Buenos dias, mi familia :)
This has been quite the odd day, but it has been good! We had a district activity this morning where we all went to the very edge of our area at a place called Breezy Point. It was beautiful! We went at about 8:30 and it wasn't even that bad as far as coldness goes. We walked/hiked about a mile and a half in total to get to and from the beach (you have to walk in from where you park). It was so nice to get outside and feel the sun! We have had some really nice days here this week.
The week as a whole was really, really good. We honest to goodness do not even know where the week went because we feel last Tuesday was forever ago! We did really well on pictures this week. :) We visited Sister Walters Tuesday and got Subway together. The two ladies working were hilarious. One was from Pakistan and the other India, and they spoke basically no English but were very insistent on having a conversation with us about why two white(-ish) girls were with our "black mammy". It was fun.
We also had the coolest experience that same night as we took two of our young women out with us. We were doing lookups in Inwood which is the upper end of our area. There was a list of names and addresses we had made to find that night and at the top of the list was a "Stephanie". We got to the house and I recognized it. We had tried this lookup almost four times before. I had actually dropped this person in our area book even, so the fact that we were there because she somehow was still on our list was not a coincidence. I offered the prayer and asked that if she really was ready --or if there was someone else ready-- that we would find them tonight. Well, we find her. She was in a moment where I believe the Lord had prepared that situation perfectly. We were able to give her a little bit of comfort and will hopefully be able to meet with her this week and teach her about the Plan of Salvation. That will be big for her. :)
This Thursday we also had our lesson with Elders Grande and Cisneros for their investigators. That was an awesome lesson. The Spirit was really strong as we were all testifying and talking about their reasons for investigating the church. We taught about the importance of the Book of Mormon and after committed them to read it --and actually do it this time. Well, they did! They even came to church Sunday and are really progressing. That was an awesome moment.
Last night we finally got to see our investigator! He is still crazy excited about his baptism and looking forward to it every day. We didn't get to have the lesson because he was working on the brakes for his work car, but we will see him tonight. Week and a half left. He is so ready. That is one thing I love so much about this work - you get to see people change. You get to see first hand what the Lord does when we come unto Him in those we teach, those we serve with, and even ourselves. What a blessing.
Zone Training Meeting was on Friday as well. That was amazing. The Sister Training Leaders gave a workshop on testifying of Christ. I felt for myself the gravity of being a disciple of Him, of Jesus Christ. I thought to myself, "am I representing Him as I should?" They asked us if the people of New York knew of our commitment to the Savior. I hope that in all we do - in the way we live our lives day by day - that the love we have for Him, the desire we have to be like Him, and the commitment to following Him is manifest. This is something I have taken personally to reflect on since my first Zone Training Meeting in Patchogue. I remember an elder making a comment about our commitment to be disciples of Christ and since then the thought has not left my mind or my heart. I have seen through the experiences of the last year how the Lord has been teaching me, guiding me, and showing me the way to being His disciple in all things, all times, and all places.
My goodness, awesome moments I just remembered of some personal revelation I received this week. I had some questions about the Holy Ghost, about the Spirit, just about missionary work. In my studies, I was blessed with the opportunity to find some answers and come to better understand the nature of God. I am doing everything I can to be one who He can trust, who He can rely on. Studies...they are amazing. I also have been studying more about faith - about perfect faith and perfect knowledge. This has been a really good study for me the last few weeks and I found a lot out of the scriptures. I love the scriptures so much! I just feel the power of them only holding them in my hands. The Lord has been good enough to help me better understand Him and His ways as I have learned more of the significance of faith being the first principle of the gospel, as it truly is our foundation. He has taught me so much. God is so cool.
Our week went quickly but of course as always was filled with opportunities for growth. I have found great comfort in knowing that I know my Savior knows me and knowing that my Father has a perfect plan for me. The simple truth that They love us has rung true in my ears and filled my soul with peace as I have found many a "what lack I yet?". I think that is the coolest thing, for me, that I realized this week: He loves me and His grace is sufficient. I am truly thankful for the trials of this week and this time here, for how they have helped me to grow and truly find my real self. I have said it a million times and I will say it again: I've gone soft. But I have never felt so much that I am on the track my Father in Heaven desires of me. I know that we can all embark on the journey of becoming...and, if we have already begun, I know we can feel the confirmation of His Spirit that we are becoming who He would have us be. We only need come to Him.
I have loved this week; we will see what the next brings. Week 5 here we are. It is going to go so fast. Hope it is great for all of you! I love you :)
Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Funniness of the week:
"The night pass so fast. Everything pass so fast." --us during morning workouts (oh! also, we went running this week because it was so warm, it was awesome)
*giggles* "I miss seeing trees without trash in them!" --Elder Harris
Oh, our water got shut off. That was fun. Ha. My compagne was in the shower Friday night and the landlord starts pounding the door and ringing the bell. Apparently the water was just raining down. The plumber came and fixed everything, but that was a fun time. Not funny, but there. ha :)
Receiving revelation that we really should be doing xyz that we are not and the Lord just being hilariously patient with us as we tried to figure it all out. haha. He is funny sometimes. I love when He just lets us go for a bit then says, "Yeah, this thing. The one I told you about? That. That is the answer." :)
Giving the elders money to buy donuts and committing them to do it. "What might keep you from keeping this commitment? What might get in the way? How can we help you keep this commitment?" Well, they brought the donuts. ;)
Other than that, not remembering much else! We have exchanges tomorrow. That should be good. :)
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| Just waiting for our appt |
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