Monday, June 22, 2015

Week 50 - June 15, 2015 - Evansville, Indiana



Selfie we pressured her into sending!
 

 
Ok.  So I am a loser.  I have all the letters for Grandmas’ birthdays, but no stamps- so, hopefully they will go out this week, but we shall see.  Also- Happy Father's day this week!  I hope that the primary does a great job on their father's day songs. 

So, this week was good.  We learn a lot all the time.  My new companion is Hermana Little- fellow Idahoan from Eagle, Idaho.  She is pretty great!  One of her best friends is actually Kayla's companion in Maine- so that is pretty cool! Anyway, this week has been one of goods and bads, and I have learned some pretty important lessons on the way! 

Lesson number one-Miracles do not bring on conversion.   

I have been in areas that I have seen miracle after miracle.  It would seem as if the Lord has literally shot down lightning.  We come at the hardest time of their life, or just as something bad will happen, but the conversion does not come immediately- it does not come because of the miracle.  Without that constant feel of revelation, or that scripture study, the conversion does not stay.  That miracle was amazing, but maybe, although many think differently,  the miracle does not bring the conversion.  For example, Alma the Younger's conversion came after much fasting and prayer, and through the Holy Ghost- not by the angel coming.  …Or you can look at the reverse.   Laman and Lemuel saw an angel and still decided not to act.  So I have come to the conclusion that my definition of miracle either has to change or there is something even greater-conversion. 

There are those in the world who do not see mighty works all at once.  They search and they read and look and little patterns start to develop.  They do many other things…  and then they end up finding the truth.  Then they act on it.  I have realized that it is not the miracle that is the miracle.  It is what the action is once the miracle happens.  The greatest conversion comes after the small acts- the things that keep us going, the daily scripture study, the daily prayer, the daily pump up talks from our companions.    Those are what bring the conversion.  That is what brings what the Lord wants for us. 

So, that being said, miracles still happen and they strengthen my faith.  They also can change hearts, or put people on the path to the truth.  Miracles can be just what we need to continue forward, or to make that change, but if we are not already looking for the truth or on that verge of change, a miracle may not be enough.

Anyway, I was thinking a lot about change, and realized that it is hard to maintain, but not impossible.  I am surrounded by people who have changed, and really stay changed -  people who are incredible.  I also look at myself and how much I have changed.  I will save the details, of course.  I am still good old me, but I have changed in ways that I didn't realize that I needed to change- good thing God is in charge of this life, not me, or we would have a disaster.  So, can people change?  Yes!  Have I changed?  Yes!  The real question is, Can I keep the change?  Can I do what I ask people to do every day, and make a true change in themselves for the better?  I sure hope so.  I had a dream the other night about going back to school all anxious and everything, so let's just say I hope that this change can be permanent.  I just have to keep working at it.  

So….this week was dandy.  Hermana Little and I have a great time together!  I have been trying really hard to limit my OREO intake (we didn't even buy them this week) and be great missionaries.  It is quite a change going from a basically all- bike area and no gluton to basically all car area, and gluton .  We are running in the morning!  We are also working a lot on our missionary skills, and being bold.  It has been pretty incredible.  I love being a missionary and seeing the miracles in people’s lives, but I love seeing their conversion, and the real change- the real repentance! 

We went to this little nature reserve in the middle of Louisville this week to break down some cardboard.  It was so cool.  It brought me back to the Forest Service days, and my little home town, except I was not walking through sagebrush, but a jungle of trees.  It was not just hot, but hot and humid.  And instead of worrying about snakes or lizards, we had to make sure that we watched out for the random frogs.  What a new life.  Anyway, that was fun.  We also did a lot of talking to people, and some really cool lessons.  The spirit was really cool in them.  Anyway, it was all great!   

Well, I love you all a ton, and I hope that you have a lovely week, 
 
Love,
Hermana Gamett    
 
CURRENT ADDRESS:
3240 East Tamarack Court #607
Evansville, IN 47715
 

 

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Week 49 - June 8, 2015 - Evansville, Indiana

Hey!  So life is good here in Evansville.  There are so many amazing people here.  We have enjoyed this fine week, and are enjoying this fine P-day! 
I have some lovely words of wisdom this fine week.  We were talking with a member of the ward, and somehow he shared with us something that really stuck with me.  He said that so often people ask us are we the glass-half-empty or half-full kind of person?  He told us that is such a silly question because the way he sees it, the glass is just an inefficient glass.  That really caught my attention.  Am I too focused on who I am or who I am not, that I am missing reaching my full potential?  Are my thoughts focused on what I have done wrong or what I have done right so much that I miss what I could be doing to get better?  Those are my words of wisdom this fine week.
 
It was a good lesson to learn.
 
This week has been great as we have started using our Ipads.  They are going to keep me organized, and they are going to make us so much more efficient.  We showed videos to people from them, and there are some really amazing pamphlet apps that they have.  It has been really cool to go through them all.  The only struggle that we have, is that we don't know if we should put videos in Spanish and English.  We will experiment, though.  It has been really cool so far!  We only are on the first phase, too.  We will see what this next phase brings as we prepare everything else.  Before you know it, we will be on facebook, and friends with all the amazing people that we have met!  Life is good, and missionary work is going well.  Love you all a ton,
 
Hermana Gamett

Happy Birthday, Grandma and Teague!!!

CURRENT ADDRESS:
3240 East Tamarack Court #607
Evansville, IN 47715

Week 48 - June 1, 2015 - Evansville, Indiana

Well, I got the call Saturday that I was leaving an area that I love so very, very much!  It was a little rough to leave.  Some tears were shed, but I was headed out!  I ended up here in Evansville Indiana, and I love it.  It has been really great!  Hermana Little really knew how to take over the area, and I really have been a little lost on everything.  I didn't know why I was so relaxed in the beginning, but then it hit me- she knew what to do here.  There are amazing people here, and it is a huge area!  It has been quite a joy!  We had a baptism here on Sunday for a member who speaks Spanish.  It has been really cool to see the support from the ward!
We also have some more really intense news.   IPADS!!!  Yes, we have them, finally.  They are the excitment of every missionary in the Kentucky, Lousiville mission.  They are really cool.  We were thoroughly trained on what to do and what not to do.  It has been really cool.  The church has things set up pretty well.  We can use the mormon messages or videos in a lesson.  When we teach about President Monson- they can watch him speak.  If we want to give them the Gospel Principles manual and the Bible along with the Book of Mormon- they don't have to wait- we can help them download it right then and there.    The pamphlets are now equipped with pictures that move- called videos!  (I think this is only for English)  It is pretty cool!  No DVD player?  That's ok.  We have it here.   Anyway, it has been really cool to have it.  They are really going to help hasten the work.  It has been really amazing!  They will do so much for us.
Anyway, I am all scattered and crazy and well... yeah!  I hope that everything goes well for ya'll.
Love ya,
Hermana Gamett 

Happy Birthday, Grandma and Lucy!!!