Hermana Gonzales is in-transit to California to start her work in the mission field and hasn't had a chance to email us this week. We thought we'd share these photos in its place.

 

 

Dad talking to his little missionary while she was at the airport waiting to go to California on Tue. June 25.



A little reminder in Dad's office.

Watch out! Here I come!

Dearest Family and Friends.

 

I just recieved my reassignment.

Its like getting a a new mission call! Its so exciting! we got our papers in the mail and on three we flipped them over.

low and behold none of us are going to the same place!

Elder Call is serving in TEXAS! (WOOW TEXAS!!!) Sis. Worlton is going to freakin NEW YORK CITY!!!!!

and i have been temporarily reassigned to the California Arcadia Mission until my visa arrives. WOOW WOOW WOOW! raise the roof im goin to CALI! im stoked!!!

 

My travel plans say i will be leaving June 25 at 6.40 am. then i have a lay over in Phoenix Arizona, then onto Ontario CA by 10.15 am

 

i have a two hour layover from 7.15 to 9.00 am so i will most likely be calling within that time. SO BE AWAKE!!! yay ayay yayayayayayay

 

whats so cool about this tho is this...

about week three, sis worlton and i were talking and we came to the conclusion that we most likely were going to be reassigned. because of all the stories and other missionaries who got reassigned. so we were trying to guess where we think we would go and where we wanted to go. we were casually walking down the side walk and sis worlton said ¨what about california_¨

and i stopped mid stride and said sis worlton, i dont know why but when you said that, it like, resinated in my soul. like deep in me. that feels familiar almost. what if i DO get called there. and i said. Mark my words, if i get called there, i called. cause it just feels so familiar. I dont know why. and when i turned over my paper. i first freaked out! then i said I CALLED IT!!! i so totally called it"! i know know it was the spirit! preparing me. strange. .. . . .  but not strange. the church is just TURE!

 

How exciting! i cant wait to get there!  by Tuesday, i will be in the field! YES YES YES!!!

but. keep praying for the visa. ill get to peru eventually. I guess it takes extra time for God to prepare the people for Moe Gonzales. they wont know what hit em once i get there. lol jk

 

any way

thats the latest and greatest.

Love Hermana Gonzales

 

HURRAH FOR ISRAIL!!!!!

Sorry, no pix this week. We got moved to a different computer lab and the card readers in here don't work for photos. :( I hope I can send more next week!

Love Sis. G.

(here are some older photos that didn't make it to the blog earlier)



From June 13, 2013: The most loved missionary in the MTC. My stack of letters has actually grown since this pic. It was taken last Saturday.

From June 13, 2013: Spanish learning game. Hey...it works!

I'VEBEENHERETOOLONGGETMEOUTOFHERE!!!

Dearest Family, Friends, support team, loved ones, etc etc etc,

 

Well. THings are mostly the same here at the good old MTC. IM STILL HERE!!! week seven actually.  I am curretnly waiting for my visa. ok STILL waiting for my visa! we get reassigned today. :D ill keep ya posted. havent found anything out yet.  Everyone in my district left this week. Everyone except three. Me and my companion and Elder Call. he has to wear a "SOLO" sticker on his tag so no one gets mad at him for not having a companion. We are a district of three. its kinda fun! we get one on one time with our teachers who help with spanish and teaching. We get to help the newer districts with their spanish too! which is nice. It helps me learn even better.

 

This last sunday the MTC pres. wife asked is to perform our musical number for all the departing missionaries! yes we auditioned it but i didnt tell anyone. lol. we auditioned it three weeks ago! and funny story, they told us we were in the YES pile but never contacted us for 2 1/2 weeks. so we gave up and turned in our music. THEN!!!! the friday before, we got a little note in our box asking us to perform! BUT WE TURNED IN THE MUSIC! what to do what to do... panic panic.... pray...panic.... we went to the music library and it was CLOSED! our music was locked up! PANIC PANIC...... PRAY SOME MORE!....

we talked the front desk into breaking in and helping us steal it. YESS! answer to prayers. no more panic panic. happy day.

we obtained the music behind the librarians back and performed for about 600 missionaries. THe spirit was strong. I got chocked up towards the end of the song. There was a point, where i forgot who i was singing infront of and i just sang with my whole heart. I sang my testimony as a prayer to God. Expressing my Joy and gratitude for the savior. "How Great Thou art!" i cant think of a better way to say it. And it brought me courage and comfort as i am preparing to go into the world and invite people to come to Christ. And when i realized what i was saying and what i was really doing here, i almost lost it! Then i sang about When Christ shall come and i will humbly kneel and in adoration there proclaim "My God how great thou art" then my soul will sing, to my savior, and i can tell him thank you. I can soak his feet with my tears and express my love and deep desire to be the very best for him. It was like i had angels with me that night. It was like i was Singing to God Himself, as a prayer straight to him. It was one of the most beautiful spiritual experiences i think i've had here in the MTC.

And combined with the violin and the beautiful piano arrangement, the spirit was jsut so strong. I hope the missionaries who left this week felt encouraged and strengthened.

This week we were released as sister training leaders. (even though everyone still asks us everything) lol. The new ones are in a trio and they are the only sisters in their district. they are doing an outstanding job. :D

 

I learned this week that Trujillo Peru is where the Peru Mofia started. :) thought mom would get a kick out of that. and about 20 years ago they had to close the mission cause it was so dangerous. lol

 

The prophet comes on Sunday! im super stoked! ill be in the choir for the broadcast. but so are about 1200 other missionaries, which is on ly 1/3 of the MTC.... so LOOK FOR ME! lol (not that you'll be able to find me lol)

not sure where ill be sitting, but i know ill be wearing either a white or green shirt. :)

got a good work out this week. sore. ouch. but feel good.

Thats the latest and greatest. Still working on charity, patience, virtue, faith and hope. these are charactersitics of christ taht i have studied. I also started reading Jesus the Christ with is SO awesome! theaches you A LOT about each of these thigns. I've been listening to conference talks in spanish which is fun.

Hope everyone saw the lds.org video to dads for fathers day. that moved me to tears! TWICE! yes i watched two times in a row it was THAT good!

and a SHOUT OUT to the best daddy in the world! and an outstanding step dad who both have raised their children in rightousness. which i can imagine is hard in a world like ours. What a blessing. We are so blessed.

The church is true!

Hurrah for Israil! ill send another email later today once i figure out where im going next week .

love you all!

Love sister Gonzales

 

Elder Anderson

Sis. Auri Kokal (high school friend)

The new assignment letter from MTC Pres and Branch Pres.

I ACCEPT!

I'm writing to you all right now!

Talking in My Sleep

Querido Familia y Amigos,

 

What a happy sister Missionary I am right now!

Here is the latest:

 

Got to HOst again this week! there is nothing more fun than welcoming new missionaires to the MTC!!

Was called to be Sister Training Leaders with my comanion. (Equivelant to zone leader just for sisters) and we had a whole new distrcit with 6 sisters and 3 elders come in yesterday! Lots of meetings, and tonight we get to give them a tour of campus. They are adorable and im so excited to get to know them. Sis Worlton and I were so excited we even made name tags to put on their door for each of them. i feel like an efy councilor or like a camp leader or something. SO FUN~!!!!! i have learned what made christ a good leader. Christlike leadership. Its a beautiful thing and what an honor it is to practice the things i have been learnign about the character of Christ. ITs exciting. loving missionary life.

 

No visa yet! STILL!!!! and yesterday we got a note in the mail that we were unable to be reassigned so I will be in the MTC for another  week :) Its like waiting for another mission call! its so exctiing! the note also said that we were to get another note next thursday if we are to be reassigned. then if when we do get reassigned, its one week in advance. so ill probably be here for two more weeks. lol oh well. everything is literall yin the hands of the Lord right now. So I will keep you posted! :D

good news, I will be here for when the PROPHET COMES!!!! I'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR THIS! every like, four or six years they get new mission presidents and the prophet and his apostles come to do a training. This year is different because this leadership trainint meeting is being broadcasted for anyone to watch! and guess what IM IN THE CHOIR so ill be there LIVE and will hopefully get my 3 seconds of fame on the broadcast. I heard you can get tix, so if you'd like to come see the prophet, or better yet ME see if you can snag some and come watch! lol

 

 

It was a beautiful thing when Hermana Worlton said "sis. GOnzales, you were talking in your sleep last night." i said "iorale pues!.... what did i say...?!"she said "i dont know it was ....somethingsomethignmumblemumble...Jose Smith...mubmblemubmel...." I SLEPT TALKED IN SPANISH LAST NIGHT! THE CHURCH IS TRUE! oh you know God hears your prayers when you start dreaming and sleep talking in another language. i mean, it might be the only spanish word that is practically english....but STILL. i was teaching the first lesson in spanish in my DREAM! i was pretty stoked about that.

 

 

So every sunday, the Branch Pres decides who speaks by revelation LAST MINUTE. and when i say last minute, i mean, no one knows who is givign talks in sacrament meeting until sacrament meeting right after the sacrament. like very last minute. therefore, we ALL prepare talks in spanish just in case he picks on us. Well, since Hermana Worlton and i were called as leaders, that meant that most likely one of us would have to speak. and since, Hermana worlton was asked to say the closing prayer, that meant one thing. I didnt realize this until the mornign of church..... and guess who was called out of the congrigation to get up and speak. THIS GIRL! yes. First talk in spanish! IT WAS NERVE WRACKING!!!!! i was like 'CRAP! SIX WEEKS OF SPANISH GONE!" i fel tlike i frogot how to speak spanish, let alone ENGLISH~! The topic was Fe en Jesucristo. Faith in Cristh. Which is a topic that is close to my heart. I said a prayer in my heart, requested some heavenly strength (ok pleaded for heavenly strength) and gave my talk. i hardly looked at my paper. I shared what it was, i shared a scripture and a quote from PMG and my testimony and i sat down. it was A MIRACLE! and i got a few compliments on it too. :D pretty exciting.

 

This week i have learned what it means to have "strength beyond my own". to really rely on the Savior for extra strength. to truly put everything at the alter of the lord, take my weekness and turn it into somehting beautiful. Take me and make me better. I am not Sister Gonzales when i do that. I am then God's. I am then His tool. and i have the strength, and the spirit to get me through the hard times. The patience with myself to learn the language. The humility to take the correction of everyone who seems to get it except me. Sometimes, i just need to take a minute and pray for extra strength. and He freely, quickly gives it. It is real. It is a real power that we have access to every day. Its interesting. I think the Lord has been humbling me so tha tmy heart is in the right place for when the Prophet comes. I need to be completely humble with an open heart and an open mind to recieve the messages i will need, and the inspiration i will need to take into the field with me. THose things will be a source of strength to me there, and the rest of my life. Everything happens for a reason. I wish you were all here with me experiencing everything with me. I wish i could tell you EVERY LITTLE thing i learn and every emotion i feel daily and in every moment. One day we can read my journal. with Porter and byron and nick. The Lord's hand is in everything. EVERYTHING.

 

Thank yo ufor your support and prayers.t hey are definutely felt. Thank you for your love! its a tender mercy. more than you know.

Love you all

 until next week! xoxoxoxo

PRAY FOR THE VISA!

loooooove

Sis. GOnzales

 

hurrah for Israel!

I started a new Book of Mormon and I've been marking only characteristics of Christ. Who knew there were so many things ALL ON ONE PAGE! I'm only in chapter 10 and I feel like not only do I know more ABOUT my Savior, but more OF my Savior and who he is to ME personally. It's amazing. I would also recommend everyone to go read or listen to "The Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar. It is about Turning Outward when the natural man would turn in. It's hard but that's what made the Savior amazing.

The district on Everyone Match Day

The only companions in the district who are going to the same place. Wow!

 

Samuel Smith statue

Giving Up Something Good for Something Greater

Queriro Familio y Amigas en Israel,

Well, to be quite honest, not too much excited has happened here in the MTC. ITs pretty normal. Oh except for yesterday when we made history by hosting the LARGEST group of new missionaries into the MTC!!!

940 new missionaries showed up yesterday and our district was asked to host them. I welcomed 4 beautiful, excited, new sisters to the MTC and seeing them say goodbye to their families, brought me back to four weeks ago when i said my goodbyes. i cant believe how fast it went. it fees like forever ago. It was hard to watch, but I was overwhelmed with the spirit, i was overwhelmed with the knowledge that God, our loveing heavenly father is very much aware of every single one of them. every single missionary and their sacrifices. every story is different. every back ground is different. I knew that Heavenly Father is very much aware of every single mom who sobbed as they drove away. every little brother or sister who hugged their big bro or sis for the last time in a long time. as the elder kissed his baby brother goodbye and knew that that baby was too young to know what as happening, and would have to get to know the three year old when he came home. God knows every emotion. Our savior knows every emotion. No sacrifice goes unnoticed to God. not one! I think of things i had to give up before coming. But after being here, it seems so small. Sacrifice is giving up something good for something greater. This is the Greatest Work i have ever experienced!!! 

WHat a blessing. I am just overwhelmed with gratitude EVERY DAY! my prayers have gone from five minutes (which is a long time) to ten.... to FIFTEEN MINUTES! last night i spent 15 minutes by my bedside just pouring my heart out to the Lord in gratitude. Its hard to ask for anything when you feel so blessed!!! i have never prayed so hard in my life i have never said such sincere words (in english or spanish!) i have never begged for guidence or help or strength as much as i have since bing on a mission. I am a missionary! you''d think that i am automatically blessed. we are. but i have never worked so hard for blessings. it makes me think "what was i doing BEFORE!??'' God was blessing me so much before and i hardly worked for it. THat is mercy my friends. that is Grace. That is unconditional love. But i will NEVER go back to who i was. I love this feeling i have now. My relationship with my Heavenly Father has grown trumendously. It is probably the most intimate relationship i have right now. Its hard to grow close to missionaries around you. I dont have family or boy friend here, so my father in heaven is it. He is my greatest support.

THis week has been beautiful. Ful lof the spirit. Im still learnign to recognize its promptings. Its funny how everything is connected. last week i studied about the spirit. then our devotional talk, the speaker said, im trashing my planned talk and following the spirit. i whitnessed first hand just what power the spirit has. THis week ive been studying about knowledge, then the devotional speaker gave a talk full of doctrinal knowledge! its awesome! and its funny how the spirit DOESNT EVEN  connect at all~! i was studying more about the important of having knowledge this week, then sis. worlton turned to me and said one thing. then all of a sudden the spirit taught me a valuable lesson about justice and mercy! COMPLETELY unrelated to what i was dilligently studying!!! but i learned, that as long as your heart and mind are always open,. then the spirit will get across what you need. i learned that the Savior truly does know me better than i know my self. I didnt know i needed to learn about mercy. i thought i understood. but the spirit tenderly taught me. He is very good at that.

ohhh i cannot wait for all the missionaires to have such an amazing experience here! everyone needs to experience what im experiencing!!!

Im not going to lie, homesickness caught up with me this week.

One night after a 20 minute prayer, with some tears, i crawled into bed. but i still had a lump in my throught. i had thoughts of ""why would i ever leave what was going so well????!?"" with college, Mike, family, siblings, tender mercies through ward members, a good job, my car, my callings, why would i ever leave my so very blessed life??? i layed there thinking. its clear now that satan was working on me. that lump in my throught was growing by the second. after five minyutes of holding it all in, i couldnt any more. i went into the hall, not to distract my roomates. and i slid down the wall and just released that lump through my eyes. i cried. the hardest ive cried in a while. This is the hardest, most humbling thing. But i know it is worth it. and like yesterday, i got the feeeling, that No sacrifice goes unnoticed to God. He blessed the pioneers. now we have temples. he took care of joseph smith, and now we have the book for mormon. He is very much aware of this daughter of His. and after a two minutes, i crawled back in bed completely at peace. He loves me. He loves that i am here. He knows exactly what im going through. This week i''ve learned to TRULY rely on the strenth of my SAVIOR! He is my Savior. he saves me everyday. i have so many weaknesses. please go read Ether 12. i decected this chapter and i learned that weakness is there for a reason and it is part of Gods plan for us. every thing happens for a reason. a sweet old woman said to me yesterday "no accidents happen in the life of a rightous person"

i believe it. 100%

Well. that is the latest and greatest.

I sang in our branch last sunday.

President Eyring''s granddaughter is one of our teachers. and she is GOLDEN! she could be a general authority she is s o so sweet.

president Nally the MTC pres knows me by name. He loves me. he shakes my hand everythime i see him. (mostly cause i know his grandson JM who was a totla punk in high school..... funny.... anyway) and i ask him every day to extend my time here so i can be here for the PROPHET!!! he said, "how much money do you have in your wallet?" i said "as much as missionaries are supposed to have. its yours!"

mom to answer your question, no, they arent real investigators. they are our teachers playing as investigators from their missions.

my spanish is getting better. TONS better. its cause i tried going a day with ZERO ENGLISH! it was hard!!!!!!!! REALLY HARD! but it inspired me to learn more! its hard to remember all the rules. and its even harder not to let the spanish get in the way of the spirit when teaching.

and fun fact, idk if i told you this before, but our district is very unique! as in NO ONE in our district is going to the same place! normally they try to put districts together who are ALL going to the same place. no one in ours EXCEPT me and my companion. we rock it!

thats all.

Hurrah for israel!!!! BUT FOR REAL! I LOVE THIS~!

all is well in zion. :)

les queiero! muah!

Hermana Gonzales <3