Week of Apostles

I am so excited for Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday, Elder Russell M. Nelson is speaking to my mission!  Unfortunately, we only get to watch the broadcast in Lethbridge.  But it'll still be amazing to hear counsel from Elder Nelson, Elder Richard J. Maynes (President of the Seventy) and my dear mission president and his wife.  THEN on Sunday, Elder Holland is speaking to my stake.  Since there are only 4 missionaries serving in this stake, they are saving the FRONT ROW for us and our investigators.  I will be sitting five feet from Elder Holland.  This will be an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.  It will be quite the weekend and I'm probably going to be on a spiritual high for the rest of my mission as a result.

We found a solid new investigator this week!  Her name is Angel.  She just moved to Cardston . . . from Airdrie.  We must not have found her in Airdrie so she had to move to where she'd find us!  Her fiancé has lived in Cardston for years and is a former FLDS who converted to our Church.  His dad had multiple wives and he has 45 siblings . . . interesting.  Angel didn't like her former religion and is open to learning and asking questions!  On Saturday we met her, taught her, committed her to baptism, and on Sunday she came to church and took a LOT of notes.  The one downside is that she can't get married until her divorce goes through, which could take a long time.  

We've been trying to do more service.  There are a lot of inactive members and nonmembers who work at the old folk's home, so we figured it would be a win/win situation to serve the cute, old people!  I've been playing the piano and Sister Cheney has been singing to them (mainly primary songs and hymns).  One old man was being wheeled into the room and said, "I'm not going to listen!  NO darn way!"  Well the Spirit took over because after about five seconds he was quietly listening and he really enjoyed it!  I love serving old people.  They are the cutest. 

Well family, it was certainly a great week, especially the positive 11 degrees that we've been enjoying!  Maybe Spring is on the way after all?

I love you!

Love, Sister Crystal Gardner

O Canada

February 24, 2014 

Dearest Family,

It's been another great week -- especially since Canada beat the US in hockey in the Olympics.  So everyone here is happy!  We've even sang, "O Canada" a couple of times this week. 

Yesterday at the YSA branch's sacrament meeting they introduced a guy that just returned from his mission in Belgium/Netherlands, which is the same mission that Kristen is serving in.  After talking to him, I found out he was her zone leader!  So I got to hear all about her mission and how she's doing.  It's a small world!

Jodi Manyfingers is doing great!  We went with her to the addiction recovery program.  The spirit was strong in the meeting and she told us she felt it.  She says she wants her daughter Shanoah to get baptized in June and she is thinking about getting baptized with her!  We know she'll be ready before then.  So we're going to extend an invitation this week for a date for her baptism.  She has some challenges she still needs to get over.  So please pray for her and for us.  She also wants us to teach another one of her sons and his family.  It's hard because they live on the reserve.  But hopefully we can set that up soon. 

On Tuesday we had scheduled to give Bertha a blessing but no branch priesthood holders were around.  So the elders came and gave her a nice blessing which made "the pain go away."  It was a miracle that no one from the branch could come earlier because her brother, Phillip, was home the night the elders came.  They have been trying to meet with him for months because he was a former investigator that wants to be baptized.  They put him on date right then and there.  The Lord helps his missionaries!

Are Lehi Days this week or next week?  I hope someone wins a belt buckle for me!  As you can see in the photographs below, we helped with the calving this week.  See, I'm still having Lehi Days here in Canada!

I love you, family.

Love, Sister Crystal Gardner      

New Companion Update

February 17, 2014

Well, Sister Kagie is safely up north and my new companion is . . . Sister Cheney!  We served in the same district in Airdrie!  She was in the 2nd ward and I was in the 1st ward.  When I found out we were going to be companions, I don't think I've ever been so excited in my entire life!  We were great friends in Airdrie and she is amazing.  She's been a member of the church for just two years, but has an amazing testimony.  It's been cool to teach people with someone who has gone through the missionary conversion process.  This will be the best transfer ever!  (Hopefully we’ll remain companions for more than one transfer.)  She been out for 4 1/2 months so she came out with my last two companions.

Besides transfers, we've had lots of exciting things happen.  We met with Jodi Manyfingers again and her 24 year old son, Stormy, decided to stay and listen to the lesson.  He really liked it and asked if he could have a Book of Mormon as well.  Jodi is in a very sad situation.  Her "tradition" husband left her right when he was most needed.  But she told us that instead of turning to alcohol like she usually would, she wants to turn to Christ.  So we're going with her to the "addiction recovery program" on Wednesday.  Although she is very stressed out about her situation, she knows that she feels a lot of peace as she comes to church.  Stormy is coming to the young single adult home evening tonight, so we're excited about getting some fellowship from the YSA branch. 

Bertha was in the hospital again this week.  Her lungs are slowly failing her and I'm afraid she doesn't have much time left here on earth.  She's been too weak to come to church, even though she wants to.  Normally, someone has to go to church twice before they are baptized and I don't know if we could get special permission in her case.  Homer is no longer living with her and she is now keeping the word of wisdom, so she has really come a long way.  She's receiving a blessing on Tuesday.  Hopefully that will help all of us know what to do. 

On Thursday we had a zone goal setting meeting where we decided to double our "member present" lessons.  It will really push us, but Sister Cheney and I are committed to putting in our full effort.  We've been praying about this and yesterday a couple of members came up to us and said to call them if we need someone to go with us.  When you pray in faith, the Lord will provide! 

I'm ready to see some amazing miracles this transfer.  I'm so happy to be a missionary! 

I love you, family!

Love, Sister Crystal Gardner    

                                   Service project quilt with Sister Kagie

Transfers coming

February 11, 2014

Well transfers are tomorrow . . . and Sister Kagie is leaving!  That means I'll be running this huge area with a new companion starting tomorrow.  I'm a little bit nervous.  Six weeks is far too little time to be in charge of this area.  But I'm excited for this next transfer!  The biggest news is that Elder Holland (yes, THE Elder Jeffrey R. Holland) is speaking in my stake in March!  I am so lucky!  Only four missionaries will be invited to attend, and I am one of them! I can't wait.

Last Monday, the Croatians in my ESL class cooked us an authentic Croatian meal.  It was delicious!  I'll have to cook it for you one day.  For the next couple of weeks we are in charge of teaching the class by ourselves.  It's a lot of fun. 

I finally got to meet an investigator named Luke.  He is a native that is physically crippled.  He was run over by a car when he was two but somehow survived.  Unfortunately it messed up his growth plates so he has no use of one arm and limps on one leg.  He's been meeting with missionaries since he was little because he lives with his Grandmother and she is a member.  But he's 45 years old now and has still never joined and didn’t really want to change.  We had two amazing lessons with him this week.  During the second one the Spirit was strong and the Lord told him exactly what he needed to hear.  Apparently he always laughed at the idea of praying in front of the missionaries.  But when we asked this time he agreed and said the sweetest and simplest prayer.  I love being a missionary because you get to meet and love people that you would not otherwise come in contact with.  I know that the Lord loves Luke and I know I'm here to help him.  He may not get baptized while I'm serving in Cardston, but I know I'm here for him.

It was bitterly cold this week (yes, even more than usual!) and yesterday the wind was very strong.  But we knew we needed to visit a Scottish couple named the Browns who have tentatively agreed to take the lessons.  Our car is only front wheel drive, so we had to walk up the hill to their house.  It was windy and slippery, and poor Sister Kagie slipped and fell three times!  Luckily, she was able to laugh it off.  But we definitely felt adventurous trying to mount the hill while it was so windy and cold!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my lovely mother who is still a "spring chicken."  I love you.

Love, Sister Crystal Gardner