My Testimony Of Specific Prayer With Real Intent Grew So Much This Week!

Elder Parker, me, Elder Snow and Elder Tallie

June 29, 2015

Dear Family & Friends,

Busy busy week. But it was a good one! I definitely saw the Lords hand in our work as missionaries this week. My testimony of specific prayer with real intent grew so much.

So we had a little team up with Elder Sutch. He is one of the AP's and is also from Spanish Fork! He stayed the night with us and watched how we planned and studied. Our studies were really focused on finding people to teach because that was what we felt we needed to do. In comp study we role played different finding situations and also how to keep people talking even when they are hurrying away from you. It was pretty funny but it actually helped later on in the day. After studies we knelt down and prayed that as we went out to a specific apartment complex at 11 o'clock, someone would be prepared for us to be there to hear the message we share and listen to it. 

As we walked around the complex we tried to talk to a couple people with no luck. Then we saw this lady walking clear across the parking lot. We hurried over to her and got to talking with her. She spoke Spanish of course so I got to use my Spanish a little bit. She was really nice and turns out she has a little bible class every Friday and we asked if we could come sometime and she said we could. Haha I guess there is a pretty good group of people that go so that will be a good opportunity. Then as we finished talking to her we offered to say a prayer for her. Right before we started we noticed a lady standing across the street just staring at us so we asked if she wanted to join. And she did haha. After the prayer we got to know her a little bit. She investigated the church about a year ago and kind of lost contact with her missionaries and just stopped. She is going through some hard things right now and asked if we could come give her a blessing sometime. We got her number and address and tried to go give her one on Saturday but she wasn't home but hopefully this week. Ok now here is the crazy part. As we were talking to that lady, a young couple pulled into the complex and as they passed us they stopped and asked if they could have some of the Jesus cards that we pass out. We gave them a handful and they drove away. After we finished talking with her we turned to see where that couple went. We spotted their car but didn't know which apartment it was they walked into. We knocked a couple doors and nobody answered. As we were walking away Elder Parker said we should check number 18. We were like why? Turns out the number in their parking spot matches the apartment number. Haha so we turned back and knocked on their door. They answered! And they were so happy to see us. Their names are Ricky and Nicole. They are probably two of the nicest and most welcoming people I have met on my mission. We talked with them and kind of introduced ourselves and explained what exactly we do and how it would bless their lives. We promised them that if they would listen to our message their lives would be blessed and their family would be strengthened. They said, " Wow, that is amazing. We want that!" We asked when we could come by another time to share it with them. Haha they told us to come back in like 2 hours!! We went back and they gladly let us in and we sat down and got to know them a little more. They have been through so much. But they said that they found God and it changed everything for them. They have been happier and have been praying for more guidance for a while. He told us that it wasn't just chance that we were sent to them. We taught the restoration and they loved it. They loved the first vision and also when we explained what the Book of Mormon was and how it was given to us. We handed them their copy and Nicole was like "Wow, do you feel the power of that book?" Then she hand it to Ricky. And he did too. We challenged them to read from it. They gladly said yes. Then we extended a baptismal date to them also. And they said yes! July 25th! They were so happy and so were we haha! Then we asked Ricky if he would say the closing prayer. Haha he sang a little song and then said a great prayer. We walked out of the lesson and just looked at each other like what just happened. We couldn't believe that just happened. Heavenly Father blessed us so much that morning. He put people in our path that were prepared and  the ready to hear our message. Such an amazing experience and my testimony grew so much from it. I love my mission.

Love you guys!

-Elder Gammell

Loving Carmichael So Far!

June 22, 2015

Haha this week was great! I can already tell this transfer is going to be a good one. I didn't get to email too much last week so I will try to make up for it this week.

So transfer calls were on Monday night. We were visiting some recent converts and I got a call from President Jardine. I was kind of nervous because I knew he was calling all of the missionaries getting sent to the Modesto mission and I really wanted to stay here in Sacramento. It was a big relief when he told me I was staying. Then he told me my new calling and zone and that I would be in English work now. I felt really excited and also a little nervous. He told me to pray for confirmation from Heavenly Father about my new calling. And I did the next day in the temple. As I was praying, I felt such a powerful feeling of peace and love. I can't explain how amazing it felt. I know it was my Heavenly Father letting me know I am going right where I need to go.

Tuesday I said bye to a some of the families in North Sac that I have grown close to. It's crazy that you never know the impact you can have on someone’s life until you leave and they tell you. I was sad to say bye but I think I will serve there again sometime again.

Wednesday Elder Parker, Snow, and Tallie came and picked me up and took me to Carmichael. I got all moved into my new apartment. And of course there is a pool right out our door which stinks because it's always a million degrees outside and that pool gets tempting haha. Anyways a little bit about my new companion. Elder Parker is from Dallas, TX. He has been out for almost a year. He's a "healthy" eater so there wasn't too much to eat this week. He is trying to stay in shape because he has a baseball scholarship at BYU when he gets back. We workout every morning so that'll be good. Hahah I gotta have some real food so I will stock up today when we go shopping because I can't survive on just veggies and fruit. He is a really good teacher and missionary. I'm learning a lot from him. I can already tell that we are going to have a lot of success together.

Cool experience on Wednesday night. We were going to dinner at a members house and we were like 10 minutes early so we walked across the street to knock some doors. On the second door we knocked we met this lady named Elba. She was so nice. When we introduced ourselves she was like oh, your Mormons right? And we were like yes. Well after talking to her for a while we found out she is from El Salvador and she recently had a brother pass away. She was really struggling with her faith in Jesus Christ and needed a little help. We testified about eternal families and the hope we receive when we live the gospel. Then we said a prayer with her. She wanted to hear my Spanish so I said it in Spanish. It was really cool. I know it wasn't coincidence that my first day in Carmichael we run into someone who speaks Spanish. We have an appointment Wednesday with her so I am excited for that.

Friday I had a new leadership meeting in Rancho Cordova. It was so cool to see the difference from last transfer to this one. We studied the talk Jesus: the perfect leader, by Spencer W. Kimball, is Probably one of my new favorites. We had a big discussion on it and talked about how we can become better zone servants and district servants. I learned so much. I think the biggest thing I learned is that leadership is a chance to love, serve, and strive to set an example.

Later that night we had an awesome lesson with our investigator Carlos. You know it's going to be a powerful lesson when President Jardine and Elder Sutch come to teach with you. Carlos has amazing faith and knows he needs to be baptized. Just have a couple little hurdles he needs to get over. One of which is inviting his fiancé to come to the lessons and get involved in it. President Jardine invited him and his girlfriend over to his house for dinner in a couple weeks. Hopefully she comes because that will be a game changer.

 We had a Hoedown the other night for a ward activity. It was so much fun!

I got to meet some of the ward members and eat some good food. Haha there was also some karaoke. Haha everyone wanted us to go up so we did. Hah we sang Love Story by Taylor Swift. Everyone got a kick out of it. I have a video but I can't send it or I would.

Another shot of us singing
some karaoke at the ward party.

I am loving Carmichael so far and I know there are many more cool experiences to come. So glad I get the chance to serve here. I know it is right where the Lord needs me at this time. My testimony is growing so much every day through all of the amazing experiences I get to go through. The Book of Mormon is real and true. It shows us the way back to our Father in Heaven and gives us guidance in whatever struggle or challenge we are going through. I know these things for myself. And I'm so grateful for my testimony.

*2 Nephi 33:10-12*

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye--for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.

Love you all! Have a great week!

-Elder Gammell

We Had Transfers This Week!

June 16, 2015

My Zone

Saying Goodbye

My

Well We Finally Got Our iPads This Week!

June 8, 2015

Well we finally got our iPads this week!! Hah the wait is finally over. They are so nice!! It makes studies in the morning so much better. Going through preach my gospel and I can just tap on links to scriptures instead of flipping back and forth. Planning district meetings is so much easier also. There is just a lot more material we have access to…so nice.

Friday we had a great zone conference. President Jardine trained us a little bit on the power and authority of our calling as missionaries. We went through a bunch of scripture and kind of just had a discussion together. It was really cool. Then we went through some break out trainings with our zone leaders and the Assistants to the President. Then we had a testimony meeting for the missionaries that are going home this next transfer. Wow some of the testimonies were so powerful. Haha I just kept thinking that man I still have a lot of time before I get to do that. Then I remembered how fast my mission is going by and how fast it came before I got my call. I am already almost at 7 months! It will be here before I know it. Insane!

Cool story for the week.  Elder Tena and I had a couple of appointments fall through so we decided just to go park somewhere we hardly ever go in our area and walk around to see what happens. We started going down the road and stopped and turned right. Then we went down the road a little ways and we spotted a huge cloud of black smoke coming out of a house up the road. We hurried over and we found the owners outside just kind of staring at it. They were drug users for sure. But we started asking if anyone was left in the house and they said no. One of the neighbors or the owner had already called the fire dept. The fire was huge!!!, rolling out the back of the house. It was creeping around the house toward the neighbor’s house. We went next door and woke up the neighbors and told them they needed to get out because the fire was right next to their house. Cool thing was that the neighbors were some inactive members!! The husband went to the side of the house and sprayed it with the hose so it wouldn't catch while the firemen were on their way. We were out front with the wife and we said a prayer with her. We prayed that her house would be fine and it wouldn't catch fire. Then right after the fireman showed up. While they were working on the fire an older lady kind of snuck around the side of the house right where the fire was. There wasn't a gate so we started helping her over the fence. But then the cops ran over and just pulled the fence down haha. It was really cool to be right there to help out. The inactive family was so grateful that we were there to help them. I know that Heavenly Father guided us there to be there. Hopefully that experience will help them return back to church.

Loving my mission and all the cool things that I get to experience. I have grown so much and I am grateful for this chance to be here in Sacramento.

Love you all!! Have a great week!!

~Elder Gammell

This Week We Had A Mission Wide iPad Conference

June 1, 2015

Ice Cream Eating Challenge (I won)

This week we had a mission wide iPad conference. It was so good and the crazy thing is that we didn't even get the ipads yet. Hah, basically they are preparing the mission for them. President Jardine can give them to us whenever he feels like the mission is ready. So he is going to give some more trainings and stuff on them. It was cool to learn about why we are getting iPads and how they are going to change us as missionaries and the work too. One of the biggest reasons we are getting them is to help us missionaries develop good habits with technology that will last us the rest of our lives. Didn't really think about the iPad that way but it is such a smart idea. If they can help missionaries use them correctly and carry that with them after it will bless them so much. I am excited to get them hopefully this coming week!

Saw Elder Padilla at the conference

We had an amazing lesson with one of our investigators! We have been teaching her for a while and we kind of felt like she was kind of plateauing and not really progressing. Then she told us last time that she wanted to know more about how Jesus Christ came to the Americas. So on Saturday we ready 3 Nephi 11 with her and broke it down for her. She had amazing questions and she really understood the importance of it. Then we talked about how when Jesus came one of the first things he established was the manner of baptism. Then we talked about why that would be important to her. She told us that she wants to be baptized and we invited her to pray and pick her baptismal date. So we are really excited for her! Hopefully she doesn't pick a date too far away. We really hope it is this coming month.

The big mission split is coming up soon and the mission is getting ready for that. Not really sure where I will be but I kind of have a feeling I am staying right here in Sacramento. But I know that I will go where Heavenly Father wants me to go.

Haha, the craziest thing happened this week. I was talking about one of our investigators and I was trying to say granddaughter but I couldn't remember the word. All that was coming to my head was nieta. So my English is doing down and my Spanish is going up hah. Really though I can't believe how much better I am getting at speaking and understanding. I have a lot more confidence in it and it is awesome to get to use it.

Everything is going good out here!! Loving every minute of it. Have a great week.

Love you all!

~Elder Gammell