Calexico #3

You know how I said we were going to have 2 baptisms? They both fell through. They didn't think that they were ready, so they were just avoiding us for the whole weekend. We couldn't get a hold of them until late Sunday night and they just said, Oh, Oops, I forgot, Something came up. But oh well, maybe this next week we can get them into the waters of baptism. This week we are suppose to have 3 being baptized but none of them are really solid.

16 days until transfers! June 10. I don't know who will be my companion or if I am staying, or if I am leaving, but things are going well here. The weather isn't too hot right now, so I think I am getting use to it. It would be a whole lot cooler to go to San Diego again. The weather there is perfect!

I can't believe that today makes 3 months! wow! Time just seems like it is flying by so quickly. I only have 21 months to go!... not that I am keeping track or anything ;-) Like I said, things are good out here. Nothing too new has happened, hopefully this time next week I can tell you about a baptism that we had, but we will see. I love you all... I will send you some pictures of my black pants that we bought at missionary mall. The knees and the zipper are worn out. I will send the pitures next week and some others :D

Love you and drive carefully when you decide to make the trip home. :D ~Elder Gardner

Calexico #2

I appreciate your concern for what I am eating, but I could live off bugs if I needed to. (just kidding). But I have been switching up my meals, I am now on my frozen food stage ;-) I know how to eat healthy. Don't you remember how good I looked before I left? I still look like that, just with a big caboose ;-) Celeste emailed me and told me that you recorded my WHOLE phone call last week!!! Why would you do such a thing? I thought that was really funny and laughed when I read that. but I understand.

You know what I would do if I were you? I would shave the cat, beings he is so hot. Get some shears and cut off his fur, but then when he goes out side you will have to put sun block on him.

Do you like this California weather? Nice huh? Well up were you are, Garden Grove, it is nice, but here in the valley it is really starting to get hot. And you know me, I have a sweating problem in the first place so I am dripping wet before we even get started. It is nice that we are on bikes tho because we get that cool (cooler) breeze as we ride and that helps. If we were walking it would be terrible. I think that this transfer has flown by. It is already week 4! Only 2 more and then transfers again! Time out here on the mission is crazy! Days fly by, but then they don't. Then months seem like they take forever, but actually we are already half way through May and it seems like it just started! I like it tho.

Spanish is frustrating, I can understand about 60% of what is being said now, but I can't really communicate back very well. So I get frustrated, but I have improved lots, so no worries.

How is grandma doing? I bet she is loving Kit when he gets on one of his crazy play modes. I miss that cat. The picture of everyone looks good, but I notice that your hair is really starting to turn white? how come? ;-) I am glad that you are helping grandma even though, with out me there, to tell you what to do, it is probably taking you twice as long to get anything done, ;-) How is the family doing? Has Cameron got his call yet?

OH, Elder V and I were at a ladies house and she read my name tag and was like " are you related to Archibald Gardner or the Robert Gardner line. I said, maybe Archibald, and she thinks we are related. But I am not so sure because she was telling me all about the Gardners in Utah and I didn't think we were related to them. So help me out with that. She said that I look just like one of her grandsons, so I don't know. She is about as young as Grandma Whyte. Archibald Gardner is her Great great grandpa or something like that. Do some research and let me know, ok? Thank you. Also she said there's a Gardner Mill in Utah you should go check out.

Well it was good to get your email with Tysons address, but I was hoping you would send his EMAIL address. I will just write him a letter and get it that way. Thank you. Love you. I need to get going tho. :-) Don't have too much fun in California with out me ok? OH wait! You said you got a speeding ticket!!!! What?! Tell me more about this ok? I want to know the whole story! :D Love ya got to go. ~Elder Gardner

1st Transfer - Calexico CA

Guess what? Life in the mission is totally different today! I got transfered to the desert. I have been told that missionaries usually serve here for 4 or 5 transfers and transfers are very 6 weeks. So I could very likely be here for the hottest part of the year! Good thing I bought that Camel Back back pack huh? Elder Pinkston is still in Linda Vista ( my first area ) and Elder Nelson went to Sante, I think.

My new companion is so funny! We get along really well. He reminds me of Tyson Guthrie. His name is Elder Virrueta and he is from Peru. He will reach his one year mark this Wednesday, so we are going to burn one of his shirts. haha He is really funny. I know that while I am with him I will get better at Spanish, it already seems like it is improving. You know that Elder Ellis gave me his bike since he was going home? Well it was two days ago, Saturday, Elder Virrueta and I where going to an appointment and we had to jump off the curb, well when I did, the front tire gave out and got bent so bad I can't ride it. But the whole bike is falling apart anyway, so I am just going to have this member in the ward find me a good bike from the swap meets and I will buy it from him for really cheap. But I need to have more money on my card. I have new things I need to buy like: a bike, helmet and another pair of pants, I tore the blue ones. But anyway, $300 more so I can go and buy what I need to. Today I already bought a mini bike pump and a U-lock and that cost me $36.24. so I have like $460 on there now.

I am in Calexico, the hottest part of the mission during the summer haha, Our area has the boarder fence in it so I need to get a couple of pictures with me standing by it. My companion said that right before I got here, him and his companion saw some illegals make a human ladder and jump the fence. He said the Boarder Patrol just started coming out of no where and got them haha. but that is just the first couple of days in Calexico. I am sure I will have plenty of chances to see more.

I am really happy you sent me those pictures of my new niece and the family, but I dont think you need to send so many, my inbox usage limit is almost full. haha OH so remember that this Sunday, the 10th is Mothers Day? I have to go buy a calling card so I can call my Mom. I think I will be able to call after seven or something like that? I dont know for sure so just be home and don't go anywhere this Sunday so when I do call I don't miss ya. OK? Well. I will talk to you then. Tell everyone hi for me and give that cat a bath! I can smell him from here! and you can cut his claws. I did and he liked it haha ok I got to get going so I will talk with you this Sunday. Love you lots ~Elder Gardner

Man from Sudan

I am kinda sad that I can't be at Rick and Amys and help entertain Katelyn and Daniel. But I know you can do a good job. What are they going to name her? Take some pictures and send them to me. My 1st memory card is getting full of pictures so it is almost time to send it home. Do you remember that I want you to put them all on a disk for me? I have a couple of movies on the memory card too, so dont forget to look at those. They are little tours of the MTC and the apartment that we are living in right now. There are also pictures of the people we have baptized and a couple with Ana Gomez. But other than that I will tell you more stories about the other pictures later. Things are good. If I said they were really good, I would be lying, so things are good.

Thomson was baptized yesterday and Wow... that man is Gold. The fact that we only knew him and taught him for 9 days and he got baptized is just unbelievable to me. Some of the people we are teaching right now, have been getting lessons for months and haven't changed their mind set.

Not a whole lot of news here. Transfers are this Wednesday, the 29th, and I have three possibilities: 1) Elder Nelson and I are companions, 2) Elder Pinkston and I are companions, or 3) I go to a new area and get a new companion all together. That is pretty exciting I am thinking. I don't need a box just yet, but I would like to have more money! I need to send home a box of stuff I don't need, and the memory card. Tell me what is going on with Rick and his family. How is Jeremy doing without me? Did Katelyn and Daniel ask about me or anything? Send me some pictures of everybody. I know that they are all getting bigger haha. What picture did you use for my plack? How is Bishop doing? Tell Tylor Johnson when you see him that I wear his tie every P-day haha. Love you and keep smiling for me. ~Elder Gardner

Thomson from Sudan

Yes, I am pretty sure that Ana G knew that I had to learn the baptism prayer in Spanish, because I just sit there mostly and listen to my companions teach. I do know how to pray and testify but slowly I am working my way into teaching principles but yes, she knew that. That is why it is so cool that she asked me to baptize her! She had the faith that I could do it, and look what happened! We confirmed her a member of the church yesterday. She is amazing. a real golden member.

Nothing really happened this week. OK, Yes there is one thing. I don't know if I started telling you already, but I will start over. We were riding our bikes the other day and a guy from Sudan stopped us. He wanted to know who we were and why we were riding bikes all over the place. So we explained things to him and gave him some pamphlets and asked him if we could come by in a couple of days. He agreed, but we didn't think too much of it, other than it was a referral for the English speaking elders. But as we were riding by his house on Wednesday, I got the impression to stop and see him. We did and when we knocked on his door, he was there and he welcomed us into his house. We went in and talked with him, he told us that he had read the pamphlets and prayed and wanted to know when the soonest time he could be baptized! We were in shock! We said, well we could get you baptized on the 26th of this month? He accepted and said he wants to learn and do as much as he can. He is really a cool guy. He understands everything we teach him and is so willing to follow the direction we are giving him. I really wish you could meet him. but the good thing is, he speaks English so I get to practice teaching him at least. He is amazing. the Lord really prepares people for us missionaries to find and teach.

Well that was the highlight of the week, except that I almost had to fight a drunk guy, he got up in my face and was swearing at me saying stuff he didn't know anything about or make any sense, but this lady came over and pulled him away from us. So the Lord is watching over me and my companions :-D

I can't believe my first 6 weeks are almost over. Time is flying by so fast, I only have 16 more 6 week periods to go ;-) ~ Elder Gardner

Ana

Well,,,, you know what the funny thing is?... My first Blessing or anointing was when Brother Smith asked me to go with him and guess who we went and gave a blessing to? Brother Hunsaker! wow. When I was reading your email about his Sacrament meeting talk, I was thinking... that name sounds really familiar! and sure enough, I remember, Brother Hunsaker is who I gave my first blessing to. Just thought I would let you know about that :-)

You will never guess what happened yesterday! When I got here, about a month ago, we were just starting to teach this lady named; Ana G. and since then, we have really been working hard with her and helping her prepare for baptism... On Saturday (we for some reason baptize on Sundays, and yesterday was the date she chose) we went to see her, my companions, asked her who she wanted to baptize her and she looked at me and asked if I could do it! haha what?! I knew what we were talking about but it took a second for it to sink in, so when it hit me I was just like NO WAY?! and then I thought, "I have to say it in Spanish!!!!" I only had 26 hours to prepare to baptize Ana. I just studied and memorized the whole night from that moment on. I got to the point where I could say everything but the first few words and then went to bed. The next morning, Sunday, yesterday, I woke up and couldn't remember any of it! So I started memorizing and repeating it again and again over and over until finally it was 5:00pm, time to baptize Ana. We showed up at the stake center and got all ready and then I realized, I dont know her full name! I had my companions ask her since I can't really speak very well yet, but I understand most of it, her whole name is Ana * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * wow, what a name. So I said a quick prayer that I needed help. I needed to have the gift of tongues and the ability to remember what I had practiced. We went into the water and got ready to do it and my mind just went blank! I froze and just stood there, finally after 20 seconds I opened my mouth and it was filled. I recited the prayer and her whole name perfect and then I performed the ordinance. My first actual, in Spanish baptism! :D :D wow. The lord works his miracles in amazing ways. I was humbled and realized that I have been called to speak Spanish and the Lord will provide a way if I will open my mouth and speak. I now know that I am capable to do this work. It is hard to imagine that it has been almost been 2 months since I started my mission. Time is flying by and I know that once I can speak Spanish, time will pick up speed and then I will be home.

We still have some stuff that needs to get done so we have to get off and go buy food for the week. I have used my Wells Fargo card a couple of times so there should be like 500 something. I need to go get a hair cut and buy a coat so it should be 400 something by this time next week. I would like to have a minimum of 500 if I could. but if not 300. I have to go, I hope that all is going well back at home and everything. Love you and don't forget to pray. ~Elder Gardner

Hola como estan?

I don't know what is going on right now with this computer, it is acting up and not sending my emails so I hope you get this one. Keep using the blog thing. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet but I am sure it looks good. Yes I have gotten the packages, I almost think I have too much stuff, I don't even know what do to with it all. haha So please hold off on another package at least for a couple of months :D but anyway I do appreciate all that you are doing for me. This last week was really slow, we didn't have a very good week. I don't know what the problem was but things were not getting done. Lesson appointments fell through and a lot of time was wasted riding around to "no shows" but that's the point of a mission, the ups and downs. I really don't know or have much to say since we didn't have much success this last week. But I loved conference! It was exactly what I needed to hear. If you go back and read my patriarchal blessing, it almost sounds like they were talking to me. So yes, I loved conference. It is the first time I stayed awake for all of the sessions. :D Well, I have to get back to work. I love you and all that you are doing. DC 103:36 ~Elder Gardner