Becoming

Calista Nicole Gordon (Nikki's Niece) was baptized on Saturday Feb 4 2012. This is what Nikki had to say about that. 

What a cool experience to be able to go to Calista's baptism! What a wonderful step she is taking in her life promising God that she is going to try her very hardest to do what Jesus would do. 8 years old is such a great age. It is an age where you have reached the age of accountability or the understanding between what is right and what is wrong. Every decision can be made with the realization that our choices always bring consequences. Some consequences are good and some are not. Every choice we make leads us to who we become and effects those around us. I don't think I understood to what a great depth we effect others until quite recently. Something that seems small and a "personal decision" often has long reaching effects on family friends and especially on our future. Choices are what help us grow and progress and BECOME. I like the quote I learned from Thayer Learning Center (a boot camp I used to work at in Missouri) "Character is won or lost when no one is looking." We become the choices we constantly make, especially those we make when we feel like nobody else will know. I often take inventory of myself to see what my character is.... Who am I when I am alone and making decisions? Who am I trying to become and how am I doing it? I think it was Elder Scott who said We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.(October 2010)  I just love that nobody is left to their circumstance but that we can overcome. We have the power to act we have the power to choose. There is a wonderful mormon message called Freedom to... 

http://mormon.org/choice/#making-hard-choices

  God's idea is the freedom to become. We are free to overcome our circumstance and to become more than what the world expects of us. With God all things are possible and there are no limits. How amazing to know that God wants us to be better and do greater things than even we can imagine. If we humbly submit ourselves to God's will we will see miracles. So I invite each of you this week to prayerfully consider what more God wants for your life. Who does He want you to become and what does He want you to do. I know without a shadow of a doubt that if you follow His will you will not be disappointed with the result. God is good and wonderful. I love you all dearly!

God be with you till we meet again.

Love,

  Sister Gordon

Training my baby

Sister Gordon is getting a new sister to train
. thus a baby 

My "baby" Sister Wankier

It is amazing to see the way we are prepared throughout our lives for the things of the future. Isn't it so cool to see that God really understands the bigger picture?  I'm no longer a Visitor Center Trainer and I will miss the responsibility a geat deal. However, I have been called as an Area Trainer and am so grateful for the opportunity. My companion's name is Sister Wankier and she is incredible and happy and has the sweetest laugh. She is from Brigham City and..... she is an AGGIE! What more could I ask for? Brown eyed girls together and with faith, fire, and fearlessness we are hoping to take this transfer by storm! She is aesome and has so much energy! I am way excited and she is just ready to be out in the field! I know how much this is inspired for my mission and for my life. When I looked at Sister Bechaver's picture I had an impression that we would be companions and we were and it was amazing and truly inspired. With Sister Wankier this is the first time I had a dream of who would be my companion. I can only imagine the miracles and friendship that will occur. God is good. He loves his children. Keep me in your prayers and know that you are in mine!

Love,

 Sister Gordon

Birthday #2

Obedience

Well family, I am doing soooooooo good! My birthday is tomorrow! Crazy! I can't believe that this is already number 2 on the mission! I still feel brand new! I remember this time last year Sister Clark and I were shopping for a birthday present. She ended up getting me a hedgehog and we named it Obedience. (of course after a Christlike attribute... what else would you name it?) Missionaries are so funny! I never realized what a sense of humor you could have using scriptural references until you get a ton of missionaries in the same place. Oh! What clever people I get to associate with. It just goes back to my thinking that God really does have a sense of humor and he really likes to laugh. :)

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.