A Week of LOVE

Ok can I just say a few things before I begin?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST TWIN EVER!! I can't believe how lucky I am to be your twin and to learn from you and laugh together. I know that your heart is so big. You are so talented and so funny. Thank you for being you!! Love you!

 

Happy birthday to Mama Red and Aunt Heidi as well!! Love you both! Also there are others and I hope you had a great birthday as well!

 

Can I just let you all know how grateful I am for all of you. When I opened the package and saw all the notes and pictures, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and love. Not gonna lie, I shed a few tears. Thank you so so much. I am so blessed to know and love so many wonderful people. You are all lights to me.

 

I also want to announce that I feel like I have started a new mission! Haha YSA [Young Single Adult] is different from a family ward in almost every aspect. Planning, finding, teaching, it's all different. But I am slowly learning! Haha my companion and I have decided that she is training me all over again; we laugh every day. The area is beautiful though and full of college students. I'm not used to it! The freeway entrances and exits are in neighborhoods as well so that's an adventure!

 

Sister W** and I have been having a blast this last week. She is from **, ** and is so full of love. She is low key so funny! She is a runner so we have been running every morning which I love. We are similar in many ways and I think we work well together. We also work closely with Elder B** and Elder C**. Because the ward is so big we split it. It's fun though!

 

This week is a week of joy and fun! This Saturday our friend I** will be getting baptized!! We are stoked for her. She is a miracle. She had gone to church growing up and had taken the lessons, but was unable to be baptized due to family opposition. She recently has started college and referred herself to the missionaries because she lost her marked copy of The Book of Mormon. She is so prepared to be baptized, it is amazing to see. The Spirit is so strong in every lesson we have with her. She has been prepared for years. She even has her Young Women's medallion. She can't wait to be able to go to the temple, it's her biggest goal. She will be able to go in a couple weeks and we are so excited for her. My heart is so full of joy and so excited that she will finally be able to make those covenants with Heavenly Father.

 

Like I said earlier, YSA is a little different. One thing that I now get to do is go "boothing". We set a table up and a whiteboard with different questions or topics and we talk to everyone that walks past. We do it outside of the institute building because we aren't able to do it on campus (but we are able to walk around and proselyte on the campus). I'm slowly getting into talking to people my age again! My mind has been running though, thinking of different ways we can use our technology!

 

As I was reading in the New Testament this week, I read about how Christ says He is the bread of life.  Not physically, but spiritually. As we turn to Him we are filled and won't hunger or thirst. I love the visualization it puts into our minds. He and His Atonement are like the plate of cookies (or whatever food you should choose) that is sitting in front of us. It's our choice though, whether or not we partake. We partake as we are baptized and repent, we serve, study the scriptures, go to church and partake of the sacrament, endure to the end. As we do those things, Christ promises us that we will be held guiltless at the last day. What a promise and blessing! The amazing thing is that as we turn to Christ, our burdens are lifted, we are filled with His love for us, and we can find peace and hope. I hope this week you will find time each day to turn to your Savior and "be filled". I promise it makes your day so much better. More light will come into your life and you will feel lifted.

 

Sorry this is so long, but I just have a few more thoughts. This week I hit one year. Weird right!? It feels like just yesterday I was in Paso with Sister C. I am so thankful for everything that I've experienced, felt, seen, and learned here. And for so many lives that have touched mine. I am different. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I have become a different person, a better person than I was before. His gospel means everything to me and He means everything to me. It's because of Him that I can do all things. The same can be true for you as well. I know our Heavenly Father and Savior know and love each one of us by name. I know that peace and joy in this life comes from being obedient to God and the things He has asked us to do. Christlike obedience brings an overflowing of blessings. Selective obedience brings selective blessings. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father.

 

I hope you all have a great week. Remember that you are loved and there are people all around you ready to help you if you just ask.

 

xoxo,

Sister G 

Find the Book of Mormon

The Adventure Continues💕

Ok, before I begin, everyone make their transfer guesses! ..... got it? Ok, let's talk about the week first!

This past week was probably the best week Sister G** and I have had all transfer for multiple reasons, which was awesome!

We taught both S** and K** which was a blessing!!

S** is doing so well and is really seeking for her answer. She reads and prays and shares with us the difference it makes in her day!  She also set aside her fear and anxieties and came to Mutual which was so amazing! We are so proud of her! All the girls love her and she was happy she went.

Our lesson with K** was good as well. She has many questions and concerns that are based off of many years of different information, some true and some false. We are also impressed by her desire and willingness to come to the missionaries, rather than others, to help her understand. Sister G** and I can both see her being baptized in the future, however long it takes. K** said herself this might be what God wants for her.

OK, cutest story!! So a week and half ago we went to one of our families in the ward for dinner. They have such cute kids and the oldest is 7. She has the personality of a 16 yr old! So cute!! As we went to give our dinner message, she requested a cool visual (there are multiple) to use as our lesson. We asked her if she knew certain visuals and she promptly responded that she had seen all of them and wanted a visual she hadn't seen before.  Instead of Sister G** and I trying to create one in the moment, we invited her to create one (with the help of her parents) and then show us the next time we stopped by. That satisfied her. We went back a week later and she told us she was so excited to open the door because she knew it was us and she had been practicing. It turns out that she had been thinking all week. That morning we stopped by she explained that she "was in tears" because she was unable to do the visual she and her dad had come up with. So she and her mom created a new visual. As a result, Sister G** and I were blessed as we were taught two visual lessons! (All of this happening on the porch as well because her mom wasn't home haha). It was probably one of my favorite moments!!!

Ok, onto the news everyone's been waiting for.......

Sister G** is staying in D.V.

I am....being transferred! Yep, you read it correctly, this will be my first "one and done" area.

I will be going up to S**....YSA ward! This will be a crazy new adventure that I am excited for! The Lord always has a plan for His children!

My companion is Sister W** and she is so sweet. If I remember correctly she came out with Sister M**, so she has been out 6 months. I am excited to learn from her and to live the YSA missionary  life! Wish me luck!

There are two thoughts I had that the Spirit bore powerful witness of to me this week. These are things I know, but the Spirit reconfirmed the truthfulness of them.

1. Repentance is real. It is positive. And it is possible because of the Savior. Simple, but often we ourselves make it complicated. Repentance should never be looked at from a negative perspective. It is truly a gift! Can you imagine never changing to become better!? I don't want to because changing to become better means we are becoming more like our Savior and becoming more of the person Heavenly Father knows we are. We are just figuring out who He knows we are.

2. Heavenly Father totally and completely loves each one of us. He loves YOU. He also loves the person next to you, the person driving on the road in front of you, the person who is struggling, the person you don't get along with. He loves ALL of us. And He wants all of us to be happy.  He wants you to be happy. And if you're not happy, He knows what you need to do so you can be happy. Truly happy. Trust Him!

I hope you all have a great week this week and that you can feel your Savior's love this week.

Xoxo,

Sister G 

I heard winter finally hit Utah! I'm happy for those of you who like snow, and sad for those of you who don't. I can't pretend to know what it's like over here, but we did walk around in 40 degree weather one night! Not gonna lie, we were frozen haha

This past week has been good. On Tuesday we were able to watch President Nelson's address and the press conference that followed. I loved it. I know that he, President Oaks, and President Eyring are the men whom God has chosen to serve as the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am excited to hear from them in the next General Conference. One thing that was said during the press conference that I loved was "A well-educated person never stops learning". 

It was also a week of yumminess. Sister G and I have had crepes every day since Tuesday. No joke. We had crepes at our dinner on Tuesday and the family gave us 50 to take home. We also had crepes for dinner again on Friday. Guess what though. They are Sister G's favorite as well!

Our friend K** is doing well. We still haven't been able to teach her because of schedules that have been in the way, but she comes to church. She stayed for Sunday School yesterday and participated which was awesome. She told us that she loved yesterday and it hit home for her. We have a lesson scheduled for Tuesday and we are really hoping and praying that it happens!

On Thursday we went to the Relief Society activity which we enjoyed! We learned how to make homemade cleaning supplies, organization, and things like that. I'm excited to try it out!

One of the pictures in sending is a quote by Mother Teresa that I love. It really is between you and Heavenly Father, no one else.

Transfer calls are this Saturday so next email I will be bringing transfer news. Until then, everyone have a great week and remember who you are!

xoxo, Sister G 

I celebrated Mom and Parker's bday with ice cream!

Sister G and I went to Malibu because it's part of our area. The ocean was so pretty!

our area

Another Great Week

Hey everyone!

Happy birthday this week to Mom, Parker, and Ana!

This email is a little late today. The district went on a hike this morning in Malibu. It was way pretty! We weren't able to see the ocean though because there were clouds covering it. Ha I was thinking about the last time I went on a serious hike though and I had to laugh because it was the day Dad, Mecham, Parker, Jacob, and I hiked Grandeur's Peak (I hope that's the name of it because I forgot...). It was the hike that I was being a weirdo and fell down the trail hahaha. For anyone who is confused right now please go ask my family to see the video. I promise it will provide a laugh!!

This past week was good. It feels like spring here which is tripping me out! We've slept with all our windows open for a few nights now. It's great!

We were able to watch President Monson's funeral which I enjoyed. He was a loved man and a faithful servant of the Lord. He will be missed.

I had Stake Conference this past weekend which I enjoyed. I learned a lot! I feel like some general themes were conversion, the Sabbath, and the temple. Some things I wrote down:

We dwindle in unbelief when we stop reading the scriptures. It doesn't just happen instantly.

The sacrament is the ONLY ordinance that is ALWAYS for you.

The moments we fail are as crucial as when we get it right.

There is no retirement in enduring.

In all the innumerable worlds that God has created, He knows your name.

To be content is not to be happy.

We were able to meet with our friend S** this past week who is doing well. It's really hard to get things going because she has a busy high school schedule and her family situation takes her away every other weekend so it's hard for her to come to church. We were able to set up a time to meet with her weekly which should help, though!

The time is going quickly, but I am so grateful that I've been able to spend this time serving the Lord. This past week was the first time in a long time that I've been the happiest I've ever been. I know that our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ know us individually by name and that They love us. They live and are cheering us on, willing to give help if we just ask. If you struggle during part of this journey, just hold on. Keep going. Keep trusting and keep trying. It's so worth it.

Good luck this week everyone and have a great week! And good luck Sister H**!! The people in ** are so lucky to have you and you will be amazing!!! Go get  it!!

Xoxo, Sister G

Another Good Week

Well, another week down! This past week was good. It is currently raining (more like sprinkling) which is a blessing for California!

Sister G** and I had exchanges this past week which were good. It's always fun to spend a day with other missionaries and learn as much as you can from them. I went with Sister M** who is so awesome! 

Ok crazy story! Pictures this: Sister G** and I are walking down the street to visit a potential. I get the strongest impression to knock this door at a particular house. A full glass door. I decide to knock it on the way back. On the way back I get the same impression. I grab Sister G** and tell her "we're going to go see if Todd is home." ( sometimes it's just fun to knock and see if someone is home. It starts a better conversation. This time though I really felt a man with a name that starts with T.) Sister G** replies, "Todd? I'm looking for T**." We knock the door and a man answers..."Hi, is Todd home?" The man looks at us then responds "Todd? Do you mean T**? I'm T**." We proceeded to tell him we had just heard that someone had met with missionaries here. (Which inside I was freaking out because it had popped out of my mouth. Inside I was talking to myself saying "Sister G you just lied to this man's face. You don't know anyone that had met with missionaries here!") T** proceeded to tell us that in fact he had met missionaries a couple of times here. In the end T** wasn't interested but it was a testimony to us how the Spirit can work through us. We had no record of him at all but the Lord knows T** and He loves him.

We had a very special opportunity this week. Elder and Sister Renlund  came to the mission, along with Elder and Sister Pimentel from the Seventy. It was a little different though. Normally a visiting authority will visit the whole mission, but he only had enough time for one conference so the meeting was broadcast from S** M** to the T** O** Stake Center where the south half of the mission met. Yep, you read it correctly, S** M**! Haha it's funny that I was just there!

The meeting was full of gold. You could just feel the spirit they had with them while they talked. 

Sister Pimentel talked about fires. Not physical fires, but spiritual fires. Negative thinking, self doubt, and disobedience cause a bad fire within us. We can fight the fire of negativity with the fire of our faith. To fuel the good fire we do things like studying the scriptures, serve, remembering and keeping the covenants you've made etc. 

Elder Pimentel  talked about what we are using to fish. We need to fish with nets rather than a fishing pole. 

Elder and Sister Renlund were so powerful. There were three talks we read to prepare for this conference and Sister Renlund talked about them. I loved listening to all the comments. Here are a few I wrote down:

Jesus Christ is the focus. 

Obedience is greater than sacrifice. 

Your faith will not grow if you start from a position of doubt.

Faith is patient.

Faith is never steady. It is either increasing or decreasing. Which direction is your faith going?

We express our faith with our feet and We have to go the distance.

Elder Renlund is truly called of God. You could just feel it. There were many things I won't share because of the sacredness of them. One thing that he did say that I loved was that the Savior loves to fix things. He likes to take broken things and mend them, especially broken hearts. I loved that. I loved the genuineness and sincerity in his voice when he talked of the Savior as well. It was so real. 

He also showed us a quadrant of who we are and who we could become. I'll attach a picture but it all has to do with our attitude and our effort. We all are naturally in one of the 4 quadrant. Our goal is to get to the quadrant of miracles. When we are in that quadrant things happen that you never thought of happening. The Lord is able to help you become the best you can be in this quadrant. 

Overall it was a great conference. 

We had to take our car in to get the oil changed so we had permission to leave our zone; so I was able to get new shoes!! Haha they don't even look like the same shoe or size!

We also met with a few of our friends. We are teaching a couple of people right now, but not consistently because of all the holidays and school breaks. We should be meeting with a few of them this week though! One of our friends Kathy has come to church for the past couple of weeks. We haven't taught her a lesson yet because of the holidays and stuff, but she wanted to come to church. She has a couple of really good friends who are members and she wants to learn more! She is so sweet.

It was a little different hearing about President Monson out here. He is truly missed! I am so grateful to have a prophet to lead and guide us here on Earth and I know he truly was a prophet. I am so grateful to know how the new prophet is called and that we don't have to wonder or guess. And to know that the authority will never again be taken from the Earth.  One quote I love from President Monson:

The past is behind—learn from
it; the future is ahead—prepare for it; the present is here—live in it.

I love this quote because it's so true. We have to live in the NOW. Give 110% each day that you live. There is no reason do do anything else.

I hope you all have a great week and that you remember how much your Heavenly Father and Savior love you. They know you by name and they are there to help you. You just have to sincerely ask.

xoxo, Sister G 

Exchanges

...Sister G** has been sick so I was trying to get her favorite Gatorade...that was in the back on the top shelf....