Hola hola hola!!!!
Your Europe trip
sounds like it was amazing! Thank you for thinking of me on the London Eye
trying to eavesdrop on the Italian. I think of you guys serving in Italy all
the time and remind myself that it IS possible to learn a language! You are
both absolutely INCREDIBLE examples!
I showed one of our
investigators pictures of the family and she is only a couple years older than
you mom. She was like oh both of your sisters are BEAUTIFUL! And I was like oh that’s
my mom and I promise to this day she still doesn’t believe me. She went up to
everyone that was home and told them that you were actually my mom and no one
believed it. I was dying!
I love that you saw
the London Marathon! That is so awesome! Of course you guys were running all
over Europe! We haven’t ran since the mtc. Every time we plan on it, it rains
and my comp doesn’t want to run in the rain.... so bummer.
(Our front desk guy in London looked just like a British Zach Efron. I wanted to take a picture to send to Aimee.) Also mom thanks for
not being creepy to British Zach Efron. I am jealous that you saw him though!!!
I’m trying to picture it and it sounds to amazing to be real. I guess we will
just have to go back to Europe in a few years :)
Church is so good! I
love it so much even though it is all Spanish Spanish Spanish. For some reason,
it is still the same peace and breathe of fresh air I need for the week. There
is something amazing about church attendance. I introduced myself and bore my
testimony for four minutes! Ahh it was so great! Even though my Spanish is
TERRIBLE, I think it showed the members I am trying!
It is going to rain a
lot here, but NO WORRIES because literally the things I have are PERFECT! Mom,
like literally the gloves coat umbrella shoes leggings EVERYTHING is perfect! They
have higher boots here at the house that are super clunky but I will wear them
when the water is way too high, but until then, everything I have is EXACTLY
what I need so thank you! :)
Pday has been super stressful because we got permission
to go to the beach! So fun, but now there is no time for groceries and writing
and everything. I have ten minutes right now and then I think in a few hours we
will get 30 more minutes.
This week was so great!!! So much goodness here in Chile! I
got to go to the beach today!!! AHH there are tons of pictures that I have no
time to send so sorry, I’ll send them sometime soon.
This week we had divisions and I learned a ton from the
sister training leader Hermana De los Santos, about being happy no matter the
circumstance. Also we were talking about food and weird stuff she has eaten and
I asked if people eat a lot of fish and she said that she has only eaten it
twice so far and this is her last exchange. So yay I was pumped! BUT HI GUESS
WHAT I ATE TWICE THIS WEEK. Yep fish. And it wasn’t like solid halibut or
salmon, no it was an empanada filled with nothing but fish. In English it is
called empanadas of the animals of the sea.. It smelled so bad, I was dying.
Then one of the elders told them that these were my first empanadas so they
made me eat four. FOUR! But guys, great news, I ATE THEM ALL!
Anyways, then we had a lunch with them again on Sunday. It
touches my heart to see these people trying so hard to make sure the missionaries
are fed. So we show up and it already smells like fish. I’m like oh no. Here we
go again. Yep we had more fish. Not in empanadas though, but with the backbone
and tail and scales and skin all just right there. So as I’m eating as big of
bites as possible (so I don’t have to take as many bites) and yet as slow as
possible (so I don’t get offered seconds), one of their 9000 cats (not an
exaggeration) hops up onto the table and heads toward my plate. It starts to go
for my food so I just start to shoo it away. Then the members kind of got
offended that I would shoo their cat away. I said sorry and then the cat
started eating off my plate. LIKE MY FOOD OFF OF MY PLATE. So I just ate on the
other side of the plate. I guess looking back that was a HUGE blessing because I
didn’t have to eat all of that fish myself!
But really let me just say HITCH was right. 80% of what you’re
saying isn’t coming out of your mouth. I have learned this week that the small
things you can do without words can still impact people. You can invite the Spirit
with no words. SMILE at everyone, say hi to strangers, help carry someone’s
things, look into people’s eyes, LIVE as an example. Live as if someone
investigating the church is ALWAYS watching. Live as if you need to prove you
love the gospel with all of your heart. I PROMISE you will be so happy and if
you pray and look for it, the opportunity to share the gospel and help someone
feel Christ-like love will come! Don’t ever be afraid of sharing your
testimony.
If you knew how powerful your testimony is, you would NEVER
stop sharing it. YOU are powerful.
Alma 31:34-35
Quick random thing cuz
I have NO time. I just have been dying to tell you all THANK YOU for your
letters and emails. I receive them all like randomly but usually 2 or 3 altogether
so thank you so so so much. It makes my day so so happy and it ALWAYS comes at
the perfect time. I am so so sorry that I don’t write back well. I feel guilty
when I get all of your letters and enjoy them all the time and you get nothing
back. I wish I could say I knew I would have time to respond, but I just don’t
know. I understand if you stop because it is frustrating not getting a reply,
but just know that I love every single word you guys send. Each one of you. It
ALWAYS is exactly what I need that week. So if you are okay with few responses
PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING. I promise I will spend the rest of my life serving
you, but right now I need to serve the people here, but it is so much sweeter
with your emails and support.
Thank you a million
times. My feelings of gratitude for you guys are much deeper than any words can
begin to express.
I love you guys and
SEE you on Sunday!!!
MUCHO Amor!
Hermana Gardanier
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