July 14, 2014

Well Errybody,

Thank you all for the birthday wishes. It was a GOOOD birthday. One year more!! Another year another destiny...s'cume (excuse me). Anyway...

I picked up my new companion in Wednesday. Her name is Sister Jones. She is fresh from the Mexico MTC as of last week. Things are going well. We are already having tons of fun. She broke the trend of all my companions being from either Utah or Oregon; she is from California. Remember how I turned 25 this week, well she is BARELY 19. I think President got a laugh putting us together. Quite an age gap, but it's alright. I have a baby face. Things will work out. 

This is her. Trainee #2: Sister Jones! We got free Slurpees on 7/11. We already are low on miles and Sister Jones doesn't have her bike yet, so we are walking A LOT. My legs are going to be looking good. 

So, a quick update on the work her in Royal Palm. We are teaching this wonderful Colombian man, Oscar. He has crazy high desires to be baptized. We taught him the Word of Wisdom the other day and he told us that he had just gotten a bunch of Colombian coffee. His family had given it to him when he was down there last week. Well, We told him that it would probably be easier to not drink it if he didn't have it in the house. We told him that we'd take it and, HE GAVE US HIS  COFFEE!!! He is awesome. He knows that the Word of Wisdom is going to bless him. It may take a little longer with him, but I just feel so good about him. He has true desires and just needs it so badly. 

Since we are on foot, we have been able to talk to EVERYONE. We have had a lot of cool experiences. I've run into people that I have taught before who are letting us teach them again. We found this awesome Haitian guy on a bridge yesterday. He said that he was just out thinking about his life and things. He said that he comes there to reflect. We pounced on that. He gave us his address without us even asking for it. We met a lovely lady from Puerto Rico who said that she knew we were sent by God to help her family. Things are going well. We love Royal Palm. 

I'm excited about being in this ward, in this area, and in this companionship for my last two. It's funny how things have come together like this. I know that this is where God wants me to be. As I fall into bed dead tired every night, I just feel so much satisfaction knowing that God is proud of the work that I am doing. It is so great to be a missionary! 

Welp, Family, I love yous all. I wish that I could write everyone of you a separate email and letter. Just know that I love you and that I pray for you erry day. Les quiero MUCHO!!!

Hermana Gardner