Gish On A Mish: Week 44: Sister Gish Hits Her 10 Month Mark!

Hey everyone! You will be happy to know that the moth population in Greeley is really dying down, and I think I might just make it after Sister Bishop leaves. Plus the Lord has blessed me with courage because a moth started flying around in the car and I didn't even scream. This week has kind of been a blur because it was so eventful!

On Wednesday we had a lesson with someone named Fran. She was crazy. She described herself as a scripturalist. She only believes in the Old Testament. She doesn't believe that Christ is the Savior, but that he is simply the last prophet that God called. She was trying to bash, but she really didn't know any references to the Bible and she misinterpreted a lot! All I could think was how thankful I am for living prophets to lead and guide us.

We got to have a lesson with Sister Jantz on Thursday! She is one of my favorite people here in Greeley. She is just so funny and real! It also helps that she owns a cupcake shop and gives us a delish treat whenever we see her! She is preparing to go to the Temple so we were able to talk about temples! I miss the Temple! Even though I have not been my whole mission, I still clearly remember all the good feelings I have had in the temple! After that, we had a lesson with Pedro. We asked him if he had read the Book of Mormon and he said he prayed and asked if he should, but hadn't received an answer. We explained that he wouldn't know until he gave it a try. We explained how after Christ's ascension into heaven that he came to America and ministered to his "other sheep." Pedro said that could not have happened because Christ had returned to the right hand of God forever. We asked if we could read 3 Nephi 11, just so he could see for himself. It was one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission, one where I really saw how the Book of Mormon can change people's hearts. He said "I couldn't believe I was so narrow minded before." He said that he definitely can see this happening and recalled times in the Bible that Christ appeared to people after His ascension into heaven! It was simply amazing, and I really hope he keeps reading!

On Friday, we went on mini exchanges with the Fort Collins Hermanas. I was with Hermana Gutierrez! To quote her "I am a 5'2 girl with a 6'1 attitude." She is the sassiest, but the most loving and patient sister you will ever meet! She pretty much had me laughing the whole exchange! I love her!

Saturday was my 10 month mark! I cannot even fathom that! We got to have a lesson with Laura! Let me tell you about her! We had dinner with Laura and her family a couple weeks ago. She was less active, but she came to church for the first time in a long time the Sunday before. She told us that she felt something at church that she never had before. She said previously when she would go to church, or even when she got baptized, that she felt like she was going through the motions, and that she didn't actually feel it in her heart. That made me reflect on something I learned at when Elder Wilford Anderson came to visit our mission. He explained that there are 3 types of knowledge: 1) Head knowledge like information and facts, 2) Heart knowledge like when the spirit testifies to our hearts that something is true, and 3) Soul knowledge or when we act on those promptings. When Laura told us about her feelings we explained that she already has the head knowledge. That is what she gained when the missionaries originally taught and baptized her. Now she was experiencing heart knowledge. When she went to church she had a desire to learn more and to go to the temple with her family. All she needed to do was act on that. So we started the missionary lessons with her again! She is such an amazing woman! She is an example to me of how to follow God's will! We got to have a lesson with her at the Temple this week. Unfortunately, we got there and it was closed, but there is still such a special spirit to be felt when you are on the grounds.

Sunday was Father's Day! I was reflecting on all of the wonderful fathers in my life! I am thankful for my own dad, but also for the other wonderful priesthood holders in my life!

Yesterday, I got to see the Wright family! I will forever be thankful for the role they played in my life! Sister Wright always made me feel right at home in Dubois! She made my Holidays away from home so special! (The Wright family is moving to Dallas) I am excited for them to live only a few hours from me! We had a lesson with a returning less active and we watched the talk "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. My sweet friend, Bishop Morley, showed me that talk while I was working on my mission papers, so it is extra special to me! It really helped me understand what grace truly is and how Christ's grace can enable us to become our very best! I would encourage you all to watch or listen to it this week!

I love you all so much...even more if you read this whole thing!

Sister Gish

PS- shout out to Bishop Phillips! I'm missin the Popo Agie ward a little extra these days!