Hot Chocolate

 There was  an incredible eexperience here just the other night. I was taking hot chocolate to Brother Brewer. (He is an incredible man who always comes to Festival and helps with parking and welcoming our guests. He always wears a suit, a Christmas tie and a Santa hat with lights on it!) So I was taking hot chocolate to him and I walked past a couple of missionaries and a family. I smiled and greeted them and then at the same time we turned to do a double take. It was a family and a set of missionaries I had given a tour of the Gospel of Jesus Christ  about 2 months ago! I hugged the Mom and high fived with the children and shook hands with the Dad. I was so excited to see them and talk with them. Their countenances had changed. They were so full of happiness! I told them they all looked happier and they laughed. They are getting baptized! The whole family! It was just incredible how the Lord had given me what seemed like a non missionary job and turned taking hot chocolate into one of the greatest experiences I could have had. They told me that the tour of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was so pivotal for them and that they LOVE the temple. They can't wait to be sealed all together. The gospel is such a beautiful thing. I was so glad that the Lord had blessed me with the opportunity to see the fruits of my labor. The missionaries told me the family asks about me almost every time they meet with them. They want to come down after the holidays and have another tour. :) I just love it.

Christmas presents under the tree.

Notice the yellow package on the right.
Sister Gordon trying out her annual event
Seeing what it is like to be a present under the tree

Headset

Here I am with a headset!
 Never dreamed I would use one of those on my mission!
The blonde is my new companion.

Well here we are right before Christmas. Such a miraculous, fun and busy time. So much to do. This is such a busy time of the year for us. I love and miss you all so much. Take care and enjoy the holiday.

Relationships

As this season is upon us I encourage you all to make relationships that count 1) with God. Make sure to communicate with him and get to know him. 2) with Family. It would be a terribly lonely world if we had no relationship with family. I have realized how much my family means to me and how good they are to me. 3) with Fellow man. If you have a relationship that needs to be mended, take this opportunity to repair it. 4) With  Self. Are you kind to your self and the kind of friend to yourself that you are to others. I pray this holiday season will be fabulous.

Festival of Lights

Festival Lights is tonight! Over a million lights!!  So excited!!!

I love the fall!

I love the fall! It may not be as brilliant as usual... I'm not sure as I've never seen a fall out east before. However, it is beautiful and slowly the season is beginning to change. I am so impressed with the beauty of the Earth and the wonderful way that God shows his love for us by His creation of this World. The changing of leaves shows a passing of time.... Time is so precious. We only get wonderful moments that make up a lifetime. I have come to really see the importance of making each of those moments count.  We often get so caught up in the material things that don't really matter. Then, something happens, whether tragic or just a moment of beauty, and we take time to notice... We feel a sense of peace and calm and reality.








 What matters most is not the money you made or the powerful positions you have held... it is the people that you have loved. You can see the best memories are made by sharing love and service with people. Making others happy or noticing the happiness God is trying to give us... there is nothing better. 
My invitation to all of you is to notice the small stuff, to pay attention to the beauty, and to share it with someone else.

Love you all so so so much,
   God be with you till we meet again.
Love,
  Sister Gordon

Support and Encouragement

What a wonderful place to be! I love it here and I love the work that is going on. This weekend our mission is helping to support a local stake in a mini mission for the youth! The youth will be going out and helping the missionaries to contact new people, teach and everything! There are even going to be a group of young women at the Visitors' Center! It is going to be the neatest thing ever. Especially after hearing from Elder Bednar this last conference. INCREDIBLE!

 I just wanted to touch briefly on how important it is that we are kind to others. We have the ability to strengthen those around us and to lift them. It is easy and sometimes even popular to make fun of or hurt the people that we know and sometimes those we don't know. It seems to be funny to pick on someone or to play mean tricks. How sad to see that this is normal and seen as humorous. I myself have seen that "playing tricks" on someone to make others laugh is a sarcastic humor that almost always is a cause of frustration or sadness on the other side of that trick. We are all travelers in this journey of life. Our goal should not be to hinder the path of others by putting up obstacles or by tripping them up. Our goal should be to help make that pathway clearer. To provide support and encouragement. To lift those who are in need and especially to love those that fall behind.
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My invitation for each of you is to find ways that you can serve and love your fellowmen more often. I know that as you do there will be more peace in your daily lives and that you will see your relationships grow stronger and your friends to be more true.

I love you all with my whole heart,

God be with you till we meet again.

Lessons I Learned as a Boy

Tribute to White Oaks

I must pay tribute to the White Oak ward for the lessons that I learned there and for the people that I have met. What a wonderful place to have served! I am especially grateful for the teaching opportunities I was able to be a part of. Both young and old, member of the church or not. My time there was simply amazing and enhanced by all who I came into contact with. It was just a phenomenal experience and taught me so much about myself and about others.

The lessons the Lord has to teach us are often not recognized until looking back. I imagine myself my first transfer of the mission and realize how far I have come. I don't really feel that I've changed... I mean, I am still the same person; I'm energetic, I love people, I like new adventures... I just realize that I have greater depth. I guess that is what happens when you do something new that takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you discover what you would do in a new situation. You naturally will grow, especially when it deals with your spiritual nature.

We were on the metro the other day and I overheard a conversation where it sounded interesting and the group of people talked a lot. When they left I just felt such a sense of emptiness... I didn't know who they were. The things they talked about didn't help me to understand their experiences or anything really about them. I was just baffled at how that could be an exciting conversation, or how a friendship could be based off of such superficial things. I was so grateful for a greater understanding of my divine nature as a daughter of God. Knowing that changes everything. and truly understanding that helps me to be a better person. 

I am so excited for General Conference this weekend! There is nothing better than a worldwide meeting that can be watched by everyone at the same time where a prophet and apostles come together to speak to us. AMAZING! Their counsel is priceless and can help anyone of any age, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. What great love the Lord has for us to send us inspired leaders to guide us and to testify of Jesus Christ!

I'm a litte nervous as I take on new responsibilities this transfer. I will be asked to grow and stretch more than I think I even realize. I am memorizing D&C 121:34-46 to help myself remember what I am striving to do. (not that I have the priesthood because I don't) I am striving to lead the way that the Master would. Out of sincere love for those I lead, in an attitude of service, and with the intent to lift, inspire, and bless. It is a big call... but charity never faileth. As long as I'm trying to do what the Lord wants I know it will be alright... so, I'm going to pray. A LOT!

Keep the faith. God is there and He loves you. Do what is right and nothing will ever permanently go wrong. And remember your reaction to small things determines your health in the long run. So when something happens that frustrates you and you feel like you can't handle it just ask yourself, "is this going to give me high blood pressure 20 years from now? And if so is it really worth being mad about?"

Transfer! Splendid.

TRANSFERS! My new companion is Sister Lewis. She is from California and she is absolutely wonderful. I'm the Senior companion and I am in.... DC 2nd Singlles Ware. I  will miss White Oak but I am so excited! Also, I have been called as a Visitors' Center Trainer. I'm very excited about this and I hope that I live up to the Lord's expectation of me in this calling. I will be in charge of new sister training for all of the newer sisters at the Visitors' Center. (helping them to learn the resources and encouraging them and getting to know them.) I am so excited! I just love all of the Sisters so so so so so so much! They aregreat and I know I'm going to learn so much from them! SPLENDID!

Preparing For Storms In Our Lives

Many of the areas surrounding us were affected by the storm. I also heard that a few people died because they were out wandering in the storm. These people knew that the storm was coming... they had the information and the time to prepare but they didn't take it. They left the safety of their homes to wander out for what I'm sure they thought would be a fun and cool experience.

 

So it can be with ourselves. We know that we need to make preparations. This is true on a temporal level as has been taught by modern prophets. We need to prepare food storage and have money saved up so that when hard times come we are prepared and we have all that we need. This is also true on a spiritual level. We know the commandments God has given us. These are not cages or a list of do's and do not's. They are guideposts to keep us out of harms way and to give us direction to a happier and better life. How often do we ignore the warnings that a storm is coming and decide not to prepare for it. How often do we decide that we can read our scriptures later or that we are in too big of a rush to pray... so that when the temptations come we are not well enough equipped to be able to overcome them. How often do we decide that the experience of a hurricane might be fun or exciting? How often do we look at sin as an exciting or fun experience that we do not want to miss. Are we willing to risk our lives for such experiences? Are we willing to seek instant gratification and momentary happiness or fun at the sacrifice of lasting happiness? I think that it is very easy to look so closely at the now and what we want instead of focusing on the long term. The big picture is so much more important! When we lose sight of that it is easy to  walk in the storm but when we see the lasting effects of each choice that we make we will be determined to move forward with not what is most rewarding in the moment but what is actually better for us long term 

"nothing will ever permanently go wrong when you are doing what is right."

 

This is my  invitation for each of you. To look at the lasting effects of the decisions you make. To choose the better part. To do that which will have lasting happiness and not just a moment or two. Heed the counsel of the Lord and of the Prophets. I know that as you do this you will see the blessings that come and you will experience lasting joy.

 

God be with you till we meet again.

Love,

 Sister Gordon

Adventures in D.C.

Nikki is doing well in D.C. She has been through recording breaking heat, an earthquake, and now hurricane Irene. Lost power for a few hours, but anxious to get out and help with service projects to help others.

I hope all is well in the mountains of Utah and other places that you all may be. Washington D.C. is a beautiful and wonderful place. I think I've mostly gotten used to the humidity and I enjoy filtering my water so that it tastes more like home. :) Time seems to be moving so fast here and I am doing all that I can to slow it down. I have learned so much about enjoying the moment and focusing on what is happening now while also setting goals for the future.

That sounds so weird... it seems like you shouldn't be able to do that. The way I have been able to accomplish that is by setting daily goals that will help me to achieve my longer term goals. It is incredible because it helps me to focus on the needs of the day and the miracles of the day while still helping me to continue to meet the needs of the week and the month, etc. I don't know if that makes sense or if it is even enlightening for anybody else. The point I am making though is that it is important to have goals. Goals for our spirituality, for our careers, for our families, for our minds, and even for our physical bodies. In a talk given by Thomas S. Monson  he said
In Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice finds herself coming to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire Cat, of whom she asks, “Which path shall I take?”

The cat answers: “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t really matter which path you take!” ¹

Unlike Alice, each of you knows where you want to go. It does matter which way you go, for the path you follow in this life leads to the path you will follow in the next. 

However, it is so important to not lose sight of the beauty of the day that we are in. Each day is a gift given to us by God. Some days are harder than others some are busier and some are more of a celebration! Each day is something that we are given to experience. Let us experience them fully with every part of our soul and heart. Every experience is given to us to help us to learn and grow, to empathize with other, to help us to love more fully and to draw closer to God. When we understand that God is mindful of even the sparrow (there is a scripture that talks about a sparrow dropping please insert here.) we know that he is mindful of us. He has an individual plan for each of us. All of which work together for our experience and are for our good. No matter how righteous we are we will not be devoid of trying times in our life... that is not the plan. Some mistakenly think that if we can simply be righteous enough and do our part that we will never experience hard things. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was perfect. He did everything right, and it was He who suffered the most pain in this world. So much that he bled from every pore.  How then can we expect to avoid hard times in this life? We cannot, but we do have the promise that God is there, that He loves us, and that He will help us to have the strength to get through anything if we will keep our faith and strengthen it... especially in our difficult times.Jesus Christ does not merely lift us when we fall to put a band aid on.... If we allow Him to He will take us and clean our wounds, which may be painful at times, and He will stay with us and heal us. The prophet Malachi declared, “Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” (Mal. 4:2.)I love you all so much! I miss you all so much and I hope that all of you are doing well. Thank you for your letters, your love and your support. :) I don't know what I would do without it! I hope that you all can fully experience your day today and in the coming days and that as you set goals for each day and for your future that you will see an amazing growth in your life! And remember that it doesn't all come at once but little by little. (Line upon line precept upon precept.) I love you with all of my heart!

 

God be with you till we meet again.

Love,

 Sister Gordon

Keep running

Sometimes it seems like you are running and nothing is happening and you just see more and more that you still have to do! You know that if you stop you might not be able to start again so you keep running. You are getting so tired and you aren't sure if you can make it... and then something happens. You get your second wind, and not only are you running now but you also are enjoying it. The experience is amazing and you can finish the race strong and happy. But for awhile you just need to keep running.

God helps us magnify our talents

I think it is interesting how much  love has developed over time. There are a lot of things, like instantly loving people that I thought I was good at before but that have definitely developed while I have been out. I know that God gives us talents so that we can help to build his kingdom. It is incredible how he magnifies those talents and abilities as we serve the Lord. I have seen that in callings in the church and especially I have seen it on the mission. I love how the Lord blesses us as we do what we are asked. Prayer is also such a big part of developing those things that we are given. I have seen how much prayer has effected who I am and the things that I do. I have seen the Sisters develop their talents to such a degree on their missions. Some have increased their ability to draw, sing, play instruments, and many many more. It is just incredible because we have very little time to practice these things but each person seems to be able to increase. I know that this is a blessing from God. We have been set apart and as part of that we are able to increase our learning in ALL aspects! I am so happy for the abilities and talents that I personally have seen magnified while I have been on my mission and I am excited to continue that development.

And the winner is...........

Testimony

Just incredible how the Spirit of the Lord and the authority of God can make such a difference in the words we say. He takes men in their weakness and qualifies them to do great things. But without the Spirit of the Lord we cannot do it! By ourselves we are nothing, but with God we can accomplish anything He asks of us. 

I love the power of testimony and how we know that things are right. The best part is that it doesn't have to be eloquent or a memorized verse but it is what we know and how it has blessed our lives. The best thing about testimony is that when we share it our testimony grows and often it helps others to grow theirs. I encourage you to bear your testimony.   I know that as you do this it will touch someone's heart and you will be the answer to their prayers. Sister Liddiard used to say the best quote ever "Testimonies are like a toothbrush; everyone should have their own."

I am enjoying so much being here in the Washington D.C. North area! It is crazy to think that a year ago this time I was in Ecuador! How I miss Ecuador but love where I am in life. It is so interesting how the things happen in our lives. I love the orchestration and hand that God plays. I can see that event after event has helped to prepare me for things I am doing now. I can also see the things and events going on now and how they will prepare me for my future. I testify of this all of the time BUT I LOVE THIS CONCEPT! God is a loving Heavenly Father who knows us and who hears us and who cares about us. He knows what we will go through and what we will need. As long as we will turn to Him and rely on Him, He will give us the strength that we need and will help us to grow. We will become great and we will do great things. We will look back and see that everything has worked together for our good and has given us the experience that we need. (Mosiah 2:41)  And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. I know that when we follow the commandments of God we will find an unshakeable inner peace that allows us to be happy even in the hardest times of our life.

 

The gospel is incredible. It blesses individuals and families. It helps us at any age and in any situation and it is meant to help us to have a personal relationship with God and with Jesus Christ. I know that it is true because I have seen it help me and I have seen its powerful influence in the lives of others. There is nothing better than to see the peace and blessings the gospel brings.

 

God be with you till we meet again,

love,

Sister Gordon

I LOVE YOU ALL.

I love you all so much! I really know that the Book of Mormon is true. I have seen the power of it help people to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ. As they apply it to their lives it improves the quality of their existence and gives them hope for the future. This is true for everyone. For we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father. He has promised that as we read it and follow what is taught we will have a stronger desire to be closer to him, to be closer to our families, closer to our friends, and kinder to all that we come into contact with. When we truly understand that we are children of God and all that means.... We will realize that we have divine nature. That we have the ability to bless the lives of others. That we can be eternally happy and most importantly... That we can dwell with God, Jesus Christ, and those that we love. What more could a loving Heavenly Father desire for us?

Sister Ellsworth and Sister Gordon at Trader Joes

New companion

JULY 19, 2011 Well! A new transfer! Sister Humbert is the sweetest and most sincere person I think I have ever met. She is so patient and loving. She has a stalwart testimony of the gospel that cannot be moved! She teaches simply and with love. She is just incredible! I have really enjoyed the beginning of this transfer with her.

Sequel from Book of Mormon Story

 

So, a fun story! I was at the Visitors' Center this week and an Elder came up to me and asked, can you teach about the restoration? I responded, "Sure, when?" "In about 30 seconds? It is kind of an unexpected appointment." I guess someone they have been teaching and a friend of hers came into the Visitors' Center and just happened to run into the Elders! MIRACLE! So I began a tour for the Elders and two women about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During the tour I felt prompted that the friend of this woman would be very touched by the story of the primary children saving their money to buy a Book of Mormon to send to me on my mission to give to someone very special. I showed them a short movie clip about the 1st Vision. While they watched i rushed down to my cubby and retrieved the Book of Mormon from the Primary. After the clip I talked with the group about the Book of Mormon and what it means... That there is another testament of Jesus Christ, That He is our Savior and Redeemer, that God calls prophets today, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same exact church that Jesus Christ established while He was on this earth. That through a prophet the Gospel of Jesus Christ is restored in its fulness! I then related the story of the Primary Children. I told this woman, "I felt like you were a special person that I should give this Book of Mormon to. I'd like to invite you to read it and to pray about it, to find out for yourself if this is really true." This woman accepted the invitation to do that and also asked the Elders if she could meet with them as well. It was such a beautiful and wonderful miracle!

Book of Mormon from Primary

I got a package today from the Mendon 4th ward junior primary and just wanted to say thanks to them so very much for their thoughtfulness and love! Those are some very dedicated children to bring their scriptures to church every week. I know that the Scriptures are true. I know they have answers for our lives and that they help us to feel the spirit of God when we read them.

They asked if I could please send them a missionary experience... so here we go.

I wanted this experience to talk about how the Book of Mormon changes lives. It is the Word of God and it helps us to know what Heavenly Father wants for each of us. I know that reading it helps us to make changes in our lives and to have the strength to do what is right. I have seen the power of the Book of Mormon in several people's lives, but the one story I wanted to share most is about a man. He was a lonely fellow  that didn't have very much contact with the rest of the world. He would go to the grocery store and sometimes walk outside but he didn't have much else going on. He hadn't been to church for a long time. Well, one day my companion and I stopped by this man's house. He talked about how he had a lot of depression. We talked with him and asked if we could come and visit with him and talk about the Book of Mormon and about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We set up an appointment to go and talk with him the following week. He told us that in 2 or 3 months he would come to our church. We left him the Book of Mormon and asked for him to please read a few assigned chapters. The next week we came back and we asked if he had any questions. He did and we discussed them with him answering many of his questions with the Book of Mormon. We also talked with him about how Joseph Smith was called as a prophet to restore the exact same church that Jesus Christ had on this earth. That Heavenly Father loves us so much that we have a living prophet today. We explained that Heavenly Father loves him and answers prayers and can help him through the hard times that he is going through in life. Before we left he told us that in 2 or 3 weeks he would come to our church. The following week we came to visit him and we talked about the Plan of Salvation. We talked about how we lived with God before coming to this earth, that while we are here we are meant to have faith and follow his gospel so that we can return to live with Him again. We talked about how we can continue to progress and live with our families forever. He said, "ok, so next week when I come to church can I get a ride?" He has been coming to church! He reads the Book of Mormon every day and he is happier. This week he was able to finally feel comfortable saying a prayer in front of us. He is just on the beginning of his journey but you can really see a difference. He can feel God's love for him and that is true joy. Thank you all for your love of the Book of Mormon. It is truly another testament of Jesus Christ and it helps us to feel God's love for us. Read it every day even if you can only read a little bit. I promise that as you do this you will have more peace and happiness in your life and that you will see many blessings come from it.  The study of the Book of Mormon with change behavior quicker than the study of behavior will change behavior." Elder Boyd K. Packer 

Ok, please share that with the Junior Primary.

 

Peace and Joy

And now for a short sermon. Romans 3:23 " For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  My message for each of you today is that we are human. We make mistakes... if we weren't going to make mistakes there would be no need for a Savior. But we do and so there is.  I know that we cannot be perfect all at once but that it takes steps little by little.  (Moroni 10:32) Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. I know that it takes time and effort to make the corrections necessary or to keep going... but it is unbelievably worth it. If we could understand the blessings that come with living the gospel and keeping the commandments... We would never stray from making those right choices. So, that is my invitation for you this week. To understand better the blessings that come by keeping the commandments that God has given. I promise you that as you live the teachings of Christ you will become perfected and your life will have more peace and joy. I have seen it in my own life and I have seen it in so many others.

I love you all and just know that I want you to be happy. :)

Nationals game and another Great companion

Ok family and friends! What a great day! All of the missionaries went to the Washington Nationals game! Woot! We played against the Seattle Mariners.... end result Nationals won 1 to 0! Woot Woot! So today is a little strange... We get the evening hours to finish up our preparation day things. Which is great because I am tired and it is hot. :) So we are going to have a little roommate party with the Hermanas (Silva and Marcy). It was super weird to hear music and be at a baseball game but we made sure to have a lot of fun! I am really enjoying my time here and learning so much about relying on the Lord through scripture study, prayer, and of course the Spirit! I hope you all are doing well and having a good time. Gosh I miss you all a lot but I keep myself busy so that I don't think on it too much. :) I would love to hear some good stories about people's lives and what is going on! I have gotten several wedding announcements and I am expecting a few more. I hear news about people occasionally and it makes me super happy to see people progressing with school, careers, marriages, etc. Keep up the good work y'all. (I can say that now because my companion is from Texas.)

Speaking of my companion I am going to miss her tons! This is her last transfer in the mission and wow, this transfer has gone by fast. We have one more p-day together (next wednesday) which will include going to the temple! I am so excited to have an extra temple trip this transfer. (They call it the death trip since Sister Ellsworth is "dying" in the mission.) She has been a truly great companion and friend. I love her dearly and she will be greatly missed.

Me and Sister Ellsworth

So today is lessons learned from Sister Ellsworth. Sister Ellsworth loves people. She is so good at unconditional love for people that I am just astounded... she shows true charity in all of her missionary work. She loves all of her companions, including me, and I have never heard her say a negative word about any of them. I love the focus that she puts on the good in people and the trust that she gives to them. She has the faith that as missionaries, we can do hard things and be successful. The trust that she has for the Lord, in the Spirit, and in the people around her has been an inspiration to me and has made me a better person as well as a better missionary. She has so much love for the mission, the people, and for the Visitors' Center. I watched her work dilligently day after day fulfilling the needs of the Visitors' Center and leaving it better than she found it. Every aspect of her mission seems to be the most important part for her and she is able to put her whole heart and soul into everything she does. She also manages to make everything beautiful along the way. It isn't just done right but it is done right with creativity! I love her and her Christlike example.

Our Pain

Our relief society president told a saying from the Phillipines that says "Pain of the pinky is felt by the whole body." President James E. Faust said  "All of experience those wrenching, defining, difficult decision that mve us to a higher level of spirituality... they are the Gethsemanes of our lives that bring with them great pain and anguish..." (October 2000)  At first I thought, how sad that each of us must experience sorrow and pain. Then I looked back on my own life and asked myself when I had grown the most? The real growing experiences of my life have generally come when I or someone I love has gone through something difficult and through those experience have become the people we are today. I have tried to surround myself with great people, and I know for a fact that we would not be those same great  people if we hadn't met obstacles in our lives and been able to overcome them.   My Savior suffered more than any of us will suffer and as Jeffrey R. Holland said "How can we expect to become like Jesus Christ if we never experience a thimbleful of Gethsemane."

All things Denote there is a God

Well! It is so wonderful to be in the sunshine of the DC area! Oh how beautiful the spring and summer are here. I just love the nature and the beautiful trees! I have never seen anything quite like this place... it seems that something is always in bloom here and the colors just let me know how much our creator cares about each of us so much that He would beautify this great earth “All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:44)

Sister Gordon and Sister Ellsworth "hanging out"

Cherry Blossoms

The work here as always is work and it is wonderful! I love the good weather because it seems to make everyone happier and it brings more people to the great outdoors. Summer is such a friendly time with neighborhood barbeques and the great service opportunities that come with yard work. With all the gardening and landscaping I've been able to help with I feel like one day I will be a master gardener and yard keeper! Oh! And a little closer to home... Dad you will be so proud! Our roommates had a plugged bathtub and of course they were trying to clean it out by themselves with a hanger. :) Sister Marcy couldn't get the hanger down the drain and I asked if I could look at it. So, I took off the cleanout cover and removed a LOT of hair. (I'll send you pictures!) So much personal satisfaction that I AM THE ROTO-ROOTER MAN'S DAUGHTER! :)

D C Georgetown cupcakes

Cupcakes.....Thanks to a generous donation from my sister
Melissa, We were able to enjoy a new delicacy.

Sister Ellsworth and I

 

Does it get any better?

Testimony

  We should take every opportunity to share this great gospel! It is important to share the great blessings we have received from God! So often people are afraid that when they say they are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that they will be rejected. Be proud of the wonderful knowledge that we have! God has restored a perfect church to this earth with a living prophet directed by Jesus Christ himself! And although, as a people we are imperfect and we make mistakes... We have the same exact church as Jesus Christ established when he walked the earth, complete with the restoration of the Priesthood authority --- the power to act in God's name to perform sacred ordinance. Who wouldn't want the opportunity to find out for themselves if these things are not true. Who better to share with them than their own friends?

 

Also, I think that it is extremely important to share with those who already know. I have been strengthened so often by the testimony of a friend. I know that as we bear our testimony with our friends both members of our church and those who are not that it strengthens our testimonies and increases our desire to do that which is right. Maybe all of our friends will reject the message... but should we deny them the opportunity? If we love them we will not deny them such a wonderful thing.

Another friend at the Visitor's Center

Agh, great night. I just got a call from Sister Tasha Parker. She and her family visited the D.C. V.C. and had a nice time with Sister Gordon. She bore testimony to them and also to their children. Sister Parker said she was helpful with the children and they had a very beautiful night. Said the time spent, was peaceful and she enjoyed Sister Gordons testimony. I love and miss that girl. She is loving it and working very hard.

Peace and a Sense of Wholeness

 

So good to talk to you the other day. Did I tell you that you're great? Well, you are! It was great to talk to you. Sorry not homesick.... try again at Christmas) It was very uplifting. It was so good to hear everyone's voice. ! Tell everyone that I love and miss them.

 

I have seen so many miracles on my mission and seen people find peace and a sense of wholeness. The gospel is supposed to do that. When understood and lived you have peace even through the hard stuff. A lot of people focus on guilt to try and make changes in their own lives or others... but not Heavenly Father. He loves us so much and wants us to make good choices for ourselves. That is why He gives us commandments.. He knows they make us happier. That is why He sent His Son to die for us... because He knew we would make mistakes and He provided a way for us to fix them. The greatest motivation is Love and I know that God loves each and every one of you down to the very smallest details of your lives. He wants us to make the choices that we can live with Him again... But He loves us so much that He even lets us choose not to do that but to choose for ourselves what we want. I know that making good choices helps us to be happy. It helps us to be free... it prevents a lot of pain and fear but it also brings so many blessings. I know that the times I have been happiest in my life is when I am doing what I know my Heavenly Father would want me to do. When I am praying and letting Him play an active role in my life. So that is my invitation for everyone. To allow God to really play a part in your life, to increase your spirituality that you may know what He wants for you. I promise that as you allow Him he will make your life so much better than even you can have imagined... and the peace and happiness you will feel will be immeasurable. (2 Nephi 26:24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

 

Mom is failing, or just behind?

Sorry to everyone, it looks like I am a bit behind on Sister Gordons letters and not doing too good at this blog lately. I will post some short blogs  each day this week and hopefully catch up. I am hoping to get some pics that I can post also. I will do better and get this caught up. Thanks so much for your support and love for Nikki. love you all momma glo

Ahhh, about "My Mission"

 

So my mission itself is so neat! I love it because we have the best of all worlds! We have people from every culture and every nation and every ecenomic status. The Sisters are missionaries in the Visitors' Center as well as in a proselyting area. Although, that means we have less time in our areas than any of the Elders we see so many miracles! We work hard and we work smart and we love the people!

Some key points are:

  The Visitors' Center is like a big box of miracles and the Spirit is so strong there you can't help but feel of God's love and desire a closer relationship with Him.

  The Visitors' Center is a lot more work than most people think and has helped me to grow and attain skills that I could have nowhere else.

  My proselyting area is also amazing and I love it... It changes from time to time and that just means more people for me to love.

   The way they work together is that several days a week (3 - 6) I go to the Visitors Center for a 6 hour shift and do missionary work either in the morning or evening. The rest of my time is spent doing missionary work in my area. :) Together it is the most amazing experience I have ever had.

   I love my mission dearly and I know it is what is right for me. :)

 

God's Truths: Even a Child Can Understand

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

Easter!

 

Easter was this last week and it was so beautiful in every aspect of the day! The weather was gorgeous and all of the trees and flowers and everything are in bloom. (There are so many flower trees here!) It looks like a magical forest! It was just shouting out that Spring really brings in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It symbolizes coming forth from the grave and that He overcame death that all of us may do the same! How central Jesus Christ is to our Heavenly Father's plan for each of us. This gospel is the cure for all of the ills of this life and will set everything right in the end... all of our losses will be made up if we are faithful.

We had Stake Conference and it was AMAZING! President Tingey, President Matsumori, and Sister Matsumori all addressed the congregation and it was powerful! Of course most of the talks focused on the Atoning sacrifice of our Savior and Redeemer. They all brought a strong spirit and my soul was touched. It is amazing that spirit can speak to spirit and how the Holy Ghost can testify to each of us individually. God knows each of us and how to speak to us. He lets me know often that He is there.

Charity

So, White Oak is an amazing and different area. My district is much smaller. 2 elders, 2 Sisters and 1 Zone leader to sit in so its not a double date. Ha ha! I have liked the diversity that I find here in both nationality and economic status. It is interesting to see that often those who are the kindest and willing to give of there time and substance are actually those who have less to give.

This is my challenge this week to each of us.... to give a little more of ourselves. I know it takes a humble person to give of what they have. It is such a Christian act to give without expecting a return. No man could give back to our Savior Jesus Christ what He has given to us. He is the most understanding and loving man who ever walked the earth. He suffered for each pain and sorrow and sin we would ever feel or know. He did it because He loves us. With the most perfect and understanding love that each of us will ever experience. What we search for is CHARITY --- The love of Christ and all mankind.  13And now abideth  faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

There is this beautiful exhibit that has come to our Visitors' Center that is called Love Thy Neighbor. It is all about the Church's humanitarian efforts. What a wonderful organization that we have. A place where the tithes and offerings that are given do not go to our clergy but for the greater benefit of the people. To build places that all may gather to worship, to build homes, to feed the hungry, to help give clean water to those in need, to administer relief to those who have had their homes destroyed by natural disasters. I was showing a cute family the exhibit and they talked about how for their family home evening they put together hygiene kits for those who are in Japan. What a great way to spend a Monday night... in service to those who have less than we do. In what ways can you help? 

Last August, when asked what his ideal birthday gift would be, President Thomas S. Monson encouraged us to “find someone who is having a hard time, … and do something for them.”   I know that it is by the small acts that we do that truly show our love for those around us, our family, friends, neighbors, and those that we may never meet but can have an effect by the things we choose to do. The simple things show our Savior and our Heavenly Father that we love the and because we love them that we are trying to serve our brothers and sisters all around us. What wonderful opportunities we each have to show that love.  Alma 37:6  by small and simple things are great things brought to pass."

Please know that I love each and everyone of you and that I hope you are doing well!

 God be with you till we meet again!

Sister Nicole Gordon

TRANSFER DAY!

( Wednesday April 13, 2011)
Today is transfer day here in the Washington D.C. North Mission. It is great to see so many missionaries gathered together and to hear how their transfer was and where they are going. It is so wonderful to see how much love can exist in our Visitors' Center. There are hugs all around and people giving each other journal pages and taking pictures. A few tears are shed for those who will be leaving to go home but they are sent with well wishes for what life will bring to them. Each transfer gets a little bit harder for me because I see people who I have come to know, respect and love leave me... and I hate being left behind. I learn so much from each of the sisters as I spend time with them and I really will miss them. That is one of the great opportunities we have at the Visitors' Center is to get to know all of the sisters not just our roommates and companions. We got 3 new sisters!  Two Spanish speaking and one English speaking. I am so excited to become friends with each of them! One of the new Spanish sisters will be my roommate in White Oak! Which is my new area. TRANSFER! So I will be in White Oak with Sister Ellsworth! She is great and we are already friends. She is a VC trainer and so we will be at the VC a lot but it will help me to hone my VC missionary skills. I haven't seen our apartment yet but I am happy because it is a newer apartment and I know that it is cockroach free.... the old one wasn't which is why we have a new one. :) I miss all of you a bunch and I hope that you are all doing well. I can't wait to show you pictures. (sending home soon)

Sister Clark and Sister Gordon
We are now serving in Kensington, minus the snow.

This week was a stretching week. A lot of changes happened and as humans we resist change, but with God all things are possible. It is hard to have to keep going sometimes in life when you think that everything should stop. However, the world doesn't stop turning. It is okay to take the time to slow down. Elder Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk about that (October 2010  "Of things that Matter") Sometimes when we meet turbulence it is a good idea to slow down and ride out the hard times. Right now I wish  that I could be at home to hug everyone and to give comfort. However, I've prayed a lot to my Heavenly Father and I know that he is taking care of all of those that I love so much at home. I am doing good and my testimony has really been strengthened that we do have a God that loves us and that has created a way for us to see our loved ones again. I love getting letters and having the support that I do at home. You are all so wonderful! Overall I am cheerful and trying to work as hard as I can. And when I need someone to lean on I have God, Jesus, and my companion. I am learning a lot every day and I have no regrets coming on my mission. I'm living every day to have no regrets and that is a good way to live.

Sister Henry

Sister Henry was my second companion while I was serving in Gaithersburg. She is from Lyon, France. I loved serving with her, she is amazing. I was transferred last week to a new area, but with my trainer Sister Clark who is also amazing and I love her a lot also. I love my companions but that is really no surprise to me as I was promised in my setting apart that I would get along with all of my companions. I have learned how to compromise and I have learned how to read a map. Although, some maps are easier than others. I love my first area, Quince Orchard West, everything about it. Even knocking on doors of people I don't know. I love to guess people's life stories and why they do or don't listen. 

for my friend Kim

Kim, Nikki, Emily

The sky is gray and cloudy

It begins to rain

I wish the falling drops

Could wash away the pain

A voice it rumbles softly

Words fall upon my ear

I'm sorry , she has passed away

She is no longer here

My heart is broken open

And I begin to shake

I look up at the darkened sky

God, she is too young to take

I fall upon my knees

The drops fall faster now

The cold wind swirls around me

My head I slowly bow

My Heavenly Father help me

This is too much to bear

Please let me know

That you are really there

The wind slowly gets calmer

The drops fewer on my face

The thunder softly disappears

I feel a warm embrace

And then a sweet voice whispers

This is what's meant to be

For though you may not understand

The Lord has need of me

I will send you comfort

I know that you will grieve

Lean on our older brother, Christ

He's there, He will not leave

Let Him help you through this

Give all your grief to HIm

You see the great Atonement

Is more than just for sin

It is also for our sorrow

Our tears, our pain, our ache

Even more than that it is

The bands of death to break

So my dear friend I hug you

Before I go on my way

I have a great work I must do

I'll see you again one day

My friend please take great comfort

That I am really free

The pain I have been experiencing

Is taken now from me

I know that you will miss me

I'm going to miss you too

Just know from God, Jesus, and myself

We all truly love you.