Double the difficulty, double the blessings‏

My companion asked me this week, "If you could start your mission over knowing everything you know now, would you?" Ummm... YES. Without a doubt. I feel like I could serve a thousand missions and never get tired.

Ok maybe that's a lie, but my soul says I can do it.

But honestly, it would be so amazing to start over - knowing the language now and knowing how to teach. But that's what real life is... it really is just a continuation of the mission. I get to apply everything that I have learned into my life back home. I will never, ever be the same! 

I remember when President Gardner first got here to the mission, he stood up at the pulpit and looked at us and said so boldly, "You can never be the person you were when you got on the plane and said goodbye to your family. You can never revert back. Promise me you will never be that person."

It was so bold and caught everyone by surprise, but it has stuck with me. I know now so much more than I did a year and a half ago. There's no way I'm going back.

My companion also said that it must be special to be a Spanish missionary. Why? Because it's "double the difficulty, double the blessings." I am exhausted after months and months of striving to learn a new language and yet now, I have become a part of a completely new culture, and I can now speak their language. Double the blessings for sure.

So this week, I have one cool story for ya.

During weekly planning, I felt prompted to call one of our investigators, Danida. She hadn't been progressing; we were just never able to get in with her! It was frustrating because the ONE lesson we had was so amazing, and I was just like, "Come on, lady!" Haha but alas, my patience was being tested.

So we called her and she FINALLY answered! She told us that she was in the hospital with her husband who had just gotten heart surgery. She asked us if we could come visit her. Of course we could! We finished up planning and then headed straight over. We got talking to her and she told us what has been going on. She said every time she tries to come to church, come to an activity, have us over, or read the Book of Mormon, something always gets in the way. And not just something small, something big, like her having to go to the emergency room or her husband having an emergency heart surgery.

It was very humbling to me and all of those thoughts of, "Oh she's just ignoring us" or "She obviously doesn't care" just completely left. I sat there in awe of the way our Heavenly Father chooses to teach us lessons of humility and love.

We talked to her for about half an hour, sharing our testimonies of the plan of salvation and the reality of our Savior and His love. She told us she had read in the Book of Mormon, and what she had read had really brought her peace.

The next day, after church, we came back with a brother from our branch and the elders. They were able to give her and her husband a powerful priesthood blessing. She hugged us and thanked us.

What would've happened if I had ignored that prompting? What if I had just thought, "Nah, she's not interested"? We would've missed out on an incredible opportunity to teach about the atoning power of our Savior Jesus Christ and invite someone to feel the power of the priesthood in their lives.

Never ignore a prompting.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is sufficient for all people - no matter what.

I quote Elder Holland... because we all know his words are more powerful than mine.

"I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable, but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.

Whether you are not yet of our faith or were with us once and have not remained, there is nothing in either case that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning. 'Come boldly [to] the throne of grace,' and fall at the feet of the Holy One of Israel. Come and feast 'without money and without price' at the table of the Lord."

You are loved, you are not forgotten nor forsaken.

xoxo

Hermana Brie Gould

pictures: hiking with mi hija, teaching her my ways. Also we brought our baby soccerball, Wilson, along.. lol

God is love‏

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:18-19

The biggest lesson I have learned on my mission? How to love.

I have seen myself change because of love and I have seen the lives of others change as well. It has been an absolutely incredible adventure, my mission. So many ups and downs, so many failures and triumphs. But through it all, God always comes to me and teaches me about His love and about His Son. 

Nothing too exciting happened this week - we actually had 0 investigators at church yesterday, which was a first in a long time - but I thought a lot and felt a lot. 

I just want to share a couple little experiences I have had with learning how to love.

1. Nicole. There's a family here from Toga, Africa. They are so special. Recently, the mom's sister moved to town with her little family. They come to church every Sunday and participate in all that they can, with their limited knowledge of English. I have absolutely fallen in love with her little daughter, Nicole. She is 2 years old and only speaks French - so trying to communicate with her has been a little rough. But every time I have seen her for the last 2 weeks, I have just smiled big, crouched down, and made a heart with my hands to tell her that I loved her. I don't know her, she doesn't know me, but she has stolen my heart completely. She must be scared in a country where hardly anyone speaks her language! She's adorable and so small and has the most beautiful smile! Yesterday at church, she saw me and instantly ran to me and hugged me. I had tears in my eyes! This precious little daughter of God, whom I can't even communicate with, was able to recognize the little love I tried sharing with her since day one. She held both of my hands and just smiled at me. For real, I was this close to taking her home with me.

Haha lol just kidding.

But honestly, I want to adopt a French speaking African baby.

Okay number two.

2. Manuela. There's this lady in our branch who's a little crazy haha in the best way possible! Since day one in Sioux City, she has meant so much to me. Yeah, she's crazy and she says crazy things, but I felt something when I first met her. Yesterday, it was her turn to give a class in relief society. She got up, all nervous and fumbling with her books, and then she started teaching. The sisters usually don't like her classes, but something was so different yesterday. She gave the most incredible lesson I have ever been in. It affected me so deeply, I couldn't even get out my pen and paper to write notes. She shared a beautiful testimony of the Savior and everyone in that room felt it. When the class ended, the sisters all thanked her for her lesson and told her how much they had needed it. I put my arm around her and thanked her. She turned to me with tears and said, "That wasn't me who taught, that was the Lord." It was so incredible.

Can you see how the love of God affects people? It's the most special gift and we should seek to feel such love and share it every day of our lives.

Experiences like this just testify to me that my mission was meant to convert me. And it worked. I will never be the same.

xoxo

Hermana Brie Gould

pictures: Our weekly FHE being an absolute SUCCESS and saying goodbye to E. Jensen... I'm also a giant.

El Milagro: La Tortilleria‏

So this week was SO SPECIAL.

Okay I'm only going to share one story.

I promise.

Benjamin&Maria - The elders gave us a referral for this young lady who works at a tortilla shop. They said she was pretty nice and probably interested. Works for us! So last Wednesday, we planned to go contact her. Well, little did we know, it would be the most awkward contact EVER. Like seriously. She wasn't really interested in talking, and yet we kept trying to talk to her. Neither of us wanted to end the conversation. So awkward, we just like made small talk for 2 seconds and then shared our message to a brick wall. She just would not have it! 

When I started to feel just way too awkward, a guy walked in carrying boxes. He came in and out a few times, and then he stopped at the cash register to deliver his paperwork. He then turned to us and asked, "Which church are you from?" A little taken back, we sputtered out, "Oh uh the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!" He thought for a second, and then got distracted by the worker.

We officially ended our awkward conversation with the girl and left. But we both felt prompted to wait outside for the guy with the boxes! We grabbed another tarjeta and just waited. When he came out, we started up a great conversation with him, after he got over the fact that I spoke Spanish.

 

Guys seriously, you should see everyone's face when I start speaking. I'll be like speaking Spanish, this super white American with blonde hair, and they ask me, "Wait do you actually speak Spanish?" ...YESSS! 

Anyway

Turns out, he and his wife have been thinking about finding a church for their family to go to. He really loves his children and he wants them to be happy. He's earnestly seeking for the truth. It was amazing! We invited him to our cultural activity and church, and he said that he would come!

AND HE DID.

AND HE LOVED IT.

AND SO DID HIS FAMILY.

Last night we had our first real lesson with him about the Book of Mormon and the power of the priesthood. Oh, this family is so special. His precious little 7 year old daughter, Elois, has already stolen my heart. She drew me a picture during the lesson of a huge heart with both of us in the middle and written above it, "I love you very much."

GUYS. MY HEART!

I love being a missionary, dangit! Families are so special, and God promises us that we can have eternal happiness with them if we are faithful and follow the example of His Son. Such a special promise. 

I love my family - and I can't wait to have a family of my own someday.

xoxo

Hermana Brie Gould

pictures: The Cultural Activity! The most successful event we've had YET! It was so amazing!

Saying goodbye to Yaretd... she's heading off to Mexico and when she gets back, I'll be home! I definitely cried and it was embarrassing. Oh well!

The prayers of the faithful‏

It's getting to the point where I don't even know how to open my emails without saying WE SAW SO MANY MIRACLES THIS WEEK.

It's so crazy guys.

1. Son. So we were sitting outside of our dinner appointment, getting ready to go in, when I saw out of the corner of my eye, a man walking out of his house holding... 2 BOOK OF MORMONS. I was like, "What in the world..." I had never seen this guy before! He came up to our car, knocked on our window, and started talking in really broken English. We found out that he was from Vietnam and that he had been to our church before. He was given a Book of Mormon in English and in Vietnamese - he reads them both! He asked us for any type of reading material from the church, like magazines or pamphlets. He said that someone a long time ago introduced him to the church and would take him every Sunday. But then, that guy left and moved to Omaha. He was so sweet! I have never wanted so badly to speak EVERY LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD. He was so grateful for anything that we could give him! It was such a cool moment. He said that he saw us and the elders visiting his neighbor all the time, and he finally had built up the courage to come talk to us. He was waiting by his door with those 2 Book of Mormons in his hands! Ah! So precious! And his name is Son :)

2. So we had 5 investigators at church yesterday which is a record for me. And for our branch. HAH! It was so crazy! About a week and a half ago, we tracted into this lady, Juana. I talked about her last week! Well, anyway, she's so solid! We gave her and her daughter a church tour, which they both loved, and they told us that they would try their best to come to church. We prayed and fasted for this family... and they came! I was sitting up behind the piano when I saw them walk in and I about LOST IT. Everyone was just like, "WOAH!" Haha! Seeing new people in our branch is really cool! A family of 5 walked in and it was one of the best moments of my mission. A family! It was so so special! And everyone just loved them too, they were all so kind and welcoming. Miracles guys!

So many other things happened, but mainly, my testimony is just being strengthened every single day of the power of prayer and fasting. I know without a doubt that all of our hard work and all of our diligence and obedience and pure love for these people is truly paying off. God is strengthening our area and we are finding some of the most prepared people! I have so much faith in the God's promises to those who endure!

"A la vista del Señor, no es tanto lo que hayamos hecho o dónde hemos estado, sino mucho más a dónde estamos dispuestos a ir. "

Élder Edward Dube. de los Setenta

I LOVE YOU ALL.

xoxo

Hermana Brie Gould

ps. 1. My sweet little Camila is going to Texas ALL SUMMER :( So sad! I will miss her! 2&3. Adventures with some posin'