Sister Gochnour: the importance of asking God...

hi everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell adelide that I love her sooo much when you see her. Katie you are so incredible. Your smile will change the world - you are in my prayers this week. And Jaren, good luck - hope it's a happy day.

KEEP WORKING HARD AND MAKING ME PROUD. YOU ARE ALL THE BEST.

This week has been very very windy - a few hot days and a few cold ones. The leaves are bright red and green and yellow..I love all of the feelings, the scent and the memories that come with the seasons. This part of the world sure is beautiful in the fall and now I get to go and experience it on PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND!!! I am being transferred to Summerside, PEI this week as a sister training leader....I get to work with all of the other sisters in my zone and learn from them and I can't wait. It will be yet another incredible learning experience.

This week we spent a day in Pictou - it's a great place to be....mostly because people haven't seen missionaries around as much so they seem to be warmer..more friendly and we had several uplifting conversations.

We also seem to work with a lot of older people but I love it. They are all so sweet and kind - they just love us and think we are so incredible. Most of them have faced such hard trials in their lives but they still smile big and love to tell us about their families and all the places they've been. They are teaching me a lot about life - living in the moment and loving it. Loving yourself and whatever circumstance you find yourself in.

They teach me to be kind and that your smile really can make a difference in someone's life - FOREVER. I told one of the sweet ladies who loves to listen to us sing in the nursing home that I was leaving to go to Summerside this week and she almost started to cry - she said, "I suppose I'll never see you again, but I'll never forget you!" I told her that the amazing thing about this life is that death is not the end. That I will see her again someday. "I really hope so, dear" she said with a smile.

I'll miss this little branch. They are so loving and so faithful.

I will miss the train tracks that run through the middle of the town and the walking path that is entirely covered in trees and so beautiful.

I'll miss the stinky river and the old, delicate buildings.

I'll miss the people and the millions of cats but luckily some things don't change throughout the maritimes - for the most part the people and the cats are constant so that's good.

I have been thinking a lot lately about what is possible - what can I actually achieve? One morning I prayed before studies that Heavenly Father would guide me and help me know. I was finishing Mormon and read the verse in chapter 9, 21 "Behold I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him, and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth." Isn't that incredible? SO many times throughout the scriptures we hear Christ pleading with us to ASK Him for things. HE wants to bless us but some things He can't grant us until we ask - in faith - doubting nothing. Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you."

As I began Ether I read about the Brother of Jared who never hesitated to ask the Lord for things he wanted. He didn't want the language of his people to be confounded and it wasn't. He wanted to take some family and friends with him to the promised land and he was permitted to. He wanted the Lord to touch the stones so that they could have light as they crossed the deep water and the stones were lit. He was able to talk face to face with the Lord. All of these blessings were given him because he asked. That was a beautiful example to me of faith. Of hope. And of trust in God and His promises.

We must ask God in faith for the righteous desires of our hearts.

So in answer to my question -

what is really possible? What can I achieve?

ANYTHING is possible.

You can achieve greatness if you simple BELIEVE -

doubting nothing!!

AND ask God - always ASK.

I am thankful for prayer. That God allows us and commands us to pray to Him so that He can guide and direct and comfort us in our lives.

I'm thankful that He hears and answers our prayers.

I am thankful that I get to be a missionary.

I am thankful for change and for new experiences that help us grow.

I'm thankful for the amazing people I am surrounded by and all that they teach me.