Dear Everyone,

First and foremost I would like to remind you of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do me a huge solid and send my companion, Sister Fielding, a bday card. You can catch the details in my last blog post. Her birthday is 29 Jan. Thanks so much!!!

It was kind of a crazy week, I spent 24 hours in Martinez on exchanges so that was awesome. It was good to be in GA again. Turns out I missed it! We didn't have a meal appointment with a member that night I was there and also don't know each other at all so we decided to go grab food and sit and talk for our dinner hour. We were headed to a southwestern grill place we both wanted to try. Sister S hasn't been in the area for very long and I obviously don't know it at all. So neither of us is quite sure where the ward boundaries are. Mission rules are to stay within your area boundaries unless you have permission from mission leaders to leave for a specific purpose. We put in the restaurant and headed there and all was well. However, we passed through an intersection about 1.5 miles down the road and both knew that we had left the Martinez Ward area. It was such an uncomfortable feeling. We found the restaurant and pulled over to look at the GPS. Still, neither of us could be sure completely that we were out of our boundaries but the feeling persisted. So we left. It was such a simple experience but it was such a testimony builder for me. God wants us to be obedient. Even when no one else will know. Even when the situation seems harmless. Even when it is less convenient. Even when the thing we are asked to do seems so small and insignificant. As we made our way back into her area the yucky feeling left. I knew that the Holy Ghost had guided our actions and helped us to be obedient. 

L who we met Christmas Day, allowed us to meet with him. We had a lesson in the church building on Saturday. We talked to him about the Book of Mormon, and the restoration of the gospel. The Spirit was so present during his lesson. He really just wants to do what is right for his family. His has so much faith. If he will listen to the Spirit he will be led and guided to the truth. His wife didn't come this time but L said he would go back home and talk with her and that we could meet again in the coming weeks. We are hoping to meet with them in their home soon. Please pray that they will continue to have a softened heart. 

We also had a lesson with B this week. Our lesson was scheduled on Saturday and she actually called us Saturday morning and said, "Listen, I don't think Joseph Smith was a prophet. I don't wanna be a Mormon." We asked if we could still come over and just talk about the Bible and about God's plan for us. She consented. So we went. And didn't talk about the Book of Mormon or any of that. She did a great deal of the talking which was awesome. She has a deep love for the Bible and wants to understand it better. B began to explain to us some of her beliefs and then came to her belief that God the Father, Jesus Chist, and the Holy Ghost are one being. She said, "Is that what you believe?" We read to Acts 7:55-56, where Stephen is filled with the Holy Ghost and sees God and Jesus Christ standing beside each other in heaven. It is one of the clearer passages in the Bible that helps us to understand the correct nature of God. God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are separate and distinct beings. God and Jesus have bodies of flesh and bone, as tangible as man's. The Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit such that he might dwell in us. These 3 beings, called the Godhead, are united in purpose and doctrince. She read Acts 7 and paused and said, "Well, I guess there's no way to deny that." Later we went back to help set up a bookshelf. Actually, she is limited in her abilities so Sister F and I built the bookshelf while B read through the pamphlet about the restoration again. This time, her heart was softened. She expressed a desire to watch the Restoration video about Joseph Smith's experience. (It's way awesome and you I'm sure the missionaries where you live would love to bring it to you- you can reach them through mormon.org) B also said that she wanted a Book of Mormon, since it helps us to understand the Bible better. After we completed the project, we went downstairs to get a Book of Mormon from our car. We brought it back up and she wrapped it in her arms, saying, "Oh, I will treasure this." I hope to never forget her statement or her gratitude in being given additional knowledge about the Savior of the world. 

This week we also had the opportunity to do service at a senior living center kind of thing. It's kind of like meals on wheels. We just do the putting food together part and also serve the seniors that hang out there. It's good stuff. 

I get to see Sister O this week! Also Sister K, whom she trained, had to go home because she got super sick. She's okay not but.. yeah, anyways pray for her.

Remember who you are and what you stand for.

Love,

Sister Gore

Beautiful Akin

Fishing on P-Day

Hey!! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!!

I love New Years. I maintain that it is the best holiday. No presents. No obligations. Just party. We partied by writing in our journals and going to bed. It was awesome.

But in all sincerity, I am so excited for 2018. Good things are coming if we invite them into our lives by our choices. Make some goals. Then make plans to meet your goals. Begin today.

Our Christmas was wonderful. We ate dinner with the S family. They were baptized in November. For Christmas dinner they invited us over and several other member families from the congregation and some coworkers and friends not of our faith. Sister F and I got to have great conversation with these individuals and are returning to see one of the families later this week and share with them the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

Immediately following Christmas, Sister F got totally sick. So she laid on the floor for about 48 hours straight. And slept. So much. So that was rough but we still saw so many blessings. Sister F was feeling good enough to go to district meeting so we did that and had to stop and get gas on the way home. I got out to pump gas and turned to talk to the man on the other side of our pump. Before I could even say hi, he said "I think some of y'all've been out to the house before." Turns out, he had formerly investigated the church a good number of years ago. He was eager to have us return and teach him again so we swapped phone numbers and all that good stuff. So literally the ONE person we talked to that day wanted us to teach them. Incredible.

We called him two days later, which would be Friday/planning day, to set up a time to go out and meet with him. T said, "How about this: What time does your church start? I'll see you at church on Sunday." So we told him. And he was at church. He stayed all 3 hours, happens to have grown up with some solid members of the ward whom he didn't know were LDS, and left church with a Book of Mormon and Gospel Principles manual. After Sunday School Sister F turned to him and asked, "Do you have any questions?". To which Tony responded, "No. Just lots of answers." Incredible!! Jesus Christ's church truly is a place to find answers and receive revelation and inspiration from the Holy Spirit.  He was touched by the special Spirit in the church building and service. He felt so welcomed by the members of the ward, commenting that Mormons are so incredibly different from the rest of the world - in a really good way. We are meeting him again this Saturday. 

We met the M family this week. They actually live in the Coker Spring Ward boundaries but they really prefer Sisters to Elders... go figure. ;) They moved here from Honduras 3 years ago so we go and read the Book of Mormon with them in English. Actually, they read in English and Sister F and I read in Spanish. Which is fun. And they are wonderful.

On Friday we were looking for a woman who used to be meeting with missionaries in a fairly large apartment complex. We knocked on the door that had formerly belonged to her and instead met another woman who had just moved to Aiken about 2 weeks ago. Her husband died just in October and it was clear that she had some hope but was burdened. She let us into her home immediately and we testified of God's plan for us - of His infinite love and desire for our happiness. she is allowing us to return on Saturday. Without infringing upon anyone's free will, God had allowed us to find her. 

Several members this week  volunteered to create appointments for us with those of their acquaintances who desire to hear the gospel. we are floored. Aiken is a dream. 

I have come to greatly love the Topical Guide to the Scriptures, listing a nearly comprehensive list of scriptures for any given topic.(You can find it here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/tg?lang=eng   Knock yourself out!) What an awesome study help! This week I studied in the topical guide about the mission of Jesus Christ. Here are the power-phrases and words that I found:

• government shall be upon his shoulders
• swallow up death in victory
• wounded for our iniquities
• preach good tidings
• bind up the broken hearted
• wipe away our tears
• save
• fulfill all righteousness
• preach
• reign
• heal
• not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me
• author of eternal salvation
• mediator
• make intercession
• die for all men
• publisheth peace
• redeem his people
• satisfy the demands of justice
• atoneth
• bring about the plan of mercy
• fulfill the law
• light and the Redeemer of the world
• ministry
• to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man 

How powerful is the role and mission of Jesus Christ as put forth by His prophets? I am thankful that Jesus Christ does indeed accomplish all of these things, and so much more, in each of our lives. He simply asks that we turn to Him and let Him in. 

I particularly love Isaiah 61:1, which I found in this study, reading, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;". I love these promised works of our Savior. He brings us freedom and healing and opens the prison doors for all of us who cannot open them ourselves.

Okay, last thing but this is very important: 

Sister Fielding's birthday is on 29 January. There's not a whole ton I can do by way of surprising her since we are literally together 24/7. But. I had this awesome idea. My request is this:

Find a birthday card at the store. It doesn't even need to be appropriate for a girl turning 20. Actually, I would prefer that it's not. Find something creative. That card is for dad's birthday? Great. Paw Patrol for a 5 year old? Excellent. That card sings??? Perfect. I just think it would be absolutely hilarious for her to receive a whole plethora of birthday cards from perfect strangers. 

You can address them to:

Sister Suzannah Fielding

400 Northside Crossing

Macon, GA 31210

and they will all make it to us in Aiken.

Say whatever you want, the part that really matters is Sister Fielding's good-natured vexation and how hilarious this will be. The higher the quantity of cards, the better. Your single stamp and card can make all the difference. Don't wait - call now before this limited-time offer expires. 

Thanks a million!!! I appreciate this. Y'all are the best.

Have a wonderful week! 

Keep on keepin' on.

Love,

Sister Emma Gore

Mission Christmas party

we wish you

a Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year

South Carolina/Aiken Ward is the dream. Sister F is also the dream. 

We are the only missionaries in the ward, but the Coker Springs ward shares the building and they have 2 sets of Elders so that puts 6 in the building. Then there's a set of Elders in the Barnwell Branch and that makes up our district! 

Last week, our first week here, we did our very best to get to as many members/auxiliary leaders as we possibly could. By Sunday we had received EIGHTEEN REFERRALS. So our plans for the next 7 days are pretty much packed. We feel way incredibly blessed.. It is set up such that members are teaching members how to FIND people for us, the missionaries, to teach. Sister F and I aren't even sure what to do with ourselves. We are just way excited to work with the members and to see MIRACLES happen in Aiken.

Also, it is incredibly beautiful here. So so pretty. I don't really have a lot of pictures from Aiken, but you have Google and I have next week to try again. ;)

We are teaching a lady who had  been living in Savannah when she hit an all-time low and moved up to Aiken. Her uncle is a member of the church in the North Augusta ward and, seeing that she had a soft heart and was looking for change and peace, referred her to the Aiken sisters about 3 months ago. She is seriously incredible. She understands how to repent and change. She is full of gratitude for her Savior, reads the Book of Mormon daily, and usually attends our ward and her uncle's ward so that she can learn and feel the Spirit as much as possible. 

Sister F and I also traveled to Evans, GA this week for interviews with President Grayson. I love any chance that I have to be with President and Sister Grayson. In my interview, President helped me to talk through the ways that the Lord has prepared me, via past areas and companions, to be serving in Aiken as an STL right now. I have felt so much peace since then, and confirmation of the Lord's will and timing. 

On Saturday night we, being the 6 missionaries in the Aiken building, went to a place called Hopeland Gardens. It's basically just.. well, 14 acres of stunning garden. And they dress it all up with Christmas lights so we went and talked to people and looked at the lights and it was awesome.

In Preach My Gospel there is a chapter dedicated to the Book of Mormon. I am sure that I have touched on this point before, but the Book of Mormon answers questions of the soul. In PMG can be found a list of specific questions that missionaires and members of the church may be asked by those around them. 

This week I endeavored to begin reading through those chapters with those specific questions in mind. I started at the top - Is there a God? and studied Alma 22. Hours after my personal study, Sister F and I were looking for some people that used to be investigating the church and met a man in the parking lot. He actually used to attend LDS church, and said that he connects with LDS people better than like.. other people? Anyways, he wasn't interested in us coming back necessarily but said he has a Book of Mormon and also is unsure about if a God exists. Because I had prepared, as guided by the Spirit, earlier that morning, we were able to commit him to read Alma 22. We are following up with him later this week! Way neat.

I hope you all have been able to do #LighttheWorld on the daily! We have loved being able to watch members be involved and serve their friends and neighbors. 

I love these scriptures in Luke 2, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord...... Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

I hope you have an absolutely wonderful Christmas! Jesus Christ lives. He is the Prince of Peace. Our Redeemer and Friend.

-Sister Gore

When in the south - Go bulldogs??

Merry Christmas!