Coldest December Ever

Dearest family, 

Reading Shelby Dana's last email home to her family made me laugh.  She said it was the "hottest December of my life."  Well family, this is the COLDEST December of my life.  We went to totally different climates!  On Wednesday apparently Alberta was the coldest place on the entire PLANET.  Or so that's the rumor.

Yesterday Sister Martin and I spoke it church on . . . you guessed it . . . missionary work!  I think we both did a fine job, especially with the limited time for preparation.   I really enjoyed speaking to the ward.  After I gave my talk someone came up to me and said it was amazing how much I've grown spiritually in 5 months and another person said that I did a masterful job and that it was the kind of talk that all missionaries hope to give.  I can't believe I won't be serving in this ward forever.  I've really grown to love all the members!  

On Wednesday we were in charge of representing the Church at the Crossfield Carol festival, by awarding a prize for the best gingerbread house.  It was a lot of fun and we got to meet a lot of people, including the minister of the Baptist church.  

This week we needed to find some new investigators because our teaching pool has slowly become smaller and smaller.  Many people like to say, "Catch me after Christmas!"  or "Come back when it's warmer!"  Do they mean July?  On Friday morning I had the feeling that we needed to role play lesson one for a particular potential investigator that we've been trying for 4 weeks to teach and had no success.  Later in the day we knocked on her door and she was excited to see us.  We were able to teach her the lesson that we had role played and we are meeting with her again tomorrow.  It's amazing how the Lord knows his children.  He knows what preparation we need to be ready to teach them.  Her name is Rona.  She is from the Philippines and very Catholic.  She recognizes God in her life.  I can't wait to teach her again!  In addition, this week we have lessons planned with 4 other people that could become investigators.  The Lord is blessing us.

Elder Bednar is coming to speak to us on Saturday!  I can't wait! 

Yesterday the Lows made us dinner.  In my talk I mentioned Samuel’s being a missionary in Denmark, so Sister Low (who is Danish) surprised us with . . . see the  picture, below!  It made me feel like I was with my family on New Year's Day! :)   

Merry Christmas, family!  I can't wait to talk to you (face to face) soon. :) 

Love, Sister Crystal Gardner

                                                                  Aebelskivers

Freezing Our Faces

December 4, 2013

Dearest Family, 

We had the most brutal storm yet (and secretly I hope ever) on Sunday and Monday.  We weren't allowed to drive. Later in the afternoon they told us we weren't even allowed to walk because our skin would freeze off of our faces.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  We were stranded inside all P-day. . . .  We watched several church movies.  It was weird.  After ALWAYS having something to do, someplace to be, I went a little insane not having anything to do!  

Then yesterday we had to go to a zone conference in Calgary.  When we went outside our car was in the middle of a snow drift- about 5 feet high.  But after a while we got out and were able to enjoy zone conference!  It was amazing.  You start feeling confident in your teaching and abilities and then you role play with the leaders of the mission and you feel very small again!  It was a great learning experience!  

On Sunday Delfino received the priesthood!  On Saturday we gave him the gospel principles book for Sunday School and then yesterday he texted us and said he read the entire book.  He loves all that he is learning!   

Lorena did baptisms for the dead on Saturday and loved it.  She bore her testimony in church and it was very sweet and special!  

Sorry, it's so short today.  We have a lesson soon so we're not taking our full time to email.

I hope all of you have the Christmas Spirit!  It's the most wonderful time of the year!  Send me pictures of the Christmas tree adventure.  It sounds like everyone had fun!

Love, Sister Gardner    

Another Wonderful Baptism

November 25, 2013

Hello, my family and friends

It's American Thanksgiving on Thursday!  I hear Benji is going to make a nice feast of a turkey.  What else is on the menu?  I certainly hope mashed potatoes, spaghetti squash, Dad's Dutch oven pies, and rolls.  Then I assume on Friday the family will be going to chop down the ole Christmas tree and watch Home Alone.  It's weird to think that this is my 2nd Thanksgiving without doing those things!  For Thanksgiving Sister Martin and I will be eating some authentic food from Peru at a Peruvian family's house!  

A couple of weeks ago Sister Martin and I decided to start a new approach to have members jump into missionary work.  Whenever we meet with them we give them a little paper that has 2 of our investigators that we would ask them to pray for and in return we pray for someone that they are working with or someone they know that need a little boost.  It's a non-threatening way to help the members get excited about missionary work and have the courage to act when the opportunities come.  They know we are praying for them and we've seen some amazing results!  Yesterday a member brought her friend to church and she stayed for all 3 hours and came to our "gospel essentials" class.  We hope to meet with her this week!  Another member has invited us to come for dinner this week.  They invited a non-member friend.  We've doubled our referrals!  

This week was Susana's baptism and confirmation.  It was a very nice experience and we made sure the whole family was involved.  Her sisters even sang "I Love to See the Temple."  The spirit was very strong.  They had several nonmembers at the baptism and confirmation.  They're not interested yet, but a seed was planted!  

Ken O'Donnahue came to church!  It was a miracle.  He's a less active, recent convert (of about 3 years).  We've been working with him since the first week I got here and it didn't seem to be going anywhere.  But he finally came.  He received such a warm welcome from the ward that I'm sure he will be back.  Gordon Miller taught the lesson in high priests and everyone came up to me and said that I taught him well because the lesson was amazing. (I only started teaching him after his baptism.  I'm sure I didn't have much to do with it.  He was a minister for 35 years.)  He also got his temple recommend and Delfino should be getting the priesthood on Sunday.  So hopefully Sister Martin and I will be able to go with them to the temple to do baptisms!

We met a super friendly Christian lady that was from Australia.  She gave me her card and said next time I'm in Australia I can stay at her house!  :)  Man, I feel so loved!

Well family, it's been an amazing week.  It's incredible to see this ward grow and progress and their desire to share increase!  How did I get so lucky?  

I love being a missionary.

Love, Sister Crystal Gardner