18 months of Pure Joy!

In the Stornoway Rain and the Wind!

The famous Deep Fried Milky Way - Sister Cardon finally tried it!

Art Work that Sister Saweyer and Sister Cardon made

Sister Cardon states,
 "The weather can only be described by a verse in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 122. It feels like we have been, "be cast into the deep, the billowing surge conspire against thee, the fierce winds become thine enemy, the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way!" Never before have I experienced such horrid weather for such a long period of time. A storm hit the island twice this week which caused the Ferry not to sail on Tuesday and Saturday. So I hope it goes next Monday! Luckily we had a lot of appointments and we were able to spend most of the week inside. Overall a great week, was full of fun and new experiences."


Sister Cardon is coming home next week. This is going to be her last message while out on her mission.  She will be able to make the last post regarding her homecoming. She shares,

 "I gave my last talk in the ward and I talked about the blessings of the gospel I have seen throughout my mission. One blessing I talked about was the blessing of exaltation and I started to cry as I told them that I knew I would see them all again. It was a spiritual moment and I realized how blessed I have been these last 18 months. I have met people that I love with all my heart, I learned to love more than I thought was possible. What a true blessing it is that I will be able to see all of those people again, and that I know that I can be with them forever. Not just for a little while, but forever! I feel so blessed because of the things I have come to learn and know on my mission. I didn't come out of my mission for me but I am going home receiving the greatest amount of blessings. I could never ever trade this experience for anything. Never ever ever! This has truly been the best 18 months OF my life so far. I have felt more happiness and joy while labors here than I have ever felt. I know that missions change lives especially the missionaries who are serving them. Thank you all so much for your support over these last 18 months. I would never have come out on a mission without all of your righteous examples and encouragement."

Family History Addiction!

High point of the Isle - Ness

Metropolis of Ness

Sister Cardon reports that all is "great" as usual. They are progressing with their investigators. They are helping with a Branch Halloween party and made a fun poster for the branch. Sister Cardon shared that she has become addicted to Family History. She is able to work at the Family History library weekly. In addition, she has been using her lunch breaks to do more Family History searches.


She stated,

 "I know what the Spirit of Elijah feels like!  I am just so glad that I have learned to love this towards the end of my mission so I can go home and spend every Sunday doing my Family History! I hope to do family names at the temple for the rest of my days!

She has been able to find 61 names to take to the temple when she comes home!

Miracles Once More and one Last Zone Conference!

Sister Douglas and Sister Cardon reunited!

Sister Dias and Sister Cannon with Sister Cardon

Sister Cardon's District

Sister Cardon reports one of their investigators has committed to follow their instruction on reading, praying and attending church and work toward a baptism in November. She feels it's a miracle to watch these happening unfold as this investigator has been struggling.

She was able to attend her last Zone Conference/Development day. As usual, it was so much fun. They played fun games like Yoga Football, Capture the Flag, Egg Toss etc. She was able to go on exchanges with Sisters she has grown to love. She shared her departing testimony, which is a requirement for all missionaries leaving the field at their last Zone Conference. She express sadness at having to say good-bye to so many wonderful freinds. 
She  shares, 
"This week I experienced the ,"I don't want to go home!" feeling. I never believed missionaries when they said they weren't excited to go home but I really felt that for myself this week. I felt in a very real since that the world I have lived in for the last 18 months was going to be shattered. I wouldn't see any of my new favorite people for a few months or even years, I wouldn't be able to preach the gospel, I now had to worry about normal life, all the people I have grown to love with all my heart, I was leaving behind. It was a very sad thought. I am still excited to come home but I realized coming home is just as sad as it is happy."

Blown Away in Stornoway!

Windy  Stornoway

Exploring the Isle

Sister Cardon reports the weather is "JUST CRAZY!" She said when the winds got up 50 mp she thought there were going to be blown away and water was blowing from the sea over the barriers into the street. Members have told them  that 80 mph is the average in the winter and sometimes they get up to 120 mph which blows peoples roofs off. 

Sister Cardon said the best thing about the week was conference and as a Branch, everyone wrote down 3 questions that they had. She shares, 

 "All of my questions answered in the very first session I watched! I feel on a mission we receive so much revelation.  We receive it for us as individuals, for our area, and for our family. The spiritual insight that I gleaned was by Elder Packer. I loved how he mentioned that often we feel like we experience injustices of the world. I know I have especially faced a lot recently. We are tempted to make someone pay for our injustices, or to cause the person pain that caused us pain. But I was so touched when he said, "someone already suffered for that pain." Christ already suffered for the injustices we have in our life. I think,"didn't Christ already suffer enough pain for us without us adding to his suffering with our anger and unforgiving hatred towards others who have caused us pain?" We need not think that someone must pay, because someone already did!"

Front Yard View

Sister Cardon said the work is going well. They are teaching a family and have even found some new investigators. She is working hard to keep missionary work going on the Isle of Lewis. The mission president may shut down the Isle for the winter months. She said it's very hard to do missionary work in gale force winds. She said they hear the wind all night long and even had to stay in a bit this week due to the winds.

Sister Cardon states, "I have come to understand the Atonement even more, with the experiences we have had. I am doing a sort-of last 40 day challenge thing before I come home and its has been a spiritual furnace this past week where I have felt like the Lord is refining me into who I need to be before I go home." 

One Transfer Left!

Glasgow Conference

Glasgow Conference

Sister Cardon reports she enjoyed the conference in Glasgow. Everyone there kept reminding her she was going  home soon - just one transfer left. She is determined to remain focused until the end. They have a new tall investigator in Stornoway. She is staying "relatively" warm and she met a recently returned Elder that was born on the Isle of Lewis. He served in Africa and just happened to be the companion of one of Sister Cardon's friends she went to High school with. Small small world! 

Wonder City of Glasgow

City of Glasgow

Sister Cardon shares,

 "The best part of our week was stake conference in Glasgow. We had an area 70 came, but they kept introducing him with different names so I can't tell you what his name.  It been such a blast to stay at Sister Cannon and Sister Dias flat for the past few days. 

I love that we have the opportunity in this church to receive divine revelation from our Heavenly Father. Such revelation we receive for us is personal and we can receive on a day to day basis, not just at conferences. But conferences are inspired. The area authority said the revelation we receive are commandments for us individually, that we need to obey them. He told us that us we need to take notes to know what commandments we need to work on. We all can improve, there will never be a conference or a church meeting in which we won't receive new commandments for ourselves because we will never be perfect. That's the great thing about this life, that we don't' have to be perfect. It doen't matter how many right or wrong question we got on the "test of life" it is who we are when we turn the test in.  It's about Who we have become!

I am grateful for eternal progression! I love you all so much!"

Two Families of Five

Branch Missionary Bulletin Board

Sister Cardon shares, 

"Sister Sawyer and I have put together some really goals, We'd like to help the Lord accomplish by the end of the year 2014. One of these goal was to baptize a family of 5. This past week we found 2 families of 5 that we set up appointments with and it was such a miracle.

We are going to Glasgow later on this week, which I feel like I shouldn't be excited too get off the island, but I totally am! Even President Brown said, "don't you like to get off the island?." So, I thinks its OK to look forward to sunshine :). I am such a missionary, quoting scripture in normal conversation. Exceedingly is my new favorite adjective. We had Ward coordination and they seemed to criticize  people and investigators. I was quite distraught. It was really sad because it's that kind of attitude that will keep members from coming back into activity. It doesn't matter how many times they may have disappointed you or hurt you in the past, you love them anyway. I just wanted to share this quote with all of them, 
"When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it! " Elder Uchtdorf

Zone Interview Training and a Branch Mission Plan

Sister Cardon and Sister Sawyer off to Zone Training

The Fort Tradition is Carried On!

 Sister Cardon shares,
"Yesterday we presented the first "Branch Mission Plan." We have spent a lot of time coordiating and developing it. The members seem to take it really well and were excited! Sister Sawyer and I are really happy to get started and our whole Branch is fasting to have the missionary work move forward. We gave each member a calendar of things they could do everyday to have the work move forward and also challenged them to make a personal goal for the month of September. We have had a great year in this Branch but we are just getting started and we want to have lots more baptisms and reactiviations before the end of the year."

Planting Seeds and a Holiday in Glasgow

Sister Sawyer and Sister Cardon on the flight to Glasgow

The Flight out of Stornoway

Another Flight Picture

Sister Cardon has stated again that it feels and smells like winter on the" Wee" Isle of Lewis. She and Sister Sawyer went to a Zone Development Day in Glasgow. She enjoyed the trip and had fun playing Capture the Flag. She said all the experienced missionaries are out of shape. She is very sore from trying to chase the new missionaries that are still in shape and quick! She said it was nice to go somewhere "warm." Before being on Stornoway, I don't think Sister Cardon would have called Glasgow warm! They continue to have investigators on Stornoway and were able to plants some seeds, especially with a wonderful 10 year old girl this week.

Luxuries in the Mission Home and Sister Sawyer from Wales!

Trainers and Trainee's at Pratt's Hill

 August Trainers and Trainees in Mission Home

Sister Cardon and Sister Sawyer from Wales

Edinburgh Sister Reunion 

The Scotland Highlands while traveling from Isle of Lewis

Sister Cardon enjoyed going to the mission  home and loved the luxuries there including delicious food and a very soft and comfortable bed full of pillows, that reminds her of home. She has a new trainee, Sister Sawyer. Sister Sawyer is from Wales, and according to Sister Cardon, has the coolest English accent. She reports summer of over on the Isle of Lewis and the winter has set in! She even stated that she can SMELL snow coming! It's high time for hurricanes again as hurricane season is in full swing and many hurricanes roll up her way. She said she hopes she doesn't die during the winter! She was able to buy some new winter water proof boots, her third pair since on her mission. While in Edinburgh she was able to with meet up with previous loved companions! She said there will be very little travel off the Isle over the next few months as weather doesn't permit such travel. She is committed too working hard and living the "Isolated Life" for the Lord's work.

A Baptism and a Lashing Rainstorm

Sister Lowry, Calum and Sister Cardon

Stornoway Branch Members

Sister Cardon reports they had a wonderful week. Calum was baptized and they continue to teach more investigators. Sister Lowry is going home. Sister Cardon is traveling to the mission home to take Sister Lowry back and pick up a new trainee. She will be on the mainland until Thursday. She is excited to be training again. Sister Cardon was unsure they would get to leave today as they woke up to a "Lashing Rainstorm" unlike anything she has seen yet! However, the winds calmed down and she thinks they will be able to go. The plane and ferry will not travel in "lashing rains or winds." She has been informed that missionaries have been stuck either in Scotland trying to get back to Stornoway or the other way around, due to wild weather. 

Sister Cardon calls this the Wee Ferry-part of the travel to Stornoway

A picture in her Stornoway Cottage

The Wind and the Rain and Beanie Babies!

Sister Cardon holding the same Beanie Babies she has at home!

Sister Cardon reports that the summer is over! Out on the Isle of Lewis, the summer is short and the winds and the rains have returned! She has been told by the senior couple serving there, that windows get blown out and cars get overturned in the wind. In fact, this Brother told her that he was knocked down in the wind himself and held flat against the ground by the wind!

It sounds like Sister Cardon is going to have an interesting August through October in Stornoway. The works is going very well. She reports one investigator has passed his baptismal interview. They have others that they are teaching and one new investigator came to all 3 hours of church. She is ecstatic that the work moves forward on the Isle of Lewis. 
She states, 
 " I can really see a difference here and the reason why is because the branch wants new members and is willing to work for them. I feel like this is the ideal place, a place that is really coming together as members and missionaries to do the work. If everyone member in the world was as good as these, members are with missionary work there would be thousands more baptisms. I encourage you all to think about your missionary efforts."

A Beautiful Beach called Luskentire

Sister Cardon traveled to Harris an area on the other side of the Island to visit a member that lives there. This member and her husband live in a super small place on the coast of the most beautiful beach called Luskentire. She states, " It is seriously the most beautiful place I have ever seen.  This island is so so amazing, I sometimes feel like I am in a dream or in a movie or that nothing could actually be this beautiful!! Ahh I love it!"

Driving to Luskentire Beach

Sister Lowry and Sister Cardon at Luskentire Beach

Sister Cardon has been busy working with investigators. The missionary work is moving forward at a fast pace and she is so excited to be teaching people that are ready to hear about the gospel. The senior missionary couple on their Isle are leaving. The branch had a party for them. Sister Cardon said many members came out to say goodbye.

Stornoway Branch Party

Scotland West Conference in Glasgow

Scotland West Missionaries

Sister Missionaries in Scotland West Zone

30 Passenger Plane to Glasgow

Leaving Glasgow

Landing in Stornoway- looks stormy!

Sister Cardon enjoyed traveling to Glasgow to the Scotland West Zone Conference. As usual, the travel is long and crazy! The Sister Missionaries they stayed with in Glasgow didn't know they were coming to stay. The zone leaders forgot to tell them. Sister Cardon said it turned out great anyway and loved being in Glasgow, going on exchanges with other Sisters and enjoyed the conference.

She is very pleased with the progress of their investigators in Stornoway. One investigator is going to be baptized soon, just the weekend before Sister Lowry goes home! They were also excited to see their recent convert bless the the sacrament in Sacrament meeting! She knows the Lord is involved in their work in Stornoway!

Charity Shops and a Trip to Glasgow!

Sister Lewis and Sister Cardon  in the sunny city of Stornoway - sometimes!

Sister Cardon has three investigators that they are working with now. She said that they don't do as much proselyting in Stornoway as they do in other areas. Instead, on Fridays they volunteer at two Charity Shops (thrift stores). She said people really need the help. In addition, on Thursday they work at the Family History center for 2 hours.  On Sunday, they are not allowed to proselyte at all.  She shares,

 " It's really a miracle though because many of our investigators have come through giving service.  Finding new investigators here is different than any other area I have been in." 

Sister Cardon is excited to be going to Glasgow for three days. They will be going to do exchanges with other Sister missionaries and she is excited to meet back up with loved companions!

A Train, Bus and Ferry to "The Isle of Lewis"

Sister Lowry and Sister Cardon

The Highland

Stornoway

A Gift from a new member -A Fish

Sister Cardon describes her trip to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. 
"The  Ferry ride was much more violent than the other ones to Ireland because we do go out into open sea and there is land no where in sight! The waves are pretty big and are strong enough to lift the boat up into the air and bring to back down with a big loud splash into the ocean. I like rollar coasters so it was quite enjoyable for me, but we couldn't walk very well around the ferry when it was in mid ocean. And oh my goodness!! Words cannot describe the beauty I saw when I was on the ferry! I got to go through the" highlands," they are the only mountains in Scotland. All around me were these big green mountains and it looks like a movie, like Lord of the Rings or something. Its so amazing!
Of all my flats, this one in Stornoway is perhaps the nicest. I'ts actually a house equipped for a family so it feels a lot like home and its really big and is really good quality too."

Sister Cardon predicts Stornoway will be her most favorite area of her mission. She said people sound like the did in Ireland, but they also speak Gaelic and she is learning to understand them. She can't read any sign as they are all in Gaelic. They have an investigator that just got baptized and another investigator to teach! Her companion is going home in 5 weeks but wants to work hard until the very end. Sister Cardon is so excited to be on Stornoway and is determined to learn the city before Sister Lowry goes home. She met 15 members on Sunday and she said they are Rock Solid members!

Stowing Away to the Isle of Stornoway!

Missionaries in the Dundee Ward

Big Hill in Dundee 

Sister Cardon  loves this view!

Sister Cardon has exciting news today! She is being sent to the Isle of Stornoway, or sometimes know as the Isle of Lewis. It is above Scotland and has a population of 5000 with an LDS population of 50! The only missionaries on the Island will be Sister Cardon and her new companion Sister Lewis along with one senior missionary couple. She said the whole Island is religious and they even print in the local paper for residents not to talk to the missionaries. She will get to fly there and then fly to Glasgow a few times in each transfer for conferences. However, all other meetings and conferences will be via Skype!

Sister Cardon is very excited even though her Zone Leader announced the day before tranfers, "Let's see who is the strongest and get's sent to Stornoway"! She has been told despite the resistance to missionaries there, they are getting ready to baptize someone on the Isle! Her prediction is that this the coolest place in the mission and she is going to love it! She also reports it rains even more than in her other areas, which is hard to imagine! 

She shares that she will miss the Dundee ward members and investigators tremendously. She feels she is prepared for her next adventure and states "I am going to be that missionary in the Other Side of  Heaven, I wonder if they even speak English up there?! 

The Last Appointment of the Day!

Zone Development Day at the Beach!

Sister Cardon reports their week was full of "dropped appointments." She said it was almost humorous, as they all seemed to be getting canceled. So, they struck out to find some new appointments and couldn't get in any doors after enormous efforts. However, even though they were very tired, they decided to knock on one more door and actually got in! She shares:

"There were many times during this week when I became so discouraged and tired that I didn't want to keep going. When this happens heavenly intervention always makes it possible to keep pushing forward. Heavenly Fathers always gives you help right when you need it, that, I do know."

Another wonderful happening occurred when someone they invited to church showed up. She said they invite at least 10+ people to church every week. Rarely someone comes. However, a 19 year old girl they invited decided to come and they are very excited to work with her.
Sister Cardon also reported that she got the stomach flu this week. She feels very blessed to have gone 13 months on her mission without being sick. This is amazing since she has lived in two foreign countries, eating all kinds of new and mysterious foods!