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