November 1, 2014

I got a fun picture texted to me and I just wanted to share it with you!!  Sis Gardo ran into her best friend friend from elementary school when we lived in Gilbert.  Kelsy is currently working in Spokane with her new husband until the end of the year...and ran into Sis Gardo at a restaurant.  What a small world!  Thank you Sister Smith for sending me this picture.  It is a treasure!!

See you in TWO DAYS JORDAN!!

October 27, 2014

SUPER TRUNKS!

HELLO. I'm not sure exactly what you're supposed to write on your last email home.....so just know that I have absolutely LOVED my mission. I have had experiences that have literally changed my life. I've met people I will never forget and learned so much about the unconditional love our Heavenly Father has for each of us. More on that later.

Monday night to Tuesday night we went on exchanges and I was in the Spanish area! I got the chance to test out my Spanish knowledge! Turns out, I don't know ANYTHING. Hahahaha. We luckily only taught one lesson in Spanish, and I could sort of follow the lesson, but that's mostly because I helped plan the lesson, so I knew what direction she was going. Hahaha. But I could introduce myself, say I was from Arizona, and say the name of the church. So, I was basically fluent. Just kidding. We got to go to this cool Mexican Bakery and get authentic mexican pastries. Hahaha. SO GOOD. Fresh bread and this really good cornbread. Oh my goodness I loved it! Mexican cornbread is the BEST.

Wednesday I got my SUPER TRUNKS!!!! (aka my official flight itinerary and my time for my final interview with President Mullen).

Thursday night was an adventure. It isn't going to sound nearly as funny as the experience really was. We had a dinner appointment with this Less Active single mom on the other end of our area and we were on bikes. But we ended up getting a ride from a member who came with us to an appointment before. So we got dropped off and didn't have a ride home. Now that it's winter, its way dark at like 6pm. We go to our dinner appointment and she FORGOT that she was feeding us, but we didn't remind her. So we just played it off like we had a lesson with them instead. After the appointment, we were starving, it was dark, and we were freezing cold because the weather finally decided to start acting like fall. I didn't have my coat because I left it in the back of the car. So we walked to the closest grocery store to get some food. On our way back, we realized how dark it was. This city seriously has like NO street lights anywhere. And this upper part of our area is pretty ghetto. We had guys yelling at us through car windows and trying to talk to us. Normally we're all about people talking to us, but not in this area at this time of night. Sister Gosdis turned to me while we were talking and said "The only reason I'm okay with this is because I know you have a knife on you." Hahahahahaha  It was really funny. DON'T WORRY MOM I WAS OKAY. ( I sent her a pink pocketknife when she was in Moscow, ID.  It was more piece of mind than anything else.  Evidently it helped Sister Gosdis feel safe.  It served it's purpose!!)

Friday was a crazy day. Basically all our appointments cancelled and everything was falling through. Elder Ebmeyer and Smith came to go to the Spokane Temple so I got to see them! Elder Ebmeyer gave me a blessing and it was SO GOOD. It made me really happy to know that Heavenly Father is giving me guidance and knowledge for when I go home. 

Saturday was insane! There's a set of sisters in the ward next to us and one of them was having a really hard time. So we had to do emergency exchanges and talk to President and Sister Mullen. We switched back for a few hours, then that night we were on exchanges again. A lot of calls were made and all that stuff. But now we are good. But I am going to be in a TRIO for my last week! Hahahaha. Sister Haynes will be our temporary third wheel! Its going to be so much fun and I can't wait! I'm definitely in for an adventure the last week of my mission!

Sunday we taught President and Sister Mullen and the twins. At the end of the lesson when we were setting a return appointment, President says "Well Sister Gosdis, not next Sunday because your companion (meaning me) will be here (for her last night of her mission)!" Hahahaha.  It's pretty great!

Well. I'm so grateful for my mission! I've learned so much and I know that I was able to do these things in the strength of the Lord. (Alma 26:12) I will never forget the experiences I've had. I know that God loves me SO MUCH and having that knowledge can literally bring peace to any situation I've experienced. Serving a mission takes WORK. It's difficult... physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, but it's all been worth it.

I know that this church is true. That Jesus Christ suffered and paid the price for me so that I could return to live with my Heavenly Father and him again. Through Joseph Smith, the original priesthood of God was restored and we can be baptized and receive eternal life through that priesthood. The atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite and everlasting. We can use it under any circumstance. Christ has already suffered for ALL of it. Not just what we can do or overcome ourselves, but everything. It's already been done. We are worthy to use it. Heavenly Father loves YOU. You are here on Earth for a specific purpose. You have been created and put in your family for a reason. Not just haphazardly. Trust in God.

I love you all! I'll see you soon!

For all you that want to email me at home, use jordan.gardo@gmail.com

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying good-bye so hard.

Sister Gardanier

                                  Final picture in front of the Washington Spokane Mission Office.

October 20, 2014

Meet the Mormons...

HI. So just a heads up. Next week is my last week to email. So don't email me anything after next Monday because I'll never get it. But I would love to hear from you! Chances are I probably won't email you back though. 

This week I went on exchanges! I went to the Evergreen Ward, and my companion for the day was Sister Haynes! She's so great. We had dinner with this less-active lady and she served her mission in Arizona! So we bonded over Arizona things. It was really fun. She told me about how much she misses the citrus and the sunsets. She's cute. And then she started talking about how much she loves Rockin' R Ranch and I told her that we always watched fireworks from there on the 4th of July! She loved it. 

We had a super awesome day on Thursday. We had dinner with a returned less active and then we asked her if she would come with us to our next appointment. We went to see a member who's also a returning less active. The husband is trying to come back, and his wife and children are less than supportive. But when we got to the appointment, the wife and one of his sons were there and they stayed for the lesson! The son had removed his records from the church in June...all thanks to the member we brought with us! She totally could relate to them and they all got along so well! It was so great! 

FRIDAY we had specialized training!! Okay, so Sister Gosdis and I already know what was happening at the training because a member told us, but we were excited anyways. So we had a training and then President surprised us with the movie "Meet the Mormons!" IT WAS SO GOOD. I loved that it crushed all the stereotypes of Mormons and that we are actually normal people. And they snuck in a lot of LDS doctrine. It was so awesome! So you should tell everyone to go see it. My favorite was the story about the missionary mom. Maybe because I'm a little biased. But it was cool because she was at such a low point and had no hope and then the SISTER missionaries showed up at her door. The whole direction of her life changed because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. SO COOL!

Saturday we met with President and Sister Mullen and the twins. Let me tell you. The twins are hilarious. They just crack me up. We sang an opening song and Nathan was playing the piano and he kept messing up and we all were just laughing so hard. But he was able to hit the last measure perfectly. Hahaha. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and invited them to read their patriarchal blessings. I gave Sister Mullen new oven mitts that my mom had sent me and she thought it was so funny. ( remember how last time the sister missionaries ate at the Mullen's home, the oven mitts were left in the oven and started a small fire )

I have to go! But I love you all so much! Make sure to go watch "Meet the Mormons" and take all your neighbors to see it too! :)

I LOVE YOU

Sister Gardanier

October 13. 2014

SHAWNDANTEEEE

There isn't anything NEAR as exciting to tell you about, as compared to last week. SORRY. But we did teach a lot! This week we had a total of 37 lessons! That's kinda a big deal, just so you know. Twenty-two of those lessons were lessons taught to Recent Converts or Less active members. It's so cool to be able to help out those struggling with their testimonies as well as those who are searching for light and truth.

The best part of the week was Shawndante. He's our 13 year old investigator and he is seriously the cutest thing. We originally weren't planning on teaching him, but he came to conference with Calvin last week! He's progressing a lot, so we put him on-date for November 22! Problem is, we haven't even met his mom yet. We've talked to his dad a little bit, but his mom is so busy and we haven't been able to meet with her. Shawndante is our first priority and we want him to have family support and not go less-active. So it's essential to get his parents on board. and you know, it wouldn't be terrible if his family got baptized with him. Haha... But when he gets baptized, it's going to be so awesome! He's going to be a member of the Seventy one day. He's so in tune with the spirit and he's so open to learning more. He totally gets the priesthood and the apostasy and everything! We told him to pray about the Book of Mormon and he told us that when he prayed about it, he felt a gush of wind and an overwhelming peace. He knew that it was the spirit! And everytime he prays in lessons he says, "thanks for getting the Mormons here safely." Hahaha it's so cute! So, keep him in your prayers!

We've been hearing a lot about the movie "Meet the Mormons." We aren't allowed to go to the theater and watch it, but if a member gets it, we can watch it with them. But rumor has it that next week at our specialized training we'll be watching it. So I'll keep you updated next week! :) But you should really go see it! We've heard lots of good things about it and I'm really excited to see it. So you all should go see it and tell me how it is! :) 

Also, make sure to keep Sonja in your prayers! She's a less active and recent convert and she's trying to overcome smoking again. She needs all the help she can get! :) 

We've been teaching this family where the husband was on the brink of going LA. Luckily, thanks to the Spirit, we got in there just in time! In the past, he did not want to be a member anymore, but we taught him and his family. He came to church yesterday and he bore testimony of faith and scripture study. We know that if we had not been listening to the Spirit, he would still be hard-hearted and less active for sure.

I'm so grateful for all of you! This week has gone by so fast and I know that Heavenly Father loves each of his children. I've been studying the Christlike attributes and i's amazing how well faith and hope go together. You cannot have hope without faith. Having Hope in Christ and his Atonement will help us to have more faith in him, and vice versa!

I love you!

Sister Gardanier

                             Lemon bars from home!!  Special Delivery!!

                                            Spokane Washington Temple

October 6, 2014

Where's the smoke alarm...

HI! :) This week was SO FUNNY. Sister Gosdis and I had some of the funniest lessons ever this week. I'll tell you all about the funny stuff because that's what makes missions fun, right? :) 

MONDAY. Okay. So we don't have our car and so we're on our bikes. We left our appointment at like 8:55 so it was pretty dark and we had a long way to go to get home. And I haven't biked in a while, so I'm not exactly in shape. So I know it's going to take longer for us to get home than what Sis. Gosdis is thinking. So we're biking up this hill and I've become really stubborn by this point and I don't want to be a wimp and walk my bike up this hill. So I'm determined to make it to the top. Sister Gosdis is WAY ahead of me and I can't even see her red lights on her bike anymore. And my bike light sucks. I can barely see the ground and I'm constantly worried that I'm going to hit a curb and eat it on my bike. And I'm wearing a jacket and I really don't need it because its not that cold, so now I'm really hot and sweating. And I don't know the area and I'm afraid that I'm going to get lost and I don't have our phone or even know our number. So that's a problem. So I'm riding up this hill, my legs are burning, I can't see the sidewalk, I'm panting, and I see a car turn off of a street and kinda start to pull up really slow next to me. I assume its a member saying"hi", but then out of know where, I GOT SILLY STRINGED!!! Someone sprayed silly string out of their car window and sped off! But I'm still determined to make it to the top. So I yell out "Heavenly Father, HELP ME" and then proceed to cry. Hahaha... pathetic, I know. Then I pulled myself together, found my companion, and told her what happened to me. She almost peed her pants from laughing so hard. Hahahaha.

FRIDAY. We have a potential that we helped move earlier in the week. We offered to have her new apartment dedicated so it could have good feelings and be a safe place. She agreed. So we needed to have a priesthood holder do it, just to give some of the new missionaries experience. Long story short, the AP's ended up doing it. They came over and it was seriously the most awkward lesson ever. Elder Denman and Elder Cahoon are the APS. Elder Cahoon is very enthusiastic and optimistic. Elder Denman is very meek and listens to the spirit really well. The investigator's daughter has ADHD and is autistic. She sits next to Elder Denman and starts to cuddle up to him and play with his tie. SO FUNNY. He was feeling really awkward. Hahaha. Then she shows us this Monster High Doll she got and yells at the top of her lungs, "SHE EATS PEOPLE!!!" Hahahaha I was seriously trying so hard not to laugh.

SUNDAY. So we're in President Mullen's home ward, so we scheduled a dinner appointment with them. Sister Gosdis and I were nervous because we had to teach a lesson to them and it's to the MISSION PRESIDENT. So, we were a little scared. We're sitting in the living room because dinner wasn't ready so we were going to teach the lesson first. We were sitting there in the room teaching and all of a sudden I smell something burning, but I just assumed that Sister Mullen had it under control. Sister Gosdis says "Is your food okay?" and Sister Mullen says, "Yeah, its fine". So we continue our lesson and then it starts to get kinda smoky. So Sister Mullen gets up and 3 seconds later here, we hear, "Don, something's happened." And the twins (they're older teenagers) jump up and run to the kitchen. President just looks at us and is like "She called me...." hahahaha then we walk to the kitchen and President and the twins are outside on the back porch with something charred and in flames. Hahahahaha. The kitchen is thick with smoke and we can hardly breathe. Turns out, Sister Mullen had left an oven mitt in the oven and it caught on fire! Hahahaha... so it created an interesting night. President pointed out that NONE of their smoke alarms had gone off and that he had just changed the batteries.  So we were a bit concerned about that. But all in all, it produced a great night. President wrote about it in his weekly letter to the missionaries. Hahahaha.

So I'll share something spiritual with you. This week during weekly planning I was really having a hard time trying not to get trunky. But Sister Gosdis was sick and I was left with a lot of time for my mind to wander. Not good. So I called one of the elders so I could get a blessing. I was also seeking for some guidance as well, so this blessing would serve both purposes. So Elder Folu and some other elders met us at a church building. Elder Folu and I are really good friends, and I knew he would tell me how it is. So I was getting my blessing and it was great. It talked about using the atonement and using all my might, mind, and strength to serve. Then he took a long pause and said, "Heavenly Father is pleased with you, but he is NOT satisfied. He knows you can do more." Then he closed the blessing. Ouchhhhh. But I've had lots of time to reflect on it. My mission is not over. I have not done everything I have been sent here to do yet. Therefore, if I were to quit and give up now, I would waste 4 weeks of potential blessings and spiritual growing experiences. That's why I needed the blessing, to get called to repentance and to know that I'm not done yet, but that the Savior is ALWAYS there and will lift me up. :)

Conference was so good! I don't have time to talk about it, but go watch it!

I love you! (28 days left.)

Sister Gardanier

September 29, 2014

This is what it's all about.

Okay. So this week I literally experienced the BEST MOMENT of my mission. But! more on that later. Gotta leave you hanging so you read my whole email. :)

Monday Sister Maughan and I went and said bye to the people in our ward in Coeur d'Alene. It was really hard to watch her say goodbye to people. Which is really weird. It wasn't that hard for me because I didn't really know anyone. But sad nonetheless. I hadn't even started packing yet, so that night when we got home I was up late packing.

Tuesday was trasnfers! Sister Maughan left to go to the airport and then I got on the transfer van. We went down to Moscow and I got to see Sister Rose, Sister McCabe, Sister Strong, and the Mitchell's! The Mitchell's came to surprise me and I just wanted to cry the whole time because I love them so much. And it was SISTER ROSE'S BIRTHDAY so all the missionaries at the transfer site sang happy birthday to her. Yep. That was my idea. :) I met Sister Gosdis and then we went off to work! I really don't remember the people we met or anything because it was my first day in Spokane Valley.

Wednesday. Yeah I don't remember that day either.

Thursday was weekly planning! It was nice because I had actually met a lot of the people we were planning for, so she didn't have to do it ALL by herself. So I was really glad to be able to contribute to lesson planning and stuff like that.

Friday was seriously the best day ever on my mission. So remember Debra and Terry? Yep. they got sealed. AND I GOT TO GO! I was so happy. Honestly, that is what missionary work is all about. It's about making eternal families. Binding families to be together forever. I was able to be there with Sister Mandy Johnson, my companion at the time of Terry's baptism. It was seriously the most cherished moment on my mission. I was all cry-ing and stuff but it was so great to be able to take part in their story. I'm so blessed to have been a part of all of that. Heavenly Father knew I needed that, so He put me in a position to be able to attend that sealing. I'm SOOOOO thankful that we can be with our families forever. And that when we keep our covenants, we can receive exaltation and be in the celestial kingdom with our families in the presence of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. There could not be a more perfect plan.

Saturday was so crazy. We were trying to do Saturday Round Up where we spend all day Saturday working on getting our investigators to church and inviting all we see to come with us! We were in the middle of doing it when our less active, Sonja, called us. We are trying to help her quit smoking and we told her to call us whenever she has a craving and we'll come over and read scriptures with her. So we went over there and she wanted a blessing, so we had to meet the priesthood holders at the church, which ended up being where we were watching the Women's Broadcast! So after her blessing, we watched the Women's Broadcast! Mind you, our day was so busy that we didn't even get our dinner hour. Yeah. We were really busy. Sister Gosdis feels the same way about our meal hours as I do. We get all 60 minutes. No if's, and's, or but's. So we sacrificed it for our investigators. Big deal. 

Sunday! I LOVE the ward I'm in! Everyone loves us and was introducing themselves to me. It was really nice to be in a ward that appreciates us.....Hahaha. It's really weird to be in church and to see President and Sister Mullen in our ward. Hahaha.  We ate dinner with the Byers and they are so solid! They are going down to Arizona on November 6 and they want to do a temple session with me in the Gilbert temple! Hahaha,,, So I'm in! :)

This week I've been so physically exhausted at the end of the night. It's been so rewarding to be able to feel like I deserved my sleep for that night. I think I fall asleep before my head even hits the pillow. I love this area I'm serving in so much and I'm so glad to be with Sister Gosdis! She's so great and she is a solid teacher. I'm going to learn so much from her. :)

This week I'm inviting you to write down 3 questions for General Conference! They all will get answered through the spirit as you watch conference. Pay attention to the spirit and search the scriptures for your answers.

I love you! I hope you have a fun week! :)

Love, 

Sister Gardanier

September 25, 2014

Miscommunication at its finest

Hi guys! :) So last night we had transfer calls! It was my last transfer call of my mission! Sister Maughan is leaving to Brazil and I will be leaving Couer d'Alene also! I am going to be serving in the Belle Terre Ward in Spokane Valley. My companion will be Sister Gosdis. Belle Terre is President Mullen's home ward! Hahaha so you know, I'm currently freaking out a little bit. Sister Maughan was stressing about packing this week and now I'm stressing too! Haha. But I am excited to start my new adventure and be able to serve close to President and Sister Mullen. :)

On Tuesday Sister Maughan and I got to have lunch with Bro Moss! He told me that Debra and Terry are getting sealed on FRIDAY! I literally sat there and bawled. I'm so happy for them! There are 2 other couples that are getting sealed this week as well that I taught. I'm so happy for all of them! :) So I'm hoping to be able to go to their sealing on Friday! President hasn't gotten back to me about it yet.

On Saturday, Sister Maughan had another baptism in Spokane! So we asked a member in our ward to "babysit" me while she was gone. We agreed to meet at the Reynold's (the family that was babysitting me) after she was done at the baptism. So the sisters in Spokane told me she was on her way and would be there in a half hour. 30 minutes go by and she's not there. then 45. then 50. Then I start to freak out. So I call the member that took her and asked if she was still with them, they said no and they they had dropped her off at our apartment 30 minutes ago. So now I'm panicking because she doesn't have a car, companion, or a phone. WHAT THE HECK. So I run inside to get my stuff and I turn around and Sister Maughan pulls up with our nonmember downstairs neighbor! hahahaha I was dying!

So, here is Sister Maughan's side of the story: 

After the Baptism, I had someone text my companion that I was on my way home. (She was with a member doing service) The plan was for her to meet me at the apartment. My ride dropped me off and watched me walk in (Random member from a different stake)  I walked in the apt and I saw that I was alone and turned around and walked back out. Well my ride was gone.  So I decided that I could just ride my bike to where my comp was. So I changed my clothes in to Pday clothes and got my bike. But then I decided that wasn't a good idea. So I walked back in to the apartment and changed back in to my missionary clothes and decided to walk to the church and call my comp. But then I remembered I don't know our cell phone number. So I got the ward list. and started walking down the stairs of my apartment. I decided I really didn't want to walk to the church so I decided to knock on my neighbor's door. I have only met her once (she is a friend of another faith).  She answered and I explained the situation. She started freaking out. Long story short, she drove me where I needed to go and now, Vickie and I are great friends!!!

Hahahahahaha so needless to say, we had quite an adventure that day. Poor Sister Maughan. I ditched her on her last week in the states!

Sister Maughan mowed the McLuskie's lawn and lowered the blade all the way down and mowed a letter "M" into their front lawn. Hahahaha it looks so great! They laughed, so it was all good. :) She definitely didn't want them to forget her. 

That's really all we did this week! Sister Maughan has been packing and we've been running around getting her all the stuff she needs for Brazil.

In sacrament meeting we had amazing talks! They were on the Atonement and the sister who spoke talked about a story in 1 Samuel 25 about a girl named Abigail. She was used as a type for Jesus Christ. She offered herself to take the blame for the things Nabal had done. That's what Christ did for us. He took upon himself the things we will do. Its one of the only times that a female is talked about in the scriptures. Pretty cool! :)

hope you all had a good week! I love you! :)

Sister Gardanier

September 15, 2014

Midnight soccer.

Hi! :) So I feel like I just had P-day, so there really isn't going to be much to say in my email this week.

Shout out to SYDNEY AND KEVIN who are getting married this weekend! I love you guys and I can't wait to hear all about the wedding! :) I love you! :)

This week, Sister Maughan and I have picked up on a little adventure. At night around midnight, we sneak out of our apartment and go play soccer at the Lake City High fields across from our apartment. Its so fun! :)

.......Just kidding. we have started to take our dinner breaks at 8pm since we live outside our area so we don't have to walk back and forth. And since it's been getting dark earlier, it looks like it's midnight. We just play from 8-9pm and then we go home. No worries. We're being good! :) 

Saturday was pretty much the highlight of the week. It was our Stake Day of Service! All the members in the stake met at the Honeysuckle building and had a flag ceremony and got assignments. There were about 10 different projects going on, so everyone was all split up. Sister Maughan and I went to that orphanage house that we started on last week. We finished painting the trim on the house. We got to go up on the roof again! It was way fun. The house looks so good! I didn't get a picture of it, but I'll try to drive by it later this week so you can see it. :)

So Sister Maughan was up on this really tall ladder painting the trim and someone told her she could hang her paint on the wrung of the ladder and it would stay. So she did and then she moved and the paint fell and spilled all over the freshly painted house. Mind you, the house was brown and the trim color was white. White paint on the brown house. Needless to say, there was a lot of touch ups that we got to do. Haha.

After we all got done with the projects, everyone met back at the Honeysuckle building for a BBQ and games. It was a BLAST. There were bouncy houses, snow cones, and a dunk tank. And Sister Maughan and I never leave home without a soccer ball, so we played a pick up game with some of the other missionaries and the kids. It was so great. One the my favorite weekends on my mission thus far. 

This past week I read in the Book of Mormon, from the Book of Mormon! hahaha. I just finished it today. But something really cool I read was in 4 Nephi 1:15-16. The people were being righteous and the reason they were being so righteous was because they LOVED GOD. The people loved God more than they loved anything else, so they listened and were obedient to whatever they needed to do. That's the mindset that we should have! We should love God more than we love anything else and we will get so many blessings and be so happy! :)

I love all you guys! I hope you have a good rest of your week! 

LOVE GOD.

Sister Gardanier

                                                       We love Hayden Lake!!

September 10, 2014

Ghetto paint job.

So. Just a heads up. My family got my flight information. So I'm coming home for reals. No worries. I'll be home the first part of NOVEMBER. Yeah. No big deal. :) SEE YOU SOON. My mom would love to talk to you about it, so ask her and get all the deets :)

 

This week I feel like went really fast. We honestly haven't done anything SUPER cool. We're working on gaining relationships with the ward members and keeping Sister Maughan from getting really trunky. She's really excited to go to Brazil and I'm crazy excited for her! :) She's going to be great! Pretty much she's been killing it in language study and has been able to talk with some of the members in Portuguese. Its pretty cool, if I do say so myself. :)

 

I'll only send you the highlights from the week, since those are obviously the best part.

 

Wednesday we had dinner at the Tran's. So go to facebook right now and look up Ben Tran. He took a video of Sister Maughan and I eating a Thai Pepper. AKA the hottest Asian pepper. Yeah, I took a wimpy bite but sister maughan was a CHAMP. We had so many members in the ward come up to us and tell us they saw the video of us. And I guess a lot of non-members have seen it too and commented to Bro. Tran about it! :) So if you can look it up, DO IT. :)

 

Saturday we did SERVICE with some members of the stake. The Hayden Stake is doing a day of service this coming Saturday, and we needed to do some prep work. So there were 4 companionships of missionaries working and painting and taping the windows of a house. This house is for an orphanage. It was a really cool experience to be able to see how much the community loves each other. We didn't get to see the kids or anything, but I may or may not have helped myself inside the house to see what it looked like on the inside. Those kids are LOVED for sure. It was really cute. After the service, we had interviews with our mission president. I PASSED. Don't worry. :) Then we had Stake Conference! It was so great. The talks were awesome! :)

 

Monday we SAVED SISTER JEFFERY'S LIFE. Okay. Sort of an exaggeration. So we all got up at 6:30am and I guess Sister Jeffery slammed her finger in the closet door. No big deal. So she went to look at the ring on her finger and it was all bent and stuff. She tried to get it off and it was STUCK. So she started freaking out and thought she was going to have to get her finger cut off. So she walked into the front room saying her finger was hurting and went to sit down on a chair. (mind you, i'm still laying on my bedroom floor half asleep and feeling bad for myself because I don't want to be awake right now. I don't know any of this is going on....) She was holding out her hand for the other sisters to see and then proceeds to PASS OUT. This is when I walk in. Sister Cutler, her comp, is FREAKING OUT... like screaming, panicking, about to pass out herself. I'm just like uhhh,  "What is going on". Dr. Maughan over here tries to pry the ring off her finger using anything we have in the apartment. Scissors, pocketknife. fork, lotion, anything. But the ring she is wearing if like, a real sentimental piece of jewelry. Like, her boyfriend gave it to her real. So It's legit and not bending back. Problem. Then she wakes up and is like "ouch" "it hurts" "get it off" and we're freaking out because her finger is turning purple. So Sis Cutler calls a member (remember, its about 6:50am at this point.) So, we see if they have wire cutters or Jaws of Life or SOMETHING. So they take about 20 minutes to get there and Sister Jeffery is like yeah, this really hurts. Like really bad. Then they show up and try to use scissors to get it off and we're like yeah, already tried that. So then they had a bolt cutter and cut it off. She LIVED. Funny story for the week. You're welcome.

On Monday we also painted this lady's house. It was so much fun. We painted it yellow with green window sills. yep. And she didn't want us to tape the room off or anything, so it looks pretty crappy. (and ghetto) But she LOVES it, so we were happy to help out. :)

So this weekend for stake conference, this lady talked about missionary work (I know, shocker) But it was REALLY good. She talked about how she plays "Where's Waldo" with Heavenly Father every time she goes grocery shopping. She prays before to ask for a missionary opportunity and then is on the hunt to find it! It was really awesome. She said it's always really hard at first, but you don't have to be all awkward about it! She loves the adventure and says that Heavenly Father ALWAYS delivers. :) So this week, I'm challenging you to a Where's Waldo game. Pray for a missionary experience anytime you go to the store, sports game, restaurant, ANYTHING. Just ask the missionaries for Mormon.org cards so you can put them in your check or at the check out. Its genius! So next week when I get on my email, I expect to hear all about your missionary experiences! I'll be following up with you! :)

 

I love you! I hope you have an awesome week and don't drown in all the Arizona rain water! :)

 

LOVE YOU

Sister Gardanier

 

Splitting

Elder Carlson at his finest.

 

 

September 2, 2014

Sickies  :-(

Hey! So Sister Maughan and I have had a slower week, but we still always make the most out of it! :)

Monday we went on exchanges! I went to Kellogg with Sister Peeler. Its like the middle of the forest. They swept out Elders last transfer, but they had to get a new apartment since the elders were covering more than one area. So when they got their new apartment, they had fleas, their toilet didn't work, and they live in such a sketchy area. I was honestly scared. BUT we survived. :)

Tuesday we went and helped the Elders split wood! I'm not nearly as good at it as I would like to say I am. But I had good practice! Then we went back to Hayden to exchange back. 

Wednesday we met with our On-date! Her name is Sienna and she's the daughter of a recent convert. She's 9 and she's way cute. Except she doesn't really want to meet with us because she would rather be playing outside. Hahaha I really don't blame her. So we're working on trying to keep her entertained for the 10 minutes we want to teach her. Haha.

Thursday. Weekly planning.

Friday we had district meeting! So they refinished the gym floor in our building and the fumes are intoxicating. So we had district meeting there and we were all a little loopy at the end of it. During the meeting, we had the windows opened to air it out so we could breathe, and a wasp flew in and some of the missionaries were running, screaming and panicking. Then one of them tried to kill it and he missed! So it started to fly after him and he ran screaming. It was really great.

Saturday, Sister Maughan got sick so we stayed home pretty much all day. That night she was throwing up and I decided that I didn't want to be anywhere near her.

On Sunday, the regular church block was cancelled due to the paint fumes. So we went to a different ward building for just an hour. It was fun to just sit there and not have to greet people or anything. We just watched the Elders in that ward do their thing. Kinda like a Sunday off, but not really. We slept most of the day because Sister Maughan felt dizzy while she was awake. So I went ahead and took advantage of that opportunity to sleep. :)

And today I have a cold and feel like I got hit by a truck. But P-day must go on. :)

I miss you all And I hope you had a good week! 

Love,

Sister Gardanier

                            

                            Trying one of the local restaurants called "Meltz".  They make 

                               gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.  Sister G is in heaven!

August 25, 2014

Hoarders and cat hair

HOLLA. This week Sister Maughan and I had quite a few adventures. Hahaha.  It was definitely one for the books! :)

So Sis. Bishop (a member in our ward) had a neighbor that is moving. So we've been helping her all week. She's a single old lady and she has SO MUCH STUFF. Like, a lot. We think she is a hoarder. But not bad enough to be on those shows. She has just stuff everywhere. She had at least 20 coats and she had a walk in closet that was completely full of clothes. Yep. She had to use 3 of those PODS things to put all her stuff in. Remember. She's a single old lady. She also has like 4 cats and 2 dogs. Nothing was cleaned before we went over there, so there was cat hair all over her clothes and everything was dusty. Needless to say, my allergies didn't like that too much and we had to make an emergency trip to the elder's apartment to get some medicine. 

Wednesday was Elder Goins' birthday! He turned 19. I know. He's a baby. So we made him and his companion breakfast and they ate it on our porch. Pretty much we're the coolest sisters ever. 

Thursday we had to take our car in to get an oil change. It was supposed to be a quick 20 minute thing, but we ended up being there for 7 hours! When they were checking the brakes and rotating the tires, they realized we needed new tires. Badly. But they only had 3 in the store. So they drove to Spokane to get the 4th tire. Pretty much it took forever and Sister Maughan and I were so ready to go home. But we talked to the manager there and he said he was interested in talking to missionaries! So it ended up being a miracle that we were stuck there with him for 7 hours. Haha

Friday was Zone Conference. It was 8 hours long. So between sitting at the car shop for 7 hours the day before and sitting at zone conference for 8 hours the next, we were done. Hahaha. Zone conference was great though! We were trained on how to teach a principle in 30 seconds.  Can't remember much else.

Saturday a general authority from the First Quorum of the Seventy spoke to us! Elder Johnson was a great speaker.  Our Ward Mission Leader and Bishop were invited to attend. We were there with the Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint stakes as well. So guess who I got to see? Bro. Moss. My Ward Mission Leader from when I was in Post Falls! It was so fun to see him. He came up to me and I almost started crying because I was so happy to see him! :) (Brother Moss was the first Ward Mission Leader Jordan worked with.  He helped her tremendously as she began her mission and learned how to follow the Spirit.  He wrote us a very sweet email after she was transferred from Post Falls to Liberty Lake.  He is someone she will never, ever forget!) 

Just a quick little side not that I forgot last week. Our Ward Mission Leader is Bro. McLuskie and he's AWESOME. He's from Scotland and has a thick accent. And, the best part is, he's a retired soccer player! He played for Canada, Scotland, and New England. He's supposedly really good. Except he's 75 now, so he doesn't play anymore. He has really funny stories from his soccer days. He played in the World Cup one time and stuff like that. Pretty much he's awesome. :)

This morning I read 3 Nephi 9. It was so good. I love how Christ is ALWAYS asking for us to come unto him. The people rejected him and were wicked, yet he still invites them to repent and be forgiven. 

"...If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." verse 14

I love you! :)

Sister Gardanier

August 18, 2014

Holla from #HAYDEN! :)

I'm so excited to be here! From the looks of it, I will end my mission here. Sister Maughan and I have had a crazy week. But it's been so much fun! I love it here, but I really miss Moscow. #moscowforlife #PRIDGE

So, this week we got some really great news! We had a call from a random number so we called it back and it was the California Carlsbad mission office. They were calling for Sis Maughan. They asked her if she had room in her suitcase to take an elder's camera with her to Brazil. She's like yeah, but I don't have my visa so I'm not sure when I'll be able to get it there. So the lady's like yeah well we have it on record that you have your visa and you'll be leaving September 23. But you're not supposed to know, so don't tell anyone. Yeah, she's told like everyone. Hahaha. She called our mission office to confirm. It's really happening. She's going to Brazil! :) I'm so happy for her! That just means I for sure get a new companion next transfer!

On Saturday we did a media blitz. Members followed us around to take pictures of us doing missionary work. It's in response to the "Book of Mormon - The Musical" which is in town. In the middle of the day, Sister Maughan had to go to a baptism for her old ward and she LEFT ME ALONE. In this area that I don't even know. So I went with a member and we just tried people and I was all by myself. But I did it! So if you wanna see the pictures, use #mnmspokane on twitter, insta, or facebook. I was tagged in some pictures as well. :) GO LIKE THEM! :)

I can't really tell you what we've done, because I really don't know anyone. But we've been visiting a lot of people! It's been really fun to be here and to meet the ward.

Lately I've been learning a lot about God's timing. His timing is perfect and it's exactly what is needed at that time. Its so great to know that God has our back and that he knows what we're going to need and he has it all timed out perfectly. Timing is the best part of missionary work. People that I've taught or met may eventually get baptized. But I'll never know until later. I really didn't want to leave Moscow, but God needs me here and I'm so glad to be doing what he needs me to.

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass."

I LOVE YOU!

Sister Gardanier

One of her favorite families in Moscow, Idaho.

August 11, 2014

Too many hashtags.  #notenough

The Palouse River sisters and us have been in a #hashtag fad. It's pretty great. We #hashtag everything.

Oh, also. This week is #TRANSFERWEEK. We got transfer calls last night. I'm leaving Moscow and am going to Hayden Lake, Idaho. My new companion will be Sister Maughn. She is a Brazil visa waiter. #languagestudy I'm really excited!  I'm sad to leave Moscow, but I know that this is where I'm needed. I'm excited to start a new adventure. :) Sister Rose will be training. So I'm really excited for her as well. :)

So this week was pretty slow, again. With it still being summer, a lot of families are still traveling and gone at the pool. So we tried to see a lot of people but nobody was home. And, we have dwindled down to a whopping 1 investigator. So sad. Thomas is avoiding us, Jefferson won't reschedule, and Ann and Doug aren't progressing. So, #thesturggle 

On Tuesday we had the BEST Get To It Tuesday EVER! We had a Nerf Gun War! :) We went early and set up the gym. We had so many kids there. It was so much fun. Even the missionaries got to play. And we got to be the referees. Hahaha. We are officially the coolest missionaries ever. #warzone #nerfguns 

This week we taught Annette. I honestly love her so much. She's a drunk, but when she's sober, she's really in tune with the spirit. It's really cool. We met with her yesterday and we asked her what the Book of Mormon was and why we need it. Her answer sounded like it came straight out of a missionary's mouth. She said we need it because Christ suffered for everyone and because of that, we all need to know about it. It was so perfect.

But we have been very busy this week because our Stake President has asked all the missionaries to get into every members home and follow up on their stake conference challenge.  Bishop has really been stressing it and so there were a lot of families that contacted us and we in turn contacted them this week to meet with them.  It's been fun to get to know the ward members better... and it's made our dinner schedule full. One thing that I've loved about this ward is how many returned sister missionaries there are.  We've counted at least 8. and although that is a single digit, that's more than any other area I've been in. The stake presidency challenged every member to make 4 invitations before the next stake conference.  It's been fun to hear their experiences. Nobody's had a bad one.  I love working with the members.  I have a testimony of member missionary work.  Though out my mission, by far the most investigators I've had came from member referrals.  #followup #bestward

This week we also had zone training.  It was so great.  we talked about following up and extending commitments. I love meetings. zone conference, zone training, district meeting, etc.  Whatever it is.  It's always that extra dose of the Spirit that I need.  After zone training we had a little going away party for Elder Dansie our zone leader because he was going home, or in missionary terms "dying."  So we had some monster pizzas (40" pizzas, they're huge) and took some death pictures (Elder Dansie laying on a table pretending to be dead, we all gathered around sad.)  ...and we got to ask Elder Dansie some questions about experiences on his mission and what not, it was very nice.  #zonetraining #ripdansie

Saturday was a really good day.  It went by super fast! Just running from one thing to another and before we knew it the day was over! We helped the stake Relief Society make blankets for some of the people involved in the Wenatchee fires. A couple of the university sisters found a lady named RJ who is golden! Turns out she's a lost less active. but we met with her and taught her about he Book of Mormon using the pictures in the front of the book...(really fun, good FHE activity, you should do it sometime) and had a great lesson with her.  We also talked to a lot of people on the street that day. And at zone training they had just talked about being specific for people you want to find.  i.e. someone in a hat, someone pushing a stroller.  So we decided to find someone in a hat AND glasses.  We had one awesome contact with a Russian guy who's met with the missionaries before. and then as we were walking on this long stretch of sidewalk there was a man ahead and he had a hat on so I turned to my companion and said "if he has glasses, we HAVE to talk to him."  Turns out he did and so we stopped and talked to him.....and he kept walking because he was running late.  Almost made a cool story. but not.  #newinvestigatorssomeday 

Wednesday was National Rootbeer Float day, so A&W was giving away free root beer floats. So we went with the other sisters and got root beer floats.  That's also where the title of this email, and the idea therein, comes from.  Sister Strong speaks in hashtag form. #SisStevensfault and #itscontagious.

This week I read In Helaman 8. The Nephites are wicked and the Lamanites are righteous. Nephi (the one who didn't get burned in the prison) writes:

All the people had to do was look at the brass snake that Moses was holding up on a stick. If they did that, they would be healed and live. But it was too easy and some of them didn't have the faith that it would actually work. Just as they needed to look to the serpent, we must look to Christ and we will live. That was my "motto" for this week.

"Look to Christ and LIVE."

I love you all! I'll email you next week from HAYDEN LAKE :)

#sisterrose

#bestcompanion

All my love!

Sister Gardanier

                             

                                        

August 4, 2014

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST MOM EVER! :) Luckily for her, it's her last birthday while I'm on my mission. :) 

This update isn't going to be anything super exciting because it was a really slow week. Sister Rose was sick and recovering from being sick this week, so we spent a lot of time inside and she slept a lot. So we really didn't do anything exciting because if she was up too long, she got really dizzy. So obviously I got to take advantage of her being ill and I napped a lot. Hahahaha. 

The best part of the week was Friday. 

That morning we had a district meeting. Our DL (district leader) told us to plan a party for afterwards. So we came up with games to play and food. Of course. It was SO MUCH FUN. We played "Pin the Tag on the Missionary" and "dress the missionary." I wish we could have recorded the whole thing. It was so funny. Each companionship had to dress their companion as fast as they could. It ended up being a success. :) The pictures really don't do it justice.

  

After the district meeting, WE WENT CAMPING. :) Okay, only half-camping. We didn't stay the night. The relief society in our ward had a mother-daughter campout! So we got permission to go! So, Sister Rose and I went up early with a member to help make dinner. I've decided that I love camping. One member brought her neighbor and we got to talk to her and meet her. All-in-all it was so much fun. We spent time with the women in the ward and got to know them really well. Sister Rose and I have been focusing on strengthening the ward and our relationship with the members. So It was really nice that we got to go. :)

I honestly can't think of anything else we did this week. :( 

Today I finished Alma!  That's always a great accomplishment when you're reading the Book of Mormon. I feel like once you finish Alma, you're practically done with the book! Hahaha. 

So. Cool thing I read about. In Alma 60. Captain Moroni writes to Pahoran (the king) and he's really mad because Moroni and his army as well as Helaman's army are suffering a lot. Moroni hasn't received any help from the government and he thinks that Pahoran has betrayed the city. So, Moroni threatens to attack the government if he doesn't receive help asap. Pahoran writes back to Moroni (Alma 61) and tells him that what he thinks is not what is actually going on. The Lamanites have taken over the kingdom and are causing a lot of damage. He also tells Moroni how faithful he and his army have been and how much he appreciates them. 

Moroni just wrote this big long angry letter to Pahoran and Pahoran doesn't say anything mean back to him. He says he understands and wants to help, but he is also under attack. I admire Pahoran so much for this. It would be so easy to get upset and send hate mail back to Moroni, but he doesn't. I know I need to be better about being kind to people and to not react so harsh sometimes. There are times when people are under a lot of stress and they get a little bitter. But if we react with kindness and love, we will show Christ-like love and charity for those around us. :)

Transfer calls are on Sunday! Sister Rose and I are hoping to stay together for one more transfer here in Paradise Ridge. I would be more than okay with that. :)

I love you!

Sister Gardanier

July 28, 2014

Inspired birthday party...I think so.

TONY GOT BAPTIZED!!!! :) And as every missionary knows, NO baptism ever goes smoothly. even when you have it all planned out perfectly. The baptism was at 6:30pm, so we went to the church around 2:00pm to start filling the font. We got there with our WML's (ward mission leader's) wife and son to get the font opened and start filling it. PROBLEM. This font is much different than any other font I've ever seen. It wasn't like a hot and cold handle.  There were valves in the boys bathroom that all had to be turned a certain way. What the heck? Good thing we weren't there alone because we never would have been able to figure it out. We had to turn like 4 handles to get the backflow and the hot water and some other stuff. I have no idea. We were there for an hour trying to figure it out. All while calling a bunch of people to ask how to do it. Sister Rose and I were like "yeah we can get the stove going and start boiling some water" hahaha it was almost a possibility. But! We got the font filled and Tony was baptized and everything turned out just fine. :) We had tons of people there and lots of missionaries brought their investigators. I spoke and Sister Rose played some music on her violin while Tony was changing. Everyone loved her music, as usual. A lot of the investigators commented on how much they could feel the spirit while she was playing. It was a success. :)

Tuesday we moved some investigators out of their apartment. They're moving to Colfax. It was one of those moves where there wasn't much direction and not everything was packed when we got there. Good thing the sister missionaries were there! We packed up as much as we could and cleaned. The elders drove out to Colfax to help them unload some of the stuff into a storage unit. We used that opportunity to make a McFlurry run.

Saturday We helped some members clean the church! Sister Rose and I got assigned to clean the bathrooms. Hahahaha. Then we had a birthday party for Sister McCabe! Her birthday was Sunday, but she wanted to have a party with the Moscow missionaries. So there were 14 missionaries at the church having a pizza party and this lady walks in and is like "is there someone here I can talk to?" So one of the Elder's walked over to her and start talking. Long story short, she needed money to get to Oregon because her dad is dying. She was at the Dollar Store when she got the call, so she said she drove to the closest church she could find to get help. Sister Strong, the two elders with us and I talked to her in the parking lot for a while. We gave her a Book of Mormon and gave her our number and told her to call us if she needed anything. And we got her number too. Hopefully we'll be able to meet with her and help her find peace though the hard times she's facing. :) INSPIRED BIRTHDAY PARTY!!

Sunday Tony was confirmed! His blessing was awesome! We're so excited to help him and Shauna get to the temple! Bishop gave us a shout out during sacrament meeting and gave us a special thanks because we cleaned the bathrooms. SO FUNNY. Went over to see Sis. Ricks. She's a saint. Let me tell you. I hope that one day I can be as awesome as she is. We talked to her about pretty much whatever she wanted. She told us about how rough her past was and how she realized that through Christ, you can overcome anything. Alcohol and drugs only put the pain and sadness on pause and then you have to deal with it all over again. She has such a solid testimony of Christ and the healing you can receive through Him and His sacrifice. After visiting her, we went to see Annette. Annette is our alcoholic investigator. She talked to us about how she's an alcoholic because she's numbing her past because she doesn't want to deal with it. Hmmm. I feel like I just talked about this with someone else. Hahaha. It was really cool to see the difference in these two women. Sister Ricks overcame all the trials using Christ and was able to learn and become better through these things. Annette refuses to accept and move on and she's still struggling from it. I think of how much happier Annette could be if she would just look to Christ and be willing to give up her addiction. Later that day, we had 3 different members comment on how much they like Sister Rose and I as companions and that we get along very nicely. :) It always great to hear from members that they enjoy us. I love Sister Rose. She's so fun to serve with :)

This week I read about the Title of Liberty. (Alma 46) I've decided that I absolutely love Captain Moroni. He was so determined to protect God. He knew that if he did what God has asked him to do, all the things he and his people cherished would be protected. Family, freedom, religion, and peace. I thought this week of the things I would put on my Title of Liberty if I was Captain Moroni. And I would probably put the same things. I LOVE my family. I know I have been so blessed by having them. My religion is what has shaped me to become the person that I am, and I wouldn't have it any other way. When we are diligent and obedient, all things will turn out for our good. 

"All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your DILIGENCE, FAITHFULNESS, and prayers of FAITH." -d&c 103:36

I love you! Have a good week! :)

Sister Gardanier