Give until there's nothing left

Soooooo we have iPads now and they're super weird and I don't know how
I feel about it.  Currently writing this email while making some
pancakes for lunch.....anywho....this week was crazy!

Last night, we had a HUGE miracle!  This part member couple that has
NEVER let missionaries in actually let us set up an appointment and
didn't cancel!!!!!! That was the first miracle. Then as we got talking
with them, we found out that we're totally related!! SECOND MIRACLE!!
Thomas Rowell Leavitt, my 4th great grandfather who came up and helped
settle southern Alberta, is an ancestor of him as well! (Shout out to
gma fern for printing off those family history stories that I have
been able to read throughout the mish) .  So that's crazy.  The lesson
went fairly well, and we'll be going back soon. :)

Sunday, we had supper with this cute Mexican part member family. We're
teaching the daughter ,who is turning 8 soon, the lessons before she
gets baptized.  The husband who isn't a member sat in!  He is all
about only speaking Spanish in the home, and we prayed really really
hard, and taught the whole lesson in Spanish.  .......just kidding.
It was really awesome though!!! The spirit was so strong and I did get
to use some high school Spanish to ask them if I could use their
washroom.  "Puedo ir al bano?" They were very impressed. :)

Also, the Tagalog elders found yet ANOTHER person for us to
potentially teach! They were contacting on the LRT, and this 60yr old
native lady, Chantelle, was carrying around a basketball and was
trying to find somewhere to play....hahahahah so they called us and we
all met at the church and played some bball with this 60 year old!
She's a baller.  Hahaha I can't even tell this story without
laughing.....man.  Edmonton is just the greatest place.

I also had the privilege of eating jelly fish this week.  After
unsuccessfully trying to chew it twice, I resorted to swallowing the
rest of it whole. 

Sister Moser and I have had a pretty crazy couple of transfers, I have
learned so much.  We started a 40 day fast last week from every
behavior that detracts from the spirit in the work, and oh man, the
blessings are huge!  The adversary is also very real, I have been
tried in ways that I hadn't before the point, and I know that the only
way to overcome, is through my Savior, Jesus Christ, and his
infinite, atoning sacrifice.

If Jesus Christ could sacrifice all he did, then I have no other
option but to give everything I have to him and this work.  I studied
the story of Abraham and Isaac, when God commanded him to offer his
only son as a sacrifice.  I reflected on it, and had to look inside
myself and see how dedicated and consecrated I am to the Lord.
"Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are
honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to
observe their covenants by sacrifice--yea, every sacrifice which I,
the Lord, shall command--they are accepted of me." [d&c 97:8]

"Behold, I have seen your sacrifices, and will forgive all your sins;
I have seen your sacrifices in obedience to that which I have told
you. Go, therefore, and I make a way for your escape, as I accepted
the offering of Abraham of his son Isaac." [d&c 132:50]

There is no sacrifice too great for salvation.  "Sacrifice allows us
to learn something about ourselves-what we are willing to offer to the
Lord through our obedience."

Onward, ever onward.


Sister Jones

a family is forever

Just a few miracles this week:

*about a month ago, I talked to this lady, Lori, on the bus who has a family of 5!  She wanted us to come and teach them, but whenever we called, they were busy and weren't home when we stopped by.  On Thursday, we were near her house, and all our plans fell through, our backup wasn't going to work, so we decided to go knock on her door.  She came and was so happy to see us!  She just cried and vented about her struggles and how she wants her family to be happier and we taught her on her porch. (the kids weren't home) She recognizes us as disciples of Christ and knows we can help her!  We set a return appointment to teach her family, but it ended up falling through.  We'll see them this week though!  I'm so excited to help them become a forever family. :) 

*The Tagalog elders found someone for us, her name is Angie, but all the times we have stopped by, she hasn't been home.  We had some other plans for the day, and as we were doing that, I just kept getting the thought to catch the bus and go see Angie.  So we did.  AND SHE ACTUALLY ANSWERED THE DOOR THIS TIME!  She was busy, but we were able to get her phone number so we can set up a time!  She told us she has been reading the Book of Mormon and loves it.  She wants to learn more! :)  We'll hopefully teach her this week. 

*we taught Leo, the man who read our nametags, gave us his number, and then ran away!  He brought his friend, Lucy, who is also super solid!  They both want to learn more it's so humbling to find prepared people like them. :) 

In Sacrament Meeting on sunday, this cute little family sang, "I Love To See The Temple" and it was the most precious thing.  The end of the second verse says,

"For the temple is a holy place

Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I've learned this truth:

A family is forever."

and you all know me i totally cried.  My heart just filled with joy!  I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, because He makes it possible for us to be with those we love for ETERNITY.  I think I have definitely taken this truth for granted as I've grown up, but I am so thankful for the Plan of Salvation.  God's purpose is to help us to have eternal joy. 

I LOVE THE GOSPEL

I LOVE THE LORD

I LOVE CANADA

god bless and onward, ever onward. 

Sister Jones

washing windows :)

In Christ Alone

we taught like no lessons this week which was hard, but we had a few really neat experiences that were HUGE testaments of God's love for me and for everyone around me. 

 

*after meeting with a less active downtown, we were heading to the Edmonton General Hospital to visit a lady there.  We ran to catch our bus, but it ended up leaving and we were on the wrong side of the road...so we just decided to walk the 10 blocks to the hospital.  As we were walking, this man passed by us and was staring at our name tags so we stopped and started talking to him.  He just kept reading out name tags as we were closer and says, "oh!  you're from Jesus!  okay I'll give you my number then and you can call me!" then he gave us his number and ran away...sister moser and i just looked at each other like...WHHHATTTT??  so we called him yesterday and now are going to teach him tomorrow!  :) 

 

*literally like...a minute after that, we were waiting for the light to change for the cross walk and we hear behind us, "hey, are you missionaries?" so we turn and see this pretty rough looking girl stand up and come toward us.  So we went over and started talking with her.  She told us that she was baptized a couple years ago but she got back into drugs and was having a really hard time.  She just told us that she felt like she needed to share her testimony, but didn't know how, and she needed help.  we just sat down on the dirty sidewalk with her and talked and i don't even remember what I said.  I just remember telling her that God has a plan for her and loves her and a bunch of other stuff.  I don't know of a time that I have felt the spirit as strong as it was as it just spoke through me.  THIS IS WHY I AM A MISSIONARY!  Right here.  I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father gives me experiences like that to remind me of the divinity of this gospel.  and the urgency of it. 

 

We wouldn't have had those experiences if we caught the bus!  Heavenly Father knows what he's doing.  Always. 

The Tagalog elders found a couple people for us to teach, so on Saturday, we were trying by one of them, but she wasn't home.  We tried all of our backups, but no one was home.  (and it was blazing hot outside....but not really..i think I'm just turning in to a Canadian!) Sister Moser and I both thought of this less active we had tried like a bajillion times before, and never succeeded.  and alas, we tried one more time.  She was home and we got to teach her and it was glorious!   Never postpone a prompting! 

 

the other person the Tagalog elders found for us, we taught yesterday!  Her name is Boi (pronounced Booey) and she's from Botswana and is the african female version of Joseph Smith, i'm telling you!  She has dealt with so much persecution and finally got to Canada after some people trying to kill her.  She's now here and wonders why there are so many churches.  She wants to find the truth and she is SO SOLID!!!  We taught her the Restoration yesterday and committed her to be baptized! We're setting a date on Wednesday with her. :)  I can't believe how prepared this lady is, it's wonderful. 

 

We had to drop Dipa though....she's 87 and can't really hear or see and she isn't going to change religions.  she's the sweetest little Indian lady I've ever met though and she said we could come back for a glass of water and a cookie anytime. :) I think she'll be baptized in the spirit world. 

 

I just wanted to let you all know that if you can center your entire life, everything in it, on only one thing, Jesus Christ, EVERYTHING will fall into place.  I know it.  He is the foundation that if men build upon, "they cannot fall".  If we can always remember him, his spirit will be with us.  When we remember Christ and all he has done for us, there will be "no guilt in life, and no fear in death".  The atonement of Jesus Christ makes everything whole and right.  I know with all my heart that Jesus Christ lives!  And He will never leave us comfortless. 

 

Onward, ever onward. 

Sister Jones

 Dipa and us :) 

 annnnd i got to see my most favorite sister Allison James!!!  my follow up trainer :)

 such a tender mercy. :)

God is easy to please and hard to satisfy.

well hello it's pday again and it's a new transfer! 

Nothing too crazy happened this week except we talked to SO many people.  It was awesome. 

We didn't teach as much as we would like, but we got to do a TON of finding.  And we probably gave away like a bajillion copies of the Book of Mormon...okay not that many but a lot.  The spirit that I feel when I can tell people that God has a plan for them, or that God has called a prophet today, or that they have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who made it possible for us to live again, temporally and spiritually......that spirit is priceless.
 

we also got told again by another bus driver that we can't proselyte on the bus......so we asked President Manion about it, and he told us to "tell them politely that you have the right to talk to anyone you want to as long as it isn't creating a safety hazard." #HOLLA we just keep preaching...hahah it's an adventure. 
   

 We met sooooooo many people and taught so many on the streets and on the buses and on their lawns and in their garages..definitely felt like an original disciple of Christ.  I read in D&C 33:9 during studies one morning,
"Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you."

 

I just kept thinking about it, we can't spare anyone from this message of the restored gospel!  We really can't.  I have been called to declare the gospel to everyone I meet, so that's exactly what I will do.

 

I've also been thinking a TON lately about the concept of satisfying God, not just pleasing Him.  He is pleased with our efforts as we do what we're supposed to, but I think to satisfy him, we really have to humble and submit ourselves fully and completely to His will, thus allowing our natures to be changed. 

 

"Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." [Mosiah 27:25-26]
my studies this morning were SO enlightening.  I read my most favourite story in the whole Book of Mormon about the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's. 

In short, this group of Lamanites who were previously a very wicked people, who delighted in bloodshed and war and all that stuff, were taught by some missionaries, and then decided to  change and apply what they learned of Christ.  They became CONVERTED.  They not only decided to change, but they actually made a covenant with God that they would not take up their weapons of war ever again. 

Some of their brethren, who weren't converted, were angry with them and wanted to kill them all and take over their land.  They made preparations for war to come against the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's. 

The Anti-Nephi-Lehi's were so converted that all they did was praise the Lord and continue to stay true to the covenant they made with God. 

 "Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby.  16 And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved." [alma 24:15-16]

"and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.
 19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace." [alma 24:18-19]

y'all just need to go read the story...but in the end, lots of them end up being slain by their brethren, but in the process, the lamanites who were killing them were converted as well and they even "threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again"!!!  Many more were converted unto Christ. 

there is just SO much i learn from this story.  I can't even say it all.  Ultimately though, i just want to be able to satisfy my Heavenly Father.  I want to be so changed that i "would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin"...
what can i even say, besides how grateful i am for this gospel?!!  Really.  I know that we can all be changed through the atonement of Christ if we humble ourselves and allow it to change us.  I love you all and I love the Lord. 

Onward, ever onward. 

Sister Jones

this lady gave us some flowers from her garden as we were talking with her....she was so sweet.  We then went and gave them to all the people we talked to! :)

May Photos~

 Markus & Jessie

 Exchanges with Sister Adamson

 Moving rocks...

 ...and more rocks...

 ...and more rocks!

Me and Sister Moser

#blessed

Sister Moser and I are officially halfway through training....WHERE DID THE TIME GO??

 

anyway, this week was MAGICAL and GLORIOUS because the gospel rocks.  And the atonement is REAL. 

 

We taught Kathy the Plan of Salvation on Tuesday night, and we set her baptismal date for June 13th!!!  The lesson before, she told us she didn't want to set a date until she came to church, but Sister Moser and I just felt like we needed to invite her for a specific date anyways, so we did.  Sister Moser extended the invitation and Kathy immediately just whips out her calendar and looks at it and says, "well it looks like that day will work." and she just writes it down!  then Sister Moser, says, "so....will you prepare yourself to be baptized on that date?" and Kathy says, "well yes, I have to!"  Her faith is so strong and she's so solid.  We taught her the word of wisdom yesterday and she's good to go. :)  We had a mix up about church on sunday, so she didn't end up coming, so her date will now be the 20th, but man we're so excited for her.  Literally, Heavenly Father just dropped her in our laps.  #blessings

 

George dropped us.  He called us before he headed back up to shift work and told us that he has been fasting and praying and reading his bible, and that he just doesn't feel like he should join our church.  so after a few tears were shed, Sister Moser and i got some extremely overpriced ice cream from a nearby convenient store.... sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. 

 

We also moved a massive load of rocks from a less active member's truck into their backyard in our pros clothes, it was an adventure. 

 

All of a sudden, it's +30 and the sun is out and it's GLORIOUS!  and sweaty if you're in a walking area...... Friday, we were trying to contact less-active/part member families, and basically everyone was uninterested.  After helping an old man walk his dog (who was also uninterested), we decided to try one more that was a few blocks away.  I thought my legs and my entire body was going to just give out from all the walking and the heat, and we knocked on the door, and we just hear, "come in!" so we go in and they were the nicest people ever and we had a good message with them and they gave us water.  #miracleseverywhere

 

We had a conference with the entire mission last week to learn about our work in the DIGITAL AGE!!!  We started our training on the ipads.  Elder Brent H. Nielson from the first quorum of the 70 came, along with Brother Kelly Mills who is over the international MTC's.  We'll be getting ipads this next transfer! 

 

There was a lesson in relief society a few weeks ago about the Book of Mormon.  The sister who taught it told us that, "every book of mormon placed converts someone."  Even if the person who receives it doesn't read it, that book is now out in the world and someone somewhere sometime will find it and it will bring them to the truth.  Sister Moser and I decided to give away at least 2 copies of the Book of Mormon a day each, and even though we're not perfect at it yet, the miracles we have seen are SO REAL!  The Book of Mormon is true.  I know it.  And if you want your life to change for the better, start with the Book of Mormon. 

 

Heavenly Father loves us so much.  And our Savior, Jesus Christ, is a living testament of that love. 

 

i love this gospel so much!!!

 

Onward, ever onward. 

Sister Jones

because perfect people don't need a savior

hola mi familia y amigos!!!

(i started that in spanish because we've found like a bajillion spanish people to pass over to the spanish elders this week and that's always fun)

 

i'll start this off with a fun story. 

last week we got on a bus to head to the church and this man on the bus waved me down so i went and sat by him.  I was talking with him just about his life and such and invited him to come to church with us.  All of a sudden the bus driver YELLS, "YOU TWO GIRLS!!! YES YOU! GET UP HERE!!!" Sister Moser didn't realize what was happening so i just got up and was like..uhmm..yes?  and she just yelled at me about how we can't solicit here and i just told her we're not selling anything and invited her to learn and she was just not having it and everyone was staring.  our stop came up so i told her as she was yelling ruthlessly and she just says, "no, it's not!" so i just pushed the button and she had to let us off..ha it was awkward.  then two days later we had to go to the church for  a meeting so we took the same bus and what do ya know, same bus driver.  I didn't know what to do so after attempting to talk with her (then she just told me to sit down)  we just talked to people more...she kept giving us the evil eye.  then TODAY we get on the bus and it's her again.....there was only one other person on the bus, and i was so proud, Sister Moser went and sat down and talked with her anyway and gave her a Book of Mormon and just PREACHED like none other and i just prayed and prayed and prayed that the bus driver wouldn't ruin this and she didn't say anything.  just glared, but we can live with that. :)  Heavenly Father answers prayers!!!  "...NO UNHALLOWED HAND CAN STOP THE WORK FROM PROGRESSING!!! PERSECUTIONS [BUS DRIVERS] MAY RAGE,mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

 

I also had a super inspiring dejavu moment.  We stopped to talk with these people outside, one man was outside of the truck and two were inside.  We just talked with them and started teaching them about the gospel and all of a sudden the weirdest feeling came over me and i felt like i have KNOWN these people before!  The spirit was so strong and I just knew that this was not a coincidence.  I don't even know how to explain it, but I talked with a member about it after and she said that when we have dejavu, she thinks it means we knew each other in the pre-existance....so yeah.  My mind can't even comprehend it.  SO COOL. 

 

I got to see a bunch of my bff's from the MTC at the new missionary follow up meeting for trainers and trainees.  :)  it was such a blessed day. 

we also have a meeting this week for IPADS so that's exciting.  

 

we have been teaching George a TON before he has to go back to shift work this week, but he's struggling with Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  The lessons have been CRAZY and he almost dropped us on Friday, but all of a sudden the spirit kicked in and I don't even know what we said, but he felt it and he knows he needs to keep with it. 

 

Kathy is doing well!  We felt like we needed to teach her the restoration again, so we did, and she just said it all sounds familiar and it rings true to her and then the member who came with was just like, THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S TRUE AND YOU LEARNED THIS BEFORE YOU CAME TO EARTH and she bore such powerful testimony and Kathy wants to be baptized.  We're going to set a date for her tonight for June 13th.  I don't know why Heavenly Father is blessing us so much, but I'm so grateful for it. 

 

there was one night where I felt like i was failing and I didn't know what to do.  After our comp prayer, I kind of just sprawled out on the floor and yelled, "WHY CAN'T I BE PERFECT???"  then Sister Moser just said, "because perfect people don't need a Savior."  (the quote is by some general authority or something...but we'll just say it's from Sister Moser.)  it really hit me though.  We're here on earth to try and fail and strive and fall short, because we need a Savior.  We need Jesus Christ.  and man am i ever grateful that because of his atonement, we can start new every day, every hour, every second, no matter how many times we have messed up in the past or how far we have gone, he can bring us back, and push us to the next level where we can become who he wants us to be. 

 

i love this gospel with all my heart and i'm so grateful for this work. 

Onward, ever onward.