Without A Shadow of a Doubt

Kia Oraana Whanau! 

Well another Transfer is gone by!! These transfers are going by too quick. I have a new companion named Elder G. Oh my goodness this Elder is the man! He is from the Cook Islands, and he loves to dance!! But even better than that, he speaks English! I am so happy to have that!!

It’s been another beautiful yet rainy week here in New Zealand, which is awesome. New Zealand has a really bad issue with getting into droughts. So this is some much needed rain! But because of the rain people really have not been outside walking.. but that’s okay!

The beginning of transfers are always a bit crazy, getting the new missionaries accommodated with the members of the area and introducing our investigators to him. But what i can tell you is this and that is that this transfer is going to be amazing!! Elder G. has such a desire to do the work that we will be seeing so many miracles in this area! 

I am so privileged to be able to be a missionary! I truly love this work and the Joy that it brings to my life. I can not imagine what I would be doing right now if I wasn’t on a mission. I have truly seen the Lord’s Hand in all that I do as I have been serving Him.

I testify of the truth and divinity of Jesus Christ. He is my Savior and Redeemer. Joseph Smith truly saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The Book Of Mormon is the most correct book and we can draw nearer to God by reading that book than any other book on the earth. I am so grateful for this gospel. I know it is true with out a shadow of a doubt!

I love you all

Elder Gish

Our Purpose on Earth. It Is So Simple.

Kia ora whanau!! 

I am so sorry that I did not update you last week. There has been this virus going though Aotearoa and it hit me hard last week.

Let me update you all on some fun weather of this land. We had a cyclone come through! So much fun!! If there was a pot hole big enough, we could baptize people in them that is how much water we have. I was tempted to buy a big az kite so iI can strap it to myself and start flying! 

You will never guess what happened on this day.  We were pulled up at this stop light in our little Toyota that we drive.  And on my left pulls up a Lambo... and on my right... pulls up...you ready?...a McLaren!!!  WE HAD A RACE TILL THE DEATH!.. at least until the light turned green.... Our little go kart was no match.

So this past week has been quite amazing! I would like to start by sharing a little revelation I have found from being on exchanges with my Zone Leaders. While on exchange we were having this nice lunch. They had so much food it was ridiculous! It was like it was a Walmart in their flat. After lunch was over, I go to the sink to wash my dishes (yes everyone, the church is true - I wash dishes now) and notice they don't have anything to clean the dishes with. They spend all their money and time on buying all this great food, but forget that things need to be clean so we can eat from them. Too often we spend all our time "eating" and "buying only food", and wondering why things haven't changed in our life. But first we need to clean our plates (hearts,) so that we can allow food (joy and charity) to be brought into our lives.  Just a little revelation!

 A really cool thing happened this week while teaching an Investigator. She was curious about the purpose of us being here on this earth. Which is one the questions we love to answer. At the end of the lesson. She says to us. "Thats so simple. but it makes so much sense!" That's why this Gospel is so amazing...it makes so much sense but it is so simple!! We complicate things to much!! 

I am so grateful to all you and to those that with out fail email me and write me. It means more then you can now

Ofa lahi atu

Elder Gish

What I Learned from Elder Bednar’s Visit

Kia ora whanau!! 

This was an incredible week. Oh my goodness.

To start things off, we had the greatest privilege in the world to be able to listen to one of the living Apostles in the Church. Elder Bednar!! It was such a humble experience to be able to see and hear him. When he gets up to the mic, we are all expecting this talk that would leave brain juice on the ground from over exposure to pure awesomeness. But that’s not how it worked!! He just opened it up to a question and answer for 2 whole hours. 2 hours of discussing how we can better ourselves, by asking questions. We talked about things like "How to discern the Holy Ghost from our own thoughts." That’s the one that stuck out to me most because i struggle with that at times. But basically all he said was, if it is good, then do it, doesn’t matter if its the Holy Ghost or not. And that just spoke truth to my heart. At the very end of our minds being blown more then we had anticipated, he told us that we didn’t need him to answer our questions, that we are worthy of the Holy Ghost and that the Holy Ghost is the best teacher that there can be. It’s not us and our teaching, or kindness that brings people to us, it’s the Holy Ghost. ALWAYS. All Elder Bednar did was ask questions, and we learned so much from him. Probably more then if he had just given a talk. 

The work this week was pretty good. I didn’t get to spend much time in my area, because i had to spend a great deal of my week in other Elder’s areas. But I am so grateful for the area i serve in and the missionaries that i get to serve with. They are inspirations to me and motivate me to become better, for them. For the moment we are the family away from home. 

I can’t wait for the next week. We are going to experience so many miracles that it will be crazy!

Love you all!

-Elder Gish