September 9, 2014

"Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands."

- Anne Frank

Can you believe it?! There is just this week, and then transfers are the following week... I can't believe how fast the time goes. 

This week had a slow start to it, but then sped up and turned out wonderful! Sister Dana finally got over her sickness on Thursday, and we were able to get to work. Because there was so much work to catch up on, Friday, Saturday and yesterday were super busy! It was great, and we were able to finish the week with finding 2 new families and finally get in and teach our neighbors! So from the beginning:

Monday through Thursday we ran some errands getting Sister Dana some medicine so that this virus would go away and so that we could get to work. I am so glad that she is feeling better because it stinks when your companion is sick. There is nothing that you can do for them except hope and pray that the next morning she will wake-up feeling good enough to go out and get working. Luckily, our prayers were answered on Friday. It was a little frustrating for me though because I had to get a shot because of it... :/ I don't like shots, but the mission doctor didn't want me to get sick. So I was told to go and get one. Luckily it didn't hurt, and I will be flu free for the rest of this year! :) 

I did get a lot of studying done. I was able to finish the Book of Mormon, read the whole September Ensign (which is fantastic!!! I encourage you all to read it!), read most of Jesus the Christ, and also learn some more about Joseph Smith! And, Sister Dana and I had a movie night because that's just what you do when someone is not feeling well! It was great, and I feel so proud of all the things that I was able to accomplish! I think one of the greatest lessons that I learned was the true meaning of the word integrity. It would have been so easy to just sleep, borrow some movies from the neighbors, sleep-in, not work out, etc., But instead I studied and studied and studied, and I am so grateful for every second, minute, and hour.

On Friday we were able to teach the Restoration to the mother of the family that came to church with us last week. Unfortunately they weren't able to come this week due to waking up on Sunday with ear infections. It is crazy how fast Satan can work on people to keep them from coming to church. We talked with her on the phone, and she said that we could come over and teach her some more tomorrow and that she and the girls were planning on coming to mutual on Wednesday. I am so excited for this family because they are all going to be a huge asset to the ward!

We also went to go visit a less-active lady in our ward. When we went to her house, there were a lot of people outside. At first we thought that we should come back a different time so that we didn't interrupt the party. And then, in a split second, we thought, "Who has a party without us?!" So we went and crashed the party. We came to find out that this woman's grandson lives with her, and he had questions pertaining to our faith. We told him that we would love to come back and teach him the following day, and she said that that would be totally fine. So we did. We taught him and his 8 year old daughter about the Restoration, and he loved it. He said that he wanted to follow Jesus Christ, and he thinks that he has found the answer to some of his questions. I was so excited to hear that. He is just great. We have been trying to get his grandmother to church since we first met her, and I think that having her grandson come might just help her as well! He didn't come to church this Sunday, but we are going to work on having him come to this coming one!

We also have these wonderful members that literally live in our backyard. They told us about one of their neighbors that the last sisters had met with, and they thought that there was some promise there. We worked on trying to go see them, and we were finally able to meet with the father on Saturday. He told us that he wants his daughter to grow up in a church and that the other sisters told him some things that were really intriguing that he wanted for his daughter. We know that right now he is really only interested in his daughter learning, but he wants to know what we would be teaching her before we teach it. So we are going to teach him, he's going to love it, and then his wife will love it, and because they want to come to church the daughter will, and it's just going to be so awesome having this cute young family as a part of our ward. I am so excited for it! :)

To top the whole week off, we were invited to go eat dinner with our neighbors! It was a yummy dinner, and we were able to have a great discussion about the gospel. I think that it is so wonderful that people have questions- even the people that live next door to us. If we are kind and willing to answer the questions that they ask, people will come closer to their Savior and closer to the truth that they once had. I am really excited for them! So far, one of them is going to come to church with us next Sunday; we aren't sure if they both are, but they are wonderful people. I think they would be wonderful assets to our ward as well!

Today is going to be great! We have a zone funday because it is the last P-day on Monday since transfers are next week! CRAZY!!!!!!!!!! We are going to play water volleyball (right up my alley) and then ultimate frisbee (also something that I am so looking forward to). Then, later this evening, we are going over to a part-member's house where the husband (who isn't a member) is going to teach me how to drive a team of horses. Man, I am so excited for this, and I think it's going to be one of those experiences that will only happen once. I will have to take a picture of these horses too because they are HUGE!!!!! But I am so excited. 

I love this gospel so much. One of the things that I love the most is how loving our Father in Heaven is. He gave us so much and continues to give, and all He asks is for us to keep His commandments and follow the example of His son, our Savior. I know that He watches over us and leads and guides us through the Holy Ghost. I know that the Holy Ghost testifies of truth! I am also so grateful for my family. 

Yesterday during our fast Sunday, I couldn't help but read the cover of the program over and over. The Spirit touched me so hard that I got up and bore my testimony about it. It said, "The preparation of future missionaries begins in the family." I then began thinking about all the things that my parents did to prepare me, and I could narrow it down to just one thing: they taught me well. I know that that statement is true! That we are blessed to have families because that is where we learn and grow. I know that we are all one BIG family, and as we turn to our brothers and sisters and help them through anything that they may be going through, all will be blessed with the happy knowledge that we have a loving Heavenly Father that wants us to return to live with Him again. I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach that to everyone! I am so grateful for my family and all that they taught me to help me reach this point in my life. I love you, mom and dad, so very much! I love this gospel, and I love my job!

Love, 

Sister Gale