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!

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