I just want to first say how
much I miss all of you. For my family at home, I think about you all the
time and love you to death. For my extended family, I am incredibly
grateful for your support and encouragement; it means the world! For my
fellow missionary friends out there (all around the world), I pray for
you and am grateful for the work you do. I know - it's hard! You all
inspire me! And for all my other dear, dear friends wherever you may be,
thank you so so so much for being my friend. I love you!! You are all
amazing!
Okay enough of that. I just wanted to
show my appreciation for you because I don't do it enough. :) So my
first week in Lake Elsinore has been incredibly eventful!! Lake Elsinore
is very beautiful--we are on the border of the Ortega mountains and the
lake is on the other side of us. Every morning and
night we get to drive past the lake and look into the green mountains! I
love it!! Each morning while we're studying I hear birds outside my
window and it is pretty quiet here. Much more quiet than Riverside.
This
week has been crazy stressful, not going to lie. I feel very
overwhelmed with all that is going on with a new area, new members, new
bike sisters, and of course, a new STL haha! The bike sisters, Sisters
Clyde and Fransen, got here Wednesday and we finalized their area and
sent over the formers and friends we're teaching. This left our area
with two people to teach, both of whom were recently found and not
progressing quickly. Long story short, it feels like we have a brand new
area! I'm nervous because we don't have any solid lesson appointments
or people to teach, so that provides plenty of opportunities to find.
However, I'm also excited because it's like a brand new start to work
towards finding new people and teaching everyone I can!! I'm ready to
help this area catch the spirit of missionary work and finding as much
as I can! It's a daunting task, but like Walt Disney said, "It's kind of
fun to do the impossible." I have that quote on my study wall. :) I met
Pearl, an elderly woman who said she would read the Restoration
pamphlet before we come back and we're going to call her on Wednesday.
We also stopped by a family who'd been taught before and they were very
open! We read Alma 32 with them and invited them to keep reading before
we come back on Friday. The younger son, Christopher, is especially
excited. In addition, the other night we were driving to a
contact when we passed this woman who's transmission had given out in
her van. We ran over to help her move her car and continued to have a 45
minute chat until the tow truck came! Her name is Jean and she's super
funny. A little crazy, but so is everyone we meet. ;) She invited us to
go hiking with her one Monday so that's good! I hope she will allow us
to share the lessons with her! It was definitely a miracle we stopped by
right when her transmission gave out! :))
Work
as a Sister Training Leader (STL) is a lot more overwhelming than I
originally thought. But that might also be because I just left my first
area at 6 months. :) Probably a compilation of EVERYTHING. So yes, it's
hard and I have to juggle a lot of things at once now. This allows
me to have the perfect opportunity to really rely on the Lord through
this! I'm trying my very best to focus on loving those around me and
letting the Lord guide my thoughts and actions! :) My companion, Sister
Sands, has been an STL for one transfer and is trying to show me the
ropes as we go. We will work through this together and I know that God
has me here for a reason, despite my imperfections. :) God always uses
the weak things of the world to show His strength. Seems to be a pattern
He loves. ;) I trust Him! He knows what He's doing!! I'm SO excited to
help serve and see others and myself grow! YAY!! THIS IS GOING TO BE SO
AMAZING!! WOOOOO!! :))
I love you all so
much!!! I hope you have an INCREDIBLE week!!! Keep on keepin' on and
doing your best. Say your prayers. Read your scriptures. Go to church.
Let God take the lead. ;) Love you!!
Love, Sister Mary Goss
"I
know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led
me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me
upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love. O
then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension
unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should
my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow? Awake, my
soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no
more for the enemy of my soul. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the
Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will
rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation." 2 Nephi 4, The
Book of Mormon <3
1) Temple with Lynn!! Got some better pictures haha ;))
2) The new four man! Sister Sands, me, Sister Fransen, and Sister Clyde
3) Last day in the Riverside zone <3
4) Temple with Lynn
5) The whole crew who came to support Lynn!
6) Service in Lake Elsinore
7) Sister Sands and I!
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