20 December 2010

Mele Kalikimaka Everyone,

Wow, thank you everyone for all the letters, packages, and Christmas cards I received these last 2 weeks. It means a lot and I appreciate it. Though I do feel bad for my companion every time we go to the mail box.

What a fantastic week it has been for us Elders here in Ka'u. My companion and I were sitting down talking last night about how much are area has changed. It really feels like night at day here. It's been great to see the result of hard work and diligence, as the area has become one of the most progressing area's. But it's all because of our Heavenly Father who has brought us here to do his work.

Last week on Monday as a zone we went to some more beautiful sights called rainbow falls, and Akaka Falls. It's something else to see these wonderful creations with the water falling hundreds of feet with green florishing around.

As missionaries we have a stop smoking program that i've come to see how wonderful it works. We have taught it to 3 of our investigators who are wanting to quit, and after we gave them the 15 steps program to a non-smoker they haven't smoked sense. It's great to hear how excited they are as they tell how wonderful they feel as they are able to breath and save all the money they spend. Which is usually around $200-$300 a month.

Big Island missionaries had there zone conference this week, and it's always delight to look forward to them. This one was definitely centered the meaning of Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Christ. But what was pretty amazing is that we all watch "the other side of heaven" for zone conference. That movie has a totally different meaning now that i'm on a mission but also on a island as i'm able to relate to the culture.

I like what my mission pres's wife said. that hero's have three things: Require little, Give thoughtfully, and Serve Faithfully.

Merry Christmas to all of you. May you remember the true meaning of christmas and how Christ has been that influence in our lives. I love you all so very much.

Mele Kalikimaka,

Elder Gardner

13 December 2010

Aloha Everyone,

Thank you for all the christmas cards and love!

The highlight of this week was my exchange with my trainer (Elder Salima) who's my new zone leader. So he was able to come back into his old area. It was a blast to bring back all our past memories! Plus the area had changed a lot sense he left, like now the grass is now green due to all the rain we've received the last month. But it was a blast to be back with my Samoan companion for a couple of days. It was priceless to see the members faces when they saw that Elder Salima was back for the day.

Exciting news is that one of our investigators has now completely stop smoking with the help of the smoking program that we have been teaching her. But the best part is hearing her excitement when she was telling us her wonderful news and how it was all because of her sencire prayers to our heavenly father. That she coudln't of done it with out his help and the atonement of our savior Jesus Christ. I couldn't help but have sore cheek muscles from smiling so much!

This week Hawaii got hammered by a huge lightning/thunder storm, and Hawaii supposedly never gets lightning. So that was pretty exciting as I was finally forced to use my umbrella for the first time. But we still got soaked to the bone haha. Yet the weather is gorgeous over here, it's hard to believe it's Christmas time with no snow on the ground.

I guess you could say we have a pet dog, not literally, but because every night it comes to our pad for some love.

The ward had it's annual Christmas party this week on saturday which in and of it's self was a blast with so much food that we had 14 gallon bags left over of just rice not mentioning the corn, and lbs. of meat. We cooked over 120+ lbs. of meet. But even with all that the best part was actually cooking the food with the Portuguese oven in our backyard. After the fire we made the oven got to 1100 degrees inside! We had to wait for hours to cool it down and then today 2 days latter we checked the oven and it's still got heat inside. What a crazy oven.

6 December 2010

Aloha Everyone,

I think the most important thing I have to say is that the temperature here is spectacular! I can't believe it's December, probably cause I see no snow. It's going to be different having Christmas with no snow. But I'm liking it better not worrying about the cold. I still don't own any jackets, just my missionary clothes short sleeves and some board shorts. What a life...! :)

My companion and I went to a place called pizzaria out in the middle of no where that makes unbelievable pizza, but they have this old time pinball machine where you pull a lever to hit the baseball and win cards. After a few quarters in the machine I hit a GRAND SLAM and won the card Roger Clemens! It was made in 1985 so it's got to be worth a few million...maybe...

This week was transfers again, I can't believe it's already another 6 weeks that have past, time is flying. But what's awesome is that my companion and I are still together, where as our whole zone had changed companions and one area was white washed. Then my dad (trainer) came back into the zone and is now my Zone leader. That was so awesome to see him again! My companion became the DL so it's cool to get the scoop on what's going on.

Can't wait for our ward Christmas party on Dec 11! the whole community comes and we light up the Portuguese oven in my backyard.

Well the work is progressing and I'm absolutely loving it. I love reading the scriptures as now everything that I've been taught is coming together. Then to be able to teach it to others...life can't get better then that.

I just wanted to share one quote from my study time while reading the general conference talks. Pres Uchtdorf said this, "We don't discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves." So true, the times when I'm most happy and enjoying the work is when i'm in service of others and thinking zippo about myself. I love all of you and thank you for your prayers!

Love, Elder Gardner