lord and then Worked like it all depended on us. I love this work and am glad to be called as one worthy enough to represent Jesus Christ.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Elder Gardner
December 28, 2015
Christmas went by way too fast just like I was expecting!
What an amazing week we had this past week. It was filled with a lot of joy and lots of laughs but not filled with lots of snow! We had another baptism on Saturday that was in the Spanish Branch. Juan was baptized and it was unique because I gave a talk on Baptism in spanish! I wrote it all out in english and then my companion translated it so I just got up and read my whole talk. The members told me good job so apparently it was alright I just didn't know what I was saying!
We have another baptism this Thursday!! Gordon is getting baptized the last day of the year and he is getting really excited! The most excited I have ever seen any investigator. He came to the baptism of Juans to see what it looks like and he said "I don't understand a word of what they are saying, but I love it!"
I feel so grateful for the miracles I have been seeing and the things I have. The day after Christmas we were asking people about their christmas and we talked to a family and asked the kids how their Christmas was and they said Santa missed them this year. I just wanted to cry. We are upset if we don't get what we want for christmas or if we get too few of presents and there are people in the world who are lucky to get anything for Christmas. My new goal for this next year is to always be thankful and realize the miracles that happen in my life. I am immensely blessed for the things I have and sometimes its hard to recognize that.
I love you all and am happy to have such great family and friends.
Elder Gardner
December 21, 2015
Good morning to all and to all a Merry Christmas!!!!!
What an amazing week this past week we had! To start off the week we had a super fun christmas party on the beach again. My 2nd to last one because Floridians have a Christmas in July, don't ask me why because I have no idea, and we will have the party on the beach most likely. It really is different spending Christmas in the heat. We got gifts and for the most part we just played football in the sand and took pictures.
We have really been blessed lately with a lot of people to teach. We have been going through a lot of people just sorting out the ones who are prepared and those who are not. Friday this past week we taught 25 lessons! Just yesterday we had a blessing from our hard work by being able to have a baptism. We have been working with a Less active woman in the spanish branch who has a 9 year old daughter Ivanna who was not baptized. Sunday Morning before church we had her baptism. It was really special for me because I was able to baptize her and did it in spanish!!!
We should be having another baptism this next weekend in the spanish branch.
I mentioned Gordon last week and he is still the most prepared person we all have ever seen. Literally all we have taught him was the restoration. We have given him the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and then came back and he had read it and did the additional study in the back. He did the same with the Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet as well… Who does that?!?! Before he wasn't willing to accept a date but we had one of the most spiritual lessons I have had on my mission with him. We knelt down and he prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true and after we paused so the Spirit can testify. He was in tears because of the joy he felt. Because of his testimony of the Book of Mormon he now knows this is Christ's church on earth! We set his baptism date for the 31st of this month, the last day of the year. He is really excited to be baptized.
The amazing thing is that there are tons of more Gordon's out in the world dwindling in unbelief ready to receive the Gospel. They could be your friends! Do them a favor and share the Light you have!! Especially with Christmas its the best gift that you could ever give someone!!
I am really excited to Skype home and see the family!!!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!
Elder Gardner
December 14, 2015
11 days till Christmas!!! Im extremely excited for Christmas it is the best!!
This week was great for us here!! I have been learning more and more espanol too! I am starting to understand what people are saying more and more. I can now say a prayer in spanish (a simple one that a greengo would say) and also recite the first vision in spanish too!! How about that?!
We had stake conference this past weekend and it was alright not the best stake conference I've been to. We met a guy at a bus stop and talked with him a little bit about the church, we got his phone number but thought it would be the last time that we would see him but we called and he was fine with us coming over. We shared the restoration with him and he was suuuuper solid! He was asking the best questions and is really interested. He came to the Adult session of stake conference and also the Sunday session. He was a little confused at the Mormon Language. The stake president talked about the temple and mentioned the Celestial Room and Sealing and he of course had questions about that but he was super accepting. He has just been like a sponge with everything that we have taught. We are really excited about him. His name is Gordon so keep him in your prayers.
We have been really busy with appointments lately we have been teaching so many people! We have for sure been seeing the fruits of our labors and are being immensely blessed. I love this time of season to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas. I have really been growing spiritually lately and have strengthened my testimony and conversion.
Tomorrow we have the mission Christmas party!!! We will be going on the beach and spending the day together as a mission just having fun. This is probably going to be my last Christmas on the beach… As much as I love the beach and the hot weather It really doesn't feel like Christmas without snow. Regardless of where you are its the same meaning of Christmas. The best Gift that was ever given. Our Savior.
With Love
Elder Gardner
December 7, 2015
What a week!! I love this work!!
This week we have been able to see so many miracles thanks to the Lord and his bounteous love towards his faithful servants. I love being a missionary there is nothing like it!
So I have some exciting news! On Friday we received a new companion and inherited his area as well. Elder Casperson from Twin Falls, ID. He is a spanish missionary and his companion had to return home so he is now with us for a while. So we will be teaching the investigators we have and finding more people in both of our areas since the spanish areas are stakes. I will be learning a little bit of spanish as well.
Last week we prayed to know where the Lord needs us and we felt like going to Wal Mart parking lot. When we got there we said a prayer to be lead to the ones prepared. When we got done saying the prayer I looked to my left and there was a guy in his car staring right at me. I got a little creeped out I'm not going to lie but we got out and talked with him. He is a less active who is wanting to return. He has been going through struggles and wanted the Lords help. He looks like a rough guy tatted up and has tattoos of devil horns on his head. We have been going over the lessons with him again and has come to church. Its a humbling experience seeing the change he has.
Also this week we were in the same Wal Mart parking lot readjusting our schedule and out of nowhere a car pulled up and a lady asked if we were Mormons. We said yes and she explained to us how the elders used to go by her house before she moved here and she loved going to church. She was never baptized. We taught her the next day and set her baptism date. That was the most amazing thing ever!
I love this time of season especially since I don't have to freeze in Utah. I love learning more and more each day about the Restored Gospel. It brings me so much joy knowing that God has a plan for me. I love sharing that plan with everyone.
Love you all
Elder Gardner
November 30, 2015
Why oh why does the mission have to go by so fast? The last day of November I don't get it. But I am so excited for Christmas!!! Christmas is the best for many reasons! The most important is because we get to celebrate Christ's birth. There is a new Christmas video out and we are spreading the word about that and the cards about it here in Florida!
Well this week was really exciting! We had Transfers this last week on Wednesday afternoon. I got my new companion, Elder Bowden, and then we were assigned to the University Park area in Sarasota Florida. We are actually white washing the area. Elder Bowden is from Salem, UT. He has only been out for about 5 months but you can't tell. He is a hard worker and is fun to be around we get along well.
The missionaries here were not the most obedient and the teaching wasn't the fastest so they pulled them out. It was a neat experience white washing an area.
We got to the area and there was no food, we had no idea where anything was, and we didn't have any investigators to teach. That night we got some groceries and just went to the Wal Mart parking and talked to as many people as we could. We were able to get some investigators to start us off.
Thursday was Thanksgiving so it was pretty slow. We had a feast with the 2nd councilor and his wife. It made me miss my Grandparents cooking thats for sure. We called as many members as we could to go over asap and meet them. There seems to be some great members in this area.
On Sunday we had no investigators show up to church unfortunately but we were able to bare our testimonies to the ward and introduce ourselves. It was powerful standing up and baring my testimony to the ward on how much the mission has changed my life. I love sharing what I know to be true. There was 11 Ward Missionaries called this past week in sacrament meeting! We got an army!! If everyone was perfect we would have 16 million+ Members as the army but its alright.
This past week from being diligent and obedient we have seen so many miracles. We met so many people and have set 18 baptismal dates. The likelihood of them all getting baptized are pretty slim but they all know our purpose, they know we are here to find, teach and baptize. I am excited to be here in the new area and am most excited to serve the Lord! I know this Gospel is true, I know that God is there. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. We got in a bash with a guy and he wanted evidence that the Book of Mormon is true. If there was all the evidence that the Book of Mormon is true and that God is real then what is the point of Faith. Reach out, He is there. He will tell you what is true through the Holy Ghost.
I love you all.
Elder Gardner
November 23, 2015
Hello Family and Friends!!
Well to start it all off I have some exciting news! Transfers are this next week on Wednesday and I am getting transferred! I have now been here in the New Tampa Ward for 4 transfers (6 Months). As sad as I am to leave I am excited to move on and see what else the Lord has in store for me! If you watch the mission Facebook page you will find out who my next companion is.
Last week was full of ups and downs. To start off the week we had a FHE with a young couple in the ward named the Broud's. They invited us and Alex & Etie over. Unfortunately Etie was tied up at work again but Alex came and we had a blast. We were able to teach the Plan of Salvation, eat some doughnuts and then we played a game of Charades. It was a lot of fun and Alex enjoyed it a lot as well. We will most likely be doing another one today as well.
Tuesday we had a blast at the Temple! We woke up at 4:30 meet the group and then piled in the 12 passenger van and got on our way. It took about an hour and a half to get to the Orlando temple from here (Not like Utah that's for sure). After the temple we took a bunch of pictures, had lunch and left back to our areas. It was a nice time to relax and be selfish a little bit.
Im excited for Thanksgiving this week even though I dont know where I will be spending it. Regardless of where I am I will be doing the same work and that is proclaiming the Good news! In the spirit of Thanksgiving I would like to express my own gratitude to my friends and more importantly my family. I love my Family and the things I have learned. I am so thankful for the time I have to be a missionary. I am thankful for the price Jesus Christ payed in our behalf. I am thankful for the Holy Ghost that it can bare witness of that to me and anyone who sincerely seeks His guidance. I am thankful for Joseph Smith and how he was able to restore this, Christ's Church, back on earth. I am thankful for the Book of Mormon to help us know that he did.
Thank you all for your loving prayers.
Elder Gardner
November 16, 2015
How is it already over half way done with November? I don't understand at all...
This week was pretty good, but this next week will be even better! Want to know why?! I get to go to the Temple!!! The Orlando temple is right outside of our mission boundaries so our missionaries can only go once a year. Since I recently hit half way I will be going to the temple! I'm really excited.
As for the work this last week it went well! I have mentioned Alex and Etie before how they are a recently married couple that came to church once before. They are super awesome! I love going over to teach them. Last Monday we had an FHE with Alex. Etie couldnt come due to work. The member invited Alex over and we got to know each other better and then played Restoration Jenga because the members have 2 little girls. It is a great object lesson how Jesus Christ's church was formed when he was here and slowly it fell, but has been restored to the earth again. The members bore their testimony and it was powerful. We will be doing another FHE tonight with another member tonight.
My favorite part of the week had to have been Wednesday night. Wednesday we had interviews with President and a District Meeting. The District Meeting we talked about how we can promise blessings. After that we had a lesson with a guy named Leak. Leak is about 25 and has 2 kids. He has been in and out of jail and is now on probation. We introduced the Book of Mormon to him and read Morini's promise. I promised him that the Book of Mormon will get him closer to God than any other book will. I testified that it has done that for me. This work is so unique and the best thing that I could ever do. I never really realized how the Gospel has blessed my life until being here. The Book of Mormon has gotten me closer to God and because of that I know this church is true. I am so fortunate to have been raised in such a powerful family and such a powerful church.
Special Shout out to my Mother!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You will never know how much good you do.
I love you all!!!!
Elder Gardner
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