Monday, February 20, 2017

Week 63: Choosing to Change

Monday, February 13, 2017

For pday...we actually did something!! We went Bowling!! I discovered that I still stink at it..but that's okay we had a grand ole time! 

Tuesday we did Half day exchanges with Sister C....n & Sister O! We had a fun day! Sister C....n and I are very similar and have become fast friends! It was wonderful to spend the day with her and to learn, grow and teach with her.

We had a hecka good Zone Meeting on Wednesday up in Oroville. We all met up at Dutch Bros and got hot cocoa before heading over to the church. They need Dutch Bros in Idaho and Virginia because it is bomb hot cocoa!! Anyways, we had a really good discussion about how we can help our wards in missionary work. Sister C and I saw a lot of missionaries complain about the problems but couldn't see how to fix it. Now, we are so incredibly blessed with wonderful leaders and members who love and support us, so it was nice to be able to be on the solution side. We talked about Handbook 2 chapter 5 (shout out to Brother Eccles 🙌). In there it states all the roles of the missionaries, Ward Council, Ward members, everything! We also talked about starting with the individual. Every person and family is unique and has there own schedules, social groups and hobbies. We talked about helping families create a family mission plan and starting with simple goals that they can achieve to help them build confidence in doing the work of the Lord! 

We also had a great discussion on inviting and extending invitations. It's supposed important that we don't let the fear of "No" overcome our faith of "Yes". I always say, "The worst they can say is, but the best they can say is yes!" And how joyful it will be when they do say yes!! It will be wonderful! But none of will experience that joy if we don't ask!

Saturday - Area Book decided to break worldwide! It didn't work at all. We would click on the app, it'd pop up for a split second then go away. It was awful! Saturday are our finding days and so doing work was really hard. Everyone's information is in area Book. Where they live, what we have taught, when we last saw them etc. So it wasn't as productive but we did have a very spiritual, honest lesson with Kristian that night. We read through the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and he wasn't as talkative as he usually is. He didn't really have questions but I think he just felt discouraged. We got to the three kingdoms of glory. He told us that he wouldn't be going to the celestial kingdom, that he'd probably go to the  bottom because he felt he wasn't good enough. He felt like he has done to much wrong and it isn't his fate to change.

We testified of God's love and how he gave us the freedom to choose. Really, destiny is our own hands. We can change and at any time that we want. If we don't like our circumstances, we can change them. If we don't like our choices, we change them. It's what the Atonement is all about, change. I know that it is real. We can change for the better if we choose to let Christ change our hearts.

Because Valentine's Day is coming up, we have been sharing Moroni 7:45-47 as our dinner thoughts. It says, 

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

As I thought about Christ and Charity, they are kind of the same thing. Christ is Charity and Charity is the pure love of Christ. So I did some word swapping in verse 46 and now like to read it,
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not CHRIST, ye are nothing, for CHRIST never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto CHRIST which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--

Ya see what I did there?! Christ performed the greatest act of love and Charity ever in the history of the world. He loves us so much! And I know that He can give us the strength to love others. To be kind, to reach out, to serve, the lift, the inspire, to care, to be a friend, to be a listening ear, to be anything He needs us to be. He showed us how to love, let's follow His example and build each other up!

Sunday was a great day! As some of you may or may not know, California has received a TON of rain this winter along with snow fall. All of this rain has built up and has filled the Oroville dam. This whole week people have been scared of it overflowing. The spillway is damage and there was a lot of trees blocking the emergency spillway. 

Well this whole week that's all we heard about was the Oroville dam and it didn't stop on Sunday. Half of Relief Society was about this problem. Sister C and I were literally laughing at the obsession because we both thought "There is no way, stop freaking out we're gonna be fine." Little did we know that about 5 hours later we would be getting a call from the Hermanas that we need to evacuate. We drove home. Put on pants, packed a few things and got in the car. We didn't hear anything from our leaders  and we don't have TV so we didn't have any information to work with. So we asked our neighbors and they said to go south...big mistake. We ended up being in the car for over 7 hours. It took us 2 hours to get to Yuba City when it usually takes us 15 mins. We called President and he said to come to Lincoln so that's where we headed. After sitting in number to number, stop go, stop go for 2 1/2 hours we all really had to go to the bathroom. We stopped at a gas station but of course it was closed. So we drive (oh yeah I'm the driver)  down this little country road and see a house with some lights on. Since we are missionaries and talk to strangers on a daily basis, we decided to knock on the door and see if they would let us use their restroom. And THERE IS A GOD! He and his family were so so kind. They let us use their restroom and gave us directions on how to get back on the 99 faster. So grateful for his kindness.

So we get back on the road and keep heading south. We look at our map and see that we missed our turn for Lincoln way back in Yuba so we turn around. It takes us 10 minutes the other way what took us 3 hours. Then we realize that we actually want to stay in the direction we were going. So we ended up sitting at this light for over an hour. I was actually very mad at this point. It was hard to make all these decisions because it was night, cars are everywhere and I'm not familiar with the area. So we turn around and get back in traffic. 


We're almost to Lincoln, when President asks us to come all the way to Antelope which adds another 2 hours to our trip. We had to go to the bathroom so bad again. But this time there were no gas stations or homes in sight. We saw a car with a box of pull ups in the passenger seat. Sister O rolled down the window to ask for some but he couldn't hear us. Desperate times call for desperate measures. We ended up making it down to Antelope at 1 am. We stayed with some Sisters who were probably less than thrilled to have us there, but they didn't show it. I don't blame them though because their 2 sister house became a 6 sister house. 

Let's just say I'm exhausted and my head is spinning. The whole experience felt like a movie. It didn't feel real at all. 

But I saw so many times how God's hand was in it all. I felt at peace that we would be okay and that those we loved and worked with would be okay as well.

Thank you for all your prayers!

Lots of love

Sister Emily Gore

Week 62: "I Believe Him"

Monday, February 6th, 2017

Monday was a sad day for us. Sister C and I drove down to Antelope to get TiWi installed into our car. The drive down was really nice, the drive back...not so much. For those of you who don't know what TiWi is, it's a little device in our car that monitors your speed and yells at you when you go to fast. TiWi and I are not friends.  
TiWi in the windshield
The rest of the week was great! Tuesday was a great day of diligence as usual. I love seeing the many miracles the Lord provides as we do our part and work! Many people were not home, but we were able to make contact and set up return appointments with many people that we hadn't met yet! So yay for bringing them back into the fold! 

Wednesday evening we had a really good lesson with a partly less active family. I say partly because he wife is active but the husband is not. We talked to them about the stakes push for temple work! It's called Strive for Five. Everyone in the Stake is being encouraged to find and prepare 5 names to take to the Temple this year! It's a pretty exciting time. We gave both of them the My Family booklets to help them get started. 

The spirit was strong as we testified of the power of family history work. I am so incredibly grateful for the Temple and the work that is done there so that we can help those make promises with Heavenly Father and that we can be connected with them for all eternity! That's pretty amazing!!

Thursday was MLC!! I love MLC days! Cinnamon rolls, friends, learning from president...what could be better!?! Every MLC we start by setting goals. We set goals to help us work hard and, personally it helps me realize how often Gods hand is in my life. As we were setting goals, President asked us if we are setting goals or making predictions? Goals takes faith. Faith that when we tell the Lord we are going to do it, we are going to everything we can to do it and ask for help and guidance along the way. We also need to be humble and willing to change our ways. Elder Bednar said "If you always do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten." We need to be willing to put in the work necessary to change our selves and help others to have the desire to make changes as well.

This transfer we have a bomb.com zone! Honestly one of the favorites on my mission and that's really saying something! We have been really building unity with each other, because when we feel loved and supported from our peers, we are uplifted and encouraged to press forward. Love my Gridley zone! Everyone calls me Mama Gore 👵because I'm either giving someone advice, or telling someone not to sass me or do something ssilly. It's pretty great! Haha

I loved Sunday! It was fast and testimony meeting. When I woke up I had a feeling that I should bear my testimony. I've been struggling (what's new) and something told me that sharing my testimony would help. I thought about it all morning but shrugged it off. Sacrament meeting came and the time to share testimonies was happening. A sister shared her testimony and then there was a long, very uncomfortable pause. I felt the spirit so strongly that if I didn't get up I would have regretted it. I shared my simple testimony of the truths I know to be true. I know God lives and loves me. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that by following Him, we are happy. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet and he restored Christ's original church back onto the earth. I know that we can live with our families forever. 
I know all of these things to be true. I know it and I believe it.

A couple of the youth bore there testimonies as well. One said.
"I believe in Him, I believe Him" I believe in Jesus Christ. That He lives and loves us. But I also believe the words He spoke and the promises that He made. That as we follow Him, as we repent and change, we are clean and free of guilt and sorrow that sin brings.


And another said, "This gospel makes us better people." It's so true! As well strive to follow Jesus Christ, we do good, we are good and want to be good and help others be good too! It's all good! Haha

I love you all so much!

Trust God! Pray to Him! I know He hears you! Reach out with love! Wow that was a lot of things at once but hey...they're all good 😊


Sister Emily Gore

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Week 61: The Church is True, the Book is Blue

 
Monday, January 30th 2017

Well what a week! I think I have eaten at most of the restaurants in Gridley and Live Oak in just this past week. I have so many left overs in the fridge it's crazy! Members were just giving us money or taking us out. 

We went to ABC Chinese, Black Bear Diner, Subway, Betty's Mexican, Ice Burgies and Safeway. 

Tuesday was a kickin day! We had  5 lessons that day! We met with Beau L... and started talking to him about being baptized. He doesn't say much, but he smiles a lot and we can feel his love for Heavenly Father and know that we is going to be very prepared. 

Tuesday was also the day that Sister W., my trainer and Sister P., who was Sister C.'s trainer, went home. They served full, honorable missions and had wonderful influence on us. We spent a lot of the day talking about them and all the things we learned and how much they helped shape our missions. Sister W. was always positive about every situation. For her every day was the best day ever. She was also a spiritual giant. She was so in tune and it really helped me to learn to rely on the Spirit. I know that these companionships are truly inspired. 

Wednesday we drove down to Yuba City for the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast. The leaders of the church put together a broadcast for us to learn about how me can be more diligent and effective servants. They talked about the importance of repenting and keeping the commitments that we have given to our investigators. We talked about having faith and relaying on and trusting in the Spirit to lead and guide us.

Some changes were made to the schedule that allows for some leniency on when we want to study. We now only have 30 of comp study and we do our planning during the day. We also only get 30 mins for lunch. But pday now starts at 8am instead of 10am, so I'm quite grateful for that.

I'm grateful for the inspired leaders who take the time to help us and share their love for us. I know that all these changes were directed by Heavenly Father.

That night we had the opportunity to go to mutual and talk to the MIA Maids about missions. We talked about our most spiritual experiences and some of the creepers. We talked about the restoration of the gospel and how blessed we are to have the fullness of the gospel back on the earth. I'm so grateful for Joseph Smith and his courage and desire to know the truth.

So I realized that I'm come close to the end. A sister asked if I was doing the The 138 day count down, which is when you read The Doctrine & Covenants backwards. Ima little behind but I love the Doctrine & Covenants. I'm not counting down the days, but as I study the scriptures each day, I am preparing to make the day count. (If that makes sense) Its crazy how time flies when your having fun.

Sunday was such a a good Sabbath!! Brother H. gave a talk on repentance and the Atonement. He said,"It won't be standing before God with all the bad things we have done. But we will stand before God as who we are with/through the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

I'm so incredibly grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know He knows and loves each one of us personally. I know that we can receive strength beyond our own because of Him.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. Pray for and expect miracles!



Sister Emily Gore

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Week 60: "The Great Storm"

Monday January 23rd, 2017
 
Hello there friends and family of mine!! I just love and I'm so grateful for ya!

My week was full of ups and downs!! But mostly ups! We saw miracle after miracle! Our diligence is paying off!

Monday we had an awesome lesson with Kristian! We have been reading the Book of Mormon with him and he is just completely getting it! He pronounces all the names right and loves coming to church. The ward loves him and is warmly welcoming him in. We are excited to watch him grow and progress.

Thursday was as Watson would say THE BEST DAY EVER! Ya know why?! Cause it was sunny and we went tracting and saw countless miracles!! Most doors opened to us and either said we could come back or very politely declined. One lady named Belinda was on the phone so we gave her our card and she said we could stop by again later. We kept tracting and got to the other side of the street. We look across and she came outside and wanted to talk to us again. We walked over and she wanted the address to the church because she wanted to come some time. She had lived up in Washington with some members and she loved going to church with them, she read from the Book of Mormon and the lady taught her how to cook! She had a great experience and said she would love for us to come by again! 

I am a true believer that God has a plan for each one of and sometimes it's not by us directly contacting someone that will bring them to the gospel. But when we show the Lord that He can trust us and will do anything we can to find His children and share His gospel, then He will provide. I have seen this time after time on my mission and I know that the Lord blesses us for our efforts!

Friday was supposed to be our "carfast" (park our car and walk or bike) day but because of the storm it was canceled! Everyone in Live Oak was freaking out that we were gonna flood and that we were all gonna die. It was intense at first but it cleared up by the mid afternoon haha. But I'm not complaining.

Saturday was a hard day. Lots of empty doors. Gridley has proven to be much more difficult than Live Oak so we are constantly trying to figure out who to see because no one answers the door! Sister C is so wonderful and diligent! While I drive she is always going through area book or LDS Tools looking for people. She's wonderful! Anyway, she came across the C... family. I had never even heard of them. It was a miracle! Sister C... happily let us in and she opened up to us. She is active and has even been through the Temple. Her husband is kind of struggling right now and she said it was perfect timing that we stopped by. We are going to be having dinner with them in 2 weeks and hope to help them get to the Temple to be sealed!! 

The Temple is the ultimate goal! It is where families can be sealed and work for the dead can be performed. It is a Sacred and Holy place. I am grateful for the opportunities I've had to go and hope to be able to go more! Attend the Temple as often as you can!

That night we had transfer notices and Sister C... and I are staying together and we are SO happy!! 

I'm so sorry I'm behind again! It's just been crazy!

I hope everyone is doing well and is happy!!

Love you!


Sister Emily Gore