This week marked the beginning of Round 2: Sister Gore vs Gnats. And apparently down this far south/near the coast they bite! Send extra prayers, please and thanks hahaha.

But actually it was such a good week!

On Tuesday we had an awesome lesson with a couple that had been meeting with sister missionaries for a while now. Each time we go I feel a little directionless and unsure about how best to help these individuals to understand and receive the message of the gospel. This week Sister Rowland and I wanted to focus on Jesus Christ and His Atonement. We watched a powerful video about how because of Christ we are not alone, but have access to His strength.  I had opportunity to testify  our purpose as missionaries is to help people become clean from sin and that it is possible for them to receive relief and peace by changing their lives and following their Redeemer.  Each child of God has the ability to choose for himself and must be allowed to do so. Like God, we can only invite, entice, and persuade.

On Wednesday we were on exchanges! I was with Sister M who was actually trained by Sister H, who trained me for a time. I've tried to keep tabs on Sister M throughout my mission and finally serving with her was a blast! I felt like I already knew her. We had an awesome exchange in which we followed up with an investigator whom we had left a copy of the book of mormon with in a previous lesson. This investigator had read almost half of the book in just the short week between our visits! I was honestly floored and so thankful for this individuals hunger for truth.

Saturday was general conference!! Wow that was such a long morning waiting for the session to start. Sister Rowland and I just could hardly focus we were so excited to go and hear from our prophet and apostles! Being able to sustain President Nelson as the prophet was such a powerful experience. I prayed all last week that I would receive confirmation from the spirit that he was called of God during the sustaining and the spirit did carry that truth to my heart. I know he has been prepared his entire life to lead and guide Christ's church today! I love and sustain him.

Sunday was Easter and I had such a sweet morning. We woke and studied our scriptures for an hour. I read in the New Testament  about the morning of the Savior’s Resurrection. I love the angels words, "He is not here, for He is risen.". That simple declaration brings so much peace to my heart. I am thankful for Jesus Christ who, in perfect obedience, descended below all things and overcome death and hell.

Cinnamon rolls for Easter breakfast - we ate on the porch and read an Easter story. Then we got ready and went to the ward building to listen to the morning session of Sundays general conference. It was honestly the most peaceful and restful Sabbath morning of my mission and I am so thankful for it. Sunday afternoon session of conference was something I will never forget. I have rarely received such clear and direct answers to prayers than that afternoon. Laid before me was the course I need to walk and an invitation to draw nearer to God, to always remember Jesus Christ, and to receive the Spirit in fuller measure by increasing our spiritual capacity to receive frequent and clear revelation.

I truly feel that the events of this last weekend will change my life. This is not because I am going to be acted upon by the changes in church ministering, but also because of the actions I will take in response to the outpouring of the Spirit and the will and mind of the Lord as delivered by His servants. I loved President Nelson's invitation to ponder, study, and discuss the conference addresses frequently and repeatedly in the coming 6 month period. I am so eager to do so. 

Now the challenge is to, as an Elder in the ward put it, "keep the pumpedness". Laman and Lemuel forgot. They forgot that they had seen an angel, they forgot the deliverance of the Israelite people from bondage in Egypt, and they forgot that "the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him". Because of their forgetfulness, they fell away from the truth and rejected their Savior and His teachings, also rebelling against their father, the prophet Lehi. Nephi, in contrast, remembered. Because of his remembering, Nephi became a spiritual giant! He conquers evil, has a close personal relationship with Christ, and has faith sufficient to do all things that are required of him. King Benjamin exhorts us to "remember, and perish not". 

Thus is our task. Following a spiritually energizing weekend, we will all return to some of the rote tasks of life. And this is necessary. It is necessary for us to go about our daily lives, for this gives us opportunity to act upon the invitations we have received and to share the light and truth we know with others. Now comes the real test! It is easy to sit and listen and feel the Spirit. It is not as easy to become something new as a result of that sitting and listening. It is our responsibility to remember the words we heard, the poignant feelings of our hearts, and to retain a firm resolve to live a whole-hearted life of discipleship.

I leave you with the words of a powerful hymn, the last we heard in General Conference. I sing this hymn as I wash dishes and it fills me with the Spirit each time: 

Let us all press on in the work of the Lord,
That when life is o’er we may gain a reward;
In the fight for right let us wield a sword,
The mighty sword of truth.

Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.

We will not retreat, though our numbers may be few
When compared with the opposite host in view;
But an unseen pow’r will aid me and you
In the glorious cause of truth.

Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.

If we do what’s right we have no need to fear,
For the Lord, our helper, will ever be near;
In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer,
And prosper the cause of truth.

Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.

-Sister Emma Gore

Hi, everyone.

This week Sister Rowland and I needed to buy a a new whiteboard. We have one right now but it's 12"x12" and just not cutting it. We need room to write goals and keep track of everyone we meet and things we need to accomplish for the ward or as mission leaders. So. We headed over to Home Depot. Because... Cheap white board material and a whole lot of it. Gosh I have never felt more out of place in my life than trying to find paneling and then someone to saw it in half and then hauling it outside to find that it wouldn't fit in our Malibu so dragging it all back inside to have it cut into fourths and then finally leaving. Feeling accomplished. It was just hilarious. 

This week I went on exchanges in Savannah and that was a blast. It's such a pretty city. Friday was zone conference so now the rest of the missionaries in the area have their smartphones! Which is awesome because there are some very creative missionaries in our area and now Sister Rowland and I get to hear all their awesome ideas about how to use technology and share our own! 

Easter is coming and so is General Conference! I've been reading as many talks about Holy Week and the Atonement and the Resurrection as I possibly can and reading of the Savior's last week in the New Testament. I have felt the Spirit in such greater abundance as I have focused on Jesus Christ. As I have pondered and prayerfully studied about Jesus Christ's teachings and character, my love for Him and desire to follow Him as grown. I have been led by the Spirit to ponder about discipleship. The root of the word disciple means student, and I love the idea that we should be students of Christ. Moroni, a Book of Mormon prophet, declares, "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." These have become my favorite words. Dallin H. Oaks taught, "Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life." 

I am so grateful that Conference is Saturday and Sunday because we will have the opportunity to have our testimonies of the Savior strengthened and renewed. Please set aside time to hear the words of the Lord's chosen servants. Bring a question that has weighed on your heart and mind. Open your heart to the Spirit of the Lord which will teach you all truth and guide you in righteousness. I can promise you that as you prayerfully prepare for and participate in conference that you will be able to feel of the everlasting love of our Heavenly Father and see His hand in your life as you act upon the messages.

Sister Gore

White board!!!  :)

Zone conference

Hello hello.

This week the weather has been so gentle and warm so Sister Rowland and I have moved as many activities outside as possible. We study and eat outside and it's so nice. There are pink and purple flowers growing all over the Pooler area and we smell them all day long. I daily receive confirmation that I am where I need to be, meeting the people God needs me to meet, and fulfilling my purpose at this time. Rainy season and tornado season are moving in. I am excited for the heat, though not the bugs, and glad I have 2 summers and not 2 winters. The Pooler Ward is unique. It's mostly just older couples and then a handful of really young families. Apparently the schools in the county are terrible so nearly everyone who was once in the Pooler ward has since moved somewhere nearby with better education for their children. Pooler's bishop is very focused on doing family history and focuses the ward on the temple which I love.  

On Wednesday we went on exchanges with the Hilton Head sisters. I stayed in Pooler with Sister L who is brand new to the Georgia Macon Mission. Sister L is on fire and it was so fun to work with her! She said she was feeling some anxiety about her first exchange but she was completely engaged and involved the whole time it was so awesome. She really just is so happy to be here serving and is a great example to me. That was one of the most rewarding exchanges I've ever been on, either as a leader or not. So many things that happened that day let us both know that God was aware of us. Sister L and I both had prayers answered through simple observation of each other on the exchange. I was leading in the area for the first time after just serving here for 1 week. I didn't feel nervous about this because I had been praying and pondering to prepare for this exchange. I knew that I would be blessed with impressions from the Spirit and I continued praying all that day that we would know where to go and what to say and that God would send people for us to talk to. By the end of the exchange we had set 5 return appointments, taught 2 other lessons to investigators, and had a serious breakthrough in understanding with a less-active family. Exchange miracles are so real! Bonus: saw the ocean from the Hilton Head sisters apartment complex. And Sister Rowland saw a gator! 

 A Book of Mormon prophet named Alma teaches that  even a particle of faith exists where there is desire and that we should let this desire grow in us. Both of the individuals we visited last weekend carried their desire with them all the way to church this Sunday. The Lord has prepared them, at the hand of faithful friends who loved and invited, to partake of the blessings He has in store for those who are obedient to Him.

Speaking of prophets, General Conference is coming! I really don't think you understand how excited I am.  On March 31 and April 1 we have the opportunity to hear from current prophets and apostles of the Lord and receive direction and counsel from them. I've been pondering what questions I need to prepare to have answered by the Spirit and would invite you to view the same!

Look for the good. 

Remember God. 

Be diligent. 

Press forward.

See you next week,

Sister Gore 

GATOR!

1 week down in Pooler! I am so very happy to be here, honestly. Sister R is diligent and very energetic. Which I love. I'm back to running every morning which always helps me have better days. The Pooler area is really just a conglomeration of small towns or parts of other towns. We designate a day to work in one of said towns and try to see everyone we can in that area. The ward here is great. In every interaction I have with members they are so eager to tell us about the ways in which they are sharing the gospel with their friends. We're only 20 minutes from the beach, though I'll never see that beach as a missionary haha. And we live really close to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport so we hear planes all day long. 

This week I'm really not sure I could tell you what happened. I'm just trying to learn the area and who the people are. And it was just a blur of trying to have all the up-to-date information haha. But it was fun! We had an awesome lesson with a lady who is very well acquainted with the Bible. As we were teaching her, and seeking always to teach to an investigator's needs and understanding, a plethora of stories and verses from the Bible just came one after another that I was able to share with her and use to help her understand what we were teaching. It was such a simple experience with the Spirit for which I am so thankful.

On Thursdays' we have Book of Mormon class which is obviously the highlight of the week and then the ward plays soccer for an hour! How awesome is that? It's really been a great way to invite less-active members and non-members to come see the church building and meet members who can be their friends.

Everything is good. 

This week I came across the following words of Thomas S Monson : To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside of ourselves. 

I have found this to be so very true throughout the course of my mission. Sometimes it is tempting to be discouraged or disheartened or to feel unhappy. Missionary work is challenging in so many ways. Sometimes it seems that no matter how hard we work, nothing seems to come from it. Trials will come to each of us. Sadness is part of mortality. However, the cure for these feelings is not to turn inward and evaluate and try to fix ourselves. Rather, it is most often to turn out from ourselves and to focus on others. Such was the pattern of Jesus Christ's life. Even in His darkest hour, He was concerned about His apostles and His family. Never did He think of himself or put His needs or desires above the needs of others or the will of His Father in Heaven. 

I have such a testimony of service. In reaching out to those in need and lifting their burdens we somehow find healing and rest to our own souls. This is how God created us. His intention was that we learn from Him to be mindful of others and ever-giving of ourselves. Sweet joy and peace belongs to those who lose themselves in the pursuit of caring for another. 

-Sister Gore

After 12 weeks in Aiken I have been asked to fulfill a new assignment. Today I was transferred to my new area: Pooler, Georgia. My new companion is Sister R from Lehi, Utah and she has been out for 10 months. We served around each other when I was in Perry and are both just so excited to be companions and to work hard. Pooler is right outside of Savannah, GA. There are also Spanish Elders in the Pooler Ward.We continue to serve as a Sister Training Leader companionship covering all the sister missionaries in the Savannah GA Stake. Currently, that includes companionships in Savannah, GA; Hilton Head, SC; and Statesboro, GA.

Leaving Aiken is perhaps the hardest thing I have done on my mission. I fell in love with the area and with the people almost instantly. Sister F and I have been so unified, we have seen incredible miracles in the work here, and we are teaching faithful  individuals whom the Lord has prepared to hear His word.

That being said, it was a wonderful last week!

On Friday, we travelled to Macon for missionary leadership council to set up our smartphones! We are now officially a technology mission. This means that we are back on our Facebook accounts to use them as a means of better communicating with our investigators. We can use our phones to have Skype lessons with investigators who can't meet in person, to stay in better contact with people we're teaching, and to access media resources for our teaching. Honestly, we haven't even began to realize the potential of these tools to further the work of the Lord but we are so excited to experiment and learn.

Saturday night was transfer calls. We were very sure that we would stay together another transfer. And yet, my name was called. That was so shocking. And I found myself wanting to feel excited and hopeful and anxious to be obedient. Instead I just felt sad to leave such a special place so very soon.

Goodbye is still hard. But I have a sure knowledge that God, who is all-knowing, directs this work. I know that He knows where Sister Gore needs to be and that He is preparing others that He needs me to find.

I have a testimony of the restored gospel. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God. He did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. Under their instruction, Christ's church has been returned to the earth. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and I know that because it has changed me. Though I am still weak and imperfect, the Book of Mormon has been a tool through which I have, in part,become a "new creature in Christ". I know that God is merciful and that He desires for each of us to return to Him after this life. Jesus Christ lives. His grace is available to us, no matter how far or for how long we have strayed. I love the Lord. I love each of you.

Continue to "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men."

Yours,
Sister Emma Gore

Goodbye to Akin  <3

Dear everyone,

Great news: On March 2 we will receive smartphones at mission leadership conference and we could not be more excited!! Missionary work has gotten harder in a really hilarious way since learning we will receive this technology because we are realizing all these new ways that we will be able to do the Lord's work and help His children to learn of Him. We have all these ideas and anticipation and we'll get to begin to act on that in 3 days!

This week went by so fast and now it's week 6 so transfers are next week. Sister F and I have been together for 12 weeks and I'm so grateful. She's taught me so much about so many things. God knew I needed her. And still do, honestly.

I went to North Augusta, SC on exchanges this week with Sister W who is such a powerhouse missionary. She finds so much joy in living and sharing the gospel and I really believe that that has affected the lives of her investigators. We met a lady on exchanges and gave her a Book of Mormon. After explaining what it is she said "This is the most awesomest thing I ever heard". We think so, too.

I know that God is a loving Father in Heaven. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Savior. I know that true and lasting peace that can withstand the tests of life can only be found in Christ. I am grateful for the scriptures which invite us to live the gospel and become true disciples.

I love you. Thank for you being such great examples to me. Thanks for your prayers.

Keep on keeping on.

-Sister Emma Gore

Akin ward luau

Dear all,

This week I turned 20 and it was actually the best birthday I've ever had. It was so full of little tender mercies. Here's a few:

1. My incredible companion somehow got a ton of people from the ward to write on these index cards she had and then managed to tape them up all over the apartment so I woke up on my birthday to find them. Like over 50 of them.

2. We were having dinner witha family whom we love to death. On Sunday, She had asked me what I wanted for dinner on my birthday and I didn't know so I said I'd text her.  And then I didn't because.. I really didn't know. On Thursady I said to Sister Fielding, "Okay, what I really want is like a good homemade cheeseburger, and then we moved on. And showed up at their house. And ate homemade cheeseburgers for dinner. 

3. Saturday night was also stake conference for the congregations in the area so I got to see Sister O whom I love dearly and she brought me cake and then like 30 missionaries sang to me how fun is that?

4. As we drove home from stake conference we saw FIREWORKS. I love fireworks. 

It was just an awesome day and I felt that Heavenly Father was aware of me. 

I really don't believe that there are coincidences in this life. I do believe that God knows and loves His children and wants them to recognize His hand in all things. Elder Rasband said that what we might call 'coincidences' are actually part of God's 'divine design'.

Ronald A. Rasband taught, "When we are righteous, willing, and able, when we are striving to be worthy and qualified, we progress to places we never imagined and become part of Heavenly Father’s “divine design.” Each of us has divinity within us. When we see God working through us and with us, may we be encouraged, even grateful for that guidance...The Lord’s hand is guiding you. By “divine design,” He is in the small details of your life as well as the major milestones. As it says in Proverbs, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; … and he shall direct thy paths.” I testify that He will bless you, sustain you, and bring you peace."

I really cannot express the gratitude and happiness that I feel. I am so blessed to be able to serve the Lord. I am thankful for my mission and for the incredible experiences I have had and people I have met. I am thankful for the really hard times and dry patches and also for the times when I just feel on top of the world. 

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He did come to this Earth. He will come again. Learn of Him. Find true peace in Christ when the world offers none.

I love you! Please have a great week and laugh at yourself when you need to and do something kind. :)

-Sister Gore

Happy Birthday Sister Gore