HAMILTON

Yep, I'm getting transferred to Hamilton! I'm leaving my dear area of Toronto and all the YSA here! How dearly everything and everyone will be missed.

Toronto YSA is where I was changed and raised and shaped and tugged and stretched and tried and built, and I'm super sad to leave, but I'm also happy because I know it's time for me to move on and I know the Lord knows me, because everything that has happened to me on my mission is evidence that He knows me and what I need and who I need. I'm excited to move forward!

Also (here comes the missionary in me because I'm about to use an analogy)... a new area is suuuuuch a small portion of our mission, and a mission is suuuuuch a small portion of our life, and our life is suuuuch a small portion of the eternal plan that God has for us. So when challenges arise, remember that they will be but a small moment.

So this week was actually a little rough! haha. Downtown Toronto has some crazy people and there is always just lots of wickedness and sad things happening everywhere. My tender, missionary heart can't even handle it sometimes!

As missionaries, at least for me, I think we forget that there really is a lot of hurt in the world out there. We forget that there is a lot of sadness and cruelty and sin and abuse. But that is why the Atonement of our Saviour Jesus Christ was not performed in case we needed it, but because our Heavenly Father knew that we would need it. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is not beyond the reach of any one of us. Change IS possible, joy IS available, and the love of our Saviour and Heavenly Father is and always will be present, perfect, and unchanging. The things I've seen and felt, the good, bad, and the ugly, have all been for a reason. I'm grateful for that.

On Saturday, we had SMT! I kept feeling like we should talk about charity and I couldn't figure out which direction to take with it or how to really apply it to ESL, but I went with it. We started talking about what our missions have taught us about charity and the spirit was SO PRESENT. It was so great to hear, not only the testimonies of what these missionaries have learned about loving others, but also about what they have learned from the examples of their companions. (shoutout to my former companions for teaching me so much!!) LOVE IS ALL WE NEED IN THIS WORLD.

Yesterday was oh so good. A few investigators and less-actives came, the talks in sacrament were so perfect, and a girl that I handed a mormon.org card to on the subway WEEKS ago showed up at church with her friend! Man, miracles happen! When I first talked to her, she didn't seem thaaaat interested, but then she came to church?! So great. And after church, the Elders had another baptism and it was so happy. We got to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ during the "changing" time and it was so special. I love teaching and testifying!

After church, we had some lessons and Robert got Sister Coleman and I gifts! He is the best gift-giver because he got Sister Coleman legos (general conference family tradition for her!) and he got me a selfie card game (because I always take selfies on his phone)- he knows us too well! ONE DAY ROBERT WILL GO ON A MISSION. PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM :)

Gifts from Robert

That evening there was a missionary fireside! President and Sister Clayton spoke. I love them! Sister Clayton speaks soooo tenderly. These were a few of my favourite things from last night:

"We don't know what we don't know."

Let us ask ourselves each day, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?"

"Give Him a place in your heart."

I love being a missionary! I love the gospel! Please think of the people in your life who need what you have-- pray for them, love them, invite them to partake of the things that can bring them the joy they need.

I love y'all!