Tahitians, Tahitians, Tahitians.

 Iorana!! (Hello in Tahitian) :)

  I made a DELICIOUS chocolate cake, without a recipe. I was trying to make brownies.... but cake works too – this is my apartment - soooo big. and so clean. :)

 Cutest child. Vaihau & Vaiariis Nephew

me in a Wallisian manon :)

Hello everyone!!! I just want you all to know how much I love you. Really, so much. :)

And I also want you to know how much I love New Caledonia! Ah, I just want to stay here and preach the gospel forever. :)

Signs you’re becoming Tahitian:

1. Raising your eyebrows and grunting a little is easier (and more meaningful) than just saying oui.

2. Milo (essentially just hot chocolate) counts as a meal.

3. Bread is a more useful utensil than a knife.

Haha, I love the Tahitian people. And Wallisians. Those are the main nationalities of the people who live in our sector. All of the different cultures here are so cool. Last week there was a big stake activity where each ward got to present a different island in the pacific. They sang and danced and everything. So cool! I can’t wait to get home and take a Polynesian dance class at BYU.

Our investigators are the best!! (She has a lot of investigators and loves working with them - just didn't want to put all the details on this public blog.)

I love the gospel! I love being here! Island life is so good. And the church is true. :)

Soeur Gardiner

Sorry i didn't have more time to be more clear. Love you!! Good luck! My comp is great! The district is good!! The other sisters in our district are so awesome. Life is good!!

Skyped for Mothers Day and lots of pictures

Molly was able to Skype for Mothers Day yesterday (two weeks late) so instead of spending her computer time writing a letter she sent a lot of pictures.

She doesn't have a lot of computer time so if you would like to write her - here is her address - it cost $1.15 or 3 stamps (This address will stay the same her whole mission.)

Soeur Molly Gardiner

Bureau de la Mission

BP 15154 98 804

Noumea Cedex

Nouvelle Caledonie

 Dumbea Sur Mer

 La Famille Putua, a recent convert family that feeds us once a week

  Chez Nouna, our little convenience store where we buy bread and things. Our apartment complex is the building just behind it

Our apartment building

 Dumbea Sur Mer

Sunset from our balcony

An apology and a real update

 Beautiful New Cal. I love the mountains here

  Our district

Us with Vaihau

Hello beautiful family! P Days here are super super stressful and last week was just not a good experience computer wise. I apologize for not being more thorough but writing the president had to take precedence, and there wasn't enough time because the building was closing. Super lame, I am so so sorry. Here is the complete update, and pictures because my bag made it here!

The flight: so we flew on Fiji Airways, which is super super nice. If you ever go to Fiji, make sure that's what you take. The flight from LA to Fiji wasn't too bad and I slept most of the time. The 7 hour wait in the Fiji airport was super hard though.

Vanuatu: I think Vanuatu is my favorite place on the planet. So green and lush, and so friendly!! Everyone just lives in a little squat and is so humble and generous. The first night I stayed with the Sister Training Leaders in Freshwota. I took a shower there and then another sister took a shower after me. When she came out, she said "did you see a snake in the shower?" And I was like "Noooo.." and she just said, "Good. It was just little anyway" Ahhhh! She continued to tell me horror stories about coconut crabs, cockroaches, and centipedes. That made sleeping on their floor a little hard, haha. It was so fun going out with the sisters and trying to pick up as much Bishlama as I could.

We ate dinner with President Brewer that night at a restaurant that looks out over the ocean. The sunset was absolutely beautiful!! I love Vanuatu. I definitely have to go back someday.

New Cal, Dumbea Sur Mer!

I LOVE DUMBEA!! Its such a unique place. Kind of reminds me of a post apocalyptic civilization. Its mostly government housing condos and apartments, but probably also the safest neighborhood in New Cal. We have a cute little beach in our sector. Its a great place!

Soeur Raney is a genius. She graduated from high school when she was 15. Shes from Arizona and goes to school in Arizona. She is GREAT. We get along super super well! I am so grateful to have a trainer who is good at training who can also be my friend at the same time.

Our apartment is sooooo nice, probably the nicest in the entire mission. Its clean, cockroach free, and its got a nice shower! Life is good in Dumbea Sur Mer.

I love love loove our investigators. Vaihau  and Vairii (his 16 year old brother) are doing pretty well and coming to church. I hope they can be baptized soon! None of our other investigators came to church, so that was super super sad. We just need to keep working!

For Skye next Sunday, (Saturday in the states i guess haha) make sure you write down all of the questions you want to ask so that we can use the time effectively. Love you all so much!!!

Soeur Gardiner

French is........ coming. I understand pretty well but speaking is harder for me than it was in the MTC. I am hoping that it'll come soon. Pray for me!

Short update!

Sorry I don't have a ton of time but I'M FINALLY HERE!!! I love it. My trainer is fantastic. So hard working and pushes me. She also feeds me AMAZING food so that is good!!

We are in Dumbea Sur Mer, which is such an interesting place. Its a huge melting pot here so there are tons of different cultures.

Funny though, church is pretty much the exact same on both sides of the world.

AHHH I LOVE IT HERE!!! I AM SO HAPPY!! THERE IS NO WHERE ELSE I WOULD RATHER BE!!!

Have a good week!!

Soeur Gardiner

VANUATU IS NUMBA ONE

 Vanuatu

 On splits in Vanuatu

The view from the backyard of the mission home in Vanuatu

Bonjour!!! Just sending a quick email to let you know that I am alive and well. It has been quite interesting the past couple of days but I have just fallen in love with Vanuatu. I'll send you a longer on Sunday or maybe earlier depending on mother's day calling plans. I won't know what’s going on with that until I get to New Cal tomorrow.

I love Vanuatu so much that I really would rather not leave. :) But New Cal will be good too. Vanuatu really is numba one though... (numba one is how they say GREAT in Bishlama). I already know I will be serving in the Dumbea Sur Mer area, and I will be trained by Sister Alyssa Raney. President Brewer says that she is AMAZING at French and has already trained someone before, so I am so excited!

Dad, President Brewer says that he knew you would grow up to be a great man. He says that it scares him that someone he was over as a principal already has a daughter on a mission, and he knows it's time for him to die. hahaha. :)

So the plane did lose one of my bags on the way here... today I will find out if I get it back or not. Please don't worry too much about it. It has definitely taught me some humility!  Thank you mom for teaching me to back my bags half and half! I could’ve done a better job of matching the outfits I had in each suitcase... but I'm surviving. If I never get it back, it should be fine. I'll let you know if I need anything. :)

Love you all, and I will send a better email soon!!!

Soeur Gardiner

Dallin H. Oaks, Cafe Rio, and leaving the nest‏

Elder Jonathan Downs! He's a cute elder, even on a P Day. He got here last week and he left today to Kansas!

 Elder Abbate, cutest French elder ever. He LOVES America, especially cheeseburgers. He has learned all of the English he knows from American TV shows, and so he has said a few embarrassing things. He has American flag ties, and even an american flag above his bed. He sings and dances to Let it Go in French, and it is hilarious. He has been helping us with our French, and we have been helping him with his English.

 I love taking selfies because you really get to see people's personalities come out

  Our zone, in blue this week. :)

 compys

 Me and Sister Leah Mouritsen, headed to Jamaica!

BONJOUR mes cheries. Here we are at the final week! Oh, what a wonderful thought.

Last Tuesday, we were graced with a talk from Elder Oaks. Yes, that makes THREE apostles in one week! Honestly, the Lord is looking out for me. With everything else that's going on here, hearing these apostles speak have made it all worth it. Elder Oaks laid down the law like he usually tends to do. He gave us some incredible advice. Anyone can change, anyone can achieve, but it takes real hard work and sacrifice to BECOME a missionary. It was an amazing talk! We have been so, so blessed here.

Nothing much has changed! Just getting ready to leave on Sunday. Mom, I can buy a calling card here in the MTC. I have no clue how to use it but it has instructions on it so I can figure it out. Luckily for us I'll most likely be able to skype you all next week! I can't wait to let you know what the island is like.

It feels like it has been a lifetime since I was back at home. I have changed so much, but only in good ways. I feel ready to get out and work hard!!

Last week, two elders from Vanuatu came who are going to Tahiti. I LOVE them. They are so so cute and humble! I am so excited to be around those wonderful people for the next year and a half. Every time I see them (there super shy so I haven’t actually talked to them, other than saying "bonjour!"...) it just gets me so pumped to teach those amazing people. I already love everyone in New Caledonia and I haven't even been there yet!

Sunday will be a beautiful day! Elder Simmons and I are already excited to feed our mate Elder Tempany his first meal at Cafe Rio. We are glad we get to give him a taste of America that is better than the MTC cafeteria. :) Only sad part is, because we cross the international dateline while we're flying, Cinco de Mayo doesn't even happen for us. Hahaha.

Here is my official New Caledonia address!

Soeur Molly Gardiner

Bureau de la Mission

BP 15154

98 804 Noumea Cedex

Nouvelle Caledonie

I love you all! I hope you have a good week. Next you hear from me, I will be in paradise and serving the Lord! I cannot wait.

Soeur Gardiner

Joyeuse Paques!!! :)

 Excited to open the easter package!!!

 My companions were way impressed that these were hand-crafted, not store-bought!

 It was a very happy easter!!

Every week our branch color-coordinates. It has been a tradition for a long time apparently! My companion only owns red, black, and navy. So here are us sisters in red! The new girls are both 23 and done with college as well. I am definitely the baby of the pack.

 Our whole new zone! One new district is Haitian-Creole speaking going to Florida, and everyone else who is new is going to Paris. 

 We love our district!

 Getting creative with the angles.

we love missionary selfies.

I think everyone should spend an Easter in the MTC. It has been such an amazingly spiritual weekend! The MTC really helps put things into perspective. Easter was so Christ-centered, it was incredible. I am so grateful for my Savior and his Atonement. Without him, I would be nothing.

On Sunday we had a giant sacrament meeting for the whole MTC, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf came and spoke. It was pretty incredible because he is the first member of the First Presidency that has come to the MTC in 4 years, so we got pretty lucky! (And last Tuesday, Elder Andersen came and spoke. Double whammy!) Uchtdorf's talk was INCREDIBLE. It was the perfect combination of an Easter talk and a missionary talk. I wish the whole church could have heard it! Essentially, what he talked about was how before Christ's death and resurrection, the apostle Peter was afraid. He had the beginnings of courage, but ultimately, he was scared. He denied Jesus thrice. But then, once he saw Jesus resurrected, he became a fearless missionary who "feared no man." He was able to preach the gospel even at the risk of his own life. This isn't "doctrine," but tradition says that when Peter was imprisoned, his testimony was SO powerful that they constantly had to replace his guards because he kept converting them. Uchtdorf said that Christ gives us the power to "fear no man" as missionaries as well. We cannot be afraid! As missionaries, we are essentially the extended arm of the 12 apostles. It is our duty to teach and testify fearlessly. It was exactly what I needed to hear!

Then, kind of a funny story. I love my compy, she is 23. Anyway, so as we were leaving the meeting she decides that she MUST meet Uchtdorf, and that she had been praying that she would be able to talk to him. So, she starts running around the building to get to the door that he would come out of. On our way, we ran into a member of our Branch Presidency and his wife, the Dowlings. My comp asked if they had seen him come out yet and they said they weren't sure. Anyway, so we stood there for a second, and lo and behold, he came out of the door! He shook our hands and wished us a happy Easter, which was pretty cool. 

Well I hope you all have an amazing week! Gardent la foi. (Keep the faith.) Love you all!

Soeur Gardiner