Soeur Gardner's Caribbean Adventures

BONJOUR!! Well this was another super happy week down here in Guadeloupe! We had exchanges, so the sisters in Guyane (a trio-- Soeur Cooper, Soeur Watling, and Soeur Vogrenic) came to stay with us for a couple of days! That was a blast-- we're all really good friends and getting to see each other again is such a fun and happy reunion :)  On Monday night, we felt like we should go stop by the house of someone Soeur Christianson taught here a few months ago. We were only there for a few minutes, but as we talked to him we felt a strong impression that he's ready for the Gospel! He talked about how God is so important in the life, how he already has avoided smoking and drinking because he doesn't see any good reason to do it-- and he said HIMSELF that he needs to find time to read in the Book of Mormon, so we're super stoked to see how he progresses! :) Soeur Christianson and Soeur Watling saw him again later that week and it apprently went super well, so we...

Hello friends and family!!! I had a really good week, it was full of lots of happy things!! :) On Monday night, we had a family home evening with Soeur Opheltes! She's a reaallyy sweet member who was baptized about 11 years ago with her daughter. We had a really good time talking with her about how the stake here in Guadeloupe is ALREADY here-- meaning that the people who will be leaders and members of the future stake are here, just waiting to receive and accept the Gospel, and that some of these people could be people that she knows and interacts with. She was really touched by that idea, and it really gives a bigger version of why it's so important for the members to share the Gospel. Talk of a stake has been a huge focal point for the past few months here in the mission, and it's becoming SO exciting! We also had district conference this week, and many of the talks were about why a stake would be such a blessing for the people here and how we can get there. Befo...

(Thank you so much mom, for everything) Bonjour tout le monde!! Happy belated mother's day!  This was a wonderful week!! I hit my 11 month anniversary on Monday-- I feel like the rest of my time is going to FLY by, and I'm trying to profit as much as I can from each and every moment. So this week I'd like to share with you a list of blessings and miracles I saw: -Spending a p-day with Albie -Listening to him rap as he made plaintain juice -Met the friend of a member while contacting -Taught two woman and their neighbor, who knew the church a little in Haiti and had a wonderful experience, which opened their heart even more to the Gospel -God placed adorable puppies in our path after facing a little bump in the road of lots of rejection -Talked to two hilarious neighbor-papis and had a really good conversation with them about the Gospel (and taught one of them yesterday) -A woman invited us to come and share a quick message with her, even tho...

Wow, where do I even begin with this week? This was one of the happiest most joyful weeks of my whole mission, because.... ALBIE GOT BAPTIZED!!!! It was one of the most special days I've ever been a part of. There was such a strong spirit of joy and peace the whole week leading up to his baptism day, and that spirit just got stronger when Saturday finally came around. But before I get into all the baptism details I'll tell you about the rest of the week, 'cause it was all super amazing! On Monday night, we had an incredible experience going to the Constants' home, one of the families in the branch. There was another family from the branch (the Princes) AND our three friends Richardson, Isneider, and Miradelson as well for a family home evening! It was like we were dreaming the entire time-- this is the kind of FHE missionaries wish for!! We had a really good time, our friends seem to be loosening up with us a little bit too and joking with us, wh...