Week 19: Merry Christmas from Wyoming!

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

On Thursday I went on exchanges with Hermana Clark! It was probably the weirdest/best exchange of my life! It had snowed all night so we had a no drive day. Members came and took us to our lesson and then dropped us off at the church! We were going to walk to some sister's apartment and eat lunch, but none of the sisters were answering their phone to give us the address. We started walking 5 miles home. We ended up running into Santa Claus! I really don't know why he was in Wyoming, because the weather is probably nicer at the North Pole. Anyway he gave us a little Christmas tree, so that was fun to carry that for the rest of our walk! The snow was 5 inches, but Sister Clark and I were laughing so hard, especially when people would honk at us! I thought Light The World on the 21st was "You saw the missionaries walking, and you gave them a ride." Guess I was wrong!  We were one mile away from our house and I started to hitch hike! God answered my prayer and a member picked us up! 

On Friday we had zone conference! It was so good. We watched the story of John Tanner and talked about having the faith to reap. Then we had a white elephant gift exchange! I got a cool manatee statue! 

On Saturday we had a lesson with cousin Pat! She gave me a cute little invite to her baptism! I am so excited for her!

On Sunday we spoke in church! I referenced the talk "Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come From a Store" by Jeffrey R Holland. It was perfect for me, because I needed the reminder on how to feel the Christmas Spirit! After we went to both of our churches, we went caroling with the elders! It was way fun and it reminded me of home! I also had a cool experience with prayer! I lost my very first name tag! It had my cute little orange MTC dot on the back! I prayed that I would find it! I felt like we should go look at one of the houses we caroled to. It was 0 degrees and dark, and I don't think Sister Green was feeling optimistic ;) I followed my prompting and after a few minutes of digging in the snow, I found it! 

Of course the best part of my week was on Christmas day! I got to skype my wonderful family! I could hardly bring myself to say goodbye, but oh how thankful I am for the knowledge that I get to be with them forever and that the time of my mission is but a brief separation. I am so thankful for all the members who made our Christmas special! Especially the Langford's who had us for breakfast, and the Butler's who had us over for dinner and a movie! We got to watch "The Best Two Years" which was so fun! I really think it was the best Christmas of my life!

I finished the Book of Mormon this week! It is so very precious to me! What stood out to me the most was the pride cycle!

To quote Hugh Nibley "The tragedy of the Book of Mormon is not what became of the Nephites, but what the Nephites became." I couldn't believe how the people could completely forget the source of their blessings! I realized very quickly that I am the very same way! May we always remember the sacrifice of our elder brother Jesus Christ, as well of the endless love from our Father in Heaven! 

I love you all so much! Talk to you next week!

--

 ~Sister Gish~

Sister Gish with her awesome white elephant gift she totally stole at Zone Conference 

Sister Gish with the Casper Zone. Sister Gish is in the middle being her usual crazy self

Hermana Clark, Sister Gish, and Santa Claus. He told the sisters that he is in the North Pole 32nd ward

Sister Walker, Sister Packard, Hermana Clark, and Sister Gish

Sister Gish got to skype home for Christmas! She had the opportunity to skype to both her parents! Skyped her Mom in the morning along with Grandma and Grandpa Richins and Burkhart and many other family members!

Sister Gish skyping her Dad and Grandma Gish in the afternoon along with her Uncle Mark and Gale and cousins Thomas and Claire!

Week 18: Sister Gish Hits Her Four Month Mark!

Hello Friends!

This week has been harder than most. To quote the Nashville Tribute Band, a mission is definitely "the hardest thing I ever loved to do." 

Lately it feels like we have been working so hard, but nothing is happening. Then on top of that some members told us all the things we should be doing, which just made me feel worse. My stress levels were through the roof. Then I came down with a cold this week! I have felt crummy and fatigued all week, but of course we wanted to keep going! Near the end of the week the elders gave me a blessing of healing. I didn't even tell them all the things that have been weighing on my heart, but of course the spirit prompted them to address it. He said that any stress and anxiety I was feeling was only to help me learn and grow. He said that it was going to help me bless the lives of others. Of course I was crying like a school girl. Sometimes I forget how aware my Heavenly Father is of me. Sometimes I forget that because of Jesus Christ, I don't have to do life alone. If I put my trust in the Savior, He will help me. He knows exactly how I feel. He knows it perfectly. 

Our mission had the opportunity to memorize the Living Christ. As I have come to study and cherish this document, I have come to love my Savior even more. I don't just believe in Christ anymore... I know Him. I know that He is my healer, my comforter, and most of all he is my friend. This has been the best Christmas of my life because my heart has never been turned towards Him more. I have never had to rely on Him and His grace more fully in my life. 

I love you all and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! 

love,

Sister Gish

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Uncle George! Woot Woot!

Sister Gish hit her four month mark!

Sister Gish, Sister Moli, Sister Gillis, and Sister Green at Sink's Canyon

Sister Gish and Sister Green out tracting

Sister Gish and Sister Green being silly!

Classic Wyoming Christmas decor!

Sister Gish and Sister Green making Christmas cookies

Sister Gish's first time wearing snow boots

How Sister Gish really feels about wearing snow boots

Sister Gish and Sister Green tracting in the snowy weather

Week 17

Howdy!

Obviously I had a good week... I'm on a mission ;)

Last Tuesday we drove to Colorado! It was so fun because I got to spend the night with Sister Harkness and Sister Weeter! It was so fun to catch up with Sister Harkness because we hadn't seen each other since the MTC! Ahhhh!

On Wednesday, we had a trainer's meeting! It was super helpful to get new ideas on how to train. I got to see Sister Van Camp who I also haven't seen since the MTC! We got to stop at Nee See's in Cheyenne and get some free dresses! That was awesome, but it was snowing so hard I couldn't even see the road, so we spent the night in Cheyenne and I got to see Sister Sperry! 

Anyway, back to the work!

We got a new investigator this week! Her name is Pam. She said she wanted to learn more about religon, so we offered to teach her about ours. She was like "How much is it?" and I was like "IT'S FREE!!!!"

We had a lesson with Mark this week. We taught him the Word of Wisdom! It was so cool because at first he was trying to avoid it, but then he was like "Ok I know I need to do it for me and my wife." So he set a goal to quit coffee and tea by the first of the year. Then he made another goal to quit tobacco in the next 3 months. Then he just decided to make the goal to read two pages out of the Book of Mormon everyday. It is so amazing to see people change!

Then we went to visit a less active family this week. When we got there, they were processing a cow... which is what they were doing the last time when Sister Warren and I went over. This time we rolled up our sleeves and helped! It was so funny! 

We had some really cool miracles while tracting yesterday. We tracted into a lady that we volunteer with at the senior center. She came out on the porch and chatted with us. We showed her light the world, and she was weeping at the end of it. I asked her what stood out as she watched the video. She replied "It is so amazing that we can return to live with Jesus again" We agreed and we invited her to learn more. She told us that she grew up in the church and that it taught her a lot, but she wasn't interested in coming back. Then we were able to share the light the world video with 2 more families on that street! My toes were cold, but my heart was warm. 

I just want to share my testimony that I know our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us. My friend sent me a video that referenced a couple talks from Jeffrey R Holland. 

One of my favorite quotes was:  

 "the first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength—that’s the first great commandment. But the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength." 

It continues to quote another talk from him that reads:

"I am not certain just what our experience will be on Judgment Day, but I will be very surprised if at some point in that conversation, God does not ask us exactly what Christ asked Peter: 'Did you love me?'"

I do love God. It is one of the biggest reasons why I came on a mission. I know that my time is His. I don't want to waste it. Not even a second!  I hope that we will all strive daily to show by our works that we love Him and serve Him. I am thankful for our Savior. I hope that we will remember His matchless life as we celebrate this Christmas!

I love you all! 

 ~Sister Gish~

Sister Gish and Sister Green at trainers meeting

Sister Gish and Sister Sperry

Sister Gish with the best car ever

Sister Gish and Sister Green

Sister Gish and her bestie Sister Harkness

Sister Weeter, Sister Gish, Sister Harkness, and Sister Green

Christmas time!

Sister Gish and Sister Green tracting

Sister Gish made Sister Green take 50 jumping pics and this was the best one lol

Christmas in Lander, WY

Sister Gish out in the cold

Sister Gish and Sister Van Camp

Sister Gish and Sister Green getting their hands dirty and processing a cow

Week 16: Sister Gish the Trainer

Hey gang!

This week was so wonderful! 

On Wednesday, I picked up my presh little greenie, Sister GREEN! I was so nervous to train! When I found out I was training I prayed so hard for the Lord's guiding hand to be over me as we started this new transfer! I was scared that I didn't know how to be a little missionary girl! But boy oh boy has the Lord made me equal to the task! He has helped me to be bold and joyous in my teaching. I realized that the difference between being pushy and being bold was love. I also know that perfect love casteth out all fear! So that is what I decided to do this week: to love a little harder! I tried to remember that everyone I talked to is a beloved child of God, and I have to say that it paid off.

So we had to cancel our lesson with Mark this week, but he has been reading the Book of Mormon, so he is on the right path! Then we were in Dubois and we decided to go see a lady named Erin. She is someone that has been referred to us many times, and Sister Warren and I introduced ourselves. Sister Green and I went over to share Light the World. She really enjoyed it and agreed to participate! We also invited her to take the lessons and she said YES! That was super exciting. Light the World is an amazing missionary tool! I have really enjoyed using it in my tracting approaches! It doesn't matter what religion you are, we should all strive to serve as the Savior did! So I would invite you all to share it with someone and invite them to participate with you this week!

Then we went to see Ida this week! We talked about the Book of Mormon and she pulled out the scripture in revelation about not adding to the bible. We explained the scriptural timeline and bore our testimonies that it isn't meant to replace or add to the bible, but to act as another testament of Jesus Christ. She was like "Ya know what I'm gonna do? I am gonna pray and ask if I should read it!" I was like "You do that Ida" ;) because we all know what happens after that!

We had the opportunity to go to the nativity celebration in Riverton with a couple of nonmembers. I was really touched that in every culture, the story of Christ's birth is still the same!

The best part of my week was when cousin Pat bore her testimony on Sunday! It reminded me about ht when Sister Green told me that one of her goals was to see conversion. That has been the highlight of my mission to see Cousin Pat come unto Christ! She was my first investigator, and now she is my dear friend. I cannot wait to see her enter the waters of baptism.

We also found 2 new investigators on Sunday and one yesterday, so I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious here in Lander!

I love you all!

Sister Gish

PS- shoutout to Bishop Phillips ;) my blog's biggest fan!

 Me and my cool new hat

Me, Sister Packard, and Sister Mecham with the sweet tracting vests we found at the thrift store!

Different nativity depictions

Taking my cute greenie out tracting for the first time!

Our cute christmas decorations! 

Our Advent Calenders from the best missionary mama!

Week 15: Sister Gish Begins Training!

Hello! I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving!

Last Tuesday We had district p-day! We went bowling and watched Elder Percival attempt the bellyache challenge. You have to eat 10 scoops of ice cream and then you get a t-shirt. We watched him eat 8 scoops and then throw up in the trashcan! It was pretty fun!

On Wednesday we went to the senior center and this old guy asked if catholic sisters could get married. We were like "We don't think so." Then he asked what religion we were. When we said LDS he was like "Oh! Then I can hit on you!" I threw up in my mouth a little bit. 

Thursday was Thanksgiving! It was honestly the most special Thanksgiving I have ever had! The Wright family fed us and Sister Wright made it so special! Then we drove to Casper. I was pretty sad Sister Warren was going home. When we were leaving Dubois, I put on my glasses so she wouldn't see me crying. I was pretty excited to be with Sister Packard! She is the best twelfth week trainer I could've ever asked for! She is my adoptive mother!

Friday was pretty slow. We were doing a power hour, and we were tracting a super long street! We tracted for two hours and not a single person would talk to us. We knew that there had to be a miracle on that street, so we went back the next evening and we had only knocked a couple doors when a mother and daughter answered! They invited us in. There names are Mary and Deena. We shared the Light the World video. When we invited them to read the introduction of the book, Deena started reading it right then!  So we invited them to read more and set up a return appointment! It was so awesome! We found two new investigators!

Our transfer information was delayed, so we didn't get transfer info til yesterday. I have the opportunity to train this transfer! I am so excited! I hope I can be a good example to this sweet sister! I am extremely honored that the Lord trusts me to train one of his servants! I would appreciate prayers to help me this transfer! I know that even more important than what we do, is who we are. So I hope that I can help my greenie understand that obedience to God's commandments, shows our love for Him, and helps us grow into the people he wants us to be! 

Sorry this weekly was so so long, but I love you all!

Love,

Sister Gish

Sister Gish and Sister Walker

Sister Packard and Sister Gish

Sister Packard and Sister Gish

Elder Percival and the belly ache challenge

Sister Gish's Thanksgiving

Sister Gish and her District

Sister Gish, Sister Packard, Sister Francom, and Sister Walker

Quick version of Elder Percival trying and failing the belly-ache challenge

Week 14: Happy Thanksgiving from Wyoming

Hey Pals!

I hope everyone had an amazing week!

On Wednesday, we went to do our craft, but 1/2 of our attendees died, so it got cancelled! 

I hit my 3 month mark on Thursday! It is so crazy! I feel like I just left yesterday! To celebrate I got some elk and deer steak at dinner time, because that's the Wyoming way! We also read the scriptures with Sister Holden this week. When we got there, she told us that her brother died, so she was having a bad day. We knew that we were in Alma 27 this week, but she said we were in chapter 28. Normally Alma 28 is a chapter that I wouldn't dwell on, but for her it was perfect. It takes place after a battle and everyone is mourning those who died. It explains that although that is a valid reason to be sad, we also have so much reason to rejoice! We explained to her that family ties continue beyond the grave, so we can rejoice in the Plan of Salvation! It was such an amazing experience! It was such a testament to me that no matter what we are going through, the scriptures can touch our hearts!

On Friday we taught Mark the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We invited him to be baptized and asked him to pray about December 23. He said "I will definitely pray about it. Something tells me that It would be hard, but it would be worth it!" It has been amazing to watch him grow closer to our Savior!

Here is the best thing that happened all week! This past weekend, many Sisters from Dubois went to Time Out for Women in Salt Lake! Cousin pat went too! I just knew that she would love it! When she walked into church on Sunday we hugged her and asked how she enjoyed it. I will remember her response for the rest of my life. She said "It was good, I decided to be baptized!" I am so excited for her. I cannot wait for her to be baptized! She is such a miracle!

I just want to leave you with a Thanksgiving thought! I read a talk by President Uchtdorf this week called "Grateful in Any Circumstances" from the April 2014 General Conference. He says "Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I'm suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances- whatever they may be... When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ's Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven's embrace."

I am so thankful for my circumstances! Being on a mission is an opportunity of a lifetime. I am thankful for Sister Warren. She has been an amazing trainer and I will miss her dearly! I am thankful for the miracles I get to witness everyday. I am especially thankful for my Savior and My Father in Heaven! They are ever so watchful over me! 

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving!

Gobble, Gobble

~Sister Gish

PS- I drank fresh goat milk this week. It was so good! Then Sister Stuekler gave me tons of soap and lotion made from goat's milk! baaaaaah

Sister Gish kissing Sister Holder's deer

Sister Gish with her buddy Beans, the guinea pig

Depiction of Wyoming wind

Sister Gish hit her 3 month mark!

Sister Gish and Sister Warren in snowy Wyoming!

Week 13

Hey friends! 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week! 

Last Tuesday we had dinner with the Jensen family. During our dinner message, we asked their kids how we can be like Jesus, and one of their daughters said the funniest thing. She said "Don't listen to Gangam Style and share funny animal videos with your friends instead of watching them by yourself!" It was so cute! 

On Wednesday we taught a craft at the retirement home and served lunch at the senior center. It is so funny because the old men always stare at me and Sister Warren and one lady yelled at them "You can look, but you can't touch!" Then we drove to Casper so that we could go on exchanges the next day!

On Thursday I had the pleasure of going on exchanges with Hermana Zimmerman! She goes home with Sister Warren in a couple weeks! She is so cute and fun! While we did some training, I told her how I sometimes worried that my mission wouldn't change me. Missions are wonderful, but they are hard. Sometimes I feel like the Spirit speaks to all other missionaries, but me. She showed me a series of videos called "Patterns of Light" Elder Bednar discusses how we can feel the spirit! It brought me so much comfort and understanding on how the Spirit guides! I would encourage all of you to watch them!

On Friday, We had zone conference! It was brilliant! First of all, we had a game about conference trivia. Not to toot my own horn, but I won. So I got to take home a box of Reese's Puffs! Back to the good stuff. Zone conference was all about being unified as a mission. Our mission motto is "One eye, one faith, one baptism." I love it because at the end of the day, we are all on the same team and numbers are not what define us. When one companionship baptizes, the whole mission does too. 

On Saturday we taught Mark the Plan of Salvation. He ate it up! He was saying how he would like to start coming to church! It is amazing how much he has changed since our first visit with him. That is the best part of a mission. Seeing people change their hearts brings incomparable joy into my life!

Yesterday, I was sick, but was feeling well enough by the afternoon to go out and work. We had 10 minutes before our dinner appointment, so we did some tracting. Two people told us that we could come back and share a message! It was such a miracle! After Dinner we taught a lesson to a man named Sergio. He is a recent convert of about 10 months. He and his wife want to be sealed in the temple, so we are teaching him temple prep as well as his new member lessons. We taught him the Plan of Salvation. We were teaching him about the Spirit world. We told them that people would have the same personality after death and that many people would still reject Jesus Christ and His teachings. Sergio proposed a simple, but beautiful question. "How could anyone ever deny this?" 

I love Jesus Christ, and I love His gospel. It brings me so much peace and comfort in this life. It answers questions of the soul. It tells me where I came from, why I am here on earth, and where I am going after I die. I know that because of Christ's atoning sacrifice that death has no sting, the grave has no victory, and that I will be with my family forever. Through His atonement I can be cleansed from sin, He will plead MY cause before the Father so that I may live with Them again! How could anyone ever deny that He is our Savior? It breaks my heart. But on the other hand, there is nothing that brings me more joy and satisfaction than seeing those who are prepared accept this exquisite message! 

I love you all! I hope we will all strive to be a little better this week. 

Hugs and Kisses,

Sister Gish

Sister Gish and Hermana Zimmerman on exchanges in Mills

Crafts at the senior center

Casper Zone Sisters

Just a fun picture of Sister Gish

Sister Gish and her prize

Sister Gish and Sister Coder

This was meant to go on last week's blog post, but this is a drawing of Sister Gish sent to her from her friend Bridgette Bulleigh!