Standards of Excellence, Transfers, Plan of Salvation

Well...this week has been an amazing week! I love Canada and  I love Milton. 

Sister Dayton and I have really been trying and praying to be able to reach the Standards of Excellence. (The goals President Clayton has set to achieve the mission vision) And we were able to achieve two of those. Member present lessons, and new investigators. We were so excited! The other goals are ones are only achieved by the agency of our investigators. So, I am so sad to say we didn't achieve those. I love when I get an email or a letter asking me what you can pray for. And my answer to you will be to pray for the Canada Toronto Mission to achieve the standards of excellence. And then my request for you would  be to find out the mission vision and goals in your area and help your missionaries achieve them! :) (D&C 6:1) Be apart of this marvellous work! 

This last week was the last week of our transfer! The mission was able to accomplish so much. President Clayton challenged the entire mission, every zone, district, and companionship to find two new investigators. (That is the standard of excellence) Yesterday some people in our zone hadn't found these new people! Our zone-leaders asked Sister Dayton and I to go to another area and help them find new investigators. We called the other sisters and asked what area they would like us to work in. We went exactly to the street and started knocking on doors and singing songs! We made it all the way down one street, probably about 25, and nobody would even let us sing! I really wanted to be able to help the Hamilton Missionaries out, and I knew that it was possible for us to find a new investigator. As we were walking across the road I was praying to Heavenly Father that we would be able to find someone. And the very next door we knocked on this WONDERFULLY PREPARED lady named Candy let us sing her a song and teach her about the Gospel. She is excited to learn more about our church. We need to turn to Heavenly Father in all things. He will answer us, we just need to ask. () The mission was able to have 98% of the companionships find two new investigators. (Mormon 9:18-19)

Like I previously mentioned, this was the last week of the transfer! And you know what that means? Transfer calls (TC)! I will define transfer calls for you all. TC:A time when missionaries are stressed beyond belief, and wait for an hour and a half to see if they are getting called by the Assistants or President Clayton. Around this time missionaries may; pace around, roll on the floor, check the phone every five seconds, and sometimes cry. They also may have weird cravings such as; nutella and peanut butter, pancakes, and deep dish pizza. So you may be wondering what this has to do with anything? I'm leaving my birthplace in the mission!! :( Me and my new companion are going to be white washing into a new area that previously was an Elder's area. I am not sure who my new companion is yet. But what I do know is that she is on a plane right now travelling from the MTC. I'm so nervous to train. But I am so grateful for the chance Heavenly Father has given me to serve a wonderful sister. Will you all please pray for my new companion and that she will be obedient, work hard, and have a love and desire to serve the Lord? And will you also pray for the wonderful people living in St. Catherines. 

I have loved serving with Sister Dayton she is such an amazing missionary. I know that I say that would alot, amazing. But it is so true. She has helped me grow to become a more consecrated missionary. She has so much charity, and is so selfless. I am grateful for the wonderful trainer she has been. I am grateful to still be in the same zone as her and I can imagine when we see each other it will be similar to the time when Alma and the Sons of Mosiah met up.   (Alma 17:2) I was very blessed with the trainers I have had. 

This week we were teaching one of our investigators about the Plan of Salvation. He has been M.I.A pretty much this entire transfer. I was on exchanges in Hamilton when Sister Dayton taught him the Restoration. We were able to drop by a couple times and garden and talk about the Book of Mormon, but we haven't been able to teach him about the wonderful plan Heavenly Father has. We know that the Book of Mormon and the spirit are the two best resources, and that if we teach using them, the person listening will feel the spirit. Right before our lesson Sister Dayton and I were biking back from a dinner appointment on the other side of town and we saw this little old lady pulling weeds, we knew that we did not have time to help. But we decided to do it anyway. We ended up being about fifteen minutes late, and really sweaty at his house. We totally forgot the paper that had all of the scriptures we had planned to use! But as we started the lesson the spirit took control and guided us to the scriptures we had planned before. The lesson was the most spiritual lesson I have ever been in. After we left his house, I was so happy I almost crashed on my bike. But it would have been worth it. Every time I study, teach, or hear the Plan of Salvation  I am so happy. And that is because it is the PLAN OF HAPPINESS. I know that I lived with God before I lived (Jeremiah 1:5), that I am preparing to be with him again (Alma 34:32) , and that I have potential to become like him in the life to come (3 Nephi 12:48). And nothing makes me more happy to know that he loved, loves,  and will love me through the entire journey. 

So for the time being, if you would like to send me a letter, please wait until next week when I can get you the new address. I love you all, and I pray for you. 

Sister Chelson

Street Fest, Carolling in June, I've been converted, People are funny.

Milton is the place to be! This last week was amazing. :)

This last Saturday, Milton was the place to be! There was this HUGE street fest going on on Main St. There were so many people I felt like I was in Disneyland. Our Zone was challenged to bear our testimony about the Sabbath Day to everyone we met, and invite them to come to church with us! And Heavenly Father must have known that Milton needed to come to church because he threw a street fest on the very day. :) Sister Dayton, a young woman in our ward, and I passed out over 100 mormon.org cards within an hour. It was amazing! We even saw some of our members there who got a kick out of our clever idea. :) 

My companion Sister Dayton is such a genius. She came up with the idea that we should go carolling in June. But instead of singing Christmas songs, we would sing Hymns. We chose the Hymn "How Great Thou Art", and started knocking on every door. We went down the ENTIRE street and nobody would let us sing for them! So, we went down the other street, and again NOBODY would let us sing for them. We got to the  end of the road and we had three doors left to knock on. We knocked on a door and this really cute older lady answered the door. She let us sing for her! As we sang she closed her eyes and smiled. After we sang we explained our role as missionaries and what we were doing. We talked about God and his love for all of his children. She loved it! Joan, just like the rest of Milton, is Catholic. But, she was excited to invite us back over to her home to teach her more about the Restoration. The next day we went back to her house with a young woman in our ward. The young woman, Kayla, shared so many amazing insights! Joan fell in love with her and was laughing and joking with her. We shared the experience Joseph Smith had the spirit was so strong. I don't think that I have ever felt it as strongly as I did on that day. She told us she would read and pray about the Book of Mormon. IT was such a spiritual lesson. It really made me think back to the time that I found out for myself that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I think I was ten? We had a fireside on his life. Just before my mission I read the journal entry  I wrote on how  I felt! I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. I can promise you all that you can know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on earth today. The way you can do this is by reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it. I am SO GLAD Sister Dayton is worthy to receive revelation and that Heavenly Father trusts her enough to send us to that door. 

(Emily's skirt got caught in her tire)

As we were going to the Street  Fest on Saturday, we started talking to this guy on the street. He was the most enthusiastic man I have EVER met in my life. He had met with missionaries before while he lived in Vancouver. We started talking more about his experiences and asked him if he had ever read the Book of Mormon. He said he had. Surprised, we asked him if he had liked it. He said, "And it came to pass...And it came to pass... No I didn't like it at all. It was horrible." My heart ached for this man. He invited us to come back over to his house and teach him more about our church however. The next day Sister Dayton and I, and a member from our ward went to his house and started talking about the Book of Mormon. After about ten minutes of him letting us talk he started to tell us that he wanted proof from the bible. He then started spouting out passages from the bible. Finally the man we were with, who is an RM, said. "You are never going to know that it is true unless you let go of your pride and you ask god." David continued to spout scriptures at us. But through all of this tension.  I have never felt more peaceful in my life. My testimony of the bible and of the Book of Mormon being the word of God grew. They both speak of Christ and his gospel. It is interesting how when people are trying to rip our religion apart and tell us all of the things that are wrong about it, we learn more. So David succeed in his quest to convert me. I have been converted even more to be a member of Gods church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I pray that we all will each day become more converted to wonderful religion. 

I want you all to think about two people. The Grinch, and Jimmy Fallon. What do they both have in common? Sister  Dayton asks like both of them. :) This last transfer I have not stopped laughing. We literally have so much fun. But this paragraph  I wanted to talk about some funny comments that have been made this week. 

1. "Can we take a bath?" -Sister Chelson ("We" language has gone too far. And I am so happy nobody was outside to hear me say that.)

2. "Can I offer you Vodka? a Beer? Cofee? Tea?" -Luca (our invetigator). He is going to LOVE THE Word of Wisdom

3. "I can't take your card, I don't have pockets." -random muslim man on street. (WWHHYY NOT?? ITS TRUE) 

4. "Where does it say that in the bible?" -Every Catholic we met. 

5."I know all about your religion, you believe you go to another planet after you die." -Priest from another church (so close, so close) 

I love you all, I want to apologize for this letter it is a little spacy. :( I pray for each of you each day. Some one go to Chik-fli-a this week for me :) I don't know if this is being sent out to our extended family. I hope it is! 

Sister Chelson

Repentance is a good thing, so is biking, and I love the Book of Mormon

Hello! I am loving every second of this beautiful journey I am on! This is such an adventure and every day I add another chapter! I just want you all to know that I am so sad to hear about the Sisters serving in Georgia! I am being very safe on my bike. Milton has a lot of bike trails, and when we ride our bikes we stay on those. Continue to pray for safety, however, I know that Heavenly Father listens. 

How many of you all are a little intimidated when people talk about repentance? It can sometimes seem like a terribly painful task, that we would rather just avoid then conquer. But I want you all to know that repentance truly is one of the most beautiful and priceless gifts we have ever been given. This week after biking all day Sister Dayton and I got to this rather long, and rather large hill. Neither of us wanted to go up it but we knew that there was no other way that  we could make it to the top, unless we got on our bike and peddled up. Nobody was going to do it for us, and there wasn't any other way that was shorter. Though we were exhausted we started our way up the hill. At the start my thighs were burning and my breath was getting heavier. I wanted there to be another way! OR at least someone else to peddle for me. Or perhaps a car to drive up it. All would have been easier. But as I got to the top of the hill, caught my breath and looked back, I was happy and triumphant. This didn't mean that I wasn't tired, because I was, exhausted actually. But I did, in fact, conquer the hill that just five minutes previous seemed impossible and painful. This is the same with repentance. Some times after we have made a mistake we try to find another way to get back to the happiness we once felt. We may try to find someone else to blame it on, or hurt to try and make it better. We may try to find an alternate way.  But we will never be able to find our way back to our Heavenly Father unless we go back the way we came from. Repentance is the bike that will get us to the top of the hill. Though a car, or possibly even walking would have been easier, it was not the way we had  originally gone down the hill.We made it up that hill based on our own desire and strength, and after we did we felt triumphant from the challenge that had once been placed ahead of us. I LOVE this beautiful gift we have to repent! How lucky are we to be able to each night conquer something challenging that we struggled with in our day! Repentance is a good thing!  Smile at the chance we have to become better! (Alma 38:8) 

Speaking about bikes! Sister Dayton and I in one day biked over 25 k's! How awesome is that? We love biking. It is so fun. I have really gotten quite creative with my wardrobe this past couple weeks. I am always so embarrassed when the wind blows my skirt up and people can see my knees! Haha! It really has been a blessing for us to be able to bike. We have been getting fed a lot and the bikes helps us burn the non needed calories we get each day. We are also very safe, again, I want you all to know that we are safe. A member of the ward just gave us flashing rear and head lights for our bike, we also have bells, and helmets. When we cross the road we get off of our bikes and walk, mainly because it is a law, but also for safety! The other day we put our helmets on and we were trying to get bikes off the rack. We both bent down at the same time and hit heads so hard! Good thing we had helmets on!

Food! Ahh, the food paragraph! Isn't this always fun. Well this week will be a little different. I haven't tried any new foods recently. But this past Sunday a miracle happened. Sister Dayton and I have been running a little low on our food and we didn't really know what we were going to make for dinner yesterday. After church got out this beautiful older lady came behind us and told us that she had something for us. She told us to follow her, and we followed her to the kitchen. (Keep in mind I have been in this ward for 11 weeks and I have NEVER seen this lady) She pulled out three bags with rice, chilli, fruits, and juice, and told us that this food was for us. We thanked her and then she disappeared! I am still not sure who this lady is, but I am so grateful for her kindness. Heavenly Father really does know what we all personally need. He answered our non-spoken or thought of prayer. 

I am almost finished with the Book of Mormon! I am so sad that it is almost over. I started to read from the Book of Mormon my first week in the mission field, and I have loved every day I have been able to study from it! I know that it is the word of God, and that it really was translated by Joseph Smith, who really did see God and Jesus Christ! I read the Book of Mormon before my mission, but I honestly just wasn't interested in learning what I really was reading. I know that that sounds terrible, but it is true. I love it now, and I will always love it. Like I said, I have read it before, but this was the first time that I actually read it for myself. Reading from the Book of Mormon every day has helped me draw nearer to Jesus Christ. I do not know everything about him, but I do know more than I did yesterday! I know that we all can find peace and assurance that we will be with our families for ever, and we will live in glory with God and his Son, if we read those 500 pages, and act on the teachings in it. I know it is true! 

I know that you all will love this part of the email. And I am excited and hesitant to tell you, but I cut my hair!! I love it! I know that you will all love it too! :) Hair grows back right? Mom, I  am sorry!! Blame Sister Dayton! 

I love you all, just pray and it will be okay! 

-Sister Chelson

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