week 12: #Thyfaithhathmadetheewhole

This week was CRAZY! I don't even know! It was such a roller coaster!
We found a new investigator or a less active were not really sure. His
name is T. and he was a media referral, so we went over to give him
a Bible and it turns out he was baptized when he was younger, we're
not sure if his records are still in the church but we have an
appointment with him on Wednesday and our bishop said to treat him like an investigator until we find out more info! So woohoo!! This
week was a week of miracles; well Saturday and Sunday were WONDERFUL!! Just faith filled days! So we had set a goal to have 6 LARCs (less active/recent convert lessons) this week which is one more than the average, we weren't sure if Sister Watson was going to be transferred or not, but if she was we wanted to go out with a bang! So on Saturday we had reached our goal but decided to raise our goal to 10 LARCs which we had never done in one week, the most lessons we've had for that key indicator was 7 and those were on really good weeks. It was a faith filled weekend. We went to Lord and told him our goal and we won't stop working until we achieved it. And it was beautiful to watch how our day went. Saturday no one was home, or if they were they didn't have time to talk. So we only had one lesson Saturday, but we didn't give up hope, we knew the Lord would help us accomplish our goal. So Sunday came and we had a regional broadcast and it was so amazing! I'll talk about that later. And guess how many lessons we have!? 5!! FIVE LESSONS IN ONE DAY! Not just any day! A SUNDAY!! So guess how many LARCs we had!? ELEVEN!!!! It was a miracle! We felt the Lord with us! Our 10th was a lady named T. that we see all the time. Today she was so receptive. She's very honest with us and usually doesn't follow commitments or even say that she will. But when we invited her to read from the Book of Mormon daily, she said she would!! She even asked us to text her and remind her until it becomes a daily habit!! We are so excited for her to see the Lord bless her as she exercises her faith!! Then we felt prompted to see D.! We love D.! She recently moved in and is just so sweet!!! We went over and shared a scripture about the Atonement and our Saviors love for her. She just cried and cried as we testified to her of how much our Heavenly Father loves her and how the Atonement is infinite. I am so grateful we went over to uplift her! I love seeing miracles! Transfers are this week and none of the sisters are leaving which is really cool!! Me and Sister Watson are staying together another one, and they will probably shot gun us out of this one and put Elders in the ward. But we are going to focus these next 7 weeks (yes this transfer is 7 weeks long) and have fun! 3 of the Elders are leaving so I'm super sad about that, but hopefully I will see them again or serve around them later. I love my Zone!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! I LOVE BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST!! I know this church is true. I know our Heavenly Father loves each one of us!
Love
Sister Gore🙌🏻

Week 11: #trialbyfire

This week was so strange. In.every.way. First off let me explain the hashtag. So as new missionaries, our first two transfers are getting trained. To help us we do something called ‘12 Week’, which is a bunch of different lessons and videos we watch to help us know how to do the Lord’s work. So when you’re on your 11th week, like muah, you take over and take the lead in all activities. So I planned what we did, I made the decisions of who we saw and where we went, I had the phone, I decided when we left places, I made sure our dinner appointment was called, all the things the trainer does, I did. Boy it was different. I was SO nervous on Tuesday. Our new investigator wasn't home so the plan for the morning went from full to empty, and I just panicked because I had no idea what to do. That's kind of how the who week went, no one was home or things fell through so then I had to (quickly) decide what to do next. Honestly, I could've done better, but that's why we have it in the first pace, to learn and figure out for ourselves how to be missionaries. It's crazy to think I have one week left of being trained, I'll be green for a while, but the TR on my picture will go away, so weird. I've actually enjoyed my time as a greenie, I wouldn't want to do it again, redo things I could have done better, but I have many months to improve and be better. Okay now on to what we actually did.

Monday we went hiking in Mount Shasta, well we attempted to, but then Elder K and Elder R’s car got stuck in the snow...twice. So they left with Elder B and Elder Y. Then our car got stuck, and the Zone Leaders and Elder S and Elder M came back to help another car get unstuck, so the 8 of us were still there so we decided to hike to the falls while the other 4 went bowling which was honestly super sad because although it was fun it would've been much more fun with them there. I'll throw some pictures in, it was super fun! 

We had exchanges again this week!! And I took over my area with Sister P!! She's so great, she's the STL (Sister Training Leader) and we had a few heart to hearts and it was fantastic! I took her contacting for the first time - nobody was interested, but that's okay. I love exchanges because it's a perfect time to get new ideas and improve! The rest of the week was
good … oh we found two new investigators!!! Which is exciting, sadly we weren't able to see any of our other investigators this week which is super sad, but hopefully we can see them this week. We had interviews!!! Oh my goodness I love President Marston!!! He is so amazing!! We talked about my goals for my mission and how I can accomplish them! I JUST LOVE MY MISSION PRESIDENT! You can tell how
much he loves each missionary and just wants us each to be happy! We find out who is getting transferred on Saturday and I'm pretty sure I'm staying which I'm excited about, but nervous to think about taking
over the area, if it happens. I would miss Sister W.

Okay the talk I have been reading is week is Eyes to See and Ears to Gear by Kim B Clark... IT IS AMAZING everyone should read it!! https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/eyes-to-see-and-ears-to-hear?lang=enghttps://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/eyes-to-see-and-ears-to-hear?lang=eng
I'm excited for this next week. This week in my studies I've been studying the correlation between obedience and having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. They go hand in hand. If we want the Spirit with us, we need to be obedient. I just love being a missionary!!
I love my Savior and I love the Book of Mormon!
Love you!
Sister Gore

week 10: #relyingontheLord

Gonna be honest - this week was not the greatest … at least it didn't
start that way. Well in comparison to other weeks it wasn't the best.
Which I know I shouldn't compare but when you know you can do better, it stinks when you sell yourself short.

 Okay maybe I'm exaggerating because it wasn't that bad. Monday night we went to the S family and had dinner. Then we had a lesson with them and taught them the Restoration. It was actually fun because they role played accents.
Although we were cracking up half the time, it was super amazing and spiritual and I'm really grateful for their family. Another missionary also gave us some really good pointers on how we can teach better so it was super helpful and I was really grateful they were there.

Tuesday was one of those days. Usually they are our powerhouse days, but this time it was not. We did though, go back to that house on El Capitan and see the girl who we gave a Book of Mormon to. She hasn't read it yet but wants to and she wants to go to church. Her dad and brother were there this time and were interested as well!! And the awesome thing is, they know the stake President and she goes to school with his son! So we're super excited for them!! It showed me once again that members make all the difference, it's hard to say if they would've say yes if they hadn't known someone who is trying to live the Gospel. So really when we are tracting, in the back of my mind I'm praying for two things;  that whoever answers knows a member and that they recognize the spirit and are prepared, okay maybe that's three things, but you get the point, member friendship is super important.

Shout out to members: invite your friends to things, be good examples and share the gospel! Missionaries should be full time teachers and members should be full time finders!! Wednesday was district meeting which was super amazing! We talked about the things we learned at the broadcast and it was just super good. One thing I learned was how important it is to be worthy of the spirit, because he is the true teacher. Also how important it is to keep an eternal perspective. That I am a missionary, I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and I am
here to help people come closer to Him and make covenants so that one day they can reside in the Celestial Kingdom with their family and Heavenly Father forever. So yeah really good!! The rest of the day was just ehh after that, we both just were not in good moods. Just life wasn't fun, but we had an awesome heart to heart and were just really able to help each other. Sister W is really trying to help me use my gift of discernment more, which is kind of scary but I love being that close with the Lord and being able to help those around me.
Thursday we went on exchanges!! I LOVE EXCHANGES!! I was with Sister S in her area and it was super fun! We went to this older man’s house, and read the Book of Mormon with him. He has a caretaker that is sometimes there and after I had the impression to invite her to join us, so I let Smith know because the lady seemed interested, she grew up in Idaho and knows Mormons and was asking about what we do, so I really hope something happens with her! The rest of the day we tried to contact potentials and less actives but no one was really home. Then we ate dinner at the Gambles and their daughter just got back from a mission and they are just one of those feel-good families that you meet and can instantly be yourself around. We had great discussion about the importance of enduring to the end and the importance of doing the basics. Plus I got to drive which is always fun! Excited to get my own TiWi card in a couple weeks! Friday was super good! We did our weekly planning and because it's my week 11 (which means I am in charge this week, pretty much we reverse roles) I planned and I'm excited but pretty anxious so prayers are appreciated!!
To give you a glimpse of this week I ate two cartons of Ben & Jerrys.
I realized during this time of stuffing my face with ice cream how
much I need my Savior. That although Ice Cream makes me happy, it is when I turn to Him I find real peace and comfort. He is my brother and my friend, my savior and redeemer. I am grateful for the Atonement, that I am not only forgiven of my sins, but given strength to overcome my weaknesses.
Okay cool story time!! Sister W and I were going to visit someone and we picked a scripture and prayed and was about to get out of the car, when she had an impression to go visit a potential named Ron. So we drove to his house and we had just finished praying when he pulled into his drive way!! We had a great talk with him. He's a former investigator so he had a BOM so we read some verses with him and talked about them, he agreed with everything and said we could come back!!! (Don't worry we stand on his front porch) so we are SOO excited for him!! So he is now a NEW INVESTIGATOR!! Then we saw the less active and went to dinner. Then our district ended up all being at the church, which was perfect because I felt really strongly to ask for a blessing so the Lord definitely answers our prayers because it was much needed and so helpful. I feel so much better and I am so grateful for the priesthood and the blessings it had brought into my life. It was my first time, that I can remember that I got a blessing without my dad so that was different but it was just as good because it came from the Lord.

Sunday was spectacular. I woke up just so excited to take the sacrament! All morning I was just waiting and preparing and my studies just didn't go as well! But once I took the Sacrament I felt soooo good! There is so much power and peace in that simple ordinance. I am so grateful for the Sabbath and am striving to
make it a holier day.

I love being in Redding. I love being a missionary, I can't say it
enough. This week has been hard, honestly it's been rough and I can
see that this next week will really rough as well. But I know that
these trials are here for my learning and growth. That through them I
will be stronger and better. I am grateful for that knowledge and for
my Savior during these difficult times.
Keep being missionaries! Keep sharing the gospel! Be safe in the 30
inches of snow.
The church is true and God loves you
Love,
Sister Gore