Bikes, and food, and service, and this wonderful Gospel? Oh how blessed are we?

This will be my last week sending out a large email. If you would like to read my weekly letter they will be on a blog. I am sure that my brother will post that on my facebook account or someone online. Or you can just ask my mom to send it to you. I have such a hard time remembering everyone! I love you and I hope you enjoy  this lovely letter. I want to apologize now for it however, it is not my best letter. But as President Clayton always says, "Repent and sin no more." :) 

Tripanion? This Sunday one of the really cute Primary girls in our ward decided that she wanted to be a missionary! She followed us around for thirty minutes before church, so Sister Dayton and decided that we would make her her very own name tag, just to make it official. :) She sat with us during church and she was so good and quiet! It was so fun. After church got out, she still had her paper name tag on her shirt. A couple hours later her dad calls us and asks us if we had a couple minutes, he said "Gracie has something that she would like to show you." We went over to their house and she showed us her NEW name tag she was wearing. Her paper name tag ripped and she was so sad because she wanted to be a missionary. Her mom told her that she would make her a new one but then the thought came to her mind that she had something better. She had served a mission and had her old name tag upstairs. Gracie was so excited to wear her very own "Real black name tag". Gracie was so excited to be a mission-mary, that she went out Home teaching with her Dad. I love seeing young children get excited about being a missionary. It truly is the best calling anyone could ever have. That night we had a ward party and when we asked her mom if she was still wearing the name tag she said Gracie told her. "If I wear the name tag I will have to wear church clothes so I will wait to put it on later." Haha  I LOVED IT. 

I talked a little bit about bikes last week? Well, we have them! I just want you all to close your eyes and imagine this. Two girls in skirts and really attractive helmets, a big basket on the front filled with pass-along cards, Book of Mormons, and pamphlets, and wind. If you didn't laugh you should. :) We love it though. We are so grateful that we didn't have to buy the bikes either. We were at a dinner appointment with this family who used to be members and decided that they no longer wanted to so they took their names off the church records. We were asking them if they knew of anyone who had bikes that they weren't using that we could have. They couldn't think of anyone of the top of their heads but a day later we got a voicemail from him saying that he found two bikes for us and that he was fixing them up for us. How nice is that?! We are so grateful for them. They LOVE the missionaries and both would do anything for anyone. I pray that they will remember the feelings that they had as they were in the church, we can still see the light that they have in the eyes as we share our testimony with them. I also pray that all of us will remember to be kind to everyone and love everyone. Help those in need! Sister Stothart, a member in our ward, said last night. "I feel like when you are serving others and being a missionary, you feel pure happiness and love for them. And when you feel that, you learn that God loves you in the most pure way." I know that  that is true. As you serve others you will be happier than you ever have in your life.

Food never stops here. Literally it just keeps coming. Sister Dayton and I got fed 11 times since last Tuesday!! I am so grateful for all of the people who have invited us over for dinner, lunch, linner, brunch, snacks, thanksgiving dinner, and feasts. Literally I feel like I had them all. Lets just say I am even more grateful for the bikes we got if you know what I mean. It is SO needed. 

Last email I sent I talked about our neighbors we were doing service for. The family is amazing. They invited us to come back and teach them! (YAY HAPPY SISTER CHELSON DANCE) We taught them the Restoration. As we were teaching them about the Priesthood we wanted to make sure that they understood. They  understood everything so perfectly. I was a little nervous actually because they knew it so well. After we taught the apostasy they didn't really think that it had ever been taken but Sister Dayton and I explained and they understood. At the end of the lesson we were talking about the Book of Mormon and how it was another record that testified about Jesus Christ. They told us that they were excited to read from it because they never knew there was more to learn. Dainia, the mom, said, "I am kind of like Joseph Smith, I am looking for the truth as well." We were so excited to be able to teach them. At the end of the lesson Sister Dayton asked them if they have ever prayed before, and for the next ten minutes they told us of all of the amazing times God has blessed them because of their prayers. It is an amazing thing when your investigators bear their testimony about prayer. 

This last week Sister Dayton and I have decided to start to memorize The Living Christ. I have loved studying it. Everytime that we recite it I feel the spirit so much. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He truly did give His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. How blessed are we to be able to say that we are members of His church? And how blessed are we to be able to turn to Him to help us overcome guilt, pain, and sadness? I know that He lives. And I know that He loves each of us. 

I love you all. I am sorry that this was not a very good letter. I don't have much time today. But I do love you all so much. 

Sister Chelson

  

Exercise Room, Book of Mormon, 3 testimonies

Hello from Canada! I hope that you all had a blessed week. I know that Sister Dayton and I had a fabulous week. In between exchanges, special trainings, service, and lots of dinner appointments, we are still smiling and happy because we have the best calling in the world! 

This last week Sister Dayton and I went on exchanges with our fabulous Sister Training Leaders (STL), Sister Robb and Sister Coleman! I have never been outside of my ward boundaries so it was super fun to go to Hamilton with Sister Robb. Cool thing about Hamilton... It is actually the home or Batman! The movies were filmed in Hamilton! Pretty cool eh? Anyways... We were teaching a lesson with this couple who had met with the last missionaries a couple times in the previous transfer and they were so excited to hear more about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we were teaching them we invited them to be baptized. The man that we were teaching replied, "I can't wait to be baptized so I can receive that power and authority you were talking about." He was so excited! And so were we! I mean who doesn't want their investigators to say that?! So many other things happened on exchanges. But I am so grateful for Sister Robb and the example she is to me. She is a wonderful missionary. (Mosiah 25:18) (Helaman 5:18)

This last Friday we had a special training from President and Sister Clayton! I love my mission president and his wife they are remarkable. In this special training we talked about what we need to do to better our efforts as a mission. Some things that I really loved is the emphasis. On member missionary work! I know that member missionary work and missionary work combined can be the most powerful thing. I encourage you all to call your local missionaries and ask them if you can go teaching with them, have them over for dinner, or you can give them some names of families they can go to. We all are so blessed to know about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We know that we can be with our families for forever because of the restored priesthood on the earth. Some of our friends and our family members do not know this. It is sooo sad. It breaks my heart to know that some people don't feel hope of an after life or that they can be forgiven completely of past sins. But, this can all change! So start today! Be a missionary. :) Love the people around you. And as you do that, you will remember the feelings you had as you first came to know that this church is true. You will find even more peace and happiness in your life as you share the Gospel. (Helaman 6:3)

This week we were helping this woman do some gardening for her neighbour. And let me tell you! It was hard work! The dirt and grass we were trying to dig up was clay and it was so difficult to pull up. But, we did it! We also were able to do service for this really cute member in our ward. It was a really hot and sunny day so she told me that I could borrow her hat. I wasn't going to turn her down. We had so much fun!  (Mosiah 2:17)

The food paragraph! Yesterday we double booked ourself on accident and had two dinner appointments! The first one we had was a fabulous meal with hamburgers, Kale salad (my favorite salad), and pie. Then the second one we had was with the Flores Family. They are from the Philippines so it was fun to be able to have Filipino food. I thought about Seth (Elder Kelley). But something that is even cooler is that Brother Flores served his mission in the Philippines and he had a companion from Idaho!!! 

This last story is one of my highlights of the week. We were  supposed to be teaching one of our recent converts in a lobby of a apartment complex. But it was already taken so we had to improvise. We decided that the exercise room would be a comfy place that the spirit could reside, so we chose to teach our lesson in there. As we were starting our lesson an older man came in and needed to use the treadmil! But we really needed to teach our lesson. He felt bad when we started to gather our stuff and told us that it was okay for us to stay there and that he would just be ten minutes. Sister Dayton looked at me and we decided no harm could come from it, so we continued on teaching our lesson on Abinidi. After ten minutes had passed this older gentleman did stop his work out, but instead of leaving he came and sat near us and listened. As we finished our lesson, he asked us what we were reading from. Our recent converts, and our faces lit up and we told him about the Book of Mormon. We told him what our purpose is as missionaries and he asked a couple questions. We decided it would be best if our recent convert could tell this man about why he was baptized and how it brought him happiness. He looked at this man square in the face and told him that HE KNOWS that this is the true church. And that being baptized was the best decision he had ever made. The man then proceeded to tell us that he feels so lonely and that he wants to find happiness. We bore our testimonies that this Gospel is the way to find true happiness. He is so excited to learn more about this church, our recent convert is excited to be part in teaching him, and we are thankful to be blessed with yet again, another miracle from God. WE KNOW this church is true. (Moroni 10:3-5) 

I love being a missionary. I have the best calling in the world. (Alma 5:49)

Sister Chelson

Thou Shalt Not Steal

Such a fun week here in Canada! It was full of miracles! I got my new companion Sister Dayton, Heavenly Father continues to answer prayers (we didn't think he had stopped), I guess I like sushi,  I need to be taught the ten commandments, and I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. 

I have a wonderful new companion! Her name is Sister Dayton. She has been serving as a missionary in the Canada Toronto Mission for 8 months, she will hit her half way point while we are serving together this transfer. She went to BYU and danced on the Ballroom dance team. She has 6 siblings and they are all married. She is so hilarious, we have been laughing and smiling this entire week. But the things that I love most about her is that she is so positive and she loves everyone that she meets. She has already won over the hearts of Milton. They all love her, and she loves them just as much. I am so excited to serve with her this upcoming transfer! 

This last week we really were having a hard time finding new investigators! We went out tracting, we contacted on the street, we met with members, you name it. If Preach My Gospel suggested it, we did it. We were praying so hard on this particular day that we would be able to recognize the people who were prepared to hear about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sister Dayton and I decided that we would go over to a park near the members home we were going to go for dinner and we would talk to EVERYONE. This is something we always do, as a missionary you talk to everyone and give them the chance to choose if they would like to hear more about the church. We  talked to everyone at the park and every time it went as follows, "We have our own religion. We aren't interested." So we sat down on a park bench and we talked to each other trying to figure out what we needed to do better so we could find these new investigators. All of a sudden this older lady walks up to us and starts talking. For the next thirty minutes we talked about how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints brings true happiness and how this church was restored once again on the earth today, including the priesthood keys to be baptized and perform other sacred ordinances. We found a new investigator. That same night we were visiting a member and teaching the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A PSW worker was there and happened to be listening. When we asked her if she would like to learn more she said yes. Another new investigator!!! I can testify to all of you that Heavenly Father listens to each of us personally. He knows us, He knows what we need. And he will bless us according to our faith. We just need to be able to listen and recognize him talking to us through the Holy Ghost. 

Well, I love food. And I know you all LOVE hearing about the food here in Canada!! Haha this week was a normal week filled with cheese quesidillas, and peanut butter and nutella ques-not-dillas. Haha but I was able to have sushi this week! I had it on my first preparation day last transfer. I HATED IT. But, I have really started to like it and I actually loved going to an all you can eat sushi place. It is so good. But besides that I am pretty boring with this week and the food. Maybe I will try something crazy and new this week. 

I know that this is not something that is too spiritual, but hey, I think it is pretty funny. :) This week in my training as a new missionary we will be learning how to teach the commandments! That includes the Word of Wisdom, Chastity, the Ten commandments, and so on. Keep this in mind as you read this story. Today I went to Shoppers, a store similar to Walgreens, and I was going to send my family a package of some Canadian candy and some Mothers Day gifts to my mama! (HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO EVERYONE BTW) So I forgot to buy candy before I went to package everything so I just grabbed some candy to buy and then put it in the package and sealed it. Well...I forgot to pay for the candy!!! You know that commandment, Thou Shalt Not Steal? Yeah, I almost broke it!!! But luckily, my wonderful companion Sister Dayton reminded me that I needed to pay for the candy. I was so embarrassed and I felt guilty because I almost stole and broke a commandment. But it all turned out okay. I was able to tell the front desk what happened and all it cost me was a red face and some laughter. :) So moral of the story, THOU SHALT NOT STEAL. I totally will be able to teach that to the wonderful people in Canada now. :) 

Just like I say every week. I love being a missionary. We work really hard here, we wake up at 6:30 and easily are sleeping by 10:31. I am so grateful for the time that I have to teach people about what has brought me the most happiness in my life.Every day I get to tell people that I know that Heavenly Father loves me and that I am a child of God. And that the Gospel truly blesses families. I have been so lucky to be raised in the Church. I know that my parents made the best decision to be sealed in the temple, this has BLESSED my family. And that I know that God loves us and gives us prophets to guide us and help us know where we need to go to find this love. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He did suffer for my sins, and your sins, and everyone's sins. He lives today, and we are promised eternal life if we will have faith in him and follow his example. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and he did translate the Book of Mormon. We can draw closer to God by reading the Book of Mormon, and we can know exactly what we need to do to live with God by studying and pondering its words. And best of all, Heavenly Father still gives us a chance to communicate to him. We can talk with him every day. And if we do he will bless us even more than we can understand. I know all of these things are true. I have the best calling in the world, I can't think of a better place to be than right here in Ontario Canada. 

I love you all, know I can feel your love as well.

Sister Chelson

Rice and Bananas

I have officially finished one transfer as a missionary in the Canada Toronto Mission! Wow, time moves way to fast. It feels like just yesterday Sister Bodine and I got lost trying to find our apartment! This last week was amazing.I found out I have a deformity in my foot, I spent Friday and on in a different area, I killed a companion, and my testimony of serving those who are around us, increased. 

So, a back story on the foot. :) I have been noticing some pain in my right heel for about six weeks now... :) So my companion and I decided I should proabably go to a doctor and get it checked out. So after two doctor appointments and an ultra sound the only thing they could tell me was to go to physio!  Sister Bodine and I are so focused on the work, and we didn't want to take time out of teaching anyone, so Sister Bodine suggested we try to find a Physio asap. We called around but nobody could book me in for that day so we decided to go and search one out. As we were driving and trying to find one, we came across Milton Orthotics. We went in to go check it out and turns out they were exactly the place I needed to go. While we were filling out papers, we read the question, "How did you hear about Milton Orthotics?" Both Sister Bodine and I so badly wanted to put the spirit!!! HA but we didn't. But it is true. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of us all and of our personal circumstances. As we met with the Pedorthist we found out that I have a deformity called Haglins deformity. I am okay though! I just do some stretches and ice ALOT and everything is okay!

Because my companion's visa expired a little bit before transfered I spent the weekend with the Oakville South sisters! Sister Sudweeks and Sister Barton! Let me tell you, they are incredible missionaries. I have learned so much from them in just the small time we have been companions. It truly was a blessing that I was able to stay with them because they are missionaries for the same ward I work in! I was able to go to church with my ward! Again Heavenly Father is so mindful of us all. 

Yes, just like I was just saying. I killed my companion! Sister Bodine was such an amazing missionary. I learned so much from her in the small amount of time I was serving with her. She is the definition of a consecrated missionary. The Canada Toronto Mission misses her so much already! She made such an impact on all of the missionaries serving here! I never thought it was possible to become so close to someone in six weeks. :) I love you Sister Bodine! 

This means that I get a new trainer! My new companion is Sister Dayton! Transfers are tomorrow so I don't know anything about her yet. But what I do know is that I already love her and am looking forward to being trained by another amazing Sister missionary. Make sure you pray for Sister Dayton! 

So, the title is pretty funny eh? Ha well there is no funny story to this. But, I STRONGLY encourage you all to try rice and bananas. It is so good!!! And if any of you are fans of cabbage salad, mix the three of them together! Since we are talking about food... I found out that I love Greek Food! It is so good.

This week we had amazing opportunities to serve members of our ward. Each time the work we were doing caused me to get on my knees and really work. As I was on my knees serving the people I love so much. I thought about the story in John 13 when the Savior, Jesus Christ, washed the feet of the apostles. The Son of God served people who should be serving him. As a missionary I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for any opportunity I have to serve the members, and just like King Benjamin teaches "that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.." (Mosiah 2:17) I encourage you all to reflect on this story and on the words of the song, "Because I Have Been Given Much", and as you do, think about what it is this week that you can give to someone else.

I love you all! Thank you for the prayers you offer in my behalf. And thank you for the faith you show me as you support me.

Sister Chelson

Don't worry come to my side of the boat!

Haha oh what a title eh? This week was amazing. We saw many miracles happen. But their would need to be another book added to the scriptures if I wrote them all. :) I will just share a couple of stories. 

This last Tuesday we went on exchanges for the first time in my mission. It was amazing. The Sister Training leaders we have are amazing. I was able to spend my day with Sister Davidson! She has so many strengths, and she is an incredible missionary. Something that she really helped me understand was the importance of being an organized missionary. She is amazing. We went tracting in the pouring rain! We had drenched hair, and sopping shoes but yet we still went on with a smile. We love the work. 

I have been mentioning this all transfer. But my companion is truly a blessing. Sister Bodine is an incredible missionary. She is in her last week as a missionary. She has served the Lord faithfully and obediently for 18 months. I am so grateful I was able to partake of her sweet spirit and testimony. Keep her in your prayers and thoughts as she prepares to come home. 

Our stake had stake conference this week! I didn't remember to snag my notebook before emailing, so I won't be able to share very many thoughts. We heard from Elder Anderson,  Elder Hales, Brother Kacher, and a the second councilor in the relief society presidency. It was so amazing. One talk that I specifically liked was the one that talked about how throught the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all of our sins can be completely forgotten. As long as we have faith.

Stake Conference was a wonderful lead up to something the youth did in our ward! They set up a mini mission. There were three missionary companionships, Sister Bodine and I, the other sisters in our ward, and then our Zone Leaders. We all went on temporary splits with two or more of the youth in the ward. The leaders set up for us to meet with investigators, less active members, tracting, and even dinner appointments. It was a true blessing to be surrounded by the youth. They each have such sweet testimonies. They got to be missionaries for a day! I was able to be with two beehives. As we were driving back to the church from our dinner appointment, I asked them both what their favorite part was. One said "I got to share my testimony for the first time with people." She was one of our recent converts. Then the other said, "I really liked teaching about Joseph Smith, when I taught his vision (Joseph Smith History 1:16-17) I felt the spirit." She has been a member her whole life. I love that no matter how long we have been a member that the message of the Restoration will always teach us and fill us with the spirit. I invite you all to prayerfully consider someone to share the gospel with.

We were playing Jeopardy with the youth and we got to the question that was asking what the Savior said when they were on the boat and their were mighty storms. After some pretty good guesses and some laughing from the leaders all of the teams besides one had guessed. The very last group also didn't know the answer. the team captain said, "I don't know so I will just give it a guess...Come to my side of the boat?" hahah Sister Bodine and I have been referring back to this statement all week. But it is true. We can be in the darkest times of our lives. And we may not know what it is that we should do. Or where it is we should turn. But just as this young mia maid said, the Savior would want us to come to him. To live our lives centered on him. I am so grateful for this girl, and the faith that she simply expressed as she mentioned this comment. I know that as we Come unto Christ that we will find peace and happiness in our lives. 

I love you all! 

Sister Chelson 

April 30, 2015

          Hello, Hello! This week has been one awesome week!!! I love being a missionary. I think I have said that before but I thought I would say it again! So I will just try and sum up everything that happened!

          My companion in is her last transfer. This means that everyone has invited us over for dinner! And some days we even have lunch and dinner. Ha this is so awesome. The ward we are in is incredible. And the food that they make for us is even more incredible! This means that we have to really watch out on what we are eating. I have found out, however, that ice cream is something that goes good with every meal. It fills in the cracks eh? Haha you all know that I LOVE lambs! This week I had lamb stew. I felt like crying. Also I have really started to like fish! It is really good. That is something that is really cool about this mission, it is the most diverse place in the world. I have met so many people from so many cultures. I get a little piece of everything. 

          This week has been amazing. My companion and I (Sister Bodine) were whitewashed into this area this transfer. We started out by having no real investigators, nobody we knew to try and find member referrals, and we did not know the area. But now we are seeing so much progress and success! Tomorrow we are loaded with lessons to teach, members food to eat, and lots of talking. We are so grateful for the blessing to be a missionary. :) We pray every day, every hour in hope to find the people that are prepared to share the gospel. We were teaching this family this week. They are young and have two crazy young boys. We were teaching the Restoration, and we started to talk about prayer and about the Holy Ghost. The mom asked us if we believe  that other people can be an answer to prayers. We continued on telling her that people can and told her that the Holy Ghost testifies of truth and it will only ever be of good things. We told her how proud we were of her and the good job that she was doing raising her family. She  started crying and told us that we had answered her prayer. Just the day before she had prayed to feel comfort in her life and to feel appreciated and worth something. She hugged us and gladly invited us to come back and teach again. I am so grateful for this experience. Just the day before I had prayed that I would be able to have a confirmation on something that I had been studying. This was also an answer to my prayer. 

          My companion has such a cool family. I am always telling her how cool her parents seem and how awesome her family is. The reason  I mention this is because I know that the reason Sister Bodine is such an amazing missionary is because of her family. She is such a great missionary. In the Book of Mormon it talks about the prophets who are filled with the spirit and how they have so much power and authority as they teach. And this is exactly what Sister Bodine is like. She lives her life in such a way that she always has this power and spirit. She has been such a great blessing for me. I am grateful to have served with her. Especially as she comes to her missions close. It means the world to me to have such an extraordinary companion. 

          Today I went to Niagara Falls!!! It was so amazing. We actually ran into a Filipino Family that were members! They took pictures with us and were so excited to see members!I It around 20 degrees (Celsius) the entire week. Today however was rainy and cold which is funny because we were going to the Falls. The member that was taking us thought it was going to rain the entire time but we assured her that if we had faith that it would stop raining and blowing that he would bless his missionaries. Ha IT STOPPED. I know that that seems silly but I know that it is true. Heavenly Father may not have stopped the wind and rain... But I do know that if we have faith he will allow miracles to happen. Mormon 9

          I love you all! I am so excited to hear about school getting over, UVYA starting, mom riding a bike, and so many other fun things! I love being a missionary!! 

Sister Chelson

April 13, 2015

It has been another fabulous week in Milton! 

I pray for you all every day. I hope you all know that I love you! 

Food! So the food here is really good, or at least the members are really good cooks! Aunt Becky, will you read and learn how to make Poutine? It is a big Canadian food. I want everyone to try it out! haha

The Book of Mormon is wonderful. I love studying from it every day. I am learning so much. I know that if we have any challenges of concerns that we will find strength in the Book of Mormon. I loved reading about Alma the younger. I think that no matter how righteous we are that we all have room for improvement. I know that I have alot to work on. I also love how even thought he made mistakes that he was saved because of the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. I love that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is centered around families. I talk to probably 25 people a day about my family. I tell them how this Gospel brings us all so much happiness. 

Lots of love,

Sister Chelson