4/25/16
Wow this week was crazy. I decided that as good as it was to be able to compose this massive thing throughout the week that it was a tad distracting, so I don't think I'll be doing that anymore:) Anyhow, after the almost death of exactly one week ago (haha just kidding but really though, we were feeling it all week), we were blessed to have stake conference Saturday and Sunday! That was awesome. I took so many notes, I was trying to write down all my thoughts as they came...the Spirit always gives you something to learn if you are ready and willing to hear it. There were numerous talks on missionary work --many given by youth about how to prepare for a mission-- and several on personal experiences with keeping simple promises made with the Lord and the blessings that awaited each person through their obedience. All of the talks were unique in their own way. A veces someone would begin their talk and I'd think "there's nothing I'm going to get from this, this doesn't apply to me" --like the one on how to better raise children in the gospel and how to help them keep commandments not because of obligation but because of a love for God and a testimony of Him (sorry I really liked that one!!)-- but if I know when I push those thoughts aside and tell my Father, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth" then the Spirit always helps me to hear something that will help me. Sometimes what I end up with in my notes has no relevance to what the person spoke of save but one part of something they said that allowed the Spirit to direct me down a path through personal revelation where with I was able to learn what God wanted me to learn.
So conference was great haha! Now that I've gone off rambling - the Spirit does that to ya sometimes - guess who else was at our stake conference? President and his wife! We walked into the stake center Saturday and they were just right there! *tries to remember to breath and not do anything stupid in front of President* *fails and trips while walking* (<--yeah...that happened ). We talked with them for a few minutes. His wife was concerned about the fact that I had "fainted on us" but I assured her I was doing much better. I seriously love them. They are so awesome.
So conference was awesome. President and his wife spoke Saturday. I love the opportunity to hear from them, because they've been given authority over us and they know best how to hasten the work here. All future missionaries: literally anytime your mission president opens his mouth, it's just like your bishop, the stake president, and the prophet. They all have that authority from God. Relish the opportunity you have been given to hear them speak. Our leaders are men and women of God and I know He speaks through them. So their talks were awesome. A lot about personal conversion, which has been a hot topic in the mission. We have a Seventy coming for a "mission tour" --which actually isn't really a tour at all...not sure what it is really-- and he asked us to study all of the scriptures in the index on repentance and conversion before he comes. I've learned a lot the last two months. I can't wait for what's to come, even just what awaits today!
Last Friday there was a member baptism in our ward. Holy cow. Mexicans know how to party (yes, Mexicans...our ward is basically all from Puebla. I don't think anyone lives in Puebla anymore cause they are literally all here haha! Everyone's related other than a few here and there from El Salvador, Ecuador, and Chile)!! There was so much food and so many children...holy cow. And guess who was the lucky one chosen by a almost-eight-year-old to speak? Hahaha very funny... Yup...me. So, in my three weeks here I have given a workshop in my first zone training meeting (yes, training meeting, you know, for those being trained??? Haha), given the workshop in my third district meeting, and now I have also spoken at a baptism. Awesome...but really, it was great to see her get baptized. Her dad isn't a member --part member families are really common here-- so another guy from the ward baptized her. I hope it was a special day for her. :)
Lo siento, this email is all over the place... Last week was our district leader's birthday so our ward mission leader bought a bunch of pizza (and dessert pizza --YES) and we had a little celebration for him Tuesday after district meeting. We also went on exchanges Tuesday and Wednesday! That was fun! Hermana Park was really sick with a stomach virus so I stayed home with her while the other three went out (the sister training leaders are in a trio now, the other Hermana just got back from Bermuda!). It was a very different exchange than what I hear normally happens, but I loved it. We got to sit and talk for just hours. We shared testimonies and experiences of things, shared thoughts, conversion stories, family trials, everything. Hermana Park leaves at the end of this transfer. She's from Utah but born in Korea. Her conversion story was amazing. It's crazy how God really is in all the little details of our lives, how every point in her story was a step leading her to be prepared to receive the gospel. God is wonderful. It was awesome to talk with her and see how we both learned so much from hearing each other and from the Spirit that was with us. I love how He will always help us find something in others to help us love and understand them more.
Mi compañera has been kinda sick all week after that food...so we spent a lot of time at home this week with her napping and me reading conference talks or practicing my BoM pronunciation to myself. But I know we did our best this week with what we could do. On Thursday, we missed our bus to go see one of our investigators. We called her and turns out she was canceling on us anyway. We went to go see a less active who lived nearby instead, and I know that was where we needed to be. We teach her in English cause she prefers it over the Spanish most of the time, but she expressed how hard it is for her to go out and do, really anything, let alone go to church, because of her anxiety. Man, I feel you, Hermana!! I shared a little bit with her and testified that if she prayed for the strength to take a few steps out of her comfort zone, to take a few leaps of faith, that God would help her little by little, just as He has helped --and is still helping-- me. She said she'd pray for His help and the confidence to be able to go to church where she knows no one because she knows it's important. Hopefully we will see her Sunday! :)
Last night after stake conference we visited a less active lady and got to just be a friend for her. Someone to talk with. I hope she was able to really feel our love for her. We really do love these people so much, it's ridiculous to an exoteric, because we love these people we haven't even met a veces, and will really do almost anything for them. I know this love is from God because every day I pray that He will let me feel His love for His children and see them as He does. I know I've been blessed in being able to do that.
Okay, now to lighten it up after all this heaviness, sorry guys! It's just incredible how much God works in our lives and how much everything points back to Him (and how we can see it if we seek it!!)... So the subject line... Sanctifying ourselves...that has been a main focus for me this last couple days, I've read a lot about it and about consecrating ourselves to the Lord as well. So much room to be spiritually fed. I don't know that until my mission I have truly understood how it feels to hunger and thirst after truth and the "living water" and "bread of life", how we can feast continually on the word of God. Literally FEAST because I yearn to learn everyday by the Spirit. That desire has never been so strong. I have the words of Sister Robinson's song ringing in my head, so much truth expressed in music...man, I love music! It brings the Spirit SO strongly. There's a reason I'm constantly singing "tengo gozo en mi alma hoy"! ️Church is true guys.
Next on the line is taking notes, you've got that one by now I hope! I've been rereading a bunch of talks from the past --and some for the first time-- and I've learned so much and taken so much from them. Then there was stake conference, and throwback to general conference three weeks ago. Holy cow!! Church is awesome.
Last but not least, to actually lighten the mood a bit --lo siento otra vez-- we have picking locks. This will have to be my funny experience of the week...so, we kinda forgot our keys...I...kinda forgot our keys...oops haha. So last night we got back from visiting a less active and it was about 9:15 --the bus was late...but good thing cause we ended up running it down -- and we get to the door and realize no one can let us in. Our landlord and his wife live downstairs, and we live upstairs. There's a door to both of our rooms, but then there's the door outside to actually get into the house. The landlord and his wife are in their 90s so we knew they were asleep. They usually have a nurse who stays the nights with them, so we rang the doorbell hoping she would hear it --it was only 9:00 after all. The old couple can't hear hardly so we knew it wouldn't wake them up but we prayed she would answer the door. Well, I wasn't gonna stand there and wait, so I pulled out some bobby pins, and thanks to the excellent practice me and Aubrey had breaking into her house, I began to pick the lock haha! My compañera considered trying to climb onto the balcony hoping maybe that door was open, but it was too high. Our back window was open, but it was almost three stories up a flat wall. We were out there for 45 minutes ringing the doorbell while I tried to pick the lock. I was on the fourth prong, and was working on getting the last one when the door pulled open. The nurse lady had finally woken up and scared us half to death as she stood there in the dark with a green makeup mask on her face in a bathrobe. We apologized and said thank you for letting us in and then ran up to our room. It was quite the adventure haha! But I'm glad God disturbed her slumber just a little bit so that we could get in (I don't think I would've been able to get the fifth one...Aubrey didn't teach me very much.)
Anyway, so those were our adventures of the semana pasado. We now have a note to ourselves on the door to remember our keys --which could be taken down a spiritual path of significance but I'll spare you -- and have avoided death by food up to this point much better than last week. I'm so thankful for the opportunity I have to serve and feel the Spirit so strongly in my life, and the chance I have to help others recognize the joy that comes from this gospel and to recognize God's hand in our lives.
And my final spiritual thought of the day --five million thoughts later-- comes from Alma 5:49. "this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land...yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again." I know we are all called to this work, and when we ourselves have been born again (*cough cough* CONVERSION!), when we feast on the word of God, it will be delicious to our souls and we will desire all to have it. "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work" and when we have that desire, we will want to share the gospel with everyone we meet, and our love for all we see will grow so much. Strive to see everyone as they truly are, as sons and daughters of God with divine potential. Look at everyone in white as who they can become. But most of all, seek to "see with [your] eyes...understand with [your] heart, and be converted, and [then God] should heal [you]" because He has "prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not", therefore let us give heed to the call of God to come unto Him (which we do through becoming converted continuously) and then, "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
I know this church is true and I'm so blessed to have it in my life! Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts, let us continue always to press forward with steadfast faith in Christ!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Monday, April 25, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
"And that, my friend, is what they call music: country!!" -Hermana Bugingo
4/18/16
So I did something a tad different is week. So throughout the week I wrote some notes and thoughts I had about each day thinking maybe that'll make it easier to actually email back and forth cause I won't be trying to type up this huge thing at the same time haha:)
So Monday night we had an awesome family home evening with a family in our ward. Their oldest daughter is less active --she's 17. We taught about the gospel of Christ in a Spanglish lesson in which she told us how she feels a lot of guilt when she goes to church and doesn't feel worthy to be there. We gave her a few talks to read, one of which was Latter Day Saints Keep On Trying and another from this conference, the one by elder Duncan I think. But that lesson was awesome, the Spirit was way strong and we hope she was able to learn a little bit from what we gave her.
Oh man, pday though! Emailing was awesome too:) Cafe said in a group email that they are teaching all the time and talking with so many people everyday it's crazy. I remember thinking how his numbers compared to mine are insane, but that's when I have to stop myself. Why do we compare ourselves to others? I've spent my whole life trying to be as good at turning as her, as flexible as her, as fast as her, as strong as him, or whatever. In competition we're always comparing. Then I got to the CCM and I had to change my way of thinking. I finally got over it and thought, "why does it matter if my compañera learns some words faster than me? Or if she/he is better at Spanish than me? We are all on our own journey to becoming the best servants of the Lord that we can be, and that will happen in the Lord's time for each of us." But lo and behold, here we go, first week and I start comparing what we're doing to what Cafe is doing. Mind you, he is in a completely different area and he has a car! So, Hermana Bugingo gave me a good talkin to and helped me realize how stupid it is to compare yourself to literally anyone about anything cause we are all so different!! Especially in this work. We just gotta get over ourselves and just say, "ya know what?? I am where I am and God knows I am doing my best, and my best is good enough for Him!!" We can't let "the fear of men" keep us from opening our mouths and stop us from progressing and serving Him. In honor of Elder Stoker (no he's not dead, but kinda ), we gotta just get over it! This is such an awesome learning experience for me, and I really am finding myself as I lose myself. God is so good guys.
Moving to Tuesday, we got Chinese food (since we basically live down the road from China)! They never give you forks at the restaurants here so when the lady handed me a fork and spoon with my chopsticks I was very happy haha. I need to remember to take more pictures of the foods I eat haha. Tuesday night after English class we met a senior couple from Utah who teaches institute at all the different churches in the mission. After talking with them for a bit we talked with a few members in the foyer. I talked with two members in particular and ended up having a little bit of a mini Spanish lesson, asking them some questions and just kinda talking. I'm doing a lot better than I give myself credit for at times. Yes, I know my Spanish is FAR from perfect, but I think I underestimate at times the amount with which the Spirit will help --and has helped-- me if I am willing to exercise faith in Him and His ability to do so.
We met with a lady on Wednesday from Midwood who lives in Africa. (So, basically, we live in Saudi Arabia, down the street from China, around the corner from Israel and Mexico, and next door to Africa.) No joke, man. We came on the subway and I was legit the only white person haha. We came up from the subway and my compañera was so excited! She was saying how everyone was speaking French and all these other African languages she knows (by the way, Spanish is her fifth language so...haha) and she was so happy haha! We passed all these African shops and she was just going on about how we'd have to come back. It was way cool. I swear I'm not in the United States ninety percent of the time.
Oh man, also, we got a text from our district leader today and my compañera read it and just started laughing. I have to give a workshop in district meeting next week. We will see how that goes. Tomorrow we also have zone training meeting and me and my compañera have to give a workshop there too, so we will see how that goes...I'm kinda nervous, but we prepared it today and I feel pretty good about it so far, I know the Spirit will be with us, so I think it'll be fine. :)
Also, this Tuesday we will have exchanges with the sister training leaders. They are awesome! They both leave at the end of this transfer though, so that's kind of sad. I think it's weird how I prepared mentally before the mission to get attached to the members and those I teach, my companions, and just friends, but I don't think I processed that I would be allowing myself to get attached to everyone! To all the missionaries and districts I meet. That will be interesting. Letting myself love and get attached to all these people here. I'm excited to let it happen though...opening your heart up and just letting God fill it with charity is scary, but it brings so much joy.
Everybody loves Friday's, right? Well I've got two words: ZONE. MEETING. Man I love my zone!! I seriously LOVE them. I have been trying to look at everyone as family --Elder Mari's concluding thought after his workshop at zone meeting-- and wow...it's crazy. I seriously feel like they are a part of my family even though I hardly know more than half of them. But anyway, zone meeting was AWESOME. It went for almost three hours but seriously the whole thing was necessary. There was nothing that should've been taken out, it was awesome. We had three workshops (ours was on personal conversion), a "get to know the zone" game, and lots of other awesome instruction from our zone leaders (or zone lords, as they have dubbed themselves haha!).
After football/rugby practice, me and mi compañera gave our workshop. I think it went really well. Apparently no one usually gives workshops til third transfer...well I get to give two in my first three weeks (ugh). But, I survived, so that's good! And hey, they're in English, so that's helpful. :) After the meeting we attempted to take a somewhat decent picture of us all as a zone....yeeeeah that didn't happen haha so I have two pictures (that will probably be the only ones I ever have) of my whole zone being goofballs haha. But at least they're good goofballs:)
Today while jotting down my thoughts from this week I realized I didn't add these new foods to this email, so I ate the following this week with members, they were all amazing: panukkakku, arepitas, pupusa, and TACOS. I've eaten with members a lot actually, but I haven't died yet from anything I've been fed (and hey, survived the CCM, right? )
(^^^^^this was written Saturday...I'm reading through this Monday....just wait)
We have soccer scheduled for Saturday morning again, but AFTER we commuted the 45 minute trip, we were informed that it was canceled. We walked around the park, talked, planted some seeds. Also, Saturday nights are apparently the nights to get crazy out here haha. We were walking to the bus stop after an investigator and just the music volume, the engine revving, the smoke, the bars, there were so many people! We ended up just walking --very briskly while avoiding eye contact-- home cause the bus wasn't showing up and guys had started making laps and pulling up at our curb. Needless to say, my compañera was holding the keys haha. There wasn't any real threat or potential problem, but we didn't feel the most comfortable to say the least so we headed out. We planted almost fifty seeds yesterday before then though, so that was awesome
Sunday we went to church with this same investigator (her first time at church!!) and it was AWESOME. She said she loved all of it. It was amazing. Our other investigator was there too with her family! After church we walked the first investigator and her son home. We also had dinner with a family from our ward Sunday night.......yeaaaaaah, that didn't go over too well to say the least (I think I jinxed myself). When they feed you, you eat. So they fed us, and we ate. It was really good, but it was just a little too much food. Now I don't know if there was something else in it or what, but my body wanted whatever the heck I had eaten out. Sooooo I got to wake up at 11:45, 1:45, and 3:45 in the bathroom :) that was fun. So basically I threw up six times and passed out twice. I think the food was just bad cause my compañera said she almost threw it up too haha. She's built up an immunity by now, I have not - but maybe I'll get to that point eventually haha. So I'm fine. A little goose egg on my head with a little bloody lip, an empty stomach that's scared to eat, and a baby migraine, so we're good! Nothing serious. Other than those events of last night, the week was pretty great!! We planted 163 seeds all week, so that was awesome, and I'm realizing more and more how much work my Spanish needs, but also how much the Lord has blessed me as I've been trying my best to learn it. Gift of tongues is real guys. Even though my Spanish stinks, I can give any lesson completely in Spanish totally fine and can reply to most regular conversation questions just fine (but I have a hard time sometimes understanding their stories). I want to be able to understand conversation language better, so I'm working on that (it's hard for me cause you don't really practice that at the CCM...). But God blesses us so much, we need to remember where our knowledge and wisdom, where all light, comes from (and give thanks for it). God. Why? Because He loves us so much that He gives us light, when we seek it, to bring about His work. "I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom...yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things...we will praise His name forever"!! He is so good to us, and when you allow yourself to see how much His hand is in our everyday lives, you will be full of gratitude for His mercy to us "unworthy creatures" (Mosiah 4:6-12 HOLY COW. MIC DROP. I LOVE SCRIPTURES). He really loves us so much and if we just let ourselves feel that love, it's amazing what He can do through us.
So, to wrap up I guess, this week was AWESOME. I've learned to love, learned how to properly football tackle, cleaned some parks, fed some old people (Thursday service), began to develop my immunity to bad food, took a stroll through a big park, planted some serious seeds, felt some serious Spiritual strength, been humbled, been happy, traveled to Africa, and experienced joy I didn't know was possible. This is the best thing, I am so happy. Concluding spiritual thought of the day: Alma 29:9 "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."
Love you all!! Con mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
So I did something a tad different is week. So throughout the week I wrote some notes and thoughts I had about each day thinking maybe that'll make it easier to actually email back and forth cause I won't be trying to type up this huge thing at the same time haha:)
So Monday night we had an awesome family home evening with a family in our ward. Their oldest daughter is less active --she's 17. We taught about the gospel of Christ in a Spanglish lesson in which she told us how she feels a lot of guilt when she goes to church and doesn't feel worthy to be there. We gave her a few talks to read, one of which was Latter Day Saints Keep On Trying and another from this conference, the one by elder Duncan I think. But that lesson was awesome, the Spirit was way strong and we hope she was able to learn a little bit from what we gave her.
Oh man, pday though! Emailing was awesome too:) Cafe said in a group email that they are teaching all the time and talking with so many people everyday it's crazy. I remember thinking how his numbers compared to mine are insane, but that's when I have to stop myself. Why do we compare ourselves to others? I've spent my whole life trying to be as good at turning as her, as flexible as her, as fast as her, as strong as him, or whatever. In competition we're always comparing. Then I got to the CCM and I had to change my way of thinking. I finally got over it and thought, "why does it matter if my compañera learns some words faster than me? Or if she/he is better at Spanish than me? We are all on our own journey to becoming the best servants of the Lord that we can be, and that will happen in the Lord's time for each of us." But lo and behold, here we go, first week and I start comparing what we're doing to what Cafe is doing. Mind you, he is in a completely different area and he has a car! So, Hermana Bugingo gave me a good talkin to and helped me realize how stupid it is to compare yourself to literally anyone about anything cause we are all so different!! Especially in this work. We just gotta get over ourselves and just say, "ya know what?? I am where I am and God knows I am doing my best, and my best is good enough for Him!!" We can't let "the fear of men" keep us from opening our mouths and stop us from progressing and serving Him. In honor of Elder Stoker (no he's not dead, but kinda ), we gotta just get over it! This is such an awesome learning experience for me, and I really am finding myself as I lose myself. God is so good guys.
Moving to Tuesday, we got Chinese food (since we basically live down the road from China)! They never give you forks at the restaurants here so when the lady handed me a fork and spoon with my chopsticks I was very happy haha. I need to remember to take more pictures of the foods I eat haha. Tuesday night after English class we met a senior couple from Utah who teaches institute at all the different churches in the mission. After talking with them for a bit we talked with a few members in the foyer. I talked with two members in particular and ended up having a little bit of a mini Spanish lesson, asking them some questions and just kinda talking. I'm doing a lot better than I give myself credit for at times. Yes, I know my Spanish is FAR from perfect, but I think I underestimate at times the amount with which the Spirit will help --and has helped-- me if I am willing to exercise faith in Him and His ability to do so.
We met with a lady on Wednesday from Midwood who lives in Africa. (So, basically, we live in Saudi Arabia, down the street from China, around the corner from Israel and Mexico, and next door to Africa.) No joke, man. We came on the subway and I was legit the only white person haha. We came up from the subway and my compañera was so excited! She was saying how everyone was speaking French and all these other African languages she knows (by the way, Spanish is her fifth language so...haha) and she was so happy haha! We passed all these African shops and she was just going on about how we'd have to come back. It was way cool. I swear I'm not in the United States ninety percent of the time.
Oh man, also, we got a text from our district leader today and my compañera read it and just started laughing. I have to give a workshop in district meeting next week. We will see how that goes. Tomorrow we also have zone training meeting and me and my compañera have to give a workshop there too, so we will see how that goes...I'm kinda nervous, but we prepared it today and I feel pretty good about it so far, I know the Spirit will be with us, so I think it'll be fine. :)
Also, this Tuesday we will have exchanges with the sister training leaders. They are awesome! They both leave at the end of this transfer though, so that's kind of sad. I think it's weird how I prepared mentally before the mission to get attached to the members and those I teach, my companions, and just friends, but I don't think I processed that I would be allowing myself to get attached to everyone! To all the missionaries and districts I meet. That will be interesting. Letting myself love and get attached to all these people here. I'm excited to let it happen though...opening your heart up and just letting God fill it with charity is scary, but it brings so much joy.
Everybody loves Friday's, right? Well I've got two words: ZONE. MEETING. Man I love my zone!! I seriously LOVE them. I have been trying to look at everyone as family --Elder Mari's concluding thought after his workshop at zone meeting-- and wow...it's crazy. I seriously feel like they are a part of my family even though I hardly know more than half of them. But anyway, zone meeting was AWESOME. It went for almost three hours but seriously the whole thing was necessary. There was nothing that should've been taken out, it was awesome. We had three workshops (ours was on personal conversion), a "get to know the zone" game, and lots of other awesome instruction from our zone leaders (or zone lords, as they have dubbed themselves haha!).
After football/rugby practice, me and mi compañera gave our workshop. I think it went really well. Apparently no one usually gives workshops til third transfer...well I get to give two in my first three weeks (ugh). But, I survived, so that's good! And hey, they're in English, so that's helpful. :) After the meeting we attempted to take a somewhat decent picture of us all as a zone....yeeeeah that didn't happen haha so I have two pictures (that will probably be the only ones I ever have) of my whole zone being goofballs haha. But at least they're good goofballs:)
Today while jotting down my thoughts from this week I realized I didn't add these new foods to this email, so I ate the following this week with members, they were all amazing: panukkakku, arepitas, pupusa, and TACOS. I've eaten with members a lot actually, but I haven't died yet from anything I've been fed (and hey, survived the CCM, right? )
(^^^^^this was written Saturday...I'm reading through this Monday....just wait)
We have soccer scheduled for Saturday morning again, but AFTER we commuted the 45 minute trip, we were informed that it was canceled. We walked around the park, talked, planted some seeds. Also, Saturday nights are apparently the nights to get crazy out here haha. We were walking to the bus stop after an investigator and just the music volume, the engine revving, the smoke, the bars, there were so many people! We ended up just walking --very briskly while avoiding eye contact-- home cause the bus wasn't showing up and guys had started making laps and pulling up at our curb. Needless to say, my compañera was holding the keys haha. There wasn't any real threat or potential problem, but we didn't feel the most comfortable to say the least so we headed out. We planted almost fifty seeds yesterday before then though, so that was awesome
Sunday we went to church with this same investigator (her first time at church!!) and it was AWESOME. She said she loved all of it. It was amazing. Our other investigator was there too with her family! After church we walked the first investigator and her son home. We also had dinner with a family from our ward Sunday night.......yeaaaaaah, that didn't go over too well to say the least (I think I jinxed myself). When they feed you, you eat. So they fed us, and we ate. It was really good, but it was just a little too much food. Now I don't know if there was something else in it or what, but my body wanted whatever the heck I had eaten out. Sooooo I got to wake up at 11:45, 1:45, and 3:45 in the bathroom :) that was fun. So basically I threw up six times and passed out twice. I think the food was just bad cause my compañera said she almost threw it up too haha. She's built up an immunity by now, I have not - but maybe I'll get to that point eventually haha. So I'm fine. A little goose egg on my head with a little bloody lip, an empty stomach that's scared to eat, and a baby migraine, so we're good! Nothing serious. Other than those events of last night, the week was pretty great!! We planted 163 seeds all week, so that was awesome, and I'm realizing more and more how much work my Spanish needs, but also how much the Lord has blessed me as I've been trying my best to learn it. Gift of tongues is real guys. Even though my Spanish stinks, I can give any lesson completely in Spanish totally fine and can reply to most regular conversation questions just fine (but I have a hard time sometimes understanding their stories). I want to be able to understand conversation language better, so I'm working on that (it's hard for me cause you don't really practice that at the CCM...). But God blesses us so much, we need to remember where our knowledge and wisdom, where all light, comes from (and give thanks for it). God. Why? Because He loves us so much that He gives us light, when we seek it, to bring about His work. "I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom...yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things...we will praise His name forever"!! He is so good to us, and when you allow yourself to see how much His hand is in our everyday lives, you will be full of gratitude for His mercy to us "unworthy creatures" (Mosiah 4:6-12 HOLY COW. MIC DROP. I LOVE SCRIPTURES). He really loves us so much and if we just let ourselves feel that love, it's amazing what He can do through us.
So, to wrap up I guess, this week was AWESOME. I've learned to love, learned how to properly football tackle, cleaned some parks, fed some old people (Thursday service), began to develop my immunity to bad food, took a stroll through a big park, planted some serious seeds, felt some serious Spiritual strength, been humbled, been happy, traveled to Africa, and experienced joy I didn't know was possible. This is the best thing, I am so happy. Concluding spiritual thought of the day: Alma 29:9 "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."
Love you all!! Con mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Monday, April 11, 2016
Parte dos!!
4/11/16
So as far as the area goes, it's huge. I don't know what it is exactly but I goes if you look at a map, almost into Crown Heights and the Flatlands but to be totally honest we don't know where it ends.
They didn't have sister missionaries in this area until last transfer. My comp and her last comp (who is home in Spain now actually!!) were the first ones to kind of begin to build this area. I honestly do not even think I am in the United States sometimes. Every white person is either Russian or Italian (yet we have no missionaries in this mission speaking those languages) and there are "chinos" everywhere. And literally everybody and their dog smokes... Apparently word of wisdom and chastity are the hard hitters in the mission work. Anyway...the area is crazy. I was kind of frustrated at first thinking we need to be doing more cause we spend all day on transportation getting places. We taught four lessons last week together and that is awesome for us here! So, it's different than I expected haha but it always is:) I think this may be planting season. We're all laborers in the field, but that doesn't always mean your job is as a harvester. Sometimes I think we forget that in order for there to be something to harvest there has to have been something planted! So, we may just get
to do some planting here for a while, maybe this is our enduring period is what we always joke about haha. But really though, our members are AMAZING, the investigators we do have are solid, the area
is amazing, so the fact that transportation is our biggest struggle really is not that big of a problem haha. We did get to talk to some people on the subway the last few days though, so it's been good. ️
Just cause it popped in my head and goes with the fact that missionary work isn't easy and will never be easy, if you don't know the talk "Missionary Work and the Atonement" by Elder Holland (I think it was in the 2001 Oct Liahona possibly) you need to read it!! It's awesome. There's a video that goes with it too that they showed us at the CCM and it was AWESOME. Not sure how to find it though, but read the talk cause it's amazing.
Anyway, Sunday was interesting to say the least. First time going to a Spanish ward and it was crazy. I understood a decent amount but I was so overwhelmed. We don't speak Spanish or hear it hardly at all until we get to Fifth Avenue or church where we are then surrounded by Spanish speakers literally everywhere. It's awesome. I had to pray in Sunday School and they said the obispo will probably ask me to bear my testimony next week *sweats* other than that...
Tuesday's and Thursday's we teach English class to Spanish speakers at 8:00 every week, and then Wednesday's we have service where our whole zone meets up at Prospect Park and we do service there. So that was super fun!! Oh and Tuesdays we have district meetings too. Lots of meetings haha, oh and this Friday we have a zone training meeting. Yeah, lots of meetings but they're good:) We played soccer with the members on Saturday too (the Midwood Ward got dissolved so they have
to come to Dyker now, so we're doing soccer every Saturday to try and get them to get to know the Dyker ward) so that was WAY fun!! That'll be a regular thing so I'll get some good conditioning in every week at least once haha!!
I also got a pretty sick sliver when we were doing service so that was fun. I probably broke every rule ever when I just very carefully pulled the inch long thing out of my pointer finger haha. It was
almost completely in there...it didn't bleed too much but it hurt pretty bad for a few days. Now you can barely see where it was so I think I'm good.
OH MAN!! FOOD! Can't believe I never told y'all about this. Well, you know I ate fish at the CCM, but I also ate ribs (yes with the bone and it was very messy). But then our last meal at the CCM was chicken wings. So...I ate that too! Bones and all. I mean I didn't eat the bones but you know what I mean They were so messy! I was just following what Hermana Spencer did haha! She like had to show me how to bite it but then I didn't know what I was supposed to eat and what I wasn't supposed to eat, so I just kinda ate everything. Stoker and Cafe were so proud. BUT...Saturday guess what was for lunch.... Sushi. Yup. So I ate sushi for lunch. As in, not like I just ate one piece. I ate sushi, with chopsticks (now THAT was a struggle) and all, that was lunch by a member (it was like this super fancy Korean place or something). So yeah. We're branching out a little bit as far as food goes. Oh and we ate with the sister training leaders on Friday for dinner so they made us Fijian food cause one of them is from Fiji. That was good. Oh and the fact that my compañera is from Ethiopia means I'll probably try some of that food at some point!
Que mas... Well, I think that's got about everything as far as major details go haha! I'm going to go reply to the email you sent me dad! And the preguntas from mom, so more details will probably come still hahahah!! Love you guys!!!!!!!!!! ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️
Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
So as far as the area goes, it's huge. I don't know what it is exactly but I goes if you look at a map, almost into Crown Heights and the Flatlands but to be totally honest we don't know where it ends.
They didn't have sister missionaries in this area until last transfer. My comp and her last comp (who is home in Spain now actually!!) were the first ones to kind of begin to build this area. I honestly do not even think I am in the United States sometimes. Every white person is either Russian or Italian (yet we have no missionaries in this mission speaking those languages) and there are "chinos" everywhere. And literally everybody and their dog smokes... Apparently word of wisdom and chastity are the hard hitters in the mission work. Anyway...the area is crazy. I was kind of frustrated at first thinking we need to be doing more cause we spend all day on transportation getting places. We taught four lessons last week together and that is awesome for us here! So, it's different than I expected haha but it always is:) I think this may be planting season. We're all laborers in the field, but that doesn't always mean your job is as a harvester. Sometimes I think we forget that in order for there to be something to harvest there has to have been something planted! So, we may just get
to do some planting here for a while, maybe this is our enduring period is what we always joke about haha. But really though, our members are AMAZING, the investigators we do have are solid, the area
is amazing, so the fact that transportation is our biggest struggle really is not that big of a problem haha. We did get to talk to some people on the subway the last few days though, so it's been good. ️
Just cause it popped in my head and goes with the fact that missionary work isn't easy and will never be easy, if you don't know the talk "Missionary Work and the Atonement" by Elder Holland (I think it was in the 2001 Oct Liahona possibly) you need to read it!! It's awesome. There's a video that goes with it too that they showed us at the CCM and it was AWESOME. Not sure how to find it though, but read the talk cause it's amazing.
Anyway, Sunday was interesting to say the least. First time going to a Spanish ward and it was crazy. I understood a decent amount but I was so overwhelmed. We don't speak Spanish or hear it hardly at all until we get to Fifth Avenue or church where we are then surrounded by Spanish speakers literally everywhere. It's awesome. I had to pray in Sunday School and they said the obispo will probably ask me to bear my testimony next week *sweats* other than that...
Tuesday's and Thursday's we teach English class to Spanish speakers at 8:00 every week, and then Wednesday's we have service where our whole zone meets up at Prospect Park and we do service there. So that was super fun!! Oh and Tuesdays we have district meetings too. Lots of meetings haha, oh and this Friday we have a zone training meeting. Yeah, lots of meetings but they're good:) We played soccer with the members on Saturday too (the Midwood Ward got dissolved so they have
to come to Dyker now, so we're doing soccer every Saturday to try and get them to get to know the Dyker ward) so that was WAY fun!! That'll be a regular thing so I'll get some good conditioning in every week at least once haha!!
I also got a pretty sick sliver when we were doing service so that was fun. I probably broke every rule ever when I just very carefully pulled the inch long thing out of my pointer finger haha. It was
almost completely in there...it didn't bleed too much but it hurt pretty bad for a few days. Now you can barely see where it was so I think I'm good.
OH MAN!! FOOD! Can't believe I never told y'all about this. Well, you know I ate fish at the CCM, but I also ate ribs (yes with the bone and it was very messy). But then our last meal at the CCM was chicken wings. So...I ate that too! Bones and all. I mean I didn't eat the bones but you know what I mean They were so messy! I was just following what Hermana Spencer did haha! She like had to show me how to bite it but then I didn't know what I was supposed to eat and what I wasn't supposed to eat, so I just kinda ate everything. Stoker and Cafe were so proud. BUT...Saturday guess what was for lunch.... Sushi. Yup. So I ate sushi for lunch. As in, not like I just ate one piece. I ate sushi, with chopsticks (now THAT was a struggle) and all, that was lunch by a member (it was like this super fancy Korean place or something). So yeah. We're branching out a little bit as far as food goes. Oh and we ate with the sister training leaders on Friday for dinner so they made us Fijian food cause one of them is from Fiji. That was good. Oh and the fact that my compañera is from Ethiopia means I'll probably try some of that food at some point!
Que mas... Well, I think that's got about everything as far as major details go haha! I'm going to go reply to the email you sent me dad! And the preguntas from mom, so more details will probably come still hahahah!! Love you guys!!!!!!!!!! ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️
Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
WEEK ONE AND I HAVEN'T DIED YET. This is an accomplishment :)
4/11/16
Okay. This is crazy. So last week we finished up our classes and got pictures with our maestros that they're supposed to send to us hopefully. I seriously...wow...the promise is so real that if you seek
or ask ye shall receive or find. I've never really seen how much these promises really are real in my life. I seriously prayed all the time before and during the CCM (and I'm still praying for it now) that God would allow me to feel a portion of His love for all those around me. Boy has He given me that blessing!! I just look at everyone in white...seeing them in the temple just glowing (it's a little hard to see the catcallers as beloved children of God sometimes, but it's amazing what does and doesn't matter when you focus solely in and on Him).
God really has helped me to develop this charity, just this crazy love and attachment for everyone. Thus, leaving the CCM was really hard....Conference was awesome and we got to spend some time with our little district. We said our last prayer together as a district Sunday morning. DL offered it up and we were all cryin (other than Stoker cause he and Cafe are stones). That night we watched our farewell video (they show those pictures I sent you of every district leaving then we all sing "Para siempre Dios esté con Vos"....my comp played and Hermana Spencer led the music....This was the only time we could sit next to the elders (cause for everything else elders and sisters can't sit on the same row) so it es Café on the end, Stoker, me, Hermana Spencer, Hermana Ashford, and then Hermana Gucake. I'm sitting there, trying to sing. I wasn't crying at all, but I just didn't have
a voice. I sang maybe half the song... It was sad... Then after the video session (we watched "Meet the Mormons") we had testimony meeting. Almost cried, but didn't haha!! Success. ;)
Monday morning we woke up at three, took our stuff down, got on the bus, said our goodbyes, and headed out. We got to the airport around five and I didn't feel very good. My stomach was really sick feeling (like I ate something bad...which I think I did cause Hermana Ashford felt the same but she actually ended up throwing up and getting a blessing from the elders before we got on the plane). We made it through everything fine, only I got buzzed so I had to get checked. We hung out with Elder T --he's serving in Chicago so he had a different flight (he's the big poly from west valley)-- boarded the plane, and we were off!
Well, since I talked to you guys on the phone at the airport, I hope you got the pictures the lady took of us:) I got off the phone and gave it to Cafe. It made me so happy to see everyone so happy!!:) Stoker's call dropped on him but his mom called him back so fast and he had this big ol grin on his face haha. It was so cute to see everyone so happy!! After the calls we all loaded up on the plane. Me and Cafe were by each other on both flights. Man, I miss that kid haha! He's awesome. Gonna do some great work.
Anyway, we landed in New York (they checked our carry ons in Atlanta cause there wasn't room in the overhead thing so we didn't have anything) and were running to try and find our luggage gate. We come running down the stairs and this lady comes just bookin it towards us and it was Hermana Reynolds. President wasn't too far behind. They gave us hugs and handshakes appropriately and were super welcoming and happy to see us. They helped us get our luggage and then we went to wait for "the van". It was raining a lot and we were loving it.
The assistants to the president drive the van and they were with the other missionaries coming from Salt Lake. We all joined up, loaded luggage, and piled into cars. I was behind president so we talked a
lot on the way to the mission home (we had president and his wife, and five hermanas; the assistants drove another van with the elders and the other two hermanas). The traffic here is crazy so we took almost 40 minutes to go 12 miles from the airport to Port Washington where the home is. The hermanas slept in the basement on huge bunk beds, it was so fun! There were seven of us total, only four Spanish speaking. The elders slept on the top floor and they were all English speaking I think other than our two elders. Maybe one was mandarin... Oh there were I think eight elders total too. We ate right away after getting to the mission home and HOLY COW. THE FOOD, OH AND THE DESSERT, AND THE BEDS THAT NIGHT.....man, they got it good over there!! Anyway, that was when we wrote our letters, had our little two minute interview with president, and got to just hang out. We talked with the assistants, everyone, and it was super fun.
We had a little devotional by the assistants and president after all was said and done, then they took our pictures with president and his wife --can I tell you, my eyes would not stay open man...and I haven't seen the picture so hopefully it was good haha!-- then it was finally off to bed!! We all crashed so fast!
Next morning the assistants made french toast which was AMAZING and then we did personal study for an hour all together in the living room. Our companion study was lead by the assistants and that was super fun. Directly after companion study we loaded into the vans and headed to the mission office in Queens. President Reynolds drove separately so I road in the front with Hermana Reynolds and got to talk to her the whole way. She is awesome. I love them so much!!
We got to the mission home, went downstairs, and began our little prep class. They told us about money stuff, iPad stuff, basically anything you can think of. Then they gave us our iPads. Right after we were handed our iPads--literally right after--we were lead into a room where all our trainers were sitting and president was standing here with a list of all our names and pictures with our comps names. (Fun fact: He told us he knew what missionaries would be training but he didn't know who would be training who when we got to the home. He interviewed all of us and then put us with our trainers) he read of Hermana Ashford first. Holy cow. Her comp has more energy than she does! I didn't think that was possible. They seemed perfect for each other. Next he read off a different elder, then Cafe. It hurt my heart a little haha! I didn't want to let them all go! But lo and behold I was next.
Ready aaaaaaaaaaaand drum roll...
My compañera is Hermana Bugingo! *cough cough* women's conference anyone?? Sister Burton's talk?? Yeah, that's my trainer. Literally fifty people at least said "you've got the best trainer ever! She's awesome!" And she most definitely is!! We are serving in BROOKLYN, Dyker Heights. We are in zone two I think. It's crazy. We take public transportation EVERYWHERE. Our area is huge.
......Kay....this email is ridiculous.....so Imma send this and let you start reading through this novelia while I type up the rest of what happened the last, oh I don't know, five days - not too much, just background, base information and all, then I will reply to all of the preguntas!!)
Love you!!! I'll keep typin!!!
Sent from my iPad
Okay. This is crazy. So last week we finished up our classes and got pictures with our maestros that they're supposed to send to us hopefully. I seriously...wow...the promise is so real that if you seek
or ask ye shall receive or find. I've never really seen how much these promises really are real in my life. I seriously prayed all the time before and during the CCM (and I'm still praying for it now) that God would allow me to feel a portion of His love for all those around me. Boy has He given me that blessing!! I just look at everyone in white...seeing them in the temple just glowing (it's a little hard to see the catcallers as beloved children of God sometimes, but it's amazing what does and doesn't matter when you focus solely in and on Him).
God really has helped me to develop this charity, just this crazy love and attachment for everyone. Thus, leaving the CCM was really hard....Conference was awesome and we got to spend some time with our little district. We said our last prayer together as a district Sunday morning. DL offered it up and we were all cryin (other than Stoker cause he and Cafe are stones). That night we watched our farewell video (they show those pictures I sent you of every district leaving then we all sing "Para siempre Dios esté con Vos"....my comp played and Hermana Spencer led the music....This was the only time we could sit next to the elders (cause for everything else elders and sisters can't sit on the same row) so it es Café on the end, Stoker, me, Hermana Spencer, Hermana Ashford, and then Hermana Gucake. I'm sitting there, trying to sing. I wasn't crying at all, but I just didn't have
a voice. I sang maybe half the song... It was sad... Then after the video session (we watched "Meet the Mormons") we had testimony meeting. Almost cried, but didn't haha!! Success. ;)
Monday morning we woke up at three, took our stuff down, got on the bus, said our goodbyes, and headed out. We got to the airport around five and I didn't feel very good. My stomach was really sick feeling (like I ate something bad...which I think I did cause Hermana Ashford felt the same but she actually ended up throwing up and getting a blessing from the elders before we got on the plane). We made it through everything fine, only I got buzzed so I had to get checked. We hung out with Elder T --he's serving in Chicago so he had a different flight (he's the big poly from west valley)-- boarded the plane, and we were off!
Well, since I talked to you guys on the phone at the airport, I hope you got the pictures the lady took of us:) I got off the phone and gave it to Cafe. It made me so happy to see everyone so happy!!:) Stoker's call dropped on him but his mom called him back so fast and he had this big ol grin on his face haha. It was so cute to see everyone so happy!! After the calls we all loaded up on the plane. Me and Cafe were by each other on both flights. Man, I miss that kid haha! He's awesome. Gonna do some great work.
Anyway, we landed in New York (they checked our carry ons in Atlanta cause there wasn't room in the overhead thing so we didn't have anything) and were running to try and find our luggage gate. We come running down the stairs and this lady comes just bookin it towards us and it was Hermana Reynolds. President wasn't too far behind. They gave us hugs and handshakes appropriately and were super welcoming and happy to see us. They helped us get our luggage and then we went to wait for "the van". It was raining a lot and we were loving it.
The assistants to the president drive the van and they were with the other missionaries coming from Salt Lake. We all joined up, loaded luggage, and piled into cars. I was behind president so we talked a
lot on the way to the mission home (we had president and his wife, and five hermanas; the assistants drove another van with the elders and the other two hermanas). The traffic here is crazy so we took almost 40 minutes to go 12 miles from the airport to Port Washington where the home is. The hermanas slept in the basement on huge bunk beds, it was so fun! There were seven of us total, only four Spanish speaking. The elders slept on the top floor and they were all English speaking I think other than our two elders. Maybe one was mandarin... Oh there were I think eight elders total too. We ate right away after getting to the mission home and HOLY COW. THE FOOD, OH AND THE DESSERT, AND THE BEDS THAT NIGHT.....man, they got it good over there!! Anyway, that was when we wrote our letters, had our little two minute interview with president, and got to just hang out. We talked with the assistants, everyone, and it was super fun.
We had a little devotional by the assistants and president after all was said and done, then they took our pictures with president and his wife --can I tell you, my eyes would not stay open man...and I haven't seen the picture so hopefully it was good haha!-- then it was finally off to bed!! We all crashed so fast!
Next morning the assistants made french toast which was AMAZING and then we did personal study for an hour all together in the living room. Our companion study was lead by the assistants and that was super fun. Directly after companion study we loaded into the vans and headed to the mission office in Queens. President Reynolds drove separately so I road in the front with Hermana Reynolds and got to talk to her the whole way. She is awesome. I love them so much!!
We got to the mission home, went downstairs, and began our little prep class. They told us about money stuff, iPad stuff, basically anything you can think of. Then they gave us our iPads. Right after we were handed our iPads--literally right after--we were lead into a room where all our trainers were sitting and president was standing here with a list of all our names and pictures with our comps names. (Fun fact: He told us he knew what missionaries would be training but he didn't know who would be training who when we got to the home. He interviewed all of us and then put us with our trainers) he read of Hermana Ashford first. Holy cow. Her comp has more energy than she does! I didn't think that was possible. They seemed perfect for each other. Next he read off a different elder, then Cafe. It hurt my heart a little haha! I didn't want to let them all go! But lo and behold I was next.
Ready aaaaaaaaaaaand drum roll...
My compañera is Hermana Bugingo! *cough cough* women's conference anyone?? Sister Burton's talk?? Yeah, that's my trainer. Literally fifty people at least said "you've got the best trainer ever! She's awesome!" And she most definitely is!! We are serving in BROOKLYN, Dyker Heights. We are in zone two I think. It's crazy. We take public transportation EVERYWHERE. Our area is huge.
......Kay....this email is ridiculous.....so Imma send this and let you start reading through this novelia while I type up the rest of what happened the last, oh I don't know, five days - not too much, just background, base information and all, then I will reply to all of the preguntas!!)
Love you!!! I'll keep typin!!!
Sent from my iPad
Monday, April 4, 2016
Safe arrival Sister Gourley: New York New York South Mission
4/04/16
Dear family of Sister Gourley,
We just want to send you a quick note to let you know that your missionary arrived safely in New York City today. President and Sister Reynolds met them at the airport, will feed and visit with them, and then will send them all to bed to get some rest. Within a few days you will receive a letter from President and Sister Reynolds with a picture of your missionary. Tomorrow they will receive instruction and will meet their new companions who have been chosen by inspiration to train them.
Thank you for entrusting your missionary to us in the New York New York South mission. We so appreciate all you have done to get these missionaries to this point in their lives!
Sister Duke
Mission Secretary
New York New York South Mission
718-672-2031
Dear family of Sister Gourley,
We just want to send you a quick note to let you know that your missionary arrived safely in New York City today. President and Sister Reynolds met them at the airport, will feed and visit with them, and then will send them all to bed to get some rest. Within a few days you will receive a letter from President and Sister Reynolds with a picture of your missionary. Tomorrow they will receive instruction and will meet their new companions who have been chosen by inspiration to train them.
Thank you for entrusting your missionary to us in the New York New York South mission. We so appreciate all you have done to get these missionaries to this point in their lives!
Sister Duke
Mission Secretary
New York New York South Mission
718-672-2031
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