Blessed by Elder David S. Baxter

Hey Everyone!

Alright sooo excited about Jenne' having her baby, Covey! Wow those photos were gorgeous! Usually newborns look all blotchy and squished. haha. His so tiny. I love it.

So I decided to go tracting with one of the new Sisters this week. We knocked on this door, and this man, covered in tattoos answers and he says,

No way is there a God. He would never let all this crap happen." blah blah blah. So I was able to get him to talk a little more and open up about how he has gone to churches and they don't treat him well. We get to talking a lot more and he calls his wife over. She tells us that she was baptized when she was 14 years old.
The man says he doesn't understand why bad things happen to good people and why God would let murders happen. I instantly thought of Alma 24. I asked if I could share a message from The Book of Mormon that would answer his questions. They said yes. They are such a sweet couple that come from a rough area in Aurora, CO. We set up another time to come back. :)

We had a zone conference and Elder David S. Baxter, a General Authority. It was amazing! He talked a lot about loving the people and letting them know that through your prayers. The best part of the whole thing, was at the end he asked, Sister Gage and I, and 4 other elders, the zone leaders, to go into this smaller room for a council. Super pumped! We get in their and we talk about the things that stuck out to us, and at the end we all knelt down together ( I was kneeling literally right next to him!) and he offered a prayer, but in the prayer he started blessing us. He included things like, we would have more joy, we would have more confidence in ourselves and in the work, that we would recognize that we are in this leadership position for a reason, that we would have peace and comfort, that we would be great wives and mothers, and so much more. It was so powerful. I was in tears. When he shook my hand, he said, "You are good. Thank you." I'll never forget it.

On Friday, we went to do service at Dinosaur Ridge. We painted a metal railing. It went well except at the end. We were trying to clean the brushes, but they had NOTHING the clean them with except cold water. haha I was trying to scrap it off, so than I got green paint all over my hands! I looked like I had dinosaur hands. The paint was so sticky! Sister Gage had to drive us home. I had to use nail polish remover to get the paint kind of off. The bathroom smelled so bad! haha. Luckily, we just had the trunk of treat party on Friday night.

We are now teaching this man who is 28, has an alcohol addiction, and just got a dui. His family is from Utah and have probably been praying for him for years. We went to teach him, but he was drunk. He doesn't look or act like a 28 year old. He looks like he is literally 14. Sister Gage and I are very blunt with him. I think everyone in his life has tip toed around him and beat around the bush. My favorite line Sister Gage said to him was, "In order for us to actually have you, we have to see you twice a week, and you have to do everything we say." haha I was dying inside. haha. She's a hoot. I love it. He came to church.

Sunday was so wonderful. Tom received the Holy Ghost. Tom is a different man! He is so happy. I love it. earilier, on Tuesday when we were on exchanges, I felt like we needed to stop by and see Tom. We just stopped by and said hello. He told us he needed to see us because he felt like we were going to drop him since he got baptized. So grateful to be led by Heavenly Father.

We had a lot of less actives at church. It was so wonderful! Sister Jo Hatch was at church. She came back to Colorado to tour her mission. It was so weird to see her again. She is sad she isn't still a missionary.

Well, I love you all so much. I see miracles everyday. Heavenly Father is taking good care of us. Thanks for all your love and support!

Love,

Sister Gampe

Tom Got Baptized!

Hey Everyone!

We had a great week. Stressful, but great at the end!

One thing I wanted to mention from last week that I forgot was we had a horrible wind storm! I mean super bad! 70 mph. So I hear.... hahah It woke Sister Gage and I and we couldn't sleep. It sounded like the trees would crash through our window. So finally after 30 minutes of tossing and turning,

I whisper, "Sister Gage...are you awake?"
"YES! GET OVER HERE SO THE TREES DONT KILL YOU!!!!"-Gage

My bed is in front of the window. So I jumped in her bed and Sister Gage being from North Carolina with a bunch of hurricanes wanted us to go down stairs. So after 30 minutes of her begging, I gather my stuff. We cram ourselves inbetween a washer/dryer and a wall. It was tighter than a twin size bed. It was still sooo loud. So after 2 hours down there, we go back upstairs. We were exhausted! hahaha but it was hilarous. I was scared the Baums would come down to us being so whimpey.

I was on exchange and there was this HUGE MASTIFF! This dog was huge. I wanted a picture with him. I wanted to make him look extra huge so I went to sit next to him  while he stood and he instantly started humping me! It was awful! I was trying so hard to get him off! Sister Gregerson was dying laughing and didn't save me! But continued to take photos! :( His name is Eli

Tom Got Baptized! It was so wonderful! The spirit was so strong. We went on a Temple Tour the day before and that gave him so much strength and courage. The poor thing was shaking because he was so nervous, but he said that he feels so great! I'm so happy for him!

I'm so excited to have another new nephew Covey!! I can't wait for pictures!!!!!

I love you!

-Sister Gampe

Miracles are coming our way

Hey Everyone!

Alrighty where to begin!? 

Guess what! The Sister Missionaries that came in last transfer knew me as "Sister Gampe, the famous missionary blogger" WHAT THE!? hahahaha the one sister told me that when they saw me leading the music at transfer meeting when they first got to them mission they were like OH MY GOSH! THATS SISTER GAMPE! like I was famous or something. Well maybe I'm just known by the Sisters that are coming to this mission because I'm probably the first thing that comes up when they google it. 

The exchanges went well, but I missed me some "Gage" time. We had 3 exchanges this week. 

We were able to help Tom finally get rid of all concerns that were stopping him from getting baptized. I asked him if he knew the Church was true. He said yes. The member we brought asked if he wanted to get baptized he said yes. haha So then the member went off and explained how his concerns were all "what ifs" She slapped them right out of him haha. He let me take all his coffee and tea, so I bought him herbal tea. So then the next time we saw him, 2 days later we asked him when he would be ready. He said he prayed and watched conference and kept hearing a voice saying, "What are you waiting for". I almost jumped out of my seat! So excited! He said as soon as possible. So we set him on date to be baptized October 20th. So we had to really get cracking for his baptism. So we set up a interview with our Bishop and President Murdock for this past Sunday and he passed! He is worthy to be baptized. We set up a Temple Tour for Tom on Saturday so he can be spiritually uplifted before. His Baptism will be on Sunday the 20th at 4:00. Keep him in your prayers. He knows it's true but he is still really nervous!

Before Tom's interview we went to our stake building and got to go to a Fireside by Matthew Holland. Who is the son of Jeffrey R. Holland! What an experience. He was amazing. He spoke on gaining a testimony and strengthening your testimony. I wish Tom could have made it, but he wasn't feeling very well. I loved how much he stressed that everyone starts their learning of the gospel with doubt. But we need to focus on the faith that we have. 

Well I love you all so much! Remember that!

Sister Gampe

Tender Mercies

Hey Everyone!

Okay what a wonderful week! I noticed that I had so many tender mercies this week.

We were able to drive up to Glenwood Springs for Mission Leader Counsil. That was alot of fun. I got to drive a BRAND SPANKING NEW CHEVY CRUZ. That was a beautiful baby and I wish I didn't have to hand over the keys. But Sister Gage and I enjoyed the drive so much. There were gorgeous Aspen trees everywhere! They were bright gold. I loved it. The way home was alot different. We were crammed in a mormon van full of elders. It stunk like feet and was really loud haha. It was funny though. We told funny stories the whole time. I made Sister Gage sit next to the elder and I got the window. She said he was sweating on his leg hahahaha.

We were on our way to teach Dan and I see this HUGE bright shooting star. It went so far that I had time to hit Sister Gage and yell at her to look. She got to watch it! It was amazing!!!! I'll never forget that.

We had conference this week! I loved every single talk. I think my personal favorite was Uchtdorf's because it connected so well with every single person we teach. Less active and investigators. I loved Holland's talk as well. It's amazing how many people we see everyday that are struggling emotionally. The talk caught me off guard, but It was very needed. I was so excited to have 2 of my converts go to Salt Lake City to watch conference at the conference center. Gary and Sonya. That is just so neat! I'm so proud of them. They are both so amazing.

This week we didn't have as much time to go out and find and teach, but we really are focusing on getting new investigators. We are trying to talk to every single person we see no matter where they are. Sometimes when we have to chase them, we get some extra laughs.

Well everyone I love you so much! Study those talks and apply them to you. Create goals on how you will improve yourself everyday.

-Sister Gampe

ps I love how I am obviously yelling at elders. The next photo displays why I have to yell at them. haha

"Maybe Pre-Earth Life or Something"

Hello Everyone!

Okay starting on Tuesday. We had transfers on Tuesday. What a fun meeting we have. Not all missions do this, but everyone on the Metro side is able to go to the mission office to greet the new missions. We have a big screen with all the companionships and they announce them. I was so happy when we found out that Sister Gage and I would stay together. She's amazing. So during the meeting they have the missionaries that are going home bear their testimonies. The one elder's testimony was so awful President Murdock stopped them and talked to him on the stand for 30 seconds. I was praying he would. The elder just went on and on about how disobedient he was!? We have brand new elders and sisters in the room. It was ridiculous. He even continued after President stopped him. Crazy. To make the matter worst. That same elder came up to me and told me that the training Sister Hatch and I did really touched him and that he felt a strong connection with me. Then he goes, "Maybe Pre-Earth Life or something". oh GAG! he asked me to write in his  "bye-bye book". I accidentally spelled his last name wrong...oops. I signed it. Sister Gampe. So hopefully he doesn't find out my first name. Such a wierd experience. Sister Gage was laughing and laughing when we left. Of course she didn't save me in the situation. jerk. hahaha 

We got another 2 new areas with sisters on the metro side. So we have to go on more exchanges. We are going to try to go 3 times a week. 

But here is something really cool from the transfer meeting. One of the brand new missionaries that came in, ran up to me and told me she followed my blog! haha She said she was so excited to meet me :)

Guess what! the one companionship that I saw 2 weeks ago, that was only averaging 5-8 lessons a week. Well the companionship was changed. The New missionary that had only been there for 6 weeks that I was with is now training even though she didn't have a good example, and she got 39 lessons this past week!!!!!! Isn't that amazing! I was so proud of her. I referred to president that I felt like she could do it because she's a hard worker. What a blessing. 

The older day Sister Gage and I got "smudged" it's a native american thing. It's with Cedar, Sweet Grass, and Sage smoke. William (the half naked biker santa claus) smudged us using an eagle feather...I'm happy to say that I've officially been smudged. He asked if I felt clean. I told him I kinda felt smokey and that he should take the sacrament. haha. I love that man. 

So on Thursday Sister Gage had a sad moment. She recognized that her time on the mission is ticking away. She was so sad. She also feels like she gets lost in the ward and isn't accomplishing something in this area. I could really relate to her because I felt the same way when I got here. Another thing I notice with missionaries that are on their last transfer is they are so exhausted. They have so much desire to have the fire they started their mission with, especially since they are more experienced and know how to do the work, but their bodies literally do not let them do it has hard. I have noticed since she is my 3rd companion I am sending home because literally they are physically exhausted. Sister Gage noticed that with herself and it really upset her. She has no desire to go home and it scares her. So we took the time to talk and let it all out. I bought her some Ben and Jerrys ice cream. 

The Relief Society Broadcast was amazing! We had an investigator go. Guess how old she is!!!! 93 years old! Her name is Evelyn and she just melts my heart. She said she loved the President of the church. Sister Gage goes, "Yep. He's the Prophet." haha 

We helped Phaydra move her apartment last night in storage. It was exhausting. Luckily Nathan Woolf and Sonya came and helped us. 

I also found out real fast that the Eagles lost to the Broncos. Come on Philly, Your making me look bad. 

Here's a hint of the love Sister Gage and I have for one another. We decided to try to study on our beds this morning to see if the distance would help us not be as distracted by one another. We were doing pretty good, and then almost lost it, but Sister Gage saved us by putting her body pillow in front of her face/body so I couldn't see her and so she couldn't see me. So then 5 minutes to go, I look up and say, "Can you take that off? I miss you". We lost it.

Well my sweet family and friends. I hope you know how much I love you!

Something that really stuck out to me was in Alma 24:27. Not one of the people who were slain were wicked. This to me answers the big question of, "Why do bad things happen to good people". I love Uchtdorf's message "Saint's for All Seasons"

I love you all so much!

-Sister Gampe