Christina-isms or quotes from the field

January 2, 2012

Dear Family,

I love you all so much. I constantly think of how blessed I am to have the family that I do. I don't have much time to e-mail so I will try to do my best. Last week was pretty good :)

I fell tracting this week..... ripped my tights. and was GUSHING blood from my knee..... what hurt the most was my pride hahaha. it was so embarassing. ha. It still frustrates me how its so easy to get discouraged because its SOOOOOOOOO ineffective. BUT... I know the Lord will bless sister Akemon and I for our efforts, I'm trying to be patient, and on the positive note.... I feel more like a missionary spending so much time outside or with non members etc.

We had a neat miracle this week talking to a lady on her porch. She accepted a book of mormon and said she was going to read it and took our number.... AND her neighbors across the street are mormon so we are going to go back and have them invite her to read with them etc. Even if nothing happends it was a tender mercy. Testimony of the plan of salvation. I felt very moved and the spirit was so strong. I know she felt peace while we talked to her.

Temple jubilee was AMAZING. I saw one of my favorite elders in the whole world from my mtc district who I haven't seen since I got to the mission (over a year). We laughed so hard. It was so fun to be around everyone. We got to do 2 sessions back to back. I felt so much more at peace and recharged and excited than I have in a LONG time. Sister Akemon and I were able to have a one on one discussion with President Anderson that was so nice. He is so caring and understanding and helpful.

I love my companion. Sister Akemon is my best friend. It is going to be really really really hard when we are no longer companions. I'm sure some sort of a change will happen next transfer.

I love this ward so much. I love the people up here. I can't wait for you to come back and meet them. I had several tender mercies this week. 1. We went to ____'s patriarchal blessing on sunday. She is incredible. 2. _____ told us over dinner his faith in God was increasing. He accepted a book of mormon and he is totally changing. I can't believe the miracles that are happening with him. 3. ___ and ___ texted us this week. First time in months anyones had contact with them. PRAYER IS REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So much to be blessed and thankful for.

I can't believe I go home this year from my mission. I still don't know anythign hahaha. I have big plans for this year before I come home. The quote I liked best from goals talking was

" you can have anything you want in this life. but you can't have everything."

It's true. I can't perfect and focus on everything. 1 thing at a time. prioritize. :)

Christina-isms or quotes from the field

11-28-11

I've had lots of good scripture studies this week and today am once again feeling at peace with how things are going. I think lots of trials and blessings are in store for the next 6 months but i'm excited for it. I had a neat experience praying this last week and I was asking Him to help me be the missionary I know he wants me to be and I had a distinct thought " what if you are being the missionary I want?" It was a tender mercy for me. The Lord seriously has blessed me so much. I love him for it. I am so thankful for my faith and the way its shaped my entire life! I am so blessed to have grown up with all that I have. It humbles me a lot to think about this.

My thanksgiving was amazing. We played football at this huge stadium with all the surrounding singles wards and a bunch of the elders. Then we went over to _____'s house. They went above and beyond. 7+ homemade pies, turkey, stuffing mashed potatoes, etc. It was incredible. It made me feel so loved to see the extent they went at to make sure we all had a good thanksgiving dinner. Now christmas is in full swing! lights EVERYWHERE! Main street looks incredible. :) I love it so much.

Love, Sister Gilson

Christina-isms or quotes from the field

Monday, August 8, 2011

We had an incredible baptism yesterday. Honestly there was not a dry eye in the audience it was so tender. I keep wondering why the Lord is blessing us so much because I feel like I am still so behind with everything but I had the realization yesterday that maybe this is happening to help me understand the atonement better. In life we bring our meager sacrifices to the table and he makes up the rest and that is what he has been doing with our ministry. He has truly been blessing us and making up the difference. I am so thankful and happy and blessed that I can't stand it! :)

I also made the connection that every one of our investigators who progressed toward baptism was because they were reading the book of mormon consistently. It was a good testimony builder to me.

Fun fact: Tomorrow is the beginning of my 6th transfer. I'm half way. That is wild.

Love, Sister Gilson

Christina-isms or Quotes From the Field

4-18-11

I love sister Akemon so much too.... we get a long really well and both have a desire to work hard and learn how to be the best we can be... so although we make tons of mistakes and both don't really know what were doing ha... we laugh about it and re evaluate and move on. (Christina had been out 12 weeks and Sister Akemon had been out 6 weeks when they became companions.)

Also, a less active who has been coming back for a while now has started to meet with the bishop and is talking mission bound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never imagined that part of my missionary work would be strengthening future missionaries so that they could be prepared to teach the people wherever they go! It's exciting.

I love you all.

Keep reading and praying and never never never forsake! ha. No getting apathetic about our testimonies in the Gilson family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


4-25-11

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my companion. We are learning lots, growing lots and having fun. We've had up and down days last week but it is exciting to feel like we are both getting in the groove of missionary work more.

We have been seeing HUGE miracles and success with our less active work.

I have been focusing on spiritually preparing myself better in the morning so that I am more bold and solid for people we contact out on the street and for tracting time. Sister Akemon and I also made a goal to start asking and digging deep with our members for more refferals. I have read a lot about following the spirit this week too and am hoping to be more inspired with areas to tract and what to say etc. (Note to President)

Last Saturday, Sister Akemon and I both left the car full of faith and happy attitudes and we talked to 35 people in less than a hour and a half. We got 7 phone numbers and are really excited about teaching these people... I'm going to continue pressing forward with faith in saying that atleast one of them WILL progress to baptism. If we press forward with FAITH and do our best to work hard the lord WILL lead us to people who are receptive and ready.

I have had some really neat studies in the book of mormon this week. I know the church is true. this really and literally is Christ's church. I am SO LUCKY I was born into the covanent. I still wonder why God does some things some ways... haha but i'm smart enough not to question why ha. I love the scriptures. I love the temple. I'm so excited to go this week and feel of the rejuvinating spirit there.


5-2-11

Things have been going well. I love my companion so much and we are still focused on bettering ourselves and trying to bring people closer to Christ.

We have a lot of appointments with less actives who are really catching fire and we committed someone to a solid baptism date this week which is REALLY exciting for us :) so ya...things are great.

We have had a lot of prayers answered this week. The biggest miracle is a ward member brought a friend to FHE who we ITL'ed (Invited to Learn) and they now have a date for the 15th. He is so golden too. He is an avid Bible reader and says he knows the book of mormon is true. I love when members do missionary work. It's a miracle :)

We live in an area of town called North Pinery ... its up in the mountains and is BEAUTIFUL. Deer and foxes are everywhere, and they get so close to you! My goal is to feed one out of my hand before i leave :) The member couple we live with are so cute. Brother ____ leaves us treats at the top of the stairs EVERY single morning. They are so darling.

Sister Akemon is amazing. I am so blessed to have her. We are besties and are so happy that we will be serving together again next transfer! She is totally rubbing off on me though... the other day whilst ( haha) tracting I caught myself saying "y'all have a good day!"..... after we walked away, we both busted up laughing cause I'm turning into a southerner.

I know that Christ atoned for everything... and I can truly pull myself out of the "funks" of life if I rely on him and put in the effort to work and sincerely dedicate myself to Him.

Some members we had dinner with last week were grilling us about why we went on missions etc. and I almost felt bad that I was on a mission and not searching to embark on the realm of marital bliss.... but then I realized that was ridiculous and I made the right decision... chasing people down in the Walmart parking lot with a pass along card is so much better than marriage :) hahahahaha..

President Pfile is giving me a Dear Jane T-shirt though... it says on the back of it "Apparently absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder." and then says "Dear Jane" on the front and its hot pink. I'm so excited hahah.

5-9-11

I have been surprised multiple times to find that the random person I picked to introduce myself to is the exact person we NEED to talk to. It is amazing to see how we are being led by the spirit.

Sister Akemon and I have been abundantly blessed with people to teach and work with. I feel the pressure of working extra hard and not screwing up these lessons though because we are truly being so blessed!

Dear family!

gosh ... it was so amazing to talk to you! I have already reflected on it a billion times. I miss you guys. I said it, and you can take it to the bank.

The members here are so amazing. I really love them so much. I swear I want to come home from my mission and devote my life for at least 3 months to just serving the missionaries ha. giving them rides everywhere..... feeding them, going tracting with them. I have been so overwhelmed by the goodness of the members... its unreal.

So Sunday was NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First off.... I am standing in the chapel and I turn around and my Sarah Foote is there! I honestly thought I was dreaming or something at first. It totally threw me off... I did a double take and then hugged her and sobbed into her shoulder for a quick second hahaha. It was so good to see and talk to her though. It was another tender mercy... 'cause I'll be honest this was a really really hard week for some reason.

I don't know if I have ever had a chance to tell you about ____ and____ . They are the SWEETEST elderly deaf couple that live in a family ward in our stake. I help interpret on the Sundays that we don't have P.E.C in the morning and Sister Akemon and I visit them once a week. They are so sweet and so cute. I love them so much.

i love you all so much.

so so so much.

x0x0x0

- sister Gilson


5-16-11

Dear President,

Things are going amazing. The lord is blessing sister Akemon and I with so much success and we totally don't deserve it cause I feel like a screw-up most days. But I guess that is the whole point of this gospel..... We didn't deserve the atonement or any of the blessings we receive but he still loves us and did it for us even though we all fall short. It is interesting for me to understand this better as a missionary. Hopefully we will have some baptisms coming up! :)

This whole week has been a miracle. God has answered it seems every single prayer I've uttered this week. We have 2 people with a solid baptismal date.

Another miracle is we have been meeting with a less active who has now come back and is preparing to serve a mission and his lessons have boomed to this giant missionary meeting thing every Sunday night. We have all the future missionaries and some less actives come and we role play and bear testimony and it is so amazing.

I love the ward, we have lots of less actives to work with. Tracting... people are still mean. But we've been blessed with people to teach so I'm not going to even worry about that right now.

I have a testimony that the lord is preparing people all the time. I have a testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that there is power in the Book of Mormon. This is Christ's church. God hears and answers prayers. THANK GOODNESS!

Sister Akemon and I have 2 people with a baptismal date. One of them is getting baptized on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She has already called and invited her non member friends and Aunt. She stood up to introduce herself in Relief Society (like they always do with new people) and she announced her baptism hahaha. We were so happy!

_____ remembered a Mormon friend from high school and when he got back from BYU for the summer, she asked him if she could go to church with him. We were led to her by the spirit and introduced ourselves. We found out she wasn't a member, so we offered to teach her more... We committed her to baptism on the first lesson and told her we'd need to meet with her every day ... and now she is preparing for baptism on Sunday the 22nd! We are so excited. She is a miracle.

I love you all so much.

Thanks for your example.
- Sister Gil


5-23-11

Things are going great! Sister Akemon and I had an amazing baptism on Sunday and it went beautifully! I love my companion and I love the ward and we have lots of work to do which is nice. Honestly there isn't anything to complain about. I've been a little sick this week... my lymph nodes were like the size of golf balls on Wednesday but I am in ship shape now :) :)

We had an AMAZING FHE put on by the ward missionary counsel. We watched " by small and simple things" a church video clip including President Eyring talking about missionary work and then a bunch of testimonies of converts and then we had the converts in our ward bear testimony on all it took was an invitation to something. I am excited to see the fruits of that in the upcoming weeks. I think our ward is really starting to get excited about missionary work.

Some of the miracles this week were watching our less actives or investigators truly feel the spirit.

On Saturday night after watching the Joseph Smith movie with her we had a little testimony meeting. She knows what she is doing is right and true. She cried. Sister Akemon cried. I cried. We all cried. It was a beautiful wet mess :)

I LOVE reading the Book of Mormon every morning. It helps me so much.

I feel such weight on my shoulders to teach these people correct principals so that future missionaries aren't meeting with my recent converts who've gone less active. I want all these people to rely on the lord as their source of strength not me as a missionary or whatever.

I love baptisms so much, but it is so hard as a missionary! I know as soon as someone has a baptismal date the investigators and the missionary get put through the wringer? ringer? I don't know. anywhoo..... Sister Akemon and I have been worked over especially on Sunday (the day of the baptism).... it's just unreal the power that Satan has. Hate that guy.

On Sunday a convert received text after text of anti material from friends (some of which were so ridiculous they were comic. One of them said " ya... and you can ONLY get married in Utah and like once you're in ... you can never get out of it... hahaha) and family members were saying she was joining a cult etc. It hurt my feelings so bad. Honestly I don't understand how people can be so ignorant. The world is so wicked. I know that sounds so grandma-ish but it really is. Utah is SUCH a bubble and I never realized it. You think I would have found out when I lived in London but I still was surrounded by members then. I know prayer is real and we need all the prayers we can get. These people sending the text messages just don't understand.

love love love

-Sister Gilson

Christina-isms or Quotes From the Field

3-21-11
I receive peace when I pray.

I'm beginning to see success as a missionary in different terms- not measured by investigators or baptisms (although that is the goal and is definitely what I want) but in finding those that the Lord wants me to talk to that day to bring them closer to Christ.

I love how big this area is. I love the ward members. I love the friendly people we talk to.

Service: Bad news Bears.... Christmas is officially over. We packed up the last Christmas decorations at Sister _____’s house on Saturday haha. We also were able to help a less active organize her apartment more.


3-28-11

We have 2 baptisms scheduled for this Sunday! I am praying specifically for them... having daily contact or calls with them and doing my best to keep them solid. Whenever we have baptisms things get harder. That darn Satan is such a stinker.

I've prayed and prayed and prayed and have seen the Lord answer my prayers more fully. I feel so blessed in that aspect. I can testify with everything that I am that GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS.

I love President and Sister Pfile. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have such amazing examples and leaders who I know care about me and who I can rely on.

I am going Sr. companion and back to Parker next transfer.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the evil of the world. I feel like it was easier when I was in SLC living ignorantly ha. I never knew how much of a struggle the gospel is for people.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo


4-5-11 (Includes excerpts from her letter to her mission President)

Life is extremely blessed :) I am happy :)

P.S. April Fools was probably the best day of my mission haha. thanks for helping make it so fun, President Pfile:) we love you so much President!

In between conference sessions on Saturday we went across the street to Walgreens . While running across the street, we ran into a less active and his non member girlfriend. We invited both of them to watch the last session of conference with us... they did :) We taught a first to the girlfriend later that evening. She is preparing for baptism on the 17th of April. It reminded me of that talk about how the Lord doesn't send his apostles to any random grocery store without a purpose. It was definitely true. There are no coincidences with God!!!

We are having to start over and find new investigators to teach but things are going great :) ______ was baptized on Sunday at it was one of the more spiritual beautiful baptisms I have been to thus far. I'm so happy for him.

God hears and answers prayers. Priesthood power is real. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. I LOVE BEING MORMON! Why doesn't everyone else see it?!?!?! ha

Service: Teaching _____ English, and we have had an abnormal amount of people calling and bawling their eyes out to us and people opening up their life stories to us for help and comfort... so I am going to count listening as a service this week ha.



4-11-11

We listened to a member from our ward talk who was inactive for 3 years and has recently come back and is now engaged. It was a miracle to hear him say that he came back because of how diligent the missionaries and ward members were in keeping up on him and inviting him to everything etc. Miracle to see/hear that the constant phone calls actually work!

I truly know this gospel brings happiness and that it is what the world needs.

I finally am starting to feel like for the last 5 days that this is what missionary work is supposed to be like.... hard work still... with disappointments yes... but joyful... and I am loving it. The weather has been amazing too... I won't lie... I love the sunshine.

Everyone in Parker has been so cute and amazing in welcoming me back. I feel like a million bucks!

I still get nervous to tract sometimes and walk up to people. The Lord has blessed me with the most amazing new companion. Sister Akemon has been out 1 transfer and I've been out 2. She is incredible. I can tell we are going to have fun this transfer. We will be able to work hard and be diligent and bring the joy of the gospel to Parker! I can hardly wait. I can't wait for you to meet all my companions some day.

I've been able to see the most gorgeous sunrises and sunsets in the world here in Parker.


4-18-11
Dear President,
Sister Akemon and I have been doing a lot better since we started working on our faith. Interviews were amazing. Thank you so much for your faith and spirit that helps us. I love sister Akemon so much too.... we get a long really well and both have a desire to work hard and learn how to be the best we can be... so although we make tons of mistakes and both don't really know what we're doing ha... we laugh about it and re evaluate and move on. I am worried that it is time for me to kick it up to the next level so that is what I am going to work on this week.

Also, a less active who has been coming back to church for a while now has started to meet with the bishop and is talking mission bound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never imagined that part of my missionary work would be strengthening future missionaries so that they could be prepared to teach the people wherever they go! It's exciting.

F.A.C.T.S.
Family: MY little brother got his mission call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He leaves October 5th for Brazil!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... I mean ... it's no Colorado Springs... but I guess I'm excited for him :) It was amazing to have him send me his testimony and I am thrilled for him.

HELLO DEAR FAMILY!

PAUL I AM SO STINKIN EXCITED FOR YOU I CANNOT EVEN CONTAIN IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I've told everyone. Seriously everyone. Even people I've contacted on the streets. "Hey we're missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.... we share a message around the world about the Book of Mormon and how Christ's church has been restored to the earth through a prophet of God just like in the Bible... in fact... my little brother is going to be doing the same thing in BRAZIL!!!!" I even called my district Leader to tell him. I'm so excited for you Paul!

Keep reading and praying and never never never forsake! No getting apathetic about our testimonies in the Gilson family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christina-isms or Quotes From the Field

2/21/11 - 3/14/11

I’m going greenie tracting today and taking the new sisters out who are coming today... can't believe that was me 6 weeks ago... it feels like forever ago... and it was really only 6 wks ha. anyway... please pray for the new elders and sisters coming out... my heart aches for the next couple of weeks for them.

______'s baptism and friendship continues to be an incredible blessing to me. she wrote me a note last week and thanked me so much and seriously it is the best feeling in the world. I read a quote this weekend that completely fits " if you want to make a friend for life share your time. If you want to be friends for eternity share your time and the gospel." I know I will be friends with Alicia for eternity. I wish you could meet her. you will someday :) She seriously is incredible.

I am so overwhelmed with how good the Lord is to me. Constantly... seriously like hourly miracles happen to me that let me know he is personally aware of me. I will get letters on the exact day I need them. or someone will pray for us as missionaries or say something to me on the street that is exactly what I needed to hear. I will read something in the BOM that blesses me so much or the members will be so kind to me etc etc etc.

I had an experience this week reading Moroni 10 : 7 where I realized that it doesn't matter how obedient I'm being or how hard I’m working and trying ... that if I don’t have faith the lord can't bless me.... Its been monumental in my thinking. Needless to say I've been "choosing faith" more this week.....

(Note to her Mission President)
I am SOOOOOOOO glad that we were advised to do the miracle and bummer thing each day. It's helped me to see how blessed my days are and all the little miracles that happen every day. A miracle for me happened this Friday night when I was able to go to the "Becoming Holy Women" fireside and listen to your amazing wife speak. I felt the spirit so strong and was reminded again that the Lord loves me. I felt so full of gratitude and love and hope. I was able to come home and go to sleep really well. (please tell your wife how much I love her and how much her testimony inspires and affects me every time I hear it.) Also while at the fireside I had the thought to randomly talk to this woman and invite her to sit with us.... she ended up being one of the Elders investigators and it was a HUGE miracle for me to realize I must have followed a prompting to talk to her. She looked Mormon so I don't know how I would have picked her out of all the other women.

I've started writing down a miracle and a bummer each day in my planner. It has really helped me to see how much the Lord has been blessing me and how aware he is of the work we are doing.

The ward is amazing at feeding us and trying to bring people to church etc. It's awesome. The area is huge and I really like being in The Springs.

I've been trying to focus my attention in my personal study on my investigators more. Trying to plan every night during planning time how I can strengthen my testimony to help them gain a testimony of the principles.

I see the need for the work SO SO SO much. I am grateful I get to help my Savior with His great work. I hope to help Him more and be more effective.

I have a testimony of the gospel so so so much. I just need to learn how to convert that testimony into such a joy that it envelopes all the pains and trials of being a missionary.

Christina-isms or Quotes From the Field

2-7-11

So... this week has been a mix of ups and downs. The highs are so high here but the lows are so low! I feel like I always take 2 steps forward and then 1 backward. I was doing awesome and then Tuesday..... oh my gosh. Can I just tell you about the weather here.... at night its been -40. Pipes have been freezing and bursting all over, school was canceled Tuesday and Wednesday because it was so cold. They said anybody with exposed skin outside longer than 10 mins. was at risk for frost bite. ... but missionary work wasn't canceled! .... It was so hard to be positive when people opened the door... told you that you were crazy to be outside ( thanks captain obvious) and then shut the door on your face..... or if they were nice they'd say " stay warm!" hahaha..... ya.... maybe if you let us in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wont lie... I was a baby. Satan got to me and I got discouraged, but I did better the next day and I've been happy the rest of the week.

I had a neat thought on Sunday while I took the sacrament though... it was that my HF and Savior knew that I would have good intentions of wanting to be such a good missionary... etc but they knew that I would be homesick or falter too... and that’s ok...that’s why I take the sacrament every Sunday and what the atonement is for. The atonement is to make up for when I'm being retarded.

For valentines you can pick the following:
1. share a gospel principal or your testimony with a stranger
2. invite a friend to any sort of activity
3. write me a snail mail.
Any of these will make me feel loved. Do all three:)

I'm happy though. I really am. I have tons of laughing happy moments every day now. Life is beautiful.

I'm starting to dream about the people we work with which is exciting... it means they are on my mind more and I'm thinking about them and love them.

Something Sister Hamilton said to me too was that when were out tracting etc. and it seems like we are not helping anyone or doing anything that we are still serving the Lord...... that makes me feel better.

Here is a Mormon joke: What do you call an ocean full of pasta? apostasy... pasta sea.... get it....

2-14-11
It was incredible to see and know what it feels like to have an investigator who is continually learning, progressing, and drawing nearer unto the Lord.

I LOVE SISTER HAMILTON. please force her to stay? just 1 more transfer at least?

I'm grateful for prayer. Prayer has been my biggest outlet here on the mission.

So there is a homeless lady sitting next to me at the library right now and it has taken some of my time away.

_________ wasn't going to be able to make it to church this Sunday thus, we were going to have to push back her baptismal date but her volley ball coaching game randomly...( miraculously) got changed to be in Denver instead of Colorado springs and she was going to be able to make it to sacrament. she came to church :) and is getting baptized this Tuesday. Sister Hamilton and I feel so blessed to be a part of ______'s life and to have a baptism together and what a tender mercy for Sister Hamilton to have one before she heads home. :) I love Heavenly Father!

The crowfoot ward is incredible. They feed us, they pray for us, they try to invite their friends to activities, we've received referrals from them... the ward is awesome.

( p.s. the homeless lady just took a drink of my diet coke hahaha.)

SARAH FREAKING FOOTE! if you ever get/ read this you best be writing me a letter! I CANT HANDLE ROME ITALY!!!!!! I'm so proud and excited for you. I will write you as soon as I can. xoxoxo love you so hard.