Onward!‏

Oh my goodness, what is my life?? How in the world did I get here? I ask myself these questions every single day. It's so interesting to look back at the person I was a little over a year ago and barely be able to recognize her. I think of some of the things I said, did, and thought, and it feels so foreign to me. That person doesn't exist anymore. I mean, I'm still me of course, but my focus is much happier and is constantly bringing me so much closer to God. I've been especially looking back at my growth over the past 13 months because on Friday I got what we missionaries call "the Trunky Call." The mission office called me and wanted to know which date I was going to choose go go home. Because my 18 month mark falls in the middle of a transfer, I have the option of going home on June 23rd or August 4th, and the trunky call is when they let us know that we have a few days to pray about it and decide (I've picked August 4th just FYI). Ever since that call I've been pondering my mission and how I've gotten to this point. It's so funny to think things like, "Oh my goodness, I've lived in the Northwest for 13 months now... Washington and Oregon really have become my home for now!" I never really thought too much about myself living on my own in a different state than my family, so being here for so long and feeling at home is very different. But I know why it feels so familiar - it's because I am here with God. The people within the boundaries of my mission are people I knew and loved before I came to Earth, and I'm sure I promised some of them that I would find them and help them come back to their Savior and back to their Father in Heaven. Knowing that is such a comfort! And that is why I feel at home here; because these people are my family and we have loved each other since before the world was even created. I love that! 

That being said, my heart broke when I had to leave my brothers and sisters in the Vancouver 1st Ward. I feel such an eternal bond with each of the people I met there. I have felt that for people in each of the areas I have served in, but especially in the Van 1st Ward. I miss them all so much already, but I know that it wasn't goodbye. I'll see them again another day. :) My new Ward, the Columbia Ward in the Gresham Stake, feels great already too. There are people here that I promised I'd find, and I can't wait to find them! The people I've met so far are wonderful and all so talented! There is much work to be done here, and there is much help provided by the members, which I am ecstatic about! I love my sweet new companion, Sister Eyerly, and we are going to do so much work here! It's fun being in a new area because I love having no expectations of people when we first go and teach. That way I don't feel the need to be reserved in extending commitments or asking bold questions. (Not like I've ever been afraid to say or ask anything, haha!) It's exciting! 

All in all, I am very anxious to see where this next transfer and the experiences in this area take me. I am sad to not be in Vancouver, but I know that as I focus on Christ and His work, my burdens will be made light and I will be able to feel the kind of happiness that only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring - eternal happiness. I feel the love for these people already, but I look forward to having a small taste of the kind of love that God has for His children here. I am in Oregon, and the people here are pretty strange, so expect some fun stories coming up as well as stories of miracles and tender mercies that are given to us missionaries serving here in the Columbia Ward in Troutdale, Oregon (yes Dad, Troutdale is a real place). I love you! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me in this part of the Washington Vancouver Mission. I'll talk to you next week! 

Love Always,

Sister Nicole Guilott

My new companion Sister Eyerly!

Houseboats. They have garages for their boats.

Love is in the Air!‏

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Not gonna lie, holidays kind of aren't a thing when you're a missionary, so I definitely forgot it was Valentine's Day until we came home Saturday night and I had a package waiting for me! That was a joyous occasion. Lots of wonderful miracles happened this week! We had 12 Member Present lessons which was great, and every time we bring a member with us to a lesson, miracles happen. Making at least 12 tangible miracles that I can recall. BUT I will just tell you one or two. We brought this awesome girl named Jonaka with us twice this week. She is 19 and trying to decide whether or not she wants to serve a mission (she totally should because she's a natural). Anyway, one of the times we brought her with us, we taught two people. I sat down and taught a man named Dave, while Jonaka and Sister De Leon taught a man named Ralph. They both committed to come to church, we talked about baptism with both of them, and Dave read the whole Book of Mormon that very night. !!!! Baffled. At the end of our conversation with Dave he said, "I hate this. This feels so familiar. I always get an answer when I ask, but I'm nervous about what He's gonna tell me this time!" It was super cool. Then when we invited him to be baptized he said, "if I get the answer that his is true, I'll be baptized that day." It was seriously amazing. Unfortunately his car broke and he didn't make it to church on Sunday, so we didn't hear his answer. But we will find out this week! Oh... Actually... That brings me to my next point...

I'm being transferred. We got our letters on Thursday, and transfers are tomorrow. I am being moved to the Columbia Ward in Gresham, Oregon and my new companion is Sister Eyerly. I don't know her very well, but the few times we've interacted I've thought she is cool, so I'm not worried about that. The only thing is that I love this Ward with my whole heart. I know I say that every time transfers come around, but this Ward has a special place in my heart. I've been here for 4 and a half months, and I have REALLY connected with the people. Add that to the way the work has taken off here, and I'm pretty sad that I have to leave in the middle of it all. I love love love this area. But Sister De Leon is training here in the 1st Ward, and she is stellar so I'm sure this area will be well taken care of. 

Because I'm being transferred, I have been very busy today. Which means I don't have any more time to write this email... But I love you all and I am excited to see what happens in Gresham! Hope you all had a happy Valentine's Day! I'll talk to you next week! 

Love Always,

Sister Nicole Guilott

P.S. Pictures!

"Sweet Riya had ear surgery, and her cute little wrap made her seem even crazier."

Babies, Beanies, and Baptism!‏

This beautiful 10 year old got baptized on Saturday!!! Isn't she adorable? Oh my goodness, I love Riya so so much. I may have already said this before, but she makes me want to be a better missionary. When I think of "the elect" who have been prepared by God for His restored Gospel, I think of Riya Rowley. (Her mom Erica was baptized two weeks ago.) Riya has the most faith I've ever seen in anyone. Anything God tells her to do, she'll do it. No wonder Joseph Smith was only 14 when Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him! He was willing to listen and had the most sincere desire to get an answer. Just like Riya. :) Oh how I love that girl. 

In other news, we had a lot of fun events going on this week. We bought beanies last week at Winco, and every time we wear them we just feel like we are the coolest people on the planet. So we left from our 7 o'clock appointment this Wednesday, and as we were leaving we put on our beanies and started singing this crazy African chant from the Broadway version of "The Lion King" that we have been singing for the past week. It's a great song! But every time we sing it, we get super into the harmonies and the African-ness of it, and this particular time, we had our beanies on so we were even cooler! ;) Anyway, as we are belting this song, we finally notice this woman sitting on her front porch staring at us. We laughed and said hello and it turned into a good lesson! Haha the way Heavenly Father uses us to get people's attention sometimes. I love it. So check out the beanies that we have "so much swag" in. 

The last exciting bit of information involves the Great Chicken Massacre from a couple of months ago... Remember when those stupid raccoons came and ate our chickens? Well... Brother Roniger bought 8 little chicks! He fixing up the coop and it will be ready by the time they are grown, but for now they are living in a box in the garage and they are so cute!!! We named them of course. There's 'Lil Guilott (pronounced Gee-Yo) and 'Lil De Leon. Those are the ones we are holding in the pictures. They're our babies! I'm so happy!!! 

Sister De Leon's toe is for reals broken, and the doctor gave her strict instructions to ice and elevate it as much as possible for a few weeks, so we weren't able to get out much. We went to our scheduled appointments and talked to the people on the streets near them, and our lessons still were up there! We taught 22 lessons this week. Not as good as last week's 38, but we'll get back to that again, hakuna matata. I am so grateful that God helped me to be this happy for such an extended period of time. I know you sometimes think, "she only ever tells us the happy stuff, I want to know the nitty gritty!" But I am telling you the honest truth - I am on cloud 9. I'm sure a lot of that comes from your prayers and support. So thank you! I love you so so much!

Love Always,

Sister Nicole Guilott

"Gotta be prepared!"

"Is this supposed to be a salad?"

"She got a "Missionary in Training" tag that she wears everywhere now.  So cute!"

The Truth of God will Go Forth!‏

"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

This is one of the mottos that we recite every morning as a part of our companion study, and it is a powerful reminder of the importance of this work, and the knowledge that it is God's work. If it was our own, it could be stopped, but He is the almighty God, and His gospel will go forth until EVERYONE has had a chance to learn it for themselves. This week has been such a blessing. I feel like I am not doing anything anymore, it's all God. I just walk around and He places people in our path that we are to teach and bring back to Him. It's seriously the coolest feeling in the world. 

"We decided to have fun becoming kinda "ghetto" for Pday today."

"I even figured out how to corn row Sister De Leon's hair!"

We thought this would be a super slow week because of our injuries. Oh, have I told you about our injuries? I don't think so. Don't worry, nothing to panic about. Long story short, I have a torn meniscus and my companion has a broken toe. Hers is pretty bad and she often needs to use a crutch. Mine is bearable with a brace. So we look like a bunch of fools hobbling around town trying to teach the gospel! But remember, God's work will go forth no matter what. Because we were slowed down, the Lord literally placed people in front of us for us to teach. Almost every single person we talked to became a lesson, and quite a few became new investigators or referrals. We taught 38 lessons this week, and we spent almost 2 days inside so Sister De Leon could elevate her foot. 38 lessons! And it was EASY. Our goal for this next week is to reach 50 lessons. Wouldn't that be great? 

Because we are kind of immobile, we had to think of creative ways to share the gospel with as many people as we could reach. One day, we stood in the middle of an apartment complex (nicknamed "Felony Flats") and started singing "Amazing Grace" all loud, harmonizing, and singing with soul. People came out of their apartments all over the place to listen to us. We taught like 5 lessons right there to the people living in Felony Flats, got a bunch of return appointments, and got at least 2 new investigators. It was amazing. What was even better is that the next day I received a letter from Mom suggesting that we find new and creative ways to contact people. I giggled. God doesn't do random. 

So Riya's baptism is on Saturday, and yesterday she was the first one in sacrament meeting to bear her testimony. It was precious. This is part of what she said: 

"I just wanted to share my testimony about Jesus. I have felt the spirit just... Come up to me. The spirit came up to me. I've never had this feeling before! I thought I'd never have feelings like this again, but I know that I will have more feelings as I am baptized and with the Holy Ghost." 

It was the sweetest thing in the world, and of course everyone was amazed and cried a little bit. So tender! (Side note: did you know that the Washington state government officially and legally changed the name of the state to "Hawkington" over the weekend until Monday morning at 12:01 am? For the Seahawks... Too bad they lost. Awkward!) After church, we got home and began our limpy gimpy way to the house when we saw this:

"No obstacles will stand in the way of your success this month."

Like I said, GOD DOESN'T DO RANDOM!!! He wants His work to go forth, and no obstacles are gonna stand in His way! I love this work, and I love being a part of it. I love you all! Talk to you next week! 

Love Always,

Sister Nicole Guilott

P.s. Pictures. :)

"De Leon's first Popeyes experience for Mardi Gras!"

"Doctor Day."

"We can't take pretty pictures."