Hey hey.

This week was crazy. We had Wednesday to proselyte, then spent Thursday planning for the coming week, drove up to Macon for Mission leadership council all day Friday, stayed the night in Perry, then drove back to Macon on Saturday morning for a 2 hour mission-wide conference with Elder Costa of the Seventy and then had lunch and another mission leadership council for 2 hours with Elder Costa. So.. we're totally exhausted. I am so tired. I can't remember the last time I was this tired. But it's a good tired. At least, that's what I tell myself.  

J is still doing well. She says that she feels like she's in a "limbo" - not quite able to prepare for baptism but just waiting. In our lesson this week she said something to the effect of, "I'm starting to realize that I'm not one of the lost sheep anymore but I'm being brought into the fold." What a tender understanding she has. Jesus Christ, as the good shepherd, has commissioned each of us to be his under-shepherd's in rescuing those who have wandered and are not joined with the body of Christ. I am thankful for this, and that the Savior is our example in all things.

Friday's MLC was insane because we literally spent the whole 6 hours watching and discussing technology training videos from Elder Bednar. I am SO EXCITED to have technology. They will seriously expand our ability to find or be found by those who are prepared to hear the gospel. Elder Bednar repeatedly shared this message with us in those videos: The Lord trusts you and you have the capacity to live worthy of that trust. How true! For each of us! 

Along those same lines, I have thought often this week about the word "steward". I usually don't think about many things too deeply. I touch on lots and lots of things but it's more rare that I pin something down and focus on it. I have been learning to "ponder" my whole mission. This week the word "steward" kept resurfacing in my mind. In other words, the Spirit continually pulled this idea to the front of my mind. Put in my own terms, and simply, a steward is someone who is responsible for something and accountable for it. The Lord has blessed each of us with much. He has allowed us an opportunity to be stewards in this life over our families, finances, time, technology, so on and so forth. God needs those who are accountable, responsible, wise, and faithful with the things they have been given. As we show God our gratitude by being wise stewards, He will bless us with MORE and we can continuously be tools in His hands for the salvation of souls and furthering of His work. Especially as technology is being introduced to the mission, I have pondered about how I can responsibly use this new tool and also about what other things I can be more accountable to the Lord about. I would challenge you this week to think about the things that you have stewardship over and to consider how you can magnify your responsibilities and do more good of your own free will. Perhaps it is a relationship with a loved one, perhaps it is something at work, maybe someone whom you know is sick or in need. Reach out. Do good. Be faithful. 

Mission conference Saturday was so uplifting. It's a rare thing in a mission as big, geographically, as the GMM to have everyone together but we got everyone together!! It was awesome. Elder Costa is powerful and good. He LOVES missionaries and missionary work. I left my notes at home, shame on me, but...I'll try and send you some awesome one-liners next week?

Also on Friday in Perry I got to see A and C!! I sat on their couch with my current companion and with my MTC companion and taught her about prophets, actually she taught us. But I got to see them and they're doing so good!! They both read form the Book of Mormon every day. I asked them what they biggest difference is since they were baptized and received the Holy Ghost. They said that they are so much happier. They have true joy and peace and they recognize the Holy Ghost. A, who is reading in 3 Nephi 20, said that the Book of Mormon is teaching her so much about having faith and enduring even when things are hard. That was such a tender mercy for me to go there. God is good.

I love you!

Also, please remember:  "You are in His hands.  Very good hands.  Loving hands. Caring hands.And nothing anyone ever says about you can change that. Their words are meaningless compared to what God has said about you.  You are His precious child.   He loves you.  Even when you stumble, even when you turn away from Him, God loves you. If you are feeling lost, abandoned, or forgotten—fear not. The Good Shepherd will find you. He will lift you upon His shoulders. And He will carry you home."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Have an awesome week, please!

-Sister Emma Gore

Sister Shakespear, Sister Gore and Elder Hellander - all in the MTC together - at all mission conference

Back in Perry, GA with A and C - so happy!!

Dear all, 

Thanks so much to everyone who sent Sister Fielding a birthday card! That was so fun. I appreciate you. :)

This week was way good! Two new Elders came to our district which is good. Change is fun.

J is awesome. She hasn't smoked a cigarette since January 3! We love her. She loves God. 

B , whom I believe I talked about earlier, came out of nowhere this week. Oh, we had incredible experiences with her. She comprehends things slowly and gets easily overhwhelmed. So we teach slowly. Usually we teach a princple in one lesson and then review it and commit her to act on it in the next lesson. So on Wednesday we went and saw her with a member of the ward and taught her the 2nd half of the restoration of the gospel. Nearing the end of the lesson, she just sort of picked up her pamphlet and ignored us to read it. Which.. you know, is fine. And then she stopped and pointed to a word and said, "So how does someone get baptized? What would they have to do? Would they just need to meet with you guys for a while?" So we explained how an individual prepares to be baptizes and she said, "Well that's something I would like to do." B, who had prefaced our meetings with her with "I don't want change" is now desiring to be baptized. The Spirit has touched her as we have met even in these few short weeks. On one occasion, we went over and  put all her books up in the bookshelf we built for her and rearranged and unpacked a good deal of her living room. She said, "When you left last time after I prayed I just felt so good that I wanted to clean everything." And now she's starting puting on a dress when we come over. She reads the Book of Mormon often and prays fervently. And she came to church this week!! And loved it! And is going to come back! 

Mission news: This Saturday, February 3, Elder Joaquin E. Costa will be visiting the mission! We didn't find out until Sunday night so.. But it's happening! So this week Sister F and I go to Macon for Mission Leader Council and then stay the night in PERRY, GA before heading back to Macon on Saturday for a mission-wide conference and then a second session of MLC with Elder Costa. We are beyond excited. Also I'm going back to PERRY. We get to do some proselyting that evening so... We'll see what happens. I'm pumped. Your first area is always special. Perry is special.

As I've been studying about repentance I have also been led to think about forgiveness. Forgiveness that comes from God, freely as we sincerely seek it, and also the forgiveness we are commanded to extend to others. The Lord has taught us, " I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.". I have known firsthand the incredible joy and peace that comes as we forgive others. It can be hard. But it is right and good.

My invitation to you this week is to forgive someone.

Pray for the love to do so.

Have an incredible week. 

Awake and Arise!

-Sister Gore

Happy Birthday Sister fielding!!

a special thank you to everyone who sent birthday cards!  

Dear everyone,

Sister Fielding turns 20 on Monday!! If you feel inclined to do so, you're more than welcome to send her a birthday card. You can address that to:

Thanks to everyone who already has! I appreciate that so much. 

Sister Fielding and I came to the close of our first 6 weeks together and are beginning our second transfer together this week! Missionary time is so bizarre. I feel like I've been in Aiken 2 weeks with 6 months' worth of experiences. I can't put into words the incredible volume of the things I have learned in so short a time. I feel so humbled to be the Lord's servant and to be trusted by him to serve here. 

J is doing awesome. She hasn't had a cigarette in 21 days!! We are so very proud of her. On Saturday her tire went totally flat in ​​the parking lot at work so we went over with the Elders to change the tire for her. She asked for a Book of Mormon and some of the pamphlets missionaries use to teach to give to a coworker of hers who has been asking questions about what she is learning with us. AMAZING. Look at that missionary work! 

My studies this week were so cool. I read in the Topical Guide to the Scriptures about commitment. 

Here are some of my favorites:

...with thine whole heart have I sought thee... Psalms 119:10 (Old Testament)

...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples... John 8:31(New Testament)

...come unto him, and offer your whole souls... Omni 1:26 (Book of Mormon)

So many of the scriptures from each book of scripture referenced the heart and that we serve God will all that we have, continuing to follow the example of Jesus Christ. This study caused me to ponder. I'll pose some of the same questions I asked myself to you: Am I really committed to whole-hardheartedly living the gospel of Jesus Christ? What am I doing to show the Savior that I truly am His disciple? What more can I sacrifice and give to God? 

Discipleship takes discipline. It is not a simple task. It is not for the faint of heart. But it is a sure way to find peace as the Spirit bears witness that we are on the strait and narrow path home to a loving Father in Heaven. 

Last thing, the Georgia Macon Mission has officially been authorized for technology and we will begin to use smartphones in our proselyting efforts in the next 4-6 weeks. I am so excited for this!! Our effectiveness is just going to increase so much. It will be amazing to have all our records in a phone. Currently, we lug around 3 separate 3" binders! What a blessing this new technology will be in furthering the Lord's work.

I love each of you. Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. His church and His priesthood power have been restored to the Earth by the prophet Joseph Smith. Families can be together forever when bound together by this priesthood power in temples of God. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It teaches plainly and powerfully of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice and invites each of us to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him."

Have a wonderful week! 

Do good. 

Also do yourself a favor and watch this video: ​​

https://www.lds.org/youth/theme/2018?lang=eng 

-Sister Emma Gore

Serving the Lord in Akin South Carolina - part 1

And part 2-  ha ha 

Looks like there are fields of cotton in
Georgia   :)

This week flew by! Not a lot happened but a lot got done. If that makes sense.

I went on exchanges with Sister O this week in North Augusta and that was so fun. It was honestly like we had never actually left each other. We have both grown so much and it was good to teach together again. She is such a good example to me of charity and incredible diligence in her missionary efforts and in her obedience. Her love for the Lord is so apparent. 

We also had Mission Leader Council this week in Macon. Friday we left our apartment around 5:30 and MLC was from 10-4. I got to play piano for the meeting which was awesome. I love playing. And am thankful that the Spirit has quickened my talents. And for President Grayson's humble and inspired leadership. 

We saw the M family this week. They have been reading from the Book of Mormon in English and their ability to speak the language has improved dramatically. Incredible to see the growth in so short a time as they show the Lord their love for Him.

I was studying this week about the purpose of Earth life and our time in mortality. Usually when I teach this principle I use Alma 34:32. This week in my studies I took a closer look at the surrounding verses and found this in verse 33:

"And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."

I loved the phrase "prepare for eternity". That rang so true with me and caused me reflection about what things really matter - what things will matter as we leave this life and embark as immortal beings into eternity. This life is only so long. Really, it's quite brief. Let us not procrastinate repentance and change and turning to the Lord and making necessary changes such that we ARE prepared for an eternity of progression spent in the presence of our families and our God. 

Have an awesome week.

-Sister Gore

Welcome to Aiken 

With a senior couple before they went home. They are related through marriage to Grandma Gore