Everyone always says, "I never thought this day would come." Well, I knew very well the beginning of my last transfer would come, I just didn't think it would come so fast! Here we are, transfer 12 and we have broken the streak. I will be doing three with the fabulous Hermana Rosario and will finish out in Westbury. How crazy is that? Talking about going home and finishing...
This was a good week! We had three investigators at church and they all loved it!! I am telling you, the most stressful time ever is sitting there waiting for your investigators who committed to come to actually come. But they came! And it was awesome. We had our first real lesson with one of them last Wednesday and it was amazing. She is just awesome and has been so prepared. The lesson Sunday was on baptism (PERFECT!) and two of them are already on date. Our newest investigator asked me a question about it and I told her how going under the water is a symbol of death, the death of that old life and the beginning of a new life with Christ, being born of Him. Her eyes got all wide and hew jaw dropped. After we were talking and she asked what you have to do to be baptized. This is coming from a girl who a week ago had no understanding of who Jesus is other than that He existed. Now she was asking us what she needed to do in order to begin a new life following Him. That, my friend, is the impact the Holy Ghost has on prepared open hearts. We are confident she very well could be baptized this transfer with our other two. We are pumped for them!! :)
We also had the most amazing lesson last week. It was with a member and her nonmember "esposo" #whytheynevermarriedtho #ugh They've been working with missionaries the past ten years but something has been missing. We found it this week. I learned the truthfulness and reality of the commandment to lay up our treasures in heaven. I learned how real deception and temporary happiness can be. This family was content. They knew the doctrine. They knew every lesson. But they were missing some sound understanding the Lord opened our eyes to. They have chosen to continue breaking a commandment because "there is no other way." There is a way. Are we truly willing to put the Lord first? Are we willing to do all He asks even - -especially- - when it's hard? Are we willing to give up our comfort now with faith, trust, and hope in His promises for the future? That was my self-reflection. We taught repentance as boldly as I have ever done, oh my goodness. We truly were not the ones teaching. There was time and time again where I felt I was on the side witnessing the Holy Ghost teach them and pierce their hearts. It was amazing. A few times we both were honestly a little bit scared, but not enough to retreat. We let Him speak through us and boy did it work!! They felt Him touch their hearts, they received that message of truth by the Spirit of truth and were not offended but rather we witnessed that change as godly sorrow filled their faces. We concluded finding they were no longer reading in the BOM. We hard core committed them to begin reading daily and are confident if they do they will develop the faith necessary to make the sacrifices required of them. Such a testimony-building experience for me as I got to see us fully used in His hands. Jesus Christ changes those who come to Him. I've never been more sure of anything in my life.
It was a good week and we are hopeful for another good one to come! I am learning to accept my Lord's timing and ways and have found He has seen fit to move me on to the next part of the journey fairly soon. I did not think it was possible for me to have more of a desire and fire to work than I already do but I think it is intensifying! :) This final stretch will be a great one. My only goal is to be able to say with Paul at the end of this time, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." May we as His disciples "be ever ready, waiting as servants wait at night with lights burning, for their Master's return. ...[For] if when He comes He finds His faithful servants ready to open immediately to His knock He will honor them as they deserve" and "a crown of righteousness" shall be our reward (Jesus the Christ, pg 440) :)
I love you very much and hope this next week is a great one! These emails have become more and more preachy as the time has gone, but I promise you not every moment out here is that spiritually intense...it's just those are the moments I love the most! :) have a great week! Love you!
Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
PICTURES:
- A member brought skirts from Ecuador #workit #ornot hahaha :)
- This driveway #trackflashbacks It was even "springy". Not the best shoes for a sprint, however
- A bit of sketchiness going on at the house behind while knocking
No comments:
Post a Comment