BEST WEEK

HEY EVERYONE! 

I totally left this till last minute today but I have to write you all a little update especially because this week was one I hope to never forget. 

It started with some joyful tears of gratitude while caroling with a favorite member, Sister Ferguson. We followed her around from house to store to house lol and sang to them with her, her accordion, and her dog hank:-) on the way to the last house she turned around and felt prompted to do a different friend, so we followed her and of course witnessed a miracle. I'm thankful for members that are in tune with spiritual promptings and who follow those promptings. This friend we sang to was in tears because of this visit which had all of us in tears. God is good to say the least. 

Then we continued to meet some angelic humans throughout the week. We were given loads of Christmas cards to hand out to everyone and so we were feeling a bit like mail workers but loved every second of it. We had some heart to hearts with all the members. A few of them have not been to church in over a year, and had disregarded God in general, but when we visited them their hearts were full, and they expressed gratitude and how much they missed church and God in their lives. We witnessed the Spirit work through these people. Their hearts were softened, and they felt a desire to follow God again. 

Also, we stopped by our friend Heidi this week and had a little tender mercy. She had met with missionaries in the past and we have made a few short contacts with her. This time we met her husband:)but the miracle was that just when we were about to leave, she asked before we had the chance to ask if she could pray. She said, "I'm sorry ladies it has been a while since I've done this..." and she closes her eyes and says the most heartfelt prayer to God. It was such a sweet moment. 

As I've been a missionary in the year of 2020 my faith has grown. I've had to rely on God A LOT. I have received the peace He offers. I know that putting Him first is worth it, and the only intelligent thing to do. I know that daily scripture study is essential. I know that He is able to give us the joy we all long for. This is the good news. Because of Jesus Christ we can he happy RIGHT NOW! Today! 

He is my light and because of Him I get to smile every day! 

I LOVE YOU ALL! Please let me know how I can help you! 

Merry Christmas 🎄

Good Morning:)

For those who won't be with family this Christmas, remember that you are never alone! Never in history has the Lord forgotten His people, nor will He forget His people now because "He has graven [them] upon the palms of [His] hands." (1 Nephi 21:16) 

Last night I was involved in a Bible study. We read Luke 2, which is the story of Christ's humble birth, and I was so touched. The prophets prophesied about this event for years and years. All the pages leading up to Luke 2 in both the Old and New Testament prophesy about this Messiah coming into the world to save them, and finally it happens! 

This Christmas there are many heavy hearts, but I promise that as you shift your focus to the Savior you will feel the sadness and disappointment lift from off your shoulders. Our Savior was born, so that this could be possible. He was born so that we wouldn't have to hurt from having heavy hearts. He is the only solution!

Sister Kozlow and I continue to see the Lord's hand in the work every single day. If there is one thing I've learned on my mission, especially this transfer it is that faith in Jesus Christ works miracles!!!!! When I have changed my mindset and remembered the power of God, it has worked miracles. I know He is a God of miracles today. His plan for us is perfect and we can have confidence in Him, knowing that we will be happy in the end.

I love you all so much! Spread some Christmas cheer this week!!! There are still SO many ways we can lift others without actually being with them in person. Merry Christmas!

Early Christmas Gift

Happy Monday!  

How are you all doing? How was your week? What was the highlight? I love you all! Sister Kozlow and I survived transfer calls and we both get to stay together in this area for Christmas haha! 

This week was pretty miraculous, and an answer to a lot of fasting & prayer! Just last night our Branch President called and asked how our day went. We respond by saying "pretty well." He then quickly said, "well it is about to get even better." He told us that two people in the area are wanting to get baptized!!!!!!!! After this beautiful news the lady called us, and we were able to set up times to meet and we were able to put the two on date. What a MIRACLE!!!! Faith works, prayer & fasting works. God knows His children:) This news was definitely the best early Christmas gift ever.

Another miracle with the FB page this week! Someone commented asking for the Church location... then commented asking for a copy of the Book of Mormon and turns out he is in our area:) We really really look forward to meeting him. Man isn't it cool how God is still preparing His people...  even out in the boonies hahahaha. 

Okay also this is the best! There's a guy in our area who served his mission in the Australia Sydney Mission a few years ago and sadly he hasn't been to church in while! This week we were able to do a socially distant walk with him and his parents at some Christmas lights and we were able to connect and talk about Australia and it was SO COOL. I'm praying that the talk we had about his mission sparked some memories and invited him to take a few steps closer to his Savior again. 

I love you all HEAPS! Let me know if I can help you or pray for you!

Heavenly Hugs :)

Hey everyone:) 

I hope you all had a wonderful first week of December! Time is going by so fast out here. I don't even know where this past week went. 

We just have been visiting more and more members in both branches and I just absolutely love it. As we listen to them express their concerns and challenges of life, I've been extra thankful that although I can't do much to help, I know the Savior can. No matter what they've gone through we are able to direct them back to Christ! How beautiful is my calling:') 

I was particularly touched by this sweet Sister who we saw briefly at the door this week. She had just lost her husband unexpectedly last year and it has been so hard for her. She shared with us her powerful testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. As tears filled her eyes, she said "I haven't really known the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be this true until just this year." She told us that when her husband first passed away the ONLY place she found comfort was in the Book of Mormon because it brought her closer to her Prince of Peace. For the first few weeks she would hold tight to it and she wouldn't let go of it. I hope to learn from her example. I hope that when I experience difficulties, I'm able to turn to Christ and hold on tight to my Book of Mormon. It is the right way. It is the ONLY way! 

To those of you who prayed for our HQ referral, THANK YOU! We were able to video call with her twice this week and she just feels like a best friend. Emily is the sweetest and most prepared person. She is searching for truth. She is searching for answers and peace and we are so thankful that because Christ has restored His church on the earth again, we have the answers! We taught her about God's merciful plan and she's praying to know if it is true! I love missionary work.

Also, this week my companion hurt her back and we are totally not close to any missionaries out here so anyways after a few phone calls they told us we had to go to the hospital to get x-rays. I brought her in, they took her, and I wasn't allowed to stay because of Covid and so I had to sit in the car for a few hours alone and let me tell ya, it was the weirdest feeling of my life haha, but also from that moment I can once again testify that angels are all around. I felt them with me:) I know they're there. I felt that "heavenly hug" that Sister Craven talked about in her talk at the Christmas Devotional last night.

But anywho, I love you all to bits. Please let me know if I can do anything for you! You're in my prayers!

⭐⭐⭐

Family & friends!

This week I've been reflecting a lot on a single line that the Brother of Jared said while talking to the Lord. He said, "O Lord, thou canst do this" which Elder Holland said is perhaps the most powerful, single line of faith spoken by man in scripture." The Brother of Jared didn't say, "I am sure that thou canst do this" and not "behold O Lord thou hast done many greater things than this" but he is simple, clear, bold and although he is uncertain about his own ability, he has no uncertainty in God's power!! This is the level of faith I need in my life and as I study my scriptures every day, I come to understand more and more that I have every reason to believe that He can still work mighty miracles today. 

HUGE miracle for our little area this week... we got a referral from church headquarters!!! We are talking with her later this week so pray that she'll feel so loved and have a desire to keep meeting with us:) 

I am just happy here in Trenton/Belleville! The pace is a lot slower than in Brampton but it gives us more time to really love the few people we have! Also, the members in our branches are some of the strongest people I know. When we visit with them, we are constantly admiring their diligence and trust in God despite all the setbacks they've faced. I am learning lessons I would not learn otherwise out here, and for that I am thankful:)) 

Also, one night before going to bed, Sister Kozlow and I started to think about what we ate that day LOL. I can't believe it, but I didn't realize till that moment that I literally had SIX bananas that day!!!! Hahahahahahahaah how did I do that—I don’t know, but it cracked me right up, so I thought I'd share. 

Anyyyways I love you allllll! Have a happy week:) 

He Knows Me :)

Hiii

How is everyone doing? Miss you guys always! 

I'm officially in Trenton/Belleville. We cover two small branches out here. The area reminds me of home a little with the snow and the small-town vibes. We live about 3 minutes away from the Air Force Base and so we see loads of military, helicopters, huge planes, and crazy cool things.

 I just made it out of the big city in time since they went into lockdown a few days after I left! I miss my best friend Sister Gallup but my new companion Sister Kozlow is pretty amazing! She was serving in the Philippines before coming out here to Ontario. When we both arrived to the area, we cleaned up the apt and started introducing ourselves to the members! Opening up the area has really allowed me to exercise faith and rely completely on the Lord. I know that my companion and I can't do this without His divine help. This transfer my focus is on FAITH. I know we will see miracles in these two small towns, because we already have!!! Also, super amazing because our Branch President's son hasn't been active but served his mission in Sydney Australia years ago. I CAN'T WAIT TO TALK TO HIM!

We had some HILARIOUS moments this week lol. Sister Kozlow keeps things funny for me. Yesterday we had to full on chase this crazy fast cat in a blizzard. She had to army crawl under a deck to get the cat and had thistles everywhere. She is a trooper. I admire her diligence. Also, another funny story- we were dropping some cookies off to the RS President to introduce ourselves and she wasn't home, but her husband was. When we pulled into their driveway the husband came out of the garage just covered in blood THEN two cops pulled in behind us. We were so confused!!!! But anywho, apparently, he was skinning a deer, and the cops were just his friends hahahaah! 

On a spiritual note, I've had multiple moments this week where I have felt God so close to me. Although it sometimes feels like we are in the middle of nowhere, I continue to be amazed by these strong and faithful members who are in the same situation that are so close to God. Yesterday President Eyring spoke to the North America North East area and shared a message that I knew was exactly for me. He mentioned his experience growing up in a small branch. He mentioned the missionaries that served in those small branches and shared how they must have felt in the moment. The branch he grew up in now has wards and stakes! I know that Sister Kozlow and I got put in this area for a reason and that keeping an eternal perspective is key. We will see miracles:))) 

Let me know if there is anything I can pray for! Love you allllll

Bye Bye Heartlake

Hey everyone! 

Holy moly what a week it has been!! It started off with our typical service at the Food Bank, always some good fun there! Then on Wednesday the missionaries in our zone had to go get OHIP cards cause most of us are from Alberta (stood in line for a while but never ended up getting them cause we all didn't have a signature on a certain paper haha) but then later that day we get a call from the Food Bank saying someone tested positive who worked at the same time as other missionaries in our zone... soooo because we all were together the day after for the OHIP cards most of the zone had to go into isolation!  Luckily, we were able to get tested right away, and a few days later we were told we could leave the apt again WOOHOO. Those days spent doing nonstop video calls with Sister Gallup with no breaks for fresh air are moments I will never forget hahahaha. We both just felt so much more thankful for the outdoors after that and basically spent the rest of the week outside 24/7 lol. This whole thing is also so ironic because the day we were told to go into isolation until further notice, was the same day exactly a year ago that I was flying across the whole world to Australia!!! 

But anywayyyys we got transfer news and my heart hurts because I'm leaving all my favorite people in the beautiful land of Heartlake. I have just grown to love these people the past 6 months. My new companion and I are getting shot gunned into Trenton/Belleville. President said they have a tiny branch:) This is going to be very different but I'm feeling ready to love the people there! 

Miracle for this week with our friend Marian. We have been doing Bible studies with her for a while now, just creating the trust and love:) this week we dove into the Book of Mormon. We asked her if she had ever heard of it before and her response was, "yes it is another book of scripture from Christ's church... your church" like whatttttt? She was so receptive to the connections between both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. She even had a light bulb moment while reading John 10 and 3 Nephi 15 about other sheep. We invited her to pray if the Book of Mormon is true and she responded by saying, "I'm receiving revelation right now!" I pray I never forget the power of the Spirit in this lesson. The work moves forward here in Heartlake, and I sure will miss it. 

Okay and just one more thing. I know God is in the details. This has been proven to me time after time in this area. First because the ward mission leader, Brother Perry Spice served as a missionary with my grandpa in France. Second is because a sweet lady in this ward, Sister Nathalie Ferry, grew up with my mom in the Young Women's organization in Quebec. Third is because two of my favorite people, Sister Sandra Conley and Sister Linda Moore, both lived in Australia for some time. Fourth my literal best friend/companion grew up in Alberta and basically lived the same life as me. We both danced, both went to TYC, both got reassigned, both think and act the same. Like just all of these connections and similarities remind me of God's divinity and love! Although I didn't understand why God took me out of Australia at the time, I'm thankful He sent me here. It is a good thing He is in charge because He knows better than I do. 

I'm learning to really truly trust Him, especially in the moments where I feel He is farthest from me. He has helped me this far, and has literally been in the details, so why doubt? Why fear? I can have faith that this new area out in the boonies will also be for a reason.

God knows you and I can promise that He is involved in every aspect of your life. Keep trusting Him! 

Just LOVE

Hiiiii

I miss you all and hope life is treating you well these days:) sorry I've been so bad at replying to your emails and messages but just know that I will eventually because I just love you all to bits. 

This week was OUTSTANDING... mostly because I am overly joyful about my companion, this area, and our amazing members!!!! My appreciation and respect for them grew x5. We have been cracking down on having our members at lessons and I just can't even express how grateful I am for members. To tell ya the truth, the Heartlake ward is the BEST hahaha! Our interactions with our friends have become more member centered, missionary supported- what a blessing! 

I am also surrounded by some of the most Christ-like missionaries!! In the most recent General Conference Elder Whiting said, "As we begin to know more of Him, we will see His attributes reflected in others. This will encourage us on our own quest, for if others can attain in some measure His attributes, so can we." They have truly showed me what it means to be charitable and how to seriously care! There examples help me understand the Christ-like attributes can be achieved! They've taught me that love is the best motivator and every single day we should have a list of people to love!  

A short miracle about this: our friend Mary went MIA for a good 2 months because during our first lesson with her someone came up to us and started Bible bashing (big oof) but we didn't give up on her! We stopped by this week and brought her some treats and we got to have a video call with her over the weekend with our member Midge. While on video call for the first time they both agreed that they felt like they knew each other in Heaven. Mary then told us she was sorry for ignoring us for a few months. She said most people she meets on the internet usually talk for a bit and then go but she said she was grateful because we actually cared about her. This love and care moved her to meet with us more and allowed us to start teaching the POS! Love is the answer everyone!!!! 

On another note, if there is one thing I'm sure of, it is that the Lord is hastening His work. Our schedule has picked up speed x100 to the point where we literally have back to back video calls with people ALL day! How amazing is that??? But by the end of this week all the screen time/sitting took a toll on me and I just physically hurt. Before going to church yesterday I prayed that I would receive something to give me the strength to go through another week of this screen time because I love missionary work and it is a blessing to see how the Lord is working today! We went to church and the Sister who gave the opening prayer prayed specifically for those who were physically hurting that they would healed:) at that moment I could feel the heavy weight shift from my back to Christ's. From this experience I am again reminded of the power of Christ's Atonement. He can heal us, spiritually but also physically to help us accomplish His great work! 

I'm just so happy and well and pray that you all are too. I know God loves you. I LOVE you! Keep loving. Keep caring. This world needs it.

Pictures

·       

·       

·      

·      

 This is what my companion smells like lol because she has an orange perfume and lotion that smells like chocolate 

Brother Puddicombe working hard at the temple.. this man is literally my best friend.

A pic with Kevin lol

Anna and Bella LITERALLY THE CUTEST!

So Much Happiness

FRIENDS!!

How are you all doing?? I don't have a lot of time to write an email today but I'm going to try and do the best I can with the time I have hahaha. Also so sorry if I haven't replied to you. Know that I will and that I really do love you!!!!!!  ahh thank you for the endless support and love. 

This week was amazing. I just am in love with this area, my companion, and the friends we have here. We are teaching and having Bible studies nonstop every day. With technology today we are able to teach lessons back-to-back all day. I just can't even express how grateful I am to be a missionary right now. Because of Facebook and the Church HQ we receive a couple referrals a day of such prepared people!!! We even received a Bible study of a less active member who is looking to come back to church. The number of miracles we see daily is unbelievable. I love what I get to do every single day. Life is such a blessing and there is no greater joy than helping other comes into Christ. 

I love you all so much. Life is such a beautiful thing. I just am such a happy person because of God. Please reach out to me through FB or email if you or someone you know is needing a little pick me up!