Farwell from Edinburgh Ward Members!

We received a letter from a member of the Edinburgh Ward regarding Sister Cardon and her service there. See Below:

Sister Cardon is an exceptional missionary.  The honest truth is that we are not in the habit of writing emails such as this (in fact, I can think of having done so on only one previous occasion), but we both felt you should know of the amazing service she has given in this corner of the Lord's vineyard.

Of course, you don't need us to tell you that your daughter is a kind, bright, loving, and all-round wonderful person.  But she is also an extremely diligent and faithful servant of the Lord, and she has seen tremendous success working with investigators, recent converts, and less active members.  

The ward has been greatly strengthened by her presence here over the past few months; she has been such a blessing to us.  My husband serves on the ward mission leadership, and he has seen first-hand how keen Sister Cardon has been to love and serve everyone around her - and her determination to remain positive in the face of challenges.

Sister Cardon has been able to reach out and touch the lives of a number of sisters in ways that nobody else has managed.  It's obvious how much she cares for her companion, and she has also become a good friend of ours personally, and I'm grateful for everything she has done for my husband and I.

Edinburgh's loss is Dundee's gain.  The church is strong up there, and we have no doubt that Sister Cardon will continue to enjoy great success in the transfers ahead.  For now, though, we just thought you should know that your daughter is a truly exemplary missionary, and she will be greatly missed.

A Move to Dundee!

Dundee Waterfront

Sister Cardon reports she is moving 2 hours north to the city of Dundee. She will be in the Bingham area. This area is called the Dundee Zone in the mission. She believes the weather will be a bit cooler than Edinburgh. Her new companion is from Hawaii and she is very excited to get to know her. She is super sad to leave Edinburgh and all the people she has come to love. She had a very busy two weeks with investigators and working with another set of Sister Missionaries.

 She did a lot of crazy driving, and got a parking ticket. A missionary choir performed in the Saint Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. She said it was amazing and made people cry. Her gas was turned off when they were with the other sister missionaries. They had no heat, gas, for cooking or warm showers!  She was so happy to see some less active members come to church this week. Lastly, she and her companions ate a total of 21 Kinder Eggs which have little surprises inside. They got addicted to collecting Marvel super heroes which were the little surprises in the Kinder Eggs.

Easter Baptism and Zone Development Days!

Spring in Scotland

Sister Cardon reports an investigator has committed to baptism on Easter Sunday. She is very excited about this, but realizes she could be gone before the baptism. She is very busy with lots of people to visit and teach. She is also excited about the new Zone Development Days. On P-Day the whole zone of missionaries get together and spend the entire day together until 9 p.m. These Development Days happen only once every six weeks. She said these days are wonderful and a stress relief for all the missionaries in the zone. They are also meant to unite the zone. She is loving the work!

Transfer Slumber Party and Member Missionaries!

Sister Adams and Sister Adams with Jackie

Good Companion Sign!

Sister Missioinary Transfer Slumber Party

Sister Cardon shares that the traditional forms of finding people to share the gospel with are becoming extinct as they are very ineffective. She said members need to find people and bring them to the missionaries, so they can be taught. This week they were given a name of a lady that is interested in hearing more. She works in the hospital and saw a bishop give a priesthood blessing to a patient. She wants to know more. Of course, they are so happy to help to her. With transfers happening this last week, Sister Cardon and Sister Adams had four extra Sister Missionaries for a night. It turned out to be slumber party- missionary style!

Atlantic Ocean P-Day and Staying in Edinburgh!

Sister Cardon reports all is well in Edinburgh. She and Sister Adams were the only missionaries along with the zone leaders to not move this last transfer. The sisters are super pleased as they have so many investigators they are currently working with. As usual some days are "hit and miss" trying to meet up with the people they are teaching.

Atlantic Ocean and a Chance Meeting in the Post Office

Sister Cardon reports that she is staying in Edingburgh with Sister Adams. She is very happy to be staying as they has so many people they are working with. They were able to go to the beach on Monday. She reported it was really fun but very cold! Everyone in her district was moved except her companionship and the zone leaders. 

They were so happy to find some investigators they haven't been able to contact for over 2 weeks. Sister Cardon said they had been specifically praying that they would be able to get back in touch with their investigators. While she and her companion were at the post office, they ran into their investigators. Their investigators had a broken phone and had not been able to make contact. Everyone was so happy to meet up again!  In addition, a ward member has a friend interested in hearing about the church. Also, a previous investigator that has canceled 7 appointments appears to be ready to hear about the church now! She has three sons.

Sister Cardon reminded us all not to let us work ourselves up over little things. She said those negative thoughts don't come from our Father in Heaven. She is thankful for learning not to get worked up over the little things and having confidence in herself. She knows learning these things during her life are helping her on her mission now.

Alley of Stone Cottages

View from Sister Cardon's Flat

Sister Cardon and Sister Adams Ready for the Day!

Scottish Coldness and Haggis!

District at the Famous David O McKay marker

Haggis- and she lived!

Sister Cardon said she had a great week. They moved out of their flat into a new one. She is excited to report one of her investigators has set a Baptism date for April 27. She said everyone in ward loves their investigator and she realizes she will probably be transferred before the baptism. She said it has snowed and the Scottish coldness has arrived. She also noted that on Valentine's Day it was FREEZING!

 Sister Cardon shares :

"Yesterday at church we had one of the coolest experiences on my mission. There was going to be about 5 people at church yesterday. However, by the time Sacrament meeting was about to start none of them were there. I was so frustrated and I was wondering why they weren't coming and what more I could have done. As I was in my gallows of sadness and frustration we got a text that a man we met about a month ago and he was on his way to church. Sure enough this man showed up right in the middle of sacrament! It was so cool! His name is Matteo and he deaf and mute and we met him on the street about a month ago but he never contacted us after that.  It was great and he couldn't' even hear a word of what was being said. I did learn something about deaf people they don't exactly know how much noise they make because they can't hear themselves. But the ward was so understanding and we got hold of a notebook and all the YSA (Matteo is 21) came and just started writing notes to him and getting down numbers and all that good stuff. He was fellow-shipped and everyone loved him. Some people knew sign and they started to sign to him. Basically, he was having a blast. It was such a miracles from heaven and a tender mercy. It was definitely a demonstration of the Lords power that He can get people to church if He wants them to be there. Matteo came right out of the blue and so if Heavenly Father really needed those other 5 people to come they would've. Sometimes I feel like a spoiled child saying "Heavenly Father, why isn't someone at church I want someone to be here!". Seriously, sometimes I think we forget how much Heavenly Father cares about the little things and how truly spoiled we are."

A Multi-Zone Conference in the" Promised Land."

Sister Douglas and Sister Cardon on Exchanges

Beautiful picture of Cortsorphine (Edinburgh)

Sister Cardon reports she learned many things from the multi-zone conference from Elder Hebertson a member of the Seventy. She stated,  "We talked a lot about personal conversion and how our desire to share the gospel is often a reflection of our own testimony. It really impacted me to know that what I share with people and how I share it all boils down to my own testimony. Basically I learned that our conversion really comes through one simple act, which is repentance. It is only when we feel the redeeming power of the Atonement that we are truly converted! It is such simple and clear knowledge that I received. If we desire to be better people, missionaries, parents and friends all we simply need to do it give up our own sins." Sister Cardon reports she was able to see other missionaries she has missed and was very happy to meet up with them again.

Sister Cardon and Sister Adams continue to get more referrals and Sis. Adams calls Corstorphine,  The "Promised Land," as they are finding so many people that want to hear more about the gospel.

Snow and then a Rainbow!

 A Snow Rainbow

Sister Cardon resports: "It was literally snowing 1 minute before I took this picture and then it cleared up and there was a beautiful rainbow." Sister Cardon also reports she gets to move flats again. She has lived in 2 cities but 5 different flats. She and her companion had to go "flat finding" this week. She thinks they found a great one, so they are hoping it goes through. The work is going great. She said the weather has turned colder and even more wet if that is possible. They even got snow! Their investigators are doing wonderfully and receiving lots of support from ward members! She ends her message by sharing:

 " I just feel so blessed that Heavenly Father trust us enough to put these wonderful people in our path to teach. The work is going great, we are being blessed immesensly. I love my companion, life is just wonderful! I love you all!"