I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go

Well the journey continues!

I'll start off with some news.

1. D** is getting baptized! There is not an official date yet, but it will most likely be April 14 or 21. 

2. I am now serving in the S** ward. Haha surprise! President made some changes in **.  I was sad to leave **, everyone we were working with, the ward, and Sister C**, but I know Heavenly Father has a plan and it is way better than anything I could come up with! It's a little surreal being back in **, but I am looking forward with faith to the new opportunities that will come with this ward and area!

My new companion is Sister M** and she is from **. She was Sister C**'s companion last transfer. She is sweet and I am excited to work with her. She just got transferred to this area so we are basically whitewashing into the area, just a week late. Life is never dull!

I think that was pretty much the week!

It was finals week up in ** last week and the institute does a breakfast every morning that we were able to help with. It was fun to stand outside and offer people free breakfast. I was surprised how many passed up free food!  

It rained A LOT though. It was nonstop for 3-4 days. Sister C** and I had a great time walking around in it. A huge puddle forms in front of the apartment as well so we basically had to swim to our car, no big deal. Our last night together we actually danced in the rain after we got home...and we jumped in the big puddle!

One thing we were able to help with this week was help our Bishop's wife tarp their roof because the bishop was out of town. We and the YSA Elders spent maybe 2 1/2 hours on the roof stapling tarps down. We really got soaked, but it was so fun! We would do it again if we had a choice. 

This week and weekend is so special with General Conference and the Savior's last week and of course His Atonement, which includes Gethsemane, Golgatha, and the Resurrection. 

The Savior has been on my mind more this week and my gratitude continues to grow. He went through pains and afflictions of EVERY kind for me, and for you, and for all of us. Out of love, He chose to suffer and pay for our sins so we don't have to. He offers peace, hope, and light. He is always there for us, ready to help and lift as we turn to Him. 

 

I cannot put into words the love I have for my Savior. I owe Him everything. I know He is our Savior and that He lives. He is the light and the life of the world. Through Him and His Atonement we are able to return home. There is no other way. If I could ask one thing, it would be to please turn to Him. Let Him into your life and heart. He knows you and will never betray you. You can trust Him. He trusts you. 

With General Conference coming up as well, please listen with an open heart and mind to receive what you specifically need to hear from our Father in Heaven. I promise it's there, you just need to be looking for it. We have the opportunity to sustain our new prophet as well. WHAT an amazing opportunity. I know that President Nelson is called of God and I invite everyone reading to seek your own confirmation from God in prayer. "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

I love you all! Be safe, be smart, and remember who you are.

xoxo, 

Sister G 

Ok funny story and testimony that God knows and loves Us!

So our last day/night together was Sister C**'s 16 months and we wanted to celebrate with frozen yogurt. As we were walking we talked about how I never had a chance to see the gum wall/alley and I was a little bummed. We ended up getting lost to the fro-yo place and as we turned around to get to it we saw the gum wall! No joke!!! We got lost and were lead to the gum wall. It was a tender mercy! This alley has sooooo much gum on it!

 

Acai bowls--Delicious!

It rained and rained! Flooded fields

 

Good Times, Good Times

Hey!

Happy Birthday this week to Dad and Rio! I hope this week is full of celebration!

This last week was filled with so many wonderful moments, ranging from insightful thoughts to a baptism.

Starting at the beginning of the week, transfers were delayed until Wednesday because we have been getting rain and there were warnings of flash floods. This meant Sister W and I got an extra day together which was awesome! We had two lessons that day, one with D** and the other with J**, the member we are working with. 

I picked Sister C** up on Wednesday and we've had a blast ever since. She is from ** and went to ** High School. She is an artist and she is talented. She came from Santa Maria 3rd Ward so we've been sharing experiences we had there!  We're pretty much an old married couple already! We have the same thoughts constantly and our clothes have unintentionally matched or coordinated pretty much every day since we've been together. No worries, we just want to be unified in all things haha! 

It does help to have spent around 5 1/2 hours together in the car on Thursday. Why, you ask? Because we headed to N** for K**'s baptism!!!!! That's right, our wonderful friend who Sister G and I were teaching made the decision to be baptized and I got permission to attend. I am so happy for her, I love her so much! I guess once she came to know the truthfulness of this gospel she wanted to be baptized as soon as she could. It was such a wonderful moment to see her so happy. I am so proud of her. 

D** still amazes me every day. Sister C** and I planned a very simple lesson so she and Sister C** could get to know each other, but then we found out that D** had started doing what we had planned on doing with her so we ended up talking about something else. It's finals week this week for Cal Poly too so everyone has been studying their minds out, but every time we see her she tells us how excited she is for finals to be over so she can have more time to read the Book of Mormon. She loves the pamphlets and we actually had a spur of the moment lesson on two of them while getting fro-yo with her. We had given her two pamphlets she asked for the previous day and she pulled them out while we were eating fro-yo and wanted to talk about them. She even said a closing prayer after. It was awesome! To make things even better, she said the closing prayer in Relief Society yesterday. We did want to invite her to be baptized this last week, but Sister C** and I felt this week was better.

We had a video lesson with I** and B** this week. What I love about video lessons is that even though we're all in different places, the Spirit is the same. The Spirit was so strong in this lesson as well. It touched my heart at the end, though, when B** told us that teaching us these lessons with I** has solidified her decision to serve a mission and I** said that she is now thinking and praying about serving a mission. I wish I had words to describe how and what I felt in that moment. It was incredible. They both have such strong testimonies and I know they will be powerful, inspiring, and influential missionaries.

I just want to share one thought I loved that was shared at Institute. It was about the Parable of the Ten Virgins in relation to now. The point was brought up that with this parable we always think about putting oil in our lamps and keeping our testimonies bright and also being temporally prepared. What our friend brought up was how we need to write the gospel in our hearts. Say there was an earthquake or some other natural disaster. What are the chances you would have your paper scriptures? What are the chances your phone would work? What if you didn't have either of them? If this happened all we would have is what is in our mind and heart. This stuck out to me so much because I had never thought about it in this way. We need to be doing all we can to write the gospel on our hearts so when a time comes when we don't have access to other resources for spiritual nourishment, we can turn inside and remember the things we have felt and learned. 

I hope this week you learn something new and that it strengthens your testimony. Please write it on your hearts so that when crazy times do come, you can be prepared. 

Love you all. Have a great week:)

xoxo, Sister G 

 

 

He Knows The One

Dearest Friends and Family,

I am pleased to inform you that Sister Groneman (me) is never coming home. She will forever be staying in the California Ventura Mission helping others come unto Christ.

But really though, the longer I am here the more I never want to leave. This past week was the best way to end this transfer with Sister W**. We truly felt like we were instruments in the hands of the Lord.

Do you remember D** who I mentioned last email? We taught her 3 times this past week and will teach her more this upcoming week. She is golden! The first lesson we had with her she asked if we could teach her how to pray and she said the closing prayer. She's been praying ever since and wants to say the closing prayer each lesson. She knows that what she is learning is true and she can already see the change in herself that is happening. When we called her to follow up with an invitation we gave her, she went on for about 20 minutes about how she felt while praying and how she goes to the gospel library app all the time and how she loves reading everything etc etc. It was so cool! D** is changing every day! We are so proud of the progress she's made so far and are excited to keep going.

I** continues to flourish. She and another member are teaching us the lessons for her follow up lessons. She loves it! I love hearing both of their testimonies on what they are teaching and how they teach the lessons. I am learning every time. I** has said that by doing this she has been coming to see just how much she likes sharing the gospel.

We meet with one of our members every week who is working his way back to being active. It has been awesome to meet with him and to watch his testimony grow and his countenance change over time. I love watching the gospel, when applied with real intent, change hearts. People become happier, more positive, and hopeful. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it!

Boothing this week was great. We are having more people talk to us which is positive. This last week a girl who always asks for candy came up and asked a question for her friend who had a friend on a mission. It turned into a conversation and we found out that she actually visits C** H** all the time. It was nice to make that connection. She thanked us for letting her ask us a question and she left really happy. It was a testimony to me that the little interactions we make with people can eventually turn into a conversation.

We also were able to contact one of our less active members. *background: her picture and name catches me all the time when we plan our day, but she lives on campus so we have no way to see her* We were boothing and she walks past and because I've seen her picture so many times I recognized her....so I had to ask if it was her. It was! She actually was so happy that we recognized her and really wanted to meet after finals so we will be calling her soon! Heavenly Father really does work in mysterious ways and on His timing. He never forgets and He knows the one.

Saturday was a day to remember. Sister W and I felt so strongly that we were instruments. It started with our morning planning session. We planned our day, but something was off. After minutes of thinking and discussing, we decided to go to Los Osos to see a less active member. We didn't want to at first because we already planned to go to Paso, but we knew we needed to be there. (This meant a lot of driving). We went to Los Osos before Paso (another change of plans) and met our member. We know we weren't there and never have been there for her. That night we were there for one of their friends who lives there. We've talked to her each time, but this time she really opened up and expressed how she wants to get closer to God. We were able to share a Book of Mormon with her and testify of it and the power that comes from reading it.

We then went to Paso and when we got to the house of who we were going to see it looked like no one was home. It was dark and we weren't in the best part of town so we almost went home so we could be home on time. The Spirit told both of us to go back though. We knocked and they ended up being home. We were able to talk to them and it was neat because this member is actually getting married and asked for information about the home ward and church address, which I was able to give because that's where I had served. None of this would be happened if we had gone home. Heavenly Father knows the one.

We are all the one. He knows us individually and will never let us fall through the cracks, even if you think He has. He always has His arms outstretched before us, reaching to help us. Most of the time it is through other people. I hope you all see that this week. That you are known by your Heavenly Father and that you have opportunities to be the instrument to show others that as well.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sister W is headed down to **. She will be with Sister B:) I am staying and will be companions with Sister C**. She is one of the two sisters who go home before I do. I am excited to learn from her!!

Have a great week this week! Love you all! And I'll end with a quote that someone had written in a book in our apartment haha!

"HOPE lets us believe that there will be music in the future. FAITH gives us the courage to dance to it now"

xoxo, Sister G 

 

 

What a Good Week!

I would like to start this week's email by welcoming my nephew into the world!! He is healthy and adorable!

And thank you for the Easter package!

This past week we saw some really cool miracles and met some neat people. We have been really trying to make good use of our 6-9 time and we have seen the positive effects. One night we met a guy named M**. We got talking to him and he wanted to know more about prophets and why President Nelson is the current prophet. We were able to teach him a mini Restoration lesson. At first it looked like he was just listening to be nice, but when we connected the organization of the church during Christ's time to the organization now and how they are the same, we saw something switch in his eyes and in his demeanor. It made sense to him. It was cool to see. He asked us for contact information and said he might know some friends who would be interested. We hope to hear from him or his friends, but if not, we are grateful we planted a seed.

On Thursday we had some cool experiences. That morning we were able to go with our Zone Leaders to one of our member's houses and be present while they gave her a blessing. She has been inactive for multiple years now, but her dad called the Elders because she asked for a blessing. Earlier this last week she found out she has cancer. This was the first time I've witnessed Elders administer a blessing to someone other than another missionary. I love Priesthood blessings because they are from our Heavenly Father and they are specific, direct, and personal. Our member was very grateful and we are hoping to see her this week in between her now crazy schedule.

That night though, we, along with the Elders, had the opportunity to teach the Mission Prep class. It was really cool! We split up in "companionships" and as a class we taught The Restoration, having each companionship teach a couple of points of the lesson. One comment that stood out to me as we were discussing what we all learned was that everyone taught differently, but the Spirit was the same. How much truth there is to that! We are all different and will teach or say things differently, but if it is truth, the Spirit will always be there to testify. This is true for everyone, whether you are on a mission or not! 

Miracle time!

Miracle 1: The Hermanas called us this week to set up a pass-off lesson with a friend they've been teaching. Her name is F** and she is so sweet. She and the Hermanas actually came to our ward yesterday to introduce F** to the ward. What's even better is that a couple of members already know her! They welcomed her and talked with her. I** was awesome and was so sweet to her and told her how she was just baptized! We are so thankful for the Hermanas and their faith and hard work. The pass-off lesson is Tuesday and then we will be teaching her.

Miracle 2: One of our members has brought her friend to church for about a month now and yesterday that friend (her name is D**) was there without our member. She came up to us after sacrament meeting and said that her friend told her we could help her. Of course!! D** has been learning a little here and there, but she wants to understand the foundation and basics. She also said she would like to meet as often as possible. We are meeting with her tomorrow and Thursday this week!

Miracle 3: So many of our members are starting to invite their friends more and more, whether it is to church, FHE, or to the dinner and institute. It's been fun to see the progression and the little changes in the ward. We are cheering them on!! 

One thing that has been on my mind this week is just how much our Heavenly Father wants each of us to succeed. He cares about our individual success and He will always help us reach our full potential. He knows our fullest potential more than we do and that's why it is so important to trust Him, be humble, and obey what He asks us to do.  Ether 12:27 perfectly explains it-He will make weak things become strong. 

It's weird to think transfer calls are this Saturday. It feels like only a few days ago the transfer started. I'll let you know on Monday what happens!

Here are some things I wrote down from Zone Conference that I was going to put in last week:

To teach the gospel is to share your love of the gospel.

When we do the same things we get the same results.

The commandments aren't meant to be comfortable; they are meant to protect us.

Do not confuse activity with profit.

Thank you all for your love and prayers. I hope you see the good in each day and feel the love Heavenly Father has for you.

xoxo, Sister G 

Sushi lunch with our District

Shell Beach

My new nephew!

We went to Avila trying to find a member, but saw the beach instead.

 

A Week Full of the Spirit

What a week!

I feel like it was just a couple days ago that I was telling you about my week. I guess that just means it was a good week right?

To start you off with a smile/laugh, Sister W and I FROZE this week and we're still a little chilled. I know all of you in Utah are saying I have no reason to say anything, but hear me out! This past week it was generally in the 50s and during the night it would drop to the low 30s. We even saw our breath during workouts in the morning. For California, that's cold! I admit, I have totally acclimated to the California weather. We've been surviving though so you don't have to worry!

On Wednesday we had exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders. It was unique because I was able to go on exchanges with the only other sister that Sister C** trained, Sister M**! What a great time! I learned so much from her and we had one of the best days. We met so many great people and had great conversations with them. Sister M** is just so social and willing to talk to everyone. At one point we stopped to talk to a man who was in his backyard. As a result, we handed out 6 copies of the Book of Mormon and had a few people who wanted to meet again!

Friday we had Zone Conference and oh boy, was that filled! One thing that I loved was that many of the discussions were based on questions the leader had had or common questions that we know missionaries have had at one point. The Spirit was so strong and there were so many inspired comments. I wanted to tell you a few of the things that I had written down, but I forgot my notebook so I will send them next week!

A special surprise about Zone Conference, though! I was able to see Brother and Sister G**!!! (from S**) Brother G** spoke in our Zone Conference so they showed up towards the end of lunch. I was so happy to see both of them again! They both are such great examples to me and they taught me so much when I served with them. I look up to them so much.

One thing in Zone Conference that was brought up was what our mission is good at and where we can improve. I am proud to say that I am part of the Great California Ventura Mission. We have a culture of obedience, brotherly kindness, enthusiasm, and spreading sunshine.  The thing that our mission is now striving to improve on is the prime proselyting time. The prime proselyting time is 6-9pm and we are now reserving that time to be out and talking to people if we do not have a lesson. Sister W and I have already seen the blessings of utilizing this time. Friday night we boothed with the Elders which we normally do in the daytime, but we saw more success that night than ever before. Sister W and I walked a little as well and met great new people and a few potential investigators. I am excited to continue to see miracles during this time!

We have continued to meet with B** and this week was super helpful! We were invited to an FHE with her and it helped us to see the best way to help her! We are hoping to meet with her again this week and we are hoping to help her come to FHE or the institute dinner soon.

A couple random things:

We have learned that I am related to Elder C** and Elder B**! Elder C** and I are 5th cousins and Elder B** and I are 7th cousins. Gotta love family!!

I think I played the piano half of this weekend! I played all of Zone Conference, including two musical numbers, and in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. I think this is making up for all of the practicing and recitals I skipped...:)

I hope you all have a great week this week. And hello to my new nephew this week as well!! 

Xoxo, Sister G 

Zone Conference Birthdays

One of the best weeks!

Hey! 

 

Ok, I'm sorry before I start this email- this week was one of the best, but as I'm trying to write about it, I'm not remembering! I will let you know what I remember😀🏼

We had the cutest Valentine's Day. We went out with cute Sister M** and had some food. Sister M** is from the family ward and has cerebral palsy. She is so cute and is always seeking to learn more from her Heavenly Father. Every time we go over she is telling us what she has learned from reading her scriptures!

That night the bishop and one of the counselors and their wives took the girls in the ward out for frozen yogurt. It was fun to just hang out with all the girls! 

We taught our friend B** this week and she is doing well! We are teaching her again tonight! She has a desire to learn and to really understand so it's fun to see when she understands something.

Oh, so most of our nights have been spent with the Elders in our district. We are singing for Zone Conference and we've been practicing for that. It's been fun! Sister W** and I didn't realize how funny Elders are. Just imagine: 6 Elders all in the same room trying to practice a song. It's great!

One thing that stuck out to me this week was the word "include". I've heard that word my whole life, but this past week it connected to what I was doing. We are here to invite others. All that is, is including them in what you're doing and the things you know. For whatever reason that totally switched my mindset and has made things easier! I can totally include people in what I'm doing, whatever it is. That also means including people in the thoughts I have during a lesson at church or a meeting and including them in my own conversion. It's the same with everyone. When we include others in our conversion, we are helping others become converted to their Savior as well.  

I'm excited for this upcoming week and I hope everyone else is, too! It just feels like it's going to be a good week. I love you all and I hope this week you will find a time to include others in what you're doing, whatever it may be!

Alex, I bet you did a great job with your Farewell talk! Good luck in the mission field!!

xoxo, 

Sister G 

we went on a hike last week

 

Hi :)

Ok can I just let you all know how grateful I am for you and how loved I feel? This week I continued to receive cards and packages and I will never be able to express my gratitude. Thank you. Thank you for the love, support, and prayers that you send my way.

I**'s baptism went so well!! The Spirit was so strong. She and so many others have been waiting a long time for this day and Sister W and I feel special to be able to be a part of her journey. What hit me the strongest was the moment I realized that I** is now able to be sealed to her family. How incredible! That's what this work is all about--helping others come unto Christ and helping them become eternal families. There is no better work!

Sister W and I are loving it here! It's a party every time we are with our members. We spend a lot of time with them. We see them at Institute, church, FHE, etc. Haha Sister W and I have decided though that we are not smart enough to be here; we ask about school and they go into long explanations about their engineering classes, nanoseconds, wave lengths, and other smart stuff! We just know the gospel! 

Boothing went well this week! We used a question that was emailed to Sister W and we had some awesome conversations and questions come up as a result. The question was "If you could ask God one question, what would it be?" We learned that there are so many out there who have questions that don't cross our minds because we already have the answer. Even more of a reason for all of us to open our mouths!

One thing that is great about being up so north in the mission is that I get to see old friends from a year ago! Yesterday I was able to see Brother R** from the P** Ward!! He spoke in our ward and I learned so much. He talked about stem cells and how they saved his life (he has a crazy form of cancer. No one can figure out why he is still alive). Each one of us is a stem cell waiting to be used in someone's life. Life isn't about WHY WE are here, but WHO we are here FOR.

So true! We are here to bless and serve others just like the Savior did. He was never here for personal gain. I hope this week we can all turn outwards and ask ourselves and the Lord who we are here for. Someone specific needs YOU and who you are. Go serve!

I hope you all have a great week this week and know that I love you all! Happy Valentine's Day! And good luck Sophie with the baby!!

xoxo, 

Sister G 

Boothing

Our journey to find an apartment led us down a path by the complex. Don't worry, we found the apartment!

We needed something to do so we went to random places and chalked the Plan of Salvation!

One night we spent over 20 minutes just laughing and goofing off. Which includes taking the ugliest pictures you can. No, this was Not one of the ugly pictures.