SISTER DeGOOYER - WEEK 4

Hello people of various cultures, countries, and lives. This is Sister DeGooyer reporting on her first complete week in the mission field. I hope that all of your weeks, days, hours, and yes, minutes have been fantastic. The days here are amazing, hard, joyful, enlightening, and hot! I am loving it though! Mornings are the hardest, but my studies get me through them. Evenings are pretty much the best, I feel on top of the world at the end of the day. I've been praying for ways to make my mornings better, so if any of y'all have suggestions I am more than willing to listen! 

This week I organized my studies, and while that may sound tedious I took absolute joy in it! On gospel library, there is a section where you can make study plans. I have wanted to utilize it for a while now, and this week I decided that I would. I have set goals, made plans, and have become organized!!! One of my study goals is studying the "Come Follow Me" curriculum. I haven't been able to study it for a few weeks, so it was good to get back into the groove. Imagine my delight when I discovered the topic of this weeks study: "The Lord Had Called Us for to Peach the Gospel." (Acts 16-21) I was so excited as I read about Paul's ministry. He is truly an example to me of a great missionary! I made Acts 16:25 and 18:9 my motto for the week! Something that I have realized as I have begun serving in the great state of Idaho, is that members are so important! If all the members in the world were like the members in the Highland Stake, our world would be filled with the gospel. I felt a little chastised when I first got here, the members are so missionary minded. They know all their neighbors and they often invite them to activities and church. I am determined to be a better member missionary when I get home! I urge you all to work with the missionaries, get to know your neighbors, share the gospel. Think about what this wonderful work has done for your life, think about your Savior; now, don't you want everyone to have the chance to have what you have? Alright, rant over, but I urge you to think on it and then take courage from Paul and go invite! 

This week we taught our first real actual lesson! We taught the Restoration to a girl named Shiloh. She is super excited and wants to be baptized as soon as possible. Her excitement and love for this gospel is real and alive. I'm excited for her, and so grateful to the friends who invited her to come to church and girls camp so that she could find and realize the truth. #membersmatter ;)

We did A LOT of tracting this week, and met some interesting people. My favorite moment was when we knocked on a door, the lady started to come out, saw the name tags, retreated with inhuman speed- claiming that she is allergic to perfume...... Sister Coleman and I looked at each other, we both were not wearing perfume. We had a pretty good laugh about that one.

Sister Coleman and I have been praying for miracles, it's a neat thing to do because when you pray for miracles- you look for miracles. Miracles happen everyday, but you don't always realize them. The first day we prayed for miracles we did not see anyone miraculously let us into their home, BUT we met several people who are from/ who have been to my home state. We saw a rainbow! AND we got the referral for Shiloh. Miracles come in all shapes and sizes. ;) 

This week was a good one. There are rough patches in every week, but that is just part of life. We must find joy in the little things. I'm grateful for the chance to come closer to my Savior, to rely on his grace. I'm immensely grateful for the prayers, I feel them, and they help me in this great and eternal work. I love you all, and wish you all a wonderful uplifting week! 

Love, 

Sister DeGooyer

Temple Progress

Lesson 1: Restoration: Cup Tower

"We be working hard!"

What?!

Face Masks - "We be crazy!"

Sister Coleman and Sister DeGooyer

Dr. Pepper for the win!

Idaho is beautiful!

"Thanks, Kiara and Cody, for the pizza!"

COOKIES!