June 23, 2014

Mi familia linda, 

Wow. Crazy week. The Cornelys postponed their baptism to this Saturday. It was just kind of a technical miscommunication, so all is well. We are just going to have more time to prepare them. They are so fun. We are having a blast teaching them. 

So, this week we got the awesome opportunity to go and do a session at the Ft. Lauderdale temple. O MY!!! It has been way too long. I love that place. I could go every day. So much to learn. The whole mission got to go, but we were divided into zones. Afterward, we went into the chapel and got to ask President questions! It was so cool. Such a wonderful experience. For some reason, this time as I was pondering, I just felt so much of God's love. He is really there. On the flipside though, Satan is real. He wants us to fail. We just need to stick close to the church, the prophet, and people love us. If we do, we will have the life God wants for us. maybe not the easiest or the life we think we deserve, but we will have the life that will teach us what we need to know to return to live with God again, GOD IS GOOD! HE LOVES YOU!!!!

Sister Torralba and I are doing well. Twelve weeks is a long time to be with someone, BUT it is good that we get a long so well. Otherwise, I'd probably kill her. We are able to just tell each other when we need them to stop talking :). We are learning so much from each other. Remember the sour sap stuff I sent you the picture of? The fruit? This is what it looks like on the inside. Wierd. 

For some reason, I thought it'd be fun to send you a picture of the guts of my bag. O the missionary life...Chapel cards, pass along cards, mormon.org cards, book of mormon, camera, wallet. On the outside of the bag is my planner (for easy access. got to be quick to get someone's info), car keys, and germex. So fun. I'm going to miss all this. ​

Dad, I just wanted to thank you for all the weird things you have taught me. So, it has been raining like crazy lately. It pours every day, not all day but every day. Well, the roaches come in when it rains. We don't get a lot, but we get a few REALLY big ones. So, we saw one, and I was like "NO WAY." So, we were spraying around the house with this bug spray. I go into the closet and there is a HUGE puddle. We start cleaning it up and call the senior couple in charge of housing. He says, "Well, the best thing, Sister, would to be to pull up the carpet. I'll walk you through the process." From the deep caverns of my brain, a memory crawled out of Dad getting a butter knife, sticking it by the baseboard and pulling the carpet up to find a multi-colored mat. i said, " Elder, thanks, but I actually think I know how." YEEE! I was so proud. It may be prideful, but I love being able to do things like that by myself. Thanks Dad. Mom, I also taught Sister Torralba how to make cookies from scratch. I didn't even burn down the house. :) Really though, thank you Mom and Dad for all the good things that you have taught me. I'm sorry that I wasn't kinder and more self-motivated to help around the house. I love you and appreciate you all you have done and all that you do for me. I love you!!!

Until next week...

Hermana Gardner Pants