Random Pictures

This is a random place we found when we were tracting. Pretty flowers~!

This is my Mimi. She is very old and in a care center. She is just the sweetest lady.

This is our FHE treat at a members house who are going to be the mission president for Sacramento Cali! We watched a talk by Holland in their Egyptian theater.. it was AWESOME!

Happy St. Patty's Day 2014!

Conference Weekend!!

I can't believe it's Tuesday again.. Well this week has been packed full of wonderful things!

Events:

At District meeting, Sister Allen and I were in charge for a bit and played a game using scriptures. It was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. 

On Thursday, we had zone conference! President and Sister Hiers talked about principles and patterns which was really good and then the AP's did a role play which was super helpful. As a missionary, you are constantly learning. It is CRAZY. There's so much to learn in such little time! Oh and there's a new rule now in our mission that we can only talk to people in the mission on Facebook. Sister Allen and I haven't been on a lot recently and it's great! Facebook is a big distraction sometimes and a temptation as well. So just note! If you want to talk to me, WRITE ME A LETTER OR EMAIL! 

On Friday, we helped move someone's stuff into their house with a ton of missionaries. I helped carry a dresser and felt pretty good about myself :) I'm strong! 

On Saturday..... GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! To sum the experience up: We left early so weren't able to listen to the morning session (bummer I know, I heard it was fantastic and President Monson talked about the youth celebration in AZ! Whoop whoop! Now every time I say where I'm from.. they talk about it haha). We got there and had to eat lunch really quick and then get to the conference center. Then, their translator radio thingumabobs stopped working so we had to go get different ones and then THOSE stopped working towards the end. HOWEVER, I think Bianca and Xochilt had a great time. We gave them little notebooks that say General Conference Notes on it and they took more notes than I thought they would! I really likes Richard G Scott's talk about how converts need to know God loves them perfectly and how we need to help them understand that. I also loved W Craig Zwick's talk. He shared the story about his wife jumping out of the semi truck with thier son because she thought they were going to die and she just wanted to save him! I loved that he talked about putting yourself in the other's shoes and the see through their eyes to eliminate miscommunication. 

 I'm so excited to read all the talks and be able to get more out of them. How amazing is it that we get to hear modern scripture! We are so blessed to have the resources and materials that we do. Sometimes we take them for granted, but my challenge for you all is to not! PLLLLEASE read the talk by D. Todd Christofferson called The Blessing of Scripture from April 2010. It is so easy to access this and you can even listen to it as you get ready in the morning. 

People:

Eli- We stopped by not expecting to have a lesson because they had family over but they eventually all left. We started to talk and came to find out that he isn't very interested. He doesn't want to be "a Mormon" and doesn't understand why he needs to worship God to have happiness. It was really sad to see his lack of faith and especially the fact that he is struggling but tries to not show it. We will be meeting with him tonight.

Darcy! We are teaching a 12 year old girl who is in Burch Creek's area but they wanted Sisters instead of Elders. We 2 really great lessons with her but haven't invited her to baptism yet. She has lots of questions but hasn't come out with any yet. 

Logan- Still unable to meet with him. When we went to his apartment, his buddy answered the door with a beer in hand and said he was sick. Then he said, well actually he was my D.D. for last night, but then got in a fight and got sucker punched in the face and so I'm taking care of him. We left and held in our laughter till we were out of hearing. Gotta love mission stories :P 

Brother O'Dell- This is the man who just got married and we just started teaching! We have him set to be baptized April 26th! The lesson was just amazing. He is so sincere and ready. He misses the blessings of the priesthood and going to the temple. Although his baptism doesn't count for our numbers, I don't really care. He is a son of God and is coming back to the fold. I'm just happy I can be apart of it and to see their family so happy. :) it was a very sweet and spiritual lesson. 

Well I think that's all I'll share this week! I want you all to know that I know, this is Christ's true gospel. It has blessed me in so many ways and brought me so much peace and happiness. Do not wait to find out if it is true or to strengthen your testimony. DO IT NOW. Have the missionaries come to your home, feast upon the words of Christ, and do what you know is right. I promise you, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that as do, the Holy Ghost testify to you that it is true. 

Love you all. Thank you for all your love and support. 

Sister Gietz

5 Months Out!

HELLO!!! This week has been absolutely crazy and awesome. We did the most random things, laughed really hard, had some great lessons taught to us and taught some as well. There's seriously way too much that happened this week so you only get a little taste of this insane week.

We went on exchanges this week and Sis Allen got to be with my Grandma (Sis. Campbell who is Sis. Kuwahara's mom) and I went to Pleasant Valley with Sis Ingram. We had 4 lessons right after another and it was crazy! I learned a lot of new tricks and skills about teaching which will help me to spice up my lessons.

Saturday, we had a District Companion Study. It was on the Atonement and absolutely was one of the most spiritual experiences so far in the mission. We talked about our fav. scripture on the Atonement and then watched a Mormon Message called None Were With Him. It was pretty touching and a great reminder but then we did an activity. We went into a room, sat down, and looked up at the chalkboard. Written on the board were words such as: Pizza, Pens, Home, Friends, Family, Scriptures, Prayer, Priesthood, Prophets, Sacrament, Holy Ghost, and Jesus Christ. We were asked to imagine this was our life on the board and we had to go up, one at a time, and erase something from our life. The room was silent and the beginning of the activity was easy but when it came down to the last few words, it was rather difficult. We sat for a while looking up at the board as someone debated which to erase. When Jesus Christ was erased, my heart dropped. It was painful and to think without Him, we'd have nothing! After the activity, and elder said, "Do you really live your life this way? Do you spend your time thinking more about the things that aren't important as to the things that are?" It hit me hard that there are some things that I can be doing much better in my life and as a missionary. Let's just say... I cried pretty hard. Haha it was an amazing experience and I challenge you all to do it individually or with your family! 

After that, we went to a wedding at the Hill Air Force Base! Oh, I guess I never told you about that.. Well, they are kinda less active and the husband isn't a member anymore but wants to be! We decided to volunteer to help with the reception and made some posters and such for decorations. We also helped out at the reception which was really fun! Their bishop came and talked to us and told us that we need to re-baptize Brother O'dell! So that will probably be happening soon!

When the reception was done, we met up with our ZL's to get things situated... Note: This day was CRAZY. Well we finally ended up being able to go with their investigator to the General Women's Conference in Salt Lake!!!! We had such a great time even though we were late. She really enjoyed having us and invited us to her baptism this coming Saturday. Haha we are going to General Conference for the afternoon session with Bianca and then will race home to go to the baptism. We also have to sing now too! 

OKAY, story of the week. On Sunday, we went to Bianca's ward and saw that she wasn't there but that Xochilt's husband was. Sister Allen went to go talk to him while I talked with others. When she sat down next to me, she told me why they weren't there. Xochilt's little boy, Kye, was hit by a car and was in critical condition but being taken care of at home. We were shocked and our hearts ached for them. Later, we were given a pie and decided we would go over and give it to them. When we got there, another little family was there giving their love. Sis Allen explained to Bianca that we would put his name on the prayer roll at the temple and keep him in our prayers. Then, Xochilt asked if we would like to see him. Sister Allen and I looked at each other unsure, but said yes. We went upstairs and saw laying on the bed with a splint and all... their DOG!! Sister Allen and I looked at each other and so many things were said to each other telepathically. HAHAHA! When we left the house we about died laughing. We just took pie for a dog.... HILARIOUS. 

Well that's all that I will share for this week! Hope y'all are doing great and I love you SOOOOOO much! 

Love, Sister Gietz