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