Mission Conference and a baptism! 10/20/14

Hello!

This week has been pretty eventful!

We had a good lesson with Koleta, she is making progress, It is slow, but good. She hasn't come to church yet, and I think that will really help. She just gets worn out really easy and she goes out of town alot too. She is awesome though. 

Friday was our mission conference with Elder Evans. There were 2 groups and 2 days, so half of the mission met with him on Thursday. It was AWESOME! He talked to us a lot about how our mission is preparing us for our future. He also talked with us about seeking referrals and how we should do it. One of my favorite things that he talked about is how in Preach My Gospel, in the finding section, Tracting and Street contacting are 12 pages in and how there are better ways right up in front. That doesn't really do it justice, you had to be there. 

He also talked to us about preparing ourselves now for Ipads, we don't know when those are coming, but he talked about them as being a great tool for us now and as we learn to use them and technology wisely on our mission, how that will bless us when we go home. 

It was a really uplifting conference. I know that my Heavenly Father is mindful of me and my questions and concerns. He loves us and he answers prayers.

Saturday was Tianna's Baptism, it was wonderful. She was sick with a cold or sinus infection but she was a trooper.

Sister Letoa went to 29 Palms after Tianna's baptism to go to another baptism and I stayed and worked here. Sis. Motufau came out with me, she was wonderful. Her husband just passed away and I think she really enjoyed coming out because it kept her busy. 

We went to a wedding reception and Koleta was there, one of her relatives married a relative of someone in our ward. ( that was the reason she didn't come this week, she was way tired, because she really wanted to come).

I think that is about it for this week! I hope everyone is doing well. I love you all!

Alofa,

Sister Kellee Gardner

Where food poisoning is no biggie! 10/14/14

Hello!

This week has been good. It was different and there were some great things that happened. One thing that I realized is that success as a missionary comes in so many different ways. There are so many ways to fulfill our purpose and sometimes I get stuck in this rut of one way to do things. 

Each area and ward are different so it is is interesting to go to a new area and find what works and what doesn't. I think that is probably secretly my least favorite part about transfers, but at the same time I really love the success that comes from it. This week we had awesome experiences contacting people and finding referrals. The ysa in the ward went to Utah for conference and they had some non members that they took with them. They all had really good experiences. We are contacting them this week. I am just excited that the members here are excited about sharing the gospel.

We had a really good lesson with our investigator Koleta. Ok Sister Letoa had a really good lesson with her. I listened as they spoke Samoan, but it was really cool. I could tell that she was understanding what Sis. Letoa was saying and that she liked it. Right now she goes out of town on weekends, so coming to church is the challenge, but she has enjoyed the activities that she has come to. She takes the Book of Mormon to dialysis and reads it all the time, She is so solid.

There was a funeral this week, it was interesting to see how Samoans do funerals. There is a lot of culture and tradition in this ward. One challenge I have with being in this Samoan ward is that whenever we have an event, and there are alot of them, the missionaries are treated like royalty. We get to sit with the Bishop at the head table. We helped set up in between the service and the dinner after, otherwise the members won't let us serve and help, and we feel kind of useless. Such was the case at the funeral. 

The baptism was moved to this Saturday due to the funeral and everything going on in the ward. We are excited for Tianna, today in our lesson she was talking about what she read about the resurrection in Alma 40. She understood it very well, and as we were talking about the priesthood, she knew a lot already. It was awesome to see how she has grown.

I feel like now that we only cover one ward I am really getting to know and remember all of the people that I talk to. Last transfer I couldn't keep it all straight, which was hard for me. I usually remember names faces and stories pretty well. Its coming back this transfer! 

Well I think that is about it for this week.. Sorry its short. there's probably more, but we are out of time. 

Hope you all had a great Columbus day yesterday :D

I love you all!

Sister Kellee Gardner

Ps

Oh yeah, I got food poisoning this week, that was an adventure..haha  no bueno! In case you wanted to know. Im ok now though, no worries.

General Conference! 10/6/14

Hello,

Ah, wasn't conference just wonderful? I loved every minute of it. This was probably one of my favorites. I was blown away each session. I had a lot of things on my mind before conference and I was starting to get overwhelmed by it all. God answers prayers. I had so much peace as I watched conference. Every question that I had was answered, things on my mind had clarity. I don't know that I have ever had that experience before.

What were some of your experiences with conference? Favorite talks? I loved Elder Klebingat's talk. It just lays out exactly what we need to do to make changes in our lives. I wish I had my notes with me..Maybe you will be grateful I don't, otherwise you might get pages of my random thoughts, Oh wait, that's what these emails are :D( maybe not pages.. Sorry they aren't as long as some of you would like)

This week has been good. It has been interesting having a drastically smaller area, it is still a pretty big area, it covers most of the stake, but way smaller than the IE ward.

We have been working with Tianna, who is awesome and so ready for her baptism this Saturday.  Most of this week has been filled with going and meeting some of the less- actives. Not many have been home or available, which is always fun.

Cool experience. Sort of a long story. Last Sunday there was a member missionary fireside, I forgot to mention this last week but The three of us sang " I know That my Redeemer Lives" in Samoan, Sister Gillespie and I each sung a verse. and we sang the first and last together. It was really fun. Ok back to the story. We had weekly planning and were talking about which members to work with to teach our member lesson/ potential investigator lesson to. The Frost family kept coming to my mind, so we put them down. Sunday after conference we went over to their house to invite them to have us over and teach their family. After we explained what we would be doing( How to begin teaching) she was telling us that those were her concerns exactly and how after the fireside she had wanted to share the church magazines with her neighbors. She really didn't know what to say, because they always just bring up polygamy... She had been thinking all week of what to do and we had been thinking all week of going to their house, It was amazing to see answers to prayers, even with members!

I am so grateful for this gospel, I know it is true. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson. I know that I have a Savior who loves me. I know that God knows what is best for me. I know that peace in this life comes from obedience to ALL of the commandments, and even though there are trials and struggles, we can still have peace. 

I love you all,

Alofa Oe,

Sister Kellee Gardner

9/29/14

Talofa!

This week has been awesome. 

On Monday we went by an apartment complex to meet some potential investigators, we talked to some of the kids who live there and invited them to a dance that was going on on Saturday. I'll come back to this story in a bit. 

Tuesday we had a lesson with Tianna. We had planned on teaching the Law of Chastity. When we got there, it was pretty clear that we weren't going to be teaching that at all. She was really having a rough day. We were able to just share our testimonies and to help her out with some things around the house. I love having the spirit and being able to change our plans. Even though we didn't know what we would be sharing, I know that what we shared really helped her out that day.

We also had a lesson with the Penn family. We were able to talk about the Book of Mormon and we read 2 Nephi 31. Ola was talking to Maria about how the Book of Mormon relates and confirms what the Bible says. It was interesting to see that change in him. Last week there was a lot of difference of opinion from him, and this week he was just agreeing with what we said and testifying to his wife!. Prayers are being answered!

Wednesday I went on a temporary exchange/split with Sis. Letoa. She is one of our roommates and her comp was sick and was staying with a member. I went out with her so that they could go to their appointments. It was a good day. We were able to meet with a less-active and I just fell in love with her. We also met with a lady from Fiji, she is awesome too, she just happens to be going on vacation for who knows how long.

Thursday was AWESOME. We found out last week that we would be able to watch "Meet the Mormons" and so on Thursday we went to the Stake center and we watched that and also a talk from Pres. Uchtdorf.

"Meet the Mormons" is Amazing!! I really encourage all of you to go and watch it.  It helps clear up misconceptions that many have, but I think more importantly it is an awesome look at the life of everyday people with great faith. It comes to theaters Oct 10th, so go see it.

Saturday was the broadcast and we were able to have some investigators attend. Koleka, who pretty much only speaks Samoan, was able to come. She went in the room with Samoan translation and it sounds like she really loved it, especially the part about the temple. We have invited her to be baptized and she said she would pray about it. She is just awesome.

I loved the broadcast, I hope all you sisters did too!

Transfers: I have been kind of nervous about these transfers, and stressed. I don't know why. I've had so many different thoughts about what could happen. So we found out today. Our trio is getting broken up. Sister Gillespie and Sister Laiti are staying together and covering the IE ward. I am going to be with Sister Letoa in the R2 ward. It is going to be hard to leave the IE ward, especially Bro. Moleli our ward mission leader and the Penn family. Luckily I'm not too far, so one day when they get baptized I'll be around. It will be an adjustment to go back to a small area and actually have boundaries :D. I know that being split though will really help the work move forward. 

That is about it for this week! I love you, 

Sister Kellee Gardner

I was just reminded that I was going to come back to the story about the boys and the dance. OK so here it is. 

On Friday we went back to that same complex to remind the boys and their families about the dance and give them the address. We got there and two of the same boys were outside as well as some others. We were able to talk to them and one of them asked about YSA dances and FHE. He has cousins in Sacramento who are members and they had invited him to different things. We looked back at our records and it looks like his family was interested in taking the lessons at one point. It was cool to see how people are truly prepared and are placed in our path.

9/22/14

Hello!

This week has been an adventure. 

Monday night we had FHE with the Penn family at a members house and that went really well. Maria started asking us questions afterwards, it was awesome. It is tough though because we feel like she wants to learn more, but her and her husband are not on the same page, so she stays quiet a lot and when she feels the spirit it seems to get squashed by logic and she doesn't progress as much as she could. We went over to their house again on Thursday and we taught the whole family together, which hasn't really happened before. It was a really cool experience to teach the whole family. We taught the Restoration. It was a good experience, but different than I have ever had before. I don't think that I have ever really taught an investigator family before, just individuals. It is different because they are all on different levels. We ask the boys if they believe what we have taught is true. They say yes,  the parents hearts aren't as accepting of the truth. We are excited to continue teaching them though.

Wednesday was awesome. We had Interviews with President Van Cott. I love interviews, I get anxious, but they are always a good experience. This one was probably my favorite so far. Sometimes I hope to get an idea about transfers, but whenever I do, are the times when he's got no clue yet. He's not one to keep it a secret, he usually tells us what he is thinking, which is nice. No idea what is going to happen next week, but there are probably a hundred scenarios.

Saturday was a pretty good day. It was also a huge learning experience. We went to the Penn's and we had planned on talking to them about the Book of Mormon more in depth. We got there, and that is not where things were going. After a while I think we all realized that, but we weren't on the same page. The lesson really headed south. Afterwards we talked about it and realized that we just expected it to be like our last lesson that went very well. 

That night I was kind of angry about the whole thing, but I realized that the Lord gives us opportunities to learn and grow, just as he does the people we are teaching. Missionaries are not perfect, I am NOT perfect. I am so grateful for the Atonement and how it allows me to repent and to become better.That is something that I strive for every day. It was a learning experience, one that I am grateful for.

I Know this is short, sorry about that. I hope you all have a wonderful week. I love you all!

Love, Sister Kellee Gardner

9/15/14

Hello!

Well this week has just been wonderful! Seriously. 

Tuesday was zone meeting and President Van Cott was there, which I loved. He said things that I really needed to hear. We went out on splits that night with the R2 ward. Wednesday night was with the IE ward. We were able to invite a lot of people to the IE ward party on Saturday

Thursday we went on Exchanges. I went with Sister Jones to Colton. Sister Jones is a saint! She is very in tune with the spirit, and she LOVES everyone. I didn't tell her it was my birthday on Friday until later Thursday evening. She was sorry we did exchanges on my Birthday, but I was so glad. I really like Exchanges, I learn a ton and I always am uplifted, so it really was one of the best birthday presents ever. 

We came home that night and I came out of the bathroom and she was whipping up some brownies. As a missionary, surprises are kind of limited since you have to be in sight and sound.. except in the bathroom. So she also had a sign that she hung up in there for me..

Friday was a great day. We went and walked and picked up trash on our way to go see some people. We were walking down the street and waving at people. Someone waved and he looked kind of familiar. We kept walking,but then we stopped and looked back and he had pulled over to the side. We went back to talk to him, it was the husband of a Less-active we had met in Yucaipa. He isn't a member, but he is the nicest man ever. it was so crazy to see him. I thought it might have been him, but the car wasn't one I had seen at their house before. So anyways he was on his way to buy an RV. Of all the random people to see and of all the random places to see them. 

Later that day we saw someone wearing a Yucaipa shirt and we talked to her. We found out she used to live there and she lived in the boundaries of my ward,but still works there. Cool random connections.

Saturday was the Ward Picnic. It was actually in Rancho, which is out of our mission, but in our area so we got to go. There was also a baptism happening at the building for a member of our wards dad, who lives in Rancho. He came to Lea's baptism last week and since we were at the church for the party, we stopped in to watch his. We also escorted some investigators who after getting some food were really there for the baptism and were looking for "their Sister missionaries". I have a friend Sister Stouffer, from college who is serving in the Rancho mission and I wondered if I would run into someone that knew her there.. I didn't think I would actually see her. She was there! So that was cool to be able to say hi to her. 

Sunday was the Primary Program in the IE ward. In Samoa they call it "White Sunday" and all the kids wear white. It was amazing. And the whole Penn family was there! Alex and Brandon and Maria and Ola. They came to the ward picnic and committed to come to church. This isn't the first time they all have been, but it is since we have been here. They are just awesome. They are progressing, slowly, but we have seen a change in them since we came. They are going to a members home for FHE tonight and we are going to go with them.

I think that is about it for this week!

I love you all!

Love, 

Sister Gardner

9/8/14

Hello!

So since Wednesday there's been some exciting things.

Wednesday night we went out on splits with the IE ward. This was really a good experience for me. I had been struggling with who knows what... dumb little things probably. Anyways, the way we split was two of us would stay together and take a member and the other would go with a member. What I wanted to do and what I ended up doing were not the same thing, but it was the best thing ever. Sister Gillespie asked who wanted to go by "themself". I said I would go... thinking in the back of my mind, "why did I just say that, what if I don't understand the sisters I am going with?" So anyways, I went. I was with 3 sisters from the ward actually. After I said yes, I decided that I had to make an effort to get to know these sisters. This was my chance to show that I am not a shy missionary afraid to talk to people. Because I am not that missionary anymore. We went to visit Alex and Brandon's family, that made it easier, because it was someone I knew. When we first met Maria, their mom, I just loved her and felt this connection to her and so that made it so easy for me to just have a conversation with her. So here's what I learned. Happiness really is a choice. Heavenly Father really will provide the way for us to do what He asks. He said, "Open your mouths and they shall be filled". He keeps his promises- always.

Saturday was Lea and Jordans baptism. It was awesome. We have received a lot of counsel about planning for baptisms and making sure that they are very spiritual experiences. It has made so much difference in the baptisms that we have had, and it makes them a little less stressful to plan for. 

We went to a members home and helped her paint her living room for a while, that was fun and she was so grateful. We met with Nelson and his girlfriend Lima. Nelson is less-active, and Lima is active. Basically any time we have an appointment or stop by half of the people in these wards they try to give us food, or money to buy it...As was the case with Nelson. When we stopped by last week, he tried to give us money, this time he had made us food. We had a really good lesson with them though. 

Yesterday was another great day. Lea and Jordan were confirmed, Alex came to church, we had dinner with their family that night and we met with some of the members in the complex where we were last week helping a family move in. The members call it San Samoa because there are like 9 families that live there. It makes it easy for us to visit them:D.

I feel like we are getting the hang of this thing... then it is going to change. I love the people here, they are always so kind, and they love the Gospel.

I am so grateful to be here and to be able to learn so much. 

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Kellee Gardner

Sister Gross (a roommate) and I celebrating 1 year! Lea and Jordan's baptism. 

P.S. random fact of the week I learned how to sing "if you're happy and you know it" in Samoan.. 

A crazy week...a little late!9/3/14

Talofa!(Hello)

Wow, this week has been busy. Because of the holiday we had to email later, and yesterday was packed! Sorry you had to wait so long.

We have been meeting with Lea almost everyday because we moved her date up to the 6th and still had some lessons to teach. She is doing great and is so excited to be baptized. Her son who is 11 is also getting baptized on the 6th, which is part of the craziness of this week. We hadn't really been meeting with him when we met with Lea because we were planning on him being baptized on the 20th. The Bishop suggested that they be baptized together, and thats what they decided to do. So this week we have been meeting with him everyday. He is a super smart kid. Yesterday we were talking about prophets and after he read we asked him what he thought it meant. He blew us all out of the water talking about how people reject prophets then they decide they really need one and God listens to the people and calls another prophet. 

Thursday we met with Alex and Brandon, the 2 boys taking the lessons. We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Alex is older, he is  on fire and it just makes sense to him. Brandon gets it, but I think he isn't really into it so he just chooses not  to remember. It was our first time teaching them, but we were able to see that we really have to teach them on different levels, probably separately. Its just a challenge to meet with them because they are so busy.

Friday we taught Lea and Jordan about Eternal families. Because our area is so huge, it includes Redlands, we were able to meet at the temple to teach them. It was awesome to have that added spirit there at the lesson. We were also able to go inside the waiting room for a little bit. That was probably my favorite!

Saturday we met a less-active family and invited them to church, they actually came on Sunday. For them I think they just need the encouragement to come.

Sundays are crazy here, I don't think there's any way around that. Coordinating 2 wards that overlap and they both need us there is pretty tricky, I don't think we have it figured out but we will get there by the end of the transfer...

The food here is pretty good.. Definitely different. Let's just say I really am not picky anymore, my family's prayers have been answered.

Miracle Monday.. There's just something about holiday Mondays. So we went to Redlands to meet with Lea, then we came back to Rialto for dinner. We had an appointment in San Bernardino at the end of our night and our appointment before that fell through so we headed up there. We stopped by at a potential and they weren't available so we drove around the corner a ways to figure out some people we could go see. Because it was Monday night, we couldn't really go to active members, but being white washed we don't really know who is who. While we were parked, across the street some people were moving in. Sister Gillespie was like " Look, they're Samoan, They're probably members too." we decided to go help them, found out they are members and that they are related to the counselor in the Bishopric. There are a few member families in that complex, pretty sure they are all related. Like I said last week, everyone is related.

The second Miracle that night. We went to our appointment, which fell through as well, but we decided to go find another person. We knock on the door, A man answers, not the family we are looking for, and doesn't know that name, says he is Baptist, but loves what we do, tells us we can come back tomorrow because it was kind of late. He rents out rooms in the house and says there's a couple from Hawaii that look Asian. Someone else comes downstairs and looks at us and says "I got this" He and his girlfriend end up being who we are looking for. So they aren't from Hawaii, but both from Samoa. He was signed up to feed us last week, but had to cancel. Basically there were a million connections and we set up an appointment with them for Saturday.

That is about it for now I think. Being in a trio has been an adventure... Its an added challenge, but I really do like it. We are all learning how to make it work.

I am learning Samoan, slowly, but surely.. we sing hymns in Samoan everyday, and Sis. Laiti was singing "If You're Happy and you Know it, Shout Horray!" last night. Lets just say Sis. Gillespie have many opportunities to laugh at ourselves.

I love you all! or Alofa Oe!

Tofa!(goodbye)

Sister Gardne

Talofa! from Rialto! 8/25/14

So guess what? I am not in 29 Palms, nor am I training, but I am whitewashing and learning a new language. Here's the story:

Wednesday morning I was on my way to the mission office,( about 7 minutes away in fact) and I get a call from the APs saying that I am not training because my trainee didn't come out due to last minute medical things and that I would be in a trio in the Samoan ward with Sis. Gillespie and Sis. Laiti. Ok cool, theres a Samoan branch in 29 so I figured I was still going out to 29. We get to the mission office, meet my companions and get packed up. I then found out that we are going to Rialto and that we are covering the 2 Samoan wards there. We get going and I find out that we are all white washing this area.My companions knew before I did that I was coming, they found outTuesday night. 

So this week has been an adventure for sure. We live with another set of sisters, it is nice to have roommates again. They cover a ward in Colton. Sis Gross and Sis Latoa. Sis Latoa and Sis Laiti are both from Samoa so we have plenty of help learning the language... maybe too much fun too :D. 

The wards here are awesome and very on top of things, so we have truly been blessed. One ward *(R2) covers just the Rialto Stake, the other ward (IE)covers areas outside of our mission, so I get to leave the mission sometimes-Weird. They are also very good about feeding us, ALOT of food. I thought maybe I would be able to loose at least some of what I have gained so far.. Probably not going to happen while I am here.(at least the transfer, maybe longer). We have been meeting with our WML and setting up appointments with investigators, which there are a lot of. One thing I love about these wards, is that they really know how to fellowship. All the Samoans know each other probably because everyone is related.. Just like Utah.

Wednesday night we went out with the IE ward and met some members and an investigator family. Ola and Maria and their kids. Right now just two of the boys are taking the lessons, but Maria comes to church every week with them and sometimes Ola does too. 

Thursday we met with R2 and got the rundown of who everyone is there. We met with an investigator Lea, who is on date for baptism on the 13th. She has been going to the IE ward but is not Samoan, nor does she speak Samoan, but her fellowshippers are so we teach her. She is ready for baptism and wants to move it sooner, but we still have a few lessons to teach and will finish by the 13th.  

Sunday is CRAZY. 2 wards, 2 ward councils and 2 sacrament meetings and 2 buildings.

Church in Samoan is fun. One ward translates for us palagis and the other ward speaks just Samoan in Sacrament but has an english class for RS and Sunday School.

So far I am loving it. The people here are so welcoming and friendly. It is definitely and adjustment to be in a trio, but it is fun. 

I think that is about it for this week.

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Kellee Gardner

The Rattlesnake and Transfers...The Desert round 2 8/18/14

Hello!

So this week has been pretty good. We had exchanges this week and I stayed here and worked with Sis. Tanner again. We had some great experiences, got to do a lot of walking and talking to people. It was so stinking HOT on Wednesday when we were out, but I realized that I didn't even care that it was so hot. I am one who is a lazy bum in the heat, but I was ready to save the world. Maybe a little too fearless of the sun... I was called to repentance and have been wearing sunscreen again this week.. That walking probably is what helped me in getting sick this week too, but it hasn't been bad and we have been able to go out every day. 

Tuesday was also zone meeting. That was really good.The 4th ward elders happened to run into a rattlesnake on Sat or Sunday and had someone cook it for them, so they brought it to Zone meeting. Yes, I ate some.. And yes this is Sister Gardner.. Who didn't even like Ketchup before her mission.. OK I still don't like Ketchup, but I did have Salmon for the 2nd time on my mission on Monday too. Wow this really has been an exciting and adventurous week. Ok back to the Rattlesnake. It was chewy, and gross. But I had to do it. 

On Wednesday we ran into Alice. She is a less-active who lives in the same complex as a few older members. She hasn't been to church since she was about 10 or so, and so basically she's a non member. We were able to go back and set up an appointment with her to read the Book of Mormon with her. She is just super sweet and ready to learn more, we have run into her a few times around town on Mondays too. 

Quick backtrack.. Monday we went up to Oak Glen, it is so pretty up there, we went to Apple Annie's for lunch, it was so yummy, we ate way too much. There are a lot of cute little shops and things to do. We didn't spend a lot of time up there, but I am glad I got to go.

So transfers..I think Heavenly Father knew I was getting too comfortable here in Yucaipa. If I wasn't stressing about exchanges, you know something was up. So.... I am going to 29 Palms, Back to the Desert, even hotter, Yay. No, I really am excited though. And I am training again. Whitewashing and training, it will be great. I also get to drive a truck. It's interesting, I have wanted an older and experienced companion for a while, but I have been blessed with 2 comps who have taught me more than I think I could ever learn from someone who is older than me. I guess He's giving me the opportunity to humble myself.. and I am so grateful. 

Alright I better get going. Here's some pics of the week, It may have to be a couple of emails.

I love you all

Love,

Sister Kellee Gardner

Ups, Downs and Birthday Cake 8/11/14

Hello!

This week has been full of ups and downs, but it has been good. 

It started off really good. Tuesday we had an awesome lesson with Karla. We went in planning on teaching about prayer. We talked about a lot of different things, which usually I don't like to do, it can get really confusing. This time I think it really worked out. Here's why: the Spirit is what taught that lesson. Karla asked us a lot of questions, which was awesome to have her open up to us, that is what we really wanted and needed her to do. A lot of the time I tend to answer questions in a long round about way and it can get confusing. This time was different, I felt different as I was answering her questions and they were so much more simple( still not perfect:)) We talked to her about Baptism, we talked to her about church, we talked about the Book of Mormon. We talked to her about prayer and then invited her to pray. After the prayer-which was awesome- she said "thank you for having me pray, ive never prayed like that. I feel good." Ah that is when you know that the spirit was the teacher and that she felt it. We invited her to come and see a baptism on saturday, she was totally coming, but her husband had other plans. That is the biggest thing  holding her back right now, her husband. He is fine with her learning and everything, he was even taking the lessons from the Elders for a while, he just doesn't want to commit and wants to party, so in the end Karla doesn't have much support. It will come.

Ok so there is a new Mormon Message out, and it is AWESOME. It's called "The Hope of God's Light". Watch it!

Friday our apartment was inspected. That's not the cool part. Brother and Sister Smith happen to live in the 1st ward, and have for ages. I asked if she remembered a Sister Gardner from 15  years ago, she did. So, Alisha, she remembered who  you were. I was excited to find someone who knew you:D.

A BBQ & Zone Conference 8/4/14

This week was great. 

On Tuesday we had the Ward BBQ, there was a great turnout. The wards goal was 30 nonmembers/ less actives. I didn't count, but if we didn't make it it was close. There were a ton of people and it was so good to see people I didn't know. That is missionary work, just inviting someone to a ward party. We had fun just being able to go around and meet peoples friends, but the best part was to see the other members going up and introducing themselves. We have a large ward, so sometimes at church they don't see non members and they don't say hi. This was a smaller setting, less formal and they aren't rushing off to teach or anything. AWESOME. The food was good too:D

Friday we had Zone Conference. Probably my favorite one so far. They get better every time. We talked about things that are going well and success that we have been having. It was a great faith builder as well as a reminder to "REMEMBER" the things that we have been counseled to do.  We had a great training on working with members. 

I am really excited because it kind of takes all of the pieces that we have been given and puts it together into something that makes even more sense. 

Line upon line, precept on precept.. ["that is how he leads us, that is how He teaches His children"]

I know this is short, Sorry..  I love you all. I know that God is aware of us and that he DOES answer prayers. I saw this week how often it is through other people that those prayers are answered. I know that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that when I don't understand it all, I can pray for that understanding, and peace is what follows. I am grateful for the tender mercies and the things I learn each day. Thanks for all you do!

Sister Gardner

7/28/14

Hello! 

This week has been pretty good. 

Monday we had a great lesson with Karla, we committed her to come to church. We had Sister Diaz come with us, perfect member present, it turns out they have a lot more in common than we knew.

Wednesday was really good, we got a call from Spencer, a member in the ward seeing if we could come over and teach his cousin Britney that day. It was awesome that he called us. We were able to meet with her and we taught the Restoration. Britney's mom is a member but super less active and so Britney knows nothing really about the church except what she's seen at family gatherings. The lesson went well. Spencer just got his Mission call, and his brother comes home like 3 weeks after he leaves, so a lot of Britney's interest has come from that. It is an awesome experience for Spencer though to be able to start teaching now. 

On Friday we went around and met with members and shared the ward mission plan with them. We also taught the Plan of Salvation to some members. She has her non member daughter-in-law living there. There is definitely some potential there. As we were teaching she offered to scoop us up some ice cream and so she was listening to the lesson as well. Every little bit helps,her husband is a little anti but she has always been super nice to us.

Saturday, we went over to Golden Oaks and helped with bowling. When we got there there was a boy already helping them out, but we happen to know him. He is the sweetest kid, he is best friends with a member of the ward, and they have just taken him under their wing. He's 13 or 14, and we asked him why he came, he just said that he loved how he felt when he came to help them out and how nice they were to him. He would seriously be baptized if his mom was a little more  interested in religion and let him take the lessons. 

Sunday was fantastic. OK so Karla didn't come to church, but that aside it was one of the best sundays on my mission. The Spirit was awesome at church. I think the best part was the way the night ended. We went and stopped by a less-active family in the ward. We have been trying to get in but the wife has always been gone when we go by, so Friday night we had stopped by and talked to the daughter, she said come by Sunday or Monday night, and she would be home. So thats what we did. We just invited them to the Ward BBQ that is tomorrow and then got to know them a little bit. The husband has been the one who is more cold to us and he sat down and talked. He grew up in Mt. Pleasant, or at least went to high school there, he asked if I knew about the Manti Pageant. Do I know about the Manti Pageant? Of course. I told him about how much I love little Ephraim. It was really cool though. He told this story that one year at the pageant that the Moroni was late and that he had gotten stuck in the trap door, but that when it was time to shine the light up there, there was a Moroni standing there. You can tell that he has had some really good experiences and that he still has a testimony, but he is just being stubborn and letting things get in the way. Just seeing the way his attitude changed in the 20 or so minutes we were there was great.

I think that is about it for this week.

I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it allows me to be better everyday. I know that prayers are answered and that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us. I felt that a lot this week. I love you all

Love,

Sister Kellee Gardner

An interesting week 7/21/14

Hello!

This week has been a good one, learning some great things.

Monday we were able to go by Eddie and Karla, they were being taught by the Elders but they gave them to us. We talked to Karla and are going to be meeting with her tonight. 

Tuesday we met with Ann, she has been struggling with health and so it has been hard to meet with her. She is doing better now though. 

Wednesday..This is where things get interesting. So we went to visit Thekla and then went to Golden Sisters. That is a luncheon that for the senior sisters in the ward, they usually go to Denny's but this month they had it at the Relief Society presidents house. It was really fun to get to talk to them. Ann went and so that has helped her to get to know the sisters in the ward. Afterwards we were walking around and then we were going to drive and go to a different area. We were stopped at a stop sign and I was going to turn left. All clear, so I go for the turn and then I see someone coming. There was hesitation on my part and they also turned and then we got hit. They hit our drivers side front tire with the passenger side front fender. It was pretty low speed. No one was hurt. The axle got bent so the car was not really drive-able.  This is where all the blessings come in. 

Blessing #1-No one was hurt. If the other car hadn't of turned like it did, they probably would have hit the drivers side door.I can still drive.

#2-The night before while we were planning, the time of 3-5 we could not think of anything to be doing at that time, it took us forever, and also the time of 7:30-9. The accident happened about 2:45. While we waited for Elder Miller and his wife to come we walked in that area, and found out a member  had moved. The Millers were able to take us up by our dinner and we stopped by a less active who we hadn't met yet. We had dinner and then had an appointment with another less active and the RS president. She took us to where we would end the night and we were able to get a ride back, but that was all in the time that we again couldn't think of where we needed to be.

#3 We found out that there wasn't any spare cars that they could give us to drive while it got fixed. Ok thats fine, we can get rides from the members, and we will basically have to work longer in each area. Awesome, we might be able to find a new investigator. 

#4 On Thursday President Van Cott gave us his car to drive, they actually have a spare truck they use at transfer time so he would drive that and give us his car to use. So because we had the thought of working in areas and walking more, that is what we continued to do but we now had a car to help us. I think this really helped us appreciate our car just a little bit more. 

Saturday I was able to go to a baptism back in Yucca. It was for Josh and Diana. Diana is Bro. Perez daughter(our WML) and Josh is her husband. I started teaching them just before I left in January.(6months really flies by!) They had a date in March but that got postponed. Both Sis Davis and I were able to go back as well as some other missionaries. It was fun to be back together again. It was weird to go back and drive through Yucca, but it was great to see the people there. Sis. Martin gave us a ride, we were teaching her husband when I left also. Betty was there and also the Madsens and Sis. Hobbs. Sister Stewart was able to stay here and go out with Sis. Cisnerors and Sis. Bradford. 

Sunday we went and kept score for bean bag baseball again, I love it! it gets more exciting each time. Most of them are regulars but sometimes we get a new face. We went and stopped by a members home and shared a quick message with them, when we got home that night we got a text from her telling us what her 6 year old daughter said. "Everytime the sisters are here I feel the spirit of Heavenly Father, I feel so happy mommy." That made our day. Sometimes as a missionary you feel the spirit change the homes you visit but sometimes you are so used to the spirit that you often don't recognize the difference that it makes.

This week has been pretty good though. Today we went and played volleyball in Banning with some other missionaries, and hopefully next week we go up to Oak Glen. Anyways, thats about it for this week!

Thank you for your prayers and support! I love you all,

Sister Kellee Gardner

Slurpee day! and lots of Awesome things! 7/14/14

Hello!

This week has been good, we had some awesome things happen.

Last Sunday we had sisters in the ward sign up for specific times to come out with us. On Tuesday we had a sister come out with us for a few hours and it was so fun to just have a little tag along. We just stopped by other members in the ward, but she told us after how much fun she had. Later that night we were able to stop by Jennys for a few minutes to see how she was doing. She has been on the prayer lists that we leave with members and we could tell that those prayers are being answered. Also this week the members that we met with were asking how those people were doing. It is awesome to hear that missionary work is on their mind!

Wednesday we also had a sister come out with us. We stopped by the Song family, who were investigating in Redlands before they moved to Yucaipa at the beginning of the year. We just shared a mormon message, but it was the first time we were able to actually sit down and meet with them. They still go to the ward in Redlands, but know they need to come over here. The time is probably one of the biggest reasons they go there. 

We had a lesson with Ernie and Virginia Schwansky this week, they committed to baptism!

On Saturday we visit Sister Everett. I just love her. She always has some awesome insight or some great question to ask us. I love it because it makes me think and ask questions my self. This week was really neat, I don't know what was so different, but it seemed like we were old friends. She even commented on it. We took time to just listen( which we always do) but I think its because we listened with love. It really is amazing how much that makes a difference.

Yesterday at church there were some really awesome talks. I really felt like they were directed at me. I love when that happens, I know that my Heavenly Father is aware of me. I know that he is aware of each of his children and that he, through the Holy Ghost, prompts us so that we can be a blessing to others in need. I have seen it over and over on my mission. 

It sounds like everyone seems to be having a fun summer. I hope so! I love you all

Love Sister Kellee Gardner

the pics are of free slurpees and  homemade mac and cheese. both delish! (I was pretty proud of the mac and cheese since I didn't have a recipe and I was just going off of memory after only making it 2 times over a year ago...)

7/7/14

Hello!

Transfers are this week and both Sister Stewart and I are staying! I have been here in Yucaipa for about 6 months, and I am excited to be here a little longer. I had mixed feelings about this transfer, part of me wanted to leave, and part of me wanted to stay. There have been some good things happen while I have been here, and definitely some hard times. Life is full of that though. I read in Alma 8 today about when Alma goes to Ammonihah and satan has great hold on the hearts of the people, and all he can do is pray for the spirit to be poured out upon them. He starts to leave and then is stopped and is told to go back. The Lord prepared Amulek and then they go and do great things. OK so I feel like Alma did, discouraged and that satan has great hold on the hearts of the people here. So I learned a few things from this. I need to do a lot more praying, I am here for a reason and Sister Stewart and I are going to do great things. I also found it interesting that I read this chapter in Yucca and I had some similar feelings, We weren't finding people and I was at a loss of what to do. I may be at a loss, but this isn't my work, it is HIS and HE knows what needs to happen. Verse 15 of that chapter is wonderful. "Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you." When we are obedient we have no need to sorrow. It will all be ok in the end. 

So this week was good, we had a good 4th of July, it rained for about 15 minutes down by us, I guess it hailed up at the top of Yucaipa. It cleared out and was hot again. We went over to a neighbor of a member in the ward to help her decorate cupcakes for their bbq, We were in at 6 and doing planning, so we didn't get to see very many fireworks. It was still fun though. On Sunday we were able to go to the retirement home and keep score for bean bag baseball, It was so much fun. They were so excited to have us help them, so they would be able to play. I forgot my planner this week, so I don't remember a lot of what happened. Oh yeah. on Monday we went to the Klatts They are members in the ward and taught the Restoration. The lesson went well. They have a maccaw and I decided that I wanted to hold it.. I ended up holding it n the bat because it kept trying to bite me, actually it did( I had a glove on, no worries). The sewing activity on Tuesday went pretty good. only 3 people showed up, but that was a blessing because that was already enough people, 14 would have been crazy. It was a fun night though.

Also, a few weeks ago I mentioned Ernie and Virginia... So they arent real investigators, they happen to be the Padgetts as investigators. So we teach the Padgetts and they act like investigators and those are their fake names. We have a lot of fun with it, but it really does help us teach, they give us some good feedback. Anyways I think that is all for this week. I hope all is well. I love you all!

Love, 

Sister Kellee Gardner

Tomorrow is July!!! 6/30/14

Hello!

Tomorrow is July, What?? This month has gone by way too fast. 

It has been a good week. We were able to meet with a lot of member families this week. We don't have anyone really progressing right now so our focus is on strengthening the members and being grateful for what we already have. Sonia isn't meeting with us for a while (we aren't sure how long, but we try and keep in contact with her). 

Wednesday was wonderful. We were able to meet with an older lady in the ward, she is one we visit weekly. We later found out that she went to school with Ann Frank, yes THE Ann Frank. No big deal. I have been here for almost 6 months and shes been holding out on me! It's ok though we talk a lot about knitting and quilting with her. We also had lunch at the retirement home, I love visiting the people there! It's cool because people are starting to recognize us and ask us why we are there.

Friday we had exchanges with Sister Webb and Sister Tanner. I was supposed to stay and work with Sis. Webb and Sis. Stewart was going to go to the 1st ward and work with Sister Tanner, I was stressed of course by having to lead out in  the exchange, I don't know why I get nervous abou that. So when we were exchanging we realized that neither Sis. Tanner or Sis. Stewart are green dotted currently and so we had to make some changes, I would go to the 1st ward with Sis tanner. I packed up in a few minutes and we headed out. I learned a lot from this exchange, especially from Sis. Tanner. She has been in this mission for about 8 weeks, she came from the Ukraine. I had really wanted to work with her, so I was excited to be able to do that. I was able to see SO many things that I can be doing better. Now I just have to work on one at a time..

The power of prayer is real. We have been giving the members prayer lists of people that we are working with and we have seen the results. Sister Tanner shared some miracles they had seen from it as well and it just made me want to keep doing it!

This weekend really helped me to recognized the things that I can do better. The past few weeks I just haven't known what I need to work on and what I can do better and I know that it has been an answer to prayers. Richard G. Scotts article in the June Ensign really helped me too. 

Sorry this is scatterbrained. I will try and work on that.

I am so grateful for all of your testimonies that you share with me each week, It really makes a difference! I miss you all

Love, 

Sister Kellee Gardner

This week was a roller coaster 6/23/14

So this week has been crazy. It was a roller coaster ride. Monday was great and then each day had about 10 ups and downs. We ended the week on a great note though and looking at the week, I learned a great lesson.

I've been told on my mission "be obedient and you will be happy". Well I guess I thought that happy meant that I wouldn't ever struggle (I must have forgotten that missions are hard). I have wondered how on earth am I supposed to be happy all the time? ( not possible by the way) Heavenly Father was kind enough to answer my questions and to help me learn about these things. As a Missionary, I am not free from trials, actually I have realized that they truly are a great blessing. As I go through hard times I can relate to my investigators who are also struggling. There really is opposition in all things.

Sister Stewart and I really had no idea why we felt so crazy this past week, but we were able to share this experience with the Bradford family. We went and shared a Mormon message with them last night, It was Elder Andersons "You don't know everything, but you know enough." Sunday night things really started turning around, we really felt like we were being led to those who needed us, and we were able to see that same principle in our own lives, we don't know everything, but we have faith that it will all work out and that one day we will know. As I am reflecting on this, I feel like I have heard all of these things before, but it reminds me of something that President Packer said in this last conference "Much of what I have come to know falls into the category of things which cannot be taught but can be learned." That is how I feel about what I have learned on my mission so far. It is things that can't be taught. Life lessons really come from experience, that is why we are here on earth. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be on a mission and to learn and grow and help others as well. This really is Gods work. We taught Ann nothing, It was all the Spirit. We both agreed that we did nothing in this except plan the baptism. The spirit is the one who really taught Ann. Her husband is a member, but she did this because she knows it is true, her testimony is amazing. I am grateful to have been a part of that. 

Ann's baptism was amazing on Saturday. Sister Baker was able to come back and see it also, Ann was so happy. I forgot to tell you thaton Monday we taught our neighbors Ernie, Virgina, Dakota and Ernie's mom, Bula. We taught them the restoration a few weeks ago and it went pretty well. We taught the Plan of Salvation to them this time.  They are an awesome family, they have some great questions and we love to teach them. Bula is Christian, but Virginia doesn't have much of a background, so it's an interesting mix. They are gone this week on vacation on a cattle drive, so we will have to wait to teach them, but they are progressing really well.Anyways, I hope all is going well at home, I love you all! 

Love,

Sister Kellee Gardner.

What an adventure 6/16/14

Hello Family,

This week has been an adventure. When things are going well, Satan is doing his best to make life miserable. 

Tuesday was great. We had Zone Meeting and Sister Stewart I were asked to do a training, We felt completely inadequate, isn't that usually how it goes? It was exactly what we needed to train on because we have not been very good at it ourselves. It was on teaching using the scriptures. We both learned a lot from that meeting. We set goals as a zone for baptisms for the next 3 months and we had a really cool experience. We read D&C 29:6 and then knelt as a zone of 28 missionaries and united ourselves in prayer. It was amazing the spirit that was there in the room. President Van Cott has counseled us to be missionaries of GREAT FAITH and MIGHTY PRAYER. 

Wednesday we were able to teach Ann. We talked about the commandments. She has just been on fire these last 2 weeks. She was basically raised mormon. Everything we have taught she seems to already know. She truly has been prepared to have the gospel in her life.

Like I mentioned at the beginning though, Satan does his best to get in the way. On Thursday we went over to make sure who would be baptizing Ann. There was some miss-communication and at the end we weren't sure if Ann was still going to be baptized. We felt awful and didn't really know what to do. We were already having a somewhat rough day and at the end of the day both Sister Stewart and I felt like it was the hardest day on our missions so far. Today I think back and I don't know why we thought it was so hard, it definitely was not that bad. We got things straightened out and we know that she is being baptized on the 21st, and we are so excited!

On Friday we wanted to stop by and meet a family that the Elders have been teaching for a while now. We were going to stop by a member that lives just up the street first and then go and meet them. It worked out that the dad was outside when we got there and he told us that the Elders had been coming by and and that some of his friends were members(who happen to be in the ward, long, but cool story). Anyways he invited us to come by some other time when his wife was home. 

A lot of members of the ward when they find out that I made all my skirts and my bag have asked me to help them or some such thing( a lot like my sisters :D) or they have mentioned that they have a sewing machine sitting in their closet that they don't know how to use. So we decided to make it a Relief Society activity and have the sisters bring a friend, some fabric and supplies and we would help them make skirts. So that will happen in a couple of weeks but we had quite a few people interested. 

Anyways thats about it for this week, I think..

I love you all

Love Sister Kellee Gardner

A baptism date for Ann 6/9/14

Hello!

So this week has been pretty exciting. We were able to teach Ann twice this week and set a baptism date for the 21st of June. I am super excited for her. Her testimony is amazing and she has such a great desire to follow Jesus Christ.

We had lunch with a lady in our ward who lives at a retirement home. I love going there and eating with her. She is the sweetest lady ever and I guess people had been asking when we were going to come again. She told people that we were the missionaries from her church, and they just thought that was the coolest thing. We may have also really liked it because someone called us Miss America and her runner up, but she didn't know which was which..

We weren't able to meet with Sonia this week, but we have an appointment with her for this coming week. 

I have been learning a lot from Sister Stewart. She really is awesome. She reminds me to laugh. It has been good for me to be able to stay here and get to know the ward better. I have had a lot of trials on my mission, but I love being able to learn and grow from them. I wouldn't change anything about the trials that I have had. I know that my Heavenly Father is aware of me, and that he answers prayers. I am so grateful for that knowledge.

I love you all.

Sorry this is really short, I don't have a lot of time today. 

Love,

Sister Kellee Gardner

​Sister Stewart and I got these matching sweaters from Tammy when we were helping her last week.