T H A N K S G I V I N G // Canadian-style

Happy Thanksgiving from Canada! Weird, eh? Totally not used to Thanksgiving being before Halloween, but we're okay with it because we got fed WELL.

We shared a spiritual thought Sunday night with the Deeks family about how during this earth life, our purpose is to use the right tools that our Heavenly Father has given us to help us return to live with Him-- one of those being our families. I am so grateful for families. I know that they are central to His plan for us. I love that it is in our families that we learn to respect, love, trust, forgive, etc. Not every family situation is ideal, and yes we all mess up A LOT, but I know that Satan wants the family to be ripped apart. Heavenly Father wants us to work together to better each other, lift one another up, and get to the Temple so that we can be together forever. I love His plan!

We also had dinner again with the Contreras family last night. I love this family! They are like a second family to me. The spirit is always in their home and I know I definitely want that when I have my own family and home!

Robert ALSO fed us this week (we really are taken care of when it comes to food...). We talked with him about his future family and some goals he has when he has one. It is so cool to see how he is realigning his priorities as he comes closer to his Heavenly Father. It's the best to see the process of conversion happen right before your eyes. He also bore his testimony on Sunday and texted us about how grateful he was that God existed. <<< such a tender moment for a missionary.

And it has been a blessing for me because I've been in this area for so long, that I get to see how it is growing and changing-- the Lord is truly apart of this work.

This week we met with Calvin! And we committed him to quit smoking! He is such a funny man, I love him. He really has a desire to do what is right and he has such a good heart.

We also met with Yesol-- we happened to randomly run into her on the sidewalk by Seneca so we chatted for a bit. We talked about how she wasn't sure if she would be able to come to church on Sunday because she hasn't been feeling anything special at church, and so she wanted to try another ward. Then on Sunday... she came! And guess what? She felt something. We met with her after Church and asked her how it was and she really liked it. She said when Jason (someone from the branch who leaves on his mission tomorrow!) bore his testimony, that she felt something and almost cried!

FAST & TESTIMONY MEETING IN A YSA WARD IS THE BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN.

Guess who also showed up at church? Our investigator Tao, our investigator Taishi, and a less-active named Shaunna. Tao is from China and comes to ESL, but has also started coming to institute and church. He says he feels really good there :) and Taishi is from Japan and he, too, is from ESL. He doesn't really understand anything, but he feels really good, so that's a start!! And Shaunna... oh my goodness, I love her! We have been visiting her lately and she has been slowly taking some baby steps in being more comfortable with coming back to church, and on Sunday, she just showed up. I WAS SHOCKED. After sacrament, so many people came up and hugged her. I ALMOST CRIED. It was so beautiful so see her and her friends reunite! 

On Friday we had Skills and Interviews/Zone Council! We got to have personal interviews with President and Sister Clayton-- I love them. So grateful for them. 

Yesterday we thought it would be a great idea to go and contact people and talk to people on the streets about what they were grateful for, being Thanksgiving and all! 

Nope. People were NOT in the mood, haha... But! We did talk to some people! And we met THE COOLEST guy ever, named Slava! He is from Russia and he believes in God and when we told him a little bit about what we believe in, he was like, "Oh...I never knew this thing before." So it was perfect to invite him to learn more and we are meeting with him tomorrow! We are excited!

Something I was reminded of this morning was from a scripture in Luke 9:62:

"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." 

Not only do we have to be willing to leave good things behind for better things ahead, but we have to be willing to leave behind those things that burden us down and hold us back-- bitter feelings, heartaches, past struggles and mistakes, bad memories, etc. Our Father in Heaven wants us to be happy! So let's be happy and just try a little harder to  be a little better :) This life is all about progression, not perfection! 

This week was great. The work is hastening. I love answered prayers. I love being happy. I love feeling the spirit. I love taking the sacrament. I love meeting new people and getting to know their stories. I love my companion. I love this work. I love being a missionary. 

I love y'all and I am grateful for all of you!
xoxo

come and see

 

So usually for transfers, if they call, someone is being transferred, if you don't get a call, then you are both staying!

Sister Coleman and I praaaayed we wouldn't get a call...

we get a call.

....simply to tell us that we WEREN'T being transferred! They knew we didn't want to be separated.

WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE?

But all is well, because the dream team is staying together in the most blessed land of Toronto YSA!! We are so happy!

We are going into transfer 6... where did the time go? 

Last monday we played games with our zone and another zone! We had matching shirts and everything so, yes, it was quite the event. It's so funny how awkward every single one of us is, but also how we forget that we are real people too. Missions.

It's weird because I definitely thought I would be leaving this transfer, and so I prepared my heart to leave the people here that I love, but now I don't have to and I'm so excited to be with them for another 6 weeks! 

just a shot of where we live because you haven't seen enough haha

This week we taught Yesol, thinking it would be my last time teaching with her. Tears came, too, from I don't know where! I love her so much! She is so precious! I feel bad that we have emphasized and re emphasized baptism sooo much with her, but she has such patience and I know now that it is important that we focus more on the PATH rather than the GATE, for right now at least. She will be such a solid convert one day. We also gave her the Book of Mormon manual with pictures and she is enjoying that a lot! I LOVE THE CHURCH RESOURCES. USE THEM. 

We also met with Calvin and his friend Ben. I love Asians, they are so cute. We talked to Calvin about the Book of Mormon and why it's important. He was even able to get the app on his phone and can now read it in Mandarin! Again, I LOVE THE CHURCH RESOURCES. 

One night we met with someone named Andile who is Christian and is from Nigeria. We went and met with him and started talking. He was actually taught by missionaries in the past and still even had his Book of Mormon. When he was taught about it, he had the impression that he had to read the whole thing before he could pray about it. No way! We should be reading the Book of Mormon every single day and should be praying about it frequently! This will not only allow God to manifest the truthfulness of it unto us, but will also allow our testimonies to be strengthened and confirmed and reconfirmed.

city lights at nighttt

On Thursday we met with a lady who is the manager of Club Monaco, she is 28 and travels everywhere for business, she has been dating a return missionary from church for 8 years, and she has been investigating ever since they met. She is sweeet! Her name is Karen (also known as the Queen according to Sister Coleman and I because she is so with it). She took us out for vietnamese food one night and we talked about everything; who she was, her story, how she has felt about everything with the church and her family's opinions, etc. etc. She even got a little emotional, but I know that promising things are ahead with her. We are excited to help her along her path of getting some answers. 

That's what I love, too! I absolutely LOVE being able to promise people blessings. It's like pulling down the powers of heaven! I KNOW that if you pray, you WILL receive answers. It's awesome.

sometimes we feel like we are in Europe or something

SO HOW ABOUT GENERAL CONFERENCE?!

Man, I cannot even say in words all the wonderful things I love about conference! I will say, though, that I love how our Heavenly Father loves us so much. He always tends to all of our needs, someway or another. It's amazing! We all can go into conference with so many thoughts and questions and concerns, and somehow, if we go in with the right heart, we all come out feeling better and more spiritually confident. 

Something I LOVED was when Bednar was speaking directly to nonmembers and he said, "...every knee SHALL bow and every tongue SHALL confess that Jesus Christ is the Saviour and Redeemer of the world." Go back and watch it! He says it with such POWER!

So in case anyone missed it, Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet, the priesthood has been restored, and Jesus Christ is the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. 

Just as the prophets have invited us, I echo their words-- come and see. The church is true and can bring such sweet, lasting joy, so let us share that with others.

I love y'all!!

xoxo

my reminiscent companion

truth shineth

This week was probably the best week of my life! So many things going on!

First of all...can we all just talk about how MARVELOUS the Temple is? We got to go this past Friday and it was the first time I'd gone in 7 months... May I just say that I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE. I felt so calm and so at peace and so happy. It truly is the Lord's home. I know that He really wants EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US to get there! 

How about that Women's Broadcast?! So beautiful!! It was all about the Temple! Some things I loved-

their covenants were everything. personal worthiness. drop by drop, one by one. temples are an expression of God's love. truth shineth. the choice is mine. I think God knows something that we don't. moses 1:39. live the gospel and you will discover your true self. never stop your steps to the temple.

No matter what, be temple worthy. It is the only way that can lead us back home to our Heavenly Father.

We also met with Tiffany! We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ-- but really, she was pretty much teaching us! I was SO impressed. For someone who grew up in the Chinese culture where they really don't have religion or believe in God, she sure has a lot of faith. She truly recognizes those feelings from the Spirit that testify of truth to her. She is going on a mission one day.

We also met with Calvin! It's so cool to see how he is changing. I remember when we stopped him on the sidewalk and offered him a mormon.org card; he didn't have a belief in God. Now, he prays every single night (he even prayed to find his tshirt and he found it! #churchistrue) and now he is beginning to believe. The ATONEMENT CHANGES PEOPLE. 

This week, our zone went downtown again to contact during the Book of Mormon musical! SO FUN. We met one guy named Edward who even offered us a free ticket... instead, we got his number and we are meeting with him Wednesday! SO SWEET. We called him last night about meeting this week and he was like, "You know, it really sparked my interest. I actually went a did a little research and you guys are doing a really good thing." We are excited to meet with him!

OH MY GOODNESS. So. A few transfers ago, Sister Waldron and I met a guy named Salman at the subway station and we gave him a card, he gave us his number, we tried to meet a few times, but he was always busy. This past week... WE MET WITH HIM-- and his muslim missionary friend (did not know those existed). It was QUITE interesting. He tried to bash us and give us all this anti, BUT... the church is true! I know it, and I know that God knows it, therefore I cannot deny it. Kudos to Joseph Smith, he knows.

Guess what fell from heaven this week? Marie. She is from Halifax and she was taking the lessons from the sisters there and just moved here right before she was about to be baptized! She is so ready! She has suuuuuch a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. She told us "I always ask my friends, 'what is your favorite book?' and then I ask them 'would you die for that book?'" She totally knows. 

I love this work. I know that we are dear to our Father in Heaven-- He wants us to be with Him again. Let us make covenants, but then keep them and honor them. I know that this is how we can walk back to the presence of God.

"He is my only hope. I long to cling only to Him."

Share your testimony with someone this week. I love y'all!

feel, believe, know

This week was long! But it went by fast? Time is weird and sometimes, almost nonexistent out here.

So lately we have been focusing a lot on FINDING-- but more importantly finding the KINGDOM BUILDERS. It's really interesting, because in Toronto, it is impossible to talk with every single person because there are SO MANY OF THEM, but that's when we get to walk down the streets and just look into people's eyes and think
"whose ready?"
"whose a kingdom builder?"
"who does the spirit want us to talk to next?"
and then you just go and sometimes people are interested, sometimes they aren't. But no matter what, it is ALWAYS important that we are talking with SOMEONE about the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the beginning of my mission, that scared me! I was like "no thank you..." but now, I want to talk with everyone and just know what their story is and who they are and what they're all about. It's hard! All the time, it's hard! But it's worth it-- oh so worth it.

One evening this past week, our zone went downtown to where the Book of Mormon musical was playing and it was so fun! We felt like the Army of Helaman marching downtown to contact people and pass out materials and teach people! It was so great. Sister Coleman and I actually starting talking to a guy and then it began to turn into a discussion about the Restoration. We recited the first vision to him and it was in this moment that I felt the spirit testify through us more powerfully than I've ever felt before. We were in a crowded part of downtown where there was music and honking and yelling, yet it was like everything stopped. It was incredible. I love missions and I love this gospel!

Our main investigators right now are Yesol and Calvin and Tiffany! I love them. And they are all Korean, except Tiffany, she is Chinese! They are the cutest.

Yesol is making progress! She wants to be baptized and knows she needs to, but she didn't feel that she had a testimony. She hears people in church bear their testimonies all the time and she didn't feel that she had anything like that to share; so remember-- a testimony is when you can say, I feel, I believe, I know. It is THAT simple. She has a testimony and it is so simple and so perfect.

Calvin is a stud. He doesn't actually have a belief in God, but he is soo willing to do things to find out if He is there! He prays every night! What a sweet man.

Tiffany is the BOMB.COM (had to say it because it is what she is)-- so apparently we found her while contacting people at Seneca college a couple weeks ago! Apparently, we handed her a card, talked a little bit, and that was it. But then she showed up to the church yesterday and said she really wanted to start coming to church and learning more and meeting new people. She even read passages and was commenting in Relief Society! What a cool girl! She is promising.

This week we also visited a less-active named Shaunna. I had heard her name sooo many times since I came to this area, but we have never been able to meet with her.. until the other night! We went and visited her and we just chatted a little bit. Soon she began telling us about her testimony of the Book of Mormon and why she didn't feel ready to come back to church. She started to get emotional and then we had the opportunity to tell her how normal she was and to testify to her what Nephi expressed when he said, "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:17) "We don't know the answers, but there is a God in heaven who does!" (Elder Cardon)

This week we also had a member of the Seventy come visit, Craig A. Cardon! It was wonderful! I felt rebuked and loved all at the same time, it was great. He spoke some great words to us and the spirit testified. Something he said that I LOVED was:

"We are here more because of what we feel rather than what we know."

I have SUCH a strong testimony of the spirit. To back up CS Lewis, I have to say that we truly are spirits having a mortal experience, not mortals having a spiritual experience. We KNOW things because of what we FEEL-- that is truth. We feel love. We feel kindness. We feel light. We feel truth. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ promotes all of these things. I'm grateful for that.

I love my companion, Sister Coleman! I love serving in this portion of the Lord's vineyard! I love my Saviour! and I love y'all! Be a missionary this week!

xoxo

colds, contacting, and colder weather

This transfer is going by too fast!

I feel like Sister Coleman and I were just in the MTC yesterday. 

Sometimes its hard to gauge if we are working hard because we get a long so well and are having such a blast and are serving in the most coveted area at the best time of year and we don't seem to have any struggles... but lately we have realized that, amidst the good things happening, that we are definitely in a rebuilding stage here in Toronto YSA.

This past week was great though! I have such a strong testimony of contacting! Man, there are so many prepared, kingdom builders out there! But we won't know if they're prepared or not, and they certainly won't know either, if we don't OPEN OUR MOUTHS. 

So yes we found a lot of potentially solid investigators this past week! It is THE best thing to see how the Lord just puts people in your way and shows forth miracles when you decide to just do some solid gospel-sharing.

We contacted at Ryerson University as well-- lots of students, but a lot of people are super... hard-core? haha we'll find some prepared ones eventually!

The best part of this week, though, was... ZONE CONFERENCE!

Holy cow. I testify that the spirit is REAL. It is more real than anything we can see and touch here during this frail existence we have. 

In preparation for zone conference we were all asked to prepare a 3 minute talk on our purpose as missionaries. Turns out, a few other missionaries and myself were asked to actually give our talks in conference. I love our purpose. We invite others to come unto Christ by helping them... 

I love that. I love my Savior because I know that He loves me perfectly and personally. He loves everyone that way. Everyone deserves to partake of that love; so that's why we invite them, and we do that by helping them. Preach my Gospel has such beautiful words. This is what we do:

Feel. Testify. Love. Desire. Obey. Live. Receive. Know. Follow. Go, do, say. Develop. Work. Bring. Seek. Learn. Improve. Help. Build. Warn. Invite. Teach. Serve.

That's what we do. As disciples of Christ, we promised Him we would do these things. I love being a member of the Lord's church. And I especially love being a missionary! 

I also love President and Sister Clayton. They imparted many wise words by the spirit:

"Be bold not overbearing. Being overbearing is boldness without love." -President Clayton

"If we want to be blessed and saved and soothed, we have to come unto Christ." -Sister Clayton

This gospel is all about people, families, light, Christ, change, faith, love, God's plan, the Atonement, coming unto Christ, etc. It's all oh so good!

There were many miracles seen this week and many great people we found. I feel like Ammon sometimes because "I cannot say the smallest part of which I feel." But I can say that this is the Lord's work, and He is hastening it. 

I love y'all! 

xoxo

Decision To Serve A Mission

There are many of you who are preparing for, or thinking about serving a mission. I admire that so much. This truly is the greatest work to ever be done- and God trusts us to do it! A few weeks ago, my Bishop asked me to write a letter to the youth in my home ward and to share my thoughts on how to proceed with such a decision and to share what it is like to serve.

So, the first step is coming to know if a mission is what the Lord wants you to do.

Ever since I joined the church I always felt like I was going to serve a mission whether i actually wanted to or not. I always sensed it was in my future, but still I had many doubts and fears. When the age change happened, I prayed. I prayed and prayed and fasted and prayed some more. I finally came to know that a mission was what I wanted to do, but more importantly it was what my Heavenly Father wanted me to do. As soon as I knew a mission was the right decision and began acting on that, I also came to know how real Satan is. I came to know how real Satan is. If I could guide you youth on anything it would be to recognize when the spirit is prompting you to do something and when Satan is trying to get in the way of that.

If you truly don't know whether or not a mission is the right decision, do what Gordon B. Hinckley advises: "Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work." In other words pray to your Heavenly Father, listen, and then make a decision. Act on that decision. If it is not the right one, He will let you know. If it is the right one he'll confirm your decision with the spirit and once he does follow Elder Holland's counsel: "If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts." There were so many times that the spirit had testified to me that serving a mission was right, but there were also many times that Satan would make it almost impossible for me to press forward. There were many times I wanted to give up, but just like Joseph Smith, "I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I couldn't deny it." So recognize the spirit and act on what He prompts you to do. 

Now I'm a missionary and I absolutely love it. Before my mission I would always ask RM's what it was like to serve- they would always say "It's the hardest thing, but it's also the best thing ever!" I didn't know what they really meant until I came out; now I can say that it is hard, but it's the best decision. What's hard about it? Everything. What's the best thing about it? Everything. It's all just a bunch of hard goodness. On missions you'll have your highest of highs and your lowest of lows, but a mission is really just practice for real life. For me, it's my stretching zone, my one on one time with my Savior. A mission is our time to put aside all of our personal affairs and to show the Lord our love by preaching His gospel and inviting others to come unto Him by helping them to receive His restored gospel. Missions are so sacred. Before my mission I believed a lot of things, but now I can say with confidence that I KNOW things. I know that our Heavenly Father loves His children perfectly and personally. I know that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and that He lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know these things because of the spirit- He truly testifies of truth more assuredly than anything else. Trust him and follow him.

21

Holy cow, this week flew by!

Not a lot of things happened, but the work has been going! 

We met with Madison for the last time! Saaaad. She flew back to Newfoundland for school, but missionaries will be in touch with her soon! Pray for her! She knows the church is true, she just needs to know it. 

Turning 21!

We also met with Sammy, a less-active member. He is a tender soul. He is going through a lot, but we were able to talk to him about overcoming trials and about praying to let the Atonement change us. 

Something I became very grateful for, this week, was trials. Looking back on the trials I have had, I'm beginning to see a little more as time goes on, how my trials truly have prepared me for SOMETHING. We can either let our trials defeat us or strengthen us-- our choice.

someone tore up our mormon.org card we gave them....

We also contacted at Seneca this week! It was sad, but kind of humorous at the same time, how people basically ignore us and give us the weirdest looks when we approach them to talk about church and Jesus Christ and about ETERNAL HAPPINESS. One day!

We also met with GaHee and Yesol this week! I realized that if one doesn't understand the Book of Mormon, there is going to be ZERO motivation to read it. So, Heavenly Father rebuked me for dismissing that too easily with our investigators, but now I'm on the hunt for the easy-to-read book of mormon manuals! 

Yesterday Robert brought his friend Galit...she was a little anxious at church, but she liked it! We are excited to start teaching her more and do some hardcore daughter of God lessons! She is so special and she needs to know it! After church yesterday, we went downtown to Dundas Square and contacted left and right! One day, we will soapbox down there.

ALSO.... I had the best birthday ever. Seriously, being a missionary is the greatest thing I ever could have asked for. I loved it; partially because we had zone council on my birthday (woot woot, thanks Heavenly Father). And thank you Kell Bell for the package! I loooooved it so much!! :) And thank you everyone for the emails. I am so loved and am so grateful for all y'all. (yep)

Have a great week! xoxo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COURTNEY LOVE KELLYYYY

Book of Mormon musical!