Get 'er done

Buenos días!

...actually, technically it is tarde, but ni modo. How we been? :) I have been pretty great myself. Hermana Rosario and I had a fun rainy week. Yesterday we had a new investigator come to church with us. They asked her in Gospel Principles how many times she had met with us. Well, none! Haha. We set something up for this week, but that was certainly a new experience. Normally the problem is getting the people you are teaching to church, not getting the people who are at church available to be taught.

Sometimes I get to the end of the week and I think, "what in the world did we do the last seven days?" I honestly cannot remember half of what has happened. We started a new system for helping my companion improve her English and for me to improve my Spanish. We have begun to do half of the day in Spanish and half in English. We switch off if the morning is Spanish or English day by day and try to stick to the language of the time as much as possible. I have added quite a few words to my white board list. Oh, that is where the subject line comes in. My side of the board is overflowing (I have a lot of questions, okay?) and my companion for the majority of last week had three phrases: "let's do this thing", "killin' it", and "get'er done". My goal is to have her saying all of them by the time we are done together, haha :) She taught me one, "qué es la que hay" which I am quite fond of. However, the Puerto Ricans use much slang - aka, words I can't use as a missionary - but, for some future time... :)

We got back in touch with one of our investigators this week for the first time in a while. She is still on date for June but had a little bit of a rough spot. She is experiencing an immense amount of opposition from her family and old friends about meeting with us and preparing for her baptism. We were there last night and I think part of why I was called Spanish-speaking was to keep me quiet in certain situations. Haha. I could tell by the nature of the conversations aside from our own it wasn't good, but did not actually listen to understand what was being said. My companion told me one thing she heard when we left because I had seen it visibly shake her during the lesson. *chants pelea* ;) Well, I feel who I was before the mission I would have been totally down for a "ragtag" #farrockslang #itmeansfight but it was really cool to see in that moment I didn't feel a desire to fight and prove they were wrong, but I felt peace. I looked at our investigator and testified to her. She testified in reply. Her mom said something else and I looked to her. The determination I could see in her face was inspiring. Her faith is so strong. It is amazing.

I have learned here more than ever that the gospel is true, that it blesses our lives with joy and happiness and hope like nothing else. But, I have also learned that the opposition and adversary too are very real. Standing in that moment with her and my companion I felt confident in the Savior. I knew we were standing with Him as examples before some of the wickedest that this is the truth. I have become incredibly more thankful for the teachings I received growing up and the understanding I have because of them. I have come to see warriors fight before me to stand for what they know is true when everyone who is supposed to support them turns their backs.

Nearing the end of my study some day this week I found myself in the Book of Mormon, chapters six and seven of 2 Nephi. I love these chapters. It came to mind often over the week as I thought of those we serve here --investigator, member, and missionary-- the strength I find in these verses. These words...

"...thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. ...For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth with thee. ...I gave my back to the smiter... For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. ...For the Lord God will help me."

I love it. Standing there with her was a privilege. It is such a blessing to be able to serve people like her every day and to see the potential our Father in Heaven has for them. She will do great things if she holds on and keeps on the path she's on.

I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. Something I am learning is how to understand that He knows where we are and accepts us where we are, that it is all part of His plan - the trials, the opposition, the joy, everything; it is all for our good. I have another favorite talk called "Being Accepted of the Lord" that has helped me view our journey towards perfection in a different light. God is here. I find He is much closer than we may think He is. We had a really cool lesson about creating the world we live in and how we choose what it becomes based on what we focus on. Focus on Him and He will be our world. I have found that to be the most joyful world to live in, and that is when we see just how close He really is.

It has been a great week. I have done much preaching, here included, and will leave you with that for now. I love you much and hope next week to be even better!
Muchísimo amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

I told y'all I was goin back!! :) #brooklynite4ever

Liked the wall we passed on the way to a lesson

We are cool #stillcantthug

We liked the green wall of bushes