October 7, 2013

"The perfect place to begin is exactly where you are right now."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Let me start out this email telling you how cold it is! It is in the high 50's today and yesterday it was in the 80's. It rained basically all night so this morning it has cooled off a ton! I can't believe how cold it is and that I am still alive! 

We are going to be putting Emerald on date this week. I think we are going to plan for November 9th. She is a slow learner and she has a desire, but we just need to help her act on that desire, so that is our goal this week! :) I am so excited because we can help bring her closer to Christ. We are also going to start teaching her son, so that will be exciting. He is looking for a house, so we hope that he doesn't move out of our area. Even though we can get other missionaries on him in a new area, it would be great to start the process and complete it!

I want to start off with saying how great General Conference was! I was shocked at how direct they were and yet was excited because some of the investigators we had show-up, needed their talks. The talk I want to emphasize is Elder Holland's talk. 

Erin and her companion went to Mt. Vernon, and there was a carnival going on that takes place every month. The carnival always does a booth about the Church, and usually people get interested and learn about the church. Erin and her companion helped out at the booth and did a really cute game with the kids called "Pin the Tag on the Missionary." Afterwards, the kids got to wear their tag around town.

Saturday morning, we had Cornell all scheduled on coming to every session of General Conference including the priesthood session. We were going to meet at the church and the time was coming close. It was noon and conference was starting, and he was nowhere to be found. We called and texted him to see what was going on, and he didn't respond. Conference started and after about 10 minutes, he texted us an 8 page message breaking contact with us. I was so upset and sad. You develop a love for these people that is so hard to describe, so when he emailed us that he wasn’t going to continue on, I was no longer able to pay attention to conference. I just kept thinking that he has such potential and needs this gospel in his life. Sis. Stephens gets up to speak, and I lean over to Sis. Hyer and told her that we need to go call Cornell right now. So we got up and went outside and called Cornell. The phone rang and rang and rang.... Finally he picked up. We talked for about 30 minutes, and I finally talked him into coming to the 2nd session at 4pm. 

Now I don't remember if I wrote this in the last letter, but Cornell suffers from social anxiety, he is bi-polar, and gets tremors because of the stress. Well he comes to the second session and was kinda-sorta interested, and then Elder Holland gets up to speak. (We all know what he spoke about). I will say I have never heard a talk like that, and it was specific to Cornell's needs. I started to cry because of the directness of the topic and how well it suited our investigator. As he was talking, I would look over at Cornell, and he was listening super intently. One thing that Elder Holland mentioned was the need for a priesthood blessing. After conference, we talked to Cornell about the priesthood again and what a priesthood blessing was. Once we talked to him about it, he got up and asked one of the members in the ward and the Elders for a blessing. We went into the high council room and talked for a little bit, and then he received his blessing. The Spirit was so strong, and he was so grateful that we convinced him to come. Afterwards, Bro. Campbell (the member who he asked for the blessing) invited him over for dinner. We have been praying that a good member would reach out and fellowship Cornell and help him through his challenges. He ended up going to the priesthood session with Bro. Campbell and watched the sessions on Sunday at his house. Saturday night he sent us a text message and said, "Thank you for getting me to come". 

The carnival also had a petting zoo, and Erin took a picture with one of the llamas.

Family, friends, and people reading this.... This is the reason why I am serving a mission. Text messages like that and the help that this gospel brings to every person's life is what keeps me going. Our leaders are called of God, and we are His mouthpiece. Our Heavenly Father knows what concerns we may have and will help us, sometimes through the words of those around us. I know this gospel is true, and I know that this work is the work of God. I have a firm testimony in what the Prophet and Apostles have said, "This IS the time for members and missionaries to work together". Without the help of the members in our ward here in Ohio, many of the investigators would not come to church. Many of those who have been baptized into our ward would not have stayed active. I can't express the importance of this as a missionary. We depend on the members for help because they are going to be more effective than missionaries in some cases. "By the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses" shall this work be done. This is something that I have a testimony of. Let each of us do as President Uchtdorf suggested and bring just one soul unto Christ by Christmas. Many lives will be changed, and many souls will be saved. 

I love and miss you all dearly, but I know that while I am out here, you are being blessed more than if I were home. Keep up the hard work and remember to have fun! :) 

Love you!

Sister Gale







Questions and Answers with Sister Gale

Tell us about some neat places you have been in Ohio so far... 

We haven't really been anywhere in Ohio. We are kinda confined to our areas until we are transferred, so, New Albany is beautiful! This last Friday we went to Mt. Vernon for exchanges. I sent some Amish food home. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did. The bakery that I bought it from is the Amish people who converted to our church. They are awesome, and the food is delicious!

What is the weather like in Ohio? Are the leaves changing colors?

It is freezing today, and I have used my umbrella more here than I have the entire time I have lived in Arizona. The leaves are changing colors, and I have tried to take pictures but the pictures don't really grasp the view...it’s beautiful!

Tell us how reciting "My Commission" daily has helped you in your missionary efforts. 

Reciting My Commission by Bruce R. McConkie is a great reminder of the importance of our calling and why we are here serving the Lord. It helps remind me daily that I am bringing souls unto Christ and that this is His work. Without the Savior, none of this would be possible. I love reciting it every morning and thinking about the importance of my calling as a missionary. It truly is the greatest work on the Earth. I love my job!!







What new insight did you personally learn about this past week? 

This past week, I gained a better appreciation for the district leader, zone leaders, and for the leaders of the church. They truly are men called of God and are put in their position as leaders for a reason. I gained a more firm testimony of this church because I know that it is the true gospel. Without the witnesses of his servants, this work would never progress.

One of my zone leaders is out here without any support from any family. He pays his own way and doesn't have anybody email him except for a very few friends. I know that I can’t email him, but I think it would be great for people that he doesn't know to email him and give words of encouragement. 

His email is: jace.abbott@myldsmail.net

Please write him something. And ask others to write him something. I know that he would greatly appreciate it!

Love,

Sister Gale