A look Back... all the way to the MTC!

Jeff's email to Sista Becca

Jeff sent an email to Rebecca a bit ago says: (spelling checked and put into sentences...)

Yep, (I had) 2 (Thanksgiving) dinners which is good. Life is good, I'm planing on hopefully getting a letter out to you guys but news is I just went to my first wedding. I'm about to hike sunrise mountain. We had 6 missnaries in a small 2 bedroom apartment which is fun... and yeah life is good. Having a baptism coming up on the 20th so that's good. Hopefully 3 actualy; we will see how it goes. Love you

A Note From Someone ELSE who loves Jeff!

We got a sweet card from a family in the ward where Jeff is serving in LV, along with their family letter. The father is on the high council. The mother is the YW president. They have four girls, ages 12 through college. (HMMMM...girls???) Just kidding. I haven't heard from Jeff for weeks. Transfers are on the 22nd, so we're praying that all goes well, because he expects to transfer, and that's a bit tough.

"We love your son. He has been serving in our ward for months now. You have raised a great man. You should be really proud. W will take care of him while he is here!
Love-
The Dewsnup Family"

It is so cool to know how much Jeff is loved and supported by so many.

Pictures of the Great Elder!

Hair Cutting Party!

Baptism!

The Bike... AFTER the Car Won....

Jeff in front of Las Vegas Temple

Good lookin Elders!

Letter from Jeff! New Post! :)

Hey, Mom

Thank you for the package I needed more socks and the Brazilian candy was a good touch. So you can tell the ward you raised a good young man. I've had great success: 6 baptisms and 1 more coming on Wednesday and I'm loving my mission. Yeah, I'm playing Aruco which is a fun Brazilian bar game. [He has a Brazilian companion.] I'm learning a lot. I might go to Provo, Utah or Ricks when I get back. I want to get married, excited for it.

Stacey, I love you and I haven't heard from either you, Jessica, Steven for weeks.

Gavin, Love you.

Love you all, have a great week. Hi, ttyal.
Elder Gardner.

P.S. I check email really early [every Thursday AM].

Some Pictures of the Missionary

Emails from Jeff

Aug 28
yeah life is good i teahing lessons talking to people about the gospel on a hourly time its insane good people here crazy people theres little sin boxs every where its insane im glad your new jobs going well and that gavin talking more when i get back i want full sentances ask me qustion so i know what to write to you love you oh i got pevee cookies and the cards thank you i love them its werid but its life i dwell on life at home alot less now its true the more you work the less you think about home

What a great group of Elders!!

Jeff is 2nd from the left.

Letter From Jeff

Greetings and salutations
The spelling close enough hi so 2 week’s in the MTC the day’s are holy long and week’s are really short It’s crazy here everyone nice and polite to each other It’s crazy free food so I love the picture’s from your house party for me
Next time tell me to pay more attention to seminary and Sunday school class the spirit stronger here then I ever could imagine the best place to be put for all my fault’s God will bless me for how can an unperfect tool bring other’s to a perfect Christ and gospel only trough God.

Elder Gardner

---letter to Necia Kittler, dear sweet neighbor and mentor for MANY years

Letters to Stacey from Aug 5th and Aug 12th

To Stacy My loving Sister
First off, you're asesome. Tell Gavin I love him but don't miss his smelly diapers. Next I need the Dean's Address and Kittler and the Wallace's and the Jacobson's and the Ishams and Mable and the Dolders and Bishop. So list of Elders that I think are awesome:
Elder Bowes (companion)
Elder Dunoskovic - Awesome Australian and District Leader
Elder Young Roommate and a Spiritual Giant
Elder Seyer from Seattle - AMAZING GUY
Elder Cox from Seattle - a huge football fan from Las Vegas
Elder Franko - Hawaiian
Elder Eccles
Elder Smith - going to write to his sister.
We told baby jokes last night then prayed. Afterwards an un-named Elder stole this cookie - I mean just blatently took it (As a JOKE). The whole table was laughing cause he was completely lost in his story. He was so in his story he didn't get Sister Crandal was so in to the stolen cookie. Then my teacher Sister Abernoth did a little skit of campanion inventory where the end was "we be tight pound it". Then Brother Steven's is our other teacher and he is crazy. I'll get you his address you'll like him. I wake up at 6:30 every morning. Oh and trying to go to sleep at 10:30. and I might just send my memory card so send me a new one and I'll send this one to you with pictures.
Love you Stacey,
Your little big Elder Gardner
Also tic tacs, Want Some!


2nd letter...

Hey Stacey
The temple president is not that helpful. You would like my teacher Brother Stevenson and Sister Aberoth but more Brother Stevenson. I'll send you a picture. I'm getting photos developed so I'll send you those. Becca sent me two care packages so yea, step it up :)Also I need those awesome cards and I went to the temple the other day and a small storm happened. Ran wihd, great disperation, in my journal but it lasted for about half hour. Then it was over and the ground and benches were wet and it rained really hard and on the way back I saw an albino preying mantis. Pure white. Got some pictures. It was awesome. All of my district well all but 2 - got suspendeors. And in Ireland suspenders means sexy underwear. So yea, we all wear sexy underwear. So yea. I need you to get me addresses for.....(tons of people)....and all the ward. Or can I just send the letters to you? I also sent a list of great scripture verses to Becca and plan on sending more so you can put them up. Also got some good pictures of Gavin on my camera so yeah. Just tell my love to everyone - love you. Oh and use dear elder - send me jodes and what not. Love you, Elder Gardner

Letter to Mom

Jeff sent this letter to his Mom:

Mom,
I love you, I don't think you'd recognize me without my name tag. I'm becoming a young spiritual moan. You're in my paryers which I say nightly. I also make my bed every other day. I already sent missionary out and placed 2 books of Mormon from the RC. Tell stacey that I get along with everyone, staying out of trouble. I'm getting pictures developed so I'lls end those home. Tell the ward I'm doing good . I have lesson plans and I'm already feeling like a missionary. Oh and don't sell my car while I'm gone. Love you lots. I sent letters to Becca and Stacey, you can read those. Went to the temple today. Thank you John for my licence. I needed it. [he says something about If I stay I've Healty found some potential eternal companions but I dont' know what he's really saying there... ideas??] It's weird not texting. I'm getting over it. James was wrong there was no scary interview. Oh and I hate waking up at 6:20 and shaving. I love you mom and family,
Elder Gardner,
Your Favorite Missionary,
PS, send my love to Pevey

Jeff has EMAIL!

Jeff's email = jeffreygardner@myldsmail.net

An email from Jeff: (note it has been altered for spelling and punctuation)

hey stacey this is my email address so put it on line send it out and what not. wow typing is easier than writing. so at the laudry (not sure where he was going with this hee hee). life is good i sent out letters- 10 of them today. i'm waiting for you to send me letters not just dear elder. um i need my pariarcal blessing it's in my desk drawer. yeah love you lots i think im good for now. if you could would you send me other people address email or home: deans, cooks, mable, jacobsons, bishops, ishams, dolders, everyone else i want to write. umm yeah once im done with my journal I'll send it home and you can read it. love you ttyl

Letters from Jeff

Jeff sent letters to his mother today with notes for other people....

Mom I love you and the packing youdid. The spirit was and is great here. I met a relative I forgot her name though, Rebecca got me fine. I'm sending some stuff that I got. I have a companion named Elder Bowie and a roommate from Australia. They played How I Met Your Mother' on the plane, I fell asleep though.

I need the vacination info or I'm going to have to pay 159 dollars-that sucks - so yeah send that also my backpack. I felt the spirit so much when we sing it's amazing.

Stacey I love you; tell Gavin he's going on a missio. He would want to go - needs to go - and send the You're Awesome cards to me I need them already. Love you lots.

To the ward I'm doing great. If you want letters I need addresses so I can send stuff. Love you ALL.

I need all the email addresses of the family ok? I'm doing great I send my love.

Dan Dean: I'm using my journal daily.

(LETTER #2) - Same envelope :)

Hey Mom How's life. I'm good weird people but awesome at the same time. I need a laundry bag but I love you. Class is good I sent you a letter so yeah send me one and I'll send more info later.

A Letter from Jeff!

Jeff sent his sister Rebecca a letter - this is what he wrote:

I love family history (I included a family history story when I wrote to him). [My] Companion's name is Elder Bowes. But I'm more friends than him [with] Elder Skyler, Elder Eccles, Elder Franco, Elder Dunoskovic, Elder Young, Elder Cox, Elder Smith, all District B15. The food's great. I'm going to know more about the gospel than you by the end, that's my goal. We have a General Authority coming to talk to us today. I need shaving cream. But my hands hurt after 1 letter and I've still more to write. Missionary work is hard.

Love you, Elder Gardner

P.S. Celestial Kingdom or Bust

She is going to send him the shaving cream that will probably last him the MTC - so we can add that to packages in a little while.
We ALL love you Jeff! Even though your first letter was to Rebecca :) haha

Arriving at the MTC

After being set apart on Tuesday night, Elder Jeff went and picked up his suits by 9PM and packed up all of his luggage for his 5AM trip to the airport the next morning. (Read had way too much fun over the last week.) His Mom drove him to the airport where his Sister picked him up from the Salt Lake City Airport and took him to the MTC. Here is Rebecca's account: and pictures of her and her family with Elder Jeff:

Hi there! We just got home from Provo, where we dropped Jeff off at the MTC. It was very crowded--there were 400 missionaries entering today! There were lots and lots of sweet volunteers to help everything go smoothly. First they had us pull up to the curb to drop off Jeff and his luggage. He took it one way and we met him at the door a few minutes later. Then he went in the door that said "New Missionaries" and we went in the "Family" door. He went up to a desk where he got his name tag, his address, and another paper. Then we took a couple pictures of Elder Gardner, then walked down the hall to one of the chapels for the meeting. We all sat in a row on chairs, along with all the other missionaries and families, and watched some LDS commercials for family while we waited for about 10 minutes. Then President Marsden, one of the counselors in the MTC presidency, welcomed us. We all sang "Called to Serve" which was really, really powerful. Then the MTC President's wife, Sister Boone, spoke and then President Boone. Sister Boone talked about the refining that will happen in the MTC as the missionaries let go of the world and some of their old habits, and acquire new ones. President Boone mentioned that Elder Bednar spoke about how much work goes into each missionary's call, how they are each assigned by an apostle, and signed by the Prophet. He promised that they would each realize later how their call was the right one to the right place. We then watched part of the movie "Called to Serve" and Jeff got a little emotional (don't tell him I said that though! ;)wink) and so did I. Each speaker promised that they would take good care of the missionaries, watch over and protect them. There are hundreds of instructors that will be teaching them 6 days a week and they will become close to. They have firesides each Sunday night, and General Authority devotionals each Tuesday (and they suggested being in their seats 20 minutes early!). They also have 55 branch presidents to watch over their spiritual needs, and hundreds (or maybe thousands?) of workers and volunteers to keep the MTC running. In fact, one of the screens while we were watching commercials said the MTC missionaries drink 400 gallons of milk a day, and require a full 300-cow dairy to keep them supplied!

So then we said goodbye--hugs for everyone, and then he was off. He was probably going to find his luggage and settle in his room, meet his companion, and have lunch. Then they have an orientation meeting at 3:45. So that's that! He was excited, a little nervous maybe, and happy to be there. He was having cell-phone withdrawals, though! ;)

Here's his address:
Elder Jeffrey Galen Gardner
MTC Mailbox #240
NV-LV 0819
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

The estimated departure date for your missionary is 19 August. The back of the card reminds us not to call, deliver packages, send pizza or perishable items, or try to meet them at the temple. :)

Oh-and if you didn't know it, you can send free letters to the MTC at DearElder.com. You can also send letters later for the cost of a stamp, I believe. But for now, that's a great way to send mail!

I'm so glad we got to go see Jeff off--oh, I mean Elder Gardner! :) He will be a wonderful missionary, and I know we will all benefit from his service and his testimony. Love to you all!

The Farewell Event!

Farewell Elder Gardner! Sunday before he left we had a party! Here are the friends who stuck around til the end of the party and the nephew that will miss him the MOST OF ALL!

Called to Serve!

Elder Gardner,
You have been called to serve in the Las Vegas, Nevada Mission from August 2008 to August 2010!

This purpose of this blog is to keep track of Jeff over the next 2 years, share his stories, and allow his family and friends, new and old, stay connected.

Jeff found out about his call about 2 months before he left. He spent his final weeks hanging out with friends, going to the movies, playing video games, traveling to Portland, watching his nephew Gavin, and hanging out with his family.

Jeff is the youngest of 5 syblings. He has 3 FABULOUS older sisters and an AMAZING older brother. His parents and syblings are very proud of his decision to serve a mission.

It is maintained and updated by his sister, Stacey. If you have pictures, stories, or thoughts to share, please email her at trekwithstacey@yahoo.com. You can also add comments to any post. After they are reviewed for appropriateness, they will be available for all to view.