Goodbye London...Hello Toronto!

First of all...a special shoutout and big thank you to the Stamps family and Sister Stamps' seminary class! Oh my goodness, the package and notes were so sweet! I loved the drawings and the cards and the sweet words written. Thank you so so much! I love y'all!

So Toronto is the biggest city I have ever been in in my entire life! Holy cow, I feel like I am in a movie, or the great and spacious building. Speaking of cows, the first few days in the city all I could think of was "where are all the cows?!" Just a small town girl living in a lonely world or gospel-less people! There is so much diversity and so many eccentric children of God here that need the gospel, it's just wonderful! Subways and buses are a little scary, but oh so prime for talking to people and finding the elect: those that are prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel.

My companion is Sister Waldron and she is such an angel. I feel like we have been companions for weeks now, but we have only known each other for 6 days! Crazy. I learn so much from her every single day about how to be more kind-hearted and sincere and all of those Christ-like characteristics I need to work on.

We are both so excited to be serving in Toronto YSA! This area just opened about 7 weeks ago and its the most coveted area in the mission, so we consider ourselves pretty blessed. This area has so much potential and there is so much work to do here in Toronto! So exciting.

In this area, we also have the opportunity to teach ESL! Teaching English is so exciting! I love helping people from so many different countries learn how to speak English while tying in the gospel at the same time-- so tricky, eh? 

This week we had Zone Training/Skills and Interviews so that was amazing. We talked a lot about what holds us back from contacting and how to more effectively contact and it was so great, especially because that has been my biggest struggle out here. I would normally feel more comfortable with just leaving people alone and letting them go on their way and not bothering them, but the most important duty EVER is to proclaim the message of the gospel! I am constantly reminding myself that everyone needs the gospel and every person I see could be prepared but I will never know it if I don't open my mouth! I also am trying to remind myself that it doesn't matter what strangers think of me because one, they'll never see me again anyway and two, they need the gospel whether they want it or not. So yes, they are going to hear about it. Moral: EVERYONE SHARE THE GOSPEL. Whether that be posting links on social networks or bearing testimony to strangers, share it. We have a special message that everyone needs. This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God. 

At Skills and Interviews we also got to visit with President and Sister Scott. I love them! I'm so grateful for all the love they have for us.

We have 3 investigators preparing for baptism! Citlalli is from Mexico, Ahmed is from Saudi Arabia, and Oliver is from Toronto! They are moving in the right direction and will be so blessed.

I started rereading the Book of Mormon with a question in mind. My first question for my new way of reading the Book of Mormon, thanks to Elder Bednar, is "How can I be a more consecrated missionary?" It is amazing how the Book of Mormon has always and will always be the exact same words, but has the power to change our whole perspective and teach us something new when we approach it with an open heart and open mind, being ready and willing to be taught by the spirit according to what we need to learn and understand.

The Church is true and the book is blue! It's that simple.

“After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel."  -Joseph smith

Remember-- share the gospel! Love y'all!

Holy Is He, Blessed Am I

So last night we got the most unexpected phone call...

SISTER BALDERSON AND I ARE BEING SEPARATED AND TRANSFERRED!

I'm going to Toronto! And YSA again! How fun, I just love those young single adults.

It's a bittersweet thing for me because we won't be here for our two baptisms next week, but I'm are excited for new opportunities and experiences.

This week I really reflected a lot on the Savior and His Atonement. I find that I get easily frustrated when people don't know what they are missing out on (aka the gospel) or when they know what they should be doing (aka making good/better choices) and they don't. I think I sometimes find it easier to love people when they are easy to love, but something that has taken me a while to finally learn is that true, Christ-like love is exhibited especially when you love, without restraint, to ALL-- even those who are hard to love.

This Easter was special. The hymn I Know That My Redeemer Lives went through my mind many times this week. It truly conveys how purely and perfectly our Savior loves us and it is such an example to me of how I can be better at loving people and seeing them for what they can become.

I know that my Redeemer lives.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, he lives, who once was dead.

He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.

He lives to plead for me above.

He lives my hungry soul to feed.

He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.

He lives to guide me with his eye.

He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.

He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart.

He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav'nly Friend.

He lives and loves me to the end.

He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing.

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.

He lives, and I shall conquer death.

He lives my mansion to prepare.

He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

I do know that my Redeemer lives. He is so perfect in every single way. 

YSA ROCKS

So this week was a blur!

Since being out in the field, I've really been struggling with needing to love contacting. So one morning, I just prayed with all my heart that I would develop a love for talking to strangers on the street. That day, I all of a sudden loved it? The weather was beautiful, the people were still as interesting as ever, but because Heavenly Father answers prayers, He blessed me to see the beauty in talking to strangers about the blessing of the restored gospel on the earth. 

Cake pops from companion's Easter package!

So we usually contact at Western University, since there are so many potential YSAers, and before we left campus, we were walking in the basement of a random building and we just happened to run into a guy that we had taught but haven't seen in a while. Moral: coincidences are not real and God does put people in our paths for a reason.

This past week we had 3 children of God preparing for baptism! It was wonderful. They have all come to church and were reading and praying and progressing along the path that leads back to our Heavenly Father. One of them just mission dumped us so Sister Balderson and I were pretty heartbroken, BUT we have to focus on preparing the elect!

Just before we head out!

This week we also got to help serve at a wedding at the stake center! So that was fun helping serve(/eat) food and watch people be in love and what not! Shoutout to my Kell Belle for being my one and only when it comes to having the same taste when it comes to weddings...and literally everything else.

This Sunday was exhausting. We got a lot of less-actives and our two investigators at church, so that was a blessing and a half, but I will say this: the most frustrating part of a mission is people's agency. You can share and teach and testify and invite until you are blue in the face, but it always comes down to those you are helping and whether or not they want to act and receive God's blessings for themselves. It really is a learning process to be humble enough to work with so many different types of people. I have really come to understand that true, pure charity isn't simply loving people, but it is loving people that are hard to love without restraint--seeing them through God's eyes and loving them regardless of the choices they make and the people they currently are. Life is all about progressing and continually moving forward on the path that leads back to our Heavenly Father.

Everyone go read "Our Search for Happiness"! Like Elder Ballard said, either Joseph Smith saw what he saw or he didn't. Either God has a plan of eternal happiness or He doesn't. Either the Book of Mormon is the word of God or it isn't. But I know more than I ever have before that our Heavenly Father is guiding and hastening His work on the earth right now. He loves us and that is why He has designed a perfect plan for us. We are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives!

I love y'all so much! Serve a stranger this week!

xoxo

God Loves His Children!

First of all...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH TO MY LITTLE SWEETIE! Can't believe you are 19, Sierra...you are just growing up oh so fast. Go eat some Smith's chocolate ice cream for the both of us, okay? And have the best month ever! I love you!

So this week we had Zone Training. It was so great! We learned a lot about how we have been preventing our investigators from progressing and about how we can learn to help them progress, such as by helping them find the answers to their own questions, giving them assignments, asking questions that will help them think, etc. It's really important that we as missionaries learn to not get in the way when the spirit is trying to teach the investigator something, but that we are receptive conduits for the spirit. After training, we all got to go pick up our mail! I got lots of restoration and plan of salvation pamphlets and mormon.org cards to pass out...so excited to share these babies with the world!

This week we taught a college student named John the Plan of Salvation-- at the end when he said the closing prayer, he thanked Heavenly Father that many things had been cleared up for him. That made me smile. We also got to visit a lot of less-actives this week. Some excited about coming back to church and some, notttt so much. It's so important, especially in this day, to exercise our agency for good so that we can learn to distinguish between good and evil. We have to constantly be nourishing our testimony so that we are never so vulnerable that the adversary has power over us.

This week I was talking with a recent convert's young teenage friend that he brought to the church. He told me about his 6 month old daughter and about how he believes in aliens (heaven help that little girl). But yeah-- it was just a great reminder that EVERYONE needs Christ in their lives!

So GENERAL CONFERENCE was just as beautiful as ever, eh? So how about Uchtdorf's talk on gratitude??-- it's amazing how God even answers unsaid prayers. I love the reminder to be grateful in all things, even when our circumstances are difficult. A grateful heart eliminates bitterness and it shows that we trust the Lord and know that He will take care of us. How blessed we are to have a Prophet and inspired leaders on the earth today! The Lord truly loves each one of us so dearly. And special shoutout/thanks to the Browns for feeding the missionaries all weekend! Bless their hearts!

Currently, we have three progressing investigators! Two of which, Jonathan and Brandon, have agreed to baptism at the end of this month and one, Amina, that we believe will accept baptism soon! Jonathan recently found God and knows that They are important and significant in our lives. Brandon was at a point of loss of direction and when the missionaries found him, it seemed to be exactly what he was looking for. Amina is the sweetest of all girls and has never had a religious background, but would love to have some sort of foundation to build upon. They all came to conference, too! What great souls they are!

.........................

Me: Did you know if you say gullible really slowly, it sounds like green beans?

Sister B: gggggguuuuuuuuuullllllllllliiiiiiiibbbbbbbbllllleeeeeeeeeee.....no it doesn't?

Me: Oh my gosh.... did you know the ceiling says gullible on it?

Sister B: ........(looks up)......I thought I saw it there one time.

.........................

For those who didn't get to watch conference or who wish to be inspired and feel God's love, ----> https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng&cid=HPTU040114644

Teach someone something you learned from conference this week! Love y'all!

xoxoxo,

Sister Courtney Howle

Week 4 Already?

You know you are a missionary when you dream about investigators and lessons to teach and scriptures to share, etc. Not creepy at all, right?

 

First and foremost...

Sierra, the cheerios are not as honey nut as America, so I'm sure you understand my struggle.

And Emily, you and your aunt-- at the Relief Society broadcast-- oh my goodness. "You know you consider it an intense athletic event when you have to climb just one flight of stairs..." SO YOU. So. You. hahahah. Can't wait to start running up the stairs to campus with you again...

 

So our zone leaders are such joksters.

"Sisters....what is the ratio of males to females in your ward?"

"Uhhhmmm...like 60% males, 40% females..."

"Okay....and how many of those males look good with facial hair?"

Funny Elders.

 

Can I just say that I love serving in a YSA ward? London is very different than anywhere I have ever been. Lots of old buildings. people that smoke, and animals. But meeting and serving with young people is exciting all the time!

 

So we are working with an investigator and he is so great. He told us that he was looking for some direction in his life. He came to church and is reading and praying and we are so excited for him to continue progressing! And one of the Lord's recent converts in our YSA branch decided that she was willing to makes sacrifices in order to follow the words of the Prophet. God answers prayers! And He loves to bless His children.

 

This week we went on exchanges and it was such a wonderful experience! I went to Brantford and we contacted people all day and met so many great people. I learned that it is so important to continue to give people a chance, to not take the first "no", and to be comfortable and confident when sharing the message of the gospel and my testimony with strangers. I think it is so easy to lose hope and want to move on and find people that are "prepared", but really, we won't find them if we don't keep talking to them and sharing with them truths of the restored gospel. God works wonders when we press forward with faith--especially in conversations with strangers. People are actually pretty amazing, but we don't know that if we don't actually care to get to know who they truly are.

 

While people have depth and truly have so much to share, they are also funny. I won't say how many times this past week we have been asked if we are dating/married/available etc. Oh people! We are full-time missionaries, no time for that!

 

Me: "Wait...does she know that families can be together forever?"

Companion: "Oh my goodness, Sister, you are such a missionary..."

Good thing I'm getting settled!

 

Missionary work is so inspired and I'm so blessed and grateful that I get to witness God's hand work miracles every single day. Jacob 5 is evidence that the Lord loves His children so much.

 

Days are like weeks, and weeks are like days. I am grateful to be a missionary!

 

Serve someone this week! Love y'all!!

The Lord Loves Everyone

So missions are actually really hard, but they bring so many blessings! I have seen so many already.

This past Saturday, all the missionaries in the whole mission were able to gather together and listen to Elder Bednar speak to us. What a blessing that was! We also got to reunite with so many missionary friends from the MTC, so that was sweet!

So I'm serving in London in a YSA ward and it's pretty fun! It's different serving in a YSA ward for my first area, but I don't really know any different and it's cool anyway. I love being able to serve with people my own age.

I have met lots of interesting people since being in the field such as people that claim they are already Muslim or Roman Catholic, devil-worshippers, and just some down to earth people. But through it all, I'm learning what it really means to have charity-- to truly see people the way that God sees them. I'm also learning that everyone has agency-- everyone.

Sorry it's short this week, I'll elaborate more next week! But remember that everyone is a child of God, everyone needs to be loved, and everyone has the light of Christ in them.

PS- My life consists of a thousand tender mercies everyday. I sometimes hear apostate music by the elevator when we leave our apartment, but today Demons was playing and I about died smiling and singing. #badmissionary but I love the Lord and know He loves me, too!

Welp. This week was hard.
Thank goodness for kind mission president wives that assure us that we can do hard things. (Emily I immediately thought of you)

So my first area is in London and I'm serving in a YSA branch. Weird right? Working alongside people my own age that aren't actually missionaries.

My companion/trainer is from Alberta Canada. She has been out for about a year, so that's pretty cool.

Well, the work must go on and I'm grateful that I get to learn so much being a missionary!

Have a great week everyone! Go serve someone this week!

Elder Arrington and Sister Bingham with Sister Howle