Walk With Me

Hello, fabulous family of mine!

How are we? Hope all is well. To be totally honest, 18 months later I feel I am lacking things to say in emails. I feel like I don't want to write any more of my thoughts; I want to just tell them. I will be able to do that for you soon enough. Until then, here we are.

This week was another good one. I feel the days go by only because my focus is to, rather than count the days, make the days count. I've felt an increased peace as I've worked thinking this way. I feel every day as we move to the next the acceptance of the Lord more and more and that comes with more and more peace. It is beginning to really "feel right".

We had the awesome opportunity of preparing and witnessing the baptism of Anis this weekend. That was an adventure! She and her family --especially her mom-- were so happy... It made us happy to see that. We have high hopes for them! What was interesting to me is what I felt during the service as well as after. This was the fourth person I have actively been involved in baptism preparation for who has then entered the waters of baptism, and the only one of those four to witness. I learned sitting in that service that for me the real joy I have felt in my mission has been working. Finding people, teaching, planning, not sleeping cause you're role playing the next lesson in your head all night, talking every minute about the needs of those we teach and how we can help them... The work. That is what gives me joy! I remember a line from the district where the elder says, "We've been working really hard... Why couldn't we, just have a baptism...?" and the way he talks about it is almost as though that is the only source of their joy: witnessing someone they've taught be baptized. So that is the interesting thing - to realize that is not the case for me. I rejoice just as much being there or not. I am very very thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me my whole mission with opportunities to experience true joy, and I'm thankful He allowed me this transfer to see that.

We also had the coolest little miracle this week. We are doing some hard core finding and decided to look up these 5 people in our area book for the last time. We passed by the first; nothing. We get to the second and it's my turn to offer the prayer. I pray in the car explaining we had too many people in our area book, that we needed new people to teach, and we needed to know if she was ready. I expressed that if it was His will we teach her that we find her now. Then He added something at the very end, "...and if she is ready now, if it be Thy will that she learn at this time, may she let us in where we can teach her now." We both were silent as we walked up to the house. We knock and this 12 year old boy answers. He asks his mom who is on the phone up the stairs if he can let us in. She gestures no. He doesn't close the door. We talk with him for a brief second then she comes and joins us. We explain who we are and why we're there and she says, "oh, yes, well let's hear what you have to say. Come in." We ran inside that house so fast! Haha.

What proceeded was one of the best restoration lessons I have had in my entire mission. It was literally perfect. The Lord taught them. It was amazing. Usually when we walk up to find someone we have a plan for what we'll teach if they let us in. We didn't this time. I remember offering a little prayer of gratitude as we took our seats and asking that He teach her through us at this time. He made us work! I knew the moment we sat down we were teaching the restoration but I didn't know how to connect it to her personal situation best. We began and then suddenly He showed how He had set it up perfectly. The conversation was perfect, the spirit was strong, and their hearts were prepared. It was amazing. We will be seeing them tomorrow!

So this week was just pretty great :) We did a lot a lot a lot of finding and have been blessed by the Lord a lot for our efforts. Even though we don't always find new people to teach, He blesses us to know we've done our part. It's been good. This next week will be crazy with interviews, exchanges, apartment checks, last section of My Plan, nights full of lessons, and then the other reulars of la obra misional :) I love it.

We also got a new referral this week and the case is super weird. We have no idea what actually is going to end up happening with her but she is super cool, has a lot of potential. The stickiness of the situation comes from her having been a member previously. Apparently that usually goes through the stake. Hopefully we get to work with her a bit and help her come around. Learning a few of the details of the situation led me to exclaim, "People! Just keep the commandments!" Hna Rosario followed up with her own, "que pasa con la gente..." I have felt such an increased urgency since serving as I have truly become converted and begun this path of discipleship to just do what we're supposed to do. I read a lot of the BOM this week. (DID I SAY I LOVE THAT BOOK??? I don't think anyone knows how much I love that book.) I studied in Mosiah 26 and Alma 9 at different times but found this common theme once again present: (This is the preachy moment of the email haha)

Mosiah 26 says concerning the people that "they did not believe...because of their unbelief they could not understand...they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church...they would not call upon God...and they did not repent." Look how much agency is involved here! These verses are followed by the Lord's comfort to Alma as He says, "blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are...my sheep...and they know me." But then comes verse 26 regarding the first group of those we have mentioned: "And then shall they [that never knew me] know that I am the Lord their God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed." THIS KILLS ME. The idea that we have so much opportunity, that the Lord is just WAITING to bless us, but sometimes, we too, "would not".  Alma 9 talks about the consequences for such choices.

As I've continued studying the Book of Mormon and Jesus the Christ every day I have come to understand a little bit better the character of the Savior. He wants to forgive, He wants to help us, He wants to bless us, but we need to do our part to receive those blessings. I hope we can renew our commitment to Christ if we've made it in the past, and if we haven't that we begin to. If we are willing to try the Lord is willing to help us in anything, no matter where we are. Repentance is real, change is real and that is the hope Jesus Christ gives to us. I love my mission and I love the opportunity I have to share these truths with people every day. To quote one of my favorite elders, "the church is true, the book is blue, Jesus is a Mormon." :)

Love you! Hope it is another great week!
Muchísimo amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

P. S.  Subject line :)
This is the emphasis we have made to many people recently: to find this path and walk it with us. We truly do not walk it alone.
Moses 6:31-34

PICTURES (sorry but not in order):
- We have the baptism pictures
- Crossing the train tracks while doing some street contacting
- car selfie
- street selfies as the clouds roll in to let down the rain right as you're beginning to track (funny story there: we were walking and this little old lady was taking out her garbage. I asked if I could help, the conversation proceeded as follows... "nah, honey I just droppin it here at da curb." "okay have a good day!" "hold on, you got a'umbrella??" "no, but it's okay it isn't really raining--" "get ova'ere..." "no, it's really okay--" "wha'd I say? Get ova'ere, don't you make grandma give you a two four (no idea what that means...) I do it to ma grankids..." she grabs her umbrella from the car and hands it to me. "you live here? I can come back here to drop it off?" "guuurl, I ain't gonna die if I don't get a'umbrella back!! Nah get'long!" and so we got along... Haha! And now we have three umbrellas haha)
- a cool truck we passed #elderbrown
- filling the font :)
- Oh and the scary porch we had to cross to knock this door. Every single step the boards were moving and dropping under us, haha!
- And this nice little stop sign where we were knocking. #stopmeansgoactually

Follow the Prophet

Hello hello!

We are at the bowling alley right now so if my thoughts are a little scattered, I am sorry. I have some notes from throughout the week I will mention as well :)

This was a really awesome week. I was quite fond of it. I spent a lot of time pondering my mission and have felt the beginning of peace...the timing of the Lord is beginning to feel right. I am ecstatic about the upcoming weeks and all we can do with the Lord this last little bit. I love this work. I dunno how to accurately describe the joy and gratitude I have felt the last little bit and I am starting to feel peace with my work. I'm beginning to feel the Lord has accepted all I've tried to give Him and am excited to see how we will finish this together.

I have one insight to how the last little bit will end. This Friday we have the baptismal service for Anis! We are pumped. She is so excited... I just love her. The branch is excited and another of our investigators will be coming to the baptism. She has really really been thinking hard about it. We are hopeful to get her on a date this week. She could literally be baptized tomorrow if she stops with the one cup of coffee. She's just stuck there haha. She is amazing. I love the people so much.

We were walking back to the car after knocking last week and this Hispanic man was walking towards us. I said, "Hola, como esta?" and he literally jumped ten feet. Haha. We also ate at this little diner and the waiter was Hispanic as well. He asked us about what our tags were for and we got to plant a pretty solid seed haha. So many people are telling me my Spanish is actually good but now I'm finished 😂  It's been a blessing serving this people and adopting their culture a little bit. I love them.

AAAAHHH a funny moment. This was hilarious. Especially in the moment. Here it is: When your role plays are so real you are convinced you extended a commitment to read the BOM to one of your investigators and that they asked you to send them reminder texts at night so then you get to the evening and spend 15 minutes trying to remember who the investigator was you needed to send a text to until you realize it wasn't real cause it was a role play #whenyouhavenogatorssoyoumakethemupsoyouhavepeopletohelp #laughedfordays #absofsteel

We felt really good about this week even though our pool has gone a little crazy haha. We've been doing our best to try and find; the Lord has blessed us. We had a really intense lesson with one of our investigators this week. Wow. We followed the Spirit though and it ended well. She came to church on Sunday. We are happy for the progress the Lord has blessed us to see with those we are teaching. I think that is the biggest blessing of working so closely with the people is that we get to see them change; we get to see the Atonement in action. It is awesome.

One of the coolest things I have seen from my mission, or one of the biggest blessings I should say, is learning how the Spirit speaks to me. I have learned all these different patterns He has with me and I get excited every time we come to studies because I know the promises of the Lord to be true that if we seek Him, He will reveal Himself to us. If we seek knowledge and understanding of Him, He will open our eyes. I've had a few of those moments this week and have loved being able to express that gratitude to Him and record those moments of inspiration and revelation.

My subject line is inspired by the common theme of this week. I dunno why, or why this week specifically, but it seemed literally everyone was attacking the prophets: Investigators telling us Nephi wasn't a prophet but the BOM was true; Adam wasn't a prophet; Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet; President Monson... Everyone we were talking to was so convinced the Bible says there will never be any more prophets. We thought, "What is up with this?? Have these people read the Bible??" We took it upon ourselves to investigate. One door knock gave us a bit more of a clue as to what scripture they were so poorly interpreting when he said John was the last prophet. Come to find the whole world takes Luke 16:16 completely out of context (because with or without the Joseph Smith translation you still come to the same conclusion if you know the scriptures) and uses that as their only basis for God ceasing to reveal His will through His prophets. We were more than a little miffed.

There will never be a time when logic will give someone a testimony. You cannot reason into faith and you cannot reason the teachings of Christ. Every person must decide for themselves. The invitation is always the same... Experiment on the word and see for yourself. I know President Monson is a prophet and that the true church of Christ is restored. What a blessing that testimony has been to me. I love my mission and am thankful for the hope of change and improvement that is possible through Jesus Christ. I love you and hope it has been a great week!! Take care, I'll see you soon :)

Muchísimo amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

With heart

Hello hello, fabulous family of mine :)

Weeks go like days and days go like weeks. We did a lot last week. Five of our top investigators dropped us over the last few days and we got to put in practice President's teaching in mega zone about finding. The Lord blessed us greatly and we found 6 new investigators who we have high hopes for. What's that motto... "always finding; always dropping." We're putting it to practice!

We got to teach quite a bit this week, even just at the door; which was a nice change from the last few weeks. We met some really cool people and even knocked into a guy who met with missionaries before and lost contact with them. We sent him over to the English elders. I think it was last Friday when we were knocking and there was a party going on which meant you could hear the merengue from a mile away. So that was fun - a dance party between each house haha.

We started off the week with a tender mercy when we found someone named Karen. Wow, it was a rough day with lots of mean people who "no nos quieren" but finding her was a gem. :) Usually the people are decently nice even if not interested...Not this day! But we had prayed to find someone new after those five of our gators dropped us. The Lord gave us that blessing. :) We also ended the night teaching another one of our investigators and it went really well. She is progressing a lot and has enough real intent to hopefully conquer her doubts. We are going to tackle a few of them Wednesday.

Saturday one of our strongest families moved to California. We had a little party for them Wednesday which was good. I thanked him for how he helped shape our mission in the teaching he did about knocking. He gave three workshops in different zone training meetings over the last 18 months and what he taught us inspired the assistants two transfers ago to share his techniques with the rest of the mission! Now he's got the whole mission knocking like pros :) we will miss them. Also at said party, we were thanking this member for all he taught us. I told him I liked that I knew how to knock now and he told me from the time he went out with us that he thought I was really good at it. That is when our other member friend said, "that's because she's aggressive. I like it!" Hmm. That didn't make me very happy. I talked with Sister Rosario about it later and she said in her thoughts that she doesn't feel I'm aggressive.  She said, "You have heart! Everything you do with heart!" So that is what I have decided. I have heart. :)

Following the order of chronology for the first time in this email: MEGAZONE!! We had mega zone on Thursday and it was good. :) It felt really really weird being my last one. Before the last part began, Elder Weisler asked me if I wanted to go first in the departing testimonies. AH. I knew it was coming but I just wasn't ready for it. He announced me going second and right then I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest! I felt the tears coming and was just shaking on the inside. It was my turn and I stood up, walked to the front, and we were off. I was terribly nervous and said, "I've kind of been in denial but this is forcing me to accept it a little bit." I looked down and my mind was hectic and crazy. I looked back up and began with the only thing that could come to mind: "I'd like to testify of Jesus Christ..." it was amazing, because right after that my mind was cleared, my heart was stilled, and the words and thoughts just came out. The Spirit fed them to me and I shared them --still with a shaky voice-- with surprising ease. I don't remember what I said, but there were parts I remembered that I wrote down later to remind myself; to reflect on what I know and knew when maybe I feel I'm lacking. It was really a very cool experience for me and I think a big part of my preparing to offer up my labors. We aren't done yet, but I am starting to feel --and I felt it then as I bore my testimony-- that He is pleased with my efforts. I am starting to feel it is His plan and His time. It will still be hard but I am starting to feel at peace with it. In a few weeks we will be at the temple again and shortly beginning the next phase He has for me. I'm excited and a little anxious, doing everything I can now to "leave it all on the field" :) I would invite each of us to look at where we are now, where the Lord has brought us, and evaluate if we are doing the best things with the time He has given us. Maybe give that Good, Better, and Best talk a reread --I did that this week. I know I am doing the best thing and I hope we can all feel the approval of the Lord in our lives as we seek to do His will. I love you and hope it is a beautiful week!! Love you tons :)

Mucho amor,
Hermana Karra Gourley

"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