Sept 29th

Carol,

Oh my gosh!!! How exciting for Haylie! A new addition and passing all of her exams. You will have to tell her congrats for me! What a cute pic. Marie has got a knack for such things.

I got your dear elder on Wed. along with the package. Thanks! It was way cute. I loved it. The greenie stuff was a fun idea. So the dear elders do work I just don't get them as fast as I would if I were in the MTC. But thats ok. Its the thought that counts!

You had a lot of parents for parent teacher conference. That's great! Less stress of hunting down parents and such. 

I'm glad that someone was able to take care of your lawn. When someone came and took care of the leaves in the ditch in front of my house in Price I was very greatful!. It lets you know someone cares and that God really is watching out for us.

Ottowa is big. I get around by car. Which in nice but bad because of my motion sickness. But it is definitely better than walking. We use a GPS a lot. So if you could help remember to send me mine that would be great. When Sister Morris goes the GPS goes too. 

It is very green still. The leaves are just starting to change for fall. Since there are trees everywhere that will be very beautiful when it happens. The weather hasn't been too cold yet. So I haven't had to get a coat yet. My companion might give me hers when she leaves so I will have to see if it fits. If not I will be buying one in the next couple of weeks.

I was able to watch the broadcast! The talks where very nice! It was nice to have a break from the teaching! Pres. Uchtdorf always gives wonderful talks. He always knows just what to say. 

I'm thankful for the wonderful examples I've had in my life on being the best women I can possibly be.

Well I hope everything goes well this next week.

Love you!
Cassy

More thoughts of the week:

Why do I need to serve a mission? This week after I said a prayer, a song I had never heard played on the ipod. I don't know who sang it or what it was called but it talked about missions. Some of the words are "I'd never been the kind to testify, but I have a willing heart and hands to serve. He calls me to serve and I can't fail him. How can I keep this gift to myself when I can lift somebody else. My future is in his hands and he makes me all that I am. Seeing lives change to never be the same. The power is real so I must not be still. Faith in him causes the truth to speak." Those aren't exact words but they gave me great comfort. The Gospel is the greatest gift we have received. I love to give things to people so why not the Gospel. Its our duty no matter where we are. Mine right now is here in Canada. I may never know why I needed to serve a mission but I know the Lord will bless me and it will be worth it in the end!

From Ottawa

Well hello everyone! What a week it has been. We have been so busy with apointments and service projects. It has made me very tired. We helped a sister in the ward paint her bathroom, and we helped a family with cleaning their house for a party. They had just moved in so there was a lot to do. We have been seeing our investigators. They have had a lot of struggles come up. So we've been helping them work through them. It's amazing what people will tell you. They sometimes just pour their hearts out to you. I wish I knew how to comfort them. I guess just being with them helps.

We spend our days working with members to find investigators. We've been pushing for member missionary work. So basically they find the people and we just help teach them. I've only had to knock on doors once since I got here. Lucky for me the people were very nice! 

We have a car that we get around the area with. My area is the South side of Ottowa.

The weather has been nice. The trees are all starting to turn for the fall colors. It has been beautiful. I love this fall weather. So I hope it lasts for awhile! I hope I don't need a coat to soon!

To answer the question about the stuffed animals from when I first got here. Emily just let us use them for the night. We left them on our beds the next morning for her to pick up. It was very sweet of her! So no worries we didn't take them :)

I met a lady at the women's broadcast that knew where Roosevelt was. She said she had even heard of Altamont. So that was exciting! It made me miss home though!

I am starting to adjust to missionary life. Its coming little by little. But I know that by the time I get home it will be wierd not to have someone with me all the time.

Steph-Did you see the broadcast? Sister Burton I believe spoke some Korean :)

I love you all and hope you all have awesome weeks!

​Pics of teachers. Next week I will do one with my companion.

First photos from Canada

Letter arrived to the parents from the Mission President!

Dear Sister Gardner,
Sister Cassandra Jo Gardner has arrived!  We are so pleased to welcome her into the Canada Montreal Mission.  We met her and spent time getting to know her at the mission home before she was assigned.  Sister Gardner's first assignment is in the Ottawa Stake and her first companion is Sister Hanann Morris, whom we have prayerfully selected to be Sister Gardner's trainer.

We want to thank you for entrusting Sister Gardner to us.  It is a sacred privilege to share experiences and testimony with those we meet.  We know Sister Gardner will work hard both mentally and physically, build relationships of trust with companions, members, and investigators, and experience God in her life.  Through such service, she will mature in remarkable ways.

We will stay close to Sister Gardner throughout her mission through personal interviews and other meetings.  If you have any concerns at any time during the mission, please do not hesitate to contact us by letter, phone or e-mail.

May you share in and feel the blessing of Sister Gardner's service.

Sincerely,
President Victor P. Patrick & Sister Elizabeth F. Patrick

What a big group of missionaries to arrive at one time!

President Patrick took the missionaries to the Mount Royal which overlooks the city of Montreal. They read section 4 from the D&C all about missionary work on how the field is ready to harvest while gazing at the city before us. 

Afterwards they gathered together in the mission office and were assigned trainers and first areas!

With President and Sister Patrick

Tell me about Ottawa!

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and the fourth-largest city in the country at a population of 883,391. It stands on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario.

According to the internet, Ottawa is about 2 1/2 hours away from Montreal.

Where is the Canada Montreal Mission?

Here is a map of the area that is in the Canada Montreal Mission!

Ottawa!

Hey everyone,

So I actually ended up leaving Quebec and coming to Ottowa. I am speaking English right now which has been a nice change! There a many invistigators to learn their names. That has been a bit difficult. But it will come. We met with a new investiagtor last night. He had many questions! We were able to set up a following appoitment. 2 more mircales that happeneed this week were when we went to a town called Wenchester we were able to contact a less active member that we hadn't seen in a long time. This was the first time in a long while that someone caught her home. She said she is very busy but we are more than welcome to stop by and see if she is home when we are in town.

The second miracle is a lady named Shirly. She has met with the missionaries before but always went away. But she says this time is different. She really feels like this is what she is suppose to be doing. Yesterday she told us she wanted to be baptised. So that was exciting news!

My companions name is Sister Morris. She is from Springville, Utah. I will be her last companion before she goes home in December. So that will be excited. For those of you from Price/Springville she knows Monica Parkinson.

So Emery County peeps do you know a Lee Wilstead? His parents are Dean and Carol Wilstead and he grew up in Lawrence I think in Emery County. He and his family are here in Ottowa. Small world. I come to Canada to meet people from Utah.

I hope everything is going well with you all!

Soeur Gardner

Another note to Carol:

I'm glad my letter came through. I have not recieved the package yet but it could be in Montreal. I don't have a lot of access to the mail right now and as far as I know I don't have an address here for you to send things to. Email is probably best.

How is school going? This week sounds like it will be crazy for you! Time flies when you are busy so this week will be over faster that you think!

This is going to be a short note sorry!

Love you and thanks for the thoughts from the dedication. Love you!

Cassy

Greenie Package

Two weeks ago, we mailed a "greenie" package to Sister Cassy Gardner.  Our hopes were that the package would be there waiting for her at the mission home in Montreal.  (We need to see how long a package takes to arrive.)  

It was an experience seeing the custom form that you fill out due to sending to another country.  The price of sending a package takes your breath away as well!  :-)

We hope this brings a smile to Cassy's face when it does arrive and that she will know how much she is loved and thought of.

Packing the package .....

What went into the package is shown above!

Montreal

So I made here to Montreal after an extremely long day in airports! Yesterday I got up at 2:30 in the morning so that we could be to the travel office at 3:30. Our flight left at 7:30. While at the airport I had a full on pat down. I'm still not really sure why but I was the only one in the group to be patted down, and they confiscated my lotion and face wash. 

Then when we got on the plane my bag was too thick to fit in the overhead compartment. It had been flat until they searched it. So I had to take stuff out and put it in my other bag. 

Finally we made it to Montreal and I was rather motion sick. It's ok. Customs took a long time. We were in the Montreal for like 4-5 hours. It was so long! And to top it off the plane had a lot of luggage and it was to heavy so they took some out. Most of us were missing luggage, including myself. But the good news is they got it to us this morning. :)

The Patricks are great! The daughter Emily is cute. She is 10 and she gave us all a stuffed animal to sleep with so that we weren't lonely and so we could be more comfortable. It was so sweet. 

Anyway I hope everything is going well you all!!

Love Soeur Cassy Gardner

Going to Canada

Sister Gardner's day began very early as she had to be at the travel office this morning at 3:30.   Today was her travel day.  She leaves the MTC and heads to Canada to serve the rest of her time as a missionary there!

She was allowed a phone call to her Mom and to her Dad!  Her Dad posted this on facebook after the call: " Just got off the phone with Cassy Jo. She is getting ready to board her plane to Montreal for her Mormon mission. Gotta admit, Dad got a bit teary-eyed talking to her. We are so proud of her!!!"

Written the night before Cassy left MTC

I can't believe my time at the MTC is over! It doesn't feel real!  Yesterday Sister Nally (the MTC President's wife) told us the MTC is My Time with Christ. I thought it was an interesting and cool thought!

I did receive your package. I will definitely take them for snacks on the plane.  I loved the oreos!  But then again it's peanut butter and chocolate - how can you go wrong?!  Yes, peanut butter m&ms are my favorite ones, so you did great!

I hope we get to see the temple dedication but I'm not holding my breath.

We didn't get to see President Eyring.  It made me sad, but the speaker did awesome.  He gave some great advice.  If I had my notes I would share some with you, but I don't.

I'm not sure when we get to check emails again but I will let everyone know.  I believe we stay at the mission home for the first night and then we are dispenced,  Tomorrow night that is where I will be.  Crazy!

On a personal note to Carol:  I'm sure your lesson was awesome!  Your lessons have always been good.  Remember if no one answers, you just start calling on them.  It may sound mean but it forces them to participate.

I love you so much!  Thank you for everything that you have done for me.  You are truly an incredible lady. I am so glad I have the priviledge to know you.

I love you to the moon and back!  See you in 18 months!

Love Cassy

7 Uplifting Ideas

Sent Sister Cassy a little package with a couple of treats in it.  Enclosed were a couple of 7ups with this poem and some candy!

Letter Home

Dear Family,

I ran out of time at the computer so I am writing to you instead.  How is life going?  You mentioned that it has been rainy there which prevents you from finishing the garage.  I hope you will be able to finish it before the snow comes.

It has been rainy here as well. But it doesn't stop us. Everything I do is done inside which is ok, but I miss going outside.  Who knew I would miss walking dogs everyday.  :-)

So in answer to how I find musical numbers and people to play has been rather easy.  In my district there are 2 elders who play the piano.  So I usually just get one to play for sacrament meeting and one to play for priesthood.  Elder Shumway offers to play the musical numbers.  

For this week, my district wanted to sing "A Child's Prayer," so that made it easy.

I also forgot to mention in my group email that the Dear Elders only work here at the MTC.  When I get to Montreal I will only be able to receive emails and handwritten letters.  Note from Carol:  As I read Dear Elder account says that you can still send letters through them for a small fee.  They will still print off and mail the letters each week day!

So I might be able to call home next Tuesday so Mom send me your work schedule.  I don't know the time.  But if its before we leave Salt Lake it will be really early in the morning like anywhere between 5 - 7 am.

I will keep Sue in my prayers.  I had no idea she needed open heart surgery.  When you see her, tell her hello and that I'm praying for her.

Carol, I am glad that back to school night was a success.  I loved the thought from RS.  Thanks for all the little thoughts.

Mom - I hope they find an answer to you knee problems!  I love you!  It feels like this is going so slow and flying too!

Mandy. Hope the gas station is treating you well.  Have you finished all of Charla's books?

Mary, I hear you went back to work.  Are you loving it?  I bet you love it!

Meg, I'm sorry that it is taking you so long to get into the house in Roosevelt.  I hope it starts to move fast!

I love you all.  Thanks for all the love and support.

Love Cassy

PS  Tell Terri congrats on the new grandbaby boy!  :-)

Hey everyone! I hope you all have had a great week. I realized I sent pics with out any explanation as to who the people were. So the pics of the people that are not from my district are the New Caledonia Sisters and the Elders are from France. We have become good friends the last couple of weeks and I played volleyball with them during gym.

This week has been great. I have ran into Elder Dylan Lindsey 2 times this week since last p-day. I also ran into Sister Angelica Gomez. She is a friend from Price. It was so great to see them! I cannot even express my joy in seeing them! 

Rumor has it tonight we will hear from Pres. Eyring (not sure how to spell his name). So I'm looking forward to that. I will be in the choir tonight which means I get to sing for him. How cool is that! :)

As far as my music this will be my last Sunday that I will prepare for it. So I'm making my district sing as the musical number. Really they came up with the idea. I just keep reminding them and made them practice last Sunday. 

Crazy how fast time has flown. It seems long and short all at the same time. I leave for Montreal this Tuesday. I have to be at the travel office at 3:30 am. I'm not looking forward to that. We all know just how much I enjoy early mornings. I'm super nervous but I know it will be ok. I just keep telling myself that its like the butterflies I had in drama. Becca and Vicki always said it was good to have them because it kept you on your toes and ready for everything. I believe it is the same for my mission.

We dropped off Soeur Banks yesterday morning at 4:30. I am going to miss her and her district. It will be a long week without them, but at least its only a week.

I love you all. Thanks for all the love and support!

Soeur Gardner

Message to Carol

Hello from the MTC and soon to be Montreal. I can't believe I only have a week left until I leave for Canada. Crazy!!! 

 How have the first couple of weeks of school been? I bet your kids have fallen in love with your reading!

I know this is really short. But I am running on short time today. Thanks for all the uplifting thoughts! and quotes! They help a lot!

I love you!

Cassy

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day! My Labor Day was not as exciting as others but that's ok. I missed going up to Price Rec. Uncle Lee I miss your watermelon something terrible! The ones here are not as good! I only tried them once.

Not a lot has happened this past week. We taught our investigators and they are on the same lessons right now so we really we only have to prepare 1 which is nice! It will make things a little bit easier. I'm able to speak a little more French so that helps too!

Who knew 4 square could be so fun :) my district started a trend. About the 2nd week we were here we started to play 4 square. It caught on. Our lines started to get super long. That's when I leave to go play volleyball. Anyway our line got big enough that we took over the other volleyball court that had  4 square in it and took it over. It's crazy. Both lines still get super long.

So I just saw Elder Dillon Lindsey! He tapped the chair I was sitting on to write all of you and I jumped. Crazy, but cool!

I hope all is going well for you!

Soeur Gardner

P.S. Last Tuesday night I was called as our zones music director. So I pick the music for priesthood & sacrament meetings. I also find musical numbers for sacrament meeting.

Photos from the MTC

Oreos

We sent Sister Gardner some homemade oreos.

Sister Gardner's comments were, "So I did get the cookies and they were amazing! I got them last Wed. or I would have mentioned them last week! I love homemade oreos!! They made me smile! :)"