Faith to be faith

the happenings of this week!

We've started running on the boardwalk by the waterfront by our house! It's so beautiful and breezy in the mornings!

This week we instructed at District meeting about helping our investigators set their own baptismal date! It was fun. At the end, our district leader shared a beautiful quote about faith:

“There are two kinds of faith. One of them functions ordinarily in the life of every soul. It is the kind of faith born by experience; it gives us certainty that a new day will dawn, that spring will come, that growth will take place. It is the kind of faith that relates us with confidence to that which is scheduled to happen. …

“There is another kind of faith, rare indeed. This is the kind of faith that causes things to happen. It is the kind of faith that is worthy and prepared and unyielding, and it calls forth things that otherwise would not be. It is the kind of faith that moves people. It is the kind of faith that sometimes moves things. … It comes by gradual growth. It is a marvelous, even a transcendent, power, a power as real and as invisible as electricity. Directed and channeled, it has great effect. 

“In a world filled with skepticism and doubt, the expression ‘seeing is believing’ promotes the attitude, ‘You show me, and I will believe.’ We want all of the proof and all of the evidence first. It seems hard to take things on faith.

“When will we learn that in spiritual things it works the other way about—that believing is seeing? Spiritual belief precedes spiritual knowledge. When we believe in things that are not seen but are nevertheless true, then we have faith.”

-Boyd K. Packer

We also taught Rick again! We taught him about the Plan of Salvation-- just what he's been wanting to hear! But because he had sooooo many questions and got hung up on some things, we weren't able to teach it all to him... so he was left hanging at "so what happens after I die??" But we taught him after church on Sunday, so he was quite enlightened. He left pretty speechless and full of even more questions, actually. He's coming around.

John also got confirmed yesterday!! How exciting. Earlier this week, we taught him about the importance of member missionary work. I LOVE this video more than anything right now-- it's about forgiveness, but it powerfully exmplieifes the importance of member missionary work! PLEASE WATCH!!! :)

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/his-grace/from-gang-member-to-good-man

We also taught a young guy named Anthony who considers himself a pretty negative, closed-off person, but he is excited to have a faith again.

So cool story, we were volunteering at Salvation Army this past Friday and we were talking with this man we hadn't seen before (Brian) and he was asking a bunch of questions and was really nice. His friend tried to pick a fight by asking questions he didn't really want to know the answer to, but that he just wanted to debate. So I guess another man across the room sensed my frustration (dang it!) and he came over, put his arm around me and told the man that he had a right to believe in whatever he wanted just like I did. Humanity lives on, I guess.

Then we got Brian's number and he was going to come to church on Sunday but he had to go to the hospital Saturday night! So we went to visit him in the hospital that evening. It was one of those visits that just made me so happy to be a missionary. (I've been having a lot of those lately). He is this big tough guy, tatoos, drinks, etc. and as we shared the Restoration with him, his countenance changed and he told us about his past and how he just doesn't feel like he is worthy of God's love and he started to cry. We were able to share with him a few verses from Alma 36 and as we did, the spirit filled the room. 

16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.

 17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

 18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

 19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

 20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

 21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

We testified of the power of the Atonement and he wants to be baptized at the end of June. We set his date and then I asked him why he wanted to be baptized on that date. And he said it was because we invited him on that day and that he trusts us (about inviting him on that day) and because we are unwavering in what we believe and that he can just see it in us. Then he said the prayer at the end and I just kept my eyes opened and watched him. He said a very simple prayer telling God that this was the first time He has ever really felt His love and he asked if the Book of Mormon was true. And that was it. Prefect prayer. 

I love my calling. I love these people. I love the Lord and am so grateful for His unconditional love.

Miracles left and right!

Miracles are just happening left and right!

So last Sunday night we set goals, we made plans, and then we hit it! We found two solid children of God that are interested in the gospel that evening! How cool, we found 'em!

So contacting downtown is pretty much the most exciting thing ever. I love talking to our brothers and sisters every single day! Downtown is a sketchy but interesting place; we always leave with great stories and real phone numbers!

The other day we actually had an appointment and we brought our future missionary member along with us. Our investigator didn't show up, so we went contacting with our member. We ended up meeting Alex. He was hung over and smoking, but we got talking and all he wants to do is make music and start doing what he loves, because he is tired of the life he is living right now. Our member was able to testify to him of the plan God has for us and the happiness it brings. He ended up saying that he thought it was really interesting we talked because he said he usually would have ignored us, but he didn't. He gave us his number and is excited to meet this week! And if we had met with the investigator we were supposed to meet with we wouldn't have found Alex! But then later, we were able to reschedule with our investigator, so everything worked out anyway! #thisiswhatdreamsaremadeof

This week we had an awesome district meeting on recognizing the spirit in lessons and being able to help our investigators feel and recognize it as well. It was powerful! 

So one day we went and visited a less-active member. The sisters had been teaching her daughter, but it wasn't going anywhere because the parents' testimony wasn't really in place. So we taught the mom. And we were bold and honest with her, which is EXACTLY what she needed. She has had some bad experiences in and out of the church, and she has a very strong personality, but she has been trying to do things on her own. So we were able to teach her about the simplicity and beauty of letting Christ walk with her and help he, because that's the only way any of us will be successful and happy in this life. 

Something that was said, completely by the spirit: "Your spirit teaches you the things your natural man doesn't want you to know." 

Truth!

One night we had dinner at a members home with the "Empty Nester's Club"-- it was with a bunch of old women from the ward! Haha, how fun! Good food, good company, good message! We talked about faith in Jesus Christ how we can continually increase our faith in Him. We are also hoping to be able to go out visiting teaching with these sweet members!

Oh, so we met this cute Scottish lady on the street last week that tried to give us money for coffee, and then we ran into her again! So she decided to give us her number so she could take us out for lunch and she did! We had Thai and we talked to her about he beliefs and her life and then shared the message of the Restoration. She isn't interested really, but she loves us and wants to continue looking out for us, so we're not really opposed to that! We'll keep working on her.

So we taught the sisters' former investigator and our member's friend, Shiela. She is wonderful! Has a strong connection with the Bible and loves God, quite much so! We taught her about the Book of Mormon (this wasn't the first time) and everything ended with her wanting to start including the Book of Mormon in her personal study and really seeing if it truly does contain the fullness of the everlasting gospel. She liked that. 

We also taught John this week about the Priesthood and preparing for a calling. He is quite the prepared man! His main concerns with the church are... how the chorister in the front of sacrament meeting should be more of a lead singer for the congregation and how the baptismal suits need to be thicker. So.... yeah, he is solid! And he was BAPTIZED on Sunday! So that was exciting! It was a short and simply service, just as he requested. At the end he bore his testimony and was crying and gave Sister Rasmussen and myself a hug....

NOT WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING BUT IT HAPPENED AND THE SPIRIT CONFIRMED IT WAS OKAY SO..... Yeah, we got some grief about it from the other missionaries and the ward (jokingly of course), but it was so frightening and funny. 

So Sunday night, all we needed to be able to achieve the Standards of Excellence, was to find one more person that was ready to set their own baptismal date. So we were thinking of all our investigators that could use a visit that might be ready and none of them were at the time; but as we were driving at the EXACT same time we thought of the same person. So we went to visit her and she and her friend were both home. At first I thought she wouldn't be able to open up about the gospel right now with her friend there, but we just talked to them about how they were and brought up baptism and all of a sudden her friend was like, "Baptism? I want to do that. Let's do it together!!" NO WAY. And by the end of the night, they committed to be baptized together! HOW COOL IS THAT? Talk about #sundaynightmiracles!!!

Yesterday we went and taught this part member family! The dad came to church on Sunday and he and his brother are getting back into the church and he wants his kids to prepare to be baptized. We're even working with his wife by gaining her trust first and going over later this week to help her out and do some service for her! This family is oh so good.

A line from my favourite hymn this week: 

"As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free"

I love this. Christ loves us. And we need to love others. No matter what they look like or act like. We're all spiritual siblings are have are called to lift each other up. Let us bring others to Him!

xoxo

may day, may day

Helloooooo!

Lots to catch up on!

So I'm serving in the cutest little town. We are right here by the beach (it's more of a lake, but really a beach) and the weather is warm, the sun is shining, people are out and about, the church is true, miracles are happening every single day, and I love being missionary.

This week we saw many miracles and that's because Sister Rasmussen and I are working hard at trying a little harder to be a little better, especially with working on being more consecrated and obedient to the counsel our mission President (but ultimately that Heavenly Father) has given to us. And I feel happy.

That's our transfer theme with the sisters! About how OBEDIENCE BRINGS HAPPINESS. Because it's true! The more we are obedient to our Father in Heaven, the more we put aside our will for His, the more we consecrate ourselves to Him, the more willing we are to put it all on the altar of sacrifice and walk away, the more we become like Him, the happier we are. I know that's true.

This week we had some meetings that really just reminded me of the significance of my calling. This is such a sacred opportunity to represent the Saviour and turn outward to all those around us, strangers, missionaries, family/friends at home, etc. We are always a missionary and we are the Lord's hands. For that I'm humbled and grateful. As one elder put it, "This is all for people." And it is.

Right now our progressing investigator is John. John has been interviewed and worthy of baptism! John is so excited about baptism and that is because as soon as he came to church and felt of that spirit there, that's when he was ready to accept his own date of when he wants to be baptized. And He is excited about going to the Temple soon after. But this is all happening the way it is because he came to church. 

"When I taste your goodness, I shall not want."

So these are some of the happy happenings of our week so far!:

We contacted downtown for awhile, always an adventure. While there, we met this nice lady from Scotland, Ellen. She gave us $5 to go buy ourselves a coffee for all the hard work we were doing. We told her we don't drink coffee, and she said to use it to buy a juice then. ha! But then we actually ended up running into her again on Saturday and now we are going to a Thai restaurant with her this upcoming week! She is being prepared.

COOLEST THING EVER. So we were having a hard time teaching a 12 year old recent convert, but we finally got him to come outside with us and we got him to help us contact people on the street downtown. He was on his longboard and we just gave him some of our mormon.org cards and he would ride by handing them a card and say " HAPPY WEDNESDAY!" how awesome?! and then he got way ahead of us and came back after he was talking to this lady for a few minutes and was like "so I just had to tell her what the Book of Mormon was, no biggy." MAN SO COOL. It was so neat to have him come out with us especially since he has been going through a hard time and doesn't think he wants to serve a mission. But he will!!

We played soccer and ball hockey for sports night while getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. Being so used to the Canadian winters here, I forgot about those things.

We cleaned Gabriels Autobody shop and helped out at Salvation Army. I loved it! So many people that come in, so distressed, that just don't know about their purpose and how much God loves them! But during clean up, we went and talked to one guy about the Restoration and then the Plan of Salvation and he's like "What is gonna happen after I die??" And we were like, "Ya gotta meet with us to find out!!" He's ready, he just doesn't know it.

Saturday: we decided to car fast for most of the day (to help save on gas) and we just saw miracle after miracle. We met so many people who were either related to a Mormon or knew someone that was Mormon. We also met this sweet mom and daughter, Tammy and Natasha and they are excited to meet with us this upcoming week! We were going to start heading back home and then we felt prompted to go talk to this lady and her daughter. We talked to her about why she felt baptism was important, and she ended up telling us that she was baptized into our church 15 years ago! We got her contact info and she wanted us to meet with her niece, who needs friends and we talked about the youth program. Right before we got home, about an hour later, she called us and asked if we could go meet with her 15 year old niece, Julia right then, so we did! How cool!

We then helped a member pull weeds and she fed us. We then went and picked up a member to go teach John about the sabbath day. Really he just taught us, we are just there to listen half of the time. Definitely a kingdom builder. 

We then practiced for the musical number for the elders baptism tomorrow, we just did an arrangement that I made up of When I am baptized.

Sunday: MOST STRESSFUL DAY EVER. We just had 101 things to do, but saw miracles along the way. It is funny, Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest but for missionaries it is probably the busiest day ever. It's great, though. Our recent convert was confirmed, her boyfriend was there, a woman that has been less-active her whole life came to church after working up the courage to come into the church for about a year, we taught and did a musical number at the elder's baptism, I met lots of members (since I'm new), we tried to teach our investigator, John had his baptismal interview, and we skyped for Mother's Day!

I'm grateful for the mother figures in my life. I've learned a lot from them. I realize I have messed up so much, but I'm grateful for the continued love and guidance I receive. 

"How will young women learn to live as women of God unless they see what women of God look like, meaning what we wear, watch, and read; how we fill our time and our minds; how we face temptation and uncertainty; where we find true joy; and why modesty and femininity are hallmarks of righteous women? How will our young men learn to value women of God if we don't how them the virtue of our virtues?" -Sheri Dew

#timeformom

I love my calling! I love my Saviour!

Have a happy week!

A little update!

Not much of a weekly today!

I'm getting transferred to Barrie! Exciting!

This week I was able to watch my recent convert Robert, from Toronto YSA, go to the Temple and do baptisms! How special. So wonderful!

And we saw met lots of people walking around outside the church and Temple this week! So prepared!

And we taught a very prepared man who was contacted by elders on the bus and met missionaries a long time ago who never got back to him! But he's prepared and excited about moving forward in the gospel! Exciting!

And we had a special Stake Relief Society activity this weekend! So great!

I love the weather, the Toronto temple, the people here, my mission, the gospel, and my Saviour!

Quote of the week:

"You're cute. And Jesus knows you're cute."

gotta love them old folk!

I'll share more about this past week next week! Love ya all!

selfies in the car. the usual.

and enjoying district meeting!

 just visiting an elderly man in our ward! so sweet. The veil is thin for him and he has dementia, but he kept saying that he and his wife "went on 7 proselyting missions!" haha and then he said,

"You're cute. And Jesus knows you're cute."

hahahaha. I love 'em.

The beautiful Toronto temple!

tracting in the beautiful weather!!

the most beautiful temple!

Stake Relief Society service project-- making beds out of milk bags to send to Haiti!

Cemetery Cleanup!

A great week!

Last Monday, we had dinner with the new senior missionary couple! They are sweet. Sister C is a convert! After dinner we taught them the restoration as if they were investigators. It's true that gospel is for everyone! Afterwards, they invited us to send their daughter a pamphlet telling her we had dinner with them. How fun.

We also had some great exchanges this week! I got to be with Sister Bodine again! It was so fun to see everyone's faces when they saw that she was back in Brampton! BROTHER NEWALL WAS ECSTATIC to see her! It was fun being companions again :)

We also taught N! She isn't actually sure if she is a member or not, but based on the information she was giving us, she definitely wasn't baptized when she was little. But we taught her and it went really well! The spirit was felt and that's all that matters.

This week we had SKILLS & INTERVIEWS, which is where we have zone council and get to meet with President and Sister Clayton one on one. It was soooo good. Revelation was received, ideas were shared, concerns were discussed, and love was felt. I love President and Sister Clayton. I'm grateful for their parental guidance.

So interesting story. We were contacting people in this neighborhood and before we left we decided to talk to these two people we saw sitting on their porch. They have actually met the sisters before and were super nice. Then we asked them if they knew anyone that might be interested in hearing our message and they referred us to their neighbor friend M. So the next day we went to visit him and turns out he was a former investigator to the elders a couple years ago! Sweet old man from Guiana. Then the next day we went back for a lesson, he bought us pizza but we couldn't go inside (because we didn't have a third female), so we called a member that lived right around the corner and she let us come right over! So we met in her home, ate pizza, and attempted to talk about the gospel, but boyyyy is M a chatterbox! One day he'll be ready.

We also visited a woman in the ward and her mom! They are wonderful. They also speak espanol, so sister Howle tried to teach the Restoration in Spanish and it was amusing and mucho divertido. 

Oh! So cool! So one day when we were pulling out of the church parking lot, we saw this lady looking into the church and was trying to get in, so we stop and talk to her. She was looking for the times for church services! So we grabbed her number and she came to church last week! Then we taught her again and her first question was, "So how many people believe this Joseph Smith?" Well, about 6 million people. So we taught her the Restoration and it's really interesting because she doesn't seem interested but her questions make her sound like she is? We'll see!

OH MY GOODNESS. So R is doing so well. She is a less-active member and has just gotten out of the hospital. During this time that she has been sick, she's been able to read her scriptures more and her testimony is just GROWING. It's also been good because her husband has been praying for her and he isn't even a member, but his heart is just softening! PROGRESS.

On Saturday, we did a zone service project at a park near our house and picked up trash. It was a beautiful day, and it was fun to work with the other missionaries! We found some very interesting things! Like coconuts, an iPhone, some flower pots.... We got pretty scratched up trying to grab some of the garbage that had flown into the bushes. One elder got scraped so bad he had to get stitches! Anyways, please keep the earth clean, my friends! 

Yesterday we had lunch with another senior missionary couple! They are sweet. Then that night we got fed by a less-active family, the Os. It was cool because they said their family is neverrrr all in the same house at the same time, so that happened for a reason! They are from Nigeria and are way funny. We talked about the Godhead and prayer after dinner and I just love feeling the spirit when talking about my Heavenly Father and Saviour, Jesus Christ. They live and want the best for us! And we can know exactly what is right based on how we feel, through the Holy Ghost.

I always say, our church is a "feely" church, because we are! We base our knowledge and faith on those confirmations that come to us in our hearts, because that conviction comes to us from our Heavenly Father through the spirit, which I'm grateful for.

This week we also visited a member and her daughter who has actually been thinking about a mission! She asked us questions and it was hard to answer because how do you just say in words how you feel about your mission, you know?

The best was yesterday. We had a broadcast from Salt Lake streamed to the whole North America North East area. Elder Hales, Andersen, Kacher, and Sister Reeves spoke to us. It was beautiful. Much needed counsel was received yesterday through the spirit and I learned so much about how to be a good missionary, parent, and person. Something that was said that I love:

"We decide the degree of our discipleship."

Truth!

Love ya!

Remember when April was almost over?

Hello! Remember when April was almost over? Yikes.

Monday we had Family Home Evening with the Schnieder family and their cute little girls-- we talked about how God is our loving, Heavenly Father--it's true! He loves us.

I went to Barrie on exchanges! I went with a sister and we talked about wonderful things that opened my eyes to the importance of 

sharing experiences to strengthen others

having complete trust in the Lord and the happiness THAT brings

doing the right things for the right reasons

not being afraid to dream big and becoming the best we can

I also got to be companions with my best friend for a day, aka Sister Coleman. No big deal. The most blessed day.

We've also been visiting a less-active, Ruth. She is special. She has such a strong testimony! She just needs to come to church and partake of the sacrament so that she can be cleansed and start each week fresh! She will come back after she gets out of the hospital. And her husband, Matt, whom we are teaching, has been praying for her to get better, which means he has been praying, and that's good!

While at the hospital, there was this little old woman. We got to sing to her and a little while after, she said, "Who are those two boys by the door?" There was no one by the door...she must've seen angels. :) I know they're real.

We met with Muriel! She was this woman we found while tracting around her house. When we knocked on her door, she answered and said she had been watching us and told herself that if we came to her door, then we must have a message to deliver to her from God... and boy, do we!! We taught her about the restoration of the gospel and she understands it all and is praying about whether the book of Mormon is true and if she should be baptized! Exciting.

We also visited an old woman in our ward to help her clean out her closet and she ended up giving us sooo many of her old clothes... Now I don't have to go shopping, so that's helpful!!

We are also teaching us this woman from Hungary who got baptized two years ago and the member she is staying with is the grandmother of one of the sisters that taught her back home in Hungary! CRAZY. She is so excited to improve her english and do family history and go to the Temple! That's the life.

Brother Newall also taught Priesthood yesterday! He even had to cancel some appointments with us to prepare. He is doing so awesome.

Things are great here in Bramladesh. (Brampton has a lot of Indian people, we love it. #turbans>touques

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!