Hey!

Hey! 

Happy Birthday Mecham! (sorry I know it's late!)

This past week was good! Fall is definitely in the air! This past week it was super hot, and then all of a sudden the temperatures tanked! Today it is cold and wet! I kind of feel like I've just experienced the bipolarness of UT weather, but California style!

We had exchanges this past week. It was so good! I learned a lot and had so much fun with Sister P**! We walked most of the day, which I LOVED! And Pismo is gorgeous so that was a bonus:)

Saturday was full of activities. Well, two activities. In the morning we went up to Pismo again and we helped with the city Halloween festival called Pumpkins in the Park. We helped set up and then helped with the kid games. There were so many people there and a bunch of cute costumes! Our whole district helped out so it was fun! And yes, they provided pirate costumes so I did dress up. That will be the extent of dressing up for me haha! I'm hoping to send a picture, but it was on another sister's camera so we'll see!

Later that day we had our ward Halloween activity. It was a chili and pie cook-off and a bunch of games for the kids. There was live music as well. It was a great activity to sit and socialize with everyone. We were super excited because a family we are trying to set up a time to meet came! And we were able to set up a time to meet for today! They had so much fun and said they were so happy they were invited! 

The work keeps going and there are miracles right and left! This work is truly the Lord's work and I am so grateful He has trusted me to help! 

One last thought! I loved our third hour lesson yesterday. The bishop gave a lesson on temptation. It was so good. Just remember everyone has temptations, including the Savior. Temptation IS NOT sin.  Sin is choosing to act on that temptation and then doing so.

I hope everyone has a great Halloween!!

xoxo,

 Sister G

 

Oh we went sand surfing for P-day!​​

 

The Joy Continues

This whole mission thing? It just keeps getting better and better!  It's nonstop and I don't really think I take time to reflect, but when I do I realize just how great this work is and how grateful I am to be a part of it. I love wearing this name tag!

Zone Conference this week was really good! The whole second half was about technology and preparing to set it up next transfer. We watched some videos of missionaries in the field using technology and the different experiences they had. (For missionaries who know this term, it's The District 3). I am so excited for this change that's coming. I can see how it will hasten the work here and provide new and more efficient ways to share the gospel.  I can't wait!

We also had a cool miracle of a woman telling us that she and her husband want to take the lessons. Her husband used to be a member and wants to come back which is really exciting. We should be having a lesson with them this week!

One thing that really hit me this week was yesterday at church. We were in Sacrament Meeting. I was sitting there looking around and my eyes rested on a particular family. I caught a glimpse of a little bit of what the father may be feeling. This family has their struggles and it's definitely hard on the father. It looked like he came for relief. Then it was like a light bulb switched on. As my eyes continued to view the whole congregation, I literally could feel/see the trials, worries, and hardships they had come to find relief for. I could see the sacrifice they had made to come to church, showing their Heavenly father that they cared and that they had faith in Jesus Christ to be be healed spiritually. The feeling was overwhelming. It continued through the Sacrament as I watched everyone partake of the bread and water. It hit me more powerfully when I watched the children take the Sacrament. How innocent they are. They do not know what trials or challenges lay ahead of them and probably don't even fully understand what church and the Sacrament are for, and that's ok because they will understand later. They do know who Jesus Christ is and you can tell that they love Him. 

It also was the Primary Program. Their light just radiated and I couldn't help but feel like angels were singing with them. Again, they may not fully understand the words that they are singing, but one day they will. Right now they are building their foundation. They do however, know who they can turn to and know who Jesus Christ is. 

My heart was so full of emotion. I could see the joy of this gospel. My desire to share this with everyone increased. Everyone is looking for some relief, whether they realize it or not. The difference of those who find lasting relief and those who find temporary relief is the source they turn to. The Savior is the ONLY source for true and lasting relief and peace. We are able to feel that as we do the thing we need to to open that door- Follow Him. Read the scriptures, pray, go to church, serve, keep the commandments, the list goes on. It may seem like a long list of dos/don'ts, restrictions, rules, whatever you want to call it, but they are the key to unlocking the door to the Savior and the peace He has provided for us. I guess with all that said, the question we all need to ask ourselves is "How badly do I want that door to be open?" The way has been shown and key has been given, you just need to decide if you are going to pick up the key and open the door or not. 

I know the Savior lives and I know that He is the only way. He is standing there, waiting for you, His arm extended towards you. I promise if you will turn to Him, you will find what you are looking for. 

Remember Him this week. You are always on His mind. In fact, you are engraven on the palms of His hands. He loves you more than you could ever know.

xoxo,

 Sister G

                     I forgot to send pictures last week. This is from our hike two weeks ago. 

 

 

Santa Maria Zone

 

The Week

Hey!

This week wasn't too eventful compared to last week! 

Ha one thing that we did do was help the YSA Sisters with a service project they were helping one of their members with. Guess what it was! A car wash! It was like I was back on Dance Co, it was so trippy! I even held some signs at one point! Good times, good times!

We are teaching a lot of practice lessons to our members to keep up our teaching skills. What is great is that these lessons are benefiting everyone. One family we are teaching is a blended family and the oldest son is not baptized. His parents are hoping that these lessons will help him at least learn and understand more about what they believe. He's been coming to church with them, though, and this week he stayed for Sunday School! 

You might be wondering how the H** family is doing. Please pray for them! It's been super hard to get in contact with them over the last several weeks (we've had so many phone problems lately with two different phones). We were going to meet with them Saturday but she texted us saying they just needed time to themselves and that they need a break from church. She is struggling, wondering if she is being honest with herself. Her testimony is there and I know she knows it's true, Satan is just working so hard on them! Pray for them!

One more little miracle, though, was that we were able to meet the husband of a couple that has been on our minds since the first day Sister M** and I came into Santa Maria! They are never home because they work all the time. We were walking around the neighborhood, though, and felt like we should just go try them again and we are so happy we followed that prompting! We are going to try and set up a time, if possible, to meet with both him and his wife!

Zone Conference is tomorrow so I'll report on that next week!

Everyone please stay safe. We only hear so much of what is going on in the world, but from what we are hearing, it sounds like a lot is going on.  We've heard some about the fires up north. We don't see a lot of smoke, but we can smell it sometimes. A member in our ward has a son serving in Mexico right now as well. Amidst all the things going on though, I love hearing how people are uplifting and supporting one another. We are all brothers and sisters.

Thank you for everything you are doing to help the people around you! The little things count just as much as the big things!

xoxo, Sister G

A Week Full of Adventures

Hey hey hey, it's me again! All the way from Sunny California!

This week was busy and so fun because of all the different things we were able to do.

On Wednesday Sister B and I were in charge of mutual because their focus is missionary work. We had a combined activity to kick off the month. We got about 5 other companionships to help us out and we had four different rotations with different things to do. One of the stations was a matching game of ward members, where they served, and something cool about their mission, which was cool! Overall we think the activity went really well and that they enjoyed it. We know of a lot of the youth are planning on serving, which is super exciting!

Thursday we had follow up training in Oxnard. Our WML set up our route to go down though! We were able to stop in Solvang and take a nice stroll haha! It is so cute! We also had Aebleskivers (I'm not sure exactly how to spell it...) which are like pancake balls. They were so good! What made the whole thing even better was that the YSA sisters came with us so we could carpool! We all had so much fun!!

We started our Friday after studies by helping one of our members, Sister P**, with her house. They are painting it, so we came over to help scrape paint off! I love doing things like this so we had a blast! I can't wait to see how their house turns out!

We also had interviews with President Nakken. They went very well! I am excited for the things they are going to start doing! One thing that is changing is that we are getting technology. Yep, we are getting phones! (Sorry Mecham and Parker...*insert the comment you always say*) I have mixed feelings about it, but I am super excited to be able to bring up any of the videos whenever I want!

Saturday was exciting! We went to G** L**'s wedding reception! It was at our church building. It was great! It was a treat to see family from home! My ward family! The reception was great and everyone was so happy! I saw Brother L** one more time on Sunday when he came to Sacrament Meeting:)

Speaking of Sunday and the Sacrament, I have a new appreciation and understanding for the Sacrament. There is an amazing video called "The Savior Understands Me" by Elder Holland. There is a line in there that he says that has stuck with me the whole week and I probably am not saying it right, but he said the most dramatic way to associate yourself with the Savior is by partaking of the Sacrament. I have never thought about it that way and it brought a whole new light. I was focused on that this week, especially yesterday during the Sacrament and it was so different. I loved it. And then we had the opportunity to go with Brother G** to meet a family, but he also provided the Sacrament for them. To all the young men who provide this service after church to all those who are not able to make it, I thank you!!! The Spirit was palpable in that room and there was healing. This family was so grateful. The Sacrament is so special and I am so grateful for my Savior and everything that He did for me, you, and all of our brothers and sisters. Please please please don't take it for granted.

This morning we went with Sister G** on a bike ride which was so much fun!! We loved it! The world is so beautiful!

Well this letter is so long and you are probably wondering when I will stop telling all my stories...so I'll stop now. I hope you have a great week this week and that you notice the little things that make life great!! 

xoxo, Sister G

We also celebrated Sis B's 1 month!

 

 

Hey!

This week I feel like we have been bombarded with so much and this next week will be the same! In all honesty, it's probably not a lot to do, but add training to it and it makes it a lot more to do!

Sister B** is my new companion! She is adorable. She is from L**. She went to USU for a year then came out. She is already doing such a great job and I am so proud of her, especially with so much going on! It was definitely weird to be at the Trainer's Meeting again, but guess what! Sister R** (MTC comp) is training as well and we are in the same District! We are finally serving close to each other, we are so stoked! Anyway, I was able to say goodbye to Sister C** as she went home on Wednesday! My trainer is home! 

Of course the highlight of this week was General Conference. It's like Christmas for your soul!! :D I hope everyone was able to watch or listen to it because it was so incredible. Literally the Lord was talking so if you didn't get to listen, get to it and read them online!! You won't be disappointed! I'll share just a couple things that stood out to me. 

-YOU have something to contribute in every meeting or activity.

-Repentance is always positive

-consecrate all you have to the Lord and you will not be left wanting

-All of us have equal access to miracles

-LOOK BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE

-The Book of Mormon is one of God's priceless gifts to us

-Hard is the constant. How we react is the variable

- the greater the light, the fewer the shadows

-Love without service is like faith without works

- Our faith prepares us to be in the presence of God.

These past two days truly have been amazing and I hope they were for you as well.

This week we are in charge of Mutual [group for teenage boys and girls]. We have gotten a bunch of other missionaries to help out and we are doing like a kickoff to missionary work ( the whole month of October will be on missionary work for them). 

I had a realization moment this past week more, more than normal. In about a month I will hit halfway. I kinda freaked out, not gonna lie. Thoughts popped in my head wondering if I had truly been giving my all and loving the most I could etc. etc. Conference gave me the desire to try even harder so I've recommitted to giving all I have to the Lord. I was woken up last night with the confirmation and peace that I had done what I could in my Heavenly Father's eyes, that He loved me, and that He was proud of me. 

I think a lot of us feel that way a lot. Knowing what you did, and knowing just how much you could've done. Just remember that as you try your best, Heavenly Father is proud of you and no matter what He will always love you.

I hope this week you will be able to feel His love for you. Don't forget to open the Book of Mormon and read, even if it's a just a verse!

xoxo, Sister G

ps--We went to a chalk festival:) so cool!!​

 

I forgot to add!!

I was able to see a couple from Paso ward yesterday!! Brother G**'s brother (Brother G**) is in SM3 and they were over for Conference so that was so fun!!

Also, we are getting mobile devices but it's not sure of the exact time when. 

Any advice for the next half/ just over half of the mission?

 

Thanks for all you do!!!

 

Training Luncheon

Transfer Day

New Companion: Sister B**

Chalk Festival

Chalk Festival