Week 68: Seeing Green

Monday, March 21st 2017  

      We had a pretty good week! We did lots of finding and we're pretty successful! I'm feeling a bit more comfortable. I can get around a little bit more and know a few more members so slowly but surely I'm adjusting! It was a good week so I'll give you a highlight from each day!

       Tuesday was great! We went to the trailer to contact some formers. While walking we hear a lady yell "Oh geez I got paint all over me!" So we walk over to see if we can help and we get to talking! Her name is Penny and she said we can stop by anytime and even referred us to a couple of her neighbors in the park! We prayed with her and left her with our card!

       Wednesday was district meeting and interviews with President Marston! I am so grateful for him! He is so inspired and has so much love for us! We talked about Peace and Jesus Christ. He asked us to come prepared with a scripture on a principle of peace. I chose Moses 1:3-4

3 And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?

4 And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease.

       I know that I am a daughter of God and that He knows and loves me. He is not only the Creator and Master of the universe, but my Father in Heaven. I am in His hands and He has a plan for me. I don't always understand it or want it, but I know that His plan is far better in the end than I could ever dream of. 

        He asked what brings me peace. For me, there's too many to answer. But my greatest source of peace I've found on my mission is when I do everything I can to be right with God. When I am obedient not only to the rules but especially to the Spirit! Being worthy and led no guided by the spirit is the greatest feeling. Obedience brings confidence in doing His work! And I need all the help I can get!

       Thursday we did service at Sunrise Senior Center. Today they asked us to give hand and feet massages....okay. So I gave an old lady a hand massage...it was interesting. I can now say that I've done it. Thankfully she wanted to play bingo enough that she was willing to skip the feet! So we played bingo! Haha

         Later that day we had a lesson with David, one of the referrals from Penny! He is wheelchair bound and has a lot of questions about the purpose of life. We taught the Plan of Salvation and focused on Gods love and choice. He couldn't understand why he would ever choose the life he has. It wasn't anything that Sister T or I could really answer. We testified that God loves him and whether he thinks it or not, God has a wonderful plan for him. We invited him to pray about his purpose and what God would have him do. Our hearts broke for him a little! So please pray for David! We have a return appointment this week so we will let you know how it goes!

       Friday we weekly planned and had dinner with the Struttens! It was St.Pattys day so they went all out with everything green! Green spinach tortilla quesadillas, pistachios, guacamole, lime rice, and green sherbet w/sprite! It was sooooo yummy!! They made rainbow fudge and little pot of gold for desert! Such a cute family and fun dinner!!

      Saturday we had a great visit with James! He taught us the Restoration and he did such a good job I was so proud! Ive only taught him twice but he has a sincere desire to connect with God! After our lesson I had a serious ice cream craving haha So we tracked down the nearest McDonalds for a cone! We gave a pass along card to the cashier at the drive through so it was two birds one stone!

       Sunday was probably my favorite day of this entire week!! Church was awesome, we studied and took a little cat nap because I was exhausted! We had dinner then hit the pavement! We had some awesome chats with people and a lot said we could come back too! I just felt like myself and I really felt the spirit with me and guiding me as to what I should say!! It felt SOOOO GOOD!!

        We started a 31 day study of the Atonement in the mission. Every day we get an email from President. It's been amazing to have Christ the focus of my studies each day, especially to study about His love for us. It's truly helped me during the day to have Him on the forefront of my mind! I love Jesus!!

Oh and the title is reference to an article I read on LDS.org! It's so good! Y'all should read it!!

Love you lots!

Sister Emily Gore

Week 67: I don't think I'm in Gridley anymore

Monday March 13, 2017

Greetings from Granite Bay California! This is polar opposite from a Gridley...In almost every way. 

Monday we cleaned, packed and went to Ice Bergies for lunch and milkshake Monday! We met up in Oroville for basketball and signing journals! Gridley zone has been one of my favorites, we became a little family! 

Tuesday we got up bright and early for soccer! I've come to love it even though I hate the mornings. Brother E stopped by for one last selfie. He reminded me that, "Missionary work is not about what we do but who we are."

We spent the morning cleaning and packing and saying goodbye. Saying goodbye to Sister O and Sister C was hard. We became sisters, we went through so much together and I'm gonna miss all of our fun adventures and shenanigans! Sister C and I headed down to the mission office so I could meet my new companion. I probably cried half the way down. Gonna miss this place.

Sister Cowden & Sister Gore

I met Sister T and got to see some other good friends!! She's very bubbly and excited so I'm excited to work with her!

Sister Gore & Sister Tsalagi

Traffic...so.much.traffic! It's definitely going to prepare me for home.

We dropped off my stuff and headed to a lesson with a recent convert and his family! We talked about the Word of Wisdom and all committed to pray about a goal to set that will help us keep the word of wisdom better. I decided that I am going to eat more fruits and veggies and less sugar! I'd invite each of you to pray about how you can better live this commandment of God. 

Wednesday we had a lesson with our investigator named Taylor. Okay funny story! I met Taylor when I was in Lincoln! Her grandparents were in my ward and they had us over for dinner while she was visiting them! Coincidence, I think not! God works in mysterious ways! She wasn't in a very good mood but we talked about putting God as our number one priority and that when we do, all works out for our good. Something that my seminary teacher, Sister Clark, invited us to do was study our scriptures before we did homework. I really saw how this helped me learn and focus. We invited her to do the same. She said she would try...it's better than not haha

That night we had dinner with two girls who just got back from their missions last week! Nikayla and Sophia are still on fire and want to help us in any way they can! We had a blast and planned to go on splits soon!

Nikayla, Sisters Gore & Tsalagi

Thursday we went to volunteer at a senior center! We played bingo! It was a blast. Later we took Nikayla out with us to go tracting. We didn't have much success and people weren't very nice to us. But we were able to get some tips and meet a member of our ward.

That night we met James. Oh my goodness this man is something else. We talked about faith and somehow got on the topic of resurrection. Our member and James started had an interesting conversation. We just watched and listened!

Friday was zone Meeting and lunch with the Jensen's! Good food and good company That night we had a lesson with a family that is investigating, the S Family! They are solid. They read and love the Book of Mormon and seem to understand most of the doctrine. They just need to come to learn how it can help them personally. We talked about the Holy Ghost and his role in our lives. The spirit was strong and I found a love for them. 

Sunday was wonderful despite daylight savings. I miss waking up to sunshine! We have Ward Council at 7am...oh no. Church was so good! It was a Sister Missionary Sunday! Bishop asked me to bear my testimony since I am new. Then Nikayla and Sophia spoke and sang a duet. Then Bishop asked a sister in the ward who had served many years ago to bear her testimony! It was spirit filled and I cried haha

We went to Roseville to talk to some of the members who moved but still have property in our ward. They have neighbors at their old house who can translate for someone we are teaching..complicated sorry. We get lost because I don't know where anything is and neither does Sister T. We were on our way home when I look at the gas gauge and it says we have about 2 miles until we are gonna run out of gas...my bad. We make it home but have no idea how we're gonna get dinner. So luckily our dinner is really nice and picks us up and takes us home. We planned the rest of the evening so it all worked out.

Sorry this isn't detailed or very good, I'm still getting used to everything and my heart is still in Gridley. But I have seen many tender mercies this week that have shown me that God loves and has a plan for me here!

Grateful to be here and grateful to be His servant!

Love y'all!

Sister Emily Gore

Week 66: I will seek the Lord

Monday March 6, 2017      

This week was a blast, but also bitter sweet since it is my last in Good ole Gridley. We had an awesome pday! We had a bonfire at the church and roasted hotdogs and made s'mores! We had dinner wit the Eccles and had FE with them. They have a tradition of doing an obstacle course with the missionaries. It was a little tough in skirts but we made pretty good time! I just love them

       Tuesday I went on exchanges with Sister L. She is in her first transfer of being trained and has a lot of fire. She's from South Carolina so it was fun to be with a fellow east coaster! 

     We had a blast! I think my favorite miracle from that day was when we were trying to see a former. She opened her door and told us she was of another faith and to find someone else. So we headed back to the car when Sister L sees a man working in his yard and asks if we should talk to him. So we go over and ask if he needs any help. We introduce ourselves and he sets up a time for us to come back. Next Wednesday at 10:30 am! It was pretty cool!

       We switched back mid afternoon and went to our lesson with Beau. We talked about the Apostasy and the restoration of the priesthood and used Skittles! We made groups of the colorful candy but only one group and one green skittle to represent what makes the gospel special and stand out from all the rest. It's the Priesthood! The authority to act in Gods name! He loved the lesson. He's usually a pretty quiet kid, but today he was smiling, answering and even read from his children's Book of Mormon! He's a rockstar and such a cutie! 

   Wednesday was unsuccessful finding and helping Sister McD put up curtains...

         Thursday was one of my favorite days! It's MLC day!! Sister C and I joked that this one was a spiritual slap in the face! It gave us so much inspiration as to how we can help our investigators. We discussed the Holy Ghost, his role in teaching (he's the real teacher) and qualifying and being worthy of the spirit. Here's some of the notes I took:

-Act on the faith you want to have

-A man will get nearer to God by abiding by the precepts taught in the Book of Mormon

-Obedience = confidence

-Alma 17:2-3; diligently searching, much prayer and fasting, waxing strong in the faith is a process, we are blessed with the spirit of revelation and prophecy as we do these things

-D&C 4:5-7 eye single to the glory of God, faith, hope, purpose, prayerful, temperate, humble, patient, kind

-We are the vessels! The spirit works through us, we must be worthy. "Do you want to bring the spirit in a teaspoon or a boatload?" -Sister Marston

-It's so important to listen to the spirit, even when we are repeatedly lead to empty doors. "We might have a million failures, but we have a two second window [for a miracle] and we have to qualify for that." 

-You can't sit around waiting for promptings, He will guide the feet that are already moving

Sister Gore & Sister Price

Sister Canann & Sister Gore

Sisters Gore, Taylor & Cowden

All the Sisters who ever served in Liberty

Gridley Zone missionaries

       There were a lot of my good friends going home this transfer. It's always bittersweet but I'm grateful for each of their examples to me, they have truly helped make me a better missionary and person. I am also so grateful for their friendship and patience! They were amazing missionaries and I know they will continue to do wonderful things back at home! 

        Friday was a special day for me. President Marston allowed me to Skype Papa & Pam after they were sealed. It was emotional and my heart was full of love and joy. They were just so happy! I was able to bear my testimony to them of the Plan of Salvation and my love for the Savior! I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and that He has a plan for each of us. He places people in our path at perfect moments. He knows us so personally! I know that we can all be together forever because of the priesthood power that has been restored to the earth. I know that Christ's Atonement made this possible, because He overcame death, so will we. I love my family and I'm excited to see them all again someday!

        Saturday I had my last MCM with Brother E! He's the best and I'm grateful for all his wisdom. His advice for me was to go in with no expectations except for myself. I decided that I would have a clear and open mind about wherever I was sent and whoever I was assigned to be companions with.

        After we headed over to the church to participate in a painting class that the Relief Society was putting on. We painted a beach scene and I learned that painting actually scenes or things is not a talent of mine hahaha But it was fun to get to know the Sisters and see everyone's style. Everyone's was different and unique.

         That night we had a District dinner with a family in the Gridley first Ward. We all made individual pizzas! So yummy! We then headed over to Oroville for our transfer Devotional. And it's official I'm leaving ☹️ I love this area so much so it's tough thinking about leaving.

        Sunday was good. I didn't tell a lot of people I was leaving...oops. But we pretty much just made the rounds of saying "see ya later" to some of my favs! The email came out that night and I am going to Granite 1st Ward with Sister T! She served with Sister D and she is very happy and energetic about the work! It will be a good place to finish off my mission!

       I'm so grateful that God chose me to come to California and right now, to come to Gridley. My heart is full of love for these people, we have so many progressing so I know I will be back soon! 

    Love y'all so much! Count your blessings this week and look for Gods hand! He loves you!

Love,

Sister Emily Gore

Week 65: Blankets, good conversations & miracles

Monday Feb. 27th 2017

Man what a week! It was nice to get back into the swing of things. The Oroville Dam situation has kind of died down and everyone is getting settled back into to normal routines!

We started this week with an awesome pday! We went over to the R Family for homemade French toast! It was so yummy and it was little piece of home! Later that day we went over with the Hermanas to Sister H to make blankets. We took pieces of fleece, sewed them together, then cut and tied the ends! So fun and so warm!

That night after dinner, we didn't really know who to see or what to do. I had this feeling that we should go see Kristian. We went and it was definitely a prompting because we were able to have a really good conversation about Baptism! He said he is going to pray about it! 

We got a text on Thursday from Linsey B asking if we were in the neighborhood and if we could come visit her and we told her of course! We had such a good visit with her. She said she felt much better afterwards and that our visits always lift her up! I just love her! Her light truly is growing brighter and brighter and she is being such a good example to her family! 

Friday was car fast day and a day of miracles! So. Many. Miracles! I'm going to number them because they were so many

1. The bikes weren't broken
2. I had energy and didn't get tired or sore
3. We always had places to keep our bikes safe
4. We saw Monica and she said we could come back
5. We met Coleen and we prayed with her and now we are friends
6. We have a return appointment with a man named Jerry
7. We had a really good weekly planning session
8. Sister H drove us to ABC Chinese to meet Doug there and Sister M drove us home
9. It didn't rain and it wasn't cold
10. We saw the hand of God guide and protect us the entire day

I honestly used to hate car fast days, but they are really nice when you actually live in your area and have nice members #blessings

Sunday was so busy and I loved it! That day we had a lesson with Paul on the priesthood! He received the priesthood a few weeks ago and has started to pass the Sacrament! I'm so proud of him! We showed the video "Sanctify yourselves." Its about a young man who coaches football who just received the Melchizedek priesthood. During a practice one of his young players gets struck by lightning. The young man is ready and worthy to give him a blessing of healing. The player got up and was fine. The video really emphasizes the importance of being worthy of the priesthood and ready to use it at any time. I am so grateful for the priesthood and for the strength it's given me through blessings. I've been brought so much comfort and peace as well as healing because of this gift from God! I know that it truly has been restored to the earth by the prophet Joseph Smith and it is for our good!

That night was New Beginnings and MaKala came and even brought a dessert!! I am so proud of her! She doesn't like being the center of attention, but she got up there and participated with the Mia Maids! She is growing so much and I know that some day soon she will enter the waters of baptism! She's almost there, please keep her in your prayers!!

I am just grateful for all my many blessings! Thank you thank you for your love and support!! I know God lives and loves us much more than we could ever comprehend!

Hope on, journey on!

Ps I'm running out of title ideas....sorry

Sister Emily Gore

Week 64: The rains came down and the floods came up

Monday, February 20th, 2017 

 Alrighty well to pick up where I left off, we woke up Monday morning in Antelope!! We got a call from our Zone Leaders telling us that President said we will probably go home that afternoon or evening. So we decided to enjoy the day in south. We went shopping and visited friends in neighboring zones. We decided around 5 to call the Zone Leaders and ask what was going on. They said we were going to stay longer and that our zone conference was canceled on Thursday but would go with the northern zones on Friday. We hung up and called President to get a little bit more information. He said that we would be attending the southern zone conference the next day and needed to find proselyting clothes. So we had to go from Lincoln to Fair Oaks to go to Desert Book then to Citrus Heights and Roseville to borrow clothes from Nicole (Emily’s college best friend) and one of Sister Cr.'s friends. We also had to eat dinner because we were starving and go to Walmart to pick up some essentials because we didn't pack really anything and didn't know when we were going home. We got Ben & Jerrys because we missed home and we were sad. 

      The next morning we got up, picked up some Jamba Juice and headed to zone conference. We met with the Antelope, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Yuba City and then us 4 sisters from Gridley. We felt like fish out of water. We were really missing our people. But despite feeling out of place, I learned a lot. 

We talked all about the Atonement and Repentance! We talked the joy true, honest Repentance brings. We talked about having faith over fear. We need to trust in the Atonement and trust in Christ's promise that when we repent we will be freed and forgiven! We watched a training video and one mission presidents talked about Fear of Missing Out. He talked about many times we fear the repentance process when really we should fear missing Heavenly Father in our lives. We should fear missing the Spirit and the joy and peace that comes from change through the Savior! 

       At the end of Zone Conference we got the go ahead to return back home!! We were soooo excited!! We dropped off the clothes we borrowed, got 5 Guys and headed home! We got there around 9pm and I have never been happier to be back in good ole Live Oak!

The rest of the week was kind of lame since everyone was either out of town or still in panic mode. It honestly made me appreciate being a missionary and realize how much I LOVE what I get to do every single day! I love teaching the gospel and finding those who are prepared!!

       Saturday we had a miracle!! It was after dinner and we didn't know what to do really, I was like hey let's go see K! I am so glad I listened because he told us that he could be off probation THIS year if he completes his hours! We were pretty excited because that means he can be baptized a lot sooner! We extended the baptism invitation and he is going to pray about it! Yay!

       Sunday we were finally able to have a lesson with P!! It had been like two months! We talked about standing up for our beliefs and doing what’s right! We testified that we are never alone when we stand for up Heavenly Father! 

In the middle of the lesson, Sister N. and her daughter came to the Eccles house so her daughter could get a blessing before they took her to the ER. They were supposed to feed a family whose kitchen is being torn apart due to a leak. So we offered to make the dinner for them! It was so fun! We made rolls and BBQ chicken! It was all timed absolutely perfectly! It was awesome to be able to serve our ward members! I could totally relate too since it wasn't too long ago our kitchen was torn apart due to a leak.

I know that God lives and loves us! 

Love you SO much!!

Sister Emily Gore