Week 25 - December 15, 2014 - Louisville, Kentucky

     This week has been good, and bad, and all other randomness. 

 

     I did get a new companion.  She is from Hawaii and is the same age as me in the mission.  She is really kind, and really fun.  She knows how to have fun being a missionary, but while doing the work.  It has been really good.   

     I am learning a lot from her, too.  We are learning a lot, and getting better, and everything has gone really well for us so far.  Hermana Mangalei is great!

    So we are in a Spanish Branch and with Spanish missionaries, and who would have guessed, we speak Spanish!  So, Hermana Hearne spoke pretty great Spanish.  I would have days where I could understand nearly everything, but, hey, it still wasn't quite perfect.  Well, then we went to transfer meeting.  She left.  To be honest, I was a little nervous.  I was given a new companion.  I was not quite sure what to do.  O boy!  We have had so much fun this week.  We are not even close to perfect, but we are a pretty ok team.  I feel like I can be myself around the investigators.  I am not super great at everything, and it has been a little hard to execute, but it will be good.  We are trying to start everything working well.  It has been good, it is hard taking it bit by bit, and, to be honest, I need to show way more confidence in myself.  How can other people trust me if I can't?  Anyway,  we have run into a few fun detours.  We are at the moment looking for a map.  A paper map.  Ya know, with the lines and all.  Guess what?  There are not any stores with a map.  We even asked the mail man where to buy a map.  His reply was, “Well, I have mine on my smart phone.”   (Why, thank you, mailman.  We don't have one of those right now.)  So, as of right now, we are on a hunt.  Hopefully, we will succeed.  Ok, so I tell you all of this to get to the punch line that I forgot I was writing.  Anyway, my Spanish is so much better, almost overnight.  I can understand so much better, and I can speak so much more fluently.  It has been really cool to see the change.  And, what I don't know, Hermana Mangalei knows.  In all seriousness, it has been really amazing. I really dislike my weaknesses, but one day they will be strengths. 

So, new things this week: 

     I am now the designated driver!  I know the Lord is blessing me there because the old me would have died driving in Louisville, but the new me is doing quite well.  No stress! 

    New companion!  Her birthday was this week.  One of our investigators cooked for us!  That same investigator came to church for the second time. We also moved her Baptismal date up nearly a month.  She asked us if baptism was all that she had to do as far as ordinances, or if there was more.  She also asked what she needed to do before baptism.  Well...that is when the crazy time comes in, when the missionaries say, “We will teach it all later,” or “We will teach it all now.”  Well, we told her a few things.  We briefly explained the word of wisdom to her.  She was good with all of it, but the alcohol surprised her a little.  When we started to explain she said that she knew it was because you can lose control.  We also explained the law of Chastity.  That was interesting!  Her boyfriend is going to be here next week so that was good timing.  She said they were basically married, but that it is expensive to get married there.  However, we did explain it and she seemed to understand.  Then we bring out the 10 commandments.  Wow!- Did we butcher that one.  We only had the Book of Mormon, and we couldn't remember everything exactly in Spanish.  Let's just say it was interesting. Very interesting.  Well, we did find it and found out that she read it yesterday.  She is basically amazing.  She is so patient with us when we struggle with doctrine or Spanish.  I can't wait for her baptism!!! 

     We also had a ward wedding reception.  That was fun too! 

 Good Luck and I love you all a ton! 

  Hermana Gamett  

 

Hermana Gamett and Hermana Hearne

 

Hermana Mangalei and Hermana Gamett

 

 

Week 24 - December 8, 2014 - Louisville, Kentucky

Hola Todos,

 

     Everything is going all right here in Hikes.  We are having a grand old time.

 

     In news for today... Hermana Hearne will be leaving me. We will depart manana a las 12:00.  It is sad, but she will do great things wherever she goes.  Also, it has been raining here the last few days.  All is well, though.  They say the snow will start to stick in January or February.  It isn't too cold, yet, but it is just a little different.  Dry and Humid cold are different.  I wouldn't say that it is necessarily colder, just different.

 

     We have been teaching some lessons this week.  They have been good.  We also had Elder Kapishca-of the 70 come in and give us a mini conference.  It was really good and answered some of the questions that I had.  Because of him, I will be a better missionary.

 

     My Spanish is coming along.  There are always those days that you understand basically everything (or at least you think that you do), and then there are those days that you can't even say the very basics.  But the days of complete understanding and fluent talking are starting to happen more than 2 times a week, and that is exciting.  It is great.  Sometime, I have those bad days, and other Hermanas will have to help me out.  Then the next day, we will be visiting with the same people, and I will just start going, and people will stop me in the middle and say," Wow!  You do know some Spanish," or "Wow!  You didn't say much the other night, but now you are talking."  Yep, the life of a Spanish Missionary.  I can't talk very much about clothes or hobbies, but I can tell you everything you want to know about, "The Restoration", "The plan of Salvation", "The gospel of Jesus Christ", " The word of wisdom",  or "food".  It is great!

 

     Also, an update on my amazing spelling skills!  They are getting oh- so- much better.  In Spanish everything sounds exactly how it is spelled- so now all I have to do is ask my companion how to spell words like straight, and meet, and all those other hard words that my 4th grade brother can spell.  Yep, I am rocking it!

 

    In all seriousness, everything is going pretty well.  I am learning and growing a ton.  And I finally feel like I am starting to become that person that God intends for me to be.  I still have a super long way to go, but at least I am seeing progress.  Yes, progress!

 

     Each transfer brings something new to the table.  I have had a special lesson to learn with every one.  Usually multiple lessons to learn, but every trial is for your good, and I can feel myself get just a little bit stronger with every one. I guess that is a blessing with speaking Spanish, too.  I really get to see improvement every transfer.  Not that I don't improve every transfer in other things too, but I guess starting near the bottom in Spanish helps out.

 

     Anyway, it is going well.  I love you all so much.  Give my puppy a big hug, too.

Also tell Grandpa that I love him, and give him a hug for me. 

 

     Tell everyone, Merry Christmas!  I love you all a ton, and I hope that it all goes well. 

 

Love and miss you all,

Hermana Gamett  

CURRENT ADDRESS:
Hermana Heather Gamett
2308 Hikes Lane Apt. G-52
Louisville, KY 40218

Week 23 -December 1, 2014, Louisville, Kentucky

     OK, so this week was pretty good.  There are obviously things that I would like to change, but all in all, I am getting better.  My Spanish is getting so much better. I can speak better, and I even can talk on the phone.  Yep!  That is pretty exciting.  This week I cut my hair.  It doesn't look any different.  Should have cut it shorter.  I think it actually has a little bit of a wave to it, but we will see with time. 
 

     This week we had a great zone conference.  All on planning.  It was really good, and planning is so much easier to do now.  We also talked about the "He is the gift" initiative.  That was really cool, too.  That video rocks. 
 

      So, we had this great Zone Conference and also Thanksgiving.  Let me tell ya.  That one touched me.  We were fully expecting to have Thanksgiving in our house.  All was well, but then we had a member ask us if we had an appointment.  Now keep in mind, many of these people do not celebrate Thanksgiving- at least not to the extent that we do.  So, she said that she would do it for us.  Later, the Relief Society President also invited us over for Lunch on Thanksgiving because she would be gone later that day. 
 

     Ok, we went to her house, which was amazing.  Her home is so cute, and her family is adorable.  Really amazing food, too.  Then Hermana Hearne and I went over to the Ronald McDonald house. It was interesting to be there.  It was such a homey and welcoming place.  We picked a floor and made some snicker doodles.  Then we got a text from the Family that was going to feed us dinner.  They live almost 30 minutes away.  She said that they would come in and pick us up so we wouldn't have to drive out there.  That meant a lot to me.  I don't know the financial situations of these families, but that is such a sacrifice.  They also brought another person, too.  She made an amazing Turkey- Spanish Style, with something called Mole.  It is really spicy, and really good.  It was amazing to be there with them.  They were so happy to help out and serve. I can't really express my gratitude for these families.  They are always serving, but happy to do it.  I am learning a lot of things that I would like to apply in my own life.  What amazing examples.

     As for missionary work...  Sometimes things are hard to do. Sometimes you have to step back and think about what is truly important and where should your intentions be. I have been trying to find that balance this past week.  It has been interesting, and a struggle for me, but all in all, it will work out.  This is a lesson I am so glad that I am learning now, rather than later.  I also have had to remind myself that I am not perfect, but that as long as I give it my all, Christ will make up the difference.
  

     In good news....  We found someone who is so ready for the gospel.  He needs it so badly.  We just set his Baptismal date.  We also have another person that was so apologetic that he didn't come to church that he basically promised he will never miss again.  Yep!  All is going all right.
 

     I have to go, but lastly....  I am amazed at these people.  A lot of the people here are from Cuba.  They left behind so much- Family, warmth, and most of them high ranking jobs,- to come here.  We had an investigator tell us the other day that she didn't know why she was here, but that she was, and God must have led her here.  Anyway, these people come here, and have to learn English, get a drivers licence, and work in any job they can.  Seriously, there are some that were Doctors, Engineers, Nurses, and a whole bunch of other careers, that gave everything up.  I know that God had a part in where they ended up, too.  I guess I just see his hand a whole lot more now.  He leads and guides and walks beside everyone, putting them where they need to be.
 

     Once again, I love it here, and hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. 
 

Love ya,

Hermana Gamett

 

Happy Birthday, Twins and Dallin!

 

Week 22 - November 24, 2014 - Louisville, Kentucky

    Sorry I didn't say too much about this week, but I will try to send some more pictures.  But I will say that I love the people, the food, the missionaries, and the Spanish here.  It is great!  One of these was Halloween dinner.

Love,
Hermana Gamett

 

 

 

Week 21 - November 17, 2014 - Louisville, Kentucky

     Ok, so first off- I kind of sort of forgot my Camera so, sorry that you won't get pictures of the snow that arrived last night!!!!  Idaho girl is in Heaven.  However, we are going to run thrift store shopping today to get some supplies :).
 

    Ok, so this week was horrible.  I was not happy.  We didn't know where to go.  I was getting frustrated with everything-myself, my companion-bless her heart she wasn't doing anything wrong.  She was being her adorable self.  It was just rough.  Everything was difficult.  It was one of the first times in my mission where I really didn't want to go out and work.  I was just not happy, and I was really irritated.  But one night, as I was getting really frustrated and my companion was going to help me by getting ice cream as dessert to our dinner, I got a letter, from a lovely aunt of mine.  I read it, and we were going to all be ok.  I was ready to get back to work.   Now, keep in mind, I am in a great place- we saw miracles, like finding people to teach- all throughout this craziness.  We both kept struggling, but kept going.  It was hard. I wont lie.

Finally, the weekend came.  Like I said, the week was still good.  We found some people that really wanted to listen and we taught them, but it just seemed bad.  Anyway, we headed back over there and talked with the husband, and when we asked him what his favorite part was, he showed us a picture of Joseph Smith.  We also went and talked to another lady, and she was really interested.  We also were able to talk to another man that had come to church, but we couldn't ever seem to give him a lesson.  Saturday around 2:00, I got a call that I needed to give a talk in church.  So we ran over to the library to print off the conference talk in Spanish.  Oh, and just my luck, it is one by D. Todd Christofferson who uses some big words.  It was all good though- it was on agency so I could try to tie that in to something everyone could attempt to understand- o yeah!  - except for the fact that it would be in Spanish.  Oh boy!
 

     Anyway, Sunday rolls around, and that is when crazy hits.  We had 4 investigators that wanted to come to church.  4!!!! That is crazy!!!!  (See.  My week was good, but I just didn't see it.)  Our investigators have only been here a few months, so they don't have cars.  So, on Saturday, we started asking around for rides.  No one.  So we continued to look for people.  Sunday hits.  We both have talks to write.  So, we do that for a while.  Part way through that and getting rides arranged, we get this call to teach the Sunday school lesson for the youth.  We've got this.  We teach everyday.  No biggy... but wait.  Topic...How to be economically self-sufficient.  Yep.. well, guys, save your money.  No it was really good.  We just didn't have the manual or anything- so you could say our living room was covered in ensigns. 
 

     O yeah! But we still need rides!  Ok- call- call- call-call- call.  Finally! - Got everyone a ride.  Talk - Sort of prepared.  Lesson - We'll see.  ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
 

     Anyways, we get to church.  I was supposed to talk for 15-20 minutes.  I spoke and all was well.   I am pretty sure that it was only like 10 minutes, but when you don't speak much Spanish- well... yeah.  We couldn't find the classroom for the youth.  More things, but I will save you the details.
 

     This is also where the miracle is.  The people at church were amazing.  They talked to our investigators.  They made them feel so welcome.  The other missionaries took them in.  They talked to them, and helped out so much.  In Relief Society, the missionaries and investigators doubled the Relief Society, and the members were all about explaining simply and answering questions.  The president made sure they had rides to the activities and wow!!!! It was amazing.  One of the investigators said some amazing things in there about us missionaries.  I had no idea that we meant that much to her, but it made it all worth it.  Anyway,  more amazing things.  That night we went and talked with everyone.  We had this instantaneously better relationship with everyone.  We even set a baptismal date with one.  In all reality, I pray that never ever do I forget this last week.
 

     But there is so much more to the story than that. 
 

     Looking back, I realized that Satan knows when good things are going to happen, and he attacks us in the way that is most likely to stop us.  But, as we have faith and work hard, he can do nothing about it because God is in charge.  God also expects us to work hard and to grow, and as we go through these hard times, he isn't going to let us fail.  He lets us go through them to help us grow, and then he blesses us.  He makes up the difference for our inadequacies, because, let's face it-2 new girls in an amazing area-1 very new to Spanish-I need help.  I really came to the realization that it is Him who teaches and He expects us to do our best and have faith, then He blesses us.  

 

I don't have much time, but that was just part of my week.  I also taught a lesson about the Book of Mormon to a woman and asked her to be baptized, and she accepted!  I believe that is my first.  We also saw a whole lot more miracles.  Really was an amazing week!
 

 Love you all,

Hermana Gamett

Week 20 - November 10, 2014 - Louisville, Kentucky

Dear Family,

 

     Wow, this is crazy.  I absolutely love it here in Hikes.  There are so many people here that are ready for us.  So many people don't have religion, and they are so ready.  It has been really hard for me to be here with so many people ready and prepared, and I can't even speak perfect Spanish.  The Spanish puts up all kinds of blocks - can't share the message perfectly.  At times, I can't even show my personality.  Ya, it has been a little rough for me.  I want so much more, and to do so much more, but I have to humble myself and remember that I have to let the Lord lead me, and take the rest that I can't do, even when I do my best.  I don't like relying solely on others, but I guess that is something that I have to learn.  But, I can say that I love Spanish, and that I love the people here.  I get to meet so many religions and learn so much. 

 

      A Sister Training Leader came this week and she taught me a lot.  She said that some things were going to be changing in the mission.  Some of them were things that I just mastered, but they make complete sense and I can see why we need them.  It is hard, though, just getting something down and then having to apply the new things with the STL.  As much as they say it is not, it feels like an exam with them, so that was a little rough, but, Hey, it will come.  I just got comfortable... and they say that the mission is about getting out of your comfort zone.  This last week has made that clear.  There is so much more that I have to learn, so much more I have to get down, and so much more I have to master.  I was once again reminded that I have to rely on my Savior, and it is Him and His spirit that have to teach not me because...well, if it were me..it would just be bad.  Anyway, this is humbling and I love it. 

 

     As a missionary I have really learned how to love others.  Every person that I have met and gotten to know, holds a peace of my heart.  I left some of it in Owensboro, and I have left other parts of it here in Louisville.  I just wish people knew how much they are loved.  This is amazing, and an experience I will never forget. I love you all so much!  Welcome home, LesLe!  Get well soon, Grandpa!  Happy Birthday, Hazel! I am sorry I can't write everyone, but I love you all!

Love,
Hermana Gamett

Week 19 - November 3, 2014

Week 18 - October 27, 2014 - Owensboro, Kentucky

Dear World, 

     Due to various things, these past few weeks have been interesting.  Ya...I think interesting is the right word.  Anyway,  we were fully expecting my trainer to get transferred.  She has been in the area a while, and now my training is done.  We were waiting for the calls on Saturday.  We heard that one of the Elders was the new District Leader so we knew things were going down.  So we waited...and waited...and waited.  I guess not.  Well, then we eventually got a text that I was leaving.  Let me just say that my heart dropped.  What!?  I was not expecting that at all.  We confirmed it later, and it was all true.  I am leaving Owensboro.  I can honestly say that I was really upset.  I did not want to leave all of the amazing people here.  I had no idea that I could come to love so many people so quickly.  I almost started crying.  And don't tell anyone, but later that night, I totally did.  But it was good for me to know that I was capable of loving the people so quickly and so much.  I have always had this fear that I was not going to be able to give part of myself.  I kept thinking that I would shut all of those emotions inside, like I am so good at doing.  But with a lot of prayer, I was able to allow myself to love the people.  I truly care about them, and want to help them.  I am so lucky that I got to serve here.  

 

     Well, now on to the transfer.  I have no idea where I go or who I will serve with.  I am nervous, but also excited.  I finally feel like I know exactly what I want to be, and how to apply the things that I have learned a little better.  My trainer always says that when you leave your trainer it is a new start, and you get to really be who you want to be.  It will be nice to get to start fresh, but I will sure miss it here.  I was looking forward to getting to know people better.

 

I have also learned some other things while here in Owensboro:  

 

1. You will never ever have enough time to study all the scriptures and materials that you want.  You may hope to read everything, but there is no way to get in depth on everything, and that is really disappointing.

 

2. What you do study, you have to pray, and pray, and pray to remember, and then you have to study it again.  You have to draw maps and diagrams and write everything down, all in hopes to remember at least one scripture.

 

3. I am absolutely horrendous at memorizing.-Enough said.  We already knew that one.

 

4. You can never compare yourself to others.  You should focus solely on your progression.  God gave you certain talents and other people other talents.  You have to always be your best - whatever, that may be.

 

5. Be your best self.  You can always improve, but don't be so frustrated at your self for being imperfect that you send yourself going backwards.  Because... well that is just dumb.

 

I learned a lot of other things too, but I don't have room to put them all on here.

 

     Overall, I am really going to miss Owensboro.  It has been a great place to start my mission.

I love everyone at home.  Happy Birthday to Grace and Liam.  Welcome Home, LesLe.  Love you all.

 

     Please give Les a HUGE hug for me and tell her that I love her a ton.

 

Love,

Hermana Gamett 

Week 16 - October 13, 2014 - Owensboro, Kentucky

Ok so… 

     Interesting week!!  There is some sickness going around here, and so, naturally, one of us had to get sick, but thanks to my astounding good health, (ha ha!) it wasn't me.  Hermana Porter got sick.  She wasn't feeling too chipper on Wednesday.  Thursday during companion study, she looked like.. well, she looked like she just didn't feel well.  So, I decided to play the “Missionary in Charge” and told her to go lie down.  She actually listened.  Friday, she was going to go to a dentist appointment, but...well... naturally that fell through-sick+ dentist doesn't usually go together too well (Look I can do math on my mission).  So, deciding that I was going to be oh- so- kind, and hoping that maybe my good cooking genetics would not let me down,  I made chicken noodle soup.  Luckily, I had asked grandma for the recipe a little before.  I used what we had around the house- chicken broth, chicken, and carrots (I know.  Really fancy, right?).  I even made some homemade noodles.  I thought that it was an epic fail because the noodles tasted gooey, but with a little time, I had a nice small batch of Chicken noodle soup, and a whole, whole lot of noodles.  I guess I made just a few ( or a lot) too many.  I am not sure if I just liked it because I made it, or if it was actually good, and since I was supposed to be being kind, I didn't make her eat it. But, hey, now I know what to do.  I guess I made just a few ( or a lot) too many.  Anyway, we had a sweet lady in the ward who watches out for us missionaries and she brought us some chicken noodle soup and rolls and juice.  She is the best!!! 

     There were also some amazing things that I learned while I was at home and she was sick.  I was determined to just keep using the Lord's time wisely, so I did a lot of studying.  I also gave a lesson or two to the bear that Lafe gave me that still doesn't have a name (the poor thing has heard lesson after lesson because this girl needs to practice A LOT).  I also read a lot in the New Testament.  There were some common themes that stuck out to me while I read, and I can honestly say that I don't know that I have ever grown more as a person than in those few study days.  It was really amazing.  So now, I am trying to apply what I learned, and at times, I get to share what I learned.  It is really cool. 

      I guess that the best part was the realization that I wanted to share it.  The worst part was after I would study for an extended amount of time, all I wanted to do was share what I had learned with people- help them see how great it all was- but I couldn't, because I was stuck in the house.  Luckily, Sunday came around and I got to share and apply it a lot.

      I really realized the extent of my purpose again.  I really wanted to be out sharing what I knew.  I remembered again why I was on a mission and why so many years ago I came to the conclusion that I wanted to serve- except now it is just magnified.  So, overall, this week was an interesting, but amazing week for me ( probably not for Hermana Porter).  I learned so much, grew a lot, and am super glad to be out here where I get to learn and apply everything that I learn.  All in all, it has been wonderful week.

Love ya all a ton,

Heather

 

 

Current Address:

Hermana Gamett

1017 Venable Ave. #10
Owensboro, KY 42301

 

 

 

Week 15 - October 6, 2014 - Owensboro, Kentucky

     Conference was amazing!!!  I am pretty sure that all of the General Authorities got together and thought, " Wow!  What does Hermana Gamett need?" and then they focused just on me.  I learned so much and gained so much from the conference.  I am soooo glad that I got to hear it.  

    So, because of a series of events, we had to translate one of the sessions of conference.  And when I say we, I mean that I prayed and Hermana Porter translated.  It was crazy, but she did so good.  I can't imagine the thoughts going through her head as she translated for Prophets and Apostles of the Lord.

 

    It was great!   All of my questions got answered and I can see so much more that I need to do and the things that I need to improve on.  Basically, it ROCKS!!!

 

    Everything is going great here in Kentucky and I feel so blessed to be here.  I hope that we can find those who are ready, and that I can apply all of the new material that I learned in conference as I attempt to get better. 

 

Love,

Hermana Gamett

Week 14 - September 29, 2014 - Owensboro, Kentucky

Ok, so get ready for this email!!! 

      This week was good! 

Major accomplishment #1:  

The Sister Training Leaders came over for a blitz this week.  I love when they come because they build you up and teach you, and then you apply it.  It is like starting fresh, because usually they haven't been teaching with you before. So, yes, I was ready to take on the world.  So, it was soooo good.  She taught me a ton.  I got to get better.  I practiced, and they even told me that my Spanish was not ok - not just acceptable - but amazing!  Do they think I speak fluently?  Goodness no, but they said it was amazing.  That sure made me feel good.  Let me tell ya, it sure is nice when you say something and you don't get a blank stare from the people you just spoke to.  You actually said it right.  Wow!  What a great feeling that is.  Talk about feeling great.  Yeah, that is it right there. 

Major Accomplishment #2:  

While they were here, I had to take my Sister Training Leader around.  We would survive, but I..well….  sorta forgot to ask my companion for addresses or directions.  But, this is where miracle #2 came.  I got us there!  I know- big accomplishment, right?  I got us to like three houses and only had to call my companion when we went to our dinner appointment, which was by the church.  Yes.  I have been to the church many times, and yes, I should know where it is, but I am very directionally challenged and well...put the fact that there are no mountains here on top of that.  I would like to pretend that I have an excuse.  But guess what?  The GPS got us there safe and sound!!!  So now I play this game in the car- “Guess the road”.  It is quite fun.  I, like the name suggests, guess which road to turn on before she turns.  Yep, basically I am going to have this town memorized.  

Major Accomplishment #3:  

I didn't kill her!!  It’s true.  So, my companion cooks sometimes, and she is pretty darn good at it.  Being me, I can cook, but I try to keep it simple.  Plus, I don't always like to buy the stuff to cook more than noodles or spaghetti… or other things harder than that.  But, it was my companion’s birthday this week, and no matter what I did, she would not tell me what she wanted for her birthday.  Yeah, it was rough.  So, she can't have too much chocolate.  Automatically, that throws out most of the things I can cook or make. Oh boy, what to do?  What to do?  So, I decided that I would make crepes.  I didn't have a recipe, but I would sure try something.  Well, lucky for me, we still had crepe mix.  Does it compare to my homemade crepes?   Um... absolutely not!  But they worked.  And then I made up my own filling.  I thought that I remembered that it had cream cheese, cool whip, and obviously, sugar.  So I whipped up a little something.  Yep!  There we go.  It tasted just dandy- and a whole 7 hours later, Hermana Porter still lives.  That is Miracle #3. 

Major Accomplishment #4:  I talked with a lot of people in Spanish!  There you go.  That says a lot already.  Was it perfect? Nope!  Did Hermana Porter have to fix a lot of it?  OH YEAH – but, hey, I am getting better.

 

       So, as you can see, there are always things to improve on, but my weeks are full of miracles.  I haven't even shared all of them. I wish I could tell you everything that I learn, but there is just not enough room.  I love the people here, and I love the people at home.   

      I hope that everyone has a wonderful week, and Grandpa Waddoups...well... be good!  What else can I say?! 

Hermana Gamett

 

Current Address:

Hermana Gamett

1017 Venable Ave. #10
Owensboro, KY 42301

 

 

Week 13 - September 22, 2014 - Owensboro, Kentucky

Ok so, 

     Everything is going all right.  I can tell that I am growing so much.  I am so much better than I was before.  I am so glad that I have grown up in the church, but it wasn't until my mission that I have really experienced the power of the atonement in my life.  Wow.  

      So, I am getting better at speaking Spanish, which is nice, but I still have those days when I struggle.  It is so frustrating.  This week I felt like my Spanish was getting so much better.  I was talking to people and getting across what I wanted to say.  Then, there would be times that I would not be able to muster up anything.   

      Yesterday was probably the worst.  We were talking to a guy that was so nice and the perfect investigator.  He asked all the right questions and he led us right through everything.  He asked about prayer and why baptism should be when we are older.  Hermana Porter shared some scriptures.  We talked to him forever and he accepted a baptism date.  He is even moving over to the apartments near where we live, which will make it easier for us to teach him. 

     We were so happy, and don't get me wrong, I am so happy for him, but every time I opened my mouth I felt like I drove away the spirit.  My Spanish was so horrible.  I couldn't say a single thing.  I basically suck!!!  I have never been so grateful that it is not me that teaches, but the spirit, because well... I would have failed on my own.  Hermana Porter did great, but I sucked!!!

     So, on to Hermana Porter.  We are different, but she is a good person.  I am trying to get to know her better.  She has helped me learn some things about myself that I needed to know.  I feel badly because I can't help her like I would like to, and what I do say, she has to fix sometimes.  But, I also have really come to understand that I am not going to be perfect now.  It is a process.  So, yeah!  That is me.

     I feel like my studies have gotten so much better.  Now, if only I could remember everything when I teach... and translate it into Spanish.  Yikes!  I get so nervous when I talk to people.  Well... you know me.  I get nervous when I approach someone or have to talk. I have to practice A LOT to say what I want to say.  I think that overcoming that is half the battle.  I have to be able to push those nerves away.  I think that I am getting better, and man, do I know that the Lord has, and is, already helping me a ton, but I still need to get over that.  Once I can push those nerves away, I think my brain will once again fire completely.  Then the Spanish and the things that I have learned will be able to flow better and I will be able to talk to people better.  So, through a lot of prayer, I can feel myself getting better, but - o man, that will be my battle.

      I have to go, but this last week our district leader and a fellow Owensboro missionary left, so we all got pictures.  Here they are.  Sorry I don't take more pictures.  Well, maybe once I get everything down and learned, my picture taking will get better.  

 

     I am so happy to be here and so glad that I get to learn so much.  I am super happy, just working on perfecting my skills.  

     O yeah.  Check out this lesson.  Our ward mission leader is basically amazing.  He trained in his mission at 17 days and was a branch president for most of his mission.  Anyway, he showed us this and taught the lesson with it.  It was really good.  It is way better when he explains it, but, hey, I will send it anyway. 

 

     Got to go.  Sorry for the crazy email.  I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLL A TON. 

Hermana Gamett

 

 

 

Week 11 - September 8, 2014 - Owensboro, Kentucky

     So, this week has been pretty good - busy and working, but good.  

 

     So, this week we decided to help this lady that we teach to stop smoking.  She has to stay at home and can't go to church, but she has already read through the entire Book of Mormon again, and she is going through the Doctrine and Covenants like there is no tomorrow.  She basically rocks.  Anyway, she has been wanting to stop smoking.  She did stop a few weeks ago for about 4 days, but then she started smoking again.  Well, we decided that we were going to get this thing started.  So, we decided to do a program called the 15 steps program with her.  It is a program that has worked for most people, and helps people to stop smoking.  Anyway, so we walk in and say that we are going to help her stop smoking.  She looked at us and said, "All right, but I stopped on Sunday".  Well, alrighty then!  We still went through the program with her and she was totally committed to it.  We, or a member of the ward, talks to her everyday and she still hasn't had a cigarette.  But, Wait!  There is more.  As part of the program we hang up signs all over the house to remind her that she doesn't want to smoke.  As we were hanging up these signs, she informed us that she wanted us to hang up some on the outside of her door so that people would know that she was done smoking.  Alright!!

 

      So we did and she has had a lot of people ask her what they are.  She also has a lady that wants us to do the program with her.  So, like I said, she basically rocks.  She is the sweetest lady ever and told us to tell our families thank you for letting us come over here.  So far, she hasn't had a cigarette and every time she has the urge to have a cigarette, she reads her scriptures.  So far, so good.

 

     Here is more from this fine week.  I have decided that to learn the language better, I have to speak it more.  There is a member here who lived a few years in Mexico as a child and he is now a Spanish teacher- so I would say a good source to learn Spanish.  He said that we are trained to read and write.  So naturally, we are going to be good at reading and writing in the language we are learning.  That skill will come first.  He said that we haven't used our "learn to speak" skills since we  were little ( he said this in more psychological terms, which I actually understood like dendrites and such- Go Psychology),  so those come later and are a lot harder for us to learn.   That made sense to me, so I decided that for my personal study I was going to start speaking in Spanish.  O yea, me and the wall or the pillow or the couch, or the bug on the wall that won't live too much longer,  have some great conversations in Spanish about the gospel.  My companion probably thinks that I am crazy, but ,hey, I even found myself thinking in Spanish about what I wanted for lunch.  Yep, those talks with the wall are working miracles.

 

     So, everything is going well.  I am happy, blessed, learning (in English and Spanish) and so far so good.  Love you all,

 

Hermana Gamett

 

 

Current Address:

Hermana Gamett

1017 Venable Ave. #10
Owensboro, KY 42301

Week 10 - September 3, 2014 - Owensboro, Kentucky

      So, this week has been great!  We got to go to a conference with Craig A Cardon.  He is a member of the Seventy and is amazing.  Just being around him you feel special, and you realize that he is a man called of God.  He did an amazing mission conference, and I feel so blessed to be a part of that.   We left super early in the morning, and "wow"! the sunrise coming up and the fog were beautiful.  WOW!-lets just say a camera would not do that one justice.  Amazing!!!

     We also had an amazing zone conference, yesterday.  I felt the spirit so strong during one part of it, and learned so much.  I realized that there is so much to improve on- aside from the Spanish.  We have an AMAZING mission president and wife.  They are so great and I am sooooooo happy to be a part of this mission and this church.
 

     So the food is amazing.  I have had real authentic Mexican food 2 times and they were both absolutely amazing.  Yeah!  Amazing!  The members also feed us. They are so sweet.  Let me tell ya, the people here can cook!  WOW!!! 
 

    Also, the bug bites.  WOW!!!  I saw my first praying mantis.  It was big...yeah-big.  Also, we had a nice big cicada on our door- now those things-they are gross.   My legs are nice and speckled with the bites from different bugs.  Yep, they are beautiful. 
 

    Although I am not fond of the bugs, I am very fond of the trees.  Imagine all of our sagebrush, but green trees.  Yeah.  It is a little different for me, but it is pretty-Oh so pretty.     
 

      So, we are doing fine.  This is short.  So sorry you don't get to read my amazing writing skills, but there are things to do.  I love it and can't even begin to thank my friends, family, and ward at home for the influence they have been in my life. 
 

Love ya all,

Hermana Gamett
 

 

Beautiful Sunrise

 

Beautiful Sunrise

             Hermana Gamett and her companion 

Praying Mantis

Brain Tacos

 

 

Current Address:

Hermana Gamett

1017 Venable Ave. #10
Owensboro, KY 42301

 

 

Week 9 - August 25, 2014 - Owensboro, Kentucky

Humidity and Hair Don't Mix

 

     Well, this week has been a changing point, breaking point, explosion, or any other synonym that you can think of for great.  I am finally getting closer to the missionary that I want to be.  And yes, my hair is exploding with it.

 

     This week we had a sister training leader come and do a blitz with us.  A blitz is when the Hermanas that are in charge come and work in our area, but we split up from our companion and work alone with the sister training leaders.  Needless to say, it ROCKED!!!  The sister training leader taught me soooooo much.  She taught me how to talk to people better, and how to share this message with everyone.  She also taught me how important it is to love everyone and to treat all people with kindness.  I really learned from her what it means to be a representative of Christ.

 

     So deciding to be a missionary, I naturally had this idea in my head of the missionary that I wanted to be.  As time has progressed, I have struggled to see where that missionary would come in.  I often thought, "Well, maybe that is just not how it is done"  or  "Maybe I was crazy." Gradually, I started to convince myself that I was being absurd, and no matter how hard I worked I would never get to be that missionary or maybe that  missionary didn't exist.  But, just a few weeks ago, I caught that vision again, and when the sister training leader came, I caught that vision fully again.  Wow!  What a blessing!  I can be that missionary!  She just needs some work, but she is in here somewhere.

 

     So the scripture that Kali gave me as her favorite scripture is Ether 12:27.

 

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

 

     As we all know, we all have weaknesses.  But I became extremely aware of mine a little earlier this year.  I struggled.  I really did.  There was no way that I was going to overcome some of them, but I just kept trusting in God, and working as best as I could to get better.  Needless to say, I was getting pretty down.  However, this past week I got back up.  I feel like the progress I have made this week has been a huge turning point.  As the scripture says, weak things may be made strong.  And when we trust in the Lord, he will be our strength.

 

     So this week was great! I talked to more people.  My companion translated in church and I got to hear that. (Glad I don't have to do that yet).  I understand more Spanish, and I am super happy.  What a great week.

 

    So more on this great week.  There were some great storm clouds that rolled into the place called Owensboro.  They started to get low and man, was that wind blowing.  We were at a member's house and thought, "Wow!  Maybe a tornado was on its way!"  Secretly, I was a little excited!  A real tornado!!! (I guess they supposedly had one at home too- Dad told me of the one this week) But hey, don't tell anyone here that I was excited!  So, as the rains came down, it got pretty crazy.  The little boy in the family said that he was pretty sure that a tornado was coming.  Well, it wasn't a tornado, but there was a ton of rain, and A TON of lightning.  Naturally, for this Idaho small town girl, the first thing that pops into my head is, "Wow!  What a blessing."  Then I remember that the Ohio River is right next to us and it rains ALLLLLL the time here.  Well, that was a great storm to be in.  I loved it!

 

     When it isn't raining, it is oh so nice and humid.  I have tried everything known to man (ok- just to me -which isn't much) to keep my hair down.  I pull it up and soon...POOF.  Then I curl it.  Well, that is not really a pleasant sight.  I don't know how to explain that one...but not good.  So then I think,  "Well, I have naturally straight hair.  Maybe I should just straighten it. So far, it has gotten a little better when it is straight, but still...POOF.  Oh,  how I love humidity.  Although my hair doesn't do super great in humidity, I actually don't mind it as much as I thought I would.

 

    Well, off I go, but 1 more huge breakthrough.  I think I saw my first cockroach this week.  Yep! I can now say that I have experienced it all. 

 

Well Hasta luego,

Hermana Gamett

  

Bridge on the road from Indiana to Owensboro

 

 

Welcome to Kentucky sign

 

 

Big Storm