there is sunshine in my soul and area today

This week it was T O A S T Y outside! So beautiful!

We had dinner with our recent convert Abigail and helped her with some party things for her daughter! It's so fun to see how her testimony is growing and that it's HERS, that SHE has developed herself. She even teaches Gospel Principles now and does sooooo well.

We visited Brother Newall and taught him about how to be a good friend/member present when he comes teaching with us! We also invited him (just for fun) to read from PMG and watch the District! 

We also taught a very prepared woman who didn't understand the Priesthood authority and so we read from the Restoration pamphlet and explained it in Laymans terms and then she understood it perfectly, no questions. She felt the spirit make it click in her head, it was cool to watch.

We also saw Donna, aka Mother Teresa, and talked to her about conference. She just loves everything about the church (which is a good thing because she is a recent convert). She is excited for her family to get baptized one day!

We visited the Neves family and were able to read the Book of Mormon with them and they're going to be reading together as a family every night! But it was cool because as we read 1 Nephi 1, we talked about the vision Lehi saw and about when "he saw God sitting upon his throne"-- and Sister Neves' eyes got so big. (I love those little tender moments)

Yesterday we had the special opportunity to work on some family history with a member and I just know the spirit of Elijah is real! We're so excited to continue on with this holy work!

Afterwards we talked to her neighbors and they were these cool hippy parents who were so welcoming and want us to come back next week! We're excited about it!

Oh, it was so cool. We were tracting one rainy/humid day, and we knock on this one door and this young guy answers the door [shirtless] and was so interesting? He told us he recently accepted Jesus Christ into his life because he just got out of jail and while there, could only read the Bible. So he welcomed us in and his whole family was there and we taught them about the Restoration and at the end we asked, "Is there anything we can do for your family?" And his mom was like "You can come back?" OKAY. :) and are excited to go back and invite them all to be baptized!

One day, we had a lot of awkward experiences. We went to this one crescent to tract, and it was just full of so many interesting things that happened. First we talked with this man and as he was going inside, all his dogs ran outside and so we're trying to like wrangle them back in the house and then close their front door for them

And then we go to knock on some doors and TWICE, the person is pulling up in the driveway as we are walking to knock on their door.

And then this Asian man answered the door and I tried to speak Mandarin to him and he was like, "yeah that's not gonna work with me."

andddd it was just funny and awkward there haha...

So yes, this week was good. We have lots of names to work with and have a great ward council and are excited to build the area back up!

Have a good week!

HE LIVES

This week was special. I love being able to testify about the Saviour EVERY SINGLE DAY, especially on the week commemorating His suffering, death, and resurrection.

This week we saw Maya and Matthew! We taught them the Plan of Salvation and they opened up a TON. They asked lots of questions, but my favourite was when Maya was like, "Why wouldn't people believe the Book of Mormon is true? They saw Him." Straight from the mouth of babes!

We also saw Mary and Brian! I love those precious souls! We met with them at the church, which was waaaay perfect atmosphere to feel the spirit in! When we met with them at the church, we realized that it was perfect because Priesthood session was happening. So the elders took Brian under their wing and he went to the Priesthood session and loved it! 

Then we got to talk to Mary. She is so special. So sensitive to the spirit. When she was expressing her doubts and fears, we heard President Clayton walking by outside, so we ran to get him so he could meet Mary. He told her, "I want you to know that I have experimented with the principle of faith and I know this gospel is true. And I'm excited to be at your baptism." We went back in the room and Mary was like, "WOOOOWWWWWW! I felt really good!" She knows what she needs to do. We pray that the Lord will help them move forward with faith.

Aubrie Waldron, they WILL get married and they WILL get baptized. 

Also, cool thing. During weekly planning, we had been brainstorming who might be a good fellowshipper for Brian. We thought of Doug, our recent convert, who is SO CONVERTED and high on the gospel, so it's perfect. So, we introduced them on Sunday, and you'll never guess... but THEY KNOW EACH OTHER. They grew up together in the same small town and hadn't seen each other in over 40 years! Talk about inspired planning! 

We also had a meeting this week and someone asked President a question about how to get investigators to do this or that, and President goes, "I want to tell you something...you don't want to act like Satan." It was quite the inspired counsel.

Oh! We saw the dear Sister Chung this week, as well! She is Chinese, but has a Jamaican accent and her daughter's name is Courtney so when she yells her name, I always cringe or say "what?" without even thinking. haha. She fed us pizza and then we helped her clean! Yay for service! She is so special. I love her. 

We also saw Donna! She fed us breakfast and then we talked about missionary work. She is SUCH a missionary, especially because she came to teach Doug with us after. She just wants to be Mother Teresa so bad. What a cutie. 

We also had ZONE COUNCIL this week! We talked about using How to Begin Teaching throughout the teaching process and about overcoming fears and about "ROUNDING UP" everyone in the household when we go to teach lessons. It was awesome because after that we went and taught a lesson and applied the counsel given and we saw IMMEDIATE BLESSINGS because not only did we teach our investigator June, but also her brother and her boyfriend. SWEEEET.

OH! And we met with a LA member, Ruth and her husband. But before we asked her if there was anything in particular that she wanted us to teach about and she asked if we could address the importance of loving others and not judging.

I love the Easter season! What a sacred time of year. I know that our Saviour Jesus Christ lives. Because of Him, we can overcome doubt and fear and we can have hope that there is more after this life.

I love y'all, have a great week!
xoxo

#BecauseHeLives

Holy cow, have y'all seen the new #BecauseHeLives Easter video? SO STINKING GOOD.

http://www.mormon.org/easter

discover His sacrifice

embrace His teachings

share His joy

So this is the invitation: 

-take a picture

-share your testimony about Jesus Christ on social media

-use the hashtag #becausehelives

This week was good! The weather is warming up and the snow is melting and the people are coming out! How grateful we are!

How wonderful was that Women's conference?! Talk about GIRL POWER.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2015/04?cid=HP_SA_3-28-2015_dPTH_fGC_xLIDyL1-B_&lang=eng

Let us ALL become well-acquainted with the One who knows our challenges and struggles. He loves us so much--especially His daughters!

Also... BROTHER NEWALL DID BAPTISMS IN THE TEMPLE AND PASSED THE SACRAMENT. Wow. What a beautiful thing. His first baptism was for his father. How special?! And at church, he was so nervous. I still will never be able to figure out the sacrament passing system.

Also, can we just talk about FAMILY HISTORY AND TEMPLE WORK? It's is truly the work of the Lord. The spirit of Elijah is REAL. This work binds us, as spiritual siblings, to each other. This work allows us to see the eternal picture as little more clearly. It allows us to help so many have the opportunity of salvation. How beautiful?

I loooooooove the Easter season! Jesus Christ lives! He is risen. And #becausehelives, one day, we will too.

"I can live with some human imperfections, even among prophets of God—that is to be expected in mortal beings. I can live with some alleged scientific findings contrary to the Book of Mormon; time will correct those. And I can live with some seeming historical anomalies; they are minor in the total landscape of truth. But I cannot live without the doctrinal truths and ordinances restored by Joseph Smith, I cannot live without the priesthood of God to bless my family, and I cannot live without knowing my wife and children are sealed to me for eternity. That  is the choice we face-- a few unanswered questions on one hand versus a host of doctrinal certainties and the power of God on the other."

-Tad R. Callister
I know this is true. Have a happy Easter, everyone!

xoxo

 

happy spring!

Transfer news: I'm staying in Brampton and sister Davidson is coming in! Sister Bodine will be leaving to train her last transfer-- her dream! I love that sister and am grateful for everything she has taught me and helped me to be!

Yesterday, Brother Newell was confirmed! It was awesome. The blessing was COMPLETELY from Heavenly Father to Him and it was so specific. He sat down after with just the biggest smile on his face and said, "We did it. We did it." He is so converted and the next step is... the Temple on Wednesday!

Speaking of the Temple, we got to go on Saturday. Such a serene, peaceful, happy place. I learned many things and felt so grateful to be able to go there. We visited a senior sister serving here as a Temple missionary and she testified of how the Temple has provided her with such healing. I LOVE that. That's why we all need to be Temple-worthy because we ALL need healing. 

This week we had dinner with a sweet family. They have 3 little, crazy boys and it was quite the...circus? They were jumping and climbing all over us and everything there and were telling us the most exaggerated, little boy stories, it was so funny. But it was cool because, even amidst the craziness and loudness, as we learned about the parents' incredible conversion story and taught them about the Atonement, the spirit was still felt. My favourite was when we were talking about Jesus Christ and the oldest boy says, "I know where Jesus Christ lives? He lives in our hearts." Straight from the mouth of babes!

So our zone (and mission!) has a goal of talking with at least 10 people a day (outside of tracting and teaching lessons) and for our zone to reach a total of talking with at least 2,750 people for the month of March. And let me just tell you, talking with everyone and striving to reach this goal has 1) been my favourite thing about missionary work, just talking to EVERYONE and 2) has contributed to our increased level of happiness. We've seen miracles because we've been stretching ourselves and we're happier because we're learning to turn more outward. 

Miracle example A: we prayed about an area, went there, got out of the car, and started walking. We were on a crescent in a neighborhood and realized we had taken the long way around to drop by some former investigators, but we kept on. As we were walking, we met this woman. As we talked to her, she spoke as if she wanted something more, you know? We pointed to the Temple and told her about it and testified of how much Heavenly Father loves her and before we left we asked if we could do anything for her. Then we asked her if we could say a prayer with her and she said, "Yeah....yeah, I was going to ask if you could do that." She had tears in her eyes and said she was so glad we all met and she is excited to learn more about the message we have to share that will change her life!

We also visited Doug this week and we brought a less-active woman to come teaching with us and she was AWESOME. She was POWERFUL! She was testifying and sharing experiences and even texted him the next day-- what a great member missionary! She's coming back and she's doing so good. I love her!

Also, yesterday in ward council, the spirit was AT WORK! It was beautiful! We talked a lot about the new/reemphasized focus in the ward on family history and temple work and we're excited to be setting investigators with, not only baptismal dates, but also Temple dates-- and members too! We're focusing on getting EVERYONE involved and helping them to set a date to go to the Temple! 

I love the scripture Mosiah 2:41: 

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of 

never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

This ^ is when we're happy. I know it's true!

Have a wonderful week! Be happy!

xoxo

and oh be cheerful

So let's catch up on the last two weeks!

I went to my first MLC and felt like a fish out of water, but it was so uplifting and enlightening and I feel very humbled and blessed to meet with and learn from so many powerhouse missionaries. It's awesome!

I've learned a lot on exchanges these past few weeks as well. I've learned about the importance of asking inspired questions, constantly seeking the spirit, turning outward, having fun while talking with everyone, being myself, and just plain being happy. I wouldn't have been able to be reminded of and expand on my understanding of these beautiful truths were it not for these wonderful sisters that I'm blessed to serve with! The Lord sure is grateful for them being here working their hearts out! I am to. 

We also have had dinner with the Barillas family a few times lately. I LOVE them. They are such a cute, gospel-centered family, and I'm just sooooo grateful for everything they do! 

We had dinner with them and Doug and Brother Barillas' less-active friend Sean even joined! And the next week, Sean's girlfriend, Anna, and their new baby came! It was awesome to be able to meet with our investigator and then a less-active in a member's home. That's where the magic happens! Doug is really close with the Barillas' and Sean is taking the initiative more and more to come back to church and making it apart of his new family. HOW PERFECT?

So, weird situation!! A girl went online and requested a Book of Mormon, but when we visited her, she told us she was a member?! But from what she described about her childhood, we feel she may be mistaken... nevertheless, we're excited to see where it goes!

Also, we've had a lot of fun talking with everyone we see on the street! I absolutely love contacting! There are always so many interesting people. It's just so exciting! I love talking with strangers. 

This week we also had Zone Conference. Seriously, the best one I've been to my whole mission. We talked about a lot of things, but these are some things that were said that stood out to me:

"Why do they do that? Go find out." (President Clayton)

---> We need to understand WHY people are and feel and do what they are and feel and do if we want to understand them!

"It's not okay to be pushy, but it is okay to be persistent." (Sister Coleman)

---> one of the keys to being a successful missionary

"I felt God listening to me as I prayed." (an Elder)

---> Heavenly Father truly hears, listens to, and answers our prayers. Have you felt that before?

"Heavenly Father is going to follow up with us." (an Elder)

---> so we need to be following up with the invitations we extend!

"If they want to squeeze the toothpaste in the middle, tell them, 'That's a beautiful thing, I love that.'" (President Clayton)

---> teaching us how to be patient parents and how to be patient and understanding with our companions and future children! My trainer, who is home now, sent me something that goes along with this that I want to share:

I'm in an adolescent psychology class. The last chapter we learned about was parenting. There are two elements to parenting. Responsiveness and Demandingness. Psychology says that the best parenting style has a responsiveness that is warm and attentive and caring and that they have a demandingness in the sense that there are firm expectations, discipline, consistency.. and that although all the children have expectations, they adapt and adjust their discipline according to what that child needs. Then all of a sudden I was like-- this is Heavenly Father!! It really helped me to see that His "demands" just show his understanding, awareness and brilliance. He's the best!!

I had a good one, didn't I? Love you, Aubrie!

So GET EXCITED because on March 27th is the BECAUSE HE LIVES, which is the special Easter message coming soon. GET EXCITED. I'll say it again, GET EXCITED.

Oh! So Doug made us dinner the other night. GOURMET. So yum. He went all out and it was just such good food, such good company. We all enjoyed it very much. Afterwards, we talked to him about obeying the laws of the land and of course he accepted our invitation to do so. 

He also came to the family history night at the church this past week! I just want to bear my testimony about family history: I never really was able to before, but I'm totally beginning to feel the spirit of Elijah! Temple work is so so important and essential for us to grow spiritually. I know that families can be sealed for forever and that there are soooo many on the other side waiting for us to do their work.

Last Sunday, Marcela (the East sisters' investigator) got baptized! So sweet! She is just glowing! And Doug was able to come. He started to freak out once he saw all the things that went into planning a baptism and felt overwhelmed with all the plans he had to make, from who would give what talk to who would baptize him to who would bring this and that, etc. So of course, we let him just plan it all himself as we assured him and encouraged him not to stress... :)

This weekend was Stake Conference. It was marvelous! A lot of wonderful things were taught:

--we need to be actively engaged in family history!

--encourage family to reminisce

--2 baptismal dates-- one for baptism, one for the temple (uhm, brilliant)

--power from the TEMPLE = power on HIGH

"We must not think that Satan is done after that first breakthrough...that breakthrough brings in the light to guide us to move forward."

--we must have an urgency to ACT

--Satan will not conquer if we will it otherwise

--Do I have a testimony of the Atonement?

--as we share that which fills our souls with joy, we hasten the work of salvation

"An invitation, born with love...will never be offensive."

--we are Heavenly Father's greatest creation

--never ignore the burning passion to share the gospel

--always be prepared to enter the Temple

--we will NEVER travel beyond the reach of God's love

"...not only will these trials happen, but perhaps they must happen."

Lots of thoughts, but I hope something stuck out to you :)

But yesterday... Brother Doug Newell entered the waters of baptism. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Brother Barillas baptized him and it was just perfect. At the end, Brother Newell bore a powerful, sincere testimony about his conversion story and what he knows and where he's going. He is SOLID. And since it was right after stake conference, lots of people attended! Even his son! And that evening, we met with him again and President and Sister Clayton joined us (and they came to the baptism and we didn't think they'd make it, but they did!). We talked about Enduring (but really ENJOYING) to the End and about Patriarchal blessings and about his temple date... March 25th. And in one year from next Sunday, after Brother Newell is confirmed and given the priesthood, Sister Bodine and I are coming back to be here for when he will go through to receive his endowments.

HAPPY DAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Have a great week! Be happy!

one year older and wiser too

This transfer is flying! I'm learning a lot about my Saviour and how to really seek the spirit literally alllllll the time, and about just loving and not worrying. Life is a beautiful thing, and this mission is even more beautiful (for now).

Yesterday, Sister Bodine and I prayed about where to go yesterday, and chose a certain area to work in where a former investigator lives. We worked there for about an hour and were about to leave to go to dinner. But an extra serge of energy hit both of us as we unlocked the car door to leave, and we both decided that we wanted to stay for five more minutes before we left. After deciding that we walked to the first door that we saw and as we were about to knock, a couple drove into the driveway and just stared at us wondering who we were (haha I love the looks that people give us sometimes). We went to their window and introduced ourselves. We introduce ourselves and started speaking their Jamaican language to them and they thought it was hilarious. (WAG WAN MAN= what's going on, man!) 

After seeing our nametags, they asked us if we would like to come in and talk to them about Jesus Christ. We smiled and said "Of course!". It was a marvelous experience. Neither of them have been baptized and that is something that they yearn for. They have a cute, young family and we are just so excited to work with them. We wouldn't have met them had we left just a few minutes earlier.

On Friday night, the stake held a "Meet the Mormons" movie night at the church, everyone was invited to come! We had a very good turnout! And the movie was great as always. Love it!

Brother Doug Newall came to the movie as well and enjoyed it very much. The next day, he was so excited to tell us about his experience of getting to the church. He took a cab, and on his way there he got talking to the driver about God and what his beliefs are. When they got to the church, B. Newall took out the money to pay him and the driver told him no charge, that he was grateful for the conversation that he had with Brother Newall and hoped that he had a great time at the movie. Brother Newall was flabbergasted. He is having so many experiences like that! We are making sure that he writes all those experiences down in his journal :)

Mary and Brian are working on the Word of Wisdom-- they are coming a long way! It's a work in progress. 

I love this work! It's my favourite.

xoxox

by and by

I just love my life! How blessed I am to be a missionary!

This week we went on exchanges! I got to go with my cute baby Jensen! She is so pure in heart. I love her!

We also visited Mary and Brian again! Mary was able to receive a Patriarchal Blessing FROM THE STAKE PATRIARCH, so that was special. We are just hoping and praying that she'll sacrifice her disability pension to get married so they can be BAPTIZED. Hopes and prayers!

We also met with Doug. He was a little irritated, due to his strict obedience to the Word of Wisdom (haha) and now his body is getting used to not having those substances anymore. He is doing SO well. We even had dinner with him at a member's house and he, too, was able to receive a blessing. What a powerful experience it is, to involve members in an investigators' conversion process. He was so grateful. He came to church, too, and loved it! When we asked him Friday if he'd be coming to church, he was like, "Is that even a question? I'm kind of confused as to why you even had to ask." Sweet words for a missionary.

This week we had a leadership meeting as well as a specialty training meeting about our Savior Jesus Christ and how we can increase our faith in Him. In our leadership meeting, we talked about the role of leaders and I love what sister Clayton said: "If you are mindful of the examples that have influenced you, that can empower you." I'm grateful for all the wonderful people in my life that have helped me get to and be where I am today. You know who you are! 

Oh man! It was the best. So we went to this area to visit a former investigator that my trainer actually taught long ago when she served here! We visited him, but he was still very uninterested. We bore testimony to him and left. As we were about to leave that area, we saw a guy standing outside his house smoking, so we go over to him and start talking to him. He just starts opening up to us about sooo many things. He told us that he and his fiance have been wanting to get back into church and teaching their kids about God. He said that when he drives by the Temple, he always thinks, "I wonder what goes on in there." And he said he has even sat in his car in the Temple parking lot after his son was born. After he told us all these things, he was like, "I don't know why I told you all of that." We bore testimony to him that our message can bring so much happiness to him and his family, that they can be sealed for time and all eternity. He felt the spirit. We're so excited to teach him!!

I love this work. It's the most blessed thing to be apart of. 

Have a great week! xoxo