Thanksgiving

                                 

October 15, 2013

Dearest Family and Friends, 

Happy CANADIAN Thanksgiving!  Yesterday was Thanksgiving and the Sheppard family had us over for turkey dinner.  The turkey was cooked to perfection, not dry at all. (Almost as good as Benji's turkey!)  We also had Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, cranberries, Martinelli's, potatoes, dressing (stuffing), and pumpkin Cheesecake. All that was missing was Granny Goodheart's spaghetti squash and pickled green beans!  I feel like I should be going up to the mountains and chopping down the Christmas tree today. . . . But then I have to remind myself it isn't Christmastime yet, and it is still October and the Halloween decorations are coming up!    

Let me tell you about Sister Martin!  She is from a small town in South Carolina and has a little southern accent.  She is very sweet and nice but very, very shy.  This will be a challenge for me, because I love to talk in the lessons. I'm going to have to learn how to help her to talk and participate, even if she doesn't feel comfortable with that yet.  I think training is going very well.  It's weird trying to teach her stuff that I'm just learning for myself, but the Lord is helping me realize how I can help her feel loved and needed.  I think we are going to get along very well and I'm excited to see what is going to happen during our 3 months together.

We had a very nice lesson with Delfino.  He says he wants to be baptized before I leave this area. I know that he can be ready before then, but he just wants to know everything because he says when he commits to something he is deeply committed.  So we are going to ask him tonight to be baptized on November 9th when we have a lesson with him, if we still feel right about it.  He is such a humble man and has so much faith.  He couldn't come to church on Sunday because he had to work, but he said he was so sad that he couldn't come to church that he is going to ask his boss to not schedule him on Sundays or he is going to find another job!  He is several steps ahead of us and he just soaks up everything we teach him.  The Van Tonders came with us to the lesson.  (Sister Van Tonder is from Guatemala and Brother Van Tonder was born in Africa and grew up in Panama.)  A lot of the lesson was them talking in Spanish and I was actually able to understand a little tiny portion of what was being said!  I've decided that one day I'm going to learn Spanish. :)

Cheyenne is also on date to be baptized on November 23 along with Susana Wingrove.  Cheyenne is moving into the Wingrove home permanently on the condition that she quits smoking (a miracle).  So now she is asking for help to overcome the addiction!  They still haven't found Sister Wingrove's brother, but they are at peace that the Lord knows what is best.  Her brother lives in El Salvador and he went missing 2 weeks before he was supposed to be sealed in the temple to his wife.  It is very sad.  

We weren't able to meet with Rob this week because he had family in town.  But he said he's been taking the Book of Mormon to work with him and has been taking the time to read.  He sounded very excited to meet with us this Thursday!  

Since it is Thanksgiving, I figured I should mention a few things I am thankful for:

  

1.  Dad, Mom, Brent, Holly, Clark, Victoria, Vivian, Benji, Mara, Jade, Ella, Jesse, Savanna, Henry, Jane, Thomas, Meagan, Samuel, Olivia, and John -- my family --  and the support that they give me.  A new sister just came to our zone.  She was baptized 22 months ago and her family is very anti-Mormon and not supporting her as a missionary. (She's absolutely amazing, so when she gets home, I'm lining her up with Samuel.)  Thanks for being proud of me. 

2.  My Savior, Jesus Christ.

3. Personal revelation.

4.  The opportunity to be a missionary5.  Standards. 

6.  The priesthood.

7.  My testimony.

8.  Good friends.

I love you all.  Look for miracles.

Love, 

Sister Crystal Gardner