November 19, 2013
Dearest Family and friends,
This week we had a special mission conference by Elder Schwitzer of the Quorum of the Seventy! It was a nice experience shaking his hand and learning from someone that is so filled with the Spirit. On Sunday he came to my ward because he and his wife are the stake president's wife's sister and brother-in-law. So we got even more insight. One thing that he mentioned was that the pictures we have in our homes have a great effect on how we think and whom we become. As I was thinking about it I thought about our basement. It has 6 pictures of my brothers in their Eagle Scout uniform and right above are 5 missionary plaques. I'm so happy to have such a wonderful family and great examples. I really think that is one of the reasons I grew up wanting to go on a mission. Every day I think about how I want to be the kind of missionaries that my 5 brothers (and Mom and Dad of course) were. I sure love my family!
Christmastime is in full swing here in Canada! We sang Christmas songs in church and I'm humming them (Christmas HYMNS of course... ;)) constantly in my head. It continues to snow... (and will be -30 tomorrow), and we helped the Lows decorate a Christmas tree in their home. They are having Christmas in Utah, but they still wanted to decorate the house for us! It was fun to put the ornaments on the tree, but it didn't feel the same. Dad's homemade ornaments are much nicer and I wasn't with my family!
Susana is getting baptized on Saturday! Last Sunday Tony (totally inactive dad) called us and asked us if we could bring someone to give his wife (Claudia) a blessing. Something big is happening to this family. It's very, very sad. Tony was so thoughtful to ask us and surprise Claudia. The blessing was exactly what she needed to hear. One of Claudia's friends that is a member was there and she thanked us. She said that there has been such a change happening in their family. Later Claudia's mom came up to us and said that their faith is starting to grow. The Wingrove family has been taking small but important steps. I love them.
The people that we are regularly working with are growing stronger. But we desperately need to find some new people! So that is our focus this week – find new investigators.
Delfino is doing great and is actively sharing the gospel with his family. His 3 kids are asking him questions and he refers them to us. We really hope to start teaching his seventeen year old son Christopher soon.
To answer some questions I've received: No, we are not on Facebook or any social media sites yet. However Elder Schwitzer told us that we will be getting iPad's in April. Every missionary will pay $100 for their own personal iPad that they get to take home with them at the end of their mission! He told us about all of the new apps and it sounds really effective. In fact, we will have our area book, personal planners, etc. in the iPad. They will even have exercise videos . . . probably with Mormon Tabernacle Choir background music. :) Can't wait! Also, we do tract. We have a car, but when we are in Airdrie we pretty much always walk and tract on our way to appointments to save our kilometers for when we go to Crossfield.
I sure love my family. Pray for missionary opportunities and then have the courage to act on them! The Lord has prepared his children.
Love, Sister Gardner
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