Nobody Takes Me Away From Sister Gage!

 

 Sister Gage looks like an old man in this photo.

 I look like Michael Jackson in this photo.

 We went to knock on a door and Sister Gage turns to me and says, "Sister Gampe...I think there's a big dog behind me!" I turn around and that dog wouldnt leave and was just staring at us! hahahaha We were dying laughing. The people never came to the door! Darn!

Hey Everyone!

Sister Gage and I get to stay together. I'm so happy. When Sister Murdock told us we started cheering. So I'll be with her another 6 weeks, but then she will be finishing her mission. I'll be sad about that, but I know we will be lifetime friends. I will probably be in Lakewood for at least 3 more months. I could be longer. I have no clue how long I will be a Sister Leader Trainer.

We have a hard transfer. We lost 3 sisters. :/ But it's for the best. They can get some extra help at home. I am really tired of dealing with lazy whimpey sisters. So President and Sister Murdock asked us to do a Sister Zone Conference. I'm going to focus on the importance of planning and being obedient to the schedule. It was easy to come up with that after my last exchange. They get like 3-8 lessons a week. When I went there, we had the trainer come into our area with Sister Gage. I taught 6 lessons and found 2 new investigators. They sent us their numbers at the end of the week and they only at 8 lessons! I was so angry!!!! They go home all the time to take naps. They are only out working about 4 hours during the day. I was so mad. When we were planning I looked at a name and said, "Lets go see that person." She said... "Oh we don't go see him because his house really stinks." I of course said, "Well we are seeing them tomorrow." So we go to see this man. He looked like Quasimoto from the Hunchback of Notre dame. His house did stink, but we started teaching the Restoration starting with God is our loving Heavenly Father. I told him that he was really loved and he instantly started crying. I started tearing up because I instantly loved him. When we walked out I thought that the sister would have been touched, but she complained about how much it stunk in there. I honestly didn't notice the smell once the spirit was there. The next day when I wasn't in there area. The sisters texted me saying that the sister was sick from going into that home. I was really mad and had Sister Gage talk to them. Whimpey is all I have to say. Luckily Sister Gage wasn't as mad as me.

We are still working with Tom. I am sad he didn't make his baptismal date, but he has to have the desire. We decided to stop seeing him so much. President had us see him 3 times a week, but now we need him to really pray to know. We told him we will see him in a week. I pray that he misses the spirit we bring there. I'm really scared that he will get really depressed.

Well I love this work so much. Sister Gage and I are working really hard.

-Sister Gampe

Building an Ark

I'm sure you have noticed all the crazy weather we are getting here! Just so you know, I am safe! I'm on top of a mountain, so we haven't had any issues other than the lack of sun is driving us crazy!

We had a good busy week. President called us and asked us to go on another exchange with another set of missionaries because they aren't doing well at all. There's a lot of disobedience which is coming from the trainer. Grrrr. This makes me sad because I never want to switch because I love my companion so much. Well we both decided that I should go in the area with the greenie missionary. Which went really well. She told me everything and I wrote down everything that they need to work on. I usually don't do that, but President wanted me to. They average 5-8 lessons a week, which drives me nuts because they live in Denver and have a million open people to talk to. That day I got them 7 lessons, 2 of those lessons were with a member present, a new investigator, and a contacted referral. President was calling a lot. Boy is he funny. He asked if Sister Gage and I felt like we could handle being a Sister Leader Trainer and train a new missionary at the same time. We said yes, but I don't think it will happen because we don't have any room in our house. The new missionary was so excited about what we accomplished. She has so much desire to do good. She was the one that contacted President and told him everything that was going on. The trainer told Sister Gage the opposite which is annoying. Lame.

Dandolf (Dan) and his nephew Zebediah came to church!  Oh it was so exciting. He was really sick this week. We dropped off some homemade wassel and chicken noodle soup...well it wasn't homemade chicken noodle soup, but it was the good manly chunky one. He was so happy. We then were able to get the elders over there to give him a blessing.

Awkward conversation of the week. The man that we live with is timing our showers because Sister Gage takes longer showers! haha He decides to time us the day I decide to shave my legs, which doesn't happen very often for me, so it took some extra strokes. haha Awkward conversation! hahaha

We taught 28 lessons. We have been really trying to break 30 lessons again. We will do it.

So we just left a dinner appointment and were running late. There was a man stopped at the stop sign, but not moving. I was getting so frustrated, so I went to go around him, but I felt like I needed to not be rude and check if he was okay. I rolled down Sister Gage's window and he looked at us all confused. He was just looking on his gps, so he was just checking something. He asked us who we were. We told him we were missionaries. He got all excited and told us how his nephew is serving a mission for the church. We had a great conversation! His name is Garen. He gave us his number because he wants to ask us more questions. We also gave him ours. We are planning on seeing him this week. :)

I know it was the Holy Ghost telling me to stop. I'm so glad I listened. I didn't realize I was listening. My body just did it.

The church is true!!!!!!

Well I love you all so much! Take care. Know that you are always in my prayers! The work is great!

Alma 5:60 Ye are his sheep. He calls after you. You are important in his flock.

Love,
Sister Gampe

Glenwood Springs!

Hey Everyone!

We got to go to Glenwood Springs for our Mission Leader Counsel! It was so much fun! I love driving out west. I love Glenwood Canyon! So beautiful. The worst part of the trip was that we were in a van full of elders. Sister Gage and I were the only sisters and let me tell you, they stunk really bad. I don't know what was going on, but he smelled like stinky feet. I had to crack open some coconut lotion. 

We got a call from President Murdock kind of freaking out a little asking if we are okay and where we were. We were on our way to Glenwood Springs for a mission leader counsel. Well we told him we were fine. He then says, "Sister Gage, your dad called me. And he is really worried." Both of our stomachs dropped. But he said that her dad has had some scary feelings about us and was really worried. So worried that he over nighted a letter to her to make sure to tell her to be careful. Ever since then we have been on our toes a little more. Bishop recently had us give up 2 young singles to the elders because they are dirty and talk dirty. I have a feeling that was what could have been worrying Sister Gage's dad. 

This week I had a lot of experiences where I felt really inspired to do something. It was neat. I felt like we needed to bring someone to a lesson who we never brought before and it was perfect. We stopped by someone randomly who we didn't plan and who has never invited us back and they want to go to church now. I love those things!

We are trying to think a little more out of the box to try to find new investigators. We are averaging 2 new investigators a week and want to jump it up to 6. I know it's possible. We really need to rely on referrals from members. We have some ideas with doing missionary fireside. There is an amazing CD called, "The Missionary Next Door". I want all of you to order it right now and listen to it, make your kids listen to it, and make your friends listen to it. It's amazing! Sister Gage had me listen to it and I almost refused because I thought it was going to be boring or stupid. It was amazing! Please. I want you all to have it in your homes! I guarantee your kids will be more involved in missionary work!

Well I love you so much! Thanks for all your prayers and love and support! You are all amazing!

-Sister Gampe

Tom Is On Date

 

Hey Everyone!

 

Okay so it was a busy week. We had zone conference which is always amazing. Sister Murdock (president's wife) pulled all the Sisters out to have a little workshop. She taught how to do hair and makeup. I loved it! She is requiring every sister missionary to wear makeup and do their hair. I'm really excited about that. Then no one will think we are polygamists. We are really working on getting more referrals. We need them. They say that if we find 38 investigators on our own, we will have 1 baptism. If we rely on the members that number drops to 8 to have 1 baptism! It's so important! Please refer all your friends. They need the gospel and you have no clue who is ready. Only Heavenly Father does.

 

We worked really hard because we lost a day from zone conference. Sonya asked us to help her paint a bedroom. She wouldnt let Sister Gage help because she didn't trust her haha. So She had me do all the trimming. We had a wonderful time. She is just eating the gospel up. She bore her testimony in church. It was amazing. Made me so happy.

 

We had a tough exchange. I was so frustrated. I just don't understand why people have the mindset that they cant do it. "The area is too hard." I don't care about the area. I care about the people. It's a lame excuse to be lazy. I was really frustrated as you can probably tell by my email.

 

Sister Murdock came to our home to do weekly planning with us. She then came with us to our Ward Mission Leader Coordination. That was really fun. She then asked if she could take us out to lunch. We went to Jason's Deli. It was delcious. We had great conversations. I love her so much. I can also tell she cares alot about us. I'm blessed to be in this leadership position so then we can get close to President and Sister Murdock.

 

We set Tom on a Baptism date for September 22nd. Pray for him because it will be really tough. But I know he is ready. I almost jumped out of my chair when he accepted because whenever we used to talk about baptism he would think NO WAY. His heart has been softened. He loves The Book of Mormon and reads it everyday. :)

 

Our lesson with Dandolf was hilarious. Him and his brother William told us these hilarious stories. William stabbed Dan with a fork on the shoulder! They are hilarious biker dudes. Total teddy bears to us though. William said he would go to jail again for us if we were in trouble. No worries mom. Were taken care of.

 

I twisted my ankle in a hole while playing tennis. There was a huge crack in the court. It is really sore, bruised, and swollen, but not too bad. I don't need to get it checked out or anything. It is just uncomfortable.

 

Well I love you all so much! Thank you for all of your love! Keep praying!

 

-Sister Gampe

Funny Moments

Hey Everyone!

Okay, being a missionary brings lots of funny moments. We had a hilarious lesson with Dandolf ( Dan who looks like Gandolf) and his brother William. William was celebrating because he is no longer on parole. Right before he opened the door, i quickly told Sister Gage, "Oh by the way William is usually naked". He opens the door and he's wearing his usually tiny little thin shorts. He's a big man with tattoos all over him. I asked at the end what was the tattoo on his....peck. and his brother Dandolf goes, "You mean Man boob" hahah it was so funny! We always get a kick when we go over there.

Well I absolutely love my companion. She makes me laugh so much. She may be a little distracting, but we work hard together. Funny fact. I made Sister Gage (my comp) to read the first time she met me which was when we were on exchanges. That meanie said I was weird and she was glad she wasn't my companion! I tackled her! I wrote that she was a great missionary and was good at getting in and out of lessons. That little little.

But we laughed about it because she loves me. I'm pretty sure I'm her favorite companion...well that's what I told her the other day.

We had two exchanges. We have three more to do this transfer.

Sonya is doing so well. She is now the Family History Specialist. She is so excited. She is so excited to go to the temple and she really wants her patriarchal blessing. :)

We had a hilarious moment while tracting. I was doing the talking, but the man had this huge smile and was only looking at Hermana Gage! He would answer my questions, but while he was smiling and looking at Hermana Gage. Sister Gage freaked out afterwards! I was dying laughing.

Well I love you all so much!

-Sister Gampe

ps we see miracles everyday. A girl came to church and found us and said she wants to learn more and be baptized.

New Companion

Hey Everyone!

Okay so on Tuesday we had our transfer meeting. They asked me to lead the music. The last song was "God be With You Till We Meet Again". I look over at Sister Hatch and she is crying. I started sobbing and couldnt sing! In front of everyone. ugh. Then we got to go to the temple with Gary, Laurie and Sena! Oh it was so wonderful. We did baptisms for his family that he found. He drove 4 hours to come! Oh it was so powerful. I got to the font and I asked them to wait to do Gary's family until everyone was in the baptistry. I did 34 names! I got dunked alot! hahaha When we confirmed them, the spirit was so strong that the man doing the confirmations started crying. I've never felt the spirit so strong doing baptisms. I felt the missionary work pressing forward in the spirit world. Oh I forgot my temple recommend and had to get president on the phone...so lucky he picked up. tender mercy.

Well I got my new companion. Her name is Hermana Gage! She is amazing! I've never laughed so hard! She is so funny and we have the same humor. We have so much fun and work really hard together. We get alot done, but sometimes we get distracted in personal and companion study which isnt good because I love me some study time. So that will be our goals. She is from North Carolina. She went to BYUI. She only have 3 more months left. :( I hope I kill her. (I am with her when she goes home)

We were driving and I felt like I needed to turn around and knock on a house. So I turned around and we knocked and she invited us the next day. We go back and she tells us that her family is falling apart. I gave her a family proclamation and we talked about families and said a powerful prayer for her. She invited us back. I told her how we were directed to her. Her name is Christine.

Sonya is jumping right in the ward. She brings everyone in the gospel principles class! It's so funny! There's not really enough room, but it makes the lessons so much powerful, so I love that she does it. We were sitting with our investigator Tom, and I see that she is sitting by herself in sacrament meeting! I was really sad and was about to go over and sit with her, until the ladies behind her invite her to sit with them after the first hymn. She got up and moved! It was great! Everyone loves her so much!

Well Everyone! I better get going. Just know that I am happy, I love the work, I love the people, and I love you!

-Sister Gampe

Alexis Got Baptized!!!

Hey Everyone!

 

Guess what! A girl that me and Sister Betts found in Meeker while tracting just got baptized on saturday! I was so happy! I was able to give her a call and send my love to her. She is only 14 years old. She's amazing! :) Also we should have baptisms coming our way. We taught 31 lessons this week. And we were cut down a whole day because we had mission leader counsel. We are working hard. It is very different in the states. At our Mission leader counsel, President wanted to discus changes with the standards. We are now expected 8 member presents. We have been hitting above that lately, so I will personally make it a goal of at least 10. Also we want to find 6 new investigators weekly. I'm nervous about that. We only found 2 this week.
Also I got to go to the temple and see the new endowment video. WOW! it's gorgeous! I loved it. Eve was amazing. I cried. You need to go if you havent.

Well. I lose Sister Hatch. She goes home. I am so proud of her because she worked hard till the end. She never planned saying goodbye to people, we just worked. With the Sister change, I'm going to work hard to start with really good habits like getting home on time, being on time in general. I don't like being late ever, and shortening our lessons. The spirit is powerful with 30 minute lessons. I'm working on that one. Pray that I can accomplish these goals.
We had a couple go to church and the girl friend cried in my arms because she was amazed at how her boyfriend has accepted the gospel and she felt bad for giving us the cold shoulder. In church they surprised me by having me come up and sing with Sister Hatch. I looked her dead in the eyes when I sang. She felt the spirit. :) We san Nearer My God to Thee

 

Sonya got the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Wow she is amazing.

 

So I am still a Sister Leader Trainer, but they are calling another set of Sister Leader Trainers. So I will no longer be a Sister "AP". haha I'm very happy about that. The sisters need another set in the mission.

 

Here's a funny story I think I forgot to mention. It happened like 3 weeks ago. Maybe 2. but anyways. I lost a contact in the middle of the day. By the end of the night my other was bothering me so bad, I just ripped it out and threw it out the window. I forgot how blind I am. We went into our next appointment with Evelyn. She is 93 and has a cat named, Sammy. I walked in and say, "OH YOU GOT A NEW CAT!" and everyone looked at me funny (luckily I couldnt tell they were looking at me funny because I was blind) and they were al confused. I finally pointed at Evelyn's "new" cat. and it was a porcelin cat under the table that has always been in there. haha She accused me of being drunk.

 

Well I love you all so much I loved the August Ensign. I loved the artical on Gratitude by Henry B. Eyring.

 

The photos are of Alexis and her mom Tammy

 

-Sister Gampe