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
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