Maskless!

 I'm blessed. We blessed. Another blessed week. I have so much to share but here are the highlights!! 

1. My last Zone Conference has come and gone. It was surreal. One of the best parts was when President Droubay said, "if you have been vaccinated, you can take your masks off." WHAT?!?!?!! Yep. We have entered phase 3 as a mission which basically means normal missionary work...kinda. We don't have to wear masks as long as the majority of the people in a crowd feel the same way. We can finally start to find people to teach in ways before COVID. I never thought this day would come!! I've got 4 weeks to grind out some work. God is good. 

2. Miracle two is a BIG testimony builder for me. One night while praying, I some how fumbled my way on my phone and onto a random area book record. I thought it was strange but I set a time to reach out to Sid. We called the next day and I immediately saw God organizing a miracle. Turns out, Sid's wife was a member but she had passed away the same day I had a feeling to reach out to Sid. Even before anyone knew about her passing we had planned to reach out. It was amazing to see how God was already orchestrating a plan to show his love for Sid. 

     Sid went on to explain that he lost a son 2 weeks ago and that he is going through a really rough time. And towards the end of the call he said, "You would make me super happy if you could lift my new electric wheelchair into my house so I can use it." We cleared our scheduled and booked it over there. I was so humbled to see how God's timing is perfect and he can cause great things to happen even from the smallest promptings. God is good. 

3. Remember Christian Dempsey? Well we have been praying and fasting that his biological dad would give him permission to be baptized. And guess what? HE DID. And not only did he give Christian permission to be baptized BUT he is getting baptized this Saturday on June 5th!!!! God is good. 

     Then, later that day we went over to Larry's house. We taught about the importance of the sacrament and how after we are baptized, we have the Spirit to ALWAYS be with us. We asked if that was something he wanted and he said, "Yes! I want to be baptized!" So Larry is scheduled for July 17th!! God is good. 

   Moral of the story, we have been majorly blessed with miracles this past week. There is almost no better feeling than following a prompting of the Spirit. I am grateful that I ALWAYS have the gift of the spirit to be with me. 

Love you all!

Elder Gardanier 

White: the absence of color?

We went into this military base and went up this lighthouse. And then we also went to the exact spot where the first settlers of America landed

 --Some quick stats for this week--

Food of the week that I slept on: 2 Bananas! 

Times that I've seen the beach: 1!!

Times that we have done a 2 hour drive: 4 🥵 

Chick-fil-a: 2 🥴🤤

     Basically this week was CRAZY and so eventful. My two new companions are Elders Allred and Gilbert. These two are a bunch of goons and we have a good time. We have a joke about this standing lamp in our house that is always in the most inconvenient place...It's been surprising to see it when I step in the shower in the morning or see it in my bed when I go to sleep. Who knows where is next?! 

     We had an interesting yet miraculous lesson yesterday! Backstory: Melissa is a member who withdrew her records from the church a while back BUT has been trying and working with leaders to join the church again. She is weeks away to being re-baptized! Her husband, Jared, is NOT a member but he is way fun and interested in learning. 

     Recently, he has been confused on how HE can fit into the church. It's been hard because he can't see himself as a "cookie cutter" member. He also believes that his sins and mistakes have shaped him into who he is and he doesn't want those experiences to go away. In fact, he used an analogy how he has different "colors" that paint his past. He's learned about red, or has experienced blue, and many studies have brought him to green. He doesn't feel like he fits in because he isn't the same "shade" or "color" as the other members.

     My companions and I jumped on this analogy and all of a sudden my 6th grade self remembered the essence of white light. I told him that white represents purity and that is our goal. People think that they need to be washed free from their experiences and growing up in order to fit the model...HOWEVER, I told him, that white light is actually made up of red, blue, and green. His experiences, and the experiences and colors of other members, can combine to make up the White: Jesus Christ. 

     No. I am not saying we don't need to repent and be washed clean from the stain of sin. Nope. Not one bit. BUT I am saying that past experiences of green or blue can be made pure through the red blood of Christ. He can make us pure and unique as individuals. I love how Elder Holland sums it up by inviting us to claim the glowing embers of the past and not the ashes. Christ can justify us from our sins and fill the gap, however, the process of being sanctified is A PROCESS. It takes effort, time, trying, falling, brushing your knees off, and committing yourself to never give up. 

     The beauty of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is that it can and should be woven into every aspect of our lives. I am discovering that Christ is in the details and in every moment of my life (more to come on this next week;) 

     SO. (To tie things up together). Jared can still be a member of the church WITH his appropriate habits and customs while still being able to be made pure. The key to doing this is reading in the Book of Mormon daily and APPLYING these teachings. We have been given THE BEST roadmap for our lives, and I'm sad to say, I have not utilized it to it's fullest in my life. I'm excited for the future!

Beach Vibes and Michael Jackson

 My last transfer has finally arrived and I can't believe it. I'm excited to work my tail off because I'm so lucky to be a missionary! 

    And as for my last transfer...I will be heading down to VIRGINIA BEACH! I have always wanted to serve there but the zone leader spot was Spanish speaking BUT they changed it my last transfer so you can say that God is good! I'm actually trading my good friend Elder Seegmiller spots so that he can fill the big shoes of being Assistant to the President! I can't wait to go on exchanges with that Elder!

     This last Sunday was a tough one because I had to say a lot of goodbyes to such amazing members! I felt so much love from each of them and I was given the perfect send off...during our 2nd hour meeting, this lady raised her hand to make a comment. Since our 2nd hour is also broadcasted over zoom, we use a microphone so all can hear. This lady grabbed the mic, cleared her throat, and began to hum the most beautiful melody. After a few minutes she started singing "We Are the World" by Michael Jackson. She brought the biggest smile to my eyes because 1. I love that song 2. I never thought I would hear a live performance of it during church! The Richmond Branch definitely brings some of the richest experiences!

     As for myself, I have been doing a deep study on pride AND it's antonyms Humility and Meekness. I realized that I am super prideful. I have so much to work on. I can get better in almost every aspect of my life. HOWEVER, I know the blessings of being humbled and meek WELL out weigh the consequences of pride. 

    Helaman 3:35 lists a bunch of blessings when I humble myself "Nevertheless, they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

I love how Humility keeps me on my toes. It helps me to stay on the edge of my seat and not settle. President Benson stated this perfectly when he said, "Do you know what peace and prosperity can do to a people--it can put them to sleep." 

And. To sum it up, C.S. Lewis encapsulates an aspect of pride when he said, "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man."

I invite you all to keep me humble because I know humility qualifies me for Christ's grace WHICH is essential!

Love you all!

Elder Gardanier

We snuck into a hospital

Okay, maybe we didn't actually sneak into a hospital but it definitely was a surreal experience being in a hospital ESPECIALLY during COVID. 

     We got a call from the Jamestown ward and they told us of a member who is in the VCU hospital and wanted a blessing. They asked US to go and give her a blessing since Jamestown is like 1.5 hours away. I was so humbled.

      First off, parking in Richmond is horrendous. I definitely murmured because we had to pay $5 to park in a parking lot that was .75 miles away from the hospital. But after our visit, that $5 was worth every single penny...

    For anyone who has been in a hospital before, those things are SUPER confusing and just add COVID on top of it and it made it all the better. They were checking out temperature, we basically were drinking hand sanitizer, and going in random doors hoping it would lead us to our destination. I was worried the nurses were going to mistake our well dress and name tags as the doctors and I would've found myself extracting an appendix from someone in the operating room;)

     But in all seriousness, we found our way (after asking too many nurses for directions) and we found this member not very conscious lying on her bed. She has had a lot of trials thrown at her recently and I couldn't help but to be blown away by the opportunity to be the answer to her prayers and the hundreds of prayers being said by family, ward members, and friends.  I knew that God was able to send her angels in the form of two 20 year old missionaries. We were able to give her a blessing and then waltz out of the hospital full of the spirit and humbled at the amazing opportunity we were given.

    My companion and I have recently been trying to crack the code of how we can help missionaries or even people we are teaching have a greater desire. A desire to learn. To grow. To progress. To be an effective missionary, etc. We decided after reading Ether 12:4 and Moroni 7, that a desire comes from the joy and satisfaction of living the gospel...or in other words after good works. And in order to get to the good works we need a hope in Jesus Christ and we know that hope is strengthened as we have faith in Jesus Christ. Everything comes back to faith. The faith is the root to this tree. Our faith is able to grown when we soften the dirt through humility and meekness. AND things such as Preach My Gospel, studying, prayers, etc are all "the branches and leaves." However, we know, just like trees, that the leaves can provide photosynthesis which in turn strengthens and feeds the trees and allows the roots of Faith in Jesus Christ to grow. This analogy has been an even stronger testimony to me that Faith in Jesus Christ is the basis for everything.

Love you all!

Elder Gardanier 

My man Marshall!!

      I finally figured out what I want to do with my life. I want to be a dissembler...you know. Someone who takes things apart and destroys things. Let me explain:

     This past week we went back to Habitat for Humanity to do some volunteer work. This place is honestly a big stress reliever because they make money off of salvaging metals. So our charge is to disassemble whatever comes through and it is a grand ole time. I've gotten pretty good with a Philips screw driver--you can say that I'm a big deal ;)

     However, the part that makes this place so worth it is the people. I made a new 82 year old best friend named Marshall. Our first week together I commented how I loved his button-up shirt. He looked confused to be hearing this from a millennial. Well, turns out Marshall has the biggest heart and that week he washed the shirt, he even air dried it, and he gave it to me in an authentic cardboard Nordstrom box. I considered that the highest honor at Habitat for Humanity. I love his example to me of service and charity. 

     And not only did he give me literally the "shirt off his back" but he also brought his band. He brought his trombone, a clarinet for my companion, and a tiny keyboard for me --only 5 of the 26 keys actually worked ;). We turned that warehouse into the streets of Louisiana as we played "When the Saints go Marching in." Catch us and Marshall touring the country for our album's debut.

     

     Of course, this week flew by and it gave me so many memorable moments. One of them in particular came from church. Going to church here in the Downtown Richmond Branch is a surreal experience. Out of our 2 hour church, I think I stopped smiling only for 5 minutes of it...and that was to breath. There is something so special about the people here. They aren't perfect, they don't say their prayers perfectly, they don't wear the expected Sunday clothes either, and sometimes they call themselves "idiots" (and some other explicit words) as they try to take the sacrament and accidentally drop their water cup into all the other water cups in the tray. They take some of the unneeded culture of the church out and they can bring a sweet spirit. It reminds me of what Elder Ballard said this past conference when he emphasized the fact that "We are ultimately more alike than we are different." I know that the true race is between God's family and sin...not between us and our neighbor. These are just a few reasons why the Richmond Branch is so refreshing!

Also. Remember this timeless advice from Alma 59:9 that says, "It was easier to keep the city from falling...than to retake it from them." And to apply this to our individual lives, President Benson said, "It is better to prepare and prevent, than to repair and repent."

Love you all!

-Elder Gardanier

P.S. I tried to prank my companions by putting onions in their pillows to sleep on BUT it backfired and while I wasn't looking their switched the onions and now I can add to my count that I have slept on an onion without knowing...

Another week of Amazing moments

 Here is my count for the week:

-Number of COVID vaccines: 2/2

-Number of nights I slept with a potato in my pillow without knowing: 6/7

-Number of wheel barrows full of horse manure I scooped and emptied: 3/3 🤧

-Number of times we went on a walk after 8pm on April 20th: 1

-Number of times I REALLY regret going on a walk at 8pm on April 20th: 1!!!!!!!

Overall, this week was a win. Some things this week left me shaking in my "custom made baby seal leather boots" and others had me leaping off the walls. I truly am loving every moment as a missionary!!!

To start off, the 2nd COVID vaccine was amazing!! I mean, I definitely do not want to take it again but I'm so grateful for it!!! I woke up at 3am the following night with some major chills and didn't really sleep at all BUT that is okay. My wounds were mended as we laced up our boots the next day and volunteered on a farm. Hank the horse is my newest companion and we definitely did a boot scoot and boogie as we hauled off loads and loads of some fresh manure! 

This week, two of my most favorite moments happened on Sunday. The first one involved our friend Troy. He actually was a member of the church but after some crazy events, he left the church completely and joined the Community of Christ (aka the RLDS church). After meeting with him the past few weeks, we invited him to come and see us at church...just for a week! He consented but pulled out last minute Sunday morning. But to my surprise he walked in RIGHT as the Branch meeting started. He loved the meeting and it was especially impactful when he went up to Sister Rawlings--who gave a talk about loving everyone and kindness--and gave her the BIGGEST hug and just sobbed on her shoulder. They talked for a solid 15 mins and it was exactly what he and she needed!

     Then, I went up to our friend, Carl, who has been taking the missionary lessons for a few months now. He really is excited and anxious to be baptized but because of some past events, he needs special approval for baptism. However, he is such a solid person and I can't wait for the day that he is baptized. However, I had a feeling to go up to him and ask if he would fellowship and make conversation with Troy when he came to church. He looked at me, paused, and his eyes filled with tears. He said, "That as a blessing already to me Elder Gardanier. I want to be a part of this church." Carl just needed an opportunity to serve. He needed to feel needed. It was such an amazing moment!

Love you all!

Elder Gardanier