Party in the USA, Fireflies, Country Roads...

Just some song titles that are describing my mission as of right now^^^

I finally arrived here in Virginia and wow is it so amazing! Virginia is so green, so humid, and even has some fireflies to make things exciting at night. I'll take you through my thought processes and what's happened during this crazy week...I said bye to my family about a week ago which was so hard again but it's a lot easier when I know and have seen the miracles that the gospel brings into people's lives. I met up with a group of 5ish missionaries and we trekked our way east to Richmond. Right as we got off the plan and met my Mission President and the Assistants, my mission president pulled me and my bud Elder Gappmayer aside to let us know we'll be Zone Leaders. I’ll be in Charlottesville, Virginia (close to University of Virginia)! I'm excited to see what President Droughbay sees in what I have to offer!

Here are some fun differences I have experienced over the past week from Brazil to Virginia:

-WALMART

-Air conditioning in the apartment...and every other building

-Dryers in our house so I don't have to Iron my shirt ever

-Suit coats (definitely had to buy a suit just for Virginia)

-Phones

-Cars

-Fireflies

-Costco muffins donated from the members

-Bronco Mendenhall (yep! He's in my ward and we are about to become homies)

-Weights in my house to work out with.

-ENGLISH

Anyways...this mission is VERY different and I feel like I am being trained all over again, however, I have felt the spirit as strongly as I've been able to teach the same exact lessons, same principles, and with the same spirit as was in Brazil. It was such an amazing experience to invite our friend Lauren to be baptized on July 4th and she even lives in New Mexico! I'm so grateful for the opportunity to use technology with missionary work and know that even when COVID-19 passes, we will continue to use Facebook and technology to find God's children all over the world (did you know that about 4 billion people use social media...that's about half of the world! Think of the opportunities).

SO...as I have found myself asking for referrals and gaining the trust of the members here in Virginia, I have realized that I can be asking for referrals from EVERYONE--In Utah, in Virginia, and even Brazil! I'm so grateful to be a missionary and see the light and change that this gospel literally brings. 

Love you all!

Elder Gardanier