Something Good

Feb 29-March 6th

Last Monday, we played "gotcha" and it took me back to the good old days when we played gotcha after seminary...Hmmm, I don't miss it that much!
We also had the chance to take a NAP!  It was so nice.  I have not napped forever.
For FHE they played glow in the dark volleyball with was awful because as missionaries we can't play with members because we get too competitive..Blah, blah, blah whatever...I really wanted to play!

Tuesday, we had interviews in the morning and training.  The Zone leaders gave training on the plan of salvation and how it applies to missionary work.  Each of us taught a different part of the plan and it came together really well.  Also during interview trainings we role played the Restoration and I acted the part of investigator.  I always thought that if I met the missionaries I would not be open minded enough to accept the gospel.  But the spirit was so strong I would accept their message.  It is true!  How could a person turn away something that is so true?!  It amazes me how many no's we get and how humble the people must be to say, "yes".
Ashley Cox, Zach's sister, came out with us on a lesson.  It was with a progressing investigator who is an ideal investigator.  Ashley bore a strong testimony of Joseph Smith and it was wonderful having her with us.  It made me miss Natalie because they are about the same age.

Wednesday was long.  We had MLC from 9-3.  As I was looking around during the meeting it felt empty.  I spoke up a lot more than usual because there are a lot of new missionaries in leadership so they can be shy.  It has been awesome seeing my confidence change throughout my mission.

Thursday we ate at Panda express - the favorite missionary eating location.  Then we went on exchanges.   Sister Green was my exchange companion.  Boy, did we have a lot of time to get to know each other.  STORY OF THE WEEK....
We were street contacting and this guy with his dog that kept barking at us.  Then sister Greene stuck her hand out like she was going to pet him but the dog jumped up and bit her hand!  Then the owner said, "I would not do that!"  Gee Thanks...Luckily the dog managed to both her right finger which happened to have a ring on it so it saved her finger from being chopped off but it bent the ring.  We had to chase down a member to cut off her ring because the deformed ring was cutting off circulation to her finger.  Then the mission medical office has us go to "urgent" care to make sure she would not die!  Notice how I sarcastically said urgent care..because when it was all said and done it took 3 hours.  So we had 3 hours to talk and get to know each other.  She is really nice and we like a lot of the same stuff.
Afterwards we taught a short lesson.  I did not think the lesson was anything super special but Sister Greene said that she was on a spiritual high and almost wanted torch.  Then she said it was the first time she had felt that way on her mission.  It put things in perspective that is for sure. I am grateful that I have an obedient companion and for the opportunity I have had to see miracles all the time.

Friday we ended exchanges.  We had dinner with a lady named, Jennifer.  She is always so great about missionary work.  (like the rest of the members in the ward).  We plan to do splits with her sometime.  One of us will go with her and ride the bus around and talk to people.  I am excited.  We taught a new investigator named Arthur.  He knew we were sent from God and basically knew the whole plan of salvation.  But the best part was he knew how the gospel could help change his life.  Oh and his men at the beginning said to him, "you need to get a job, your commanded to multiply and replenish the earth but here you are talking to church people with a beer in your hand!, ...Put a shirt on!...Lord have Mercy!.   I love sassy moms!

Sunday we went to the temple with Dena.  And then she fed us a dinner after church.
Today we received a new ruby red car!  I love it.  I know I am spoiled.  This is a fluffy mission. Ithink of my friends in other parts of the world eating stage foods and then I am so grateful God sent me here...because it is the best place in the world!   We had 5 investigators come to church!
Love you lots!
Sister Gier

Waiting For the Sun

Feb 22-28th

The weather has been super nice here lately, so for pday we went to the park and played in real grass! I seriously miss grass.
At FHE a member brought a freiend and she had some questions about the church and what missionaries do.  She was raised Buddhist and did not have much of a Christian background.  We were able to talk to her form a few minutes after the activity.  We taught her what baptism was since she had not even heard the term before.  I can just imagine how the girl must have felt hearing about things like having never been exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ before.
Tuesday we had exchanges and I went to the Stonegate ward with Sister Thornock.  On Wednesday we had district council.  Sister Thornock was great!  I learned a lot from her and she said she hopes we can be companions again sometime which would be awesome because she is super sweet.
Friday a sister was ill in Boulder City so we took her some oatmeal, jello, applesauce and Sprite.  We are the Zone moms.
Hunter from Bullhead City was baptized.  That is the 6th person from that I taught that was baptized and I have not been able to see any of them.  Oh well, at least they are getting baptized.

Love you lots,
Sister Kaila

Sister

Feb 15-21st

We had a trip to the Hoover Dam.  I did not think my companion would appreciate all the DAM jokes so I kept them to myself.  We took a tour of the dam as a missionary group and were able to access the tunnels and see the inside of the dam!
Tuesday we had exchanges and sister Chazen, a temple square missionary came with me.  We had a great day.  We taught plenty of lessons and had a huge lunch at Roberto's Mexican restaurant.  She is from South Africa so she has not had Mexican food.  Later we had a lesson with an investigator named Krystal.  Her family is hispanic so they fixed us tacos and there was no way to tell them no so I think I ate my weight in tacos!  e were stuffed driving home.  When we got home I realized that Sister Bedont had the key to the gate...in Boulder City...20 minutes away...but I had the key to the house!   I decided to scale the 7ft tall cinder block wall and jump down on the other side to unlock the gate all in a skirt!
Thursday morning we had interviews with the mission pres.  It was good.  I can not believe that I am one of the senior STLs in the mission and that I am HALFWAY done!  President has a lot of trust in me which is good and it is neat looking back and seeing how much I have grown.
Thursday evening we want to Church of the Vine Las Vegas.  Originally it was to talk to one of our investigators and his pastor but we ended up going to their young adult service with one of our members and e did not get the chance to talk.  If I got anything out of the trip it is this:  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints truly is God's Kingdom on earth today and the fulness of the gospel and the power and authority of God has been restored to the earth.  Hopefully our investigator will see it too.
Friday I went on exchanges with sister Snadoval and it was awesome.  We are fortunate to have been able to serve around each other.  We had a good heart to heart that evening and we were both in tears. She is a great missionary and special person.  I just love her so much.
Saturday we volunteered at the Saints and Sinners half marathon.   I received some weird tan lines that day!.
I love you, the church is true!

Happy

Feb 8-14th
We live in a member's casita and it is super cute and wheyey nice!.  Probably the nicest place in the mission.  My area is huge.  I cover over 4 stakes in the east part of Henderson and Boulder City.  Later today we are going to the Hoover Dam!  Whose.  The members here are great.  I was a little scared to go back to YSA because it was hard but we have been blessed!
We received a text this week from an investigator that we found our first night in this area.  He recently joined another Christian church but accepted the Book of Mormon and said he would pray about it.  The text said that we has been praying and wants to meet together with his pastor...st his church...So next week there may be a story of how we converted the whole church!
We had dinner with a lady named, Grace.  She served her mission in Oklahoma.
Exchanges went well this week.  Actually it was a miracle it went so well.  I had been praying all week that they would be effective and God answered my prayers!  It was neat seeing how the sisters were able to open up a lot (even those who hate STls) I know I am here for a reason and I know God is working through me to touch the hearts of all the people.   We had zone training this week which went well.  The zone is quirky and fun.  Saturday night we "heart attacked"the sisters and put heart notes on their door and streamers all around.  It was fun and I love how special it was to them because Valentine's Day as a missionary can be boring.
Wednesday, we were at a bus stop and this guy came up to ask us if we were Christians and we explained our purpose as missionaries and told him about institute and he said he would come but then he got on the bus.  So the next morning he called and asked the time and the address!  Its a first that an investigator called us first!.
We were on our way to institute class and sister Bedont asked if we could go back to the car and get a bottle of water.  On our way a non member who lives only four houses from the institute building approached us and said he was looking for a place to worship and thought he might as well try this one since it was so close to his house.  We explained our role as missionaries to him.  We were in awe as to how we just happened to be at the right place at the right time for him.  We gave him a tour of the building and gave a lesson to him on the restoration and the plan of salvation.  I would describe him as a mad scientist.  He is a 65 year old metaphysics who has hair similar to Einstein.  Very knowledgable.  He understands the basic concepts thoroughly.  Hopefully, he will continue to come to church.
After church on Sunday we had a "Linger Longer" with baked potatoes and chilli and salads along with a sugar cookie decorating bar.  YSA activities are fun.
I love you!

Ice Ice Baby

Week ending February 7th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MOM AND BRIAN!!

Monday was fun.  It snowed in the mountains surrounding the valley.  At ZL/STL meeting we reviewed the transfers by reading my losses.  The whole transfer the zone leaders made a list of losses, mistakes, and weird things I said or did.  They mess with me WAY too much!  But the good thing is it was the last day so they got it all out.
Tuesday was transfers.
It turns out my new companion lived in the same hall as me at BYU in the summer.  Only a few doors down!  She was in Ty's FHE group.  I knew she looked familiar but because of mission brain I could not place her.  Probably because she spent most of her time in the dorms studying ( like I should have been) while I spent my time with Gabby at the guys dorms.  What a small world.  She is awesome and super smart.  Everything she says and testifies comes straight from the Preach My Gospel manual.  It is like when someone talks by quoting lines from a movie except it is super spiritual.

We had zero appointments set up this week...The area book dis not sync until Thursday.  And when it finally did sync it had not been updated for a month.  Double transfers are rough!  But because of it we had a lot of time to find new investigators.  Normally finding investigators in a YSA ward is hard because it is a limited demographic but God blessed us as we diligently worked to find those He had prepared to receive the gospel.
Our first night we just prayed to know where to go and we turned into a gate apartment complex.  Right as we were praying it started to open and the first door we knocked on the guy was interested in learning about the gospel.
The whole week was filled with meetings like that.

Today we were so busy that we barely had time to play sports.  Next week we are going to try to see the Hover Dam.

The ward is super awesome and missionary minded.  This is the ward that sister Sandoval started her mission.  We had dinner with a member, Grace, and she served her mission in OKC.  How cool!  I have officially spent more time serving in YSA wards than family wards.  Zach's high school is across the street from the ward building...He said he has some non member friends that he is going to try to get the contact information for so hopefully I will be able to stay in the area for a while an teach them the gospel.

It is neat knowing that I am here in the Vegas area for a reason and how small the world really is.

Love,
Kaila

Overjoyed

Week Ending Feb 1st

So here is my weekly summary:
The weather was nice.  We played volleyball and basketball on our day and hiked up a mountain.  So exciting and cold.  Found out Elder Chamber's dad went to the same high school as you which is kinda weird.
Tuesday Elder Corbridge fro the 70 came and spoke to us.  It was great seeing sister Kaufusi (she is serving in North now).  She told me 5 people from Bullhead that we found and taught were baptized. Wednesday we went to the temple with Sister Vaaie and Erickson.  It was a perfect day to go.  There were not many people there since it was early and had just reopened the day before.  I love going to the temple.  It gave me peace of mind and was just the thing I needed!  Plus it was a gorgeous day!
Thursday we finally thought Sabrina.  Earlier this transfer Bishop Olsen asked me to speak in sacrament meeting and it was super spiritual.  Immediately after the meeting, a brother, Brother Cordova, who I had never met before, came up to me and gave me the information for a friend he wanted my companion and I to teach.  This does not happen very often.  Unfortunately she was living in Henderson at the time but just moved into our area.  She had already started to read the Bokk of Mormon and had questions like, "do you worship Joseph Smith?, what are you called Mormons, etc".  We started the lesson by getting to know her better and she is from the south side of Guthrie, OK!!!  Isn't that incredible!  We taught the lesson and the spirit was so powerful.  Then we asked her to be baptized on the 12th of March and she accepted the commitment and started tearing up.  You could tell the gospel was something she has wanted very badly.  In a tender moment Brother Cordova looked at me and said "remember the poem"?  He was referring to the poem I shared in my talk 5 weeks earlier.  It told a story of how two spirits knew each other and were best friends before this life but how one was born with the gospel in their life and one without.  The one without begged the person with the gospel to find her and share the blessings of the gospel.  The spirit was immense.  We promised Sabrina that we would find her and bring here the gosple.  How wonderful it is to be part of this great work.
Transfer news:   I am going to Henderson!  I am getting a double transfer into a YSA ward there and will still be a STL. I am super nervous because this are is harder that what I am in now .  My new conniption is Sister Bedont.  She is from Washington and come out a transfer after me and was sister Wilde's trainer.  I am on my 7th companion.  I must be a trouble maker!  I over the Eldorado, Lake Mead and Black Mountain stakes so if anyone knows somebody there, let me know!
I am sad to be leaving this area.

Love you!
Sister Gier

OK, It's Alright with Me

Jan 18th-24th

Things are going well here in Vegas.  This past week and this upcoming week are going to be and have been busy with broadcasts, MLC missing tour, exchanges and transfers.  Fun stuff!
It sounds like Natalie did great with her talk at the Stake conference.  Man, she is the coolest!  SO proud of her.  She is going to be a great missionary.
Sister Fingerle sent me an American flag tag like the sisters missionaries on temple square that was cool because she probably had to kill someone to get it.  She gets released in a week but I am going to do my best to keep in touch with her.
The Pday report:  I am getting pretty good at basketball, the elders actually want me on their team!
Wednesday morning we watched a broadcast form the mission department in SLC.  This year's vision is to teach Repentance and Baptize converts.  Everything the leaders talked about came from Teach my Gospel.  It is amazing how simple the doctrine of Christ is but how it has such far reaching effects on our eternal progression.  Repentance is such a key component.  I always learn something new as I study this fundamental but complicated gift.
Sunday we went on a mini exchange with the other sisters in our zone.  It was really nice.  The mission president is proud of the work that it going on in our area.  I found ut that 3more people I taught in Bullhead got baptized!  I wish I could have been there.  Elder Corbridge fro the area 70 came and spoke to us.  Kinda calling us to repentance  and humility which I needed because God had blessed me so much I need to become more humble.  Our investigators are doing well.  We walked Alma to church today.  Steve our recent convert called to tell us he read the entire General conference issue of the Ensign in a day!  Holy Cow..  He is awesome.  We keep finding people to teach and the Lord is blessing us greatly.
We just finished hiking Sunrise mountain.  It is super steep and my legs are on fire.  As we were hiking down Elder Chambers and I found out that is family went to Pueblo East High! crazy to know that his dad and uncles lived in the same town as you, mom. Crazy small world. We were freaking out.

The church is true!  I love you,
Sister Gier

Sister Gier in her Birthday Denver Bronco gear!