Pray

Hello friends and family! How are you all doing? 

Another week gone by ahhh. Tuesday, we went to Brampton to pick up Sister Larsen from the mission office and the emotions just came flooding back. My heart grew to love that area and those people so very much, so it was special to be back. 

This week was actually crazy to be honest, but you got to love every second of it. Sister Urzua was pretty set on going home April 1st but just two days ago we got news that her flight was cancelled once again. You can imagine how her heart must be feeling. She's carrying a heavy load but continues to have faith in God's timing. Sister Larsen is recovering from a pretty severe concussion, so we are praying she heals quickly. Too much screen time is not good for her so you can also imagine how frustrating that might be for her since that is all we do as missionaries today): To say the least, my companions are warriors.

We have had lots of meetings this week and the work continues to move forward! Our friend Evan is still patiently waiting to hear back from Salt Lake to see if he can be baptized. He is actually the coolest person! I'm so excited to see the growth that will come about in this area this transfer! Miracleeees every day here in the Canada Toronto Mission. 

A little thought on prayer quickly before I go because I can testify of its power. 

Prayer is where I feel safest, and it is where I feel my heart soften, change, and fill with love. This week while praying before bed it felt like a warm blanket came over me with a flood of peace, hope and comfort. 

You might ask, "why do you pray?" 

C.S Lewis said, "I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God, it changes me." Prayer is my reset button that allows me to step out of my time bound world see the big picture, and be a faith filled person once again. Sister Runia told us, "sometimes when there's no reprieve from my pain, the only answer has been these two words: I know." She then goes on to say, "which is not so much an answer, but a GUARENTEE from a loving omniscient Father in heaven that I'm not alone."

Prayer is the answer! Communication with God is the answer. It can get you through ANY trial. 

I love you all heaps! 

Find the Good

Hello lovely people! 

It's hard to believe that another transfer has come to an end yet again. We got transfer news on Friday this week! I'll be staying here in Toronto YSA for my last and I'll be getting Sister Larsen:) Sister Urzua is not able to return home to the Philippines as originally planned so she'll be staying with us for now! 

This week we got to attend the church service in person! A talk was shared that really helped me change my focus and I just wanted to share a little part of it! 

Christ has taught us to "be of good cheer" and Paul showed us how when he said, 

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

It would be a lot sadder if Paul said, 

"We are troubled on every side, we are perplexed, persecuted, cast down." 

BUT Paul adds the positive and we are always capable of doing the same! 

I wish I had a little more time to write! Just know that I love you! We are crazy busy, seeing miracles every day. I love being a missionary more than anything else because I know that happiness is found when we focus on others rather than ourselves. 

Keep looking for the good and the good will get better! I'm sending prayers your way:)))

Miracles

Hi everyone, :)) Hope that you've all been doing so well! It's been a great week here! I've felt more sensitive to the Spirit which keeps me happy and calm! 

I know that God hears our prayers and that we can receive personal revelation. As I have been praying in the morning, asking God what He would have me know a simple thought pops into my mind that is then confirmed by my heart and it gets me through my entire day. I know that it is from Him and I know that He loves me! 

While studying my scriptures this week two messages stood out. First is to forgive and refocus, and second is to not think we are superior or inferior to anyone! Comparison really is the thief of joy and one of the adversary’s greatest tools, but like Moses we can respond by saying "deceive me not." We have been blessed with the gift of heavenly help here in our individual journeys! 

A few highlights from my week!

·        We have been joining lessons with a sweet girl Allie who is preparing for her mission with the London YSA Sisters and this past week I was overcome with the Spirit as they shared some of their conversion stories. I know that as we bear powerful testimony it strengthens everyone involved. 

·        Our friend Tawsif reached out after two weeks of silence and asked if him and his brother could be baptized! 

·        A former friend Sabrina also reached our suddenly saying baptism was something she actually wanted! 

·        Departing testimonies of 16 missionaries...1/9 of our mission leaving ): so edifying 

·        Interviews with President and Sister Ensign IN PERSON! 

·        Melissa was baptized on Saturday!!!!! 

·        While walking around Kensington we ended up helping this guy carry his drums across China town and had some miraculous conversations. He's from Springbank (near Calgary) and he lived in SLC for a while, so he knew quite a bit about our church haha! Also met a member who has a less active son we can reach out to! 

·        Found a new friend yesterday over FB and when we were on a video call with her she expressed how she's been to so many churches and how she's just looking for the one that teaches Christ's simple doctrine and how she feels like there's something missing... oh me oh my! When President Nelson mentioned that there are people who are willing to let God prevail, He was talking about her.

·        Also, our new friend Natalie and so cute and is so excited to get a copy of the Book of Mormon (which we can now drop off cause the restrictions lifted a little bit!!!) 

Just so many miracles and I feel like I could go on and explain each one in more detail, but I don't have time to write it in this email!

I just love you all to bits! Have a great week!  

Sunday Comes

Happy Monday! 

How was everyone’s week? Sorry I haven't been very good at responding lately! Please know I appreciate ALL the love you send me! 

This week was crazy busy! This area is crazy busy haha! As I look back, I know I did not do it alone because I couldn't have! The Atonement of Jesus Christ really carried me! 

In a NANE devotional they mentioned how Christ was crucified on Friday but was resurrected on the Sunday. They told us that we all face Friday's... when it's dark and hard but Sunday always comes. This gave me so much hope.

We have Melissa's baptism this week and her excitement gets me excited! I really don't have much time today, so I'll leave you with a quote from my studies this week by Elder Uchtdorf! 

"To those who feel inadequate because they have not been members of the Church all their lives, to those who feel that they can never make up for the time they have lost, I testify that the Lord needs your specific abilities, talents, and skills. The Church needs you; we need you. It is always the right time to walk in His way. It is never too late."

I love you all.

Trust

 

Hello! 

Time right now is going wayyy too fast here in Toronto YSA with Sister Urzua! We are already halfway through the transfer and it feels like we just started!!!! Sister Urzua found some calmness this week as they sent her travel plans to the Philippines but that means only three more weeks with this angel. Before I write anything about this week, I have to say how amazing she is. She was baptized into the church just 4 years ago and is one of the most devoted disciples of Jesus Christ I know. The experiences from her childhood bring me to tears, but they make her testimony that much stronger. She teaches with power. She knows what it means to trust God. It's a miracle for me to witness the Lord work through her to help our friends and members. She is changing me! 

Ok but how are all of you? What's keeping you busy? What are you doing to stay happy? I love you all so much!!! 

This week was remarkable, mostly because I am learning so much from these YSA. They (along with all of you) are persevering so well. They are examples to me. They have completely adapted to this new normal and they trust God! We had multiple moments this week I hope to never forget. Here's just one example! 

So many of these lovely people are hurting. Just yesterday we video called with a sweet sister. She is a returned missionary.  She has studied for many years now and comes to church but as we were talking she was very short with her answers and experiences and couldn't really explain anything. We knew there was a deeper heartache and so I said a prayer in my heart during the lesson to know what to say or what to ask to really help her and to figure out a deeper problem. The Spirit inspired our minds with a specific question that opened her up. She broke down in tears and expressed her pain and unrest. From this point on the Spirit taught. God brought to our minds things we wouldn't have thought of on our own. What a special experience. 

We started meeting with a sister who has been less active for years. Her grandfather recently passed away which opened her eyes, and she felt the need to change things in her life. She has set a goal to go through the temple by May. As we have been meeting with her every day, I've just been able to love her to pieces and me oh my she is an angel. She understands God's grace and is applying His Atonement. She is teaching me so much. 

I just love missionary work and I love this area and I really really love these sons and daughters of God. I never want this to end but I know it will so I will trust Him.

"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." (Mosiah 7:33)