tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22025803112954840562024-03-13T05:22:05.599-07:00Hermana Brie GouldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-5251075326048406372016-06-27T14:29:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:30:48.255-07:00Double the difficulty, double the blessings<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">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.</span></div>
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Ok maybe that's a lie, but my soul says I can do it.</div>
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But honestly, it would be so amazing to start over - knowing the language now and knowing how to teach. But that's what <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">real life</i> 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! </div>
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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 <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">never</i> be the person you were when you got on the plane and said goodbye to your family. You can <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">never</i> revert back. Promise me you will never be that person."</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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So this week, I have one cool story for ya.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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Never ignore a prompting.</div>
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The Atonement of Jesus Christ is sufficient for all people - no matter what.</div>
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I quote Elder Holland... because we all know his words are more powerful than mine.</div>
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"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.</div>
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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."</div>
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You are loved, you are not forgotten nor forsaken.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: hiking with mi hija, teaching her my ways. Also we brought our baby soccerball, Wilson, along.. lol</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-78411644937232110392016-06-20T14:28:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:29:24.981-07:00God is love<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: justify;">
"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.</div>
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We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:18-19</div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">The biggest lesson I have learned on my mission?</i> How to love.</div>
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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. </div>
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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. </div>
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I just want to share a couple little experiences I have had with learning how to love.</div>
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1. <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Nicole</i>. 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.</div>
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Haha lol just kidding.</div>
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But honestly, I want to adopt a French speaking African baby.</div>
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Okay number two.</div>
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2. <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Manuela</i>. 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.</div>
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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.</div>
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Experiences like this just testify to me that my mission was meant to convert me. And it worked. I will never be the same.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: Our weekly FHE being an absolute SUCCESS and saying goodbye to E. Jensen... I'm also a giant.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-51070962259246524832016-06-13T14:27:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:28:27.179-07:00El Milagro: La Tortilleria<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So this week was SO SPECIAL.</span></div>
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Okay I'm only going to share one story.</div>
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I promise.</div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Benjamin&Maria</i> - 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! </div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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! </div>
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Anyway</div>
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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!</div>
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AND HE DID.</div>
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AND HE LOVED IT.</div>
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AND SO DID HIS FAMILY.</div>
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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."</div>
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GUYS. MY HEART!</div>
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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. </div>
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I love my family - and I can't wait to have a family of my own someday.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: The Cultural Activity! The most successful event we've had YET! It was so amazing!</div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;">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!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-66967192869772801592016-06-06T14:25:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:26:39.486-07:00The prayers of the faithful<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">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.</span></div>
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It's so crazy guys.</div>
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1. <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Son</i>. 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 :)</div>
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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!</div>
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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!</div>
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"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. "</div>
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Élder Edward Dube. de los Setenta</div>
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I LOVE YOU ALL.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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ps. 1. My sweet little Camila is going to Texas ALL SUMMER :( So sad! I will miss her! 2&3. Adventures with some posin'</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-62418295316556565812016-05-30T14:24:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:25:33.029-07:00It's SUMMMER!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I actually can't believe it's already Monday again AND it's already almost June. For all of you missionaries counting the weeks and the months and the transfers.... stooppppp. Because you'll get to a point when you realize that you only have 8 weeks left in the mission LIKE ME AND THEN YOU'LL FREAK OUT. But no, like I'm good, I'm accepting it. This mission has been the best decision I have ever made, and I know it won't stop when the tag comes off. There's more and more just waiting for me :) But honestly, stop counting the days. Just stop.</span></div>
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Ok HI EVERYONE! What an amazing week!!!! I don't know what's happening, but seriously ever day lately has been so incredible. We are both just exhausted today - our week was packed.</div>
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So let me tell you about some miracles.</div>
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1. <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Camila</i>. Camila is Bertha's 9 year old daughter. She is the cutest little human I have ever met. We haven't been focusing too much on her only because we've been mainly teaching her mom, but I had this feeling that maybe we should turn our attention to Camila for a bit. She comes to church and the activities during the week, and she loves it! So we left her a children's BOM with some treats on her doorstep like a week and a half ago, and then this last Monday, as we were sitting down to teach Bertha, I asked Camila if she had gotten our gift! She said she had! And that she loved it. She pulled it out and showed me how much she had read. She read 26 chapters... 26 CHAPTERS. In a week!!! She said she had taken the book to school with her to read! Not only did she read so much, she remembered EVERYTHING. She told us about Lehi's vision, the conversion story of Alma the Younger, the baptisms of over 200 people in the waters of Mormon, the preaching of Abinidi and his encounter with King Noah... I was so blown away. I couldn't even hide my excitement. Later on in the week, we watched the Testaments with her, and I wish you could've seen her reactions! She just exclaimed, "This movie is so cool!" She bore such a powerful, simple testimony of her Savior... she said that she wants to be like him, that she wants to follow him, and that she wants to help her family follow him as well. ISN'T SHE SO COOL.</div>
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2. <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Jacqueline&Roberto</i>. So this couple is my favorite. I talked about them in my last email, but they are both just progressing so amazingly. It's so cool. This week we were able to have a lesson with President Hemmingsen, the stake president. My goodness, it was so powerful. We had gone to a baptism on Saturday and as he was bearing his testimony, I felt strongly that he needed to come with us to visit Jackie and Roberto. He said that he would love to! The lesson was so good. Jackie still doesn't have a date for baptism, but she said that her goal is to be baptized and be sealed to her family in the temple. She said that although she still has a lot of questions, she has more faith now than ever before in her life. We have so much hope for them!!</div>
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3. <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Talking to everyone</i>. So a huge focus in the mission has been talking to everyone, no matter who it is! We've made a huge effort lately to make sure we talked to everyone who was put into our path. We saw some incredible things! First, we were walking to our car after a lesson, and I saw a couple walking with their family to the park. I was about to go talk to the husband, when I felt I should cross the street and talk to the wife. Well as we start talking, she says, "You know, I was actually baptized into this church like 5 years ago. I haven't gone in forever. Now that i have a family, I think it's about time we go back." WHAT! Second, we went to go try a former investigator, but when she wasn't home, we tried her neighbor. This super nice lady, Fransisca, opened the door and started talking to us! She instantly told us she was verrry much Catholic, BUT she kept talking to us! Turns out, her son had been taught by missionaries about a year or so ago. She even knew where the Book of Mormon was in her house. We tstified of the Restoration and how the Book of Mormon answers the questions of our soul. That morning I had made a list of all of the different questions and answers found in the Book of Mormon. I took it out and gave it to her. She then said, "I'll read all of these! I'm actually really interested. You can come back too, whenever you have time..." WHAT! Third, we went to go try a potential, but turns out, they don't live there. BUT! We asked the boy who lived there for some referrals! He gave us one for a lady named Juana. We contacted her immediately. She was super friendly and instantly let us in. She too said that she was verrrry Testigos de Jehova, but I don't know... she didn't act like it. LOL! She told us that when she was younger, she remembered having the missionaries over to teach her family! WHAT! We taught her the Restoration and it was so powerful. She took the Book of Mormon and said that she would read it :)</div>
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SO many cool miracles, right?! Life is so good!</div>
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I love you all so much!!</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-69177902805109826142016-05-23T14:22:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:24:31.429-07:00Broken back won't get me down<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So you are probably sick of me saying this, but... THIS WEEK WAS SO AMAZING. WE SAW SO MANY MIRACLES.</span></div>
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Maybe it's just because I'm a missionary, but I am able to recognize now just how many miracles happen every day. It's seriously incredible.</div>
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Quick side-note though. Sister Gould was out of commission this week for about a day and a half. We had zone Olympics on Thursday, and of courrrseee I participated! I won the basketball competition actually, believe it or not. But with all the strain to my already-weak back, I woke up Friday not being able to walk at all. With several hours of no-movement and ice packs on my back and thighs, I was able to walk a little bit so we could make it to our branch Family Home Evening on Friday night. I was able to hobble around on Saturday as well, with the help of a priesthood blessing from the elders. Yesterday, I visited a brother in our stake who's a chiropractor, so he was able to bring some relief. But YEAH. So that's my life right now!</div>
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BUT HEY, BESIDES ALL THAT, God is so good and we had some of the coolest miracles ever this week.</div>
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We got to go on exchanges with the Omaha sisters this week! When I was serving there, we had an investigator who just wasn't progressing atttt aaallllll. She had so much potential, and so it was frustrating that she wasn't progressing! Her name is Eduimar :) So yeah, every time we tried to visit her, she just looked so sick and so tired and just so sad. When I first met her, I remember her telling us that she wanted to be a mom so bad. She wanted a family, but doctors had told her that she just couldn't have children. This caused a lot of distress in her life. She dealt with depression because of it. She loved the gospel of Jesus Christ, though, especially the power found within the temples. But she just never could progress. It was so hard.</div>
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So fast forward. In Omaha, I got this feeling that we should go visit Eduimar. I didn't know why, and I honestly doubted she wouldn't let us in. Wellll heeeyyy I was wrong!</div>
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She let us in AND SHE LOOKED SO HAPPY. I was like, "Hermana, what happened! How are you!" And she grabbed my arm and with tears in her eyes, she said, "Hermana! I had a baby!"</div>
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I swear time stopped for like 5.6 minutes.</div>
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I just stared at her and with tears of my own, I asked,"Hermana, are you kidding me?" No she wasn't joking! God had blessed her with a beautiful baby boy! She didn't even know she was pregnant until after I got transferred so all those times she was too sick and sad to let us in was because she was pregnant!</div>
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Oh my gosh, I about passed out.</div>
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She told us that she was ready to start again and to come to church and to unite her family forever in the temple.</div>
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GUYS, DON'T TELL ME GOD ISN'T REAL BECAUSE I WON'T BELIEVE YOU.</div>
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He is so aware of all of us. EVERY single one of His children! He knows our needs and He knows our wants and our desires. He will bless those who are faithful and who ENDURE. My goodness, such a special moment for me and her. I am so grateful I was on exchanges and had that prompting to go visit her.</div>
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The second miracle was with Jacqueline and Roberto. To keep this story short, we ended up going to breakfast with one of our investigators after a doctor's appointment that I translated for. As we were walking out, we saw Roberto and his wife! </div>
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Background story: our branch president is so faithful - he is the ONLY active member in his entire family. Recently one of his sons has come back really strong, but the rest? Nope. Including his wife. It's so hard for him, yet he magnifies his calling without complaints. My dream is to bring back all of his family!!! Or at least start the process :) So his oldest son, Roberto, moved here from Chicago with his wife, Jackie. President Lagunas asked the missionaries to focus on him, so we honestly had to fight with the elders to choose who got to teach them. </div>
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Well when we saw them walk in, we figured... WE WON.</div>
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So we set up and appointment for the next day and taught them the message of the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong - it was one of the most powerful lessons I have ever been in. Both are so ready - he's ready to come back to church and she is ready to be baptized. Both mentioned that they have been feeling a strong need to read the Book of Mormon and come to church. They want to unite their family and be strong members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They want to change. We testified powerfully and lovingly that nobody is too far gone and that God is no respecter of persons. We met with them again later on in the week, both of them having read the Book of Mormon in between the lessons, being so prepared to learn and to change. And yesterday, they both came to church. WHICH APPARENTLY WAS HUGE.</div>
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I just have zero words. </div>
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I will never not believe in God, you wanna know why? Because things like THIS ^ happen EVERY SINGLE DAY. Yeah, this life is hard. Sure, it's unfair sometimes. But more than anything, God is real, and He loves us so much. So so much.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: That one time we posed for a magazine.. lol, exchanges with my bffs, & zone Olympics!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-42923130087144521582016-05-16T14:21:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:22:41.722-07:00You are enough<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So lemme just say that I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY LIKE A WHOLE LOT.</span></div>
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I just have a couple of cool experiences to share with you all, enjoy.</div>
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A week ago today, last P-day, we were in Walmart buying our groceries. We got in line to pay, and I purposefully chose the line with a mom and her daughter who looked Hispanic... work don't stop on P-days everyone. </div>
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This little girl though hahah she just stared at us with the evil death glare and started pushing our cart away while saying, "No.. no....!" Hahah it was hilarious. She kept doing that "I'm watching you" sign with her hands at us! We started giving it back to her and eventually we were just laughing. The mom noticed what was going on so we started talking to her! They just recently moved here from Kentucky and she told us she'd love for us to come visit! PERFECT.</div>
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So fast forward 2 days. Nightly planning for Wednesday. We decided to go to some contacting in Walmart and try and find some new people to teach! We also planned a couple former investigators and less actives later that night in the same part of town.</div>
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Wednesday afternoon, we walked into Walmart, looking for pretty much anyone who spoke Spanish haha well the first lady I saw was walking with her son, so I turned to Hermana Villarreal, "Let's go talk to her!"</div>
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We started up a conversation and when she told us her name, I was like, "...HOLD UP."</div>
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THIS LADY WAS A FORMER INVESTIGATOR WE WERE PLANNING ON VISITING THAT SAME DAY. I had never met her before in my life, I had just read her name on a teaching record. And she was the first person we talked to!!!!!</div>
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Planning, everyone. Miracles.</div>
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Stuff like that happens all the time, like just 2 hours ago we were at the doctor's, translating for our investigator, and we ran into another former investigator who we hadn't seen in weeks.</div>
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SO COOL GUYS.</div>
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The last thing: We had our day all planned out - Thursday, I believe - but as we were driving to another house, I had the strongest impression to go visit a potential we hadn't been able to get in with yet, Danida. I have been wanting to teach her because her story is amazing! There's a story in her family that has been passed down from generation to generation that Christ came to the Americas. #bookofmormon </div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.3px;">But she works allllll the time. WELL. NOT THAT DAY, EVERYONE. We taught her the message of the Restoration on her front porch, and I can't even accurately explain how perfect it was. Even before we taught about the Great Apostasy, she was like, "I truly believe that the teachings of Christ were changed after he was killed, that's why there are so many churches with different doctrine." UM YES ACTUALLY.</span></div>
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She about flipped when we gave her the Book of Mormon. When she gave the closing prayer, she prayed that she would find the truth and pleaded with the Father to know if our message was true.</div>
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We both cried when we got in the car.</div>
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I've spent this week thinking about who I am and who I am becoming. There are things that are hard for me to do as a missionary, like tracting for example. But when that voice of negativity and doubt are pushed away, I can hear that gentle yet powerful reminder, "You are enough." You are enough. You don't have to be perfect, I don't have to be perfect. As we try, as we work, as we have faith... we will grow. </div>
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God cares more about the direction of our progress than our speed.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: FIESSTAAA! also we found some bunnies while tracting... you really don't see that every day</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-19865648747321629072016-05-09T14:20:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:21:24.149-07:00Traaaansfers!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So... some crazy stuff happened to the Nebraska Omaha Mission this week........</span></div>
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I got released as a Sister Training Leader :( so sad. BUT NOW I AM A TRAINER! WOOO!!! I will be training until the end of my mission here in Sioux City! Can you say "two area missionary"? HOLLA. I love this place. It's so special.</div>
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But get this... my companion IS THE MOST AMAZING HUMAN. Her name is Hermana Villarreal, and she is from Mexico! Like born & raised, doesn't know any English... so Spanish 24/7 here! I'm so excited to not only practice my Spanish and perfect it, but I also get to teach a native speaker English! Such a cool opportunity!</div>
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She is the most diligent missionary. She didn't go to the MTC (I don't know why...), but she already knows how to be a missionary, she's so amazing. She was baptized at 17 years old and has been strong and faithful ever since. I'm so blessed!</div>
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This email will be short mainly because this last week was filled with packing up Sister Castagnola's stuff and saying goodbye to one of my best friends... and unpacking Hermana Villarreal's stuff and saying HELLOOOO! Hahaha</div>
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Bertha came to church again yesterday! She is so amazing and she is progressing so well. Her daughter, Camilah, loves church and loves being with all of the primary kids. It's so cool to see how much of a change has taken place in this family. We also had 8 returning members at church, it was so special. Such an amazing Sunday yesterday. Plus being able to see my family was great! I LOVE THOSE HUMANS.</div>
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Well, I just have a little quote to share with you all today:</div>
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"All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, purifies our hearts and makes us more tender and more charitable, and it is through toil and tribulation that we gain the education which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven." - Elder Orson F. Whitney</div>
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I've experienced a lot of different things here on my mission. A lot of pain and heartache, but a lot of joy and peace as well. I know that God has been with me every step of the way. This church is true, everyone. With the changes this last week, I have felt so out of my comfort zone, but when I stepped into the chapel yesterday, I was overwhelmed. No matter the changes that happen in our lives, the church will continue always to be true. This gives me so much comfort.</div>
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I love you all.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pics: Beautiful Iowa, my new comp!. and my craaaazy family lol</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-50328272334046468592016-05-02T14:18:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:20:17.455-07:00You're welcome mom :)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">My mom always asks me for more pictures... so that's what you get this week!</span></div>
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And because my email last week was like an actual novel and it took me the whole hour to write (I got really good at multitasking last week), this one will be just a little shorter lol and with more pictures!</div>
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Highlights:</div>
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1. Yesterday at church, the Leal family, the cutest little couple who live about an hour and a half away (and still FAITHFULLY come to church every Sunday), motioned for the missionaries to come follow them down the hall of the church where they had two HUGE bags just full of groceries for us. Such a sweet, tender, perfect mercy.</div>
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2. We visited with Briana, our most solid investigator and like the cutest human ever, and we went over her reading in the Book of Mormon. When we asked her if she had prayed to know if it was true, she was like, "Well, honestly no... only because I already feel like it's true, like I already totally understand and believe it." As you can imagine, we sat there silent for about 36 seconds and then I opened my mouth and said the only thing I could think of, "Well, um, could you maybe pray just so you are for sure for sure?" HAHA she is so amazing.</div>
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3. We had a church tour with Bertha and her daughter Camila and it was so great! At the end, Bertha asked for a hymn book so she could study and learn the hymns. She also asked for the gospel principles book so she could study and come up with questions before class. She came to church yesterday with her daughter and just absolutely loved it. She is so amazing and so prepared! And to think we almost dropped her...</div>
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4. Hace mucho tiempo... I had a best friend named Alexis Mejia in elementary school. We lost contact and parted ways when we got into high school and college. When I got my mission call to the Nebraska Omaha Mission, I got a message from her saying that her family was from there! And that they were hispanic! #score. also #perfect. Well, to make this story short, because I am a Sister Training Leader I have the opportunity to go on exchanges in Omaha, though I am serving in Sioux City. So this last Thursday I was able to meet my childhood best friend's grandma and teach her the message of the Restoration and give her a Book of Mormon. It was the most special moment of my mission.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.3px;">I LOVE MY LIFE. I am learning so so so so much and I am so happy! I have overcome my fears and my weaknesses, I have learned how to better love God and myself and those around me... I just am so grateful for my mission. I will never be the same!</span></div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: We went hiking last week in a little place called... Bacon Creek.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-76822323119780333802016-04-25T14:17:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:18:44.167-07:00It's beginning to look a lot like...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">SPRING TIME!!!!!!!!!</span></div>
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And I love it a lot.</div>
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Yesterday we were driving to dinner and neither of us knew where we were going and our GPS got all whacked out BUT hey we made it... ANNND on the way, we somehow wounded up in the middle of the most beautiful area of Sioux City, which I didn't even know existed, so that was nice. (pictures below)</div>
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LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT OUR WEEK.</div>
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Actually there's too much.</div>
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SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT BERTHA.</div>
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The sister missionaries here have been teaching Bertha long before I got here, and she has never ONCE come to church. I was able to teach her once a long time again, like back in December, and then a few times in February. And then just recently, like starting in March, she became more of like a legit investigator. She had an accident at work which made her unable to go back, so she's home all the time (which means perfect for missionaries...). We had some incredibly powerful lessons with her, helping her understand and realize that she indeed does have strong faith and that that faith can bring about miracles.</div>
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Well one time, we asked her if the elders could come to give her a blessing. We had come the day before and she was in a neck brace. She told us how frustrated she was that the doctors didn't really know what was wrong with her, so they just put on a neck brace and gave her some medication. SO we brought up the priesthood blessing, and she said she would love one.</div>
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The elders - I am so grateful for priesthood holders dangit! - came and gave her a beautiful blessing. She said she felt at peace afterwards, and we continued to teach her the plan of salvation. She was absolutely amazed when we told her that before this life she lived with her Heavenly Father. She never knew! She was honestly without words, and just sat there, soaking it in. </div>
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We spent so much time and effort in these lessons, trying our best to help her continue to learn and feel that her faith was sufficient.</div>
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But...</div>
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She didn't come to church that week. And she still says no to baptism.</div>
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At that point, I was like, "Ok, ok is all of this worth it right now? Is she actually going to progress??" We came to the conclusion that right now may not be her time, and so we decided to drop her. I KNOW IT SOUNDS HARSH but sometimes you have to do that as a missionary!</div>
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So we planned our last lesson with her and had a member and her daughter come with us. </div>
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And guess what? Something INCREDIBLE happened during this lesson.</div>
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God's plan was obviously different than ours! He had something prepared for this woman and her family. We get into the lesson and its just perfect, the spirit was so strong. The member, Penny, was just bearing solid, amazing testimony. But somehow along the way, the conversation got a little off topic... okay actually a lot off topic... and we completely lost the focus. We still don't know what happened haha but as time just continued on, I was starting to lose my patience as I felt the spirit leaving the room. The member was practically arguing with the husband about why they haven't come to church and why they aren't getting baptized and so many others things. It just wasn't the best situation. My companion was getting really antsy! </div>
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So Sister Castagnola just blurts out, "OK WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WE HAVE TO GET TO SO WE GOTTA WRAP THIS UP." hahaha everyone got all quiet.</div>
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And then I took that opportunity to be bold.</div>
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I looked at the husband, Salvador, and at Bertha and I just said, "We have come into your home, we have shared our message, and we know that you have felt the spirit. We know that this is what your family needs. We know that God sent us to bless your family. But we know that you will never know for yourselves in your don't do <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">something</i>. You will never feel the Holy Ghost testify to you if you never <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">allow it to.</i> You will never, ever know the truth if you never <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">go to the source.</i> We can't keep coming here just to share a spiritual message. Our purpose is to help others come unto Christ through <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">baptism</i>."</div>
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The room was quiet.</div>
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So we sang a hymn, said a prayer, and left.</div>
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AND GUESS WHAT.</div>
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She came to church! And not only did she come to church, but she participated in class, she regurgiated EVERYTHING we have ever taught her while we were in class as she helped answer other peoples questions, she told us that she recognized the miracles of that priesthood blessing because her doctors FINALLY found out what was wrong, and that she knew that good things ALWAYS happened after we would leave her house. She felt that what we were teaching her was actually changing her. She could feel it!</div>
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AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD BE BAPTIZED.</div>
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"Have miracles ceased? Nay."</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-2648097239390937992016-04-18T14:16:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:17:28.455-07:00100 days<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: justify;">
Starting that 100 day countdown, can you even believe it? <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">I will forever be grateful for the chose I made to serve a mission for my heavenly Father.</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">"Opposition permits us to grow toward what our Heavenly Father would have us become." - Elder Dallin H. Oaks</span></div>
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So I have a rock-solid testimony of that quote after what I just experienced this week. Never have I experienced so much opposition in a short amount of time. From crazy, rude humans to my companion getting the flu to our top investigator dropping us out of nowhere... it was something else this week.</div>
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BUT I don't want to focus on any of that. I want to focus on what came AFTER all of the opposition. I know that God blesses those who not only endure but those who endure patiently and with full confidence in Him. </div>
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Last week we recieved a call from this lady in our branch, Sister Flory. She told us that she had a friend who needed help filling out some paperwork to try and adopt her granddaughters, and she asked us if we could come help her. She said it wasn't really a "referral" but kind of! Haha "kind of" is good enough for us! The first time we met with her, Martina, I sat with her at her kitchen table and helped her the best I could fill out some of her paperwork while Sister C entertained her little 3 year old daughter. It was hard! It was all in Spanish! But I'm telling you, the gift of tongues is real.</div>
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Half way through, we both got a little discouraged, and I felt the Holy Ghost prompt me to offer a prayer. I ignored the prompting, only because I didn't want to make Martina feel awkward by suggesting it. Well, the prompting kept coming back, stronger and stronger, so I was like, "Martina, esta bien si ofrecemos una oracion?" I explained a little bit about prayer and the power of the Holy Ghost and testified that I knew it would help. She agreed, so I offered a prayer. At the end of the visit, she told me that she felt peaceful and that everything would be okay, that she would be able to help her granddaughters. I invited her to offer a prayer of gratitude to end the visit as well as before going to bed. Just like a good missionary, I told her I would follow up! :)</div>
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We followed that same pattern for the next 4 visits - opening and ending with a prayer. Throughout the visit, I would try and relate whatever we were doing back to the gospel and back to God's love for families. I would bear testimony as often as I felt I could. On Saturday, I invited Martina to come to church.</div>
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And guess what.</div>
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SHE CAME TO CHURCH. And she loved it! She said she felt so good and so welcomed. The branch just loved her and loved her daughter, Alexia. It was amazing. We had only met her a week earlier and now she was at church and had agreed to take the lessons! SUCH A HUGE MIRACLE.</div>
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While we were at church, our investigator Yaretd and her family ALSO WALKED IN. I was sitting up on the piano, playing the sacrament hymn, and I couldn't help but cry. They both stayed for all three hours and participated in classes with everyone. Gosh dangit, it was so cool.</div>
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And the best part - if you can imagine it ANY better - we met Briana. First of all, so cool because she has a GREAT name.. :) But secondly, SHE IS THE GREATEST HUMAN. She was a referral from the elders from like forever ago that we were never able to contact. We finally met her and I'm so glad that we did.</div>
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She is 14 years old, loves to write and loves photography. #bestfriends</div>
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We started to get to know her, set expectations, etc. and she was just so open to the spirit and she was eating it up. She is so mature for her age - as we started teaching the Restoration, she kept saying how amazed she was. She understood the apostasy and said how much it made sense to her, that NOW she understood why there were so many churches in the world. When we shared the story of Joseph Smith, she was like, "Yeah, I totally believe that happened. I'm sure it did, it had to!" Annnnnd theeennn, when we went over the Book of Mormon, she was looking at it and said, "Wow, I feel special holding this in my hands!" SHE FEELS SPECIAL HOLDING THE BOOK OF MORMON. Is that not the most amazing thing!? We asked her to read 1 Nephi 1, focusing on Christ, and she asked, "Well, is it ok if I read more? I'm really interested!" hahaH YES.</div>
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At the end of the lesson, she said that she would be baptized and accepted a date for May 14th. She is so prepared and so excited.</div>
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God is so good, everyone. God loves His children. And He WILL fulfill His promises if we hold out faithful and endure.</div>
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I love you all so much. So so much.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: Alexia & crafts, selfie taken with my mission president BY my mission president, and crazy Journy</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-87290128688379065762016-04-11T14:15:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:16:04.148-07:00He is aware of you<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So first of all, this time last year I was just startin' out fresh in Nebraska. WHAT IS TIME/////</span></div>
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This weekend, we had stake conference, and I about lost mah MARBLES. It was the best thing ever! Could I haaaave a more spiritual high!?</div>
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No.</div>
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Well maybe, but idk.</div>
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Let me just share a couple tidbits..</div>
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"The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph." "Our two biggest worries in this life need to be serving God and saving souls." "Don't settle for anything less than the eternal glory." "The world is irrelevant. Christ will not have the world define what happens in His church."</div>
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SOOO GOOOD.</div>
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This week was a full one! We had exchanges, zone training here in Sioux City, and zone training in South Dakota! We were all over the place. We learned a whole lot, saw many miracles, and felt the hand of the Lord guiding us every step.</div>
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I'll share 2 of my favorite experiences from this week:</div>
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1. <b style="line-height: 21.3px;">Ungor & Kirby</b>. So before I got to Sioux City, the sisters had found this family. We started teaching them, and it went well for a few weeks, but it got to a point where they weren't progressing, they weren't understanding, and they weren't acting. We hated dropping them, but we did. Nothing was happening. I had a strong feeling though that their two kids, Ungor and Kirby, were going to be the ones truly affected by our visits. I remember telling Sister Castagnola one time, "It's going to be one of those cool stories where like in 10 years we'll get a call from some stake president and he'll be like, 'Remember me?'" Hahah for real, though, I think more than anything these two kids will remember our visits and the spirit they felt when they grow up. </div>
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Well this last week, we were in their neighborhood and saw the dad working outside. We decided to go say hi, and he told us to go inside. We waited a couple minutes for him to come join us, but when he never did, I had an idea. I told Kirby, the little girl, to go grab her brother. We spent the next 20 minutes or so going over the pictures in the front of the Book of Mormon, teaching simple yet profound doctrine in a way an 8 year old and a 10 year old could understand. It was incredible - they are both usually fairly quiet and don't talk, but as we started, they came up with some of the coolest questions... "How do we know God is real? Did He create us? What happened to the prophets in this book?" When we explained what baptism was, the boy, Ungor, told us that baptism was how we could be safe and protected. They both said they wanted to be baptized. My heart broke a little, knowing the situation with their parents, but I had faith knowing that God would provide a way for them to be baptized in the future. At the end of the simple lesson, we asked them which pictures were their favorites. Kirby flipped to the one of the Savior appearing to the people in the Americas and Ungor chose the picture of Alma baptizing the people in the waters of Mormon. I was honestly speechless when they gave their reasons. "Because Christ is asking us to follow Him." "Because baptism is the first step to happiness."</div>
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We finished the lesson with a prayer - I whispered a simple prayer into Kirby's ear as she repeated it out loud. When we said amen, tears were streaming down Sister Castagnola's face and I couldn't help but feel the Spirit, causing my heart to pound rapidly in my chest. </div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Suffer the children to come unto me...</i></div>
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GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS CHILDREN. NOT ONE SOUL IS LOST OR FORGOTTEN. EVEN THE CHILDREN.</div>
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2. <b style="line-height: 21.3px;">Yaretd.</b> This human is one of the best. I love her so much. I've talked about her before... she already has a strong testimony of the restored gospel, she was taught in Mexico and just loved it. Her goal for this year is to read the entire Book of Mormon with the sole purpose of learning more about Christ. Due to immigration and other complicated jazz, she can't be baptized right now. And because of that, she hasn't been coming to church as much as she probably should. SOOO that's where we're at with Yaretd. Teaching her is the best, it's so fun.</div>
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Well most every lesson, it's about 7pm and Dasha, her daughter, falls asleep and Yaretd, bless her heart, starts rubbin' her eyes and yawning by the end. SO I was like, "Hermana, we HAVE the come up with something different to teach them so they don't fall asleep!" LOL</div>
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So, I grabbed our box of unused Ensigns and Liahonas, some white printer paper, glue, and scissors. WE ARE MAKING COLLAGES OF OUR FUTURES. Hahah it was such a YW project but it was actually so fun. Dasha LOVED it and her two cousins, Neeshe and Shy were there too. Even the grandma and Yaretd made a collage! We all cut out pictures of some of our goals and put them all together.</div>
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We then presented them, and my heart was full when I saw Yaretd's. She had a picture of the temple, church, a couple walking towards the temple, a family, the Book of Mormon, and our Savior. She talked about how she wanted to have her family together forever. It was so special. <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">God has plans in store for her, I can feel it.</i></div>
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The overall lesson this week?</div>
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God is aware of all of His children, no matter where they are. If you feel that you are lost, you aren't. He knows where you are and He will come to you. He will rescue you. He loves you. He knows our struggles and pains, but He also knows our strengths and our joys. He is with us <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">because</i> He loves us. He wants us to come home to Him.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: "Hermana, let's knock this house." "...how?" & the sunset in Iowa :) & this picture I took of a picture because my companion wouldn't send it to me... lol</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-89272253169156313752016-04-04T14:13:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:15:07.637-07:00As I have loved you<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I have decided to nickname the last three transfers of my mission as "the refiner's fire." It hit it's peak this weekend during General Conference.</span></div>
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Wasn't that the most amazing conference... EVER? I received so much guidance, so much peace. I got spiritually slapped in the face a few times, which hurt but ya know, was needed. It was just absolutely incredible.</div>
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Elder Holland's talk at the very end got me - could anything be more perfect for a missionary close to finishing? I felt as though that message was meant specifically for me and as he said amen, I bowed my head in gratitude to my Heavenly Father, who knows me far better than I know myself.</div>
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Well turns out, we made it through another transfer! Sister Castagnola are going on our third transfer together! Making that the longest I've been with one companion :) I love it here in Sioux City. We are making great strides, and we're seeing miracles every day. </div>
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The biggest miracle this week was with a woman named Elois. Last week, we had dinner with a member and her family, and she told us of a lady the elders had taught a few months ago down the street from her. We decided to go check her out! This lady... so prepared.</div>
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The first lesson we had with her was focused solely on her - her beliefs, her family, her relationship with God, etc. It was cool to hear her talk about the things that mean most to her. When we asked her what her family meant to her, she got silent. She looked up at us, shrugged, laughed a little, and said, "There are literally no words. My family is absolutely everything."</div>
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We came back two days later and taught her the message of the Restoration. With every question we asked, she gave the most perfect answer. She was understanding and comprehending all of it. She told us of her desire to change, and how she wanted to help her whole family get on the right path. We talked about God, and His incredibly perfect plan for us. At the end of the lesson, she was holding the Book of Mormon in her hands and while staring down at it, said, "I really want to know if this is God's plan. I really want to know soon. I hope I will." It was so sincere and so full of faith, I was blown away. She said that she would be baptized if she received her answer.</div>
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Last night during nightly planning, I experienced something so overwhelming, it is still affecting me at this moment.</div>
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I was frustrated last night - we have been finding so many cool people, like Elois, but yet, no one came to church. No one is progressing. We've had 0 progressing investigators for a few weeks now.</div>
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As we were planning, I just shut my planner in a moment of frustration and asked my companion, "What are we doing wrong?" </div>
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We both sat in silence for a couple minutes - neither of us really knew what we were missing. I mean, we were obedient, we were diligent, we were thorough. And then the sweetest feeling came over me and a thought filled my mind.</div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Do you truly love these people? If you do, stop thinking about yourself.</i></div>
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I could barely even get the words out as my sobs shook my chest. I wiped tear after tear as I told my companion that we needed to forget about ourselves and focus everything on these people. I looked at our whiteboard filled with names of families and individuals, and I was overwhelmed as I said, "They<b style="line-height: 21.3px;">need</b> this! They need what we have! They don't know that God loves them!" </div>
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I love my Heavenly Father. I love Him so much. And I love these people so so much, but I don't think it has truly entered into the very depths of my soul like my love for Him has. </div>
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He taught me an incredible lesson last night:</div>
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"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.</div>
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This is the first and great commandment.</div>
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And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."</div>
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That's what missionary work is - <b style="line-height: 21.3px;">love. </b>I am so grateful I have spent the last year of my life learning the most important and most necessary lesson that will have eternal benefits for as long as I exist.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: Happy because we're still together, happy because God is good, happy because General Conference was literally the best 8 hours of my life.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-73688941223203062882016-03-28T14:12:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:13:51.218-07:00Keep on keepin' on<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So this week was a doosy. Like, yesterday, I was sitting in Relief Society, trying my hardest not to fall asleep. It was an exhausting week. But it as also incredible.</span></div>
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First off all, I'd like to say that the General Women's Conference was LITERALLY THE MOST AMAZING HOUR AND A HALF OF MY LIFE. It ended way too fast!</div>
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Sister Castagnola and I had invited pretty much every woman in our phone to come, and no one showed up. So we were sitting in the chapel, practically empty except for a few other women from the other wards, and all of my cares and worries just melted away. As we were sitting, listening to the organ music play on the broadcast, I opened up my journal and started writing down different questions I had been pondering. I usually spend the week before conference thinking of questions, but my mind was so preoccupied, I hadn't gotten around to it. My companion kept reminding me to do it, so as I sat for the 2 minutes or so before the conference started, I wrote 8 questions in my journal. Questions about my area, my companion, how I could improve, things about my future, etc. </div>
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As the conference started, I read through my questions again during the opening song. I knew I would receive answers or at least revelation, even if I hadn't spent nearly as much time praying and pondering. But I had tons of faith. </div>
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With the first talk, nearly all of my questions were answered. And not only answered, but like answered PERFECTLY. To a T. I was so overwhelmed, I kept turning to my companion to share my excitement but I couldn't even get the words out due to too many emotions.</div>
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For example...</div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">How can I help the other Spanish sisters have more confidence in themselves?</i></div>
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<b style="line-height: 21.3px;">"Think of this opportunity to serve as a chance to learn how to love. You can't help others if you are focused solely on yourself. We are the Lord's hands. Learn to show others the love that God has through your actions. This will make the biggest impact."</b></div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">What is the most important thing I can teach my future family?</i></div>
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<b style="line-height: 21.3px;">"Teach young children how to love and how to serve; this will help set a pattern for the rest of their lives. Always show by your example how to reach out in love. Your family will follow your righteous example."</b></div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">How can I be more like my Savior?</i></div>
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<b style="line-height: 21.3px;">"Jesus Christ not only taught - He lived what He taught."</b></div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">How can I prepare now to be a strong, loving wife and mother?</i></div>
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<b style="line-height: 21.3px;">"We need women who know how to help, how to lift and love, and how to serve. Women who know how to call upon the powers of heaven to raise righteous families. Become a woman who follows the Savior; be a defender of the kingdom."</b></div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">How can I continue pressing forward when we aren't seeing a ton of success?</i></div>
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<b style="line-height: 21.3px;">"Enduring patiently purifies us and makes us gentler. Continually ask for guidance to help His children; He hears and will respond to your pleas for comfort as you do His service."</b></div>
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...if General Conference is anything like last Friday, I'm gonna be dead, on the floor, filled with so much inspiration. I am so excited.</div>
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It could not have been more clear to me - God knows me. He knew my sincere desires and questions of my heart, even if I didn't write them down and go to Him in prayer every night. Though we should be doing that anyway, God knew that I would need to hear everything that was said during that Conference. HE KNOWS MY HEART BETTER THAN I EVEN DO.</div>
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So amazed. So grateful. I wish you could've seen me, I was so excited in that practically empty little chapel in Sioux City, Iowa. God had touched my heart, and I can't even deny it.</div>
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This week we had a huge blizzard - it was apparently #6 in the history of the WORRRLLDDDDD.... haha jk in Sioux City :) Gotcha.</div>
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But yeah, it was so crazy, we got caught in the middle of it. It was an absolute miracle we made it home alive. And I was driving! Double miracle we're safe.</div>
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So this last Thursday, the cars were grounded due to the snow. So after companionship study, we put on our coats, big boots, and grabbed our shovels. We spent about an hour and a half just shoveling our walkway and around our car! Well, while we were outside, we heard this guy across the street whistling a familiar song. I turned to Sister Yola and asked, "Is that... We Are All Enlisted?" And she's like, "...yeah!"</div>
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After a few moments of awkwardly creeping on this guy across the street to see if we recognized him from the other wards, I decided to just ask him what song he was whistling! I walked over towards the sidewalk and as I'm doing so, my leg goes in up to my hip in snow! I'm stuck! With just one leg! Haha so I just yell to the guy across the street, above the cars driving by, and ask, "What song are you whistling!!!!?" Hahah can you just imagine how weird that looked??</div>
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Well turned out, he was raised in the church but left as a teenager. He moved here from New York a few years ago with his girlfriend and two daughters. He said he likes to sing hymns because he feels they give him strength and makes him feel better.</div>
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...SO DANG COOL.</div>
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The elders will now be visiting him! :)</div>
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So many other cool things happened this week - they also do - but this email is already long enough! We are doing so good here in Sioux City. We are seeing miracles. The work is slow, but God is still being merciful. We are working with some really cool, solid people who are truly desiring to know God and His will. </div>
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Like real fast, we started teaching a former investigator Mina - I love her. She already believes in everything, the only thing holding her back is her fear of commitment. But at the end of the lesson, she threw her Book of Mormon on the table and said, "Here we go buddy! Back at it again!" Hahaha I love humans.</div>
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An incredible friend of mine always ends his letters to me with, "Keep on keepin' on..." I feel like God kept saying that to me this week. He kept giving me reassurances along the way, encouraging me to not give up quite yet.</div>
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God loves us. He wants us to continue on, to keep on keepin' on, because He knows what lies ahead.</div>
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I love you all.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: I redecorated my wall! (because we moved!) Also my companion and her dust pan. And Penny & Journy!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-62170746103160536262016-03-21T14:11:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:12:36.998-07:00Oh how lovely was the morning<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Ok ok ok what if I serve a mission forever?.... I love my mission so much! I am so overwhelmed by my mission - I have loved every day so far and it is a huge blessing that I am still here, serving these amazing people. So many miracles happened this week, and I'm just so filled with love. I don't want this to ever end!</span></div>
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Let me tell you about two huge miracles this week.</div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Rebecca</i> - SO a few months ago, like back in early January, we got a referral from the Church headquarters, which is HUGE. It was the first one I have gotten my whole mission! So obviously I was pumped. We got her phone number and address and went to go contact her that day. Well, she wasn't home. So we tried calling, stopping by, etc. but we could never get a hold of her. We met her neighbor - super cute young mom - and even started teaching her neighbor across the street. I just came to the conclusion that it was one of those moments where the referral actually led us to the people around it! So on exchanges last week, Sister Castagnola and Sister Reynolds decided to go try Rebecca one last time. As they were walking up to the door, actually, Sister Castagnola was like, "Yeah, we've tried this lady... she never answers..." Annnddddd tttheennnnnn! *drum roll* SHE ANSWERS.</div>
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Haha</div>
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So turns out, she was visiting Utah with her boyfriend during Christmas and she referred herself! She took a tour of the visitors center and got two copies of the Book of Mormon, one in english and one in spanish. So sweet. By the end of the lesson, she had accepted a baptismal date for April 9th! She also has a daughter, Blanca, who is 9 years old! We're gonna baptize them both!</div>
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Such a huge, huge miracle. I couldn't even believe it. I still can't! But I have so much faith right now, we are praying for these two in practically every single prayer. It's my first baptismal set in like 2 months. So amazing</div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Danida</i> - So last week, we decided to do some tracting in a familiar neighborhood. We knocked a door where a potential investigator lived, Danida. She had never let us in, but she was always so friendly. SO we decided to try one last time. Well, she let us in! As we stood in her living room, we started to testify of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which opened up conversation with her about her beliefs. She told us that when she was younger, her grandma used to sit her and all of her cousins down and tell them about Jesus visiting the people in the central americas. </div>
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I was like, "Wait.. hold up. Are you serious?"</div>
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Hahah ok not really, but I thought it in my head.</div>
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Yeah! She has known her whooollleee life that Christ appeared to the people in the Americas! How perfect is that! So we instantly testified of the Book of Mormon and told her that her grandmother was right! It was so cool to see her face. She was so excited.</div>
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We have a church tour with her tonight! I am so pumped!</div>
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God is preparing people alllllllll the time. I love it. I love this message, the message of the Restoration. We shared it last night with a family after dinner, and I couldn't hold back the tears as I quoted word-for-word the First Vision.</div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—“This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”</i></div>
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Amazing.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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typical happenings of a missionary in the NOM</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-35504155914596111982016-03-14T14:10:00.000-07:002016-07-03T14:11:31.113-07:00Hallelujah<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Did you know that church came out with a new Easter video yesterday? GO CHECK IT OUT BECAUSE IT ROCKS A WHOLE LOT. And it's all about families... and you know how I feel about families... :)</span></div>
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So this week was incredible. Seriously so good. I don't know how our weeks keep getting better and better, but I love it. Time is also flying by so fast. I found out this week that due to BYU Provo starting earlier, I'll be heading home from my mission a little earlier. Official date is July 28th. I spent lots of time thinking and praying and crying (lol)... but I'm just trusting in God right now. I hate the fact that I am leaving early, but we'll just see what God's plan is for me. I trust Him :)</div>
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This last Tuesday, we had a special meeting in Omaha for JUST the sisters! AH-MAY-ZING. Lol. Seriously, it was so inspired, we all were in tears and some point or another. President Gardner's love for the sisters in our mission is undeniable. It is incredible humbling. He stood up there and just cried as he said, "I'm going to take my mission president hat off right now and speak to you as your dad. If you have any thoughts that are negative, that are rude, that are anything other than uplifting about yourself, stop it. Just stop it. You are all daughters of God, you are all so love, and you are all so special." *sniffle sniffle* So amazing.</div>
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We also had the chance to go on exchanges with the Worthington sisters again! I was with Hermana Marshall - she is SO COOL. We clicked instantly, like perfect companionship all day. We saw so many miracles.</div>
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We had 5 appointments set up. One fell through, but another random one happened! So, based on that, it was a pretty solid day. We were driving to Morningside to get some lunch before our first appointment and we got a call from this girl named Abby. She was baptized about a year ago! She loves the sister missionaries :) Seriously, sometimes TOO nice to us.. haha but anyway! We had an appointment set with her on Friday for lunch, but on Thursday (during exchanges), she called us and was like, "We still good for lunch??" I replied, "Um... YEAH." Haha I love random changes in the schedule :)</div>
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Turns out it was perfect. Of course. As we were planning a little message in the car before we got to the restaurant, we felt prompted to talk about temples. Abby is preparing to serve a mission soon, so we thought it would be good! Turns out, her grandpa had passed away that same morning and the message of the temple touched her heart so deeply, she couldn't hold back the tears. It was incredible. God is so perfect - He just orchestrates our lives so we can bless others and they can bless us.</div>
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We had several other amazing lessons but the last one was with Jasmin. Also a recent convert! She hasn't been coming to church so we planned to teach about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. We testified so strongly, we left her house not really remembering what we said. The spirit was evident. At one point, Jasmin put her hand to her chest and said, "I feel it. I feel really warm. It's uncomfortable, but good!" It was so cool to see her change throughout the lesson - she started off by saying that she had doubts about the church, but by the end of the lesson, she was bearing testimony to US, saying that she wanted to serve a mission and prepare now.</div>
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God changes hearts. God changes lives.</div>
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I love this life. I love it so much. I told my companion through tears (man, I cry a lot.. lol), I don't care if I come crawling through the airport on my hands and knees to see my family, I am running this last leg of my mission with so much force and so much energy. No time for rest! ONLY TIME FOR WORK.</div>
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Haha ok I love you all so much.</div>
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xoxo </div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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ps. We found a place to go hiking last Monday - and Elder Peters let me borrow his camera. You knoooww what that meansss.. :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-30967403636061896352016-03-07T14:09:00.000-08:002016-07-03T14:10:20.569-07:00Eternal families & temples<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Did you know that families can be together forever? Relationships that you cherish here can last after death. You can see the ones you love so deeply even after they have left this earth. Only through our the plan our loving Heavenly Father prepared for us from the foundation of the world can we truly experience all of the joy that He and our Savior Jesus Christ does. It's possible - with the power of the priesthood, all those things that were sealed on earth will be sealed in heaven.</span></div>
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Amazing, right?</div>
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This week we were focused all on families - it made me smile because I LOVE MY FAMILY SO MUCH. If anyone knows me, they know that I practically only ever rave about my family. Deal with it.</div>
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On Tuesday, I had the ABSOLUTE PLEASURE of finallllly experiencing what happens in MLC - Missionary Leadership Council. It happens once a month and all of the leadership in the mission gathers together to council with one another, with President Gardner at the head. It was amazing - my mind was actually blown. So much inspiration, so much guidance. It was awesome.</div>
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So the main theme of the training, and now what the whole mission is focusing on.... families. Eternal families. We were committed to go out and find families instead of individuals. So inspired. Mainly because the Hispanic culture puts so much emphasis on families so this new twist will touch the hearts of so many that we teach.</div>
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With all of that fresh in mind, we headed back to Sioux City from Omaha to get started on finding some families. We had plans to try and contact a church headquarters referral, Rebecca. When she wasn't home, we decided to work the area. We looked at the houses and prayerfully decided to knock two. The first one, no response. But the second... MIRACLE. The cutest little pregnant lady opened the door and let us right in after we told her what our message was. Her name was Fernanda! Cutest human. She's so quirky and lovable, ah I love her! She has a daughter who's 2 years old and will be having a son in June. We shared "Because He Lives" and set up a return appointment with her for the next day. Super solid. She told us all about her love for God and how she's been trying to find the truth for her children.</div>
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The next day, we came back with a member - Manuela. It was perfect. We taught the message of the Restoration, focusing on families and the sealing power. Manuela bore such powerful testimony and my companion shared the the First Vision of Joseph Smith so perfectly, the Spirit was definitely there. Fernanda was attentive the whole lesson, and she was loving it, especially the part about the Great Apostacy. She understood it and said that it made perfect sense. At the end, we asked her how she felt during the lesson. She sat for a little bit, thinking, and awkwardly laughed saying, "Pues.. no se.." We waited a little longer and then she said, "Amor. Amor hacia mi Padre Celestial y mi familia." Love. Love towards my Heavenly Father and my family.</div>
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Perfect answer. So so perfect. My heart was so full of love during that lesson.</div>
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So excited to see her progress with her family!</div>
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So many other amazing miracles this week but overall, I just want to share my testimony that I know that families are incredibly important. It's through our families that we are able to experience joy. I can't wait for mine - my husband, my children - and I can't wait to share everything that I am learning with them. God loves His children; He loves us.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: MLC and Esmerelda & Jose :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-47434029045593326762016-02-29T14:07:00.000-08:002016-07-03T14:09:07.307-07:00In the blink of an eye<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So.. 4 days ago I hit my year mark. Which means I only have 6 months left. Which is CRAAZZY!</span></div>
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I can't even believe how much I have changed and experienced this last year. This time a year ago, I was in the MTC in Mexico, scared out of my mind and so stressed out. Luckily that feeling didn't last too long! The time spent in the CCM will always be remembered and cherished, I hold that time so special. I was stretched, and because of that, I grew. I made life long friends and learned a new language. I learned how to be a missionary! Heaven on earth.</div>
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And then I came to Nebraska. Man, was that crazy. I thought I knew how to be a missionary until I started to teach and plan and everything! It was so much more than I thought - but it was so good. As I served in Omaha, I met hundreds of people, each of them changing my life. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. I did a lot of learning and growing and humbling. It was in Omaha that I truly learned who I was. I am more than just what you can see - I realize now that I have such a deep and abiding connection to my Heavenly Father and that He has given me gifts and talents to help not only me but everyone I meet.</div>
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Now in Sioux City, I am becoming the missionary God needs me to be - for right now and for forever.</div>
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I served with many different companions, learning from each. From my mama, Hermana Grubbs, I learned that life is meant to be enjoyed. From Hermana Bacy I learned the reality of the Atonement. From my sweet hija, Hermana Miller, I learned that obedience is the only way to happiness. From Hermana Castagnola, I have learned that God's love is real and never-ending. I have learned a great deal of patience from training a new missionary, and I have learned the importance of confidence by serving as an STL. </div>
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I am a different person. Completely. My understanding of the gospel has deepened and my appreciation for my Savior has grown. </div>
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Never will I be the same again. Never again will I be the person I was before my mission - not when I know how much more potential I have.</div>
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I love this work. I love my Heavenly Father. I love the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful that I was born into the true church, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. So so grateful.</div>
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I love you all so much.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: Spanish conf! & Happy 1 year :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-5365301648835131392016-02-22T14:06:00.000-08:002016-07-03T14:07:35.741-07:00Crying tears of joy<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">SO first of all, apparently my email last week didn't get sent??? I'm sorry! It was a really good one too... ;) I'm going to send it to my mom to post later!</span></div>
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Secondly, I just received this email:</div>
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Dear Brieanna:</div>
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Congratulations! You have been admitted to Brigham Young University to begin Fall 2016.</div>
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I AM GOING TO BYU PROVO!!!!!! For real!!!!</div>
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Haha wow what a great way to start off my week.</div>
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Anyway.</div>
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Such a crazy, busy week! And we have another one coming up! I looked at my planner already for this week and we have appointments every single day! We are working better with our members, getting more frequent lessons with our investigators, etc. Little by little we are improving and it's the best.</div>
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So one of the families that we have been teaching are doing so great - the only problem is that they will never offer the closing prayer. Kind of a simple thing to ask, but for some reason, they never want to offer the prayer. The reason we are so worried about them praying with us is so we KNOW that they are praying without us. The only way they are truly going to improve their relationship with God and learn for themselves about this church is through real, sincere prayer. So after a frustrating attempt to get them to pray, we left and planned a better lesson the next time.</div>
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This last week, we had 15 min left before we had to head home. We decided to go invite the family to church and remind them about reading the Book of Mormon. We both then felt prompted to share our lesson on prayer - just a brief, powerful lesson. So we did! But at the end of the lesson, when it was time to leave, they still refused to pray. So I plead with them - all four of them, the dad, the mom, the little kids. Anyone in that family! After an awkward silence and staring contest (lol), the little girl folded her arms and quietly came over to me to ask for help. I was shocked, and then whispered a simple prayer in her ear. It was perfect. The parents watched as their little 8 year old girl had enough courage to offer the first prayer in their family.</div>
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Such a simple yet perfect miracle.</div>
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My mission has been made up of simple yet perfect miracles. Every single day. We still don't have anyone set for baptism and we don't have anyone coming to church, but miracles are still happening. God is just preparing these people, and it's so excited to be apart of it and witness His power every single day.</div>
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I love you all.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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ps it was 50 degrees this week & I cried. Also we're planning our VERY FIRST training for Spanish conference! AHH! Pray for us!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-13851169615716515892016-02-08T14:05:00.000-08:002016-07-03T14:05:36.949-07:00The week that changed my whole mission (& life)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So I hope you are all prepared for the craziest, most amazing email ever... because this week was somethin' else.</span></div>
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I don't even know where to start!!!!!</div>
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About 2 months ago, I had an experience I will never forget. It was kept on the down-low. I'll share it now :) Right before I left for Omaha, I was able to go to the temple. As I was sitting in the celestial room, I couldn't help but feel that President Gardner was going to tell me something. So I was sitting there, waiting for him, but he didn't do anything - just shook everyone's hands! So we left, changed, and waited outside for everyone to finish. I honestly forgot about the impression and then President came up and started talking to all of us missionaries. He started to direct his attention mainly to me, asking me about our ward and our investigators in Omaha. </div>
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I noticed that he was thinking and had something on his mind. He then started talking about the other missionaries that speak Spanish and asked me what I thought about having Spanish STLs - Sister Training Leaders. We have never had Spanish ones in our mission but I've thought it would be GREAT! We talked about all the goodness it would be to have Spanish sister leaders in the mission. He then looked at me and said, "You know, Sister Gould, you would be one of them." I about lost it. I stood there, just staring at him, with my mouth wide open.</div>
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The two months that followed were crazy - plans kept changing, I had to keep the whole thing on the down-low, I got transferred, etc etc etc. President had initially wanted the STL's to be in Omaha. But this last week, we got the call (finally)... </div>
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<b style="line-height: 21.3px;"><u style="line-height: 21.3px;">I AM NOW A SPANISH SISTER TRAINING LEADER AND I CAN'T EVEN HANDLE IT. </u></b></div>
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I am staying here in Sioux City, and Sister Castagnola is my companion, the other STL! I am beyond excited, grateful, pumped...!!!!!! Ahhh!!!!! I am so grateful I get to be with my bud Castagnola, she is a gem of a human. We are going to blow Sioux City up! When she first found out last week that she was going to be an STL, she screamed - in the library, might I add - and said, "WE'RE GONNA BE LEGENDS!"</div>
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Hahah ok ok, chill.</div>
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But honestly, this is so amazing, it's hard for me to even describe it. I am so incredibly humbled for this opportunity. These next 6 months will be the best ever.</div>
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We will be doing exchanges with the other Spanish sisters, doing trainings at meetings, helping plan Spanish conference, working one-on-one with President to improve the work... so many amazing opportunities to grow and change and be so much better. I am just on cloud 9.</div>
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We now are working so close with the other sisters. They both called us yesterday, almost in tears, as they excitedly told us about all of the AMAZING miracles they saw that week. I was crying, Sister Castagnola was laughing, it was awesome.</div>
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Amazing things are happening with the Spanish sisters here in this mission. Doors are opening, hearts are softening, it's overwhelming.</div>
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Remember Esmerelda? I found her my 3rd week in the mission back in Omaha. We baptized her husband, Jose, back in September. She and I became best friends - we sobbed together when I got transferred. But guess what?</div>
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SHE IS GETTING BAPTIZED. She is actually, really getting baptized!!!!!! This has been my mission goal since the day I found her and now it's happening! When the Omaha Sisters called us last night to tell us, I just curled up into a ball and laughed/cried for several minutes... haha I am just so excited! Do you know what this means!? I get to come back in a year when they BOTH go to the temple and get sealed as a family!!!!!! Oh my heart is full!</div>
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God is so incredible - I have always known it but never has it been so apparent before. This week was so amazing. We got 10 referrals from members, 15 returning members at church, 2 new investigators, and lessons with investigators we haven't seen in forever.</div>
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Miracles have ceased? HA!</div>
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This week changed my mission. This mission is changing my life.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-23157666842949229822016-02-01T14:01:00.000-08:002016-07-03T14:04:33.180-07:00Guess WHAT<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So I am currently sitting in a library in... OMAHA! OHhhhh YeeeeaaaH!! Haha it feels good to be back. I love this place. We are dropping off Sister Bacy at the mission office today! She'll be heading back to good ol' California! She's great. We'll sure miss her :) Her family is going to love having her home though!</span></div>
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Wow what a week. I am absolutely exhausted. I can't even begin to describe all that we did this week. So I'm just gonna tell you about the coolest miracle ever.</div>
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So last Friday, Sister Castagnola and I were planning for our week. Missionaries plan for about 3 hours every Friday for the next week - it's great. I really do love planning. That's how things get done! So we've been trying to figure out how we can better work with the members here because our branch is seriously struggling. We decided that we wanted to try and do a set FHE (Family Home Evening) every month with 4 different families, where we would either bring an investigator or we would invite the family to bring someone. We planned out the 4 families, set goals for them, decided when we would contact them, etc. It was good! I was pumped! I love when we have really good plans.</div>
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Well with how the week was going, I wasn't sure if we could execute the plans like we wanted to. I admit, my faith was low. I figured we'd just hit the ground running the next week. But God knows when His plans need to be accomplished! </div>
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One night we decided to go try visiting Monica, one of the members we had actually thought about asking to do the FHEs. So we were sitting with her, initially trying to get a referral from her, but as the conversation started going, I realized the scripture we had prepared and the questions we had just weren't right. It wouldn't address her needs the way God wanted. So I actually stopped my companions and said, "Can we share <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">this </i>scripture instead?" It was a scripture about the Atonement and our Savior from the Book of Mormon. As we shared our testimonies of the power of the Atonement, it was amazing what took place. </div>
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Out of NOWHERE she asked us, "Hey, I was thinking, could we do an FHE at my house sometime? Like maybe once a week. And you guys can bring whoever you want! And we can make dessert or something!"</div>
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..I literally sat for like a good 20 seconds with my jaw flappin' open. And then, after we made plans with her, we mentioned one our investigators we were planning on visiting that week and Monica was like, "Can I come!?" WHAT YES OF COURSE PLEASE.</div>
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It was amazing. Planning is real. Setting goals is so important. God will make sure everything works out if you do your part.</div>
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I love you ALLLLLLL!!!!!!!</div>
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ps transfers are this week... tune in next Monday for some CRAAAZZZY NEWS ;) aaaand pictures. Because for some reason this computer wont let me upload them from my camera.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.3px;">Hermana Brie Gould</span></div>
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PEACE OUT////the only picture that will upload.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-71114377560253039682016-01-25T14:00:00.000-08:002016-07-03T14:01:23.509-07:00You are loved<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">You are loved, individually and perfectly, by a Father in Heaven. He created this whole earthly experience for YOU, so that you could learn and grow and become who He knew you could become - someone magnificent and powerful and perfect. He knows exactly what will bring you the most happiness.</span></div>
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Do you believe that? Do you honestly believe that not only God exists but that He is your Father? </div>
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This knowledge has helped me overcome so many struggles throughout my life. Knowing that there is someone BETTER and WISER and STRONGER than me who not only loves me but is cheering for me has helped me pick myself back up from the lowest of lows. He's real, He's here, and He loves you.</div>
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I have seen this love changed thousands of lives - but more specifically and personally, the lives that I am surrounded by every day.</div>
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This week we met a lady named Kerey. She was a former investigator of the sisters in Le Mars, but when the sisters got taken out of that area, there was no one to visit her. While we were talking to a lady in one of the wards about people she might know that would be willing to hear our message, she gave us Kerey's number. </div>
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We called her up and set up an appointment that day. It was amazing. We walked into this old woman's house, full of little trinkets and the smell of cigarette smoke, and sat down at her table, where her Book of Mormon was placed. She opened up to us, with gratitude pouring out of her, as she told us of her adventure with the missionaries.</div>
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Her love for the missionaries was so evident, and through tears she practically begged us, "Don't forget about me, don't forsake me. I need the spirit you all carry. I can feel it when you are near."</div>
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That moment changed me.</div>
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Moments like that happen all the time. As I saw the hand of the Lord working on our area this week, I was changing. We tried several different former investigators, looking for those prepared by God. We ran into a lady named Noelia, who welcomed us into her house with open arms. We sat and talked and met her children. Her daughter Gracie was enthralled as I shared my simple testimony of the Savior and how through Him, we can be saved. </div>
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Later in the week, we sat with a 16 year old young woman, who just sobbed as she asked us, "Why? Why is my life like this? Why can't I just have a normal life?!" The only words I could muster without shedding tears of my own were words of our Savior, <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. </i>I was filled with that love, the love I mentioned earlier, in such a pure and obvious way. I felt God's love for His daughter. I felt it.</div>
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Yeah, this life is hard. Yeah, being a missionary is really difficult. But it's worth it. This life is worth it, being a missionary is worth it. Because miracles happen all the time. <b style="line-height: 21.3px;">All the time.</b> If you can't see them, take a step back. Only through our struggles and difficulties can we recognize the blessings. We can't grow without pain.</div>
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If you are doubting the existence of God, I plead with you to not give up now. Hold on. Because His love is real, I know it is. It has changed me, and it changes every person I meet every single day. </div>
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You are loved - and never, ever forgotten.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-15467370254973727002016-01-18T08:27:00.000-08:002016-02-22T08:28:19.290-08:00Road Trips<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So you may or may not know this about me, but I love a good road trip. And this week, we went on a couple three. We had a lot of potential investigators and formers, as well as some less-actives that we wanted to go visit, so we traveled to the distant lands of Orange City and Le Mars. Turns out, Orange City was founded by Dutch humans so the whole city is like stepping into Holland - it's adorable. And then Le Mars is the ICE CREAM CAPITAL so obviously I enjoyed my time there.</span></div>
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But driving through good ol' Iowa was beautiful. I had so much time to think and reflect on the last year of my life. This life is something amazing, gosh I just love it.</div>
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This week was just filled with ups and downs and backs and forths and everything! We actually had a baptism planned on Saturday and then he backed out. It was super disappointing, but I felt at peace about it. I knew it would all be okay.</div>
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We saw some incredible miracles though - we met with investigators we hadn't seen in forever and got in with several less-actives. One in particular was Rosa, who has been meeting with the sisters for a few months. She had been reading from the Book of Mormon while she was in Mexico for the holidays but accidentally left it there! So she asked us for another one as well as asked us when church was so she could come. Like tiny miracles, right? But so significant. I can't tell you how many times I have tried getting someone to read the Book of Mormon and come to church so they can know for THEMSELVES the truthfulness of our message. It's amazing when someone actually does it... lol</div>
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Life is just going great. There are only 2 weeks left in the transfer! I'm almost at my year mark! What is happening! Time needs to slow down...</div>
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Can I just tell you? God is so good. Like seriously, so good. As I have experienced so many different things, met so many different people, I am so aware of how deeply He is involved in the details of our lives. He knows us, and more so, He loves us. Despite our mistakes, despite our errors, despite our limited understanding. He loves us - perfectly and wholly, and it's amazing.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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ps I just found out that one of the families I taught in Omaha is getting sealed in the temple IN APRIL! AHH! Crying tears!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-10325674840114789822016-01-11T08:59:00.004-08:002016-01-11T08:59:40.904-08:00Pure in Heart<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So so sooo soooos sosoos s this week was GREAT!</span></div>
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This week, we went on exchanges with the sister training leaders, and I was left in Sioux City with Sister Jensen! Man, was that nerve-wracking. I am just barely starting to feel comfortable with the city, I kind of know where people live... haha so it was interesting! </div>
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But God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies those He calls, am I right!?</div>
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We had made a goal to talk to everyone we possibly could and to find a new investigator family. We planned according to those goals, and honestly, we just prayed for some miracles. </div>
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As we headed to our first appointment at an assisted living home, I tried to think of how we could teach a significant lesson during our short 30 minutes we had. We said a prayer that we would be able to, and then headed inside. We were talking to the activities director, Susie, about what we could do to help. She was distracted by her computer not working, so she asked us "young folk" to help her figure it out haha as we were working on her computer, we somehow started talking about life after death. She told us that a friend of her just recently passed and that her daughter was struggling to live right now. But she said something amazing, she said, "You know, though.. I know that there is life after this. There has to be." We instantly recognized the truth of the gospel that she highlighted and bore testimony on. We took it and ran. We promised her that yes, it is possible to see our loved ones again, and that only through Christ is that even possible. It was amazing - God provided a way for us to teach His daughter in one of the most unplanned settings. So incredible.</div>
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Later that night, we had another great lesson with Yaretd, one of our newest investigators. It was all in Spanish, and as Sister Jensen can't speak or understand Spanish, I was flying solo. But like I've experienced so many times before, God made it work.</div>
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The best part was dinner. We made our way to the Lagunas' house for dinner - a less-active family in our branch! They are the sweetest, really just such great people. As we were sitting and talking and helping make dinner, we heard a knock at the door. Turns out, they had invited their friend, Margarita, and her family over for dinner. We 5 adults sat at the table while all the kids played and somehow turned the conversation into a beautiful teaching experience. Margarita opened up to us about some of her fears, and we were able to help her as we bore testimony of the Savior and His atonement. It was amazing to hear the testimonies of Hermana and Hermano Lagunas as they shared their conversion stories with their good friend. At the end of the night, we had an appointment set up with Margarita and her family!</div>
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A-maz-ing. God answers prayers! All He requires is effort and faith and a pure heart. He wants us to be putting Him first, and in turn, He will be with us, stand by us, and support us. </div>
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I recently read this scripture in Psalms, chapter 46, and I fell in love.</div>
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<i style="line-height: 21.3px;">God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved.</i></div>
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I will always strive to be this woman - to be so pure, so diligent, so full of love for Him that I will not be moved.</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
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pictures: game night and Roscaaaa! We found a baby in some Mexican sweetbread. so.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202580311295484056.post-29266226992682144602016-01-04T08:57:00.000-08:002016-01-11T08:57:38.209-08:00Whole Again<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">What an incredible life. I am constantly overwhelmed by the goodness of God. Never have I been apart of so many miracles... I never want this to end!</span></div>
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This week we ended on a high note - 5 new investigators and 7 baptismal sets - which is A WHOLE LOT for us.</div>
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We met a family - Jose and Julia. They are a great family of 5. The sisters had a lesson with them before I first got here, but there wasn't too much progression with them. They were actually thinking of dropping them. When I first got here, we taught them a lesson all about the Book of Mormon, and I left that lesson feeling edified and uplifted. It was an amazing lesson - they were so receptive and just kept wanting to learn more.</div>
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We went back a week later, finding that they had kept the commitments that we had given them and were wanting to learn more. As we talked about baptism, Jose told us that he wanted to be baptized, and he wanted to be baptized as a family. He wanted to come to church, to keep studying, and keep learning. He knew he needed to repent before he could be baptized. It was amazing to sit there and hear all that he had to say. The spirit was so strong. We left their little trailer on cloud 9. </div>
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The following Friday, we had invited them to a scripture study class we were having at the church. While we were weekly planning, we were all worrying about whether or not they would come. Sad to say, but we were pretty doubtful. We then got a call from Jose, which dropped as I said hello. He then sent a text a couple minutes later saying, "Ya llegue pero nadie esta aqui." <i style="line-height: 21.3px;">I'm here buy nobody else is</i>. I ABOUT LOST IT. We were scrambling around the whole house, grabbing our jackets and our pulling on our boots! We rushed to the church where we met Jose and his whole family, including his aunt! We played basketball for awhile as we waited for more people to show up... and nobody did :( BUT BUT BUT God is still good and compensated for the lack of people. Turned out, the bishop from another ward was there with his family, cleaning the church, and he spoke Spanish! We took the family on a church tour and then ended with a scripture class.</div>
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At the end of the night, I was exhausted. We didn't have the class planned, but Sister Castagnola and I got up and taught about Christ's church, the power of the Priesthood, and the apostasy. It was an amazing feeling, standing at the front of the class, feeling the gift of tongues work through me. We had studied the topics earlier that week so we weren't as unprepared as we thought.</div>
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Something that I've been thinking a lot about is how Christ heals us. He makes us whole. I know that I am weak, that I am so imperfect, that I make mistakes every single day. But as I kneel down and pray to have the Atonement work and fix the mistakes so that others will be blessed despite my imperfections, I can feel Christ. I can sense His love working through me. </div>
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He makes us whole, again and again and again. Why? Because He loves us. Because He cares for us. Because we are His family.</div>
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This isn't some scam that we are going door to door trying to sell. We aren't trying to convince you of something, trying to baptize you to up our numbers. Heck no, that's not what this is about.</div>
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This is about Him. This about being eternally happy. This is about being whole.</div>
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This is about change for the better.</div>
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If you don't believe me... welp.. you better cuz it's true.</div>
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GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH.</div>
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So do I :)</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Hermana Brie Gould</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0