"Can ye feel so now?"

Buenos dias, mi familia!

Como estan? As Hermana Rosario would say, "To'bien?" What a week! The time feels like it goes so fast but yet I can barely remember what happened the last few days. It is all blurring. Yesterday we had two investigators come to church. One just got back from a trip to New Jersey and we got back in touch Friday. Saturday we met with her and her mom and set her baptismal date for August 5th! She is super pumped and is really looking forward to it. We love her :) The other is a new investigator we found in our area book. We have taught her three times and she wanted to come to church! She was running late but got to Sacrament after the first talk was finishing. Our Branch Presidency and a bunch of members came over to say hello and fellowshipped her hard core; she told us she really liked the meetings! One of our other investigators is still luchando with a few things. She says she knows the Book of Mormon is true and the church and everything... but still has a problem with these xyz little things where she still hasn't "decided" to be baptized. Ugh. Her pace. We are seeing her tonight to help her seek those answers and understanding from God. It should be a good lesson!

This is something I am still trying to accept though: the agency of others. Haha. What do you mean you don't understand?? What do you mean this isn't what you want?? Ugh. Now think I know better how Heavenly Father feels about me. :) And isn't that the truth of it all, though? We are all here trying our best to learn what God would have us learn, to be what He would have us be, and then try to help others do the same. I think the more aware we become of our imperfection (or "nothingness" as Moses puts it) and allow that to humble us as we strive to come to Christ, the more patient we are with others and the more love we feel for them. Maybe this rant is coming from reading Jesus the Christ this week where Talmage expounds Luke 18:9-14. Give it a look'see :)

We also met with two other investigators this week on Friday. Holy cow, can you say powerful lesson!! We taught the restoration and it was so perfect. When I told the first vision story about how Joseph prayed and received his answer you could hear a pin drop. We concluded with the invitation to be baptized and the moment the words were out of our mouths, "YES." was their reply. It was amazing to see the Spirit working in them so hard. One asked us when we explained prophets if she could talk to God and if He could talk to us. Why yes, yes we can and yes He does! She also asked if we could talk with Him if we were scared and we said yes, of course! She sent us this text later that evening: "Thank you again. I prayed to God yesterday that I was scared and I felt that gut feeling and I slept the whole night without waking up. So thank you." That incredibly simple testimony was so strong. The gospel is so cool. "It works wonderfully!!" :) The other bore her testimony about "the happy gut feeling" she gets (we had taught her that was the Spirit).

We knocked a lot this week and had very little success. One of our investigators had prayed for us leaving our lesson that no doors would be slammed in our faces and that the people would be nice. Well, most of them were not too bad :) I say the harder the slam the easier it is to move along, haha! We know there are people prepared out here, we just gotta find em! The Lord has really blessed us with success though and we are very thankful for that. We are here to work, aren't we?

I came to Mosiah 24 this week in my study one day, and also studied my blessing three different ways as a part of My Plan. I read the chapter then began the last of the three studies of my blessing. I was reading and came to a part of my blessing where instantly the Spirit began to connect it to what I'd read in Mosiah. I grabbed my scriptures and it was verse 14 that was calling me. What I saw was this: "I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders... and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."

I thought about all the hard times we go through as disciples of Jesus Christ and how we always seek to learn from such experiences. My blessing mentions many times the sharing of my testimony and in this moment the Lord helped me see even more reasons for passing through the afflictions of which I have passed. In that moment I recalled with the Spirit the countless times I have born testimony of this very truth - that the Lord our God does indeed visit His people in their afflictions. I realized I do know this truth with a surety and that He has used me to be "a witness hereafter", that He does something for us to prepare us to do something greater than we previously could for Him. In other words, He gave me just a little bit of an insight as to how he prepares and qualifies His chosen servants. I thought that was pretty cool :)

All is well and we are working hard to get as many people as we can onboard with us and the Savior. Time is coming quickly. I studied Alma 5 this morning (LOVE THAT ONE) and felt impressed to ask myself again those questions. There are many of them but there is also much required of us. Where do we stand? With whom will we go? Will we be ready when the Master calls? Do we know our Shepherd's voice? I read something in Preach my Gospel this week that impressed me very much. Something to the effect of, in every choice we choose which spirit we heed: the Spirit of God or the spirit of the devil. If we heed His voice and Spirit we will be numbered among His sheep and then His promises ring true and we can "doubt not, fear not." Choose today to be a part of "His little flock". If you are, choose to remain. Do those things daily that help you to keep your covenants. If you were with us and have strayed, or if you never were part with us, then, as Alma, "I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come...and [repent], that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life." I know Jesus Christ offers His peace and His love to all who heed this invitation to come unto Him. Choose to come a little more. Every day. And rejoice with us as we "sing the song of redeeming love".

I love you very much and am eternally grateful for the opportunity the Lord has given me to be a witness of Him and to represent Him. This is the message we share every day with every person we speak to and I hope more than anything that it is one treasured by my own family. The teachings of Christ are amazing and bring so much joy when followed :) have a beautiful week and look for the blessings living His teachings brings in your daily lives (that is something we ask everyone who tells us they already believe in Christ, "...and how has that belief blessed your life?" Think about it). :) love you!! Have a good week :)

Muchisimo amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

Forgot two fun things:
When we were out knocking we found this lady in the street. She was a little older hispanic woman and I said hello and asked how she was, in Spanish of course. She replies, in the thickest Spanish accent I've ever heard, "I don't espeak Spanish!" ....come again?? I said, "como?" Meaning, what? I continued in Spanish asking her name. She replied, "I'm Jehovah's witness." Good for you, friend. I'm a Mormon. So what's your name??? Never did get it outta her cause right about then she ran off the other way 😂😂

The second thing. We were teaching a lesson on the porch of our investigator with a less active and it was POURING rain. The thunder was crazy and we could barely hear ourselves. I had the thought, "wow satan is really working here...goodness gracious!" A few seconds later about five thunder crashes and crazy noise I looked out to the sky --in the middle of the lesson-- and yelled, "vete, satanas! Vaya, Vaya!" (Get the hence, Satan! Go away! Haha) AND THE RAIN STOPPED. AND THE THUNDER. ALL OF IT. JUST. LIKE. THAT. Literally right after I said it. My jaw dropped and i looked at Hna Rosario whose jaw was already to the floor. We both shared a look of "DUUUUUUUDE THAT WAS SO COOL!!" so there was that as well :) it was a good week!

PICTURES:
- Banana Republic p-day twinners
- Loves the roses
- "Leer el libro de Mormon"

Banana Republic p-day twinners

The final stretch

Hello hello :)

Everyone always says, "I never thought this day would come." Well, I knew very well the beginning of my last transfer would come, I just didn't think it would come so fast! Here we are, transfer 12 and we have broken the streak. I will be doing three with the fabulous Hermana Rosario and will finish out in Westbury. How crazy is that? Talking about going home and finishing...

This was a good week! We had three investigators at church and they all loved it!! I am telling you, the most stressful time ever is sitting there waiting for your investigators who committed to come to actually come. But they came! And it was awesome. We had our first real lesson with one of them last Wednesday and it was amazing. She is just awesome and has been so prepared. The lesson Sunday was on baptism (PERFECT!) and two of them are already on date. Our newest investigator asked me a question about it and I told her how going under the water is a symbol of death, the death of that old life and the beginning of a new life with Christ, being born of Him. Her eyes got all wide and hew jaw dropped. After we were talking and she asked what you have to do to be baptized. This is coming from a girl who a week ago had no understanding of who Jesus is other than that He existed. Now she was asking us what she needed to do in order to begin a new life following Him. That, my friend, is the impact the Holy Ghost has on prepared open hearts. We are confident she very well could be baptized this transfer with our other two. We are pumped for them!! :)

We also had the most amazing lesson last week. It was with a member and her nonmember "esposo" #whytheynevermarriedtho #ugh They've been working with missionaries the past ten years but something has been missing. We found it this week. I learned the truthfulness and reality of the commandment to lay up our treasures in heaven. I learned how real deception and temporary happiness can be. This family was content. They knew the doctrine. They knew every lesson. But they were missing some sound understanding the Lord opened our eyes to. They have chosen to continue breaking a commandment because "there is no other way." There is a way. Are we truly willing to put the Lord first? Are we willing to do all He asks even - -especially- - when it's hard? Are we willing to give up our comfort now with faith, trust, and hope in His promises for the future? That was my self-reflection. We taught repentance as boldly as I have ever done, oh my goodness. We truly were not the ones teaching. There was time and time again where I felt I was on the side witnessing the Holy Ghost teach them and pierce their hearts. It was amazing. A few times we both were honestly a little bit scared, but not enough to retreat. We let Him speak through us and boy did it work!! They felt Him touch their hearts, they received that message of truth by the Spirit of truth and were not offended but rather we witnessed that change as godly sorrow filled their faces. We concluded finding they were no longer reading in the BOM. We hard core committed them to begin reading daily and are confident if they do they will develop the faith necessary to make the sacrifices required of them. Such a testimony-building experience for me as I got to see us fully used in His hands. Jesus Christ changes those who come to Him. I've never been more sure of anything in my life.

It was a good week and we are hopeful for another good one to come! I am learning to accept my Lord's timing and ways and have found He has seen fit to move me on to the next part of the journey fairly soon. I did not think it was possible for me to have more of a desire and fire to work than I already do but I think it is intensifying! :) This final stretch will be a great one. My only goal is to be able to say with Paul at the end of this time, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." May we as His disciples "be ever ready, waiting as servants wait at night with lights burning, for their Master's return. ...[For] if when He comes He finds His faithful servants ready to open immediately to His knock He will honor them as they deserve" and "a crown of righteousness" shall be our reward (Jesus the Christ, pg 440) :)

I love you very much and hope this next week is a great one! These emails have become more and more preachy as the time has gone, but I promise you not every moment out here is that spiritually intense...it's just those are the moments I love the most! :) have a great week! Love you!
Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

PICTURES:
- A member brought skirts from Ecuador #workit  #ornot hahaha :)
 - This driveway #trackflashbacks  It was even "springy". Not the best shoes for a sprint, however
- A bit of sketchiness going on at the house behind while knocking

Long time no see

Buenos dias!

So happy to be back on the subway for a day #templetrip

I hope the last week went well. It has been kind of crazy for us but we enjoyed (almost) every minute of it :)

Last Thursday we went with the Escamillas to the temple. We were so excited for them!!  They loved it and we think had a really great experience. Overall, it was a really good day but that two weeks without a real preparation day is killing us...And that is why we are going to the beach today! #finally We are planning on spending the whole day out there which means I will be best friends with the sunglasses and sunscreen. It should be fun #districtactivity

In other news, we were dropped by one of our favorite families this week, so that was sad.  We did visit with Marta and she came to church again! We can really see the change in her...she wants to be baptized so badly and we are doing everything we can to get her there. We should have a lesson with her and one of our awesome members tonight.

One of our new investigators of last week also accepted the baptismal invitation and is on date for August. We met with her and one of our other new investigators at different times this week where both gave us a detailed overview of what they read in the Book of Mormon and have immense desires to continue reading. #theLordishasteningHiswork

Speaking of Book of Mormon reading, one of our most favorite families has had a heck of a time the last two weeks. We had been trying in vain to get in contact with any of the girls with no luck until Saturday. Then everything came out. The father of the children is actively seeking to destroy any influence of the church in the home and has reached a level I didn't know was possible. Despite everything that is going wrong, when this faithful woman's daughters returned home at one in the morning with dad and she was about to fall asleep, the younger of the two comes running into the room. "Can we read the Book of Mormon?? Just one chapter!" They turned on the TV so he wouldn't hear and sitting together on the bed quietly read and discussed the chapter. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? This family WANTS to go to church, they WANT to read the Book of Mormon but have to do so in secret in their own home! The devil is working so hard on this family, and yet, he is still losing. We are having a lesson tonight...talk about that pep talk we will be having!  We will certainly have numerous prayers going up for them over the next few days and weeks. But despite the craziness of the whole situation, we feel a surprising amount of peace that all will be well and the Lord is with them. What a privilege it is to know and serve them.

We have transfer calls in a week and have little idea what will be happening. It will be interesting to see what the Lord does! Other craziness, it is week 12 and I start My Plan this week...crazy. We've got some high hopes for this transfer que viene! I hope it is a good one, and a happy 4th of July tomorrow! Love you much :)

Muchísimo amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

A much-needed p-day at the beach

"That book came from the God."

Hello familia!
Prepare yourselves for a novel...

I dunno that I have felt this blessed in a long time!! Wow. I read a talk this week that said, "as we study and ponder, we are entitled to the promptings of the Spirit, and as we grow more attentive to these promptings, we come to recognize each day the workings of the Lord in our lives. We will find Him in the details of our lives." I was pondering this week a question about how intimately the Lord is really involved in all the little things, but He has confirmed again and again to me He truly is in the very details of our lives. It's one of Satan's tricks to make us believe things happen by mere coincidence or our own efforts alone. Yes, efforts on our part are necessary as well, but I feel they'd be wasted without the hand of the Lord shaping our lives day by day as we walk the path of becoming. I want to share some of the miracles and tender mercies of this blessed week that helped witness to me the truthfulness of God's love for each of His children.

Laura. We found her knocking with the sisters on exchanges. She let us show the "Prince of Peace" video to her but after it ended tried to shut us down. She said, "That is nice but we believe in completely different things. We believe in Jesus Christ and saints and the virgin Mary; you believe in something totally different." She looked to me and I began to testify to her in Spanish of Jesus Christ. The moment I opened my mouth, you would not believe how dramatic the Spirit made His entrance ;) He was there and He was there strong! He confirmed what I said as I began to teach about the Book of Mormon and the role it has as another witness of Christ. The Spirit is the best senior companion ever because He knew what she needed and guided it there. After finishing explaining and testifying of the Book of Mormon I offered it to her. She took it quickly and said we could come back to talk about it again. We left that house to carry on with the street as Sister Yu asked me what happened. She told me she couldn't understand what I was saying but that the Spirit was crazy strong the whole time. It was amazing!

Another tender mercy and experience the Lord blessed us with was Friday afternoon with a woman named Mary. Mary and her two massive adorable dogs are traveling "out west" in the hopes of a new job opening. They are currently staying in a dog-friendly hotel and living out of a van. She was looking for a place to let them be outside and came across our chapel (we have lots of grass and shade with a big parking lot). Here is where we found them, chilling under the trees. She was anxious she would be told to leave; of course not! We talked for a few minutes then went inside. After finishing our weekly planning, I felt I wanted to try one more time to get a gospel conversation going with her. We went. We talked for a bit again and the thought repeatedly entered my mind, "pray with her" (Don't put off promptings until the end, okay?? I am still working on this...). She was packing up to leave - as were we - when she said to pray for them that all would be well. She meant later, but we awkwardly asked if she wanted us to pray for/with them now. Oh my goodness, did she (literally) run at that! She told us what she was stressed about and I said I would offer the prayer. I began, addressing our Heavenly Father, and you would not believe... the Spirit hit us like I have never before felt simply offering a prayer. We finished and she could not stop thanking us and crying. We gave her a card and told her if she ever needed anything she could get help there after explaining a bit how the church and missionaries work. We said our goodbyes and just walked away dumbfounded that such a little thing to us as offering a prayer could be that spiritual of an experience for not only her, but us as well.

These two experiences of the week specifically are very cherished to me because I haven't always felt like one who "teaches with power and authority" as the BOM missionaries are described, but in these moments I felt it. It was such a tender mercy and blessing for me to see I had the Spirit with me enough that when I went to testify He was there to confirm my words. When I called on God, He was there. In these situations we were blessed with individuals whose hearts were open, allowing Him to plant those seeds. We never know who is ready or at what stage they are, but if we are always willing and worthy to testify, teach, and serve we will find opportunities to be a witness of Jesus Christ.

I have been on a bit of a "disciple hype" as I call it, reading everything under the sun about what it means to be a true follower of Christ as I try my best to be that. I am grateful for the mercy, love, and patience of my Savior as He teaches me how to be more like Him. One thing He has begun a real endeavor on for me is teaching me humility. This week He gave us a beautiful family to teach who demonstrate this attribute. Hermana Rosario found them street contacting on exchanges. We went for our lesson at the end of the week. The dad wasn't there but the others were. We began the lesson explaining our purpose and that our message is centered on Jesus Christ. We asked what they knew of Him and their answer was simple and humble: "El es nuestro Salvador y debemos creer en El," the mom and aunt testified. That was all they knew. The kids spoke English so we pulled up the "Who Is Jesus?" children's bible video for them. The rest of the lesson was so powerful.

At the end we introduced the Book of Mormon as another witness of Christ. We were comparing it to the Bible when the thought entered my mind that they had never read the Bible. Sure enough, we found they had never read nor touched a Bible. We offered the books to them and they just hugged them. The 8-year-old pointed to the one I was holding and looked at it steadfastly, thinking intently. Then, he turned to me. "That book came from the God," he said. In that moment his simple testimony filled the room with the Spirit as He confirmed the words of this little boy who had never before seen a book of scripture.

We invited them to read the introduction and explained we would talk more about it next time (as well as prophets because the daughter wanted to know who Moses was!). They eagerly agreed. Wrapping up, we asked who would like to say the prayer. The two kids shot their hands up. We decided they could both do it. We all knelt and waited. Hermana Rosario leaned over, "Do you know how to pray?" No, was their simple reply. "Follow me, just say what I say." Hermana Rosario began the prayer. Both kids repeated after her and as we rose and gathered our things we felt little arms around us as each child came bounding forward with hugs --even the little two year old waddled up to us beaming and hugged our legs. It was quite possibly one of the coolest lessons of my entire mission as this family eagerly soaked in every word we said, testifying they knew everything we said was true. Their complete humility and desire to learn invited the Spirit where He was able to bear His witness. We will let you know what happens with them :)

This email is already a novel and it is only through Sunday as of now. But one more short story and we will move along to the rest of this week :)

Marta is on a baptismal date!! As of now it is set for the 15th of July. She also came to church this Sunday and the lesson for Gospel Principles was PERFECT. They answered every single one of her questions and we are hopeful her doubts are gone and she will press forward in faith. We have very high hopes for her.

(I'll write y'all Monday about the rest of the week cause this is ridiculous :) sorry :) love you! Hope it's a good week!!)
Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

"I'm so tired that I want to hug my bed" - Hna Rosario

Hello hello :) I had something already started but this phone...not sure where the draft is and I am hard core lacking ganas to write an official email. So. The thoughts that come to mind it is! 😊  (also, new phone is lacking in good emojis so...be creative cause I'm limited.)

Megazone! New phones. Thursday. We are adjusting. It is really different. We all handed in our tablets and it was the saddest thing. Area book is impressively slow and is really teaching me some patience! We just laugh instead of throw the phone across the room.

Knocking. We did a ton of knocking this week but didn't have much success. We gave a workshop in district meeting on finding and something clicked a little bit differently for me that maybe we aren't going to find our investigators knocking, but we are showing the Lord we are willing to work and that we trust Him to give us those who are prepared by being prepared in every moment to teach. Had some opportunities to do that this week #gonnatakework #get'erdone

Clara! We taught her this week. She's new. We opened with a prayer and the first words out of her mouth following it were, "my father passed away...what do you believe happens to the soul then?" My friend, we got an answer for you! We taught the plan of salvation pulling out scriptures, telling stories from the Savior's life, and sharing our own testimonies. It was probably the coolest lesson I've had for several reasons.  We got to one point where my companion was teaching and skipped over a major point we both knew would be important for her when we talked about the lesson. We both knew the Spirit was directing it that way for a reason. We didn't know how it was going to come back where we could teach this point (me especially because it would by my turn to teach it) so we were focused more than ever on her, each other, and the Spirit. I was trying so hard to be in tune and then, He showed us. It just opened all up and it was PERFECT for her, way better than however we would have done it before. It was one of those moments where when we were testifying the Spirit was raging...and it was awesome. So that was cool.  We are seeing her again this Friday. We will see what happens :)

Oh I have a new focus: humility. I am working hard core on that one.  I'm thinking about it all the time trying to change my train of thought by catching it. The Lord has been very patient with me, kinda calling me out on it every once in a while, but the thing is I don't feel frustrated or discouraged after because it motivates me to try even harder. It's funny - lots of people feel repentance is scary but I feel excited to repent, as weird as that sounds haha. It's been cool to see how the Lord works that way. :)

Other than that...not sure what else I've got for ya this week. I got my email from the missionary department to start "my plan".  So there is that... time goes so fast... I love you!! I hope this next week is good. :)

Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

PICTURES: 1. Our new phones (which have not-so-great cameras and no editing but black and white...)
2. We tried to go see this castle thing but it is $25 dollars for the tour and we are poor but the little entrance was fancy and as close as we got
3-5. We pass these little bear carvings that are out for sale almost daily and wanted to go look at them and found #missionarybears #anythingin2sisformissionaries
6. Four of our lightbulbs went out. We got new ones at megazone but we have tall ceilings...The only option? I stand on the table and stretch! I had to keep switching arms cause my hands were getting tired. They were in there good! Got it eventually and now we can see xD  (also this phone has dumb emojis so...imagine)
7. First attempted picture with the new phones #needsediting #butcantonthephone #badlighting

Trabajo

Buenas :)

Last Monday with the iPads and then we will all be readjusting to the small screens and baby keyboards #megazone #thursday #whydoeseveryoneneedtomeetwithusondayswehavemeetings??

We got some heat this week touching 90s a couple times and have surprisingly even been without the humidity to an extent where it hasn't been horrible. Because it's getting warmer, everyone is outside! This has made our finding a lot easier and a lot more fun. We were walking one of the streets we work on the way to a lesson and met our priestly friend again. He was alone this time sitting on his phone without his church garb. We were discussing the lesson we were about to have but as we passed I smiled and said "hola", cause we talk to everyone! I didn't hear but Hna Rosario told me we got a "víboras!" again #prayforthosethatpersecuteyou

There was a pretty intense lesson or two with one of our investigators this week. She has to move back to El Salvador and is taking her three girls with her, probably will not be returning. We hope we can get her in touch with the church and missionaries out there because she really needs it. She is planning to leave in the next three weeks. We'll be praying for them!

Something super bien, as they say, that happened is week was being blessed to see the Lord really do His work. After one of our investigators came to church three weeks ago we kind of lost touch with her. She began canceling our lessons and when we passed by to try and find her Saturday after the first week, we found her on the way to church with a catholic friend. We prayed for her day in and day out that whatever was God's will for her would be done. We passed by last Tuesday to try and see her and we caught her home. She was more than willing to visit with us as always. We sat down and got right to it. We asked if she's read and prayed about the Book of Mormon as she committed to do three weeks earlier when we last taught her officially in her home. She said yes. Once. We asked about that experience and she said it was the same week she committed to pray and asked once but said she didn't get her answer. Saturday the same week of her prayer we passed by and the first thing she asked us was when church was the next day, that being the week she came. We reminded her of this and told her part of her answer was that she needed to go to church to see for herself. We asked her how we receive answers to prayer and she taught us: consistent studying, asking, and pondering. We asked her if she felt she'd done that. She said no. We recommitted her to follow this process and promised her she would receive her answer if she did. Friday we got a text from her asking us for the number of the fellowshipper who gave her a ride the first time. She came to church Sunday :) In our visit Tuesday, after committing to try again, she asked us if we had to be married to be baptized. We thought to ourselves, "Uh oh. We gotta cross the chastity bridge?? We thought you were solid on that one!" We told her we would talk about it next time, to which she agreed. We were planning all week for this lesson and how to teach her the right way where she'll understand and feel the Spirit, praying for help to not lose her on this. The Lord did us one better - the sisters know what the lesson was in Relief Society yesterday :) #eternalmarriage Talk about the perfect lesson for preparing our investigator to receive the lesson we'd planned on that very subject in the frame of the plan of salvation--with all the women testifying and teaching about the blessings and purpose of eternal marriage. The Lord is preparing her so much and is making this path for her. We both felt strongly prompted yesterday as well that she's ready to accept the baptismal date we extended before. We will see how everything goes Wednesday when we see her again. But it was a huge blessing to see the Lord's hand in all of this over the last month, to work alongside Him in helping her come along and become converted. I love our job :)

Following that monster of a paragraph, the week has been pretty great! We received a referral por medio de text from a member in Jamaica, Queens. They were referring us a less active who lives in our area. We saw her Friday and she is awesome! She's had it rough the last couple of years but has a strong desire and determination to make things right. After visiting with her and her little three year old son we prepared to leave. We kissed her bye and her son wanted a kiss too. I gave him my hand to first bump and he kissed it instead. 😆 That same night we visited with a sister and helped her prepare for the temple a bit more. When we were leaving, this family was getting out of their car and the kids were looking at us. We waved hello and I asked the boy what his name was. He replied, "I'm four!" I told him congratulations to which he replied, "but hey, what's yo number?" We all were dying.

Speaking of kids, we also taught a sister this week who was taking care of EIGHT kids all under the age of four. It was crazy. Right when we sat down all of the kids that could walk got quiet and walked over to where we were and sat in front of us to listen. It was kinda cool :) goodness, I love kids!

I'm not sure what else happened, we have somehow come to week nine already. This morning I asked my companion if it was the tenth and she said, "no...its the twelfth." Where'd the days go?? I love you very much and hope it has been a good week :)

Happy summer y mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

Fun moments:
Livin' on a prayer...can't fight a good song #schoolnexttothechurchhavingapartyduringourweeklyplanning

"What are you doing?"
Hna Rosario: "Saludando la pupusaria!"

Comp unity
We both twitched putting on our mascara this morning where we ended with a lunar on the insides of our noses. I did it first and then my companion. She showed me and I said, "hey it's even on the same side," to which she called, "comp unity!!"

PICTURES:
(That awkward moment when you both realize you didn't send any pictures last week)
Ten minute nap in the car during dinner
This car though
When the lighting is HORRIBLE so the pictures only work in black and white
This sign though #onlyonevendays

Flower Uniforms

Buenas!

How are we doing? Is it just me or did last week go terribly fast...? We are sitting here trying to find out where the last SEVEN weeks have gone! Crazy. Last week was pretty great! We found a bunch of new people to teach and got to do some serious knocking. I decided throughout the week when something happened to write down a little note to remember. Here are my little points:

1. Super spoiler
We were on our way to our district meeting and my companion goes, "What...is...THAT?? A super spoiler??" Oh my goodness it was the most hilarious thing, this absolutely massive spoiler on this itty bitty car.

2. I can't eat but I don't know why
End of the month + missionary budget + poor use of money = no food. We didn't have much by the end of last week but I told my companion on Thursday we only had to plan one meal for Sunday so we would make it fine. Saturday comes around and we are on our way to a lesson in Huntington when she laughs to herself. She explains her thought process to me as follows, "Hmm, we don't have much food left...I can't eat tomorrow but I don't know why...OH! Fast Sunday!"

3. Mysterious sunburns
We stopped by the church Thursday and realized we both got a little bit sunburned on our necks and arms. The mystery part is that we were teaching or traveling to appointments all day to that point which means we were out of the sun, yet here were the burns. They are gone now but that was a funny moment.

4. Bug bites
The summer has begun and that means so have the bugs. Yay.

5. Upgraded: senior missionaries
Our bodies are just falling apart over here, haha! My shoulder has been killing me all week, hips are getting stuck, knees and legs are giving out, we are just losing one part at a time #seniormissionaries

6. 99 year old WWII vet
We knocked into this spry little fellow last Wednesday or Thursday; made our day! His nurse let us in to talk with him for a few minutes. We told him happy birthday (he hit 99 two days earlier) and the first thing he said after a thank you was that his wife passed away ten months ago and that they were married for 74 years! #goals He told us all about when he was drafted and how it interrupted their wedding and things but that he  "did four years, then got back home to her!" It was darling.

7. España familia
The Españas from Dyker came out to visit on Saturday! We got to say hello and talk for a few minutes before we had to head out to a lesson, but it was great to see them :)

8. Guns N' Roses, Hotel California, and Stayin Alive
Got to hear a bit of music this week, featuring the above (the Spanish store across the street has great taste)

Also, speaking of that little store, today we went and bought some groceries there and the cashier asked if we were sisters. We explained who we were and what we do as a few other workers gathered around to hear. We ended up talking and teaching for a few minutes with all of them and it was really cool! Right after that we stopped by Target and were going up to pay when a lady passed us and said, "hi sisters!" Totally caught us off guard but kinda made our day too :)

This week we got in touch with a sister we have taught before again so that was awesome. She has such a desire to learn and apply the gospel more to her life, we have so much hope for her! It was really cool teaching a few times this week, her included, where we had something planned but then once we got in there the Lord just took over as He does and guided it perfectly another - much better - way. It is something I will miss very much, being able to see Him use us as His servants so directly. I know He will do that regardless, but this work is something special; this is something different.

I found a talk this week called "What Think Ye of the Book of Mormon?" by Elder McConkie and I love it!! Oh my, I was loving that talk. We were studying a section of Twelve Week called "Revelation Through the Book of Mormon", which meant we got to talk a lot about my favorite book! It was awesome. We also set a goal to use the Book of Mormon more in finding and to try and emphasize it even more in our teaching. We haven't been doing too shabby with it.

We were teaching one of our new investigators last week and had just begun when someone knocked the door. Her friend had come by and our new investigator promptly invited her to join us. By the end of the lesson we had two new investigators both committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon who were excited for us to return next week. #teachwhenyoufind #findwhenyouteach

Yesterday, we had another investigator who also finally was able to come to church! We were beyond excited for her. After having a rather intense lesson earlier that week with her husband, he finally agreed to take her. We drove out to their house the morning of and they followed us to the church where he dropped her off. A few of our members took her right in and even gave her a ride home. We are seeing her tomorrow to talk about how she felt and what she is thinking now.

I feel one of the biggest blessings of this work is the opportunity we have to see people change, ourselves included. Never before did I think this much change was possible. We had a rather intense lesson with one of our less active members this week in a lesson where she changed the subject and began to rage about how she does not agree with the Church's stand on a particular topic. We taught and asked her questions. We came to a point at which she challenged us & we'd testified that with Jesus Christ all things are possible. She seemed to say, almost mockingly, "Do you really believe that?" Instantly the Spirit filled my heart and I knew that yes, I really do believe and know that. Our faith will be tried and tested and challenged but I have learned for myself that when we withstand these trials our faith becomes stronger and more sure and we will find the promise of the scriptures to be true. We might "wax firmer and firmer in the faith," with "the trial of [our] faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ".

Hopefully the next few weeks can be full of people to serve and opportunities to see the Lord's hand all around us. I love you!
Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

P.S. The subject line: We were knocking yesterday and both happened to be wearing floral (my dress and Hna Rosario's shirt). We knocked this house and they come running to the door, "Girl Scouts??" ...no. They ask, "Oh are you missionaries!? How cute! And you have a little floral uniform?" .....NO. Ha! So there is the story for that one :)