¡Hola!
What a week this has been... Last Saturday after the sealing for the family we did...... uuuuuh...... missionary work. We did missionary work:) (let's be honest, I don't remember what we did). But Sunday was something else! We had high hopes for this day. It started off great with several of our less actives and investigators attending church with us. We also had a lesson with the twins after church on the plan of salvation. Those little girls...I did not know you could have as many questions as they had! We were able to help them understand their questions and I could feel the Spirit testify of what we taught. They said they understood everything and were very eager to schedule our next lesson. It was also awesome to see the girls debating over whose turn it was to pray (as they both wanted to) because the first time we taught them they didn't even know how to pray. Seeing the growth in them and their desire to learn, that's what it's all about.
After our lesson with the girls, we had six or seven different ladies (referrals and less actives) who we were going to try and look up. We wanted to be able to contact at least three. Well...we got none. Every door remained shut and every phone unanswered. That was a tad discouraging, and as we were in the middle of Jewville, there was not even the option to street contact. The sun was setting and we were far from home, so we headed for the bus stop. The blessing was here as in this nearly entirely Jewish area, there at the bus stop, we found a Hispanic woman with her daughter. We jumped at the opportunity to talk with someone. They had been waiting for the bus for quite some time so we joined in the wait and there had the opportunity to teach the mom a bit of the restoration. She was incredibly interested in what we taught her, and we gave her a pamphlet to study. Just as we closed, there came the bus. That was a good way to end the day.
Monday was deep clean. Oh and did we deep clean. While we were singing and dancing to our blasted EFY music, I noticed something on the ceiling in one of our closets. I told my companion I thought there may be a door up there. She insisted otherwise. I said again I thought there was something else in the black abyss of our closet. Declaring her intent of confirming me wrong, my companion began her ascent up the ladder found also in the closet where she did indeed find a door
on the ceiling. Anticipating a dusty attic or a stuffy storage space, we were, needless to say, surprised when we pushed open the door and rays of light shot down through the cracks. We climbed up and out to find ourselves on the roof of our building! It was awesome. We even had wifi better than we had it in our house hahaha! We took a few pictures and then climbed back down to continue our deep clean.
Following deep clean, we planned on going to a lesson at six after dinner, however she called us up and insisted we get dinner together beforehand. We picked her up and headed off to the diner she had selected. We were able to have a really great lesson with her and we could feel the Spirit guiding the conversation as topics shifted and we were able to talk and testify of the things she needed to hear. I am so thankful for the role the Spirit has in this work.
Unfortunately, this day did not end as I would have liked, but life rarely goes as we would plan. Monday was a trying day for me as I strived to remember that God's ways and thoughts truly are higher than my own. I received a call that night from my mission president. The result of this call was that despite the efforts of my mission president, parents, and stake president on my behalf, missionary
medical had determined an inaccurate diagnosis was to send me home for a time. I have had a lot of time to reflect and think on the fact that I am now home. I was a mess after getting that call and finding there was nothing I could do to stay. After receiving a blessing from the elders, I felt the peace and gentle prompting from the Spirit that all would be well and I needed to go back for one reason or another for some period of time. That was not the answer I wanted at the time haha! However, I had been given the prompting and I couldn't fight the Spirit. Even though I had felt that, it did not make leaving any easier. After face-timing my parents it was determined my mom would come out and meet me so we could fly home together.
Monday night the time was spent more on my knees than in my bed as I petitioned God for another path if possible. When I knew this was not His plan for me, it was time to implement what I had taught a few weeks previously in a workshop: submit to the will of the Father. My prayers changed as I accepted His will for me and I began to seek comfort and peace as I promised I would follow Him down this seemingly dark and lonely road in the exact opposite direction --so I thought-- from where I should be heading.
Tuesday consisted of packing and my final lesson with the girls. We ate dinner with them and then taught the gospel of Christ. This was an amazing lesson. As they asked questions and answered ours I could feel the sweet spirits of these girls developing testimonies. Seeing the Spirit work in them and how their desire to learn grows is amazing. Concluding our lesson I told them I would not be able to be at their baptism but that I would need lots of pictures. They were sad I couldn't be there but understood me needing to go.
After lots of tears, I finally found some peace. The Staten zone leaders were kind enough to drive us to the mission office in Rego so that we wouldn't have to take the luggage through the subways. We
arrived a tad after twelve Wednesday morning and the first person I saw was my mom. She gave me a big hug and said "I don't think you're done yet". I felt like I was in a bad dream... I was called into
President's office for my final departing interview. I was asked to say the opening prayer, which I did as I struggled through keeping back the tears. I have never had something so good, so precious to me,
and something I thought was so in line with God's will and then have Him ask me to give it to Him for a time. I couldn't understand why He would want me doing anything else, but I chose to make the decision to submit and follow even thought I couldn't see how this could possibly be His will. Leaving the mission was the biggest leap of faith I have ever taken with my trust in God alone but my mission president also gave me some comfort in the counsel he gave me. He too said he didn't feel I wasn't finished and that they'd be anticipating my return.
After the goodbyes were through, we headed out with Sister Reynolds who drove us to JFK. Her note to me also said they would keep me in their prayers until I returned to the mission. This was all very
confusing for me as I had previously thought I was not to return and had tried to accept moving on as a way to cope with the fact that I was going home. Now, with my leaders having received the revelation I was to return, I began to think on it. On the plane home I looked into D&C 124 trying to find a scripture my mission president had shared with me. Instead I found verses 16-18. I knew I was to go back.
After talking with the stake president that night I was released for the time being. I continued to battle the thoughts that I would not be able to go back or that it wasn't supposed to happen. I received a blessing from my dad and was able to find some peace again. Thursday was not free of discouraging thoughts and feelings, but by the afternoon I finally felt peace again. Friday was the day of anticipation as I would meet with the first therapist who we could schedule with. This was a miracle meeting... The therapist told me at the beginning that he was not there to get me back into the field but to help me adjust to being home and to make sure I was in a good place mentally. However, after the hour and a half meeting we concluded with him saying that when I come back Friday to see him again that he will be preparing me for when I go back and that he will help me prepare for what it'll be like going back into the field (VICTORY!). He also gave me a few professionals to call and set up with. After a bit of frustration as we could not get a hold of any of them, one lady called us back. I will be seeing her this Thursday. This lady is the one who actually will have to say that with her profession in eating disorders that I do not have one. Once she knows and believes that, her witness,
along with that of the first guy I saw, will be used by my stake president as he petitions the missionary department for me to go back out.
Thus, así es, y estamos aquí. Entonces, things are looking very bright and I have learned a lot of lessons from this journey. It has been exactly a week from when I received the call I was being sent home but it feels like so long ago because of the growth that has taken place so rapidly since then.
I know that this is God's plan for me. It is certainly not what I expected of my missionary call but it is most definitely what is best. I will be returning to New York a new missionary and the better for this trial. Just goin through a bit of the refiners fire is all :) I love this time I've been blessed with to see my family and reflect on the last four months, to see from the experiences I had how I will be different because of them. I have learned so much about myself and God, His plan for each of us individually... I have never felt so close to my Savior. I know that this is the work of God and that I am only going to be better because of this trial He has placed in my path. I know that God does not give us any trial we cannot bear with His help. It is only through His grace that I have borne this one. I love this gospel. I know with all my soul it is true. I am honored to be able to serve and represent my Savior in New York, I can't wait to put my tag back on and get to work! But for now, we will be patient and trust in the Lords timing.
I hope everyone has a fabulous week, I love you all and I'm so thankful for your support of my decision to serve. We will keep y'all updated :)
Tanto amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
(Yes, I'm technically released....no, I'm not removing the "Hermana" haha)
Enviado desde mi iPad
Monday, June 20, 2016
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Teaching, training, and temple trippin'
Hello hello!
¡Estamos temprano con nuestras cartas por qué hoy, vimos al templo! But this week...this was something else. We started the week off amazingly and ended it with a beautiful sealing, overall I'd say it was pretty great!!
Monday we had a lesson with a less active sister's kids. She's got three. The girls haven't been baptized and the mom wanted them to be so she invited us to go teach them. We showed up Monday and the kids just loved us! After getting to know them a bit they came and sat right in front of us and said, "so you guys are the teachers!" We explained why we were there and went over everything about baptism with them, then we invited the girls to be baptized. They were super excited about it and asked when. We talked with their mom and proposed the 26th of June (just before they get ready to leave for a month long trip in Mexico) and they accepted! The girls were super excited to learn about the church and asked when we were going to come back, we scheduled for Thursday:) We had to get home so we taught them how to pray as we closed the lesson en were off to catch the bus!
We looked over some weekly goals after we got home and decided we wanted to try and stretch a little bit further this week. So far we have been very successful. It's another testimony to me that when we plan something out with the Spirit and ask the Lord to help us in accomplishing what we have set out to do, then work our butts off to get it done, He helps us do more than we could do on our own (*cough cough* enabling power of the Atonement!!) and stuff gets done!! We have the potential to teach seven lessons today and tomorrow alone (that has not happened in Dyker...ever), assuming people exercise their agency correctly haha:)
Tuesday we had our first district meeting as Dyker Chino-Spanish. It was good, Elder Brenkman is our unofficial-official district leader haha, but he did a good job. He's doing his best with what we have all been thrown into and I'm thankful for that. After district meeting we taught the first temple prep lesson on the plan of salvation. That was awesome.
After we taught that lesson we headed to another sister's for dinner and a lesson. She had a massive migraine when we got there but had prepared food and wanted a message. We ate quickly and quietly, then left her with a quick message before running out. Right after we walked onto the street, we literally had been outside two seconds, a man walking by in the crowd said "hi sisters", then just kept walking by. We were like, "wait what...?" We didn't even have time to think about it or chase him down to talk to him cause right after that was said a big tough-looking tattoo-clad man five feet away or so said, "are you guys Mormons?" We fished through the crowd to him and were like, "yeah we are!!" He asked where the nearest chapel was and after we told him he said he'd go look it up. Interesting. So that was a fun time haha! So after a few unexpected seeds, we headed to English
class. We have a few new students so that's awesome!
Wednesday we had service, which is always great. They were worried we'd get rained out so we tried to work fast. But, the job they had for us we did too quickly I guess cause the rain wasn't coming and we finished with an hour to go... So, they put us to weeding --we are really good weeders haha! We're all scattered in this field weeding around these new trees when an elder calls out, "hey...what do we do with baby bunnies?" We all ran over and sure enough, five baby bunnies are chillin under some weeds! The ranger people took care of it and right about then the rain began. And oh did it begin. Sopping wet, to the point that we were wringing out our hair and shirts, we returned home to change and get to work for the rest of the day. We did some finding and met up with a less active. She has two kids, a son whose nine (not baptized) and a special needs girl whose four. This was our first time meeting her, so we got to talk with her and get to know her a little bit. We will be going back to teach her next week same time.
(Also found out at service that one of the sisters was in the army for four years before the mish and played professional soccer for Brazil for four years before that!! Can you say cool?? I was like dude, this girl is so much cooler than all of us 😂😂 ) We also talked a bit with Sister Provard and Sister Seay while waiting for our trains. This was more of a just me kinda thing that made me feel a little better haha cause they were all surprised when they realized I was still training and it made me feel like maybe I don't look like as much of a mess as I feel like hahaha 😂😂)
Thursday we had our lesson with the twins and that was awesome! It's kinda awkward how the lessons go though cause the kids básicamente don't speak Spanish. They understand it but can't read it or speak it really at all. No problem, you say. Teach them in English, you say. Whelp, their mom doesn't speak English! So, we just teach them in English and their mom throws in a little bit here and there as we translate bits and pieces for her. But anyway, the lesson was on the restoration and the kids loved it. They had tons of questions but said they understood it all in the end. We left them a chapter in the children's Book of Mormon to read as their tarea and those kids were so excited they started right then!! We're going to walk with them to church tomorrow and teach them afterwards as well. This family is awesome.
We met up with Sister Fouts and Sister Taylor for lunch before zone training meeting. We got our Chinese food to go and ate at the church until everyone came. Training was good, as always. It was just really odd with so many people missing. Our zone is now only two districts. I mean, we only lost three people recently, but we lost a lot more at transfers it feels like than we got in. I guess it's just the people missing now we're big people in more ways than one, so it felt kinda empty at training. Just a little not right... But it was good.
Today we went to the temple!!! Yay!! We got there around 8:30 for the sealing at nine and it was beautiful. The family is simply amazing. They have a daughter who's passed away. It made seeing them be sealed even more special. It was awesome. Just being in the temple alone was a great feeling, but then the fact that we were there for the sealing of the Andrade family made it even better. Aaaaaahhh. It was amazing. We are over here still just smiling!! 😊😊
We waited in the church side of the building for them to come out and guess who I saw? Elder Hunt from my zone at the CCM! He's serving in New Jersey. They were there with a person they baptized a month or so ago for her to do baptisms. We talked for a bit and then the family came out. It was great to see a familiar face! We took some pictures outside then all headed back together. It was funny to see this big herd of people (it wasn't really that many people tho) all dressed up going through the subways. We got our share of stares for sure haha!
Y estamos aquí. We've got a few people set for finding tonight, so hopefully that can go as planned! Man. Missionary work is awesome. I have forgotten what it's like to not put on a skirt and a tag
everyday. Every thought we have is dedicated towards someone else and how we can help or serve them. It's amazing. It makes me think of how the Savior lived. He was the perfect missionary and we are doing our best to try and follow what He did and taught through His example. When you try to live like the Savior I think you come to understand Him better. As I'm coming to understand how He lived my love and appreciation for Him has grown. It's crazy how much I've learned in the last few months. About everything.
Pero, eso es, y quiero compartir una escritura con ustedes. Mosiah 24:15 "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." I love this scripture. I know it is true, and I know when we seek help in times of difficulty we can ask for the Lord to change us. Thus, we become agents unto ourselves to act rather than objects to be acted upon. Through trials we can be changed. And that's what we want, right?:) Change. Or conversion. Changing constantly as we improve --continually becoming more converted into the Lord-- until the day we become perfect as our Father. I love that we have the hope that this is possible because of this gospel. Church is so cool, guys. Don't be ashamed of it. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou
partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God". I love this gospel and I love serving in New York. Sorry for gettin all preachy on y'all haha. I hope everyone has a fabulous week!
Love you lots!!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
-Post zone training (Sisters Fouts, Taylor, me, Sheobara (sister training leader), Bugingo)
¡Estamos temprano con nuestras cartas por qué hoy, vimos al templo! But this week...this was something else. We started the week off amazingly and ended it with a beautiful sealing, overall I'd say it was pretty great!!
Monday we had a lesson with a less active sister's kids. She's got three. The girls haven't been baptized and the mom wanted them to be so she invited us to go teach them. We showed up Monday and the kids just loved us! After getting to know them a bit they came and sat right in front of us and said, "so you guys are the teachers!" We explained why we were there and went over everything about baptism with them, then we invited the girls to be baptized. They were super excited about it and asked when. We talked with their mom and proposed the 26th of June (just before they get ready to leave for a month long trip in Mexico) and they accepted! The girls were super excited to learn about the church and asked when we were going to come back, we scheduled for Thursday:) We had to get home so we taught them how to pray as we closed the lesson en were off to catch the bus!
We looked over some weekly goals after we got home and decided we wanted to try and stretch a little bit further this week. So far we have been very successful. It's another testimony to me that when we plan something out with the Spirit and ask the Lord to help us in accomplishing what we have set out to do, then work our butts off to get it done, He helps us do more than we could do on our own (*cough cough* enabling power of the Atonement!!) and stuff gets done!! We have the potential to teach seven lessons today and tomorrow alone (that has not happened in Dyker...ever), assuming people exercise their agency correctly haha:)
Tuesday we had our first district meeting as Dyker Chino-Spanish. It was good, Elder Brenkman is our unofficial-official district leader haha, but he did a good job. He's doing his best with what we have all been thrown into and I'm thankful for that. After district meeting we taught the first temple prep lesson on the plan of salvation. That was awesome.
After we taught that lesson we headed to another sister's for dinner and a lesson. She had a massive migraine when we got there but had prepared food and wanted a message. We ate quickly and quietly, then left her with a quick message before running out. Right after we walked onto the street, we literally had been outside two seconds, a man walking by in the crowd said "hi sisters", then just kept walking by. We were like, "wait what...?" We didn't even have time to think about it or chase him down to talk to him cause right after that was said a big tough-looking tattoo-clad man five feet away or so said, "are you guys Mormons?" We fished through the crowd to him and were like, "yeah we are!!" He asked where the nearest chapel was and after we told him he said he'd go look it up. Interesting. So that was a fun time haha! So after a few unexpected seeds, we headed to English
class. We have a few new students so that's awesome!
Wednesday we had service, which is always great. They were worried we'd get rained out so we tried to work fast. But, the job they had for us we did too quickly I guess cause the rain wasn't coming and we finished with an hour to go... So, they put us to weeding --we are really good weeders haha! We're all scattered in this field weeding around these new trees when an elder calls out, "hey...what do we do with baby bunnies?" We all ran over and sure enough, five baby bunnies are chillin under some weeds! The ranger people took care of it and right about then the rain began. And oh did it begin. Sopping wet, to the point that we were wringing out our hair and shirts, we returned home to change and get to work for the rest of the day. We did some finding and met up with a less active. She has two kids, a son whose nine (not baptized) and a special needs girl whose four. This was our first time meeting her, so we got to talk with her and get to know her a little bit. We will be going back to teach her next week same time.
(Also found out at service that one of the sisters was in the army for four years before the mish and played professional soccer for Brazil for four years before that!! Can you say cool?? I was like dude, this girl is so much cooler than all of us 😂😂 ) We also talked a bit with Sister Provard and Sister Seay while waiting for our trains. This was more of a just me kinda thing that made me feel a little better haha cause they were all surprised when they realized I was still training and it made me feel like maybe I don't look like as much of a mess as I feel like hahaha 😂😂)
Thursday we had our lesson with the twins and that was awesome! It's kinda awkward how the lessons go though cause the kids básicamente don't speak Spanish. They understand it but can't read it or speak it really at all. No problem, you say. Teach them in English, you say. Whelp, their mom doesn't speak English! So, we just teach them in English and their mom throws in a little bit here and there as we translate bits and pieces for her. But anyway, the lesson was on the restoration and the kids loved it. They had tons of questions but said they understood it all in the end. We left them a chapter in the children's Book of Mormon to read as their tarea and those kids were so excited they started right then!! We're going to walk with them to church tomorrow and teach them afterwards as well. This family is awesome.
We met up with Sister Fouts and Sister Taylor for lunch before zone training meeting. We got our Chinese food to go and ate at the church until everyone came. Training was good, as always. It was just really odd with so many people missing. Our zone is now only two districts. I mean, we only lost three people recently, but we lost a lot more at transfers it feels like than we got in. I guess it's just the people missing now we're big people in more ways than one, so it felt kinda empty at training. Just a little not right... But it was good.
Today we went to the temple!!! Yay!! We got there around 8:30 for the sealing at nine and it was beautiful. The family is simply amazing. They have a daughter who's passed away. It made seeing them be sealed even more special. It was awesome. Just being in the temple alone was a great feeling, but then the fact that we were there for the sealing of the Andrade family made it even better. Aaaaaahhh. It was amazing. We are over here still just smiling!! 😊😊
We waited in the church side of the building for them to come out and guess who I saw? Elder Hunt from my zone at the CCM! He's serving in New Jersey. They were there with a person they baptized a month or so ago for her to do baptisms. We talked for a bit and then the family came out. It was great to see a familiar face! We took some pictures outside then all headed back together. It was funny to see this big herd of people (it wasn't really that many people tho) all dressed up going through the subways. We got our share of stares for sure haha!
Y estamos aquí. We've got a few people set for finding tonight, so hopefully that can go as planned! Man. Missionary work is awesome. I have forgotten what it's like to not put on a skirt and a tag
everyday. Every thought we have is dedicated towards someone else and how we can help or serve them. It's amazing. It makes me think of how the Savior lived. He was the perfect missionary and we are doing our best to try and follow what He did and taught through His example. When you try to live like the Savior I think you come to understand Him better. As I'm coming to understand how He lived my love and appreciation for Him has grown. It's crazy how much I've learned in the last few months. About everything.
Pero, eso es, y quiero compartir una escritura con ustedes. Mosiah 24:15 "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." I love this scripture. I know it is true, and I know when we seek help in times of difficulty we can ask for the Lord to change us. Thus, we become agents unto ourselves to act rather than objects to be acted upon. Through trials we can be changed. And that's what we want, right?:) Change. Or conversion. Changing constantly as we improve --continually becoming more converted into the Lord-- until the day we become perfect as our Father. I love that we have the hope that this is possible because of this gospel. Church is so cool, guys. Don't be ashamed of it. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou
partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God". I love this gospel and I love serving in New York. Sorry for gettin all preachy on y'all haha. I hope everyone has a fabulous week!
Love you lots!!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
 | ||
| Waiting for the train on Sunday. I swear we spend 50% of our day waiting for public transportation. Ugh. |
 |
Monday, June 6, 2016
When you don't know how to call another week...
Hello familia!
What a week this has been. Well, since I don't know where to start we will begin with the big news on my mind... Well, the reign of the (Dyker) Heights of the Round Table --as the elders dubbed us at our first district meeting haha-- has come to a dramatic end. Our district leader, Elder Boden is going home. He has three discs in his back that are out of place and básicamente he can't even walk anymore without pain. We were hoping he would just get transferred to a car area and not have to leave but mission medical decided he's gotta go home. He leaves today. We found out Saturday. Because Elder Boden is going home and there's no Spanish trios already in the mission to pull an elder from, Elder Caballero is leaving too. Yeah. We found that out last night when we called in our numbers. He will be transferred to a different area and make a trio elsewhere. Thus, we now have seven missionaries remaining in Dyker with no district leaders. Since they're taking Cabbi out and not bringing someone in we will either remain as a "dating district" just us and the Spanish elders or they will combine us four with the remaining three chino elders.
So, there's that! I'm honestly still in shock about it all but I trust God. I know He puts people into our lives --for whatever time is expedient in Him-- for a reason and I've learned a lot from all these people I've had the opportunity of serving with.
Whoo! So now that we've got all the downer stuff outta the way haha... This week honestly was just crazy. Saturday we had the chance to go serve at the Bishop’s storehouse in Midwood so that was cool! (The elders also brought my package then too --THANK YOU!) Serving there was way cool, but the lady who was kind of in charge for that day was...interesting. Tried really hard to just remember we are all doing what we think is best to get the job done, but there were a few times after she'd said or done something when I had to bite my tongue --literally-- and just work to control my temper. Between packing people’s things, we played outside with the kids of some families who were there helping. It was a lot of fun and overall a great experience, even if I did get a little irritated on a few occasions. ☺
On the way back from the storehouse, we were waiting for the bus and this little girl came over and sat by me. She asked if I was waiting for the bus and I told her we were. She said she was going home with her grandma who was standing off to the side. For the next twenty minutes this little four-year-old girl named Ariana talked to me about anything and everything. She was so precious. Her grandma told her it was time to go and she ran over and gave me a big hug. We said goodbye and she ran off ahead of her grandma, continuing to skip up to every person she passed to say hello. Little kids are amazing. When the scriptures say to become as little children there are numerous applications. Here, what I learned from this little girl was to be happy and to live life. To talk to everything, sharing your light. She simply radiated with love. You could not look at her and then not smile. She was exactly the little ray of sunshine I needed and I'm sure she helped numerous others with her sweet spirit as well.
Friday (sorry, I'm kinda going backwards with what I can remember) we were invited to a birthday party. There were so many people there, it was crazy, but a really good opportunity for seed planting!! It was really fun, and I think it meant a lot to her that we came. We also had service Friday and Thursday at the senior center. When we were eating me and Caballero talked music a little bit. Guess what, dad? He loves Def Leppard too!! I told him the people we've seen in concert together and needless to say, he was surprised when I named them off, but it was Def Leppard that made his eyes get all wide haha! Reminded me of when people from soccer would think you were some stiff who only listened to classical music cause you always showed up to games in suits haha! I guess we don't necessarily project the image of classic rock (maybe that's a good thing haha!)
Anyway... We had a lesson Tuesday with a less active in the ward. We talked to her about temples and she's decided she wants to go through the temple!! We set a date with her and she even came to church Sunday with one of her sons. We've got high hopes for her. We also taught another couple Sunday after church. We're starting over with them. We taught the restoration with Obispo Mendizaba (he was the last bishop). It was really odd. Lots of prayers for them are being said.
Wednesday we had park service and got Five Guys after. It wasn't bad. I love when we get to go do service at the park, getting outside, working, being with people, it's great. We also got a few more less actives to go and see from Hermana Morales who was in this area over nine months ago. We've got an appointment set up with one, but another we can't contact because both numbers we have are wrong and the only way into the area she lives is with a key or if someone lets you in... The door for the apartments is between two stores right by a bus stop we go to every day by our house so we're going to just check every time we're there to see if anyone is going in or at the door who could let us in haha.
We got a few lessons in this week and were really able to feel the Spirit, but we also had a lot fall through. We just gotta keep pushing. I love what mom said in her email, the idea that we are "pressing forward" implies that there is opposition. This work isn't easy and it's not supposed to be!! But it's in the hardest moments when you learn to appreciate the little blessings and tender mercies of every day. That's when I come to know my Savior better. We have been invited to come unto Him and take His yoke upon us, to take His load, His burden, instead of our own by ourselves. In an article I read this week from the Ensign it talked about how a yoke functions. It said the purpose of a double yoke is "to harness a pair of animals so that they can drag a load together as efficiently as possible." It also said when they are made the wood "is fitted to a particular ox’s shoulders, maximizing comfort and pulling force." This custom fitting makes it so that "oxen of unequal size or strength to pull together without one being dragged by the other." I learned a lot from that.
In my personal study this week I learned a lot. There have been so many times I've been able to feel of God’s love this week, I think I needed it. I'm rereading the BoM and the New Testament together. So I've had when I read a few times now where I'll read something I've heard and studied a million times before but I'll have questions come into my head. This happened with something in Matthew 6 this week. I was like, "what am I supposed to be getting from these verses?? I've heard them so many times...what does this set mean?? How do I apply them??" But I got an answer. Of course I did. We always do. Whenever we ask with real intent and search diligently the Spirit will enlighten our understanding.
The same day, literally two minutes later when I was alone, I started to read another talk by Elder Bednar, it took me to 1 Corinthians 1:27 which took me to Jacob 4:6-7. This was a super special experience for me because I read these verses, and when I read in Jacob, I finally, for the first time I can remember, felt like those verses apply to me. I honestly believe that I can do those things because of my faith. I feel that they apply to me. That was a huge tender mercy for me because I've been feeling since being out on the mission that I am lacking in the faith category. But here when I read those verses, coupled with everything else I've been reading, learning, experiencing, I could just feel the Spirit testifying to me, "you know enough. All these things you've been learning are true. Keep goin." I was sitting there and I was just smiling. I looked up and just said a little thank you, and I kid you not, I could feel the hug. I have had many amazing spiritual experiences, nothing grandiose, just little things, but that was all I needed.
I am trying to always remember how I felt then and do my best to make Him proud. In another talk I read by Elder Maxwell it said "meek Enoch reached a point in his discipleship, wrote Paul, when he received a testimony that he pleased God (see Heb. 11:5). Ponder that. One can come to that point where one knows that he or she pleases God." I read that and just thought, WOW. I want to be at that point. I want to know what I am doing is pleasing to God always. I know I'm human and I will make mistakes but because of the Atonement I can repent, and because of the Atonement I can have access to additional strength and power beyond my own capabilities to do His will. Wow.
So this was a great week for personal growth. That makes me excited because once I'm taken care of I can serve others more effectively. I love in Moses 6:31-34 when Enoch asks God, why me?? Why would you choose me?? And God tells Enoch of the blessings that await him and says simply, "therefore walk with me." I LOVE that. He makes our weak things become strong. Now our invitation is to trust Him, take comfort in His strength and ability to make us who He wants/needs/desires us to become, and walk with Him. Man, I love scriptures.
The church is true, guys. Never been more sure of anything in my life.
Well, now that I've got this novel here, I'll send it off haha! Love you lots!!!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Enviado desde mi iPad
What a week this has been. Well, since I don't know where to start we will begin with the big news on my mind... Well, the reign of the (Dyker) Heights of the Round Table --as the elders dubbed us at our first district meeting haha-- has come to a dramatic end. Our district leader, Elder Boden is going home. He has three discs in his back that are out of place and básicamente he can't even walk anymore without pain. We were hoping he would just get transferred to a car area and not have to leave but mission medical decided he's gotta go home. He leaves today. We found out Saturday. Because Elder Boden is going home and there's no Spanish trios already in the mission to pull an elder from, Elder Caballero is leaving too. Yeah. We found that out last night when we called in our numbers. He will be transferred to a different area and make a trio elsewhere. Thus, we now have seven missionaries remaining in Dyker with no district leaders. Since they're taking Cabbi out and not bringing someone in we will either remain as a "dating district" just us and the Spanish elders or they will combine us four with the remaining three chino elders.
So, there's that! I'm honestly still in shock about it all but I trust God. I know He puts people into our lives --for whatever time is expedient in Him-- for a reason and I've learned a lot from all these people I've had the opportunity of serving with.
Whoo! So now that we've got all the downer stuff outta the way haha... This week honestly was just crazy. Saturday we had the chance to go serve at the Bishop’s storehouse in Midwood so that was cool! (The elders also brought my package then too --THANK YOU!) Serving there was way cool, but the lady who was kind of in charge for that day was...interesting. Tried really hard to just remember we are all doing what we think is best to get the job done, but there were a few times after she'd said or done something when I had to bite my tongue --literally-- and just work to control my temper. Between packing people’s things, we played outside with the kids of some families who were there helping. It was a lot of fun and overall a great experience, even if I did get a little irritated on a few occasions. ☺
On the way back from the storehouse, we were waiting for the bus and this little girl came over and sat by me. She asked if I was waiting for the bus and I told her we were. She said she was going home with her grandma who was standing off to the side. For the next twenty minutes this little four-year-old girl named Ariana talked to me about anything and everything. She was so precious. Her grandma told her it was time to go and she ran over and gave me a big hug. We said goodbye and she ran off ahead of her grandma, continuing to skip up to every person she passed to say hello. Little kids are amazing. When the scriptures say to become as little children there are numerous applications. Here, what I learned from this little girl was to be happy and to live life. To talk to everything, sharing your light. She simply radiated with love. You could not look at her and then not smile. She was exactly the little ray of sunshine I needed and I'm sure she helped numerous others with her sweet spirit as well.
Friday (sorry, I'm kinda going backwards with what I can remember) we were invited to a birthday party. There were so many people there, it was crazy, but a really good opportunity for seed planting!! It was really fun, and I think it meant a lot to her that we came. We also had service Friday and Thursday at the senior center. When we were eating me and Caballero talked music a little bit. Guess what, dad? He loves Def Leppard too!! I told him the people we've seen in concert together and needless to say, he was surprised when I named them off, but it was Def Leppard that made his eyes get all wide haha! Reminded me of when people from soccer would think you were some stiff who only listened to classical music cause you always showed up to games in suits haha! I guess we don't necessarily project the image of classic rock (maybe that's a good thing haha!)
Anyway... We had a lesson Tuesday with a less active in the ward. We talked to her about temples and she's decided she wants to go through the temple!! We set a date with her and she even came to church Sunday with one of her sons. We've got high hopes for her. We also taught another couple Sunday after church. We're starting over with them. We taught the restoration with Obispo Mendizaba (he was the last bishop). It was really odd. Lots of prayers for them are being said.
Wednesday we had park service and got Five Guys after. It wasn't bad. I love when we get to go do service at the park, getting outside, working, being with people, it's great. We also got a few more less actives to go and see from Hermana Morales who was in this area over nine months ago. We've got an appointment set up with one, but another we can't contact because both numbers we have are wrong and the only way into the area she lives is with a key or if someone lets you in... The door for the apartments is between two stores right by a bus stop we go to every day by our house so we're going to just check every time we're there to see if anyone is going in or at the door who could let us in haha.
We got a few lessons in this week and were really able to feel the Spirit, but we also had a lot fall through. We just gotta keep pushing. I love what mom said in her email, the idea that we are "pressing forward" implies that there is opposition. This work isn't easy and it's not supposed to be!! But it's in the hardest moments when you learn to appreciate the little blessings and tender mercies of every day. That's when I come to know my Savior better. We have been invited to come unto Him and take His yoke upon us, to take His load, His burden, instead of our own by ourselves. In an article I read this week from the Ensign it talked about how a yoke functions. It said the purpose of a double yoke is "to harness a pair of animals so that they can drag a load together as efficiently as possible." It also said when they are made the wood "is fitted to a particular ox’s shoulders, maximizing comfort and pulling force." This custom fitting makes it so that "oxen of unequal size or strength to pull together without one being dragged by the other." I learned a lot from that.
In my personal study this week I learned a lot. There have been so many times I've been able to feel of God’s love this week, I think I needed it. I'm rereading the BoM and the New Testament together. So I've had when I read a few times now where I'll read something I've heard and studied a million times before but I'll have questions come into my head. This happened with something in Matthew 6 this week. I was like, "what am I supposed to be getting from these verses?? I've heard them so many times...what does this set mean?? How do I apply them??" But I got an answer. Of course I did. We always do. Whenever we ask with real intent and search diligently the Spirit will enlighten our understanding.
The same day, literally two minutes later when I was alone, I started to read another talk by Elder Bednar, it took me to 1 Corinthians 1:27 which took me to Jacob 4:6-7. This was a super special experience for me because I read these verses, and when I read in Jacob, I finally, for the first time I can remember, felt like those verses apply to me. I honestly believe that I can do those things because of my faith. I feel that they apply to me. That was a huge tender mercy for me because I've been feeling since being out on the mission that I am lacking in the faith category. But here when I read those verses, coupled with everything else I've been reading, learning, experiencing, I could just feel the Spirit testifying to me, "you know enough. All these things you've been learning are true. Keep goin." I was sitting there and I was just smiling. I looked up and just said a little thank you, and I kid you not, I could feel the hug. I have had many amazing spiritual experiences, nothing grandiose, just little things, but that was all I needed.
I am trying to always remember how I felt then and do my best to make Him proud. In another talk I read by Elder Maxwell it said "meek Enoch reached a point in his discipleship, wrote Paul, when he received a testimony that he pleased God (see Heb. 11:5). Ponder that. One can come to that point where one knows that he or she pleases God." I read that and just thought, WOW. I want to be at that point. I want to know what I am doing is pleasing to God always. I know I'm human and I will make mistakes but because of the Atonement I can repent, and because of the Atonement I can have access to additional strength and power beyond my own capabilities to do His will. Wow.
So this was a great week for personal growth. That makes me excited because once I'm taken care of I can serve others more effectively. I love in Moses 6:31-34 when Enoch asks God, why me?? Why would you choose me?? And God tells Enoch of the blessings that await him and says simply, "therefore walk with me." I LOVE that. He makes our weak things become strong. Now our invitation is to trust Him, take comfort in His strength and ability to make us who He wants/needs/desires us to become, and walk with Him. Man, I love scriptures.
The church is true, guys. Never been more sure of anything in my life.
Well, now that I've got this novel here, I'll send it off haha! Love you lots!!!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Enviado desde mi iPad
Monday, May 30, 2016
"Every little thing is gonna be alright!"
Hello fam.
I feel the need to preface this by saying it's been a rough week, not gonna lie. I knew those would come --and I know there's more to come-- but still, it's hard to try and prepare yourself for em! Don't get me wrong, the majority of this week was great! To be honest, any interactions with people were awesome, it was just, I think, I dunno...we'll see where my thoughts go...
So this week a dude wearing a Beetles shirt that said "there will be an answer, let it be", Elder Caballero and Elder Calhoun talking with me about music, and lots of prayers were my saving grace.
We started off the week with dinner Monday night with a cute family from our ward. It was great, they helped me with my Spanish and are just the cutest couple. She's the YW president and had some referrals for us, so that was great! Tuesday we had FHE planned but it got canceled (hopefully we'll be able to do it today!!). We also had district meeting and dinner with another lady from our ward. She has two little boys who could not stop talking about the Angry Birds movie they were so excited to see haha!
Wednesday we had prospect park service, which is always super fun cause we get to see the whole zone and some other Brooklyn companionships. It was super hot so I was dying in my pants, but at
least I didn't have to put sunscreen on my legs haha! We all grabbed food after and then headed home to get ready for the rest of the day. All of our scheduled appointments fell through, and my compañera got a massive migraine and could not function, so we stayed home. She rested and I read talks, scriptures, anything to try and help myself out a bit (I had had a little battle in my head and
that was when I found all those talks and things, so I was just reading those and pondering some things. But I was happy!!)
Thursday we had service with the old people serving food (oh, and it was SO. HOT. Thursday, it was ridiculous 😅) After service we got to see Oneida and had a lesson with her, she said she'd quit
drinking coffee, now we gotta follow up with her and see how that's been going (she didn't make it to church yesterday...). Thursday night our lessons fell through...again...so we taught English class and then the day was done.
Friday...ahhh...here comes the fun day. The majority of the day really was fun though! We do service with the old people Thursdays and Fridays now, so we went back the next day. When we were eating there was a worker playing music in the office area where we eat. He played Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. We were all just singing along, and sayin everything was gonna be alright! This was when me and Elder Caballero and Elder Calhoun had our music talk. Man, that was good!! They were listing off all these bands and I was just YEEEEES! Finally!!! We talked Queen, Van Halen, Guns and Roses (Elder Caballero was actually named after Axel Rose 😂😂), Styx, Beetles, Nirvana,
Green Day - we got the whole spectrum going haha! It was awesome. So that was really nice!
We called President that night and he said he'd send me a few talks which came yesterday morning. One of them is one I found last week and had read (hey at least I was on the right track haha). He said it's normal to feel inadequate and to feel like you're not doing enough. So yeah. There's that. We will see what happens, I guess haha.
Friday night after we called President, Elder Boden called. I am giving a workshop on Tuesday: "Submitting to the will of the Father". Nice. So I've been focusing on that, hopefully it'll help me out a bit too...
Saturday was okay. I mean, I just...I dunno it's just rough. I was trying to be happy. I kept telling myself if I just told myself to be happy, if I just smiled, then I'd be happy... Ugh. It doesn't quite work like that. Elder Broadhead even said something, he was like, "we're all so down! Even Gourley's sad..." That was a bummer...When I'm with people I feel great. We sang, everyone gave their talks (there was extra time so Caballero got cold called up haha! That's what you get for being a native! 😜), and we were even able to visit one of our favorites. She's doing a lot better. She really wants to come to church, she's trying to read and is praying. We're just gonna keep helping her along 😊
Anyway...all in all the week was honestly not bad... We just weren't able to teach any more than three lessons cause they all fell through, so...I dunno! I think we're heading to the church now...but I'll keep you updated. I love you guys, and thank you so much for all your prayers and support!! I love you lots. And remember "every little thing is gonna be alright!!!!"
Tanto amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Sent from my iPad
I feel the need to preface this by saying it's been a rough week, not gonna lie. I knew those would come --and I know there's more to come-- but still, it's hard to try and prepare yourself for em! Don't get me wrong, the majority of this week was great! To be honest, any interactions with people were awesome, it was just, I think, I dunno...we'll see where my thoughts go...
So this week a dude wearing a Beetles shirt that said "there will be an answer, let it be", Elder Caballero and Elder Calhoun talking with me about music, and lots of prayers were my saving grace.
We started off the week with dinner Monday night with a cute family from our ward. It was great, they helped me with my Spanish and are just the cutest couple. She's the YW president and had some referrals for us, so that was great! Tuesday we had FHE planned but it got canceled (hopefully we'll be able to do it today!!). We also had district meeting and dinner with another lady from our ward. She has two little boys who could not stop talking about the Angry Birds movie they were so excited to see haha!
Wednesday we had prospect park service, which is always super fun cause we get to see the whole zone and some other Brooklyn companionships. It was super hot so I was dying in my pants, but at
least I didn't have to put sunscreen on my legs haha! We all grabbed food after and then headed home to get ready for the rest of the day. All of our scheduled appointments fell through, and my compañera got a massive migraine and could not function, so we stayed home. She rested and I read talks, scriptures, anything to try and help myself out a bit (I had had a little battle in my head and
that was when I found all those talks and things, so I was just reading those and pondering some things. But I was happy!!)
Thursday we had service with the old people serving food (oh, and it was SO. HOT. Thursday, it was ridiculous 😅) After service we got to see Oneida and had a lesson with her, she said she'd quit
drinking coffee, now we gotta follow up with her and see how that's been going (she didn't make it to church yesterday...). Thursday night our lessons fell through...again...so we taught English class and then the day was done.
Friday...ahhh...here comes the fun day. The majority of the day really was fun though! We do service with the old people Thursdays and Fridays now, so we went back the next day. When we were eating there was a worker playing music in the office area where we eat. He played Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. We were all just singing along, and sayin everything was gonna be alright! This was when me and Elder Caballero and Elder Calhoun had our music talk. Man, that was good!! They were listing off all these bands and I was just YEEEEES! Finally!!! We talked Queen, Van Halen, Guns and Roses (Elder Caballero was actually named after Axel Rose 😂😂), Styx, Beetles, Nirvana,
Green Day - we got the whole spectrum going haha! It was awesome. So that was really nice!
We called President that night and he said he'd send me a few talks which came yesterday morning. One of them is one I found last week and had read (hey at least I was on the right track haha). He said it's normal to feel inadequate and to feel like you're not doing enough. So yeah. There's that. We will see what happens, I guess haha.
Friday night after we called President, Elder Boden called. I am giving a workshop on Tuesday: "Submitting to the will of the Father". Nice. So I've been focusing on that, hopefully it'll help me out a bit too...
Saturday was okay. I mean, I just...I dunno it's just rough. I was trying to be happy. I kept telling myself if I just told myself to be happy, if I just smiled, then I'd be happy... Ugh. It doesn't quite work like that. Elder Broadhead even said something, he was like, "we're all so down! Even Gourley's sad..." That was a bummer...When I'm with people I feel great. We sang, everyone gave their talks (there was extra time so Caballero got cold called up haha! That's what you get for being a native! 😜), and we were even able to visit one of our favorites. She's doing a lot better. She really wants to come to church, she's trying to read and is praying. We're just gonna keep helping her along 😊
Anyway...all in all the week was honestly not bad... We just weren't able to teach any more than three lessons cause they all fell through, so...I dunno! I think we're heading to the church now...but I'll keep you updated. I love you guys, and thank you so much for all your prayers and support!! I love you lots. And remember "every little thing is gonna be alright!!!!"
Tanto amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Sent from my iPad
District
P-day at Coney Island for some volleyball with the district. Hot and humid!
Monday, May 23, 2016
Tender Mercies
Hello familia!
This was quite the week. I don't even know where the time is going anymore. I hit three months tomorrow. What. Anyway, first tender mercy of the week: awesome new district (we had cambios last Tuesday). The new members of our district are Elder Caballero (he's companions with Elder Boden who is now District Leader) and Elder Calhoun (he's from Texas and is companions with Elder Broadhead --yes, I thought of the Best Two Years haha). I love them so much. Elder Caballero was my compañera's first district leader so I've heard a lot about him, he goes home in December. Elder Calhoun I think has been out as long as my compañera. They are awesome. I love that we are all really hard workers but want to have fun too. They can go together :)
Wednesday we had our first district meeting together and I had the opportunity of being the investigator for Elder Boden and Elder Caballero's lightning round on the gospel of Christ. Holy cow that was amazing. It was so good, it blew my mind. By far, it was the best one I have ever seen. That was a huge tender mercy for me, the opportunity to feel the Spirit and learn from them how to better teach. It was great.
We also ate with a ward family that night. They are an amazing family, crazy strong members, but we found out my first week here that they hadn't been sealed. We talked with them about it and challenged them (we don't invite members, we challenge them haha) to pick a date that was special for them and work towards that goal. They picked the 21 of this month. We hadn't seen them much, but that night they told us they were meeting with the stake president Sunday for their interviews!! That was amazing. We almost started crying. We are going to be able to see that family be sealed together and sealed to their daughter who's passed on. Church is so cool.
It was seven o'clock on Thursday night when our appointment fell through, and in pondering our backups decided we should visit the super cute old couple who always gives the missionaries food. Found out the husband doesn't really have a testimony, nor does he hold the priesthood --thus, they've never been sealed. We had a great Spirit guided lesson with hardly any preparation and he committed to pray to know if the church was true and actually read the scriptures for an answer. Hopefully he will act on the small desire he has to find these things for himself, and he'll get that answer!
This Saturday was interviews with President. That was good. It was about ten minutes, I followed my compañera, and then we had a quick workshop by the assistants. It was really good. You can't deny the love President and Sister Reynolds have for us. They care about us so much, and if you talk with them for just five minutes you can see that. I'm really thankful for my mission president.
(Wow, I try to make this short and look at the novel that comes out haha! Lo siento)
Sunday was full of tender mercies. The biggest of all is the fact that our investigator who dropped us is back!! Goodness gracious that lesson was amazing. The Spirit was so strong, they were both tearing up and I could see how much the Spirit had softened his heart. It was an amazing lesson. I remember having the thoughts/questions just come into my mind as I prayed for my compañera and them to feel and follow the Spirit. It was among the best experiences I have had thus far.
Anyway, this is getting rather lengthy, and my "get ready time" is about up (as I sit here in my pajamas) so we will conclude with my spiritual thought of the week :) Básicamente, this is the concluding paragraph of the first talk I found Saturday. Tender mercies, they're amazing.
"Sometimes, in spite of all we do to 'make weak things become strong,' the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, does not take away our weakness...[example of Paul]...Three times Paul asked the Lord to take away his weakness, and three times the Lord declined to do so. The Lord then explained that His grace was sufficient for Paul and that, in fact, His strength was actually 'made perfect in weakness.' Then Paul wrote, 'Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong' (2 Cor. 12:9–10). Surely nothing is quite as humbling as having a weakness that we cannot overcome but must continue to struggle with throughout our life. Such a weakness teaches us, in a very personal way, that after all we can do we must rely on the grace of Christ to make up the difference. As we humbly submit our will to the Lord’s, we find that our weaknesses can indeed become sources of strength if we put our trust in Him."
Missionary work is amazing. God is too good to us. Tender mercies are everywhere. Probably the best week so far, and I'm excited for more to come! I love you and pray for you.
Tanto amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
This was quite the week. I don't even know where the time is going anymore. I hit three months tomorrow. What. Anyway, first tender mercy of the week: awesome new district (we had cambios last Tuesday). The new members of our district are Elder Caballero (he's companions with Elder Boden who is now District Leader) and Elder Calhoun (he's from Texas and is companions with Elder Broadhead --yes, I thought of the Best Two Years haha). I love them so much. Elder Caballero was my compañera's first district leader so I've heard a lot about him, he goes home in December. Elder Calhoun I think has been out as long as my compañera. They are awesome. I love that we are all really hard workers but want to have fun too. They can go together :)
Wednesday we had our first district meeting together and I had the opportunity of being the investigator for Elder Boden and Elder Caballero's lightning round on the gospel of Christ. Holy cow that was amazing. It was so good, it blew my mind. By far, it was the best one I have ever seen. That was a huge tender mercy for me, the opportunity to feel the Spirit and learn from them how to better teach. It was great.
We also ate with a ward family that night. They are an amazing family, crazy strong members, but we found out my first week here that they hadn't been sealed. We talked with them about it and challenged them (we don't invite members, we challenge them haha) to pick a date that was special for them and work towards that goal. They picked the 21 of this month. We hadn't seen them much, but that night they told us they were meeting with the stake president Sunday for their interviews!! That was amazing. We almost started crying. We are going to be able to see that family be sealed together and sealed to their daughter who's passed on. Church is so cool.
It was seven o'clock on Thursday night when our appointment fell through, and in pondering our backups decided we should visit the super cute old couple who always gives the missionaries food. Found out the husband doesn't really have a testimony, nor does he hold the priesthood --thus, they've never been sealed. We had a great Spirit guided lesson with hardly any preparation and he committed to pray to know if the church was true and actually read the scriptures for an answer. Hopefully he will act on the small desire he has to find these things for himself, and he'll get that answer!
This Saturday was interviews with President. That was good. It was about ten minutes, I followed my compañera, and then we had a quick workshop by the assistants. It was really good. You can't deny the love President and Sister Reynolds have for us. They care about us so much, and if you talk with them for just five minutes you can see that. I'm really thankful for my mission president.
(Wow, I try to make this short and look at the novel that comes out haha! Lo siento)
Sunday was full of tender mercies. The biggest of all is the fact that our investigator who dropped us is back!! Goodness gracious that lesson was amazing. The Spirit was so strong, they were both tearing up and I could see how much the Spirit had softened his heart. It was an amazing lesson. I remember having the thoughts/questions just come into my mind as I prayed for my compañera and them to feel and follow the Spirit. It was among the best experiences I have had thus far.
Anyway, this is getting rather lengthy, and my "get ready time" is about up (as I sit here in my pajamas) so we will conclude with my spiritual thought of the week :) Básicamente, this is the concluding paragraph of the first talk I found Saturday. Tender mercies, they're amazing.
"Sometimes, in spite of all we do to 'make weak things become strong,' the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, does not take away our weakness...[example of Paul]...Three times Paul asked the Lord to take away his weakness, and three times the Lord declined to do so. The Lord then explained that His grace was sufficient for Paul and that, in fact, His strength was actually 'made perfect in weakness.' Then Paul wrote, 'Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong' (2 Cor. 12:9–10). Surely nothing is quite as humbling as having a weakness that we cannot overcome but must continue to struggle with throughout our life. Such a weakness teaches us, in a very personal way, that after all we can do we must rely on the grace of Christ to make up the difference. As we humbly submit our will to the Lord’s, we find that our weaknesses can indeed become sources of strength if we put our trust in Him."
Missionary work is amazing. God is too good to us. Tender mercies are everywhere. Probably the best week so far, and I'm excited for more to come! I love you and pray for you.
Tanto amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Monday, May 16, 2016
Meetings of training and loud singing
¡¡Hola familia!!
What a week. And what a way to end my first transfer in the campo! We only get 12 transfers as hermanas (not counting the CCM) and my first one is already over. Time goes way too fast out here.
Throw back to last Monday después de cartas.... DART. WARS. That was the best pday ever, haha! They put Elder Gill's iPad by the mic in the chapel and set a timer for ten minutes so the countdown music would play through the church and then when the game was up the buzzer would go off. This chapel has three levels: basement, main floor, upstairs. So we played a million ten-minute games of "capture the flag" --or tie on a stick-- where instead of tagging, you were shooting darts through a little pvc pipe. It was awesome. We changed teams around a bunch of times and adjusted the rules here and there when some elders, in specific, not mentioning any names *cough cough* Elder Mari! would take the liberty of bending them. It was so fun. (PS Elder Gill is a pretty good sniper. He killed me probably 20 times. )
We took an intermission for lunch and lost a few of the zone who needed to go back to do various things. After the final game we took some pictures together and a few videos, then all headed out. (Did you get those by the way?) We got back right before six so we all sent off our emails we'd been composing on the trains, changed, and were off to our various appointments.
We had dinner and a lesson with the family we have been teaching, but it was really just the mom and daughter that were a part of it. But I think that was perfect. We taught about the gospel of Christ and went through 2 Nephi 31 with them. They have a rough relationship, so them being able to be with us and share some personal things with each other was great. We left them the talk "The Sabbath Is A Delight". We'll be talking about that tonight with them. (Hopefully they read it!)
Tuesday was our last district meeting under district leader Elder Spencer. My compañera gave the workshop on finding. We made a goal as a companionship and as a district to make our finding more meaningful, and our seed planting more meaningful. The next day I talked to a mother and daughter from Honduras. They will be joining our English class now. :)
Service is the best part of Wednesdays. We went to Prospect Park and served in all of these pretty gardens by the zoo. It was such a perfect day, we were loving it. Afterwards, we took a picture together to commemorate our last service activity with Elder Gill (#homebound) and whoever was going to be transferred (only around five people from our zone are moving, not sure about the rest). We also tried to get together for a few more lessons that afternoon/evening, but all of those attempts failed. Hopefully we will be able to get with them this week
Thursday: MISSION TOUR! This was awesome. Well, other than the hour and a half on the subway to get there (we left at 6:45 to be there by 8:30 in order to be early...early for the instruction we had received to be in our seats at nine...which was to be early for the meeting that started at ten haha). I felt the Spirit so strongly during that meeting, it was amazing. I cannot say it enough: I. LOVE. THIS. GOSPEL. My entire being is just...happy when I talk about it, think about it, study and pray about it... I just love it so much. We had Elder C. Scott Grow and his wife come, and it was fabulous. He spoke during the majority of the time, but President and their wives also addressed us. I learned so much. We were focusing on "teach repentance. baptize converts." It was great. He talked a lot about teaching the gospel from the scriptures. Which he taught us by using scriptures. It was so cool.
A few other things he mentioned that stood out to me:
- we should use the word "inspiration" rather than "motivation" cause he says "motivation" is a worldly word and "inspiration" is godly. I'm gonna look into that a little bit more :)
- the difference between being cleansed and being healed --the role of the Atonement and Christ in both. "Continual repentance is being cleansed, being converted is being healed"
- we can't lift others if we aren't already on higher ground. We can't invite others to come unto Christ if we are not already with Him
We had the ward party Friday evening. It was very fun. The children though. There are so many of them, it's awesome. We played soccer --yes, in our skirts-- with a few of the little kids for a bit before dinner. This ward is amazing. Oh and dad, the bishopric did a lip sync to Bon Jovi, "livin on a prayer" and I was so happy, I cannot put it into words haha!!
To be totally honest, I remember little from the last two days. Saturday we did deep cleaning and weekly planning (cause we couldn't do it Thursday because of the mission tour). We also had correlation with our new ward mission leader. He will be good :) There was a broadcast from Manhattan for all the sisters Saturday night as well, but I could not focus for the life of me. I know I felt the Spirit and learned a bit, but I couldn't even muster up the energy to take notes. I guess it was just one of those days.
As for the randomness that is this week's subject, I have a very loud voice. I am a high soprano. That doesn't go well when you have a district that doesn't like to sing haha! So, naturally they chose the two songs I know of that are in the hymn book that fit my range best: 54, Paz, Cálmense and 89, Para Siempre Dios Este Con Vos. The elders in my district did not know voices could go that high (those songs don't even go that high though...), nor that a thing called vibrato (...I don't know how to spell anymore...autocorrect says this is it...) exists. So that was a fun time haha! I'm going to miss those leaving this transfer, but I'll still see them around, and now I get the opportunity to meet some more people. It'll be good.
Anyway, I've had many spiritual experiences and received much revelation for myself this week but perhaps the most prominent to me was when I read Elder Andersen's talk from 2008, "You Know Enough". I'd invite you all to read it. I loved it. At the very end of that talk, the last three or four short paragraphs hit me so hard. I remember the Spirit was so strong right when I read the simple testimony of that little girl in his talk. The gospel is simple. It is true. And we know enough. It's the simple testimonies that are the most powerful. I'd invite you to share yours :)
I love this gospel and I love the opportunity I have to serve my God and these people in Brooklyn. I love you all!! Have an amazing week!
Tanto amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
When Mari gets the camera and takes rapid photos that look like me and my compañera are arguing when really we're just chilling 😆
Got these ones from sister fouts Thursday. The first are from the day of prayer thing, and the other ones are from our last zone training meeting.
He had met with six missionaries just because for about ten minutes each after the conference. My compañera was one of them. He got a picture with her then asked if I wanted one.... Awkward, sure! So here's this haha
What a week. And what a way to end my first transfer in the campo! We only get 12 transfers as hermanas (not counting the CCM) and my first one is already over. Time goes way too fast out here.
Throw back to last Monday después de cartas.... DART. WARS. That was the best pday ever, haha! They put Elder Gill's iPad by the mic in the chapel and set a timer for ten minutes so the countdown music would play through the church and then when the game was up the buzzer would go off. This chapel has three levels: basement, main floor, upstairs. So we played a million ten-minute games of "capture the flag" --or tie on a stick-- where instead of tagging, you were shooting darts through a little pvc pipe. It was awesome. We changed teams around a bunch of times and adjusted the rules here and there when some elders, in specific, not mentioning any names *cough cough* Elder Mari! would take the liberty of bending them. It was so fun. (PS Elder Gill is a pretty good sniper. He killed me probably 20 times. )
We took an intermission for lunch and lost a few of the zone who needed to go back to do various things. After the final game we took some pictures together and a few videos, then all headed out. (Did you get those by the way?) We got back right before six so we all sent off our emails we'd been composing on the trains, changed, and were off to our various appointments.
We had dinner and a lesson with the family we have been teaching, but it was really just the mom and daughter that were a part of it. But I think that was perfect. We taught about the gospel of Christ and went through 2 Nephi 31 with them. They have a rough relationship, so them being able to be with us and share some personal things with each other was great. We left them the talk "The Sabbath Is A Delight". We'll be talking about that tonight with them. (Hopefully they read it!)
Tuesday was our last district meeting under district leader Elder Spencer. My compañera gave the workshop on finding. We made a goal as a companionship and as a district to make our finding more meaningful, and our seed planting more meaningful. The next day I talked to a mother and daughter from Honduras. They will be joining our English class now. :)
Service is the best part of Wednesdays. We went to Prospect Park and served in all of these pretty gardens by the zoo. It was such a perfect day, we were loving it. Afterwards, we took a picture together to commemorate our last service activity with Elder Gill (#homebound) and whoever was going to be transferred (only around five people from our zone are moving, not sure about the rest). We also tried to get together for a few more lessons that afternoon/evening, but all of those attempts failed. Hopefully we will be able to get with them this week
Thursday: MISSION TOUR! This was awesome. Well, other than the hour and a half on the subway to get there (we left at 6:45 to be there by 8:30 in order to be early...early for the instruction we had received to be in our seats at nine...which was to be early for the meeting that started at ten haha). I felt the Spirit so strongly during that meeting, it was amazing. I cannot say it enough: I. LOVE. THIS. GOSPEL. My entire being is just...happy when I talk about it, think about it, study and pray about it... I just love it so much. We had Elder C. Scott Grow and his wife come, and it was fabulous. He spoke during the majority of the time, but President and their wives also addressed us. I learned so much. We were focusing on "teach repentance. baptize converts." It was great. He talked a lot about teaching the gospel from the scriptures. Which he taught us by using scriptures. It was so cool.
A few other things he mentioned that stood out to me:
- we should use the word "inspiration" rather than "motivation" cause he says "motivation" is a worldly word and "inspiration" is godly. I'm gonna look into that a little bit more :)
- the difference between being cleansed and being healed --the role of the Atonement and Christ in both. "Continual repentance is being cleansed, being converted is being healed"
- we can't lift others if we aren't already on higher ground. We can't invite others to come unto Christ if we are not already with Him
We had the ward party Friday evening. It was very fun. The children though. There are so many of them, it's awesome. We played soccer --yes, in our skirts-- with a few of the little kids for a bit before dinner. This ward is amazing. Oh and dad, the bishopric did a lip sync to Bon Jovi, "livin on a prayer" and I was so happy, I cannot put it into words haha!!
To be totally honest, I remember little from the last two days. Saturday we did deep cleaning and weekly planning (cause we couldn't do it Thursday because of the mission tour). We also had correlation with our new ward mission leader. He will be good :) There was a broadcast from Manhattan for all the sisters Saturday night as well, but I could not focus for the life of me. I know I felt the Spirit and learned a bit, but I couldn't even muster up the energy to take notes. I guess it was just one of those days.
As for the randomness that is this week's subject, I have a very loud voice. I am a high soprano. That doesn't go well when you have a district that doesn't like to sing haha! So, naturally they chose the two songs I know of that are in the hymn book that fit my range best: 54, Paz, Cálmense and 89, Para Siempre Dios Este Con Vos. The elders in my district did not know voices could go that high (those songs don't even go that high though...), nor that a thing called vibrato (...I don't know how to spell anymore...autocorrect says this is it...) exists. So that was a fun time haha! I'm going to miss those leaving this transfer, but I'll still see them around, and now I get the opportunity to meet some more people. It'll be good.
Anyway, I've had many spiritual experiences and received much revelation for myself this week but perhaps the most prominent to me was when I read Elder Andersen's talk from 2008, "You Know Enough". I'd invite you all to read it. I loved it. At the very end of that talk, the last three or four short paragraphs hit me so hard. I remember the Spirit was so strong right when I read the simple testimony of that little girl in his talk. The gospel is simple. It is true. And we know enough. It's the simple testimonies that are the most powerful. I'd invite you to share yours :)
I love this gospel and I love the opportunity I have to serve my God and these people in Brooklyn. I love you all!! Have an amazing week!
Tanto amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Monday, May 9, 2016
"CAN I HEAR YA SAY 'AMEN'!?"
Hola, familia!
WOW. Can you say crazy awesome week?? Cause I can!!! Básicamente we were all just looking forward to Sunday the whole week haha! But first things first because I just cannot: I. LOVE. MY. ZONE. Seriously. I saw them so much this week. I just LOVE ALL OF THEM. Anyway, carrying on...
Let's go day by day to make sure I don't forget anything :)
MONDAY. Post-emailing we went with a member and got Ethiopian food! That was awesome. It was really different but really really good! My compañera was so excited haha she was reading the menu in Amharic and talking to the waiter in it just loving the music and the environment of it all. It was awesome. (And yes mom, we got pictures haha ). We went straight to FHE after dinner where we talked with the family about the discurso by President Uchtdorf "It Works Wonderfully!" Holy cow. I love that talk. He says in this talk, "I learned in my life that we don’t need to be 'more' of anything to start to become the person God intended us to become. God will take you as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you. All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord." I LOVE that quote. It really got me thinking about how repentance starts now from wherever we are. For a lot of my life I felt like to begin overcoming some things I was struggling with that I had to be to a certain point
before God could/would help me. Almost like I hadn't done enough of "my part" to receive His help. I know that was wrong. I know that God loves us so very much, and He is anxious and willing to help us as
soon as we allow Him to. And I am incredibly thankful for that and for His mercy and goodness to us!
Movin’ on to Tuesday, we had district meeting! ...other than that...to be honest I really cannot remember what happened... But I remember it was a pretty fun day... Oh yeah! We were on the train heading back
from Coney and these two Dominican guys sat down kiddy corner from us, so of course we talked to them! That was a lot of fun. They talk very quickly and with a lot of slang so I was struggling a bit haha. But we invited them to English class and gave them pass along cards. That was a good time. And of course district meeting was fabulous, as always. Man, I think I love these guys too much a veces haha!
Wednesday though. Can I give two words to describe this days? HEEBIE. JEEBIE. YES. So we have servicio every Wednesday at Prospect Park --which is SO FUN, I cannot even cause I just love my zone so much-- and this service day was particularly especial por qué después we went to Wendy's across the street from the subway station with Hermana Fouts and Hermana Taylor and this is where the good part comes in. First of all, to preface, who of y'all knows what a heebie jeebie (not sure if that's spelled right cause we just decided on that spelling juntos) is? Well, a heebie jeebie is a member of this religion who believes that Jesus was black and that at the Second Coming He is going to come down and "begin slayin all the white peoples!" Uh huh! So mostly it's just a group of dudes from Africa who are always on somethin and who carry swords around (like legit swords) to "help in the slayin of His comin!" So yeah!
So we are standing in line all talking and this dude comes up and tells Hermana Taylor in this rough and slurred African English, "yo skin...is beautiful!!" We're like, "thaaaaaaanks....?" And he goes on about how he "used to be a man....but now [he's] somethin mo!" Then he sees my compañera and he goes, coming closer, "YO SKIN...ITS EVEN MO BEAUTIFUL!!" And he goes on about how "she's a goddess!! Nah, not yet, you a PRINCESS! Cause she got da MELON in er! Lemme 'splain the dif'rence to yo between chocolate n vanilla..." And he just keeps going on and on. But then he got really angry because we were wearing pants (cause we'd been at service)...he finally left after telling us to not judge him for having "ma joint right'er" and to "stay close to er [my comp]...she'll teach you's a lotta things." Haha! So that was a fun time!!
Moving along to Thursday. OH MY. THIS WAS, BY FAR, THE BEST DAY OF MY MISSION TO DATE. I'm sorry, no, that's not because it was super spiritual or anything like that but because it was the national day of prayer. So all the missionaries in Brooklyn were asked to attend specifically a Brooklyn day of prayer thing being hosted at some Christian cultural center place I think by all these different heads of religion. IT. WAS. AWESOME. Not even anything close to what we do in our church, not. even. close. But it was still awesome. During the first song I could feel the Spirit and then the drums got a little too crazy aaaaand Spirit was gone... But we got some great gospel singing, shouting some hallelujahs, a few "can I hear ya say 'amen'??"s, a bundle of "MERCY"s from the guy behind us, and some crazy passionate preaching. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. It was kinda like a really church centered concert haha. I quite enjoyed it. Being with all these other people who were praising the same God as me --in very different ways yes, but hey, they're Christian, I'm Christian, we're friends :)-- and had fairly similar values, despite our differences in religion, all of us coming together...it was awesome.
Afterwards we were all just loving life. We took some pictures and then this dude asked if we wanted a picture with the Brooklyn borough president. So we did! And supposedly it's on his Facebook page haha! But this was seriously the best time. This prayer meeting was almost two hours away so all of us piled into the same bus and headed out, so we got to spend a ton of time with other missionaries in the area and other zones. It was so fun. Missions are work. And there is a lot of joy to be found in the work. But I think the most joy is found in the people you work with. The members. The investigators. And of course, your fellow missionaries. Be obedient and strive to do your best but don't turn into a machine where you're so worried about just being obedient and getting the job done that you miss the relationships you could have developed along the way! Letting yourself love the people and get attached to them is hard -- because then you have to say goodbye at some point-- but it's so worth it! And it makes the work better and more fun. I don't believe God intends for us to not develop friendships while we're here and to have a good time. So, this day was relatively unproductive considering we were traveling for half of it and in a prayer day meeting for the other half, but it was definitely the highlight of my mission thus far because of the people I was with.
Next we have FRIDAY! Guess what? Zone training meeting!!! This was a very good day. We only got one lesson though because we had zone training all through the morning (we got more pictures!! They're all really cute and somewhat formal...other than the fact that Elder Mari cannot take a serious photo ) and then we went to lunch with Hermana Fouts and Hermana Taylor before going to help a member family move with the rest of our district. Can I just say, you do not want to move all of someone's stuff from the third floor...to the first floor...into a moving truck with only eight people It was a lot of work but hey, GREAT workout, and they feed you after, so that was great haha.
We also met up with one of the members were are working with and taught her a lesson over frozen yogurt that night. We ended up finishing talking a little about patriarchal blessings. She said she'd lost hers so we invited her to find it and study it. She texted us twenty minutes after we left saying she'd found it After we invited her to read her blessing, I realized in the whole time I've been in the field I have thought about reading mine a lot but never done it. No coincidence, I think, that Saturday morning after I was about to close my personal study I picked up my scriptures and my folded up copy of my blessing fell out. So...I read it. Studied it a bit. And I think it's amazing how we can always get something new out of the scriptures and our blessings – personal scripture for us-- when we study them. I'm so thankful for this gospel and the knowledge I have of it. It’s amazing to me.
Anywho, it has básicamente been raining all week off and on, but Saturday we got just a little bit of sunshine! We did our studies and this was the only day we didn't see anyone from our district/zone. It
was a little sad haha No, it was okay, but just different from the rest of the week thus far. We took our weekly trip to Africa. We had a great lesson with them and I think their hearts are being softened a bit :) we talked a lot about how the gospel plays such a huge role in our lives and we were able to
share testimonies with each other about how the gospel has helped us or "worked" for us. They want to go to church --just not where a certain member is-- and asked us yesterday about the other options
they have for attending and are finally willing to at least go to a Spanish branch somewhere where they can understand --as they were going to and English ward before-- which means they're understanding the significance of church. AND, they're willing to do something about it. Even though it's small, it's still a step in the right direction. That's a big plus!:)
Here comes Sunday! But not the sun, cause it was POURING all morning. We had tried to get a hold of our investigator to see if she wanted us to walk to church with her or meet her there, but for three days all we were getting was voicemail. We decided we'd show up. So we did! Waking up at six and after a long bus ride, we arrived in Jewville to wake up our Ecuadorean friend. And wake her up we did. She had us come in then ran out of the room. She came back five minutes later fully dressed for church. She dressed her son (by the way, she dresses him ridiculously adorably so they both looked on point for Mother's Day 🏻) and we headed out! Well, we tried. We didn't make it very far cause the rain was insane, so we called a cab. We got to church with time to spare!
Her little boy was not really having it during sacrament but somehow she was still able to pay attention and learn a few things. She would tell me every once in a while "oh I like what she/he said" or she'd just go "ooooh" haha! This was a great week for her to come though cause we had a talk on el día de reposa, Sunday school about la organización de la sacerdocio, y la ley de diezmo in relief society. So basically we hit up three main things we need to teach her. It was awesome. And she understood most of it, we think. We will be meeting with her Tuesday morning to teach the plan of salvation and see if she had any questions from church. Hopefully she's still excited for her baptism and even more, hopefully her ex-boyfriend is moved out by now!
After church we took a picture with her outside because miraculously, "here comes the sun!!" (#Beatles) then we had a district meeting where we attempted to come up with what we're going to do for our "part" in the ward party this Friday. We have no idea what we're doing yet, but all I know is I am very excited for my first real fiesta!! I have been looking forward to it for the last three weeks so it better be good haha Our ward mission leader was also released so we talked with him for a bit as well, then we all headed home for lunch.
Fun fact of the day, I am currently writing all of this between the hours of 4 and 6 on Sunday because my compañera is skyping her family and I am waiting for mine! So it's Mother's Day and currently five fifteen. Elder Brenkman is also skyping his family right now so we just met them really quick. Everyone looks so happy!!
..............
Aaaaaaand we are post-skype. 9:17. And I'm alive I feel really good and happy. I think it's sad saying bye but talking to the family was awesome. Talking with them was a rejuvenator for me. It gave me more motivation to keep going with the work. I'm so thankful for all of my family and how much they support me in what I have chosen to do. We had this weird realization it'll be seven months before we hear our families voices again...but yet they say that time goes so fast... And I believe it cause the last two and a-little-bit months have gone crazy fast. Elder Gill said on Friday when he bore his testimony to not think about going home. Don't think about "oh my that's never coming, it's so far away" and what not, cause he said he can't believe he's going now. Live in the moment, find joy in the journey!! :)
Now that I have another novella to send…I think we can be and are used in building the kingdom a lot more than we may at times think. When we share our testimonies through our words or simply through our actions as an example of Christ, we strengthen others around us. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord". He has been loyal to us always, let us also always be loyal to Him and the testimonies He has given us by His Spirit, but not only keep them for ourselves, but set the light He has given us upon a candlestick that it giveth light to all the house! Don't be afraid to share what you know, and I'd invite everyone who reads this to soften their hearts and when the Spirit prompts you to share something, do it.
The scriptures from Doctrine and Covenants 80 don't only apply to missionaries..."Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss. Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true. Behold, this is the will of Him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen"
I know this is God's work and I'm so blessed to know He trusts me enough to give me stewardship over a portion of His vineyard, that I am able to labor in the field alongside all the other members of the church. Always remain true to that which God has revealed to you to be true. And if you don't feel He has given you that knowledge of truth, have you asked?:) I would invite you all to check your personal testimony and ask our Father if He would reconfirm to you that which you know to be true. He will. Then, seek to do His will with those talents He hath given you. I love you all so much, I'm starting to get preachy over here haha:) thank you all so much for your support and love!
Con tanto amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Sent from my iPad
WOW. Can you say crazy awesome week?? Cause I can!!! Básicamente we were all just looking forward to Sunday the whole week haha! But first things first because I just cannot: I. LOVE. MY. ZONE. Seriously. I saw them so much this week. I just LOVE ALL OF THEM. Anyway, carrying on...
Let's go day by day to make sure I don't forget anything :)
MONDAY. Post-emailing we went with a member and got Ethiopian food! That was awesome. It was really different but really really good! My compañera was so excited haha she was reading the menu in Amharic and talking to the waiter in it just loving the music and the environment of it all. It was awesome. (And yes mom, we got pictures haha ). We went straight to FHE after dinner where we talked with the family about the discurso by President Uchtdorf "It Works Wonderfully!" Holy cow. I love that talk. He says in this talk, "I learned in my life that we don’t need to be 'more' of anything to start to become the person God intended us to become. God will take you as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you. All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord." I LOVE that quote. It really got me thinking about how repentance starts now from wherever we are. For a lot of my life I felt like to begin overcoming some things I was struggling with that I had to be to a certain point
before God could/would help me. Almost like I hadn't done enough of "my part" to receive His help. I know that was wrong. I know that God loves us so very much, and He is anxious and willing to help us as
soon as we allow Him to. And I am incredibly thankful for that and for His mercy and goodness to us!
Movin’ on to Tuesday, we had district meeting! ...other than that...to be honest I really cannot remember what happened... But I remember it was a pretty fun day... Oh yeah! We were on the train heading back
from Coney and these two Dominican guys sat down kiddy corner from us, so of course we talked to them! That was a lot of fun. They talk very quickly and with a lot of slang so I was struggling a bit haha. But we invited them to English class and gave them pass along cards. That was a good time. And of course district meeting was fabulous, as always. Man, I think I love these guys too much a veces haha!
Wednesday though. Can I give two words to describe this days? HEEBIE. JEEBIE. YES. So we have servicio every Wednesday at Prospect Park --which is SO FUN, I cannot even cause I just love my zone so much-- and this service day was particularly especial por qué después we went to Wendy's across the street from the subway station with Hermana Fouts and Hermana Taylor and this is where the good part comes in. First of all, to preface, who of y'all knows what a heebie jeebie (not sure if that's spelled right cause we just decided on that spelling juntos) is? Well, a heebie jeebie is a member of this religion who believes that Jesus was black and that at the Second Coming He is going to come down and "begin slayin all the white peoples!" Uh huh! So mostly it's just a group of dudes from Africa who are always on somethin and who carry swords around (like legit swords) to "help in the slayin of His comin!" So yeah!
So we are standing in line all talking and this dude comes up and tells Hermana Taylor in this rough and slurred African English, "yo skin...is beautiful!!" We're like, "thaaaaaaanks....?" And he goes on about how he "used to be a man....but now [he's] somethin mo!" Then he sees my compañera and he goes, coming closer, "YO SKIN...ITS EVEN MO BEAUTIFUL!!" And he goes on about how "she's a goddess!! Nah, not yet, you a PRINCESS! Cause she got da MELON in er! Lemme 'splain the dif'rence to yo between chocolate n vanilla..." And he just keeps going on and on. But then he got really angry because we were wearing pants (cause we'd been at service)...he finally left after telling us to not judge him for having "ma joint right'er" and to "stay close to er [my comp]...she'll teach you's a lotta things." Haha! So that was a fun time!!
Moving along to Thursday. OH MY. THIS WAS, BY FAR, THE BEST DAY OF MY MISSION TO DATE. I'm sorry, no, that's not because it was super spiritual or anything like that but because it was the national day of prayer. So all the missionaries in Brooklyn were asked to attend specifically a Brooklyn day of prayer thing being hosted at some Christian cultural center place I think by all these different heads of religion. IT. WAS. AWESOME. Not even anything close to what we do in our church, not. even. close. But it was still awesome. During the first song I could feel the Spirit and then the drums got a little too crazy aaaaand Spirit was gone... But we got some great gospel singing, shouting some hallelujahs, a few "can I hear ya say 'amen'??"s, a bundle of "MERCY"s from the guy behind us, and some crazy passionate preaching. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. It was kinda like a really church centered concert haha. I quite enjoyed it. Being with all these other people who were praising the same God as me --in very different ways yes, but hey, they're Christian, I'm Christian, we're friends :)-- and had fairly similar values, despite our differences in religion, all of us coming together...it was awesome.
Afterwards we were all just loving life. We took some pictures and then this dude asked if we wanted a picture with the Brooklyn borough president. So we did! And supposedly it's on his Facebook page haha! But this was seriously the best time. This prayer meeting was almost two hours away so all of us piled into the same bus and headed out, so we got to spend a ton of time with other missionaries in the area and other zones. It was so fun. Missions are work. And there is a lot of joy to be found in the work. But I think the most joy is found in the people you work with. The members. The investigators. And of course, your fellow missionaries. Be obedient and strive to do your best but don't turn into a machine where you're so worried about just being obedient and getting the job done that you miss the relationships you could have developed along the way! Letting yourself love the people and get attached to them is hard -- because then you have to say goodbye at some point-- but it's so worth it! And it makes the work better and more fun. I don't believe God intends for us to not develop friendships while we're here and to have a good time. So, this day was relatively unproductive considering we were traveling for half of it and in a prayer day meeting for the other half, but it was definitely the highlight of my mission thus far because of the people I was with.
Next we have FRIDAY! Guess what? Zone training meeting!!! This was a very good day. We only got one lesson though because we had zone training all through the morning (we got more pictures!! They're all really cute and somewhat formal...other than the fact that Elder Mari cannot take a serious photo ) and then we went to lunch with Hermana Fouts and Hermana Taylor before going to help a member family move with the rest of our district. Can I just say, you do not want to move all of someone's stuff from the third floor...to the first floor...into a moving truck with only eight people It was a lot of work but hey, GREAT workout, and they feed you after, so that was great haha.
We also met up with one of the members were are working with and taught her a lesson over frozen yogurt that night. We ended up finishing talking a little about patriarchal blessings. She said she'd lost hers so we invited her to find it and study it. She texted us twenty minutes after we left saying she'd found it After we invited her to read her blessing, I realized in the whole time I've been in the field I have thought about reading mine a lot but never done it. No coincidence, I think, that Saturday morning after I was about to close my personal study I picked up my scriptures and my folded up copy of my blessing fell out. So...I read it. Studied it a bit. And I think it's amazing how we can always get something new out of the scriptures and our blessings – personal scripture for us-- when we study them. I'm so thankful for this gospel and the knowledge I have of it. It’s amazing to me.
Anywho, it has básicamente been raining all week off and on, but Saturday we got just a little bit of sunshine! We did our studies and this was the only day we didn't see anyone from our district/zone. It
was a little sad haha No, it was okay, but just different from the rest of the week thus far. We took our weekly trip to Africa. We had a great lesson with them and I think their hearts are being softened a bit :) we talked a lot about how the gospel plays such a huge role in our lives and we were able to
share testimonies with each other about how the gospel has helped us or "worked" for us. They want to go to church --just not where a certain member is-- and asked us yesterday about the other options
they have for attending and are finally willing to at least go to a Spanish branch somewhere where they can understand --as they were going to and English ward before-- which means they're understanding the significance of church. AND, they're willing to do something about it. Even though it's small, it's still a step in the right direction. That's a big plus!:)
Here comes Sunday! But not the sun, cause it was POURING all morning. We had tried to get a hold of our investigator to see if she wanted us to walk to church with her or meet her there, but for three days all we were getting was voicemail. We decided we'd show up. So we did! Waking up at six and after a long bus ride, we arrived in Jewville to wake up our Ecuadorean friend. And wake her up we did. She had us come in then ran out of the room. She came back five minutes later fully dressed for church. She dressed her son (by the way, she dresses him ridiculously adorably so they both looked on point for Mother's Day 🏻) and we headed out! Well, we tried. We didn't make it very far cause the rain was insane, so we called a cab. We got to church with time to spare!
Her little boy was not really having it during sacrament but somehow she was still able to pay attention and learn a few things. She would tell me every once in a while "oh I like what she/he said" or she'd just go "ooooh" haha! This was a great week for her to come though cause we had a talk on el día de reposa, Sunday school about la organización de la sacerdocio, y la ley de diezmo in relief society. So basically we hit up three main things we need to teach her. It was awesome. And she understood most of it, we think. We will be meeting with her Tuesday morning to teach the plan of salvation and see if she had any questions from church. Hopefully she's still excited for her baptism and even more, hopefully her ex-boyfriend is moved out by now!
After church we took a picture with her outside because miraculously, "here comes the sun!!" (#Beatles) then we had a district meeting where we attempted to come up with what we're going to do for our "part" in the ward party this Friday. We have no idea what we're doing yet, but all I know is I am very excited for my first real fiesta!! I have been looking forward to it for the last three weeks so it better be good haha Our ward mission leader was also released so we talked with him for a bit as well, then we all headed home for lunch.
Fun fact of the day, I am currently writing all of this between the hours of 4 and 6 on Sunday because my compañera is skyping her family and I am waiting for mine! So it's Mother's Day and currently five fifteen. Elder Brenkman is also skyping his family right now so we just met them really quick. Everyone looks so happy!!
..............
Aaaaaaand we are post-skype. 9:17. And I'm alive I feel really good and happy. I think it's sad saying bye but talking to the family was awesome. Talking with them was a rejuvenator for me. It gave me more motivation to keep going with the work. I'm so thankful for all of my family and how much they support me in what I have chosen to do. We had this weird realization it'll be seven months before we hear our families voices again...but yet they say that time goes so fast... And I believe it cause the last two and a-little-bit months have gone crazy fast. Elder Gill said on Friday when he bore his testimony to not think about going home. Don't think about "oh my that's never coming, it's so far away" and what not, cause he said he can't believe he's going now. Live in the moment, find joy in the journey!! :)
Now that I have another novella to send…I think we can be and are used in building the kingdom a lot more than we may at times think. When we share our testimonies through our words or simply through our actions as an example of Christ, we strengthen others around us. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord". He has been loyal to us always, let us also always be loyal to Him and the testimonies He has given us by His Spirit, but not only keep them for ourselves, but set the light He has given us upon a candlestick that it giveth light to all the house! Don't be afraid to share what you know, and I'd invite everyone who reads this to soften their hearts and when the Spirit prompts you to share something, do it.
The scriptures from Doctrine and Covenants 80 don't only apply to missionaries..."Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss. Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true. Behold, this is the will of Him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen"
I know this is God's work and I'm so blessed to know He trusts me enough to give me stewardship over a portion of His vineyard, that I am able to labor in the field alongside all the other members of the church. Always remain true to that which God has revealed to you to be true. And if you don't feel He has given you that knowledge of truth, have you asked?:) I would invite you all to check your personal testimony and ask our Father if He would reconfirm to you that which you know to be true. He will. Then, seek to do His will with those talents He hath given you. I love you all so much, I'm starting to get preachy over here haha:) thank you all so much for your support and love!
Con tanto amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley
Sent from my iPad
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