Looks like I'm gonna die in Alalay

Hey!

Yesterday was stake conference and the stake center was far away and we had never been there before haha, but we had investigators that we wanted to take (Raul's family). So we went to pick up this family of nine... Raul couldn't come but we were able to fit us and everyone else in one taxi and we made it to the conference. It was awesome because they talked a lot about the family and how important it is, which was exactly what this family needed to hear. The dad was listening and was very focused in everything that was being said. Both the mom and dad have problems with drinking, but they have a true desire to change and learn. We have high hopes for this whole family! It was funny because we actually had more investigators in the stake conference than we usually have in the normal ward meetings.

Oh and funny story. After the stake conference we were just about to eat with the Familia Salinas and we got a call from another one of our investigators. We had invited her to go to the conference in the stake center. It turns out she got there late (like an hour after the reunion ended), but entered the building and went to the bathroom even though there were only a couple people there. These people didn't realize she had entered and while she was in the bathroom the locked the church. She ended up getting locked in the church and called us, begging for help. We had to call the bishop and zone leaders so they could tell the members from this ward to go open the building so she could leave. So funny but sad at the same time. Luckily she had a good attitude about it and was laughing.

This week has been one that has made me think a lot about the things I need to change and do better. I read Alma chapter 5 this week which is one that definitely makes me think about my conversion and the things that I need to differently to be a better servant of Jesus Christ. I love that life is about constantly changing and trying to be better. It is not something easy but it is something that helps us become closer to our Savior and to become more like Him. I have also enjoyed studying the recent conference talks about missionary work. I love this quote from Elder Ballard: "It is impossible for us to fail when we do our best when we are on the Lord’s errand." How true is that! If we do our best we will have success! I love this work and feel so blessed to be a missionary in this time and place!

So you're probably interested to know what happened with my transfer haha. Wellp it was about 7:30pm when I got a call from President Hansen, which is definitely not normal cause the district leader is who usually calls about the transfers, so I kind of freaked out. He ended up explaining that he felt like I needed to stay in my area and be a sister training leader. Hermana Morales from Peru will come here and we will be the new STLs for three zones. I am excited and it should be fun. I am excited to go on exchanges with all the sisters and serve and love them. It'll be interesting though because neither of us knows how to be STL but I'm sure with the help of the Lord it'll work out okay. My companion, Hna Vara will be going to Scure! So I am sure she'll love that even though she is sad to leave. This means I will finish my mission (die) in this area--Alalay. I am excited because I love the people and the members and there is a lot of work to do.

I love you all so much! Have a great week!

Hermana Gardiner

I LOVE MD

I am so tired of driving. So tired of studying the Code of the road. So tired of dealing with all the little things that come with driving a car. I hate cars.

Auto Ecole is going great! It’s just really, really not fun. And I would much rather be proselyting. But! I’m definitely improving and getting less and less questions wrong. It’s hard at the beginning when you don’t know all of the vocabulary, but I’ve pretty much got it figured out now.

On a much happier note...

I LOVE MONT DORE. Not only is it GORGEOUS, the people here are incredible. We have some awesome investigators, awesome members. It’s incredible!

Plus, I have the coolest companionship in the world. Soeur Maleb and Soeur Tehanin are sooo funny. We get along so well. We all admitted during companionship inventory that we were scared to be together but it is SUCH an incredible companionship. It’s so much fun all of the time, and its awesome in lessons. As President Brewer would say, we have an ideal companionship. Three different cultures! So cool. That makes it so we can connect easily to EVERYONE. I never want different companions.

It’s just crazy how different things are chez the Tahitians, chez the Melanesians, chez the French. It’s a good different, it’s what makes us unique. Happily, the gospel brings us together as brothers and sisters. :) Love it! I’m so grateful to be here and see so many other ways of life.

Je vous aime troooop!! Passez une bonne semaine.

Soeur Gardiner

Zion, otherwise known as Mont Dore

Io Ra Na!!!

So transfers were really weird. It was the first time new missionaries have come in my whole mission, and there were 4 sisters and 5 elders. It was just kind of overwhelming haha, but awesome too. Just felt soo surreal!

Oh yeah, 6 months... what? Where did the time go? I swear I just barely left, like yesterday. Crazy.

I love Mont Dore. It’s a super nice, beautiful area. It’s like Dumbea of the South. :) There’s a very realistic possibility that I will stay here for the rest of my mission, and that’s fine with me.

Sunday was AWESOME. The ward is super small compared to the ward I was in but man, everyone is so HAPPY. And so welcoming!! And our amis here are super awesome, they love coming to church and reading the book of Mormon. It’s great!!! 

My companions are awesome. It’s a COMPLETELY different dynamic from how it was with Soeur Martinez and Soeur Raney but its good. We all come from different places but we all want to be obedient and work hard, so that’s what’s important.

Since Soeur Tehanin is going to New Zealand, we practice speaking English every other day. One of my favorite things is hearing Soeur Tehanin and Soeur Maleb speak to each other in English. :) soooo cute haha. They’re both super good at it!

So, yeah! Things are going great. I start auto ecole Tuesday, pray for me! I need all the help I can get so that I can pass as soon as possible and get back to real missionary work.

This last week was a little all over the place and so was this letter haha... next week will be better.

Love you all!! Have a fantastic week everyone. I sure will!

Soeur Gardiner

Francophones. Plural.

A Vanuatese, a Tahitian, and an American walk into a bar.

Sounds like the beginning to a cheesy joke, right? Turns out, the only joke about that phrase is the fact that we would walk into a bar.

I’m going to..... drumroll please.....

MONT DORE.

Didn’t see that one coming, did you? Neither did I! I will be companions with the lovely Soeur Maleb from Vanuatu, and finishing the training of Soeur Tehanin, a Tahitian sister from here who weighs too much to go on her mission to New Zealand! So that brings an interesting challenge. I will definitely be the chef of the house, which means I have to get two islanders to start wanting to eat healthy food.

I NEED HEALTHY EASY YUMMY RECIPES. Recipes that will help my cute companion get to New Zealand sooner than later. Please? Help me. I’m counting on you friends and family! I will appreciate the help so much. Dinners, desserts that are secretly healthy, HELP.

Plus I am the only one out of the three that knows how to drive a car. haha.

This is definitely going to be a challenge, but I know that I’m up to it. They will help me SO MUCH with French, it’ll be awesome. Plus Soeur Maleb can teach me Bislama. :) So excited.

But also heartbroken to leave Dumbea. So hard to leave people that you love so much...

Speaking of people I love so much. We haven’t seen Morina and Nato all transfer, because they’ve had family here from Wallis. Every time I tried to call they said no because they were too busy.

Well, as usual? Most of our miracles happen when other lessons fall through. Soeur Martinez asked, "What are we doing now?" And I said, "Morina and Nato." Arrivé, THEY WERE BOTH HOME. We shared some of Moroni 7 and Nato cried. Such miracles. We have a soirée set up for Thursday! SO amazing. The Lord really is directing us and leading us to where we need to be.

I love you all so much! Thank you so much for the love, prayers, letters, recipes. I appreciate it so much!

JE VOUS AIME.

Soeur Gardiner