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!