He Magnifies

Ok, such a blessed week! Transfers happened and I'm still is the beautiful Heartlake ward and I have Sister Gallup with me now. She is a literal angel. She's from Magrath, AB and she's also a reassigned missionary. She was originally called to serve in the SLC temple square mission (so cool!!!) We have so much in common it is just evident that God is in the details. She is THE kindest, she is so obedient, organized, has the best habits, works hard, and laughs lots :') it doesn't get better than that! 

We had a schedule planned for every day this week, but God completely flipped it upside-down and as a result we were able to have soo many more miracles and teaching appointments than originally planned!!! It was remarkable. 

On a nice stroll around the park we were stopped by this wonderful man and his daughter. They asked us what we were doing with tags and all. This led to a discussion about how Christ is at the center of our lives, and he gave us his number!! We are going to hopefully meet up with him soon.

Friday night we witnessed THE COOLEST miracle. We had a lesson at the park with our friend Kevin and while we were trying to find a place to sit, some absolutely perfect members saw us and offered to join the lesson. As time went on we found out that these members were praying for missionary opportunities. This member also just happened to have the exact same career that our friend Kevin is trying to get into right now. Also this member served his mission in the Canada Calgary Mission years ago which is where both Sis Gallup and I are from and they have a son serving in the Paris, France Mission which is where Grandpa Dean served (and where my beautiful Olivia Jackson is serving right now.) With all of these connections we knew that these members were sent at the exact time for Kevin!! They bore powerful testimonies that true happiness can be found in this life through the gospel of Jesus Christ and now Kevin should be coming to in person church with us and the amazing members next Sunday!

While heading back from a lesson on Saturday night we looked at the time and saw that we had 20 minutes till curfew, we had to drop stuff off still but went for a short walk because why not. On the elevator down this man let us on then almost immediately asked about our tags. We were able to talk about missionary work. Then all smiley he stayed on the elevator talking even though we were at his floor. He kept talking and we asked for his number, only to find we had no pens and no phones on us.. he literally repeated his number to us so we could memorize it! The next day he messaged us back and said the reason why he forgot to get off the elevator was because he felt some kind of warmth and he told us he knew we were sent by God, and he wants to learn more! This man is so prepared and we know God magnifies our messy efforts. 

Our Heavenly Father is a God of miracles. He is all powerful! He is in the details, and He will magnify our efforts. I know this is so true. My heart is full! 

Love you alllll 

Angels

Everyone!!!

Last Monday night we got a call from the AP's saying we were getting a new missionary with us for the last week of the transfer so on Tuesday morning we went and picked her up from the airport! Sister Coleman is from St. Paul Alberta!!! She is also the funniest person. Every sentence that comes out of her mouth makes me LAUGH. When we first picked her up we asked what she wanted to eat for lunch and she responded by saying "anything editable." I liked that she also calls me her francophone hippy and thinks I'm not a real Albertan because I eat kale and tofu.. hahahaha

Having her here this last week has been very nice but it has also been one of the hardest weeks. Training my amazing comp who just got out of the online MTC, while trying to help my other soa be happy. If there's one thing I've learned it is that you can't do things alone!!! God blessed me with helping hearts all week. I am surrounded by the BEST sister missionaries.

Elder Holland said, "My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.” On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal." I FELT THIS SO MUCH THIS WEEK. I know this is true. I can testify that it is true and that He will never ever leave us unaided in the challenges we face. He provides a way, and most often it is through those around us. 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! Please keep smiling and enjoying the sunshine. God is so good and because of that, we have every reason to smile. 

 

Love you all :-)

 

**Ontario has some of the greatest people and I am feeling VERY blessed.

What a week!!! We have been able to witness little miracles every day. Also, we had faith to get three new friends this week and they came! We can't go out and talk to people, but God is bringing them to us. Missionary work right now is difficult/different but also the absolute best because you come to understand that God is doing it all. I have seen this time after time. 

After many weeks of meeting with our awesome friend Kevin he finally told us he knows the Book of Mormon is true!!! I can still remember him being completely against the idea of having anything other than the Bible. Seeing this change of heart just strengthens my testimony that the Book of Mormon is a book of power. It really does testify of the reality of Christs life, mission and power and I feel so blessed because I get to share that good news with people every day. 

Also, this week we met up with our friend Arouyaa. (She was the one who just walked up to the temple one day and asked to be a member.. woah!!!) Her testimony of God is inspiring. She has been through so much but does not doubt the power of God. We felt prompted to share the message of the restoration with her and now she is praying to know if it is true! She's wanting to move to Texas for work and asked if there were missionaries over there too.. this made us smile :) Her name means "God’s gift" and we couldn't agree more. 

Ok and one last little miracle with our friend Nasir!! HE IS SO COOL. We went on a walk with him and our member in a park this week and it was so nice. He is the most spatially aware person I have ever met. Despite being blind, he knew exactly where he was and where he was going. It was eye opening. We brought the braille Book of Mormon and his reaction touched our hearts. We just talked with him yesterday and he told us he read the introduction and the first few chapters! 

The work is moving along everyone, and I love being a missionary!!!! This virus does not limit Gods power. I know this. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH and please let me know how I can help you this week :-)

 

The Best Doctor :')

 

Hola!! :))

This week I got to be with Sister Smith for a day and we got to pick up Sister Dunning from the mission office so we could all be together for one last hoorah!!!! Those sisters mean the world to me. They welcomed me into the Canada Toronto Mission with open arms. I'll miss Sister Dunning now that she's home. 

 It was probably one of our busiest weeks here in Ontario. We have been receiving soo many Bible study referrals! We are SO thankful. We talked over the phone with such a faithful lady for one of our Bible studies. She battles with cancer but says, "I am still here!" After explaining her story she told us she had the best doctor. Not the doctors that were working on her, but the doctor up in Heaven. She told us that God is the best doctor. She radiates this truth and we could all feel the Spirit, even over the phone call. 

We also got a member referral this week. His name is Nasir and he is incredible. We had a lesson over the phone with him this week and he also joined our church service over zoom on Sunday. (It was the first time we have had a friend at church in a while!) I say this man is incredible because of his trust in God. He has a strong testimony that we are here on earth to grow and progress and that everything happens for a reason. Nasir is blind and so we are trying to get him a Book of Mormon in braille. The mission office said they have one. How perfect is that? But despite his limitations, his faith is firm. Nasir knows where true joy is found. He knows where to find peace. He is humble and submissive to what the Lord wants him to do. He has opened my eyes! 

I have to say.. a mission is more of a blessing than a sacrifice. Talking with such faithful people who completely trust in God is when I'm happiest. Please let me know if I can do anything for you this week. You all are in my thoughts and prayers often!!!! 

!!LOVE YOU!!!

Happy August

 

Hi everyone!!!

This week I felt Gods love and strength :) We have been trying to have the faith to find since it's different with the restrictions. We can't approach people and talk to them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have to be the ones to come and talk to us, so we have just been praying with faith to find the people who God has prepared! It wasn't until Saturday that we got two referrals from area book. We called them and both these individuals are eager to have bible studies with us! WE ARE SO HAPPY WITH THIS. Despite all the restrictions God is still able to move His work along.

Also, this week we had such a great zone conference. At the end they invite all the missionaries returning home or leaving to original mission assignments to share their testimonies. Before the conference I prayed to Heavenly Father that he would give me the spiritual boost I needed to continue faithfully, and He did just that. During the testimonies I was overcome with the Spirit. I know He hears our prayers and provides us with what we need to grow and continue forward with faith. 

It has been hard to get in contact with the Otesanya family for the past week and so we felt impressed to drop by with cookies Saturday night to remind them of our love and to make sure they were okay. When we got there someone we don’t know answered the door, saw us and said, "ohhhh ok I'll go get Fola." So Fola came to door with her bright smile. We asked how they were and if they needed anything. Fola asked if we had 10 minutes and then let us in to her home. She expressed to us some of their fears and why they had been a bit distant throughout the week. While her and now her family were in the room my soa (companion) and I were able to remind them that God always provides a way. The Lord knows their family and I can feel Gods love for them. They are such a special family!!! We asked if we could all kneel together in prayer. This was such a powerful moment for me. These are moments I am so grateful for. 

I love this beautiful missionary work because I get to witness Gods hand. I get to feel just a portion of the love that God has for His children. There is no greater joy than this. 

God knows me and I know He knows you. Pray to Him this week with more might. Pray until your prayer becomes mighty. I know He is listening. I know He is eager to help and I know He will answer you. 

Thank you for all the encouragement and love! I seriously have the best family and friends. LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!