Email from November 4, 2014:
FAMILY & FRIENDS!
I love you all so much! Last week we had an
awesome devo from Elder Don R Clark and he chastised us a bit for
sending home dumb stuff to our families so this week, I´m repenting so
that you guys can benefit spiritually from my mission too.
First,
I love the spirit here. The best way I can describe it is "I can feel
the powers of heaven as I stand on holy ground and the spirit whispers
what I long to know" because that´s seriously how it is. The Holy Ghost
is my CONSTANT COMPANION and it is INCREDIBLE! My thoughts are more than
my thoughts and I am learning and growing in ways that I didn´t even
know I needed to or could. In lessons, my testimony is strengthened each
time I say "Yo se que este mensaje es verdadero" BECAUSE IT IS!
Second,
I forgot to mention last week that there are 6 other elders here headed
to my mission. Yet I´m in a district where everyone else is headed to
Osorno, Chile. To anyone who reads this or sees this message, I testify
to you that HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS EACH OF US PERSONALLY AND
INDIVIDUALLY. He sent me here to the Mexico CCM, with my companion, with
this district because HE KNOWS ME and He knew that I would need what
these people have to help me to become an effective representative of
Jesus Christ. If you don´t know this for yourself, please pray and ask.
He is your Father and He wants to hear you.
CONFESSION TIME: I had my first emotional breakdown this Sunday
and you´ll never believe why. I started thinking about leaving my
district and the CCM and I SOBBED! Like I cried harder than I´ve cried
in a while because I just can´t tell you how great these people are and
how much I love them. Elder Clark said we become happy when we care
about the people more than we care about ourselves and I testify that
that is true. I am so happy here because I think about everyone else
before me. Yeah, I take time in the morning and evening for me but every
other second, I´m thinking about and praying for my companion, my
district, my teachers, and my investigators (Jose and Juanis, pray for
them too please!)
Third, I have discovered a new talent. 6/8 members of my district joined the choir this Sunday
and we decided to practice together last night and something beautiful
and marvelous happened. Me and Hna. Segura are perfectly blended
sopranos, Hna. Rhees is a strong alto, Hna. Cheadle is an incredible
tenor and Elders Schmidt and Christiansen are phenomenal basses. So we
spent a half hour singing together and it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. We
sang Secret Prayer in Spanish over and over and the spirit was so strong
while we just smiled and sang together in PERFECT harmony! So
apparently I can sing and now I can´t stop because I love it so much!
I want to also share my testimony in español.
Yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y Su Expiacion puede cambiar vidas.
Yo se que Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial.
Yo se que a traves Jose Smith el evangelio fue restaurado.
Yo se que lea iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los ultimas dias es verdadera.
I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!
Also
fun things, Elder Schmidt reminds me of Ryan Pace so Ryan, please know
that I think of you every single day and miss your awesome awesome self.
Also, I have been thinking a lot about Christina Aitkins so if she sees
this, please contact me because I miss you.
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE 29-YEAR-OLD! Shanna, this is the age everyone
lies and says they are so it must be a good one. Sorry I´m going to miss
all of it but I think we both know that I´m exactly where I´m supposed
to be. I love and miss you!! Go party it up and listen to T-Swift for
me! (Actually I hope all of you are listening to T-Swift for me....)
Can
you please pray for Hermana Rhees, she´s the most hardworking and
diligent hermana I know and yet, she´s struggling so much with Spanish
and self-doubt. Please pray for her whenever you pray for me, it would
mean so much to me.
I had a dream about my
family last week and when I woke up, I´ll admit it was tough but I know
why I´m here and that I´m absolutely supposed to be here so even though I
miss you, you´re better off without me for these next 17 and a half
months. ALSO EVERYONE LIED TO ME! The days do not feel like weeks, they
go by so fast and then the weeks go by even faster and I am going to be
home before I know it and I don´t know how I feel about that.
One
more funny story, this one´s for Mom. I´ve been trying to wear my
retainer at night but guess what happens every time...the first night, I
woke up the next morning with my retainer OUT OF MY MOUTH and under my
rib and so for the next 4 nights I tried to wear it, I would put it in
my mouth, go to bed, and wake up with it out of my mouth! I never
remember doing this though so apparently I can remove my retainer in my
sleep. How weird, I know. But I´m going to keep trying because I want
nice teeth.
Anyway, I love you all! Don´t forget to look for your own missionary opportunities this week and HELP THE MISSIONARIES!
All my love,
Hermana Gauger
My Room:
If i wasn't so tired all the time, i would never be able to sleep on that rock they call a bed
The laundry situation:
JUST KIDDING!
My favorite accessories:
We have a nutella/peanut butter bar at meals and they give us a small
oar to spread it on the bread, (also we get COSTCO PIZZA ON TUESDAYS! so
we call p-day pizza-day)
