Welcome to the Rock

Buenos días, mis favoritos!!

Qué tal? :) this week was just craziness all around, but at least it was kinda fun craziness haha. First things first, Monday. Now that, mi familia, was a sad day. We finished up our preparation day and then headed out to visit some people for the last time. Our first stop was Adriana. She was at work and so we stopped by to see her. Then we saw her family and then Sanchez's. Dang that was a rough night. It feels so long ago, but I love these people so much. I didn't think I could ever love people like I love them. Saying goodbye to them and handing them off to new missionaries was the hardest thing. I have come to develop the biggest testimony of the reality of God's promise to us that if we ask we shall receive. I've spent the last ten months asking for the gift of charity for this people and here I am, a witness that God truly does answer our prayers. Even though it was hard to say goodbye, I know all things work according to God's plan, and for that I can have faith and hope and move on. I'm thankful for that trust I have in Him :)

Tuesday was full of crazies as we last minute packed and cleaned (cause we're procrastinators) in preparation for our little greenie to move in. Once we got to Rego my compañera was off to the meeting and I was left to wait with the other missionaries. I talked to a few and eventually all my "peeps" arrived. All my favorite missionaries were in the same place and I didn't know what to do with myself! I said goodbye to my departing family and had happy reunions with mis Hermanas. I even got to meet all the trainees of my elders!!! They will be so awesome. I am so excited for them. They will do great. (Also, I loved how excited they were!! I love talking to people about things they love cause they get so happy and excited, and that makes me happy! This is how I felt seeing them with their trainees haha.)

New companion Sister Albanese :)

It took a ridiculous amount of time to get transfers all organized for some reason and so everyone and their dog was there in the same place waiting to find out where we're all going. And drum roll: Elder Broadhead is district leader in Rego (same zone), mis Hermanas Ashford and Voss are compañeras (!), Hna Spencer and Hna Platt's trainer are companions, Elder Weisler is zone leader in Brentwood, and I am in.....Far Rockaway! Fun fact of the day, far rock doesn't have Spanish sisters. So, my compañera is from New Caledonia. She speaks French and is learning English. Apparently the English branch is only like ten people so they just recently combined it with the Spanish branch. That being said, we are serving both! Fun fun! Sister Albanese (my compañera) just finished being trained but has been on her mission for five months cause she served a few in Tahiti before her visa was ready. She is just the sweetest thing, I love her so much. Also, we are in Queens technically, but because the English area is so big we have a car. So, it's nice to have a car. Also keeps us out of the wind. That stuff's crazy. (Oh, and I'm the driver, so there's that.)

We had our branch Christmas party Saturday and church Sunday. We've got quite the situation going here. The Spanish people are more prominent and are fairly strong but because the English people are so few they had to combine.  So....here we are. We will see what we can do, but it also looks like I will probably be translating a bit for the English people too cause only two of us are really close to fluent in both languages. Haha. Ha. Haaaa. It'll be fun. Wish me luck.

I have had many an opportunity this week to reflect and trust and seek to grow. I have come to find a lot of peace about being here in this area and am excited to see what the Lord has in store for us. This will be a tough couple weeks, but we are ready and the Lord has prepared us for it! I'm more motivated than ever to get out and find, hopefully we can have the guidance and companionship of the Spirit with us always to help us know what efforts will be best in doing the work of the Lord here. ...Also, another side tangent cause this reminded me of it... one of the members we visited this week said something about how we as missionaries always have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and how they as members aren't blessed with that same thing.........you, my friend, do not understand the baptism of fire. So...we're working on that with them, but I just want to testify that I do know that we all can be constantly led and guided by the Spirit and we can all feel His influence in our lives the same way we feel it as missionaries. We can all feel His constant companionship if we choose to live worthy of it. This is the grand blessing of the gospel that our Father in Heaven promises to us when we covenant with Him at baptism. So, seek this, and then live worthy of it. If you pray for the Spirit to tell you what you should do, and then you act when you receive those promptings, then you will have His companionship just as we do as missionaries.

Anyway, that's that tangent for ya! Haha! Hope you have a great week and can feel the Spirit of the Lord this week as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. He is the greatest gift ever given by a Father in Heaven who loves us more than we could ever believe. Please keep Him in your memory and your heart this season and always. I know He lives, I love you lots!! Have a great week :)

Muchísimo amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

YES...she LOVES it.  :)

Last project together: the gingerbread nativity grandma sent

(I'm sure this is just a little "sunshine" for mom) :)

Ahh!!!  So hard to say goodbye to her "family"

Best trio ever!!! :)   Adios, Hna Mejia!