Temples & transfers & very little "everything else"

Buenos días, mi familia!

Last subway ride together... :(

Today was quite possibly the most awesome day of my mission thus far, because today we had the opportunity to go to the temple with one of our members for her to perform the baptisms for some of her immediate family. I have worked with her for seven months now with three different companions and seeing the progress she has made and how far she has come is the most amazing thing. She bore such powerful testimony to us several times today and it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. I'm so proud of her! To be able to see how strong she is now and the faith she has is such a blessing.

First day selfie

This week has been crazy with transfers and everything that has happened. *drumroll* My new compañera is Hermana Platt! She is from Arizona and came in with Hna Voss. Funny thing is, Hermana Voss and Hermana Platt just switched places! So Hna Voss is serving with Hna Platt's trainer in Mineola (that's on the island --big switch from Brooklyn!!) and Elder Creager is out on the island somewhere too. Our district consists of us, Elder Oaks and his new companion Elder Nielsen, and Elder Weisler with his new companion....Elder Stoker!! Elder Brown just got transferred to his second area - he is Hna Voss' district leader now - and mis Hermanas Ashford and Spencer are in a trio with Hna Ashford's trainee in the Hamptons! Craziness.

New district #whydoialwayslooksoawkward 😂😂 #nimodo

We (my new companion and I) saw President for a quick second as we were leaving transfers. He asked how we were, and of course we were great! We expressed we had all been a little more than surprised to hear I was staying and to then also find the graduated-trainees would be swapping places. Transfer day came to a close after traveling through the subways with two big suitcases, a fun English class, snack stealing (not really, Sister Adams gave them to us) and a ride home from the the senior couple who teaches institute (the Adams). It was quite the day, and it's been quite the week adjusting to everything. The days just fly by and yet it feels like it's been so long since Monday.

We had district meeting Wednesday and got to know everyone just a little bit.  I'm starting to realize how short the time is. Six weeks sounds like a long time...that's only six Sundays! Yes, I know that's obvious, but Sundays go by so fast! Here we are already at the door of another! The weeks pass so much faster than ever before. I will hit halfway this transfer...slow it down!! I guess if nothing else the fact that time goes so quickly helps me to live everyday to the fullest and truly give all I have to give at every moment.

We had the awesome experience of teaching two of our favorite investigators the restoration this week. We taught one of our investigators and also set up for the English elders to go and teach another man in the same building - who the landlord referred to us (this guy is so awesome!!) - who even downloaded the Book of Mormon app right then when we told him there was a book...after he asked what we thought of the musical haha! Hopefully they are able to teach him and bring him to the joy of the gospel!

The second lesson was teaching the family Hermana Voss and I had found about a month ago on the train. We hadn't been able to meet with them in person again until this week for our first real lesson. We had stayed in touch through the miracle that is social media and we're able to set up this awesome lesson. It was amazing. I have never seen people so prepared as this family. They are amazing. We love them so much. The Spirit was in that lesson so strongly the whole time, but the moment we began to explain about Joseph Smith it just flooded the room. I know they felt that. I hope they accept it and act on what we've invited them to do and what the Father invites each of His children to do: ask Him and then act on the answer He will give to them. We love them so much.  :)

This week was pretty good, and pretty fast! Hopefully the next week will be productive and just as great! ...I was going to say, "if time could just slow down that'd be great", but I have accepted the timing of the Lord and His timing for me is speeding up. That means I gotta speed up with Him! If this is what He wants then it is what I want. Turn on the burners (as a World Cup host said in a game I watched probably ten years ago haha) and put yourself into overdrive cause this stone cut without hands is moving fast and it's not about to slow down either! Girding up your loins has never seemed like such a real and applicable thing to me as it does now haha! I hope and pray we can all choose to rise to the new standard the Lord has set and jump on board with this fast moving train and seek to do His will in all things. I love you!! Have a great week!!!

Muchísimo amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

Ps. Also, we made our caramel apples on Monday but only Sister Voss has the pictures so I will need to get those later to send home :)
Pps. Ran into Riley Richards from Hillcrest at the temple with his companion and their recent converts. That was weird. We both thought we knew each other but weren't quite sure why! I asked if he knew Tayva and then it all clicked haha. He finishes his mission this month, crazy.

Everything else...
Lunes
Made our caramel apples #tookpicturesbutididntgetthem
Gotta get those pictures from Hna Voss
    - That's about it :) don't have them yet but we made the apples and they were ridiculously good

Martes
Transfers #ourlastsupper #sayingbyetoourkids #soproud #offtotheisland!
    - We finished eating our last meal together and then saw the elders a few tables down. They said it was their "last supper" so we took that as well haha. Also, me and Elder Weisler just kind of stood there as we watched them leave and then I told him it felt like I was sending off my children, both of them! He agreed haha, there they went, off into the world to be big kids. Hope we did all we could for them to be prepared for whatever comes haha

Traveling through the subways with two big suitcases #wegotthis #strongindependantsistermissionaries
English class #interested #maybeineedtobeanslp
    - This word was the tricky one today haha..."en-tah-ruh-stud"

Ride home from the Adams' #socool #gaveustreats #yes
    - They are the new senior couple who teach institute. They gave us treats. Then gave us a ride home. They are awesome. Also just super cool and fun so we love them.

Second day selfie

Miércoles 
District meeting! #WeislerStoker #GourleyPlatt #OaksNielson #districtpicturesalwayssoawkward
Lesson #templeprep
    - Had an awesome little lesson to keep her excited and preparing. She is amazing.

Elders' cool church tour experience #awesomechinalady #"she'sgettingbaptized"
    - We stopped by the church to send a few Facebook messages at the end of the night and were in the relief society room. The door opens and this lady pops in with the elders behind her. She apparently walked into the church (there were meetings so it was open) and started to look around so the elders gave her a chapel tour. They even invited her to be baptized and she's going to meet with the Chinese sisters this upcoming week! It was so awesome! After she left the elders came and told us about it and Elder Weisler said she's gonna get baptized, he can feel it haha

Jueves
Conference call #talkwitheveryone
    - Had our mission wide conference call and this was the focus. After all, everyone needs the gospel, right?

Weekly planning  #comingtochurch...??
    - Had our lesson and invited. We will be calling at ten tonight and nine tomorrow to remind...hopefully she can follow through on her desire to go!!

Favorite!!
    - Finally found her! Got her new number and are going to pick her up Sunday to make sure she can go to church :) also going to see when we can watch the restoration with her this week.

Noche de hogar
    - Always the best. This family are such studs. They are amazing. I love seeing their faith and testimonies grow.

Viernes
Helped with temple names
     - This was way fun! And now I know how to use Family Search better as well

AHHHH!!!  #bestlessonever
     - Already talked about this, but this was AWESOME

Sábado
Temple!! #brightandearly
Coming home: "corre para su vida!"
      - We were walking home from the train and this little Hispanic family was running through the crosswalk and this little five year old maybe holding onto her mom's hand yells, "corre para su vida!!!!" (Run for your life!) and it was the funniest, cutest thing. (Also, little kids speaking Spanish is just adorable anyway haha)

Pienso que eso es todo... don't have much for ya, sorry. I've realized as you get more into the routine of things and realize how fast the days go you just want to work all the time and it gets hard to find things that seem unordinary to tell others about haha. But that's another blessing, telling others helps me reflect and be more thankful. I'll try and be better at that. Love you lots!!!!
Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

And we got some pictures today at the temple! 😊😄