Caracol and Many Meetings

Last Monday we had a big P day activity as we went to a ruin called Caracol with the help of a senior couple, The Studebakers. It is the biggest ruin in Belize and it was fun to go visit and see that part of history and some monkeys as well. 

This week was very busy with several meetings in Belize City as well as here in San Ignacio. So it has been a very busy week here in San Ignacio. We are teaching several families the gospel but none of them came to church this week. But we are still doing good and it is a always a pleasure to serve regardless of the outcome. 

I've been working hard and I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have to be in a mission. Every day seems to bring new challenge and other obstacles but I know that a steady course forward in the gospel will allow us to overcome them. I know I'm kinda boring but I really don't have too much to say. 

Have a great week, 

Elder Gardner

Caracol ruins

We went to Caracol ruins today, they are the largest ruins in Belize and no missionaries have been there in 4 years. But Elder Studebaker pulled through for us and helped us make the trip. That guy is the man, without him we probably would never have gone to visit there. Also a member who helped excavate the site came along and explained everything to us. So it was super cool to see that. 

GC

General conference weekend was great, I really enjoyed listening to the talks of the leaders of the church. I didn't fully realize how great General Conference was until I got to the mission. Now, I love watching it and my testimony of living prophets is strengthened when I do. 

My companion and I are doing very well here in San Ignacio. We found a lot of new families to teach this week and I'm excited for some of the return appointments that we have, we have some very positive people to visit this week. We have been working hard and it has been good to see that some people that weren't active in the church before are starting to come back a little bit. 

This week I met a Scottish guy in the streets, he stopped me and starting trying to convince me fervently that God does not exist. This was an interesting experience, I could feel a darkness about the guy and he really didn't off positive vibes. It is much easier to doubt than to believe. It is also much better.

I'm doing good overall here in Belize. We are trying to help a lot of less actives to come back to church, we had 3 investigators come to church. We are hoping that they will read and pray with real intent, and thereby allow the Holy Ghost to testify of the truth to them. I know that the Gospel is true and the Plan of Salvation really is a merciful plan of our loving Heavenly Father.

Hope all have a good week.!!!!

pics, 

interchange with AP

Sis. Kay, the lady who makes us food! She's the best!

Sis. Kay, the lady who makes us food! She's the best!

interchange with AP

Lots of Craziness....

I don't have a lot to say today. I'm doing great, we are working hard to help people here in San Igancio gain a testimony of Jesus Christ. 

I think in this week I saw more Marijuana than in all my life. This week was the Independence week in Belize and on Wednesday people got a little out of hand. Lots of drinking, fireworks, parties, and especially marijuana. We were talking to some relatives of a lady named Sister Kay and then literally 15 minutes later we saw them hiding under a street in a drainage smoking marijuana. The amount of marijuana consumed and the thickness of their blunts are ridiculous. 

I went to Bullet Tree this week on an interchange, we saw some Mormons there and we took a picture with them. They were visiting from Utah to Belize. The house we have in Bullet Tree is terrible, I had to shower with a hose. Also the water looks like chocolate milk, I hope we can find those elders a new house soon. 

It is great to talk with the people here in Belize, they are pretty nice usually and are interested in talking with us(not usually to listen to our message however). I'm grateful for the mission, and I'm excited for General Conference next week. 

Everyone have a nice week,

Elder Gardner

San Ignacio

Hey everyone!

I had a great week here in my new area, San Ignacio. There are a lot of great people here and I spent the week meeting people and getting to know my way around. That is always fun and happens every time that you get a new area. I've become good at learning my areas, this area is really awesome and I hope to be able to be here for a while. I'm excited to be here in San Ignacio, there are many good members and there is a lot of potential for growth here in the branch. 

I'm doing good health-wise, there is a lady who cooks for us named Sister Kay. She is super nice and is a very good cook, she gives us a lot of food and she loves the missionaries. She is a very strong member in the church and I think she has 6 callings on the branch and district level, she recently returned from a trip to the U.S. She is awesome and has treated us very well, it looks like I'll be eating very well during my time here in San Ignacio. 

It cooled down a little bit this week, mostly we just got some cloud cover which feels great. The humidity still causes me to sweat but it is all good. 

I'm grateful to be in the service of the Lord, I'm happy and healthy and all is well. I hope you all have a great week back in Idaho, enjoy that nice dry fall weather. 

Take Care, 

Elder Gardner 

4 Transfers, 4 Areas, My Belizean Tour Continues

Tomorrow I will leave Benque Viejo and go to another area. This will be the 4th consecutive transfer where I have moved areas, I've never heard of that happening before in the mission. But, I'm enjoying my tour of Belize. I show up to a place, I do the missionary work there for 6 weeks and then, I'M GONE!!! Now I will be companions with Elder Mejia from Mexico, we will be zone leaders over a large zone of 18 missionaries. So it'll be a lot of work and a lot of fun. 

It was a very rewarding week here in Benque, 3 adult males members of the church here in Benque came back this last weekend. It is great to see people who have fallen away from the gospel come back. They can feel the lack of something in their lives, and they rediscover it once again when they return. It is great to see people find happiness and inner peace. I hope these three great guys can provide some desperately needed leadership to the group here in Benque.

In this life we have the commandments, they are instructions from a loving Heavenly Father to a happy, abundant, and fulfilling life. When we keep the commandments of God, we are happy, have less problems, and receive blessings. When we disobey we lose blessings and lose opportunities to have a fulness of happiness. I don't care where people live or whether or not they are Mormons, Catholics, Atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, or whatever. As individuals, as families, as nations, we will prosper as we keep the commandments of God. We have the instructions to a happy life and we only need follow them. I just wish people would see the moral decayment of our society, see the truth, and have their horizons broadened and filled with light.

I'm doing well, always slightly sunburnt. I'm going to a new area tomorrow, it is only about 20 minutes away so I'm going to pack my bags today, say goodbye, and I'll be a gone tomorrow at the break of dawn. 

I have less than 10 months left, that is crazy. I heard a house blasting some country music the other day and I was reminded of Idaho, I thought "wow, it's not too far off". Time flies by and you really got to make the best of each day, there's really no reason to be sad. Especially if you keep an eternal perspective in mind. 

I hope everyone has a good week, I send my best regards to all. 

With Love, 

Elder Gardner

Interchanges and "Emergency Interchanges"

Going to miss Elder Ostler

This has been a wild week. I had a two day interchange this week with the assistants to the president. I went with Elder Hacking to Belize City for a couple of days, but while on the interchange we were informed that Elder Ostler and I would have emergency changes. 

So basically I went up to Belize City for 2 days with a different companion, and then I returned to my original area, Benque, with a new companion. His name is Elder Johnson, I have a week to teach him the area because they are going to be taking both Elder Ostler and I out of this area. So, it looks like I'll have my 4th area in 4 transfers. This has been a crazy time! I feel like a hot potato, I just keep getting passed around!

It was nice to go up to Belize City, I got to speak criole for a couple of days which is always fun (if you can understand). It is basically messed up english, but if you listen and study a little bit you can start to understand it. It was also nice to go around in the truck with A/C with Elder Hacking for a few days, it almost felt unreal. I feel like a VIP going around in the dumpy truck they have, I also remembered when it was normal to go around in a car. 

We have been working hard here in Benque and we've been able to see some of the fruits of our labor. Many more members here have begun to regularly read their scriptures and say their prayers. We've tried to strengthen the members here and help some of the leaders come back to church, especially the adults that have the priesthood. It has been very cool to see the changes in these people as they try to repent and come closer to Christ. 

It's been hot here. But we've been working hard and I feel satisfied in my work, I hope that these people can continue faithful because they have good hearts and the gospel brings joy to them. I wish all would live the gospel because they would realize that it is a gospel of hope, joy, peace and love that has the power to change the world. 

Everybody have a great week,

Elder Gardner