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.