Choose Joy

 

Friends and family  

The great thing about life is that it has ups and downs! This week was full of canceled appointments and let me tell ya.. when this happens you have to CHOOSE how to respond. We can be disappointed or optimistic. Faithless or faithful. 

Elder Uchtdorf came to share a message with us at the MTC and he talked about this. He mentioned that there will be days where nothing will go as planned and things will be harder. THEN he told us that what makes a successful missionary (or person) is the way they react when things don't work out, and when things get hard. Our attitude is what matters. How we CHOOSE to respond is what shapes us, and it is what makes us successful. I have been reminded this week that you have to control what you have control over. That simply includes your thoughts and attitude!!! SO LETS CHOOSE JOY :)) Life is just better that way. 

Right now in Ontario we are still not allowed to go out finding but we are allowed to go on lots of bike rides and walks. This let's us SMILE, say hi, and compliment people. These things have become some of my very favorite things to do because their reactions ARE PRICELESS. I love spreading God's love to His children. There really is no better way to bring joy into your own life. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!!!! Go spread God's love!!! This world needs it 

(My soa had her first dairy queen blizzard!!!!!!!) Woohoo life is great

 

The Good Samaritan

 

Hello everyone, how are you all doing??

Transfers happened and I am with Sister Samuelu now and I lovvvvee her. She is from Samoa and knows a few people I know from Australia and it is so cool. Being with her really reminds me of my time in Australia. I know God is in the details because she is my companion!!

We had a miracle filled week. At the beginning of the week, I was a little nervous just cause I had to lead the area and I've only been in this area for 3 weeks and it is very hard to get to know a ward and area during covid haha. None of our friends were responding so we were praying so much for God to help us find new friends and He did help us. We had a goal of finding 4 new friends this week and we found 5!!! God placed people along our path over and over again. He did all the work, and this was just another testimony to me that He does hear and answer our prayers. 

We have been trying to have a Bible study with our friend Sandra for a few weeks now and just this week it finally happened, and it went so well. We talked about how the good Samaritan is like our Savior, Jesus Christ. Just like the good Samaritan "went where [the beaten man] was, our Savior comes to where we are. I am certain of this truth. In some of the lowest moments, I have felt my Saviors love and strength. He is the reason why I can go day to day with a smile on my face and a hope in my heart. No matter how far away we feel from Him.. He comes to us! He meets us where we are to heal, comfort, and cheer our souls.

I know that Christ lives! He is the refuge from the storm and while everything around us is changing, I know that He is constant. My sister wrote me a letter while she was on her mission saying, "lean on Him to be your constant" and I wanted to extend that same invitation to you! I can promise you will find the peace, joy and comfort you are searching for. 

I love you all with my whole heart!!!! Please let me know if there is anything I can pray for specifically this week! 

(Lol sis Samuelu loves selfies so here are like 5 out of the 10000 we have) :p 

 

Hi!

I can't believe this transfer is already coming to an end. I've had two areas and three companions in the past 6 weeks and I've loved it. I'm grateful God is in charge and I'm grateful He is directing me because He knows wayyy better than I do. Sister Handly is leaving to Oshawa and I'll be staying here. My new comp is from Samoa ahhhhh!!!!! So happy

This week we had a lesson with our friend Esa-Osa. We taught him about the law of tithing and it was really hard for him to accept it. When we asked if he would pay his tithing after baptism he responded by saying, "I'll try my best I dont know about 10% but I'll do what I can." We realized we could have taught this lesson better with more promised blessings to help him realize it is so worth it. Later in the week we met with him again and talked about the law of tithing again. This time I was able to share a story my dad had shared with me growing up about a family on his mission who were in such humble circumstances and realized that tithing was the answer to their prayers. When I shared this story with Esa-Osa that Spirit came strongly. Ese-Osa no longer thought of tithing as a burden, but as a blessing. I'm grateful for moments like those and I'm grateful for my dad and his mission experiences because they are helping me in the work I'm doing today!!

We met the with Otesanya family yesterday and talked about how our next goal is to be in the temple :)) This family.. ahhh I can't even put into words how much joy they bring me!!! We talked about how our families can be together forever, did a super fun activity with the boys and we were all just laughing and laughing. I'm SO thankful for the amazing connection we have this family. They are such a light in my life right now. 

At the end of our lesson Folasade (mom) asked us to remind them about how they can pay their tithing. They are just the best!!! They are all in and fully converted to the Lord. I know that paying tithing really is a blessing from God. He is just waiting to pour out those blessings upon us. 

I love missionary work!!!! It brings the most happiness in this life. This week try and invite someone closer to Christ, even if it is just a message reminding someone they are loved. I promise that you will be uplifted and feel loved yourself. 

I LOVE YOU ALL WITH MY WHOLE HEART! 

CONVERSION

EVERYONE!!☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

I can't even put into words how much I love the gospel of Jesus Christ!!!! I can't even put into words how grateful I am to be here in Ontario as a missionary right now. This past weekend has been more than I could have ever asked for. My heart is full of love for God and His infinite goodness and mercy. I have witnessed true conversion and have become more converted in the process, myself.This weekend has given me a new, and more abiding love for Christ, His Atonement, His doctrine, and His Church. I have no doubt in my mind that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church on the earth today and I know that Christ is at the head of it all. 

On Saturday I got to watch one of the most amazing families enter the waters of baptism all together. I LOVE THE OTESANYA FAMILY. Sunday (the dad) was able to be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and receive the Aaronic priesthood to baptize the rest of his family. The Spirit I felt in that room was stronger than I think I'd ever felt before. I was overcome with peace and gratitude while they each received the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. THEN fast forward to Sunday morning while on zoom having our ward fast and testimony meeting and I'm just in tears. HAPPY, GRATITUDE TEARS. That testimony meeting was just the cherry on top.The whole ward was so touched by the baptism and hearing about their feelings regarding the baptism was so spiritually uplifting. A sister said that the Spirit was extra strong because this family is going to make such powerful contributions to this church and God's kingdom and I couldn't agree more. God is going to work miracles through this family. They radiate with the Spirit and just don't stop smiling :))) They are truly converted to the Lord. 

(Can I also just mention how beautiful it is that we were able to have the baptism over zoom so that others could join.. my family was even able to attend. This was a tender mercy.)

 AND THEN fast forward more to Sunday evening and our friend, Nihar, who I got to teach in my last area got baptized. He shared his testimony and I wanted to share with you all the part that impacted me the most. He said, "I thought I had everything until I realized I was missing peace and comfort." This is so true. I remember my teacher at college told us that the only thing that the adversary can't give us is peace and so when we feel peace we know it is coming from our loving Heavenly Father. Nihar is also truly converted to the Lord. He had to make some big decisions and sacrifices for this and he did it! He knew that if he put God first everything else would fall into place. 

Just like I said at the beginning of this email, I have been more fully converted to the Lord because of these people and their faith and because of the Spirit I felt this weekend. I know God lives and He has provided a perfect plan for us to be able to find joy now and in the next life. I know it is only through our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we can truly feel peace in this life. I would invite you all to find out for yourself if God really is there and if He knows you and if you need support, love, or help I AM ALWAYS HERE! I want all of you to experience the same joy and peace I experience.

I love you all heaps!!!! 💛🌟💛🌟

With the Otesanya family.

The Otesanya family

With Nihar

Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline.

With Sister Hanly.