Monday, April 28, 2014

McFlurries

                                                                            

This week was such a great week! We really depended on the Spirit a lot. And wow, our lessons were amazing!! Most of the time this week; we would go in planning on teaching one thing but end up teaching another. And one of the most amazing things, is that Sister Bodine and I can still teach in unity with one another! It has been so fun to be able to teach with Sister Bodine :)

So, we were teaching a few 10 year olds about the restoration and then one of them asked about the sacrament. We told them that the bread represents the body of Christ and one of them said ,"Christ was made out of bread?!" Haha, we may need to be more specific and clear as we teach younger kids.. ;)
Sister Bodine and I have been trying to visit a less active for awhile now, but when ever we try to go over to her apartment we always end up talking to people on the street until we have to go home. But, this week we were able to finally meet with her and it was amazing! She told us about her amazing conversion story. (The Elders asked her what she thought the world needed and she said a prophet. That is every missionaries dream!) But she also told us that she feels judged at church because she split from her husband and that it is all her fault. We bore our testimony to her that we think she is such a strong lady and that she can do hard things. Then Sister Bodine bore the most beautiful testimony I have ever heard! She told this lady that she knows the reason she has stayed in London so long is to meet her and bring her back to church. The Spirit was so strong. We all just sat and hugged each other and cried. She ended up coming to church with us this Sunday. Ugh!! I love missionary work!!
Haha. So our investigator George wears a suit every time we meet with someone in our ward. We told him he doesn’t have to, but he doesn’t listen. So we met with him and the Bishop on Saturday. And before we walked in Sister Bodine said "I bet George is wearing a suit. If he’s wearing a suit then we get a McFlurry." Long story short, Sister Bodine and I got a McFlurry today. :)
Missionary work is the best. Many people won’t listen to you, they may run away, but no one can ever take away the truth from you. I know that this is the true and everlasting gospel, that Joseph Smith has restored Christ’s church back to its full, and that Christ is the Son of God and that He Lives.
I love you all so much!
Sister Gillins
P.S. (all I really want from people is hand written letters :) Every once in awhile. I LOVE THEM!



Monday, April 21, 2014

I'm Staying in London!

Transfers have come and Sister Bodine and I are staying in London! Woohoo!! 

This is Sister Bodines 5th transfer in London. She has been here since the start of her mission! Crazy huh?

Anyways.. It’s the end of the transfer so that means we have no food. All we eat is cereal, toast and multi-vitamins. Good thing we have such a loving ward that feeds us so much! :) As well as all the Easter candy y'all have sent to us.

We had exchanges this week.. and let me tell ya! They were amazing! I went with Sister Stats to Bramfort and it was so much fun! It is the best to be able to learn from other missionaries and see how you can teach the gospel. She is an amazing example in truly loving your investigators. You can tell that she has a love for everyone she meets. I am so glad I got to spend the day with her.

  

Can I just say how glad I am that the Spirit is the true teacher. Because I say some of the dumbest things that make no sense what so ever, but our investigator will be able to come out of the lesson with a stronger faith. It has taught me that no matter what you do, as long as it is Gods will and with the Spirit, everything will work out.

So Easter was wonderful! We were able to use the eggs Grandma sent us for a family we are teaching. They went crazy for the eggs. They didn’t even follow the list that I gave them. It was so fun to watch them.
We had our own Easter egg hunt. Well I did. Sister Bodine stole our presents and hid them from me. So I spent a good 10 minutes looking for our treats. But we had a blast.
That night we went to the Alders for Easter dinner. We love the Alders family. Sister Alders has us call her Oma (Grandma in German) We were able to eat as a family and talk about Easter :)

Haha so we had one of our investigators teach us a lesson the other day and when we went to meet him out side we saw that he made this sign. It ended up being a great lesson. He was so excited to be able to teach us.

One of the best things about missionary work is seeing the change in people. The Gospel can truly make our lives better; we just have to be willing to let it. I know that the commandments God has given us is not to stop us from having fun, but to keep us safe and to better our lives in the future.

Love you all,
Sister Gillins



Easter Egg Hunt with Grandma Glovers Eggs
George surprised us with a Lesson ;)

Sister Bodine Hid my Easter Treats

Monday, April 14, 2014

Let us "WAX" Strong

This week was AWESOME! We saw so many miracles! You wouldn’t believe it! The Lord truly blessed us this week.

So we had the challenge to get 15 member presents this week. Usually we only have about 15 lessons total for a week so we knew it would be a stretch. But not only did we get 15 member presents we also got 5 other lessons. We truly worked hard this week and we saw the blessings that came from it.
We had to drop some of our investigators this week. Sister Bodine and I really want people to progress. There are so many people interested in just learning about different religions but not willing to read or pray about it. So we have been working hard to find new investigators that will have a strong desire to change.
Something I love is that you can feel the Spirit anywhere. Sometimes we have lessons in coffee shops because that is where it is most convenient for our investigator to meet, and man is the Spirit so strong. You can tell that not only our investigator can feel the Spirit but so can the people in the shop because they all stare and try to listen.
So, Sister Bodine and I decided to wax our eyebrows one night.. I ended up on the ground with a need to change my pants. Sister Bodine makes me laugh like no other. But at the end of the night we ended up having beautifully shaped eye brows.
George got baptized everyone! Woohoo!! We are so happy and couldn’t be more proud. He has changed so much from the person he was. He used to smoke 3 packs a day and now he is smoke free. He is so excited to leave behind his old life and start his new one. We are so happy for him. We know how much this gospel will truly bless him in his life.
I have attached our awkward baptism pictures. And our Waxing night pictures. I was scared to tear the wax off! We love awkward pictures :)
I love knowing that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. I love knowing the answers to my questions can be found in the Book of Mormon. It is the best when you can answer someone’s question by opening the book. I know how much this gospel can improve people’s lives.
Love,
Sister Gillins
Sister Bodine , George, Sister Gillins

HELP! I'm Scared! 




Monday, April 7, 2014

Bagged Milk anyone?


I just don’t understand the whole bagged milk thing? Like, just use a gallon...
Can I start out to tell you all how amazing my companion is? She has the biggest and sweetest heart I know. She has a true love for everyone and this gospel. I have learned so much from her. She has taught me the importance of exact obedience and we have seen the effects of it. Even though we may not have a lot of people progressing, we know that we are trying our best and that gives us the most comfort.
We had an investigator who is a Native Indian and makes jewelry for a living. He taught the young women how to make necklaces and bracelets. That was the best thing ever! He loved it and so did the girls!
So on Friday Sister Bodine and I tracted. First of all I hate tracting. Talking to people is the hardest for me. Sister Bodine is so good at it. She is such a good example to me in that area. It is so natural for her to walk up to someone random and start talking about the gospel; someday I hope to be like that. Anyway, on that day.. as we went a long I was so happy, not even scared to talk to anyone. In fact I wanted to be able to talk to everyone I could. Sadly it was raining and in the middle of the day, so no one was on the street and no one was home. The people we did talk to had nothing to do with us, but yet that has been the happiest I have been tracting.
Wasn’t conference amazing?! I am so happy I got the opportunity to watch it! It was way too short. But, it is amazing that we receive modern day revelation. Many people don’t believe in that and I am so happy that we know that we do and that we have the opportunity to hear from a living prophet and his Apostles every 6 months.
So, Sister Bodine and I have been challenged by our Zone Leaders to get 15 member presents this week. That means we need to have members come to 15 lessons with us. We usually only get around 7 a week, and we usually only have about 15 lessons a week. So that means we need a member at every lesson we teach this week. We are so excited because we know how important members are in this work. Us as missionaries can not do this alone! We need members to help.

I love this work; I would not want to be anywhere else right now. I love this gospel and I am gaining a stronger testimony of it each day. I know that my Redeemer lives and so does my Heavenly Father and they are watching over us.
I love you all.
Sister Gillins


p.s. I eat cereal like 3 times a week!! with skim milk! (insert from mom: this is a miracle…she is not a cereal eater…at all J)



Loving it! This made me happy!
Preaching in the Rain




Amazing Young Womens Night
The Sisters


Sister Bodine, Cutest Boy Ever, Sister Gillins
(he likes to play with our long hair :)

I don't like bagged milk.... yet
My Pot Pig grew grass! Yeah!

My best of the best Zone