27 September 2010

Aloha everyone!

Thank you everyone that has been writing me, I thoroughly enjoy it! But I don't always have time to reply, but I'm very grateful to hear from you, Alofa ia te oe
This week has been another fantastic week here in Ka'u on the big Island of Hawaii. I had my first exchange this Tues. to Wed. with the zone leaders. It was a great experience to get out and see another area and how others teach. It made me appreciate my companion more on how he teaches. But I also got to see the green side of the island in Hilo. My stomach is getting more adjusted to eating what ever comes to my mouth. On Tuesday night we had fresh slaughter beef, rice and cabbage stew which was amazing until my teeth chomped on something hard. I looked at the fingers of the mother and saw she had missing fake fingernails and about had a bad experience on the table haha but I used my napkin with slyness and it happened quite a few times. So I figured it was probably just some bone. My companion and I are getting along very well. We teach so well together and he has taught me a great deal of patience.
We taught a family who are recent converts about the importance of temples, the blessing that come from them, and family history. It was a very neat experience, they all had smiles from ear to ear. That in one year they will be able to be sealed as a family and do proxy work for there own family that has passed away. Something I won't forget and helped me understand the real importance of temples; and how lucky I was to be so close to one. Speaking of temples Our Island is having a unique opportunity to go to the temple this Friday morning. We're going to the Kona temple.
We are also teaching a lady who couldn't be more prepared to hear the gospel. She had such an open heart and her spirit its just growing immensely. She committed to baptism on our first lesson then that coming Sunday she couldn't make it to church due to a lack of transportation. She lives 45 mins away in ocean view. So instead she studied for 8 hours that day on mormon.org and reading the Book of Mormon. We couldn't believe it, this last week on Saturday she went to the Relief Society conference and she told me all about it. (It's interesting that I'm only 19 and I can interact with people 3x my age and they listen to me). Then this Sunday she went on a blitz with the Relief Society to go teach to the Less actives to bring them back to church. It's only been 2 weeks sense she's heard of the Mormons. That's what the spirit can really do. It's not us at all. For I can not boast in my self (2 nephi 20:15) (alma 26:11-12) (alma 29:9). Her baptism date is on oct 9.
I had my first zone conference which was fantastic, it was on the Book of Mormon combined with the Spirit is the MOST powerful resource in conversion. It shows how important the Book Of Mormon is to everyone. It's the teaching of Christ himself to the Prophets. We have a new goal now that goes with vision 100 baptisms a month, that's vision 1000 for the year. and we're at 700.
Ka'u isn't on the map, it's just the area that everyone calls it. It covers many towns, the size of Ka'u is the size of Oahu. If that gives you a good picture. but some towns are Ocean view, Pahala, Naalehu (which is where I live, behind the chapel.) and some others I can't spell.

I love you all tons! Thanks for your prayers

Alofa,
Elder Gardner

20 September 2010

(Mission President and his wife at the Mission Home)

Aloha

Ok Sorry about last week, but here's the run down. I'm in Ka'u on the big island it's the most southern area in the U.S. Southpoint is in my area, it's the biggest area as well. It's about an hour and a half south of Hilo. It's super dry because they have had a drought for 2 years now, and have been feeling the major effects this last year. It's pretty bad. I'm the first greenie to come to Ka'u in 9 years. It's a hard area cause it's so spread out and so travel takes up a lot of time. Which also means there is a lot of less active cause they don't have the money to drive to the chapel. Our pad is behind the chapel, it's way nice it was where the couple missionaries used to live. But they left when I came in so we moved from his last pad into this pad, therefore we got all the left over food, the truck,, which there is only 3 in the whole mission, so a lot of missionaries envy it haha. We have queen size beds and just a nice all the way around pad (living quarters). Oh and my companion is Elder Salima, He's a great missionary, he's from samoa and we get along just great! He doesn't have his license so I drive everywhere.

The person next to me on the plane coming to Hawaii was so confused on why I was going to Hawaii for 2 years and I coudn't get in the water. I tried to explain to her why, but she was lost and I probably didn't so a very good job ha. But we did have a good long conversation. Right when we got our luggage is where we met our mission president and the assistants. We went over to his house and just learned more about the mission where we were going and who's going to be our companion. I found out though that the mission home is where the Josh Grober, from the movie "the Other Side Of Heaven" family lived there and when the apostals would come to the home they slept in the same room as I did. Pretty crazy. I love the weather here of course, and I love the humidity. The next day they threw us out on the streets on Oahu and broke us in as new missionaries haha, it was a good experience. Lost were rude, but we were able pass a out a Book of Mormon, got her number and a time to visit her.

So I've tried a lot of different food's mainly cause the bishop and his wife come every night with something new ha. I've tried Blood Pork/ Octupus/ Poi/Raw Fish/ some fish and meat thing rapped in a leaf/ and others that I can't spell or remember the name ha.

So friday night we came home and I saw my Ipod was missing from my IHome Docking system then my companion had his hair trimmer missing as well. We went out side looking around and found his hair trimmer on the ground and never found my Ipod. Later we saw they broke in the bathroom window. We don't know why they didn't steal my docking system and only my ipod, then drop his trimmer then decide to take my shoes as well.... :) the best two years! haha no but really it's been amazing we've got two people with baptismal dates and 3 more on the way, We'll have to go I'll catch up on the rest next week.

13 September 2010

This week I don't have much time but in the future I will. So I'm pretty much loving it out here! yup I'm loving everything. I'm in Ka'u on the big island, it's super dry and I'm the first greenie to be in Ka'u in 9 years. My companion is Elder Salima and he rocks, it's very dry but I have no time this week but I have much more to write and I will next week.

7 September 2010

Today Flint left for Hawaii, he is so excited to begin his mission in Hawaii and teach the people. He was able to call the family while he waited for his flight at the airport! Everyone was able to talk to him, even Angie in Washington. His flight left at 11:40 this morning and was suppose to land in Hawaii at 6:45pm. The mission president's wife met him at the airport and then off to the mission home to find out his first area!

September 3, 2010

ALOHA!

So this weeks once again has gone by so fast, I can't believe that I leave this Tuesday! Here I come Hawaii! I can't wait to get out of here even though I've loved it here for the last 2 1/2 weeks I want to get out into my mission field and make a difference in people's lives. Later this week we had a TA where we teach volunteers and it was awesome to see that the gospel can answer so many simple questions that we take for granted in knowing already. But like I said it was a great experience to see how an investigator can receive direction while feeling the spirit.

Earlier this week we had a district meeting, and the branch pres asked Elder Flynn to give the prayer but it sounded like my first name and so out of habit I just stood up and gave the prayer. Afterwards everyone was busting up, and then they found out that my name was flint and so yeah...it was a funny moment I thought to share.

I've now got lesson's 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, down, though that's not how you teach them. but you get to know each concept and the principles in each lesson, so you can teach it with the spirit and toward there needs D&C 11:21 "seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be lost...(and) shall have my spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men."

So it's been a crazy week for my companion his leg was hurting him pretty bad and so we got a MRI done on it and found out that he has a contusion on his patella and torn cartilage! It was devastating and even worse he found out he has to get surgery on wed and he'll be here for another month! But I know there is a purpose to his stay. It's been a blessing though in ways. We've learned to be more dependent on each other and have come closer as a companionship.

Last Tuesday Richard Hinkley spoke to us for our devotional, and as always it was amazing. He gave us 10 pts to be the best missionary.

So today was my hair cut before I take off. But before I came here I always enjoyed cutting my hair myself with the flobee so when I got to the barber and they asked how I'd like it. I had no clue what language they speak to get what you want haha. So I just said just cut it short. Well that's exactly what I got. It looks like I wont be getting a hair cut for the next year haha.

Preach My Gospel is absolutely amazing! It's so simple but so profound in how the gospel works & how we should prepare to meet God ( Alma 34:32). I strongly encourage that all families especially father's and son's to spend 15mins a week studying from Preach my Gospel. I promise you will see a strength in the family. That you will have the spirit more in your life and in the family to be able to recognize and act upon it's promptings. I know as you live the gospel with strict obedience & hard work, God will be pleased with you and will bless you in ways that you may never come to realize until looking back upon your life. I know He will Because He has with me throughout my life and infinitely on my mission. I say these things in thy Holy name, Jesus Christ, Amen

One last note, I found out that you don't have to send me letters, there is a easier way and it's free. Go to dearelder.com and type in my Hawaii address. It will send it to me in Hawaii from your computer and it will be much faster and cheaper. :) I love all you guys, and i know that who ever might be reading this has had a major impact on my life, so thanks for all that you have done!

Love,
Elder Gardner


(The Elders in my District)

August 27, 2010

HELLO! :)

Thank you again for the letters that you have sent me they always are the highlight of going to pick up mail and knowing that I got a letter. I got a bunch of questions so I’ll answers those now.

Of the twelve in my district 4 are going to Hawaii 4 are going to Disney land, and the other 4 are going to temple square. My schedule consists of well a really fast paced day. I wake up at 6:00 and go to bed at 10:30 and in between I just study and I can't get enough of it! but I have class time of learning how to teach and how to use preach my gospel and then we teach volunteers that come as investigators and it rocks! The food is amazing, and it's all you can eat so how could i be disappointed haha but it's not healthy at all so...are rooms always smell bad ha. we have like good meals though like biscuits and gravy, etc...not much time to tell. They don't tell about the culture really at all mostly how to teach and teach with the spirit. But brother Reis is from Hawaii a teacher here and knows all about the mission so he gave a lot of insightful information. Got me so pumped up to go I can't WAIT!

So I can't believe it's Friday already, time is flying bye and I got to host the new missionaries that came into the MTC on wed. it was a blast to tell them all I've learned how to have the best experience. On Monday I got a huge stomach ache that put me out all night but it was only a 24 hour thing. But the other district in our zone, 10 of the 12 are sick and 2 have bronchitis. So I’m making sure i take care of myself. So the big highlight of this week was on Tuesday when we had our devotional. We were singing called to serve and Elder Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke to us! It was a really inspired talk that boosted us all in missionary work. It was all about us and I was only like 50 ft. away. He just talked about how to be a better missionary. But the spirit was so strong chills were going down my back it felt like.

So we had a lesson on Tuesday as well that helped us teach with the spirit. What we did was learning how to ask inspired questions and we were to really focus on the person talking and focus on the body language as well. but the key point was to completely erase all my thoughts about what I'm going to say next, but to have faith that when it was my time to talk the spirit would tell me what I needed to say. And wow it was the best experience I've ever had. Ever sense then my companion and I have taught the gospel way more effective and the spirit is 10 X stronger! the next day on wed, we had a volunteer come and be an investigator and so we implemented what we had learned from Tuesday. It was the most powerful lesson we have ever taught. We came out shaking cause the spirit was so strong, everything we asked was of the spirit and everything we testified was so powerful. The man had nothing to say.

I tell this story not to tell you about the negative but how it was a positive in my life. One of our companionships in our district were have a really hard time because one elder was all about himself and a few other things. So I really was impressed to just pull him aside and talk to him. It was amazing, because I again implemented what I had learned on Tuesday about inspired questions. I can't even remember what I said to him because everything I had to say and ask was from God. He literally was speaking through me and touched his heart so hard, He never smiled before and never showed emotion but he broke down and opened up and I was able to bring happiness and joy into his life. It was such a great experience to me to see how the spirit can really work if ye have faith in God. The MTC is so filled with the spirit and has impacted my life in ways i never have guessed! I LOVE it here and Every Young man must go on a mission if he can! no wonder they make it a priority not only for yourself but then again for all the others you get to teach and bring the gospel in their lives and be blessed like I have all my life! I think I might of said this before but our district and our zone is so unified! We get along so well besides a couple but that's how it is. But we have so much fun while serving the Lord, what kind of life is better than that.

If you want to write me go to dearelder.com and my mailbox is #154 its free and it prints at MTC and I get it the same day.

Love, Elder Gardner

First Week in the MTC

Thanks to all those who sent me packages and letters. The food is amazing, I think I'm gaining weight and it is not muscle. My companion is Elder Brown, who is 6'6". He is so strong in the gospel and is always being as obedient as he can be. He is also very orderly so that is nice to have someone who has the same mind set. We get along very well and continue to grow in the gospel. The spirit is so strong in the MTC! I just has an experience with the spirit recently while logging into my email. I totally forgot my username and password, and my time was winding down to 20 minutes, and so I gave a sincere prayer that I may be able to remember. And in a few moments the letters appeared in my mind. The gospel is such and amazing tool in our lives if we stay closer to our Savior and his example. The last few days have been amazing, though it has been very crazy in that I have so much to do, and prepare. it is pretty much Sunday school x100 all day long. On Thursday, we met our branch presidency and they explained how the MTC works and called a district leader. He took each for interviews and called me to be the district leader for 8 Elders and 4 Sisters in our district. I thought I had a lot to do before, and now I have double the work. But I'm loving every minute! Because I'm so busy, time is flying by! Some of the things I do is just conducting meetings, interviewing, picking up mail twice a day and other little things that add up. But it's been a blessing, and a good experience of being a leader. One of the hardest thing I've had to adjust to is calling everyone by Elder and Sister, rather than saying dude, man, guys, etc... Our district is the biggest it can be and we are so unified. It 's so amazing to be with the people who are all here for one purpose, who leave behind our worldly habits. All we do is speak about the gospel and how it has changed our lives and then we teach it to others. Missionary work though is hard and yet so rewarding. Thanks so much for every one's prayers and support.
Love Elder Gardner