pics

Amanda and James' baptism

February 8, 2016

Well another week down and another 2 people entered the waters of baptism this past week as well!! Amanda and James got baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! They are officially members of The Church of Jesus Christ! It was really great. Elder Bowden baptized James and I baptized Amanda and then we confirmed them as well. I am so grateful to be here and to have the opportunity to be able to bring someone to the truth and help them be baptized. God is good!! 

That was for sure the highlight of the week. Other than that Jamie and Caleb are doing really well. Caleb had to work yesterday so he couldn't come to church and then Jamie and her baby got sick so they couldn't come either. They are still loving the gospel and loving the Book of Mormon. We showed them the pictures of temples around the world and they were amazed. Caleb loves the Slt Lake temple. He showed pictures of it to his friend at work and then he was said "yeah and they have a super sweet bath tub!!!" Hahah don't worry we taught him about baptisms for the dead and what happens in the baptismal font! 

We had interviews this past week with the mission president. We talked about how we all can continue in the Gospel and not go less active because the majority of returned missionaries go less active when they return home and aren't watched over. You want to know what he said? He said keep to the basics. Daily study, prayer, temple attendance, church attendance will keep the fire burning inside and keep us all active in the church. Its true. Once people slip on the basics satan works harder and harder. Its easier to not be a member of the church, its easier to be lazy and not to worry about a church calling. 3rd Nephi 14:13-14 "Straight is the gate and Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life." Living the gospel might not be the easiest but it is worth it! This is the church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth. 

Talk to you all next week!

Elder Gardner

pics

Feeding the flamingos

Elder Bowden and I

James and Amanda

golfing in January

This is how I roll

February 1, 2016

The first day of February are you kidding me?! I feel like I blinked and January was gone… Its all part of life. I love it but at the same time hate it because I only get to be a full time missionary and serve the Lord with all I have for these 2 years. 

This week had its ups and downs like every week. Amanda and James are still set to be baptized this weekend but have been struggling with the Word of Wisdom. We made the mistake of telling them that they have to be clean one week before they are baptized. We had to push their date back and so they fell into their old ways for a couple days. We had a good lesson with them though and explained that if they slip up again then we can't come by anymore. They haven't slipped up again! They both came to church yesterday and are looking forward to getting baptized this weekend! We were able to give them priesthood blessings to overcome their addictions and the spirit was really strong and ever since they said it has been easier for them. The power of the priesthood is real! Keep them in your prayers!! 

Jamie, Caleb and Brycen have been progressing really well. Im not sure if I have said anything about them yet. Jamie was outside on her steps and we drove by and asked if we could pray with her and she accepted. We prayed and then taught the Book of Mormon to her since she knew a little about the church. We came back and she and her whole family had all sorts of questions for us and they had the desire to be baptized. We have to get Jamie and Caleb married which should be the middle of the month. Brycen (14) is the son of Jamie and has the desire as well. They will be baptized at the end of the month. We see them every night and they love the Gospel. They came to church as well yesterday. 

Steve unfortunately has been struggling a lot the past few days. We went by last night and he wrote us a note that said that he wants to take a break and read and meditate and see if this is really the right road to go down. We aren't too worried about Steve but keep him in your prayers as well!! I will let you know more when we get back in contact with him. 

This week has been a testimony builder for me. I have been just pondering about my life and how much the Gospel has helped me in my life. Satan wants to make it seem like the Gospel doesn't matter when really its the ONLY thing that will give us eternal joy and feel Gods love. We cannot feel Gods love by traveling down wrong roads. He will reach out to us still if we do because His love is unfailing. He will always be there for us. We are the ones that are not always there for Him. 

I love the Gospel and I love all of you!! 

Elder Gardner

January 25, 2016

Hello family and friends!

Wow this week went by really quick. I almost don't even remember what happened this week! It has been a great week though, usually fast weeks are good. I have truly been losing myself in the work of the Lord and I love it. Good things are happening. 

Amanda and James are doing good still. They won't be able to get baptized this month because James couldn't make it to church yesterday because he had to stay home and watch the dogs that they have since they are homeless and are not living in the best area ever. Amanda still came to church though and she loved it. We are going to plan on the baptism next weekend the 5th of February. Im not sure if it was how I was raised or what but I am not a pet person. Im sure they are great to have but I don't care for them. 

Miracle time! This past week we were driving home from an appointment and Elder Bowden took a road that he thought lead to the main road we needed to get on, but turns out it was a dead end. We pulled into some random persons driveway to turn around and I got out to back (Exact obedience) and the guy came out of his house that lived there. We taught him and then set up a return appointment. We came back and he read the whole pamphlet 2 times and had questions and wanted a Book of Mormon. We have been teaching him every night since and is preparing to be baptized this next month. God in control of this work not us! I love it! 

The ponderizing scripture this week for my family is D&C 122:7. This verse is powerful. Everything we go through is for our benefit. I will have to say although my mission hasn't been the best 2 years, in fact it has been really tough leaving the things I love at home, but I have learned priceless things out here that I don't know where else I would be able to learn them. The most important thing I have learned is that the Gospel is true. That God is there and is our Loving Father. He cares for us. He watches over us and is awaiting our return. If that was the only thing I learned for the 2 years being here that would be 100% ok. 

I love you all. Thank you all for everything.

Elder Gardner

January 18, 2016

What a week!! 

We have been working with a lot of great people this week and have been blessed with all of them. 

Amanda and James have been doing really good they have to be done with any of the things of the Word of Wisdom by this weekend in order to be baptized next week! Keep them in your prayers because they will need it!!! They weren't able to come to church this week because there was a big storm on saturday night and they didn't really get any sleep at all because of it. They are still on track to be baptized though since it was stake conference this week. 

We found another lady this past week named Jamie. Jamie had known about the church for a while and she has liked the teachings but never really knew a lot about the church. She has been progressing a lot and came to stake conference yesterday and loved it. She had one concern of why women can't be prophets when in the bible it says there are prophetess' (women prophets). She said if we can answer that question then she would for sure be baptized next month. Later that same day she called us on the phone and said she was searching for herself and found her own answer and said she will be baptized for sure. Her husband and son are going to be baptized the same day with her. Super huge miracle!! 

We went golfing for preparation day today and last week we went and Hand fed flamingos!!! Only in Florida can you do that in January!! What a great place to be and I'm doing the best thing that I could be at this time in my life. I love this work and love the Lord.

Thank you all for your righteous example.

Elder Gardner

January 11, 2016

Hello Family and Friends!!

In my journal at night I have been writing 15 as the year for the past week… Thats how you know its the new year!!! Its crazy how fast things are already going. Everyone says the last year of your mission goes by way fast and I already have a testimony of that. 

Another busy week this week and it always feels good to take things a little slower on preparation day. We have been teaching a lot just like last week and now its just down to me and Elder Bowden because Elder Casperson got a new companion and is full time spanish in his own area so no more spanish for Elder Jardinero (Gardner in spanish). 

We have been busting out the bikes lately since we have been restricted with a certain amount of miles again. It is the best thing that has happened to us yet though I love biking around we teach a lot more people. We usually teach in the poor area of town or I guess you could call it the "Hood". You would be surprised how many more people will listen. Humility is real in the lower class part of town. 

We have been teaching a homeless couple that we found this past week. Amanda and James are married and just stay at a local park all day. We weren't too sure about them when we found them and then we went back and they read the pamphlet and did the study in the back. They have done that with all of the pamphlets we have given them. They came to church yesterday as well and loved it. We found out that they had an issue with 4/5 of the Word of Wisdom. Every time we went back to teach them they had something different. They actually had tea in their water bottle at church haha! They didn't know about it until yesterday but completely accepted it and are willing to change. It is amazing how much faith they both have and how much they want to change. The best thing you could do for someone who is homeless is teach them the Gospel. 

We were teaching a guy right by parking lot and then a random person pulls over right by us, gets out of his car, and just starts bashing. Nothing gets my blood boiling so fast. All he wanted was contention and it was frustrating. At the end he said Why aren't the golden plates here anymore? I thought about it for a moment. If the plates were here still then everyone would be a part of the church! No one would have to use faith or ask God what church is true because they would already know! It grows my testimony testifying of the power of the Book of Mormon. I know its true. No basher can fight with an honest seekers answer. 

Love you all!!! 

Elder Gardner