Service is the best!

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Hey all!

How are you doing? I hope you've been able to have some missionary experiences this week! 

As you can see from the picture we found some kind of animal this week. Haha, we were going down to unlock our bikes and heard some scurrying. Is it a raccoon? Possum? I have no clue. 

We had some neat experiences on Friday this week! A less active, Charlotte, has a neighbor who has a bunch of health problems and isn't able to wash his car, so she offered to have all three of us help him. When we went to go get the car we found out he still needed to run to the bank to get change, so Charlotte went with him and we waited by the car wash at the apartment complex. We were in jeans and t-shirts so we couldn't go out knocking doors, but soon a car drove up and we offered to wash the man's car! He was shocked! Haha, his name was Kenny and he thought we were joking. We washed his car and then were able to share an Easter pass along card with him. He said he was new to the area and was looking for a church to go to. We explained where it was and testified that Jesus Christ's resurrection is the true meaning of Easter. While washing Kenny's car another car pulled up and he vacuumed. Afterwards we offered to wash his car also. He spoke mostly spanish and with my poor spanish we understood that it was ok. We washed his car and afterwards he (his name was Orlando) asked us how much we were charging! haha, when we said nothing, again he was shocked! He shared a card with him and offered to bring to water to show his gratitude. I don't know if anything will come from these experiences, but I know that service truly softens people's hearts. When we serve our Heavenly Father's children we are showing Him that we love Him. 

We were able to meet a lot of members and less active members this past week also! With a member family last night we were able to talk about preparing for General Conference. I'm pretty sure I talked about this a little last week, but I want to invite you all to pray about and write down questions that you would like to have answered at General Conference. Whether they are answered in a talk or through the spirit that is there when we listen, I know they will be answered. 

I was reading a quote in an Ensign from a couple years ago and this stuck out to me. Especially as we think about the Atonement and Resurrection as we prepare for Easter! It's from Elder Bednar from a talk called "Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease." 

"There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, 'No one knows what it is like. No one understands.' But the son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and bourne our individual burdens."

I know that is true. I love you all and I'm so grateful for your support! Happy Easter!

Love,

Sister Gessel

P.S. Can I ask you all an big favor?!?!? :) So, my companion as you know is from Samoa. She has a big supportive family in Samoa and New Zealand, but it's hard and expensive for them to send mail. I'm gotten a bunch of mail these past couple weeks (thank you all!) and she's got a couple there here and there. Could you find time this week to send her a quick note? A favorite quote or missionary experience? I would be so grateful! I know it would make her week! Let's flood her mailbox!

Sister Gafa

12025 Citrus Falls Circle #306

Tampa, FL 33625

Y'all are the best! Thank you!!!!!