MAILING ADDRESS

Sister Brieanna MacCall Gould
Nebraska Omaha MIssion
11027 Martha St
Omaha, NE 68144-3107
United States

Monday, December 28, 2015

White Out

So today.. it's SNOWING. SO MUCH. AND IT'S SO COLD. On Sunday, it was 3 degrees. 3! Wow. But I'm loving it, I really am :) Just makes this whole experience an even cooler adventure!

What a great week. Getting to see my family was the best! Focusing on the Savior as we taught everyone we met was so cool. I am loving it here in Sioux City, I really am. I already have developed such a love for these people!

Just listen to this story.

Two weeks ago, the sisters were teaching this lady named Ruth. They were talking to her about her divine potential as a daughter of God, which led to a conversation about patriarchal blessings. Ruth told the sisters that she was scared about what her blessing might say. With love, the sisters told her that she would learn more about her relationship with her Father and some of the gifts that she was given. They invited her to come to church the next Sunday, fasting and praying. 

Well, now fast forward a bit. The first Saturday I was here, we went to a branch Christmas party, where I met Ruth. She was sitting alone, so I went and grabbed a seat and started talking to her. (funny side note: she spoke perfect English but I had no idea so I just kept talking to her in my rough Spanish hahah and then my companion came over and they both talked to each other in English! So funny). She was so kind, and I could sense that the Lord loved her very much. I could feel it! 

The next Sunday, we were in Relief Society, and I was able to sit next to Ruth again. The class started, but the teacher didn't show up. Another sister, completely unprepared, got up and taught the class on how we can focus our lives on the Savior. It somehow took a different turn... about patriarchal blessings. Ruth's jaw fell open, and so did all of ours. It was amazing - she got her answer. The lesson was all about how we can better know God's will and plan for each of us. By the end of the day, Ruth had decided that she needed to get that blessing.

All because of her faith! It was amazing! 

It's pretty cool how God answers our prayers. Sometimes it takes a long time - He teaches us patience. Other times, it just seems to come like that *snaps fingers.* However He decides to answer out prayer, we just need to continue to trust in Him. He really knows what He's doing. It's incredible.

I love you all! Keep being good!

xoxo

Hermana Brie Gould

pictures: SNOW! And yes, I know I'm only wearing one sock. Also SKYPE WITH THESE FOOLS.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Life is funny‏

Well y'all, the rumors are true. I got TRANSFERRED. Can you even believe it!? After 6 transfers in my baby area Omaha, I am now in Sioux City, Iowa! I'm here in a trio with Hermana Bacy (again! WOO!) and Hermana Castagnola! It's been craziness since I got here on Friday - all so good though. I am now serving in a branch, which is quite different from a ward, but I love it! All of the active members are so strong. It's pretty cool. We live in a nice little house, right in downtown Sioux. It's sweet! We're also the only sisters in the WHOLE zone. Woah.

Adjusting has been weird - I feel like a new missionary all over again. It was hard leaving a place where I knew everyone and everyone knew me to a place where it's the complete opposite! But it's so good because I already know I am going to learn so much. Being in a trio is really cool, we learn so much more from each other. So far, all is well!!!

So before I left Omaha, I had some pretty big goodbyes to say. It was hard! Especially saying goodbye to Esmerelda and Jose. Those two have changed me. As we were sitting in their living room, Esmerelda started to tear up as she said how much she would miss her "big blue-eyed, blonde sister." Haha! Both of us cried together - the Spirit confirmed to me that I was meant to meet her. We both changed each other. I will never forget the memories I had with her and her family - we will always be family!!!! :)

After several goodbyes and pictures and tears, we finished the night at the Urquidez home, where we had a family home evening all about the Savior. They had surprised us with a buffet of treats and even Christmas presents for each of us! I was reminded as we talked about the Savior and His birth that I am here serving a mission to help others remember Him. That's what this is all about! Not me, Him.

Hermana Miller and I kneeled in prayer one last time as a companionship and cried as I thanked our Heavenly Father for the precious time we've had together. 

Leaving my "home" was really hard. I had grown to love each and every human I had met. But I know that the Lord needs me in Sioux City right now! Saturday night at the branch Christmas party, the Spirit whispered something so sweet, so needed as the opening prayer was said. "The people might be different, but the language is the same - Spanish and the gospel." It was so obvious yet so perfectly profound. Don't you love how God works like that? :)

Overall, life is good. So good. And Christmas is in 4 days which makes it incredibly good.

Ah, life.

I LOVE YOU ALL. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! :)

xoxo

Hermana Brie Gould

ps new address is 419 Main St. Sioux City, Iowa 54103.... sooo... write me :)

Monday, December 14, 2015

Love of God‏

So this week was crazy, and I don't have time to write about all of it so I'm gonna tell you about Sarah :)

A couple weeks ago, we were at church and noticed Sarah, sitting with her boyfriend, Angel (a member). We realized that she had been coming to sacrament for quite a bit of time now - why we didn't talk to her sooner, I really don't know. We talked to her, set up an appointment, and planned a great lesson with her! Turns out, about a year ago, she was actually set for baptism. A few family complications made it so she wasn't able to. As we started talking to her, we realized that she is incredibly prepared and ready. Her testimony is already so strong. She is willing to do what she needs to to get an answer about this church and about the decision to be baptized. Yesterday, we felt that she was ready to be baptized... the 19th. In like 5 days. So we prayed fervently, came up with a plan, and just showed up at her house unannounced. As we started the lesson, the Spirit just took over. Hermana Miller and I were able to start a really good discussion by following the different promptings we were receiving to get Sarah to start thinking about what she wanted in life. She said that this is what she wanted. She knew that it was what she needed as well. It was amazing to feel and be apart of something that was clearly being led by the Spirit. We asked her all of the baptismal questions - which she completely answered perfectly - and we set her for the 19th. She told us that she would start praying specifically for that date, and we told her we would as well. We have another appointment with her today, one on Wednesday, and one on Friday! Haha! She just wants to learn all she can - she really wants to take this step as soon as possible. And it's going to happen, we all have so much faith :)

We also had the opportunity of visiting a couple of our ward members in the hospital this week. That place is incredibly humbling - especially seeing someone you love in a hospital bed, so helpless. It was cool to see how just talking about our Heavenly Father and His love really lifted everyone's spirit. We just shared our love, our testimonies, and some of our favorite scriptures, with a couple ward members by our side. I am also so impressed when the members open their mouths and share their love for the gospel. Their testimonies are so powerful! We sang a hymn and ended every visit with a prayer. Just a really cool experience.

I'm so sorry this email is so short! So many miracles are happening every day. I was able to go to the temple again this last week. I have just been reflecting a lot about the life that I've been living and who I am becoming. Being in the temple always helps to put things into perspective. This life is something incredible, it really is.

I love you all so much! Have an AWESSOMMEE week!

Also, just in case you didn't know, CHRISTMAS IS NEXT WEEK.

Ok bye.

xoxo

Hermana Brie Gould

PHOTO ALBUM: Christmas Zone Conference

Christmas Zone conference and the ward Christmas party! Both so fun, both so crazy.


I was able to go to the temple again this last week.


Monday, December 7, 2015

Goodness, all around‏

*me singing* Thiiiis weekkk was soooo goooood!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Did you hear my voice in your little head when you read that? Ok good.


I am like just overwhelmed with everything all the time. Every Monday, I get here and can't even properly form my thoughts - God is just so good. So good. I am so happy, despite the struggling and the pain and the exhaustion and everything, I am so happy. No puedo expresar todo que esta dentro de mi corazon - he cambiado muchisimo y voy a cambiar mas. Solo por medio de El, nuestro Salvador y Redentor. LA VIDA ES BUENA.

So yes, life is good. Let me tell you about it.

On Tuesday, we met with Flor again. We had an incredible lesson, all about our Heavenly Father. She opened up to us and told us crazy stories from her past. During one in particular, she couldn't hold back the tears as the painful memories came flooding back in. She said through quiet sobs, "I know God was with me. I know He lives." I myself fought back tears as I promised her that He was, that He loves her, and that she is una hija tan especial de su Padre Celestial. The Spirit was so strong, it was incredible. She looked both of us in the eye and said, "Sisters, if my family wants this - the church and everything - I promise you that I will be all in." I about had a FREAKING heart attack haha but I swallowed hard and looked her right back and said, "Flor, this is what your family needs." Prays and fasting, prays and fasting, prays and fasting - our schedule for the next couple three days until a miracle happens. Gosh dang. The next day her family came to mutual, where the boys played basketball and soccer, we all ate cake and ice cream, and we all just chatted and had a good time. They enjoyed it! But honestly, you have no idea how hard we are praying right now. We need a miracle. This family is amazing.

Thursday, we had lunch with a member in our ward, Hermana Bernal. About an hour before, she called us and invited her to her friend's house instead to eat. Can I just tell you how INSPIRED that was? We were sitting there, eating lunch, and Hermana Bernal started talking all about the church, which led to the Book of Mormon, which led to a discussion all about our beliefs. Her friends, Lizet and Lucy, happened to be looking for a church - they just wanted to know the truth. Lizet had been reading the Bible, and she loved what she had been learning. She had expressed a desire to know where the truth was. We testified that we knew the best way to look for an answer was to go to the source of all truth. She ended up taking a Book of Mormon, promising that she would read, and we finished with a closing prayer. See? GOD IS SO GOOD.

Right after that, we went and visited Esmerelda and Jose. This might've been the most emotional visit of mah life. We had a lesson planned about prophets and the Restoration, but as we were reading and whatnot, they started throwing question after question at us. Jose asked me to write them down so we could have someone else better answer them. As I struggled to answer their questions in Spanish, I was so overwhelmed. A couple days earlier at a zone training, we were reminded that "we as missionaries have the power to promise these people blessings. We have been set apart to do this work." I was reminded of this during the onslaught of questions, and as I tried my best to answer, I just stopped. I couldn't hold the tears back any longer, and I just testified. I said, "Esmerelda and Jose, I know that I can't really speak the language very well. I know that I am not the perfect teacher. But I know that we have been set apart by a prophet, by a living, breathing servant of the Lord. We have the right and authority to promise you these blessings." It was silent for a minute or two, and then Esmerelda spoke up. What she said changed my life, honestly. She said, "Hermana Gould, you are the reason our family is more united. I have never met anyone else who I can speak to. You listen to me and try your best to help me because you love me. You understand me. Our family is filled with love because you first showed us that love. We are better because of you." She wiped away tears as I wiped my own. 


I was filled with an understanding in that moment: I'm not perfect, but He is. The Spirit practically yelled at me, "You are a missionary - not a perfect teacher or a fluent one either. You are a vessel in which the Lord needs to work!"


I left her home feeling uplifted, with a better understanding of my purpose.


"My way is oh so lacking, limited, and inferior to the way of Jesus Christ. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come."



I've come to learn a very important lesson: I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak. But I've also learned: In Him, I can find strength - my weaknesses, my will to keep moving forward, my faith, my abilities... all become stronger only in and through Him.


So trusting my all to thy tender care

and knowing thou lovest me

I'll do thy will with a heart sincere

I'll be what you want me to be



I could never have imagined how hard this whole experience would be. It's been so incredibly humbling. I love it.



xoxo



Hermana Brie Gould

PHOTO ALBUM: sunriseeeee in Omaahhhha!

sunriseeeee in Omaahhhha!