Week 103: 1 for the Little Bitty Baby Born in Bethlehem!

Well family, it was a pretty good week I think. :)

Mom - Well I'm glad to hear that things are going pretty well. People will be people, that's all I can say. Compassion is, after all,  a Christlike attribute. But then again, it's not really possible to make people learn that either; it's all personal and up to them.

Dad - Just a preference of mine for the housing - I would prefer a private room haha.. I don't mind sharing the kitchen and the bathrooms or whatever, but after 2 years of sharing a room, and before sharing a room for the eternities, it'd be nice to have my own room. Anyways, just letting you know. :) I'm glad to hear that the Jazz finally got a win! Every team goes through this, and they'll be fine in a few years. That's a pretty hysterical story you shared... funny people. It's good to hear though that BYU's doing really well! J

Anyway, it was a good week. :) 

First off, we had a baptism!! The oldest son of the family we've been teaching was ready to get baptized, and so we did! It was awesome. Before I share the next thing, let me share a bit of how we found this family. We had been contacting for a couple of hours in this caserio, and we got to a point where we didn't know if we wanted to keep contacting or not, because we had been rejected all morning. However, we decided to knock on a couple more doors. With that being said, here's a story that Elder Frampton (the missionary who did the interview) was told by this kid during his interview. So on that same day we were contacting, the whole family got into a huge fight. Everybody was basically at each other's throats, and he just walked out, went to his room, and knelt down and said a prayer. He asked God to send help, because his family needed help. When he walked out of his room, we were sitting there in their living room.

It's interesting, these are the kind of stories that you hear about all the time from missionary work, but to actually be a part of it, is really a great blessing. I'm so thankful that we were able to be a part of that, and it's truly been an incredible experience to work with this family. They're golden, and he is really progressing well. His mother and sister will also be baptized, but that will come with a bit more time. We're hoping to get his sister baptized this weekend, so that's our goal there.

Besides that, we've been working with this less-active for a while, and we took a leaf out of Ammon's book, and just have been serving him. We've painted probably about half of his house for him, and he's really been very grateful for that. He promised us that he'd come to church, and he finally did this past Sunday!!! It was SO awesome, and he was so happy to see all the members that know him and remember him, and they were so good to him and greeted him and showed him love. I really hope and pray that he'll remember how that felt, and that he'll come back consistently. He's a really great guy, and I'm so thankful to have gotten to know and serve him and his wife. They're awesome.

Also, there were a couple of jovenes that got their mission calls this week! One is a Dominican and he's going to Des Moines, Iowa! CRAZY! Poor kid is going to freeze to death haha. The other one is a sister and she's going to San Diego, California. 

But yeah. :) Transfers this week, and it looks like I'm staying in Guaynabo until the bitter end! It'll be a blast. Transfers are bound to be crazy, they always are. Then we start zone conferences this weekend with Elder Cornish in town. Fun stuff.

Thanks for everything. :) I hope you're all doing well. I love you all! Stay true to the gospel!!

See you soon.

"The hardest thing I've ever come to see

is a Man down on His knees in agony.

A drop of blood falls down on olive leaves,

And for a moment, He suffers there for me . . ."

--

Elder Kimball Ray Gardner

Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

Week 100: Have a Good Time with Halloween

Well... it never stops! The craziness doesn't stop!

Mom - Well the sign looks great! I like it a lot. It's gonna be weird going back to a Utah ward... but it'll be fun. :) Sounds like Stake Conference went well! Did they talk about Hastening the Work?? I bet... that seems to be a pretty overarching theme these days, as it should be. Anyway, I hope you survive the week, Mom! Have a good time with Halloween and everything, I know that it's pretty much your favorite holiday ever. ;) Love you!

Dad - Yes, please send pictures!! I'd love to see how it's all going. And yes, I'd be happy to make a movie for ya. YES, I'm so happy BYU beat Boise State!! That's awesome!! It'll be a blast to have you here!! And don't get me wrong, I am excited to see you, but it's just sad to know that it's all coming to a close here... but at some point it has to happen and then it's time to move on in life, right? It'll be a fun time here in PR, and I'm starting to think of how to get things all set up. :) Anyway, have a good time with Halloween, and be safe!! Love you!

So... yeah, another crazy week. This week we had a great week in teaching people here in Guaynabo. We were contacting in a caserio and we found this great, humble family! They let us in right there and we taught them a little bit about how to have a more united family. They were really receptive and they really enjoyed the lesson. We had a great experience with them on Sunday. We left church during Sunday school and went over to their apartment and invited them to come to Sacrament meeting at 11:00. They said they would! The mom and oldest son got ready and came with us to church! We had a member meet us out front and he drove them to the church and they seemed to really enjoy it. It was an awesome experience!! We're really hoping that this family can progress and feel and experience the blessings of the Gospel in their lives.

 

E. Gardner & E. Turbovsky with friends
at the ward Halloween party

Besides that, we also had a Halloween activity in our ward, and we had a few investigators come to that also!! It was such a great blessing to see them enjoying themselves and having a good time. They got to know a few of the members, which is awesome! That was a good step for them I think. It was a fun activity, and made me think a lot about activities back home haha... it was combined with the Metro (English speaking) ward, so it was a big dinner and then a trunk-or-treat. We bought candy and we gave it out to the kids. It was a blast. :)

But yeah, things are going great. Life's good. Puerto Rico is hot and humid. It rains a lot. But the work is priceless. I know that God has prepared a Plan, and it is His Plan of Salvation. He loves us and wants us to go back and live with Him. He's prepared the way, and all we have to do is follow Him (because Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth and the life". He lives and loves us.

Thank you for everything, I love you all!! Stay strong! :)

--

Elder Kimball Ray Gardner

Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

Week 90: I Love Puerto Rico, I Can Feel I'm Going to Miss It

Mom - Well... I'm sorry you had a rough time at the thing. It'll all get better with time, though. I know that's not much consolation, but... that's all I've got right now haha.. :S Anyway, I love you Mom and I hope you have a better week.

Dad - Well it sounds like Utah has gotten pretty hot… wow. Knowing my luck it'll be like 30 below this December. I'm resigned to the fact that I will be basically crippled the first few days back home haha... It gets down into the 70's here and I get a little chilly, so... the 20's of winter may be the death of me ;) Just kidding haha... I'll get used to it again.

Elder Gardner, Pres. Smartt, Sis. Smartt

Anyway, a rather normal week. We had a few really cool lessons, and there's this one investigator who is preparing for baptism on the 31st! We had a cool lesson on the Word of Wisdom, and we invited her to give us all her coffee to throw away, and she did! We then fasted this weekend so that she would have the strength to overcome that addiction. That was pretty cool. Other than that, we pretty much just need to find new investigators. The next couple weeks will be interesting, and we'll know the transfers this weekend, so I'll let you know those next week. I probably won't be going anywhere, but Elder Mello's been AP and in Guaynabo for a little while, so there might be changes there. Hopefully not though, he's awesome!

I don't really know what else to say... it was a rather uneventful week haha. Oh, Elder Peacock is going home, so you may run into him haha. But I think I'm going to try and end all my letters from here on out with a short testimony of some gospel truth.

I guess this week I'll testify of the power of the Holy Ghost in our learning. I didn't take it seriously before, even though I did it, but scripture study and prayer have become one of my favorite things. I love the morning hours to study and search the scriptures. I learn so much, and it's all little by little. "Line upon line and precept upon precept." The thing is, if we don't show the Lord that we treasure that light that He gives us, we can't continue to receive it - He won't provide it any more. I testify that the Holy Ghost truly can teach us the truth of all things (John 16:13-NT, Moroni 10:5-BoM), and that if we really try to listen to His voice, He can guide us and teach us. He gives us light, and He keeps us safe from the darkness. I know that revelation is true. There's nothing that separates us from the source of all truth, Our Heavenly Father, and we can turn to Him always to help us.

I love you all so much, and the time here on the mission has gone by so fast. Too fast. I love Puerto Rico and I can already feel that I'm going to miss it so much. It will always have a piece of my heart (especially Guayanilla!), because this people have touched me in a way that I can't explain. :)

Anyway, thanks for everything, and know that my prayers are with you always.

Love,

Elder Kimball Ray Gardner

Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

PS: I have a picture with Pres. & Sis. Smartt!

Week 89: Time Keeps Moving

Well, a relatively normal week I guess.

Mom - Well now that I understand the situation better, I guess it wouldn't be the worst thing not to go to the beach... I'd be pretty bummed but it's better than not going at all haha. But just know that Dad would have to go everywhere I go! I'd still be a missionary, so... yeah. Anyway, I'll let you guys talk to President about that and see what he tells you. Whatever the Lord wants is what will happen. I feel confident that He wants us to spend time here in Puerto Rico, but it's the how that I'm not so sure about. He'll let us know though. :) Oh, and still no emails from anyone - try and post it on my facebook and if nothing happens then... it's been a year and 8 months and I'm used to it by now haha ;)

Dad - Well I'm sure the Lord will prepare a way for it to happen. Like I said, I feel like it's supposed to happen, but I'm not sure how. I really hope that Marilee starts to improve though.  And I did start looking through the BYU stuff, and I'm a bit confused (…)but maybe if you could call them and talk to them about that? Anyways, thanks!! :)

So... before I say too much about my week, I want to share with you guys some thoughts I've been having, and some personal revelation I've received this week with respect to my future. For most of my mission I've been thinking that I know myself pretty well, and I am going to need a career that will help me keep studying and to keep on the path to eternal life. I've also developed a great love of teaching the gospel here, and to use the scriptures to unfold the doctrines of the kingdom. All that being said, this past week it's occurred to me that a definite possibility for me would be to find a career in the Church Educational System teaching either Seminary or Institute (obviously institute would be the goal there). The great thing about it is that they ask you to get a degree in whatever field, meaning I can still pursue my English major, thus keeping other doors open. In any case, I feel really optimistic about this, and I feel good about it. Elder Tesch, a senior missionary out here was an institute teacher, and he once told me that there wasn't a day of his life where he didn't wake up looking forward to his job. That's the kind of job I want; and what better career to have than to study the gospel every day, all day? I can still play the piano and maybe record some music there too. I don't know, but I feel really good about it. I'll definitely pray about it, and there's a lot of time, because I can't get into that program without a degree in something, so that won't be for at least a couple of years - but I think I'd really love it. :)

Well, this week was pretty uneventful. We went down to Ponce one day to do a companion exchange with a couple of elders down there (by President's invitation), and we had a blast! It was great, and I enjoyed being back on the southern side of the island again. We ate quinepas and everything, so that was good. :) It was pretty hot though.

Other than that, we spent a lot of time this week trying to find people. We've been working in the campo of Guaynabo this week, in an area called Caimito, and it's been pretty fun. We have also been helping to teach our recent converts, and it's great to see them keep growing and progressing in the gospel.

New Car

We switched out our Corolla for a new 2014 Chevy Cruze - it's a pretty nice car. No, I still haven't had the chance to get a picture with Pres. Smartt yet, but we have meetings together all day on Thursday, so I'll be sure to get one then. :) Sorry!

Anyway, I love you all so much. It's unreal how fast the time has gone - it's already almost halfway through August... and we just started!! Agh! But yeah, I love you all so much and look forward to hearing from you next week!

Con mucho amor

Elder Kimball Ray Gardner

Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

Week 86: New (and Maybe Last?) Assignment! (Or Out of Left Field)

Well fam, I survived; but just by the hair of my chinny-chin chin! When I said that there were rough waters ahead, I didn't think it would be like this... haha funny story to come. 

Mom - Yes I've had mofongo, but I think only once in my entire mission. :( It's really really really good, and I wish people would make it for us more often haha... however I have had mangú a lot, which is a really good Dominican dish, and it's kind of similar. And yeah, it's weird knowing that all this is happening like this, but I think it's all going to work out just fine. In any case, I hope you all have a blast in Yellowstone!! :)

Dad - It's been pretty hot here too, so at least we're on the same page for this part of the year, right? And are you serious, Elder Reed is done tomorrow???? Wow... that was quick. And Elder Hill... holy cow that's unbelievable. That was fast. Then Elder Gillespie and then Elder Harward and Elder Snow and then Elder Paxman and then.... me. :S That. Is. Unbelievable. My goodness haha... wow.

 

E. Gardner, E. Mello

Anyway, so here's the funny story for this transfer: last Monday night we get the info, and I'm told that I'm going to Rio Grande to open the Rio Grande zone with Elder Patiño, a new zone leader. I was sad to leave Santurce, but I was super excited to go to Rio Grande! I had visited it before, and I had loved it, so I was looking forward to that. However, on Tuesday, I get a call from a different elder who told me that he was going to open a new zone in Rio Grande with Elder Patiño and he needed some information. I was really confused and told him that that was what I had been assigned to do, and he said "No, the APs just told me 4 minutes ago."

Uh oh. 

So I called Elder Peacock to ask what was going on, and he said he'd call me back in a bit. 45 minutes later, he calls and says that he's got my answer for me, and asks if I'm ready. I say yes, and then out of nowhere, Pres. Smartt starts talking, and he asks where I'm serving and if I'd like to go serve in Mayaguez. I say that's fine, and then he says he's joking. He then asks those fateful words: "Elder, are you willing to accept the assignment to serve as assistant to the president?" Um… what?? Was not expecting that, nor did I ever want to hear those words. However, I did accept, and so now Elder Peacock is happily training in Vega Baja, and I have been assigned to work in Guaynabo with my new companion Elder Mello (from Perú), and we are serving as assistants to the president. He's been AP for a while so he's helping out, and he's pretty much the best. :) We developed a good friendship while I was ZL when I'd call for stuff, so it's been a pretty easy transition companion-wise. Crazy, eh? So yes, I survived the transfers, but just barely ;) These will be some pretty interesting last 4 1/2 months, eh?

Oh by the way, mile marker moment: July 20 was the 2-year mark of receiving my mission call. Remember that day? Wow. Remember how long the wait was? Yeah... not gonna be that long this time I don't think.

Anyway, we had a pretty cool experience with an investigator this week. His name is Berto, and he's living with a less-active member named Kate. He's had a smoking problem for a while, and so when we got there, Elder Mello asked for the left over cigarette butts. He brought them out, and Elder Mello asked if we could blend it all up. They were pretty confused at first, but they let us do it. So we blended up the cigarettes with a bit of ice and water, and made a cigarette shake! The goal with this was to have him drink a little bit and create a bad reaction to the taste so that whenever he smoked again he would just feel sick. We brought it out and he just looked at it and said "I never want to smoke again". We then had a sweet lesson talking about how Satan disguises harmful things and makes them look good. We also talked about agency and how there's only 2 real choices: liberty and eternal life, or captivity and death. So now they have a wedding date for the 3rd and his baptism is set for the 4th. It'll be a struggle, but I'm confident that it will all work out. :)

Needless to say, I'm excited to teach with Elder Mello! He's a great guy, really humble, and we get along great.

Anyway, like I said, it'll be an adventure! It already has been haha... but know that I love you all so much, and thank you for everything you do for me. :)

Elder Kimball Ray Gardner

Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

Week 80: The Fun Never Stops in the Caribbean

Haha well the fun never stops here in the Caribbean (hard to believe, right?) But yeah, a pretty good week I think. :)

Mom - It's weird to think about graduation... that was 2 years ago! Agh! Haha but yeah... wow. And yes, I am so happy that things worked out the way they did, because I'm just so content with life. Anyway, I love you, Mom, and I do miss mowing the lawn and bagging the grass, so that makes two of us ;)

Dad - Well it looks like things are kind of boring back home! I bet you're loving the new calling though, I sure would! It would be like right now being relieved of my ZL assignment and becoming a normal senior companion somewhere... if only... Anyway, I'll keep watch for the packages; we're going to the office today, so I'll see if they're there. :) Thanks for everything dad, and I hope you have a happy Father's day on Sunday! I'll try and send a card as soon as I can. :)

18 month picture

Anyway, so a pretty good week I think. A member last Wednesday took us out to eat at Sizzler, and that's the first time in a while I've actually felt "trunky" haha... oh wow. Eating American food again... wow. It was good. But bad. But good, because I wasn't too trunky for too long haha ;) But yeah, then on Friday we had a Mission Leaders' Council, which was Pres. Alvarado's last one. To be different from all the others, we did it in the mission apartment, which used to be the mission home, before they got that one. It's on the 15th floor of this beautiful apartment building in Guaynabo, and from there, you can see all of San Juan, Carolina, Trujillo, Bayamón, and Guaynabo. It was great. Basically, you can see all of the San Juan Zone. Yay! But it was good, and it was a good meeting. 

Besides that, we taught a lot of good lessons, and there's a couple of our investigators who are progressing toward baptism. One, his name is Modesto, came to church, and we set date for the 23rd with him. He wasn't all that sure about it, but we're going to push our faith and make it happen.

Also, Francisco is doing great! He loves the church and he comes out with us all the time to lessons. He's progressing so much and learns so much, and he now participates in lessons, bears his testimony, and just ... is great! My most active convert to be sure. :) I'm so thankful to have gotten to know him, and I can't wait to see the kind of missionary that he'll be a year from now. He's a stud.

But yeah, other than that... just the same old missionary routine and worrying about the zone. Really tired, and sometimes overwhelmed, but always happy. :) Thanks to the Atonement, I don't have a reason to be sad.

Anyway, I love you all so much, and I hope you're doing great! I hope the summer's not too hot for ya, and that you enjoy it! I think it's gonna be a hot one here, but we'll see. I think there are some storms a-brewin' out in the Atlantic, so we'll see what happens there. But yeah, love you lots!

Con mucho amor
 

Elder Kimball Ray Gardner

Puerto Rico San Juan Mission