Email from Monday, June 15, 2015
Dear Family and Loved Ones and Blog Stalkers,
I'm
alive and well and finally feeling better! Just got that type of cough
that lasts like forever but I'm able to go out and work and invite
people to come unto Christ and I'm super stoked about that. This week, I
decided that with Father's Day being this Sunday,
I would dedicate this email to my earthly father who is quite frankly
the best dad I've ever had on this earth. (Mom, don't feel too bad, you
got to skype me on Mother's Day:))
This morning, I was
reading in Helaman and I found the perfect scripture to describe how I
feel about all that Dad has taught me in Helaman 5:13
which says "And it came to pass that these were the words which Randy
taught to his daughters; yea he did teach them many things which are not
written, and also many things which are written." Pretty much
everything I've written here on this blog have been things that my
awesome Dad taught me and even more and now that I'm in the mission, I
feel like the scripture in Helaman 5:14
"And she remembered his words; and therefore she went forth, keeping
the commandments of God, to teach all the people of Bolivia, beginning
at the city of Tarija".
Words really can't express the
impact that my dad has had on the person I am today. From the time I was
a little girl, I always was waking up early on Saturday
morning to go clean the church building and then buy winco donuts and
return in time to watch whatever sports game was on that day which
actually meant that I would pretend to pay attention to the sport until
Dad fell asleep for his Saturday morning nap and I could watch what I wanted. He taught me the importance of family scripture study when he woke us all up at 6am
and made us gather in the family room to sleep until it was our turn to
read. We were never perfect daughters and he was never a perfect dad
but we sure learned a lot together and we continue helping each other
grow. When I made the decision to serve a mission, I don't think anyone
was as happy as my dad who did everything he could to help me prepare,
even giving me the temple prep classes for our family home evening
lessons and then taking me all over California and Utah to do sessions
in 18 different temples. I can't think of any better way to learn the
importance of temple worship than to have seen the sacrifices my dad
made to visit the temple with me as often as possible and to talk with
me afterward about the significance of all the covenants we make in the
temple. I think I'm just rambling at this point but I hope I've conveyed
to all who are reading this what an awesome guy my dad is.
The
most important thing he's done for me is teach by his example the
relationship I have with my heavenly father and show me a portion of the
love that my Heavenly Father has. By knowing and loving my earthly
father, I've been able to better understand and appreciate all that my
Heavenly Father does for me.
So if you've been as blessed
as I have with an awesome dad, go hug him and tell him how great he is.
If your dad isn't so wonderful, thank him for trying at least to be as
great as Randy Gauger. If your dad isn't around or never tried, go pray
and thank your Heavenly Father for being so great because He loves and
knows you even better than your earthly father.
I just
wanted to mention 2 other scriptures that have helped me so much to
appreciate my earthly father in Alma 36:17 and Enos 1:3 because the
words that my father taught me about Jesus Christ, eternal life, and the
joy of the saints have sunk so deep in my heart and have helped shape
who I am today and who I am becoming. This letter also wouldn't be
complete without a very special shout out to the woman who's been by my
father's side for almost 34 years now, my mom is also incredible and her
example has meant so much to me as well as I've been working out here
like the 2,000 stripling warriors, never doubting because my mom always
knew it. :)
Anyway, I just love my parents a whole lot and I
want y'all to know how great they are and how special they are to me.
Happy Father's Day to all you current and future fathers out there. :)
Things
in Bolivia are as amazing as ever and super COLD! Also a little upset
still that I don't know the metric system or how to tell temperature in
celsius because my parents never taught me that but I'm still grateful
for all that they did teach me and for the awesome packages I received
from them this week! Hna Monar is also grateful for the american candy
:)
I love you all! Have a great week!
Hermana Gauger
Birthday Pizza!
Also me with my cake that my pensionista made for me. Sorry I look so
terrible, I was still really sick in this photo. The tradition is after
you blow out the candle and make a wish, you take a bite out of the
cake. Normally someone slams your face into the cake but everyone had
pity on me because I was sick so I only got a little bit of cake on my
face hahah. By the way....not all cake is created equal and I'm excited
to one day eat normal American cake again.
And a darling hermana we visit who can't go to church because she can't
walk very well. She also only speaks quechua and a little bit of
Spanish so it's always a hoot and a half to visit her and we wash her
laundry sometimes. She's so precious. :)
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