Sitting here typing this while we wait for our flu shots...soooo fun... anyway, week 12 is upon us. That is absolutely crazy. So sad... all things in the Lord's time. BUT that stuff all happens next week. We've still got one more to give it everything we've got, so dang right I'm gonna make sure I give it everything I've got!! :)
This week was great! We have decided we are an all or nothing companionship. We met our goals for other lessons, less active lessons, referrals received/contacted, new investigators, and investigators progressing but then got nothing on the rest of our key indicators. Kind of a bummer some things we had planned to meet those goals fell through. 'Tis la obra... We were supposed to have three investigators at church and a less active family. Only the less active family came but you would not believe how happy we were to see them!! We had a lesson with the mom after while the elders met with the kids (the little boy wants to be baptized and we think the elders would be better for him) and those lessons were both so great!
We had two other lessons set for Sunday, both of which fell through. That was a little sad, but we were able to teach four lessons on the fly instead. One was even a Facebook lesson at the church. We will hopefully be able to see them in person this week as well! We also found a new family. Tender mercies and miracles all around :)
Friday we had deep clean. Man, we love a clean house. Smelled like bleach and soap everywhere but our house was finally clean after three hours! I don't think it has been cleaned in five years based on how nasty it was though...and we had already been doing some cleaning throughout the weeks... #cleanlinessisgodliness
It also rained all day Friday so that was fun! We had our ward missionary activity and taught everyone about member missionary work. It was super fun actually. Also, Elder Creager made brownies for the activity. The elders are better bakers than we are.
I need to apologize for this email, I am struggling hardcore to find words and thoughts to share. I think I went to the temple and after that it's just like, the days are just going so fast...I feel like nothing has happened since I last wrote you but then I feel like so much has happened! I feel like all I think about is the work and this is just my life. I mean, it's been my life for the last eight months, but I mean for real, it's just I have a hard time remembering other things are happening.
Everyone we meet asks how missionary work functions. We always say we will finish our time and go home, go to school, have our own family, and carry on with life. ...it's just...I don't know that I quite get it. I think I feel like this is my life and I don't even want to think about anything else. I've had a few people ask me how long I've been out or how long I've got left and I can't even tell you unless I think about it cause I just am not even able to track the time. I've thought a lot about what I want my mission to mean to me. Elder Holland said in his address to us that he wants our mission to mean to us what his meant to him. I want that. He said he thinks --he very strongly feels-- that he has thought of his mission every day for the last fifty years. I want my mission to shape my life and change who I am so much that I too reflect on some aspect of this time every day. I honestly don't even feel like I'm giving anything. I don't feel like I'm missing things, or that I'm giving a year and a half to the Lord... to me, this is a year and a half the Lord is giving me! I would love nothing more than to live with this kind of Spirit in my life always.
Goodness, I've gone so soft. I just read other people's experiences and I feel the Spirit so much and am so happy for them. I am so thankful for this time the Lord has given me to focus my all on Him. Nothing else. No other distractions. Nothing. Literally nothing else I need to worry or think about other than how to help in His work. How to help those I love. How marvelous of a blessing is that?? :) it honestly is not even a sacrifice in my eyes...I give my whole self and He gives me a new and better self and souls to rejoice with in the kingdom. Quite the trade! I have learned more and more how much our Father loves us beyond our possible imaginations. He promises us literally everything. All He has. We can have and be all that He has and Is! And the way is prepared! Literally every.single.thing. necessary to return and receive those blessings is given to us! The only thing we have to do is choose to take the path! Even the choices that lead us to choose the right path are prepared for us! It's kind of ridiculous if you think of it. Our Father has set posts with big huge signs at every.single.corner. to guide us (sometimes we call these commandments, or teachers, parents, prophets even! Crazy, I know!) and help us find the right way. I have never seen more clearly than I see now.
"Narrow is the gate and straight is the way"... so sorry. I'm getting all preachy here. It's just so simple. I cannot fathom the fact that there will be some of us who choose --even with our perfect knowledge-- at the judgement bar to settle for mediocre. The plan, the PLAN, is for every one of us to return to become as God is. And the path is perfectly laid for each and every one of us to do so. I can't believe some will choose against it. I guess as I've truly sought to allow the pure love of Christ to posses me my concern for the welfare of every soul has increased exponentially. I had the thought the other day as we were planning for some of our less actives that some missionary somewhere could be doing the same for some of our family. I thought of how much I love these less actives and how much I love my family. I want them all to have this joy I have, but I know it's not up to me if they get it. I know it'll be in their time as they experience what they need with the Lord working on His end, but what can I do now to help in that? I don't know. Just love I guess. Wait. Love. Share when appropriate. And wait some more. :)
Aaaaaaaanyway, that was a huuuuuge tangent off in some direction, but this is what has been on my mind when I think about family. I think about you a lot. I think about my future family a lot. And I think, where will they be? Where do I want them to be? What can I do to try and help them get there? One day we will all get there haha! :)
Sorry this is such an odd "weekly"... I'm going to send my notes with some fun stories for you next. Not exactly sure what this turned into haha or why I felt I needed to get all that out, but it just kinda happened! Oops :) I love you lots!!
MuchÃsimo amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
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