Missionary in Czech Republic lends helping hand to residents

Missionary

in Czech Republic lends helping hand to residents

Elder Austin

M. Gardner, a graduate of the Sandy Creek High School class of 2000, has

been serving in the Czech Republic for the past 18 months as a missionary

for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

With the recent

flooding in Prague, Gardner says he has been able to really get his hands

dirty.

"As I

have served the Czech people, my love for them has grown," Gardner

said.

To help the

flooded city, Gardner gathered together 20 missionaries in the city to

help with the sandbagging around the River Vltava. As they finished one

area of the City, the government sent a police van to take them to another

area to help the residents.

He reported

to his family living in Fayette County that the Metro (subway) is completely

flooded and will not be in use until Christmas. Several buildings have

collapsed from saturation from the floodwaters.

As the waters

slowly recede, Gardner and his small army of Christian missionaries have

organized themselves to give assistance where needed, and say they anticipate

helping with the clean-up when the river goes down.

The Church

of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has pledged 100,000 Euros to help

with the victims' losses, according to a church spokesperson.

Prior to his

two-year mission, Gardner attended school for one year at Brigham Young

University in Provo, Utah. He will return from his mission in May, 2003.

Back

to the Top of the Page