So Much Joy

Friends and family

This week went by so quick wow. Everyday is so busy and Sister Handly and I are having so much fun together. I LOVE HER. She is so bubbly, outgoing, thoughtful, and such an obedient missionary it is the best :') we had three big miracles this week!!!

First is that we found a new friend, Marko. About a week ago we were at our apt about to go up the elevator and this guy was waiting for the elevator too. We started to create conversation with him. He tried to make it on the elevator quick but it closed too soon soooo we got to talk to him longer haha. Turns out he knows about our Church! He asked us to pray for him right before he left. Then a few days past with us saying lots of prayers for our friend Marko! About a week later we saw him outside the apt again!!! The timing of that was perfect because we weren't planning on leaving that apt at that time, but God led us so we could see Marko again. We got his contact info and he is messaging us trying to set up times to talk about the gospel. GOD IS SO GOOD! 

Second miracle.. the Otesanya family is getting baptized this Saturday!!! The timing of this was perfect too. We were worried about where we were going to have the baptism since the chapels in ON were closed but our mission president told us this week that chapels are opening up for small events with no more than 15 people!! WOOHOO! We are so excited for their baptism. That family has so much faith and they LOVE God with all their heart, might, mind and strength. They are an example to me and having lessons with them have been beautiful. GOD IS SO GOOD!

Third miracle :) This week our mission president also told us that we could meet with people in person now as long as we keep social distance and all SO just last night we had a lesson with our friend Ese WHO IS JUST AMAZING. He is dedicated. He walked so so far just to meet up with us to have a lesson. When we found him, he was asking for directions from a boy on a bike. :') Ese told us that it was not easy getting to the park but then he told us he wants to make the long trip to have lessons with us often. He has been taught most things so last night we invited him to pray about getting baptized July 11th. He told us he reads two pages of the Book of Mormon everyday. He was telling us that he just wants to put God first! He knows that as he puts God first, everything else will fall where it needs to. This man is so faithful. Sister Handly and I could just feel so much of Gods love for this man. On our way home Sister Handly said, "it doesn't get better than this" and I couldn't agree more. Nothing compares to the JOY of missionary work. It is so rewarding and it is so worth it. GOD IS SO GOOD!

I am so thankful God sent me here to Brampton, Ontario at this time so I could meet these remarkable people. They are changing my perspective and are helping me realize what is worth sacrificing. Their diligence and willingness to follow God and to do whatever it takes to follow God is so humbling to see. I love my life because of Him.☀️☀️☀️

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. Thanks for all the birthday wishes!!! I will try to respond next pday but KNOW I AM SO THANKFUL! Let me know if I can do anything for you. Have an amazing week!

We made a roast!

Celebrating my birthday!

Grow Where You're Planted

Friendssss

 

Send me and update and let me know how you're doing. I miss you all and want to know what's going on 💛

This past week has been completely flipped. So much has changed but I am happy and well. On Wednesday night my comps and I got a call that our trio would be separating! We all knew it was too good to be true. 🤣 We all thought it would be Sister Dunning or Sister Smith going but it was me. It all took us by surprise. We went on a long bike ride for the last time and all cried haha. I created so many memories with them and they are seriously some of the nicest sisters. The next morning I was packed and at the mission office at 9am. I'm in the Heart Lake ward now with a new companion, Sister Handly. These past couple days here have been completely changed but I honestly am so thankful. When I experience change in my life, I am humbled and reminded to turn to God. Change allows me to rely fully on Him. Every part of His plan has a purpose. 

This week in a mission devotional we talked about the story of the currant bush. I LOVE this story!!! There was  currant bush that the gardener had cut down. When the gardener did this it was as if he could here the bush saying, "how could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth and all in the garden will look upon me with contempt and pity. How could you do this? I thought you were the gardener." The gardener replied, "I am the gardener here and I know what I want you to be." As I reread this story I was reminded of moments in my life where I have felt like that currant bush. I have said, "how could you do this to me?" but every time I'm reminded that God is the gardener here. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who is able to cut me down. He is able to love me enough to hurt me. It is love inspired correction as Elder Christofferson said. 

God has uprooted me and planted me in so many different locations around different people. He has cut me down because He loves me. All these experiences will be for my good. I know that God has a wise purpose behind everything and I know that as we humble ourselves enough to receive His love inspired corrections that we will grow into the people He needs us to become. God really is good and I have felt that so strongly these past couple days. 

In this new area we are teaching a Nigerian family and they are on date for the 4th! We also had a lesson with an amazing lady, Tinisha. It was probably one of my favorite lessons on the mission. She is remarkable and has been researching about all religions her whole life. She knows the Bible SO well because she wants to know for herself which church is true. We introduced the Restoration of the Church and the Book of Mormon with some bible scriptures and IT WAS AMAZING. During the video call, while she was talking and while we were talking I just felt an overwhelming amount of gratitude for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We literally have the answers to the questions that Tinisha has been searching for her entire life! The doctrine in our church has not been distorted in any way and nothing has been added to the doctrine. It is Christs true Church on the earth TODAY! He loves His children now just as much as He loved His children in the biblical times.

I love being a missionary for my Savior, Jesus Christ and I love serving in my home country. I have made so many amazing connections. If any of you have questions about what I believe in and love please reach out to me. I KNOW Gods love is always there for us, whether we feel like we deserve it or not. Pray to Him and allow Him to change you. Have a great week everyone!!!! ☀️☀️☀️

The view where I get to study!

Last bike ride with my beautiful sisters.

I love having the temple in our area. (We got to plant flowers on the temple grounds, Ahh!)

Canadian Geese

We found Jessie Park!

We and my new comp, Sister Handly.

Let Him In

Hii

How is everyone?? My thoughts are a bit scattered so sorry in advance haha! 

We had SUCH a great week here in Churchville. I love Ontario!!! The flowers are beautiful, the people are so kind, the diversity reminds me a lot of Sydney. I still see familiar places like Tim Horton's which makes me remember I'm not too far from home :') It's just all happy and good things. We went on a couple bike rides this week.. SO FUN! My companions make me laugh so hard my stomach hurts. I'm just so grateful. Coming back out and leaving the comfort of being of home, was hard for me but has strengthened my love for God. I know that when we put Him first, HE BLESSES US. I have seen this pattern in my own lifetime and time again. The Lord loves effort! 

I am just amazed with how busy we are as missionaries despite being in isolation. God blessed me with a remarkable area full of friends who are ready and prepared to hear our message. 

Nihar is still on date for June 28th!!! :) We went over the ten commandments with him this week and he was just so happy about them and so willing to follow. We also had a member join the lesson and he is starting to become best of friends with Nihar which is SO COOL! The members here in YSA just amaze me. They are so dedicated and are always happy to help teach with us. 

We had some other great moments this week. On Friday my companions and I drove up to Barrie to drop off food donations from the Church to two different food banks! So humbling to be a part of. Our friend Obula also just got the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday ahhh!!! So awesome that we get to watch him take steps to come closer to Christ. It brings me so much JOY. 

The highlight of my week though was yesterday when we had a lesson with our friend Kevin. It went SO well, and it honestly just brought me to tears. Right after the lesson my companions and I got on our knees and said a prayer of gratitude! Those are the moments that I hope I never forget. Those moments are the reason why I do this. It is so rewarding. Gods light and love keep me going. He is the reason why I keep trying to do better and be better everyday. I really do love missionary work.

I love you all so much!!! Have such a great week. Keep God first in everything. I know that all our experiences in life are for our growth. He is preparing our hearts and molding us into the people He wants us to become. Let Him in and let Him change your heart. He is the light!

Sister Smith

Sister Dunning

Dynamic Trio

Toronto ON Temple

Remember

Hi everyone :)

For those of you who don't know, I'm serving in the Canada Toronto mission now! I got here on Monday and I am happy and well. I've actually got the best companions. I'm in a trio with Sister Smith who's from Brigham City, Utah and Sister Dunning who's from Calgary!! They are such great teachers because everything they say is so inspired. They have shown me so much love :') We laugh so much wow. They are just making this whole adjustment and change so much more manageable. 

I get to serve in the Churchville YSA ward!! The ward is SO amazing. The members love to minister and join in all our lessons. How cool is that?? It has been such a blessing and they honestly just feel like our friends I love it so much ahh. 

We have a friend named Nihar and He was our big miracle this week. He has gone through a mighty change of heart. He loves reading the Book of Mormon and has seen that as he keeps the

commandments he is blessed. He wants to get baptized!! He has been taught all the lessons and so now we have him praying about June 28th for his baptismal date :))

Ok and I just want to share this quick thought. Just yesterday I was reading in the Book of Mormon. Alma is talking to this group of people who hardened their hearts and who forgot about God's goodness. After they were delivered time after time, and after they witnessed God's hand in their lives, and after they felt His love… with time they forgot, and they fell away. They forgot who gave them everything. They forgot about His mercy and His love towards them. They forgot that their success and their happiness is because of Him! That is why we are constantly told to remember. That's why we are sometimes humbled. That's why we go through challenges and change. It is to REMEMBER Him!! I love the Book of Mormon because it is filled with examples of this. We need to hear what Alma is trying to talk to his people about and learn from it to improve our own lives and our own circumstances. Alma is reminding us that God IS the one who gave us everything. He IS the one who helped us, who brought us peace, joy, and strength. He really is the one we must always REMEMBER. He IS the light of this world. ☀️ 

I LOVE you all and hope you're doing well. Let me know if I can help with anything, even if it's just a prayer! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!

Sisters from Alberta arriving at the hotel.

Companions: Sister Smith (left) from Brigham City, UT and Sister Dunning from Calgary, AB

On the shores of Lake Ontario

Painted rocks found on the beach.

A service project pulling weeds at the Etobicoke meetinghouse.

Chicken tostadas from a member.

All is well in Toronto!

Mission Intermission

When Jessie left for the MTC last October, no one could have imagined the circumstances that would compel her to come home a third of the way through her mission. The COVID-19 pandemic and world and Church response to it brought some unexpected challenges. But as is often the case, along with challenges came opportunity and blessings.

Jessie flew home experiencing April 1^st, 2020 twice as she crossed the international date line midway over the Pacific. She enjoyed a long visit alone with President Runia on the drive to the airport in Sydney. From there she flew to Vancouver, then on to Calgary. She was the only missionary on her flights.

After arriving home, Jessie stood outside on the front porch in the frigid weather and waved to the many friends who drove by in a parade to welcome her back, while remaining socially distant. 😊

We were all so pleased with how many people came to salute her. Our stake president, President Prince, released her as a missionary via video-conference that evening.

Sarah had returned from Utah a couple of days before Jessie’s return. It was particularly nice for the sisters to have each other during the 14 days of strict quarantine we spent with one another.

Upon her return, Jessie had the option of returning to missionary service (somewhere) as soon as conditions aloud, while maintaining her original mission end date, or the option of waiting 12 to 18 months to then be reassigned with a new mission end date. She chose the first option. The wait for her reassignment felt long as no one knew when she would hear from the missionary department, where she would be reassigned, nor when she would be authorized to leave again. Finally, on May 16^th, President Prince contacted us to let us know an email for Jessie had arrived which he forwarded to us.

Jessie is very excited to continue serving as a missionary, now in the Canada Toronto Mission. She quickly felt a calm reassurance that the Lord had a plan for her all along and that Toronto is where she is needed now and where she can experience the personal growth Heavenly Father wishes her to. In many ways Toronto is like Sydney. Both are hugely divers multi-cultural cities. Jessie will continue to meet and serve people from around the world.

During Jessie’s two month “inter-mission” she had the blessing of being able to see family and loved ones. Her brothers traveled from Vancouver, BC and Vancouver WA to see her.

Jessie was set apart as a missionary for a second time, again by President Prince, and on 1^st of June flew directly to Toronto where the adventure continues!

Arriving on Canadian soil.

A treat after a long day in the air.

Friends and family showed much love!

It was just a little colder than in Sydney!

Sister love.

Easter eggs during quarantine.

Jessie explored new talents.

She's a wonderful baker.

And a talented artist.

Quilting is a new talent Jessie discovered.

Grandma Billie made us masks.

Making the most of mother/daughter time.

A quick visit from Vancouver BC.

And visitors from Vancouver WA too!

We think Clara has a soft spot for Auntie Jessie.

That's quite a transfer!

Proudly wearing her missionary name tag again!

                         

Off she goes again!

Safely in Toronto.