What You Wanted

Well. Where to start? This week was busy busy busy. I saw a load of miracles and then again, loads of drama. Sister Leete and I had this break down realization that we are sister missionaries. We are sister missionaries. Being in leadership my eyes have been opened to the work ethic that most sisters have, or I should say the lack of work ethic. Sister missionaries get such a bad wrap for being lazy, making excuses, not talking to everyone and not living up to their potential. It's said that sister have that reputation and currently there are very few sisters that try to change that. I think that's why last night sister Leete and I repeated back and forth. "We are sister

missionaries". Almost like we were in shock. Kinda like how I didn't realize how short I was playing volleyball until I saw a video and realized I was tiny. In shock about the realization. But sister Leete

and I are doing well at not stooping down to that standard. We are actually working really well together and hitting all of our goals. But we have to rebuke sisters and kick them into gear.

So we gave a boss training on the five love languages (physical, words, gifts, service and time) applied to missionary work so they zone leaders can show the sisters that they care while still telling them that they aren't working hard enough. It's a thin line. The zone

leaders were trying to figure out our love languages. After thinking about it all weekend, they came to they conclusion that sister  Leetes was words of affirmation. But they still couldn't figure out mine so

they decided to try different things to see how I responded to each of them. We got a voice mail from the zone leaders saying "sisters... We

hate love languages...we sent a guy to jail because of it". It was too late to call them back so the next time they saw us they told this story about how they were on their way to drop us of a cake (thinking my love language was gifts) and they witnesses car going about 50 hit a person and saw him roll off the car and fly in the air. They chased the guy down and found out where he lived and then spent the whole evening talking to police men. It was crazy. But God puts you in the right spot at the right time.

We went on exchanges with sisters back to back. Exchanges is when the STLs are companions with another companionship to go to their area and

help them learn how to work more effectively. Those where some long days. My first exchange was in my area with a sister who was convinced that she should have been an STL and not me and she tried to steal one of our families who was investigating. Whoohoo that was a long, frustrating day! The next exchange was a ton better cause I went to the other sisters area and we found a golden investigator. We prayed

to know which door to knock on and as we were walking around we heard a meow sound coming from someone's back yard. We thought they were

kittens but really they were baby puppies! We decided to knock on the door. A 15 year old opened up and said that she has wanted to join the church for a while but thought you had to be a certain age and has

some confusion. We cleared up her questions and asked if she had ever read the Book of Mormon before. She said no. Then we asked if she

would like to. She said yes with a smile. We pulled out a Book of Mormon and her face lit up like Christmas. She started crying when we handed it to her and gave her the biggest hug. It was amazing, the spirit that we felt. So besides crazy sister problems. My week was super good. I always forget what happens but just know I'm doing well and I hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving.

The church is true. I love you!

Sister Gier

Honey, I'm Good

Nov 9-16th 

You're going to hate how short this message is...just know it's because

I'm working hard!

It was super hard saying goodbye to everyone on Monday and we didn't

have a lot of time to do it. But hopefully I'll be able to come back

for all the baptisms.

Tuesday, all of the missionaries going back in valley met up in Dolan

Springs. Good luck looking it up on a map cause I doubt you will find

it. I feel bad for the elders who have to serve there. It was so sad

saying good bye to sister Kaufusi but I know she will do a great job!

The bus coming down with the missionaries was late so we were late

getting back in the Las Vegas valley. When we got to the mission

office I had to hustle inside to meet sister Leete and go to a

training for new leaders. It was really neat. I'm excited to help the

elders and sisters that I have stewardship over.

It was a mess trying to find my luggage after the meeting and we

weren't able to find my pillows but we had to run and meet the zone

leaders to discuss the zone vision. I may have mentioned this in my

last email but the zone leaders are Elder Sawyer (who was the last

assistant to the president) and elder Chambers (who was my zone leader

in my first area). My companion sister Leete is actually a Spanish

missionary but is now in English to be an STL. This is her last

transfer on her mission which is weird cause I'm used to working with

brand new sisters. Sister Leete knows so much! We different people but

the SAME missionary. I think president did it on purpose. Haha anyway,

I'm part of the best leadership team and I excited to be in this

position.

Being an STL has really opened my eyes. We have to know everything

about everyone...including their problems. If something goes wrong or

the sisters have a question we get a call. Normally a zone has 3-4

companionships of sisters, including the STLs...we have 5, not

including us. WE ARE BUSY!! Not to mention we have appointments all

the time with investigators and for trainings. This Friday we had

interviews with president and the zone leaders and us were there for

10 hours! We barely got a break for lunch cause we were giving

trainings and stuff.

Our zone vision is "Focus on our Purpose". Super simple but it's

needed. We are going to focus by being accountable and motivated

missionaries. We came up with this idea to have a traveling trophy

based on a point system of how many baptisms, investigators with a

baptismal date, investigators who came to church, lessons taught with

a member present, and new investigators. The zone leaders made an

"iron rod" that is made of "diamond willow" the strongest wood in

North America, and you get to sign it if you have the most points.

I'll send a picture.

It's going to be hard being an STL because every sister in our zone

has been out longer than I have besides 3 sisters who are being

trained. So I have to work hard to gain their trust because president

and I can see this becoming an issue if they don't support me as a

leader. Oh well! God wants me here for a reason. Sorry this email is

super short. Just know that I'm seeing miracles and I'm loving the

time in my mission. I feel like I'm being trained all over again.

I'm super excited for pday today. I'm getting my hair cut next week. I

wish sister Pratt could fly out and cut my hair.

The church is true, I love you!

Sister Gier

Everything Works Out in the End

November 2- November 8

This was a PR breaking week! I think it was just the Lord giving me
confidence for what is to come these next couple of transfers. Last
week we had 5 people with a baptismal date and on an amazing week we
would find 4 new investigators. But this week we found 21 new
investigators!!! And now we are teaching 13 people who have a date to
be baptized!!! Whoohoo! We struck gold! However, it makes it so hard to
leave this area now. Right as the ball gets rolling, I get moved. But
I guess I did all the work the Lord wanted me to do, its just going to
be hard because I won't be able to see the fruits of my labors. I think
it's a theme in my mission because I talked to Sister Lellis this week
and she told me that two of my investigators from my last area got
baptized this week. But I'm thankful I could do my part in helping
them come to Christ.

On the bright side... There are big things in store for me in my next
area!! Wasn't it a nice surprise that president let me call home? I
wish I could have talked more but I'll be able to Skype with you in a
little over a month. So let me try and explain more about how mission
leadership works.
I realized since neither you nor dad went on a mission you have no
idea what AP, Distict Leader, Zone leader, STL or MSTL means so I'll
try and explain this lingo. A district is usually made up of 3 or 4
companionships in an area. A zone is multiple districts (usually 3 or
4 districts) collected in an area kinda like how a stake has multiple
wards. And for right now there are 7 zones in the mission. (I know Las
Vegas is adding another stake so who knows what president will do if
with the off balance of stake and Zones). A district leader is an
Elder who leads the district, conducts district counsel and reports
the work of the district to the Zone Leaders. The Zone Leaders are
elders who lead the Zone, along with the STLs or Sister training
leaders (this is me) and they report up to the APs or assistant to the
presidents and the MSTLs or the Mission Sister Training Leaders. As an
STL I'll go on exchanges with the sisters in my Zone, give trainings,
go to more meeting with trainings, be expected to be a perfect example
for other missionaries, etc. So as you can see this is a big
responsibility especially at such a young age in the mission but I
know God will help me. I'll be busy busy busy so sorry if these next
emails resemble elder Pratts. Haha
My companion, Sister Leete, and I will have a ward or two that we work
in like normal, but we will also be leading about 13 missionary
companionships in the Central and Sunrise stakes which surround the
temple. (Ask around and see if anyone knows people who live in these
areas). I'm so excited to work with a seasoned missionary who knows
what she is doing (but don't get me wrong, I loved training new
missionaries too). The zone leaders are Elder Chambers (the one who
plays football for BYU from my first zone and district) and Elder
Sawyer (the old Assistant to the President). I'm excited to become the
missionary God wants me to be.

Okay back to the other neat things that happened this week. P-day we
went over to the Laughlin side and took pictures by the river and then
at the welcome to bullhead sign. When we went shopping we saw a sign
that said "pomegranates 10 for $10". Which I thought was a pretty good
deal so we bought ten and made a mess while we peeled them. But it was
fun and it was the first time sister Kaufusi tried a pomegranate.
The email president sends before transfers is always the most nerve
racking. Usually he will leave sisters hints on whether they are
leaving or staying in the area. And he left a pretty obvious hint of
what would be in store this next transfer.
Sister Laurie Russell came out to help us reach nearly the whole day
on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. She is awesome! She served her
mission in Colombia and hasn't spoken Spanish in 33 years but she is
an answer to our prayers cause now we can more effectively teach our
Hispanic investigators, instead of me stumbling through lessons in
Spanish.

Wednesday, a girl opened the door to a potential we were supposed to
visit. When she opened the door, before we could introduce ourselves
and state our purpose she said, looking at me "I've seen you before".
I had never seen her before (that I know of) but it reminded me of a
story that Sister Fingerle shared with me titled "I'll find you my
friend". I'll send it in another email.

Thursday, we drove up to Las Vegas with Elder Walker (our district
leader) and his companion, Elder Burup. It was fun going to mid 12
week training and seeing all the missionaries and catching up with
them since I never see missionaries out of valley.  After the training,
President Snow pulled me aside and asked to talk and told me he wanted
me to be an STL. A lot of missionaries joke around about me being an
STL but I don't think any of them would have guessed it would happen
this soon. It was hard keeping it a secret! And sad when we would say
goodbye to someone after an appointment saying "see you next week!"
and in the back of my head thinking "no you won't".
I finally couldn't hold it in any longer so I told sister Kaufusi
Friday evening when we were teaching Scott and Dawna. She was mad. She
even punched me in the arm. And Scott and Dawna were sad, so the next
day they had us come over and we made s'mores in the back yard while
we taught the lesson. It was nice. I'm really going to miss drinking
koolaid in the same mugs every time we go over.

Since we had regional conference I didn't get to say goodbye to
everyone which was hard. And everyone was sad to see me go, but I did
get a picture with Laurie Russell. She is so sweet.

I can't wait for this new adventure!
The church is true. I love you!
Sister Gier

Changing of the Seasons

October 26-November 1

Monday, I made missionary name tags for Rhythm and Melody and we
dropped them off. They should be getting baptized soon! Transfers are
coming up so hopefully I don't move out quite yet.

Our dinner appointment was with this old lady and her "clan".
Literally, this group of elderly sister do everything together! When
they sign up to feed us we know that the rest of the clan is coming
too. Tuesday, she signed up and told us to meet her at a restaurant.
When we got there our eyes were huge! It was this taco sports bar and
we just walked right in, sticking out like a sore thumb, sat down and
ate some tacos without thinking twice.

Thursday, we had district council and we gave a killer training on
street contacting. I compared it with my knowledge of sales when I was
in deca and it come together really nicely. Afterwards, our district
leader told us that it was one of the most powerful trainings he has
received. And then later he called and shared success stories of the
day from applying the training.

Thursday, afternoon we exchanged. I was with sister Pachetto in Kingman
and sister Sandoval and Kaufusi were here in Bullhead. This was only
the 2nd time I've been out of the area for exchanges so I was excited
and we saw some neat miracles as we placed Books of Mormon (which
normally we don't count how many books we pass out). It was an awesome
day and sister Pechetto said it was the most amount of miracles she
has seen from exchanges.

Friday morning as we were concluding the exchange it was 60 degrees
outside! It's a good thing I packed a sweater. Then we met half way in
Golden Valley to eat lunch were there is a total of 4 places to eat in
the town. If you heard how many times I eat Mexican food you would
think that I would be sick by now but surprisingly I'm not.

I also saw a shooting star Friday night. So that's neat.

Oh and mom I think I forgot to tell you. I ate meat loaf for the first
time in my life this transfer and had it a second time this week.
Thanks for not cooking meatloaf.

Dawna has been out of town for the past week and a half so we haven't
gone over there. But Saturday evening we were street contacting and
felt prompted to change directions and walk to Scott and Dawna's
house. And it was a miracle we did. God literally but us in the
perfect position at the perfect time. God knew it. We all knew it. I
am so thankful that we followed the prompting of the spirit. This is a
critical point in Scott's conversion and I can see a change in both
Scott and Dawna. Later we brought them some chili from the ward party
and as we were leaving we said "good bye! Love you!" And they stopped
us and told us that they haven't heard missionaries say that for a
long time. But they could tell that we meant it and that they care
about us too. Early this transfer Sister Kaufusi and I discussed our
ideas of why Scott hasn't been baptized yet. And a lot comes down to
the missionaries and how much they showed that they genuinely cared
for them. It was such an incredible day. And sorry there isn't a lot
of detail in the story, it's kinda hard to explain the situation. But
it is amazing to me how much people open up to the missionaries and
trust us. I know it's only possible through the spirit. And I'm not
saying that sister Kaufusi and I have the perfect companionship by any
means, but when it matters most we are able to put away our pride,
which brings back the spirit of conversion, and helps people come unto
Christ.

Funny story of the week: on Sunday Sister Kaufusi got up to share a
powerful testimony in sacrament meeting and at the end she said,
"Bishop I don't know if I'm allowed to do this so stop me if I
can't... but I just want to know who in here is a BYU fan? Will you
all stand up? *some people stand* Now who in here is a Utah fan?...
Stay seated cause I don't want to know who you are". She had the ward
rolling! It was hilarious.

Also, the Halloween party was great and I got to hold a chicken! We
helped pass out candy at the trunk-or-treat but made the kids work for
it by asking them questions like "who is the current prophet?" And
challenging some of the older kids to give a Book of Mormon to their
friends. It was awesome!
The church is true. I love you!
Sister Gier