This
past week was transfers and I made my way down to beautiful Newport News! I
love it already and got to see the ocean for the first time today (in a long
time) and it was stella. Well. parts of it...we had an amazing plan this pday
to go to Yorktown and see sites from the Revolutionary war and there is this
super cool road that is all old time feelin...has no stop lights, goes through
the forest and by the ocean, and stops at Yorktown, Jamestown, and
Williamsburg. We were pumped! Well we started at Yorktown and I got a solid 2
photos of some cool cannons taken from inside trenches that were created more
than 200 years ago! It was so cool! We stopped real quickly to get some food
and as we were eating in our car, literally a hurricane came haha. Like no
joke, tropical storm Isaias isn't so "tropical" and canceled the rest
of our day...We are praying that it passes by quickly and doesn't do too much
damage! President took a few sisters out of their apartments and relocated them
while this tropical storm/hurricane goes by. It's kind of a fun adventure of
needing to get 72 hour kits together, get a safe house, and be the
"dad" of the zone. What a crazy time...I can't stress that enough
like I'm sure this hurricane is just spreading COVID :(
This past Sunday we
had a lesson with Josh who has been taught by the missionaries forever but
doesn't seem to progress. We realized that the missionaries were just taking
care of superficial problems and not digging down to his roots. We realized
that they were trying to correct his smoking problem but we figured out
yesterday he doesn't even know if God exists. He wants to know but the way he's
grown up, he can't believe something he doesn't see. We were able to powerfully
testify that if he puts in the actions everyday coupled with
the desire TO KNOW, then he would receive an answer. He agreed and we put a
baptismal "goal" for him for September 5th knowing that a lot of
progress needs to be made but a goal motivates him! God is preparing his family
to hear the word! His wife is a member, he almost had a heart attack last week,
his daughter has hearing aids at age 5, his son that was just born might be
completely deaf or have lost major hearing, they have a daughter that has a
learning disability and is majorly behind, and their washer and drying stopped
working! A lot is coming at them right now but we know that it's after you hit
rock bottom that the Grace of Jesus Christ isn't just a "good option"
but NEEDED. We are excited for them and are ready to see miracles that happen
through his faith!
I'm am so blessed to
be a missionary especially during THIS time as, "the field is white
already to harvest; and it is the eleventh hour, and the last
time that I shall call laborers into my vineyard." (D&C 33:3)
Let's keep gathering
Israel and sprint to the finish because it is SO soon!! I think a lot sooner
than most of us expect;)
Love you all!
Elder Gardanier
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