Week 24: Exchanges, Zone Conference, and Stake Conference! What a Week!!

Hello! 

This week was so great! We had exchanges, and zone conference, and stake conference! Oh my! Too much fun for one week! 

This week I got to go on exchanges with my fave, Hermana Clark! I didn't think I would go with her since I was with her last transfer, but I was secretly praying we would be together again! We laughed hard, made cookies, ate some donuts, and almost burned down an elder's apartment! 

Then I got to spend the night with Sister Walker which was super fun! We just sat and talked and fed each other fruit snacks by throwing them into each other's mouths from accross the room! I knew I would discover new talents on my mission, but I didn't know that the ability to catch food in my mouth would be one of them! 

Anyway, Zone Conference was AMAZING! It was about repentance! We read the talk "Repentance is Always Positive" by Stephen W Owen! I love that talk! Sometimes we feel guilt and shame for having to repent in the first place, but no effort to be more like Christ is wasted. We can allow our mistakes to make us stronger! 

We had Stake Conference this weekend too! I loved it because it was all about missionary work! They asked Cousin Pat to share her conversion story! She did a beautiful job! I can't believe it has been almost 6 months since I met her! I just sat there thinking how she has made my whole mission worth it! Every tear I've shed, every worry I have had, any ounce of homesickness I felt, was all worth it, because I got to see her grow closer to our Father in Heaven. One of the AP's said something at zone conference that has lingered in my heart. He said "The flipside of this work, is that it's also a wonder!" How thankful I am to be a missionary! 

President McMurray was also at stake conference and it was his birthday! The Riverton sisters got him a cake and made him a cute card! It was so fun to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his 27th birthday! He is the best, and I am thankful for all he does to make the FOCO mission the best in the world! 

Love you all and have a great week!

Sister Anzie Mae Gish

Some of the missionaries celebrating President McMurray's birthday with him! 

Sister Walker, Sister Gish, and Hermana Clark

It was a warm 30 degrees in Wyoming which is why Sister Gish isn't wearing a coat!

Zone Conference pals

Making cookies on exchanges!

Hermana Clark being a third wheel

Week 23: Miracles and Donuts

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is having a fabulous life!

I think I fell in love with being a missionary all over again this week! Our area has been super slow and I haven't had any idea what we should do! I was praying so hard for inspiration, and finally we were able to think up a plan! We have stayed super busy all week! I have been dead tired when my head hits the pillow, but oh so satisfied!

This week we were out trying to contact people in the dark. We tried a less active. His bushes were thorny and overgrown and his sidewalk was icy. It's just not a place I would want to have to try to escape. Anyway, we knocked on the door and stood there a minute and then someone knocked back! We both jumped out of our skin! Then he answered the door in his underwear and was like "Now's not a good time, I'm not dressed" I was thinking "Yeah. I can tell." Then we gave him some brownies and bounced out.

We tried a less active sister and when we knocked on her door she told us we needed to make an appointment. We did and I was worried she would cancel, because she had never let me and Sister Warren come back, but she was telling us how her grandaughter just got back from her mission and how because of her service she was reading the Book of Mormon again and is already in 3 Nephi! It helped me realize that my missionary service will reach far beyond my mission boundaries and hopefully touch the lives of those I love most!

Another less active sister told us she had just told her husband that week that they needed to go back to church and then we showed up! I think it just goes to show that whether or not we have already been baptized, people always appreciate invitations to come back to Christ.

This week President Ballard left a special apostolic blessing on our mission! President McMurray said that President Ballard expressed his love for us and blessed us in our work. As I read that I felt the spirit so strongly! I appreciate all of the leaders of the church and the countless hours that they put in to building up the kingdom of God!

As I continue to reflect on the life of President Monson, I can't help but think of his favorite scripture in D&C 84:88. "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." 

I have felt so inadequate to be a missionary lately, let alone to train another missionary. What comfort can be found in that promise. I can truly say that as I have relied on the Lord I have seen Him guide my paths and help me know what to do on my mission! 

I love you all! You are in my prayers always!

Sister Anzie Mae Gish

(ps. shoutout to the phillips again!) 

Sister Gish with the Phillips family (her blog's biggest fans)

Only in Wyoming would Sister Gish need to scrape the inside of her windows!

Sister Gish making donuts!

Sister Gish making donuts with Sister Kitchens!

Sister Gish and her buddy Grady!

Week 22: Sister Gish Hits Her 5 Month Mark!

Hello everyone! 

So not much has happened this week except for Cousin Pat's baptism, or maybe a lot has happened, but it all pales in comparison to the joy I felt that day! 

We have been doing a ton of service since both our areas are very slow! We have worked at the thrift store, the senior center, but the best was definitely the fish hatchery! We got to feed all the little fishies! 

We had a lesson with Mark this week! He is so funny, but he gave us the biggest scare! He was like "I am going to be straight forward with you, I have been from the beginning, and you guys can still come over for dinner..." My hear sunk into my stomach! I thought he was dropping us. He just told us he hasn't quite given up tea, but that he's almost there. I could tell by the redness of his Koolaid that he wasn't bluffing! haha he is my fave!

The best part of this week, by far, was seeing the baptism of my first convert and dear friend, Cousin Pat! The highlight of my mission has been teaching her! She has shown me that the gospel truly brings peace into our lives! Through teaching her, I have seen the power that the Spirit has to teach us and confirm truth in our hearts. Sister Warren came to the baptism, which was just the cherry on top of that perfect day! 

I just want to invite everyone to be a little kinder this week and to do something nice for someone who is lonely, or who may need a special friend. I have been reflecting on a quote from last general conference. It says "For evil to prevail, it is only necessary that good people do nothing" 

So please, do something! I love you all so much!

All my love,

Sister Gish

Sister Gish hit her 5 month mark!

 

Sister Missionary Posterity Pic

Cousin Pat's Baptism

Sister Gish with a Jackelope/Pheasant mix

We got locked out of our apartment, but our neighbor had a ladder so we got back in.

Sister Gish falling off of the Jackelope!

Sister Gish and Sister Green with their favorite Jackelope!

Week 21: Gone Fishing

Hello Friends!

It was very sad to hear about the passing of our dear President Thomas S. Monson! He was the prophet of my teenage years! His counsel got me through many of life's most difficult challenges! He is truly a man of God and I was so pleased to sustain him! I am sure he and his sweet wife had a very happy reunion! 

This week has honestly been a blur! We have been trying to contact people, and haven't had much luck! The best part of the week was spending time with one of my favorite families! We went to the Wright's house to make cookies to take to people we were trying to contact! Nothing has been working, so we thought something sweet would go a long way! 

We got transfer info this week! I am staying in Dubois and Lander to finish training Sister Green! I hope things will pick up in our areas for miracle month! Yesterday at our dinner appointment a young girl named Dorothy said to me "SIster Gish, was it hard for you to decide to go on a mission?" I thought about how much I wanted to serve a mission and I told her "No, but everyday it can be hard to make the decision to be a good missionary!" Both of our areas are very hard, and many days I feel quite unmotivated or inadequate to be a missionary. I am comforted by the scripture Alma 26:27. It says "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." That scripture gives me so much hope! I know that If I work hard this transfer, that I will see miracles! I love this gospel and the hope it contains! I love that the scriptures can speak directly to us and encourage us to keep going! I am thankful for my Savior and the opportunity he gives me to become a better missionary each day! 

I love you all!

Sister Gish

You gotta kiss'em and then let'em go wantin' more!

Dubois Mountains!

Sister Gish and Sister Green

Sister Gish and Sister Green

Gone fishing!

Sister Gish realizing how bad a deer skull smells!

Week 20: Happy New Years!

Happy New Year! 

This week was, well, cold! In fact it was colder in Wyoming, than it was in Antarctica this week! (thanks for letting me know that Frankie!) 

I have been studying the doctrine of Christ in the Book of Mormon! It is amazing how it is woven into every single page! 

We tried tons of people this week, but didn't really get in with anyone! It is hard to find people home during the holidays!

It can be hard to be a missionary in the brutal winter when no one wants to let you in, but I am humbled by Elder David F. Evans talk "The Truth of All Things." He says "I have pledged with my Father in Heaven and with myself to do my very best, to give it 100 percent for the rest of my life, whatever I am asked, I'll do, but for now I have the rest of my mission and I am going to make it a great mission, one that I won't feel bad about, but not for me, for the Lord. I love the Lord, and I love the work, and I just pray that that feeling will never leave me." 

My mission's miracle month has arrived. I know that even though I may not feel like I am accomplishing much, no effort is wasted. I hope that we can all make 2018 the best year yet! Don't give up on your New Year's resolutions just yet. If we repent daily, we don't have to wait for a new year to reach our goals! I love you all so very much!

Love,

Sister Anzie Mae Gish

What happens when I get peanut butter balls from Phil Harmon!

Winter photo fun!

Sister Gish and Sister Green in their Christmas PJs!

Everything is frosted over!