9-27-11

Hi friends & family of Rhet!  He asked me to let you all know that "Dear Elder" is the best way to write him now that he's in Argentina.  You can also send one page trifold with a sticker to close  to this pouch mail address in SLC and they will forward to him: 

Elder Rhet L. Gardner
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT   84130-0150

Any packages and letters sent USPS requires him to pay a  fee to receive them.  Thanks for your care and support for Rhet.  I'm sure it makes a big difference to him!  His mom. 

9-22-11

Hey Guys!!

SO I have officially started packing! I'm probably going to be sending you a package with things I've found aren't a necessity to send back to you. I just can't take the risk of being over weight. So things That I don't NEED I'm sending to you. Overweight fees for this trip are $350 a bag. So I REALLY need to make weight lol. I have faith it will all work out Packing is a pain, but I'll deal. Plus they are redoing like 3 buildings here, and so they are moving/closing the book store this weekend, right when I'm trying to pack. So I'm packing today because if I need anything I'm out of luck. I think I'm going to get a back pack here to have my back back/shoulder bag for all my heavy books and things and then an extra change of clothes/ my tooth brush and stuff in case my luggage gets lost. And then I'll be sending stuff home, so I should make weight. We leave in only 4 days! And I'll be at my mission home in 5 I'm so excited! Argentina won't know what hit it. And calling should work out! Thanks for the numbers. And my phone card I think I told you is collect, but it's pretty cheap. Sorry! If i could have gotten one that was just a certain amount of minutes, I would have. But they only have the collect ones here. Well it's not realy collect, but it's like a 35 cent fee plus 1 cent for every minute. So it's really not that bad.

This week was eventfull! The TRC was so fun. It was our first TRC that was 40 minutes (a lot longer than our usual 20 minute lessons) and was about revelation through prayer. We usually get returned missionaries to volunteer, but this week we got a mother and daughter from Peru! So it was really fun having native speakers. And I could understand most of it But Argentines speak VERY differently, so I'm looking forward to hear that. OH! SO the October ensign is a special Book of Mormon edition, like the Jesus Christ one a while back. And the First presidency of the church gave all the missionaries a copy before it came out. It's SO amazing. You guys definitely need to read it. I assume it's out by now, or soon will be. But we had ANOTHer apostle come and speak! Lol we are so lucky. Elder Nielson came to speak about the Book of Mormon and the ensign issue. He is so funny. I'm loving this spiritual high! We also had a sister in our district, Hermana Eversole, get a pretty bad health concern. So they sent her home to get surgery. Sad! But she can return after it's all taken care of. But she had a hard time with being here anyway so maybe it's God's way of saying thanks for your effort and diligence, but you are needed for something else. It's awesome that God works like that. Yesterday we got to host too! Like when I got here and a missionary came and took my bags and showed me around and where to go and stuff, that's what I got to do. It was fun! It was especially fun to see the differences of families emotions. Some families were balling their eyes out, some missionaries were running from their families, and some were just all happy and so proud of their children. It was a really fun experience. So this week we have orientation tomorrow all day, and saturday is a different schedule too, and Sunday we just have like mission conference for fast sunday, and then more orientation about the field. So we're pretty much finished here! Wow! That is so weird to me.

 

Well I love you guys! Thanks for everything. After Friday no need to Dearelder me to Provo because I won't get it. Usually the ones after Friday, or Saturday don't get printed until monday afternoon, and I leave! So tonight, is probably the last time you can write to me until I get to Argentina. I'll call ya on monday! Sometime between 10-2 or 6:20-9:50 PM. And We'll see who I can call and stuff.

 

Love ya!,

\

Elder Gardner

9-15-11

Hey everyone!

 

HOw's everything going??

So I got a calling card. It pretty much does collect to the house and is a 35 cent flat rate and then 1 cent every minute after taht.. I hope that's okay. Or it's 5 cents a minute. Whichever one I choose. I figured it'd be okay. I hope I'll get time to call you guys!

Peaches sound amazing. Are they Grand Junction peaches? Those are the best.. Elder Anderson is from Colorado and we talk about Grand Junction peaches all the time

We were supposed to get our travel plans today taht's why my email is so late. We wanted to wait until the last second just incase we got our plans later in the day. So taht means we'll either get them tomorrow, tonight, or our visas aren't in yet. I hope everything is going okay still.

I'm glad you guys have gotten the oppurtunity to scout for elk! You guys better get a good one Are you having fun? I'm sure the bears wwont'harm you. Jazzy is there in spirit.

I haven't picked a favorite scripture yet:/ hopefully they're okay with waiting for a bit. I'll think hard I want to pick a REAL good one.

Tiff said it's Gpas birthday. Will you tell him happy birthday from me? And tell him a letter is on it's way with some pictures. I'm just waiting for the pictures to print.

And the same for your pictures. I got yours this afternoon so I'll send thim first thing in the morning. I hope that's soon enough for you. I tried to get them to you quickly, it's just we have no time to do things around here.

I've been sick for about a week and a half now. It sucks. Bad sore throat, headache, cough, and chest crap. I went to the doctor today cause I can't hack it anymore and he pretty much told me sorry! It's viral. So now I have to pay 25 dollars for some cough syrup. Perfect! lol. I just went, cause if it is something serious, I didn't want it to effect my travel date. People who get sick around their departure have to wait a couple days or weeks, and I just want to get out of here! Lol. It's a great place, but 7.5 weeks is a long time in this small compound.

Could you send me in a dearelder everyone's phone numbers? Just in case I can/want to call people at the airport. Like Nick's, Tiff's, Coco's, Dad's. Ask them what number they want me to call at. Like Coco and Dad if they want me to call their work one. Or if you want to three way, I don't know but if I can have them just inc ase that'd be great!

 

Elder Ballard spoke this last tuesday. It was a real treat. I'm sure getting fed spiritually here! It's kind of a record people don't usually get to hear 1 let alone 2 apostles during their stay. So I'm lucky!!! Love it. We also got a special devotional on 9/11. It was really good. We got to watch some videos, and rememberence videos and then a great talk by our MTC president.

I sure am getting ancy to leave! Getting travel plans will be a blesssing because it'll be tangible evidence that I get to leave and actually start my mission soon! 1.5 weeks

I got pics printed, so I'll be sending that to everyone soon too

 

I love you all so much!!

 

Elder Gardner

9-8-11

Wow! Time is going so quickly here, I can't believe it. Yeah! That's funny you saw Casey and Christy Hughes in SLC. He told me he saw you guys too. I always see someone from Vernal at the Gateway, EVERY time lol. It's so weird. I laughed so hard when you said Gracy said "Rhet's on his mission" it was my favorite. And it's so weird to hear Rhet! All I hear is Elder Gardner It's weird to call people by their first names. SO yeah! I heard the same thing about the calling card. The week before, they sell them at the book store, so I'll just go in the week before And I should get my travel plans next week if my visa is all in order. And right now it's kind of random! Three girls in an advanced spanish district went to the same Consul meeting as me, and one has their visa and is in Argentina, the other two are serving in St. George until theirs come. BUT they were advanced, so they were only here for 3 weeks, we've been here for 6 and 2.5 left so we should be safe. When I know the travel plans I'll let you kn ow ASAP. 3-way calling would be fun, but I don't even know if I'll be able to call. It should be able to happen, but that's only if we have long wait time between flights at airports. And if everything is smooth. If not, it might not happen just a heads up. But I want to talk to you guys So I'll try my best. THe tape thing might be a cool idea! But I would want to talk to Tiff, Nick, and Coco too. But whatever we can work out, I'll be grateful for.

Yesterday during class, they paged Elder Wadman in my district to the travel office, he is going to the Domincan Republic, and he came back and said they told him he was leaving that night at 11:40 for the DR MTC! WHOA! We were all shocked. Sister Schillemat the other sister in our district that left 3 weeks ago for the DR mtc, but he wasn't supposed to. So he was rushing everywhere, and then they called him back in and said just kidding! Lol I guess the MTC President called here and said that an elder didn't show up, so he called the MTC pres here and said send Elder Wadman TONIGHT. Then the other Elder showed up or something. But elder wad got to talk to his parents twice! Lol it was funny.

Yeah I should get a new companion in Argentina and then I'll get a new one every transfer. They just consider the MTC as a 'transfer;'. I haven't had time to get a companion picture taken. We're so busy here and I didn't get the message for that until tuesday because of labor day weekend and the mail and stuff. BUT we are taking it today, and I'll go get one printed soon and then mail it. We can't email pictures here because all we can do is email and language study on the computer.

I hope the shop gets finished for you guys soon! It has felt like a long time.

SPanish is still coming. I kind of feel like I've hit a plateau. But that's okay. I'm still working, and looking forward to being in Argentina and improving that way. only 2.5 weeks left! Hopefully! Lol I'm getting anxious to get out of ehre. I like it, but it's hard to be in a confined area for this long! Especially when I'm used to at least leaving a city at least once a month. lol. It's hard sometimes.

Dad! I'm glad the elk scouting is coming a long, and that Rod won't give you bullets He's lookinng out for me. I'm expecting a 6X7 hanging in the shop when I get home.

I can't believe Gracy is already in Preschool! That's not allowed. Tiff, Nick, and Cor always say it's weird that I'm in college, and stuff but now I really understand! That is soooo weird to me that she is starting preschool.

Levi Watkins was supposed to get here yesterday, I'm still looking for him. I see Layken, Shellie, and Katie Palmer allll the time. It's fun to see familiar faces. They all say hi and give you virtual hugs back.

Things here are feeling really repetitive, and a lot of the learning and stuff has taken place, so now I'm just anxious to apply it. And actually get to Argentina. NOthing really amazing new. I'm so thankful for Pdays and sunday/tueday devotionals. It seems like Thurs/Sund/tues are break days throughout the week. THe spirit is so strong those days because of the temple, and devotionals. We always have great speakers. We have the 70 here a lot. It's really cool.

Today I did sealings for the first time in the temple. It was really cool to be a part of. There was a spanish speaking sister participating also so we got to talk for a second. I'm really anxious to be immersed in the language. well, I better go! I miss you guys a lot! Think of you often . Thanks so much for the package!

Love you!

Elder Gardner

9-1-11

Hey all! Things are going well. I got the Drivers license and my debit card :) no worries. And the gum! Love it! It's sort of not allowed, but it's the best present ever. Also I got your other package today. Thank you SO MUCH! Best day ever. Also. I found my glasses cleaner and other scriptures marker stuff, so no worries. It was just burried deep in my luggage so I couldn't find it. So I see Lakyn tons! And I saw Shellie today, and Katy Palmer. Still looking to See Levi Watkins though. I see a ton of people from EFY over my years, but I only recognize faces.   I'm doing A LOT better teaching. I don't use notes anymore, and I just listen to the Spirit about the things I need to teach. I just study material during my personal study and then have all of this material and piece it together as we teach. We've started practice teaching too before we teach so that helps. Sad Pearl Preece died! We all loved her.

Gracy is sooo funny. I love hearing all the stories everyone tells me. I get stories from you, nicky, and amber. I love it :) I wish I could talk to her on the phone! :( She's going to be so big when I get back. I love all the cookies! I don't have a favorite, so no worries :) ANd thanks for always sending stuff! I love it.

I'm glad you guys are getting stuff done at gpas. That's nice of Nicky to grab stuff for me, she's the best. I'm half way through! Actually more than that! We leave sept 26. NO flight plans yet, they usually come the week before. But it's changed from the 27 to the 26 so I think that it will stay that day. SO they actually tell us that there aren't "any rules" about calling the family in the airport on our traveling days. Our branch presidency kind of hinted that we should if we have the means and are able to make it happen. So you might be getting a call on the 26! I'll let you know when my flight plans are so you can know when to be prepared.

Dad, you better find a huge elk. Don't settle. I'm not missing out so you can settle for a wimpy bull! :) Not being there, makes me really want to be there :)

I hope your hip is better mom!

Sorry this letter is jumbled. There is NO time to fix corrections lol.

Spanish is improving! I love it. Some days I get really frustrated, but that's life. I'm seeing huge improvement so that's all that matters. I've started comparing the BOM in spanish to english and that's really helped. We also got a new branch president because our old one is going to be the new temple president in Costa Rica! Whoa right? They're both great men, our old and new pres. We also got a new teacher becavuse school started. I like our old one better, he was an aamzing teacher.

Elder Holland actually came and spoke at our Tuesday devotional. WOW! I've never heard a member of the 12 or 1st pres speak before. It was life changing. I definitely understand the importance of a mission. It was like the coolest experience of my life. He is an amazing person. He gave so much great advice. Maybe i'll write a letter and send it to you guys with some info cause I have no more time lefrt!

Gotta go!

Love you guys

Elder Gardner