An Update from Canada

The members in the London YSA branch are so cool! Daddy asked me if I am just in the branch or if there are other wards I am over too. The answer is no! I am just serving in the YSA branch. It is really fun. :) We teach so many wonderful members.

H: H is a member that is originally from Manitoba. I love her so much. We go over to her house every week to teach her the missionary lessons. She is one of the most solid missionaries in the branch. She comes to so many lessons with us and has been inviting people  to be baptized like crazy. I admire her dedication to the Lord, it is so evident by the way she shares the gospel. Yesterday we had an investigator who was having a really hard time. The investigator texted us in the morning and cancelled our appointment for Tuesday she then told us that she also wasn't coming to church and she didn't want to meet anymore. Sister Penrod and I were so confused! Just the day before she told us that she believes God is her Heavenly father and that the Book of Mormon was true. Then she texted us yesterday saying that she didn't believe any of that anymore. We finally asked the right question for her to open up and tell us her concern. After talking with her about the concerns she had she said that she would try to come to church next week. We encouraged her one more time to come this week so she could receive an answer to her question she had but she decided not too. H has become really good friends with her and before church started she told us, "I am going to be friends with her no matter what. I'm not her friend because of the church but because I actually want to be her friend." I  was blown away by the spirit I felt as H said that. In the opening hymn I heard the door open so I turned around and I saw M! H and I exchanged looks and H got up from her seat to come sit by M. My heart filled with love for H and for M as we finished the opening song. I just know that true love and true friendship is one of the best ways to invite others to come unto Christ. H is a great example of that.

This week was so warm! We drank so much water! My watch tan line is beginning to get ridiculous again. :) Yay for missionary tan lines! Sister Penrod is one of my many favorite companions. Let's be real, I love all of my companions so much. The other day we made the yummiest dinner ever. I made some lemon pepper chicken and she made some good vegetables. Sister Penrod always teases that this is the closest that she has ever been to being married. ( I think when she says that she means time because she is going home in like 7 weeks!) :)

Well, I love you all. You are in my prayers.

--
Sister Chelson

An Update from Canada

Wow this week was such a crazy week!

After emailing last week we got a call from J one of the members in the branch and he told us that he had a referral for us! Side note, Sister Penrod and I set a higher goal this last week to contact for referrals. We got all of her information and found out a little about the relationship between the two of them and then we called her! Two days later we brought one of my favorite members H with us to teach her. We had planned to teach her the Plan of Salvation but we asked her what her beliefs were and she told us she had none and that she didn't know who God or Jesus Christ was. We taught her about the Godhead and how to pray. H helped the lesson so much they exchanged numbers at the end and H invited her to church it was awesome! Then we went back the second time with J and taught her the Restoration, at the end of the lesson J invited her to be baptized. I love when the members invite their friends to be baptized it is a lot more powerful then when we do it! She came to church yesterday and had a great experience. She texted us later that night and told us that she was really nervous and decided before that if she didn't understand what was being taught that she would not have come back. But she did! And she loved it. The branch loves her and she loves them. It is looking good.

Sad news about E. He bombed every appointment that we had and we decided that for him to ultimately return back home to Heavenly Father we were going to need to give him back to the lord. We won't be teaching him for a while. But all will be well! We still love him lots.

Okay, here is the crazy news. Wednesday morning Sister Penrod and I went out to the car to leave for an appointment. (we park in a locked parking garage) As I was putting my bag in the back Sister Penrod asks me why the car was such a mess. We always leave the car spotless before we go in and we had put everything away. Every single compartment was open in the car and our stuff was thrown around the car. We hurried to see if any of the car cards had been stolen and if any extra kilometers had been driven but there was no trace. Sister Penrod's GPS that was in the car wasn't taken either. At this point we knew that somebody had broken into the car. We looked on the outside to see if there was any evidence of the car being broken into and there was none. Then a question came into my mind. I asked Sister Penrod if she had the spare keys, she looked at me and quickly examined her bag. We leave the church keys and spare keys in a hidden compartment in the car. We couldn't find them anywhere. We ran back upstairs and frantically looked for the keys. We left the house fast because we knew that somebody had our house keys. WE called the district leader, zone leaders, mission office and President Clayton and they all told us different things to do. Ultimately we asked the zone leaders if they could come up to our apartment and check in out so we could get a suitcase of stuff to live out of before we got our house re -keyed. The next two nights we stayed at different sisters houses.

I think I have really only told mom and dad about being sick. But for the last year on and off I have been struggling with stomach issues. Sister Penrod finally convinced me to go and see a doctor. This last week I went with the mission nurse and his wife and another sister to Oshawa to go see a LDS doctor. For the last two months I have been on several different medications and none of them have seemed to help me. This doctor appointment added to the craziness of our week. Wednesday night we drove to Kitchener which is about an hour and a half away to the other sister training leaders house to stay the night. Then we woke up and drove about another hour and a half to Brampton. Then I got in a car with the mission nurse and his wife and drove another two hours to Oshawa, they got lost a couple of times. Then I had the doctors appointment. Then I drove with them again to Brampton, with the other sister back to Brampton, and then back to London. I was in the car from 8 to 8 that day. When we got back to London we realized we were homeless so we called the London Spanish sisters and they kindly let us stay at their house. This upcoming week I have an ultrasound for my stomach to rule out the more serious complications people can have with their intestines! Wish me luck!

Before going to the doctor President Clayton called and left us a voicemail. He told me not to hide the pain that I had been feeling and to keep him in the loop. He always helps me feel comforted. I love him and Sister Clayton. I am sad to see them go so soon, but I am excited to have a new mission President that I know will love me just as much. President Brown, the branch president, also called me a couple times while I was at the doctor. Finally I got back to him and he told me that he had been thinking of me and asked what he and Sister Brown could do for me. I love them! They are such good saints. H, the coolest potter ever, :) also texted me and told me she was praying for me. I feel extremely blessed and comforted having the knowledge that god sends people to bless us.

The next day, we went back to our apartment to ask if they had gotten our house re-keyed and if they had looked at the cameras. They forgot to do it and were so rude about it to us as well. It was really sad. :( But we stood strong and they did it right away. As Sister Penrod and I were waiting for the apartment to get re-keyed we went up to eat lunch in our apartment. We grabbed weapons like a broom for Sister Penrod and a frying pan for me. We went together to search out the apartment, don't worry we were safe. Now we have new keys and locks and we bought extra locks to put on the door.

With all of this crazy stuff that happened this week we somehow managed to still teach many people! We had awesome people come to church and we just felt like we gave Heavenly Father all that we could.

 

The night before the doctors I was praying and asking Heavenly Father to really help me feel peaceful. It had gotten really hard to eat and every time I did eat I felt so much pain and sickness. I am so grateful for the peace that comes as we pray out loud to our Heavenly Father. He loves us and I know that this entire week he was watching over me and protecting me.

I love you all. I hope that you all had a good week. And I hope you all have a good week this week! Have a good one!

An Amazing Week

This week was so amazing!

This week my zone and another zone in the mission had zone conference. This was President and Sister Claytons last meeting with us before they fly out on the 29th! I was asked to perform in a musical number with some other missionaries. We chose to sing the EFY medley, one of President's favorites. As we started to sing they started to cry. At the end we invited all of the missionaries to stand and sing with us in unison. It was such a special moment. We all love the Claytons so much. In zone conference we also learned about teaching simply  the Restoration. In the Canada Toronto Mission we teach 15-20 minute lessons so we don't have a lot of time to add in all of the fluffy pretty stuff. We teach doctrine and that is it! It was awesome! We were able to practice role playing with so many different missionaries, all who are wonderful. I learned so much. President and Sister Clayton for the last hour of the conference gave us advice on the future. Some of the things they talked about were: getting sealed in the temple, getting a good education, raising your family, and building your foundation. I learned so much and wrote so much in the "Things to  think about in the future" section of my study journal. Hahah.


E! I want to smile and frown at the same time! He is really having a hard time! I feel so bad for the guy. We taught him several things this week one being the review of the Baptism Interview Questions. He understood them all and has such a great testimony of them all he just has a hard time moving out from his girlfriends house. We got a text from him one day telling us that his girlfriend was having roommate issues with another girl  and that he wasn't going to be moving out that day. We wanted to text him back and say, "You are having issues with your roommate!" But we held it back. He is doing so good though as well. We were following up one day on his Book of Mormon reading and he told us that while he was reading about a famine he thought about the power of fasting. He said that those people had to be humbled and that because they fasted for such a long time they were able to learn more about God and follow him before. It was a super sweet insight!

W has a big desire to repent. We were visiting with him this last week and we taught about Faith and Repentance. We were actually in a super weird place. We were teaching in his backyard sitting on several different snow machines. It was super funny. :) Anyways, as we were there he brought up the concern that he couldn't forgive himself. I think that that is a very common thing. I even struggle with that! But the cool thing is that the Atonement of Jesus Christ works for all of us! I think we all are a little to hard on ourselves sometimes. Just last night before Sister Penrod fell asleep I asked her, "Am I a good missionary?" I don't think anything could have woke that girl up faster than that question. She bolted to her study desk and got Preach My Gospel and Adjusting to Missionary Life. I have a great companion. As we talked we talked about the Atonement and with her I talked myself out of the negative feelings Satan put in my mind. I know that the Atonement is for all of us. I know that it is here for our success, not to pick us up from failure.

I love you all! I love Ontario! Last night Sister Penrod and I were talking and holding back tears I told her about the deep love I have for Canadians and for the people in our mission. I love being a missionary! Until next week!

London Ontario not London England silly

I just love London.

This week was awesome we were able to teach so many cool people. While on exchanges this week with literally a movie star. I am being serious she is in movies. All of our appointments canceled. I am still pretty new to London and I don't know where anyone lives. Finally I got into the car and prayed to know where to go, as I was praying I got the idea to go and contact a referral new a returning members house and drop by the returning member. As Sister Nelson and I were getting out of the car we saw this guy walking his dog to the near by park. I saw him and knew that he was the one. We walked over to him and as usual I stumbled on my words, but when I asked him if we could share a fifteen minute message with him he said yes. Sister Nelson is in her 2 week of the mission and looked perplexed when he said yes. We went over to teach him at the park and after teaching the simple truths of the Restoration he said he would be baptized pure miracles.

E is doing great everybody! You know in Helaman 5:12 when it says "that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwinds yea when all his might hail and storm shall beat upon you.." That is pretty much what has been happening to him this week. He is going through a lot but he still manages to read pray and come to church. He is incredible and we are so excited for him to be baptized into the best YSA branch. Keep him in your prayers. Everyone else is doing so good! I am so grateful to be serving in this wonderful mission! Sorry I have been slacking a little bit on the letters. I  will definitely repent next week and write more! I love you all!

A New Area

Hello!

So I have been transferred about two hours away from the Mission home and about three hours away from Toronto! I am serving in the London YSA branch which has about 20 people in it. Life is good! This week is long! It has been really strange to be around people my own age. Some of the people in the branch are younger than me! It blows my mind. Serving in YSA seems kind of different, the YSA age group is super accepting but not very committal so it has been fun adjusting to the work! But I love it! I will give you some highlights of the week.

This is hilarious. One of our new converts A is not only in love with his fellow shipper but is preparing to marry her. So when we do follow up calls and they ask what is next ordinance is it is his temple marriage. He is very converted. While we were teaching him this week about Enduring to the End he told us about his co-worker he wanted to invite to learn about the gospel. We role played with him and he totally nailed it! He is such a good missionary. His soon to be wife E is a returned missionary and together they are a power house couple. They invited us over for dinner on Friday and when we went over there was some Bell workers there working on the TV. One of them looked like he was YSA age. Sister Penrod and I looked at each other and said, "This guy is going to be baptized." As we were teaching the Restoration to her family we invited them to sit in and listen. The spirit was so strong as we shared. Then when we were leaving we asked him if he would be interested in learning. He said no and told us he was Catholic. We left our card with him and before we left he asked where the church was. Then get this, on Saturday A had to give me a blessing because I was super sick and after the blessing they told us that they had gotten his number for us to contact him. They are such good missionaries.

E is the man! He is getting baptized on June 11. Every single time we commit him to live a commandment he always says powerful, "I will (fill in)." he is so cool. I am so grateful to be teaching him. This week he came to church and he looked SOO sad. President Brown pulled him into his office and had a good thirty minute conversation with him. After Elijah came back out happy as a baby and said the closing prayers in both Sunday School and Combined classes. He stayed after church and talked with the branch mission leader and felt the sprit so much. He is so ready to be baptized, in fact in one of our lessons he said. "If you asked me to be baptized tomorrow I'd be down." I wish you all could meet him!

London YSA is fabulous and I think the reason it is so fabulous is because of my companion. Sister Penrod is wonderful. She lived in Arizona and California and she actually attended BYU-I! She totally knows everything about my homeland. She came out at the same time as me but has to go home a transfer early to study at BYU. She has only been in English work for two transfers including this one. She speaks Chinese so I am making her teach me. :) She is wonderful. She is a power house. Someone told me, when they found out that we were going to be companions, that they were literally afraid for the people in London because of our companionship. Sister Penrod pushes me to be better and I love it.

I love you all! I hope you have a fabulous week!

Transfers

Well! I am getting transferred! This last six months in Toronto has been a blast. I have loved every single day. Some of them have been really hard but I have loved them so much! I also have loved the companions I had while I was here! Sister Wilson and Sister Jensen are the best.

We have had so many wonderful things happen this week. But today I will just share one.

R passed his baptism interview this last Monday, everything he said and taught us while we were reviewing the questions were amazing. My favorite part was when he was telling us about how much the members and the church means to him. Since we have been teaching him he has always tried to invite his friends and his family to come and see what it is all about. He told us that he is a little nervous but excited to be baptized. He is super excited to be able to be a home teacher and to serve and bless peoples lives. After his friend showed him the font and taught him where to put his hands for the baptism, he told us that he has been changed because of the church. Then we talked a little bit about family history and proxy baptisms and he asked if we could go help him put in his parents and grandparents information. Tonight we are going to be helping him learn more about "testimony" and letting him practice giving his testimony. I love R and I love the members who love him and have changed his life. Keep him in your prayers. :)

I love you all. I love being a missionary. I love the Savior Jesus Christ. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the way. It is the only way I will ever go. 

Zoo!

R is the best! He has his interview this week for his baptism on Sunday! I am so excited for him. 

This week we were teaching the Law of Chastity to R. I love this lesson I can't even begin to express my love for how important it is to live it. Right after we described what it means to keep the law of chastity he asked us, "What about your girlfriend?" At this moment my stomach dropped. We asked him if we could answer his question as we taught for the next fifteen minutes Sister Wilson, Brother T and I all testified of this commandment and the blessings that come as we live it. I told Sister Wilson after that I don't think I have ever felt the spirit direct my  testimony and teaching as much as it did in that lesson. At the end we talked about Celestial Marriages and how that is the goal. We promised eternal families and at the end asked him if he would prepare to have an eternal family by living the law of chastity. He looked at us and said yes. :) After the lesson some of the other missionaries and members were in the hall and he was inviting everyone to his baptism. He is so excited! 

H is doing so great! The members invited us all over for FHE. We taught him about following the prophet. The best part of the entire night was when he sang us a song in Swahili. As he was translating the song he told us that what he was singing about was putting our trust and faith in Jesus Christ. The poor guy grew up in poverty in Uganda. He lived on a coffee farm and for the past 58 years has been drinking coffee. As we taught him about the word of wisdom he committed to cut back a cup a day so he can be baptized in June! We are so excited for him and for the faith he has in Jesus Christ.  

I went to the zoo this last week. While I was at the zoo many things happened. My feet hurt from walking for hours, I saw a baby Rhino, two baby pandas, two lion cubs, a baby polar bear...AND a buffalo. I felt like I was at home when I saw the buffalo. :) Sorry this was a random part of this letter but I had to throw it in there. I was so excited to be there because I think the last time I went to a zoo was when I was in kindergarten. I refused to go into any exhibit where I was  going to see a snake. I am still so terrified of them. 

Well, I have two preparation days this week. I will be emailing again on Saturday. I love you all and I pray for you all all of the time! :)

An Update

This was such a great week! I love being a missionary.

I went on an exchange in Barrie this week! It was crazy! It took us a little over an hour to get there and we were driving north. The closer and closer I got the more I thought that Sister Turley was actually kidnapping me. ;) Just kidding, but I did ask her who she talks to because there was nothing there but trees and a big lake! But we saw a ton of miracles. One miracle was a member. She had invited her friend over for lunch the week previous and had bore a super powerful testimony and at the end of her shouting she looked at her friend and said, And will you let these sister missionaries teach you?" The woman said yes and then Sister Turley and I went with the same member to teach her a week after that original lesson. In our lesson we invited the member to invite her to be baptized and the member laughed and said of course! While teaching the lady kind of listened to us but every single time the member taught she was fixated on her and soaked everything up.There should be no difference in Missionary work and Member work. When full time missionaries and members work together miracles happen and hearts are changed.

Missionary Leadership Council was so good!! Every time President or Sister Clayton teach us I learn so much. We were talking about the Doctrine of Christ and we were breaking down every point finding scriptures and places in PMG that talked about faith, repentance and so on. At the end of the first two principles he had people bear testimony. When we got to baptism he invited someone to bear testimony. No hands shot up into the air, personally I was trying to think of something to say. Then President broke into tears and told us in a sense that he was disappointed. :( my heart broke. He told us that we are called her to bear witness of Jesus Christ and to baptize and all of our hands should have shot up. Since that day I have thought about that a lot. I have vowed to NEVER decline an invitation to bear my testimony. I know Jesus Christ lives and that he is my savior. Oh and by the way. I have the best mission president in the entire world. He inspires me to become a better disciple every single day. 

We have had many wonderful lessons with our investigators, returning members, and members. But the highlight of my week was hearing two investigators sing I Am a Child of God. I heard them singing and I cried! Then I thought about it again in Gospel principles and I cried again, and it happened again in Relief Society. Then to top it off we were sitting by a returning member who hasn't been to church in forever and she told us that she remembers singing that song and she told us how good it made her feel! My heart is so full! 

Well, I could say lots of things but... this sums up my feelings from this past week. "Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." ALMA 26:16 

I love you! 

p.s. It would be really helpful if you would give me ideas of things to write home about. If you have any questions send them to me and I will try to answer them! 

Member Work

I just want to share a few brief stories about how amazing the Don Mills ward is with missionary work. 

This week we were trying to find a member that would be able to be a good friend to one of our investigators. We tried several different people but nobody seemed to have time for that day. Sister Wilson, following the spirit, decided to call a returning member who recently got the Aaronic priesthood for the first time in his 30 years of membership just about a month ago. He accepted and came to teach H with us. We taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and resolved concerns that he had about baptism. The member did a good job at sharing testimony with him but we mainly taught the lesson. Then at the very end H told us about his life back in Africa and then L the member told him that he can relate to that. Immediately they started to talk and Sister Wilson and I couldn't help but smile and watch these two men sympathize with one another. We ended the lesson and as we were leaving the member, looking at us almost for approval, asked H if he would like a tour of the chapel. H agreed and they started on a chapel tour. Thirty minutes later we were at the church again looking for something and we see them talking and walking around the church. :)

Then two days later with H again another faithful priesthood holder came and taught with us about prayer. He shared a solid testimony and example about prayer and for the first time prayed to our Father in Heaven. After the lesson H thanked us for the lesson and told us that he felt so much strength. The member then asked if he would like to stay and chat. The member pulled out his Book of Mormon and started reading with H. They left the chapel an hour and a half later. 

H came to church this Sunday for the first time and was greeted with two friends waiting to help him on his journey to accept Christ. They laughed, smiled and shook hands as they talked about the spirit they felt. Mean while Sister Wilson and I are trying with little success to set up an appointment with H. They were enjoying each others company so much that we could hardly say a word. Finally the member suggested all three of us come for dinner. We were very grateful for those members. They fulfilled the scripture in Moroni 6:5-6. 

The savior helped people understand doctrine by parables, and similar to a parable is a personal story. Both help us understand the principles and doctrines being taught. I wanted to share a quick story about the power of examples in teaching and testifying. This week we were teaching R about the Word of Wisdom. When he was found he was found smoking. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't nervous to teach him this lesson. I was with Sister Deng who is a Mandarin speaking missionary for this lesson. After teaching about this commandment we asked him if he had any questions. He said he didn't but said, "I didn't know coffee and tea was part of this." Sister Deng had just been sharing with me an example that she had six years ago before she joined the church, and she shared the same story with R. She talked about her love for bubble tea but how it always made her feel a little funny. Not to long before she met the missionaries she was having trouble breathing and went to the doctor to try and resolve the problem. They had no explanation and no cure for her pain. But when she met the missionaries and was taught the Word of Wisdom she found a cure. Since she was baptized she has not had any problems with her heart and she has not had any desire to drink bubble tea. While she was sharing this experience was fixated on her. And while she told that story he felt the spirit which allowed him to accept the invitation to begin that day to live the Word of Wisdom. I am so grateful for Sister Deng and her faithfulness. And I am grateful for the Savior who allows us to be cleansed and freed from sin, always resulting in a better life. 

I love you all. I am excited to talk to my family this week. I hope you all enjoy your week. If any of you see my mom give her a big hug!  

What are you willing to do?

Boy oh boy was this a good week! 

R is doing super good! This week we had a really cool experience with him. Background on him. He has been attending other churches so for him to come to church he would have to attend the YSA branch which starts at the end of our wards meetings. He came to church last week and thought that it was a cool experience. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation this week! While teaching him about our life on earth we told him that the way to return back to our Heavenly Father was through living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We asked if he had prayed about his baptism date and he told us that at first he was a little skeptical about it but that he had prayed and that he decided that that would be the best for him. He committed right then to come to church at ten and to not attend any other churches. Then the next time we met with him (I was in a different area for this one) we taught him the second half of the Plan of Salvation. He LOVED the Atonement and told us that he had never heard of it before. Then when talking about the kingdoms of glories he was quoting scripture about it. He is so excited to be baptized and we are so excited for him as well. It is really something that when people decide to get baptized it is because of their own personal witness of Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon and prayer. We could teach them everything about the church but it would never matter unless they read and prayed about the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful to be able to serve as a full time instrument for the Lord for 18 months. I know that I have been called to declare His gospel but the spirit is the one who  teaches the people, all I need to do is search, ponder, and pray about the scriptures and for the people I am teaching and then show up. The Lord does the rest. 

H is also preparing to be a missionary...oops I meant be baptized. H is super cool. He wants to be a missionary so bad. He has been telling his family about the church and has been reading the Book of Mormon like crazy. He is so prepared to make his first covenant with the Lord.

We have the coolest returning members in the entire province of Ontario. I love them. One super cool person is D. She is a native and was baptized about 45 years ago. Her foster parents in Alberta have been in close contact with us as we have been teaching her about the church. Due to vision complications she can hardly see and will not be able to see for another month until she gets her surgery. But as we were teaching her about the Book of Mormon this week she said, "Oh yeah I read that." We were both confused because we know that she can't read and she continued to tell us that she found a ultra magnifying glass and was reading the Book of Mormon the best she could. My heart bursts with joy as I think of that sweet women doing all she can to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. So here is the question... What are you willing to do to understand more fully our saviors doctrine? I can't help but think of the Prophet Joseph Smith and all of the saints when I think about people doing all they could to know or live the gospel. The were cast out of every single place that they lived and some were murdered because of their quest to understand. Today we don't have to deal with any of that. Today all we have to do is open an app and read. But do we do it? I am so grateful for Donna and for the example that she is to me of doing all we can to understand. I want to invite everyone here to think of what you would be willing to do to more fully understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. And then I want you invite you to do it! I know that I was deeply called to repentance by the example of all of these faithful members of the church who did all that they could do. They were willing to do it all because they loved their savior.  I have so much that I need to do to improve, and I will do all that I can. I am grateful for my savior. I love him and I know him. 

I hope that you all have a wonderful week! Know that I pray for you. Know that the reason I am on a mission is to help people create eternal families like my own. 

"Here take it."

This week was just too good! 

Monday: This last week I was able to buy two really cute and very needed skirts for only $11!! I was so excited! Who knew thrift shops were so great?! Just kidding Sister Bell taught me that one. ;) We also had Dinner with the cutest lady ever. Her name is Sister C and she has the best Scottish accent. We just love her so much. Then we had a lesson with another member (everyone thought I was leaving the area) Sister Wilson and I while we were planning for her both felt like we should teach about service. As we shared Mosiah 2:17 and thanked her for the service she gives to people she broke into tears. She had been having a really hard time and the message that was shared inspired and encouraged her to change. She then invited us for dinner later that week. 

Tuesday: Today we found a man named H. I was getting on the subway and he laughed and said "Sister!" I smiled and went and talked with him. He is from Uganda and told us that Hakuna Matata started in his home town. I talked with him about prophets and eternal families and then Sister Wilson joined me and he told us that he would love to learn more! We had a couple member appointments and we found a sweet Hungarian family to teach which is super cool because a member of our ward just got back from the Hungary Budapest mission and he is pumped to continue teaching! You go RM! We were able to teach a lesson to one of our returning members about temples and family history work and he was so excited that he told us he wanted to work towards going to the temple to do baptisms for his ancestors. At the end of the lesson the member couple that was teaching with us told him that he didn't have to introduce his friends to the church but that he could introduce them to Family history! We love the  couple. We were excited to see them bear solid testimony of the Plan of Salvation especially because she is a new convert and he just recently reactivated! We also were able to teach one of the students in our English class how to pray and since that lesson she has met several times with the mandarin missionaries. 

Wednesday: Oh man! We taught so much today! We were able to teach a couple new investigators about the Restoration. We had a wonderful chapel tour lesson with our investigator R. He was found through the YSA sisters, I am so grateful for them opening their mouth. :) He is sweet and he felt the spirit as we talked about the Sacrament in the chapel. He is committed to baptism in May! We had this awesome five course meal with the Relief Society. It is always fun to eat there because she is from the Philippines so I feel like I am in Elder Kelley's mission. :) There was a lot of left over food so Sister Wilson carried it to the next lesson which was another lesson with another Filipino family. They also gave us a ton of food so I got to carry home food as well!

Thursday: We had the coolest lesson today with one of our investigators N. He usually doesn't pray but after hearing about the gospel of Jesus Christ in 3 Nephi 11 he couldn't help but solidly commit to pray. The member that was with us at that lesson was super helpful. She answered so many of his questions. I don't think the lesson could have gone so well without her. We had dinner with the same member that we met with on Monday night. She fed us super good Afghan food. At the end of the dinner we were talking about the Book of Mormon she told us that she wanted to give a Book of Mormon to a co-worker. She role played with us and she was so powerful as she bore her testimony to her friend. Something super cool is that Sister Wilson and I felt like we should commit her to write her testimony in the Book of Mormon and give it to someone and as we were at her house she brought it up herself. I never cease to be amazed at the way the spirit works. We had another member that day feel like she should give a Book of Mormon to her co-worker as well! Super cool eh? 

The Weekend (because this email is long and I bet none of you actually read it) We contacted so many people this weekend. We were able to get into houses that I haven't been able to my entire time being here! We also received lots of referrals. One of the referrals we got was after our lesson with N. He told us that his friend would be super interested in learning and when we asked him if he would like to invite her to the next lesson he said, "No, just shoot a text." Sister Wilson and I secretly laughed about it because usually they invite their friends but this time he just gave us all of her information! And guess what? we have an appointment with her! N also took us out to a really good sushi restaurant and while we were there he talked about the District movies and asked us if there were more seasons and he talked about Preach My Gospel.. Pretty much we don't need to teach him anything because he already knows it all. We saw so many other miracles but. I don't want to take away your entire day... 

While we were walking out of lessons people were stopping us and asking us to come visit them. Literally everywhere we went people knew that we were the missionaries. We had probably over 1000 people ask us if we were twins. We also were talking to people in an area we call mini Slovakia and one of the people we were talking too decided to Skype there family because they thought that we were cool. So Sister Wilson and I were preaching the gospel all over the world this week. :) 

I am so grateful for the members who love being missionaries. Every lesson that we had a member at the person progressed. Specifically with R. The ward missionary that came told him so many important things while we were on the chapel tour and when we met with him again he gave him a ride and now they text each other. I am so grateful for the faithful members in the Don Mills ward!

To top off this perfect film ready week... we have a story...

We were making calls while sitting outside in the beautiful  sun and this man walked up to us extended his arm and said....."Here take it." We saw a $10 bill in his hand and in shock replied by saying "Sorry?" He gave us the money and walked away. Sister Wilson and I were so confused but took and today we are going to give it to a homeless person. So there you have it. BEST WEEK EVER. 

I love you all! Have a great week!

An Update from Canada

I am staying in Toronto! YAY! This will be the area I will serve the longest in. I love this ward and this area and I am excited to labor here for at least another six weeks. 

This week was a really crazy week for Sister Wilson and I. We hadn't had much time to find new investigators because of appointments and meetings so we knew that yesterday we were going to have to do all that we could and more to find people to teach. While we were getting ready to leave church a family walked in. Some all sisters who are  going home this week started talking to them and quickly called us over to talk with them. We asked them all their ages and they were all above 8! Sister Wilson and I showed them around the church and talked about the sacrament in the chapel.  As we were asking them if they would be interested in learning more they kindly told us that their mom did not speak very much English and that they didn't have a number for us to contact them at. We gave them our card and told them to come to church next week. As we were leaving my wonderful companion Sister Wilson said that we should run after them and give them a Book of Mormon and get their address. We did and as we talked with them we were able to find out where they lived and set up an appointment to teach them. I am so grateful for Heavenly Father constantly placing people in our path who are ready to hear the gospel. What makes this situation better was that the people in the family was the exact number of people we had planned to find that week. 

I love family history! In MLC this month we were instructed by President and Sister Clayton on how to teach temples and family history more simply and clearly so our investigators can understand the doctrines and gain the desire to do it. I loved it. It all made so much sense as we connected point to point of restored truth. After the meeting the Zone Leaders asked Sister Wilson and I to instruct the zone on the exact topic the next day. As Sister Wilson and I role played we found out that the new way to teach wasn't as easy as we thought it would be. We continued to choke on our words and had a hard time teaching in unity. But we continued to practice. When we instructed everything ran smoothly. I am so grateful for practicing things to become better. I remember in grade 9 a teacher told me that I was shooting a basketball wrong. I of course was to prideful to admit it but when I tried to do it the other way I became a little better at shooting. I have seen how practicing simple things over and over and over has been able to help me see a better and successful outcome. I think the same principles can be applied for daily prayer and scripture study. As we begin it may be hard, but as we continue we will be able to receive a better outcome. I know that daily scripture study and prayer is what allows us to joyfully endure to the end. I wanted to invite everyone who reads this to take time and make a plan about how you can become better at practicing daily prayer and scripture study. Then I want to invite you to do it! I know that as you take that time you will be able to be at peace. Every on of you has something different going on in your life but the gospel is what we all need and the gospel is taught in scriptures and understood in prayer. I love you all! I hope you have a great week! 

An Update from Canada

What a wonderful wonderful weekend. I am so grateful for our dear prophet, Thomas S. Monson. His talk was amazing. Something that stuck with me from his talk was the phrase, "make the harder right or the easier wrong." I wonder how often we make the easier wrong. Many times we were reminding about our eternal destiny and potential. Our agency is key to that and we need to do things that are hard to get there. I love my prophet.

This week was such a crazy week!! We were able to invite so many people to come to General Conference and we taught so many wonderful people about Christs restored gospel. :) A couple weeks ago Sister Wilson and I were walking hanging up ESL flyers when Sister Wilson tried to talk to a girl with earphones in. She didn't pay attention due to her loud music but finally we got her attention. We told her about a living prophet and told her we would love to share a message with her. She said yes and we met with her early last week. C was running a bit behind and Sister Wilson and I decided to wait just a bit longer to see if she would come. SHE DID! We taught her about the Restoration and though it is simply it powerfully touched her heart. She told us that she had gone to her original church last week for the first time in a long time. She said that she could feel something and that when we taught her about the Restoration she felt it again. I am so grateful for the spirit. She accepted our invitation to be baptized but told us that she would soon be moving back to London. We are going to continue to teach her for a week then we will pass her onto the London YSA sisters. I am so grateful for experiences like this where I can feel the spirit working through me to teach God's children. The Gospel is true. 

I love you all. I hope that you all have a great week. This next Sunday is transfer calls! 

Easter

This week was an awesome week! Easter is always amazing on the mission! Well, this morning Sister Wilson and I ran around like crazy women trying to find a library to email at. I don't have anytime to write a big email to you all, but I love you! 

Have a good week and remember to read and pray! 

Canada

Wow. Looking at the emails I received from some of you this week. I have the prettiest little Sister in the entire world. :) I love you N. I am so excited for you!

This week was really adventurous. I was so sick this week. I had this really terrible cold that had me coughing all day. One day was so bad that Sister Wilson made me go home and sleep for an hour. I was so grateful! That same day when we got home to plan I told her before  going to bed that it was the hardest day I had ever had on my mission, physically that is. I was so exhausted all day and the coughing and caused me to have s many pains that it was really hard to talk with people on the bus. But, I did anyways and if it comes up on the new that Toronto had broken out into sudden sickness it is because sometimes you just can't help but sneeze or cough on someone! haha


Family History is where it is at! This week Sister Wilson and I got to help a young womens group learn how to do family history. About two weeks ago we had to use the church family history centre for an instruction we would be giving. As we went in there we started to talk a little about the volunteers family trees. After talking for a little about it I asked them if I could sing them the Family History song I once learned in Primary. After singing I told them about how much I love Family History work and how much my family loves it as well. I told them about our family history room, "Earl", and all of the wonderful genealogists my family has. They were ecstatic! They asked if we would come back and help them out. While we were there we were able to help this really cute 13 year old girl. She and her mom and had done so much work to be able to enter in the family information easily. After they had imputed a few names we told them about adding stories or memories to an ancestors name. They were so excited to put in stories about their grandparents. "I have records of my loved ones on my own family tree!"

One of our part member families we are working with brought up the desire to do family history work. When we went for dinner  this last week we brought them a My Family book and challenged them to get started on it. A, the investigator, told us that she wants to come to the family history centre to start finding her family. A hasn't been progressing very fast. But Sister Wilson and I are excited to help A and S start to progress as they feel the spirit. They aren't currently married, they have been living common law for about 11 years now. They don't see the need for a "paper" that says they are married. We are excited to teach them more about temple work and how they can be sealed together and with all of their recently found family. "I am yours and you are mine now, for all eternity."

M: Here it goes. This week we taught M about the Word of Wisdom. The lesson was not the greatest lesson ( I studied Chapter 10 in PMG the entire week after that lesson haha), but she committed to start to cut back on her coffee. As we were getting ready to leave she asked a question about the Law of Chastity. We left her a pamphlet and scriptures to read so we could talk about it the next time we visited. Just two days ago we got a text from M telling us that she didn't want to continue to study with the Mormon religion. She told us that she wasn't ready to "conform" to the rules. :( MY HEART BROKE! 💔 We tried to talk to her about meeting with us one final time so we could clear about questions and concerns that she had, but she has never replied. As I stated previously I was really heart broken about the decision that she made to discontinue our meetings. But I learned so many important things from this experience.
"Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost." (Preach my Gospel, Chapter One, Successful Missionary.) Sister Wilson and I pray every single day that we will be able to find future converts. The title of a convert is important. What does in mean to be truly converted? It means that we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, faithfully and fully. In the Canada Toronto Mission we baptize converts. :) Although M was not baptized at this  time that does not mean that we are not successful missionaries. It means that we learned, she learned, and all of us can and will become better because of the experiences we had.
She is an incredible mother. She loves her children and has taught them so much. It seems to be a silly thing to say I learned from her but I honestly respect her as a mother and I hope that I will someday be able to show that much love to the children I have!
I have a faith filled companion who does not shut down or turn away when things get hard. Sister Wilson is such an amazing example of a diligent missionary. She studies so hard for the people that we teach and she always knows what we need to share with our investigators to help them. While teaching M I was always able to feel the power that comes from having Charity. Sister Wilson is a Christ-Like missionary. Christ-Like, isn't that a great word? She is like a savior Jesus Christ. I love her and I am so grateful to be her companion.
Something really cool happened this week. Sister Wilson and I were walking to the church and we saw this man sitting outside the church. When I first got to Toronto we saw the same man sitting outside the church. The first day here in Toronto Sister Jensen and another missionary went over and talked to him. They found out that his name was S and they shared a card with him. Four months later Sister Wilson and I go over and address him by name and start talking with him. He tells us about his family and occupation. He asks about Jesus Christ and God and we answer his simple but oh so profound questions. He told us that he just doesn't know if Jesus Christ was the son of God. At this exact moment in the conversation the spirit whispered to me instructions that were specific and so plain that I could not misunderstand. I obeyed, and said, "S. Look at me straight in the eyes. (he did) S, I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and your savior. God is our father. He knows each of us personally. We want to teach you how following Jesus Christ will give you a new life. Can we teach you about your Savior?" At that moment I felt the spirit re-testify to me that Jesus Christ is the son of God. S agreed to meet with us to learn more. I want you all to know the exact same thing. I know Jesus Christ is your savior and mine.

This Wednesday I have been in Canada for an entire year?! Last night at a dinner appointment I was telling a member about how I felt when I got here. I remember the pilot announce that we had just crossed from the United States of America to Canada. I looked out the window and realized that my prayers to ask if I should serve a mission were slim to almost non-existent. I had never really received an answer that I should serve, I just chose to come. At that moment I was so nervous. I didn't know what to expect for my next 18 months as  missionary and I didn't know what to think about the new country I had just entered into. I then realized that I had already made my decision and that I was where I should be. Now more than ever I know that I am supposed to be serving a mission in Canada. I love the Canadian people who have won my heart, I love them so much. :) I am grateful to be serving in Toronto!


I love you all so much! Have a great week

--Sister Chelson 

I wish I had more time sometimes!

Sister Wilson and I saw many many miracles this last week. 

The first miracle happened while I was on exchanges with a new missionary! Sister Holmstead has been out for four weeks now and she is a phenomenal missionary. I was blown away by her teaching skills. All of the sisters I exchange with teach me so much. She had never contacted on a bus or a subway before so I told her for the first little bit she could watch how I did it and then she could go and find what worked best for her. After watching me contact TWICE she went off and contacted so many people. One of the people she contacted was super interested in coming  to church. She waved me over to tell her where the church was and after talking for a little bit and finding out that she was getting off at the same stop as us we asked if we could teach her. We taught her the Restoration and invited her to be baptized! I was so grateful for Sister Holmstead and the example she is to always open her mouth. She is going to see so many miracles as she continues to do that.

The next miracle that we had was also from Sister Holmstead and I opening our mouth. The next day a man named H called and told us that he wanted to learn more about the church. We met with him twice this week and invited them to be baptized. They are from Nazareth and love Jesus Christ. It was super cool!

We had a district meeting this week on prayer. Sister Wilson and I were able to teach a really cool lesson to this man named M. A couple weeks ago we met him on the bus. Sister Jensen was getting screamed at by some man and I was talking with M. M thought it was cool that even though we get yelled at we still continue to teach. At the time M didn't have a phone and had no way of meeting with us. I gave him a card so he could call us when he had a phone and he DID!!!!! We taught him about prayer and it was exactly what he needed. We asked similar questions to the role play that we had in district meeting and left the same commitments. He is going to be baptized. 

I wish I had more time but I don't! There were many other miracles seen, and don't worry mom I have recorded all of them in my journal in detail. I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week! 

Shout out to N who is participating  in the DYW program. I am so proud of you. I love you and I hope you know that no matter what I am so proud of you! You are in my prayers. 

An Update from Canada

"Jesus Christ died and lived for us again, follow him and find a new life." This Sunday the church will be putting out the new Easter Initiative! This was my favorite part of the video. I am so excited for you all to watch it and share it. I don't know if it is just because I am a missionary who is set apart to have the spirit or if I have just become an emotional person.. but I tear up every time I watch this video.

This week we met some really cool people on the streets of Toronto. One specific person keeps coming to my mind. We met this awesome man named L on the bus. As we were talking to him about our message he was really excited to learn more, just as he was walking away I called out to him and asked him what his religious background was and he said "Almost Christian". I am really excited to meet with him.

Sister Wilson and I are teaching this amazingly prepared woman named M. We were preparing to teach her about the plan of salvation and we just thought that she would have a lot of questions so while we were role playing we were asking hard questions to each other. When we went to follow up with her on her Book of Mormon reading she told us that she had been reading the testimonies and that nothing had really come to her telling her that it was true...BUT THEN she said that while she was reading the testimony of Joseph Smith she felt an amazing sense of peace and truth. She said that she feels like God is answering her that what we are teaching her is true. In my head I was thinking..."What. I don't know what to do now. She actually read and received an answer within seconds? They don't teach us what to do when people know that it is true!"  While I was thinking this her son called out for her from the backroom and when she went back there Sister Wilson and I both looked at each other with dropped jaws. It was so cool! When she came back she said a prayer to understand and accept all that we were going to teach her. As we taught her about the creation, fall of Adam and Eve, and our life on earth she told us while hugging the pamphlet, that she can relate so much to all of what we had taught her. She committed to read, pray, and come to church.

While on exchanges this last week with Sister Spencer we had a miracle happen. Sister Spencer is in her first 12 weeks so she gets to have an hour extra study time from a book called the First 12 weeks ( really fitting name eh?). While we were praying a thought came to my mind to use our training that day and go over and teach our neighbors about the Book of Mormon. Luckily that day in training we were focusing on how to use the Book of Mormon. Sister Spencer prayerfully selected a scripture and we role played going over to their house knocking on the door, and teaching them about the scripture. We did this three times and were finally ready to go over to their house. Just a side note on our neighbors. While Sister Jensen and I were companions we gave them some chocolates for Christmas. After that we continued to run into them, they would give us free calender's and we would give them gospel literature. They had read every single pamphlet and were even reading the Book of Mormon. But they never would allow us to go and share a message with them. Last transfer I had been praying to know when it would be a good time to go to them and teach them and I never received an answer so I knew it was not the right time. Knowing all of that, I can get back to the story. Sister Spencer and  I go over and say exactly what we had role played to them at the door and *BOOM* they invited us to come into their home to talk more. While we were in there we talked about the Book of Mormon and we set up an appointment to go back in two days. This experience strengthened my testimony in two ways. 

1. Prayers are always answered. I had been praying to know when they would be ready and I received an answer that it was not time yet. Sometimes when we pray we don't get the answer that we were looking for or expecting and I think that that discourages us. Do you think that Joseph Smith was expecting the answer that he received when he saw two heavenly beings appear to him? I would think that he wasn't! But what he was expecting was an answer. And from the answer that he received he acted. If there is anything that any of you have been praying for and you feel like you haven't received an answer, KEEP PRAYING.  "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find;  knock, and it shall be opened unto you". 

2. Every person on earth can receive revelation. Sister Spencer and I felt inspired to go and do a very specific thing, using a very specific scripture, at a very specific time and place. I'm here to tell you that there is absolutely no way that I could do that without the guidance of the spirit. It is so important that we always remain worthy of the companionship of the holy ghost. Each week we go to church and while there we partake of the sacrament which renews a promise that we will always have "his spirit to be with us". As we take the sacrament seriously, we will be able to feel his spirit in our life. And not only will we feel his spirit but we will be guided by his spirit so we can bless his other children. 

M came to church and her cute children M and Z came to church! She asked great questions and felt the spirit so strongly. :)

Well, I could go on and on about this week. We were able to see so many miracles. There were lots of little and big miracles! I know that I get to see these miracles because of Jesus Christ. I know that he is my savior and just as I quoted before, "Jesus Christ dies and lived for us again, follow him and find a new life." I have found my life in Christ. I want to invite all of you to find your life in him as well. Have him be the center of all aspects of life. Think about the media you enjoy, focus that media on Christ. Think of the friends you have, do they help you focus your life on Christ? Remember Christ. Helaman 5:12

A Week Filled With Miracles

This week was filled with so many miracles.

We are teaching this super amazing woman named E. We taught her the Restoration and she told us that she felt goose bumps. We invited her to be baptized and she said that she would! We invited her to read, pray, and come to church. She told us that she has been praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true and just hasn't received and answer quite yet. We promised her that is she would continue she would know that it is true. She accepted and guess what everybody?! She is keeping her commitments! She is going to be baptized soon I just know it. After working around her house for a little bit we got to a bus stop. School had just got out so there were around 40 young girls leaving the Catholic school. As we all were at the bus stop I turned to Sister Wilson and said, "We are going to teach all of these girls the Restoration." She looked at me like I was crazy but did it anyway! We had a blast teaching them all and several of them were really interested in the message we shared. They took our cards and while we were on the bus we saw some of them looking at the website. :) I love being a missionary. 

We had a lot of dinner appointments this week. All of the families that we eat with are persistent in having us have not just seconds but thirds every time we go over to their house. I was so full. By the end of the week I had to pull out my fat skirt so I could still feel semi good. Don't you worry mom! I have been jump roping away. :) The best part about the dinner appointments we had was that in every single one we received referrals. Just last night we were at a members house and after teaching the Restoration and asking them who the spirit brought to their mind, they told us that their niece was finally give permission to listen to the missionary discussions. They set goals and made a plan to have her over to the house to be taught. This just didn't happen last night but it happened several times this week. I am so grateful for faithful members who try to share the gospel. Remember, success comes in the invite. 

Brother M is still doing great. He is preparing to go to the temple to do proxy confirmations. :) The members are going to be picking him up, taking him there, and then bringing him home. The ward council is so great here. They have just stepped up and are willing to help him. I love the Don Mills ward. Brother M was given an assignment a couple weeks back to organize a bowling activity for the Elders Quorum. He was so excited and got a super cheap price. The ward was really impressed with how he fulfilled his assignment and told him that they would give him even more. :) I'm so proud of him. 

This week I got a new companion. Sister Wilson is a champ. She and I together contact 200+ people every single day and I am pretty sure that 150 of those are her. She just knows how to get it done. While she was on the bus she talked to a woman named U. She loved the Restoration and was super excited to come to church. She hadn't been answering our calls so we were kind of bummed thinking that she would not come to church. BUT WAIT! We stepped out of ward council to call her and she answered. She told us that she had not been feeling well but that she would come. We waited for her to come to sacrament meeting but she never came. Then we got a call from her that she was downstairs. We rushed down the stairs and found her. Not only did U come but she brought her entire family as well. We gave them a tour of the church and they decided to sit in on the YSA branch sacrament meeting. Side note...The YSA in Toronto are so awesome they saw new faces and all of them came running to introduce themselves. GO RETURNED MISSIONARIES!!! Anyways, they loved sacrament and committed to coming to church. 

M. Is. Incredible. Sister Jensen and I met her a little over a week ago and got her contact info. She has been through so much in her life. Including being addicted to pretty much everything. Sister Wilson and I got a hold of her and set up an appointment to meet with her. She offered us tea and muffins. :) While we were there we taught her about the Restoration. She said that she felt so much peace while we were talking and has experience similar feelings of light in her life. She used to be Atheist but came to know that God was real when she was put into a life or death situation where she received an answer to her first prayer. We invited her to be baptized on March 26th, and invited her to CPR. She happily accepted all of the commitments and was over joyed when she found out about the Primary program for her two children. She couldn't come to church this week but will be attending next week. I am so excited to be visiting with her. When we asked when we could come back she asked how often we come back. She thought that we were going to say two weeks and was super surprised when we said two or three times a week. But, hey she said yes and loved the idea of 15-20 minute lessons. 

In ward council we have been watching training videos on the Sabbath Day. I was thinking about my Sabbath day observance I have had over my life time and obviously found serious faults. But as I was thinking about how I could be better I thought about family councils. As a missionary we have companionship inventory every week. We talk about strengths and opportunities we have personally and as a companionship and we set goals to achieve them. Family councils are the same way.I love the idea of having a weekly family council on Sunday. I was writing in my journal last night about all of the ideas and thoughts I had and I wrote, "If we take a vacation from the Sabbath,  the spirit will take a vacation from us." The purpose of church is to partake of the Sacrament, which allows  us to renew our baptism covenant so we may "always have his spirit to be with us." I am grateful for the Sabbath day. I am grateful for the resources lds.org has given us to help us make it a delight. I want to invite you all to refelct on your Sabbath Day observance and to use the concept of "good, better, best." Make the Sabbath good then better then the best. 

I love you all and I hope that you have a great week!