Week 11

Hey Y'all!
As usual, I had an amazing week!

After P-day ended last Tuesday we went to try to find some members on our ward list. We are trying to see who is active and inactive. If you have ever driven in Wyoming, you may have noticed that it is hard to find addresses. Everything is so spread out and many people don't have their house numbers posted. When they do, they are the size of cheez-its. We put an address into our GPS. It took us to a random spot on the highway. We pulled into a nearby trailer park. There were no house numbers, but we have been having great luck lately. Like if we knock on someone's door for directions, it ends up being the person we are looking for. We figured it wouldn't be the case, but we tried anyway. We knocked on the door and a lady yelled "Who is it?" I was so nervous, because I thought she would gripe us out. She answered and we asked for directions. She said that she just moved there and she doesn't know her neighbors. We asked her if she would like to hear a message about Jesus Christ. She was like "Is it brief?" We told her it could be. She let us in and we taught her the whole restoration, and got a return appointment! It really strengthened my testimony on the importance of divine positioning. I don't think it was an accident that the member we decided to try had a weird address that took us to the middle of no where. It was Heavenly Father leading me and Sister Warren to a child of God who was prepared to hear our message.

Every Wednesday we go and read the Book of Mormon with an elderly sister named Sister Holden. She is a riot! When we knock, she always yells for us to just come in because she has a stair case that goes down to her front door. She says it kills her to go down the stairs, but she has a huge elk hanging on her wall that she just shot a few weeks ago! She is always saying that Daniel better have some nieces and nephews for me when I get home! Then this week she asked if deacons still go door to door to collect fast offerings. We told her we would ask the bishop. She replied "Is the bishop married?" we said yes. Then she said "Oh dang it! I was trying to think of someone to hitch one of you two up with!" We invited her to come to church this week and told her she could sit with us. She said "I'll tell you what I told the elders... I'll surprise ya. besides you two need to sit with some young men." 

We taught Cousin Pat this week! She is so wonderful! We taught her about tithing and paying fast offerings. We told her it wasn't something she is required to do until she is a member. But of course she is always one step ahead of us and replied "I am going to your church, so I should contribute." She is a wonderful example of acting in faith. Every single time we teach her she is so willing to accept our invitations! I love her! 

Then we had our first appointment with Sister Jones' husband, Mark. I talked about him in my week 6 letter. We taught him the restoration. He literally soaked it up like a sponge! It was amazing. We told him how Joseph Smith translated the plates from Hebrew and Egyptian to English. He's like "I'm not saying I'm ready to be baptized or anything, but I'M A BELIEVER! There is no way a man could have done this without the power of god!" It was AMAZING! We are teaching him again this week! I can't wait! 

We spoke in Dubois on Sunday. I referred to Sister Oscarson's, Elder Pingree's, Elder Christofferson's, and Elder Holland's talks from this past conference. I would invite you all to read them, because they are brilliant. 

Before I go, I want to share one of my favorite quotes from Jeffrey R. Holland. he says:

"To succor means to 'run to.' I testify that in my fears and in my infirmities, the Savior has surely run to me. I will never be able to thank Him enough for such personal kindness and such loving care."

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are my friends. Christ has suffered for all of our sins so that we don't have to. I thought I could come on a mission to try to pay Him back for all that He has done for me, but after the short time I have been out, I find that I owe Him even more. To know Him is to love Him. All I can do is try to follow the path that He has set for all of us!

I love you all and hope you have wonderful weeks!

All my love and then some,

Sister Gish

Sister Gish and Sister Warren celebrating last week's baptism with ICE CREAM!

Me in 20 degree weather

Me and Sister Warren walking Cam

Sister Warren and her treat from the best missionary mama ever

Week 10: Sister Gish's First Baptism!

Hello loves! 

I hope that everyone is having a great week!

This week was amazing! I had my first baptism! On Saturday, our investigator, John Strickland, got baptized! It was so awesome! I think I mentioned in my last email that we invited him on the 12th to be baptized on October 28th. He was going to be having surgery on the 24th, so his wife, Lettie, suggested the 21st. He wrestled with the spirit for like 10 minutes thinking about it. My heart was in my stomach! He finally agreed, so we fasted with him on Tuesday and met with him almost everyday last week to help prepare him! If I learned one thing from John, it's that timing is everything. Especially, the Lord's timing. He had been taking the lessons for 2 years trying to build his testimony. He must have gone through plenty of missionaries, each one surely had a huge role in his conversion. Me and Sister Warren had been meeting with him for two weeks! It was plain to see that he was ready for this step. We just had to help him recognize it! It was amazing to see his baptism! I know that this will be such a blessing to their family as they prepare to be sealed in the temple. 

On Thursday we went to try a less active, but they weren't home. Sister Warren and I have been doing this thing where if someone doesn't answer, we knock on doors on the street until someone answers and we can share the gospel. We knocked on these one people's door and they invited us in. She said she was an ex-mormon returned missionary. They were the nicest anti-mormons I have ever met! After they said that Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet and that the Book of Mormon was built on lies, they offered us a glass of water! That's Wyoming for you! Everyone is so darn friendly!

I also want to emphasize the importance of members in missionary work! We had a member, Brother Garner, come to a lesson with Brother Strickland this week. Brother Garner helped answer so many of his questions and really helped prepare him for his baptism. MEMBERS ARE EVERYTHING! So share the gospel, invite your friends to meet with the missionaries, and go to lessons with the missionaries. Some people are only "kept from the truth because they know not where to find it." (D&C 123:12) We know where to find happiness! The gospel is happiness! So share it with everyone!

On Friday, I was studying President Uchtdorf's talk from last conference titled "A Yearning For Home" I would invite you all to read it because he is simply brilliant. I was struck when he said "How encouraging it is to know, though we are imperfect, if our hearts are turned to God, He will be generous and kind and use us for His purposes." Isn't it amazing that the same god who created this beautiful earth looked at it and thought it needed you? It needed your radiant light! I love that! I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to reach our full potential.

I just want to share one more thought from my studies this week. I love this scripture in Alma 5:38-39

38 Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.

39 And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil.

Jesus Christ invites us into His fold. He is the perfect shepherd. It is important that we know where we stand. If we don't stand for something, then we will fall for anything. If we are not in His fold, then what other option do we have?

I love you all so much! I love being on a mission. There is nothing more rewarding than helping people see their infinite worth!

Love

Sister Gish

Sister Gish knocking on houses 

Sister Gish and Sister Warren with John Strickland and the Elders

Week 9: Sister Gish Hits the Two Month Mark!

Hello everyone!

Can you believe that I have been on my mission for 2 months? Time is flying by! There is nothing better than being on the Lord's errand!

We taught a craft class at the retirement home this week. It is so funny because the women are very grumpy. They really love doing crafts and they look forward to it every week!

We had a lesson with Brother Strickland. He is the brother that we had a pass off lesson for with the elders. He has been working with missionaries for 2 years. We invited him to be baptized this week and after wrestling with the spirit for about 10 minutes, he finally said yes! We are so excited for him! It is amazing to see people's hearts change!

Then we had a lesson with Cousin Pat this week! We taught her the word of wisdom. She said "I drink a cup of coffee every morning, but if I have to stop so I can be baptized, I will do it!" She is so willing. Then she was able to switch work days with someone, so now she does not work on Sundays at all and is more able to keep the Sabbath day holy! It is amazing how she was able to do that. The Lord always blesses those who are striving to keep His commandments! 

As many of you may have noticed! We are now a Facebook mission. This is a surprise to many people in the mission and many are upset. I am not surprised! We have had so many wonderful advances in technology, why wouldn't the Lord use them to hasten the work?! I am excited to learn how I can effectively use social media to share the gospel! I know it will bless my life as a returned missionary! I hope that we can all use more self discipline as we use our technology. Don't waste countless hours on Facebook or instagram. Instead, only use technology when you want have a purpose in mind. Make sure you only post uplifting things! Overall, just share goodness! The world could use a lot more of it! :)

We went to Dubois this week and it snowed so much! Of course I forgot my snow boots in Lander, so my piggies were frozen! 

I am so excited because Sister Warren and I are staying together for another transfer! I know we are going to see so many miracles! I cannot wait!

Sunday was her birthday! The elders tried to make her a two layered cake. It had a card between the layers! It tasted good! It was so funny! She loved the Oklahoma t-shirt I gave her! Now she can rep the world's greatest state!

Today we went to Sinks Canyon! In the words of Sister Warren "It is a nature place with nature!" It was so beautiful! We took lots of pictures! 

I love you all! I love hearing from you, but just so you know my P-days are now on Tuesday, so you will hear from me then!

 ~Sister Gish~

When in doubt, Guns Out!

Sister Warren's birthday cake from the Elders

Sister Gish and Sister Warren at Sinks Canyon

Sister Gish and Sister Warren in the Wyoming wind!

The reaction when Sister Gish and Sister Warren found out they'll be together another transfer!

Sister Warren's birthday gift from Sister Gish

Sister Gish with the Myers- the people she lives with in Dubois

Snow in Dubois Wyoming

Reppin the Popo Agie Ward

Twinning!

Sister Gish hit her two month mark! 

Week 8: The Spirit Guides the Work in Dubois and Lander

Hello Family and Friends! 

This week was brilliant, and of course it was filled with countless miracles!
We have done tons of service this week! We serve lunch at the senior center here in Lander, then we do a craft class at the retirement home, but my favorite is playing with the puppies at the animal shelter!

When the new Popo Agia (pa-po-ja) ward was created in Lander, we took a few investigators from the Elders. We had a pass off lesson with Brother Strickland. He  really loves Elder Percival and Elder Brand, so it was sad to see them say goodbye. Our lesson was great though! He has been taught many of the discussions already so we all decided to testify of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, because after all, He is the center of our message and this Gospel! I was overcome with the spirit as I listened to the Elders and Sister Warren share their testimonies on our Savior.

I shared one of my favorite parts from the Living Christ that says "He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary's cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. He was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth."  I know that there are many times that we feel like we aren't connected with the Savior, but I testify that the Savior feels connected with us. After all, he felt all of our pain in Gethsemane! There is nothing that we could do that would change his unconditional love for us. He is the Lord of the living and the living makes mistakes. I hope we will all strive to strengthen our relationship with Him this week. 

On Wednesday, we had a lesson with Cousin Pat. It was on keeping the Sabbath day holy. She was so willing to rearrange her work schedule to attend church meetings! She is such a wonderful example to me. We should all cherish the opportunity we have to partake of the sacrament each week. It reminded me of Elder Bednar's talk in this last conference. He said that the Sabbath is a time "specifically set apart for worshipping Him and for receiving and remembering His great and precious promises."  He talked about how the Sabbath is God's time, and that it is sacred. Living on the Lord's time is one of my favorite parts about being on a mission! It encourages me to work hard everyday, because I do not want to waste His precious time...not even a minute!

The highlight of my week was definitely on Sunday. My district did a fireside on the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sister Warren and I did an activity. We talked about how faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end are the principles that make up the Gospel. Together, they form a big picture. Without one of those principles, the picture is shattered, and we know longer have the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There were so many miracles that night. We were expecting for 50 people to show up, and we ended up having 125! Then we were worried about the presentation because we never got to have a solid practice as a district due to our conflicting schedules, but everything flowed so smoothly and you could really feel the spirit. Sister Myers (the member we live with in Dubois) shared her testimony of the Atonement and the role it played in her conversion to this Gospel. It was so beautiful! 

I love being on the Lord's errand! I am forever changed because of the miracles I see everyday!

I appreciate every letter, email, and prayer that you all send me! I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Anzie Mae Gish   

Sister Gish hates the snow

Sister Gish and Terri Iverson

Sister Gish with her district after the fireside

Sister Warren and Sister Gish 

Sister Gish and Sister Warren with members from the Dubois branch

Sister Gish with the Casper Zone

Week 7: Feeding Llamas and Kissing Horses

Hello Everyone! 

So this week consisted of a ton of driving!

On Monday right before I went to bed, there was a huge spider by my bed. My fearless trainer, Sister Warren always protects her baby greenies and she killed it for me!

On Tuesday we headed down to our other area in Lander. We don't have our area book, so we haven't been able to meet anyone in our ward yet! We went around and found some volunteer opportunities! 

On Wednesday we helped some members go through some food storage and take inventory. They had miniature horses and llamas. They let us pet them and feed them. One elder in our district, Elder Brand, even kissed one of the babies. Then the mother attacked it! I was in tears from laughing so hard. 

On Thursday we went to Casper to do exchanges! I was with Sister Bertha! We share a love of Taylor Swift and Tiny hands so we had an awesome day! We visited a lot of people and invited them to watch conference. We also served breakfast for the Salvation Army which was super fun! 

On Friday we had zone conference! Sister Bertha found a green binky at the church and she came up to me in front of the ladies serving lunch and said "Gish Gish, you forgot your binky!" It was so funny! I am the only greenie sister in the zone! Zone conference was wonderful though! The theme was "I can do hard things" Our mission counselor, Brother Jacob's, spoke to us. He told us some pretty amazing stories of hardship about his own life. 

What I learned is that miracles never cease. "I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me." (Phillipines 4:13) I think too often we think of the atonement as something only needed for repentance, that we forget how enabling it is. Christ suffered for us so that we could succeed and be triumphant over our trials. After all, weren't Christ's most triumphant moments after some of his most trying? So don't be sad when you are faced with trials, but get on your knees and thank Heavenly Father because I promise a miracle is about to happen!

This week, I am especially thankful for living prophets and apostles! Wasn't General conference wonderful? I think the biggest thing I took away from conference is that we need to read the Book of Mormon. I know that when we fervently study the Book of Mormon, we strengthen our relationship with our Heaven Father and our Savior immensely! I can bear my witness that the Book of Mormon is true! I have come to appreciate and need it more on my mission than I ever have before in my life! It only strengthens my desire to want to share it with everybody! 

I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Anzie Mae Gish

Sister Gish loves the horses!

Sister Gish found Lil Sebastian!

Sister Gish rocking her Oklahoma shirt (that her favorite brother bought for her)!

Sister Gish and Sister Bertha volunteering for Salvation Army

Sister Gish hugging Lil Sebastian! 

Elder Brand kissing the horse

Llama skull that Sister Gish and her companion found on the porch

Sister Gish and Sister Bertha love each other and baby hands!

Sister Gish feeding the llama